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We employ two machine learning techniques, i.e., neural networks and genetic-programming-based symbolic regression, to examine the dynamics of the electron-positron pair creation process with full space–time resolution inside the interaction zone of a supercritical electric field pulse. Both algorithms receive multiple sequences of partially dressed electronic and positronic spatial probability densities as training data and exploit their features as a function of the dressing strength in order to predict each particle’s spatial distribution inside the electric field. A linear combination of both predicted densities is then compared with the unambiguous total charge density, which also contains contributions associated with the independent vacuum polarization process. After its subtraction, the good match confirms the validity of the machine learning approach and lends some credibility to the validity of the predicted single-particle densities.

Purpose: To investigate the association between urinary complement proteins and renal outcome in biopsy-proven diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods: Untargeted proteomic and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional analyses and targeted proteomic analysis using parallel reaction-monitoring (PRM)-mass spectrometry was performed to determine the abundance of urinary complement proteins in healthy controls, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, and patients with T2DM and biopsy-proven DN. The abundance of each urinary complement protein was individually included in Cox proportional hazards models for predicting progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Results: Untargeted proteomic and functional analysis using the KEGG showed that differentially expressed urinary proteins were primarily associated with the complement and coagulation cascades. Subsequent urinary complement proteins quantification using PRM showed that urinary abundances of C3, C9, and complement factor H (CFAH) correlated negatively with annual estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline, while urinary abundances of C5, decay-accelerating factor (DAF), and CD59 correlated positively with annual rate of eGFR decline. Furthermore, higher urinary abundance of CFAH and lower urinary abundance of DAF were independently associated with greater risk of progression to ESRD. Urinary abundance of CFAH and DAF had a larger area under the curve (AUC) than that of eGFR, proteinuria, or any pathological parameter. Moreover, the model that included CFAH or DAF had a larger AUC than that with only clinical or pathological parameters. Conclusion: Urinary abundance of complement proteins was significantly associated with ESRD in patients with T2DM and biopsy-proven DN, indicating that therapeutically targeting the complement pathway may alleviate progression of DN.

Hypertension-associated progressive glomerulosclerosis is a significant driver of both de novoand all-cause chronic kidney disease leading to end-stage kidney failure. The progression of glomerular disease proceeds via continuing depletion of podocytes from the glomeruli into the ultrafiltrate. To non-invasively assess injury patterns associated with mean arterial pressure (MAP), we conducted an observational study of 87 healthy normotensive individuals who were cleared for living kidney donation. Urine pellet podocin and aquaporin2 mRNAs normalized to the urine creatinine concentration (UPod:Creat ratio and UAqp2:Creat ratio) were used as markers of podocyte detachment and tubular injury, respectively. The ratio of two podocyte mRNA markers, podocin to nephrin (UPod:Neph) as well as the ratio of podocin to the tubular marker aquaporin2 (UPod:Aqp2) estimated the relative rates of podocyte stress and glomerular vs. tubular injury. The MAP was positively correlated with the UPod:Neph and UPod:Aqp2, thereby confirming the relationship of MAP with podocyte stress and the preferential targeting of the glomerulus by higher MAP. In multivariable linear regression analysis, both UPod:Neph and UPod:Creat, but not UAqp2:Creat or proteinuria, were both significantly related to a range of normal MAP (70 to 110 mm Hg). Systolic, as opposed to diastolic or pulse pressure was associated with UPod:Creat. Thus, higher podocyte stress and detachment into the urine are associated with MAP even in a relatively “normal” range of MAP. Hence, urine pellet mRNA monitoring can potentially identify progression risk before the onset of overt hypertension, proteinuria or chronic kidney disease.

We examine the effect of a frequency-chirped external force field on the final energy that has been absorbed by two classical mechanical oscillators, by quantum mechanical two- and three-level systems, and by electron-positron pairs that were created from the quantum field theoretical Dirac vacuum. By comparing the final dynamical responses to the original force field with that associated with the corresponding time-reversed field, we can test the sensitivity of each of these five systems to the temporal phase information contained in the field. We predict that the linear oscillator, the two-level atom, and the pair-creation process triggered by a spatially homogeneous field are remarkably immune to this phase, whereas the quartic oscillator, the three-level atom, or the pair-creation process caused by a space-time field absorb the provided energy differently depending on the temporal details of the external field.

In this paper, a single-component poly-α-olefin (PAO) oil base stock of an α-olefin tetramer was prepared via two-step oligomerization using a metallocene catalyst and a Ziegler–Natta catalyst in sequence. The structure was characterized, the performance was investigated, and the effects of the molecular structure and composition on performance were evaluated. First, the α-olefins were dimerized with different metallocenes as the catalyst, and the effects of the oligomerization conditions (amount of catalyst, temperature, and ratio of Al/Zr) on the molecular weight distribution of the obtained polymers were investigated. The dimerization selectivity reached 83.1%, and the content of branched α-olefin was 91.7%. In the second step, the obtained α-olefin dimer was polymerized by a Ziegler–Natta catalyst, and the dimerization reaction was dominant. A PAO with a tetramer content of 89.6% was obtained, and at 100 °C, the kinematic viscosity was 6.4 cSt and the viscosity index was 148. Further results suggested that both molecular structure parameters (the length of the main chain and the length of the branches) affect the PAO properties when the number of branches and the branch position on the molecular skeleton are the same. It was also found that, as the length of the main chain and the length of the branches increased, the kinematic viscosity and viscosity index increased, while the pour point decreased; however, when the length of the main chain, the number of branches, and the length of the branches were the same, the presence of quaternary carbons in the main chain lowered the viscosity index and increased the pour point.

Systolic blood pressure of more than 185 mm Hg is a contraindication to thrombolytic treatment with intravenous alteplase in patients with acute ischaemic stroke, but the target systolic blood pressure for optimal outcome is uncertain. We assessed intensive blood pressure lowering compared with guideline-recommended blood pressure lowering in patients treated with alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke.

Plants with deficiency in Gibberellins (GAs) biosynthesis pathway are sensitive to exogenous GA3, while those with deficiency in GAs signaling pathway are insensitive to exogenous GA3. Thus, exogenous GA3 test is often used to verify whether the reduced height (Rht) gene is involved in GAs biosynthesis or signaling pathway. In the present study, we identified the genetic factors responsive to exogenous GA3 at the seedling stage of common wheat and analyzed the response of the plant height related quantitative trait loci (QTL) to GA3 to understand the GAs pathways the Rhtparticipated in. Recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between KN9204 and J411 with different response to exogenous GA3 were used to screen QTL for the sensitivity of coleoptile length (SCL) and the sensitivity of seedling plant height (SSPH) to exogenous GA3. Two additive QTL and two pairs of epistatic QTL for SCL were identified, meanwhile, two additive QTL and three pairs of epistatic QTL for SSPH were detected. For the adult plant height (PH) investigated in two environments, six additive QTL were identified. Three QTL qScl-4B, qSsph-4Band qPh-4Bwere mapped in one cluster near the functional marker Rht-B1b. When PH were conditional on SSPH, the absolute additive effect value of qPh-4Band qPh-6Bwere reduced, suggesting that the Rhtsin both two QTL were insensitive to exogenous GA3, while the additive effect values of qPh-2B, qPh-3A, qPh-3Dand qPh-5Awere not significantly changed, indicating that the Rhtsin these QTL were sensitive to exogenous GA3, or they were not expressed at the seedling stage.

Podocyte depletion is a common mechanism driving progression in glomerular diseases. Alport Syndrome glomerulopathy, caused by defective α3α4α5 (IV) collagen heterotrimer production by podocytes, is associated with an increased rate of podocyte detachment detectable in urine and reduced glomerular podocyte number suggesting that defective podocyte adherence to the glomerular basement membrane might play a role in driving progression. Here agenetically phenotyped Alport Syndrome cohort of 95 individuals [urine study] and 41 archived biopsies [biopsy study] were used to test this hypothesis. Podocyte detachment rate (measured by podocin mRNA in urine pellets expressed either per creatinine or 24-hour excretion) was significantly increased 11-fold above control, and prior to a detectably increased proteinuria or microalbuminuria. In parallel, Alport Syndrome glomeruli lose an average 26 podocytes per year versus control glomeruli that lose 2.3 podocytes per year, an 11-fold difference corresponding to the increased urine podocyte detachment rate. Podocyte number per glomerulus in Alport Syndrome biopsies is projected to be normal at birth (558/glomerulus) but accelerated podocyte loss was projected to cause end-stage kidney disease by about 22 years. Biopsy data from two independent cohorts showed a similar estimated glomerular podocyte loss rate comparable to the measured 11-fold increase in podocyte detachment rate. Reduction in podocyte number and density in biopsies correlated with proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis, and reduced renal function. Thus, the podocyte detachment rate appears to be increased from birth in Alport Syndrome, drives the progression process, and could potentially help predict time to end-stage kidney disease and response to treatment.

Prediction models of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been developed; however, there was no AF prediction model validated in Chinese population. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the incidence of AF in urban Han Chinese health check-up population, as well as to develop AF prediction models using behavioral, anthropometric, biochemical, electrocardiogram (ECG) markers, as well as visit-to-visit variability (VVV) in blood pressures available in the routine health check-up. A total of 33 186 participants aged 45–85 years and free of AF at baseline were included in this cohort, to follow up for incident AF with an annually routine health check-up. Cox regression models were used to develop AF prediction model and 10-fold cross-validation was used to test the discriminatory accuracy of prediction model. We developed three prediction models, with age, sex, history of coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension as predictors for simple model, with left high-amplitude waves, premature beats added for ECG model, and with age, sex, history of CHD and VVV in systolic and diabolic blood pressures as predictors for VVV model, to estimate risk of incident AF. The calibration of our models ranged from 1.001 to 1.004 (Pfor Hosmer Lemeshow test >0.05). The area under receiver operator characteristics curve were 78%, 80% and 82%, respectively, for predicting risk of AF. In conclusion, we have identified predictors of incident AF and developed prediction models for AF with variables readily available in routine health check-up.

Background/Objectives:: Glomerular hyperfiltration has been considered an early marker of kidney injury in prediabetes and prehypertension. Heavy alcohol consumption remains highly prevalent and is considered a major public health problem worldwide. The degree of glomerular hyperfiltration associated with alcohol consumption remains unclear. Subjects/Methods:: This study was conducted in three communities in China. A total of 15 390 participants (5396 males and 9994 females) aged 40–65 years were included in the study. Glomerular hyperfiltration was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate >97.5th percentile value of the total population. Results:: Current drinkers had a 1.51 times higher risk for developing renal hyperfiltration (RHF) as compared with never drinkers, adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking status, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, physical activity and the levels of fasting glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein. Furthermore, heavy alcohol consumption of >210 g per week was associated with an elevated risk for RHF in a dose-dependent manner among male current drinkers. Conclusions:: In middle-aged Chinese men, heavy alcohol intake was associated with an elevated risk for RHF. On the other hand, former drinkers or light–moderate alcohol intake did not show any increased risks for these conditions.

The role of Notch signaling in prostate cancer has not been defined definitively. Several large scale tissue microarray studies have revealed that the expression of some Notch signaling components including the Jagged1 ligand are upregulated in advanced human prostate cancer specimens. Jagged1 expressed by tumor cells may activate Notch signaling in both adjacent tumor cells and cells in tumor microenvironment. However, it remains undetermined whether increased Jagged1 expression reflects a cause for or a consequence of tumor progression in vivo. To address this question, we generated a novel R26-LSL-JAG1 mouse model that enables spatiotemporal Jagged1 expression. Prostate specific upregulation of Jagged1 neither interferes with prostate epithelial homeostasis nor significantly accelerates tumor initiation or progression in the prostate-specific Pten deletion mouse model for prostate cancer. However, Jagged1 upregulation results in increased inflammatory foci in tumors and incidence of intracystic adenocarcinoma. In addition, Jagged1 overexpression upregulates Tgfβ signaling in prostate stromal cells and promotes progression of a reactive stromal microenvironment in the Pten null prostate cancer model. Collectively, Jagged1 overexpression does not significantly accelerate prostate cancer initiation and progression in the context of loss-of-function of Pten, but alters tumor histopathology and microenvironment. Our study also highlights an understudied role of Notch signaling in regulating prostatic stromal homeostasis.

Although the prevalence of prehypertension is rapidly increasing in China, the medical community has paid little attention to its prevention. Prior studies have demonstrated that uric acid directly contributes to vascular remodelling and endothelial dysfunction. However, few prospective studies have assessed the relationship between serum uric acid and prehypertension. We therefore designed a larger-scale cohort study to examine whether uric acid level is a predictive factor for developing prehypertension in adults. Participants were recruited from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital-Health Management Centre. A prospective assessment (n=15 143) was performed. Participants without a history of hypertension or prehypertension were followed up for 2 to 6 years with a median follow-up duration of 2.8 years. Serum uric acid levels and blood pressure were assessed yearly during the follow-up. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess relationships between the quintiles of uric acid levels and the incidence of prehypertension. The incidence of prehypertension was 191 per 1000 person-years. In the final multivariate models, the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for prehypertension across uric acid quintiles were 1.00 (reference), 0.98 (0.90–1.07), 1.01 (0.93–1.10), 1.09 (1.001–1.20) and 1.17 (1.06–1.29) (Pfor trend <0.001), respectively. This population-based prospective cohort study has demonstrated that uric acid level is an independent predictor for developing prehypertension.

In this study, the morphologically uniform Co3O4cubes (c-Co3O4), hexagonal plates (h-Co3O4) and tetrakaidecahedrons (t-Co3O4) were carefully synthesized and the crystalline facets of (001), (111), and (112) were identified. Au nanoparticles (3.1–3.3 nm) were deposited on the three Co3O4entities, which were achieved to obtain specific Au–Co3O4interfaces. A detailed comparison was made on the basis of their unique interfacial structures and catalytic behaviors. H2-TPR and XPS investigations revealed the important variations in reactivity of surface oxygen, surface Co3+/Co2+ratio, evolution of surface oxygen vacancies as well as Au oxidation state upon Au loading and pretreatments. The enhanced CO oxidation by Au deposition, and particularly He- and in situ-pretreatments, has been elucidated in light of the structural specialties associated with the three facets of Co3O4substrates and the corresponding Au–Co3O4interfaces. The consequent activity enhancement for Co3O4substrate and Au–Co3O4interface was verified: (001) > (112) > (111), and Au/(112) > Au/(001) > Au/(111). The results of Au/h-Co3O4also suggest that both Au cluster and Co3O4structural feature can have a profound effect on the catalytic behaviour of generated interface. The present study extends the insights into the interface-dependent CO oxidation over the controllably prepared Au–Co3O4interfacial structures.

Integral test plays essential role to assess the design of the emergency cooling system of nuclear reactors. Different from full height integral test facilities, reduced height integral test facilities have new problems on the pressure drop scaling. This paper mainly focuses on scaling of pressure drop across the core as it is the major pressure drop in primary loop. The analysis of pressure drop across the core has been divided into three terms and each term has been discussed separately based on two conditions: the normal operation condition and natural circulation condition. After that, the total pressure drop ratios under these two conditions have been discussed.

Highly active non-precious oxygen reduction (ORR) catalysts are expected to replace precious (Pt) metal oxygen reduction catalysts. An oxygen reduction catalyst (Co@C/Fe-NC) at the bimetallic active site was constructed by doping different types of metals before and after precursor synthesis. This doping method, which can effectively prevent the contact between different metal species. The synergistic effects produced by different metal species are more accurately studied. The prepared Co@C/Fe-NC catalysts have a dodecahedral shape, and the Co source catalyzes the formation of carbon nanotubes on the surface at high temperature. The metal sites are protected by the carbon layer, which can reduce the corrosion of electrolytes and metal agglomeration during circulation, and improve the catalytic activity and stability. The catalyst was tested to have a high onset potential (Eonset = 1.02 V), half-wave potential (E1/2 = 0.86 V) and stability (negative shift 11 mV after 10,000 cycles). When assembled into Zn-air batteries, it also exhibits excellent specific capacitance (769.81 mAh/g) and power density (100.4 mW/cm2). The synergistic effect of Co@C and Fe-Nxmakes it have significant ORR catalytic activity.

The programmed cell death 4/nuclear factor-κB/tumor necrosis factor α (PDCD4/NF-κB/TNF-α) signaling pathway has an important role in coronary microembolization (CME)-induced inflammation. microRNA-21 protects myocardium mainly via regulation of its target gene PDCD4. Therefore, in this study we investigated the effect of ultrasound-guided microbubble-mediated microRNA-21 transfection on cardiac function in CME pig model and determined the potential mechanisms involved. The pig CME model was established by microcatheter-mediated injection of microembolization beads into the left anterior descending artery. The CME with microRNA transfection group was injected with plasmid–microbubble mixture through the marginal ear vein 4 days before CME treatment, along with ultrasound to the myocardium. Cardiac function indices were examined by cardiac ultrasound; infarct area was measured by hematoxylin–eosin and hematoxylin–basic Fuchsin–picric acid staining of tissue pathological sections; green fluorescent protein-labeled gene expression levels were evaluated by fluorescent microscopy in frozen sections; myocardial PDCD4 and TNF-α mRNA levels were measured by fluorescent quantitative PCR and protein levels were measured by western blotting; and NF-κB activity was tested by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Compared with the CME group, the CME with ultrasound-mediated microRNA transfection group demonstrated improved CME-induced cardiac dysfunction (P<0.05). Compared with the CME group, the CME with ultrasound-mediated microRNA transfection group showed significantly lower PDCD4 expression and NF-κB activity (P<0.05). Ultrasound microbubble-mediated microRNA-21 transfection effectively improved CME-induced cardiac dysfunction via inhibition of PDCD4/NF-κB/TNF-α signal transduction pathway.

By solving the time-dependent Dirac equation numerically, we calculate the rate of electron–positron pairs that are created from the vacuum by an oscillating field. The data permit us to examine the validity of approximate, but analytical, expressions derived from the WKB-based description. If two characteristic parameters (E/c^3 and ω/c^2) are less than 1 or the parameter γ(=ωc/E) is small (tunneling region), this description predicts the true rate well, where E and ω are the amplitude and frequency of the external field. In the multi-photon region (where E/c^3 is small and γ is large), perturbative methods become valid.

Spherically shaped Co3O4particles were synthesized by one-pot solvothermal treatment of Co(NO3)2in n-octanol that is free of structure-directing agents or pore formers. Au nanoparticles (2–4 nm) dispersed on the Co3O4substrates were fabricated using deposition–precipitation method. The as-synthesized Co3O4(without calcination) and the corresponding Au-containing catalyst achieved complete CO oxidation at 90 °C and 80 °C, respectively. Upon calcination, the condensed Co3O4formed on which uniform dispersion of small-sized flat Au entities (3.0 ± 0.6 nm) with large Au–Co3O4interfaces was established, showing complete CO oxidation at 110 °C. These two types of catalysts were found to be extremely durable even when operated in a period beyond 70 h under certain conditions. The calcined Co3O4-based Au catalyst can outperform Au/d-Co3O4in both activity and stability when subjected to a pre-reaction at 350 °C for 5 h. The yolk–shell type Co3O4@SiO2catalysts synthesized by controllable acid-etching of Co3O4cores demonstrated an optimal Co3O4core–SiO2shell interaction and a suitable Co3O4core particle size for CO oxidation. Both Co3O4substrates and Au/Co3O4systems were found to encounter substantial activity enhancement by in situpretreatment. The pretreatment resulted in (i) transformation of AuOxto Au0, (ii) higher fraction of surface Co3+, and (iii) suitably lower concentration of surface oxygen adspecies, accounting for the enhanced activities.

Moving object detection is an important branch and foundation of computer vision; it has extensive application prospects in many fields, such as, traffic, military application, industries and bio-medical, et al, and becomes a hot research topic in computer vision field. Because of its inherent complexity, moving object detection still faces lots of challenges. In this paper, based on the existing research achievements, the methods of moving object detection in dynamic environment are studied deeply, a knowledge-based flexible edge matching algorithm is put forward. The effectiveness of the proposed matching algorithm in moving object detection is also demonstrated. The research results here can be provided as the reference for target detection and tracking and some other applications.

We propose an alternative technique for numerically renormalizing quantum field theories based on their Hamiltonian formulation. This method is nonperturbative in nature and, therefore, exact to all orders. It does not require any correlation functions or Feynman diagrams. We illustrate this method for a model Yukawa-like theory describing the interaction of electrons and positrons with model photons in one spatial dimension. We show that, after mass renormalization of the fermionic and bosonic single-particle states, all other states in the Fock space have finite energies, which are independent of the momentum cutoff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal carcinoma (EC) are characterized by dysregulation of microRNAs, which play an important roles as a posttranscriptional regulators in protein synthesis, and are involved in cellular processes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Recently, altered miRNAs expression has been comprehensively studied in EC by high-throughput technology. Increased understanding of miRNAs target genes and their potential regulatory mechanisms have clarified the miRNAs activities and may provide exciting opportunities for cancer diagnosis and miRNA-based genetherapy. Here, we reviewed the most recently discovered miRNA target genes, with particular emphasis on the deciphering of their possible mechanisms and the potential roles in miRNAs-based tumour therapeutics.

Soot oxidation with NO (in the absence of gas phase O2) on potassium‐supported Mg‐Al hydrotalcite mixed oxides (K/MgAlO) was studied using a temperature‐programmed reaction and in situ FTIR techniques. Nitrite and the ketene group were identified as the reaction intermediates and thus a nitrite‐ketene mechanism was proposed in which surface active oxygen on K sites of K/MgAlO is transferred to soot by NO through nitrites. In the absence of gas phase O2, soot oxidation with NO at lower temperatures (below 450 °C) is limited by the amount of active oxygen on the K sites. This kind of active oxygen is not reusable but can be replenished in the presence of gas phase O2.

The beta zeolite on cordierite ceramic monolith was synthesized by an in situ crystallization method and characterized by XRD, N2adsorption/desorption, SEM and NH3‐TPD techniques. Toluene adsorption/desorption was used as probe test for the control of cold‐start emissions and treatment of volatile organic compounds. The presence of beta on the supports was confirmed by XRD, SEM, and N2adsorption/desorption measurements. The zeolite crystals grow both into the cordierite macropores and on the surface of the monolith channels, which form an integrated network ensuring a strong adherence. The highly dispersed beta on supports, demonstrated by larger surface area and adsorption capacity of N2, resulted in a significant increase of the total acidity, and thus a greater adsorption capacity for toluene. Furthermore, it could trap larger amounts of toluene to higher temperature and show considerable activity for toluene cracking and oxidation. These are attributed to the greater acidity and stronger acid sites of in situ synthesized beta.

We generalize a previously proposed imaging scheme to situations for which the set of hidden objects embedded in the highly scattering medium can take arbitrary shapes. We compare the accuracy of images obtained from optical detection fibers with those from a ccd camera. The latter approach is more efficient and can be applied to non-contact geometries, but it requires an a priori linearization of the obtained digitized images. We discuss some details of this calibration for the camera and establish its potential as a new tool for decomposition based imaging.

The efficacy of indigenous microorganisms to degrade diesel oil in contaminated mainland sites in Singapore was investigated. A semi‐scale trial was made by spiking topsoil with 6 % [w/w] of diesel oil. The results indicated that in the presence of NPK commercial (Rosasol®) fertilizer a 53 % reduction in contaminant concentration was recorded after 60 days compared to untreated controls while the addition of a mixture of urea and K2HPO4effected a 48 % reduction in the Total Recoverable Petroleum Hydrocarbons. A commercial culture and an enriched/isolated microbial association proved to be the least effective with 25 and 9 % reductions, respectively. The results confirmed the bioremediation potential of indigenous microorganisms for diesel‐oil contaminated mainland soil. Identification of the persistent compounds was done and perceived as a tool in decision‐making on strategies for speeding up of the degradation process to achieve clean‐up standards in shorter remediation periods.

Preparation and use of anthracene-tagged organosilanes in an iterative, resin-capture-release protocol for the stereocontrolled synthesis of polypropionate arrays are described.

The synthesis of complex macrodiolides involving microwave-accelerated transesterification of chiral, nonracemic, hydroxy esters is described. Methodology development studies indicate that both microwave power and reaction temperature play an important role in the efficiency of cyclodimerizations. Hydroxy ester monomer pairs were evaluated using an analytical rehearsal leading to the preparation of a 127-member library of highly diverse and stereochemically well-defined macrodiolides. Preliminary assays identified a novel macrodiolide antagonist of the κ opioid receptor.

The Δ-scaling method has been applied to the total multiplicity distribution of the relativistic ion collisions of p+p, C+C and Pb+Pb which were simulated by a Monte Carlo package, LUCIAE 3.0. It is found that the Δ-scaling parameter decreases with increasing system size. Moreover, the heat capacities of different mesons and baryons have been extracted from the event-by-event temperature fluctuation in the region of low transverse mass and they shows the dropping trend with increasing impact parameter.

An expeditious procedure for the direct formation of stereochemically well-defined macrodiolides is described. Cyclodimerizations of enantioenriched C7 and C8 hydroxy esters 6 in the presence of catalytic amounts of distannoxane transesterification catalysts afford 14- to 22-membered macrodiolides 7−9 bearing up to six stereocenters. Additional structural diversity is introduced by further stereoselective reactions on selected macrodiolides 7a, 7g, 10a, and 11.

Partial discharge (PD) detection is an important means of evaluating the condition and quality of an insulation system. It has long been regarded that discharge distribution patterns may contain deterministic parameters relating to the insulation condition. With the advancement of electrical circuitry and computer systems, it is feasible to interpret measurable PD distribution patterns with a discharge physical mechanism. Earlier research work has found that the parameters of an arbitrary discharge event in a series are closely related to the time separation from the preceding events. However, under AC criteria, these parameters are difficult to calculate due to the add-on impact of periodically changing fields. Obviously, the characteristics of pulse-to-pulse memory propagation of Trichel-pulse corona are superimposed by the influence of the applied AC voltage. To evaluate the superimposed impact on discharge distributions, both corona amplitude and energy are employed to study the properties of negative Trichel-pulse corona. Relevant statistics of unconditional and conditional distributions are calculated for comparison and analysis. It is found that a critical time interval tc exists between consecutive corona pulses, under which the AC voltage impact may be minimised. With the knowledge of tc, it is possible to compute the discharge parameters relating to characteristics of the discharge mechanism under AC voltage. The results obtained from a number of conditional distributions are discussed to interpret the behaviours of negative Trichel pulses in distribution profiles.

Faced with the determination of many completely sequenced genomes, computational biology is now faced with the challenge of interpreting the significance of these data sets. A multiplicity of data-related problems impedes this goal: Biological annotations associated with raw data are often not normalized, and the data themselves are often poorly interrelated and their interpretation unclear. All of these problems make interpretation of genomic databases increasingly difficult. With the current explosion of sequences now available from the human genome as well as from model organisms, the importance of sorting this vast amount of conceptually unstructured source data into a limited universe of genes, proteins, functions, structures, and pathways has become a bottleneck for the field. To address this problem, we have developed a method of interrelating data sources by applying a novel method of associating biological objects to ontologies. We have developed an intelligent knowledge-based algorithm, to support biological knowledge mapping, and, in particular, to facilitate the interpretation of genomic data. In this respect, the method makes it possible to inventory genomes by collapsing multiple types of annotations and normalizing them to various ontologies. By relying on a conceptual view of the genome, researchers can now easily navigate the human genome in a biologically intuitive, scientifically accurate manner.

Wet electrolytic oxidation of organics in the presence of electrolytes and externally added oxygen gas was investigated for wastewater treatment. The experimental apparatus was a 300 ml electrolytic batch autoclave operated mainly at 250 ∘C and 7 MPa. The results showed that the presence of halide ions such as chlorides and bromides strongly catalyses the conversion of pollutant organic compounds to innocuous compounds such as CO2and water. The addition of external oxygen gas in wet electrolytic oxidation of acetic acid strongly suppressed the cathodic evolution of hydrogen gas and demonstrated a TOC removal profile with an apparent current efficiency higher than 100% for high concentration acetic acid solutions.

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The valence change of samarium from trivalent to divalent in strontium hexaborate (SrB6O10) prepared in air is observed. The temperature dependence of the luminescence and vibronic transitions of Sm²⁺ are studied. The Sm²⁺ ions occupy three crystallographic sites. With increasing temperature, the ⁵D0→⁷F0 transition line exhibits red shifts, and the half-width increases. At room temperature, due to the thermal population through the 4f⁵5d channel, the ⁵D1→⁷FJ transitions are observed even though the vibrational energy is very close to the energy gap between the ⁵D1 and ⁵D0 levels in the host. A coupled phonon energy of about 108 cm^-1 is determined from the vibronic transitions of Sm²⁺ in the host.

This paper reports a new observation of the abnormal reduction of Eu3+→Eu2+in Sr2B5O9Cl when prepared in air at high temperature. A model based on the nature of substitution defects is proposed to explain this abnormal reduction. Electrons, which reduced the Eu3+ions, are created by the substitution of cations first and then transferred to the target Eu3+ions via tetrahedral borate anion groups. Codoping experiments are designed and performed. The results of these experiments support the model proposed.