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The oxidation products formed on ferritic/martensitic (F/M) steel exposed to oxygen-saturated lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) at 550 °C for 1000 h were investigated using various characterizations. The results indicate that the corrosion products consist of three distinct layers from the inside to the outside: the inner oxidation zone (IOZ), a middle oxide layer, and the growth front facing LBE. In the IOZ, although O has penetrated the entire oxidation layer, the martensite laths and ferrite grains remain visible. However, significant segregation of Cr and O along the laths and grain boundaries has occurred, resulting in the formation of strip-shaped Cr2O3particles. In the matrix adjacent to the IOZ, Cr atoms have segregated at the grain boundaries and martensite laths, forming Cr-rich regions, while O atoms have not yet infiltrated. During the growth of Fe3O4grains, the priority formed strip-shaped Cr2O3particles are pushed toward the corrosion front until they detach from the F/M steel and disperse into the LBE, resulting in nearly pure Fe3O4grains in the middle layer. The gradient three-layer structure of the oxidation product is closely associated with the segregation of Cr and the gradient distribution of oxygen partial pressure (PO2).

Aim: The study objective was to evaluate the primary feasibility of endoscopic submucosal resection (ESD) and endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) via balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) to treat small bowel subepithelial lesions (SELs). Method: A retrospective case series study was performed. The first fifteen consecutive patients who underwent ESD (n= 10) and EFTR (n= 5) via BAE to remove small bowel SELs from November 2016 to December 2023 were included. The main outcome measures were the technique success rate, operative time and complication rate. Results: This research focused on 15 cases of jejunoileal SELs, four cases of lipomyoma, three cases of ectopic pancreas, two cases of NETs, three cases of benign fibrous tumours and three cases of angioma. The overall technique success rate was 86.7%, with 100% (10/10) and 60% (3/5) for BAE-ESD and BAE-EFTR, respectively, in removing small bowel SELs. Two cases of EFTR failed, as the BAE operation was unsuitable for tumour resection and suture repair of a perforated wound. No serious bleeding or any postoperative complications occurred. The median time of endoscopic resection via BAE for SELs was 44 min (range 22–68 min). Conclusion: ESD and EFTR via BAE might be alternative choices for treating small SELs in the small bowel, with the advantages of clear and accurate positioning and minimal invasiveness. However, its superiority over surgery still needs to be further investigated.

Lateral control for autonomous vehicles (AVs) under uncertainties is an important research topic. Although there exist various control approaches, it is still a difficult problem to design a robust optimal controller for AVs under uncertainties in the conditions of high maneuverability and large curvature turns. This paper proposes a game-theoretic receding horizon reinforcement learning algorithm (GTRHRL) for the lateral tracking control of autonomous vehicles in special scenarios, such as high maneuvering conditions and large curvature turns, which improves control performance and enhances the robustness to uncertainties while possessing efficient online learning capabilities. The proposed learning-based control strategy combines both the advantages of receding horizon reinforcement learning and the differential game theory. Different from previous receding horizon reinforcement learning, the uncertainties imposed on the AVs are considered and formulated as a player by zero-sum differential games. In this way, the robustness of the controller is guaranteed. Meanwhile, we prove that the proposed control strategy can reach the Nash equilibrium as well as retaining the stability and optimality under uncertainties. Furthermore, the actor-critic algorithm including a critic neural network and two actor neural networks is designed to implement the control strategy. By Lyapunov stability theory, the stability of the implemented learning-based control strategy is analyzed, and the convergence analysis of the neural networks is performed. Various simulations are carried out to illustrate the superiority of the proposed learning-based control strategy. The experimental studies under special scenarios, such as high maneuvering conditions and large curvature turns are performed on an autonomous vehicle, and the results further validate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed strategy.

Coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) promotes the development and metastasis of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive breast cancer. The function of CARM1 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is still unclear and requires further exploration. Here, we report that CARM1 promotes proliferation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and stemness in TNBC. CARM1 is upregulated in multiple cancers and its expression correlates with breast cancer progression. Genome-wide analysis of CARM1 showed that CARM1 is recruited by hypoxia-inducible factor-1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and occupy the promoters of CDK4, Cyclin D1, β-Catenin, HIF1A, MALAT1, and SIX1critically involved in cell cycle, HIF-1 signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, thereby modulating the proliferation and invasion of TNBC cells. We demonstrated that CARM1 is physically associated with and directly interacts with HIF1A. Moreover, we found that ellagic acid, an inhibitor of CARM1, can suppress the proliferation and invasion of TNBC by directly inhibiting CDK4 expression. Our research has determined the molecular basis of CARM1 carcinogenesis in TNBC and its effective natural inhibitor, which may provide new ideas and drugs for cancer therapy.

In situ ligand transformation strategies represent an efficient pathway for constructing function-oriented polyoxometalate (POM)-based crystalline materials. Herein, three POM-based hybrid networks were synthesized through in situ transformation of the phosphine ligand, formulated as [Ag(dppeo)6][H2PMo12O40]·5H2O (1), [Ag(dedpo)]4[SiW12O40]·6H2O (2), and [Ag(dppeo)]3[PW12O40]·3H2O (3) (dedpo = (2-(diphenylphosphaneyl)ethyl)diphenylphosphine oxide; dppeo = ethane-1,2-diylbis(diphenylphosphine oxide)). During the synthesis of these compounds, the 1,2-diphenylphosphine ethane molecule underwent in situ oxidation, transforming into dppeo and dedpo ligands, respectively. Compound 1features a supramolecular architecture assembled from [Ag(dppeo)3]+/[Ag2(dppeo)6]2+cationic clusters with disordered Ag centers and protonated [H2PMo12O40]−anions. Compound 2presents a 3-D POM-supported metal–organic framework consisting of binuclear [Ag(dedpo)]22+units, {-dedpo-Ag-dedpo-} chains, and [SiW12O40]4–polyoxoanions. Compound 3displays a 2-D layered structure formed by {-dppeo-Ag3-dppeo-} chains and [PW12O40]3–clusters. Pronounced argentophilic interactions are observed in compounds 1and 3. The three compounds demonstrate satisfactory heterogeneous catalytic activity in the colorimetric detection reactions toward phenol pollutants with detection limits of 1.73, 1.92, and 4.6 μM, respectively. Additionally, compounds 1–3show high anti-interference capabilities and high sensitivity in differentiating phenol from its halogenated derivatives. This work presents some guidance for designing specific function-oriented POM-based materials via an in situ ligand transformation strategy.

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, is a worldwide agricultural pest. Chlorpyrifos has been widely used to control M. persicaefor decades, thus leading to a high resistance to chlorpyrifos. Recent studies have found that insect odorant binding proteins (OBPs) play essential roles in insecticide resistance. However, the potential resistance mechanism underlying the cross-link between aphid OBPs and chlorpyrifos remains unclear. In this study, two OBPs (MperOBP3 and MperOBP7) were found overexpressed in M. persicaechlorpyrifos-resistant strains (CRR) compared to chlorpyrifos-sensitive strains (CSS); furthermore, chlorpyrifos can significantly induce the expression of both OBPs. An in vitrobinding assay indicated that both OBPs strongly bind with chlorpyrifos; an in vivoRNAi and toxicity bioassay confirmed silencing either of the two OBPs can increase the susceptibility of aphids to chlorpyrifos, suggesting that overexpression of MperOBP3 and MperOBP7 contributes to the development of resistance of M. persicaeto chlorpyrifos. Our findings provide novel insights into insect OBPs-mediated resistance mechanisms.

Performance of gear transmissions affects the performance of mechanical equipment. It is necessary to develop more reliable gear pitch and tooth thickness accuracy detection methods in order to evaluate gear transmission performance and detect gear pitch and tooth thickness accuracy more accurately. Based on the basic theory of gears, binocular vision technology, and statistical principles, a new method that measures gear pitch and tooth thickness using machine vision is proposed: coaxial multi-ring detection (MCD). There is no contact, no damage, and a high degree of efficiency with this method. Using this method, we are able to detect the pitch and thickness accuracy of each gear tooth multiple times within the tooth width range and in multiple directions perpendicular to the gear axis. We statistically analyze the measurement results to determine the gear’s most accurate detection results. The measurement method for gear machining accuracy is investigated using the coaxial multi-ring detection method. The statistical analysis of multiple measurement results is carried out, and the measurement results obtained are highly consistent with those of the gear detection center. In conclusion, the measurement results of this method are highly reliable, and they can be used as a reliable basis for evaluating gear transmission performance.

The fruits of Rosa roxburghiiTratt. are edible nutritional food with high medicinal value and have been traditionally used as Chinese folk medicine for a long time. In this study, 26 triterpenoids including four new pentacyclic triterpenoids, roxbuterpenes A–D (1, 4, 5, and 24), along with 22 known analogues (2, 3, 6–23, 25, and 26), were isolated from the fruits of R. roxburghii. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses (including IR, HRESIMS and NMR spectroscopy). The absolute configuration of roxbuterpene A (1) was determined by an X-ray crystallographic analysis. This is the first report of the crystal structure of 5/6/6/6/6-fused system pentacyclic triterpenoid. Notably, roxbuterpenes A and B (1and 4) possessed the A-ring contracted triterpenoid and nortriterpenoid skeletons with a rare 5/6/6/6/6-fused system, respectively. Compounds 1–7, 11, 13–15, 18–20, 24, and 25exhibited moderate or potent inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase. Compounds 2, 4, 6, 11, and 14showed strong activities against α-glucosidase with IC50values of 8.4 ± 1.6, 7.3 ± 2.2, 13.6 ± 1.4, 0.9 ± 0.4, and 12.5 ± 2.4 μM, respectively (positive control acarbose, 10.1 ± 0.8 μM). Compounds 13, 14, and 16moderately inhibited the release of NO (nitric oxide) with IC50values ranging from 25.1 ± 2.0 to 51.4 ± 3.1 μM. Furthermore, the expressions of TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α) and IL-6 (interleukin-6) were detected by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and compounds 13, 14, and 16exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on TNF-α and IL-6 release in a dose-dependent manner ranging from 12.5 to 50 μM.

The water-lean absorbent of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/2-(butylamino)ethanol (BAE)/H2O has recently been proposed for energy-efficient CO2capture. The CO2/N2O analogy method can provide important fundamental data for its kinetic study. In this work, the physical solubility of N2O and CO2in DMSO was measured in a static equilibrium cell at temperatures of (293.15–333.15) K. Solubility of N2O in BAE and the BAE/DMSO binary blends with 22.6, 34.9, and 61.8 mass % BAE was also determined. The effect of the water content on N2O solubility in the water-lean ternary blends with 61.8 mass % BAE was also discussed. The ratios of solubility of CO2to N2O in polar solvents (i.e., DMSO and water) were found to be very close at temperatures of 323–333 K. Experimental solubility data and the ones calculated from the recommended correlation models match well with each other, with average absolute relative deviations within 0.9%.

Alkane-based biodiesel is considered the next generation of biodiesel owing to its potential environmental benefits and the fact that it exhibits much higher specific caloric values than traditional biodiesel. However, the formidable obstacle impeding the commercialization of this cutting-edge fuel alternative lies in the cost associated with its production. In this study, an engineered strain Escherichia coli(E. coli) showcasing harmonized coexpression of a lipase (from Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase, TLL) and a fatty acid photodecarboxylase (from Chlorella variabilis, CvFAP) was first constructed to transform triglycerides into alkanes. The potential of E. coliBL21 (DE3)/pRSFDuet-1-TLL-CvFAP for alkane synthesis was evaluated with tripalmitin as a model substrate under various process conditions. Following a comprehensive examination of the reaction parameters, the scope of the biotransformation was expanded to ‘real’ substrates (vegetable oils). The results showed that bioderived oils can be transformed into alkanes with high yields (0.80–10.20 mmol·L−1) under mild conditions (35 °C, pH 8.0, and 36 h) and blue light illumination. The selected processes were performed on an increased lab scale (up to 100 ml) with up to 24.77 mmol·L−1tripalmitin, leading to a yield of 18.89 mmol·L−1pentadecane. With the employment of a method for efficiently producing alkanes under mild conditions and a simple procedure to isolate alkanes from the reaction system, the utilization of sustainable biomass as a fundamental feedstock emerges as the primary solution to lower the cost of alkane-based biodiesel. Thus, this study proposes a readily implementable and highly effective approach for alkane-based biodiesel production.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a family of short defense proteins that are naturally produced by all organisms and have great potential as effective substitutes for small-molecule antibiotics. The present study aims to excavate AMPs from sea cucumbers and achieve their heterologous expression in prokaryotic Escherichia coli. Using MytC as a probe, a cysteine-stabilized peptide SCAK33 with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity was discovered from the proteome of Apostichopus japonicas. The SCAK33 showed inhibitory effects on both gram positive and gram negative bacteria with MICs of 3–28 μM, and without significant hemolysis activity in rat blood erythrocyte. Especially, it exhibited good antimicrobial activity against Bacillus megaterium, B. subtilis, and Vibrio parahaemolyticuswith the MIC of 3, 7, and 7 μM, respectively. After observation by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), it was found that the cell membrane of bacteria was severely damaged. Furthermore, the recombinant SCAK33 (reSCAK33) was heterologously expressed by fusion with SUMO tag in E. coliBL21(DE3), and the protein yield reached 70 mg/L. The research will supplement the existing quantity of sea cucumber AMPs and provide data support for rapid mining and biological preparation of sea cucumber AMPs.

According to the requirements of Chang’e 4 mission, the configuration and layout of Queqiao relay satellite are designed based on the mission analysis. The satellite’s shape, structure size, mechanical interface of launch vehicle adapter, module division, primary structure and equipment layout are determined. Based on small satellite’s platform and main structure, we optimized configuration and layout of structure size, solar array fixing, tank fixing, big antenna fixing. Combining with light-weighting technology and 3D printing technology, achieving a goal of zero-counterweight, the loading ratio reaches a high level of advanced small satellite. To pursue the tenet of “Simplicity, symmetry, and harmony”, the design ability is highlighted by combining the functionality and simplicity. It provides the reference to the similar satellite configuration and layout.

Introduction: Nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NIVO + IPI) and pembrolizumab plus axitinib (PEM + AXI) are first-line (1L) treatments for advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (aRCC), although the long-term trends in their associated real-world healthcare costs are not well defined. We compared the real-world healthcare costs of patients with aRCC who received 1L NIVO + IPI or PEM + AXI over 24 months. Methods: Adults with RCC and secondary malignancy who initiated 1L NIVO + IPI or PEM + AXI were identified in the Merative MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental Databases (01/01/2004 to 09/30/2021). All-cause and RCC-related healthcare costs (unadjusted and adjusted) were assessed per patient per month (PPPM) at 6-month intervals post-treatment initiation (index date) up to 24 months, and differences between the NIVO + IPI and PEM + AXI cohorts were compared. Results: Of 325 patients with aRCC, 219 received NIVO + IPI and 106 received PEM + AXI as the 1L treatment. According to patients’ follow-up length, the analyses for months 7–12 included 210 patients in the NIVO + IPI cohort and 103 in the PEM + AXI cohort; months 13–18 included 119 and 48 patients, respectively; and months 19–24 included 81 and 25 patients. PPPM unadjusted all-cause total costs were $46,348 for NIVO + IPI and $38,097 for PEM + AXI in months 1–6; $26,840 versus $27,983, respectively, in months 7–12; $22,899 versus $25,137 in months 13–18; and $22,279 versus $27,947 in months 19–24. PPPM unadjusted RCC-related costs were $44,059 for NIVO + IPI and $36,456 for PEM + AXI in months 1–6; $25,144 versus $26,692, respectively, in months 7–12; $21,645 versus $23,709 in months 13–18; and $20,486 versus $25,515 in months 19–24. PPPM costs declined more rapidly for patients receiving NIVO + IPI compared to those receiving PEM + AXI, resulting in significantly lower all-cause costs associated with NIVO + IPI during months 19–24 (difference − $10,914 [95% confidence interval − $21,436, − $1091]) and RCC-related costs during months 7–12 (− $4747 [(− $8929, − $512]) and 19–24 (− $10,261 [− $20,842, − $421]) after adjustment. Cost savings for NIVO + IPI versus PEM + AXI were driven by differences in drug costs which, after adjustment, were significantly lower in months 7–12 (difference − $5555 [all-cause], − $5689 [RCC-related]); 13–18 (− $7217 and − $6870, respectively); and 19–24 (− $16,682 and − $16,125). Conclusion: Although the real-world PPPM healthcare costs of 1L NIVO + IPI were higher compared with PEM + AXI in the first 6 months of treatment, the costs associated with NIVO + IPI rapidly declined thereafter, resulting in significantly lower costs vs. PEM + AXI from months 7 to 24.

This article investigates a linear differential modulator driver for optical communication links beyond 120 GBd. The driver was implemented in a 55-nm SiGe BiCMOS technology with an $f_{T}/f_{\text {MAX}}$ of 330/370 GHz, featuring a traveling wave output stage driven by a lumped variable gain amplifier (VGA) and a predriver. The fabricated IC achieved a maximum low-frequency gain of 21.8 dB with more than 10-dB gain control capability and a 3-dB bandwidth of over 70 GHz. Power measurement results show the driver is able to deliver a constant output swing of 3.56 Vppd while keeping the THD below 2%, with the differential input swing varying from 0.3 to 1.03 Vppd at 1 GHz. In the large-signal measurement, the chip delivered 72, 106, 112, and 128 GBd pulse amplitude modulation-4 (PAM-4) signals with differential output swings of 4, 3.59, 3.434, and 3.425 Vppd, respectively. The chip’s total power consumption is 725 mW, resulting in a power efficiency of 2.83 pJ/bit. Overall, this is the first time an optical modulator driver reported the ability to accommodate such a wide input swing and demonstrated the operation at a data rate of 256 Gb/s. These features make it a desired candidate for beyond 120-GBd optical links.

The hybrid distribution transformer (HDT) achieves a compromise between the low-frequency transformer (LFT) and the solid-state transformer. It combines the LFT's efficiency and reliability with the added advantage of partial power controllability via an integrated converter. However, the existing research on the HDT fault ride-through does not consider the coordination relationship with its own safe operation constraints, while few studies have considered capacity coordination between multiple converters. Therefore, this article proposes an improved hierarchical coordination control of integrated HDT (IHDT), considering grid fault and normal conditions. First, the IHDT topology is proposed, and the operation mechanism of IHDT to realize the voltage support and current compensation is clarified by analyzing the coupling mechanism between the converter and LFT. Furthermore, under complex conditions, the unified expressions of the IHDT winding voltage, current, and power are derived, the safe operation constraints of IHDT are analyzed, and a hierarchical coordination control strategy is proposed. Finally, the correctness and effectiveness of the IHDT topology and control strategy are demonstrated by simulation analysis and experimental verification.

We demonstrate an integrated opto-electronic (ΟΕ) device that can be programmed to provide a set of nonlinear activation functions (AFs) and present its operation within programmable tanh- and ELU-based photonic neurons at line rates up to 10 GBd. The OE activation module provides a set of well-known activation functions that are typically used in DL training models, including the tanh-, ELU- and inverted ELU-like functions. Its performance is experimentally evaluated when incorporated in a 4-input wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) photonic neuron and operating with non-deterministic data patterns, providing “noisy” tanh, ELU and inverted ELU AFs with an error-distribution that has in all cases a standard deviation of <0.49. We also evaluate the trainability of these “noisy” AFs and present for the first time an optics-informed training framework that incorporates the pattern-induced AF variations into the training process, yielding the first noise-aware training scheme where the noise emerges at the nonlinear AF NN segment. The performance analysis of the optics-informed training framework for all three AFs was carried out via Deep Learning setups suitable for classifying the Fashion MNIST and the CIFAR-10 datasets. This analysis has shown that the employment of traditional training schemes leads to significant accuracy degradations, which can be, however, almost completely waived when employing the optics-informed training framework, leading to accuracy values that are almost identical to the reference accuracy values obtained when ideal and noise-less AFs are used.

The rotor winding of variable speed pumped storage generator-motor (VSPSGM) is a special three-phase winding structure, which not only makes the traditional rotor ground fault location method no longer applicable, but also increases the faulty phase selection problem. Therefore, the faulty phase selection and location method of rotor ground fault for VSPSGM is proposed in this article. Firstly, the relationship between the phase characteristics of the rotor winding potential and the working conditions is summarized according to the generation mechanism of the induced potential. The piecewise function is used to accurately analyze the amplitude and phase variation of the winding potential. On this basis, a reliable faulty phase selection method for rotor ground fault is proposed based on phasor trajectory analysis. Furthermore, the optimization model of ground fault location is constructed according to the geometric relationship of neutral point to ground voltage phasor, fault point to ground voltage phasor, and fault winding potential phasor. The accurate position of the ground fault can be obtained by solving the optimization model. This technique has been validated through simulations and experimental tests.

We demonstrate a programmable analog opto-electronic (OE) circuit that can be configured to provide a range of nonlinear activation functions for incoherent neuromorphic photonic circuits at up to 10 Gbaud line-rates. We present a set of well-known activation functions that are typically used to train DL models including tanh-, sigmoid-, ReLU- and inverted ReLU-like activations, introducing also a series of novel photonic nonlinear functions that are referred to as Rectified Sine Squared (ReSin), Sine Squared with Exponential tail (ExpSin) and Double Sine Squared. Experimental validation for all these activation functions is performed at 10 Gbaud operation. The ability of the mathematically modelled photonic activation functions to train Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) has been verified through their employment in Deep Learning (DL) models for MNIST and CIFAR10 classification purposes, comparing their performance against corresponding NNs that utilize an ideal ReLU activation function.

Infectious hepatitis type A and type E are caused by phylogenetically distinct single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses that were once considered to be non-enveloped. However, studies show that both are released nonlytically from hepatocytes as ‘quasi-enveloped’ virions cloaked in host membranes. These virion types predominate in the blood of infected individuals and mediate virus spread within the liver. They lack virally encoded proteins on their surface and are resistant to neutralizing anti-capsid antibodies induced by infection, yet they efficiently enter cells and initiate new rounds of virus replication. In this Review, we discuss the mechanisms by which specific peptide sequences in the capsids of these quasi-enveloped virions mediate their endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT)-dependent release from hepatocytes through multivesicular endosomes, what is known about how they enter cells, and the impact of capsid quasi-envelopment on host immunity and pathogenesis.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.Objectives: To evaluate the effect of zoledronic acid, an anti-osteoporosis treatment, during the perioperative period on vertebral body bone mineral density (BMD) after spinal fusion surgery in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.Methods: The medical records of postmenopausal patients with osteoporosis who underwent instrumented intervertebral fusion for lumbar degenerative disease between July 2016 and May 2018 were reviewed. Patients with comorbidities or condition which might affect bone metabolism were excluded. Forty-six patients did not receive anti-osteoporosis treatment before surgery and during the postoperative follow-up (untreated group). Another 46 patients who was treated with zoledronic acid perioperatively were matched for age and body mass index to patients in the untreated group. Preoperative and postoperative dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) records and lumbar BMD values of the involved spinal segments and of the cephalad levels, as well as of the femoral neck were recorded.Results: A significant decrease of cephalad vertebral BMD values was observed in the untreated group (-11.47%, P< 0.001), with a slight decrease of the femoral neck (-1.28%, P> 0.05). Zoledronic acid prevented rapid bone loss after instrumented intervertebral fusion surgery, with a bone loss in the cephalad levels of -0.76 ± 4.71% compared to -11.47 ± 16.45% in the untreated group (P< 0.001). while the change in BMD of the femoral neck in the treated group was 1.52 ± 5.88% compared to -1.28 ± 6.58% in the untreated group (P= 0.036).Conclusions: Perioperative zoledronic acid treatment may offer protection against a significant decrease in BMD of cephalad vertebrae after spinal fusion surgery among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Recently, returning straw to the fields has been proved as a direct and effective method to tackle soil nutrient loss and agricultural pollution. Meanwhile, the slow decomposition of straw may harm the growth of the next crop. This study aimed to determine the effects of rumen microorganisms (RMs) on straw decomposition, bacterial microbial community structure, soil properties, and soil enzyme activity. The results showed that RMs significantly enhanced the degradation rate of straw in the soil, reaching 39.52%, which was 41.37% higher than that of the control on the 30th day after straw return. After 30 d, straw degradation showed a significant slower trend in both the control and the experimental groups. According to the soil physicochemical parameters, the application of rumen fluid expedited soil matter transformation and nutrient buildup, and increased the urease, sucrase, and cellulase activity by 10%–20%. The qualitative analysis of straw showed that the hydroxyl functional group structure of cellulose in straw was greatly damaged after the application of rumen fluid. The analysis of soil microbial community structure revealed that the addition of rumen fluid led to the proliferation of Actinobacteria with strong cellulose degradation ability, which was the main reason for the accelerated straw decomposition. Our study highlights that returning rice straw to the fields with rumen fluid inoculation can be used as an effective measure to enhance the biological value of recycled rice straw, proposing a viable solution to the problem of sluggish straw decomposition.

Next-generation passive optical networks (PONs) with upstream rates of 50 Gbit/s and beyond will require a new class of burst-mode transimpedance amplifiers (BMTIAs) that are linear to enable (digital) equalization of channel impairments. Such linear BMTIAs also enable higher-order modulation formats like 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4). In this paper, we demonstrate operation of a novel linear BMTIA integrated together with a commercial off-the-shelf 25G-class avalanche photodiode (APD), achieving 50 Gbit/s non-return-to-zero (NRZ) operation with a sensitivity of −23.7 dBm optical modulation amplitude (OMA) and dynamic range exceeding 21.7 dB and 100 Gbit/s PAM-4 operation with a sensitivity of −15.8 dBm OMA and dynamic range exceeding 15.4 dB, both at a bit error ratio (BER) of $10^{-2}$. In addition, fast burst-mode gain-control and balancing circuits limit loud-soft sensitivity penalties in the case of AC-coupled circuits to less than 1.3 dB. The chip was designed in a 0.13 $\mu$m SiGe:C BiCMOS technology, has an area of 1.2 × 1.7 mm$^{2}$ and consumes between 260 mW and 310 mW. This receiver paves the way to a next-generation class of BMTIAs, supporting the ITU-T G.9804.3 Amd 1 standard.

The Si/wide bandgap (WBG) hybrid half-bridge (HHB) coordinates the hybrid-frequency operation and power-sharing ratio between the low-frequency Si phase and the high-frequency WBG phase to offer the same WBG benefits but with a much-reduced cost, in comparison to a full WBG solution. However, no generalized methodology has been reported so far to realize the full-scale optimization of switching frequency and the power-sharing ratio between those phases. In this article, we first develop a generalized power loss model for Si/WBG HHB with total power loss as output and switching frequency and power-sharing ratio as a continuous input variable. And then develop a dynamic power-sharing ratio and switching frequency control to achieve minimum power loss over a wide load range. A 3-kW prototype of the Si/SiC HHB-based dc/dc converter is built to validate the power loss model and proposed control strategy. In comparison with several fixed parameters, the dynamic parameters obtained by the proposed power loss model achieve a 6%–18% total power loss reduction without sacrificing power quality performance.

In recent years, tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have been widely used in tunnel construction. However, the TBM control parameters set based on operator experience may not necessarily be suitable for certain geological conditions. Hence, a method to optimize TBM control parameters using an improved loss function-based artificial neural network (ILF-ANN) combined with quantum particle swarm optimization (QPSO) is proposed herein. The purpose of this method is to improve the TBM performance by optimizing the penetration and cutterhead rotation speeds. Inspired by the regularization technique, a custom artificial neural network (ANN) loss function based on the penetration rate and rock-breaking specific energy as TBM performance indicators is developed in the form of a penalty function to adjust the output of the network. In addition, to overcome the disadvantage of classical error backpropagation ANNs, i.e., the ease of falling into a local optimum, QPSO is adopted to train the ANN hyperparameters (weight and bias). Rock mass classes and tunneling parameters obtained in real time are used as the input of the QPSO-ILF-ANN, whereas the cutterhead rotation speed and penetration are specified as the output. The proposed method is validated using construction data from the Songhua River water conveyance tunnel project. Results show that, compared with the TBM operator and QPSO-ANN, the QPSO-ILF-ANN effectively increases the TBM penetration rate by 14.85% and 13.71%, respectively, and reduces the rock-breaking specific energy by 9.41% and 9.18%, respectively.

Gemcitabine is an antimetabolite drug approved for the treatment of various cancers. However, its use is limited due to several issues such as stability, toxicity and drug resistance. Herein, we present the design and synthesis of a series of gemcitabine prodrugs with modifications on the 4-N-amino group by employing an acetylated l- or d-lysine moiety masked by different substitutions. Prodrugs 1–3and 6–8showed up to 2.4 times greater anticancer activity than gemcitabine in A549 lung cells, while they exhibited potent activity against BxPC-3 pancreatic cells with IC50values in the range of 7–40 nM. Moreover, prodrugs 2–3and 7–8were found to be less potent against CTSL low expression Caco-2 cells and at least 69-fold less toxic towards human normal HEK-293T cells compared to gemcitabine, leading to improved selectivity and safety profiles. Further stability studies showed that representative prodrugs 2and 7exhibited enhanced metabolic stability in human plasma, human liver microsomes and cytidine deaminase. Prodrug 1can be cleaved by tumor cell-enriched CTSL to release parent drug gemcitabine. Overall, these results demonstrated that acetylated lysine conjugated gemcitabine prodrugs could serve as promising leads for further evaluation as new anticancer drugs.

In this article, we propose a fractional-order model predictive control (FOMPC) with adaptive parameters to improve the control accuracy of power converters, which introduces fractional-order calculus into the predictive control modeling process. Then, the adaptive parameter design method based on the intelligent optimization algorithm is proposed to achieve the optimal parameter combination of FOMPC under different operation conditions. Finally, a power factor correction (PFC) converter is established as a case study to validate the proposed control method. Compared to the conventional integer-order MPC, the proposed FOMPC with adaptive parameters can achieve a 49% total harmonic distortion (THD) reduction while transient response due to load changes was reduced by 57% without increasing the switching frequency and sacrificing efficiency.

The combination of lithographic methods with two-dimensional DNA origami self-assembly has led, among others, to the development of photonic crystal cavity arrays and the exploration of sensing nanoarrays where molecular devices are patterned on the sub-micrometre scale. Here we extend this concept to the third dimension by mounting three-dimensional DNA origami onto nanopatterned substrates, followed by silicification to provide hybrid DNA–silica structures exhibiting mechanical and chemical stability and achieving feature sizes in the sub-10-nm regime. Our versatile and scalable method relying on self-assembly at ambient temperatures offers the potential to three-dimensionally position any inorganic and organic components compatible with DNA origami nanoarchitecture, demonstrated here with gold nanoparticles. This way of nanotexturing could provide a route for the low-cost production of complex and three-dimensionally patterned surfaces and integrated devices designed on the molecular level and reaching macroscopic dimensions.

An all-silicon analog radio-over-fiber transmitter chipset is presented for narrowband operation in the unlicensed 60 GHz V-band for use in low-cost and low-power distributed antenna systems. The chipset consists of a low-noise high-speed quadrature driver RFIC and an EAM based single-sideband I/Q modulator PIC. Resonant matching is used to drive the EAMs which provides 6 dB more gain compared to an on-chip 50 $\Omega$ resistive termination. A further 6 dB improvement is had by placing the quadrature hybrid on the RFIC before the output stages compared to implementations that place the hybrid on the PIC. The RFIC consists of a low-noise input stage, gain stages, a hybrid coupler and two output stages while the PIC consists of parallel electro-absorption modulators and thermo-optic phase shifters. A sideband suppression ratio of 25 dB is demonstrated with a full chipset size of 1.1 mm$^{2}$ and a power consumption of 45 mW. Succesful optical back-to-back experiments were conducted using various QAM signals.

We present here results of the Quantum Technology Flagship project UNIQORN in the area of integrated photonics for quantum communication applications. Three distinct integration platforms, namely indium phosphide based monolithic integration, polymer-based hybrid integration and the CMOS-compatible silicon platform, have been employed to manufacture components and sub-systems on chip for quantum communication devices. The choice of different platforms was made to exploit the best characteristics of each platform for the intended quantum communication device. The indium phosphide platform was employed to manufacture a transmitter chip for quantum key distribution featuring laser, modulators, and attenuators. The transmitter chip was evaluated in a QKD experiment achieving a secure rate of 1 kbit/s. The polymer platform was investigated for engineering non-classical light sources. Entangled and heralded single-photon sources, based on non-linear optics, were assembled on the polymer in a hybrid fashion together with waveguides and other passive micro-optical elements. A quantum random number generator, featuring a 70% randomness extraction efficiency, was also fabricated using the polymer integration technique. An array of 32 individual single-photon avalanche diodes, operating at room temperature and featuring an onboard coincidence logic, was coupled to the chip to demonstrate direct detection of photons on the polymer. Finally, a transimpedance amplifier based on gallium arsenide high electron mobility transistors was produced with an exceptional large electrical noise clearance of 28 dB at 100 MHz.

Though there are extensive works on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) for robotics, sequential trajectory generation for multiprocess robotic tasks based on DRL is yet to be explored. In this article, the multiprocess task is formulated as a Markov decision process, and a nested dual-memory deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm with dynamic criteria is proposed, to generalize the traditional trajectory planning with predefined target point into a trajectory exploration problem aiming at a target area without solving inverse kinematics. First, a dual-memory architecture with local-to-global strategy is introduced to enhance the performance. Second, a novel nested architecture is proposed to generate sequential trajectory segments successively and asynchronously for the multiprocess task. Third, a compound reward system is designed and a weight coefficient matrix is adopted to balance the position control and the orientation control based on Tait–Bryan angles. In addition, a virtual twin system is established to promote the training efficiency, where the trajectory generated in simulation can be directly applied to the real physical platform. Finally, experimental results on both simulated and real-world applications have verified the performance of the proposed approach.

Sprayed concrete lining is a commonly employed support measure in tunnel engineering, which plays an important role in construction safety. Compressive strength is a key performance indicator of sprayed concrete lining, and the traditional measuring method is time-consuming and laborious. This paper proposes various hybrid machine learning algorithms to accomplish the advanced prediction of compressive strength of sprayed concrete lining based on the mixture design. Two hundred and five sets of experimental data were collected from a water conveyance tunnel in northwestern China for model construction, and each set of data was made up of six basic input variables (i.e., water, cement, mineral powder, superplasticizer, coarse aggregate, and fine aggregate) and one output variable (i.e., compressive strength). In order to eliminate the correlation between input variables, a new composite indicator (i.e., the water-binder ratio) was introduced to achieve dimensionality reduction. After that, four hybrid models in total were built, namely BPNN-QPSO, SVR-QPSO, ELM-QPSO, and RF-QPSO, where the hyper-parameters of BPNN, SVR, ELM, and RF were auto-tuned by QPSO. Engineering application results indicated that RF-QPSO achieved the lowest mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 3.47% and root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.30 and the highest determination coefficient (R2) of 0.93 in the four hybrid models. Moreover, RF-QPSO had the shortest running time of 0.15 s, followed by SVR-QPSO (0.18 s), ELM-QPSO (1.19 s), and BPNN-QPSO (1.58 s). Compared with BPNN-QPSO, SVR-QPSO, and ELM-QPSO, RF-QPSO performed the most superior performance in terms of both prediction accuracy and running speed. Finally, the importance of input variables on the model performance was quantitatively evaluated, further enhancing the interpretability of RF-QPSO.

For a flying capacitor multilevel converter (FCMC), prompt detection of power switch failures is crucial for fault-tolerant operation. This article presents a new technology for identifying and locating faulty cells in FCMC. Mathematical derivation points out that different fault types and locations will present different high-frequency harmonics. The new technology extracts high-frequency harmonics in the switch node voltage and looks up a preestablished table to identify the fault type and location. The discrete Fourier transform (DFT) can be easily performed to analyze the harmonic using the built-in IP core in field-programmable gate array (FPGA). For an FCMC with any number of levels, the new approach requires only one voltage sensor and can accurately locate the faulty cell after one carrier cycle when the fault occurs. Both simulation and experimental results validate the proposed concept on a five-level 100-kHz GaN FET-based FCMC prototype. Furthermore, we have experimentally demonstrated the fault-tolerant operation of the FCMC after a switch short and open fault is detected and identified by the new technique.

•Nontyphoidal Salmonellaresistant to fluoroquinolone drugs were isolated from retail meats. These drugs include ciprofloxacin, a first-line antimicrobial that is used to treat severe Salmonellainfections in humans.•An increase in resistance to fluoroquinolone in nontyphoidal Salmonella from retail meat sources was correlated with an increase in the sale of these drugs for use in agricultural settings.•This study expands our understanding of potential drivers of fluoroquinolone resistance among nontyphoidal Salmonella.

OBJECTIVE--β-Cell failure is an essential component of all types of diabetes, and the insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) branch of signaling plays a key role in β-cell survival and function. [...]

Anthraquinone has an inhibitory effect on anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) to some extent, but the effect of combined biochar is uncertain. Currently, most studies have focused on the effect of single exogenous substance addition on anammox. The effects of adding multiple exogenous substances on anammox need to be further explored. The effects of different concentrations of anthraquinone and biochar additions on anammox was investigated, and discovered that the reactor with 0.025 mmol·L−1anthraquinone and 10 g·L−1coconut shell biochar had the best nitrogen removal, with NH4+-N and NO2--N removal efficiency stabilized above 90.0 % and 85.0 %, respectively, and the relative Candidatus Brocadiaabundance increased. During long-term anthraquinone combined with biochar anammox process operation, each reactor exhibited different levels of inhibition with anthraquinone addition. In the coconut shell biochar-anthraquinone (0.05 mmol·L−1) reactor augmented with low quantities of N2H4, nitrogen removal efficiency (NRE) increased by 9.7 %, while T-PN and T-PS rose by 9.3 and 16.94 mg·gVSS−1, respectively. The abundance of Candidatus Brocadiaincreased from 17.22 % to 20.75 % after anthraquinone addition was stopped. This lays the foundation for future research on the potential role of exogenous substances in regulating the function of anammox systems and microbial community structure.

There is limited real-world data regarding subsequent treatment utilization and clinical outcomes following initial androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) exposure for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. This study aimed to address this evidence gap.

Recently, constructing hybrid nanogenerators (NGs) that can simultaneously harvest frictional and solar energies has attracted a growing interest, among which halide perovskite is considered as one of the most suitable active materials. However, current perovskite-based hybrid NGs are low in performance and limited to rigid substrates. Strategies to minimize performance loss caused by deep defects in perovskite functional layer are still lacking. In this work, we proposed a fluoride additive passivation strategy to fabricate a new kind of flexible, efficient perovskite-based hybrid NGs. The fluoride with high electronegativity can effectively passivate defect density of perovskite film and further enhance its dielectric constant to minimize the ability of defects to capture charges. Hence, more efficient charge transport and suppressed recombination loss are achieved, which maximizes the triboelectric-photovoltaic coupling effect. The maximum current of the hybrid NG is up to 9.7 μA under illumination, which is about 25 times higher than that of the control device. The hybrid NG could light 50 LEDs and charge capacitors. Moreover, it exhibited excellent flexibility to act as a self-powered wearable sensor to detect human motions. Our work proposed a new strategy for flexible triboelectric-photovoltaic hybrid NGs with high-output performance for smart wearable applications.

Avocado (Persea americanaMill.) is an economically valuable plant because of the high fatty acid content and unique flavor of its fruits. Its fatty acid content, especially the relatively high unsaturated fatty acid content, provides significant health benefits. We herein present a telomere-to-telomere gapless genome assembly (841.6 Mb) of West Indian avocado. The genome contains 40 629 predicted protein-coding genes. Repeat sequences account for 57.9% of the genome. Notably, all telomeres, centromeres, and a nucleolar organizing region are included in this genome. Fragments from these three regions were observed via fluorescence in situhybridization. We identified 376 potential disease resistance-related nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat genes. These genes, which are typically clustered on chromosomes, may be derived from gene duplication events. Five NLRgenes (Pa11g0262, Pa02g4855, Pa07g3139, Pa07g0383, and Pa02g3196) were highly expressed in leaves, stems, and fruits, indicating they may be involved in avocado disease responses in multiple tissues. We also identified 128 genes associated with fatty acid biosynthesis and analyzed their expression patterns in leaves, stems, and fruits. Pa02g0113, which encodes one of 11 stearoyl-acyl carrier protein desaturases mediating C18 unsaturated fatty acid synthesis, was more highly expressed in the leaves than in the stems and fruits. These findings provide valuable insights that enhance our understanding of fatty acid biosynthesis in avocado.

Energy storage has high application value in the power system, especially in the field of auxiliary services, but the transaction mechanism and process are not yet perfect. Considering the advantages of security and transparency of blockchain technology, this article combines blockchain with energy storage auxiliary services and proposes a blockchain-based grid-side shared energy storage market transaction model and mechanism. This article first introduces the concept and application status of blockchain, and compares the advantages of blockchain technology applied to power transactions. Combined with the existing policies and market rules, the research on the participation of energy storage in auxiliary services was carried out, and the market mechanism for the participation of energy storage in peak and frequency modulation auxiliary services was designed. Finally, a blockchain-based energy storage market-oriented transaction model and mechanism is proposed to improve the flexibility of the power system and promote clean energy consumption.

The design and synthesis of high-quality two-dimensional (2D) materials with desired morphology are essential for property control. One critical challenge that impedes the understanding and control of 2D crystal nucleation and growth is the inability of direct observation of the nanocrystal evolution process with high enough time resolution. Here, we demonstrated an in situX-ray scattering approach that directly reveals 2D wurtzite ZnO nanosheet growth at the air–water interface. The time-resolved grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GID) and grazing incidence X-ray off-specular scattering (GIXOS) results uncovered a lateral to vertical growth kinetics switch phenomenon in the ZnO nanosheet growth. This switch represents the 2D to three-dimensional (3D) crystal structure evolution, which governs the size and thickness of nanosheets, respectively. This phenomenon can guide 2D nanocrystal synthesis with rationally controlled size and thickness. Our work opens a new pathway toward the understanding of 2D nanomaterial growth kinetics based on time-resolved liquid surface grazing incidence X-ray techniques.

Under the development trend of AC/DC hybrid power grids, converter transformers are indispensable as AC/DC conversion equipment, whose safety and stability are particularly important. There have been many serious accidents where the zero-mode inrush current(abbreviated as ZMIC) of high-impedance transformers caused the zero-sequence backup protection of the transformer and even the upper-level line to malfunction. As a type of high-impedance transformer, the converter transformer may cause the existing zero-sequence protection(abbreviated as ZSP) to malfunction due to the ZMIC generated during no-load operation. However, its winding connection form and no-load operation method are different from ordinary high-impedance transformers. There may be sympathetic interaction between multiple transformers. So, it is necessary to analyze the ZMIC separately.

The radiated seismic energy is an important index for the intensity assessment of microseismic (MS) events and the early warning of dynamic disasters. However, the energy of MS signals is significantly attenuated due to the heterogeneity and viscous damping of rock media. Therefore, the study on attenuation characteristics of MS signals in underground engineering has practical significance for the accurately estimation of radiated seismic energy. Based on a pendulum impact test facility and MS monitoring system, an in situ investigation was carried out to explore attenuation characteristics at a deep tunnel. The results show that the seismic energy and peak particle velocity (PPV) attenuation are exponentially related to the propagation distance. The attenuation coefficient of energy is larger than that of PPV. With the increase in the input impact-energy, the seismic energy attenuation coefficient decreases as a power function. An empirical relationship between energy attenuation coefficient and wave impedance of rock mass was established in this scenario. Moreover, the time-frequency characteristics and energy distribution laws of impact-induced signals were investigated by the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and wavelet packet analyses, respectively. The dominant frequency of signals decreases gradually as the propagation distance increases. Based on the energy attenuation characteristics, a new method was proposed to calculate the released source energy of MS events in the field. This study can provide an insight into energy attenuation characteristics of seismic waves and references for attenuation correction in seismic energy calculation.

A high-frequency dynamically coordinated Si/SiC hybrid continuous conduction mode (CCM) totem-pole bridgeless PFC (TPBPFC) converter is reported in this article. The proposed hybrid TPBPFC converter is interleaved with a low-current high-frequency SiC phase and a high-current low-frequency Si phase, in comparison to the prior-art design of two half-capacity SiC phases, resulting in a considerable cost reduction. A coordinated Si/SiC control strategy is proposed to address the un-compensable range issue in hybrid-frequency interleaving topologies, and to dynamically distribute power load between the Si and SiC phases for optimal efficiency and performance. An average current mode control (ACMC) based control algorithms and sequences are discussed in detail to enable the unique operation. A 3.3-kW hybrid TPBPFC prototype made of Si IGBTs and SiC MOSFETs is built and tested to validate the proposed design concept. Compared to the prior art two-phase all-SiC interleaved TPBPFC design, the proposed hybrid TPBPFC has demonstrated nearly identical power efficiency, THD, power factor, and effective frequency, while offering 33.5% device cost and 15.1% total cost reductions.

H7 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) normally circulated among birds before. From 1996 to 2012, human infections with H7 AIVs (H7N2, H7N3, and H7N7) were reported in Canada, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the USA. Until March 2013, human infections with H7N9 AIVs were reported in China. Since then, H7N9 AIVs have continued to circulate in both humans and birds. Therefore, the detection of antibodies against the H7 subtype of AIVs has become an important topic. In this study, a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) method for the detection of antibody against H7 AIVs was established. The optimal concentration of antigen coating was 5 μg mL−1, serum dilution was 1/10, and enzyme-labeled antibody was 1/3 000. To determine the cut-off value of cELISA, percent inhibition (PI) was determined by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis in 178 AIVs negative samples and 368 AIVs positive serum samples (n=546). When PI was set at 40%, the specificity and sensitivity of cELISA were 99.4 and 98.9%, respectively. This method could detect the antibodies against H7Nx (N1–N4, N7–N9) AIVs, and showed no reaction with AIVs of H1–H6 and H8–H15 subtypes or common avian viruses such as Newcastle disease virus (NDV), Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), exhibiting good specificity. This method showed a coincidence rate of 98.56% with hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) test. And the repeatability experiment revealed that the coefficients of variation (CV) of intra- and inter-batch repetition were all less than 12%. The data indicated that the cELISA antibody-detection method established in this study provided a simple and accurate technical support for the detection of a large number of antibody samples of H7-AIV.