Search

As most teleosts are unable to synthesize vitamin C, supplemental diets containing vitamin C diets play a crucial role in fish health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin C on the intestinal enzyme activity and intestinal microbiota of silver pomfre (Pampus argenteus). Four experimental diets were supplemented with basic diets containing 300 mg of vitamin C/kg (group tjl3), 600 mg of vitamin C/kg (group tjl6), and 1200 mg of vitamin C/kg (group tjl12), as well as vitamin C-free supplemental basic diet (group tjl0), respectively. The four diets were fed to juvenile P. argenteus (average initial weight: 4.68 ± 0.93 g) for 6 weeks. The results showed that the activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and CAT (catalase) increased significantly while that of MDA (malondialdehyde) decreased significantly in group tjl3 compared to vitamin group tjl0. At the genus level, groups tjl0, tjl6, and tjl12 contained the same dominant microbial community, Stenotrophomonas, Photobacterium, and Vibrio, whereas group tjl3 was dominated by Stenotrophomonas, Delftia, and Bacteroides. Among the fish fed with a basic diet containing 300 mg of vitamin C/kg, the intestines exhibited a notable abundance of probiotic bacteria, including lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus) and Bacillus. The abundance of Aeromonas in groups tjl3 and tjl6 was lower than that of the vitamin C-free supplemental basic diet group, whereas Aeromonas was not detected in group tjl12. In addition, a causative agent of the disease outbreak in cultured P. argenteus, Photobacterium damselae subsp. Damselae (PDD) was the dominant microbiota community in groups tjl0, tjl6 and tjl12, whereas the abundance of PDD in group tjl3 was the lowest among the diets. Taken together, the diets supplied with vitamin C could influence the composition microbial community of P. argenteus. The low level of vitamin C (300 mg of vitamin C/kg per basic diet) supplementation could not only improve the antioxidant capacity but also resist the invasion of pathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perception systems of autonomous vehicles face significant challenges under adverse conditions, with issues such as obscured objects and false detections due to environmental noise. Traditional approaches, which typically focus on noise removal, often fall short in such scenarios. Addressing the lack of diverse adverse weather data in existing automotive datasets, we propose a novel data augmentation method that integrates realistically simulated adverse weather effects into clear condition datasets. This method not only addresses the scarcity of data but also effectively bridges domain gaps between different driving environments. Our approach centers on a conditional generative model that uses segmentation maps as a guiding mechanism to ensure the authentic generation of adverse effects, which greatly enhances the robustness of perception and object detection systems in autonomous vehicles, operating under varied and challenging conditions. Besides the capability of accurately and naturally recreating over 90% of the adverse effects, we demonstrate that this model significantly improves the performance and accuracy of deep learning algorithms for autonomous driving, particularly in adverse weather scenarios. In the experiments employing our augmented approach, we achieved a 2.46% raise in the 3D average precision, a marked enhancement in detection accuracy and system reliability, substantiating the model's efficacy with quantifiable improvements in 3D object detection compared to models without augmentation. This work not only serves as an enhancement of autonomous vehicle perception systems under adverse conditions but also marked an advancement in deep learning models in adverse condition research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to develop and test a theoretical model that can be used to predict the influencing factors affecting users' use of healthcare applications. Our research structure model is based on the Attention-Interest-Search-Action-Share (AISAS) model, combined with the indicators of personal intention and social identity, to predict we-intention. The proposed model was tested through a survey of 353 users of healthcare applications from mainland China and Taiwan. Based on the five characteristics of the AISAS model, this study integrates three levels of influencing factors (individual dimension, social dimension, and application design dimension) that affect users' use of healthcare applications. It also verifies that users have both personal intention and we-intention when using healthcare applications. This research contributes to the theoretical development of the AISAS model, we-intention and healthcare applications. Finally, implications for theory and practice and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arthropod exoskeleton provides protection and support and is vital for survival and adaption. The integrity and mechanical properties of the exoskeleton are often impaired after pathogenic infection; however, the detailed mechanism by which infection affects the exoskeleton remains largely unknown. Here, we report that the damage to the shrimp exoskeleton is caused by modulation of host lipid profiles after infection with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). WSSV infection disrupts the mechanical performance of the exoskeleton by inducing the expression of a chitinase (Chi2) in the sub-cuticle epidermis and decreasing the cuticle chitin content. The induction of Chi2 expression is mediated by a nuclear receptor that can be activated by certain enriched long-chain saturated fatty acids after infection. The damage to the exoskeleton, an aftereffect of the induction of host lipogenesis by WSSV, significantly impairs the motor ability of shrimp. Blocking the WSSV-caused lipogenesis restored the mechanical performance of the cuticle and improved the motor ability of infected shrimp. Therefore, this study reveals a mechanism by which WSSV infection modulates shrimp internal metabolism resulting in phenotypic impairment, and provides new insights into the interactions between the arthropod host and virus. Author summary: Loosening and softening of the exoskeleton of shrimp is frequently observed after white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection. This study reveals that the impairment of the exoskeleton is due to the enrichment of certain long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), induction of chitinase, and ultimately decrease in cuticle chitin after WSSV infection. The exoskeleton allows for movement through contracting connected muscle; therefore, these WSSV-induced changes impair the motor ability of infected shrimp. The impaired motor ability may increase the chance of an infected shrimp being consumed by a healthy shrimp, thereby facilitating the natural transmission of WSSV. As WSSV exploits LCFAs for virion morphogenesis, we also show that blocking WSSV-induced lipogenesis restores exoskeleton performance, providing a possible strategy for the inhibition of viral transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 200 different serogroups of Vibrio cholerae based on O-polysaccharide specificity have been described worldwide, including the two most important serogroups, O1 and O139. Non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae serogroups generally do not produce the cholera-causing toxin but do sporadically cause gastroenteritis and extra-intestinal infections. Recently, however, bloodstream infections caused by non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae are being increasingly reported, and these infections are associated with high mortality in immunocompromised hosts. We describe a case of non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae bacteremia in a patient with autoimmune pancreatitis and stenosis of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. The clinical manifestations of bacteremia were fever and mild digestive symptoms. The blood cultures showed V. cholerae, which was identified as a non-O1, non-O139 serogroup by slide agglutination tests and PCR. The bloodstream infection of the patient was likely caused by the consumption of contaminated seafood at a banquet. The patient recovered after the administration of a third-generation cephalosporin. Non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae infection presents with or without gastrointestinal manifestations; close attention should be paid to the possibility of disseminated non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae infection in high-risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformer-based models have gained popularity in the field of natural language processing (NLP) and are extensively utilized in computer vision tasks and multi-modal models such as GPT4. This paper presents a novel method to enhance the explainability of transformer-based image classification models. Our method aims to improve trust in classification results and empower users to gain a deeper understanding of the model for downstream tasks by providing visualizations of class-specific maps. We introduce two modules: the "Relationship Weighted Out" and the "Cut" modules. The "Relationship Weighted Out" module focuses on extracting class-specific information from intermediate layers, enabling us to highlight relevant features. Additionally, the "Cut" module performs fine-grained feature decomposition, taking into account factors such as position, texture, and color. By integrating these modules, we generate dense class-specific visual explainability maps. We validate our method with extensive qualitative and quantitative experiments on the ImageNet dataset. Furthermore, we conduct a large number of experiments on the LRN dataset, which is specifically designed for automatic driving danger alerts, to evaluate the explainability of our method in scenarios with complex backgrounds. The results demonstrate a significant improvement over previous methods. Moreover, we conduct ablation experiments to validate the effectiveness of each module. Through these experiments, we are able to confirm the respective contributions of each module, thus solidifying the overall effectiveness of our proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing traditional Galerkin method, a coupled-mode flutter is predicted in the supercritical region of simply-supported pipes which constitutes a paradox since the internal flow effect is conservative and there is no energy to sustain the oscillation. Although there is a consensus that the flutter does not exist, the intrinsic mechanism remains to be clarified. This study has found that the internal flow induced Coriolis force term cannot be decoupled in traditional Galerkin method which leads to the dissatisfaction of the convergence conditions required in weighted residual approach (WRA). Moreover, the disparities in the predicted complex frequencies have been witnessed at different base function numbers when the internal flow velocity is sufficiently large. A modified Galerkin method adopting a new set of weighting functions is proposed based on WRA, and the Coriolis force term disappears by use of the orthogonality relations (it is stated that the Coriolis force is not directly omitted). Thus, a convergent solution for the set of residual functions which are identically equal to zeros can be guaranteed. Employing the modified method, the convergence in simulations is confirmed and the flutter phenomenon does not occur. This study can be a workbench for the study on the unsolved or partly solved issues in simulations of fluid-conveying pipes. Moreover, it has demonstrated that the predictions in traditional Galerkin method overestimate the natural frequencies, and it becomes more profound in higher-order natural modes at larger internal flow velocities which are of practice significance for dynamic analysis of flexible pipeline systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Our ability to predict temperature responses of leaf respiration in light and darkness (RL and RDk) is essential to models of global carbon dynamics. While many models rely on constant thermal sensitivity (characterized by Q10), uncertainty remains as to whether Q10 of RL and RDk are actually similar.We measured short‐term temperature responses of RL and RDk in immature and mature leaves of two evergreen tree species, Castanopsis carlesii and Ormosia henry in an open field. RL was estimated by the Kok method, the Yin method and a newly developed Kok‐iterCc method.When estimated by the Yin and Kok‐iterCc methods, RL and RDk had similar Q10 (c. 2.5). The Kok method overestimated both Q10 and the light inhibition of respiration. RL/RDk was not affected by leaf temperature. Acclimation of respiration in summer was associated with a decline in basal respiration but not in Q10 in both species, which was related to changes in leaf nitrogen content between seasons. Q10 of RL and RDk in mature leaves were 40% higher than in immature leaves.Our results suggest similar Q10 values can be used to model RL and RDk while leaf development‐associated changes in Q10 require special consideration in future respiration models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with Idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (iNOA) can achieve fertility by extracting testicular sperm through microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE). But more than half of iNOA patients still cannot benefit from mTESE. In recent years, some studies had reported that serum hormones may be related to the outcome of sperm retrieval, but few had been verified. We hope to obtain a predictive method that is convenient for clinical application and can help judge the outcome of sperm extraction before implementing mTESE. We performed a retrospective analysis of NOA patients who underwent mTESE in the same andrology center from June 2020 to November 2022. A total of 261 patients with complete data were collected, logistic regression analysis was performed and a predictive model was constructed. Then, from December 2022 to May 2023, one prospective cohort of 48 NOA patients who met the inclusion criteria from the same center was recruited to validate the risk prediction model. We successfully constructed a logistic regression model to predict the outcome of iNOA patients undergoing mTESE and found that higher serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels were associated with failure sperm retrieval, resulting in an AMH cut-off of 2.60 ng/ml. The area under the receiver operating curve was 0.811, the sensitivity was 0.870, and the specificity was 0.705. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the threshold probability was above 4%, and unnecessary mTESE could be reduced using this model. In a prospective cohort at the same center, 85.42% (41/48) of iNOA patients correctly identified the mTESE outcome using this model. A logistic regression model with AMH as an independent predictor can predict mTESE outcomes in iNOA patients. Preoperative selection of mTESE in patients with iNOA using this model had clinical benefit in reducing unnecessary surgery. The model demonstrated good accuracy in a small prospective cohort validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove a recent conjecture, due to Vigren and Dieckmann, about an explicit triple sum formula for a series from Ramanujan's Notebooks. We shall give two proofs: the first one is by evaluation and based on the identity [Display omitted] where { n k } is a Stirling number of the second kind, and the second one is combinatorial in nature and by induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical stress and stability of calcaneal fixations with and without bone defect, before and after bone grafting, through a computational approach. A finite element model of foot-ankle complex was reconstructed, impoverished with a Sanders III calcaneal fracture without bone defect and with moderate and severe bone defects. Plate fixations with and without bone grafting were introduced with walking stance simulated. The stress and fragment displacement of the calcaneus were evaluated. Moderate and severe defect increased the calcaneus stress by 16.11% and 32.51%, respectively and subsequently decreased by 10.76% and 20.78% after bone grafting. The total displacement was increased by 3.99% and 24.26%, respectively by moderate and severe defect, while that of posterior joint facet displacement was 86.66% and 104.44%. The former was decreased by 25.73% and 35.96% after grafting, while that of the latter was reduced by 88.09% and 84.78% for moderate and severe defect, respectively. Our finite element prediction supported that bone grafting for fixation could enhance the stability and reduce the risk of secondary stress fracture in cases of bone defect in calcaneal fracture. • Calcaneal fracture fixation with and without a bone defect was simulated. • Defects in calcaneal fracture elevated the stress and displacement of fragments. • Bone defects might induce instability and risk of stress fracture. • Stress concentration appeared at the cavity of the bone defect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently Cheng et al. (2023) [7] generalized the inversion number to partial permutations, which are also known as Laguerre digraphs, and asked for a suitable analogue of MacMahon's major index. We provide such a major index, namely, the corresponding maj and inv statistics are equidistributed, and exhibit a Haglund-Remmel-Wilson type identity. We then interpret some Jacobi-Rogers polynomials in terms of Laguerre digraphs generalizing Deb and Sokal's alternating Laguerre digraph interpretation of some special Jacobi-Rogers polynomials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic foot ulcers are a common and severe complication of diabetes mellitus, and a risk factor for amputation. Because of the vessel insufficiency in diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that simulates angiogenesis is of interest to promote wound healing. This systematic review evaluates the last 16 years of in‐vivo studies with VEGF stimulation as a treatment for DFU, developed based on the last published systematic article. A total of 961 articles were identified through databases in two phases. 947 articles were excluded by exclusion criteria, and four articles met our inclusion criteria and were included. The effects of VEGF on wound healing were analysed in all four studies. In three studies, the VEGF‐treated wounds showed statistically faster healing than those not treated with VEGF. In one study, the VEGF‐treated wounds revealed a positive trend toward faster healing. Furthermore, all four studies were in favor of using VEGF, but concluded that further research is needed. These studies showed a positive trend towards faster healing and was safe when using VEGF topically on humans. Furthermore, viral particles of VEGF seem to have a systematic effect when a dose exceeding 5.0 × 109 vp pr wound. Future research in using VEGF on DFU should focus on VEGF's relevant dosage, release rate, and specific mechanism. This review inspires further research, and a consistent study design is prerequisite such that results are more homogenic and comparable. Much effort is needed to translate the results into our clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many important problems are closely related to the zeros of certain polynomials derived from combinatorial objects. The aim of this paper is to observe some results and applications for the Hurwitz stability of polynomials in combinatorics and study other related problems. We first present a criterion for the Hurwitz stability of the Turán expressions of recursive polynomials. In particular, it implies the q -log-convexity or q -log-concavity of the original polynomials. We also give a criterion for the Hurwitz stability of recursive polynomials and prove that the Hurwitz stability of any palindromic polynomial implies its semi- γ -positivity, which illustrates that the original polynomial with odd degree is unimodal. In particular, we get that the semi- γ -positivity of polynomials implies their parity-unimodality and the Hurwitz stability of polynomials implies their parity-log-concavity. Those results generalize the connections between real-rootedness, γ -positivity, log-concavity and unimodality to Hurwitz stability, semi- γ -positivity, parity-log-concavity and parity-unimodality (unimodality). As applications of these criteria, we derive some Hurwitz stability results occurred in the literature in a unified manner. In addition, we obtain the Hurwitz stability of Turán expressions for alternating run polynomials of types A and B and the Hurwitz stability for alternating run polynomials defined on a dual set of Stirling permutations. Finally, we study a class of recursive palindromic polynomials and derive many nice properties including Hurwitz stability, semi- γ -positivity, non- γ -positivity, unimodality, strong q -log-convexity, the Jacobi continued fraction expansion and the relation with derivative polynomials. In particular, these properties of the alternating descents polynomials of types A and B can be implied in a unified approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion of generalized quantum cluster algebras was introduced as a natural generalization of Berenstein and Zelevinsky's quantum cluster algebras as well as Chekhov and Shapiro's generalized cluster algebras. In this paper, we focus on a generalized quantum cluster algebra of Kronecker type which possesses infinitely many cluster variables. We obtain the cluster multiplication formulas for this algebra. As an application of these formulas, a positive bar-invariant basis is explicitly constructed. Both results generalize those known for the Kronecker cluster algebra and quantum cluster algebra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an essential part of hydrogen removal system in nuclear power plants, PARs could effectively eliminate released hydrogen and prevent potential hydrogen combustion during severe accidents. Serving as a basic composition in the catalytic section of PARs, catalytic element has a direct influence on the hydrogen removal capability of the PAR device. The CFD software STAR-CCM+ was utilized to develop models of catalytic channels containing three common catalytic elements (including catalytic plates, catalytic cylinders, and catalytic spheres). The elementary reaction mechanism was employed as the reaction kinetics model to define the chemical reaction process. This paper aims to evaluate the hydrogen removal capability of the catalytic elements in same operating conditions and analyze important factors for designing the structure of catalytic elements. All the catalytic surface area of catalytic elements was set to 0.045 m2 and inlet boundary conditions were settled identically. Our findings show that catalytic sphere exhibits the best hydrogen removal capability, which is attributed to the large lower half catalytic surface area of spheres. Catalytic plate with a lower height also demonstrates excellent hydrogen removal capability because of the presence of a larger catalytic area in the leading section. However, the hydrogen removal capability of catalytic cylinder is affected by the boundary layer separation vortex. A noticeable decrease in reaction rate occurs on the lower part of the sidewall surface, especially in the catalytic cylinder with a larger radius. In the structure design of catalytic elements, enlarging the catalytic surface area in the leading section and avoiding boundary layer separation on the catalytic surface are essential to further improve the hydrogen removal capability. • Investigation on hydrogen removal capability of common catalytic elements. • Catalytic sphere exhibits the best hydrogen removal capability. • Enlarging catalytic surface area in the leading section eliminate more hydrogen. • Boundary layer separation retards the hydrogen removal rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Art v4.01 is a well-known profilin protein belonging to the pan-allergens group and is commonly involved in triggering allergic asthma, polyallergy, and cross-sensitization. It is also referred to as Wormwood due to its origin. Crude wormwood extracts are applied for allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). Whether the recombinant Art v4.01 (rArt v4.01) can produce in vivo immunological tolerance by subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) remains elusive. In this study, to investigate the in vivo immunological response of rArt v4.01, Th2, Th1, Treg, Th17 type-related cytokines and phenotypes of immune cells were tested, facilitating the exploration of the underlying mechanisms. The expression and purification of Art v4.01 were carried out using recombinant techniques. Allergic asthma female BALB/c mice were induced by subcutaneous sensitization of wormwood pollen extract and intranasal challenges. SCIT without adjuvant was performed using the rArt v4.01 and wormwood pollen extract for 2 weeks. Following exposure to challenges, the levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), cytokines, and inflammatory cells were assessed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and histological examination of sera, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung tissue. These parameters were subsequently compared between treatment groups receiving rArt v4.01 and wormwood pollen extract. The rArt v4.01 protein was expressed, which had a high purity (>90%) and an allergenic potency. Compared with the pollen extract, rArt v4.01 was superior in terms of reducing the number of white blood cells (WBCs), total nucleated cells (TNCs), and monocytes (MNs) in BALF and the degree of lung inflammation (1.77±0.99 vs. 2.31±0.80, P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, only rArt v4.01 reduced serum IgE level (1.19±0.25 vs. 1.61±0.17 μg/ml, P = 0.062), as well as the levels of Th2 type-related cytokines (interleukin-4 (IL-4) (107.18±16.17 vs. 132.47±20.85 pg/ml, P < 0.05) and IL-2 (19.52±1.19 vs. 24.02±2.14 pg/ml, P < 0.05)). The study suggested that rArt v4.01 was superior to pollen extract in reducing the number of inflammatory cells in BALF, pneumonitis, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and serum IgE level. These findings confirmed that Art v4.01 could be a potential candidate protein for allergen-specific immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the impact of ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca compartment block on major cardiovascular events and postoperative prognosis in patients with lower limb aortoiliac occlusive disease (ASO). Methods This study was a retrospective study including 353 patients with lower limb arterial reconstruction surgery for ASO at Xiamen Hospital Affiliated to Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from January 2018 to January 2022. Patients were divided into two groups based on different anesthesia: the group receiving ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca block combined with sciatic nerve block (Group B) and the group receiving monitored anesthesia care (MAC) (Group M). The primary outcome was the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events after lower limb arterial reconstruction surgery in ASO patients. The secondary outcomes included the incidence of non-cardiac postoperative myocardial injury, postoperative amputation, and other adverse reactions such as postoperative delirium, nausea, and vomiting as well as postoperative laboratory indicators. By using propensity score matching to balance baseline characteristics before surgery, the impact of different anesthesia methods on the occurrence of MACE and prognosis after surgery in ASO patients was analyzed. Results After propensity score matching, the incidence of MACE in Group B was lower compared with Group M (10% vs. 3.4%, P = 0.038) ; The incidence of MINS in Group B (33% vs. 25%, P = 0.200 ; The amputation rate of Group B (4.2% vs. 3.4%, P > 0.99); The incidence of complications in Group B was (6.8% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.39); There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative laboratory indicators between the two groups (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that nerve block (OR = 0.25, 95%C7:0.05 ~ 0.93, postoperative HBG (OR = 0.95, 95%C7:0.91 ~ 0.99) were in- dependent factors in reducing the incidence of MACE. Conclusion Ultrasound-guidance fascia iliaca compartment block and sciatic nerve block could reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients undergoing lower limb arterial revascularization surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel metal-free synthesis of 3-substituted isocoumarins through a sequential O-acylation/Wittig reaction has been established. The readily accessible (2-carboxybenzyl)-triphenylphosphonium bromide and diverse chlorides produced various 1H-isochromen-1-one in the presence of triethylamine, employing sequential O-acylation and an intramolecular Wittig reaction of acid anhydride. Reactions using these facile conditions have exhibited high functional group tolerance and excellent yields (up to 90%). Moreover, the fluorescence properties of isocoumarin derivatives were evaluated at the theoretical and experimental levels to determine their potential application in fluorescent materials. These derivatives have good photoluminescence in THF with a large Stokes shift and an absolute fluorescence quantum yield of up to 14%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • High-salt stress inhibited lipopeptide production of B. amyloliquefaciens. • Gene ktrA overexpression increased lipopeptide synthesis under high salt. • Proline transporter OpuE improve salt-tolerance and lipopeptide production. • Salt-tolerant consortia enhanced lipopeptide production from FW. High-salt content in food waste (FW) affects its resource utilization during biotransformation. In this study, adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE), gene editing, and artificial consortia were performed out to improve the salt-tolerance of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens for producing lipopeptide under FW and seawater. High-salt stress significantly decreased lipopeptide production in the B. amyloliquefaciens HM618 and ALE strains. The total lipopeptide production in the recombinant B. amyloliquefaciens HM-4KSMSO after overexpressing the ion transportor gene ktrA and proline transporter gene opuE and replacing the promoter of gene mrp was 1.34 times higher than that in the strain HM618 in medium containing 30 g/L NaCl. Lipopeptide production under salt-tolerant consortia containing two strains (HM-4KSMSO and Corynebacterium glutamicum) and three-strains (HM-4KSMSO, salt-tolerant C. glutamicum , and Yarrowia lipolytica) was 1.81- and 2.28-fold higher than that under pure culture in a medium containing FW or both FW and seawater, respectively. These findings provide a new strategy for using high-salt FW and seawater to produce value-added chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effects of different geometrical parameters on flow and heat transfer in the extended domain are studied. • The influence of the extended domain is explained from the angle of relative pressure and pressure gradient. • The criterion for judging the accuracy of numerical simulation results of the extended domain is put forward. • The optimal geometric parameters of the extended domain are selected. The natural convection flow in the vertical rectangular channels is frequently encountered in many engineering applications. Currently, most relevant simulation studies neglected the influence of the extended domain on the calculation results, it could cause the heat transfer coefficient to deviate by more than 10% from the actual result. This paper aims to study the influence of the extended domain on the natural convection heat transfer in a vertical rectangular channel. It is found that the mass flow rate in the channel can rise by approximately 8% and the heat transfer coefficient by up to 13.5% with an increase in the extended domain. This influence is explained from the angle of relative pressure and pressure gradient. The influence of different geometric parameters on the extended domain and the selection of the optimal geometric parameters of the extended domain are discussed. Furthermore, it is expanded to different heated boundary conditions and geometric structures of the channel. This study provided a reference for the selection of extended domains in the corresponding natural convection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccination has significantly reduced the incidence of invasive infections caused by several bacterial pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae , Haemophilus influenzae , and Neisseria meningitidis. However, no vaccines are available for many other invasive pathogens. A major hurdle in vaccine development is the lack of functional markers to quantify vaccine immunity in eliminating pathogens during the process of infection. Based on our recent discovery of the liver as the major organ of vaccine-induced clearance of blood-borne virulent bacteria, we here describe a new vaccine evaluation system that quantitatively characterizes the key features of effective vaccines in shuffling virulent bacteria from the blood circulation to the liver resident macrophage Kupffer cells (KCs) and sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) in mouse septic infection model. This system consists of three related correlates or assays: pathogen clearance from the bloodstream, pathogen trapping in the liver, and pathogen capture by KCs/LSECs. These readouts were consistently associated with the serotype-specific immunoprotection levels of the 13-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (PCV13) against lethal infection of S. pneumoniae , a major invasive Gram-positive pathogen of community-acquired infections in humans. Furthermore, the reliability and sensitivity of these correlates in reflecting vaccine efficacy were verified with whole cell vaccines of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli , two major Gram-negative pathogens in hospital-acquired invasive infections. This system may be used as effective readouts to evaluate the immunoprotective potential of vaccine candidates in the preclinical phase by filling the current technical gap in vaccine evaluation between the conventional in vitro approaches (e.g. antibody production and pathogen neutralization/opsonophagocytosis) and survival of immunized animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the accident conditions, the operational behavior of passive autocatalytic recombiners (PARs) has garnered significant attention, particularly with regards to the complicated atmosphere in the containment. This paper aims to systematically study and analyze the PAR performance under post-accident conditions. CFD simulation resolving individual catalytic channels of PARs provide valuable insights into hydrogen consumption performance and temperature distribution. A simplified model of PARs, consisting of a gas channel and two catalyst plates, was developed using the CFD software STAR-CCM+. One-step reaction mechanism was used in this model to define the hydrogen consumption rate on the catalytic surface. To study the variation in gas concentration and temperature distribution, physical values of interest were extracted from designated locations. An analysis of catalyst section was conducted to provide a comprehensive understanding of the reaction process occurring within PARs. Subsequent tests were conducted using the developed simplified model to examine the effect of inlet gas components variation and operating conditions on PAR performance under post-accident conditions. Our findings show that the variation of steam concentration primarily alters the heat absorption capacity of the gas mixture, rather than the catalytic reaction rate. Furthermore, inlet velocity and operating pressure play a role in controlling the inlet mass flow rate, thereby influencing the reaction process of the gas channel by introducing varying amounts of hydrogen. • An analysis of catalyst section behavior in passive autocatalytic recombiners. • Examinations of different inlet gas components and operating conditions. • Hydrogen concentration and gas temperature directly change the reaction rate. • Steam concentration mainly alters the gas heat absorption capacity. • Inlet velocity and operating pressure control the inlet mass flow rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a rare complication that can occur after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). MN patients may develop nephrotic syndrome or even kidney failure, which greatly affects their quality of life and prognosis. However, current knowledge regarding MN after allo-HSCT is limited. Thus, a multicenter nested case‒control study was conducted. Patients who had been diagnosed with MN after allo-HSCT were retrospectively identified at 8 HSCT centers. A total of 51 patients with MN after allo-HSCT were included. The median age of MN patients after allo-HSCT was 38 years, and the median duration from HSCT to MN was 18 months. The use of HLA-matched donors (P = 0.0102) and peripheral blood as the graft source (P = 0.0060) were identified as independent predisposing risk factors for the onset of MN after allo-HSCT. Compared to those in the control group, the incidence of extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease was greater in the MN patients (P = 0.0002). A total of 31 patients developed nephrotic syndrome. Patients receiving combination treatments of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants appeared to have better outcomes. In conclusion, MN is a rare but occasionally severe complication following HSCT and may require active treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under severe accident conditions, in addition to steam and air, there may also be hydrogen produced by the reaction of zirconium alloys and steam, CO 2 produced by the molten corium concrete interaction (MCCI) and other gases in the containment. These gases, whose properties are quite different from air, can significantly affect the steam condensation process outside the tube bundle. This paper aims to investigate the effects of non-condensable gas mixtures with varying component concentrations on the steam condensation process outside a 3 × 5 tube bundle using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. The thermal conditions studied are set to a pressure of 0.4 MPa, a subcooling of 40 K, and a molar concentration of steam of 0.66. The results show that CO 2 has an acceleration effect on the flow field outside the tube bundle, which promotes the diffusion of steam to the inside of the bundle, thus increasing the condensation heat transfer coefficient (CHTC) of the bundle and decreasing the difference in CHTC between different heat transfer tubes inside the bundle. Hydrogen, on the other hand, inhibits the downward flow of the gas mixture, causing a decrease in CHTC. However, at high hydrogen concentration (X H2 >0.1), the gas mixture will form a buoyant flow upward, and then the CHTC of the tube bundle will be significantly increased by up to 177%. When the two gases act together, they will weaken each other's influence on the flow field, thus reducing the CHTC of the tube bundle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health disorders worldwide, each affecting around 30% stroke survivors. These complications not only affect the functional recovery and quality of life in stroke patients, but also are distressing for caregivers. However, effective treatments are still lacking. Enriched environment (EE), characterized with novel and multi-dimensional stimulation, has been reported to exert therapeutic effects on physical and cognitive function. In addition, EE also had potential positive effects on emotional disorders after ischemic stroke; however, the underling mechanisms have not been well elucidated. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of EE on emotional disorders after cerebral ischemia and its underling mechanism. Sensorimotor cortical infarction was induced by photothrombosis with stable infarct location and volume, resulting in motor dysfunction, anxiety and depression-like behaviors in mice, with decreased ALFF and ReHo values and decreased c-fos expression in the infarction area and adjacent regions. Seven days' EE treatment significantly improved motor function of contralateral forelimb and exhibited anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in infarcted mice. Compared to the mice housing in a standard environment, those subjected to acute EE stimulation had significantly increased ALFF and ReHo values in the bilateral somatosensory cortex (S1, S2), dorsal dentate gyrus (dDG), dorsal CA1 of hippocampus (dCA1), lateral habenular nucleus (LHb), periaqueductal gray (PAG), ipsilateral primary motor cortex (M1), retrosplenial cortex (RSC), parietal association cortex (PtA), dorsal CA3 of hippocampus (dCA3), claustrum (Cl), ventral pallidum (VP), amygdala (Amy), and contralateral auditory cortex (Au). Some of, but not all, the ipsilateral brain regions mentioned above showed accompanying increases in c-fos expression with the most significant changes in the dDG. The number of FosB positive cells in the dDG, decreased in infarcted mice, was significantly increased after chronic EE treatment. Chemogenetic activation of dDG neurons reduced anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in infarcted mice, while neuronal inhibition resulted in void of the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of EE. Altogether, these findings indicated that dDG neurons may mediate EE-triggered anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in cortical infarcted mice. [Display omitted] • Infarction of sensorimotor cortex induced continuous anxiety and depression in mice in addition to motor dysfunction. • EE exerted anxiolytic and antidepressant effects accompanied with neuronal activation in multibrain regions, especially dDG. • Inhibition of the dDG neuronal activity by chemogentic techniques eliminated the therapeutic effects of EE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Predicted the occurrence position and power of the rod bundles' CHF. • Compared the influence of cladding materials' properties on the rod bundles' CHF. • Provided a detailed analysis of the impact of grid spacers on the rod bundle' CHF. The critical heat flux (CHF) is one of the safety standards for core thermal design and is crucial for the normal operation of the reactor. The CHF problem of rod bundles with grid spacers is a hot topic in related research. The successful design of grid spacers can improve channel CHF by affecting the flow of downstream coolant, and this detection analysis can be achieved through numerical simulation methods. In addition, most simulation studies have not considered the solid region of the cladding, so there is little research on the effect of cladding materials on CHF. The role of grid spacers in rod bundle CHF is the focus of this paper, and the influence of cladding materials is another discussion direction. In this paper, following meticulous mesh generation and computational model validation, a study on the CHF of the 5 × 5 rod bundle with multiple grid spacers and different cladding materials is carried out by using CFD software. The verification results indicated that the physical model established in this study can reasonably predict the generation location and critical power value in the 5 × 5 rod bundle with grid spacers. Furthermore, the study identified that the grid spacer exerts a significant influence on coolant flow within the channel, while the weakening of the mixing effect of the grid spacer on the coolant flow is the main factor to lead the boiling crisis upstream of the grid spacer. By comparing the effects of thermal properties of different materials on CHF, it was found that when the thermal conductivity ratio of the two materials is 1.08, CHF is almost identical under the condition of a reference heat flux of 0.1 MW/m2 as a step size. In addition to thermal properties, further attention may be paid to the influence of surface characteristics of materials on CHF in future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malicious image tampering refers to intentionally manipulating images to make them harmful to the owners or users. It has become one of the most severe challenges to image authenticity. Conventional methods for detecting tampering by identifying visual artifacts and distortions have limitations due to the rapid advancement of image manipulation techniques, which leave fewer detectable traces. To address these challenges, we propose a proactive media authentication method using deep learning-based semi-fragile watermarks. The designed scheme utilizes deep neural networks to embed an invisible watermark into a target image that is pixel-by-pixel entangled with it, which acts as an indicator of tampering trails. Once the watermarked image is counterfeited, the embedded watermark will exhibit changes accordingly, so we can locate the tampered regions by comparing retrieved and original watermarks. This proactive authentication mechanism makes our method effective against various image tamper techniques, including image copy&move, splicing and in-painting. Although our watermark is designed to be fragile to malicious tampering operations, it remains robust to benign image-processing operations such as JPEG compression, scaling, saturation, contrast adjustments, etc. This design enables our watermark to retain effectiveness when shared over the internet. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our method achieves state-of-the-art forgery detection with superior robustness, imperceptibility and security performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A one-dimensional two-phase six-equation solver based on OpenFOAM is developed. • A new coordinate transformation method for the simulation of one-dimensional system with bends in OpenFOAM was proposed. • Verification based on faucet problem was carried out with high accuracy. • Validation results based on passive containment cooling system showed good agreement and parallel speedup ratio. Passive containment cooling system is an important component of both 3rd and 4th generation nuclear power plants. To simulate two-phase flow in loop-type passive containment cooling system, a new one-dimensional parallel transient system solver, ComspaFOAM-SYS1D, was developed based on OpenFOAM. Compared to the previously developed one-dimensional solver, the new solver can be accelerated using multithreading. Additionally, a new coordinate transformation method was used in ComspaFOAM-SYS1D, enabling OpenFOAM to simulate a one-dimensional loop with bends. Faucet problem was used to verify the basic equations and models in the new solver. Validation was undertaken based on the GENEVA facility and the passive containment cooling system comprehensive performance test facility. In the assessments, representative parameters such as void fraction, pressure, temperature, phase velocity, and oscillation period were compared. Regarding efficiency, the simulation results indicated that the parallel speedup of the new solver could approach a value of approximately 2.0. In terms of accuracy, the relative deviations of time-averaged and transient extremum values of all the simulation results from the experimental results were within 15.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A begomovirus isolated from whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and tomato, sweet potato in China was found to be representative of a distinct begomovirus species, for which the name tomato yellow leaf curl Chuxiong virus (TYLCCxV) is proposed. The results of genomic identification and sequence comparison showed that TYLCCxV shares the highest complete nucleotide sequence identity (88.3%) with croton yellow vein mosaic virus (CroYVMV), and may have originated from the recombination between synedrella leaf curl virus (SyLCV) and squash leaf curl Yunnan virus (SLCuYV). Agrobacterium-mediated inoculation showed that TYLCCxV is highly infectious for a range of plant species, producing upward leaf curling, leaf crumpling, chlorosis, distortion, and stunt symptoms in Solanum lycopersicum plants. The results of Southern blot indicated that TYLCCxV is capable of efficiently replicating two heterologous betasatellites. The inoculation of PVX::C4 on Nicotiana benthamiana induced upward leaf curling and stem elongation symptoms, suggesting that TYLCCxV C4 functions as a symptom determinant. TYLCCxV V2 is an important virulence factor that induces downward leaf curling symptoms, elicits systemic necrosis, and suppresses local and systemic GFP silencing in co-agroinfiltrated N. benthamiana and transgenic 16c plants. Considering the multifunctional virulence proteins V2 and C4, the possibility of TYLCCxV causing devastating epidemics on tomato in China is discussed. • A distinct tomato yellow leaf curl Chuxiong virus (TYLCCxV) was isolated from whiteflies and tomato, sweet potato plants in China. • TYLCCxV is highly infectious for a range of plant species, and is capable of efficiently replicating two heterologous betasatellites. • The C4 protein encoded by TYLCCxV functions as a symptom determinant. • V2 is an important virulence factor and suppresses local and systemic GFP silencing in N. benthamiana and transgenic 16c plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel automated method for measuring left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) along the endocardium has advantages in terms of its rapid application and excellent reproducibility. However, it remains unclear whether the available normal range for conventional GLS using the manual method is applicable to the automated GLS method. This study aimed to compare automated GLS head-to-head with manual layer-specific GLS, and to identify whether a specialized normal reference range for automated GLS is needed and explore the main determinants. In total, 1683 healthy volunteers (men, 43%; age, 18–80 years) were prospectively enrolled from 55 collaborating laboratories. LV GLS was measured using both manual layer-specific and automated methods. Automated GLS was higher than endocardial, mid-myocardial, and epicardial GLS. Women had a higher automated GLS than men. GLS had no significant age dependency in men, but first increased and then decreased with age in women. Accordingly, sex- and age-specific normal ranges for automated GLS were proposed. Moreover, GLS appeared to have different burdens in relation to dominant determinants between the sexes. GLS in men showed no dominant determinants; however, GLS in women correlated with age, body mass index, and heart rate. Using the novel automated method, was LV GLS higher than when using the manual GLS method. The normal ranges of automated GLS stratified according to sex and age were provided, with dominant determinants showing sex disparities that require full consideration in clinical practice. Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain Using a Novel Fully Automated Method: a Head-to-head Comparison with a Manual Layer-specific Strain and Establishment of Normal Reference Ranges. [Display omitted] • Automated GLS was higher than the conventional manual GLS. • Sex- and age-specific normal ranges in relation to automated GLS were provided. • The dominant determinants were shown to have sex disparities that need consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fucoidans are a heterogenous class of fucose-rich sulfated carbohydrates which have attracted increasing attention in cancer and inflammation research due to their bioactive properties. There are reports that fucoidans may have direct antibacterial effects and synergy with antibiotics. However, the literature is conflicting, potentially due to the limited reporting of origin, characteristics, and extraction methods of the fucoidans tested. Here we report the results of 18 defined fucoidans screened for direct, indirect, and synergistic antibacterial effects. 15 distinct fucoidan fractions, isolated from Laminaria hyperborea using a solvent-free extraction process, were characterised for molecular weight, pH, viscosity, and sulfur content. These, together with three commercially available crude fractions, were assessed at concentrations from 0.03125-24 mg mL-1 for minimum inhibitory concentration against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis. Furthermore, we tested a selection of fucoidans for antibacterial synergy with vancomycin and indirect antibacterial effects in whole blood survival assays. Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to assess the stress response in fucoidan-treated S. aureus cultures. We have identified one fucoidan fraction with bactericidal activity against diverse bacteria. This effect is dose-, fucoidan fraction- and bacteria-specific, and furthermore, not related to osmotic stress. No synergistic effects were observed with fucoidan in combination vancomycin. Fucoidans have exciting potential as antimicrobial agents. Further analysis is required to establish the precise molecular characteristics responsible for their potent bactericidal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demand of users for distributed energy storage (ES) resources and the emerging development of peer to peer (P2P) transaction technology, shared energy storage (SES) has great potential to contribute into new business models of demand-side ES. In order to compromise essential elements like safety, stability and efficiency of P2P trading, as well as to improve the utilization rate of demand-side ES, this paper devotes to construct a P2P transaction framework based on a partially decentralized topology and proposes a two-stage trading optimization strategy of SES in a P2P market, considering the equilibrium state of supply and demand flow. In the first stage, this paper simultaneously balances the interests of buyers and sellers and brings the carbon trading mechanism into the transaction process. The interaction of interests of bilateral parties with consideration of carbon trading mechanism has been investigated, and a SES capacity sharing model is, then, established based on the bargaining game theory. In the second stage, a unique pricing mechanism for SES leasing fee is designed based on a multi-strategy evolutionary game model, considering bounded rational decision-making for SES operators and communities. Finally, numerical simulation verified the feasibility and superiority of the proposed P2P trading strategy of SES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blistering is a unique failure form of plate fuel elements. During the long-term operation of the plate fuel element with dispersed fuel, the phenomenon of the local blister on the cladding surface caused by the accumulation of fission gas may occur. This phenomenon will not only affect the flow and heat transfer of coolant in the blister channel but also lead to a local high void fraction on the heating wall, and make the boiling crisis occur early. The forms and distributions of blisters on the cladding surface may be various under different conditions. At present, there are few reports on the distribution of void fraction in the blister channel under subcooled boiling conditions. However, CHF, which is one of the core thermal design criteria, is closely related to the distribution of void fraction. So, in this paper, the void fraction distribution in narrow rectangular channels with different blister heights and forms was studied by using the numerical simulation method with the Euler-Euler model and the modified RPI model. The calculation results showed that the void fraction at the back end of the blister area will have a local maximum, and the backflow of fluid at the back end of the blister is the main reason for the high void fraction. In addition, as the blister height increased, the local maximum value would also increase. When the blister height exceeded 1.5 mm, the local maximum void fraction would exceed 0.82, which would lead to a localized boiling crisis on the cladding surface. Under the same blister area and blister height conditions, multiple blisters were more likely to have multiple peak void fraction points than a single pillow blister. At the same location, the peak void fraction of blisters on both sides of the heating wall was higher than that on one side, and a boiling crisis might occur on both sides of the heating wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Gaussian copula generates joint probabilistic scenarios for multiple PV power output. • Day-ahead and intraday offer models are constructed based on Stackelberg theory. • The interests in PVSS are coordinated based on non-cooperative game. • Genetic and linear programming algorithms effectively solve the proposed models. • The proposed bidding strategy increases the total revenue of PVSS by 4.993%. With the growth in the electricity market (EM) share of photovoltaic energy storage systems (PVSS), these systems encounter several challenges in the bidding process, such as the uncertainty involved in photovoltaics, limited bidding ability, and single-revenue structure, which significantly impact the market revenue. To address this research gap, a two-stage bidding strategy based on a non-cooperative game is proposed for PVSS to participate in energy and regulation markets. Considering the complexity of the PV output from adjacent multi-PVSSs, a scenario generation method considering spatiotemporal correlation is proposed. Furthermore, a two-stage bidding strategy is constructed, which includes a bi-level offer price model for the day-ahead (DA) market and a bi-level offer capacity model in the intraday (ID) market. In the DA stage, this study balances the interests of the PVSS and market-clearing costs and considers offer prices in the transaction process. In the ID stage, the market balance cost is considered to further increase the revenue of the PVSS. Moreover, the multi-PVSSs 'competition relationship is analyzed to coordinate market revenues based on a non-cooperative game. The PVSS adjusts its offer by considering that other PVSSs plans to achieve the Nash equilibrium. The superiority of the proposed strategy was validated using an improved IEEE30 nodes system. Compared to the DA stage bidding strategy, adopting the two-stage bidding strategy can increase the revenue of the PVSS by 5.608%. Specifically, the proposed bidding strategy can increase the revenue of the PVSS by 4.993% compared with a cooperative bidding mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The strongly coupling relationship between curvature and inclination is discovered. • The inflection point of inclination effect on condensation characteristics is found. • The mechanism of coupling effect between inclination and curvature is revealed. • The condensation performance of various curvature and inclination is compared. Steam-air condensation is one of the critical thermal–hydraulic phenomena in containment under accident conditions. Currently, sufficient experimental research and numerical analysis have been conducted on steam–air condensation outside the tube/plate. However, few studies have investigated the influence of curvature and inclination on condensation characteristics, and the local phenomena and mechanisms that affect the condensation process have not yet been fully revealed. In addition, it is of vital importance to evaluate the coupling effect between curvature and inclination in practical applications. To investigate the above-mentioned effects, numerical simulations were conducted over a wide parameter range (P = 0.2 ∼ 1.6 MPa, ω a = 0.1 ∼ 0.9, ΔT = 20 ∼ 100 K), and the related mechanisms were analyzed in detail. The results showed that there is a strong coupling relationship between curvature effect and inclination effect and the inflection point in the influence of inclination effect on steam condensation characteristics is discovered. Compared to the traditional conclusion that condensation capability gradually increases with the decrease of inclination angle. The effect of inclination on the condensation characteristics can reverse in different curvature regions. When the curvature is greater than 5 m−1, the inclination angle is negatively correlated with the condensation capability. When the curvature is less than 5 m−1, the inclination angle is positively correlated with the condensation capability. Furthermore, the enhancement effect originate from the curvature effect will greatly decrease as the inclination angle increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new efficient synthesis of polysubstituted benzo[d]pyrido[1′,2':1,2]imidazo[4,5-f][1,3]diazepines and pyrido[2′,1':2,3]imidazo[1,5-c]quinazolin-7-ium salts via sequential Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé/Staudinger/aza-Wittig/carbodiimide-mediated annulation has been developed. The three-component Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé reactions of 2-azidobenzaldehydes 1 , isocyanides 2 , and 2-aminopyridines 3 produced the azide intermediates 4 , which were treated sequentially with triphenylphosphine and isocyanates to give polysubstituted benzo[d]pyrido[1′,2':1,2]imidazo[4,5-f][1,3]diazepines and pyrido[2′,1':2,3]imidazo[1,5-c]quinazolin-7-ium chlorides in good yields. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A node vulnerability-aware co-deployment strategy of D-PMUs and FTUs is proposed. • A node vulnerability index for ADNs is defined based on CNT and risk assessment. • The proposed strategy balances the MS economy, monitorability, and SE accuracy. • The dynamic inertia weight and learning factors improve the DPSO's performance. • The SE robustness is better when the MS possesses higher SMD. This study proposes a co-deployment strategy of distribution-level phasor measurement units (D-PMUs) and feeder terminal units (FTUs) for active distribution networks (ADNs) considering node vulnerability to efficiently monitor and perceive the operational state of ADNs. The proposed measurement deployment strategy preferentially configures measurement devices with high precision and superior monitoring functions on vulnerable nodes while ensuring state estimation (SE) accuracy and cost economy. Based on complex network theory and risk assessment, a vulnerability index reflecting the "bridge" characteristics of nodes was defined. Considering the system monitorability, SE accuracy, and measurement cost, a measurement co-deployment strategy based on a combination weighting method was developed. An improved discrete particle swarm optimization algorithm was proposed to solve the co-deployment model by establishing a new particle coding format, improving the dynamic inertia weight and learning factors, and introducing chaos theory. Simulation results based on the IEEE 33-bus and 119-bus distribution systems verify the effectiveness and show that the proposed strategy not only improves system monitorability but also enhances SE robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]