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Little is known about how community composition affects vertical patterns of leaf characteristics for submerged macrophytes in freshwater lakes. Here, after sampling Hydrilla verticillata in both single and mixed communities in shallow and deep areas in a shallow lake, we measured vertical patterns of leaf biofilm and physiology characteristics. Upper leaves of H. verticillata always had more attached abiotic biofilm matters, and all biofilm characteristics exhibited declining trends from top to bottom segments in deep areas. Moreover, the amount of attached biofilm matter in the mixed community was less than in the single community in shallow areas, but the reverse was true in deep areas. The vertical pattern of leaf physiology characteristics was obvious in the mixed community. In the shallow area, leaf pigment concentrations showed increasing trends with an increasing water depth, but the enzymatic specific activity of peroxidase (POD-ESA) was precisely the opposite. In the deep area, leaf chlorophyll concentrations were greatest in the leaves of bottom segments and lowest in top segments, while carotenoids and POD-ESA were greatest in the leaves of the middle segment-II. Light intensity and biofilm were found to play an important role in regulating the vertical patterns of photosynthetic pigments and POD-ESA. Our study highlighted the effect of community composition on the vertical pattern of leaf physiology and biofilm characteristics. Highlights: Biofilm characteristics always showed increasing trends with increasing water depth. Community composition changed the amount of attached biofilm matter. The vertical pattern of leaf physiology was more obvious in mixed communities. Light intensity and biofilm regulated the vertical pattern of leaf physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the rotation effects of the hot and dense QCD matter in a non-perturbative regime by the gauge/gravity duality. We use the gravitational model that is designated to match the state-of-the-art lattice data on the thermal properties of (2+1)-flavor QCD and predict the location of the critical endpoint and the first-order phase transition line at large baryon chemical potential without rotation. After introducing the angular velocity via a local Lorentz boost, we investigate the thermodynamic quantities for the system under rotation in a self-consistent way. We find that the critical temperature and baryon chemical potential associated with the QCD phase transition decrease as the angular velocity increases. Moreover, some interesting phenomena are observed near the critical endpoint. We then construct the 3-dimensional phase diagram of the QCD matter in terms of temperature, baryon chemical potential, and angular velocity. As a parallel investigation, we also consider the gravitational model of SU(3) pure gluon system, for which the 2-dimensional phase diagram associated with temperature and angular velocity has been predicted. The corresponding thermodynamic quantities with rotation are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In order to improve the homogeneous distribution of the TiC particles and facilitate the TiC particles to distribute in the tungsten grain interiors, two kinds of TiC-doped tungsten precursors with a core–shell structure were prepared by an improved wet chemical method at different reaction temperature conditions. Consequently, fine plate-like precursor (200–400 nm) and flower-like precursor (approximately 1.25 μm) are obtained. After reduction and sintering, the microstructures of the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In the sample sintered from the plate-like precursor, TiC particles with sizes in the range of 40–300 nm and an average size of approximately 80 nm were uniformly distributed in the tungsten matrix with a high share in the grain interiors. However, in the sample sintered from the flower-like precursor, the TiC particles with sizes in the range of 50–700 nm are significantly aggregated and non-uniformly distributed in the tungsten matrix. As a result, the sample sintered from the plate-like precursor achieves higher mechanical properties and a much narrower range of bending strength values than that sintered from the flower-like precursor. The average bending strength of the sample sintered from the plate-like precursor is 655 MPa, which is higher than that of the sample sintered from the flower-like precursor (524 MPa). Different reaction mechanisms and dispersing stabilities of the TiC particles at different temperature conditions should be accounted for the differences between the two samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop MRI-based radiomics model for predicting prostate cancer (PCa) in men with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels of 4–10 ng/mL, to compare the performance of radiomics model and PI-RADS v2.1, and to further verify the predictive ability of radiomics model for lesions with different PI-RADS v2.1 score. 171 patients with PSA levels of 4–10 ng/mL were divided into training (n = 119) and testing (n = 52) groups. PI-RADS v2.1 score was assessed by two radiologists. All volumes of interest were segmented on T2-weighted imaging, diffusion weighted imaging, and apparent diffusion coefficient sequences, from which quantitative radiomics features were extracted. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to establish radiomics model for predicting PCa. The diagnostic performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The radiomics model exhibited the best performance in predicting PCa, which was better than the performance of PI-RADS v2.1 scoring by the junior radiologist in the training group [area under the curve (AUC): 0.932 vs 0.803], testing group (AUC: 0.922 vs 0.797), and the entire cohort (AUC: 0.927 vs 0.801) (P < 0.05). The radiomics model performed well for lesions with PI-RADS v2.1 score of 3 (AUC = 0.854, sensitivity = 84.62%, specificity = 84.34%) and PI-RADS v2.1 score of 4–5 (AUC = 0.967, sensitivity = 98.11%, specificity = 86.36%) assigned by junior radiologist. The radiomics model quantitatively outperformed PI-RADS v2.1 for noninvasive prediction of PCa in men with PSA levels of 4–10 ng/mL. The model can help improve the diagnostic performance of junior radiologists and facilitate better decision-making by urologists for management of lesions with different PI-RADS v2.1 score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, analytical solutions are developed for the super-critical vibration of fluid-conveying pipes with elastic supports. By accounting for the geometric nonlinearity, the nonlinear buckling problem is solved and the equilibrium configurations are obtained. Using a coordinate transform, the dynamic model of a super-critical pipe is obtained for the vibrations around the non-trivial equilibrium configuration. The present analytical solutions of interest for the equilibrium configurations, the natural frequencies, the mode shape, and the transient response are obtained by combining the Laplace transform method with the complex mode method. The Laplace transform method is applied to formulate a steady-state Green's function solution. Using the complex mode methodology, vibration characteristics of the super-critical pipe around the equilibrium configurations are presented. The present analytical solutions can be readily reduced to classical boundary conditions by setting end-spring parameters to zero or infinity. Numerical simulations are conducted to understand the impact mechanisms of the elastic support parameters on the free and forced vibration characteristics. This work offers important guidance for optimization and design of super-critical fluid-conveying pipes with elastic supports for engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogenation behavior of Ti44Al6Nb1Cr2V (at%) alloy at temperature range of 1373–1693 K and its effect on microstructure and room-temperature mechanical properties were studied systematically in this study. The results show that hydrogen content increases with the increase in temperature, and the maximum hydrogen content is 0.126 wt% at 1693 K. The heat of solution of hydrogen is calculated as 82.9 kJ·mol−1 by curve fitting, indicating that hydrogen absorption in TiAl alloys is endothermic. Hydrogen promotes the lamellar colony size because hydrogen promotes the diffusion of elements. Hydrogen stabilizes B2 phase during hydrogenation resulting in more residual B2 phase in the hydrogenated alloy. The nanohardness and elastic modulus decrease after hydrogenation due to that hydrogen weakens the bonds. The Ti44Al6Nb1Cr2V alloy exhibits higher plasticity and lower flow stress hydrogenation with 0.039 wt% H, and the ultimate compressive strength decreases from 1220 to 1130 MPa, while the fracture strain is enhanced by 26%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It's well-known that multiple metal elements can lead to the change of oxidative stress response levels in vivo. However, their relationship with age-related cataract (ARC) had not been well studied. We designed a case–control study including 210 individuals with ARC and 210 matched control group. The metal levels in their urine specimens were measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was used to select representative metals into the multi-element model and reduce dimension. Multivariate logic analysis and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were subsequently used to explore the association of ARC risk with multiple metal elements. We found that magnesium (Mg), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), and selenium (Se) were positively associated with ARC in the single-element model. The multiple exposure model indicated a positive association between Mg and As, in which the OR in their highest quartile were 3.32 (95% CI: 1.24–8.89) and 7.09 (95% CI: 2.56–19.63). The BKMR model also showed the effect of As increased monotonically with its increasing concentration, and high levels of Mg and As had a significant positive effect on ARC risk. In conclusion, we found that exposure to multiple metals was associated with increased ARC risk. Further research is needed to verify these findings in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new quinolin-2(1H)-ones, 7-methoxy-6-methyl-4-(4-methylfuran-2-yl)quinolin-2(1H)-one (1) and 7-hydroxy-6-methyl-4-(4-methylfuran-2-yl)quinolin-2(1H)-one (2), were isolated from the twigs of Cassia auriculata. Their structures were determined by means of HR-ESI-MS and extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies. Compounds 1 and 2 were tested for their anti-tobacco mosaic virus (anti-TMV) activity. The results showed that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited potential anti-TMV activity with inhibition rates of 38.4 and 49.2%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New 40SiCr pearlite wheel steels contained 0.4 wt.% C, 1.07 wt.% Cr, 1.33 wt.% Si and 0.84 wt.% Mn with hardness of 256, 306, 325 and 382 HBW were used to conduct sliding friction experiments coupled with the commercial U71Mn rail steel. Different hardness ratios of Hw/Hr (hardness of wheel/hardness of rail) with 0.79, 0.81, 0.89 and 1.04 were obtained to study the optimal Hw/Hr and obtain the minimal wear loss of wheel/rail steels. The sliding wear test was conducted under the constant loads of 200 N and sliding speed of 200 rpm. The results showed as the hardness increased, the ferrite content decreased and the generation of plate cementite (PC) and spherical cementite (SC), the wear loss of wheel samples decreased with the increasing Hw/Hr. Furthermore, when the Hw/Hr was 0.81, the rail sample wear loss and the wheel/rail total wear loss were the lowest simultaneously. When the Hw/Hr was 0.79, adhesive wear of the rail led to high wear loss. When the Hw/Hr was 0.89 and 1.04, hard wheel fragments ground the coupled rail and abrasive wear also caused high rail wear loss. From the perspective of wear performance, the wear loss of 40SiCr-633(i.e., Hw/Hr=0.81) wheel was close to that of ER8 wheel under the same wear conditions while ensuring the lowest rail wear loss, so 0.81 was the best Hw/Hr in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using gauge/gravity duality, we calculate the spectral function of the heavy vector mesons with the presence of an intense magnetic field in a hot and dense medium. The results show that, a general conclusion, as the increases of magnetic field, chemical potential and temperature, the height of the peak of the spectral function decreases and the width increases. A nontrivial result is the change from the peak position of spectral function. We explain this non-trivial behavior by the interplay of the interaction between the two heavy quarks and the interaction between the medium with each of the heavy quarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, dicyanoisophorone was used as NIR (near-infrared spectroscopy) emission fluorophore, and thiobenzoate as the recognition function motif to fabricate probe HgS. Through the Hg-S linker, the whole molecule's fluorescence was quenched due to the strong photoinduced electron transfer effect (PET). However, the Hg-S linker could be cut off upon the Hg2+ being added to the probe solution, leading to a strong fluorescence emission turned on by the intramolecular charge transfer effect (ICT). The probe HgS can respond to Hg2+ during the NIR emission spectral range and exhibits a significant Stokes shift (215 nm), excellent selectivity, and biocompatibility. Besides, the probe HgS can be used to monitor Hg2+ in bio-system and water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We study the mass spectra of Q ¯ Q Q ¯ Q (Q = c, b) systems in QCD sum rules with the complete next-to-leading order (NLO) contribution to the perturbative QCD part of the correlation functions. Instead of meson-meson or diquark-antidiquark currents, we use diagonalized currents under operator renormalization. We find that differing from conventional mesons q ¯ q and baryons qqq, a unique feature of the multiquark systems like Q ¯ Q Q ¯ Q is the operator mixing or color configuration mixing induced by NLO corrections, which is crucial to understand the color structure of the states. Our numerical results show that the NLO corrections are very important for the Q ¯ Q Q ¯ Q system, because they not only give significant contributions but also reduce the scheme and scale dependence and make Borel platform more distinct, especially for the b ¯ b b ¯ b in the MS ¯ scheme. We use currents that have good perturbation convergence in our phenomenological analysis. With the MS ¯ scheme, we get three JPC = 0++ states, with masses 6.35 − 0.17 + 0.20 GeV, 6.56 − 0.20 + 0.18 GeV and 6.95 − 0.35 + 0.21 GeV, respectively. The first two seem to agree with the broad structure around 6.2 ~ 6.8 GeV measured by the LHCb collaboration in the J/ψJ/ψ spectrum, and the third seems to agree with the narrow resonance X(6900). For the 2++ states we find one with mass 7.03 − 0.26 + 0.22 GeV, which is also close to that of X(6900), and another one around 7.25 − 0.35 + 0.21 GeV, which has good scale dependence but slightly large scheme dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-staining negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain N-S-14T, was isolated from the sediment of a winery in Guiyang, south-western China and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic characteristics. The cells showed oxidase-negative and catalase-negative reactions. Growth occurred at 5–45 °C (optimum 30 °C), pH 5.0–8.0 (optimum pH 6.0–7.0) and with 0–3% (w/v) NaCl on R2A medium. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The predominant cellular fatty acids (> 10.0%) were identified as iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 and summed feature 9 (iso-C17:1ω9c or C16:0 10-methyl). The profile of polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminophospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The genomic DNA G + C content was 67.5%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain N-S-14T should be affiliated to the genus Dyella and formed a clade with most closely related Dyella solisilvae DHG54T (98.3%) and Dyella halodurans DHOG02T (97.8%). The digital DNA–DNA hybridization values ranged from 17.7 to 27.1% and the ANI values ranged from 75.2 to 84.0% between strain N-S-14T and other members of the genus Dyella, respectively, and thus the results indicated that strain N-S-14T represented a novel genomic species belonging to the genus Dyella. The polyphasic taxonomic characteristics indicated that the strain N-S-14T represent a novel species of the genus Dyella, for which the name Dyella sedimenti sp. nov. (type strain N-S-14T = CGMCC 1.18717T = KCTC 82384T) is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive analysis of prospectively measuring the concentration of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) to predict left atrial (LA) low-voltage areas (LVAs) and atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA).Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. A total of 84 patients, including 54 paroxysmal AF cases and 30 persistent AF cases who underwent RFA, were recruited. Electroanatomical voltage mapping determined the extent of LVAs. The serum level of sST2 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All patients were followed for 12 months after the RFA procedure to verify AF recurrence.Results: The concentration of sST2 measured in the sample was 17.90-198.77 pg/mL, and the range of LA LVAs was 0-85.6%. The sST2 level positively correlated with LVAs (r = 0.40; P = 0.005). When comparing the top and bottom quartile, sST2 is significantly associated with LA LVAs (OR = 1.833, 95% CI: 1.582-2.011, P = 0.004). When compared with the 1st quartile group, the multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for AF recurrence after RFA were 1.57 (95% CI: 1.182-1.795) for the 4th quartile group, 1.44 (95% CI: 1.085-1.598) for the 3rd quartile group, and 1.27 (95% CI: 0.954-1.318) for the 2nd quartile group. The AF-free survival rates of patients with 1st quartile and 4th quartile sST2 levels after ablation were 95% and 59.6%, respectively (Log Rank test, P = 0.027).Conclusion: Elevated sST2 levels of AF patients were associated with higher LA LVAs and a significantly increased risk of recurrence. The circulating sST2 concentration might be a pre-diagnostic marker of AF recurrence after RFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To estimate the effectiveness and safety of tofacitinib in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with arthritis.This research was a retrospective cohort study that focused on SLE patients who had arthritis and were treated with tofacitinib at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology from January 2020 to January 2022. Clinical outcomes, disease activity, immunological parameters, and adverse events were systematically evaluated pre- and post-treatment at 4, 12, and 24 weeks.Twenty-two patients were analyzed. At the 4-week mark, 5 (22.7%) patients were partially relieved, and 17 (77.3%) unalleviated. By the 12-week assessment, CR off corticosteroids was observed in four patients (18.2%), and CR on corticosteroids was seen in six patients (27.3%), with an additional six (27.3%) maintaining partial remission. At 24 weeks after treatment, three patients (13.6%) achieved CR off corticosteroids, ten patients (45.5%) achieved CR on corticosteroids, and all patients received remission. Compared to before treatment, The SLEDAI and PGA scores significantly improved. The level of C3 was increased significantly, and the absolute CD3+ T cell count, the 28-tender and the 28-swollen joint count, and the levels of serum IL-6 were significantly decreased at 24 weeks after treatment.Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis, with a safety profile, and the therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activation.Key Points• Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis• The therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activationKey Points• Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis• The therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activationMethods: To estimate the effectiveness and safety of tofacitinib in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with arthritis.This research was a retrospective cohort study that focused on SLE patients who had arthritis and were treated with tofacitinib at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology from January 2020 to January 2022. Clinical outcomes, disease activity, immunological parameters, and adverse events were systematically evaluated pre- and post-treatment at 4, 12, and 24 weeks.Twenty-two patients were analyzed. At the 4-week mark, 5 (22.7%) patients were partially relieved, and 17 (77.3%) unalleviated. By the 12-week assessment, CR off corticosteroids was observed in four patients (18.2%), and CR on corticosteroids was seen in six patients (27.3%), with an additional six (27.3%) maintaining partial remission. At 24 weeks after treatment, three patients (13.6%) achieved CR off corticosteroids, ten patients (45.5%) achieved CR on corticosteroids, and all patients received remission. Compared to before treatment, The SLEDAI and PGA scores significantly improved. The level of C3 was increased significantly, and the absolute CD3+ T cell count, the 28-tender and the 28-swollen joint count, and the levels of serum IL-6 were significantly decreased at 24 weeks after treatment.Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis, with a safety profile, and the therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activation.Key Points• Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis• The therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activationKey Points• Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis• The therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activationResults: To estimate the effectiveness and safety of tofacitinib in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with arthritis.This research was a retrospective cohort study that focused on SLE patients who had arthritis and were treated with tofacitinib at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology from January 2020 to January 2022. Clinical outcomes, disease activity, immunological parameters, and adverse events were systematically evaluated pre- and post-treatment at 4, 12, and 24 weeks.Twenty-two patients were analyzed. At the 4-week mark, 5 (22.7%) patients were partially relieved, and 17 (77.3%) unalleviated. By the 12-week assessment, CR off corticosteroids was observed in four patients (18.2%), and CR on corticosteroids was seen in six patients (27.3%), with an additional six (27.3%) maintaining partial remission. At 24 weeks after treatment, three patients (13.6%) achieved CR off corticosteroids, ten patients (45.5%) achieved CR on corticosteroids, and all patients received remission. Compared to before treatment, The SLEDAI and PGA scores significantly improved. The level of C3 was increased significantly, and the absolute CD3+ T cell count, the 28-tender and the 28-swollen joint count, and the levels of serum IL-6 were significantly decreased at 24 weeks after treatment.Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis, with a safety profile, and the therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activation.Key Points• Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis• The therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activationKey Points• Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis• The therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activationConclusion: To estimate the effectiveness and safety of tofacitinib in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with arthritis.This research was a retrospective cohort study that focused on SLE patients who had arthritis and were treated with tofacitinib at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology from January 2020 to January 2022. Clinical outcomes, disease activity, immunological parameters, and adverse events were systematically evaluated pre- and post-treatment at 4, 12, and 24 weeks.Twenty-two patients were analyzed. At the 4-week mark, 5 (22.7%) patients were partially relieved, and 17 (77.3%) unalleviated. By the 12-week assessment, CR off corticosteroids was observed in four patients (18.2%), and CR on corticosteroids was seen in six patients (27.3%), with an additional six (27.3%) maintaining partial remission. At 24 weeks after treatment, three patients (13.6%) achieved CR off corticosteroids, ten patients (45.5%) achieved CR on corticosteroids, and all patients received remission. Compared to before treatment, The SLEDAI and PGA scores significantly improved. The level of C3 was increased significantly, and the absolute CD3+ T cell count, the 28-tender and the 28-swollen joint count, and the levels of serum IL-6 were significantly decreased at 24 weeks after treatment.Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis, with a safety profile, and the therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activation.Key Points• Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis• The therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activationKey Points• Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis• The therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Retraction Note: PI3 kinase/Akt/HIF-1α pathway is associated with hypoxia-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition in fibroblast-like synoviocytes of rheumatoid arthritis" has been retracted by the authors due to concerns regarding image irregularities in the figures. The authors acknowledge that incorrect image selection during figure preparation led to these errors, and they have been unable to reproduce the western blot results presented in Figure 2 in subsequent experiments. The retraction note is neutral and does not make any judgments or claims regarding jurisdictional or institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

The discovery of optical transverse orbital angular momentum (OAM) has broadened our understanding of light and is expected to promote optics and other physics. However, some fundamental questions concerning the nature of such OAM remain, particularly whether they can survive from observed mode degradation and hold OAM values higher than 1. Here, we show that the strong degradation actually origins from inappropriate time-delayed kx–ω modulation, instead, for transverse OAM having inherent space-time coupling, immediate modulation is necessary. Thus, using immediate x–ω modulation, we demonstrate theoretically and experimentally degradation-free spatiotemporal Bessel (STB) vortices with transverse OAM even beyond 102. Remarkably, we observe a time-symmetrical evolution, verifying pure time diffraction on transverse OAM beams. More importantly, we quantify such nontrivial evolution as an intrinsic dispersion factor, opening the door towards time diffraction-free STB vortices via dispersion engineering. Our results may find analogues in other physical systems, such as surface plasmon-polaritons, superfluids, and Bose-Einstein condensates. It remains unclear whether transverse orbital angular momentum beams can maintain OAM values above 1. Here the authors demonstrate the generation of beams with transverse OAM up to 100 by the inverse design of phase and find an intrinsic dispersion factor to describe the nontrivial evolution of such beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain is a common symptom of an illness. For decades, pain treatments such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and surgical nerve blocking have been widely used, but each method has its limitations. Photobiomodulation is a recently developed method for pain management, with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) being a more recent development used in pain management because of their low cost, low side effects, and high safety. Here, we reviewed the phototherapeutic effects of LEDs on different pain conditions. We also discussed possible physicochemical and neurobiological mechanisms underlying LED therapy, especially its effects on inflammatory pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Using conventional endoscope to perform endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is difficult because of the one-handed operation and blind dissection caused by gravity. Poor visualization of the submucosal plane causes ESD to be associated with a high risk of bleeding and perforation. This study aimed to develop a novel ESD-assistive robot system and to evaluate its efficacy. Methods: A novel flexible auxiliary single-arm transluminal endoscopic robot (FASTER) was developed. A total of 36 artificial lesions in ex vivo porcine stomachs were removed using the FASTER-assisted ESD method (n = 18) and the conventional ESD method (n = 18). Lesions were 2 cm or 4 cm in diameter, located on the anterior and posterior walls of the antrum. Primary outcome measurements were dissection time and dissection speed. Results: The dissection time in FASTER-assisted ESD was significantly shorter than that in conventional ESD (7 min vs 13 min, p = 0.012), mainly because of the faster dissection speed (148.6 vs 97.0 mm2/min, p = 0.002). The total procedure time in FASTER-assisted ESD was shorter than that in conventional ESD, but the difference was not significant (16 min vs 24 min, p = 0.252). Complete en bloc resection was achieved in all lesions. No perforations were detected. The FASTER exhibited the ability of regrasp, multidirectional traction, and proper tension control during ESD. Conclusion: FASTER significantly increased the dissection speed by providing proper traction and achieving good submucosal vision. This new device is expected to facilitate ESD in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common human γ-herpesvirus, infects more than 90% of adults worldwide. The purpose of this study was to establish a novel EBV detection method by combining the recombinase aided amplification (RAA) assay with an initial enrichment step that utilizes magnetic beads coated with a recombinant human mannan-binding lectin (rhMBL, M1 protein). An M1 protein–protein A magnetic bead complex (M1 beads) was prepared and used to achieve separation and enrichment of EBV from blood. After nucleic acid extraction, DNA was amplified by RAA. Using 388 whole blood samples and 1 serum sample, we explored the specificity, sensitivity and applicability of the newly developed detection method and compared it with commercial quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) following M1 bead enrichment, traditional qPCR and traditional RAA. After enrichment, the positivity rate of EBV was increased from 15.94% to 17.74% by RAA (P < 0.05) and from 7.20% to 15.17% by qPCR (P < 0.05). The viral loads after enrichment were increased by 1.13 to 23.19-fold (P < 0.05). Our data demonstrates that an RAA assay incorporating M1 bead enrichment is a promising tool for detecting low EBV viral loads in blood samples that will facilitate an early response to EBV infection. Key points: The RAA with an enrichment step that utilizes magnetic beads coated with M1 protein. A very effective method for detecting low-load virus in blood samples. The first report describing virus detection using this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the variations of the westerly jets (WJs) during the Last Interglacial (~ 127 ka; LIG) aids in deciphering the reconstructed hydrological conditions and dust activities at that time. Here, we investigated variations of the WJs over the Northern Hemisphere during the LIG based on the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project 4. We demonstrated that WJs exhibited divergent responses across regions and seasons during the LIG. In summer, WJs over the African–Asian–Pacific regions moved poleward by ~ 5° and weakened by 19% during the LIG, whereas there was only a slight change (+ 1°/− 2%) over the North American–Atlantic regions. In contrast, the winter WJs over the North American–Atlantic regions shifted poleward by ~ 2° and weakened by 7%, but with no obvious responses (− 0.2°/− 0.8%) over the African–Asian–Pacific regions. The WJs variations were linked to changes in meridional temperature gradients and maximum eddy growth rates. Furthermore, the poleward shift and weakening of the WJs over the East Asian–Pacific regions in summer resulted from the anomalous anticyclone triggered by the deep warm center over East Siberia and the anomalous cyclone linked with diabatic cooling over the western tropical Pacific. For the poleward-displaced and depressed WJs over the North American–Atlantic regions in winter, the propagation of Rossby waves from the eastern Pacific played a more important role, compared with the effect of tropical heating. Our work highlights divergent responses of the WJs to orbital forcing during the LIG, which helps to decipher the reconstructed westerlies-related processes and hence to obtain a better understanding of the climate change during this orbitally induced warm period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tinea nigra is a superficial fungal infection usually caused by Hortaea werneckii (H. werneckii). We report a special case of tinea nigra in an immunocompetent child who developed a unilateral, rapidly growing pigmented lesion on her palm. Interestingly, Curvularia lunata (C. lunata) was isolated from the lesion scrapes and was identified by both morphological features and molecular biology methods. The lesion was completely cleared by topical naftifine hydrochloride and ketoconazole cream. We present—to the best of our knowledge—the first case of tinea nigra where the causative pathogen was identified as C. lunata. We therefore provide a brief literature review of previously reported cases of tinea nigra to broaden the knowledge of the potential causative pathogens. The etiology, demography, clinical features, diagnostic methods, and treatment of the reviewed cases are summarized and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-channel lidar has fast acquisition speed, large data volume, high dimension, and vital real-time storage, which makes it challenging to be met using the traditional lidar data storage methods. This paper presents a novel approach to storing the multi-channel lidar data based on the principle of the tree structure, the adjacency linked list, the binary data storage. In the proposed system, a tree structure is constructed by the four-dimensional structure of the multi-channel lidar data, and a data retrieval method of the multi-channel lidar data file is given. The results show that the proposed tree structure approach can save the storage capacity and improve the retrieval speed, which can meet the needs for efficient storage and retrieval of multi-channel lidar data, and improve the data storage utilization and the practicality of multi-channel lidar system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied color-octet contributions for J/ψ inclusive production at B factories, i.e., e+e− → J/ψ(3 P J 8 ,1 S 0 8 ) + X non − c c ¯ , using the soft gluon factorization (SGF) approach, in which the J/ψ energy spectrum is expressed in a form of perturbatively calculable short-distance hard parts convoluted with one-dimensional soft gluon distributions (SGDs). The series of velocity corrections originated from kinematic effect can be naturally resummed in this approach. Short-distance hard parts have been calculated analytically to next-to-leading order in αs. Renormalization group equations for SGDs have been derived and solved, which resums Sudakov logarithms originated from soft gluon emissions. Our final result gives a upper bound for color-octet matrix elements consistent with that extracted from hadron colliders. This may relieve the well-known universality problem in the NRQCD factorization. As a comparison, we also analytically calculated short-distance hard parts in the NRQCD factorization, with Sudakov logarithms resummed by using soft collinear effective theory. The comparison shows that velocity corrections from kinematic effect, which have been resummed in SGF, are significant for phenomenological study. Furthermore, it is found that Sudakov logarithms originated from soft gluon emissions are very important, while it is not the case for Sudakov logarithms originated from jet function. Therefore, the partial Sudakov resummation in SGF has already captured the main physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TBM vibration is inevitable during excavation in hard rock or mixed face ground conditions (MFC) and is detrimental to equipment safety and environmental protection. However, the cutting-induced vibration can help clarify the TBM-ground interaction and provide a valuable ground identification approach. In the present investigation, a field measurement of TBM vibration in changing ground conditions was carried out with accelerometers mounted on the TBM bulkhead. The vibration characteristics and patterns under different ground conditions were compared by signal processing, and their relationships to the operating parameters were investigated. The results showed that the TBM dynamic response was highly dependent on geological conditions. In homogeneous soft ground (HSG), the magnitude of vibration was low and stable, while under the MFC, the high frequency and strong vibration occurred. The vibration waveform in the MFC had an apparent periodicity and was consistent with the cutter head rotation speed. In addition, the signal consisted of a series of periodical impulses with intervals, revealing the rock-cutting process. Since the TBM vibration was sensitive to ground changes, it could provide valuable and precise information about the cutting face ground conditions. This investigation of the relationship between the ground and vibration can provide a foundation for vibration-based ground identification, which is a potential application in simultaneously tracking geological conditions during tunneling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: For the non-destructive interrogation purpose, the present work studies the flexural wave propagation characteristics in submerged pipes conveying viscous flowing fluid. The internal fluid-pipe and external fluid-pipe coupling effects are both considered. Methods: The internal fluid is assumed to be viscous, irrotational, and isotropic; and the external fluid is treated as ideal and irrotational. The pressures exerted on the pipe by the internal and external fluid can be derived via the Navier–Stokes equation. The pipe is modeled based on the first-order shear deformation shell theory. The motion equations of the submerged fluid-conveying pipe are given by the Hamilton's Principle. Results: The coupled equations of wave motion of the pipes are obtained based on the first-order shear deformation shell theory. The wave propagation relations of submerged pipes conveying viscous flowing fluid are given. Conclusion: Increasing internal fluid velocity, external fluid velocity, or reducing internal fluid mass density can result in an increase in phase velocity of the first flexural mode. In addition, the phase velocities of the first three flexural modes are almost constant under a large axial wave number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain W712T was isolated from rhizosphere soil of Nicotiana tabacum L. collected from Kunming, south-west China. Cells were Gram-staining negative, aerobic, motile and rod shaped. The isolate grew at 20–45 °C (optimum 30 °C), pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and in the presence of up to 3.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1%, w/v). Ubiquinone-10 was the only respiratory quinone type. Polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmehtylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and an unidentified aminolipid. The major fatty acids were detected as summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c or C18:1 ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c or C16:1 ω6c) and C18:1 2OH. The genomic DNA G + C content was 68.7%. The ANI values were 94.3%, 93.3% and 93.6% between Azospirillum baldaniorum Sp245T, Azospirillum brasilense ATCC 49958T, Azospirillum formosense CC-Nfb-7T and strain W712T, respectively, which were lower than the prokaryotic species delineation threshold of 95.0–96.0%. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between A. baldaniorum Sp245T, A. brasilense ATCC 49958T, A. formosense CC-Nfb-7T and strain W712T indicated that the candidate represents a novel genomic species. According to the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, we propose that strain W712T warrants the assignment to a novel species, for which the name Azospirillum tabaci sp. nov. (type strain W712T = CGMCC 1.18567T = KCTC 82186T) is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Risk factors and consequences associated with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are still uncertain. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess risk factors and outcomes associated with CDI in children and adolescents with IBD. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to 24th February, 2021. Studies investigating risk factors, bowel surgery rate in pediatric IBD patients with and without CDI were included. Random-effects model was used for calculating summary estimates. Newcastle–Ottawa scale (NOS) was used for quality assessment. Results: Fourteen studies, comprising 17,114 patients, were included. There was a significant association between 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) use and CDI [odds ratio (OR) = 1.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–3.03], with minimal heterogeneity (I2 = 0.00%). Increased risk of active disease (OR = 4.66, 95% CI 2.16–10.07) were associated with CDI in those studies performed in high quality score (NOS > 6) and significantly higher CDI rates in studies conducted outside USA (OR = 2.94, 95% CI 1.57–5.58). The bowel surgery rate in IBD with CDI was 3.8–57.1%, compared to that in IBD without CDI (0–21.3%). All studies were of moderate to high quality. Conclusions: 5-ASA use and active disease might be risk factors associated with CDI in children and adolescents with IBD. Bowel surgery rates associated with CDI in IBD patients varied greatly. Large-scale clinical studies on CDI in children and adolescents with IBD are still needed to verify risk factors and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work analyzes the free vibration of a spinning functionally graded graphene platelet-reinforced metal foam (FG-GPLRMF) beam. The differential transformation method is extended to analyze flap-wise bending vibration and chordwise bending vibration with Coriolis force effect for the first time. The beam is modeled using the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. The Halpin–Tsai micromechanics model is utilized to predict effective material properties. Various types of graphene platelet (GPL) and porosity distributions are considered. The governing equations and corresponding boundary conditions of the FG-GPLRMF beam are obtained via Hamilton's principle. Results show that the vibration characteristics of the FG-GPLRMF beam are affected by the GPL geometry size, types of porosity, and GPL distributions. Among different types of porosity, the Porosity-A causes the highest fundamental natural frequency, while the Porosity-B corresponds to the lowest one of the spinning FG-GPLRMF beam in most cases. Moreover, the GPL pattern and porosity distribution have a coupled effect on the bending vibration of the spinning FG-GPLRMF beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic and ferroelectric materials attract unprecedented attention due to the spontaneous-symmetry-breaking induced novel properties and multifarious potential applications. Here we systematically investigate a large family (148) of 2D MGeX3 (M = metal elements, X = O/S/Se/Te) by means of the high-throughput first-principles calculations, and focus on their possible ferroic properties including ferromagnetism, ferroelectricity, and ferroelasticity. We discover eight stable 2D ferromagnets including five semiconductors and three half-metals, 21 2D antiferromagnets, and 11 stable 2D ferroelectric semiconductors including two multiferroic materials. Particularly, MnGeSe3 and MnGeTe3 are predicted to be room-temperature 2D ferromagnetic half metals with Tc of 490 and 308 K, respectively. It is probably for the first time that ferroelectricity is uncovered in 2D MGeX3 family, which derives from the spontaneous symmetry breaking induced by unexpected displacements of Ge-Ge atomic pairs, and we also reveal that the electric polarizations are in proportion to the ratio of electronegativity of X and M atoms, and IVB group metal elements are highly favored for 2D ferroelectricity. Magnetic tunnel junction and water-splitting photocatalyst based on 2D ferroic MGeX3 are proposed as examples of wide potential applications. The atlas of ferroicity in 2D MGeX3 materials will spur great interest in experimental studies and would lead to diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An axion insulator is theoretically introduced to harbor unique surface states with half-integer Chern number C . Recently, experimental progress has been made in different candidate systems, while a unique Hall response to directly reflect the half-integer Chern number is still lacking to distinguish an axion state from other possible insulators. Here we show that the C = 1 2 axion state corresponds to a topological state with Chern number N = 1 in the Majorana basis. In proximity to an s − wave superconductor, a topological phase transition to an N = 0 phase takes place at critical superconducting pairing strength. Our theoretical analysis shows that a chiral Majorana hinge mode emerges at the boundary of N = 1 and N = 0 regions on the surface of an axion insulator. Furthermore, we propose a half-integer quantized thermal Hall conductance via a thermal transport measurement, which is a signature of the gapless chiral Majorana mode and thus confirms the C = 1 2 (N = 1 ) topological nature of an axion state. Our proposals help to theoretically comprehend and experimentally identify the axion insulator and may benefit the research of topological quantum computation. In topological condensed-matter systems, axion insulators are elusive excitation and active research in running to spot their signature. In this work, the authors theoretically propose a picture to characterize the surface of axion insulators and a possible detection scheme for thermal transport experiments with a precisely half-quantized outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies of shallow foundations near slopes are commonly based on Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion, where the effect of intermediate principal stress on soil strength is not taken into account. However, true triaxial tests of soils have demonstrated that the intermediate principal stress notably enhances soil strength. In this study, a one-side failure mode with varying base roughness is adopted to derive the ultimate bearing capacity equation of strip foundations near slopes within the framework of the Meyerhof theory. The effect of intermediate principal stress on soil strength is governed by unified strength theory (UST). The flowchart of calculation steps for the proposed equation is provided with a trial method. The proposed equation is verified by comparing with model test results reported in the literature. Comparisons with a published theoretical solution show the ultimate bearing capacity of this study is larger due to allowing for the influence of soils in foundation depth. Parametric studies are investigated including the intermediate principal stress effect, the distance to slope crest, and the slope angle. It is found that the ultimate bearing capacity of a strip foundation near slopes is significantly increased with the intermediate principal stress effect, the distance to slope crest, and the base roughness, but it is markedly decreased with the slope angle. Moreover, the increasing rate decreases gradually with the distance to slope crest, and the ultimate bearing capacity finally converges to a stable value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Summary points: Aim: RCT to evaluate the efficacy of multi-component interventions for prevention of hospital-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized older patients. Findings: The multi-component interventions did not reduce hospital-acquired pneumonia but increased the mean time to next hospitalisation due to respiratory infection (11.5 months vs. 9.5 months; P = 0.049), and reduced the risk of hospitalisation in 1 year (18.6% vs. 34.4%; P = 0.049). This was likely due to the increased recognition of oropharyngeal dysphagia (35.6% vs. 20.3%; P < 0.001) and improved influenza (54.5% vs 17.2%; P < 0.001) and pneumococcal vaccination rates (52.5% vs. 20.3%; P < 0.001). Message: A multi-component intervention for nosocomial pneumonia may not significantly reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia but significantly increases the frequency of diagnosis of oropharyngeal dysphagia, improves vaccination rates and can reduce future hospitalisations for respiratory infections in older adults. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of multi-component interventions for prevention of hospital-acquired pneumonia in older patients hospitalized in geriatric wards. Methods: A randomized, parallel-group, controlled trial was undertaken in patients aged 65 and above who were admitted to a tertiary hospital geriatric unit from January 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018 for an acute non-respiratory illness. Participants were randomized by to receive either a multi-component intervention (consisting of reverse Trendelenburg position, dysphagia screening, oral care and vaccinations), or usual care. The outcome measures were the proportion of patients who developed hospital-acquired pneumonia during hospitalisation, and mean time from randomization to the next hospitalisation due to respiratory infections in 1 year. Results: A total of 123 participants (median age, 85; 43.1% male) were randomized, (n = 59) to intervention group and (n = 64) to control group. The multi-component interventions did not significantly reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia but did increase the mean time to next hospitalisation due to respiratory infection (11.5 months vs. 9.5 months; P = 0.049), and reduced the risk of hospitalisation in 1 year (18.6% vs. 34.4%; P = 0.049). Implementation of multi-component interventions increased diagnoses of oropharyngeal dysphagia (35.6% vs. 20.3%; P < 0.001) and improved the influenza (54.5% vs 17.2%; P < 0.001) and pneumococcal vaccination rates (52.5% vs. 20.3%; P < 0.001). Conclusions: The nosocomial pneumonia multi-component intervention did not significantly reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia during hospitalisation but reduce subsequent hospitalisations for respiratory infections. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT04347395. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) is a promising anode for lithium-ion batteries due to its high capacity and vast reserves. However, the low electronic conductivity and severe volume change during cycling hinder its commercialization. Herein our work, a three-dimensional (3D) Sb2S3 thin film anode was fabricated via a simple vapor transport deposition system by using natural stibnite as raw material and stainless steel fiber-foil (SSF) as 3D current collector, and a carbon nanotube interphase was introduced onto the film surface by a simple dropping-heating process to promote the electrochemical performances. This 3D structure can greatly improve the initial coulombic efficiency to a record of 86.6% and high reversible rate capacity of 760.8 mAh·g−1 at 10 C. With carbon nanotubes interphase modified, the Sb2S3 anode cycled extremely stable with high capacity retention of 94.7% after 160 cycles. This work sheds light on the economical preparation and performance optimization of Sb2S3-based anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theoretical modeling of a functionally graded (FG) graphene nanoplatelet (GPL)-reinforced assembled beam–plate structure resting on elastic supports is presented for the first time, and its free vibration analysis is performed. Herein, the assembled structure is modeled according to the Kirchhoff plate theory and the Rayleigh beam theory. The graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) gradiently distribute in the beam's radial direction and in the plate's thickness direction, respectively. By adopting the rule of mixture and the Halpin–Tsai model, the effective material properties can be obtained. By employing the Lagrange's equation and considering the effects of Coriolis force and centrifugal force, the coupled governing equations of the assembled structure are determined. Furthermore, the assumed modes method and substructure modal synthesis method are applied to obtain the frequencies of the assembled beam–plate structure. A comprehensive numerical investigation is carried out to discuss the influence of the structural and material parameters on the vibration behavior of the beam–plate structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new isobenzofuranone derivatives (1 and 2) together with six known compounds (3–8) were isolated from the roots of Phlomis betonicoides, a highly sweet plant in China. Their structures were determined by means of HR-ESI-MS and extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies. Compounds 1–8 were tested for their anti-rotavirus activity. The results showed that compounds 1–8 exhibited potent anti-rotavirus activity with therapeutic index value 7.5–16.4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new anthraquinones, 3-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-2,5-dimethylanthraquinone (1) and 6-hydroxymethyl-3-methoxy-2,5-dimethylanthraquinone (2), were isolated from the fermentation products of the endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their antimethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus activity. The results showed that compounds 1 and 2 showed good inhibition with IZD of 14.2 ± 2.0 and 14.8 ± 2.2 mm, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 were also tested for antioxidant activity; they show good activity with IC50 values of 4.18 and 4.36 μg/mL, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In connection with the design of floating wind turbines, stochastic dynamic analysis is a critical task considering nonlinear wind and wave forces. To study the random structural responses of a newly designed submerged tension leg platform (STLP) wind turbine, a set of dynamic simulations and comparison analysis with the MIT/NREL TLP wind turbine are carried out. The signal filter method is used to evaluate the mean and standard deviations of the structural response. Furthermore, the extreme responses are estimated by using the mean upcrossing rate method. The fatigue damages for blade root, tower, and mooring line are also studied according to the simulated time-series. The results and comparison analysis show that the STLP gives small surge and pitch motions and mooring line tensions in operational sea states due to the small water-plane area. Additionally, in severe sea states, the STLP gives lower extreme values of platform pitch, slightly larger surge and heave motions and better towerbase and mooring line fatigue performances than those of the MIT/NREL TLP. It is found that the STLP wind turbine has good performances in structural responses and could be a potential type for exploiting the wind resources located in deep waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a non-empty set X denote the full transformation semigroup on X by T(X) and suppose that σ is an equivalence relation on X. For every f ∈ T (X) , the kernel of f is defined to be ker f = { (x , y) ∈ X × X ∣ f (x) = f (y) } . Evidently, E (X , σ) = { f ∈ T (X) ∣ σ ⊆ ker f } is a subsemigroup of T(X). Also, the subset R E (X , σ) of E (X , σ) consisting of regular elements is a subsemigroup. Partition of a semigroup by Green's ∗ -relations was first introduced by Fountain in 1979 and the Green's ∼ -relations (with respect to a non-empty subset U of the set of idempotents) as a new method of partition were introduced by Lawson (J Algebra 141(2):422–462, 1991). In this paper, we intend to present certain characterizations of these two sets of Green's relations of the semigroup E (X , σ) . This investigation proves that the semigroup E (X , σ) is always a right Ehresmann semigroup. Finally, we prove that R E (X , σ) is an orthodox semigroup if and only if the set X consists of at most two σ -classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The next-to-leading order (NLO) (O ( α s 3 )) corrections for gluon fragmentation functions to a heavy quark-antiquark pair in 3 P J 1 8 states are calculated within the NRQCD factorization. We use the integration-by-parts reduction and differential equations to semi-analytically calculate the fragmentation functions in full-QCD, and find that infrared divergences can be absorbed by the NRQCD long distance matrix elements. Thus, the NRQCD factorization conjecture is verified at two-loop level via a physical process, which is free of artificial ultraviolet divergences. Through the matching procedure, infrared-safe short distance coefficients and O ( α s 2 ) perturbative NRQCD matrix elements ⟨ O 3 P J 1 8 (3 S 1 8 )⟩ are obtained simultaneously. The NLO short distance coefficients are found to have significant corrections comparing with the LO ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]