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The neural radiance field (NeRF) has shown promising results in preserving the fine details of objects and scenes. However, unlike explicit shape representations e.g., mesh, it remains an open problem to build dense correspondences across different NeRFs of the same category, which is essential in many downstream tasks. The main difficulties of this problem lie in the implicit nature of NeRF and the lack of ground-truth correspondence annotations. In this paper, we show it is possible to bypass these challenges by leveraging the rich semantics and structural priors encapsulated in a pre-trained NeRF-based GAN. Specifically, we exploit such priors from three aspects, namely (1) a dual deformation field that takes latent codes as global structural indicators, (2) a learning objective that regards generator features as geometric-aware local descriptors, and (3) a source of infinite object-specific NeRF samples. Our experiments demonstrate that such priors lead to 3D dense correspondence that is accurate, smooth, and robust. We also show that established dense correspondence across NeRFs can effectively enable many NeRF-based downstream applications such as texture transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of NixZn1−xFe2O4 (NiZn, x = 0.15, 0.25, 0.35, 0.45, 0.65, 0.7, 0.8, 0.85) ferrites were prepared via a solid-phase sintering method. The microstructure, phase, and gyromagnetic properties of the NiZn samples were studied in depth. It was found that the lattice constants, density, and hardness of the samples gradually decreased with increasing Ni2+ content. X-ray diffraction confirmed that all of the samples were in the spinel phase. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that the grain sizes were more uniformly distributed when x = 0.65. Raman analysis showed that the variation of Ni2+ content affected the occupancy distribution of ferrite ions. The results indicated that Zn2+ mainly occupied the A-site and that Ni2+ mainly occupied the B-site. The coercivity (Hc) of NiZn increased with increasing Ni2+ content. Meanwhile, the saturation magnetization (Ms) initially increased and then decreased. When x = 0.65, the total molecular magnetic moment started decreasing because of the decrease in the net A-site magnetic moment. The sample that had a composition of Ni0.65Zn0.35Fe2O4 had the highest Ms intensity with a value of 78.68 emu/g and a maximum value of 4πMs = 4780 Gs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect on the magnetic properties of multilayer films is investigated by changing the roughness variation due to the thickness of the non-magnetic layer film. The increase in roughness due to the thickness of the nonmagnetic layer affects the ease with which the magnetic moments of the two layers can be reversed, which is reflected as the magnitude of the demagnetizing field in the hysteresis loop. We have investigated the interface structure and magnetic properties of [Co/Cu]2 multilayers. Anomalous hysteresis "steps" were observed during the demagnetization process, and the reverse magnetic field became larger with the thickness of the nonmagnetic layer. Time-of-flight polarized neutron reflectometry and atomic force microscope are used as structural probes to explore the interface roughness and surface roughness in [Co/Cu]2 multilayers, respectively. The law of increasing surface roughness with thickness is verified. It will help to achieve material modification and artificial adjustment of the demagnetization process through a relatively easy preparation method for the development of complex devices. Moreover, the preparation of the hundred nanometer thickness films by sputtering technology is advantageous, which can be used in large quantities for industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of materials with low damping coefficient and high resonant frequency in spin electronic devices means the fastest and least dissipative information transmission. We report the direct fabrication of 40-nm amorphous Co40Fe40B20 thin films on silicon substrates using magnetron sputtering and investigate the dependence of their high-frequency magnetic properties on oblique deposition. It was observed that, with an increasing inclination angle, the in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy initially increased and then decreased. The phenomenon is attributed to the increased roughness of the film as the oblique deposition angle increases. When the roughness of the film reaches a certain threshold, pinning of magnetic domain walls begins to form, leading to a reduction in in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. By increasing the sputtering angle to 40° during the deposition, the in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy increased from 24.4 to 554.8 Oe. Furthermore, the high-frequency magnetic properties of the CoFeB amorphous thin films were modulated, extending their resonance frequency from 2.58 to 4.76 GHz while simultaneously reducing the damping factor to 0.025. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to apply a potent deep learning network, NAFNet, to predict adverse pathology events and biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS) based on pre-treatment MRI imaging. 514 prostate cancer patients from six tertiary hospitals throughout China from 2017 and 2021 were included. A total of 367 patients from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center with whole-mount histopathology of radical prostatectomy specimens were assigned to the internal set, and cancer lesions were delineated with whole-mount pathology as the reference. The external test set included 147 patients with BCR data from five other institutes. The prediction model (NAFNet-classifier) and integrated nomogram (DL-nomogram) were constructed based on NAFNet. We then compared DL-nomogram with radiology score (PI-RADS), and clinical score (Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment score (CAPRA)). After training and validation in the internal set, ROC curves in the external test set showed that NAFNet-classifier alone outperformed ResNet50 in predicting adverse pathology. The DL-nomogram, including the NAFNet-classifier, clinical T stage and biopsy results, showed the highest AUC (0.915, 95% CI: 0.871–0.959) and accuracy (0.850) compared with the PI-RADS and CAPRA scores. Additionally, the DL-nomogram outperformed the CAPRA score with a higher C-index (0.732, P < 0.001) in predicting bRFS. Based on this newly-developed deep learning network, NAFNet, our DL-nomogram could accurately predict adverse pathology and poor prognosis, providing a potential AI tools in medical imaging risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides, the thermoelectric properties of the material are affected by layer thickness and lattice strain. In this paper, we investigate the thermoelectric properties of a HfS2 bilayer under different biaxial tensile strains by first-principles calculations combined with Boltzmann equations. The presence of degenerate bands in the HfS2 bilayer and the absence of its monolayer results in the better thermoelectric performance of the HfS2 bilayer than its monolayer. Moreover, this strain increases the band degeneracy of the HfS2 bilayer even more, and the degenerate bands and stepped 2D density of states lead to a high power factor. In addition, the lattice strain increases the phonon scattering rate and reduces the phonon lifetime of the HfS2 bilayer, resulting in a decrease in the lattice thermal conductivity. Ultimately, we obtained a maximum ZT value of 1.76 for the unstrained HfS2 bilayer at the optimal doping concentration. At this time, its power factor and thermal conductivity are 53.01 mW/mK2 and 9.06 W/mK, respectively. When the strain reaches 3%, for the n-type doped HfS2 bilayer, the power factor and thermal conductivity are 69.87 mW/mK2 and 6.36 W/mK, respectively, and the maximum ZT value is 3.29. For the p-type doped HfS2 bilayer, the maximum ZT value appears at 6% strain, which is 1.83, at which the power factor and thermal conductivity are 13.81 mW/mK2 and 2.27 W/mK, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MnZn/NiZn ferrite laminated co-fired ceramics were successfully prepared via spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The interface between MnZn and NiZn ferrite layers in the co-fired ceramics has no obvious diffusion due to the short sintering time (less than 3 min) and low temperature (~ 1000 °C). The density and hardness of the co-fired samples increased with the increase of the sintering temperature. Due to the unique sintering process of SPS technique and the difference in electrical conductivity of the two ferrites, the MnZn ferrite layer is dense while the NiZn ferrite layer is loose in the co-fired ceramics. To adjust the sintering compatibility of NiZn ferrite and MnZn ferrite, the sintering additive Bi2O3 was used. Finally, the MnZn/Bi2O3-modified NiZn ferrite laminated co-fired ceramic composites with high density, hardness and good magnetic properties (MS-NiZn=68.71 emu/g, HC-NiZn=27.04 Oe, MS-MnZn=33.05 emu/g, HC-MnZn=11.05 Oe) were prepared by spark plasma sintering method. This work provides a simple and feasible method for preparing laminated co-fired ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn1−xNixZrTa2O8 (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10, 0.12) microwave dielectric ceramics were synthesized by traditional solid-state method. The effect of introducing Ni–O bonds to replace part of Zn–O bonds on the ceramic lattice and microwave dielectric properties was systematically studied. An appropriate amount of Ni2+ substitution improves the microscopic morphology of crystal, including the grain size, number of pores, number of grain boundaries, and the grain uniformity, giving rise to an increase in the compactness of ceramics and, thereby enhancing the microwave dielectric properties. The Raman analysis prove that the introduction of Ni2+ is beneficial to enhance the vibrational peak intensity of the oxygen octahedron and effectively improve the Q × f value. However, the introduction of excessive Ni2+ will lead to the decrease of lattice oxygen and the increase of adsorbed oxygen, and the crystal will become relatively active and unstable, and the microwave performance will decrease. In addition, the substitution of Ni2+ can also effectively control the resonance temperature coefficient, which is beneficial to improve the τf value. As a result, Zn0.94Ni0.06ZrTa2O8 exhibits excellent microwave dielectric properties: εr = 32.15, Q × f = 15,7500 GHz, τf = − 33.1 ppm/°C, presenting as a potential candidate for low-loss microwave dielectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of the maximum function of accumulated spectra based on the genetic algorithm is applied for the first time to three-dimensional (3D) wind field retrieval by Doppler wind lidar on an airborne platform. The algorithm can obtain the 3D wind field directly from the origin spectra of different directions regardless of the radial wind velocity inversion accuracy. To validate the reliability of this algorithm for application on an airborne platform, a 1.54-μm all-fiber airborne pulsed coherent Doppler lidar was installed on an aircraft to conduct field experiments. The measured wind fields were compared with those obtained through the sounding balloon and the ground-based lidar. For the sounding balloon, the average errors of wind speed and the wind direction are 0.539 m/s and 5.12°; while for the ground-based lidar, the average errors are 0.504 m/s and 4.18°, respectively. In addition, the two inversion results are in good consistency by comparison with the least square method. The genetic algorithm shows higher accuracy even though the detectability is low. The proposed algorithm, as an efficient and accurate calculation model, would be a good tool in the airborne platform for wind retrieval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetoelectric coupling is of tremendous importance for the information storage with respect to the pursuit of high density, low power consumption, high speed, and nonvolatile devices. Electric control of the exchange bias is a typical method for realizing the magnetoelectric coupling effect. However, there remains a tremendous challenge to realize a full electric control of exchange bias under the condition of zero magnetic field at room temperature. Here, a resistance device with a large area of the Si/Ta/Pt/Ta/NiFe/NiO/Cu foil exchange bias multilayer was prepared based on the anti-ferromagnetism and resistive switching property of NiO film. The resistance of the system changed into a low resistance state, when applying a certain voltage to the NiFe/NiO multilayers in the vertical direction at room temperature. The exchange bias field of multilayers with a low resistance state decreased. And it was a nonvolatile change. This was primarily related to the effect of the electron capture by the defective oxygen vacancy on the flipping and motion of the magnetic moment at the exchange bias interface. This work provides a potential method for the research of full electric control of magnetization and exploring the exchange bias mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft magnetic film with high saturation magnetization (Ms) and low coercivity (Hc) is a critical class of material for RF inductors, which can enhance the inductance when inserted into film inductor. In this study, a series of micron-scale FeNix film are prepared via an electroplating process. The phase and element composition of the as-prepared FeNix films are analyzed through the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. Results demonstrate that the iron nickel ratio of FeNix films can be adjusted by controlling the current density. The higher current density caused high nickel content, which may controllably prepare a series of micro-scale FeNix film. Moreover, SEM images and AFM photograph show that the films have no obvious defects and have a small roughness. We also found that the micron-scale FeNix film (~ 2.5 μm) presents high saturation magnetization (Ms = 1289.0 emu/cm3) and low coercivity (Hc = 76.8 A/m), which is feasible for magnetic core of RF inductors. Also, the electroplating method that preparing micro-scale FeNix film with controllable elemental composition can provide a referential experience for other soft magnetic film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, high-density polycrystalline Ca3−x−yTbxAgyCo4O9 (where x = y = 0, 0.01, 0.05, or 0.08) ceramics were successfully prepared through a citrate acid sol–gel method in combination with spark plasma sintering, and the thermoelectric performances of the corresponding materials were investigated. The electrical performance within the tested temperature range of 200–800°C for the x = y = 0.08 sample was found to be optimal, with a power factor of 0.35 mW/mK2 at 800°C, owing to the reduction in carrier concentration. However, thermal conductivity analysis showed that the x = y = 0.01 sample has the lowest κ value of 1.65 W/mK at 800°C and relatively low values at other test temperatures. Accordingly, the final dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) values for the x = y = 0.01 sample are optimal among the samples considered, with the highest ZT value being 0.22. Thus, this study demonstrates that appropriate Ag and Tb doping have a positive effect on the high-temperature performance of Ca3Co4O9 ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The proximal ulna has been comprehensively described in the anatomic literature and imaging studies. However, to the best of our knowledge, the anatomy of the proximal ulna in children has not been fully described in the literature. Methods: The present study was conducted on 189 children aged between 0 and 12 years (4.7 ± 2.7) by analysis of lateral X-rays of the forearm. Proximal ulna dorsal angulation (PUDA), tip-to-apex (TTA), and total ulnar length (TUL) were measured. The correlation between age and the various X-ray measurements was recorded and then compared with gender differences and adult measurements. Three orthopedic surgeons independently examined the X-ray films and confirmed the reliability of the original observations through intra-group correlation coefficients. Results: There was a strong positive correlation between age and TUL (r = 0.834), and a moderately negative correlation between age and PUDA (r = − 0.405). No significant differences were observed between different genders (p > 0.05). Compared with adults, all measurements were smaller except for PUDA, all such measurements statistically significantly different between children and adults (p < 0.05). Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were "very good" for TUL (0.81–1.00), and "good" for PUDA, TTA, and TTA% (0.61–0.80). Conclusions: Good understanding of the anatomy of the pediatric proximal ulna will help to increase the knowledge base in pediatric orthopedic surgeons allowing them to provide improved treatment of fractures. Restoration of the correct forearm anatomy should result in superior clinical and functional results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the Vafa–Witten equations on closed, oriented, smooth, Riemannian four-manifolds and propose a decomposition of the Vafa–Witten moduli space according to the rank of the Lie algebra-valued self-dual two-forms. When the structure group is SU(2) or SO(3), we establish the transversality for the full rank part of the Vafa–Witten moduli space. This implies that the full rank part of the moduli space of solutions to the Vafa–Witten equations with structure group SU(2) or SO(3) is a smooth, oriented, zero-dimensional manifold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After half a billion years of evolution, arthropods have developed sophisticated compound eyes with extraordinary visual capabilities that have inspired the development of artificial compound eyes. However, the limited 2D nature of most traditional fabrication techniques makes it challenging to directly replicate these natural systems. Here, we present a biomimetic apposition compound eye fabricated using a microfluidic-assisted 3D-printing technique. Each microlens is connected to the bottom planar surface of the eye via intracorporal, zero-crosstalk refractive-index-matched waveguides to mimic the rhabdoms of a natural eye. Full-colour wide-angle panoramic views and position tracking of a point source are realized by placing the fabricated eye directly on top of a commercial imaging sensor. As a biomimetic analogue to naturally occurring compound eyes, the eye's full-colour 3D to 2D mapping capability has the potential to enable a wide variety of applications from improving endoscopic imaging to enhancing machine vision for facilitating human–robot interactions. Insect-like biomimetic compound eyes have many technological applications. Here, the authors present a facile fabrication scheme involving microfluidics assisted 3D printing that permits to completely separate design, optimization and construction of optical and sensor components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effects of the roughness of magnetic nano-multilayer films on the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) performance, we used magnetron sputtering to prepare Ta/Co/Ta films with different Co thicknesses on a silicon substrate. The surface and interfacial roughness of the multilayer films were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and neutron reflectometry. The AFM results with a range of 10 μm indicated that the surface undulation increased with the increment of the Co thickness and the root-mean-square (RMS) roughness increased from 0.48 to 2.26 nm. The neutron reflectometry results proved that the thicker the Co layer, the rougher the interface in the multilayer film, with an increase from 1 to 2.7 nm. The four probe method was used to study the GMR properties of the films. It indicated that the GMR effect was enhanced and the GMR value shifted from − 0.04% to − 1.13% with increasing Co thickness from 6.5 to 20 nm. The enhancement in the GMR effect originated from the thicker Co layer, which led to increasing interfacial roughness, thereby enhancing the spin-dependent scattering of the interface and increasing the absolute value of the GMR. Nevertheless, when the Co thickness increased to 42 nm, the GMR absolute value decreased from 1.13 to 0.8% and the GMR effect was destroyed. This behavior originated from the increased shunt of the ferromagnetic layer and the rougher Ta capping layer increasing the spin-independent scattering center, thereby eventually undermining the GMR effect. Diffusion between the multilayer films was observed using a polarized neutron reflection experiment, further illustrating that the GMR effect could be adjusted by the interfacial roughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key messageRice male fertility gene Baymax1, isolated through map-based cloning, encodes a MYB transcription factor and is essential for rice tapetum and microspore development. Abstract The mining and characterization of male fertility gene will provide theoretical and material basis for future rice production. In Arabidopsis, the development of male organ (namely anther), usually involves the coordination between MYB (v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog) and bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) members. However, the role of MYB proteins in rice anther development remains poorly understood. In this study, we isolated and characterized a male sterile mutant (with normal vegetative growth) of Baymax1 (BM1), which encodes a MYB protein. The bm1 mutant exhibited slightly lagging meiosis, aborted transition of the tapetum to a secretory type, premature tapetal degeneration, and abnormal pollen exine formation, leading to ultimately lacks of visible pollens in the mature white anthers. Map-based cloning, complementation and targeted mutagenesis using CRISPR/Cas9 technology demonstrated that the mutated LOC_Os04g39470 is the causal gene in bm1. BM1 is preferentially expressed in rice anthers from stage 5 to stage 10. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that rice BM1 and its homologs in millet, maize, rape, cabbage, and pigeonpea are evolutionarily conserved. BM1 can physically interacts with bHLH protein TIP2, EAT1, and PHD (plant homeodomain)-finger member TIP3, respectively. Moreover, BM1 affects the expression of several known genes related to tapetum and microspore development. Collectively, our results suggest that BM1 is one of key regulators for rice male fertility and may serve as a potential target for rice male-sterile line breeding and hybrid seed production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most critical issues for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) safety and precision flight is wind disturbance. To this end, this paper presents an acceleration feedback (AF) enhanced H ∞ method for UAV flight control against wind disturbance and its application on a hex-rotor platform. The dynamics of the UAV system are decoupled into attitude control and position control loops. A hierarchical H ∞ controller is then designed for the decoupled system. Finally, an AF-enhanced method is introduced into the decoupled system without altering the original control structure. The stability of the AF-enhanced H ∞ method for the UAV system is analyzed and verified using the H ∞ theory. Two types of wind disturbances—continuous and gusty winds—are considered and analyzed for guiding the AF-enhanced controller design. The results of an experimental comparison between the H ∞ controller and the AF-enhanced H ∞ controller against wind disturbances demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed method for wind disturbance rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a major role in the development of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Systemic Treg depletion is not favored because of the critical role of Tregs in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing the autoimmunity. Recently, CCR8 has been identified as an important chemokine receptor expressed on intratumoral Tregs and is known to be critical for CCR8+Treg-mediated immunosuppression. However, the inherent molecular mechanisms and clinical significance of intratumoral CCR8+Tregs remain poorly understood. In this study, a retrospective analysis of 259 muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients from two independent clinic centers was conducted to explore the prognostic merit of CCR8+Tregs via immunohistochemistry. Eighty-three fresh MIBC samples and data from the Cancer Genome Atlas were used to evaluate the proportion and function of immune cells via flow cytometry, ex vivo intervention experiments and bioinformatics analysis. It was found that the CCR8 expression by intratumoral Tregs maintained the stability and potentiated their suppressive function by upregulating the expression of transcript factors FOXO1 and c-MAF. High level of CCR8+Tregs was associated with the immune tolerance and predicted poor survival and inferior therapeutic responsiveness to chemotherapy. Moreover, it was revealed that CCR8 blockade could destabilize intratumoral Tregs into a fragile phenotype accompanied with reactivation of antitumor immunity and augment of anti-PD-1 therapeutic benefits in MIBC. In summary, those results suggested that CCR8+Tregs represented a stable Treg subtype and a promising therapeutic target in the immunotherapy of MIBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Tumor microenvironment is important in the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), and its prognostic value is still unclear. Recent reports demonstrated tumor-infiltrating CD39+CD8+ T cells are abundant, but their function remains obscure. We aim to assess clinical value of CD39+CD8+ T cells and seek a potential therapeutic target in ccRCC. Experimental design: We immunohistochemically evaluated clinical value of CD39+CD8+ T cells in a retrospective Zhongshan Hospital cohort of 243 ccRCC patients. Fresh tumor samples (n = 48), non-tumor tissues and peripheral blood for flow cytometry analyses were collected to analyze immune cell functions from Zhongshan Hospital. The survival benefit of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in this subpopulation was evaluated. Kaplan–Meier analysis and COX regression model were applied for survival analyses. Bioinformatics analysis performed in TCGA KIRC cohort and the scRNA-seq cohort. Results: We found that accumulation of CD39+CD8+ T cells indicated poor prognosis (p < 0.0001) and indicated therapeutic benefit of TKIs therapy (p = 0.015). CD39+CD8+ T cells showed decreased TNF-α and IFN-γ with elevated PD-1 and TIM-3 expression. Further analysis of tumor-infiltrating immune cell landscape in the ccRCC revealed the positive correlation between CD39+CD8+ T cells and Tregs (p = 0.037) and M2-polarized macrophages (p < 0.0001). Finally, inhibition of CD39 partially restores the anti-tumor function of CD8+ T cells. Conclusions: High CD39+CD8+ T cells indicated poor prognosis in ccRCC, due to impaired anti-tumor function of CD39+CD8+ T cells and indicated therapeutic benefit of TKIs therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's economy has experienced rapid development in the last several decades. However, environmental problems emerge along with the fast economic growth. Industrial pollutions and wastes have attracted much concern from the government and the public. In this paper, we propose a modified distance friction minimization model with undesirable outputs to evaluate the environmental efficiency of China's regional industry from 2011 to 2015. We then provide benchmarking targets for inefficient regions. Our approach can not only analyze the internal factors of the poorly performing regions but also set the benchmarking targets in which the inefficient regions need the least effort to be efficient. The analysis results indicate that the developed regions perform better than the developing ones. In particular, the regions that have always been efficient from 2011 to 2015 are all developed ones to our knowledge. Moreover, the gap in environmental performance tends to extend between developed and developing areas every year. We suggest that the Chinese government should formulate and perfect relative regulations and laws on environmental protection and take measures to reduce the unbalanced trend of its regional industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of power system informatization, the massive access of distributed power supply and electric vehicles have increased the complexity of power consumption in the distribution network, which puts forward higher requirements for the accuracy and stability of load forecasting. In this paper, an integrated network architecture which consists of the self-organized mapping, chaotic time series, intelligent optimization algorithm and long short-term memory (LSTM) is proposed to extend the load forecasting length, decrease artificial debugging, and improve the prediction precision for the short-term power load forecasting. Compared with LSTM prediction, the algorithm in this paper improves the prediction accuracy by 61.87% in terms of root mean square error (RMSE), and reduces the prediction error by 50% in the 40-fold forecast window under some circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) exist as heterogeneous subsets and have dichotomous roles in cancer-immune evasion. This study aims to assess the clinical effects of Galectin-9+ tumor-associated macrophages (Gal-9+TAMs) in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Experimental design: We identified Gal-9+TAMs by immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of a tumor microarray (TMA) (n = 141) from the Zhongshan Hospital and by flow cytometric analysis of tumor specimens (n = 20) from the Shanghai Cancer Center. The survival benefit of platinum-based chemotherapy in this subpopulation was evaluated. The effect of the tumor-immune microenvironment with different percentages of Gal-9+TAMs was explored. Results: The frequency of Gal-9+TAMs increased with tumor stage and grade. Gal-9+TAMs predicted poor overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) and were better than Gal-9−TAMs and TAMs to discriminate prognostic groups. In univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, patients with high percentages of Gal-9+TAMs showed the prominent survival benefit after receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT). High Gal-9+TAM infiltration correlated with increasing numbers of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and mast cells and decreasing numbers of CD8+T and dendritic cells (DCs). Dense infiltration of Gal-9+TAMs was related to reduced cytotoxic molecules, enhanced immune checkpoints or immunosuppressive cytokines expressed by immune cells, as well as active proliferation of tumor cells. Additionally, the subpopulation accumulated was strongly associated with PD-1+TIM-3+CD8+T cells. Conclusions: Gal-9+TAMs predicted OS and RFS and response to ACT in MIBC patients. High Gal-9+TAMs were associated with a pro-tumor immune contexture concomitant with T cell exhaustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the distributed economic dispatch problem where the supply demand balance, capacity constraints and ramp-rate constraints are considered. In order to accommodate varying power load and power storage in reality, we introduce two variables where each variable is time-varing and has its own dynamics. The renewable power is also considered. Barrier functions are introduced to deal with the local constraints by means of imposing penalty terms into the objective function to ensure that the optimal solution satisfies the corresponding constraints. Based on the Langrange dual theory, the primal optimization problem is transformed into the dual problem, which is solved by the primary-dual algorithm proposed in this paper. Under the assumption that the communication graph is an undirected and connected graph, we analyze the convergence of the proposed algorithm. The simulations on IEEE six-bus test systems are carried out to verify the performance of the algorithm, which shows that the proposed algorithm converges to the optimal solution, while all the constraints are met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unsaturated magnetization reversal by pulsed current annealing was investigated in exchange biased NiFe(15 nm)/FeMn(10 nm) bilayer. The magnetization reversal was conducted by energizing and thus heating the film under an external applied magnetic field ( H a ) with the direction opposite to the deposition field ( H d ). The static and dynamic magnetic properties of the films before and after rapid annealing were characterized using vibrating sample magnetometer, anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) and vector network analyzer measurements. When the samples were annealed at 40 and 45 V condenser voltages, greater values of rotational anisotropy (H rot) , ferromagnetic resonance frequency ( f r ) and smaller values of exchange bias field (H e) , exchange bias field in AMR measurement ( H e MR ), and magnetoresistance in the samples were obtained, which is attributed to the unsaturated reversed magnetization in reversing magnetic field. A suggested model for which the scattered magnetization of magnetic moment results in additional unstable antiferromagnetic spins in the film was proposed to explain this interesting phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the construction of the smart grid in Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city as the background, the data model between the electric power system and the other industries is studied in this paper. Through the analysis of the source and characteristics of the multivariate energy data in Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, it is put forward that the data model analysis problem should be modeled into the multi attribute negotiation problem. In addition, the multi attribute negotiation utility function that can reflect the degree of association between different attributes is provided. The data model analysis and integration technology study based on the electric power is implemented by using the MATLAB, and the analysis on several sets of numerical examples is carried out. The experimental results show that valuable data attribute values can be obtained by using the data model analysis and the integration technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is an emerging endoscopic technique that can provide in vivo histopathologic information. It may improve the diagnostic criteria for benign and neoplastic lesions of the bladder. In this study, we reported our experience with utilizing CLE imaging when treating bladder neoplasms, and investigated its diagnostic value with respect to histologic diagnosis. Materials and methods: Twenty-one patients scheduled for diagnostic cystoscopy or transurethral resection of the bladder tumor were enrolled prospectively. CLE was performed after intravesical fluorescein administration and confocal video sequences were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. Histopathology served as reference standard for comparison. Results: Confocal laser endomicroscopy-based classification combined with white light cystoscopy (WLC) images was consistent with histopathology in 17 cases (81.0%). Consensus with histopathological results was found in six cases (85.7%) for low-grade urothelial carcinoma and eight cases (80.0%) for high-grade urothelial carcinoma. Conclusion: Confocal laser endomicroscopy was proved to be a useful technique that could complement white light cystoscopy by providing real-time histopathological information of bladder lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical translation of nanomedicine is hindered by the low delivery efficiency, and consequently drug concentration in tumor sites falls short of the therapeutic effective range which leads to poor clinical outcomes. One important lesson learned from the development of antibody-drug-conjugates (ADCs) is that to achieve significant clinical benefits, extremely potent cytotoxic agents and cleavable linkers should be used. By encapsulating maytansinoid, AP3, which is 100–1,000 times more potent than most conventional small molecule anticancer drugs, in pH-sensitive acetalated dextran-polyethylene glycol (PEG) (ADP) nanocarriers, even with only 1% drug loading, we were able to eradicate tumors in 50% of tested animals with negligible side effects, while free AP3 only showed marginal efficacy and severe liver damages. This study suggests that besides improving the low efficiency of nano-delivery systems, the potency of drug to be delivered is also critical to the clinical outcomes of nanomedicine. Our results also showed that ADP nanoparticles (NPs) were able to expand the narrow therapeutic window of maytansinoids in a similar manner to the ADCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the magnetic and magneto-optical properties of Bi1.5Y1.5Fe5O12 (Bi:YIG) films prepared on quartz and silicon substrates, respectively, by radio frequency magnetron sputtering and disposed by microwave annealing. The results indicated that the lattice constant and magnetic properties were significantly different on different substrates. First, the lattice constant of film on quartz substrate was found to be 9% greater than that on silicon substrate because of larger residual stress. Second, the grain size of film on silicon substrate was smaller than that on quartz substrate at same annealing temperature, which led to its magnetization being 70% smaller than that on quartz substrate and coercive force was 50% less. Finally, the transmittance of the Bi:YIG film and pure YIG was studied and the Faraday angle of Bi1.5Y1.5Fe5O12 film on quartz substrate was found to be − 8°/µm at λ = 544 nm and − 1.8°/µm at λ = 677 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study evaluated the effect of technetium-99m (99mTc)-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-based image-guided surgery on the oncologic outcomes for patients with primary or recurrent prostate cancer (PCa).Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 54 consecutive patients with PCa who underwent 99mTc-labeled PSMA-based image-guided surgery between January 2016 and September 2017. These patients received a radical prostatectomy (RP) with pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) or salvage lymph node dissection (sLND). The resected specimens were compared with findings of postoperative histologic analysis. The responses to the treatment were recorded during the follow-up period.Results: In 31 patients, PSMA single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT) could find 52 suspicious lymph node metastases (LNMs). With the help of PSMA SPECT/CT, 12 patients with recurrence received sLND, 19 primary PCa patients received RP with extended PLND, and 23 primary PCa patients received RP with standard PLND. The findings showed that PSMA SPECT/CT could detect LNMs with high sensitivity and specificity. In six patients, PSMA SPECT/CT could find more LNMs that were not found by MRI and help to modify the extent of lymphadenectomy. At the latest follow-up evaluation, 39 patients showed a biochemical response (BR), 9 patients showed a biochemical recurrence (BCR) after BR, and 6 patients never exhibited BR. The patients who received RP with standard PLND or extended PLND had a better prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response than the patients who received sLND. The patients with pelvic LNMs also had a better PSA response than the patients with retroperitoneal LNMs.Conclusions: This study showed that 99mTc-PSMA SPECT/CT-guided surgery can remove more LNMs than conventional imaging with high sensitivity and specificity and delay disease progression in PCa patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To adjust the high-frequency properties of the soft magnetic film, micro-patterned NiFe films were fabricated on a (100) silicon substrate by using photolithography and magnetron sputtering. Their gap-width were changed from 15 to 60 µm with the strip-length of 5 mm and strip-width of 30 µm. The morphology and magnetic properties of the films were examined by scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer and vector network analysis, respectively. Compared with the continuous NiFe film, the in-plane magnetic anisotropy field (Hk) of micro-patterned NiFe film improved from 0 to 43 Oe. And as the designed gap-width (d) increased from 15 to 60 µm, Hk increased from 43 to 80 Oe. The resonance frequency fr is increased up to 8.6 GHz, which is mainly from the demagnetization field and the magnetostatics surface wave energy in our study system. Therefore, the patterned films controlled by various stripe gap-width will also be essential in future high-frequency device design procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) for clinical staging of prostate cancer based upon Surveillance, Epidemiology and, End Results (SEER) database.Materials and methods: Patients diagnosed as prostate adenocarcinoma during 2004-2009 without any surgical treatment to the primary site were selected from the SEER registry. Excluded were cases with incomplete or unavailable staging, PSA and Gleason score information.Results: A total of 144,443 cases were identified. The median follow-up time was 84 months. The median age at diagnosis was 69 years, and median PSA was 7 ng/ml. CSS at 10th years was 96.2% for cT2a and 86.2% for cT2b/2c, respectively. The survival differences between clinical stage cT2a and cT2b/2c still had statistical significance (P < 0.001). For patients with grade group 1, there was no statistically significant difference for CCS between the cT2a and cT1 (P = 0.310), and between the subgroup of cT1/cT2a with 10 ng/ml ≤ PSA < 20 ng/ml and the subgroup of cT2b/2c with PSA < 20 ng/ml (P = 0.126), respectively. The CSS of IIIA (T1/2 with PSA ≥ 20 ng/ml) was less than IIC (P < 0.001), which has worst prognosis within stage I/II. The prognosis of T1/2 stage with Gleason score grade group 5 and PSA < 20 ng/ml was not only worse than AJCC IIC (P < 0.001) but also worse than AJCC IIIB (P < 0.001).Conclusion: It is necessary to maintain a three-tier system to subdivide T2 disease clinically. For patients with grade group 1, cT2a and cT1 could merge into one group. Organ-confined disease with PSA ≥ 20 ng/ml or grade group 5 should be separated from stage II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: DNA repair genes are potential biomarkers for chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). O-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) is involved in DNA repair and is found to affect the efficacy of platinum-based chemotherapy. However, the prognostic or predictive value of MGMT expression in chemotherapy for MIBC is unknown. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for MGMT was performed in paraffin-embedded tumor tissue of high-grade MIBC patients who underwent cystectomy in two independent cohorts [ n = 74 for Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) cohort and n = 115 for Zhongshan Hospital (ZS) cohort]. MGMT messenger RNA (mRNA) analysis was conducted using patients' clinical and fragments per kilobase of exon model per million mapped fragments mRNA data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database ( n = 245). Results: In our cohorts, high MGMT expression was significantly correlated with shorter overall survival (OS) in patients with platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy [hazard ratio (HR) 2.386, p = 0.048; HR 2.920, p = 0.007; HR 2.324, p = 0.004, respectively, in FUSCC, ZS, and combination sets], but not in patients without chemotherapy. These findings were corroborated by the TCGA set (HR 1.952 and 0.697 for patients with and without chemotherapy, respectively). The chemotherapy-MGMT interaction for OS was significant in both the surgery set ( p = 0.045) and TCGA set ( p = 0.034). Conclusions: We demonstrated that high MGMT expression is an independent poor prognostic factor in MIBC patients with platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy, but not in patients without chemotherapy. MGMT expression may be a potential predictor for administration of adjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superparamagnetic and flexible FeO nanowire arrays were fabricated by the controlled electrostatic assembly of iron oxide nanoparticles and poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) in an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. The micrograph of iron oxide nanowire arrays was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The magnetic hysteresis loops obtained by a vibrating sample magnetometer confirm that the nanowire arrays have superparamagnetic properties. The filling ratio of iron oxide nanoparticles and polymers in the AAO template was affected by four factors, including the concentration of iron oxide nanoparticles, the pore diameter of the AAO template, the charge ratio of iron oxide nanoparticles and PDADMAC, and the molecular weight of polyacrylic acid. The effect of the AAO template on the diameter and length of the nanowire arrays was also analyzed. In addition, the nanowire arrays were shown to be flexible because of the presence of polymers. These nanowire arrays with superparamagnetic and flexural properties have potential applications in sensor probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the influence of some factors, the Exchange bias (EB) field (H) that leads us to use different thin film magnetic measurements is different. So we want to give fixed magnetic material parameters in order to explore different methods for the measurement of the EB field. A series of NiFe(15 nm)/FeMn( t ) exchange-biased bilayers were fabricated by magnetron sputtering. Three different methods were used to measure the exchange bias field of the thin films. The first method used a traditional vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), the second one was the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) technique and the last method was the vector network analyzer ferromagnetic resonance (VNA-FMR) technique. The results show that for the sample at the critical thickness, the exchange bias fields obtained by AMR and VNA-FMR were much larger than those from the VSM, which can be explained by the unstable coupled grains at the interface. For the sample at the saturation thickness, the measurement values of the three methods are almost the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incubation is an energetically demanding phase of avian reproduction. Single-sex incubators are often faced with a direct conflict between incubation and foraging. We report an unusual incubation behavior of the Sichuan Partridge ( Arborophila rufipectus), with long recesses of females and embryonic hypothermia, at Laojunshan National Nature Reserve, southwest China. The Sichuan Partridge is a globally endangered species that inhabits subtropical evergreen and deciduous broadleaf forests at 1100-2250 m a.s.l. Female Sichuan Partridges incubated eggs alone, and typically took one long incubation recess of 4.5 ± 1.2 h (mean ± SD) day. They left the nests at 7:36 a.m. (±50 min) and returned at 12:06 p.m. (±70 min). Nest attentiveness was 81.2 ± 5.2% of the entire incubation period. Females prolonged the recess duration and decreased nest attentiveness significantly in response to high disturbance risk and bad weather. Although eggs experienced ~4.2 h below 26 °C (the physiological zero temperature) for each recess, the total hatching rate was 88.4%, suggesting that embryonic hypothermia had minimal negative effect on the hatching rate. For Sichuan Partridge, the ability to withstand embryonic hypothermia may be an adaptation to cold montane environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The role played by the innate immune system in determining the clinical outcome of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) was still blurred. This study was designed to investigate the prognostic significance of tumor infiltrating mast cells (TIMs) in ccRCC. Methods: The study retrospectively enrolled a training set (474 patients) and a validation set (188 patients) with nonmetastasis (pT1-4N0M0) ccRCC from two institutional medical centers of China. TIMs was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of tryptase and its association with clinicopathologic features and prognosis were evaluated. Results: In ccRCC tissues, TIMs ranged from 0 to 103 cells/mm and 0 to 113 cells/mm in the training set and validation set, respectively. TIMs was negatively correlated with tumor size ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), pathological T stage ( P = 0.005 and P = 0.007, respectively) and Fuhrman grade ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Patients with abundant TIMs infiltration showed significantly longer cancer-specific survival in the training cohort and the validation cohort ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). Patients with abundant mast cell infiltration showed significantly longer overall survival in the TCGA cohort ( P < 0.001). Moreover, multivariate analysis identified TIMs as an independent prognostic factor for cancer-specific survival (CSS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). Also, TIMs was significantly correlated with CSS and RFS of the mediate and high-risk patients in the training cohort and the validation cohort. Conclusions: TIMs density is a powerful independent prognostic factor for CSS and RFS in patients with nonmetastasis (pT1-4N0M0) ccRCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new biaxial silicon resonant micro-accelerometer. The device basically consists of a single proof mass, four pairs of decoupled beams, four lever mechanisms and two pairs of resonators, which provides 2-D in-plane acceleration measurement with the decoupled two pairs of resonators. Structure optimization is implemented by taking advantage of the finite element analyses. From the simulation results we can see that the effective frequencies of two acceleration sensitive modes are 1010.18 and 1010.13 Hz respectively, and the undesired modes and effective modes are isolated apparently. Additionally, high linear relationship between the input acceleration and the resonant frequency shifts of resonators are demonstrated by the input-output characteristic simulation. Moreover, simulation results reveal the scale factor for the x-axis is 180.03 Hz/g, and the scale factor for y-axis is 180.75 Hz/g, while the cross-axis sensitivity for x-axis is 0.046 Hz/g, and the cross-axis sensitivity for y-axis is 0.027 Hz/g. The high sensitivity and low cross-axis sensitivity are thus adequately confirmed. By the way, the simulation of temperature dependent characteristics demonstrate that the differential scheme can effectively suppress the influence of temperature variation, and the thermal analysis shows that the device can bear the thermal stress induced by temperature change. All these simulations above can verify the feasibility of the structure design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norcantharidin (NCTD) has an anticancer potential to allow it to be used in the treatment of some malignant cancers. However, whether NCTD may have similar anticancer effects on prostate cancer (PC) is unknown. Here, we aimed to examine the effects of NCTD on PC cells and the underlying mechanisms. We found that NCTD dose-dependently inhibited the PC cell growth, in either a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay or a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Moreover, NCTD dose-dependently increased the PC cell autophagy, through upregulation of Beclin-1. Furthermore, the Beclin-1 protein, but not mRNA, was regulated by NCTD in PC cells, suggesting post-transcriptional control of Beclin-1 by NCTD. Finally, microRNA (miR)-129-5p was found to be regulated by NCTD, and bioinformatics analyses showed that miR-129-5p targeted the 3′-UTR of Beclin-1 mRNA to inhibit its translation, which was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. Together, these data suggest that NCTD may upregulate Beclin-1 through suppression of miR-129-5p to induce autophagic cell death and cell proliferation arrest in PC cells. Our study sheds light on using NCTD as a novel treatment for PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During guided mode resonance (GMR) filter fabrication by ion beam etching in a vacuum chamber, the most difficult aspect of the process is accurate control of the groove depth. Because the resonant wavelength of the GMR filter is susceptible to variations in the fabrication parameters, such as the groove depth and period of the grating, it is very difficult to fabricate an ideal GMR filter that has the same parameters as the designed filter. Therefore, to simplify this fabrication process, a GMR filter that can be fabricated without etching is presented in this paper. However, the proposed filter will bring new problems in that the lack of etching may lead to the presence of a residual photoresist layer during the holographic interferometry process. In this paper, we focus on the influence of the residual photoresist layer on the unetched GMR filter. The effects of different photoresist layer thicknesses and different development times are investigated. Using numerical methods based on rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA), the spectral curve shows a blue shift with increasing development time. Moreover, with a constant development time and exposure time, there is a red shift with the increase of the photoresist layer thickness. It is found experimentally that this spectral shift trend agrees well with the results of the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, NiFe(15 nm)/FeMn( t) exchange-biased multilayers are fabricated by magnetron sputtering. The static magnetic properties are characterized using a vibrating sample magnetometer, while the dynamic properties are measured by a vector network analyzer in the frequency range of 0.2-5 GHz. The discrepancy between static and dynamic magnetic anisotropies, especially in the case of thin FeMn layers, for example t = 3 nm, can be explained by the rotational anisotropy ( H). Compared with the exchange-biased bilayers, the [NiFe(15 nm)/FeMn(t)] multilayers show a larger resonance frequency ( f) and effective damping coefficient ( α). Through analysis of the static $$\left( {H_{K}^{sta} } \right)$$ and dynamic $$\left( {H_{ \, K}^{dyn} } \right)$$ anisotropy fields in each NiFe layer, we find that H in the up NiFe layer is much larger than that in the down one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By controlling the feed ratio of CMS/styrene and the polymerization time, a series of hyperbranched copolystyrenes (HBCPS) were synthesized with comparable weight-averaged molecular weights ( M) but different degree of branching (DB) through atom transfer radical self-condensing vinyl copolymerization (ATR-SCVCP) with CuBr/2,2′-bipyridyl as the catalyst. The resulting HBCPS samples were used to investigate the effect of branching architecture on their glass transition behavior. With the DB increased, the glass transition temperatures ( T) of HBCPS samples measured by DMA and DSC both decreased. Their spin-lattice relaxation times (H T) of protons displayed the same downtrend with increasing DB. Besides, a correlation between the Ts and the DB was well established by all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The values of MD-determined Ts are little higher than the corresponding experimental ones. However, the dependence of Ts on DB is in good agreement with the experimental results, i.e., T decreases both in experiments and simulations with increasing DB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]