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Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) and OECT-based circuitry offer great potential in bioelectronics, wearable electronics and artificial neuromorphic electronics because of their exceptionally low driving voltages (10 mS) and biocompatibility1–5. However, the successful realization of critical complementary logic OECTs is currently limited by temporal and/or operational instability, slow redox processes and/or switching, incompatibility with high-density monolithic integration and inferior n-type OECT performance6–8. Here we demonstrate p- and n-type vertical OECTs with balanced and ultra-high performance by blending redox-active semiconducting polymers with a redox-inactive photocurable and/or photopatternable polymer to form an ion-permeable semiconducting channel, implemented in a simple, scalable vertical architecture that has a dense, impermeable top contact. Footprint current densities exceeding 1 kA cm−2 at less than ±0.7 V, transconductances of 0.2–0.4 S, short transient times of less than 1 ms and ultra-stable switching (>50,000 cycles) are achieved in, to our knowledge, the first vertically stacked complementary vertical OECT logic circuits. This architecture opens many possibilities for fundamental studies of organic semiconductor redox chemistry and physics in nanoscopically confined spaces, without macroscopic electrolyte contact, as well as wearable and implantable device applications.

Aiming at the imbalance problem of excavating and anchoring efficiency ratio in the underground coal mine, a new type of parallel operation unit of excavation-supporting-anchoring is proposed to improve the excavating efficiency. Considering the uneven factors of the roof and floor of the coal mine roadway, the influence of different drilling angles and leg support angles on the leg support force is studied under the condition of simultaneous drilling of multiple drilling rigs. The results show that the maximum support force is 4.002 KN when the leg angle is different and the drilling angle is different. By constructing the coupling vibration model of the multi-drill drilling process and using the Lagrange method to solve the vibration law of key components of the anchorage system, the vibration law of drill pipe under different influencing factors such as cantilever extension, multi-drill simultaneous drilling, and drilling incident angle is studied. The results showed: (1) The vibration of the drill pipe in the cantilever extension state is more severe than that in the retracted state, and the maximum vibration peak reaches 7.61 mm. (2) The vibration response of the drill pipe is the most intense under the condition of four top anchor drilling rigs drilling at the same time. Under the working condition of only two drilling rigs, the vibration response of the drill pipe is the smallest. (3) As the drilling angle of the drilling rig increases, the vibration response of the drill pipe is more severe and the vibration amplitude is larger. A test prototype is built to simulate the actual anchoring drilling process, and the vibration law of the support platform and the drilling rig is obtained through the vibration detection system. The test results show that the vibration law of the key components is approximately the same as the theoretical simulation results. The relevant theoretical results can provide a technical basis for the drilling stability of the anchoring system.

In order to study the influence of the multiple interaction of coal and rock and the velocity effect of the cutting head on the flutter stability of the cantilever roadheader, considering the physical characteristics of coal and rock, the structural parameters of the cutting head and the motion parameters of the cutting head, the functional expression of the cutting depth of the cutting head and the participating cutting teeth is fitted, the cutting state mechanical characteristic equation of the dynamic cutting of the cutting teeth is established, and based on the mapping relationship between the cutting teeth and the cutting head, a cutting dynamic model including multiple interactions between cutting head and coal and rock and the speed effect is constructed. An improved discrete method based on Newton–Lagrange mixed interpolation is proposed, and the influence law of the coupling effect of regeneration effect and velocity effect on the stability of cutting flutter under cutting state is clarified. The improved full discrete method is compared with the full discrete method and the semi-discrete method, and the superiority of the improved full discrete method based on the mixed interpolation method is proved. Based on the improved total discrete method, the influence of different cutting system dynamic parameters on the stability is studied. A cutting head coal rock system is built to simulate the flutter of the cutting system. The results show that the improved fully discrete method can reasonably predict the actual cutting state.

Considering that the movement trajectory of roadheader cutting head directly affects the surface morphology characteristics of roadway forming, the creation mechanism of roadway contour obtained by cutting head cutting roadway is analyzed. The robot kinematics analysis method was used to determine the coordinates of the roadheader cutting head in the roadway space coordinate system, and the mathematical model of the cutting head cutting the roadway contour was constructed. Through numerical calculation, the differences of roadway morphology characteristics formed by three different types of cutting heads are analyzed. The orthogonal experiment was designed, and the regression equation under multiple factors was solved with the experimental results. The influence of cutting feed rate, cutting Angle, cutting head radius and cutting head cone Angle on the morphology characteristics of cutting surface was analyzed by regression calculation and theoretical calculation. The research results show that the roadway surface obtained by "spherical crown + cylinder" cutting head is the most uneven, and the roadway surface obtained by "spherical crown + cone + cylinder" cutting head is the most flat. With the decrease of cutting lifting Angle, cutting feed, cutting head cone Angle and the increase of cutting head crown radius, the smoothness of roadway obtained by cutting is higher.

A combinatorial strategy based on nucleic acid assembly and electrostatic complexation is developed for efficient small interfering ribonucleic acid(siRNA) delivery. In this approach, siRNAs are first loaded into a well-defined nanotube through programmable nucleic acid self-assembly. Compared to small rigid siRNA duplex, the obtained siRNA-bearing nanotube with large architecture is more readily to complex with cationic and ionizable poly(β-amino ester), resulting in the formation of a novel platform for efficient siRNA delivery.

The inoculation response of single arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) or rhizobia (Rh) in relation to nitrogen (N) acquisition of plants is well established, while the combined effect of both AMF and Rh is poorly known with regard to N assimilation for changes in amino acids of white clover (Trifolium repens). A pot study was carried out to evaluate the effect of single versus dual inoculation of AMF (Rhizophagus intraradices) and rhizobium (Rhizobium trifolii) on plant growth, leaf and root N contents, root amino acid contents, and root N-related enzyme activities in white clover. One hundred days after inoculations, Rh inoculation significantly stimulated the root colonization by R. intraradices. A single inoculation of AMF or Rh improved the plant growth (biomass production, root projected area, and root volume), root N acquisition, and dual inoculation of AMF and Rh further expanded some of these positive effects on root projected area and root N contents than single inoculation. All the inoculations notably increased activities of root asparagines synthase, nitrate reductase, and glutamate synthase, whilst dual inoculation displayed a much stronger effect in asparagine synthase activity than single inoculation. Single Rh treatment increased root glutamate and proline content, single AMF inoculation induced an increase in glutamate, aspartate, arginine, and ornithine content, while dual inoculation stimulated the accumulation of aspartate and proline. These results suggested the cooperation between the AMF and Rh inoculations, which magnified the positive effect on partly N metabolites and N-assimilation relevant enzymes of white clover.

Oxidative stress-mediated neuron damage is considered an important contributor to the pathogenesis and development of neurodegenerative diseases. Although β-asarone is widely known for its neuroprotective pharmacological properties, the exact mechanism of β-asarone against oxidative stress has not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate underlying mechanisms of β-asarone against oxidative damage in PC12 cells. Our results demonstrated that the treatment of β-asarone significantly alleviated the reduction in cell viability and the excessive accumulation of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH). Moreover, β-asarone pretreatment also activated nuclear factor 2 erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream target heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which was involved in quenching reactive oxygen to inhibit oxidative stress. Furthermore, when silenced by Nrf2 siRNA, the protective effect of β-asarone was reduced and the oxidative stress induced by H2O2 was enhanced. In conclusion, our findings revealed that β-asarone could reduce oxidative stress via activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in PC12 cells, highlighting the potential therapeutic role of β-asarone in neurodegenerative diseases.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a high spatial resolution for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Integrin α6 has emerged as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of HCC. Here, we developed the MR contrast agent RWY-dL-(Gd-DOTA)4 based on the integrin α6-targeted RWY peptide that we previously identified to detect HCC. Contrast-enhanced MRI was carried out to evaluate the use of RWY-dL-(Gd-DOTA)4 to detect HCC lesions in subcutaneous and diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC mouse models. Enhancement MR signals were observed in HCC-LM3 subcutaneous liver tumors in the first 5 min post-injection of RWY-dL-(Gd-DOTA)4 at a low dose of 0.03 mmol Gd/kg. Moreover, RWY-dL-(Gd-DOTA)4 generated superior contrast enhancement for liver tumors in chemical-induced HCC mice. Importantly, RWY-dL-(Gd-DOTA)4 provided complementary enhancement MR signals to the clinical available hepatobiliary MR contrast agent gadoxetate disodium Gd-EOB-DTPA. Additionally, RWY-dL-(Gd-DOTA)4 showed minimal gadolinium retention in normal tissues and organs at 48 h post-injection. These findings potentiate the use of RWY-dL-(Gd-DOTA)4 for the MRI of HCC to improve the diagnosis of HCC.

Background To evaluate the prognostic value of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) derived from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and monitor the early treatment response to induction chemotherapy (IC) with plasma EBV DNA in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC). Results A total of 307 stage III-IVb NPC patients were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent MRI examinations to calculate ADC and plasma EBV DNA measurements pretreatment and post-IC. The participants’ ADC value of 92.5% (284/307) increased post-IC. A higher percent change in ADC value (ΔADC%high group) post-IC was associated with a higher 5-year OS rate (90.7% vs 74.9%, p low group. Interestingly, ΔADC% was closely related to the response measured by RECIST 1.1 (p p = 0.037). The AUC significantly increased when post-IC plasma EBV DNA was added to ΔADC% to predict treatment failure. Thus, based on ΔADC% and plasma EBV DNA, we further divided the participants into three new prognostic response phenotypes (early response, intermediate response, and no response) that correlated with disparate risks of death (p = 0.001), disease progression (p p p Conclusion The percentage change in ADC post-IC is indicative of treatment response and clinical outcome. ΔADC% and plasma EBV DNA-based response phenotypes may provide potential utility for early termination of treatment and allow guiding risk-adapted therapeutic strategies for LA-NPC.

A mobile robot positioning method based on multi-sensor information fusion under wireless sensor network (WSNs), called HCKF algorithm, is proposed in this Article to improve the accuracy of mobile robot positioning method. Firstly, the degree of information fusion among sensors was measured according to differences in membership degree of certain Features in different sensor information under different positioning modes, and the weight of different sensors during fusion was determined with membership degree, so as to define the membership degree of same Features among different sensors after information fusion; secondly, a testing environment for mobile robot positioning based on WSN network was established in a gymnasium and was combined with dynamic model of mobile robot for comparison of positioning accuracy of the algorithm proposed. The results show that, under two circumstances of: with noise jamming and with unknown noise jamming, positioning accuracy of the algorithm proposed in this Article is improved by 7 and 15% respectively as compared with the contrast algorithm. The effectiveness of the method proposed in this Article in mobile robot positioning is verified by the results above.

A large body of research has focused on efficient and scalable processing of subgraph search queries on large networks. In these efforts, a query is posed in the form of a connected query graph. Unfortunately, in practice end users may not always have precise knowledge about the topological relationships between nodes in a query graph to formulate a connected query. In this paper, we present a novel graph querying paradigm called partial topology-based network search and propose a query processing framework called panda to efficiently process partial topology query (ptq) in a single machine. A ptq is a disconnected query graph containing multiple connected query components. ptqs allow an end user to formulate queries without demanding precise information about the complete topology of a query graph. To this end, we propose an exact and an approximate algorithm called sen-panda and po-panda, respectively, to generate top-kmatches of a ptq. We also present a subgraph simulation-based optimization technique to further speedup the processing of ptqs. Using real-life networks with millions of nodes, we experimentally verify that our proposed algorithms are superior to several baseline techniques.

To determine diagnostic performance of simple measurements on diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) for assessment of complete tumour response (CR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) by signal intensity (SI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements. Sixty-five patients with LARC who underwent neoadjuvant CRT and subsequent surgery were included. Patients underwent pre-CRT and post-CRT 3.0 T MRI. Regions of interest of the highest brightness SI were included in the tumour volume on post-CRT DWI to calculate the SIlesion, rSI, ADClesion and rADC; diagnostic performance was compared by using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. In order to validate the accuracy and reproducibility of the current strategy, the same procedure was reproduced in 80 patients with LARC at 1.5 T MRI. Areas under the ROC curve for identification of a CR, based on SIlesion, rSI, ADClesion, and rADC, respectively, were 0.86, 0.94, 0.66, and 0.71 at 3.0 T MRI, and 0.92, 0.91, 0.64, and 0.61 at 1.5 T MRI. Post-CRT DWI SIlesion and rSI provided high diagnostic performance in assessing CR and were significantly more accurate than ADClesion, and rADC at 3.0 T MRI and 1.5 T MRI. • Signal intensity (SI lesion ) and rSI are accurate for assessment of complete response. • rSI seems to be superior to SI lesion at 3.0 T MRI. • ADC or rADC measurements are not accurate for assessment of complete response.

Based on annual runoff data collected from several hydrological stations in the Nen River Basin from 1956 to 2004, the cumulative filter method, Mann-Kendall method and Morlet wavelet analysis were used to analyze variations in the characteristics and factors influencing runoff. Specifically, the general characteristics list as: The distribution of runoff was found to be uneven within a year, and the annual variation showed an overall decreasing trend. The abrupt change points of runoff were found to be in the early 1960s, middle 1980s and late 1990s. Multiple time scales analysis revealed three time-scale cycles, a long-term cycle of about 20–35 years with a scale center of 25 years, another cycle of about 8–15 years with a scale center of 11 years and a short-term cycle of about 5 years. Based on the Morlet wavelet transform coefficients figure of the 25-year time scale, it is preliminarily estimated that the Nen River Basin will enter a high flow period in 2013. The results obtained using various methods were consistent with each other. The physical causes of the results were also analyzed to confirm their accuracy.

Purpose The combined contamination of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and As in the soils near lead/zinc mine waste posed a potential threat to the surrounding environment. Mitigation methods are needed to reduce the environmental risk. The aims of this paper were to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of different forms of phosphates in remediating combined contamination caused by multi-metals and arsenic near the lead/zinc mining tailings.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical, pathologic, and computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML) and to improve the diagnostic efficacy of the tumor. Clinical, pathologic, and imaging findings were retrospectively evaluated in 18 patients with HAML. Two patients underwent both CT and MRI, ten underwent CT alone, and six underwent MRI alone. Unenhanced and contrast-enhanced examinations were performed in all patients. Imaging characteristics, such as the lesion location, lesion diameter, presence of early draining veins, attenuation/signal intensity of the lesions on imaging, and enhancement pattern were reviewed. There were 3 male and 15 female patients. HAML was seen as a well-defined, solitary mass on imaging with medium size (mean diameter, 5.9 cm). Fat was detected in ten patients. Calcification was noted in two patients and cystic degeneration was seen in one patient. Hepatic cirrhosis and capsule were not detected in all patients. The mean attenuation values exceeded 120 hounsfield units (HU) in 11 patients (91.7%). Peripherally decreasing enhancement rim as well as early draining vein was seen in 15 patients (83.3%). The early draining veins were all hepatic veins. Tumor vessels were noted in all patients. The presence of early draining vein, peripheral decreasing enhancement rim, and the absence of tumor capsule in the hypervascular hepatic tumor on CT and/or MRI together with normal alpha fetal protein may be helpful for the diagnosis of HAML in non-cirrhotic liver.

Recently, the forecasting technologies for network traffic have played a significant role in network management, congestion control and network security. Forecasting algorithms have also been investigated for decades along with the development of Time Series Analysis (TSA). Chaotic Time Series Analysis (CTSA) may be used to model and forecast the time series by Chaos Theory. As one of the prevailing intelligent forecasting algorithms, it is worthwhile to integrate CTSA and Support Vector Machine (SVM). In this paper, after the vulnerabilities of Local Support Vector Machine (LSVM) in forecasting modeling are analyzed, the Dynamic Time Wrapping (DTW) and the "Dynamic K" strategy are introduced, as well as a short-term network traffic forecasting algorithm LSVM-DTW-K based on Chaos Theory and SVM is presented. Finally, two sets of network traffic datasets collected from wired and wireless campus networks, respectively, are studied for our experiments.

The combined pollution of bensulfuron-methyl (BSM) and heavy metal Pb has been a common problem in agro-ecological environment in southern China. As an important natural clay mineral, the kaolinite structure possesses great advantages in many processes due to its high chemical stability and low expansion coefficient. The adsorption of BSM on kaolinite was therefore investigated at varying Pb2+ concentrations (0, 100, 500 and 1,000 mg kg−1) and different pH levels (3, 4 and 5) using the batch equilibration experiment. BSM was purchased from Aldrich Chemical Co. (purity, 98%), used as the model compound in this study. The experimental kaolinite was sampled from Yuhang in Zhejiang Province. The metal salts used in the study are Pb(NO3)2. The kaolinite samples were spiked with Pb at a rate of 100, 500 and 1,000 mg kg−1 air-dried soil, respectively. The adsorption of BSM on kaolinite was investigated using the batch equilibration experiment. The BSM concentration of the filtrate was determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The adsorption of BSM on kaolinite could be described by the Freundlich isotherm equation, with the R 2 values greater than 0.959 in all experimental treatment. The presence of Pb2+ in kaolinite promoted the adsorption of BSM, and the higher Pb would generally lead to the stronger sorption of BSM by kaolinite based on the observed K f values. The adsorption of BSM on kaolinite declined with the increase of pH, and the spiked Pb2+ aggravated the reduction of adsorption of BSM. The exclusion between BSM and kaolinite was strengthened with the increase of pH, which partially elucidated the adsorption of BSM decreasing with increasing pH of the solution. Some adsorption of Pb2+ took place along the outer hydroxyl plane, therefore releasing H+ ions located there. The spiked Pb2+ would promote the adsorption of BSM onto kaolinite by increasing the hydrogen (H+) ions concentration in solution. The interactions of the heavy metal cations with the kaolinite could affect the structure and other properties such as swelling capacity, compaction capability and the double-layer behaviour of kaolinite. In addition, the substitution of H+ ions for metal ions could change the Van der Wals force within the kaolinite structure. All these might lead to the increased sorption of BSM onto kaolinite at the presence of Pb2+. The addition of Pb2+ and the reduction of pH in solution would enhance the retention of BSM and thus effectively retard BSM from entering the aqueous phase. The mechanisms involved in the promotion effects of the spiked Pb2+ on adsorption might be primarily attributed to the increased hydrogen (H+) ions as a consequence of the addition of Pb2+. Further investigation would be required to give insight into the specific mechanism controlling the adsorption of BSM on kaolinite.

Understanding how inbreeding affects fitness is biologically important for conservation and pest management. Despite being a worldwide pest of many economically important cruciferous crops, the influence of inbreeding on diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), populations is currently unknown. Using age-stage-specific life tables, we quantified the inbreeding effects on fitness-related traits and demographic parameters of P. xylostella. Egg hatching rate, survival and fecundity of the inbred line significantly declined compared to those of the outbred line over time. The inbred P. xylostella line showed significantly lower intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproduction rate (R0) and finite increase rate (λ) and increasing generation time (T). Inbreeding effects vary with developmental stages and the fitness-related traits can be profoundly affected by the duration of inbreeding. Our work provides a foundation for further studies on molecular and genetic bases of the inbreeding depression for P. xylostella.

Ruthenium(II) complexes, as the dye sensitizer in the solar cell system, has attracted great interests. In the present study, based on the ruthenium(II) complex N749, new sensitizers have been designed theoretically to increase the stability and the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). By investigating the ground state geometries, electronic structures, and spectroscopic properties by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT, the orbital components and absorption transition have been obtained. The effect of tripyrrin ligand in the designed new sensitizers can be demonstrated from our results. The results show that the absorption spectra are systematically broadened and red-shifted with the increase sizes of the pyrrole ligands. The important unoccupied orbitals referred to charge transfer are mainly from di/tripyrrin derivative groups. Consequently, the charge transfer to the di/tripyrrin derivative groups has been strengthened. According to our study, the di/tripyrrin derivative ligand is more efficient than the NCS− ligand in absorbing visible light. The calculation results also indicate that the electronic structures of the N749 derived sensitizers are significantly influenced by the different substituted positions of the thienyl groups on di/tripyrrin ligands. Thus, the efficiency of DSSCs would be different. Our research predicted that the Ru(II) complexes containing 5,10-(2-thienyl)-4,6,9,11-tripyrrin ligand may enhance the visible light absorption of DSSC. This is in accordance with the corresponding experiment. These results are expected to assist the molecular design for new dyes in future DSSCs.

Concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu) were determined in soils and vegetables (chrysanthemum, spinach and four cultivars of Chinese cabbage from the area adjacent to a Pb/Zn mine in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, China, and compared with the Chinese National Standards for Soil Environmental Quality. The accumulation of heavy metals in cabbage cv. Siyuegreen was investigated at different distances from the center of the mine. The vegetable plantation soils were polluted with Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn, especially by Pb and Cd. The levels of Pb and Cd were 20 and 30 times higher than the permitted standards, indicating that this Pb/Zn mining area is unsuitable for agricultural use. Chinese cabbage, chrysanthemum and spinach had different enrichment coefficients. The enrichment coefficient of Cd from soil to roots of chrysanthemum was >80% and from roots to leaves of cabbage cv. Shanghaigreen was >120%. These vegetables were polluted by heavy metals and could not be regarded as safe for human consumption. Environmental accumulation of heavy metals in the vegetable plantation soils was proportional to heavy metal accumulation in vegetables and both were inversely proportional to the distance from the lead/zinc mine.