Search

Smart services' data-intensive nature means their convenience for users comes with privacy concerns. This poses challenges for the supply of smart services. This paper analyses the impact of user-differentiated privacy costs on smart service supply strategies. It also discusses the effects of privacy protections and data utilisation capabilities on the improvement of smart service levels. We find that providers tend to segment the market based on user privacy sensitivity to capture the maximum consumer surplus. Strict privacy protection requirements may cause providers to sacrifice service quality. Privacy protection is conducive to improving the level of smart services only when users fully recognise these services' value. Interestingly, our study finds improvements in service levels by providers are driven by two factors. On the one hand, providers choose to improve their service levels to obtain more data and create more profits. On the other hand, to reduce the opportunity costs of early investments to develop services, providers need to improve their capabilities to utilise the value of data, ultimately leading to improved service levels. This study brings a new perspective to the supply of smart services and offers suggestions for how to resolve the contradiction between smart service use and privacy preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laparoscopic techniques are being widely applied for peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter (PDC) placement. The suture passer is a novel fixation tool that aims to reduce catheter migration. We compared the clinical value of the suture passer combined with two-hole laparoscopic PDC placement to open surgical placement by evaluating preoperative and postoperative conditions, as well as the onset of complications in both groups. A retrospective study was conducted including 169 patients who underwent PDC placement surgery from January 2021 to May 2023. Based on the method employed, patients were divided into two groups: the suture passer combined with a two-hole laparoscopy group (SLG) and the open surgical group (SG). Comprehensive patient information, including general data, preoperative and postoperative indicators, peritoneal function after surgery, and the incidence rate of complications, were collected and analyzed. The SLG showed a statistically significant decrease in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and 6-month postoperative drift rate compared to the SG (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of sex, age, primary disease, hospitalization time, hospitalization costs, preoperative and postoperative examination indicators, peritonitis, and omental wrapping. Suture passer combined with two-hole laparoscopic PDC placement, characterized by simplicity and facilitating secure catheter fixation, was deemed safe and effective for patients undergoing PD. It reduces the catheter migration rate and improved surgical comfort. Overall, this technique demonstrates favorable outcomes in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unconventional expression styles in transformational festivals closely link to personal transformation. However, existing research has mainly focused on exploring the environmental factors that stimulate unconventional self-expression, neglecting the process through which individuals achieve personal transformation via such expressions. This study addresses this theoretical gap by investigating how individuals achieve personal transformation through unconventional self-expression, using Burning Man as a case study. Specifically, the study utilises visual materials from Burning Man's official Instagram account and applies Bakhtin's analysis of grotesque imagery to probe the link between unconventional self-expression and personal transformation. The findings indicate that personal transformation occurs through continuous transformative practices within unconventional self-expression, encompassing both external and internal transformation. Furthermore, personal transformation thrives on collective participation, enabling individuals to cultivate their unique transformation style within the collective landscape of transformative practices. The study contributes to a new theoretical understanding of transformational festivals by exploring the pathways to personal transformation through unconventional self-expression. It also presents an innovative application of Bakhtin's theory of grotesque in this context, adding to the existing body of knowledge. Additionally, practical recommendations for festival organizers are made to enhance participants' festival experiences and foster their personal transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms worldwide. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks may identify potential biomarkers associated with the progression and prognosis of BC. The OCT4-pg5/miR-145-5p/OCT4B ceRNA network was found to be related to the progression and prognosis of BC. OCT4-pg5 expression was significantly higher in BC cell lines than in normal bladder cells, with OCT4-pg5 expression correlating with OCT4B expression and advanced tumor grade. Overexpression of OCT4-pg5 and OCT4B promoted the proliferation and invasion of BC cells, whereas miR-145-5p suppressed these activities. The 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of OCT4-pg5 competed for miR-145-5p, thereby increasing OCT4B expression. In addition, OCT4-pg5 promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and upregulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 as well as the transcription factors zinc finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB) 1 and 2. Elevated expression of OCT4-pg5 and OCT4B reduced the sensitivity of BC cells to cisplatin by reducing apoptosis and increasing the proportion of cells in G1. The OCT4-pg5/miR-145-5p/OCT4B axis promotes the progression of BC by inducing EMT via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and enhances cisplatin resistance. This axis may represent a therapeutic target in patients with BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the global pandemic of COVID-19, the term 'N95' is frequently encountered in our daily life. 'N95' is the abbreviation of facepiece respirators that meet the class 95 standard of US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The number '95' means that the N95 respirator can filter >95% of airborne particles. Numerically, 95% or 0.95 is very close to the function value of f (x) = 1 − e − x , when x = 3. Intuitively, there might be some underlying relationship between f (3) and the filtering rate 0.95. In this paper, a constant-law model is presented, giving clear physical picture for the filtering rate of non-woven fabrics. The derived physical model may also be used as a standard for particulate-filtering non-woven fabric products such as facepiece respirators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical integration Legendre polynomial series approach (AILPSA) is proposed to study guided waves in a resin bolt, which is a typical layered cylindrical structure. Compared with the conventional Legendre polynomial series approach, the AILPSA can save the abundant numerical integration calculation time and dramatically improve the computational efficiency. The attenuation and group velocity curves of the resin bolts are calculated. The errors of group velocity between the theoretical and the experimental are analyzed, and the contrast diagrams between amplitude curves of end reflection and attenuation curves are given to illustrate the law between these curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to the traditional integer-order viscoelastic model, a fractional-order derivative viscoelastic model is shown to be advantageous. A quadrature-free Legendre polynomial method combining the Weyl definition of fractional order derivative is for the first time employed to solve guided waves in functionally graded fractional viscoelastic plates. The presented method avoids a lot of numerical integration calculation in traditional polynomial method and greatly improves the computational efficiency. The effects of different graded fields and fractional orders on the dispersion and attenuation curves are illustrated. The displacement distributions, Poynting vectors and power flows are analyzed to reveal guided wave characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel cross-linked gel to prevent coal spontaneous combustion. Complex Water-Solution (C-WS) of sodium metasilicate nonahydrate (SMN) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used to wet coal particles and reacted with CO2 from coal oxidation and natural atmospheric air to form the cross-linked gel (SMN/PVA gel), which was examined by measuring critical self-ignition temperature (CSIT) through the wire-mesh basket test. Baiyinhua lignite coal excavated from Inner Mongolia was used to investigate the inhibitory effect of SMN/PVA gel. Wire-mesh basket test results indicated the fire-prevention effectiveness of the SMN/PVA gel from C-WS was superior to those of pre-formed SMN/PVA gels. It snugly covered the coal particle surface and inlets of micropores to prevent oxygen ingress and water emission, and thus exhibited excellent performance in stability and compatibility. Based on the present tests, the concentrations of SMN-16 wt% and PVA-0.5 wt% in C-WS were best and increased the CSIT of raw coal by 26°C. The effect of wetting C-WS on CSIT for different including coal pile volume and particle size has been presented as an empirical equation to estimate the CSITs for SMN and PVA concentrations to consider field applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper documents cycles in corporate research and development corresponding with the timing of political turnover. Utilising the data on local government officials and research and development activities at the firm level in China, firms' intensity of research and development input is found to be negatively associated with a turnover in local political leaders. We investigate several potential explanations and find evidence supporting that political turnover reduces the incentives of firms to invest in research and development until the uncertainty is resolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microencapsulation of essential oils by complex coacervation continues to attract considerable attention due to high payload, increased thermal stability and sustained release of core materials. This review recapitulates the thermal properties of coacervates and essential oil microcapsules prepared by complex coacervation method using protein/polysaccharide and polysaccharide/polysaccharide. The authors discussed the factors affecting coacervation and the thermal properties of coacervates. Besides, this review describes the microencapsulation processes physicochemical properties and release characteristics of essential oils microcapsules based on complex coacervation method. Finally, the review concentrates on the antimicrobial properties and the applications of essential oils microcapsules in food and nutrition. Despite extensive research conducted on the preparation of essential oils microcapsules prepared by complex coacervation, the application of this technique in encapsulating essential oils exposed to high temperatures during processing and storage remains a current area of research. Therefore, the research consolidated in this review describes a high degree of thermal stability of essential oils microcapsules prepared with complex coacervation that is yet understood, which can be readily utilized in the food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research first adopts three indicators to measure the systemic risk of different financial industries in China. Second, we employ the Time Varying Parameter-Stochastic Volatility-Vector Auto Regression (TVP-SV-VAR) model to investigate the time-varying relationship among COVID-19 epidemic, crude oil price, and financial systemic risk. The results herein not only help us grasp the current level of systematic risk in China, but also can assist at improving the early warning risk indicators and enhance the risk management system. Lastly, this research can also help investors to make reasonable asset planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnant women afflicted with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are prone to both maternal and neonatal complications. Due to this, it is of importance to sustain a strict glycemic control during this time. Unfortunately, there is a lack of evidence-based medical research for the control criteria during pregnancy. Therefore, to develop better method of glycemic control for pregnant women, we conducted a multicenter all-inclusive prospective study to investigate the association between glycemic control markers and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Research design and methods: Four hundred fifty-two women were included in the study. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c and glycated albumin (GA), and ferritin levels were measured at different gestational periods and compared to the pregnancy outcomes. The reference interval of GA and HbA1c was determined in Trimester I, II, III: 11.0–16.3%, 10.1–15.2%, and 9.5–14.6%, and 4.8–5.7%, 4.4–5.4%, and 4.7–5.8%, respectively. It was found that at the later stages of pregnancy, there was a reduction in ferritin levels and increase in HbA1c levels. Only in the GDM group, it was noticed that the frequency of total neonatal and maternal complications were significantly higher on comparison with the normal group (30.1 vs. 18.4%, p =.017 and 21.0% vs. 12.0%, p =.031, respectively). For the frequency of cesarean section and macrosomia in GDM group, GA > 15.69% group was significant higher compared to those of GA ≤ 15.69% group (p =.021 and p =.001, respectively). For HbA1c, no significant differences were observed. A reference interval of HbA1c and GA was developed for Chinese pregnant women. We found that the GDM group had a higher frequency of neonatal and maternal complications. As only GA levels and not HbA1c, were associated with cesarean section and macrosomia in GDM, we hypothesize that GA could be an appropriate glycemic control marker for pregnant mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the influence mechanisms of dockless bike-sharing usage is essential for land use planning and bike scheduling strategy implementation. Although various studies have been carried out to explore the impact of built environment (BE) factors on bike-sharing usage, few studies have examined the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP). Moreover, previous studies mainly focused on the separate effect of each factor but neglected the interactions between these factors. Taking Shenzhen, China as the case, this study fills these two gaps by employing the geographical detector method to examine the MAUP in dockless bike-sharing usage as well as the interactive effects of BE factors. The results revealed that the influences of most BE variables are sensitive to the spatial areal units, which have informed urban planners what built-environment factors should be paid more attention to at certain spatial scales. Additionally, through the comparisons between single effect and interactive effect, this study revealed some interesting findings that can provide scientific basis for temporal rebalance strategy for the innovative and high-density metropolis in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical stability of cinnamaldehyde-loaded liposomes was investigated under various conditions including different storage time, storage temperature, pH and ionic strength of external environment, as well as variations in hydration media. Results showed that the average diameter of liposomes increased first and remained constant, the retention rate (RR) decreased while the liposomes stored at higher temperature exhibited a lower RR during the storage period of 9 days. Furthermore, liposomes under acidic conditions (pH ≤ 6) exhibited a decreased particle size with an increased RR. As for the ionic strength of the external environment and hydration media, the particle size of liposomes increased, whereas the RR and encapsulation efficiency (EE) decreased as ionic strength increased. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) further proved that high ionic strength could result in instability of liposomes. However, the particle size of liposomes in the external environment composed of ion solution were far more than those in the hydration media, which indicated that the liposomes prepared in ion solution could resist instability caused by changes in external ionic strength. These results also provided a guidance for the application of liposomes in different environments and selectively preparing desired liposomes by modulating the pH and ionic strength of environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critical chain/buffer management (CC/BM) methodology, proposed by E.M. Goldratt [1997. Critical chain. New York: The North River Press], introduced the concept of buffers to protect the critical chain against the disruptions. The buffer sizes reflect the uncertainty in the estimation of project duration and affect the project scheduling performance. However, the most current buffer sizing approaches make the assumption that project activity durations are independent. In this paper, the effects of the dependence between activities on project duration performances are analysed, a method for determining buffer sizes with dependence assumption between activities is introduced. Specifically, two definitions reflecting dependence, which are the dependence degree and the dependence factor, are integrated into the formulation of buffer sizing approach. The suggested method is tested and compared with the methods with independence assumption, the root square error method, the adaptive procedure with resource tightness and the adaptive procedure with density. The results indicate that the methods with independence assumption may underestimate the buffer size when at least one of the two definitions is at a high level, while the suggested method can provide better protection in such circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ti is a very important active element in brazing SiO2 ceramics by using Ag-based fillers. Therefore, a density functional theory (DFT) study was applied to investigate the influence of Ti dopant on the interfacial bonding properties of the SiO2 ceramic/Ag interface. Firstly, we built SiO2(0001)/Ag(111) interface with very small lattice misfit. The interface structure with O1 termination and hollow site was found to have maximum value of work of adhesion (Wad). Then, the Ti atoms were doped into the interface at different locations to simulate the possible diffusion sites. The energy results show that Ti atom in the Ag slab was more likely to move to the interface and form bonding with O atoms. The result supports the interface structure of SiO2/Ti-O compounds/Ag. When the coverage of Ti atoms at the interface was raised to 100%, Wad of the interface can reach as large as 16.34 J/m2. The electronic structure analysis indicates that Ti atom at interface can form strong ionic bonding with O atoms. With the increase of Ti atoms, the single Ti-O bonding is weakened with less charge transfer. However, the number of Ti-O bonding increases and the interfaces are strengthened further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Pregnant women afflicted with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are prone to both maternal and neonatal complications. Due to this, it is of importance to sustain a strict glycemic control during this time. Unfortunately, there is a lack of evidence-based medical research for the control criteria during pregnancy. Therefore, to develop better method of glycemic control for pregnant women, we conducted a multicenter all-inclusive prospective study to investigate the association between glycemic control markers and maternal and neonatal outcomes.Research design and methods: Four hundred fifty-two women were included in the study. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c and glycated albumin (GA), and ferritin levels were measured at different gestational periods and compared to the pregnancy outcomes.Results: The reference interval of GA and HbA1c was determined in Trimester I, II, III: 11.0-16.3%, 10.1-15.2%, and 9.5-14.6%, and 4.8-5.7%, 4.4-5.4%, and 4.7-5.8%, respectively. It was found that at the later stages of pregnancy, there was a reduction in ferritin levels and increase in HbA1c levels. Only in the GDM group, it was noticed that the frequency of total neonatal and maternal complications were significantly higher on comparison with the normal group (30.1 vs. 18.4%, p = .017 and 21.0% vs. 12.0%, p = .031, respectively). For the frequency of cesarean section and macrosomia in GDM group, GA > 15.69% group was significant higher compared to those of GA ≤ 15.69% group (p = .021 and p = .001, respectively). For HbA1c, no significant differences were observed.Conclusions: A reference interval of HbA1c and GA was developed for Chinese pregnant women. We found that the GDM group had a higher frequency of neonatal and maternal complications. As only GA levels and not HbA1c, were associated with cesarean section and macrosomia in GDM, we hypothesize that GA could be an appropriate glycemic control marker for pregnant mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon corrosion caused by H2/O2 interface during the shut-down process is one of the factors that exacerbate the overall degradation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) in automotive applications. Numerous studies have shown that system strategies are beneficial for reducing the duration of H2/O2 interface and alleviating performance degradation. In this paper, three different shut-down strategies are investigated and compared based on the internal behaviors acquired by in-situ measurements. For the three shut-down strategies, reverse current and high potential are mainly observed in a lower constant current and constant power strategy. Comparatively speaking, the internal uniformity of the cell under constant current and power load is better than that with constant voltage strategy when the shut-down time is about the same. The results suggest that adopting a higher constant power load followed by a larger voltage load during the shut-down process can effectively shorten the shut-down time and relieve carbon corrosion. These results add significant new insights into the shut-down process and will be of practical importance in directing design of combined shut-down strategy that can withstand carbon corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the theoretical approach and numerical modelling of coal spontaneous combustion were investigated considering the aging effect. Numerical simulations of three-dimensional coal piles in cubic wire-mesh baskets (WMBs) were performed using ANSYS FLUENT. A theoretical heat generation model was constructed that incorporated aging effect (using a decay-power factor, γ), equivalent oxidation exposure time (EOE-time) theory, and moisture evaporation. The results from this model were compared with those obtained from the conventional Arrhenius equation, which does not take aging effect into account. The γ value required to accurately express the aging effect in conjunction with EOE-time theory was determined to be 4 × 10−5 s−1 for the low-rank coal used in this work. This value was obtained by comparing simulated and measured coal temperature-time curves in WMBs. A moisture evaporation model that included an estimated evaporation heat rate was applied, based on the difference between coal moisture ratio and air relative humidity. These models were employed to simulate the self-ignition behaviour of coal piles and to explore the different heating processes of wet and dry coals. Finally, the relationships between pile volume and both critical self-ignition temperature and critical lead time were presented for industrial management of coal piles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although China's assistance to North Vietnam was substantial, playing a vital role in Hanoi's war against the United States, this policy was made based on Beijing's strategic calculation and ideological conviction rather than on Hanoi's needs. The Chinese leadership attempted to use aid to influence Hanoi's approach to the war, but achieved almost no effect. Instead, Beijing's manipulation made Hanoi suspicious about the Chinese leadership's real intentions in Indochina, and Beijing's effort to help Hanoi against the United States was arguably its biggest, unexpected foreign policy failure in the Cold War. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn3V2O8 phosphors were synthesized by combustion with (NH4VO3), C6H8O7 • H2O and Zn (NO3) 2 as raw materials. The crystal structure, morphology and optical properties of the films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and emission spectra. And based on the first-principles of density functional theory (DFT) The α-Zn3V2O8 crystal model was established under zero pressure, and the dielectric and optical properties of the model were calculated. The experimental results show that the crystal structure of Zn3V2O8 has no effect on the crystal structure of Zn3V2O8. The emission intensity of the sample at 600℃ is the weakest, the light intensity of the sample is the strongest at 700℃, and the optical properties is changed with calcination temperature changed of Zn3V2O8. The excitation spectrum of the phosphor is between 300 nm and 420 nm and the peak at 360 nm, The emission spectrum of the range between 420-690 nm, the peak at 550 nm. In the energy range of 0-10 eV, there is a peak of pure α- Zn3V2O8 at 3.91 eV, and the absorption coefficient of α-Zn3V2O8 appears at 5. 44 eV, the reflection peak is at 6. 28 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphosate (PMG) wastewater, which is an organic phosphorus (OP) wastewater containing 200-3000 mg/L PMG, was treated via catalytic wet oxidation (CWO) to degrade PMG to orthophosphate (PO3-4). The catalysts were activated carbons (ACs) modified by H2O2 oxidation and thermal treatment with ammonia or melamine. The catalysts were characterized using N2 adsorption/desorption, Boehm titration, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The CWO experiments were performed in a co-current upflow fixed-bed reactor at 110-130°C and under 1.0 MPa. The AC modified by H2O2 and melamine had the highest catalytic activity and had excellent stability in the continuous 55-day test: 100% PMG removal and over 93% OP removal for different samples of real PMG wastewater. More pyrrolic nitrogen, pyridinic nitrogen, and graphitic nitrogen along with quinone oxygen functional groups on the surface of the AC showed higher catalytic activity according to linear fitting results. The identification and quantification of critical reaction intermediaries and the main end products of PMG degradation were possible, and a degradation pathway was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of limited hydrolysis on conformational and antioxidant properties of soy protein isolate-maltodextrin (SPI-Md) conjugates. Extrinsic fluorescence analysis showed unfolding of the protein molecule and exposure of hydrophobic groups in SPI-Md conjugate hydrolysates. Free amino acid analysis showed that, the contents of hydrophobic amino acids in SPI-Md conjugates increased after hydrolysis. The contents of leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine increased from 0.32, 0.30 and 0.54 to 1.36, 1.86 and 2.60, respectively, when the hydrolysis degree (DH) gradually increased from 0% to 5.7%. The FT-IR spectrum showed that C = O absorption of the amide group formed by glycosylation continued unabated after limited hydrolysis (DH 2.9%). The glycated SPI products showed good reducing power and superior resistance to lipid oxidation (34%, 12 mg mL−1), whereas the limit hydrolysates (DH 2.9%) of SPI-Md conjugates showed more efficient radical-scavenging capacity (89.5%, at 12 mg mL−1) and iron-chelation activity (91.3%, at 12 mg mL−1). Results of this study indicated that, slight enzymatic hydrolysis (DH 0-2.9%) could help partially unfolding the globular structure of SPI-Md conjugates without deteriorating amide bonds and had a positive effect on their antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contact angle and scratch tests have been conducted to investigate the effects of nano-TiO2additive in oil-in-water (O/W) lubricant. The results show that the contact angle between high-speed steel with oxide scale and 1% (oil concentration) O/W lubricant decreases first and then increases as the concentration of nano-TiO2particle in the O/W lubricant increases. The smallest contact angle is obtained after an addition of 4% nano-TiO2additive to the O/W lubricant. This is because the nano-TiO2can enhance the surface excess of the oil when the nano-TiO2particles distribute throughout the surface of the oil droplets, and after saturation they can distribute throughout the water and also improve the surface excess of the water in the O/W lubricant. The scratch and hot rolling tests show that the nano-TiO2particles in the O/W lubricant can also reduce friction, improve scratch resistance, and reduce rolling force. A method for measuring the adhesion force of the oxide scale is proposed and the effect of nanoparticles is discussed. It is demonstrated that the effect of self-lubrication of nanoparticles in the O/W lubricant plays a more significant role in the tribological behavior during hot rolling than wettability. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Shakedown occurs when a structure responds steadily under cyclic loadings within appropriate limits after one or a few cycles of loading. This study proposes a new method for assessing the shakedown limit state associated with the breakage of a ship's hull girder, considering the buckling effects seen under the cyclic hull girder actions of hogging and sagging bending. The method is applied to a Suezmax-class double-hull oil tanker as an example. The shakedown limit state of the ship under cyclic hull girder actions is analysed, and the results are compared with the ultimate hull girder strength of the ship under monotonically applied hull girder loads. It is concluded that a ship's hull under cyclic actions of vertical bending can collapse, with a shakedown failure even if the vertical bending moments applied are smaller than the ultimate hull girder strength determined under monotonically applied hull girder loads. The method and insights developed will be useful for assessing hull girder breakage subject to cyclic hull girder bending moments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated the catalytic ozonation of humic acids extracted from landfill leachate in the presence of CeO2/AC with focus on the kinetics of humic acids degradation. It was confirmed that the degradation of humic acids mainly took place in the solution bulk. The direct and indirect reaction constants of ozone against humic acids were determined. By analyzing the contributions of direct ozone oxidation and indirect •OH radicals oxidation to humic acids removal, it was found that •OH radicals oxidation predominated at all pH, indicating that the catalytic ozonation of humic acids with CeO2/AC involved •OH radicals mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In recent years, Tibetan Yubeng Village, located in southwest China, has become a hot spot for studying community tourism development in China's minority areas. Studies of Yubeng Village have been made on two tourism benefit distribution systems that are dominated by the community: the accommodation income distribution system and the caravan rotation system. Analysis and discussion of researchers are based on the formation, change, and influence of these two systems. However, different researchers have different interpretations of some fundamental facts, whether in terms of the time of the systems’ changes or in terms of the specific contents of such changes. Based on firsthand interview records and auxiliary secondhand materials obtained from field investigation, this study mainly takes “time of system change” as an example to discuss the reasons for these differences and advises that researchers should be more rigorous when facing those fundamental facts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Essential oil from fresh ginger was extracted by steam distillation. Microencapsulation of volatile ginger oil was done by spray-drying using maltodextrin and whey protein isolate as wall materials. An orthogonal design was used to evaluate the influence of the capsule wall materials on the oil retention (OR) and microencapsulation efficiency (MEE) of ginger oil by spray-drying. The best conditions for higher MEE and OR were found to be a 1:1 ratio of whey protein isolate to maltodextrin, a 1:4 ratio of core to wall material, and total solid content of 25%. The spray-drying conditions used were homogenizer pressure at 30 MPa, inlet air temperature at 120°C, and outlet air temperature of 60°C. MEE and OR were 99.36% and 93.30%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the microcapsules were free of visible cracks and pores. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry showed only slight loss during spray-drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient separation process of flavonoid from Ginkgo extract was developed in this study. Polyamide resin offered the fine adsorption capacity, and its adsorption rate at 25°C fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm. Dynamic adsorption and desorption experiments were conducted to optimize the separation process of total flavonoids from the Ginkgo extract. After one run, the content of total flavonoids increased from 24.0% to 55.0%. The method will provide a potential approach for large-scale separation and purification of flavonoid for its wide pharmaceutical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: It is suggested that the injury-induced cell death of neurons within the spinal cord is related with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In this work, we explored that diabetes induce more severe spinal cord injury (SCI) and stronger ER stress in rats. Methods: Forty-five Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three groups at random (the sham operation control group, SCI group and diabetic SCI group). Streptozotocin was injected into the caudal vein (30 mg/kg) to induce diabetes; 4 weeks after diabetes model induction, using a weight-drop contusion model of SCI in SCI group and diabetic SCI group; then, rats were killed at 24 hours and 7 days, and the level of C/EBP homologous transcription factor protein (CHOP), a proapoptotic protein, and caspase 12 were determined by immunohistochemistry staining and real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Results: We observe that both CHOP and caspase 12 were higher in diabetic SCI group than in the SCI group. Diabetes also caused severe locomotor dysfunction and slowly recovered as their Basso, Beattie and Bresnaha scores lowered. Pathological hematoxylin–eosin staining observation also showed progressive disruption of the dorsal white and few neurons regeneration in diabetic SCI rats. Discussion: These results suggest that stronger ER stress in diabetic rats may be the reason for severe SCI observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful heart preservation is critical for clinical heart transplantation, but even the most successful heart preservation method can only preserve the heart in a time range of approximately 4 h. In the present study, diazoxide (DE)-containing cardioplegia solution was used as the hypothermic heart preservation solution, and hearts were preserved for different time periods before reperfusion. Five groups were randomly divided into the control group, DE groups with different concentrations of DE (15, 30, and 45 μM), and the 5-HD + DE group containing 30 μM DE and 100 μM of 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD). Each group was further divided according to the storage time: 3 h and 8 h subgroups. Hemodynamic parameters were monitored continually and myocardial injury markers lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) were measured before arrest and during reperfusion. After reperfusion, myocardium water content, myocardium apoptosis, and myocardial mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured. All data were analyzed by independent samples t-test. Our results showed that diazoxide treatment improved impaired hemodynamics parameters and decreased the leakage of myocardial enzymes during reperfusion, compared to the control group. Moreover, diazoxide treatment significantly alleviated myocardial edema, decreased the number of TUNEL-positive cardiomyocytes, prevented the loss of mitochondrial SOD activity, and depressed the mitochondrial MDA content. This study indicated that mitoKATP channel opener diazoxide could significantly enhance myocardial protection during long-term hypothermic preservation, and the inhibition of oxidative stress-induced myocardium apoptosis seems to be the mechanism involved in the protective action on the mitoKATP channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of rural tourism in China often refer to the concept of guanxi in discussing traditional cultural and special social phenomena. However, guanxi mainly refers to a unilateral, 'request-offer' relationship, while the reality in rural destinations of China is far more complicated and where social relations may involve bilateral, trilateral or even more intricate interactions. In this case study of Xidi, a World Cultural Heritage village in Anhui Province, China, the patron-client concept is introduced to better describe asymmetric exchange of resources and opportunities between unequal individuals or groups. The patrons in this case consist of experts, central government, local government, mass media and local officials, while the clients involve the village autonomous organization, the tourism company, the community leaders and the company managers. Patterns and impacts of the patron-client ties are analysed in detail and the model of a tourism-orientated path-dependence is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalent tourism economic impact assessment methods such as input-output models and the tourism satellite accounts have difficulties when applied to a small geographic scale, such as a rural community. Alternative methods are necessary to examine the micro-interaction mechanism of tourism development and social change in such small villages. An alternative socioeconomic analysis useful for rural communities is introduced in this paper, and is applied in a case study of Xidi, a traditional village in China. The case analysis shows that Chinese social status, hukou, plays an important role as a catalyst in the simultaneous processes of income distribution and tourist commercialisation. The paper suggests that while traditional impact studies of the economy, socio-culture, and environment on larger scales are necessary, integrated socioeconomic analysis is helpful on smaller scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the term “disintegrin” was first coined in 1990, it described a family of naturally occurring proteins with low molecular weights and highly conserved sequences, both in their cysteine arrangements and adhesive Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motifs. Another common characteristic was the inhibitory potential these proteins demonstrated in interacting with cell-surface integrin receptors. Measurement of the effect by disintegrins on the interaction between the platelet receptor α IIbβ 3 and its ligand, fibrinogen, has become a hallmark assay for comparing the activities of members of this increasingly diverse family discovered in the past two decades. This review focuses on the inhibitory profiles, based on platelet function, of the monomeric and heterodimeric disintegrins described to date, as well as the informative contributions of disintegrin mutations in our understanding of the structure–function relationships between ligand and α IIbβ 3. The challenge of naming future examples of these proteins is also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to a discussion of how globalization is affecting women faculty in different countries around the world. It reports on a collaborative, international research project designed to understand the participation of women faculty members in Chinese universities, sketching the historical context necessary for understanding women's place in universities in China, describing the process of surveying university faculty on gender issues and reporting the findings of the survey for universities that prepare secondary school teachers. The paper concludes that in China, 'gender consciousness' is a major barrier preventing women's full participation as faculty. As a result, women are likely to increase their disadvantage in the next few years as Chinese universities expand, diversify, emphasize research and broaden their links with the rest of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a major cellular component in tumor microenvironment, the distribution, frequency, and prognostic significance of infiltrating B cell subsets in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain controversial. Using tyramide signal amplification (TSA) based fluorescent multiplexed immunohistochemistry in situ, we evaluated the distribution and frequency of B cell subsets in two independent HCC cohorts (n = 619). The results were further confirmed by flow cytometry. Correlations of B cell subsets with clinicopathologic features and patient prognosis were analyzed. Five B cell subsets were defined by multiplexed immunohistochemistry and each subset was clearly separated by t-SNE dimension reduction analysis. Notably, the densities of all B cell subsets were significantly decreased in the tumor. The frequency of plasma cells within B cells was most abundant in the tumor. In training cohort (n = 258), high densities of tumor-infiltrating CD20+ B cells, naive B cells, IgM+ memory B cells, CD27− isotype-switched memory B cells, and plasma cells were associated with superior survival. Multivariate analysis further identified CD20+ B cells, naive B cells, and CD27− isotype-switched memory B cells as independent prognosticators for survival. Unsupervised cluster analysis confirmed increased B cell subsets harbored superior survival. In addition, high density of B cells was correlated with smaller tumor size and well differentiation. The results were validated in the independent cohort of 361 HCC patients. Intratumor infiltration of B cells is significantly impaired during HCC progression. High densities of tumor-infiltrating B cells imply a better clinical outcome. Therapies designed to target B cells may be a novel strategy in HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn3V2O8 phosphors were synthesized by combustion with (NH4VO3), C6H8O7 • H2O and Zn (NO3) 2 as raw materials. The crystal structure, morphology and optical properties of the films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and emission spectra. And based on the first-principles of density functional theory (DFT) The α-Zn3V2O8 crystal model was established under zero pressure, and the dielectric and optical properties of the model were calculated. The experimental results show that the crystal structure of Zn3V2O8 has no effect on the crystal structure of Zn3V2O8. The emission intensity of the sample at 600℃ is the weakest, the light intensity of the sample is the strongest at 700℃, and the optical properties is changed with calcination temperature changed of Zn3V2O8. The excitation spectrum of the phosphor is between 300 nm and 420 nm and the peak at 360 nm, The emission spectrum of the range between 420-690 nm, the peak at 550 nm. In the energy range of 0-10 eV, there is a peak of pure α- Zn3V2O8 at 3.91 eV, and the absorption coefficient of α-Zn3V2O8 appears at 5. 44 eV, the reflection peak is at 6. 28 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]