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The upper boundary condition of a numerical model can significantly influence the model prediction results. This study used the Weather Research and Forecasting model to introduce the Rayleigh damping layer in the complex terrain of southern Gansu, China. Sensitivity tests are conducted for a strong precipitation process that occurred in 2016. Meanwhile, the effects of the upper gravity-wave damping layer and vertical velocity damping term of different schemes are explored. The results show that the upper gravity-wave damping layer can effectively reduce the error caused by false gravity waves in the complex terrain of southern Gansu Province. Moreover, the applicability of this model in the complex terrain of northwestern China is discussed. Overal, prediction of the precipitation area and intensity is improved. Specifically, the introduction of an implicit gravity-wave damping layer has a more significant damping effect on the upwardly propagating gravity-wave.

Purpose – Efficient traffic incident management is needed to alleviate the negative impact of traffic incidents. Accurate and reliable estimation of traffic incident duration is of great importance for traffic incident management. Previous studies have proposed models for traffic incident duration prediction; however, most of these studies focus on the total duration and could not update prediction results in real-time. From a traveler’s perspective, the relevant factor is the residual duration of the impact of the traffic incident. Besides, few (if any) studies have used dynamic traffic flow parameters in the prediction models. This paper aims to propose a framework to fill these gaps. Design/methodology/approach – This paper proposes a framework based on the multi-layer perception (MLP) and long short-term memory (LSTM) model. The proposed methodology integrates traffic incident-related factors and real-time traffic flow parameters to predict the residual traffic incident duration. To validate the effectiveness of the framework, traffic incident data and traffic flow data from Shanghai Zhonghuan Expressway are used for modeling training and testing. Findings – Results show that the model with 30-min time window and taking both traffic volume and speed as inputs performed best. The area under the curve values exceed 0.85 and the prediction accuracies exceed 0.75. These indicators demonstrated that the model is appropriate for this study context. The model provides new insights into traffic incident duration prediction. Research limitations/implications – The incident samples applied by this study might not be enough and the variables are not abundant. The number of injuries and casualties, more detailed description of the incident location and other variables are expected to be used to characterize the traffic incident comprehensively. The framework needs to be further validated through a sufficiently large number of variables and locations. Practical implications – The framework can help reduce the impacts of incidents on the safety of efficiency of road traffic once implemented in intelligent transport system and traffic management systems in future practical applications. Originality/value – This study uses two artificial neural network methods, MLP and LSTM, to establish a framework aiming at providing accurate and time-efficient information on traffic incident duration in the future for transportation operators and travelers. This study will contribute to the deployment of emergency management and urban traffic navigation planning.

Priestley-Taylor equation (PT) and the Penman-Monteith equation (PM) are commonly used methods for regional evapotranspiration monitoring, using the PT coefficient (αa) and PM crop/ vegetation coefficient (Kc). This paper investigates the seasonal changes in αa and Kc at five sites in Australia and China, to understand the relationship between environmental conditions and evapotranspiration when applying different evaporation estimation methods. The research shows that higher actual evapotranspiration does not lead to higher αa and Kc values. αa and Kc perform similarly in cropland and forest environments in both China and Australia. Both αa and Kc continuously increase to a peak during the growing season and then decrease to their lowest values during the winter season. Considering Kc’s similar performance to αa and its greater data processing requirements, Kc has few advantages for estimating regional evapotranspiration. Applying the Priestley-Taylor equation with a regional α indicator will enhance the accuracy and reduce the workload when estimating regional evapotranspiration for similar landcover types based on remote sensing.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to introduce a novel technique of robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) with long proximal ureteral stricture in children.Materials and methodsClinical information on patients who underwent a modified RALP between July 2018 and May 2019 in our center was collected retrospectively. Our surgical modifications mainly include “double-flap” tailoring of the renal pelvis and anastomosis of spatulate ureter with the double-flap. Demographic, perioperative, postoperative, and follow-up information was recorded in detail.ResultsA total of 13 patients were included in the study. All the patients underwent a modified RALP without conversion to open surgery. They were followed up with a median time of 36 months. The anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis was 1.19 ± 0.21 at 6 months after the surgery, which was significantly lower than that on admission (3.93 ± 0.79). The split renal function of the children was also significantly improved from 0.37 ± 0.05) to 0.46 ± 0.02 at 6 months after surgery (p < 0.05). The diuretic renography revealed that all the patients have a T1/2 time less than 20 min postoperatively. The children were in good condition during the follow-up period.ConclusionsModified RALP is an effective surgical treatment for children with UPJO with long proximal ureteral stricture. The success rate of this modification has been preliminarily confirmed.

Cardiac inflammation is an important pathological process in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Curcumin is a natural compound found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa and has been shown to possess multifunctional bioactivities. In the present study, we identified a new curcumin-derived compound, JM-2, and investigated its therapeutic effects against DCM in mouse models of streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and HFD-induced type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Treatment with JM-2 (10 mg/kg) prevented cardiac functional and structural deficits effectively and reduced cardiac inflammation and fibrosis. JM-2 administration attenuated DCM by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) activation in the heart of both models. In addition, treatment with JM-2 completely prevented the increase in proinflammatory factors and macrophage infiltration in T1DM and T2DM mice. RNA-seq analysis showed that the anti-inflammatory activity of JM-2 was associated with the inhibition of NF-κB activation. In vitro, JM-2 suppressed high glucose (HG)-induced myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis in H9c2 cells, accompanied by inhibition of HG-induced NF-κB activation. Collectively, our results showed that JM-2, a new curcumin analog, provides strong protection against DCM via inhibition of the NF-κB-mediated inflammation. In summary, our data suggest that the curcumin analog JM-2 may be a potential therapeutic agent for DCM.

In this article, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the precipitation behaviour of the Cu-rich phase in Al-free and 1Al Cu-bearing ferrite stainless steels; and further, the effects of Al addition on the precipitation and coarsening of the Cu-rich phase and its mechanism were analysed. The results show that Al increases the nucleation rate of the Cu-rich phase, and refines Cu-rich nanoprecipitates after ageing for 1 min. The Cu-rich phase with four crystal structures-BCC, 9R, twin FCC, and non-twin FCC were found in the Al-free sample during ageing. However, only Cu-rich phase with BCC and BCT structures were observed after Al addition. There are high-density edge dislocations in Al-containing Cu-rich nanoprecipitates. These dislocations can be used as a diffusion channel for solute atoms, increasing the coarsening rate of the Cu-rich phase. However, with the extension of the ageing time, dislocations in the Cu-rich phase will be annihilated owing to the thermal activation and the decrease of the Al concentration in the Cu-rich phase, which will lead to a decrease in the dislocation density in Al-containing Cu-rich phase. Finally, the promotion effect of Al on the coarsening of the Cu-rich phase is weakened.

A damage identification methodology considering shear deformation was presented in this paper to identify damage to semi-rigid frames with slender beams. On the basis of the successful identification of structural joint damage, the combined joint and member damage of the structure was identified. The objective function was formulated to minimize the discrepancies between the analytical and measured nodal displacements. Damage identification was performed on semi-rigid frame structures with different cross-sectional shapes, and the results were compared with those of ignoring shear deformation. Several frame structures were employed to verify the advantages and efficiency of the proposed method. The results demonstrate that the present method could significantly improve the accuracy of damage identification for semi-rigid frames compared with the method ignoring shear deformation.

Catalytic asymmetric fluorination remains elusive, especially the longstanding stereochemical challenges which exist in BF3Et2O-based fluorinations. Here the authors show a catalytic asymmetric nucleophilic fluorination using BF3·Et2O as the fluorine reagent in the presence of chiral iodine catalyst.

Abstract Introduction The left atrial (LA) strain and strain rate are sensitive indicators of LA function. However, they are not widely used for the evaluation of pregnant women with metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the LA strain and strain rate of pregnant women with clustering of metabolic risk factors and to explore its prognostic effect on adverse pregnancy outcomes. Materials and methods Sixty-three pregnant women with a clustering of metabolic risk factors (CMR group), fifty-seven women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH group), fifty-seven women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM group), and fifty matched healthy pregnant women (control group) were retrospectively evaluated. LA function was evaluated with two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging. Iatrogenic preterm delivery caused by severe preeclampsia, placental abruption, and fetal distress was regarded as the primary adverse outcome. Results The CMR group showed the lowest LA strain during reservoir phase (LASr), strain during contraction phase (LASct) and peak strain rate during conduit phase (pLASRcd) among the three groups (P

AimsThis study aimed to assess the diagnostic performances of dual-energy computed tomography (CT)-derived iodine concentration and effective atomic number (Zeff) in early-phase cardiac CT in detecting left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus and differentiating thrombus from spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in patients with atrial fibrillation using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) as the reference standard.Methods and resultsA total of 389 patients with atrial fibrillation were prospectively recruited. All patients underwent a single-phase cardiac dual-energy CT scan using a third-generation dual-source CT. The iodine concentration, Zeff, and conventional Hounsfield units (HU) in the LAA were measured and normalized to the ascending aorta (AA) of the same slice to calculate the LAA/AA ratio. Of the 389 patients, TEE showed thrombus in 15 (3.9%), SEC in 33 (8.5%), and no abnormality in 341 (87.7%) patients. Using TEE findings as the reference standard, the respective sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the LAA/AA HU ratio for detecting LAA thrombus were 100.0, 96.8, 55.6, and 100.0%; those of the LAA/AA iodine concentration ratio were 100.0, 99.2, 83.3, and 100.0%; and those of the LAA/AA Zeff ratio were 100.0, 98.9, 79.0, and 100.0%. The areas under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of the LAA/AA iodine concentration ratio (0.978; 95% CI 0.945–1.000) and Zeff ratio (0.962; 95% CI 0.913–1.000) were significantly larger than that of the LAA/AA HU ratio (0.828; 95% CI 0.714–0.942) in differentiating the thrombus from the SEC (both P < 0.05). Although the AUC of the LAA/AA iodine concentration ratio was larger than that of the LAA/AA Zeff ratio, no significant difference was found between them (P = 0.259).ConclusionThe dual-energy CT-derived iodine concentration and the Zeff showed better diagnostic performance than the conventional HU in early-phase cardiac CT in detecting LAA thrombus and differentiating the thrombus from the circulatory stasis. However, these results need to be validated in large-cohort studies with late-phase images.

There is limited measure available to quantify the effect of polycarboxylate-ether based superplasticizer (PCE) on the microstructure of cement-based systems during the first 24 h. To fill this gap, the backscattered electron image analysis (BSE-IA) alongside the ternary technique is used in this study to separate composed phases quantitively and then calculate the average spacing between cement particles. Besides, together with an examination of hydration heat, the skeleton development of reaction products is investigated. The results show that cement hydration is not a constant process, and the developing mode for hydration products region varies with the particle size of cement. In this regard, numerous hydration products may gather around small cement particles and then adsorb other unhydrated particles, forming the continuous region. By contrast, the particles possessing relatively large size are surrounded by noticeable pores, which interrupt the continuity of the hydration products region. When introducing PCE, the agglomeration of cement particles and the average spacing between cement particles reduced, manifesting as an enlarged hydration products region alongside a decreased porosity at the area surrounding large particles. However, this leads to a decreased hydration degree for cement and extends the setting time of cement paste.

Compared with traditional hydrothermal synthesis, microwave-assisted synthesis has the advantages of being faster and more energy efficient. In this work, the MoS2/BiVO4 heterojunction photocatalyst was synthesized by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method within 30 min. The morphology, structure and chemical composition were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results of characterizations demonstrated that the synthesized MoS2/BiVO4 heterojunction was a spherical structure with dimensions in the nanorange. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of the samples was investigated by degrading tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) under visible light irradiation. Results indicated that the MoS2/BiVO4 heterojunction significantly improved the photocatalytic performance compared with BiVO4 and MoS2, in which the degradation rate of TC (5 mg L−1) by compound where the mass ratio of MoS2/BiVO4 was 5 wt% (MB5) was 93.7% in 90 min, which was 2.36 times of BiVO4. The active species capture experiments indicated that •OH, •O2− and h+ active species play a major role in the degradation of TC. The degradation mechanism and pathway of the photocatalysts were proposed through the analysis of the band structure and element valence state. Therefore, microwave technology provided a quick and efficient way to prepare MoS2/BiVO4 heterojunction photocatalytic efficiently.

(1) Background: It is simpler and more environmentally friendly to use supercritical CO2 fluid technology to process skincare viscose fabrics. Therefore, it is significant to study the release properties of drug-loaded viscose fabrics to choose suitable skincare drugs. In this work, the release kinetics model fittings were investigated in order to clarify the release mechanism and provide a theoretical basis for processing skincare viscose fabrics with supercritical CO2 fluid. (2) Methods: Nine kinds of drugs with different substituent groups, different molecular weights, and different substitution positions were loaded onto viscose fabrics using supercritical CO2 fluid. Then, the drug-loaded viscose fabrics were placed in an ethanol medium, and the release curves were drawn. Finally, the release kinetics were fitted using zero-order release kinetics, the first-order kinetics model, the Higuchi model, and the Korsmeyer–Peppas model. (3) Results: The Korsmeyer–Peppas model was the best-fitting model for all the drugs. Drugs with different substituent groups were released via a non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. On the contrary, other drugs were released via a Fickian diffusion mechanism. (4) Conclusions: In view of the release kinetics, it was found that the viscose fabric can swell when a drug with a higher solubility parameter is loaded onto it using supercritical CO2 fluid, and the release rate is also slower.

In order to study the effect of the rolling process and aging on the microstructure evolution and mechanical and tribological properties of the material, room-temperature rolling (RTR), cryogenic rolling (CR), and deep cryogenic treatment after rolling (RTR + DCT) experiments were carried out on a Cu-1.0Cr-0.1Zr alloy by a large plastic deformation process. Alloy plates were aged at 550 °C for 60 min. Different rolling processes and aging treatments have different effects on the microstructure and properties of alloy plates. The alloy plate is rolled and deformed, and the grains change from equiaxed to layered. Compared with RTR and RTR + DCT treatment, CR can promote the precipitation of the Cr phase and the degree of grain fragmentation is greater. After aging treatment, the Cu-Zr mesophase compounds in the microstructure increased, the alloys treated with CR and RTR + DCT appeared to be partially recrystallized, and the number of twins in the CR alloy plate was significantly more than that of RTR + DCT. The ultimate tensile strength of the alloy plate reached 553 MPa and the hardness reached 170 HV after cryogenic rolling with 90% deformation, which indicates that CR treatment can further improve the physical properties of the alloy plate. After aging at 550 °C for 60 min, the RTR 90% + DCT alloy plate has a tensile strength of 498 MPa and an elongation of 47.9%, which is three times that of the as-rolled alloy plate. From the research on the tribological properties of alloy plates, we learned that the main wear mechanisms in the wear forms of CR and RTR + DCT alloy plates are adhesive wear and abrasive wear. Adhesive wear is dominant in the early stage, while abrasive wear is the dominant mechanism in the later stage of wear. The friction coefficient of the CR 90% alloy plate in the TD direction is close to 0.55, and the wear rate is 2.9 × 10−4 mm3/Nm, indicating that the CR treatment further improves the wear resistance of the alloy plates.

CAR T therapy has some efficacy in the treatment of patients with refractory/relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia; however in some patients further relapse is encountered. Here, the authors conduct a Phase II clinical trial of a CD19 CAR T and demonstrate that patients with extramedullary disease are more likely to relapse than those without.

Abstract Background Heterogeneity of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) constraints accurate prognosis prediction of the tumor. We therefore aimed at developing a novel nomogram for accurate prediction of overall survival (OS) of patients with metastatic RCC. Methods We extracted 2010 to 2016 data for metastatic RCC patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, and randomly stratified them equally into training and validation sets. Prognostic factors for OS were analyzed using Cox regression models, and thereafter integrated into a 1, 3 and 5-year OS predictive nomogram. The nomogram was validated using the training and validation sets. The performance of this model was evaluated by the Harrell’s concordance index (C-index), calibration curve, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), category-free net reclassification improvement (NRI), index of prediction accuracy (IPA), and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results Overall, 2315 metastatic RCC patients in the SEER database who fulfilled our inclusion criteria were utilized in constructing a nomogram for predicting OS of newly diagnosed metastatic RCC patients. The nomogram incorporated eight clinical factors: Fuhrman grade, lymph node status, sarcomatoid feature, cancer-directed surgery and bone, brain, liver, and lung metastases, all significantly associated with OS. The model was superior to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system (7th edition) both in training (C-indices, 0.701 vs. 0.612, P

The expansion of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) cultivation plantation over the past few decades has been significantly explosive in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. More and more evidences concerning the expansion of rubber plantations lead to the negative influence to local regional hydrology. It is vital to explore the impact of climate change and rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantation expansion on reference evapotranspiration (ET0) for the sustainable and efficient use of regional water resources. In this study, the spatiotemporal variation of ET0 as well as its relationship in rubber plantations area in Xishuangbanna from 1970–2017 were analyzed by using trend, correlation and contribution analysis. The results showed that the rubber plantation was 12,768 ha yr–1 from 1990 to 2017 in Xishuangbanna, and nearly 40.8% of new rubber plantations expanded above 900 m in altitude from 2000 to 2017. Sunshine duration and average relative humidity were the key meteorological factors that affect ET0 in Xishuangbanna, with the sensitivity coefficient of 0.51 and 0.35, respectively. The multiyear relative change of ET0 in Xishuangbanna was 9.18%, and the total contribution of major climate factors was 7.87% during 1970 and 2017. The average relative humidity in the plantation area decreases, which directly leads to the increase of ET0. The amount of ET0 change from 2000 to 2017 affected by climate change increased at 3.13 mm/10a, whereas it was 2.17 mm/10a affected by the expansion of rubber plantations by quantitative separation. ET0 was significantly affected by climate change but intensified by the expansion of rubber plantation.

It is important to conduct grassland resource surveys for the scientific management of grassland resources. Currently, remote sensing technology is widely used to classify land cover. The fine classification datasets of grasslands with high spatial and temporal resolutions are very necessary for scientific research. In order to use remote sensing data conveniently, this study selected the Google Earth Engine platform to select 100-m resolution PROBA-V remote sensing images from 2018 of Zambia, in central Africa. The differences in the normalized vegetation index time-series curves of the different types of grasslands were combined, and June to October was identified as the best phenological classification period. Using the random forest feature importance selection algorithm, the original feature indices and identification of the different grass types were optimized. The results indicate that using the optimal feature combination selected by the random forest feature importance selection algorithm to refine the classification of grasslands improves computational efficiency with an overall accuracy of 83%, which is 3% higher than that of the original feature combination. Among the optimal feature combinations, elevation contributes the most to the improvement classification accuracy. The most significant improvement in the producer’s accuracy was found for grassland (30% increase) and savanna (22% increase). Adjustment of the appropriate phenological periods according to the seasonal characteristics of different regions, the methodology established in this study can be easily applied to other areas for the fine classification of grasslands and the subsequent calculation of grassland biomass and carbon storage.

This study aims to measure workplace stress of nurses using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis based on data derived from wearable ECG heart rate monitors. The study population consists of 17 nurses at a major public hospital in China. Data was collected from 7 DON nurses (department of neurosurgery; all females; mean age: 31.43 ± 4.50), and 9 ICU nurses (intensive care unit; 8 females and 1 male; mean age: 31.33 ± 5.43). Each participant was asked to wear a wireless ECG heart rate monitor to measure stress level during work, and to complete the Chinese Nurses Stress Response Scale (CNSRS) after work as subjective response criteria. Demographic information, body posture, heart rate, R-R intervals (RRI), low frequency components (LF) and high frequency components (HF) were collected. LF%, LnHF and the squared root of the mean squared differences of successive NN intervals (RMSSD) based on HRV analysis were used to estimate the stress level of nurses. DON nurses reported a higher LF%, lower LnHF and lower RMSSD than ICU nurses. Work shifts were shown to have significant effects on LF%, LnHF and RMSSD respectively, with nurses in long shifts and night shifts reported high stress levels. Higher LF%, lower LnHF and lower RMSSD were found during work shift. Posture analysis revealed negative correlations with LnHF and RMSSD in walking and standing/sitting positions, and a significant negative correlation with LF% in lying-down position. Nurses with higher LF% reported higher CNSRS scores in all subscales, whereas nurses with lower LnHF or RMSSD reported higher CNSRS scores in social phobia and fatigue subscales. The results of this study support the idea that HRV can be used to investigate workplace stress among nurses under real work condition, and can serve as a preventive measure for identifying stress-related illnesses among nurses.

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to establish a nomogram to predict the long‐term overall survival (OS) for patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC). Method The PSCC patients receiving regional lymph node dissection (RLND) were enrolled from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2004 and 2015. The dataset of all eligible patients were used to develop the predictive model. The significant independent predictors were identified through Cox regression modeling based on the Bayesian information criterion and then incorporated into a nomogram to predicted 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year OS. Internal validation was performed using the bootstrap resampling method. The model performance was evaluated using Harrell's concordance index (C‐index), calibration plots, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), net reclassification improvement (NRI), and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results Totally, 384 eligible PSCC patients were enrolled from the SEER database. A nomogram for OS prediction was developed, in which three clinical variables significantly associated with OS were integrated, including age, N classification, and log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS). The C‐index of the nomogram (0.746, 95% CI: 0.702‐0.790) was significantly higher than that of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system (0.692, 95% CI: 0.646‐0.738, P = .020). The bootstrap optimism‐corrected C‐index for the nomogram was 0.739 (95% CI: 0.690‐0.784). The bias‐corrected calibration plots showed the predicted risks were in good accordance with the actual risks. The results of NRI, IDI, and DCA exhibited superior predictive capability and higher clinical use of the nomogram compared with the AJCC staging system. Conclusion We successfully constructed a simple and reliable nomogram for OS prediction among PSCC patients receiving RLND, which would be beneficial to clinical trial design, patient counseling, and therapeutic modality selection.

Abstract PV power production is highly dependent on environmental and weather conditions, such as solar irradiance and ambient temperature. Because of the single control condition and any change in the external environment, the first step response of the converter duty cycle of the traditional MPPT incremental conductance algorithm is not accurate, resulting in misjudgment. To improve the efficiency and economy of PV systems, an improved incremental conductance algorithm of MPPT control strategy is proposed. From the traditional incremental conductance algorithm, this algorithm is simple in structure and can discriminate the instantaneous increment of current, voltage and power when the external environment changes, and so can improve tracking efficiency. MATLAB simulations are carried out under rapidly changing solar radiation level, and the results of the improved and conventional incremental conductance algorithm are compared. The results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively identify the misjudgment and avoid its occurrence. It not only optimizes the system, but also improves the efficiency, response speed and tracking efficiency of the PV system, thus ensuring the stable operation of the power grid.

Abstract Background Bainbridge–Ropers syndrome (BRPS) is a recently described developmental disorder caused by de novo truncating mutations in the Additional sex combs-like 3 (ASXL3) gene. Only four cases have been reported in China and are limited to the analysis of its clinical abnormalities, medical imaging features and gene variation. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical phenotype, imaging manifestations and genetic characteristics of BPRS syndrome caused by ASXL3 gene mutation. Clinical data, medical imaging data and gene test results of BRPS in infant patients were retrospectively analyzed, and related literature was summarized. Case presentation At the age of 8 months, brain MRI showed that the subarachnoid space of the forehead was widened, part of the sulci was deepened, and the corpus callosum was thin. The development quotient (DQ) was determined using the 0~6-year-old pediatric examination table of neuropsychological development at 6 months and 8 months. The DQ of both tests was less than 69. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous frameshift mutation c.3493_3494deTG in exon 12 of the ASXL3 gene, resulting in the amino acid change p. (Cys1165Ter). No variation was present at this site in her parents. Sanger sequencing of family members validated this analysis, suggesting a de novo mutation. The de novo ASXL3 mutations generated stop codons and were predicted, in silico, to generate a truncated ASXL3. Conclusions The main clinical features of the patient included psychomotor development retardation, difficulty in feeding, hypotonia, and special facial features. MRI features showed that brain development lagged behind that of normal children. Genetic testing is helpful in the early diagnosis of BRPS.

BackgroundAlthough muscle strength training is a prevalent treatment for patients with functional ankle instability (FAI), previous investigations on the efficacy have yielded conflicting results.ObjectiveThis study aims to compare the efficacy of 6-week isokinetic strength training and Thera-Band strength training on improving ankle strength, dynamic balance ability, and function in individuals with FAI.MethodsFifty-two FAI patients were randomized into two treatment groups: an isokinetic strength training (IST, n = 26) group and a Thera-Band resistance training (TBT, n = 26) group. The IST group engaged in isokinetic concentric strength training with inversion, eversion, dorsiflexion, and plantar flexion, whereas the TBT group engaged in progressive resistance training with Thera-Band three times per week for six weeks. Before and after the training, an isokinetic concentric strength test of the involved ankle joint, Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), and Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) function assessment were performed.ResultsAfter six weeks of intervention, the strength of inversion and eversion was significantly improved in both the IST and TBT groups (p < 0.05), with the IST group exhibiting a significant (p < 0.05) improvement when compared to the TBT group. The SEBT and CAIT results were significantly (p < 0.05) improved in the IST group compared to the TBT group.ConclusionsThe six-week of isokinetic strength training is more effective than the Thera-Band progressive resistance training in improving the physical function of FAI patients.Clinical trial registration numberThis randomized controlled clinical trial has been registered in the China Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100044444) https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=ChiCTR2100044444.

Among more than 800 known fast radio bursts (FRBs), only two, namely FRB 20121102A and FRB 20190520B, are confirmed to be associated with persistent radio sources (PRSs). Here, we report evidence of apparent temporal variability in the PRS associated with the bursting FRB 20190520B based on Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array observations taken in 2020 and 2021. Based on the analysis of the epoch-to-epoch variability of the PRS at the L , S , C , and X bands (1–12 GHz), we detected not only overall marginal variability, but also a likely radio flux decrease ( σ ∼ 3.2) between the observations taken in 2020 and 2021 at 3 GHz. Assuming no spectral variation in the PRS during these observations, we found evidence for an overall broadband radio flux decrease by about 20% between the 2020 and the 2021 observations, suggesting that the PRS probably evolves on a yearly timescale. If we attribute the marginal variability at 3 GHz as intrinsic or due to scintillation, the size of the potential variable component of the PRS is constrained to be subparsec. On the other hand, the size of the PRS can be also constrained to ≳0.22 pc from the time-averaged radio spectrum and the integrated radio luminosity in the 1–12 GHz band, based on equipartition and self-absorption arguments. We discuss the potential origins of the PRS and suggest that an accreting compact object origin might be able to explain the PRS’s temporal and spectral properties. Confirmation of the variability or flux decline of the PRS will be critical for our understanding of the PRS and its relation to the bursting source.

We report on a comprehensive multiwavelength study of the pulsars in the globular cluster (GC) M5, including the discovery of M5G, a new compact noneclipsing “black widow” pulsar. Thanks to the analysis of 34 yr of radio data taken with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope and Arecibo telescopes, we obtained new phase-connected timing solutions for four pulsars and improved those of the other three. These have resulted in, among other things, (a) much improved proper motions for five pulsars, with transverse velocities (relative to the cluster) that are smaller than their respective escape velocities; (b) 3 σ and 1.5 σ detections of Shapiro delays in M5F and M5D, respectively; and (c) greatly improved measurement of the periastron advance in M5B, whose value of $\dot{\omega }=0\buildrel{\circ}\over{.} 01361(6)$ implies that M5B is still likely to be a heavy ( ${m}_{p}={1.981}_{-0.088}^{+0.038}\,{M}_{\odot }$ ) neutron star. The binary pulsars M5D, M5E, and M5F are confirmed to be in low-eccentricity binary systems, the low-mass companions of which are newly identified to be He white dwarfs using Hubble Space Telescope data. Four pulsars are also found to be associated with X-ray sources. Similarly to the eclipsing pulsar M5C, M5G shows little or no nonthermal X-ray emission, indicative of weak synchrotron radiation produced by intrabinary shocks. All seven pulsars known in M5 have short spin periods (

We discover three new weak pulse components in two known pulsars, one in PSR J0304+1932 and two in PSR J1518+4904. These components are emitted about halfway between the main emission beam and the interpulse beam (beam from the opposite pole). They are separated from their main pulse peak by 99° ± 3° for J0304+1932 and 123.°6 ± 0.°7 (leading) and 93° ± 0.°4 (trailing) for J1518+4904. Their peak-intensity ratios to main pulses are ∼ 0.06% for J0304+1932 and ∼0.17% and ∼0.83% for J1518+4904. We also analyzed the flux fluctuations and profile variations of the emissions for the two pulsars. The results show correlations between the weak pulses and their main pulses, indicating that these emissions come from the same pole. We estimated the emission altitude of these weak pulses and derived a height of about half of the pulsar’s light-cylinder radius. These pulse components are a unique sample of high-altitude emissions from pulsars, and challenge the current pulsar emission models.

In this paper, ZnCo _2 S _4 nanomaterial with a unique structure were synthesized by static and hydrothermal method and applied to the field of electrochemical sensing. Based on the advantages of metal-organic frameworks (MOF) materials with large specific surface areas, multiple active centers, and synergistic effect of multi-metals, we choose Zn and Co bimetallic MOF as the precursor material and synthesized ZnCo _2 S _4 nanomaterials with large active area and multiple active centers after vulcanization. In addition, we verified the excellent electrochemical sensing performance of the prepared ZnCo _2 S _4 nanomaterial through the catalytic oxidation experiment of glucose. The results showed that ZnCo _2 S _4 nanomaterials with bimetallic MOF as a precursor had higher electrocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation than ZnCo _2 S _4 nanomaterials without precursor and single metal sulfide. According to the analysis of the electrochemical performance of the material, the detection limit is extremely low (0.007 μ M)and two linear range (3 ∼9 μ M) and (10 ∼100 μ M)for glucose. Therefore, we believe that the method of preparing polymetallic sulfides with MOF as a precursor is of great significance in electrochemical sensing.

Levilactobacillus brevis strains can be isolated from traditional Chinese pickles and used as the starter cultures to improve the nutritional profiles of fermented juices. Three L. brevis strains (LBG-29, LBG-24, LBD–14) that produce high levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA; >300 mg/L) were isolated from traditional Chinese pickles. The strains showed tolerance to low pH and high bile salts and exhibited safety in vitro. Litchi juice was fermented using each strain at 37 °C for 48 h. The litchi juice was determined to be a good substrate for fermentation as the process enhanced its functional profile. Overall, cell vitality increased (above 8.7 log10 CFU/mL), the antioxidant activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were significantly increased, and the antioxidant capacity of the 2,2′-amino-di(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline sulphonic acid-6)ammonium salt (ABTS) was decreased. There was also a significant increase in the GABA and acetic acid content after LBG-29 and LBG-24 fermentation. It was thus determined that the LBG-29 and LBG-24 strains could be used to improve beverage functionality and aid in the development of new products. This is the first report of litchi fermentation using L. brevis as a starter culture. Further research is required to elucidate the functional benefits for the human body and the nutritional and functional properties during its shelf life.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has plunged the world into a major crisis. The disease is characterized by strong infectivity, high morbidity, and high mortality. It is still spreading in some countries. Microbiota and their metabolites affect human physiological health and diseases by participating in host digestion and nutrition, promoting metabolic function, and regulating the immune system. Studies have shown that human microecology is associated with many diseases, including COVID-19. In this research, we first reviewed the microbial characteristics of COVID-19 from the aspects of gut microbiome, lung microbime, and oral microbiome. We found that significant changes take place in both the gut microbiome and airway microbiome in patients with COVID-19 and are characterized by an increase in conditional pathogenic bacteria and a decrease in beneficial bacteria. Then, we summarized the possible microecological mechanisms involved in the progression of COVID-19. Intestinal microecological disorders in individuals may be involved in the occurrence and development of COVID-19 in the host through interaction with ACE2, mitochondria, and the lung-gut axis. In addition, fecal bacteria transplantation (FMT), prebiotics, and probiotics may play a positive role in the treatment of COVID-19 and reduce the fatal consequences of the disease.

This study draws on the dynamic capabilities view and the firm’s big data capability (BDC) in the new economic environment. It constructs an adjusted intermediary model to study the mechanism of BDC, strategic flexibility, and environmental dynamic affecting financial performance. We find that strategic flexibility plays an intermediary role in the “Converse-U” relationship between BDC and financial performance. Environmental dynamics adjust the relationship between BDC and financial performance positively and smooth the “Converse-U” relationship. The findings suggest building and managing BDC, combining BDC with the management process, and achieving continuous financial performance improvement in a dynamic environment. The paper also puts forward the nonlinear hypothesis, discusses the “Converse-U” relationship between BDC and enterprise financial performance in the Chinese context of digital economy explosion and growth, and considers the intermediary mechanism of strategic flexibility and the regulatory effect of environmental dynamics.

The basalt-fiber-reinforced copper-matrix composites were fabricated using spark plasma sintering. The effect of basalt fiber content on the mechanical and tribological properties of copper-matrix composites was investigated. The results show that the relative density decreased, the hardness increased and the tensile strength first increased and then decreased with the increase in fiber content. The optimal tensile strength of 276 MPa was obtained when the content of basalt fiber was 1.5 wt.%. The friction coefficient of the composites decreased, and the wear volume first decreased and then increased with the increase in the fiber content. The addition of basalt fibers reduced the plastic deformation of the copper matrix during the friction test due to its strengthening effect. Moreover, the detached basalt fibers from the Cu matrix were ground into fine particles and were helpful for forming a mechanical mixing layer, which can decrease the friction coefficient of composites.

Drought is one of the most common natural threats to agricultural production worldwide. Few studies have studied the effects of agricultural practices on drought mitigation at a regional scale over a long period. This paper analyzes the spatiotemporal characteristics in the agricultural drought-affected area change index (ADAC), which was developed to assess the drought mitigation. The linear regression method was used to investigate the impact factors on the change of ADAC in the three main winter wheat provinces of northern China. The results showed that the average ADAC during the main growing season in the study area was approximately −61.5% over the past 38 years, which indicated a great decrease of the agricultural drought-affected area. The significant decreasing trends of ADAC values across the study area during 1981–2000 could be explained by the area percentage equipped for irrigation (APEI) by 49.2–89.7%. There was a lack of pronounced change trends of ADAC during 2001–2018, implying that the positive effects of irrigation infrastructure in the plain area might reach a plateau under the constraints of available water resources, and other agricultural practices need to be investigated in the future. This research provides helpful decision information on drought adaptation management and water conservation project planning.

(1) Background: Supercritical CO2 fluid (SCF-CO2)-assisted impregnation presents advantages on loading active drugs to polymer substrates, since it enables the realization of a drug-loaded polymer without any solvent residue. Besides, CO2 gas and drugs can be recycled and utilized again. Resveratrol-loaded diacetate fiber by SCF-CO2-assisted impregnation was done to give diacetate fiber biological activity function for enhancing its added value. (2) Methods: The effect of SCF-CO2 temperature, pressure and treatment time on loading ability (LA) of resveratrol onto diacetate fiber was explored by ultraviolet visible spectrophotometer. The variation of structure and property of diacetate fiber was analyzed by characterization instruments. (3) Results: LA had been increasing with SCF-CO2 treatment time, temperature and pressure when SCF-CO2 was above 70 °C, 12 MPa. The inhibiting rate of resveratrol to free radicals was affected positively by SCF-CO2. After resveratrol was impregnated by SCF-CO2 it appeared some small white granular substances on the surface of diacetate fiber. It had a good interaction between resveratrol and molecular chain of diacetate fiber. (4) Conclusions: Resveratrol was well-loaded onto the diacetate fiber by SCF-CO2 assisted impregnation.

This work reports the general design and characterization of two exotic, anomalous nonequilibrium gapless topological phases. In equilibrium systems, the Weyl nodes or the crossing points of nodal lines of three-dimensional systems may become the transition points between higher-order and first-order topological phases defined on two-dimensional slices, thus featuring both hinge Fermi arc and surface Fermi arc. We advance this concept by presenting a strategy to obtain, using time-sequenced normal insulator phases only, Floquet higher-order Weyl semimetals and Floquet higher-order nexus semimetals, where the concerned topological singularities in the three-dimensional Brillouin zone border anomalous two-dimensional higher-order topological phases. Our theoretical results stimulate and guide future experiments on higher-order semimetal phases using, for example, a three-dimensional lattice of coupled ring resonators.

Background Monteggia equivalent lesion represents a group of injury or combined injury patterns that resemble the Monteggia lesion in its presentations and mechanisms. Unlike Monteggia lesions, the equivalent ones, which share vague definitions and mostly occur as sporadic single case reports in the literature, have not been thoroughly reviewed since Bado first proposed the term, especially in the pediatric population. The objective of this review was to elucidate the definition by elaborating on its clinical styles and thus analyzing the mechanism, diagnosis, and management through related literature.Data sources Based on the terms of ‘Monteggia equivalent’, ‘radial neck fracture’ and ‘pediatric’, all of the related literature was searched on the PubMed and Google Scholar search engine.Results The advance of the definitions for pediatric Monteggia equivalent lesion (PMEL) was reviewed. The functional roles of the ulnar and the related mechanism theories in this injury were analyzed. The status of the radiocapitellar joint in this injury was emphasized. According to the previous statements, a new classification model was proposed and proper diagnosis and treatment approaches were suggested.Conclusions PMEL should be defined as an ulnar fracture at any level combined with a proximal radial fracture. According to the status of the radiocapitellar joint, it could be divided into three groups. The occult ulnar bowing and delayed radial head dislocation should be a serious concern of orthopedists. Surgical need is usually warranted. Maintaining the ulnar length and securing the radiocapitellar joint are highly recommended.

Abstract Background The suicide risk was higher in kidney cancer patients than in the general population. The purpose of this study was to characterize the suicide rates among kidney cancer patients and to identify the potential risk factors associated with suicide from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Methods Kidney cancer patients were identified from the SEER database during 1973‐2015. Suicide rates and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) of this population were calculated, and the US general population during 1981‐2015 was chosen as a reference. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression were performed to find out potential risk factors of suicide. Results There were 207 suicides identified among 171 819 individuals with kidney cancer observed for 948 272 person‐years. The suicide rate was 21.83 per 100 000 person‐years, and SMR was 1.83 (95% CI: 1.59‐2.10). On Cox regression, diagnosis in early years (1973‐1982 vs 2003‐2015, HR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.01‐4.11, P = 0.048; 1983‐1992 vs 2003‐2015, HR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.18‐3.35, P = 0.010), male sex (vs female sex, HR: 4.43, 95% CI: 2.95‐6.65, P

Abstract Background The PHOSPHATE1 (PHO1) gene family plays diverse roles in inorganic phosphate (Pi) transfer and signal transduction, and plant development. However, the functions and diversification of soybean PHO1 family are poorly understood. Results Cultivated soybean (Glycine max) was domesticated from wild soybean (Glycine soja). To illuminate their roles in this evolutionary process, we comparatively investigated the G. max PHO1 genes (GmPHO1) in Suinong 14 (SN14) and G. soja PHO1 genes (GsPHO1) in ZYD00006 (ZYD6). The sequences of the orthologous Gm-GsPHO1 pairs were grouped into two Classes. The expression of Class I in both SN14 and ZYD6 was widely but relatively high in developing fruits, whereas Class II was predominantly expressed in the roots. The whole family displayed diverse response patterns to salt stresses and Pi-starvation in roots. Between SN14 and ZYD6, most PHO1 genes responded similarly to salinity stresses, and half had sharp contrasts in response to Pi-starvation, which corroborated the differential response capacities to salinity and low-Pi stress between SN14 and ZYD6. Furthermore, in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, most Class II members and GmPHO1;H9 from Class I could enhance salt tolerance, while only two Class II genes (GmPHO1;H4 and GmPHO1;H8) differently altered sensitivity to Pi-starvation. The expression of critical genes was accordingly altered in either salt or Pi signaling pathways in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Conclusions Our work identifies some PHO1 genes as promising genetic materials for soybean improvement, and suggests that expression variation is decisive to functional divergence of the orthologous Gm-GsPHO1 pairs, which plays an adaptive role during soybean evolution.

Abstract Background Bringing free-living animals into captivity subjects them to the stress of both capture and captivity, leading to the alteration of normal physiological processes and behaviors through activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. In free-living birds, although elevated plasma corticosterone (CORT) is an important adaptation regulating physiological and behavioral responses during the process of capture and captivity stress, little information is currently available on the effects of such stress on plasma metabolite levels. Methods We examined the effects of immediate capture and 24-h captivity on body mass, body condition, plasma CORT, and metabolite levels including glucose (Glu), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), uric acid (UA), in breeding Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus). Results CORT and Glu levels were increased significantly by the stress of capture, whereas TC and UA levels decreased. Body mass, body condition declined notably after 24 h in captivity, but CORT, Glu, and UA levels increased. Furthermore, male sparrows had lower TG levels after both capture and captivity than those of females. The relationships between plasma CORT and metabolite levels varied between sexes. Conclusions Our results revealed that the metabolic status of Eurasian Tree Sparrows could be dramatically altered by capture and captivity. Monitoring the dynamic effects of both capture and captivity on plasma CORT, metabolite levels in a free-living bird contributes to a better understanding of the stress-induced pathways involved in sex-dependent energy mobilization.

Background: This study aimed to analyze clinical characteristics and risk factors for peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement in premature infants. Materials: This study included seven premature infants who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Peking University Third Hospital from 1 January 2014–30 June 2021, and suffered PICC-related venous thrombosis. The control group included premature infants (n = 56) matched (1:8) by the following: Did not experience venous thrombosis; born with a similar gestational age (±2 w), birth weight (±200 g); and received PICC catheterization in the same period (±4 w). Clinical neonatal data were collected through the hospital electronic medical record system and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: The incidence of PICC-related thrombus was 0.23% (7/3043. Univariate analysis revealed that, compared to the non-thrombotic group, mothers in the thrombosis group had autoimmune diseases (χ2 = 9.844, p = 0.030) and used anticoagulative drugs during pregnancy (χ2 = 8.036, p = 0.025). The corrected gestational age when PICC-related thrombosis occurred in the thrombosis group was 32 + 6 (30 + 1, 34 + 1) weeks. The average time from catheter placement to thrombosis was 5 (1, 12) days. Among infants, 85.7% (6/7) experienced deep vein thrombosis, of which four were in the lower extremity veins; three occurred within 2 days after central venous catheter extubation, and four occurred during central venous catheter indwelling. The clinical manifestations of thrombosis include skin edema, color changes, and skin temperature changes in the affected limbs. The seven neonates had normal coagulation at the time of thrombus diagnosis, but D-dimers significantly increased 1–2 days after thrombosis, returning to normal 5–8 days after thrombus. The thrombus persisted for 4.5 (3, 8) days. All seven neonates were treated with low molecular weight heparin calcium anticoagulation for 10 (3, 17) days and recovered completely. Conclusions: PICC-related thrombosis occurred within 1 week after catheter placement, and thrombosis more likely happened in infants whose mothers had autoimmune disease. When this high-risk factor exists and the patient has been intubated for 1 week and has sudden swelling in the intubated limb, venous ultrasound should be performed immediately to diagnose, and treatment should be provided in a timely manner to reduce adverse events.

This paper presents a parameter-identification method for rod structures with different connections. In this method, the parameters of the structure are adjusted to match its analytical and measured displacements. The damage identification for truss structure and rigid frame were investigated. Previous studies often considered the cross-sectional area damage or joint damage; there are few studies on the simultaneous existence of these two types of damage. In this study, damage identification for a rigid frame with both cross-sectional and joint damage was performed. Based on the measured displacements, the proposed method can accurately identify the cross-sectional and joint damage for a rigid frame.

The evaluation of the ecosystem service value (ESV) and its regionalization toward coordinating ecological protection and socioeconomic development is of great significance. In this study, we developed a classification method based on the Random Forest algorithm and a feature optimization method to identify grassland types. Then, we proposed an approach to quantitatively evaluate the ESV of the grassland ecosystem in Ethiopia, in which net primary production derived from remote sensing was used to evaluate organic matter production value (ESV1), promoting nutrient circulation value (ESV2), and gas regulation value (ESV3), the RUSLE model was used to evaluate soil conservation value (ESV4), and cumulative rainfall was used to calculate water conservation value (ESV5). By integrating the mean ESV under various influencing factors, the zoning map of grassland ecosystem service value was obtained. Our study found that more fine grassland types can be well classified with the overall accuracy of 86.52%. And the classification results are the basis of the ESV analysis. The total ESV of grassland ecosystems was found to be USD 105,221.72 million, of which ESV4 was the highest, accounting for 44.09% of the total ESV. The spatial analysis of ESV showed that the differences were due to the impacts of grassland types, elevation, slope, and rainfall. It was found that the grassland is suitable to grow in the elevation zone between approximately 1000 and 2000 m, and the larger the slope and rainfall are, the greater the mean ESV is. The zoning map was used to conclude that the areas from approximately the fourth to sixth level (only 34.78% of the total grassland area, but 65.94% of the total ESV) have better growth status and development potential. The results provide references and bases to support the local coordination and planning of various grassland resources and form reasonable resource utilization and protection measures.

Strong heterogeneity, low matrix permeability, and complex oil–water interaction make the fluid flow in carbonate rocks extremely complicated. In this study, we quantitatively characterize and simulate single-phase and multiphase flows with multiscale pore–vug–fracture structures involved in the carbonate reservoir developments. The main studies and conclusions include: (i) The CT technology is utilized to characterize the pores, fractures, and vugs of carbonate cores at multiple scales. It is found that even if the CT resolution reaches 0.5 μm, the pores of the core are still unconnected as a network, indicating that the carbonate matrix is particularly tight. The existence of fractures can increase the effective permeability, and even poorly connected fractures can significantly increase the permeability because it reduces the flow distance through the less permeable matrix. (ii) A numerical model of low-porosity strongly heterogeneous carbonate rocks was constructed based on digital image processing. Simulations of single-phase fluid flow under reservoir conditions were conducted, and the effects of surrounding pressure, pore pressure, and core size on the single-phase flow were investigated. Due to the strong heterogeneity of carbonate rocks, the pores, vugs, and fractures cause local preferential flow and disturbance within the core, which significantly affects the fluid flow path and the pressure distribution in the core. The overall permeability is a composite representation of the permeability of numerous microelements in the specimen. Permeability increases with an increasing pore pressure, and it decreases with increasing circumferential pressure. (iii) The gas–water two-phase flow model of a low-porosity strongly heterogeneous carbonate rock was established based on digital image processing. The variation law of the two-phase outlet flow velocity with the inlet gas pressure and the movement law of the two-phase interface of carbonate rock samples were obtained. Under certain surrounding pressure, the outlet gas velocity is larger than the outlet water velocity; with the increase of the inlet gas pressure, the pore space occupied by the gas phase in the rock becomes larger. With the increase of the surrounding pressure, the velocities of both outlet gas and water decrease. As the sample size decreases, the velocities of both outlet gas and water increase.

Abstract For maximum utilization of solar energy, photovoltaic (PV) power systems should be operated at the maximum power point (MPP) which can be achieved using maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods. However, the occurrence of multi-peak on P-V curve of a PV array due to the changing environmental conditions such as being partially shaded increases the complexity of the tracking process. The global MPP cannot always be achieved by the conventional MPPT methods. Therefore a novel MPPT method for PV systems using flower pollination (FP) algorithm is proposed in this paper and the Levy flight is used to improve the convergence of FP algorithm. MPPT model of the PV system is established in MATLAB to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, and the proposed method is compared with two well established MPPT methods. The simulation results indicate that the proposed MPPT method can quickly track the changes in external environment and effectively handle the partially shaded condition.

Both photonic topological structures and optical angular momentum have been investigated over the last few years. Here, the authors propose and demonstrate that a honeycomb LC circuit can support topological photonic states with band inversion between modes that carry orbital angular momentum.

Relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a disease with a poor prognosis. Recent clinical trials results showed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has a promising role in treating relapsed DLBCL. Unfortunately, patients with extranodal lesions respond poorly to CAR-T cells administered intravenously. Herein, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of a new treatment strategy of CAR-T cells, combining intravenous infusion with local injection of CAR-T cells, in a relapsed DLBCL patient with extranodal lesions. The patient achieved durable remission and without severe adverse effects after CAR-T cells treatment. During the follow-up period of one year, the patient remained in good condition. In conclusion, combining intravenous injection with a local injection for CAR-T cell is a feasible strategy for relapsed DLBCL patients with extranodal lesions.

Objective: To present our primary experience of robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) for severe ureteropelvis junction obstruction (UPJO) infants under 3 months.Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 9 infants under 3 months who underwent RALP for severe UPJO between April 2017 and March 2019 in our center. The severe UPJO was defined as infants with severe hydronephrosis (Society of Fetal Urology grades III or IV, anteroposterior diameter >3 cm or split renal function 20 min) involving bilateral, solitary kidney, or contralateral renal hypoplasia UPJO at the same time. All clinical, perioperative, and postoperative information was collected.Results: There were four bilateral UPJO cases, two solitary kidney UPJO cases and three unilateral UPJO with contralateral renal hypoplasia cases included. One single surgeon performed RALP on all of the infants. The mean age of the infants was 1.62 ± 0.54 months. The mean operative time was 109.55 ± 10.47 min. The mean estimated blood loss was 19.29 ± 3.19 ml, and the mean length of hospital stay was 5.57 ± 0.73 days. According to the ultrasonography results, all patients had a significant recovery of renal function at 12 months after the operation.Conclusions: To maximize the protection of renal function, early RALP is a safe and feasible option for the treatment of severe UPJO in infants under 3 months.

The interfacial property of H2O+CO2+oil three-phase systems is crucial for CO2 flooding and sequestration processes but was not well understood. Density gradient theory coupled with PC-SAFT equation of state was applied to investigate the interfacial tension (IFT) of H2O+CO2+oil (hexane, cyclohexane, and benzene) systems under three-phase conditions (temperature in the range of 323–423 K and pressure in the range of 1–10 MPa). The IFTs of the aqueous phase+vapor phase in H2O+CO2+oil three-phase systems were smaller than the IFTs in H2O+CO2 two-phase systems, which could be explained by enrichment of oil in the interfacial region. The difference between IFTs of aqueous phase+vapor phase in the three-phase system and IFTs in H2O+CO2 two-phase system was largest in the benzene case and smallest in the cyclohexane case due to different degrees of oil enrichment in the interface. Meanwhile, CO2 enrichment was observed in the interfacial region of the aqueous phase+oil-rich phase, which led to the reduction of IFT with increasing pressure while different pressure effects were observed in the H2O+oil two-phase systems. The effect of CO2 on the IFTs of aqueous phase+benzene-rich phase interface was small in contrast to that on the IFTs of aqueous phase+alkane (hexane or cyclohexane)-rich phase interface. H2O had little effect on the interfacial properties of the oil-rich phase+vapor phase due to the low H2O solubilities in the oil and vapor phase. Further, the spreading coefficients of H2O+CO2 in the presence of different oil followed this sequence: benzene > hexane > cyclohexane.

Evapotranspiration (ET) is the primary mechanism of water transformation between the land surface and atmosphere. Accurate ET estimation given complex terrain conditions is essential to guide water resource management in mountainous areas. This study is based on the ETWatch model driven by Sentinel-2 remote sensing data at a spatial resolution of 10 m incorporating a net radiation model considering the impact of a complex terrain. We tested our model with two years of data in two regions with a high relief near the Huairou (2020) and Baotianman (2019) weather stations. Regarding the validation results of the ET model, the coefficient of determination (R2) reached 0.84 in Huairou and 0.86 in Baotianman, while the root mean square error (RMSE) value reached 0.59 mm in Baotianman and 0.82 mm in Huairou. The validation results indicated that the model is applicable in regions with a complex terrain, and the ET results can capture topographic textures. In terms of the slope aspect, the ET value on south-facing slopes is higher than that on north-facing slopes in both study areas. Accurate ET monitoring in mountainous regions with a high relief yields a profound meaning in obtaining a better understanding of the characteristics of heat and water fluxes at different vegetation growth stages and underlying surface types, which can provide constructive suggestions for water management in mountainous areas.

Congenital deficiency of tracheal rings is a rare tracheal malformation that can cause central airway obstruction. Herein we reported the clinical data of six patients with symptomatic congenital deficient tracheal rings. There were five cases, with isolated short-segment absent cartilage ring located on the distal trachea (three cases), cervical trachea (one case), and distal trachea combined with bilateral bronchi (one case). Among them, four (4/5) received surgical tracheal resection, three fully recovered, and one died of severe infection. Besides that, one patient, who could not be weaned off the mechanical ventilation, died after rejecting surgery. One case had episodes of recurrent dyspnea and extubation failure due to long-segment tracheomalacia after repair of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula. For this patient, deficient cartilage rings were suspected and confirmed at the age of 26 months. Moreover, the clinical characteristics of 12 cases with congenital deficient tracheal cartilage rings reported in previous literature were reviewed. The different characteristics between short- and long-segment deficient cartilage rings were discussed.