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Independent processing of each polarization channel and three-dimensional multistage imaging ignore the correlation between data, resulting in the mismatch between scattering centers and the inaccurate acquisition of polarization scattering matrices. To address these issues, a full-polarization Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) joint multidimensional reconstruction method based on sparse reconstruction is proposed in this study. In this method, all polarization channels and dimensions are integrated by setting the joint sparse constraints, and the full-polarization SAR joint multidimensional reconstruction is modeled as a multichannel joint sparse reconstruction problem. After the model is simplified by data interpolation, an efficient model-solving method is proposed by combining the three-dimensional fast Fourier transform, conjugate gradient method, and Newton iteration method, where the polarization scattering matrix and three-dimensional information of the target can be obtained at the same time. The proposed method ensures that the sparse support sets of different polarization channels and dimensions are consistent and utilizes the additional information generated by the correlation between data. On the basis of the simulation and electromagnetic calculation data, the experimental results indicate that the proposed method is tolerant of noise and immune to the types of targets. Moreover, the proposed method can effectively obtain the multidimensional reconstruction results of the target, where both the resolution of the imaging results and the estimation accuracy of the polarization scattering matrix are high.

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is an all-weather and all-time imaging radar with high resolution, which is widely used for enemy reconnaissance to provide timely and accurate intelligence for taking decisions during wars. It has become a hot issue in the contemporary electronic warfare to suppress and disorder the reconnaissance imaging of SAR equipment for protecting high-value targets and important strategic areas. This study discusses the development and future trend of SAR jamming techniques. First, the history of development of SAR jamming techniques is discussed and explained in detail. Then, the advantages and disadvantages of the typical SAR jamming models are comparatively analyzed together with simulation experiments. Finally, the current defects of the SAR jamming techniques are summarized and the future trend of the SAR jamming techniques is also pointed out, providing some reference for experts and scholars.

Suppression position of the traditional noise convolution modulation Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) jamming lags behind in range and suppression area in azimuth is uncontrollable. Considering this defect, an enhanced jamming method is proposed herein. First, the frequency of the intercepted signal is shifted in fast-time to control the suppression position in range. Then, the convolution with the noise is implemented, which has been filtered in slow-time, to control the suppression area in azimuth. Theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate that the proposed jamming method can efficiently control the jamming position in range and suppression area when compared with the traditional noise convolution modulation jamming. Even if some reconnaissance errors exist, the local scenario can still be shielded effectively. Furthermore, the utilization efficiency of jamming energy is also improved under the same condition, which will provide some reference values and inputs for engineering applications.

Abstract Background Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease (ADTKD) caused by a pathogenic variant in UMOD (ADTKD-UMOD) is a rare group of diseases characterized by hyperuricaemia with decreased urinary excretion of urate, gout and progressive chronic kidney disease. The mundane clinical characteristics often result in a failure to diagnose ADTKD-UMOD. Case presentation In this report, we describe a 12-year-old boy who presented with polyarthritis, hyperuricaemia and tophi with a family history of 8 affected individuals. Clinical data, blood and urine samples of 3 affected members and 8 unaffected members were collected. Genetic testing of the eight genes (UMOD, HPRT1, PRPS1, MTHFR, REN, HNF1b, URAT1 and G6PC) was performed using Sanger sequencing. A heterozygous missense variant (c.674C > G; p.T225R) in UMOD was found in this boy, his older brother with the same phenotype and his mother with hyperuricaemia, gout and chronic kidney disease. Conclusion This case highlights the importance of family history and genetic testing for definite diagnosis. This novel variant extends the spectrum of known UMOD gene variants and further supports the allelic heterogeneity of ADTKD-UMOD.

Sparse imaging is widely used in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging. Compared with the traditional matched filtering (MF) methods, sparse SAR imaging can directly image the scattered points of a target and effectively reduce the sidelobes and clutter in irregular samples. However, in view of the large-scale computational complexity of sparse reconstruction with raw echo data, traditional sparse reconstruction algorithms often require huge computational expense. To solve the above problems, in this paper, we propose a 3D near-field sparse SAR direct imaging algorithm for irregular trajectories, adopting a piece of preliminary information in the SAR image to update the dictionary matrix dimension, using the Gaussian iterative method, and optimizing the signal-processing techniques, which can achieve 3D sparse reconstruction in a more direct and rapid manner. The proposed algorithm was validated through simulations and empirical study of irregular scanning scenarios and compared with traditional MF and sparse reconstruction methods, and was shown to significantly reduce the computation time and effectively preserve the complex information of the scenes to achieve high-resolution image reconstruction.

Abstract Background The effect of ART initiation time on HIV-1 DNA reservoir in chronically infected individuals is not well understood. Determining the potential influencing factors associated with a low HIV-1 DNA level in chronic infection is an important step toward drug-free control. Methods A prospective study included 444 chronically HIV-infected adults was performed. Participants were divided into two groups: early initiation group (EIG) or delayed initiation group (DIG) based on their baseline CD4 count; 350 to 500 and

A reconstruction technique of the antenna pattern for correcting the polarization measurement bias is proposed in this paper. In the case of the prior knowledge of patterns at some scanning angles, the pattern at other beam position can be estimated by application of the minimum norm least-square solution. Once the pattern is reconstructed, the corresponding projection matrix could be obtained in the presence of the mutual coupling and edge effects in the polarimetric phased array antenna. Thereby, the correction matrix for the polarization scattering matrix is repaired. A microstrip patch array antenna is designed to demonstrate the validity of the proposed method, and the performance of bias correction is manifested using several polarimetric variables. Specifically, the bias of differential reflectivity (Zb DR), the bias of linear depolarization ratio (LbDR) and the phase difference are less than 0.14 dB, 46.85 dB, 3.31° in a wide scanning angle range, respectively.

CeO2-based nanoenzymes present a very promising paradigm in cancerous therapy, as H2O2 can be effectively decomposed under the electron transmit between Ce3+ and Ce4+. However, the limitations of endogenous H2O2 and intracellular low Fenton-like reaction rate lead to single unsatisfied chemodynamic therapy (CDT) efficacy. Other therapeutic modalities combined with chemodynamic therapy are generally used to enhance the tumor eradiation efficacy. Here, we have synthesized a novel hollow pH-sensitive CeO2 nanoenzyme after a cavity is loaded with indocyanine green (ICG), as well as with surface modification of tumor targeting peptides, Arg-Gly-Asp (denoted as HCeO2@ICG-RGD), to successfully target tumor cells via αvβ3 recognition. Importantly, in comparison with single chemodynamic therapy, a large amount of reactive oxygen species in cytoplasm were induced by enhanced chemodynamic therapy with photothermal therapy (PTT). Furthermore, tumor cells were efficiently killed by a combination of photothermal and chemodynamic therapy, revealing that synergistic therapy was successfully constructed. This is mainly due to the precise delivery of ICG and release after HCeO2 decomposition in cytoplasm, in which effective hyperthermia generation was found under 808 nm laser irradiation. Meanwhile, our HCeO2@ICG-RGD can act as a fluorescent imaging contrast agent for an evaluation of tumor tissue targeting capability in vivo. Finally, we found that almost all tumors in HCeO2@ICG-RGD+laser groups were completely eradicated in breast cancer bearing mice, further proving the effective synergistic effect in vivo. Therefore, our novel CeO2-based PTT agents provide a proof-of-concept argumentation of tumor-precise multi-mode therapies in preclinical applications.

In this work, SnO2 nanoflowers were prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal process. The morphology and structure of SnO2 nanoflowers were characterized by SEM, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, and XRD, which demonstrated the good crystallinity of the SnO2 tetrahedron structure of the as-synthesized materials. In addition, the sensing properties of SnO2 nanoflowers were studied in detail. It was found that the SnO2 nanoflower-based gas sensor exhibits excellent gas response (9.2 to 120 ppm), fast response and recovery (2/15 s to 6 ppm), good linearity of correlation between response (S) vs. concentration (C) (lgS = 0.505 lgC − 0.147, R2 = 0.9863), superb repeatability, and selectivity at 300 °C. The outstanding performance can also be attributed to the high specific surface area ratio and size of SnO2 nanoflowers close to the thickness of the electron depletion layer that can provide abundant active sites, promote the rate of interaction, and make it easier for gas molecules to diffuse into the interior of the material. Therefore, SnO2 nanoflowers can be an ideal sensing material for real-time monitoring of low-concentration HCHO.

In this paper, a novel near-field high-resolution image focusing technique is proposed. With the emergence of Millimeter-wave (mmWave) devices, near-field synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging is widely used in automotive-mounted SAR imaging, UAV imaging, concealed threat detection, etc. Current research is mainly confined to the laboratory environment, thus ignoring the adverse effects of the non-ideal experimental environment on imaging and subsequent detection in real scenarios. To address this problem, we propose an optimized Back-Projection Algorithm (BPA) that considers the loss path of signal propagation among space by converting the amplitude factor in the echo model into a beam-weighting. The proposed algorithm is an image focusing algorithm for arbitrary and irregular arrays, and effectively mitigates sparse array imaging ghosts. We apply the 3DRIED dataset to construct image datasets for target detection, comparing the kappa coefficients of the proposed scheme with those obtained from classic BPA and Range Migration Algorithm (RMA) with amplitude loss compensation. The results show that the proposed algorithm attains a high-fidelity image reconstruction focus.

Chitosan (CS) is a biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic natural amino-poly-saccharide with antibacterial ability, owing to its positively charged amino groups. However, the low charge density leads to poor antibacterial efficiency which cannot meet the biomedical application requirements. In this study, Tobramycin (TOB) was grafted onto the backbone of oxidized chitosan (OCS) to synthesize oxidized chitosan-tobramycin (OCS-TOB). FTIR, 1H NMR and elemental analysis results demonstrated that OCS-TOB was successfully synthesized. OCS-TOB/PEO composite fibrous materials were produced by a self-made centrifugal spinning machine. In vitro experiments showed that cells proliferated on the submicro-fibrous OCS-TOB/PEO of appropriate concentration, and the antibacterial ability of OCS-TOB was much improved, compared with pristine CS. The results demonstrated that OCS-TOB/PEO nanofibrous materials could potentially be used for biomedical applications.

In recent years, animal cleanliness during production has gradually attracted increasing attention. Although pigs by nature tend to excrete in dark and humid corners, in the prevalent highly intensive pig production, excessive stocking density often restricts the ability of pigs to excrete at designated points, thereby leading to pollution of the pens. To study the effect of stocking density on pen cleanliness and the relevant pig behavior, a total of 216 Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc hybrid pigs were randomly grouped at 0.5, 0.7, or 0.9 m2 per pig at 59 ± 3 days of age. The temporal and spatial distributions of lying and excreting behavior of pigs were monitored on days 1, 7, and 35 after transfer, and the cleanliness of pig pens under three stocking densities was scored. The results showed that there were no significant differences in excreting or lying time rhythms among the three treatments. In the initial and stable periods of group transfer, the excretion rate of pigs on slatted floors was significantly higher than that on solid floors at 0.9 m2/pig (p < 0.01). During the group stabilization stage and at the end of the experiment, the lying rate of pigs on solid floors under 0.9 m2/pig was 10.81%, that is, 7.43% higher than that of 0.7 m2/pig, and the differences were significant. Judging from the pollution score of the solid floors, the three stocking densities all showed more serious pollution at the corners, and the pollution score of the pens with a density of 0.9 m2/pig was lower than that of the pens with a density of 0.5 and 0.7 m2/pig. The analysis of whether pigs had corresponding behaviors in specific functional areas showed that pigs at a density of 0.9 m2/pig had a 10.14% lower lying rate on slatted floors (the expected excretion area) than on solid floors, whereas the densities of 0.5 and 0.7 m2/pig showed the opposite pattern. Pigs at a density of 0.9 m2/pig had lower excretion rates in both corners of the solid floors (the desired lying area) than that of the 0.5 m2/pig group (p < 0.05) and 0.7 m2/pig group (p > 0.05). These results indicate that when the effective occupied space of pigs was larger, specific behaviors were more likely to occur in the set functional areas, and the cleanliness of the pen was higher. Under the conditions of this experiment, the recommended stocking density for growing pigs was 0.9 m2/pig. Of course, a larger space may be more beneficial to animal health and welfare, but the economic costs must also be considered.

Air microfluidic circuits have been widely concerned in the separation of atmospheric particulate matter, especially for portable particulate matter separation detection devices. Currently, no systematic approach for the design and optimization of an air-microfluidic system for PM separation has been reported in the literature. In this paper, a two-stage air microfluidic circuit is designed. The design process is divided into two stages: first, the preliminary design of the structure is completed according to aerodynamic theory. Then, the influences of various factors (such as flow channel width, tilt angle, flow rate, etc.) on the collection efficiency and particle wall loss are explored through numerical analysis to complete the optimization design of the structure. Finally, the air microfluidic circuit is prepared by MEMS processing technology and the particulate matter separation experiments are carried out. The developed two-stage air microfluidic circuit can realize the efficient separation of PM10 and PM2.5. Thus, the important factors affecting the collection efficiency and particle wall loss of air microfluidic circuit are clarified, and a systematic design theory method is formed.

Chaff centroid jamming released by vessel causes the indicated angle of radar seeker of anti-ship missile to deviate from the target. The failure to track the target is catastrophic for the radar seeker. In this paper, the angle estimation of the target in the presence of chaff centroid jamming is investigated. In the circumstance of chaff centroid jamming, the jamming is usually in the same range and angle resolution cells as the target. Under these circumstances, the essence of this problem is to estimate two unresolved targets' angles in the main beam of the radar seeker. To this end, two alternative methods are proposed to estimate the direction of arrival of the target in this paper. First, we present a maximum likelihood (ML) method implemented by a 2-D numerical search, which has high estimation accuracy but large computational load. Subsequently, considering both the accuracy and computational load, an improved ML (IML) method is developed. Based on the ML method, the proposed IML method adopts a search optimization processing by moment estimation. Furthermore, the effects of some key factors on the estimation performance are analyzed. The accuracy of the proposed methods is compared with the existing methods and the Cramer Rao lower bound as well.

Oriented manmade targets can produce significant cross-polarization power. The scattering mechanism interpretation of them is still challenging. Within the framework of traditional scattering models, the scattering mechanism of oriented manmade targets will be interpreted as volume scattering. Recently, many advanced approaches have been proposed to mitigate the cross-polarization terms of the coherency matrix or distribute the power of cross-polarization to new scattering models, such as orientation angle compensation and multiple scattering components decomposition. Among these methods, the general model-based decomposition with physically meaningful double-bounce and odd-bounce scattering models has been proposed by modeling their independent orientation angles and becomes a widely accepted method. However, the two vital parameters of generalized scattering models: double- and odd-bounce orientation angles are derived through nonlinear optimization procedure. These generalized models lead to a heavy computation burden for parameters inversion. In this paper, we disclose the latent relationship between the double-bounce orientation angle and polarization orientation angle by data fitting experiments. With this simplified relationship, a refined double-bounce scattering model is established. Then, the odd-bounce orientation angle can be derived through equations. In this way, the nonlinear optimization procedure can be converted to a linear solution. A fast generalized model-based decomposition is developed thereafter. The main contribution of this work is to inherit the generalized models while speeding up the parameter calculation procedure. The comparison studies are carried out with X-band airborne PiSAR, L-band spaceborne ALOS-2, and C-band spaceborne Radarsat-2 PolSAR datasets. Compared with the state-of-the-art approaches, the proposed decomposition achieves improved interpretation performance from both visual and quantitative investigations especially for oriented built-up areas.

Core-shell nanofibers have great potential for bio-medical applications such as wound healing dressings where multiple drugs and growth factors are expected to be delivered at different healing phases. Compared to monoaxial nanofibers, core-shell nanofibers can control the drug release profile easier, providing sustainable and effective drugs and growth factors for wound healing. However, it is challenging to produce core-shell structured nanofibers with a high production rate at low energy consumption. Co-axial centrifugal spinning is an alternative method to address the above limitations to produce core-shell nanofibers effectively. In this study, a co-axial centrifugal spinning device was designed and assembled to produce core-shell nanofibers for controlling the release rate of ibuprofen and hEGF in inflammation and proliferation phases during the wound healing process. Core-shell structured nanofibers were confirmed by TEM. This work demonstrated that the co-axial centrifugal spinning is a high productivity process that can produce materials with a 3D environment mimicking natural tissue scaffold, and the specific drug can be loaded into different layers to control the drug release rate to improve the drug efficiency and promote wound healing.

Breast cancer is still the most common and leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) have shown key regulator roles in various cancers. Previous reports have identified miR-125b as a critical tumor suppressor in breast cancer. However, the role of lncRNAs in breast cancer is far from well-characterized. In this study, we identified a novel lncRNA LINC01787, which specifically binds pre-miR-125b, inhibits the binding between DICER and pre-miR-125b, represses the processing of pre-miR-125b by DICER, and therefore induces pre-miR-125b accumulation and represses mature miR-125b generation. Functional assays showed that LINC01787 promotes breast cancer cell proliferation and migration and breast cancer xenograft growth in vivo, which is abolished by the mutation of pre-miR-125b binding sites on LINC01787 or overexpression of miR-125b. Furthermore, LINC01787 is up-regulated in breast cancer tissues and is associated with advanced stages and poor survival. The expression of LINC01787 is inversely associated with that of miR-125b in breast cancer tissues. In conclusion, our findings identified a novel up-regulated and oncogenic lncRNA LINC01787 in breast cancer, which binds pre-miR-125b and represses mature miR-125b generation. Our data suggests LINC01787 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Based on a pair of linear frequency modulation waveforms with opposite slopes, the mathematical model of the influence of intermediate frequency deviation (IFD) and sampling frequency deviation (SFD) on simultaneous polarisation measurement is derived. An IFD and SFD joint estimation and calibration method is proposed in this article. Simulation and real data results show that the radar frequency stability can change the position and phase of the polarisation scattering matrix (PSM) measurement. The approach proposed in this article can regulate the peak deviation effectively, compensate the phase error and accurately acquire the four elements of PSM.

Dent disease 1 is a rare X-linked recessive inherited disease, caused by pathogenic variants in the chloride voltage-gated channel 5 (CLCN5) gene. Dent disease 1 is characterized by low molecular weight (LMW) proteinuria, hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis, and chronic kidney disease. Infants may manifest only asymptomatic LMW proteinuria, which increases the difficulty of early diagnosis. We describe two male infants presenting only with nephrotic-range LMW proteinuria observed on examination using urine protein electrophoresis. Hereditary renal tubular diseases were highly suspected based on early onset age and LMW proteinuria. Thus, next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed and pathogenic mutations in CLCN5 were identified in both patients. A diagnosis of Dent disease 1 was established based on the above informations. The two patients developed hypercalciuria during late follow-up, which verified the diagnosis. These two cases highlight the importance of next-generation sequencing in the early diagnosis of Dent disease 1 with only LMW proteinuria.

Understanding the variations of future drought under climate warming can provide the basis for mitigation efforts. This study utilized the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and empirical orthogonal function analysis (EOF) to predict the spatiotemporal variation of future drought under the representative concentration pathway RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios within the Mongolian Plateau over the period 2020–2100. The SPEI was computed using temperature and precipitation data generated by the fifth stage of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). The results under both the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios showed increasing changes in temperature and precipitation. Both scenarios indicated increases in drought, with those under RCP8.5 much more extreme than that under RCP4.5. Under both scenarios, the climate showed an abrupt change to become drier, with the change occurring in 2041 and 2054 for the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively. The results also indicated future drought to be more extreme in Mongolia than in Inner Mongolia. The simulated drought pattern showed an east–west antiphase and a north–south antiphase distribution based on EOF. The frequency of drought was higher under RCP8.5 compared to that under RCP4.5, with the highest frequencies under both scenarios occurring by the end of the 21st century, followed by the mid-21st century and early 21st century. The findings of this research can provide a solid foundation for the prevention, early warning and mitigation of drought disasters within the context of climate change in the Mongolian Plateau.

Ship recognition from chaff cloud jamming is challenging since they have similar dimensions and radar cross sections. In this paper, a polarimetric recognition technique with sophisticated polarimetric decomposition is proposed. To this end, a seven-component model-based decomposition is first put forward by integrating three sophisticated scattering models, thus the dominant and local scattering of ships can be characterized accurately. According to the derived scattering contributions, a robust discrimination feature is then designed based on the concept of contrast and suppression. Coupled with the average scattering angle estimated from eigen-based decomposition, the constructed feature vector is inputted into the support vector machine and the recognition is finally fulfilled. The proposed method is tested on simulated and real polarimetric radar data and the results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves the highest recognition rate of over 98%, which outperforms the state-of-the-art methods.

Nanofibrous biomaterials have huge potential for drug delivery, due to their structural features and functions that are similar to the native extracellular matrix (ECM). A wide range of natural and polymeric materials can be employed to produce nanofibrous biomaterials. This review introduces the major natural and synthetic biomaterials for production of nanofibers that are biocompatible and biodegradable. Different technologies and their corresponding advantages and disadvantages for manufacturing nanofibrous biomaterials for drug delivery were also reported. The morphologies and structures of nanofibers can be tailor-designed and processed by carefully selecting suitable biomaterials and fabrication methods, while the functionality of nanofibrous biomaterials can be improved by modifying the surface. The loading and releasing of drug molecules, which play a significant role in the effectiveness of drug delivery, are also surveyed. This review provides insight into the fabrication of functional polymeric nanofibers for drug delivery.

ABCA1 and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI)/CD36 and lysosomal integral membrane protein II analogous 1 (CLA-1) are the key transporter and receptor in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Increasing the expression level of ABCA1 and SR-BI/CLA-1 is antiatherogenic. The aim of the study was to find novel antiatherosclerotic agents upregulating expression of ABCA1 and SR-BI/CLA-1 from natural compounds. Using the ABCA1p-LUC and CLA-1p-LUC HepG2 cell lines, we found that rutaecarpine (RUT) triggered promoters of ABCA1 and CLA-1 genes. RUT increased ABCA1 and SR-BI/CLA-1 expression in vitro related to liver X receptor alpha and liver X receptor beta. RUT induced cholesterol efflux in RAW264.7 cells. ApoE-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice treated with RUT for 8 weeks showed ∼68.43, 70.23, and 85.56% less en face lesions for RUT (L), RUT (M), and RUT (H) groups, respectively, compared with the model group. Mouse macrophage-specific antibody and filipin staining indicated that RUT attenuated macrophages and cholesterol accumulations in atherosclerotic lesions, respectively. Additionally, ABCA1 and SR-BI expression was highly induced by RUT in livers of ApoE−/− mice. Meanwhile, RUT treatment significantly increased the fecal 3H-cholesterol excretion, which demonstrated that RUT could promote RCT in vivo. RUT was identified to be a candidate that protected ApoE−/− mice from developing atherosclerosis through preferentially promoting activities of ABCA1 and SR-BI within RCT.

We have isolated an extraordinary pentapeptide, called 4862F, from the culture broth of Streptomyces albosporus I03A-04862 by Diaion HP-20 macroporous adsorbent resin column, ODS-A and Sephadex LH-20 chromatography, followed by preparative HPLC. This peptide shows inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease. The structure was elucidated by spectroscopic approaches, including ESI-MS and various NMR methods. Absolute configuration of the amino acid residues in 4862F was defined using Marfey’s method, and the structure was identified as N,N,N-(trimethylated)-Tyr-L-Leu-L-Val-L-Leu-(dehydrated)-His. The peptide 4862F displays inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease, with IC50 values of 15.26 nM, using a fluorescence-based assay.

To precisely obtain the polarimetric scattering matrix (PSM) of moving target, a measurement model for the simultaneous fully polarimetric radar is formulated. The calibration errors and isolation of the transmitted waveforms are considered. To address the decline in performance of the traditional PSM estimation methods when the target moves, a novel method with measurement selection is proposed. Numerical experiments are conducted to demonstrate and validate the superiority of the proposed method, especially for the PSM estimation of the target with non-uniform motion.

Simultaneous fully polarimetric radar uses orthogonal polarization channels to transmit a pair of signals, both of which must have good auto- and cross-correlation characteristics. In this paper, the design of sequences with good correlation properties and Doppler tolerance is investigated. New cyclic algorithms, namely, Cyclic Algorithm-Gradient I (CAGI) and Cyclic Algorithm-Gradient II (CAGII) are proposed to solve the optimization problem. Meanwhile, the sequences designed in this paper have ultra-low auto- and cross-correlation side-lobes in a specified lag interval. Numerical experiments are conducted to demonstrate and validate the superiority of the proposed cyclic algorithms, especially for the measurement of moving targets.

The pattern synthesis and activated element selection for conformal array is investigated based on hybrid particle swarm optimization-gravitational search algorithm (PSOGSA) in this paper. With the introduction of PSOGSA algorithm which is a novel hybrid optimization technique, the element excitations are optimized to obtain the desired pattern for conformal array in the case of considering uncoupled and coupled element pattern. Numerical simulation and full-wave electromagnetic calculation verify the advantage and efficiency of our method. Then, a novel strategy of activated element selection based on PSOGSA algorithm is proposed for saving the energy consumption in conformal array.

Land cover classification is an important application for polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR). Target polarimetric response is strongly dependent on its orientation. Backscattering responses of the same target with different orientations to the SAR flight path may be quite different. This target orientation diversity effect hinders PolSAR image understanding and interpretation. Roll-invariant polarimetric features such as entropy, anisotropy, mean alpha angle, and total scattering power are independent of the target orientation and are commonly adopted for PolSAR image classification. On the other aspect, target orientation diversity also contains rich information which may not be sensed by roll-invariant polarimetric features. In this vein, only using the roll-invariant polarimetric features may limit the final classification accuracy. To address this problem, this work uses the recently reported uniform polarimetric matrix rotation theory and a visualization and characterization tool of polarimetric coherence pattern to investigate hidden polarimetric features in the rotation domain along the radar line of sight. Then, a feature selection scheme is established and a set of hidden polarimetric features are selected in the rotation domain. Finally, a classification method is developed using the complementary information between roll-invariant and selected hidden polarimetric features with a support vector machine (SVM)/decision tree (DT) classifier. Comparison experiments are carried out with NASA/JPL AIRSAR and multi-temporal UAVSAR data. For AIRSAR data, the overall classification accuracy of the proposed classification method is 95.37% (with SVM)/96.38% (with DT), while that of the conventional classification method is 93.87% (with SVM)/94.12% (with DT), respectively. Meanwhile, for multi-temporal UAVSAR data, the mean overall classification accuracy of the proposed method is up to 97.47% (with SVM)/99.39% (with DT), which is also higher than the mean accuracy of 89.59% (with SVM)/97.55% (with DT) from the conventional method. The comparison studies clearly demonstrate the efficiency and advantage of the proposed classification methodology. In addition, the proposed classification method achieves better robustness for the multi-temporal PolSAR data. This work also further validates that added benefits can be gained for PolSAR data investigation by mining and utilization of hidden polarimetric information in the rotation domain.

Polo-like kinases play an essential role in the ordered execution of mitotic events and 4 mammalian PLK family members have been identified. Accumulating evidence indicates that PLK1 is an attractive target for anticancer drugs. In this paper, a series of beta-carboline derivatives were synthesized and three compounds, DH281, DH285 and DH287, were identified as potent new PLK inhibitors. We employed various biochemical and cellular approaches to determine the effects of these compounds on the activity of PLK1 and other mitotic kinases and on cell cycle progression. We found that these three compounds could selectively inhibit the kinase activity of purified PLK1, PLK2 and PLK3 in vitro. They show strong antitumor activity against a number of cancer cell lines with relatively low micromolar IC(50)s, but are relatively less toxic to non-cancer cells (MRC5). Moreover, these compounds could induce obvious accumulation of HeLa cells in G(2)/M and S phases and trigger apoptosis. Although MRC5 cells show clear S-phase arrest after treatment with these compounds, the G2/M arrest and apoptosis are less insignificant, indicating the distinct sensitivity between normal and cancer cells. We also found that HeLa cells treated with these drugs exhibit monopolar spindles and increased Wee1 protein levels, the characteristics of cells treated with PLK1 inhibitors. Together, these results demonstrate that DH281, DH285 and DH287 beta-carboline compounds are new PLK inhibitors with potential for cancer treatment.

Objective • This study aimed to evaluate the impact of quality care on maternal and infant outcomes in patients with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP) complicated by cerebral hemorrhage. Methods • From February 2020 to September 2021, 68 women with HDCP complicated by cerebral hemorrhage hospitalized at our hospital were included and divided into a routine group (standard care) and a quality group (quality care). Outcome measures included National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, blood pressure, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) scores, self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores, and maternal and infant outcomes. Results • Patients in the quality group (3.22±1.89) had significantly lower NIHSS scores aftercare than those in the routine group (6.15±3.24) (P < .05). Quality care resulted in lower diastolic blood pressure (Quality group:81.23±6.15; Routine: 90.58±7.98), systolic blood pressure (Quality group:125.49±13.37; Routine: 139.74±16.67), SAS scores (Quality group: 48.42±2.65; Routine: 58.15±2.43), and SDS scores versus routine care (Quality group:48.42±2.65; Routine: 58.15±2.43)(P < .05). The quality group showed a lower incidence of adverse maternal and infant pregnancy outcomes than the routine group (P < .05). Conclusion • The findings underscore the positive impact of quality care in reducing adverse maternal and newborn pregnancy outcomes. This reduction is particularly significant for clinical practice, as it is achieved through the amelioration of various factors, such as neurological impairments, blood pressure regulation, and the alleviation of negative emotions, including anxiety and depression, in patients with HDCP complicated by cerebral hemorrhage. The practical implications of these findings for healthcare providers and patients are substantial. They highlight the potential to improve patient outcomes, enhance the overall quality of care, and reduce the burden on healthcare systems. By addressing these factors, healthcare providers can enhance the well-being of both mothers and newborns, leading to improved clinical outcomes and increased patient satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]