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Elemental, Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic and geochronological data are presented for the Taishan high-mg dioritic rocks (western Shandong) from the Eastern Block of the North China Craton in order to better understand the Archean tectonic evolution and crustal growth of the Craton. The rocks gave the zircon U–Pb age of 2536–2540 Ma. They show low SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 contents, high MgO, mg -number, Cr, Ni, Y, Yb, Sr and Ba, enriched LILEs and LREEs, depleted HFSEs and HREEs with (Nb/La) N of 0.07–0.12. They exhibit ɛ Nd ( t ) values of 1.53–3.30, ( 206 Pb/ 204 Pb) i of 11.20–15.30, ( 207 Pb/ 204 Pb) i of 14.14–14.83 and ( 208 Pb/ 204 Pb) I of 31.10–33.93. Such geochemical features with an affinity to both a mantle- and crust-like source for the Taishan dioritic rocks are similar to those of the typical Archean sanukitoids, suggesting an origination from a sub-arc mantle wedge variably metasomatized by the slab-derived dehydration fluids and melts before ∼50–100 Ma of the emplacement of the Taishan sanukitoid plutons. It is proposed that the Taishan sanukitoids resulted from the sudden change of the downgoing slab from a flat subduction to subsequently steeper subduction in an active continental margin regime during Neoarchean time.

Aims Resveratrol activates Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent deacetylase which modulates metabolic homeostasis and improves several pathophysiological features present in diseases of ageing. In particular, it has been shown that SIRT1 activation improves endothelial dysfunction and suppresses vascular inflammation, two central pathophysiological processes involved in the initiation and progression of cardiovascular disease. The downstream targets of SIRT1 activation in this context, however, remain poorly defined. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to characterize mechanistically how SIRT1 activation regulates the endothelial vasoprotective phenotype. Methods and results We demonstrate that SIRT1 activation by resveratrol increases the expression of the transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) in human vascular endothelial cells, resulting in the orchestrated regulation of transcriptional programs critical for conferring an endothelial vasoprotective phenotype. Moreover, we show that KLF2 upregulation by resveratrol occurs via a mitogen-activated protein kinase 5/myocyte enhancing factor 2-dependent signalling pathway. Conclusion Collectively, these observations provide a new mechanistic framework to understand the vascular protective effects mediated by SIRT1 activators and define KLF2 as a critical mediator of these effects.

By virtue of gemini surfactant template, nanostructured tungsten oxides thin films were prepared from the modified tungsten hexachloride sol–gel techniques. Temperature was varied as it is an important factor for crystallization, surface morphology and microstructure of tungsten oxides, from the studies of X-ray diffractions, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The mesoporous sample calcined at 300 °C has tri-dimensional vermicular mesopores with nanocrystallites embedded in the pore wall, while such uniform structure would be destroyed by higher calcination temperature of about 400 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used for analyzing the surface-binding states and the stoichiometry for the oxides. Electrochromic characterization was implemented by simultaneous voltametric and spectrophotometric measurements of tungsten oxides/indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes. The investigation results showed that organized pore-wall nanostructure has strong effects on the electrochemical and chromogenic properties depending on the specific surface area and the impacts from the evolved crystallization.

Photochromic behavior of Li-doped MoO 3 sol–gels prepared by the peroxo sol–gel method was studied in details using various experimental techniques, including UV–vis, XRD, Raman, EPR, and XPS. The lithium doping has drastically enhanced the stability of the MoO 3 sol–gels. Upon UV-light irradiation from a high-pressure mercury lamp, the Li-doped MoO 3 sol turned from yellowish into deep blue, and the sol in ethanol exhibited much more intense color change than the sol in water. The UV-light exposure has the effect of re-arranging the structural units of MoO 3 and building up short-range order inside the solid. The formation of a blue colored bronze in the photo-irradiated sols because of the reduction of Mo 6+ to Mo 5+ is also evidenced by the experimental data. Based on these data, a mechanism for the photochromic behavior is proposed.

Local patterns of biomechanical forces experienced by endothelial cells (ECs) in different vascular geometries appear to play an essential role in regulating EC function and determining the regional susceptibility to atherosclerosis, even in the face of systemic risk factors. To study how biomechanical forces regulate EC redox homeostasis, an important pathogenic factor in atherogenesis, we have cultured human ECs under 2 prototypic arterial shear stress waveforms, "atheroprone" and "atheroprotective," which were derived from 2 distinct vascular regions in vivo that are typically "susceptible" or "resistant" to atherosclerosis. We demonstrate that atheroprotective flow decreases EC intracellular redox level and protects ECs against oxidative stress-induced injury. To identify the molecular mechanisms that control this cellular response, we examined several major oxidative/antioxidative pathways and found that atheroprotective flow upregulated certain antioxidant genes and strongly activated the transcription factor Nrf2. Using a strategy of small interfering RNA inhibition of Nrf2 expression combined with genome-wide transcriptional profiling, we determined the downstream targets of Nrf2 activation and identified Nrf2 as a critical determinant for the changes in endothelial redox balance exerted by atheroprotective flow. In addition, we showed that atheroprotective flow activates Nrf2 via the phosphoinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway, and this activation occurs differentially in atherosclero- sis-resistant and atherosclerosis-susceptible regions of the mouse aorta. Taken together, our data demonstrate that hemodynamic forces present in atherosclerosis-resistant and -susceptible regions of the vasculature differentially regulate EC redox state and antioxidant potential. These alterations in redox homeostasis are primarily the result of the phosphoinositol 3-kinase/Akt-dependent activation of Nrf2 and its downstream transcriptional targets. (Circ Res. 2007;101:723-733.)

Mesoporous tungsten oxides were synthesized with a new nonionic gemini surfactant template, which was then removed by calcination. The effect of calcination on the as-synthesized product was studied with TG–DSC and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results of X-ray diffractions, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen sorption analyses show that the mesoporous tungsten oxide calcined at 300 °C preserved accessible vermicular mesoporosity with specific surface area of 145.5 m 2 /g. Enhanced electrochromic response was found for the mesostructured sample from the simultaneous voltammetric and spectrophotometric studies.

This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (41190073 and 41372198), National Basic Research Program of China (2014CB440901), Basic Operation Expense of Sun Yat-Sen University and Startup Foundation for Doctors of Guilin University of Technology (002401003475). Abstract Neoproterozoic felsic igneous rocks associated with mafic-ultramafic bodies along the margins of the Yangtze Block, South China, can be used to constrain the continental crustal growth and secular evolution of the region. LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb dating of the Adebo quartz diorite pluton in the Ailaoshan tectonic zone on the southern margin of the Yangtze Block gives the Neoproterozoic age of 800 ± 7 Ma and ɛHf(t) values in the range of -1.03 to +3.75 with two-stage model age of 1.3-1.6 Ga. The pluton is characterized by relatively low SiO2 (60.97-64.41 wt. %) and total alkalis (K2O + Na2O, 7.35-9.14 wt. %) and high Al2O3 content (16.98-18.21 wt. %) with mg-number of 36-39. REE-normalized patterns show enrichment in LREE with (La/Yb)cn of 11.36 to 19.77 and Europium negative anomalies with Eu/Eu* = 0.61- 0.74. The samples are characterized by negative Nb-Ta ((Nb/La)n = 0.18-0.35) and P, Ti, Sr anomalies and high Y concentrations (33.79-41.04 ppm) and low Sr/Y ratios (5.65-10.16). Their isotopic composition are similar to those of the Neoproterozoic mafic igneous rocks in the Ailaoshan zone and the southwestern Yangtze Block, indicating that the quartz diorite was produced by partial melting of mafic lower crust. The diorite also shows the similar geochemical characteristics with adakitic rocks from thickened lower crust or amphibolite and eclogite experimental melts. In combination with their arc-related geochemical signatures and synchronous developed adakitic rocks in the region, the Adebo quartz diorite pluton might be produced in a subduction-related tectonic setting during Neoproterozoic crustal growth along the margins of Yangtze Block. Postprint

In general, residential solar inverters can operate in either island or grid-tied mode. In grid-tied mode, the inverter can be operated based on either voltage control or current control. In this paper, a grid-connected current controlled inverter is presented. A stationary frame nonideal proportional resonant (PR) controller, in lieu of a conventional PI based controller, is applied to the outer current control loop to eliminate the steady-state error between the given reference and the inverter current output. The reference signal is directly given to satisfy the expected power output. The voltage source inverter (VSI) control system, reported in this paper, can estimate the instantaneous active and reactive power (PQ) based on a revised orthogonal signal generation (OSG) structure and control the power flow through a PQ controller in grid-connected mode. Thus, the solar inverter is able to work as a reactive power compensator, which helps lower transmission losses and improve grid power factor. Compared with traditional V/f based PQ controller and fuzzy-PQ controller, the proposed current based PQ controlled grid-tied inverter provides the system with faster reference tracking response and better power decoupling capability. Analysis and simulation results are presented in this paper to validate the proposed system.

To estimate the hospitalization rate of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases attributable to influenza in Jingzhou city, Hubei province from 2010 to 2012.SARI surveillance was conducted at four hospitals in Jingzhou city, Hubei province from 2010 to 2012. Inpatients meeting the SARI case definition and with informed consent were enrolled to collect their demographic information, clinical features, treatment, and disease outcomes, with their respiratory tract specimens collected for PCR test of influenza virus.From April, 2010 to September, 2012, 19 679 SARI cases enrolled were residents of Jingzhou, and nasopharyngeal swab was collected from 18 412 (93.6%) cases of them to test influenza virus and 13.3% were positive for influenza. During the three consecutive 2010-2012 flu seasons, laboratory-confirmed influenza was associated with 102 per 100 000, 132 per 100 000 and 244 per 100 000, respectively. As for the hospitalization rate attributable to specific type/subtype of influenza virus, 48 per 100 000, 30 per 100 000 and 24 per 100 000 were attributable to A (H3N2), A (H1N1) pdm2009, and influenza B, respectively in 2010-2011 season; 42 per 100 000 [A (H3N2)] and 90 per 100 000 (influenza B) in 2011-2012 season; 90 per 100 000 [A (H3N2)] and one per 100 000 [influenza B] from April, 2010 to September, 2012. SARI hospitalization caused by influenza A or B occurred both mainly among children younger than five years old, with the peak in children aged 0.5 year old.Influenza could cause a substantial number of hospitalizations and different viral type/subtype result in different hospitalizations over influenza seasons in Jingzhou city, Hubei province. Children less than five years old should be prioritized for influenza vaccination in China.

A new power conversion architecture for a residential power router is reported. In comparison to previously published architectures, this one offers higher efficiency and performance, and is more amenable to production for the emerging mass consumer market for systems to manage energy harvesting, storage, and consumption. The integrated system includes the hardware for dc-to-ac power conversion and system level controls for power flow and load management. For the hardware, the tracking resonant frequency (TRF) and direct-quadrature (D-Q) controls are respectively implemented in dual-half bridge (DHB) to increase the system efficiency, and in the inverter to reduce the voltage error. For the system level controls, the power flow management is developed based on a rule-based algorithm using real-world time-of-use (TOU) electricity pricing data parsed from the Internet through the LabVIEW™-based communication interface. The simulation and experimental results reported in this paper verify the efficient dc/ac power conversion and the optimized performance of the integrated residential energy harvesting and management system.

An isolated photovoltaic converter for residential use and its control strategies are investigated in this paper. This technique provides galvanic isolation and simplified control while still meeting high conversion efficiencies and wide input voltage range requirements. Through designing the equivalent resonant capacitor and inductor, zero-voltage switching (ZVS) and zero-current switching (ZCS) are realized. Efficiency is dramatically increased by reducing the circulating energy during each switching cycle. In order to analyze the resonant converter and achieve better performance, an optimal state-trajectory control is investigated and implemented. To significantly reduce the voltage error and achieve a better transient response for the grid-tied mode operation, the proposed direct-quadrature (D-Q) frame control is used instead of a normal PID control for the inverter. Simulation and experimental results reported in this paper verify the functionality of the proposed topology and the respective controller for optimizing efficiency and performance.

Twenty-four cannulated Small-tailed Han×Poll Dorset wethers (BW 47.5±2.1 kg) were used to determine the effects of forage to concentrate ratio (40:60 vs. 70:30), monensin supplementation (0, 15 or 30 ppm, DM basis) and interactions of these two factors on cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9, trans-11 CLA) and trans-11 octadecenoic acid (trans11-C18:1) concentrations in ruminal contents and plasma in sheep. The experiment was designed as a 2×3 factorial. The diet contained Chinese wild rye grass hay (Aneurolepidium Chinese), cracked corn, soybean meal, NaCl, limestone and trace mineral premix. Dietary crude fat and linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) were adjusted with soybean oil to about 7.0% and 24.0 mg/g (DM basis), respectively. High forage diets increased (p

In the face of systemic risk factors, certain regions of the arterial vasculature remain relatively resistant to the development of atherosclerotic lesions. The biomechanically distinct environments in these arterial geometries exert a protective influence via certain key functions of the endothelial lining; however, the mechanisms underlying the coordinated regulation of specific mechano-activated transcriptional programs leading to distinct endothelial functional phenotypes have remained elusive. Here, we show that the transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is selectively induced in endothelial cells exposed to a biomechanical stimulus characteristic of atheroprotected regions of the human carotid and that this flow-mediated increase in expression occurs via a MEK5/ERK5/MEF2 signaling pathway. Overexpression and silencing of KLF2 in the context of flow, combined with findings from genome-wide analyses of gene expression, demonstrate that the induction of KLF2 results in the orchestrated regulation of endothelial transcriptional programs controlling inflammation, thrombosis/hemostasis, vascular tone, and blood vessel development. Our data also indicate that KLF2 expression globally modulates IL-1beta-mediated endothelial activation. KLF2 therefore serves as a mechano-activated transcription factor important in the integration of multiple endothelial functions associated with regions of the arterial vasculature that are relatively resistant to atherogenesis.

Nb 2 O 5 films were prepared successfully by DC reactive sputtering process. The relationships among structural, morphological and electrochromic properties were studied using XRD, AFM, AES and cyclic voltammograms. Results show that the films deposited on heated substrates are composed of columnar TT-Nb 2 O 5 microcrystalline with many grain-to-grain boundaries. These structural characteristics provide films strong electrochemical stability, high Li + insertion/extraction reversibility and good electrochromic properties. DC reactive sputtered Nb 2 O 5 films are colorless in bleached state and brownish gray in colored state and may be a promising candidate for the application in electrochromic devices.

Polycrystalline tungsten oxide films with good electrochemical stability were prepared by dc reactive sputtering method. The Raman spectra of these films show that the W 6+ ions were reduced to W 5+ with the co-intercalation of Li + ions and electrons. Intercalated electrons entered extended states of crystalline tungsten oxide and caused infrared reflectance variation, therefore, the emissivity of WO 3 /ITO/glass can be reversible modulated between 0.261 and 0.589.

Detection of low frequency mutations following exposure to mutagens or during the early stages of cancer development is instrumental for risk assessment and molecular diagnosis. We present a sensitive new method to detect trace levels of DNA mutations induced within a large excess of wild-type sequences. The method is based on mutation-induced generation of new restriction enzyme recognition sites. A DNA sequence is amplified from genomic DNA or cDNA using a high fidelity polymerase. The purified PCR product is digested with a restriction enzyme that recognizes the newly generated restriction site, partially dephosphorylated and ligated with an oligonucleotide at the position of the mutation. The ligated oligonucleotide is then utilized in two rounds of PCR to amplify the mutated DNA but not the wild-type allele that contains no restriction site. An A-->T polymorphism in mRNA (tenascin gene, A(2366)-->T, Asn-->Ile) and a G-->A polymorphism in genomic DNA (Ku gene, G(74582)-->A, Val-->Ile), both of which generate a restriction site for the enzyme SAU3A1, demonstrate the application. Eleven patient samples pre-characterized for the G(74582)-->A polymorphism in the repair gene Ku are used to demonstrate the reliability of this approach. This technique quantitatively detects the Ku G-->A polymorphism at a mutant frequency of 1.6x10(-6) relative to the wild-type allele. Mutations in p53 that are frequently induced by mutagens can readily be detected using the present method. As an example, using a second enzyme BbvI, a mutation frequently encountered in human cancers (G(14154)-->A mutation, p53 codon 245, Arg-->Gln) was detected in patient samples. The process does not require radioactivity, utilizes established procedures and overcomes several factors known to produce false positives in RFLP-based assays. The present amplification via primer ligation at the mutation (APRIL-ATM) has potential applications in the detection of mutagen-generated genetic alterations, early detection of tumor marker mutations in bodily discharges and the diagnosis of minimal residual disease.

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) thermochromic thin films with various thicknesses were grown on quartz glass substrates by radio frequency (RF)-plasma assisted oxide molecular beam epitaxy (O-MBE). The crystal structure, morphology and chemical stoichiometry were investigated systemically by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. An excellent reversible metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) characteristics accompanied by an abrupt change in both electrical resistivity and optical infrared (IR) transmittance was observed from the optimized sample. Remarkably, the transition temperature (TMIT) deduced from the resistivity-temperature curve was reasonably consistent with that obtained from the temperature-dependent IR transmittance. Based on Raman measurement and XPS analyses, the observations were interpreted in terms of residual stresses and chemical stoichiometry. This achievement will be of great benefit for practical application of VO2-based smart windows.

Impulsive noise exists in many underwater acoustic communication environments, while traditional receivers often model it as an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). In a previous work, we proposed per-survivor processing (PSP) based receivers for direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) systems. In this work, we investigate two algorithms, passband and baseband clipping, for impulsive noise mitigation in PSP based DSSS systems. Simulation results show that both the passband and baseband clipping approaches can get better performance than the conventional receiver without clipping. Based on noise data collected from a sea test, the semi-experimental results show that both approaches can yield more than 1 dB gain if clipping ratios are properly selected, and that the passband clipping approach slightly outperforms the baseband clipping approach.

Recently, concepts of both ac and dc microgrids have been proposed for future energy systems. A novel converter topology which has three ports: 12 kV ac, 22 kV dc and 400 V dc for future hybrid ac and dc microgrid systems is presented in this paper. Each port has the capability of bi-directional power flow which is required in future hybrid ac and dc microgrids. The 400 V dc bus, which is connected to distributed energy resources, injects/draws power to/from both the ac grid and the dc grid through solid-state transformers. The topology avoids the use of line-frequency transformers which are considered to be expensive and bulky. Because the hybrid converter is connected to both the ac grid and the dc grid, enhanced reliability is achieved. A modular design of the sub-module of the modular multilevel converter is proposed for reducing the sub-module failure probability. Extensive time-domain simulations using Matlab/Simulink™ are presented demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed topology.

Amorphous silicon carbide nitride thin films were synthesized on single crystal silicon (0 0 1) substrates by rf reactive sputtered a silicon nitride target in methane and argon atmosphere. The effects of sputtering parameters such as target voltage in the range of 1.6‐3.0 kV on the optical properties were studied by a Cary 500 UN-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer and Bio-Rad FTS 185 FTIR spectrometer. The results showed that the deposition rate reached maximal at the target voltage of 2.5 kV. The refractive index, n, decrease with increase of target voltage except the sample deposited on 1.6 kV. Moreover, the maximal proportion of Si‐C and C‐N bond achieved at the target voltage of 2.5 and 2.0 kV, respectively. It reflects that the bonding configuration can be tailored by adjusting the target voltage. # 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) surveillance began in Jingzhou City, China, in 2010. A subset of 511 children aged

Molybdenum oxide (MoO 3 ) films were prepared by the sol–gel process, using a lithium-doped peroxo-polymolybdate precursor solution. The highest quality films were obtained from precursor solutions containing 10% lithium. The structural properties of the films were characterized by TG-DTA and FTIR. The electrochemical and electrochromic properties were measured by cyclic voltammetry and an in-situ transmittance technique in 1 M LiClO 4 /propylene carbonate electrolyte. The results show that the Li-doped MoO 3 films possess excellent electrochemical stability and reversibility, a remarkable change of transmittance (Δ T =32.3%) in visible region after coloration, and good electrochromic performance.

Genes for ovalbumin-luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone 7 (LHRH-7) and thioredoxin-LHRH-7 fusion proteins (containing seven LHRH inserts) were constructed by cassette and mismatch mutagenesis and expressed in Escherichia coli. In experiment 1, 10 mg of either ovalbumin-LHRH-7 or thioredoxin-LHRH-7 were suspended in Z-max adjuvant and injected three times at 4-wk intervals into postpubertal male BALB/c mice. In experiment 2, the fusion proteins were suspended in Immumax adjuvant and administered in equimolar quantities (0.4 nmol per injection) to postpubertal male BALB/c mice. In addition to injection of these two proteins alone, the proteins were also administered in different sequences or together in a mixture. Both LHRH fusion proteins induced significant antibody titers, which resulted in a significant decrease in vesicular gland and anterior prostate weight (measure of biological response) in both experiments. Vesicular gland and anterior prostate weight and LHRH antibody titers were significantly correlated in experiments 1 (r 5 20.64) and 2 (r 5 20.53). Percentage of animals responding to treatment varied from 40‐60% in experiment 1 and from 11‐ 89% in experiment 2, with the highest responses in treatments that used a combination of both fusion proteins. The variation in responders and nonresponders was evaluated by estimating antibody KD from displacement curves. Part, but not all, of the high antibody nonresponders can be explained by antibody affinity. male reproductive tract, prostate, seminal vesicles

The Mueller matrix completely characterizes scattered electromagnetic waves. It relates the incident to the scattered Stokes vectors. The Mueller matrix, which contains intensity and relative phase data, is very useful for remote sensing. The Mueller matrix characterizing scattering from coated two-dimensional (2-D) random rough surfaces is obtained from full-wave solutions for the scattered fields considered in the companion paper. The general bistatic scattering case is considered in the analysis. However, for the numerical simulations presented here, the backscatter case is considered in particular, since backscatter is usually measured in remote sensing. The uniformly coated 2-D random rough surfaces are assumed here to be homogeneous and isotropic, with a Gaussian surface-height joint probability-density function. The diffuse incoherent and coherent contributions to the Mueller matrix elements are evaluated. The computer simulations of realistic models of relevant physical problems related to remote sensing of irregular stratified media can be used to determine the optimum modes of detection involving the selection of polarization, frequency, backscatter angle, and the specific Mueller matrix elements most sensitive to changes in medium parameters.

The full-wave solution for scattering from two-dimensional (2-D) irregular layered structures is expressed as a sum of radiation fields, the lateral waves and the surface waves. Only the radiation far fields are considered in this work. The lateral waves and surface waves are ignored since excitations of plane waves are considered and the observation points are in the far fields. The scattering coefficients appearing in the full-wave generalized telegraphists' equations for irregular layered structures are proportional to the derivatives of the surface heights at each interface. Using a first-order iterative procedure to solve the generalized telegraphists' equations, the diffusely scattered fields from irregular layered structures are expressed as a sum of first-order fields scattered at each rough interface. In this paper, the like and cross-polarized diffuse scattered fields are derived for three medium irregular structures with 2-D rough interfaces. The thickness of the coating material or thin film between the two interfaces is arbitrary, however, in this work it is assumed to be constant. Thus, in this case, both interfaces are rough and there are five different scattering processes identified in the full-wave results. A physical interpretation is given to the five different scattering mechanisms that contribute to the diffusely scattered fields. This work can be used to provide realistic analytical models of propagation across irregular stratified media such as ice or snow covered terrain, remote sensing of coated rough surfaces, or the detection of buried objects in the presence of signal clutter from the rough interfaces.

This research was jointly funded by the NSFC project (40825009 and 40830319), Closure of Eastern Paleotethys Ocean and assembly of South China continents (41190073) of Major NSFC Program (41190070) Reconstruction of East Asian blocks in Pangea and the State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Northwest University (BJ081331). PAC acknowledges support from the University of St Andrews and NERC (NE/J021822/1). U-Pb geochronology along with elemental and Nd-Hf-Os isotopic data from the earliest Neoproterozoic metabasic rocks within the Cathaysia Block of the South China Block (SCB) constrain the tectonic setting and paleogeography of the block within the Rodinia supercontinent. The metabasic rocks give zircon U-Pb ages of 969-984 Ma, epsilon(Hf)(t) values of +1.8 to +15.3 and Hf model ages of 0.92-1.44 Ga. They are subalkaline basalts that can be geochemically classified into four groups. Group 1 has low Nb contents (1.24-4.33 ppm), highly positive epsilon(Nd)(t) values (+4.3 to +5.2), and REE and multi-elemental patterns similar to fore-arc MORB-type basalt. Group 2 has Nb contents ranging from 3.13 ppm to 6.48 ppm, epsilon(Nd)(t) of +3.1 to +6.2, low Re and Os contents and high initial Os isotopic ratios, and displays an E-MORB geochemical signature. Group 3 has Nb = 7.18-29.87 ppm, Nb/La = 0.60-1.40, Nb/U = 5.0-37, Ce/Pb = 1.1-6.6, epsilon(Nd)( t) = +2.9 to +7.0, Re-187/Os-188 = 5.87-8.87 and gamma Os (t) = 178-772, geochemically resembling to the Pickle Nb-enriched basalt. Group 4 has strong LREE/HREE and HREE fractionation and high epsilon(Nd)(t) values (+2.3 to +5.6), and is characterized by similar element patterns to arc volcanic rocks. Serpentinites coeval to Group 4 show Os-187/Os-188 of 0.1143-0.1442 and gamma Os (t) of -7.8 to +0.1. Groups 1 and 2 are interpreted to originate from the N-MORB and E-MORB-like sources with the addition of an arc-like component, genetically linked to fore- and back-arc settings, respectively. Groups 3 and 4 show inputs of newly subduction-derived melt and fluid in the wedge source. These geochronological and geochemical signatures fingerprint the development of an earliest Neoproterozoic (similar to 970 Ma) arc-back-arc system along the Wuyi-Yunkai domain of the Cathaysia Block. Regional relationships indicate that the Wuyi-Yunkai arc-back-arc system was one of a series of separate convergent margin settings, which included the Shuangxiwu (similar to 970-880 Ma) and Jiangnan (similar to 870-820 Ma) systems that developed in the SCB. The formation and closure of these arc-back-arc systems resulted in the northwestwardly episodic amalgamation of various pieces of the Yangtze and Cathaysia to finally form the SCB. These signatures require the SCB to occupy an exterior accretionary orogen along the periphery of Rodinia during 990-820 Ma, rather than to have formed through Mesoproterozoic Sibao orogenesis within the interior of Rodinia. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Postprint

In the composite structures used in steel-concrete connection, the steel structures are embedded in concrete. The behavior of the shear connectors in such structures is different from that in a composite beam. 38 perfobond leisten (PBL) shear connector specimens and 2 anchorage specimens containing PBL shear connector array are designed in 3 successive experimental tests in the laboratory. The test results manifest that PBL shear connectors show a characteristics of concrete when the slip is relatively small whereas, however, seem to be fairly ductile as the bearing capacity is nearly approached. The diameter of inner bar has a greater effect on the bearing capacity of PBL shear connectors than the outer diameter of embraced concrete column does. The first three ranks in a PBL shear connector array can take about 60% of the external load. The shear connectors closer to the loading point will take greater portion of external loads.

A new unified approach, based on the original full wave solutions, is presented to evaluate the like and cross polarized scattering cross sections of composite (multiple scale) random rough surfaces. The rough surfaces are assumed to be characterized by the Pieson-Moskowitz spectral density function. To account for the surface undulations, the incoherent radar cross sections are obtained by regarding the composite rough surface as an ensemble of pixels of arbitrary orientation.

Localization is a major issue and a challenging task for underwater acoustic networks. The characteristics of underwater acoustic networks are fundamentally different from that of terrestrial networks. For example, it is not easy to get GPS into water and underwater acoustic networks often just have few anchors. Thus many of the localization schemes for terrestrial networks cannot be used directly in underwater acoustic networks. In this paper, we present a localization scheme based on double rates which competes node localization with only one anchor. It is a range-based localization scheme which separates data transmission into two modes by changing the symbol durations at physical layer. Based on the double rates schemes, our method completes acoustic ranging among the whole network with only one hop, which eliminates the accumulated inaccuracy caused by multi-hop ranging in localization schemes based on single rate. Simulation results show that our method has the highest positioning accuracy compared with MSL and DV-Hop.

Background After the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, we conducted hospital-based severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance in one central Chinese city to assess disease burden attributable to influenza among adults and adolescents. Methods We defined an adult SARI case as a hospitalized patient aged ≥ 15 years with temperature ≥38.0°C and at least one of the following: cough, sore throat, tachypnea, difficulty breathing, abnormal breath sounds on auscultation, sputum production, hemoptysis, chest pain, or chest radiograph consistent with pneumonia. For each enrolled SARI case-patient, we completed a standardized case report form, and collected a nasopharyngeal swab within 24 hours of admission. Specimens were tested for influenza viruses by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). We analyzed data from adult SARI cases in four hospitals in Jingzhou, China from April 2010 to April 2012. Results Of 1,790 adult SARI patients enrolled, 40% were aged ≥ 65 years old. The median duration of hospitalization was 9 days. Nearly all were prescribed antibiotics during their hospitalization, less than 1% were prescribed oseltamivir, and 28% were prescribed corticosteroids. Only 0.1% reported receiving influenza vaccination in the past year. Of 1,704 samples tested, 16% were positive for influenza. Influenza activity in all age groups showed winter-spring and summer peaks. Influenza-positive patients had a longer duration from illness onset to hospitalization and a shorter duration from hospital admission to discharge or death compared to influenza negative SARI patients. Conclusions There is substantial burden of influenza-associated SARI hospitalizations in Jingzhou, China, especially among older adults. More effective promotion of annual seasonal influenza vaccination and timely oseltamivir treatment among high risk groups may improve influenza prevention and control in China.

Multipath routing is an alternative routing technique, which uses redundant paths to deliver data from source to destination. Compared to single path routing protocols, it can address reliability, delay, and energy consumption issues. Thus, multipath routing is a potential technique to overcome the long propagation delay and adverse link condition in underwater environment. However, there are still some problems in multipath routing. For example, the multiple paths may interfere with each other and arouse large end-to-end delay difference amongst multiple paths. This paper proposes a novel multipath routing structure and a conflict-free algorithm based on TDMA scheme. The forwarding nodes are selected based on the propagation delay and location information. This special multiple routing structure not only can ensure parallel multiple transmission without collision, but also can get a small end-to-end delay difference amongst multiple paths. Simulation results show that the multipath routing scheme proposed in this paper outperforms the traditional strategy.

This paper describes a dynamic multi-target simulating system for active sonar, a system for simulating the signal received by multiple receive hydrophones of sonar for a scenario with multiple targets from different directions. Significant challenges in the system design are the capabilities of real-time processing and high-speed data transmission. Due to the demand of the system, the embedded soft real-time processor, high speed hard real-time module, FPGA parallel technology and LabVIEW graphical programming tool are used in the system to generate the sonar simulating signal in real time. Finally, the results show that the system can simulate the scenario with eight targets. Moreover much more are simulated, such as the target direction, distance, Doppler stretch, target strength, etc. Meanwhile, there are 48 output channels in the system, so the system can simulate forty-eight hydrophones in sonar. The results of the system also show that the deviation of target distance is less than 1m, the deviation of target direction is less than 0.5°, and the deviation of time delay among the output channels are less than 0.2μs.

Multiple independent Rayleigh fading waveforms are often required for the simulation of wireless communication channels. Jakes model and its derivatives based on SoS (Sum-of-Sinusoids) provide simple simulators for Rayleigh fading, but they have shortcomings that their correlation functions are not always approach theoretical value. In this paper, the statistical properties of SoS fading model with a finite number of sinusoids are analyzed, and an improved model for multiple uncorrelated Rayleigh fading waveforms based on SoS model is proposed, which can reduce the computational complexity while maintain the statistical properties well. Compared with other models which proposed before (take MEA and Zheng's model for example), this new model satisfies not only the stochastic characteristics of Rayleigh fading channel but also the independence between pair of fading waveforms. Mathematical derivation and corresponding simulation results are also provided. The simulation results show that the statistics of single waveform of the proposed model are the same as other models while the independence between pair of fading waveforms is obviously better.

The overwhelming majority of Rett syndrome cases are caused by mutations in the gene MECP2. MECP2 has two isoforms, termed MECP2_e1 and MECP2_e2, which differ in their N-terminal amino acid sequences. A growing body of evidence has indicated that MECP2_e1 may be the etiologically relevant isoform in Rett Syndrome based on its expression profile in the brain and because, strikingly, no mutations have been discovered that affect MECP2_e2 exclusively. In this study we sought to characterize four classical Rett patients with mutations that putatively affect only the MECP2_e1 isoform. Our hypothesis was that the classical Rett phenotype seen here is the result of disrupted MECP2_e1 expression, but with MECP2_e2 expression unaltered. We used quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR to assay mRNA expression for each isoform independently, and used cytospinning methods to assay total MECP2 in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). In the two Rett patients with identical 11 bp deletions within the coding portion of exon 1, MECP2_e2 levels were unaffected, whilst a significant reduction of MECP2_e1 levels was detected. In two Rett patients harboring mutations in the exon 1 start codon, MECP2_e1 and MECP2_e2 mRNA amounts were unaffected. In summary, we have shown that patients with exon 1 mutations transcribe normal levels of MECP2_e2 mRNA, and most PBL are positive for MeCP2 protein, despite them theoretically being unable to produce the MECP2_e1 isoform, and yet still exhibit the classical RTT phenotype. Altogether, our work further supports our hypothesis that MECP2_e1 is the predominant isoform involved in the neuropathology of Rett syndrome. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The privatization of war was an objective reality of the political trends. Globalization, information, Technological democratization and Decentralization of power were the root causes of the privatization of war. To world security and national and personal security, the world and the people should be concerned about the development trend of the privatization of war.

Background. Vascular pathologies constitute a major cause of graft rejection after organ transplantation. Recent studies have documented an improvement in transplant outcome when organs are preserved through pulsatile perfusion; however, the underlying mechanisms of these observations are poorly characterized. We hypothesized that the temporaryabsenceofflowoccurringinthecontextoforgancoldstorageconditionsdisruptsendothelialvasoprotective programs, and that this consequence of stasis may be a target for pharmacological modulation. Methods. The expression of the transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) and its vasoprotective target genes were assessed during cold storage conditions in cultured human endothelial cells and murine aortic segments. In addition, we evaluated the effect of simvastatin used as a supplement in a cold preservation solution on the expression of vasoprotective genes, and on endothelial activation and apoptosis. Results.TheexpressionofendothelialKLF2anditsvasoprotectivetranscriptionaltargetswererapidlylostduringcold preservation in vitro and ex vivo. Importantly, simvastatin treatment blocked the decay of KLF2, sustaining a vasoprotective phenotype, and preventing endothelial activation and apoptosis. Conclusions.Flowstasisleadstoacuteendothelialdysfunctionandapoptosisinthecontextofcoldstorageconditions. Supplementation of organ preservation solutions with pharmacologic agents that restore endothelial vasoprotective programs, by upregulating KLF2, may represent a significant advancement of current organ preservation techniques.

The Chinese Communist Party is facing many problems in domestic governance. E.g. livelihood issues, corruption and so on. These issues will be solved by the ruling party's effective domestic governance in soft power which achieves the purpose to enhance the soft power of Chinese Communist Party.

The theory of Soft power can be applied to the ruling party of social governance. At present, the ChineseCommunist Party is facing political corruption, the public lack of political trust in the officials, social injusticeand other social issues. It is necessary to construct the party's soft power and consolidate the party's rulingposition.

The disintegration of the Soviet Union is widely discussed in academic circles. From the perspective of soft power in culture, stating the gradual loss of soft power in the publican and political culture, at last led to the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

This article is concerned about the analysis, design, and simulation of an electric power steering (EPS). The article begins by introducing the EPS system concept and comparing the technical and commercial benefits with existing technologies. Being more versatile than conventional hydraulic power steering, EPS systems excel in engine efficiency, space saving, and environmental friendly. The remainder of the article is focused on the fuzzy logical control scheme in details elaborating on the fuzzifying, editing FIS and membership function and defuzzifying. The simulation model of EPS is set up based on its characteristic equations and on the principle of fuzzy logic control. At last, a series of tests are performed and some characteristic pictures are demonstrated. The feasibility, high reliability of the system and the validity of the control method are proved by the fruitful results which serve an instrumental meaning for a further research.

Electric Power Steering (EPS) has important significance in improving the auto's dynamic and static performances. This paper deals with the mathematical model and characteristic curves of EPS System. First, the principle and structure of EPS are discussed. Then the characteristics of EPS system are analyzed, including the typical power curves which deal the relationship of the assist torque and the steering wheel torque. At last the EPS system's dynamic model and the computerized simulation model have been established in MATLAB/Simulink in teams of three aspects which are the mechanical steering without power system, EPS system and EPS system with PID control. The simulation result that the actual current of the motor follows precisely the target current validates the designed assist characteristic.

Electric Power Steering (EPS) systems have many advantages over traditional hydraulic power steering systems in engine efficiency, space efficiency, and environmental compatibility. A brief introduction of the structure and principle of EPS system is presented and the control scheme is proposed. Based on the principle of Brushless DC (BLDC) Motor, a novel method for modeling and simulation of BLDC control system is developed in Matlab/Simulink. Organically combining the blocks, a test was performed on a timing system with current hysteresis control. The plot of the motor assisted torque versus the armature current was demonstrated. The feasibility, high reliability of the system and the validity of the control method are proved by the results. And a new kind of test bench model is offered for designing and verifying EPS system.

Alterations in hemodynamic shear stress acting on the vascular endothelium are critical for adaptive arterial remodeling. The molecular mechanisms regulating this process, however, remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we sought to define the responses evoked in endothelial cells exposed to shear stress waveforms characteristic of coronary collateral vessels and the subsequent paracrine effects on smooth muscle cells. A lumped parameter model of the human coronary collateral circulation was used to simulate normal and adaptive remodeling coronary collateral shear stress waveforms. These waveforms were then applied to cultured human endothelial cells (EC), and the resulting differences in EC gene expression were assessed by genome-wide transcriptional profiling to identify genes distinctly regulated by collateral flow. Analysis of these transcriptional programs identified several genes to be differentially regulated by collateral flow, including genes important for endothelium-smooth muscle interactions. In particular, the transcription factor KLF2 was up-regulated by the adaptive remodeling coronary collateral waveform, and several of its downstream targets displayed the expected modulation, including the down-regulation of connective tissue growth factor. To assess the effect of endothelial KLF2 expression on smooth muscle cell migration, a three-dimensional microfluidic assay was developed. Using this three-dimensional system, we showed that KLF2-expressing EC co-cultured with SMC significantly reduce SMC migration compared with control EC and that this reduction can be rescued by the addition of exogenous connective tissue growth factor. Collectively, these results demonstrate that collateral flow evokes distinct EC gene expression profiles and functional phenotypes that subsequently influence vascular events important for adaptive remodeling.