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Background/purpose(s): The gut microbiota and its metabolites play crucial roles in pathogenesis of arthritis, highlighting gut microbiota as a promising avenue for modulating autoimmunity. However, the characterization of the gut virome in arthritis patients, including osteoarthritis (OA) and gouty arthritis (GA), requires further investigation. Methods: We employed virus-like particle (VLP)-based metagenomic sequencing to analyze gut viral community in 20 OA patients, 26 GA patients, and 31 healthy controls, encompassing a total of 77 fecal samples. Results: Our analysis generated 6819 vOTUs, with a considerable proportion of viral genomes differing from existing catalogs. The gut virome in OA and GA patients differed significantly from healthy controls, showing variations in diversity and viral family abundances. We identified 157 OA-associated and 94 GA-associated vOTUs, achieving high accuracy in patient-control discrimination with random forest models. OA-associated viruses were predicted to infect pro-inflammatory bacteria or bacteria associated with immunoglobulin A production, while GA-associated viruses were linked to Bacteroidaceae or Lachnospiraceae phages. Furthermore, several viral functional orthologs displayed significant differences in frequency between OA-enriched and GA-enriched vOTUs, suggesting potential functional roles of these viruses. Additionally, we trained classification models based on gut viral signatures to effectively discriminate OA or GA patients from healthy controls, yielding AUC values up to 0.97, indicating the clinical utility of the gut virome in diagnosing OA or GA. Conclusion: Our study highlights distinctive alterations in viral diversity and taxonomy within gut virome of OA and GA patients, offering insights into arthritis etiology and potential treatment and prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Taiwan, deeply impacted by the 2003 SARS outbreak, promptly implemented rigorous infection control and prevention (ICP) measures in January 2020 to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional serologic study was conducted among healthcare workers (HCWs) in a tertiary care hospital in Taiwan from August 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023. The study aimed to assess HCWs' antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination against Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.4, and BA.5, considering variations in prior infection. Additionally, it evaluated the effectiveness of ICP and vaccination policies within the hospital setting in Taiwan. Methods: A cross-sectional serology study was conducted in Taiwan to investigate the seroprevalence rates of Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.4, and BA.5 among HCWs. A total of 777 HCWs participated in this study. A structured questionnaire was collected to obtain the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors for potential exposure. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect antibody responses. Serum samples were selected for protection against Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.4, and BA.5 by using a pseudotyped-based neutralization assay. Results: More than 99% of the participants had received SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Overall, 57.7% had been infected with SARS-CoV-2, with some being asymptomatic. The SARS-CoV-2 Anti-Spike S1 protein IgG (Anti-S) distribution was 40,000 AU/mL for 20.2% (157/777) of participants, with a mean ± standard deviation of 23,442 ± 22,086. The decay curve for Anti-S was less than 20,000 AU/ml after 120 days. The probability curve of 50% neutralization showed an Anti-S of 55,000 AU/ml. The optimum Anti-S was 41,328 AU/mL (equal to 5,869 WHO's standard BAU/mL), with 86.1% sensitivity and 63.5% specificity. Conclusions: In this significant study, 20.2% of HCWs achieved seroprotection against Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.4, and BA.5. Their immunity against Omicron subvariants was further reinforced through recommended vaccinations and the development of natural immunity from SARS-CoV-2 exposure, collectively enhancing their protection against Omicron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical Application Color and shape are important quality attributes in baked goods, particularly cookies. Composition and processing conditions determine and influence color development and morphological changes in these baked goods. The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the evolution of color and shape during baking to determine useful correlations that can be implemented during the assessment and modeling of the baking process. Cookies (AACC‐I standard protocol 10‐53.01) were baked at 185, 205, and 225°C. Moisture content, water activity, surface temperature, characteristic dimensions (radius and thickness), and color indexes (lightness, redness, blueness, and browning index [BI]) were monitored at different locations on the cookie surface and baking times. Relationships among the tested conditions were explored using correlation analysis. The cookies’ dimensions and color indexes were strongly correlated with changes in moisture content over time, and those relationships were characterized using empirical models. The temperature dependence of the kinetic parameters of the changes in lightness and BI was also described and deemed independent of the location on the cookie surface. This study provides insights into the influence of heat and mass transfer on the physical and physicochemical changes of cookies during baking. The kinetic and secondary models developed in this study can serve as important components for establishing a comprehensive approach for coupling heat transfer, mass transfer, and reaction kinetics to estimate and optimize cookie‐baking processes.The findings from this study provide valuable information for better understanding the morphological changes and color developments during the cookie‐baking process. The quantitative data and models generated in this study will allow identifying baking conditions for better quality development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the durability of catalysts is of critical significance to industrialize green hydrogen production. Herein, a novel active site in situ refreshing strategy is proposed and demonstrated to fabricate highly active and ultra‐durable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electro‐catalytic material by HER activation. Briefly, a composite catalytic material is synthesized, which features Ni(PO3)2 active sites being embedded inside the amorphous Mo compound matrix (named NiMoO‐P). The Mo compound matrix undergoes gradual dissolution during HER followed by a dynamic equilibrium between the dissolution and deposition of the amorphous matrix. This process promotes the continuous exposure of insoluble Ni(PO3)2 and Ni2P partially converted from Ni (PO3) 2 in situ on the surface during HER activation. Thus, activated catalyst exhibits excellent HER performance featuring an extremely high current density of 1500 mA cm−2 at a rather low overpotential of 340 mV, and more attractively, an ultra‐long durability for hydrogen evolution for at least 1000 h at an industrial‐applicable current density of 900 mA cm−2. The mechanisms for the especially high HER performance are attributed to the exposure and continuous refreshing of Ni(PO3)2 and the in situ formed Ni2P during the HER process based on the DFT calculations and quasi‐in situ Raman spectroscopic monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Both sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) and HIV infection can interfere with normal sleep architecture, and also cause physical and psychological distress. We aimed to understand the differences in the obstructive patterns, sleep architecture, physical and psychological distress when compared between people living with HIV (PLWH) and matched the severity of SRBDs controls. Methods: A comparative study using matched case-control design was conducted. Men with HIV infection (case group) were enrolled from 2016 to 2019. A control group with HIV seronegative men were matched for SRBDs severity, and were selected from sleep medicine center database for comparison. Results: The mean age of the 108 men (including 54 cases and 54 matched controls) was 33.75 years. Central-apnea index (CI) was higher in the case group rather than matched controls (mean CI, 0.34 vs. 0.17, p = 0.049). PLWH had a lower mean percentage of stage 3 sleep (10.26% vs. 13.94%, p = 0.034) and a higher percentage of rapid eye movement sleep (20.59% vs. 17.85%, p = 0.011) compared to matched controls. Nocturnal enuresis and sleepiness causing traffic accidents were more frequent complaint in PLWH compared to controls. Conclusions: Early detected SRBDs and subtypes in PLWH to begin treatment for the underlying cause could reduce the risk of sleepiness-related traffic accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The failure mode of the soil behind the rigid support structure of excavations parallel to tunneling was simulated using the adaptive finite-element limit analysis method. This study showed the effects of tunnel diameter, tunnel construction clear spacing, excavation insertion ratio, and soil strength on the failure mode of the soil. Based on the simulated results obtained from finite-element software, a stress field was constructed for the portion above the horizontal plane at the bottom of the excavation support structure. Three types of boundary value problems were solved based on different regional divisions. Eventually, the stress state at any point within the plastic zone was calculated, providing the active earth pressure on the support structure adjacent to the tunnel during its construction. A comparison between the stress characteristic method calculation results and the finite-element simulation results showed consistency, confirming the efficiency and accuracy of the stress characteristic method in calculating the earth pressure on the support structure of excavations parallel to tunneling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract type, the N2 amplitude at the parietal lobe was higher than that at the central lobe. The NCs displayed lower amplitudes for both the P3 and slow wave compared to the schizophrenia patients. Differences were observed between the NC and schizophrenia groups in terms of the latencies for N1, P2, N2, P3 and slow wave components across different experiment types and regions of interest. Conclusion: In conclusion, the observed ERP patterns provide valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying the Wason selection task, highlighting the differences between NCs and patients with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-chain transaction technologies have greatly promoted the scalability of cryptocurrencies, which then facilitates the development of Metaverse applications. However, existing solutions rely heavily on centralized middleware (notary) or smart contracts. These schemes lack privacy considerations, and users' cross-chain transactions are easy to master by other parties. Some signature-based payment schemes have good privacy but do not support multi-party cross-chain protocols or rely heavily on some time assumptions. The uncertainty of user behavior makes it difficult to design a secure multi-party cross-chain protocol. To solve these problems, we investigate how to design a secure multi-party cross-chain transaction protocol with offline tolerance. We propose a new signature algorithm called the pre-adaptor signature scheme, an extension of the adaptor signature scheme. The pre-adaptor signature scheme combines the multi-signature and adaptor signature schemes, which can realize the secret transmission channel between multiple parties. To provide offline tolerance, we encode our protocol into the P2SH script. Our protocol provides better privacy due to no dependence on smart contracts. The performance evaluation was conducted with ten participants. For each participant of our cross-chain protocol, the initialization and execution process can be performed in 3 milliseconds and with 6 k bytes of communication overhead at most. The cost increases linearly with the increase in the number of participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of autoclaved aerated concrete via the autoclaving process incurs substantial energy consumption, posing a challenge to sustainable economic development. Herein, a novel nonautoclaved aerated concrete (NAAC) was prepared using sulfoaluminate cement as the primary raw material and aluminum powder as the aerating agent. The physicomechanical characteristics and pore structures of the sulfoaluminate-cement-based (SAC) NAAC (SAC-NAAC) were examined through X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The findings revealed that the optimal mechanical attributes of the SAC-NAAC were achieved at a water–cement ratio of 0.55, with a specific content ratio of polycarboxylate superplasticizer–borax–calcium stearate–sodium hydroxide at 0.24%:0.32%:0.36%:2.90%, along with 0.40% aluminum powder. The SAC-NAAC samples, with a bulk density range of 600–750 g/m3, exhibited a compressive strength of 3.55–4.16 MPa, porosity of 45.9–63.5%, and water absorption rate of 60.2–74.4%. The weight loss in the SAC-NAAC with different aluminum powder contents ranged between 15.23% and 16.83%. The prismatic ettringite (AFt) crystals served as the main source of strength for the SAC-NAAC, and AH3 was attached to the AFt surfaces in a microcrystalline gel phase, thereby further enhancing the strength of the SAC-NAAC. Thus, the lightweight, high-strength SAC-NAAC has great potential as a nonautoclaved aerated concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A base-promoted olefin skeletal rearrangement strategy from para-quinone methides (p-QMs) and N-fluoroarenesulfonamides is reported, enabling direct nitrogen insertion of olefins to produce a series of multiarylated (Z)-N-sulfonyl amidines with complete stereoselectivity and generally good yields. Using p-QMs without o-hydroxy substituents gave triarylated N-sulfonyl amidines, whereas tetraarylated N,N′-disulfonyl amidines were synthesized with the existence of o-hydroxy groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Austin was first isolated as a novel polyisoprenoid mycotoxin from Aspergillus ustus in 1976. Subsequently, some new austin-type meroterpenoids (ATMTs) have been continually found. This review attempts to give a comprehensive summary of progress on the isolation, chemical structural features, biological activities, and fungal biodiversity of 104 novel ATMTs from 5 genera of terrestrial- and marine-derived fungi reported from October 1976 to January 2023. The genera of Penicillium and Aspergillus are the two dominant producers, producing 63.5% and 30.8% of ATMTs, respectively. Moreover, about 26.9% of ATMTs display various pronounced bioactivities, including insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and PTP1B inhibitory activities. The chemical diversity and potential activities of these novel fungal ATMTs are reviewed for a better understanding, and a relevant summary focusing on the source fungi and their taxonomy is provided to shed light on the future development and research of austin-type meroterpenoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fas-associated factor 1 (FAF1) is a multidomain protein that interacts with diverse partners to affect numerous cellular processes. Previously, we discovered two Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO)-interacting motifs (SIMs) within FAF1 that are crucial for transcriptional modulation of mineralocorticoid receptor. Recently, we identified Sin3A-associated protein 130 (SAP130), a putative sumoylated protein, as a candidate FAF1 interaction partner by yeast two-hybrid screening. However, it remained unclear whether SAP130 sumoylation might occur and functionally interact with FAF1. Results: In this study, we first show that SAP130 can be modified by SUMO1 at Lys residues 794, 878 and 932 both in vitro and in vivo. Mutation of these three SUMO-accepting Lys residues to Ala had no impact on SAP130 association with Sin3A or its nuclear localization, but the mutations abrogated the association of SAP130 with the FAF1. The mutations also potentiated SAP130 trans-repression activity and attenuated SAP130-mediated promotion of cell growth. Additionally, SUMO1-modified SAP130 was less stable than unmodified SAP130. Transient transfection experiments further revealed that FAF1 mitigated the trans-repression and cell proliferation-promoting functions of SAP130, and promoted SAP130 degradation by enhancing its polyubiquitination in a sumoylation-dependent manner. Conclusions: Together, these results demonstrate that sumoylation of SAP130 regulates its biological functions and that FAF1 plays a crucial role in controlling the SUMO-dependent regulation of transcriptional activity and protein stability of SAP130. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an optimized design method for an ultrasonic flow meter (USFM) used in the semiconductor manufacturing field for liquid flow measurement. Based on fluid simulation, the impact of different inlet tube section angles on the velocity distribution within the measuring tube section of the USFM was analyzed, and a suitable inlet tube section angle of 45° was determined. Based on the average flow velocity on the acoustic channel line and the average flow velocity in the measuring tube section, a velocity correction factor was calculated to adjust the measured flow velocity to the actual flow velocity of the tested fluid. The USFM prototype was calibrated for flow rate and a compensation factor obtained to correct measured flow rate. The accuracy of the USFM was tested and found to reach 1.5 level, meeting the needs for liquid flow measurement in the semiconductor manufacturing field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying is one of the most effective methods to preserve foods and guarantee their supply for more people. Mathematical modeling is an important tool that aids the design, development, optimization and control of food drying systems. Driven by the increasing needs to dry more foods with higher efficiency, sustainability, better food quality and safety, various novel drying technologies have been developed, and food drying modeling approaches have also evolved significantly. In this review, progresses and advancements in empirical, mechanistic, and machine learning (ML) modeling approaches in food drying processes toward Multiphysics, multiphase, multidimensional, and intelligent directions are overviewed. Several challenges, needs, and future trends are identified and discussed, which includes multiscale modeling, shape change and structure deformation, coupling of food reaction kinetics, intelligent control and digitalization, translation, and dissemination of modeling results. The materials presented here aim to emphasize the importance of food drying modeling for addressing the key food challenges and attract more food scientists and engineers to contribute to improve food drying models and a more sustainable food production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of rotational seismometers, especially the high‐sensitivity optical seismometers, rotational motions have shown increasing benefits for calculation of dispersion curves, estimation of back azimuth and many other applications. Here we present the six‐component observations of 2019 Hualien mww6.1 earthquake simultaneously on both sides of Taiwan Strait. Seismograms and time‐frequency spectrums show that the attenuations for rotations are more significant than translations. Calculations of the surface wave phase velocity are performed for both stations through single‐station records, indicating a distinct difference owning to the instrument installation conditions and site effect. Comparison of theoretical dispersion curves is consistently in trends with estimations, and reveals the influence of higher‐mode surface waves. For the first time, we locate the source of a earthquake through intersection of two stations' back azimuths estimated through rotational methods. Results of comparing to translational polarization verify that rotational observation can distinctly reduce the deviation of source location. Plain Language Summary: We recorded the 2019 Hualien mww6.1 earthquake by two stations on both sides of Taiwan Strait. Both stations consist of a broad‐band seismometer and a fiber‐optic rotational seismometer. We compare the amplitudes and Time‐frequency spectrums of two stations' records and validate the attenuations for translational and rotational motions. Due to the shorter epicentral distance, NA01 station in Taiwan observed stronger signals than QS01 station in Fujian. We then use the rotational methods to compute surface wave phase velocity and dispersion curves, and validate the results by theoretical calculation through crust model. Estimation of back azimuths of two stations are used to locate the earthquake, indicating that rotational motions can reduce the deviation of source location. Key Points: Co‐located observations of three translational motions and three rotational motionsEstimate the phase velocity dispersion curves and back azimuths by rotational methodsLocate the earthquake source by three methods and evaluate the deviations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the widespread application of artificial intelligence algorithms in protein structure, function prediction, and de novo protein design has significantly accelerated the process of intelligent protein design and led to many noteworthy achievements. This advancement in protein intelligent design holds great potential to accelerate the development of new drugs, enhance the efficiency of biocatalysts, and even create entirely new biomaterials. Protein characterization is the key to the performance of intelligent protein design. However, there is no consensus on the most suitable characterization method for intelligent protein design tasks. This review describes the methods, characteristics, and representative applications of traditional descriptors, sequence-based and structure-based protein characterization. It discusses their advantages, disadvantages, and scope of application. It is hoped that this could help researchers to better understand the limitations and application scenarios of these methods, and provide valuable references for choosing appropriate protein characterization techniques for related research in the field, so as to better carry out protein research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The milling parameters have an important influence on machining performance and surface quality of metal materials. In this paper, the differences in machining and corrosion resistance properties of ZK61M plates under different processing parameters were analyzed by side milling. The milling process was simulated to explore the change laws of milling temperature and milling force. The hardness of machined surface was examined by Vikers hardness tester. The surface quality and the corrosion performances under different spindle speeds were observed by 3D ultra-depth of field microscope. The results showed that the milling temperature was increased as spindle speed and feed speed increased. The influence of spindle speed and feed speed on milling force along the milling direction and the tool direction was significant different. The milled surface had better quality when the spindle speed increased or the feed speed decreased. The hardness standard deviation of machined surface was decreased as the surface quality became better. Besides, it was summarized how spindle speed played a role in corrosion resistance performance by affecting residual stress and metal oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sesquiterpene synthases convert farnesyl diphosphate into various sesquiterpenes, which find wide applications in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Although numerous putative sesquiterpene synthases have been identified in fungal genomes, many lack biochemical characterization. In this study, we identified a putative terpene synthase AcTPS3 from Acremonium chrysogenum. Through sequence analysis and in vitro enzyme assay, AcTPS3 was identified as a sesquiterpene synthase. To obtain sufficient product for NMR testing, a metabolic engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae was constructed to overproduce the product of AcTPS3. The major product of AcTPS3 was identified as (+)-cubenene (55.46%) by GC-MS and NMR. Thus, AcTPS3 was confirmed as (+)-cubenene synthase, which is the first report of (+)-cubenene synthase. The optimized S. cerevisiae strain achieved a biosynthesis titer of 597.3 mg/L, the highest reported for (+)-cubenene synthesis. • A metabolic engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to overproduce the product of AcTPS3. • A (+)-cubenene synthase was reported for the first time. • (+)-Cubenene was biosynthesized at a titer of 597.3 mg/L, which provides a sustainable synthesis route for this compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samuel Beckett's corpus centres on the characterization, examination and imaginative exploration of the human mind, encompassing the realms of consciousness, cognition and perception. In his teleplays, this focus is distinctively achieved through the performances of different media, which this article refers to as 'intermedial performativity'. This term not only designates the semiotic contents of performance in intermedial forms, but also highlights the cooperative performances of the material media themselves, along with their uncharted possibilities and effects. This article delves into the ways in which intermedial performativity in Beckett's teleplays realizes several unique configurations of the human mind, such as its split state and its transfiguration to a posthuman condition. This exploration not only sheds light on Beckett's artistic vision and cosmic ontology, but also brings attention to the reverberations and implications of intermediality for humanity and its potential transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Assistive devices play a vital role in improving the quality of life for older adults. However, the effectiveness and utilization of these devices depend on their functionality, expressiveness, and aesthetics. In this study, we aim to enhance the aesthetics of assistive devices to increase their utilization rates and reduce the psychological distress experienced by older adults. Methods: A quantitative and qualitative survey was conducted (a) to create a basic prototype for the conceptual framework of this study to discuss the relationship between the functional, expressive, and aesthetic elements of the auxiliary equipment and (b) to extract and construct aesthetic elements and modes of the auxiliary equipment. Results: Asthetics was found to be a major reason for the use or abandonment of assistive devices. This study focuses on "product aesthetics" and considers materials and aesthetics simultaneously. Conclusions: The results indicate the design of assistive devices for older adults should incorporate craft aesthetics characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research studies have demonstrated that Midkine (MDK) can influence the expression and activity of Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components. Angiotensin II is involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis in different cancers. We previously observed Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) improve the survival rates of patients with oral cancers. These findings have prompted us to investigate whether MDK can influence the RAS pathway, mainly through its association with angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), which contributes to the observed poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. Methods: MDK and AT1R expressions were examined in 150 HNSCC patients post-operation by immunohistochemical staining between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2016. We tested the over-expression and silencing of MDK to evaluate the AT1R expression and functional biological assays in HNSCC cell lines HSC-3 and SAS. Results: Positive expression of MDK is correlated with positive AT1R expression. MDK predicted poor NSCC patients' survival. Silencing MDK could suppress AT1R and pAKT expression and reduce the growth, migration, and invasion of HNSCC cells. ARB also inhibits MDK stimulating HNSCC cell proliferation. Overexpression of MDK could upregulate AT1R and pAKT. Conclusions: MDK is an independent prognostic factor of HNSCC post-operation, and AT1R regulates HNSCC cell growth, invasion, and migration. Positive MDK and AT1R expressions are highly correlated. Mechanistically, the interaction between MDK and AT1R is crucial for MDK-mediated cell viability, and inhibiting AT1R can effectively counteract or abolish these effects. Furthermore, MDK exerts a regulatory role in the expression of AT1R, as well as in the growth and motility of HNSCC cells. These findings highlight the involvement of the interaction between MDK, AT1R, and the pAkt signaling pathways in HNSCC cell viability growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep disorders can profoundly affect neurological function. We investigated changes in social and anxiety-related brain functional connectivity induced by sleep deprivation, and the potential therapeutic effects of the general anaesthetics propofol and sevoflurane in rats. Twelve-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to sleep deprivation for 20 h per day (from 14:00 to 10:00 the next day) for 4 consecutive weeks. They were free from sleep deprivation for the remaining 4 h during which they received propofol (40 mg kg–1 i.p.) or sevoflurane (2% for 2 h) per day or no treatment. These cohorts were instrumented for EEG/EMG recordings on days 2, 14, and 28. Different cohorts were used for open field and three-chambered social behavioural tests, functional MRI, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and positron emission tomography imaging 48 h after 4 weeks of sleep deprivation. Propofol protected against sleep deprivation-induced anxiety behaviours with more time (44.7 [8.9] s vs 24.2 [4.1] s for the sleep-deprivation controls; P<0.001) spent in the central area of the open field test and improved social preference index by 30% (all P<0.01). Compared with the sleep-deprived rats, propofol treatment enhanced overall functional connectivity by 74% (P<0.05) and overall glucose metabolism by 30% (P<0.01), and improved glutamate kinetics by 20% (P<0.05). In contrast, these effects were not found after sevoflurane treatment. Unlike sevoflurane, propofol reduced sleep deprivation-induced social and anxiety-related behaviours. Propofol might be superior to sevoflurane for patients with sleep disorders who receive anaesthesia, which should be studied in clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel reduced-order model (ROM) based on higher order dynamic mode decomposition (HODMD) is proposed for the time series prediction of ship course-keeping motion in waves. The proposed ROM is validated by using the data of course-keeping tests of an ONR tumblehome ship model. First, modes are decomposed from the model test data by standard DMD and HODMD, and the dominant modes are selected according to the energy index. Then, the decomposed dominant modes are used to reconstruct and predict the dynamics of ship motion. The dynamic characteristics in the dynamical systems are revealed according to the energy index, growth rates, and frequencies of the decomposed modes. In addition, the effects of the tunable parameter in HODMD on prediction accuracy and computational times are analyzed by a parametric study. The prediction results by HODMD show better agreement with the model test data than those by standard DMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To investigate a cohort of young Italian nurses to identify whether the body mass index (BMI) and eating flexibility differed and were associated according to the basic characteristics of sex, smoking behavior, or shift activity, the levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, or platelets in blood, and the psychological conditions of anxiety, depression, stress, or insomnia. Materials and Methods. The data include sex, BMI, smoking behavior, shift activity, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet levels, eating flexibility [measured using the eating disorder flexibility index (EDFLIX) and the subdimensions EDFLIX-GF for general flexibility, EDFLIX-FoEx for food and exercise flexibility, and EDFLIX-WeSh for weight and shape flexibility], and mental health [assessed using the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) and the insomnia severity index (ISI)]. Results. Differences in BMI with shift work (P=0.042) and anxiety with total EDFLIX (P<0.001), EDFLIX-GF (P<0.001), and EDFLIX-WeSh (P=0.044) scores were significant. Having depression was associated with significant differences in total EDFLIX (P<0.001), EDFLIX-GF (P=0.005), and EDFLIX-WeSh (P<0.001) scores. Nurses with moderate stress reported high total EDFLIX (P<0.001), EDGLIX-FoEx (P<0.001), and EDFLIX-WeSh (P=0.013) scores. Nurses with mild stress reported high EDFLIX-GF scores (P<0.001). Nurses without insomnia symptoms reported significantly high EDFLIX-FoEx scores (P<0.001). Associations between lymphocyte levels and EDFLIX-FoEx (ß=-0.264; P=0.003), stress and EDFLIX-total (ß=-0.436; P<0.001), EDFLIX-GF (ß=-0.466; P<0.001) and EDFLIX-WeSh (P=0.022), and also between insomnia and EDFLIX-FoEx (ß=-0.245; P<0.001) were significant. Conclusions. Nurses, from the beginning of their careers, should be monitored and encouraged to avoid adverse health practices that negatively influence their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the milling process, the wear area of the tool is often segmented using the traditional image processing method to quantify the tool wear value. However, these methods have the disadvantages of having weak anti-noise capabilities and low segmentation accuracy. Although the semantic segmentation network can achieve excellent segmentation accuracy, obtaining enough end mill wear images to support the semantic segmentation network's training is challenging due to the high acquisition cost of wear images. As a result, this paper suggests a small sample end mill wear area segmentation method based on transfer learning and generative adversarial networks to address the issue of insufficient samples of end mill wear images. In this paper, WGAN is used to generate wear images to expand the dataset with a few samples, and the transfer learning method is used to improve the generalization ability of the segmentation network and finally achieve small sample training. This approach increases mPA by 4.46% and mIOU by 8.97% when compared to merely using the semantic segmentation network for small sample training. According to experimental findings, this method not only has high stability and segmentation accuracy but also solves the problem of insufficient end mill wear image samples. The method proposed in this paper can be effectively applied to the intelligent detection of the tool wear state, improving the accuracy and stability of the measurement of the tool wear value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A structure for joining 6061T6 aluminum alloy tube and AZ31B magnesium alloy shaft via the magnetic pulse crimping process was proposed. The forming process, mechanical properties, failure modes, and corrosion behaviors of the joint were studied. The results showed that the enormous Lorentz force drove the wall of aluminum alloy tube to move towards the groove of magnesium alloy shaft at high velocity, thus realized mechanical locking and formed joint. Through torsion tests, it was found that the mechanical properties of the joint with different process parameters varied. There were two failure modes for joint: torsional separation and torsional crack. Specifically, discharge time, groove angle, and discharge energy for torsional crack were, respectively, 1, 90°, and 28 kJ and 3, 90°, and 25 kJ. The maximum torque was up to 961.99 N·m under discharged twice, 90° groove angle, and 25-kJ discharge energy. Through neutral salt spray corrosion tests, it was found that the maximum torque only decreased by 28.03% after corrosion for 192 h. It indicated that the corrosion resistance of joint was good relatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postharvest blanching and drying of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) by infrared (IR) and hot air (HA) heating was studied. Experiments were conducted at different IR heating times (1 and 2 min) and HA temperatures (65 and 85 °C) and compared with conventional indoor drying. Drying time was decreased from 3366 min (conventional) to as low as 222 min (85 °C HA). IR and HA processing reduced the total aerobic bacteria, and total yeast/mold levels by up to 0.81 and 1.85 log CFU/g, respectively from their initial levels of 4.63 and 4.75 log CFU/g, meanwhile reduced the activities of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase by up to 91.7% and 66.7%, respectively. More than 96.1% total cannabidiol was preserved by thermal processing. Total terpene retention ranged from 18.3% to 71.1% under tested conditions with distinct terpene profiles. The results provide important information on the microbial safety and a timely solution to improve the postharvest processes of hemp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The straight-through electric fully closed ultra-clean cut-off valve is a completely closed shut-off valve inside and outside. It relies on magnetic force as the driving force of the valve to control the opening and closing of the valve. In this paper, a new type of cut-off valve structure was designed, a mathematical model was established and its hydrodynamic characteristics were simulated by the computational fluid dynamics method. According to different inlet velocities and different valve openings, the internal cavitation phenomenon of the valve was analyzed. The external magnetic drive control device was designed in combination with the completely closed structure inside and outside the valve, and the magnetic field interference and force of the external permanent magnet and the embedded permanent magnet were studied. This study is helpful for the optimization design and practical engineering application of the ultra-clean valve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problems existing in the application of traditional power workers' work clothes, an early warning system for power transmission and distribution workers based on ZigBee is designed. The system completes the real‐time collection and monitoring of human body temperature information, heart rate information, blood pressure information and location information of power workers. It can give early warning according to human body information, and automatically dial 120 alarm telephone according to human heart rate signal to transmit location information, so that workers can be rescued as soon as possible. In order to increase the accuracy and reliability of transmission information, the system adopts distributed fusion algorithm for signal transmission, which makes the life safety of power workers better guaranteed. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3Fe4S cluster related to M‐cluster of Mo‐nitrogenase is reported. [K(THF)5][Fe3(μ‐bdt)2(μ‐PPh2)(CO)5] (1) is synthesized from photo‐assisted structural rearrangement of [K(THF)2][(μ,κ2‐bdt)Fe2(μ‐PPh2)(CO)5] under visible light irradiation. The molecular structure of 1 consists of a Fe3 core bearing one dithiolate bridge and the second dithiolate group capping onto the metallic plane. The structural motif of 1 is analogous to that of Mo‐participated 3Fe4S unit in M‐cluster of Mo‐nitrogenase, with the similar Fe‐Fe and Fe‐S bond distances. Upon protonation in 193 K, a Fe‐hydride species (1H) is generated and characterized to possess the bridging hydride group (δ = −12.57 ppm) by 1H‐NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculation. In CH3CN solution, complex 1 exhibits a reversible reduction and oxidation process at E1/2red = −1.94 V and E1/2ox = −0.18 V, respectively, at 273 K. The reduction behavior of 1 in CH2Cl2 solution at 243 K displays a slight modification in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, revealing a moderate anodic potential shift (~50 mV). The current amplitude of the reduction wave is linearly increased with the increasement of acid added, indicative of the catalytic event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An iconic phenomenon in turbulence is the complex energy transfer cascading across a wide range of scales. Despite large-scale motions, universal behaviors occur when isotropic condition is restored at Kolmogorov's scales. However, such mechanical equilibrium can be disrupted by external forces like shears and shock waves. A pervasive and long-lasting discussion is the dynamic processes involved in driving the systems toward local isotropy. We present a theoretical analysis that unveils the dissipative mechanism, which contributes to isotropic conditions. Surprisingly, the mechanism depends on the transport of vorticity and strain. The high-resolution shock-resolving data of shock-turbulence interactions support the findings of this new feature in dissipation. The physical characters of this dissipative mechanism and their contributions to isotropy and overall dissipation are discussed. Despite the dissipative connection, the new mechanism is not sign definite and is associated with other functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a corrigendum for an article titled "Neural Correlates of Cognitive Dysfunction in Conditional Reasoning in Schizophrenia: An Event-Related Potential Study." The authors have provided corrected affiliation indicators for the author list. The correct affiliations are listed for each author. The authors apologize for the error. [Extracted from the article]

Accordingly, the rhizome, flower and leaf essential oils of I M. verrucosa i consisted of 22, 18, and 17 compounds, respectively in which they were characterized by large quantities of cyclofenchene (42.8, 47.8, and 44.7%), I i -pinene (19.7, 20.6, and 19.8%), I i -ocimene (22.9, 22.9, and 25.8%). The antimicrobial effects of the essential oils of I M. verrucosa i flowers and rhizomes were performed by using fifteen tested bacteria and four fungal strains (Table 2). The data in Table 1 provided the chemical constituents of the essential oils obtained from the rhizomes, flowers, leaves and roots of I M. verrucosa i . [Extracted from the article]

The impact of trait perfectionism on coping and affective response has been well-documented in laboratory performances, and yet little is known about the role played by perfectionistic self-presentation in performances beyond the effects of trait perfectionism. We aimed to address this knowledge gap by examining the relationships between perfectionistic self-presentation, maladaptive emotion-focused coping, and affective response to laboratory problem-solving tasks. A group of 130 undergraduates attempted challenging, time-limited arithmetic and anagram tasks. Upon task completion, participants' scores were announced along with their mistakes. Additionally, participants completed measures assessing their positive and negative affect before and after lab performance, as well as coping strategies utilized during performance. Participants with elevated perfectionistic self-presentation experienced greater levels of negative affect and maladaptive emotion-focused coping. Moreover, nondisclosure of imperfection emerged as a significant predictor of lowered positive affect from pre- to post-performance after controlling for self-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism. Path analysis indicated that both nondisplay of imperfection and nondisclosure of imperfection exerted an indirect effect on post-performance negative affect via maladaptive emotion-focused coping. Our findings highlight the unique contribution of perfectionistic self-presentation beyond trait perfectionism in performance settings and suggest a need for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel artificial intelligence (AI) model is proposed to detect stenosis in arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) using inexpensive and non-invasive audio recordings. The proposed model is a combination of two new input features based on short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and sample entropy, as well as two associated classification models (ResNet50 and ANN). The model’s hyper-parameters were optimized through the use of the design of the experiment (DOE). The proposed AI model demonstrates high performance with all essential metrics, including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, and F1-score, exceeding 0.90 at detecting stenosis greater than 50%. These promising results suggest that our approach can lead to new insights and knowledge in this field. Moreover, the robust performance of our model, combined with the affordability of the audio recording device, makes it a valuable tool for detecting AVF stenosis in home-care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear interaction analysis is a popular tool to analyze shock–turbulence interactions. With assumptions that simplify the complicated two-way interactions, linear analysis presents explicit solutions for post-shock turbulence. The present work extends the analytical expressions to pressure-dilatation. Both the streamwise and transverse components are presented as a function of mean Mach number and streamwise location. The proposed solutions for pressure-dilatation agree well with data from direct numerical simulations when the adopted assumptions in linear analysis are met. The spatial evolutions under different flow conditions are presented, and the asymptotic states observed with increasing Mach number are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The aim of harmless and resource utilization of MSWIFA is realized synchronously. • The compressive strength of MSWIFA-free brick ≥ 13 MPa without risk of heavy metal. • The recombination of mineral phases under normal temperature was realized. • Large-scale pilot production test has been realized. • The recombination of mineral phases provide ultra-high strength. Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) exsits in large quantitities and contains pollutants such as heavy metal. While solidification is one of the most effective methods for treating MSWIFA, this application is limited by cost, subsequent treatment, and simultaneous immobilization of anions and cations. This research demonstrated that under a certain initial pressure (20 MPa), a gelation reaction involving ball milling-modified tourmaline powder, a small amount of cement clinker, and MSWIFA forms a stable consolidated body and significantly reduces the risk of heavy metal dissolution. The consolidated MSWIFA can easily be formed into unfired bricks in large-scale pilot production, and a response surface model was used to optimize the experimental parameters. When the mass ratio of tourmaline: cement clinker: MSWIFA was 15:15:200 (mixed with a moisture content of 13 to 15 %), the compressive strength of the consolidated body reached 13 MPa, and the amounts of Cr and Pb leached decreased from 12 mg/L to 0.1 mg/L and 25 mg/L to 0.3 mg/L, respectively. The consolidated form contained a new mineral phase (Ca 3 Si 2 O 7 ·3H 2 O, Ca 10 Mg 0.8 (SiO 4) 0.6 O 2 Cl, and CaCl 2 ∙Ca(OH) 2 ·H 2 O) with a high compressive strength. Notably, the soluble PbSO 4 in the MSWIFA was converted into relatively stable PbSiO 3 , and Cr(VI) was lattice-wrapped. This study was the first to demonstrate that tourmaline synchronously passivates Pb(II) and Cr(VI) in fly ash in the solid phase, with a low cost and requires no subsequent treatment. This study provided a novel technical path for recycling MSWIFA. Eventually, leaching of the heavy metals Pb, Cr, Cu, Cd, and Zn from the solids achieved concentrations less than 0.25, 1.5, 0.5, 0.15, and 100 mg/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As an economically important crop, tea is strongly nitrogen (N)-dependent. However, the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the response of N deficiency in tea are not fully understood. Tea cultivar "Chunlv2" [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] were cultured with a nutrient solution with 0 mM [N-deficiency] or 3 mM (Control) NH4NO3 in 6 L pottery pots containing clean river sands. Results: N deficiency significantly decreased N content, dry weight, chlorophyll (Chl) content, L-theanine and the activities of N metabolism-related enzymes, but increased the content of total flavonoids and polyphenols in tea leaves. N deficiency delayed the sprouting time of tea buds. By using the RNA-seq technique and subsequent bioinformatics analysis, 3050 up-regulated and 2688 down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were isolated in tea leaves in response to N deficiency. However, only 1025 genes were up-regulated and 744 down-regulated in roots. Gene ontology (GO) term enrichment analysis showed that 205 DEGs in tea leaves were enriched in seven GO terms and 152 DEGs in tea roots were enriched in 11 GO items based on P < 0.05. In tea leaves, most GO-enriched DEGs were involved in chlorophyll a/b binding activities, photosynthetic performance, and transport activities. But most of the DEGs in tea roots were involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and plant hormones with regard to the GO terms of biological processes. N deficiency significantly increased the expression level of phosphate transporter genes, which indicated that N deficiency might impair phosphorus metabolism in tea leaves. Furthermore, some DEGs, such as probable anion transporter 3 and high-affinity nitrate transporter 2.7, might be of great potential in improving the tolerance of N deficiency in tea plants and further study could work on this area in the future. Conclusions: Our results indicated N deficiency inhibited the growth of tea plant, which might be due to altered N metabolism and expression levels of DEGs involved in the photosynthetic performance, transport activity and oxidation–reduction processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural networks are trained to judge whether or not an exotic state is a hadronic molecule of a given channel according its line-shapes. This method performs well in both trainings and validation tests. As applications, it is applied to study X(3872), X(4260) and Z c (3900) . The results show that Z c (3900) should be regarded as a D ¯ ∗ D molecular state but X(3872) not. As for X(4260), it can not be a molecular state of χ c 0 ω . Some discussions on X 1 (2900) are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identifies structure pairs with the potential for simultaneous rupture in a coseismic period and quantifies their rupture recurrence intervals. To assess the potential for a multiple-structure rupture, we calculated the probability of Coulomb stress triggering between seismogenic structures in Taiwan. We assumed that a multiple-structure rupture would occur if two structures could trigger each other by enhancing the plane with thresholds of a Coulomb stress increase and the distance between the structures and identified various sets of seismogenic structure pairs accordingly. We discussed the uncertainty of multiple-structure pair identification from various thresholds of stress change and structure distances, effective friction coefficient, and rotation of rake angles. To estimate the recurrence intervals for multiple-structure ruptures, we implemented a scaling law and the Gutenberg-Richter law in which the slip rate could be partitioned based on the magnitudes of the individual structure and multiple-structure ruptures. Considering that one structure may be involved in multiple cases of multiple-structure ruptures, we developed new formulas for slip partitioning in a complex fault system. By implementing the range of rupture area and slip rate of each structure, the magnitudes and recurrence intervals of multiple-structure ruptures could be estimated. We discussed the epistemic uncertainties of recurrence interval from deviations of slip rate and rupture area, various empirical formula of rupture parameters. The multiple-structure rupture with a larger characteristic magnitude would be crucial for the safety evaluation of infrastructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignans constitute a large and diverse class of molecules widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom. They exhibit a wide range of pharmaceutically relevant biological activities and have attracted widespread research interests. This review covers the current understanding of lignan biosynthesis and aims to highlight key biosynthetic transformations responsible for their structural and biological diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The late Palaeozoic continental-arc magmatic rocks in the Gongzhuling area are located in the Liaoyuan Accretionary Belt. Here we present new zircon U–Pb ages, whole-rock major- and trace-element compositions, Li and zircon Hf isotopic compositions and oxygen fugacity of these rocks with an aim to constrain the lithium isotopic composition of the source region and origin of the magmas. These rocks were formed during 269–258 Ma in middle–late Permian time. The dioritic rocks were formed through mixing processes, with the mafic melts originating from a metasomatized mantle wedge and the felsic melts from the lower crust of a Neoproterozoic arc. The mantle wedge has been metasomatized by Li-rich fluids derived from subducted oceanic crust, as indicated by the δ7Li values of +0.4 ‰ to +3.5 ‰ and positive ϵHf(t) values (+0.7 to +13.1). Redox-sensitive Ce in the zircons indicates the f O2 of the magmas to be low to intermediate (FMQ−2.2 to FMQ+2.6; FMQ is the fayalite–magnetite–quartz redox buffer), precluding large-scale porphyry Cu–Mo mineralization. The middle–late Permian magmatic rocks represent the terminal magmatic record of the subduction of the Palaeo-Asian oceanic crust, meaning that the final closure of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean in the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt occurred at the end of the Permian Period. Recent identification of Mesoproterozoic (c. 1400 Ma) granites suggests some Palaeoproterozoic crustal fragments still exist in the Liaoyuan Accretionary Belt, but only in a small amount; therefore, it is concluded that the crustal growth of the Liaoyuan Accretionary Belt occurred mainly during the Neoproterozoic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Code duplication detection is the act of finding similar code in software development. It is important for software engineer to address the issues of code duplication detection. In this paper, a critical review of previous works on code duplication for code clone and plagiarism detection is performed. The review involves five main parts. Firstly, a systematic literature review is conducted to confirm the selected articles. Secondly, a critical review of different code duplication approaches is conducted based on three phases; processing, detection, and decision. Thirdly, statistical analysis of the number of review articles is performed to show the trends and hots of code duplication research. Moreover, quantitative analysis of different code duplication approaches is presented to show the effectiveness of different approaches. Fourthly, the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches and techniques are summarized and discussed. Finally, the conclusion of the review is summarized and future research direction of code duplication is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) is an emerging biodegradable plastic family that can replace a broad spectrum of conventional thermoplastics and is promising in the sustainable process development and valorization of organic waste. This study established a novel production system of PHA from food waste through halophilic microbial fermentation with spent medium recycling. The essential processing parameters for batch cultivation of Haloferax mediterranei were optimized for food waste substrate (a 40 g/L loading and 2.5 vvm of aeration), which achieved a yield of 0.3 g PHA/g COD consumed. A batch bioreactor system was developed, which produced 7.0 ± 0.7 g/L cell dry mass and 4.5 ± 0.2 g/L PHA with a 20% dissolved oxygen (DO) level. A DO above 50% saturation resulted in faster cell growth and similar cell mass production but 25% less PHA production. The spent saline medium, treated with H2O2 and rotary evaporation, was successfully reused for four consecutive batches and provided consistent PHA concentrations and product qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal mRNA modification and forms part of an epitranscriptomic system that modulates RNA function. m6A is reversibly catalyzed by specific enzymes, and those modifications can be recognized by RNA-binding proteins that in turn regulate biological processes. Although there are many reports demonstrating m6A participation in critical biological functions, this exploration has mainly been conducted through the global KO or knockdown of the writers, erasers, or readers of m6A. Consequently, there is a lack of information about the role of m6A on single transcripts in biological processes, posing a challenge in understanding the biological functions of m6A. Here, we demonstrate a CRISPR/dCas13abased RNA m6A editors, which can target RNAs using a single or multiple CRISPR RNA array to methylate or demethylate m6A in human 293T cells and mouse embryonic stem cells. We systematically assay its capabilities to enable the targeted rewriting of m6A dynamics, including modulation of circular RNA translation and transcript half-life. Finally, we use the system to specifically modulate m6A levels on the noncoding XIST (X-inactive specific transcript) to modulate X chromosome silencing and activation. The editors described here can be used to explore the roles of m6A in biological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging deep learning-based methods have enabled great progress in automatic neuron segmentation from Electron Microscopy (EM) volumes. However, the success of existing methods is heavily reliant upon a large number of annotations that are often expensive and time-consuming to collect due to dense distributions and complex structures of neurons. If the required quantity of manual annotations for learning cannot be reached, these methods turn out to be fragile. To address this issue, in this article, we propose a two-stage, semi-supervised learning method for neuron segmentation to fully extract useful information from unlabeled data. First, we devise a proxy task to enable network pre-training by reconstructing original volumes from their perturbed counterparts. This pre-training strategy implicitly extracts meaningful information on neuron structures from unlabeled data to facilitate the next stage of learning. Second, we regularize the supervised learning process with the pixel-level prediction consistencies between unlabeled samples and their perturbed counterparts. This improves the generalizability of the learned model to adapt diverse data distributions in EM volumes, especially when the number of labels is limited. Extensive experiments on representative EM datasets demonstrate the superior performance of our reinforced consistency learning compared to supervised learning, i.e., up to 400% gain on the VOI metric with only a few available labels. This is on par with a model trained on ten times the amount of labeled data in a supervised manner. Code is available at https://github.com/weih527/SSNS-Net. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrosplenial area 29e, which was a cortical region described mostly in earlier rodent literature, is often included in the dorsal presubiculum (PrSd) or postsubiculum (PoS) in modern literature and commonly used brain atlases. Recent anatomical and molecular studies have revealed that retrosplenial area 29e belongs to the superficial layers of area prostriata, which in primates is found to be important in fast analysis of quickly moving objects in far peripheral visual field. As in primates, the prostriata in rodents adjoins area 29 (granular retrosplenial area), area 30 (agranular retrosplenial area), medial visual cortex, PrSd/PoS, parasubiculum (PaS), and postrhinal cortex (PoR). The present study aims to reveal the chemoarchitecture of the prostriata versus PrSd/PoS or PaS by means of a systematic survey of gene expression patterns in adult and developing mouse brains. First, we find many genes that display differential expression across the prostriata, PrSd/PoS, and PaS and that show obvious laminar expression patterns. Second, we reveal subsets of genes that selectively express in the dorsal or ventral parts of the prostriata, suggesting the existence of at least two subdivisions. Third, we detect some genes that shows differential expression in the prostriata of postnatal mouse brains from adjoining regions, thus enabling identification of the developing area prostriata. Fourth, gene expression difference of the prostriata from the medial primary visual cortex and PoR is also observed. Finally, molecular and connectional features of the prostriata in rodents and nonhuman primates are discussed and compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous alumina was prepared via a sacrificial template method using alumina as the matrix and starch and carbon fibers as the pore-forming agents. After sintering, no residual pore-forming agents were present. The density, porosity, and pore structure of the samples were measured using the Archimedes' method and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The results showed that the pore size distribution of porous alumina was double-peak when the content of the pore-forming agent was 20, 30, or 50 vol.%, but was single-peak when the content was 40 vol.%. A fractal model based on the measured MIP data was used to calculate and evaluate the fractal dimension (Ds) of porous alumina. The Ds values decreased with an increase in the pore-forming agent content. Furthermore, Ds was negatively correlated with porosity, most probable pore size, and median pore diameter and positively correlated with the bending strength of porous alumina. Since porous alumina has obvious fractal characteristics, the fractal theory can be used to quantitatively describe its complex distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many capacitated flow network papers treat reliability as a time-invariant property. However, network components degrade over time suggesting that methods to quantify the time-varying reliability of a network are appropriate. This paper proposes a method to compute the reliability of a multistate capacitated flow network in terms of multistate components characterized by a life distribution. The approach enables the calculation of the probability that demand can be satisfied over period of time despite component degradation. Examples are provided to clarify the steps required and to illustrate the assessments enabled. Based on the classical reliability theory, the Weibull reliability function is employed to characterize the degradation of network components. However, the approach is general and other distributions are also possible. The results indicate that the approach can assist a network supervisor determine reasonable demand rate and time constraint to satisfy demand as well as reason about alternative reliability improvement strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]