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This study was to determine the effects of the mixture of glycerol monolaurate and cinnamaldehyde (GCM) supplementation on the intestinal morphology, immunity, antioxidant status and cecal microbiota of laying hens. A total of 1,120 healthy laying hens (Jingfen-1 strain) at the age of 14 wk were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 replicates of 28 layers in each and layers were fed diets containing 0 (control group), or 250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg GCM for 12 wk. The results showed that dietary supplementation with GCM significantly increased intestinal villus height and villus height/crypt depth, duodenal villus area, total superoxide disumutase activities in the liver and jejunum, jejunal glutathione peroxidase activities while decreased duodenal and jejunal crypt depth, hydrogen peroxide content in the liver and jejunal malondialdehyde content of laying hens aging 28 wk (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, GCM addition significantly increased serum immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M concentration of layers at the age of 20, 24, and 28 wk (P < 0.05). Moreover, it was observed in the 16S rRNA sequencing that the addition of GCM elevated the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota in laying hens. The predominant bacteria from each group were Bacteroidota and Firmicutes at the phylum level and Bacteroides and Lactobacillus were the dominant genera. The composition and structure of cecal microflora were changed by the addition of GCM to the diet of laying hens. In conclusion, the addition of GCM (500–1,000 mg/kg diet) can improve intestinal morphology, immune function, intestinal and liver antioxidant status and intestinal flora of laying hens, thereby improving intestinal digestion and absorption capacity. These findings provide a new way to further explore the mechanism of GCM improving intestinal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel hybrid approach (DFN-AI) integrating complex network theory and AI algorithms is proposed to enhance the accuracy of the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) forecasting. • DFN-AI models outperform their corresponding single AI forecasting models with lower absolute value, variance of errors, and also higher directional matching rates. • The accuracy improvements of DFN-AI models are robust for different time-scale BDI datasets as well as in the respect of random sampling cases and challenging situations. Enhancing the accuracy of freight rate forecasting is crucial when agents in the shipping industry make their business decisions and strive to avoid or reduce possible risks. Although there has been a lot of freight rate trend analysis in the literature, the time-varying and volatile nature of the shipping market makes the accurate prediction of it extremely difficult, if not impossible. In this research, we first propose the use of a dynamic fluctuation network (DFN) to transform a time series data set into an evolving directed network, which removes the noise in the data and allows us to extract time-varying features in it. We then develop a hybrid approach that combines the DFN and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to forecast the Baltic Dry Index (BDI), which is new to the literature. The utilization of DFN with AI enables the non-linear, cyclical and dynamic features of the BDI to be extracted effectively and the prediction accuracy is not impacted by the length and time-scale of sample selection either in long-term or short-term forecasting. These advantages of DFN offset the well-known limitations of traditional AI-based algorithms and econometric models in BDI forecasting. The empirical results from applying the resultant model to multi-time-scale datasets in a random sampling case show that the model is more accurate than the model based on the AI technique only. We test the accuracy of the DFN-AI model in three challenging cases which respectively contain a sudden rise, a decline, or frequent fluctuations of the BDI. The DFN-AI model has fewer errors and a higher trend matching rate than the corresponding AI-based model. Our hybrid approach also shows its superiority in working with data containing an extreme market downturn, which shed light on the predictability of BDI. This study has important implications for overall business, commercial, and hedging strategies in the shipping industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A diamond heat spreader made of nanoscale diamond tips on a diamond/Si substrate has been fabricated by planar microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The nanoscale diamond tips are in a conelike shape, which are ~1 µm in height and their average diameter at the bottom is ~200 nm. The nanoscale diamond tips act as a nanoscale “fin structure”, which provide extended surface area to dissipate heat away. A concept of “quasi thermal resistance” is developed to characterize the thermal spreading properties of the nanoscale diamond tips/diamond/Si structures at various air flow rates in a wind tunnel. Experimental results indicate that nanoscale diamond tips help to improve the thermal spreading properties, especially at zero air flow rate. The improvement is attributed to the large surface area of nanoscale diamond tips. At an air flow rate higher than zero, the improvement of thermal spreading properties diminishes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Vertically oriented nano-scale diamond tips were synthesized on the micro-size diamond particles in a planar microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition chamber by varying synthesis time, bias voltage, and gas ratio. Diamond particles were embedded in the thin layer of Ni on an Al plate and then followed by the synthesis of nano-scale diamond tips. Vertically oriented nano-scale diamond tips were selectively synthesized on diamond particles, which were justified by the C KLL Auger spectra taken by an Auger nanoscope. On top of the Ni surface surrounding diamond particles, carbon was deposited in the form of amorphous carbon, rather than diamond, which was confirmed by the corresponding C KLL Auger spectra. The qualities of nano-scale diamond tips were characterized by the diamond characteristic peak at 1332 cm−1 in the Raman spectra. The morphologies of nano-scale diamond tips strongly depend on the bias voltage. The optimum bias voltage to achieve nano-scale diamond tips of bottle-like shape is about −250 V. The density of nano-scale diamond tips can be tuned primarily by varying the gas ratio of Ar/CH4/H2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: High biomass density and large size limit the transfer of dissolved oxygen (DO) in aerobic granules. In the literature, the oxygen diffusivity is often employed as an input parameter for modeling transport processes in aerobic granules. The interior of an aerobic granule was observed to be highly heterogeneous. In this work, the distributions of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and cells in the interior of phenol-fed and acetate-fed granules were built up using a five-fold staining scheme, combined with the use of a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The steady-state and transient DO with step changes in surrounding DO levels at various depths were measured in the granules using microelectrodes. Cells were probed in a surface layer of thickness 125–375μm. A marked fall in DO was also noted over this surface layer. No aerobic oxidation could occur beneath the active layer, indicating the oxygen transfer limit. Fitting the steady-state and transient DO data over the active surface layer yielded apparent diffusivities of oxygen were (9. 5±3. 5)×10−10 m2 s−1 for the phenol-fed granule and (3. 5±1. 0)×10−10 m2 s−1 for the phenol-fed granule. These values were lower than those adopted in models in the literature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: (00l) CeO2 films deposited on r-cut sapphire were irradiated by N+ ions at fluences of 1×1016, 5×1016 and 1×1017 ion/cm2 at room temperature and then annealed at 200–900°C in O2 ambient. X-ray diffraction results showed that there was no change for the orientation and crystallinity of CeO2 film after irradiation. However, the diffraction peaks became sharper after annealing at 900°C. Atomic force microscope measurements revealed isolated voids after ion irradiation. The optical transmittance spectra indicated a blueshift of band gap due to the valence transition of Ce3+→Ce4+ induced by thermal annealing. As-deposited films exhibited three photoluminescence bands at 300–390, 380–550, and 460–550nm. A new emission band peaked at 670nm appeared while the emission band at 460–550nm disappeared after annealing. The CeO2 films show good thermal stability and irradiation resistance except some isolated voids in this work. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Alumina/aluminum based composites with excellent physical and mechanical properties offer great potential for lightweight, wear resistant, and high temperature applications. The objective of the present research was to investigate a suitable coating material to provide a low coefficient of friction (COF) during sliding contact. The friction behavior of carbon nanofiber-reinforced aerospace polymer coatings prepared by the spin coating technique were investigated. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), bis A polycarbonate, and two biphenyl endcapped poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide) compositions, namely BPETPP-E and 6FETPP-E, were used as the matrices. Pin-on-disc experiments were performed between 440C stainless steel balls and disc samples of coated alumina/aluminum interpenetrating phase composites at 0.2 m/s sliding velocity, in air, at room temperature under 0.25 and 0.74 N normal load. In all cases, formation of a lubricious carbon layer and its transfer to the steel counterface was observed to result in lower COF (∼0.2–0.3). Higher levels of fiber content (40 and 60 wt.% fibers) contributed to a faster formation of this layer. Wear scar analysis showed the dual roles of the carbon nanofibers, serving as solid lubricants and as reinforcement in the coatings. The amount of debris generated and the coverage of the lubricious carbon-rich film on the scar surface was dependent on the matrix material used. Adherent and uniform coverage of a lubricious carbon-rich film at the wear contact with the least amount of debris fragments was obtained only for composite coatings using BPETPP-E and 6FETPP-E matrices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study aims to elucidate the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5′-flanking region of porcine heat shock protein 70.2 gene (HSP70.2) on semen quality in boars. Genomic DNA isolated from 55 boars (41 Duroc, nine Landrace, and five Yorkshire) was subjected to PCR amplification of the 5′-flanking region of HSP70.2. The nucleotide sequences were determined by automated sequencing. Five SNPs (sites 44, 232, 250, 345, and 393) were detected in this region. Semen quality was evaluated in terms of sperm motility, percentage of normal sperm, percentage of sperm with proximal plasma droplet, percentage of abnormal sperm, sperm concentration, semen volume per ejaculate and total sperm number per ejaculate. The effect of the SNPs on semen quality was evaluated based on breed-corrected data within a season. During the cool season, the sperm motility of boars with AA genotype at the 232 site was significantly higher than that of boars with CC genotype (P<0.05). Meanwhile, boars with AC genotype at the 232 site had higher total sperm number per ejaculate than did those with CC genotype. In the hot season, heterozygotes at both the 232 and 250 sites had significantly higher total sperm number of per ejaculate than AA homozygotes (P<0.05). Semen volume of boars with TT and TC genotypes at the 345 site was significantly larger than that of those with CC genotype (P<0.05). Meanwhile, semen quality for boars with TT genotype at the 345 site was significantly higher than that of boars with TC or CC genotype (P<0.05), that is the semen contained higher percentages of normal sperm and lower percentages of abnormal sperm or sperm with proximal plasma droplets. Results herein suggest that the SNPs in the 5′-flanking region of porcine HSP70.2 are associated with semen quality traits in the hot season. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Co-continuous alumina/aluminum-based composites with excellent physical and mechanical properties offer great potentials for lightweight, wear resistant, and high temperature applications. The development of suitable coating materials will provide low coefficient of friction to extend life under different environments for aerospace applications. In this study, carbon nanofiber reinforced polymeric composite thin films were spin coated onto the alumina/aluminum composites. Bis A polycarbonate, biphenyl ethertriphenylphosphine oxide (BPETPP-E) and fluoro ethertriphenylphosphine oxide (6FETPP-E) were chosen as the matrix materials for comparison. Tribological evaluation of alumina/aluminum composites with and without coatings was performed using pin-on-disc wear tests in lab air condition. The morphology and wear tracks on the composite discs and material transfer to the steel balls were examined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pseudobinary SmCo7− x Cu x intermetallic compound films with a TbCu7-type structure were prepared by sputtered (SmCo7/Cu) n multilayer. After annealing, the spacer layer Cu (0.5–1.5 nm) diffused into the SmCo7 matrix and stabilized the SmCo7 meta-stable phase. The resulting microstructure was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Perpendicular anisotropy was obtained by introducing a Cu/Ti dual underlayer during sputtering, resulting in prefer-orientated SmCo7 (00L) X-ray diffraction peaks. This study observes a maze-like domain pattern in perpendicular anisotropy films and finds single- and multi-domain particles in correlated AFM and MFM images. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Investigates polymorphism in the five'-flanking region of porcine heat shock protein gene in Taiwan. Isolation of genomic DNA from either sperm or blood; Genotype frequencies of the polymorphic cites in the five'-flanking region in various pig breeds; Genotype and allele frequencies.

Abstract: This paper investigates the influence of different mixing parameters of 1 forced mixing on the conductivity of asphalt solar collector (ASC). Graphite powder and carbon fibers were used to improve the conductivity of asphalt concrete. The conductivity of ASC was measured with the same mix gradation, mixing procedure but different mixing parameters. The rational vibrating mixing parameters are obtained according to orthogonal experiments of the conductivity. A laboratory test of volume index and conductivity was performed after determining the rational mixing parameters. The effects of common forced mixing the on microstructure of ASC were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and computed tomography (CT). The results obtained show that the mixing parameters have a major impact on the conductivity of asphalt concrete, among which the temperature have the strongest influence, while the revolutionary speed has less influence. The rational mixing parameters include: Bitumen temperature T 1 160°C, aggregate temperature T 2 180°C, mixing time t 90s and mixing revolution speed v 45r/min. ASC can obtain good conductivity and volume index with rational mixing parameters. The resistivity drops from insulation to 39.8ohmm and the thermal conductivity increases from 1.531W/mK to 2.120W/mK. The microstructure of ASC showed that the conductive fillers have uniform distributions in the sample. Conductive particles and carbon fibers promote the formation of conductive networks, because fibers may bridge up several isolated conductive particles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The 5′-flanking region in heat-shock protein 70.2 gene (HSP70.2) has been found to be associated with meat quality, birthweight, and semen quality in pigs. This study examines the relation between the genotype of five polymorphic sites in the 5′-flanking region of porcine HSP70.2 with backfat thickness and growth performance under different environmental conditions, especially the cool (low temperature 12–19 °C, high temperature 19–25 °C) and hot (low temperature 21–25 °C, high temperature 28–33 °C) seasons. A total of 216 Duroc boars were performance tested in both seasons using segregated early weaning entrance. Haplotypes of the 5′-flanking region of the animals were determined using the single nucleotide polymorphisms of their siblings and/or parents. Additionally, six haplotypes were found in the tested samples and used to construct 15 genotypes. The animals with the most prevalent nine genotypes were further analyzed to determine the interaction between genotype and season. Genotype significantly influenced backfat thickness (P<0.001). Furthermore, the interaction of genotype and season was found to influence both backfat thickness (P<0.01) and feed efficiency (P<0.05). Most of the variation in backfat thickness and feed efficiency was caused by pigs of certain genotypes raised during the cool season. Taken together, we suggest that variation of backfat deposition under different weather conditions may occur in Duroc boars with different genotypes of the 5′-flanking region of HSP70.2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An O 2p itinerant-electron model for magnetic oxides, which is similar to the O 2p hole-carrier model proposed by Alexandrov et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 96 (2006) 117003], was used to explain the magnetic and electrical-transport properties of two series of samples with the nominal composition La 1− y Ba y Mn 1 − x Fe x O 3 (0.00 ≤  x  ≤ 0.20; y  = 0.15, 0.40). The samples were prepared using the sol–gel method, and X-ray diffraction patterns showed that all samples were single-phase ABO 3 perovskite structures. The magnetic and electrical-transport properties of the samples were characterized. Interesting phenomena were observed for the magnetic moment, μ obs , of the samples at 10 K: μ obs of the samples with y  = 0.15 decreased approximately linearly when the Fe-doping level was increased from zero to x  = 0.2. However, there was a characteristic Fe-doping level, x C  = 0.10, for the samples with y  = 0.40. When x  ≤  x C , μ obs decreased very slowly; when x  >  x C , μ obs decreased rapidly. These interesting phenomena suggest that the samples had a canted magnetic structure, but the cant angle of the samples with y  = 0.15 was smaller than that of the samples with y  = 0.40. These magnetic structures were further confirmed by the electrical-transport properties of the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A previous study provided evidence for a genetic association between PPP2 CA on 5q31.1 and systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE) across multi-ancestral cohorts, but failed to find significant evidence for an association in the Han Chinese population. Objectives To explore the association between this locus and SLE using data from our previously published genome-wide association study ( GWAS). Methods Single-nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) rs7726414 and rs244689 (near TCF7 and PPP2 CA in 5q31.1) were selected as candidate independent associations from a large-scale study in a Han Chinese population consisting of 1047 cases and 1205 controls. Subsequently, 3509 cases and 8246 controls were genotyped in two further replication studies. We then investigated the SNPs' associations with SLE subphenotypes and gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Results Highly significant associations with SLE in the Han Chinese population were detected for SNPs rs7726414 and rs244689 by combining the genotype data from our previous GWAS and two independent replication cohorts. Further conditional analyses indicated that these two SNPs contribute to disease susceptibility independently. A significant association with SLE, age at diagnosis < 20 years, was found for rs7726414 ( P = 0·001). The expression levels of TCF7 and PPP2 CA messenger RNA in patients with SLE were significantly decreased compared with those in healthy controls. Conclusions This study found evidence for multiple associations with SLE in 5q31.1 at genome-wide levels of significance for the first time in a Han Chinese population, in a combined genotype dataset. These findings suggest that variants in the 5q31.1 locus not only provide novel insights into the genetic architecture of SLE, but also contribute to the complex subphenotypes of SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Guidelines regarding whether men who have sex with men (MSM) without symptoms of urethritis should be screened for urethral gonorrhoea differ between countries. We examined the rate of asymptomatic urethral gonorrhoea in MSM using sensitive nucleic acid amplification testing. Methods This study was conducted on consecutive MSM attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between July 2015 and May 2016 for sexually transmitted infections screening. Gonorrhoea testing with the Aptima Combo 2 (AC2) assay was performed on all urine specimens obtained from MSM, whether symptoms of urethritis were present or not. Men were classified as having: typical discharge if they reported symptoms suggesting purulent discharge; other symptoms if they reported other symptoms of urethritis; and no symptoms if they reported no urethral symptoms. Results During the study period, there were 7941 clinic visits by 5947 individual MSM with 7090 urine specimens obtained from 5497 individual MSM tested with the AC2 assay. Urethral gonorrhoea was detected in 242 urine specimens from 228 individual MSM. The majority (189/242, 78%, 95% CI 73–83) reported typical discharge, 27/242 (11%, 95% CI 8–16) reported other urethral symptoms, and 26/242 (11%, 95% CI 7–15) reported no symptoms on the day of presentation and testing. Among men with urethral gonorrhoea, the proportions with concurrent pharyngeal or rectal gonorrhoea were 32% (134/210) and 64% (74/235), respectively. The mean interval between last reported sexual contact and onset of typical urethral discharge, where present, was 3.9 days. Conclusion The findings from our study lend support to guidelines that recommend screening asymptomatic MSM for urethral gonorrhoea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the contribution of Mycoplasma genitalium to sexually acquired infectious proctitis in men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM with symptomatic proctitis between May 2012 and August 2013 were tested for rectal sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes simplex virus (HSV) and M. genitalium. The load of rectal M. genitalium in men with symptomatic proctitis was compared with a separate group of men who had rectal M. genitalium but no symptoms of proctitis. Among 154 MSM with proctitis, rectal M. genitalium was detected in 18 men (12%, 95% CI 6.9–17.1) and was significantly more common among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -positive men (21%, 95% CI 9.5–32.6) than HIV-negative men (8%, 95% CI 2.9–13.1; prevalence ratio 3.2, 95% CI 1.2–8.8). Among HIV-positive men the detection of M. genitalium was comparable to that for chlamydia (21%, 95% CI 9.5–32.5), gonorrhoea (25%, 95% CI 16.2–41.8) and HSV (19%, 95% CI 7.9–30.1). Rectal M. genitalium load was significantly higher among the 18 men with symptomatic M. genitalium -associated proctitis than among a separate group of 18 men with asymptomatic rectal M. genitalium infection (60 000 copies of organism/swab versus 10 744 copies of organism/swab, p 0.023). Comprehensive testing for rectal pathogens in MSM with proctitis should include testing for M. genitalium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: “Emergency medicine” is the front line of medical service a hospital provides; also it is the department people seek medical care from immediately after an emergency happens. The statistics by the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, indicate that over years, the number of people at the emergency department has been increasing. The US has introduced and practiced the triage system in the emergency medicine in 1960, whereby to aid the emergency department in allocating the patients, to give them appropriate medical care by the fast decision of the nurses and doctors in case of the patients’ seriousness through their judgment. This study takes on the knowledge contained in the massive data of unknown characteristics in the triage database at a Taiwanese regional hospital, using the cluster analysis and the rough set theory as tools for data mining to extract, with the analysis software ROSE2 (Rough Sets Data Explorer) and through rule induction technique, the imprecise, uncertain and vague information of rules from the massive database, and builds the model that is capable of simplifying massive data while maintaining the accuracy in classifying rules. After analyzing and evaluating the knowledge obtained from relevant mining in the hospitals past medical data for the consumption of emergency medical resources, this thesis proposes suggestions as reference for the hospitals in subsequent elevation of medical quality and decrease in operative costs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study discusses the effects of a CrPt3 alloy underlayer on the magnetic properties and microstructure of FePt films. The L12 CrPt3 phase was chemical long-range ordered at a temperature above 600°C, and the 120-nm thick CrPt3 film annealed at 800°C, resulting in ferrimagnetic behavior. The long-range ordered CrPt3 underlayer slightly increased the ordering of the L10 FePt film, as evidenced by the individual L12 CrPt3 and L10 FePt (001) superlattice peaks. An X-ray slow scan of the [FePt/CrPt3(T °C)]400°C bilayer shows that the integrated intensity of the L10 FePt (001) peaks was higher on the long-range order L12-type CrPt3 (T =600, 800) underlayer and lower on the partial short-range order L12 and A1-types CrPt3 (T =400) underlayer. However, optimal magnetic properties were obtained in the [FePt/CrPt3(400°C)]400°C bilayer. When a FePt film is deposited on a ferrimagnetic CrPt3(800°C) underlayer, the resulting bilayer shows isotropic magnetic hysteresis loops and cannot be saturated at 1.8T. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transition electron microscopy (TEM) show that the L12 CrPt3(800°C) underlayer exhibits coarse surface roughness and plate-like grains, respectively. From TEM images, all the FePt grains were isolated uniformly by CrPt3 matrix. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: ZnO:Al thin films doped with different aluminum concentrations were deposited on (0001) sapphire substrates by the sol–gel technique. Thermal annealing of ZnO:Al films was carried out in an argon ambient at various annealing temperatures from 600 to 950°C. The effects of thermal annealing and dopant concentration on the optical properties of ZnO:Al thin films were investigated. It is found that near band edge UV emission is enhanced by increasing the annealing temperature and dopant concentration. But defect-related deep-level emission decreases with the increasing dopant concentration and thermal annealing has little influence as the deep-level emission. The optical band gap of ZnO:Al films increases from 3.21 to 3.25eV on increasing the dopant concentration from 0.01% to 1%. The optical transmittance decreases in the visible region, while it increases in the ultraviolet region with an increase in the annealing temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: To investigate the use of clinical head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in determining body composition and to evaluate how well it correlates with established measures based on abdominal computed tomography (CT).Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine consecutive patients were identified who had undergone both brain MRI and abdominal CT within a 2-week span. Volumes of fat and muscle in the extracranial head were measured utilising several techniques by both abdominal CT and head MRI.Results: MRI-based total fat volumes in the head correlated with CT-based measurements of fat in the abdomen using both single-section (r=0.64, p<0.01) and multisection (r=0.60, p<0.01) techniques. No significant correlation was found between muscle volumes in the abdomen and head.Conclusion: Based on the present results, head MRI-based measures may provide a useful surrogate for CT measurements of abdominal fat, particularly in patients with neurological cancers, as head MRI (and not abdominal CT) is routinely and repeatedly obtained for the purpose of clinical care for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]