Search

Hydrogen storage in MgH2 is an ideal solution for realizing the safe storage of hydrogen. High operating temperature, however, is required for hydrogen storage of MgH2 induced by high thermodynamic stability and kinetic barrier. Herein, flower‐like microspheres uniformly constructed by N‐doped TiO2 nanosheets coated with TiN nanoparticles are fabricated to integrate the light absorber and thermo‐chemical catalysts at a nanometer scale for driving hydrogen storage of MgH2 using solar energy. N‐doped TiO2 is in situ transformed into TiNxOy and Ti/TiH2 uniformly distributed inside of TiN matrix during cycling, in which TiN and Ti/TiHx pairs serve as light absorbers that exhibit strong localized surface plasmon resonance effect with full‐spectrum light absorbance capability. On the other hand, it is theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that the intimate interface between TiH2 and MgH2 can not only thermodynamically and kinetically promote H2 desorption from MgH2 but also simultaneously weaken Ti─H bonds and hence in turn improve H2 desorption from the combination of weakened Ti─H and Ti─H bonds. The uniform integration of photothermal and catalytic effect leads to the direct action of localized heat generated from TiN on initiating the catalytic effect in realizing hydrogen storage of MgH2 with a capacity of 6.1 wt.% under 27 sun. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumpkin peel is a main by-product produced during pumpkin consumption and processing, which is often disposed of as food waste. Therefore, it is necessary to develop ways to utilize pumpkin peel. In this study, the pectic polysaccharides were extracted from pumpkin peel, and their properties were evaluated. Results indicated that the extraction yield of pectin polysaccharides from Dongsheng pumpkin peel was the highest. Meanwhile, among the pumpkin peel pectic polysaccharides (PPs), Dongsheng PP exhibited the highest methylation degree (22.38%), acetylation degree (15.92%), molecular weight (6.26 × 105 Da) and initial apparent viscosity. Variety had little effect on the microstructure and functional groups of PPs. Compared with the other PP samples, Beibei PP (BBP) had the lowest molecular weight coupled with highest protein content, resulting in the highest emulsifying activity, emulsion stability and antioxidant activity. In addition, all the PPs had the ability to promote the growth of probiotics, and BBP and Banli PP (BLP) shown better capacities to promote the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium breve. Hence, it could be concluded that extraction pectin from pumpkin peel is a potential method for the utilization of pumpkin peel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of different receptors are distributed in glutamatergic neurons of the lateral habenula (LHb). These glutamatergic neurons are involved in different neural pathways, which may identify how the LHb regulates various physiological functions. However, the role of dopamine D1 receptor (D1R)-expressing habenular neurons projecting to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) (LHbD1R–VTA) remains not well understood. In the current study, to determine the activity of D1R-expressing neurons in LHb, D1R-Cre mice were used to establish the chronic restraint stress (CRS) depression model. Adeno-associated virus was injected into bilateral LHb in D1R-Cre mice to examine whether optogenetic activation of the LHb D1R-expressing neurons and their projections could induce depression-like behavior. Optical fibers were implanted in the LHb and VTA, respectively. To investigate whether optogenetic inhibition of the LHbD1R–VTA circuit could produce antidepressant-like effects, the adeno-associated virus was injected into the bilateral LHb in the D1R-Cre CRS model, and optical fibers were implanted in the bilateral VTA. The D1R-expressing neuronal activity in the LHb was increased in the CRS depression model. Optogenetic activation of the D1R-expressing neurons in LHb induced behavioral despair and anhedonia, which could also be induced by activation of the LHbD1R–VTA axons. Conversely, optogenetic inhibition of the LHbD1R–VTA circuit improved behavioral despair and anhedonia in the CRS depression model. D1R-expressing glutamatergic neurons in the LHb and their projections to the VTA are involved in the occurrence and regulation of depressive-like behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In China, real‐world data on surgical challenges and postoperative complications after neoadjuvant immunotherapy of lung cancer are limited. Methods: Patients were retrospectively enrolled from January 2018 to January 2023, and their clinical and pathological characters were subsequently analyzed. Surgical difficulty was categorized into a binary classification according to surgical duration: challenging or routine. Postoperative complications were graded using Clavien–Dindo grades. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors affecting the duration of surgery and postoperative complications greater than Clavien–Dindo grade 2. Results: In total, 261 patients were included. Of these, stage III patients accounted for 62.5% (163/261) at initial diagnosis, with 25.3% (66/261) at stage IIIB. Central‐type non‐small‐cell lung cancer accounted for 61.7% (161/261). One hundred and forty patients underwent video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery and lobectomy accounted for 53.3% (139/261) of patients. Surgical time over average duration was defined as challenging surgeries, accounting for 43.7%. The postoperative complications rate of 261 patients was only 22.2%. Smoking history (odds ratio [OR] = 9.96, 95% [CI] 1.15–86.01, p = 0.03), chemoimmunotherapy (OR = 2.89, 95% CI 1.22–6.86, p = 0.02), and conversion to open surgery (OR = 11.3, 95% CI 1.38–92.9, p = 0.02) were identified as independent risk factors for challenging surgeries, while pneumonectomy (OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.15–0.86, p= 0.02) was a protective factor. Meanwhile, pneumonectomy (OR = 7.51, 95% CI 2.40–23.51, p < 0.01) and challenging surgeries (OR = 5.53, 95% CI 1.50–20.62, p = 0.01) were found to be risk factors for postoperative complications greater than Clavien–Dindo grade 2. Conclusions: Compared to immunotherapy alone or in combination with apatinib, neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy could increase the difficulty of surgery while the incidence of postoperative complications remained acceptable. The conversion to open surgery and pneumonectomy after neoadjuvant immunotherapy should be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the finite element and smoothed-particle hydrodynamics (FE-SPH) adaptive method was used to reproduce experiments on DebriSat under hypervelocity impact. The development and stabilization process of the debris cloud, as well as the damage and response process of the satellite, were reproduced. Compared with the experimental results, although the cumulative number of fragments is relatively small, the trend of the quantity distribution is consistent with the experiment. In addition, the area-to-mass ratio distribution of the fragments shows good agreement with the experimental results and theoretical prediction. The damage, destruction, and failure process of the satellite can be divided into two stages: material and structural response stages. In the material response stage, the satellite is directly destructed by the debris cloud, with worse damage caused by the Domino Effect. The failure modes in this stage include perforation, bending, and bucking of satellite components. The structural response stage is mainly caused by the inertial motion of satellite components, with failure modes primarily involving the connection failure between components and the bending deformation of internal components. In this stage, the overall structure of the satellite is stretched or compressed, resulting in the final disintegration. It was found that the FE-SPH adaptive method is suitable for the full-scale simulation of complex satellites, and the real shape of fragment features can be obtained, providing new ideas for studying the satellite breakup mechanism. The results indicate that the material response primarily causes damage to the satellite components, while the structural response is the main factor of the damage to the overall satellite structure. • The breakup process of the DebriSat is analyzed using FE-SPH adaptive method. • The Domino Effect of the impacts is clarified, which causes much worse damage to the satellite. • A critical time is proposed to distinguish the satellite's material response and structural response stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, we investigated the efficacy of letermovir in preventing Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods: Based on whether or not letermovir was used for preventing CMV infection, the patients were categorized into two groups: letermovir and control groups. The overall survival (OS) rate and cumulative incidence of CMV infection during the first 100 days after allo-HSCT were evaluated. The study included 21 matched pairs of patients, identified through propensity score matching analysis, to compare CMV infection rates, treatment efficacy, and regression. Results: The incidence of CMV infection within 100 days after transplantation was significantly lower in the letermovir group than in the control group (26.5 vs. 77.4%, respectively; P < 0.001), among a total of 87 patients who underwent the transplant. In the matched cohort of 21 patients with AA, the letermovir group also showed a significantly reduced cumulative incidence of CMV infection (14.3 vs. 90.5% in the control group; P < 0.001). Compared to the control group, patients with CMV infection in the letermovir group had lower CMV-DNA load and a shorter clearance time. However, there was no significant difference in OS between both groups (P = 0.34). Conclusions: Letermovir effectively prevents CMV infection in allo-HSCT recipients with AA and demonstrates a high safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The p6 domain of the Gag precursors (Gag p6) in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) plays multifunctional roles in the viral life cycle. It utilizes the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) system to facilitate viral budding and release from the plasma membrane through the interactions with the ESCRT-I component tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101) and with the ALG-2 interacting protein X (ALIX). Moreover, Gag p6 contributes to viral replication by a range of posttranslational modifications such as SUMOylation, ubiquitination and phosphorylation. Additionally, Gag p6 also mediates the incorporation of the accessory protein Vpr into virions, thereby promoting Vpr-induced viral replication. However, less attention is focused on Gag p6 as therapeutic intervention. This review focuses on the structures and diverse functions of Gag p6 in viral replication, host cells, and pathogenesis. Additionally, several challenges were also discussed in studying the structure of Gag p6 and its interactions with partners. Consequently, it concludes that the Gag p6 represents an attractive target for the development of antiretroviral drugs, and efforts to develop p6-targeted antiretrovirals are expected to undergo significant growth in the forthcoming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This meta-analysis assessed whether atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) and esketamine nasal spray (ESK-NS), which are mechanistically distinct, differ in antidepressant outcomes.Patients and Methods: Data were extracted from 12 trials of ESK-NS or AAPs in depressed patients (4276) with inadequate response or resistance to conventional antidepressants. Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score reductions from baseline and response rates (≥ 50% reduction) were analyzed.Results: At endpoint, the estimated MADRS score reduction of pooled ESK-NS arms was greater than pooled AAP arms (+9.16 points, p < 0.0001). The reduction also was greater in the pooled control arms of the ESK-NS trials than the pooled control arms of the AAP trials (+7.57 points, p < 0.0001). The mean difference in the reductions between pooled ESK-NS and control arms was 1.87 points greater than that between pooled AAP and control arms, but this difference was not significant (95% CI: − 4.49, 0.74, p = 0.16). Relative to their respective control arms, the mean difference in response rates was 25% for the pooled ESK-NS and 9% for the pooled AAP arms; the mean response rate was 16% greater in the pooled ESK-NS studies than the pooled AAP studies (p = 0.0004). Comparisons against specific AAPs showed mean differences in the MADRS score reductions at 1 week between the experimental and control arms that were numerically larger in the ESK-NS trials than in the aripiprazole trials (mean difference of 1.71 points, p = 0.06) and the brexpiprazole trials (mean difference of 2.05 points, p = 0.02).Conclusion: The ESK-NS arms showed numerically larger MADRS score reductions at week-1 and endpoint, and a significantly larger response rate compared with AAP arms. Prospective studies involving direct comparisons are warranted to compare the relative efficacy between these treatment regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of Li metal batteries is hindered by the uncontrollable growth of Li dendrites due to the lack of control over Li ion transfer and the formation of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Herein, polypropylene (PP) separator modified with acyclic polyaminoborane (PAB, (NH2‐BH2)n) and polyiminoborane (PIB, (NH═BH)n) is developed to regulate electrolyte solvation chemistry and simultaneously facilitate the construction of robust SEI. The mediating effect of PAB and PIB promotes favorable formation of (O)2Li+N to weaken the Li bonds between Li ion and solvent in the electrolyte, which homogenizes Li ion diffusion and reduces the desolvation barrier of Li ions. Additionally, the increase of anions content in the solvation sheath and the reaction between Li metal and PAB and PIB can induce the formation of [LiNBH]n‐enhanced SEI enriched with LiF and Li3N that have Li ion conductivity and mechanical strength to tolerate the volume change of Li metal anode. Therefore, the symmetric cell exhibits a cycling lifetime of over 4000 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This paper focuses on the roles of lysine-specific demethylase 4D (Kdm4d) regarding its antioxidant capacity in goat fibroblast cells (GFCs). We identified 1013 down-regulated genes following the knockdown of Kdm4d in GFCs, and these genes were enriched in the cell cycle, DNA replication, mitotic processes, and the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. Consistently, we found the cell proliferation rate was significantly decreased after the knockdown of Kdm4d in the GFCs. Of note, the mRNA and protein expression levels of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), one of the major antioxidant enzymes, was decreased, while the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was significantly increased in the Kdm4d knockdown GFCs. The expression of γH2A histone family member X (γH2AX) was increased significantly, indicating the presence of DNA double-strand breaks after the knockdown of the Kdm4d enzyme. Taken together, Kdm4d is essential for DNA replication, the cell cycle, and antioxidant capacity. The knockdown of Kdm4d repressed the expression of SOD2 and increased the generation of ROS, which led to DNA damage in GFCs. Our data will be helpful for understanding the mechanism underlying antioxidant capacity regulation in fibroblast cells. Oxidative damage to skin fibroblast cells is a causative factor in many skin diseases. Previous studies have reported that lysine-specific demethylase 4D (Kdm4d) is involved in DNA replication, but its role on antioxidant capacity remains unclear. In the present study, we used goat fibroblast cells (GFCs) as the research model and identified 504 up-regulated and 1013 down-regulated genes following the knockdown of Kdm4d, respectively. The down-regulated genes of this enzyme were found to be enriched in the cell cycle, DNA replication, mitotic processes, and the oxidative phosphorylation pathway, as previously revealed from gene ontology (GO), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG), and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), suggesting vital roles of the Kdm4d enzyme in the cell cycle and in antioxidant regulation. To this end, we found the cell proliferation rate was significantly decreased after the knockdown of Kdm4d. Moreover, both the mRNA and protein expression levels of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), one of the major antioxidant enzymes, was decreased, while the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was significantly increased in Kdm4d knocked-down cells. In addition, the expression of γH2A histone family member X (γH2AX) increased significantly, indicating the presence of DNA double-strand breaks after the knockdown of the Kdm4d enzyme. In conclusion, the knockdown of Kdm4d inhibited DNA replication and the cell cycle, repressed the expression of SOD2, and increased the generation of ROS, which led to the production of DNA damage in GFCs. Our data will be helpful for understanding the mechanism underlying antioxidant capacity regulation in fibroblast cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caulobacter phage CbK has been extensively studied as a model system in virology and bacteriology. Lysogeny‐related genes have been found in each CbK‐like isolate, suggesting a life strategy of both lytic and lysogenic cycles. However, whether CbK‐related phages can enter lysogeny is still undetermined. This study identified new CbK‐like sequences and expanded the collection of CbK‐related phages. A common ancestry with a temperate lifestyle was predicted for the group, however, which subsequently evolved into two clades of different genome sizes and host associations. Through the examination of phage recombinase genes, alignment of attachment sites on the phage and bacterial genomes (attP–attB pairing), and the experimental validation, different lifestyles were found among the different members. A majority of clade II members retain a lysogenic lifestyle, whereas all clade I members have evolved into an obligate lytic lifestyle via a loss of the gene encoding Cre‐like recombinase and the coupled attP fragment. We postulated that the loss of lysogeny may be a by‐product of the increase in phage genome size, and vice versa. Clade I is likely to overcome the costs through maintaining more auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs), particularly for those involved in protein metabolism, to strengthen host takeover and further benefit virion production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, I demonstrate that distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) raw strain rate data can directly be used to estimate spectral source parameters through an Empirical Green's Function (EGF) deconvolution analysis. Previously, DAS had been widely used in passive seismology to image the subsurface and analyze ground motion variations by converting strain or strain rate to particle velocity or acceleration prior to analysis. In this study, spectral analysis is applied to the PoroTomo joint DAS and seismic Nodal array in the Brady Hot Springs geothermal field to obtain source parameters for two M4 earthquakes via EGF analysis, where nearly collocated smaller events are used as an EGF to remove path and site effects. The EGF workflow is applied to raw DAS strain rate data without conversion to particle velocities and raw Nodal seismic data. The DAS and Nodal results are very consistent with similar features of spectral ratios, corner frequencies and moment ratios for the same event pairs. The uncertainty due to stacked spectral measurement is much lower on the DAS array, suggesting better stability of spectral shape measurement, possibly due to the much denser spatial sampling. The uncertainty due to model fitting is similar between DAS and Nodal arrays with slightly lower uncertainty on the DAS array. These observations demonstrate potential for directly using the strain rate measurements from DAS arrays for earthquake source characterizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production efficiency of shale gas is affected by the interaction between hydraulic and natural fractures. This study presents a simulation of natural fractures in shale reservoirs, based on a discrete fracture network (DFN) method for hydraulic fracturing engineering. Fracture properties of the model are calculated from core fracture data, according to statistical mathematical analysis. The calculation results make full use of the quantitative information of core fracture orientation, density, opening and length, which constitute the direct and extensive data of mining engineering. The reliability and applicability of the model are analyzed with regard to model size and density, a calculation method for dominant size and density being proposed. Then, finite element analysis is applied to a hydraulic fracturing numerical simulation of a shale fractured reservoir in southeastern Chongqing. The hydraulic pressure distribution, fracture propagation, acoustic emission information and in situ stress changes during fracturing are analyzed. The results show the application of fracture statistics in fracture modeling and the influence of fracture distribution on hydraulic fracturing engineering. The present analysis may provide a reference for shale gas exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Catheter ablation (CA) is an established treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), but the recurrence of AF is not neglected. Young patients with AF were generally more symptomatic and intolerant to long-term drug treatment. We aim to explore clinical outcomes and predictors of late recurrence (LR) in AF patients younger than 45 years after CA to better manage them. Methods. We retrospectively studied 92 symptomatic AF patients who accepted CA from September 1, 2019, to August 31, 2021. Baseline clinical data (including N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, NT-proBNP), ablation outcomes, and follow-up outcomes were collected. Patients were followed up at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Follow-up data were available for 82/92 (89.1%) patients. Results. One-year arrhythmia-free survival was 81.7% (67/82) in our study group. Major complications occurred in 3/82 (3.7%) patients with an acceptable rate. The value of ln(NT-proBNP) (P = 0.025 , odds ratio OR = 1.977 , 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.087-3.596) and a family history of AF (P = 0.041 , HR = 9.269 , 95% CI 1.097-78.295) could independently predict AF recurrence. The ROC analysis of ln(NT-proBNP) showed that NT-proBNP greater than 200.05 pg/ml (area under the curve: 0.772, 95% CI 0.642-0.902, P = 0.001 , sensitivity 0.800, specificity 0.701) was the cut-off point for predicting late recurrence. Conclusions. CA is a safe and effective treatment for AF patients younger than 45 years. Elevated NT-proBNP level and a family history of AF could be used as predictors for late recurrence in young patients. The result of this study may help us take more comprehensive management of those with high-recurrence risks to reduce disease burden and improve quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variation in physicochemical characteristics, bioactive components, antioxidant capacity, and volatile compounds of different cultivars of green plum during the ripening was investigated. The alterations in bioactive components and volatile compounds of six cultivars green plum ('Baifen', 'Nangao', 'D-1', 'Yingsu', 'Qingzhu', and 'Changnong') during the ripening were determined by HPLC and GC–MS, respectively. The levels of total phenolics, ascorbic acid, organic acid, phenolic acid, and antioxidant capacity of green plum samples showed a first upward and then downward tendency during the ripening process. The cultivar had a great impact on the phytochemical compounds contents of green plum during ripening, and the 'Qingzhu' green plum (QZ) showed higher bioactive compounds concentrations and antioxidant capacity in comparison to the other cultivar green plums. Moreover, the volatile compounds of green plum were also affected by maturity stage and cultivar. The green plums ('Baifen', 'Nangao', 'D-1' and 'Yingsu') in the ripening stage presented the highest contents of esters and alcohols, while the main aroma substances of QZ and 'Changnong' green plum were aldehydes and terpenes, which were responsible for a strong fruit flavor. The results of this study provided valuable information for the processing and utilization of green plum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Whipple shield is a double-plate structure commonly used to protect spacecraft from space fragments. The space fragments hit the outer plate and break into a debris cloud with dispersed energy and momentum, which reduces their risk of penetrating the bulkhead. With the development of high-performance materials, for example, high-performance fiber composites, traditional Whipple shields have evolved into advanced complex shields. Using the finite element and smoothed-particle hydrodynamics adaptive method and mesoscopic modeling technology, this study aims to establish a numerical model for fiber-reinforced composite shields under hypervelocity impact. Several mesoscale models for fiber-reinforced composites for problems under hypervelocity impact have been established. These models can be meshed with high-quality elements that satisfy aerospace engineering requirements (identify hazardous fragments in the debris cloud) while retaining the main structural features of materials. We established a numerical model by combining the finite element and smoothed-particle hydrodynamics adaptive method and existent mesoscale models. Using laminates, 2D woven fiber-reinforced plastics, and 3D woven fiber-reinforced composites as examples, numerical simulations of the debris cloud generated by an aluminum ball under hypervelocity impact were conducted. The simulation results, which are highly consistent with the experimental results of the debris cloud shape, accurately reflect the failure features of laminates, that is, fiber fracture and delamination. Simulation results show that the fiber-reinforced composite has better protection than the aluminum plate at the same areal density. By comparing the debris clouds generated by the hypervelocity impact on different fiber-reinforced composite shields, it can be argued that composite knit modes strongly affect the protective effect of fiber-reinforced composites. This work shows that the simulation method combining the finite element and smoothed-particle hydrodynamics adaptive method and mesoscopic modeling is a powerful tool for simulating the Whipple shield with a fiber-reinforced composite. More importantly, this method can also be applied to other Whipple shields with complex structures and advanced materials, for example, other composite materials, metal foam materials, and multilayer board protective structures. • A method combining mesoscopic model and FE-SPH adaptive method is proposed to simulate fiber-reinforced composite under HVI. • A mesoscopic modeling technique for fiber-reinforced composites suitable for HVI problems is provided. • The fiber knit mode of the plate strongly influences the characteristics of the formed debris cloud. • The debris cloud from a projectile hypervelocity impacting a fiber-reinforced composite may contain no internal structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the typical physical effects of different accidents and considering the interaction of time and space, a dynamic evolution model of the domino effect was proposed in this study. The Monte Carlo method was used to deal with the uncertainty of the evolution path and capture the characteristics of the time evolution. The model considered mixed accident types and the synergistic effect of accidents and extended the application of the probit model. Risk assessment parameters such as evolution path, evolution time, tank accident probability, and domino evolution probability were obtained to evaluate the vulnerability of storage tanks exposed to such hazards. The proposed model was verified through a comparative case analysis, and the results showed that the model can not only capture the space–time dimension but also overcome the limitations of conventional analysis of high-level domino propagation. Different accident types, synergistic effects, and burning capacity of storage tanks have a significant impact on the domino propagation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rarity of primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma (PPSS) and the lack of prospective clinical trials resulted in poorly understood treatment modality and clinical outcomes. This study aimed to better understand PPSS based on patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Clinical and survival data of PPSS patients who were diagnosed during 1989 through 2016 and retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database were studied. Kaplan–Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards model were applied to evaluate the overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) of PPSS patients. A total of 122 patients with PPSS were included (median age: 50 y). PPSS accounted for 4.5% (122/2741) of total primary synovial sarcoma. Most of the patients were diagnosed as poor or undifferentiated grade (52.0% and 34.0%). Cancer-directed surgery was performed for 74.4% of PPSS patients and 28.2% of patients received radiotherapy. The 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year OS rates of PPSS patients were 75.4%, 50.8%, 41.8%, and 39.3%, respectively. Cancer-directed surgery was shown to improve the survival of PPSS patients with localized or regional stage (P < 0.05), yet surgical resection did not prolong the OS and DSS of patients with distant stage (P > 0.1). Postoperational radiotherapy was associated with shortened survival time (P < 0.05). PPSS patients who received lobectomy had statistically prolonged OS and DSS than those with pneumonectomy (P < 0.001). PPSS is a rare and special subtype of synovial sarcoma. Treatment with lobectomy or sublobar resection alone may contribute to a superior prognosis compared with other managements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing seismicity and improved seismic observation network in recent years provide an opportunity to explore factors that influence the triggering processes, spatiotemporal evolution, and maximum magnitude of induced sequences. We map the fault architecture and stress state of four induced sequences in Oklahoma to determine their influence on the seismicity. We systematically relocate the earthquakes and compute hundreds of focal mechanisms of small to medium events (1.0 < M < 5.1) using various techniques, including machine learning, for the Guthrie, Woodward, Cushing, and Fairview sequences. The detailed fault geometry and spatiotemporal evolution of seismicity and stress states reveal different dominant driving forces for each sequence. In Cushing and Fairview (largest event ≥M5.0), the main fault structures are near‐vertical narrow strike‐slip faults, with most of the small earthquake fault planes optimally oriented. The two sequences exhibit discontinuous temporal migration but strong earthquake self‐driven rupture growth. In Guthrie and Woodward (largest event

Crowd evacuation has gained increasing attention due to its importance in the day-to-day management of public areas. During an emergency evacuation, there are a variety of factors that need to be considered when designing a practical evacuation model. For example, relatives tend to move together or look for each other. These behaviors undoubtedly aggravate the chaos degree of evacuating crowds and make evacuations hard to model. In this paper, we propose an entropy-based combined behavior model to better analyze the influence of these behaviors on the evacuation process. Specifically, we utilize the Boltzmann entropy to quantitatively denote the degree of chaos in the crowd. The evacuation behavior of heterogeneous people is simulated through a series of behavior rules. Moreover, we devise a velocity adjustment method to ensure the evacuees follow a more orderly direction. Extensive simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed evacuation model and provide useful insights into the design of practical evacuation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chalcogen effect was investigated on the absorption, energy level and intermolecular interaction of nonfused-ring electron acceptors, which presented TTS-4F containing sulfur substituted side chains to achieve a champion PCE of 14.74% in organic solar cells. [Display omitted] • Nonfused-ring electron acceptors (NFREAs) based on chalcogen substituted side chains were developed. • The chalcogen effect on the photovoltaic property of NFREAs was investigated. • The champion power conversion efficiency 14.74% was achieved finally. Fused-ring electron acceptors (FREAs) are the current working horse for the top performing organic solar cells (OSCs). Nevertheless, these FREAs surfer from high synthetic complexity, production costs and poor scalability, hindering their industrialization. Developing nonfused-ring electron acceptors (NFREAs) is a more feasible alternative solution towards future photovoltaic applications. In this work, a series of NFREAs have been designed and synthesized by introducing chalcogen atoms on the side chains for OSCs. The introduced chalcogen atoms (O, S, and Se) not only modulated the energy levels but also finely tuned the intermolecular interactions. Especially, the formed S‧‧‧S and Se‧‧‧Se intermolecular interactions in TTS-4F and TTSe-4F resulted in higher molecular crystallinity than TTO-4F. Unexpectedly, the strong Se‧‧‧Se interactions also led the aggregation of TTSe-4F and formation of large domains in the PM6:TTSe-4F blend. The moderate S‧‧‧S interactions in TTS-4F enabled an optimal phase separation with more ideal nano fibrils distributed in the PM6:TTS-4F blend, facilitating the charge separation and transport. As a result, TTS-4F based devices achieved a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.74%, higher than the TTO-4F (8.76%) and TTSe-4F (11.56%) based devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Track and field is a competitive sport with a long history, and it is one of the earliest sports that started scientific training. It is also the main source of many classic theories and methods of modern competitive training, and most of them are still in use today. The purpose of this paper is to study how to analyze and discuss the content system of physical fitness training for track and field athletes and some evaluation criteria of indicators based on artificial neural network. It also describes the BP neural network. This paper puts forward the problem of training content system and index evaluation standard, which is based on artificial neural network. Therefore, the concept and related algorithms are elaborated, and the case design and analysis are carried out. The experimental results show that the physical training method is mainly based on the transformation training method. The goal is to improve the athlete's training motivation, interest, and adaptability. The training method is relatively simple in design. According to the distribution of muscles, there are more core and trunk training methods, accounting for 23.64% of physical training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquake stress drop is an important source parameter that directly links to strong ground motion and fundamental questions in earthquake physics. Stress drop estimations may contain significant uncertainties due to such factors as variations in material properties and data limitations, which limit the applications of stress drop interpretations. Using a high‐resolution borehole network, we estimate stress drop for 4551 (M0‐4) earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault at Parkfield, California, between 2001 and 2016 using spectral decomposition and an improved stacking method. To evaluate the influence of spatiotemporal variations of material properties on stress drop estimations, we apply different strategies to account for spatial variations of velocity and attenuation changes, and divide earthquakes into three separate time periods to correct temporal variations of attenuation. These results show that appropriate corrections can significantly reduce the scatter in stress drop estimates, and decrease apparent depth and magnitude dependence. We find that insufficient bandwidth can cause systematic underestimation of stress drop estimates and increased scatter. The stress drop measurements from the high‐frequency borehole recordings exhibit complex stable spatial patterns with no clear correlation with the nature of fault slip, or the slip distribution of the 2004 M6 earthquake. Temporal variations are significantly smaller, less well resolved and varying spatially. They do not affect the long‐term stress drop spatial variations, suggesting local material properties may control the spatial heterogeneity of stress drop. Plain Language Summary: Earthquake stress drop (the change in shear stress before and after the earthquake) reflects the properties of the fault where earthquakes occur. Determining the scaling relationships between earthquake stress drop and magnitude enables us to predict the behavior of infrequent large earthquakes from the measurements of the more abundant small earthquakes. Measurement of stress drop is challenging, especially for small earthquakes. Different studies can obtain different stress drop values for the same earthquakes, leading to different interpretations. We use recordings from a high‐resolution borehole network in Parkfield, California to measure source parameters for small earthquakes. We examine the influence of data limitation (e.g., frequency bandwidth) and corrections for material properties on stress drop resolution. We find that if the bandwidth is too narrow, the resulting source parameters can be systematically underestimated with large scatter. Insufficient corrections of material properties can lead to biased interpretation of stress drop patterns and scaling relationships. Our final results show that the stress drops of earthquakes in Parkfield do not depend on magnitude or depth, but exhibit strong spatial variations that are stable with time. The 2004 M6 earthquake caused temporal variations of stress drop, and the temporal changes are different at different fault patches. Key Points: Borehole data and an improved spectral decomposition approach provide better constraints on estimates of corner frequency and stress dropFrequency bandwidth, and corrections for variable attenuation and velocity with depth most influence stress drop estimates and interpretationsSpatial pattern of stress drop is heterogeneous on a ∼1 km scale, and stable with time; temporal changes are smaller and spatially variable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively analyses the flame propagation of premixed hydrogen-air explosion, this paper carries out a numerical study on the dynamics of flame propagation during hydrogen explosions in a closed duct under different blocking rates. The study shows that flame structure is roughly the same when the flame passes through an obstacle under different blocking rates. The difference in blocking rates only shows a slight difference in the degree of flame deformation. When the flame passes through the obstacle, Rayleigh -Taylor (R-T) instability accompanies the entire flame propagation process and corresponds to each stage flame acceleration. Kelvin-Helmholtz(K-H) instability has a more prominent influence on the tip flame propagation. When the explosion flame propagates, instabilities lead to difference in density gradient and pressure gradient in the duct. Interaction between density gradient and pressure gradient leads to formation of baroclinic torque, which is the main cause of the vorticity. During the flame propagation, the vorticity at the front of the flame is roughly zero, whereas the vorticity formed at the obstacle or in the burned gases is more apparent. The larger the blocking rate, the more prominent the turbulence intensity during the flame propagation. • Flame structure is roughly same under the different blocking rates obstacles. • Rayleigh -Taylor (R-T) instability accompanies the entire flame propagation. • Kelvin-Helmholtz(K-H) instability influence on the tip flame propagation. • Baroclinic torque is the main cause of the vorticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a robust continuous-time asset-liability management problem under Markov regime-switching. First, we employ the "homothetic robustness" to preserve the performance of robustness for the ALM model, which runs well in precisely modified state variables and performs reasonably if some forms of model misspecification exist. Second, we consider the asset-to-liability ratio instead of the surplus, which ensures that we use relative values instead of absolute values to modify the wealth process. Besides, we use the stochastic dynamic programming method to get some closed-form results and analyze the impacts of parameters on the investment strategy and value function, respectively, by numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To explore the protective effect of dexmedetomidine on renal function in patients with hemorrhagic shock and its possible mechanism. Methods. Seventy patients with traumatic hemorrhagic shock requiring surgical treatment were randomly divided into the control group (group C) and the dexmedetomidine group (group D), with 35 patients in each group. Patients in both groups were actively treated with volumetric resuscitation while surgical hemostasis. Group D was given dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg before skin incision after anesthesia induction, for 10 min, followed by intravenous infusion at a rate of 0.4 μg·kg-1·h-1 until 30 min before surgery, and group C was given equal volume of normal saline before skin resection (H1). Venous blood was collected 2 h (H2) and 4 h (H4) after skin resection, and plasma levels of BUN, creatinine (SCr), lipid peroxides (MDA), and inflammatory mediators IL-6 and IL-8 were measured on the 1st and 2nd day after surgery. Results. Compared with H1, BUN and SCr levels had no significant difference at 2 h and 4 h after skin resection but significantly decreased at 1 and 2 postoperative days (D1) (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in MDA, IL-6, and IL-8 at 2 and 4 h after skin resection (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences at 1 day after surgery (D1) and 2 days after surgery (D2). Compared with group C, the levels of MDA, IL-6, and IL-8 in group U were significantly decreased at 2 h and 4 h after skin resection (P < 0.05), and the levels of BUN and SCr in group U were significantly decreased at 1 and 2 days after skin resection (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Dexmedetomidine can effectively inhibit the release of oxygen free radicals in the shock stage and the shock recovery stage in patients with hemorrhagic trauma shock and has a protective effect on renal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic amines (BAs) are commonly found s in fruit wine, while there are few studies on BAs in mulberry fruit wine. Hence, the BAs composition of 28 commercial mulberry fruit wine samples was investigated. Among these samples, histamine, tyramine and tryptamine were detected in 28, 27 and 24 samples, respectively. Notably, histamine content exceeded the recommended limit (10 mg/L). To control the histamine content of mulberry fruit wine, two malolactic fermentation (MLF) starter cultures with high histamine degradation ability and no BAs synthesis capacity were screened, which were identified as Lactobacillus kunkeei W96 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum W155, respectively. However, in real mulberry fruit wine, only L. plantarum W155 could control its histamine content within 10 mg/L. Meanwhile, compared with L. kunkeei W96 and control strain, the mulberry fruit wine fermented by L. plantarum W155 exhibited higher levels of total flavonoids (0.89 g RE/L), cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (179.69 mg/L), cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (322.36 mg/L) and resveratrol (154.73 mg/L) coupled with lower concentrations of methanol (48.60 mg/L) and higher alcohols (372.55 mg/L), which was also confirmed by correlation analysis result. Therefore, it could be concluded that L. plantarum W155 could be used as a potential MLF starter culture for the production of high-safety and high-quality mulberry fruit wine. [Display omitted] • The biogenic amines composition of 28 commercial mulberry fruit wines (MF) was evaluated. • Two malolactic fermentation (MLF) starter cultures with high histamine degradation ability were screened. • Selected MLF starter cultures can control the histamine content of MF. • The safety and quality of MF can be improved by selected MLF starter cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major transportation network companies (TNCs) have promised to shift to 100% electric vehicles (EVs) in the next two decades, which places an increasing need to investigate the issues of ride-hailing services provided by EVs. Existing studies that model the EV charging systems and the TNC service systems omit the influences of the charging costs (i.e., electricity rate, and value of waiting time) on driver supply and passenger demand, which results in inaccurate prediction of system dynamics. This study is the first attempt to understand the influence of the electricity rate on the demand/supply of ride-hailing services and its implications. We compute the charging cost as the sum of the electricity cost based on the charging volume and the values of the expected waiting time. Specifically, we construct a queueing model framework to calculate the expected waiting time with M/M/k/C and synchronized M/M/1 queues, which models the charging and ride-hailing service processes separately. The experiment results from a two-symmetric-unit network show that the system performance metrics, such as platform profit and ratios of passengers served, have decreasing trends with increasing electricity rates. These trends shift when electricity rates and wage/trip fare rates change simultaneously, indicating the TNC platforms are able to achieve high profits by adjusting wage/fare rates to handle changes in electricity rates. Similar performance trends are validated by increasing electricity rates on large-scale experiments based on real-world trip demand. We further undertake sensitivity analysis and conclude that as the passenger demand increases, the system's performance metrics, such as platform profit and the percentage of served passengers, gradually converge, within the constraints of the number of EVs and their battery capacity; the usage frequencies of charging stations follow the Pareto Principle, where roughly 15% of stations could serve most of the charging demand. • Design a queuing network to model the charging cost impacts on the EV taxi system. • Explore the trends of system performances on a small two-symmetric-unit network. • Test the results by simulating real-world trip demand in Manhattan, NYC. • '80/20 rule' rule in charging station usages: 15% of stations serve most of the demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spent carbon cathode is a kind of solid waste produced by the electrolytic aluminum industry, and it poses a high environmental risk. However, it also contains valuable graphite resources that can be recycled and used as raw materials in industry. In this work, we aimed to enhance the efficient recovery of graphite by introducing ultrasonic waves into the flotation process. Particle size test, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), BET surface area, and other analytical techniques confirmed that ultrasound could promote particle dispersion, clean the surface of minerals, increase the porosity of the graphite surface, and thus strengthen the flotation performance. The results showed that after ultrasonic treatment for 30 min, the recovery rate of graphite increased from 86.22% to 96.24%, the fixed carbon content of tailings decreased from 26.99% to 9.68%, and the fixed carbon content (84.95%) was close to that of conventional flotation (85.32%). Compared with the traditional purification method, this strategy reduces the follow-up cleaning steps of tailings, simplifies the process, reduces the use of chemicals, and features strong market competitiveness and green environmental protection advantages. Additionally, the process is simple and low-cost and can be applied to the recycling of other waste graphite, with potential industrial application prospects. [Display omitted] • The graphite in SCC was separated and purified by flotation. • Ultrasonic was applied to the flotation separation of SCC. • The recovery rate was significantly improved by ultrasonic pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper based on the theory of space syntax took Luochengtou Village in Handan City, Hebei Province for example, tried to figure out a proper way for the renewal of urban villages, and change the current dilemma of "one-size-fits-all" and "removing all" in most cases, and put forward that local conditions and regional characteristics must be considered to propose the renewal strategies more suitable for the targeted objects. Based on the space syntax Depthmap software and field investigation, the paper analyzed the accessibility, intelligibility and throughput of public spaces in Luochengtou Village, and put forward 3 optimization strategies in view of the problems such as insufficient public spaces, poor accessibility and intelligibility of roads, and poor activity of spaces, specifically, increasing public activity spaces, sorting out public space network, and creating active space nodes, so as to optimize public environment of the village, enhance villagers' sense of belonging, sense of safety and sense of identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China has successfully sustained its universal health insurance coverage over the past decade. Although patient satisfaction has been recognized as an important indicator to measure the performance of insurance programs in China, there is a lack of evidence on how patients with chronic diseases are satisfied with China's public health insurance programs and whether their satisfaction differs by type of insurance. We aimed to fill the evidence gap.Methods: We established a hypothetical model that comprised patients' awareness of insurance policies, the fulfillment of patients' expectations of insurance benefits, patients' perceived value of health insurance coverage, patients' satisfaction with health insurance programs, patients' complaints, and trust in health insurance programs. We performed a confirmatory factor analysis by using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to examine the hypothesized model. A model-testing survey in 10 tertiary hospitals was conducted between June and October 2018, with a valid sample of 922 insured patients with chronic diseases.Results: The SEM model, with good fit indices, showed that patients' awareness of health insurance policies, insurance program's fulfillment of expectations, and patients' perceived value of insurance coverage, positively predicted patient satisfaction (P < 0.01). The fulfillment of patients' expectations of insurance benefits was the major predictor of satisfaction with health insurance (coefficient = 0.593, P < 0.001), while the patients' perceived value of insurance coverage had the largest impact on their trust in health insurance (coefficient = 0.409, P < 0.01). Compared to patients with Urban-Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance, Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance enrollees had a higher degree of satisfaction with insurance on average (P < 0.01). Despite differences in the degree of satisfaction, the main findings from the SEM were also proved by the multi-group analysis.Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating patients' perceived value as part of the ongoing efforts to increase satisfaction with health insurance by patients, especially those who have chronic diseases. Policymakers are also suggested to formulate evidence-informed reimbursement policies that meet patients' expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the recent progress on Ecological Vulnerability studies by developing index models, similar studies on the coastal areas are still rare. Pingtan's main island of Fujian Province in China and the coastal area of Nile Delta in Egypt, have witnessed unprecedented development associated with fragile coastal areas. SRP model is a comprehensive model, utilized to evaluate the ecological vulnerability to provide a solid reference for the development of SRP model development. Research results indicated that the ecological vulnerability of the coastal areas of Nile Delta was slightly better than that of Pingtan's main island in 2018, the former was almost at a micro level, while the latter was almost at a mild level (micro and mild vulnerable area accounted for 65.99%). Pingtan's main island, showed a slight deterioration trend from west to east, and the characteristics of massive regional distribution, with a slight deterioration of the overall ecological environment of the planning area from 2013 to 2018. For the coastal area of Nile Delta, the ecological vulnerability was gradually increasing from the middle of the basin to the periphery, and the extremely vulnerable area was mainly distributed in the northern coastal area and the arid desert areas from 2018 to 2019. Moreover, according to the statistics results about the maximum weight of ecological pressure was 0.4989 on Pingtan's main island and 0.4960 in the coastal area of Nile Delta, ecological sensitivity and pressure played a vital role in ecological vulnerability and spatial pattern of two study areas, which contain climate (mainly involving temperature, precipitation), vegetation, and human activities (mainly involving land-use, economy, and population). The current study not only confirmed the close relationship between ecological vulnerability, natural attributes, and human activities, also showed the strong applicability of SRP model in the coastal ecological fragile area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prokaryotes play a fundamental role in global ocean biogeochemical cycles. However, how the abundance and metabolic activity of ecologically distinct subgroups (i.e., high nucleic acid (HNA) and low nucleic acid (LNA) cells), and their regulating factors, change in response to changing marine environmental conditions remains poorly understood. Here, we delved into the time-evolving dynamic responses of the HNA and LNA prokaryotic subgroups to declining resource availability and selective grazing by protozoa by conducting a 73-day incubation experiment in a large-volume (117,000 L) macrocosm that facilitates community-level exploration. We found that the metabolic activity of the HNA subgroup was higher than that of the LNA subgroup when the macrocosm was resource replete but that the HNA subgroup declined more rapidly than the LNA subgroup as the resources became increasingly scarce, leading to a steadily increasing contribution of LNA cells to prokaryotic activity. Meanwhile, as resources in the macrocosm became limited, protozoan grazing preference shifted from the HNA to the LNA subgroup and the contributions of the LNA subgroup to the carbon flow within the macrocosm increased. The findings highlight the resilience of LNA cells in resource-limited environments, illuminate the critical role of selective grazing by protozoa in balancing distinct prokaryotic subgroups under changing resource conditions, and demonstrate the complex and adaptive interactions between protozoa and prokaryotes across diverse environmental contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intense volcanic and seismic activity at Kilauea volcano, Hawaii in 2018 provides an opportunity to understand the characteristics and driving forces of volcano earthquake clusters. Nearest neighbor distance analysis of a high‐resolution earthquake catalog reveals two modes of clustering: M1 and M2. M1 clusters focus on events within short space and time windows, and are concentrated within isolated fault patches. Examination of three structures shows a gradual increase of source radius (assuming a constant stress drop) and spatial migration of seismicity, likely representing aseismic growth of peripheral faults. M2 clusters focus on temporal clustering of all seismicity within the caldera and most clusters represent complete seismicity cycles between major collapse events. Beginning in late June, the M2 cluster duration gradually increased. The event numbers show a strong linear relationship with the tilt rates on the transverse component, suggesting earthquake rates are controlled by the deformation rate within the caldera. Plain Language Summary: The 2018 Kilauea volcanic eruption caused intense seismicity, lava flow, and caldera collapse. The eruption caused many large collapse events and accompanying earthquakes with (M > 5), and the separate smaller earthquakes into different cycles that last one or two days. Many different processes occurred during the eruption, including activation of existing structures, and development of new faults. Using a catalog with improved earthquake locations, we analyze the spatial and temporal clustering of these earthquakes. With three example structures, we observe earthquakes moving along faults at approximately fixed speed until they reach another fault. This shows the process of how new faults develop. We also find that the daily earthquake counts change with the rate the crater moves. This study reveals different processes that influence earthquakes during a volcanic eruption using an automated clustering method. Key Points: Nearest neighbor clustering is applied to a high‐resolution catalog and identified two modes of clusteringClustering with shorter distance criteria finds isolated fault patches and reveals fault development processesClustering with longer distance criteria identifies seismicity cycles and a strong correlation between earthquake rate and deformation rate [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compare source parameter estimates for earthquakes in the 2011 Prague Mw 5.7, Oklahoma, sequence to investigate random uncertainty and systematic bias, and resolve reliable relative variations in stress drop. Source parameters provide insight into the earthquake rupture processes but large variations between studies occur. The Prague earthquake sequence is a prime example of this, with different studies reaching contrasting interpretations of the effects of injection on source parameters. We examine the Prague earthquake sequence using a single coherent catalog for all the events detected by the Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS) and McMahon et al. (2017). We use three principal approaches to estimate stress drop in order to understand the biases of each: a spectral decomposition method based on stacking, individual event spectral modeling, and a spectral ratio method based on highly correlated events. We also compare our results with previous studies for the Prague sequences aftershocks, as well as past results for the Mw 4.8 foreshock and Mw 4.8 aftershock and Mw 5.7 mainshock. The absolute values of stress drop vary significantly between methods, but the relative patterns remain consistent, except when low quality or low bandwidth data are included. The consistent relative patterns reveal that the stress drops of aftershocks are dependent on the fault orientation and the proximity of the events to the mainshocks slip. These results indicate that fault structure as well as past events play an important role in stress drop patterns. Plain Language Summary: The area of slip in an earthquake, and the stress released (the stress drop) are often estimated from the frequency content of the seismic waves using simple models. Many methods have been developed to separate the effect of the wave traveling through the Earth and the frequency content of the earthquake source itself. The stress drops calculated in different studies using different methods, can vary significantly for the same earthquakes. Such variability casts doubt on their use for predicting ground motion or understanding the rupture process. We use a range of approaches to analyze earthquakes in Oklahoma, and compare our results with past estimates. We find the chosen method or data can systematically change the absolute stress drop measurements, but the relative differences in stress drop between individual earthquakes are more stable, meaning that the patterns in space and time can be interpreted. We observe that a faults orientation impacts the stress drops of earthquakes along it. Also, that the slip due to the largest earthquake affect the stress drops of the earthquakes that follow it. We recommend using cross validation with multiple methods in studies that examine large numbers of earthquakes, to identify method issues or data problems. Key Points: Data selection and method choice can systematically bias absolute stress drop estimates and significantly affect apparent variabilitySpatial and temporal variation of relative stress drop estimates are more consistent across methods with similar datasetsConsistent spatial patterns across methods indicate that stress drops are dependent on fault orientation and proximity to mainshock slip [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile industry is a significant source of global greenhouse gas emissions; therefore, it is crucial to implement decarbonization measures throughout the supply chain (SC) to reduce carbon emissions and achieve sustainable development. However, there exists a lack of systematic review regarding decarbonization in textile SCs. The objective of this review is to identify themes related to decarbonization in textile SCs, address research gaps, and propose an integrated framework. To do this, we conducted a systematic literature review of 68 identified papers discussing decarbonization in textile SCs. Based on descriptive and thematic findings, we have developed a comprehensive conceptual framework that synthesizes antecedents, decarbonization practices, influential factors, and outcomes within the context of textile SCs. Furthermore, our review highlights current research gaps and recommends future directions for studying decarbonization in textile SCs. By providing the first comprehensive framework for addressing decarbonization across all stages of the textile SC process, this review contributes significantly to the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind tunnel experiment is an essential measure for acquiring wind pressure information on the surface of structures. However, it is hard to acquire the complete wind pressure field information because of the restrictions of the measuring equipment capability or inner space of rigid experimental models. For this reason, this paper proposes a reliable wind pressure field reconstruction method using a variance-extended Kriging sequence interpolation. Besides the commonly deterministic reconstruction generated via conventional methods, this method can achieve the reconstruction of wind pressure coefficient time history or statistical moments at any required instant or location from the probabilistic perspective. More importantly, it can effectively avoid the repetitive procedure in addressing the sequence interpolation problem. Numerical examples are employed to illustrate the performance of the proposed method. The experimental result demonstrates that this method can provide a reliable reconstruction of the wind pressure field, and thus may have a great potential in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel bioluminescence immunoassay inspired by sparkling fireflies at night was established to detect ochratoxin A (OTA). This platform relied on the mechanism by which firefly luciferase hydrolyze ATP to catalyze the transformation of luciferin to oxidized oxyluciferin, which emits bioluminescence. Since the concentration of ATP can be controlled by alkaline phosphatase (ALP), the bioluminescence intensity was related to the concentration of ALP. Thus, the correlation between target OTA and bioluminescence intensity was realized by ALP-mediated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This bioluminescence immunoassay exhibited a relatively wide linear range (1.0–316 ng/mL), which was 30 times wider than that of classical HRP-mediated ELISA (0.8–12.8 ng/mL). The limit of detection (LOD) of the proposed bioluminescence immunoassay (0.316 ng/mL) was lower than the maximum OTA residue limits (2 ng/mL to 10 ng/mL) specified by the European Union (EU) and China Government. In addition, the bioluminescence immunoassay showed good selectivity for OTA and satisfactory recoveries in corn samples ranging from 83.39 % to 111.60 %. • Luciferin oxidation catalyzed by luciferase was used to develop immunoassay. • This bioluminescence immunoassay exhibited a relatively wide linear range. • The limit of detection was lower than the maximum OTA residue limits. • The proposed bioluminescence immunoassay was a turn-on mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the problem that chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurement in water using UV-Vis spectrometry was easily affected by turbidity, this paper proposed an analytical method for determining the complex refractive index of particles in water based on Lambert-Beer's law and K-K (Kramers-Kronig) relationship. The obtained complex refractive index was used to establish the turbidity compensation model in the COD characteristic spectral region, and the COD concentration inversion were achieved by using the PLS algorithm. The results show that the turbidity compensation method based on Mie scattering theory can improve the accuracy of COD measurement by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Compared with before turbidity compensation, R2 (determination coefficient) between true values and predicted values of COD increased from 0.2274 to 0.9629, and RMSE (root mean square error) of predicted values decreased from 21.73 to 3.12 mg L−1. Compared with 350 nm PC, derivative method, and improved MSC method, the turbidity compensation method for COD measurement based on Mie scattering theory is simple, fast, and highly accurate. And the calculated spectrum can represent the scattering characteristics of the measured spectrum. The average relative error between the fitted spectrum and the original normalized spectrum in the 55 mixed solutions was 0.52%, and the maximum relative error was 6.65%. This method can be useful for online COD measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively examine the flame propagation of premixed hydrogen-air explosion in a closed duct with obstacles, this paper conducts a numerical study of the flame propagation during the hydrogen explosion in a closed duct with obstacles. Fractal dimensions are used to represent the flame structure. When the number of obstacles is 1, 2, and 3, the fractal dimensions corresponding to flame propagation are 1.632, 1.655 and 1.661 respectively. The research shows that the propagation of explosion flame under obstacle conditions accords with typical self-similarity. The more the number of obstacles, the stronger Kelvin-Helmholtz (K–H) instability and Rayleigh -Taylor (R-T) instability formed, the more obviously the flame is stretched, and the greater the turbulence of the flame propagation. When the number of obstacles is 1, 2 and 3, the corresponding maximum speeds are 108 m/s, 176 m/s and 196 m/s respectively, and thus the flame propagation speed is proportional to the number of obstacles. Flame acceleration is caused by the flow compression due to reduced flow area at the cross-section of obstacles. The flame propagation speed manifests different characteristics through the spherical flame propagation, transformation from the finger flame to twisted flame propagation, and the twisted flame propagation, corresponding to three stages of slow growth, continuous growth and turbulent growth in explosion overpressure. • The flame propagation under obstacle conditions shows typical self-similarity. • Flame propagation is mainly controlled by two typical instabilities. • Flame acceleration is caused by the flow compression due to reduced flow area. • The degree of flame turbulence can be represented by fractal dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the synergistic and antagonistic effects of tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor mutation pattern on lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is urgently needed. Herein, we applied ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT methods to calculate the ratio of immune and stromal components and TIICs proportion of LUAD samples from TCGA database. Immune-related genes were analyzed by Lasso regression analysis and used for ceRNA network construction. A 14-lncRNA immune-related signature was developed, among which C5orf64 was found to be positively correlated with abundances of M2 macrophages, monocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils, but negatively correlated with Tregs and plasma cells. PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 were demonstrated to be high expressed in high-level C5orf64 groups. However, C5orf64 had a negative correlation with TP53 mutation frequency. A novel model was built based on age, tumor stage and immune-related lncRNA signature. To conclude, lncRNA C5orf64 had potential to be an indicator for TME modulation and tumor mutation pattern remodeling in LUAD. • LncRNA C5orf64 was a potential indicator for TME modulation in LUAD. • C5orf64 had capability to be an indicator for tumor mutation pattern remodeling. • Expression of C5orf64 closely correlated with PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4. • C5orf64 could be a novel prognostic biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We calculate rupture directivity and velocity for earthquakes in three well‐recorded repeating sequences (2001–2016) on the San Andreas Fault at Parkfield using P waves from borehole recordings and the empirical Green's function method. The individual events in each sequence all show the same directivity; the largest magnitude sequence (M ~ 2.7, 8 events) ruptures unilaterally NW (at ~0.8Vs), the second sequence (M ~ 2.3, 9 events) ruptures unilaterally SE, and the smallest magnitude sequence (M ~ 2, 11 events) is less well resolved. The highly repetitive rupture suggests that geometry or material properties might control nucleation of small locked patches. The source spectra of the M ~ 2.7 sequence exhibit no detectable temporal variation. The smaller M sequences both exhibit a decrease in high‐frequency energy following the M6 earthquake that recovers with time. This could indicate a decrease in stress drop, an increase in attenuation, or a combination of the two, followed by gradual healing. Plain Language Summary: Sequences of small earthquakes with very similar seismograms have been observed on the San Andreas Fault at Parkfield and many other faults that are also observed to be creeping. The similarity of the seismograms suggests that these earthquakes represent repeating slip on overlapping pieces of fault. Under this assumption they have been used to investigate changes in slip conditions and the slip rate on major faults with time. To date, most studies have treated these repeating earthquakes as just points because most are too small and too poorly recorded to observe details of the rupture area or direction. Here we identify three exceptionally well‐recorded repeating sequences and are able to resolve the direction of rupture. All the earthquakes in one sequence propagate toward the NW, and all those in another propagate to the SW. The rupture velocities are similar to those of much larger earthquakes. This improved resolution of the earthquake sources will help constrain modeling of the rupture and hence our understanding of the factors that control earthquake nucleation and dynamics. Key Points: All individual earthquakes in a repeating sequence at Parkfield exhibit identical directivity, unaffected by 2004 M6One sequence (M ~ 2.7) ruptures to the NW and one (M ~ 2.5) to the SE, at ~0.8 × shear wave velocitySmallest magnitude sequences show most response to M6 earthquake, but we cannot fully distinguish between path and source effects [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The meshless algorithms, especially the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), are attempted to solve the hypervelocity impact (HVI) problem. However, several limitations of SPH exist in the current studies, such as the tensile instability, the material boundary uncertainty, and the difficulty in defining boundaries. Furthermore, it cannot accurately provide the parameters of the generated fragments. In this paper, we formulate the finite element-smoothed particle hydrodynamics (FEM-SPH) adaptive method to solve the HVI problem by LS-DYNA. It combines the advantages of FEM and SPH by transforming the failed elements into the SPH particles during the simulation. The debris cloud shape is represented by the distribution of the particles in SPH and the exact fragment parameters in FEM, including geometry, temperature, energy, and distribution. By analyzing and optimizing the implementation method, the contact and coupling algorithm, and calculation parameters, we reproduce the experimental results by Piekutowski [39,40] in the numerical simulation. Based on the proposed three typical shapes of the fragments, a systematic statistical analysis is proposed to classify the fragments and analyze their parameters, including speed, momentum, and energy. Risky fragments, i.e., the fragments with large size and high speed, are selected from the overall fragments. We further study the distribution of risky fragments with the details of the evolution in the space and time, which paves the way for further systematic research on the subsequent impact of the debris cloud. Our work shows that the method has a significant and wide application to the debris cloud simulation. The current algorithm can be applied to simulate the Whipple shields with complex structures and advanced material, e.g., sandwich materials, composite materials, foam materials, and gradient materials, or analyze the implosion and fragmentation warhead. • FEM-SPH adaptive method to the HVI problems is established. • A set of suitable parameters are provided to simulate the HVI problems. • Fragment identification is given directly and sets a basis for statistical analysis. • A statistical method in velocity space is used to characterize risky fragments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, there has been a great motivation toward research in the field of big data analysis and their incorporation into Internet of Things (IoT). The basic idea behind IoT is to ensure provision of services to clients all over the globe at any point of time from a pool of resources. With increasing volumes of data being handled, processed and stored in recent times, an efficient processing mechanism for these huge volumes of data is available in the form of big data handlers which ensure speedy provision of services without any delay overhead. Hence, big data and IoT put together prove to be the most effective tool and need of the hour for smooth handling and provision of services demanded by clients thus improving the overall quality of service. These two concepts have been effectively applied to developing an intelligent agricultural economic model which is quite heterogeneous in nature thus posing to be a great research challenge. Agro-economic models are quite essential and critical as agriculture forms the backbone of many developing nations across the globe. ANFIS model introduces the necessary intelligence for the big data analytic system to handle the heterogeneous nature of agro-economic input data and provide a suitable prediction. A sample data of five hundred details from five different subsets have been used in the experimental model and prediction of yield computed and compared against recent techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimation of satellite-derived ocean latent heat flux (LHF) at high spatial resolution remains a major challenge. Here, we estimate monthly ocean LHF at 4 km spatial resolution over 5 years using bulk algorithm COARE 3.0, driven by satellite data and meteorological variables from reanalysis. We validated the estimated ocean LHF by multiyear observations and by comparison with seven ocean LHF products. Validation results from monthly observations at 96 widely distributed buoy sites from three buoy site arrays (TAO, PIRATA, and RAMA) indicated a bias of less than 7 W/m2 with R2 of more than 0.80 (p < 0.01) and with a King–Gupta efficiency (KGE) of over 0.84. Our estimated ocean LHF also performs well in simulating annual variability and predicting between-site variability, as indicated by a bias of lower than 6 W/m2 and an R2 of more than 0.84 (p < 0.01). Overall, the average KGE for estimated ocean LHF increased by 18%–23% compared to other LHF products, indicating robust LHF estimation performance. Importantly, our estimated annual ocean LHF has similar global spatial distribution compared to other LHF products, although there are general differences in LHF values due to the difference in the models and the spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to determine the association between serum 14-3-3η expression levels and disease risk, inflammation level and disease duration in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 45 Chinese patients with RA, 45 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 44 age- and sex-matched (with the RA group) healthy control (HC) subjects were consecutively recruited for the present case-controlled study. In addition, the demographic and clinicopathological characteristics of the patients with RA were collected. Serum samples were obtained from patients with RA, patients with OA and the HCs, and the serum levels of 14-3-3η were determined by ELISA. Compared with that in the OA patients (P=0.006) and HCs (P<0.001), 14-3-3η expression was significantly increased in RA patients, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis indicated that it served as a potential predictive marker for the risk of RA. In patients with RA, serum levels of 14-3-3η were positively correlated with disease duration (P=0.003), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P=0.006) and disease activity score in 28 joints (P=0.025). The proportion of rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive patients (P=0.023) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive patients (P=0.002) with RA was increased (when 14-3-3η expression was increased) compared with RF-negative patients or ACPA-negative patients, respectively. Of note, 14-3-3η serum levels were able to distinguish patients with established RA (disease duration, >2 years) from patients with early RA (disease duration, ≤2 years) with an AUC of 0.759 (95% CI, 0.612-0.905), and the sensitivity and the specificity at the best cut-off point (14-3-3η=0.613 ng/ml) were 79.3 and 75.0%, respectively. Furthermore, 14-3-3η was able to differentiate between RF-positive RA patients and RF-negative patients or HCs. In conclusion, circulating 14-3-3η expression may serve as a novel biomarker for disease risk and activity of RA in Chinese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Genome‐wide association studies have identified many susceptibility loci for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, most of these loci are located in noncoding regions of the genome. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are pervasively expressed and have been reported to be involved in various diseases. This study aimed to explore the genetic significance of lncRNAs in SLE. Methods: A genome‐wide survey of SLE risk variants in lncRNA gene loci was performed in Han Chinese subjects (4,556 with SLE and 9,451 healthy controls). The functional relevance of an SLE risk variant in one of the lncRNA genes was explored using biochemical and molecular cell biology analyses. In vitro loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function strategies were used to clarify the functional and phenotypic relevance of this SLE susceptibility lncRNA. Moreover, correlation of this lncRNA with the degree of apoptosis in the peripheral blood of SLE patients was evaluated. Results: A novel SLE susceptibility locus in a lncRNA gene, designated SLEAR (for SLE‐associated RNA), was identified at the single‐nucleotide polymorphism rs13259960 (odds ratio 1.35, Pcombined = 1.03 × 10−11). The A>G variation at rs13259960, located in an intronic enhancer, was found to impair STAT1 recruitment to the enhancer that loops to the SLEAR promoter, resulting in decreased SLEAR production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with SLE (3 with the G/G genotype, 22 with A/G, and 103 with A/A at rs13259960; P = 0.0241). Moreover, SLEAR interacted with the RNA binding proteins interleukin enhancer binding factor 2, heterogeneous nuclear RNP F, and TATA‐binding protein–associated factor 15, to form a complex for transcriptional activation of the downstream antiapoptotic genes. In addition, SLEAR regulated apoptosis of Jurkat cells in vitro, and its expression level was correlated with the degree of cell death in the peripheral blood of patients with SLE (r = 0.824, P = 2.15 × 10−8; n = 30). Conclusion: These findings suggest a mechanism by which the risk variant at rs13259960 modulates SLEAR expression and confers a predisposition to SLE. Taken together, these results may give insights into the etiology of SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking Wenchang Pavilion, the landmark building of Pengcheng historical and cultural block in Handan as an example, this study analyzed Wenchang Pavilion architecture, used 3D laser point cloud digital mapping to investigate and study the background, shape, decoration art etc. and put forward the protection strategy of historical buildings in combination with Wenchang Pavilion so as to provide reference for the research and protection renewal of Wenchang Pavilion and other historical remains of Wenchang Pavilion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Atypical carcinoid (AC) was rare malignancy with specific characteristics. • AC patients with lobectomy tended to have better OS and LCSS. • Wedge resection was proved to be a negative independent prognostic factor. • A nomogram was developed and validated to predict the OS for AC patients. The rarity of atypical carcinoid (AC) of lung and the lack of prospective clinical trials lead to limited knowledge of its biology, treatment information and prognosis. The current study analyzed AC patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to better understand the clinical characteristics of this disease and build a prognostic nomogram for clinical practice. A total of 507 AC patients with pathological confirmation from SEER database were performed with univariate Cox regression analyses for both overall survival (OS) and lung cancer specific survival (LCSS) analyses. Of the 507 observations, 464 were used in the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model as training cohort of new nomogram. A new nomogram was constructed based on the training cohort and validated by an external validation cohort to predict the 3-, 5- and 10-year OS of ACs. The accuracy and clinical practicability were separately tested by Harrell's C-indexes, calibration plots and decision curve analyses (DCA). Lobectomy and segmental resection were found to be protective factors for AC patients. Age, primary tumor size, N stage, M stage, surgery and regional lymph nodes examination were shown as significant prognostic factors in Cox regression analyses and included in the nomogram as predictors. The C-index in the training cohort for 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS were 0.722, 0.737 and 0.712, respectively. The internal and external calibration plots for predictions of the 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS were in excellent agreement. An online webserver was built based on the proposed nomogram for convenient clinical use. AC patients with lobectomy or segmental resection tended to have better OS and LCSS. A nomogram was constructed and validated to predict the OS for AC patients and to provide accurate and individualized survival predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]