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Abstract Isolated flat bands are known to host various strongly correlated phases due to the enhanced Coulomb interactions when the flat bands are gapped from dispersive bands. One way to achieve an isolated flat band is by breaking the on-site energy symmetry in a Lieb lattice. In this study, we demonstrate the design of such a Lieb lattice. The self-assembly of square-shaped macrocycle molecules on a Ag(111) surface forms a two-dimensional supramolecular crystal, comprising three types of nanopores with different sizes arranged in a Lieb lattice. The surface-state electrons of the Ag(111) substrate confined by these nanopores behave as quantum dots with specific energies depending on the pore size. Using scanning tunneling spectroscopy and plane-wave quantum simulation, we reveal that this artificial Lieb lattice exhibits an isolated flat band gapped at 0.16 eV from the nearest band. The supramolecular crystal is nearly defect-free and extends to sub-micrometer size, making it a practical platform for exploring the exotic properties of the isolated flat band.

Goal: The early diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis is essential to reduce hepatitis-related liver function deterioration and mortality. One component of the widely-used Ishak grading system for the grading of periportal interface hepatitis is based on the percentage of portal borders infiltrated by lymphocytes. Thus, the accurate detection of lymphocyte-infiltrated periportal regions is critical in the diagnosis of hepatitis. However, the infiltrating lymphocytes usually result in the formation of ambiguous and highly-irregular portal boundaries, and thus identifying the infiltrated portal boundary regions precisely using automated methods is challenging. This study aims to develop a deep-learning-based automatic detection framework to assist diagnosis. Methods: The present study proposes a framework consisting of a Structurally-REfined Deep Portal Segmentation module and an Infiltrated Periportal Region Detection module based on heterogeneous infiltration features to accurately identify the infiltrated periportal regions in liver Whole Slide Images. Results: The proposed method achieves 0.725 in F1-score of lymphocyte-infiltrated periportal region detection. Moreover, the statistics of the ratio of the detected infiltrated portal boundary have high correlation to the Ishak grade (Spearman's correlations more than 0.87 with p-values less than 0.001) and medium correlation to the liver function index aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (Spearman's correlations more than 0.63 and 0.57 with p-values less than 0.001). Conclusions: The study shows the statistics of the ratio of infiltrated portal boundary have correlation to the Ishak grade and liver function index. The proposed framework provides pathologists with a useful and reliable tool for hepatitis diagnosis.

Abstract There is currently little information about the evolution of gene clusters, genome architectures and karyotypes in early branching animals. Slowly evolving anthozoan cnidarians can be particularly informative about the evolution of these genome features. Here we report chromosome-level genome assemblies of two related anthozoans, the sea anemones Nematostella vectensis and Scolanthus callimorphus. We find a robust set of 15 chromosomes with a clear one-to-one correspondence between the two species. Both genomes show chromosomal conservation, allowing us to reconstruct ancestral cnidarian and metazoan chromosomal blocks, consisting of at least 19 and 16 ancestral linkage groups, respectively. We show that, in contrast to Bilateria, the Hox and NK clusters of investigated cnidarians are largely disintegrated, despite the presence of staggered hox/gbx expression in Nematostella. This loss of microsynteny conservation may be facilitated by shorter distances between cis-regulatory sequences and their cognate transcriptional start sites. We find no clear evidence for topologically associated domains, suggesting fundamental differences in long-range gene regulation compared to vertebrates. These data suggest that large sets of ancestral metazoan genes have been retained in ancestral linkage groups of some extant lineages; yet, higher order gene regulation with associated 3D architecture may have evolved only after the cnidarian-bilaterian split.

Abstract Background Lysine Demethylase 2A (KDM2A) plays a crucial role in cancer cell growth, differentiation, metastasis, and the maintenance of cancer stemness. Our previous study found that cancer-secreted IL-6 can upregulate the expression of KDM2A to promote further the transition of cells into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). However, the molecular mechanism by which breast cancer-secreted IL-6 regulates the expression of KDM2A remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism of IL-6 in regulating KDM2A expression in CAFs and KDM2A-mediated paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer. Methods The ectopic vector expression and biochemical inhibitor were used to analyze the KDM2A expression regulated by HS-578 T conditioned medium or IL-6 in mammary fibroblasts. Immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to examine the interaction between STAT3 and NFκB p50. M2 macrophage polarization was assessed by analyzing M2 macrophage-specific markers using flow cytometry and RT-PCR. ESTIMATE algorithm was used to analyze the tumor microenvironment-dominant breast cancer samples from the TCGA database. The correlation between stromal KDM2A and CD163 + M2 macrophages was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Cell viability was determined using trypan blue exclusion assay. Results IL-6 regulates gene expression via activation and dimerization of STAT3 or collaboration of STAT3 and NFκB. However, STAT3, a downstream transcription factor of the IL-6 signaling pathway, was directly complexed with NFκB p50, not NFκB p65, to upregulate the expression of KDM2A in CAFs. Enrichment analysis of immune cells/stromal cells using TCGA-breast cancer RNA-seq data unveiled a positive correlation between stromal KDM2A and the abundance of M2 macrophages. CXCR2-associated chemokines secreted by KDM2A-expressing CAFs stimulated M2 macrophage polarization, which in turn secreted CCL2 to increase paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer cells by activating CCR2 signaling. Conclusion This study revealed the non-canonical molecular mechanism of IL-6 secreted by breast cancer upregulated KDM2A expression in CAFs via a novel STAT3/NFκB p50 axis, which STAT3 complexed with NFκB p50 in NFκB p50 binding motif of KDM2A promoter. KDM2A-expressing CAFs dominantly secreted the CXCR2-associated chemokines to promote M2 macrophage polarization and enhance paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of targeting the CXCR2 or CCR2 pathway as a novel strategy for paclitaxel-resistant breast cancer.

Abstract Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the predominant histological type of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). By comparing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in OSCC-TCGA patients with copy number variations (CNVs) that we identify in OSCC-OncoScan dataset, we herein identified 37 dysregulated candidate genes. Among these potential candidate genes, 26 have been previously reported as dysregulated proteins or genes in HNSCC. Among 11 novel candidates, the overall survival analysis revealed that melanotransferrin (MFI2) is the most significant prognostic molecular in OSCC-TCGA patients. Another independent Taiwanese cohort confirmed that higher MFI2 transcript levels were significantly associated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, we found that knockdown of MFI2 reduced cell viability, migration and invasion via modulating EGF/FAK signaling in OSCC cells. Collectively, our results support a mechanistic understanding of a novel role for MFI2 in promoting cell invasiveness in OSCC.

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for almost 80% of all liver cancer cases and is the sixth most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The survival rate of sorafenib-treated advanced HCC patients is still unsatisfactory. Unfortunately, no useful biomarkers have been verified to predict sorafenib efficacy in HCC. Results We assessed a sorafenib resistance-related microarray dataset and found that anterior gradient 2 (AGR2) is highly associated with overall and recurrence-free survival and with several clinical parameters in HCC. However, the mechanisms underlying the role of AGR2 in sorafenib resistance and HCC progression remain unknown. We found that sorafenib induces AGR2 secretion via posttranslational modification and that AGR2 plays a critical role in sorafenib-regulated cell viability and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and induces apoptosis in sorafenib-sensitive cells. In sorafenib-sensitive cells, sorafenib downregulates intracellular AGR2 and conversely induces AGR2 secretion, which suppresses its regulation of ER stress and cell survival. In contrast, AGR2 is highly intracellularly expressed in sorafenib-resistant cells, which supports ER homeostasis and cell survival. We suggest that AGR2 regulates ER stress to influence HCC progression and sorafenib resistance. Conclusions This is the first study to report that AGR2 can modulate ER homeostasis via the IRE1α-XBP1 cascade to regulate HCC progression and sorafenib resistance. Elucidation of the predictive value of AGR2 and its molecular and cellular mechanisms in sorafenib resistance could provide additional options for HCC treatment.

Abstract Background Targeting the HGF/MET signaling pathway has been a viable therapeutic strategy for various cancer types due to hyperactivation of HGF/MET axis occurs frequently that leads to detrimental cancer progression and recurrence. Deciphering novel molecule mechanisms underlying complex HGF/MET signaling network is therefore critical to development of effective therapeutics for treating MET-dependent malignancies. Results Using isobaric mass tag-based quantitative proteomics approach, we identified IFITM3, an interferon-induced transmembrane protein that was highly expressed in micro-dissected gastric cancer (GC) tumor regions relative to adjacent non-tumor epithelia. Analyses of GC clinical specimens revealed that expression IFITM3 was closely correlated to advanced pathological stages. IFITM3 has been reported as a PIP3 scaffold protein that promotes PI3K signaling. In present study, we unprecedentedly unraveled that IFITM3 associated with MET and AKT to facilitate HGF/MET mediated AKT signaling crosstalk in suppressing FOXO3, consequently leading to c-MYC mediated GC progression. In addition, gene ontology analyses of the clinical GC cohort revealed significant correlation between IFITM3-associated genes and targets of c-MYC, which is a crucial downstream effector of HGF/MET pathway in cancer progression. Moreover, we demonstrated ectopic expression of IFITM3 suppressed FOXO3 expression, consequently led to c-MYC induction to promote tumor growth, cell metastasis, cancer stemness as well as chemoresistance. Conversely, depletion of IFITM3 resulted in suppression of HGF triggered cellular growth and migration via inhibition of AKT/c-MYC signaling in GC. Conclusions In summary, our present study unveiled a novel regulatory mechanism for c-MYC-driven oncogenesis underlined by IFITM3-mediated signaling crosstalk between MET associated AKT signaling cascade.

Tumor metastasis is a complex process modulated by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that ultimately result in poorer patient outcomes, including diminished survival. Pseudogene-derived long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) play important roles in cancer progression. In the current study, we found that the pseudogene-derived lncRNA LPAL2 is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, and further showed that elevated LPAL2 expression is positively correlated with survival outcome. The knockdown of LPAL2 in hepatoma cells induced tumor formation, migration, invasion, sphere formation, and drug resistance. Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) was identified as an LPAL2-regulated target gene, consistent with clinical findings that LPAL2 expression is significantly associated with MMP9 expression. Furthermore, patients with a higher expression of LPAL2 and lower expression of MMP9 (LPAL2-high/MMP9-low) had a higher survival rate than those with other combinations. Collectively, our findings establish LPAL2 as a novel tumor suppressor in HCC, and suggest targeting LPAL2 and MMP9 as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of HCC.

Studies in various animals have shown that asymmetrically localized maternal transcripts play important roles in axial patterning and cell fate specification in early embryos. However, comprehensive analyses of the maternal transcriptomes with spatial information are scarce and limited to a handful of model organisms. In cephalochordates (amphioxus), an early branching chordate group, maternal transcripts of germline determinants form a compact granule that is inherited by a single blastomere during cleavage stages. Further blastomere separation experiments suggest that other transcripts associated with the granule are likely responsible for organizing the posterior structure in amphioxus; however, the identities of these determinants remain unknown. In this study, we used high-throughput RNA sequencing of separated blastomeres to examine asymmetrically localized transcripts in two-cell and eight-cell stage embryos of the amphioxus Branchiostoma floridae. We identified 111 and 391 differentially enriched transcripts at the 2-cell stage and the 8-cell stage, respectively, and used in situ hybridization to validate the spatial distribution patterns for a subset of these transcripts. The identified transcripts could be categorized into two major groups: (1) vegetal tier/germ granule-enriched and (2) animal tier/anterior-enriched transcripts. Using zebrafish as a surrogate model system, we showed that overexpression of one animal tier/anterior-localized amphioxus transcript, zfp665, causes a dorsalization/anteriorization phenotype in zebrafish embryos by downregulating the expression of the ventral gene, eve1, suggesting a potential function of zfp665 in early axial patterning. Our results provide a global transcriptomic blueprint for early-stage amphioxus embryos. This dataset represents a rich platform to guide future characterization of molecular players in early amphioxus development and to elucidate conservation and divergence of developmental programs during chordate evolution.

Two distinct mechanisms for primordial germ cell (PGC) specification are observed within Bilatera: early determination by maternal factors or late induction by zygotic cues. Here we investigate the molecular basis for PGC specification in Nematostella, a representative pre-bilaterian animal where PGCs arise as paired endomesodermal cell clusters during early development. We first present evidence that the putative PGCs delaminate from the endomesoderm upon feeding, migrate into the gonad primordia, and mature into germ cells. We then show that the PGC clusters arise at the interface between hedgehog1 and patched domains in the developing mesenteries and use gene knockdown, knockout and inhibitor experiments to demonstrate that Hh signaling is required for both PGC specification and general endomesodermal patterning. These results provide evidence that the Nematostella germline is specified by inductive signals rather than maternal factors, and support the existence of zygotically-induced PGCs in the eumetazoan common ancestor.

This study explored the application of nitrogen-doped graphene (NDG) ink to the coating of light-emitting diode (LED) lamps for the thermal management. Unlike the general solutions of graphene, the NDG ink used in this study was tuned with high electrical resistance and quietly suitable for the application of the LED lamp coating, which prevented the short circuit problem; besides, the NDG ink also provided a high heat dissipation effect to improve the performance of the LED lamp. The investigation of adhesion and resistance for the NDG ink were conducted by the cross-cut test and the four-point probe resistance measurement, respectively. Three types of LED lamps including the original lamp, fin-removed lamp, and NDG-ink coated (NGC) lamp were tested for the actual operating temperature distribution by K-type thermal couples and for the lumens by the integrating sphere. The results showed that the heat dissipation of the NGC lamp was better than that of the original lamp. In addition, the inspections for the properties of NDG powder were also performed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Raman spectroscopy. According to the inspectional results, the NDG powder had a percentage of nitrogen of about 3.8% by XPS, a surface roughness Rq of 0.9 nm by AFM, and over ten layers by Raman analysis. It showed that the NDG powder in this study belonged to the type of multi-layer graphene.

Background: The general prognosis of critically ill patients with cirrhosis is poor. We investigated the influence of age (< 65 years, 65–74 years, and ≥ 75 years) on the short- and medium-term outcomes of cirrhotic patients in the intensive-care-unit (ICU) setting. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 226 consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis who were admitted to the ICU. Clinical outcomes, including ICU mortality, in-hospital mortality, ventilator-free days, ICU days, ICU-free days, hospital days, and hospital-free days, were compared between the different age groups. Results: The overall ICU mortality in patients aged < 65 years, 65–74 years, and ≥ 75 years was 29.4%, 20.0%, and 30.3%, respectively. For patients with compensated cirrhosis, age showed no significant correlation with mortality or clinical outcomes. For patients with decompensated cirrhosis, age ≥ 75 years was significantly correlated with in-hospital mortality, 6-month mortality, hospital days, and hospital-free days. After adjusting for sex, coronary artery disease, etiology of ICU admission, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, and mechanical ventilation, age ≥ 75 years remained significant for in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio 2.61, 95% confidence interval 1.27–5.39, p = 0.009) and 6-month mortality (hazard ratio 2.34, confidence interval 1.16–4.70, p = 0.017). Conclusion: During ICU stays, old age does not have adverse effects on ICU mortality, ventilator-free days, ICU days, or ICU-free days in cirrhotic patients (either compensated or decompensated cirrhosis). After ICU discharge, age ≥ 75 years is an independent prognostic factor for in-hospital mortality and 6-month mortality in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

In this study, the optical sphere and the power analyzer were exploited to measure the optical and power parameters for the high-power LED lamps. The results, derived from the experimental data, were used as the power distribution inputs in the finite element analysis (FEA) for the determination of the temperature distribution for the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) built in the LED lamp. In the finite element analysis, the conjugate heat transfer model was adapted for the calculation of the heat transfer, including thermal conductivity, convection and radiation. Applied on the power chips located on the PCBA, the graphene thermal interface material (TIMs) had been studied for its effects on the temperature distribution. For an accurate simulation about the LED lamp, the model with closed and compact space was built in the analysis. Compared to the experimental data, it showed that the simulation results had a deviation in the range of 3−5% around the main heating source, the light-emitting diodes. It proves the FEA model proposed in this study were well developed for the simulation of the temperature distribution for the high-power LED lamps which have mixed heat transfer mechanisms. The thermal radiation effects by TIMs with graphene were also investigated in this study and proven to be useful for the heat dissipation for the LED lamps.

Parameter identification of an induction machine is of great importance in numerous industrial applications. This paper used time-varied signals of voltage, current, and rotor speed to compute the equivalent circuit parameters, moment of inertia, and friction coefficient of an induction machine. The theoretical impedance-slip rate characteristic curve of the induction machine can be expressed as a polynomial fraction, so that a proper polynomial fraction can obtain complete and accurate parameters. A time-varied impedance can be found by the time-varied voltage and current. From the variation of impedance to the rotor speed, the parameters of the equivalent circuit can be found. According to the equivalent circuit and rotor speed, the torque can be determined via dynamic simulation. On the basis of torque and rotor speed with time, the moment of inertia and friction coefficient of the motor can then be obtained. Advantages of this method include the ability to obtain the optimal value via only one calculation, without the requirement of any initial value, and the avoidance of any local optimal solution. In this paper, the analysis of a practical induction machine was used as an example to illustrate the practical application.

This research utilizes a plasma electrolysis technique to clean the surface of stainless steel 316. The resulting microstructure enhances the self-cleaning properties of the stainless steel surface. The position of the cathode electrode is varied to enlarge the total surface being processed and achieves a uniform processing surface. We propose a self-made plasma electrolysis reaction system supplemented with a 3-axis platform to control the speed at which the cathode electrode moves. The electrolyte is an aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and water. We obtain the optimal parameters for applied voltage, moving speed of the specimen at the cathode, and electrode distance using a one-factor-at-a-time experimental approach to achieve uniform distribution of the surface microstructure. We then observe and measure surface micrographs showing the surface roughness of the specimens after experiments, using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an atomic force microscope (AFM). The contact angle is experimentally proven to be greater than 100°, indicating that the surface is hydrophobic.

The rapid emergence (from 0% before 1998 to 6.5% in 2000) of pandrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (PDRAB) was noted in a university hospital in Taiwan. To understand the epidemiology of these isolates, we studied 203 PDRAB isolates, taken from January 1999 to April 2000: 199 from 73 hospitalized patients treated at different clinical settings in the hospital and 4 from environmental sites in an intensive-care unit. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) generated by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction of these 203 isolates showed 10 closely related genotypes (10 clones). One (clone 5), belonging to pulsotype E and RAPD pattern 5, predominated (64 isolates, mostly from patients in intensive care). Increasing use of carbapenems and ciprofloxacin (selective pressure) as well as clonal dissemination might have contributed to the wide spread of PDRAB in this hospital.

This article proposes a novel method for analyzing residual stress and deformation in butt welding on 6 mm SUS304 stainless steel plates, using MSC.MARC, a commercial finite element method software, to find the best location for jig fixtures that will minimize welding deformation. Simulation and experimental studies show that a distance of 100 mm between the jig center and the welding bead center is best for inhibiting welding deformation when the jigs experience downward displacement at 0 mm on the steel plate; the total displacement is only about 1.1 mm in the case of a 300 × 250 × 6 mm SUS304 steel plate. In addition, a numerical model shows that four jigs with pitches of 200 mm can better reduce welding deformation than six jigs with pitches of 100 mm. The largest residual stress after welding occurs around the weld bead center, and the residual stress away from the welding bead center increases gradually when jigs have been applied on the steel plate to prevent deformation. The reaction force of the jigs on the steel plate has no further effect in reducing deformation. We conclude that commercially available jigs can inhibit deformation during the welding process.

This article proposes a novel, web-based, remote monitoring and control system design for a building’s electrical power, green power generation and environmental system that will save energy. The supervisory control system is based on the use of distributed microcontroller architecture to access programmable logic controllers (PLC) and remote input/output devices through the system hardware framework with uniform Ethernet technology. The programmable logic controller (PLC) can access and control devices directly or through RS-232 and RS-485 serial communication. The distributed microcontroller is the control module designated through an open-source firmware, to transform heterogeneous communication to Modbus transmission control protocol (TCP) communication and to achieve the exchange of information between the host and client controller. The proposed supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system is based on the professional software of InduSoft Web Studio and provides a supervisory control design with a friendly human–machine interface. The system can realize real-time data acquisition and storage, control command transmission, system security and power trend analysis. Finally, the proposed SCADA system can be built directly into the hypertext markup language (HTML) and HTML5 and run on the web server, allowing access from a personal computer or smartphone web browser. Our system goals are to greatly reduce system complexity and maintenance costs with a simple Ethernet architecture. The control system can be easily expanded with the same technology culture outside the restrictive one of the large companies. Hence, this system can easily be used in a smart home system to enhance the quality of its inhabitants.

SUS440 is a high-carbon stainless steel, and its martensite matrix has high heat resistance, high corrosion resistance, and high pressure resistance. It has been widely used in mechanical parts and critical materials. However, the SUS440 martempered matrix has reliability problems in thin plate applications and thus research uses different austempering heat treatments (tempering temperature: 200 °C–400 °C) to obtain a matrix containing bainite, retained austenite, martensite, and the M7C3 phase to investigate the relationships between the resulting microstructure and tensile mechanical properties. Experimental data showed that the austempering conditions of the specimen affected the volume fraction of phases and distribution of carbides. After austenitizing heat treatment (1080 °C for 30 min), the austempering of the SUS440 thin plates was carried out at a salt-bath temperature 300 °C for 120 min and water quenching was then used to obtain the bainite matrix with fine carbides, with the resulting material having a higher tensile fracture strength and average hardness (HRA 76) makes it suitable for use as a high-strength thin plate for industrial applications.

Glyoxalase I (GLO1), a methylglyoxal detoxification enzyme, is implicated in the progression of human malignancies. The role of GLO1 in gastric cancer development or progression is currently unclear. The expression of GLO1 was determined in primary gastric cancer specimens using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blotting analyses. GLO1 expression was higher in gastric cancer tissues, compared with that in adjacent noncancerous tissues. Elevated expression of GLO1 was significantly associated with gastric wall invasion, lymph node metastasis, and pathological stage, suggesting a novel role of GLO1 in gastric cancer development and progression. The 5-year survival rate of the lower GLO1 expression groups was significantly greater than that of the higher expression groups (log rank P = 0.0373) in IHC experiments. Over-expression of GLO1 in gastric cancer cell lines increases cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness. Conversely, down-regulation of GLO1 with shRNA led to a marked reduction in the migration and invasion abilities. Our data strongly suggest that high expression of GLO1 in gastric cancer enhances the metastasis ability of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, and support its efficacy as a potential marker for the detection and prognosis of gastric cancer.

In industrial automation systems, motors are crucial in driving mechanisms for speed or positioning control tasks. The widespread adoption of AC motors has been driven by their advantages such as low cost, solid structure, and easy maintenance. AC motors have gradually supplanted traditional DC motors with brushes and commutators and have become the predominant choice for motor and drive applications in industrial settings. In this paper, we introduce a hybrid control scheme that combines a sliding mode controller (SMC) and time delay estimation to enhance the robustness of speed control for permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM). Following the field-oriented principle, a flux SMC is initially designed to meet stator flux control requirements promptly. Subsequently, a speed controller is introduced, employing SMC with time delay estimation to address challenges such as torque and flux ripples, ultimately enhancing the overall robustness of the control system. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme under conditions of load disturbance and parameter uncertainties. Future work will involve implementing the proposed approach on digital signal processors to validate its performance and practicality in real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has transformed manufacturing processes, particularly in industries such as electronics and aerospace. While larger enterprises have successfully implemented IIoT applications to enhance productivity and facilitate smart manufacturing, small and medium-sized enterprises have faced challenges in adopting these technologies owing to financial constraints and limitations in their existing equipment. Therefore, in this paper, we propose to use Raspberry Pi as the hardware basis and the Cheng Shiu University laboratory as the research target. The approach presented in this paper involves integrating open-source packages to design both the programmable logic controller (PLC) publishing pattern and the PLC subscribing pattern. The proposed approach uses a message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT) communication protocol for transmitting Modbus transmission control protocol (TCP) register data and bidirectional data exchange with a remote monitoring system. An MQTT Broker is established to act as a bridge between the monitoring platform and the control system. A Node-RED-based IoT platform is set up to subscribe to topics from the PLC publisher for data collection. Additionally, the human–machine interface (HMI) in the monitoring system utilizes MQTT communication to publish PLC control commands, and a database is implemented for the historical analysis of monitoring data. In this study, we aim to establish a web-based cross-platform monitoring and control system using lowcost integration through Raspberry Pi 4B embedded systems and various communication protocols. The design facilitates the IoT transformation of PLC control systems. This integrated system has broad applications in construction, production equipment, and power system monitoring to achieve power monitoring and energy conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed a residue number system (RNS), a numeral system consisting of an arbitrary number of pairwise coprime integers representing a specific integer by its value. We discovered that this system reduced the runtime or training speed of image processing. In addition, we observed that the characteristic operations of the core functions of the decentralized congruential system derived from the proposed system reduced the overall execution time or training speed of image processing. Both the speed of calculation and the properties of the congruential system ensured the accuracy and security of information after distributed processing. Overall, this approach enabled the use of different algorithms on microdevices while ensuring confidentiality. In summary, we developed a system capable of increasing the operation speed of image processing by 50% through core function precomputation, with a modified image data input, a modified core function, and a reverse core function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional foods have shown promise in mitigating skin aging. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10 (LPTWK10) and its spray-dried supernatant powder on ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin photoaging in female BALB/c nude mice. Over a 13-week period of UVB exposure and concurrent administration of high doses of LPTWK10 or its spray-dried fermentation supernatant, significant improvements were observed, skin wrinkles were notably reduced, transepidermal water loss rate decreased by 68.94–70.77%, and stratum corneum hydration increased by 76.97–112.24%. Furthermore, LPTWK10 was effective in reducing erythema and inflammation while enhancing skin lightness. Histological assessments revealed substantial reductions in epidermal hyperplasia and collagen degradation. Additionally, LPTWK10 was found to influence critical mechanisms associated with collagen metabolism and proinflammatory cytokine production. In summary, LPTWK10 attenuates photoaging through modulation of collagen metabolism and reduction in inflammatory responses, suggesting its potential as a functional ingredient for delaying photoaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a hardware-in-the-loop simulation analysis method for controlling the speed of a surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor using the development software Altair Embed 2019. We focused on implementing a comprehensive closed-loop speed control drive using the field-weakening algorithm, encompassing maximum torque per ampere, constant output power, and maximum torque per voltage. Altair Embed 2019 facilitates an intuitive graphical approach for swift control design through real-time embedded controller simulation that is particularly compatible with digital signal processors such as those from Texas Instruments. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated through hardware-in-theloop simulation conducted on a dynamometer system, showcasing promising results. Future endeavors involve the direct implementation of this methodology in practical drive and motor systems to substantiate its efficacy in streamlining programming technical skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric tools have become indispensable in various industries owing to their convenient portability, high energy efficiency, and capability to operate without being constrained by power cords when using batteries. Referring to the currently marketed ST-64 specification gas-powered or compressed-air-powered nail guns commonly used for concrete and steel beams, we propose a linear motor design with superior output power and operational speed for use in electric nail guns. The design process begins with designing and simulating the stator and mover of the motor using Altair Flux 3D finite element analysis software. The stator is a combination of permanent magnets and electromagnetic iron and designed to possess magnetic field properties similar to those of the Halbach magnet array. On the other hand, the mover utilizes permanent magnets with different magnetic field directions to achieve a Halbach magnet array design, resulting in a magnetic field direction opposite to that of the stator. The linear motor, formed by a combination of the stator and mover, is then analyzed and adjusted through Flux 3D finite element analysis to design a short-stroke, high-thrust linear motor leveraging the concentrated magnetic field characteristics of the magnet array. Finally, it is experimentally verified that the linear motor designed in the experiment can achieve an output force of up to an average of 90 N even when using an inferior core, reinforcing the potential and reliability of this design for practical implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]