Search

This report addresses three variants identified within a female cadaver. Specifically, these were an anomalous origin of the right suprarenal artery, an abnormal bilateral ovarian vein branch, and a arterial tortuosity of the left ovarian artery. Indeed, the cadaver evinced abnormal origins in the case of the middle suprarenal artery (MSA), right inferior phrenic artery (IPA), and the renal capsule artery (emanating from the right renal artery). The MSA and IPA shared a common trunk with the inferior suprarenal artery. It was additionally observed that the right ovarian vein anastomoses the branches from the right kidney posterior inferior along with those to the renal fat capsule. Abnormal origin was evident in the case of the left ovarian artery, and arterial tortuosity was apparent in the lower region of the vessels. This report addresses both the clinical import of these variations and their likely causes. In the subdiaphragmatic region, surgical success and prognosis may be impacted by such anomalies; accordingly surgeons must be aware of anatomical variants of the ovarian and suprarenal arteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic illnesses worldwide. High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is a gynecological tumor that accounts for roughly 70% of ovarian cancer deaths in women. Runt-related transcription factor 1(RUNX1) proteins were identified with overexpression in the HGSOC. However, the roles of RUNX1 in the development of HGSOC are poorly understood. In this study, combined with whole-transcriptome analysis and multiple research methods, RUNX1 was identified as vital in developing HGSOC. RUNX1 knockdown inhibits the physiological function of ovarian cancer cells and regulates apoptosis through the FOXO1-Bcl2 axis. Down-regulated RUNX1 impairs EMT function through the EGFR-AKT-STAT3 axis signaling. In addition, RUNX1 knockdown can significantly increase the sensitivity to clinical drug therapy for ovarian cancer. It is strongly suggested that RUNX1 work as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for HGSOC patients with better prognoses and treatment options. It is possible to generate novel potential targeted therapy strategies and translational applications for serous ovarian carcinoma patients with better clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uneven terrain walking is hard to achieve for most child-size humanoid robots, as they are unable to accurately detect ground conditions. In order to reduce the demand for ground detection accuracy, a walking control framework based on centroidal momentum allocation is studied in this paper, enabling a child-size humanoid robot to walk on uneven terrain without using ground flatness information. The control framework consists of three controllers: momentum decreasing controller, posture controller, admittance controller. First, the momentum decreasing controller is used to quickly stabilize the robot after disturbance. Then, the posture controller restores the robot posture to adapt to the unknown terrain. Finally, the admittance controller aims to decrease contact impact and adapt the robot to the terrain. Note that the robot uses a mems-based inertial measurement unit (IMU) and joint position encoders to calculate centroidal momentum and use force-sensitive resistors (FSR) on the robot foot to perform admittance control. None of these is a high-cost component. Experiments are conducted to test the proposed framework, including standing posture balancing, structured non-flat ground walking, and soft uneven terrain walking, with a speed of 2.8 s per step, showing the effectiveness of the momentum allocation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-section optimization is an effective way to improve the mechanical performance of a vehicle body and reduce its structural mass. However, previous studies suffer from the deficiencies involving inaccurate cross-sectional model, insufficient consideration of manufacturability constraints and inefficient single-objective optimization. In this work, eight typical cross-sections of a body are optimized. A chain node-based parametric modeling is proposed to realize accurately cross-sectional discretization, and the geometric and manufacturability constraints as well as three optimization objectives are considered in the cross-sectional optimization models. To realize multi-objective optimization, a multi-objective intelligence adaptive optimization algorithm (MIAOA) is proposed. By classifying the non-dominated solutions and applying a reward-penalty strategy, the MIAOA realizes intelligent iteration. The experimental results on ZDT and DTLZ suites obtained by MIAOA are better than those of five typical algorithms in terms of convergence, stability, uniformity and extensiveness. Besides, the MIAOA is applied to improve the moments of inertia of the cross-sections and reduce their material areas. These optimized cross-sections are applied to the body, and the optimized body shows better mechanical performances involving torsional stiffness, bending stiffness, first-order mode and second-order mode, while reducing the total mass by 9.96 kg. In conclusion, the proposed methods can effectively realize lightweight automobiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Exploring key regulators in colon cancer metastatic progression could lead to better outcomes for patients. Methods: Initially, the transcriptional profiles of 681 colonrectal cancer (CRC) cases were used to discover signature genes that were significantly correlated with colon cancer metastasis. These signature genes were then validated using another independent 210 CRC cases' transcriptomics and proteomics profiles, and Kaplan–Meier regression analyses were used to screen the key regulators with patients' survival. Immunohistochemical staining was used to confirm the biomarkers, and transit knockdown was used to explore their implications on colon cancer cells migration and invasion abilities. The impact on the key signalling molecules in epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) process that drive tumour metastasis was tested using Western blot. The response to clinical standard therapeutic drugs was compared to clinical prognosis of key regulators using an ROC plotter. Results: Five genes (BGN, THBS2, SPARC, CDH11 and SPP1) were initially identified as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of colon cancer metastasis. The most significant signatures associated with colon cancer metastasis were determined to be BGN and THBS2. Furthermore, highly expression of BGN and THBS2 in tumours was linked to a worse survival rate. BGN and THBS2 knockdown significantly reduced colon cancer cells migration and invasion, as well as down‐regulating three EMT‐related proteins (Snail, Vimentin and N‐cadherin), and increasing the proliferation inhibitory effect of 5‐fluorouracil, irinotecan and oxaliplatin treatment. Conclusions: CRC metastatic progression, EMT phenotypic transition and poor survival time have been linked to BGN and THBS2. They could be utilized as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for colon cancer metastatic patients with a better prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new method for weld seam localization is proposed. • The proposed AFFNet enables highly accurate weld seam identification. • The improved weighted dice loss function solves the problem of sample imbalance. • A sliding window detection approach is devised to extract control points. In the process of assembling heavy vehicle rear axles, weld seams undergo meticulous quality checks. Research has predominantly focused on surface imperfections of weld seams, with minimal exploration into critical factors like the seam's exact location, configuration, and internal integrity. Precise seam localization is fundamental for a thorough assessment of weld quality and the advancement of welding techniques. In response, we have engineered a superior method for accurately localizing weld seams, even in the demanding conditions of industrial workshops. This method introduces an innovative attention-enhanced feature fusion network (AFFNet) that strengthens feature detection and accurately identifies weld seams down to the pixel level. To increase the accuracy of segmentation, we have developed a weighted dice loss function. Our methodology also includes a sliding window technique for identifying control points, which ensures smoother and more consistent localization of weld seams. The efficacy of our approach is validated through testing, showcasing outstanding performance with fewer parameters than other existing methods. The precision of our method is evidenced by the localization root mean squared error (RMSE) for both straight and curved weld seams, which are 1.72 and 2.09 pixels respectively, demonstrating the system's capability to precisely identify weld positions. This approach also meets the requirements for real-time inspection, marking a significant advancement in the field of weld seam analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• AZO/Ti/Ag/AZO thin films were prepared by magnetron sputtering at PET substrates. • The near-infrared transmittance was improved by inserting an untra-thin Ti layer. • The conductivity and surface roughness were improved by inserting the Ti layer. • The transmittance of 80.3 % and 61.7 % in 400–1100 nm and 400–2000 nm was achieved. Multilayer thin films of titanium-embedded Al-doped ZnO/Ag/Al-doped ZnO (AZO/Ag/AZO) structures have been designed and deposited onto polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates to develop an indium-free transparent flexible electrode. The effect of Ti layer on the morphological, structural, optical and electrical properties of multilayer thin films was investigated. The insertion of ultra-thin Ti layers enhances the near-infrared transmittance of AZO/Ag/AZO thin films, widens the spectral transmission window of AZO/Ag/AZO thin films, and improves the conductivity and surface roughness of AZO/Ag/AZO thin films. As the Ag thickness increases from 8 nm to 12 nm, the sheet resistance of the AZO/Ti/Ag/AZO thin film decreases from 16.22 Ω sq-1 to 7.17 Ω sq-1. AZO/Ti/Ag/AZO with an Ag thickness of 8 nm exhibits excellent optoelectronic properties with an average transmittance of 80.3 % and 61.7 % in the wavelength range of 400–1100 nm and 400–2000 nm, as well as a sheet resistance of 16.22 Ω Sq-1. It is demonstrated that AZO/Ti/Ag/AZO multilayer flexible films have great potential in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynaecologic illnessed worldwide. Platelet-activating factor acetyl hydrolase IB2 (PAF-AH IB2) is an intracellular serine esterase that hydrolyzes platelet-activating factor, a G-protein-like trimer with two catalytic subunits and one regulatory subunit. The regulatory role of PAF-AH IB2 in the oncogenesis of ovarian cancer is not well understood. Methods: In this study, the TCGA dataset and clinical cancer tissue microarray were utilized to investigate abnormal overexpression of PAF-AH IB2 in ovarian cancer. To investigate the impact on the cell proliferation, migration, and tumorigenicity in vitro, PAF-AH IB2 stable knocking down (KD) ovarian cancer cells were established by ShRNA. The whole transcription profiling, tyrosine kinase profiling and standard cell functional assays were integrated to explore the biological importance and mechanism of PAF-AH IB2 modulated in ovarian cancer. Results: PAF-AH IB2 was identified significantly overexpression in four subtypes of ovarian cancer. In vitro, PAF-AH IB2 KD significantly inhibited cancer cell proliferation, migration, and tumorigenicity, activated caspases and caused cell cycle arrest, and made the cells more sensitive to PAF. PAF-AH 1B2 KD cells down-regulated several key regulators of the multiple tyrosine kinases-mediated signaling pathway, suggesting a novel interaction network between the growth factor receptors pathway and PAF-AH 1B2 mediated PAF signalling. Conclusions: These findings revealed a previously undiscovered role for PAF-AH IB2 as a potenial therapy target and essential signaling mediators in ovarian cancer pathogenesis, as well as new possible preventive and therapeutic strategies to inhibit this enzyme in clinical treatment for ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes into consideration the excellent energy absorption ability of hierarchical honeycombs and auxetic structures and proposes a novel auxetic hierarchical crash box assembled by the auxetic hierarchical filling cores and the outer square thin-walled tube. The crushing performance of the auxetic hierarchical crash box is systematically investigated. The comparisons of energy absorption ability are made among the auxetic hierarchical crash box, aluminum foam-filled crash box, and the traditional crash box. In addition, a multi-objective optimization design is conducted based on the surrogate model with higher accuracy. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and archive-based micro genetic algorithm (AMGA) are, respectively, employed to obtain the pareto sets. The results show that the optimum solution with AMGA has a smaller relative error, and the multi-objective optimization successfully improves the crushing performance of the auxetic hierarchical crash box. The electric vehicle crashworthiness is remarkably improved by the application of the auxetic hierarchical crash box. The conclusions of this paper can provide a new solution for the design of the crash box. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of the linear size from reverberation mapping (RM) and the angular distance of the broad-line region (BLR) from spectroastrometry (SA) in active galactic nuclei can be used as a "standard ruler" to measure the Hubble constant H0. Recently, Wang et al. successfully employed this approach and estimated H0 from 3C 273. However, there may be a systematic deviation between the response-weighted radius (RM measurement) and luminosity-weighted radius (SA measurement), especially when different broad lines are adopted for size indicators (e.g., Hβ for RM and Paα for SA). Here we evaluate the size deviations measured by six pairs of hydrogen lines (e.g., Hβ, Hα, and Paα) via the locally optimally emitting cloud (LOC) models of the BLR. We find that the radius ratios K (=RSA/RRM) of the same line deviated systematically from 1 (0.85–0.88) with dispersions between 0.063 and 0.083. Surprisingly, the K values from the Paα(SA)/Hβ(RM) and Hα(SA)/Hβ(RM) pairs not only are closest to 1 but also have considerably smaller uncertainty. Considering the current technology of infrared interferometry, the Paα(SA)/Hβ(RM) pair is the ideal choice for low-redshift objects in the SARM project. In the future, the Hα(SA)/Hβ(RM) pair could be used for high-redshift luminous quasars. These theoretical estimations of the SA/RM radius pave the way for future SARM measurements to further constrain the standard cosmological model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Battery management system (BMS) is one of the key subsystems of electric vehicle, and the battery state-of -charge (SOC) is a crucial input for the calculations of energy and power. Therefore, SOC estimation is a significant task for BMS. In this paper, a new method for online estimating SOC is proposed, which combines a novel adaptive extended Kalman filter (AEKF) and a parameter identification algorithm based on adaptive recursive least squares (RLS). Specifically, according to the first order R-C network equivalent circuit model, the battery model parameters are identified online using the RLS with multiple forgetting factors. Based on the identified parameters, the novel AEKF is used to accurately estimate the battery SOC. The online identification of parameter tracks the varying model. At the same time, due to the novel AEKF algorithm to dynamically adjust the system noise parameter, excellent accuracy of the SOC real-time estimation is obtained. Experiments are set to evaluate the accuracy and robustness of the proposed SOC estimation method. The simulation test results indicate that under DST and UDDS conditions, the maximum absolute errors are less than 0.015 after filtering convergence. In addition, the maximum absolute error is less than 0.02 in the simulation of DST with current and voltage measurement noise, so is in DST with current offset sensor error. The tests indicate that the proposed method can accurately estimate battery SOC and has strong robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns the problem of network embedding (NE), which aims to learn low-dimensional representations for network nodes. Such dense representations offer great promises for many network analysis problems. However, existing approaches are still faced with challenges posed by the characteristics of complex real-world networks. First, for networks associated with rich content information, previous methods often learn separated content and structure representations, which requires post-processing of combination. Empirical combination strategies often make the final vectors suboptimal. Second, existing methods preserve the structure information by considering short and fixed neighborhood scope, such as the first- and/or the second-order proximities. However, it is hard to decide the neighborhood scope in complex problems. To this end, we propose a novel sequence to sequence model based NE framework referred to as Self-Translation Network Embedding (STNE). With the sampled node sequences, STNE translates each sequence itself from the content sequence to the node sequence. On the one hand, the bi-directional LSTM encoder fuses the content and structure information seamlessly from the raw input. On the other hand, high-order proximity can be flexibly learned with the memories of LSTM to capture long-range structural information. Experimental results on three real-world datasets demonstrate the superiority of STNE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many tasks involve learning representations from matrices, and Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) has been widely used due to its excellent interpretability. Through factorization, sample vectors are reconstructed as additive combinations of latent factors, which are represented as non-negative distributions over the raw input features. NMF models are significantly affected by latent factors' distribution characteristics and the correlations among them. And NMF models are faced with the challenge of learning robust latent factor. To this end, we propose to learn representations with an awareness of the semantic quality evaluated from the aspects of intra- and inter-factors. On the one hand, a Maximum Entropy-based function is devised for the intra-factor semantic quality. On the other hand, the semantic uniqueness is evaluated via inter-factor correlation, which reinforces the aim of semantic compactness. Moreover, we present a novel non-linear NMF framework. The learning algorithm is presented and the convergence is theoretically analyzed and proved. Extensive experimental results on multiple datasets demonstrate that our method can be successfully applied to representative NMF models and boost performances over state-of-the-art models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal decomposition behavior of electrically controlled solid propellant (ECSP) with hydroxyl ammonium nitrate as oxidizer and polyvinyl alcohol as binder was investigated through thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry coupling technology at the heating rates of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 K min−1 in nitrogen. Results indicated that the Tinitial and Tmax values of the thermal decomposition of ECSP increase with heating rates. The activation energy Eα from the results of TG data at various heating rates was calculated by model-free isoconversional Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) methods. The activation energies obtained through the FWO method were close to those obtained through the KAS method, and the values for activation energy were located between 42.82 and 48.49 kJ mol−1. An appropriate reaction mechanism conversion model for ECSP was determined by Málek and Coats–Redfern methods. Thermal decomposition kinetics of the ECSP obeyed the random nucleation and subsequent growth model, called Avrami–Erofeev function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new glycosaminoglycan (LF-GAG) was obtained from the slug Limacus flavus. • Physicochemical properties of LF-GAG were analyzed. • Four oligosaccharides were obtained by deacetylation-deamination and purification. • The precise structure of LF-GAG was determined. • Structure and heparinase inhibitory activity relationships were discussed. A new glycosaminoglycan (LF-GAG) was purified from the slug Limacus flavus. Its unique chemical structure and heparanase inhibitory activity were studied in this work. The native LF-GAG was composed of L-iduronic acid (L-IdoA) and N -acetyl-D-glucosamine (D-GlcNAc), with a Mw of 22,700 Da. To elucidate the precise structure and structure-activity relationship, its deacetylation-deaminative depolymerized product (dLF-GAG) was prepared, and from which four oligosaccharides were purified. Combining the NMR spectral analysis of LF-GAG and its derived oligosaccharides, the structure of LF-GAG was deduced to be -4)-L-IdoA 2R -(α1,4)-D-GlcNAc-(α1-, in which R was −OH (˜80%) or –OSO 3 − (˜20%). Bioactivity assays showed that LF-GAG could potently inhibit human heparanase (IC 50 , 0.10 μM). dLF-GAG and LF-3 were less potent but also active for heparanase inhibition. Structure-activity relationship analysis indicated that the chain length and sulfate substitution of LF-GAG are essential for its heparanase inhibitory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sanjiang Tethyan Orogen plays a pivotal role in elucidating the geodynamic processes related to the evolution of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. Research on the Gicha Complex within this orogen is imperative for comprehending the intricate evolution of the region. This study presents new findings from zircon U‒Pb dating, Hf isotope analysis, and whole-rock elemental analyses of gabbro, olivine gabbro, and the recently discovered mylonitic rhyolite and diabase in the Gicha Complex. The zircon U‒Pb dating yields ages of 703 ± 3 Ma for the diabase, 296 ± 2 Ma for the gabbro, and 231 ± 1 and 228 ± 2 Ma for the mylonitic rhyolite, demonstrating that these rocks record the extended evolution from the breakup of Rodinia to the closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. The Neoproterozoic diabase samples exhibit shoshonitic and arc-like geochemical properties, with positive zircon εHf(t) values ranging from 1.1 to 3.7 and high Th/Yb values ranging from 1.34 to 3.07, suggesting that they were generated by partial melting of enriched subduction-modified lithospheric mantle in an active continental margin. The early Permian gabbro samples are part of the tholeiitic series and exhibit low SiO2 and K2O contents; depletions in Nb, Ta and Ti; and enrichment in Pb, indicating derivation from a combination of depleted mantle peridotite and subduction-related components. The whole-rock geochemical features suggest that these rocks formed in a back-arc setting featuring a small, mature ocean basin. The mylonitic rhyolite samples exhibit weakly peraluminous characteristics (A/CNK = 0.98–1.12) with high-K calc-alkaline geochemical features. The samples are depleted in Ba, Nb, Ta, and Ti and enriched in Th, U, Pb, and LREEs and exhibit negative to positive zircon εHf(t) values ranging from − 0.5 to + 5.9, indicating that they originated from partial melting of Meso-Neoproterozoic juvenile lower crust. Geochronological, petrological, and geochemical analyses indicate that the subduction of oceanic crust occurred along the western margin of the Yangtze Block until the late Neoproterozoic (~ 703 Ma). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The development of a novel method to estimate the state of charge (SOC) with low read‐only memory (ROM) occupancy, high stability, and high anti‐interference capability is very important for the battery management system (BMS) in actual electric vehicles. This paper proposes the square root cubature Kalman filter (SRCKF) with a temperature correction rule, based on the BMS of a common on‐board embedded micro control unit (MCU), to achieve smooth estimation of SOC. The temperature correction rule is able to reduce the testing effort and ROM space used for data table storage (189.3 kilobytes is much smaller than the storage of the MPC5604B, with 1000 kilobytes), while the SRCKF is adopted to achieve highly robust real‐time SOC estimation with high resistance to interference and moderate computing cost (68.3% of the load rate of the MPC5604B). The results of multiple experiments show that the proposed method with less computational complexity converges rapidly (in approximately 2.5 s) and estimates the SOC of the battery accurately under dynamic temperature condition. Moreover, the SRCKF algorithm is not sensitive to the high measuring interference and highly nonlinear working conditions (even with 1% current and voltage measurement disturbances, the root mean square error of the proposed method can be as high as 0.679%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extended narrow-line regions (NLRs) around active galactic nuclei (AGN) are shaped by the distribution of gas in the host galaxy and by the geometry of the circumnuclear obscuration, and thus they can be used to test the AGN unification model. In this work, we quantify the morphologies of the NLRs in 308 nearby AGN (z  = 0 − 0.14, L bol∼1042.4 − 44.1 erg s−1) from the MaNGA survey. Based on the NLR maps, we find that a large fraction (81 per cent) of these AGN have bi-conical NLR morphology. The distribution of their measured opening angles suggests that the intrinsic opening angles of the ionization cones have a mean value of 85°–98° with a finite spread of 39°–44° (1σ). Our inferred opening angle distribution implies a number ratio of type I to type II AGN of 1:1.6–2.3, consistent with other measurements of the type I/type II ratio at low AGN luminosities. Combining these measurements with the WISE photometry data, we find that redder mid-IR colour (lower effective temperature of dust) corresponds to stronger and narrower photoionized bicones. This relation is in agreement with the unification model that suggests that the bi-conical NLRs are shaped by a toroidal dusty structure within a few pc from the AGN. Furthermore, we find a significant alignment between the minor axis of host galaxy discs and AGN ionization cones. Together, these findings suggest that obscuration on both circumnuclear (∼pc) and galactic (∼ kpc) scales is important in shaping and orienting the AGN NLRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slug Vaginulus alte is used as folk medicine in China, but the structure and activities of its galactan components remain to be clarified. Here, the galactan from V. alte (VAG) was purified. The Mw of VAG was determined as ~28.8 kDa. Chemical composition analysis showed that VAG was composed of d -galactose (75 %) and l -galactose (25 %). To elucidate its precise structure, a series of disaccharides and trisaccharides were purified from mild acid hydrolyzed VAG and their structures were characterized by 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy. Based on methylation analysis and structural analysis of oligosaccharides, VAG was elucidated as a highly branched polysaccharide and mainly composed of (1 → 6)- or (1 → 3)-linked β- d -galactose, and distinct (1 → 2)-linked α- l -galactose. The investigation of probiotic effects in vitro revealed that VAG could promote the growth of B. thetaiotaomicron and B. ovatus , while had no effect on the growth of L. acidophilus , L. rhamnosus , B. longum subsp. infantis and B. animalis subsp. lactis , but dVAG-3 with Mw ~1.0 kDa could promote the growth of L. acidophilus. These results will provide insights into specific structures and functions of polysaccharides from the V. alte. • A highly branched galactan VAG was obtained from the slug Vaginulus alte. • Structures of oligosaccharides released from VAG were identified. • VAG was consisted of (1 → 3)-, (1 → 6)-linked β- d -galactose and (1 → 2)-linked α- l -galactose. • VAG could promote the growth of B. thetaiotaomicron and B. ovatus. • dVAG-3 with Mw of 1.0 kDa could promote the growth of L. acidophilus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A newly reported oxidizer, hydrogen peroxide encapsulated in silica xerogel (hydrogen peroxide gel), is prepared and applied to the combustion of aluminum particles in this study. Linear and mass burning rates of the highly viscous mixture of hydrogen peroxide gel and micron-aluminum (μAl) were measured as a function of mixture composition, pressure, and particle size. Steady-state burning rates were obtained at room temperature using an optical vessel for a pressure range of 3.6–12.0 MPa in argon, an oxidizer-to-fuel weight ratio (O/F) from 0.8 to 2.0, and particle diameters between 1 and 12 μm. The homogeneous mixture of hydrogen peroxide gel and μAl was able to be ignited over a wide O/F range of 0.8–2.0, even at low pressures (e.g., 3.6 MPa). At a nominal pressure of 3.6 MPa, mass burning rates ranged between 4.45 g·cm−2·s−1 (O/ F = 0.8) and 1.26 g·cm−2·s−1 (O/ F = 2.0), which corresponded to linear burning rates of 35.1 and 8.5 mm·s−1, respectively. In the pressure range of 3.6–10.0 MPa, linear burning rates of the oxidizer-rich mixture (O/ F = 1.7) were linearly increased with pressure increasing and the pressure exponent (n) was 1.05. The combustion reaction was kinetically controlled within this pressure range. However, when the pressure beyond ∼10 MPa, there was a transition in pressure dependence and the burning rate tended to be constant. In addition, burning rates of the mixture were inversely proportional to Al particle diameter, increasing by 3.06 times when the particle diameter was decreased from 11.02 to 1.84 μm at stoichiometric ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While ageing remains a global concern, it is especially challenging for China, which has the world's largest ageing population. In response, the Chinese government has introduced digitalisation policies that clearly embrace the use of information and communication technologies in health. To enhance data protection in this tide of digital transformation, China adopted its first ever standalone data protection legislation in 2021, the Personal Information Protection Law, which is expected to have huge impacts on technology and data processing. This paper captures these significant changes related to technological advances and regulatory approaches. It aims to explore the interplay between China's new data protection legal regime and the digital health advances which were proposed to facilitate healthcare in an ageing society. To do so, the paper first reviews and categorises the use of digital tools for various health functions and argues that the use of digital health technologies creates significant data protection concerns. The paper then investigates to what extent China's data protection rules mitigate privacy risks created by digital health technologies. An evolutionary overview of China's data protection legal landscape is mapped out. On this basis, outstanding legal issues surrounding health data protection are explored, contributing to a nuanced analysis of health data processing under different scenarios including: (1) healthcare provision; (2) health research; (3) public health; (4) social care and health management in a non-medical context; and (5) real-world data for market approval. The paper shows that the Personal Information Protection Law renders China's data protection legal landscape less fragmented and offers important legal safeguards for health data. Despite legislative advances, a closer look at relevant provisions in the Personal Information Protection Law and their interplay with other regulations reveals areas where further clarification is needed, including the definition of health data, the meaning of 'separate consent', data minimisation requirements for health apps, and the operation of the enforcement mechanism. The paper ends with indicating potential steps forward, with a hope that the benefits of digital health can be realised in a manner that respects privacy and human dignity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – In this work, an SFEM is proposed for solving acoustic problems by redistributing the entries in the mass matrix to “tune” the balance between “stiffness” and “mass” of discrete equation systems, aiming to minimize the dispersion error. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach – This is done by simply shifting the four integration points’ locations when computing the entries of the mass matrix in the scheme of SFEM, while ensuring the mass conservation. The proposed method is devised for bilinear quadratic elements. Findings – The balance between “stiffness” and “mass” of discrete equation systems is critically important in simulating wave propagation problems such as acoustics. A formula is also derived for possibly the best mass redistribution in terms of minimizing dispersion error reduction. Both theoretical and numerical examples demonstrate that the present method possesses distinct advantages compared with the conventional SFEM using the same quadrilateral mesh. Originality/value – After introducing the mass-redistribution technique, the magnitude of the leading relative dispersion error (the quadratic term) of MR-SFEM is bounded by (5/8), which is much smaller than that of original SFEM models with traditional mass matrix (13/4) and consistence mass matrix (2). Owing to properly turning the balancing between stiffness and mass, the MR-SFEM achieves higher accuracy and much better natural eigenfrequencies prediction than the original SFEM does. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been regarded as a new class of regulators in cellular processes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the relationship between miR-452 and the development of NSCLC remains unclear. Methods: qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-452 and its target gene in NSCLC samples (n=60). The transwell assay was used to test the cell invasion capability. The regulation mechanism was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay and western blot assay. Results: In the current study, a relatively lower miR-452 and higher BMI1 expression levels were confirmed to be associated with advanced tumor stage and more extent of lymph nodes metastasis. In vitro, down-regulated miR-452 could enhance cell invasion capability. Furthermore, miR-452 modulated BMI1 expression by binding to its 3ʹ-UTR. The enhancement of cell invasion capability induced by down-regulated miR-452 was eliminated by repression of BMI1. Conclusions: Our results suggest that miR-452 plays a vital role in development of NSCLC, and this miR-452-BMI1 pathway might generate a novel insight into the treatment of NSCLC. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine predators algorithm (MPA) is a metaheuristic algorithm for solving optimization problems. MPA divides the whole optimization process into three phases evenly, and each phase corresponds to a different search agent update strategy. Such a setup makes MPA inflexible when facing different optimization problems, which affects the optimization performance. In this paper, we propose a novel modified MPA hybridizing by Q-learning (QMPA), which applies reinforcement learning to the selection of update strategy, and selects the most appropriate position update strategy for search agents in different iteration stages and states. It can effectively compensate for the deficiency of MPA's adaptive ability when facing different optimization problems. The performance of QMPA is tested on classical benchmark functions, the CEC2014 test suite, and engineering problems. In the classical benchmark functions test, QMPA is compared with MPA in 10, 30, and 50 dimensions. QMPA performs better than MPA for seven of the ten functions when the dimension is 10 and 30. The results of dimension 50 show that QMPA outperforms MPA in 5 functions and is close to it in 4 functions. Then, comparing QMPA with algorithms such as grey wolf optimizer, particle swarm optimization, slime mould algorithm, sine cosine algorithm, reptile search algorithm, and aquila optimizer, the results show that QMPA has the best performance on 22 of the total 30 functions in the CEC2014 test suite. Finally, QMPA is tested on two commonly used real-world engineering problems and gives the most optimal results. In general, the adaptive update strategy proposed in this paper improves the optimization performance of the MPA algorithm in terms of convergence and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-piercing riveting is a major mechanical joining technique to join dissimilar lightweight materials, which has been widely used in the automotive industry. However, the die-casting aluminum sheet under the self-piercing riveted joint will generate cracks on the joint button due to the low ductility of the die-casting aluminum. A new technique of local-thickened self-piercing riveting (LT-SPR) is proposed to solve the problem of cracking on joint buttons in this paper. The effect of process parameters on cracking on joint button are discussed systematically and experimentally. The joint quality, mechanical properties, and failure mode of the LT-SPR joints are studied compared to the conventional SPR (C-SPR) joints. It is concluded that crack-free joints can be obtained in a wide range of rivet-die combinations using LT-SPR. Compared with the C-SPR joints, LT-SPR joints have larger forming quality indexes, smaller riveting force, smaller bending deformation, and better mechanical properties. For the LT-SPR process, the mechanical properties and failure mode are highly dependent on the rivet length, and larger rivet length can cause rivet fracture failure in the LT-SPR. The energy absorption of the joints that failed in interlock failure is superior to that of joints with rivet fracture failure, and joint strength is not affected by rivet fracture failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shape of the ambient circumnuclear medium (ACM) density profile can probe the history of accretion onto the central supermassive black holes in galaxies and the circumnuclear environment. However, due to the limitations of instrument resolution, the density profiles of the ACM for most galaxies remain largely unknown. In this work, we propose a novel method to measure the ACM density profile of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) by the equilibrium between the radiation pressure on the warm absorbers (WAs, a type of AGN outflow) and the drag pressure from the ACM. We study the correlation between the outflow velocity and ionization parameter of WAs in each of the five Seyfert 1 galaxies (NGC 3227, NGC 3783, NGC 4051, NGC 4593, and NGC 5548), inferring that the density profile of the ACM is between n ∝ r âˆ'1.7 and n ∝ r âˆ'2.15 (n is number density and r is distance) from 0.01 pc to parsec scales in these five AGNs. Our results indicate that the ACM density profile in Seyfert 1 galaxies is steeper than the prediction by the spherically symmetric Bondi accretion model and the simulated results of the hot accretion flow, but more in line with the prediction by the standard thin-disk model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermodynamic properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) binder of electrically controlled solid propellant with different degrees of polymerization and alcoholysis were studied via multiple thermochemical methods. The combustion heat of three PVA types at 298.15 K were measured by a bomb combustion calorimeter, and the results showed that the combustion heat of PVA increased with the increase of its degrees of polymerization and alcoholysis. According to the results of combustion heat and elemental analysis, the standard molar enthalpy of polymer formation was calculated. The specific heat capacity of high-molecular-weight PVA (146,000 − 186,000) was measured through the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) method from 293 K to 453 K, and the molar heat capacity was calculated. Through calculation of the heat capacity values, the relationship between the molar heat capacity and temperature was presented as a function of the following polynomial equations: Cp,m (J∙K−1∙mol−1) = 7.21 × 10−4 T3 − 0.63 T2 + 184.58 T − 17,958.71 (293–323 K) and Cp,m (J∙K−1∙mol−1) = −3.64 × 10−7 T4 + 5.62 × 10−4 T3 − 0.322 T2 + 81.83 T − 7692.35 (333–453 K). According to the polynomial equations and thermodynamic relationship, the thermodynamic functions (HT − H298.15) and (ST − S298.15) of the PVA with high molecular weight relative to 298.15 K were calculated in the temperature range of 293–453 K with an interval of 10 K by using the heat capacity data. The thermal stability of the PVA with different molecular weights and alcoholysis were also measured by using the thermogravimetry technique. Results showed that high-molecular-weight PVA had better thermal stability than low-molecular-weight PVA. The volatile degradation products of three PVA types were analyzed by Thermal gravimetric analysis-Fourier transform infrared (TG-FTIR) spectroscopy suggests that water, unsaturated aldehydes and ketone are the dominant products, however, a big amount of acetic acid is also found in the products of PVA with low alcoholysis degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural biopolymers derived from exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are considered eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to available traditional synthetic counterparts. Salt-tolerant bacteria inhabiting harsh ecological niches have evolved a number of unique adaptation strategies allowing them to maintain cellular integrity and assuring their long-term survival; among these, producing EPSs can be adopted as an effective strategy to thrive under high-salt conditions. A great diversity of EPSs from salt-tolerant bacteria have attracted widespread attention recently. Because of factors such as their unique structural, physicochemical, and functional characteristics, EPSs are commercially valuable for the global market and their application potential in various sectors is promising. However, large-scale production and industrial development of these biopolymers are hindered by their low yields and high costs. Consequently, the research progress and future prospects of salt-tolerant bacterial EPSs must be systematically reviewed to further promote their application and commercialization. In this review, the structure and properties of EPSs produced by a variety of salt-tolerant bacterial strains isolated from different sources are summarized. Further, feasible strategies for solving production bottlenecks are discussed, which provides a scientific basis and direct reference for more scientific and rational EPS development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the critical need for enhanced safety in the burgeoning electric vehicle market, this study presents a novel insulation detection method based on the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) algorithm. To resolve the conflict between the response speed and detection accuracy of the insulation detection system caused by Y-capacitors, the Levenberg–Marquardt (L-M) algorithm is employed to effectively estimate the parameters of the feedback voltage model developed for an unbalanced electrical bridge. The state equation of the insulation testing system has been constructed, and the EKF algorithm is applied innovatively to monitor insulation resistance and Y-capacitance, demonstrating superior anti-interference capabilities. Simulation experiments have underscored the significant contributions of the L-M algorithm in expanding the detection scope of the system. Bench tests confirmed the ability of the approach to monitor changes in insulation resistance and Y-capacitance rapidly and accurately. Under normal conditions, the maximum relative error for insulation resistance measurement is 1.56%, with a response time of 1.5 s. • Identifying insulation system parameters via Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. • Use extended Kalman filter for insulation resistance monitoring. • Simulations and experiments validate proposed approach efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a novel green and high-performance propellants, H 2 O 2 /H 2 O/Al propellants have the potential to solve the pollution problem faced by composite solid propellants while maintaining high performance. However, the drawback that it cannot be ignited at a low oxidizer-to-fuel weight ratio (O/F) and a low pressure hinders its further development. Fortunately, this ignition defect was addressed by the mixture of hydrogen peroxide gel and micron-Al in our recent work. In this paper, the effects of Al content and particle size on the combustion characteristic of burning surface propagation and combustion products of the mixture were investigated. Combustion experiments were conducted in a windowed pressure vessel, using mixtures with three mixing ratios (fuel-lean, stoichiometric, and fuel-rich) and Al particle diameters between 1 and 12 μm. The burning surface propagation was captured by a high-speed camera. The particle size distribution, component, and morphology of combustion products were characterized by laser particle size analyzer, X-ray powder diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. And it is the first time that the combustion properties of H 2 O 2 /H 2 O/Al propellants (including H 2 O/Al propellants) are studied from the prospective of particle size distribution of combustion products. Results showed that with the decrease of Al content and the increase of particle diameter, the combustion intensity of the mixture decreased, resulting in the agglomeration of melted Al droplets on the burning surface. When the Al content was decreased to O/F = 1.7, Al particles in the mixture were no longer further oxidized in the process of combustion. When the Al particle diameter was increased to 7–10 μm, burning rates of the mixture at O/F = 1.7–1.1 tended to be stable. The combustion of mixtures containing 3–7 μm was kinetically controlled. From the prospective of variable burning rate and efficient combustion, the appropriate Al content in the mixture was O/F = 1.7–1.1, and the Al particle diameter should be kept within 1–7 μm. • Two agglomeration mechanisms exist during the combustion of hydrogen peroxide gel and micron-Al mixtures. • Burning rates approach stable when Al particle diameter beyond 7–10 μm. • Al particles reach the oxidation limit during combustion when O/F = 1.7. • The morphology of combustion products is greatly affected by combustion intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE, CD143) Gene plays a crucial role in the pathology of carcinomas in many cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the methylation of ACE was rarely reported. In this study, our purpose was to investigate the methylation status of ACE and explored its prognostic value in CRC. The expression of ACE was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis while the methylation status of ACE was measured via methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). The result demonstrated that ACE expression was up-regulated in tumour tissues and HT-29 cells compared with the controls. ACE was also confirmed to be hypomethylated in CRC. Next, we evaluated the influence of ACE hypomethylation on cell growth. It was proved to be a favourable factor for the cell proliferation, cell colony forming, but an inhibitor for the cell apoptosis of CRC cells according to MST assay, colony forming assay and flow cytometry assay. ACE hypomethylation was also considered to be related to the prognosis of CRC through Cox regression analysis. Taken together, the over-expression of ACE was regulated by its hypomethylation and the ACE hypomethylation might be an independent prognostic indicator in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oily sludge is a kind of harmful solid waste produced by the petroleum industry. It is the key point of research to understand the mechanism of gas product changes during the pyrolysis process. This study combined density functional theory (DFT) calculation with a pyrolysis experiment to explore the changes in pyrolytic gas products from oily sludge. The results of thermogravimetric–mass spectrometry (TG–MS) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) showed that the gas products below 400°C were dominated by long‐chain hydrocarbons, but with the increase of the treatment temperature, the long‐chain hydrocarbons will decrease. The results of kinetics and thermodynamics showed that there were five stages of pyrolysis of oily sludge, and the values of E, ΔH, and ΔG were increased with the increase of pyrolysis temperature. The DFT calculation revealed that there were delocalized π‐electrons at the fracture‐prone sites, and the electrons on the functional groups of the molecule were more easily excited. The results can provide ideas for the pyrolysis mechanism of oily sludge and theoretical support for the optimization of the pyrolysis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the properties of stellar kinematics and ionized gas in a sample of 1106 local (U)LIRGs from the AKARI telescope. We combine data from Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer and Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 13 to fit the spectral energy distribution (SED) of each source to constrain the contribution of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) to the total IR luminosity and estimate physical parameters such as stellar mass and star formation rate (SFR). We split our sample into AGNs and weak/non-AGNs. We find that our sample is considerably above the main sequence. The highest SFRs and stellar masses are associated with ULIRGs. We also fit the H β and H α regions to characterize the outflows. We find that the incidence of ionized gas outflows in AGN (U)LIRGs (∼72%) is much higher than that in weak/non-AGN ones (∼39%). The AGN ULIRGs have extreme outflow velocities (up to ∼2300 km s−1) and high mass-outflow rates (up to ∼60 M ⊙ yr−1). Our results suggest that starbursts are insufficient to produce such powerful outflows. We explore the correlations of SFR and specific SFR (sSFR) with ionized gas outflows. We find that AGN hosts with the highest SFRs exhibit a negative correlation between outflow velocity and sSFR. Therefore, in AGNs containing large amounts of gas, the negative feedback scenario might be suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible snails have been widely used as a health food and medicine in many countries. A unique glycosaminoglycan (AF-GAG) was purified from Achatina fulica . Its structure was analyzed and characterized by chemical and instrumental methods, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, analysis of monosaccharide composition, and 1D/2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Chemical composition analysis indicated that AF-GAG is composed of iduronic acid (IdoA) and N -acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and its average molecular weight is 118 kDa. Structural analysis clarified that the uronic acid unit in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) is the fully epimerized and the sequence of AF-GAG is →4)-α-GlcNAc (1 → 4)-α-IdoA2S (1→. Although its structure with a uniform repeating disaccharide is similar to those of heparin and heparan sulfate, this GAG is structurally highly regular and homogeneous. Anticoagulant activity assays indicated that AF-GAG exhibits no anticoagulant activities, but considering its structural characteristic, other bioactivities such as heparanase inhibition may be worthy of further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater and mud inrush during tunneling may cause severe security risk, great economic loss and unrecoverable damage to environment. However, the prediction and prevention still remain as a challenging problem. According to geological survey, Lingjiao tunnel was judged to be safe from danger of large-scale water and mud inrush. Unfortunately, a large (the largest one in China) mud outburst accident happened with bursting mud of more than 40,000 m 3 , leaving a huge collapse pit on the upper surface of the crossed mountain. Moreover, another mud inrush took place right in the paralleling tunnel nearby one year after the first accident, which triggered another follow-up collapse in the same site as the first time, though it has been reinforced with concrete cover. The two mud inrushes accidents were induced by and through the similar geological structure, which was not recognized. In this paper, the mud-inrush processes are expatiated. It is found that geological identification of water-bearing and mud-filling structures is crucial for subsequential effective geophysical or drilling probing, misunderstanding and unable to recognize these crucial geostructures accounts for a lot of hazards. The failure to predict the more than once mud inrushes in Lingjiao tunnel is due to misunderstanding of hazard-inducing geostructure. The water-bearing and mud-filling structure is fracture-induced karstified zone (Epi-Fracture-Karst-Zone, EFKZ) which is formed from the karstification enhanced by fracture zone rather than originally suspected main fault zone. The favorable conditions for EFKZ development and mud filling which include dissoluble rocks, hot, humid climate and dense vegetation, tensile fracture zone, thick soil and abundant rainfall and the mechanism of mud inrush have been identified: The adjacent water-bearing fillings with high pressure in EFKZ surrounding the working face flow into the tunnel when EFKZ is disturbed by blasting, which induced the heavy mud-inrush accident in Lingjiao tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforcement learning provides a general framework for achieving autonomy and diversity in traditional robot motion control. Robots must walk dynamically to adapt to different ground environments in complex environments. To achieve walking ability similar to that of humans, robots must be able to perceive, understand and interact with the surrounding environment. In 3D environments, walking like humans on rugged terrain is a challenging task because it requires complex world model generation, motion planning and control algorithms and their integration. So, the learning of high-dimensional complex motions is still a hot topic in research. This paper proposes a deep reinforcement learning-based footstep tracking method, which tracks the robot's footstep position by adding periodic and symmetrical information of bipedal walking to the reward function. The robot can achieve robot obstacle avoidance and omnidirectional walking, turning, standing and climbing stairs in complex environments. Experimental results show that reinforcement learning can be combined with real-time robot footstep planning, avoiding the learning of path-planning information in the model training process, so as to avoid the model learning unnecessary knowledge and thereby accelerate the training process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A deep discriminative structured model, convolutional neural random fields (CNRFs), is proposed for action recognition problem. In the proposed model, a spatio-temporal convolutional neural network (CNN) is developed for invariant feature learning from raw input frames, and the CNN is combined with conditional random fields (CRFs) for capturing the interdependencies between outputs. The parameters from both CRF and CNN are learned in a joint fashion which enables structured prediction and feature learning as well. We also explore different combinations of observation and transition feature functions based on the learned high level features from convolution part. The approach enjoys the advantages of both CNN and CRF, it has the invariant feature learning ability possessed by the former and structured prediction ability of the latter. The experimental results on both segmented and unsegmented human action recognition datasets show that CNRF boosts the performance over the comparison methods by a large margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel cell-based smoothed radial point interpolation method (CSRPIM) is used to deal with underwater acoustic scattering problem. The nature of infinite domain has been changed by exact Dirichlet-to-Neumann (DtN) boundary condition. Owing to the use of gradient smoothing operation and consequent properly softened stiffness, the CSRPIM model is capable of reducing pollution error significantly. A theoretical analysis is carried out to elucidate the superiority in controlling pollution error of CSRPIM. By selecting virtual nodes properly in condensed shape functions, the interpolation error in the CSRPIM can also be reduced. Through several simple acoustic scattering numerical examples, advantages of CSRPIM have been verified. The results show that the CSRPIM can be applied directly to solve acoustic scattering problems and can obtain higher accuracy than traditional linear finite element method (FEM) even if in relatively high frequency range. Also, the use of linear triangular elements in the present model makes the analysis of practical underwater acoustic problems with complex shapes easier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the ionized gas kinematics relationship with X-ray, radio and accreting properties using a sample of 348 nearby ( z < 0.4 ) SDSS-FIRST-X-ray detected AGNs. X-ray properties of our sample are obtained from XMM-Newton, Swift and Chandra observations. We unveil the ionized gas outflows in our sample manifested by the non-gravitational broad component in [O iii]λ5007Å emission line profiles. From the comparison of the correlation of non-parametric outflow velocities (i.e., the velocity width, the maximal velocity of outflow and line dispersion) with X-ray luminosity and radio luminosity, we find that outflow velocities have similarly positive correlations with both X-ray and radio luminosity. After correcting for the gravitational component, we find that the [O iii] velocity dispersion normalized by stellar mass also increases with both X-ray luminosity and radio luminosity. We also find that, for a given X-ray (radio) luminosity, radio (X-ray) luminous AGNs have higher outflow velocities than non-radio (non-X-ray) luminous AGNs. Therefore, we find no clear preference between X-ray luminosity and radio luminosity in driving high-velocity ionized outflows and conclude that both AGN activity and small-scale jets contribute comparably. Moreover, there is no evidence that our obscured AGNs are preferentially associated with higher velocity outflows. Finally, we find a turning point around log (λ E d d) ≃ − 1.3 when we explore the dependency of outflow velocity on Eddington ratio. It can be interpreted considering the role of high radiation pressure (log (λ E d d) ≳ − 1.3 ) in causing drastic reduction in the covering factor of the circumnuclear materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monocyte-derived tumor-associated macrophages (Mo-TAMs) intensively infiltrate diffuse gliomas with remarkable heterogeneity. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we chart a spatially resolved transcriptional landscape of Mo-TAMs across 51 patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type glioblastomas or IDH-mutant gliomas. We characterize a Mo-TAM subset that is localized to the peri-necrotic niche and skewed by hypoxic niche cues to acquire a hypoxia response signature. Hypoxia-TAM destabilizes endothelial adherens junctions by activating adrenomedullin paracrine signaling, thereby stimulating a hyperpermeable neovasculature that hampers drug delivery in glioblastoma xenografts. Accordingly, genetic ablation or pharmacological blockade of adrenomedullin produced by Hypoxia-TAM restores vascular integrity, improves intratumoral concentration of the anti-tumor agent dabrafenib, and achieves combinatorial therapeutic benefits. Increased proportion of Hypoxia-TAM or adrenomedullin expression is predictive of tumor vessel hyperpermeability and a worse prognosis of glioblastoma. Our findings highlight Mo-TAM diversity and spatial niche-steered Mo-TAM reprogramming in diffuse gliomas and indicate potential therapeutics targeting Hypoxia-TAM to normalize tumor vasculature. [Display omitted] • Single-cell omics reveals functional and spatial diversity of Mo-TAMs in glioblastomas • Tumor cues and hypoxia concertedly induce Hypoxia-TAM signature via activating p50 • ADM secreted by Hypoxia-TAM stimulates a destabilized tumor vasculature • ADM blockade improves vessel integrity, drug delivery, and anti-tumor efficacy Pronounced necrosis in glioblastomas is accompanied by abundant destabilized microvessels. Wang et al. show that the niche cues from the peri-necrotic regions polarize macrophages toward a hypoxic state, which in turn augments vascular hyperpermeability. Targeting adrenomedullin produced by hypoxic macrophages normalizes tumor neovasculature and improves anti-tumor drug delivery and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to reveal the serum tumor marker (STM) levels in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) histological subtypes and evaluate their values in predicting the solid and micropapillary components (SMC). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 3100 invasive LUAD patients between January 2017 and December 2020. Associations between preoperative STMs (CEA, CYFRA21‐1, CA199, CA724, NSE, AFP) and LUAD subtypes were evaluated. Multivariate regression analyses were used to determine the independent predictors. Predictive models for SMC were constructed and AUC (area under the curve) was calculated. Results: CEA and CYFRA21‐1 levels differed across the LUAD histological subtypes, with the SPA (solid‐predominant adenocarcinoma) having the highest level and the LPA (lepidic‐predominant adenocarcinoma) harboring the lowest level (p <0.001). Tumors with SMC also had higher CEA and CYFRA21‐1 levels than those absence of SMC. Gender, tumor size, CEA, Ki‐67, EGFR mutation (solid components only), and tumor differentiation were significantly independently associated with the containing of SMC. Patients were split into two data sets (training set: 2017–2019 and validation set: 2020). The model with gender and tumor size yielded an AUC of 0.723 (training set) and 0.704 (validation set) for the solid component. Combination of CEA, gender, and tumor size led to a significant increase in the predictive accuracy (training set: 0.771, p = 0.009; validation set: 0.747, p = 0.034). The AUC of the model for micropapillary component with only gender and tumor size was 0.699 and 0.711 in the training set and validation set, respectively. Integration of CEA with gender and tumor size significantly improved the predictive performance with an AUC of 0.746 (training set, p = 0.045) and 0.753 (validation set, p <0.001). Conclusion: Serum CEA and CYFRA21‐1 varied considerably according to LUAD histological subtypes. The combination of serum CEA and other factors showed prominent values in predicting the SMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first near-IR spectroscopy and joint analyses of multiwavelength observations for SDSS J082747.14+425241.1, a dust-reddened, weak broad emission-line quasar (WLQ) undergoing a remarkable broad-absorption line (BAL) transformation. The systemic redshift is more precisely measured to be z = 2.070 ± 0.001 using H β compared to z = 2.040 ± 0.003 using Mg ii from the literature, signifying an extreme Mg ii blueshift of 2140 ± 530 km sâˆ'1 relative to H β. Using the H β -based single-epoch scaling relation with a systematic uncertainty of 0.3 dex, its black hole (BH) mass and Eddington ratio are estimated to be M BH ∼ 6.1 Ă— 108 M ⊙ and λ Edd ∼ 0.71, indicative of being in a rapidly accreting phase. Our investigations confirm the WLQ nature and the LoBAL â†' HiBAL transformation, along with a factor of 2 increase in the Mg ii +Fe ii emission strength and a decrease of 0.1 in E (B âˆ' V) over two decades. The kinetic power of this LoBAL wind at R ∼ 15 pc from its BH is estimated to be ∼43% of the Eddington luminosity, sufficient for quasar feedback upon its host galaxy albeit with an order-of-magnitude uncertainty. This quasar provides a clear example of the long-sought scenario where LoBAL quasars are surrounded by dust cocoons, and wide-angle nuclear winds play a key role in the transition of red quasars evolving into the commonly seen blue quasars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to walk in a physical environment, the biped will encounter various external disturbances, and walking under persistent conditions is still challenging. This paper tries to improve the push recovery performance based on capture point (CP) and model predictive control. The trajectory of zero moment point (ZMP) and center of mass are solved and predicted in a limited time horizon. Online footprint generator is combined with MPC walking pattern generation, which can keep biped stable in the next few steps, and projection of ZMP is used to calculate the next footprint and reach the target CP in an incremental way. Verification of the proposed stable biped walking method is conducted by simulation and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the major components of the tumor microenvironment that contribute to metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The potential of TAM-derived exosomes for biomarker discovery in tumor initiation and progression has been recently reported. However, studies on macrophage-derived exosomes in LUAD remain limited. We investigated the role of M2 macrophage-derived exosomes in LUAD both in vivo and in vitro and its underlying mechanism. We showed that the infiltration of M2 macrophages was positively correlated with LUAD metastasis. M2 macrophage-derived exosomes could be taken up by LUAD cells to promote cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. Furthermore, miR-942 could be packaged into exosomes secreted by M2 macrophages. Mechanistically, exosomal miR-942 regulates FOXO1 protein expression by binding to the 3'-UTR region of FOXO1 and further alleviates β-catenin inhibition in LUAD cells. Collectively, we demonstrated that M2 macrophage-derived miRNA-containing exosomes promote LUAD cell invasion and migration and facilitate angiogenesis, thereby providing a new therapeutic target for metastatic LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The SPR joinability, forming quality, and joining ranges of different stack combinations are systematically investigated and compared. • Optimal riveting parameters for each stack combination are summarized. • The forming quality improvement process is developed to solve the forming quality defects. Reducing complexity and increasing efficiency of the self-piercing riveting (SPR) process in joining varying sheet stack combinations by reducing the required rivet-die combinations have attracted great attention in the automobile industry. In this paper, the SPR joinability and the joining ranges of material strength and thickness of three types of stack combinations (e.g., steel-aluminium (SA), aluminium-aluminium (AA), and aluminium-steel (AS)) are investigated. In particular, the forming quality improvement process is developed to solve the forming quality defects generated in the riveting process. Two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element (FE) models are developed for each stack combination to simulate the SPR process, and the effects of rivet hardness, die type, sheet material and sheet thickness on the SPR joinability are studied numerically. The results show that the SPR joinability decreases with the increase in the thickness ratio, and the SPR joinability approaches zero when the thickness ratio exceeds 1.47. The rivet H4 and rivet H6 with a flat die can achieve higher SPR joinability compared to rivet H1. Specifically, the rivet H4 is suitable for joining the AA stack, and the rivet H6 is suitable for joining the SA and AS stacks. The average undercut ratio increases with the increase in rivet hardness, while a decreasing tendency is observed with the increase in thickness ratio. The rivet stiffness and hardness can be adjusted to solve the forming quality parameter defects and overcome upsetting deformation defects. Switching the riveting direction for the large thickness ratios (1.47 and 2.08) has proven to be an effective method to achieve successful joining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is the most frequent type of heart disease, and it is a major cause of myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF), both of which require expensive medical treatment. Precise biomarkers and therapy targets must be developed to enhance improve diagnosis and treatment. In this study, the transcriptional profiles of 313 patients' left ventricle biopsies were obtained from the PubMed database, and functional genes that were significantly related to ischemic cardiomyopathy were screened using the Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis and protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks enrichment analysis. The rat myocardial infarction model was developed to validate these findings. Finally, the putative signature genes were blasted through the common Cardiovascular Disease Knowledge Portal to explore if they were associated with cardiovascular disorder. Three interferon stimulated genes (IFIT2, IFIT3 and IFI44L), as well as key pathways, have been identified as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ischemic cardiomyopathy, and their alternations or mutations have been proven to be strongly linked to cardiac disorders. These novel signature genes could be utilized as bio-markers or potential therapeutic objectives in precise clinical diagnosis and treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical response of aluminium–steelself-piercing riveted (SPR) joints is investigated under quasi-static and dynamic loadings using experimental and numerical methods separately. First, a 2D axisymmetric numerical model is constructed based on r -adaptivity method to simulate the SPR process and is subsequently validated by tests. Second, a novel generation method of 3D finite element (FE) model of SPR joints, of which the stress–strain field is mapped from the 2D axisymmetric model, is proposed to simulate the mechanical response of aluminium–steel​ SPR joints. The mechanical response of SPR joints under quasistatic and dynamic loadings are compared in detail by experimental tests and numerical simulation. The results reveal that the established 3D FE model can accurately simulate the quasi-static and dynamic strength of SPR joints. It is observed that the peak force of the SPR joints is larger under dynamic loading than under quasi-static loading; while the energy absorption by peeling and cross-tension SPR joints is lower under dynamic loading than quasistatic loading. Finally, the relationships between process parameters, process quality indexes and mechanical response of SPR joints are parametrically investigated under quasi-static and dynamic loadings, in which (1) increasing the rivet length reduces the minimum thickness, increases undercut, and increases energy absorption; (2) increasing the rivet length increases the peak force within a limited range for shear joints and cross-tension joints under dynamic loading; (3) the total effect of process parameters on the mechanical response of SPR joints under dynamic loading are similar to the effect observed under quasi-static loading. • A 2D numerical model is constructed to simulate the riveting process of SPR joints. • A generation method of 3D FE model is proposed to simulate the SPR joints. • The mechanical responses of SPR joints under dynamic loadings are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposed the inverse nonlinearity and applied it in a metamaterial beam. • The bandgap is amplitude-depended and become wider under small excitations. • Proposed the digital oscillator for flexible realization of various nonlinearities. Strong nonlinearity usually becomes noticeable when nonlinear materials or structures undergo large deformation. However, we present here the inverse nonlinearity, where the nonlinearity is inversely proportional to the deformation. We demonstrate this peculiar behavior in a nonlinear metamaterial beam, which is endowed with an array of piezoelectric patches shunted with nonlinear digital oscillators. The nonlinear digital oscillator is physically suggested by coding digital controllers to form an effective nonlinear capacitor, which is connected to an analog inductor. We also analytically interpret this inverse nonlinearity through the effective bending stiffness of the metamaterial beam. It is found that the vibration attenuation bandwidth of the nonlinear metamaterial beam under small-amplitude excitations is three times larger than that under relatively large-amplitude excitations. Thanks to the programmability of digital circuits, the nonlinear oscillators can be easily tuned with various nonlinearities, making vibration control adaptable in both penetration strength and frequency bands. The nonlinear metamaterial beam enlarges vibration control in both frequency and amplitude domains and sheds lights on broadband low-intensity sound and micro-vibration control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years humanoid robots have been widely used in toy, performance, education and other service industries, but most biped robots walk slowly and have poor stability. The reason is that the driver parameters of the robot cannot properly match the walking gait algorithm, and the insufficient performance of the robot driver leads to the poor motion capability of the robot. In this paper, the optimization design process of biped robot parameters is studied and expounded, and its motion capability is improved by optimizing the driving parameters of the robot. Firstly, the contradiction between walking speed, stability and driver performance of biped robot is analysed. The performance evaluation functions of the three are further established, and the optimal parameter design to a certain extent is realized based on the multi-objective optimization method. Finally, combining with the physical simulation engine, the design parameters are simulated and checked, and the robot design process is completed through the guidance of simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractures play an important role in controlling the hydraulic conductivity of rock masses, and the aperture significantly influences the magnitude of fracture seepage. In this study, field measurements and experiments were conducted at a well-exposed granite fracture site in the Beishan area, China. Several types of single natural fractures were selected to remove the weathered surface and expose the fresh fractures. Subsequently, measuring ruler dispersion-tangent middle axis (MRD-TMA) method was developed to measure the fracture aperture and capture fracture geometry. Then, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) technique was employed to investigate the seepage properties of these fractures. The results reveal that MRD-TMA method achieved good flexibility and accuracy in the current measurement of fracture aperture, and ERT is a useful tool for detecting the seepage properties of fractures in hard rock masses. Combined with field observations, the filling form of fractures can be categorized according to the ERT inversion results, as follows: open-weak filling, open filling, loose filling, and fully cemented-closed form, whose seepage properties decrease as the filling density increases. Generally, the open-weak filling is the main water channel in a fracture network, while the fully cemented-closed type is a water-blocking fracture and typically exhibits a pseudo-fracture with a large surface opening. In summary, the method for obtaining the morphological characteristics of the aperture can provide a low-cost and time-efficient approach for fracture logging in the field, and ERT technique provides a reference for the detection of potential hazards caused by connected water-conducting fractures in rock engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]