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To achieve a broad range of gradient strain from the rim to the center of a single specimen, the size of the high-throughput double-cone (DC) specimen was optimized using finite-element-model (FEM) simulation. As the deformation increased, the flow stress of the DC specimen quickly reached the maximum value, then gradually declined, and finally tended to be stable. The gradient microstructures corresponding to the gradient strains from the rim to the center of the DC specimen compressed at a certain temperature and strain rate were obtained by only one compression testing. As the equivalent strain increased, the degree of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) gradually rose from the rim to the center of the compressed DC specimen. However, when the equivalent strain and strain rate remained constant, the degree of DRX increased steadily with rising deformation temperature in the compressed DC specimens. Furthermore, during compression of the DC specimens at temperatures of 250 °C and 300 °C, the primary DRX mechanism was continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX). At temperatures of 350 °C and 400 °C, the DRX mechanism shifted, as both CDRX and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) were observed. This suggested that the DRX mechanism underwent a change as the deformation temperature increased.

Purpose: TNF family members (TFMs) play a crucial role in different types of cancers, with TNF Receptor Superfamily Member 19 (TNFRSF19) standing out as a particularly important member in this category. Further research is necessary to investigate the potential impact of TFMs on prognosis prediction and to elucidate the function and potential therapeutic targets linked to TNFRSF19 expression in gliomas. Methods: Three databases provided the data on gene expression and clinical information. Fourteen prognostic members were found through univariate Cox analysis and subsequently utilized to construct TFMs-based model in LASSO and multivariate Cox analyses. TFMs-based subtypes based on the expression profile were identified using an unsupervised clustering method. Machine learning algorithm identified key genes linked to prognostic model and subtype. A sequence of immune infiltrations was evaluated using the ssGSEA and ESTIMATE algorithms. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the patterns of expression and the clinical significance of TNFRSF19. Results: Our development of a prognostic model and subtypes based on the TNF family was successful, resulting in accurate predictions of prognosis. The findings indicate that TNFRSF19 exhibited strong performance. Upregulation of TNFRSF19 was correlated with malignant phenotypes and poor prognosis, which was confirmed through immunohistochemistry. TNFRSF19 played a role in reshaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment in gliomas, and multiple drug-targeted TNFRSF19 molecules were identified. Conclusions: The TMF-based prognostic model and subtype can facilitate treatment decisions for glioma. TNFRSF19 is an outstanding representative of a predictor of prognosis and immunotherapy effect in gliomas.

To meet the escalating energy demands, marine resources have assumed a significant role in the field of renewable energy. High performance and extended lifespan of offshore equipment provide robust underpinnings for marine resource exploration. Stainless steel, as one of the most widely used marine materials, its friction and corrosion problems in extreme marine environments have become critical factors influencing the service life of marine equipment. Physical vapor deposition (PVD) technology is a compelling method for current and future applications due to the advantages of simple process, no pollution, few consumables, and uniform film formation. The preparation of suitable strengthening coatings by PVD provides a promising approach for enhancing the surface properties of stainless steel. Here, we review the current status of research on the preparation of wear resistance and anti-corrosion coatings on stainless steel surfaces by PVD in marine environments. First, an overview of PVD technology is given. Second, the influence of nitride and carbon-based coatings prepared by PVD technology on the tribological and corrosion properties of stainless steel in the marine environment is discussed, and the strengthening mechanisms of the two coatings are compared and analyzed from the aspects of elemental doping and multilayer structure design. Finally, the challenges and future directions in the development of nitride and carbon-based coatings for marine environments are prospected. The goal is to propose the design ideas of a new generation of anti-wear and corrosion-resistant coatings.

Bridge early warning based on structural health monitoring (SHM) system is of significant importance for ensuring bridge safe operation. The temperature-induced deflection (TID) is a sensitive indicator for performance degradation of continuous rigid frame bridges, but the time-lag effect makes it challenging to predict the TID accurately. A bridge early warning method based on nonlinear modeling for the TID is proposed in this article. Firstly, the SHM data of temperature and deflection of a continuous rigid frame bridge are analyzed to examine the temperature gradient variation patterns. Kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) is used to extract principal temperature components. Then, the TID is extracted through wavelet transform, and a nonlinear modeling method for the TID considering the temperature gradient is proposed using the support vector machine (SVM). Finally, the prediction errors of the KPCA-SVM algorithm are analyzed, and the early warning thresholds are determined based on the statistical patterns of the errors. The results show that the KPCA-SVM algorithm achieves high-precision nonlinear modeling for the TID while significantly reducing the computational load. The prediction results have coefficients of determination above 0.98 and fluctuate within a small range with clear statistical patterns. Setting the early warning thresholds based on the statistical patterns of errors enables dynamic and multi-level warnings for bridge structures.

Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the aging treated AlN/AZ91 composites were systematically investigated by optical microscopy (OM), high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) with an energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), and high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). The results show that the higher fracture elongation (14 ± 1%) and ultimate tensile strength (275 ± 6 MPa) were simultaneously obtained in the peak-aged AlN/AZ91 composites. Comparied with AZ91 matrix alloy, the strength was increased by about 44% and the elongation was approximately five times higher, which mainly attributed to the precipitation of nano-sized γ-Mg17Al12 phase and the activation of non-basal slip systems induced by in-situ AlN particles at room temperature. However, the in-situ formation of AlN reinforcements consumed part of Al element in the matrix alloy, which resulted into the volume fraction decreasing of γ-Mg17Al12 precipitates, and then the age hardening and strengthening efficiency were reduced in the AlN/AZ91 composites. On the other hand, the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient between AlN particles and AZ91 matrix generated high density dislocations around AlN particles, which promoted the precipitation of γ-Mg17Al12 phase, and then the peak aging time and temperature were decreased.

Purpose: Traditionally, plain radiographs are used in intraoperative spinal level localization (SLL), whereas counting vertebrae is often hampered by shoulders and scapulae in lateral views, thus increasing the potential for wrong-level surgery. To improve the localization accuracy, this study evaluated the safety and feasibility of oblique radiographs with methylene blue markings for SLL and explored the optimal angle and height of oblique radiographs. Methods: The clinical data of 33 patients with upper thoracic spine lesions who were operated on in our hospital from January 2021 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Oblique radiographs with methylene blue markings were used for intraoperative SLL. Results: A total of 33 patients were included in this study. The average BMI was 24.3 ± 0.7 kg/m2. The ipsilateral lamina structures were clearly shown in all cases. The median radiographing times of all the patients was 3, and the median radiographing duration was 2 min and 25 s. The average angle of oblique radiographs was 55.1 ± 3.8°, and the average distance from the skin to the root of the spinous process was 4.9 ± 1.2 cm. Conclusions: Using oblique radiographs with methylene blue markings, not only the bone structure of an upper thoracic spine can be revealed clearly, but also the positioning deviation of traditional needle localization can be avoided. The lesion segment can be precisely located by this technology during surgery. Our angle of oblique radiographs and height determination method can be used to reduce the radiation exposure and shorten the operation time.

Electropulsing treatment processing (EPT)-induced microstructural evolution and precipitation behaviour of the β-Mg17Al12 phase in the AZ61 alloy were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron backscattering diffraction patterns. The results revealed that the EPT method is efficient in achieving a near-spherical Mg17Al12 phase (approximately 300 nm) and uniform ultrafine-grained structure (approximately 900 nm) featuring a weakened texture in AZ61 alloy plates after EPT for 40 μs-3 min. The improved structural characteristics are attributed to the rapid recrystallization and grain refinement induced by EPT at lower temperatures and in a short time. On this basis, kinetics analysis of the spheroidization and the dissolution of the β-Mg17Al12 precipitation phase and grain refinement and growth in the samples after EPT were performed. Furthermore, the mechanism of precipitation phase transformation and grain refinement during EPT was discussed.

Electron beam irradiation can effectively inhibit microbial growth, but the changes of lipid during irradiation have not been comprehensively analyzed in marble beef. Here, UHPLC-MS/MS was used to detect lipids changes of irradiated marble beef. A total of 1032 lipids were identified and classified into 3 lipid classes and 8 subclasses in irradiated marble beef. 9 lipid biomarkers were screened with increasing irradiation dose. 122 differential lipids were generated and involved in 4 metabolic pathways included Glycerophospholipid metabolism, Linoleic acid metabolism, alpha-Linolenic acid metabolism and Arachidonic acid metabolism though PC(18:0/14:0), PE(16:0/16:0) and PE(18:0/16:0) in irradiated. Our results showed that irradiation had effect on the lipid of marbled beef, but the increase of irradiation dose from 2.5 kGy to 4.5 kGy had little effect on lipids. These results help us to understand the dynamic changes of irradiated meat lipids and lay a foundation for the application of irradiation in meat preservation.

This paper introduces an innovative model for heavy-haul train–track–bridge interaction, utilizing a coupling matrix representation based on the virtual work principle. This model establishes the relationship between the wheel–rail contact surface and the bridge–rail interface concerning internal forces and geometric constraints. In this coupled system’s motion equation, the degrees of freedom (DOFs) of the wheelsets in a heavy-haul train lacking primary suspension are interdependent. Additionally, the vertical and nodding DOFs of the bogie frame are linked with the rail element. A practical application, a Yellow River Bridge with a heavy-haul railway line, is used to examine the accuracy of the proposed model with regard to discrepancy between the simulated and measured displacement ranging from 1% to 11%. A comprehensive parametric analysis is conducted, exploring the impacts of track irregularities of varying wavelengths, axle load lifting, and the degradation of bridge stiffness and damping on the dynamic responses of the coupled system. The results reveal that the bridge’s dynamic responses are particularly sensitive to track irregularities within the wavelength range of 1 to 20 m, especially those within 1 to 10 m. The vertical displacement of the bridge demonstrates a nearly linear increase with heavier axle loads of the heavy-haul trains and the reduction in bridge stiffness. However, there is no significant rise in vertical acceleration under these conditions.

Background: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are an aggressive form of sarcomas with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Therefore, new therapeutic targets are urgently needed to identify novel drugs. Methods: Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus database, an integrated analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MPNSTs compared to neurofibromas (NFs). Then functional enrichment analyses, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, and hub gene selection were conducted. We explored DEG-guided repurposable drugs to treat MPNST based on the Library of Integrated Network-Based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) database. Furthermore, the binding affinity between predicted drug candidates and the MPNST-associated hub gene was calculated using molecular docking. Results: We identified 89 DEGs in common with all three MPNSTs datasets. In the PPI networks, twist family bHLH transcription factor 1 (Twist1) with higher node degrees was further evaluated as a therapeutic target. Cytochalasin-d, cabozantinib, everolimus, refametinib, and BGT-226 were extracted from the LINCS database, which showed lower normalized connectivity scores (–1.88, –1.81, –1.78, –1.76, and –1.72, respectively) and was considered as drug candidates. In addition, the results of molecular docking between the five drugs and Twist1 showed a binding affinity of –6.61, –7.03, –7.73, –3.94, and –7.07 kcal/mol, respectively. Conclusions: Overall, our results describe the importance of Twist1 in MPNST pathogenesis. Everolimus was also found to be a potential therapeutic drug for MPNSTs.

This research aims to explore the multi-focus group method as an effective tool for systematically eliciting business requirements for business information system (BIS) projects. During the COVID-19 crisis, many businesses plan to transform their businesses into digital businesses. Business managers face a critical challenge: they do not know much about detailed system requirements and what they want for digital transformation requirements. Among many approaches used for understanding business requirements, the focus group method has been used to help elicit BIS needs over the past 30 years. However, most focus group studies about research practices mainly focus on a particular disciplinary field, such as social, biomedical, and health research. Limited research reported using the multi-focus group method to elicit business system requirements. There is a need to fill this research gap. A case study is conducted to verify that the multi-focus group method might effectively explore detailed system requirements to cover the Case Study business's needs from transforming the existing systems into a visual warning system. The research outcomes verify that the multi-focus group method might effectively explore the detailed system requirements to cover the business's needs. This research identifies that the multi-focus group method is especially suitable for investigating less well-studied, no previous evidence, or unstudied research topics. As a result, an innovative visual warning system was successfully deployed based on the multi-focus studies for user acceptance testing in the Case Study mine in Feb 2022. The main contribution is that this research verifies the multi-focus group method might be an effective tool for systematically eliciting business requirements. Another contribution is to develop a flowchart for adding to Systems Analysis & Design course in information system education, which may guide BIS students step by step on using the multi-focus group method to explore business system requirements in practice.

Since the n-type conduction was first discovered, the non-toxic and low-cost Mg3Sb2-based thermoelectric materials have been intensively studied, and likely to become alternative ones to the only large-scale commercialized Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric compounds. This review covers the principle of the mutual conversion of heat and electricity, crystal structure, electronic structure, and p/n-type thermoelectric properties of Mg3Sb2-based materials. Besides, the optimization strategies and underlying mechanisms for improving thermoelectric performance of Mg3Sb2 compounds are briefly analyzed, such as doping, alloying, grain size regulation, and energy band structure design, together with their effects on carrier concentration, carrier scattering, mobility, and Seebeck coefficient. Finally, preliminary research results of Mg3Sb2-based thermoelectric materials applied to power generation and refrigeration, along with the problems related to the future module application, are also discussed.

The effectiveness of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor ALK (TKI) for non-small cell lung cancer has been confirmed. However, resistance to ALK-TKIs seems inevitable. Mutations in the ALK kinase domain have been reported as an important mechanism of acquired resistance to ALK therapy. However, patients with de novo ALK kinase domain mutations and ALK rearrangements who were not treated with ALK inhibitors have rarely been reported. Here, we report a case of primary drug resistance to first- and second-generation ALK inhibitors in a NSCLC patient with ALK-rearrangement. The next-generation sequencing test of the pathological biopsy showed that the de novo ALK kinase domain mutation F1174L-cis-S1189C may be the cause of primary drug resistance.

Background: Diffuse glioma, the most common intracranial malignant tumor, is characterized by immunosuppression. The prognostic significance and potential therapeutic value of SYK remain obscure. Here, we explored the performance of SYK in predicting patient outcomes and as a therapeutic target.Methods: The mRNA expression and clinical data for pancancer and normal tissues and more than 2,000 glioma samples were collected from public databases. The expression level of SYK was evaluated by qPCR and IHC. The prognostic value of SYK was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier curves and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. A sequence of immune and stromal infiltration analyses was calculated based on the ESTIMATE algorithm, ssGSEA algorithm, TIMER, and single-cell analysis. The SYK-related subtypes were identified via a Consensus Cluster Plus analysis.Results: SYK was significantly differentially expressed in multiple tumors and normal tissues. Importantly, high-expression SYK was enriched in malignant phenotypes of diffuse gliomas, which was further validated by qPCR and IHC. Survival analysis uncovered that SYK was an independently unfavorable prognostic marker in diffuse glioma. Functional enrichment analysis and immune and stromal infiltration analyses showed that SYK was involved in shaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment of diffuse glioma. Additionally, SYK expression was closely associated with some immune checkpoint molecules and M2 macrophage infiltration, which was validated by IHC and single-cell analysis. Diffuse glioma with Sub1 exhibited a worse prognosis, immunosuppressive microenvironment, and higher expression of immune checkpoint genes.Conclusion: SYK is involved in shaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment and served as a promising prognosis biomarker and immunotherapeutic target for diffuse glioma.

AZ61 Mg alloy with homogeneous refined microstructure and exceptional mechanical properties was obtained by the combined technology of equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) and electropulsing treatment (EPT) in this paper. Based on an ECAP die with an intersection angle of 160, the lower temperature is particularly adapted for AZ61 alloy to be deformed, in which accompanied by high accumulated defects density. The recrystallization of EPTed samples during different stages indicated that the recrystallization behavior of the deformed Mg alloy was mainly affected by the processing time and duration of EPT. Compared to those of the as-received samples, the average grain size of the EPTed samples was refined from 89 µm to 1.0 µm, accordingly the yields stress (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) were increased from 100 MPa and 260 MPa to 330 MPa and 448 MPa, respectively. The mechanisms of microstructure transformation and the reinforced mechanical properties were analyzed based on the strain of single ECAP, cumulative storage energy and the athermal effect of EPT.

Gas explosions and outbursts were the leading types of gas accidents in mining in China with gas concentration exceeding the threshold limit value (TLV) as the leading cause. Current research is focused mainly on using machine learning approaches for avoiding exceeding the TLV of the gas concentration. no published reports were found in the literature of attempts to uncover the correlation between gas data and other data to predict gas concentration. This research aimed to fill this gap and develop an innovative gas warning system for increasing coal mining safety. A mixed qualitative and quantitative research methodology was adopted, including a case study and correlational research. This research found that strong correlations exist between gas, temperature, and wind. It suggests that integrating correlation analysis of data on temperature and wind into gas would improve warning systems' sensitivity and reduce the incidence of explosions and other adverse events. A Unified Modeling Language (UML) model was developed by integrating the Correlation Analysis Theoretical Framework to the existing gas monitoring system for demonstrating an innovative gas warning system. Feasibility verification studies were conducted to verify the proposed method. This informed the development of an Innovative Integrated Gas Warning System which was deployed for user acceptance testing in 2020.

The stamping formability of Mg–3Al–1Zn (AZ31) alloy was greatly enhanced through weakening (0001) basal texture by repeated unidirectional bending (RUB). After RUB and subsequent annealing, the max (0001) texture intensity of AZ31 Mg alloy was weakened from 10.7 to 6.3 and thus the Schmid factor for basal slip system increased from 0.25 to 0.29. The RUB prepared AZ31 Mg alloy in annealed condition possessed better stamping formability than the original sheet at 373 K, e.g., larger Erichsen value (7.5 mm vs. 5.5 mm), higher and wider forming limit diagram (FLD), larger limiting drawing ratio (LDR) (1.7 vs. 1.4). The weakened (0001) basal texture resulted in a lower Lankford value (r-value) and a higher strain hardening exponent (n-value), thus enhancing the stamping formability of AZ31 Mg alloy. For the deep-drawing cup of the RUB fabricated AZ31 Mg alloy, a weakened (0001) texture and a high Schmid factor of basal slip system were still remained in the internal area, the central area and the external area of the corner in comparison to the deep-drawing cup of the original AZ31 Mg alloy.

BackgroundAs the world's largest coal producer, China was accounted for about 46% of global coal production. Among present coal mining risks, methane gas (called gas in this paper) explosion or ignition in an underground mine remains ever-present. Although many techniques have been used, gas accidents associated with the complex elements of underground gassy mines need more robust monitoring or warning systems to identify risks. This paper aimed to determine which single method between the PCA and Entropy methods better establishes a responsive weighted indexing measurement to improve coal mining safety.MethodsQualitative and quantitative mixed research methodologies were adopted for this research, including analysis of two case studies, correlation analysis, and comparative analysis. The literature reviewed the most-used multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods, including subjective methods and objective methods. The advantages and disadvantages of each MCDM method were briefly discussed. One more round literature review was conducted to search publications between 2017 and 2019 in CNKI. Followed two case studies, correlation analysis and comparative analysis were then conducted. Research ethics was approved by the Shanxi Coking Coal Group Research Committee.ResultsThe literature searched a total of 25,831publications and found that the PCA method was the predominant method adopted, and the Entropy method was the second most widely adopted method. Two weighting methods were compared using two case studies. For the comparative analysis of Case Study 1, the PCA method appeared to be more responsive than the Entropy. For Case Study 2, the Entropy method is more responsive than the PCA. As a result, both methods were adopted for different cases in the case study mine and finally deployed for user acceptance testing on 5 November 2020.ConclusionsThe findings and suggestions were provided as further scopes for further research. This research indicated that no single method could be adopted as the better option for establishing indexing measurement in all cases. The practical implication suggests that comparative analysis should always be conducted on each case and determine the appropriate weighting method to the relevant case. This research recommended that the PCA method was a dimension reduction technique that could be handy for identifying the critical variables or factors and effectively used in hazard, risk, and emergency assessment. The PCA method might also be well-applied for developing predicting and forecasting systems as it was sensitive to outliers. The Entropy method might be suitable for all the cases requiring the MCDM. There is also a need to conduct further research to probe the causal reasons why the PCA and Entropy methods were applied to each case and not the other way round. This research found that the Entropy method provides higher accuracy than the PCA method. This research also found that the Entropy method demonstrated to assess the weights of the higher dimension dataset was higher sensitivity than the lower dimensions. Finally, the comprehensive analysis indicates a need to explore a more responsive method for establishing a weighted indexing measurement for warning applications in hazard, risk, and emergency assessments.

The effect of fine and ultrafine recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) on road construction still lacks investigation. This study investigates the properties of fine and ultrafine RCA, further, the influence of the different proportions of ultrafine RCA on the long-term performance of the designed matrix. The fine and ultrafine RCA are thoroughly characterized. Simultaneously, the mechanical properties, shrinkage properties, and water penetration of the designed matrix are evaluated. The results indicate that RCA shows low density, high porosity, and high water absorption. Furthermore, elevated ultrafine RCA contents result in higher compressive strength of up to 43.14% at 90 days and higher resistance of water penetration of up to 50% at 28 days due to the refined microstructure. However, higher drying shrinkage is observed with higher ultrafine RCA, which is associated with the high water absorption of the ultrafine RCA. The understanding of the utilization of ultrafine RCA in the construction of road base courses has been explored.

The Mg-Zn-Y alloy containing the LPSO phase has excellent mechanical properties and functional application prospects. In an effort to clarify the electrically assisted deformation behavior of the Mg-Zn-Y alloy, electrically assisted tensile tests of Mg98.5Zn0.5Y1 alloy sheets were carried out at different temperatures, current densities, duty ratios, and frequencies. The experimental results showed that, after the pulse current was applied (26.58 A·mm−2), the peak stress of the sample deformed at 200 °C decreased by 8 MPa. The peak stress of the material decreased with the increase in current density. It is noticeable that the changes in duty ratios and frequencies have a small effect on the peak stress and strain. When the current was applied, more recrystallized grains appeared in the alloy and the basal texture was weakened. According to the experimental results, the Arrhenius model was derived based on the Zener–Hollomon parameter. Owing to the appearance of the stacking fault structure (LPSO), the activation energy Q of the Mg98.5Zn0.5Y1 alloy was 389.41 KJ/mol, which is higher than conventional Mg alloys. Moreover, the constitutive equation of the electro plastic effect coupled with temperature and pulse current parameters was established by introducing electrically assisted characteristics. By comparing the experimental and predicted values, the established model can effectively predict the variation trend of flow stress under electrically assisted deformation. Moreover, the constitutive model was incorporated into the UHARD subroutine of ABAQUS software to study the deformation behavior of the Mg98.5Zn0.5Y1 alloy.

An improved spatial vehicle–track–bridge interaction system considering the unsupported track is proposed using the virtual work principle. When the track fails to be supported due to the defects under the track, the corresponding bridge–rail connection coupled matrix should be removed. Using the proposed dynamic model, a novel numerical analysis of the unilateral and bilateral unsupported sleepers in the bridge and the subgrade is carried out. The results indicate that the wheel–rail contact force changes dramatically when the vehicles pass through the unsupported track. The unsupported track has a little effect on the displacement of the bridge, but it increases the acceleration of the bridge. The displacement and acceleration of the track increase significantly with the expansion of the supported defects under the track and the increase of driving speed. For unilateral unsupported sleepers, the dynamic response on the unsupported side is slightly smaller than that of the bilateral unsupported sleeper, while the unsupported side has a limited effect on the other side of the normal support.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare systemic disease characterized by the proliferation and accumulation of Langerhans cells derived from bone marrow myeloid progenitor cells. The disease can affect a single organ or multi-organ system. The main sites involved in LCH include bones, lungs, central nervous system, liver, thymus, skin, and lymph nodes, causing focal or systemic effects. We report a rare case of LCH showing a single osteolytic lesion on the posterolateral side of the tenth rib of a 2-year-old boy who presented with upper back pain.

The rotating mechanism is a significant procedure in swing bridges. In this paper, the Nandu River swing bridge is taken as an engineering case study to exhibit the critical technology of the monitoring process and the construction method of the swing bridge. The research focuses on the central load-bearing control system used to guarantee the security of the construction process. The mechanical problems during the construction process are discussed. Simultaneously, the cable tension and gravity center test are introduced. The non-Hertz contact theory is utilized to calculate the stress distribution of the spherical joint. Furthermore, the overturning moment is computed to monitor the stability of the rotating system based on the stress distribution calculation of the spherical joint. The monitoring process of central load-bearing control is entirely exhibited and discussed. Concurrently, the calculating result of the real-time overturning moment reflects the stability of the rotating construction process, and adjustments are made to ensure the safety of construction. The results show that, during the cable tension process, the middle position of the main arch exhibited 162.3 mm maximum vertical displacement. Meanwhile, the fraction moment was greatly larger than the unbalanced moment. Furthermore, the maximum overturning moment value was 2094.38 kN·m, which was smaller than the resistance of the overturning moment. The present research demonstrates that the non-Hertz contact theory fits the calculation of spherical joint stress distribution. Simultaneously, the middle position of the main arch should be monitored to control the vertical displacement at the cable tensioning stages. The gravity center test and stability control of the rotating construction are the key steps to reaching central load-bearing control.

In the present work, the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V alloy during multidirectional isothermal forging (MDIF) were systematically investigated. The evolution of the microstructure and texture of Ti-6Al-4V alloy during MDIF was studied using TEM and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). The experiment results showed that the grain size decreased with the increase in cumulative strain, especially in the easy deformation zone. After four deformation cycles, a homogeneous equiaxed grained microstructure with an average grain size of 0.14 μm was achieved. The texture changes of the alloy were studied in detail. After one cycle of MDIF, the texture was mainly composed of (0002) [01 10], and the Euler angles were (8°, 30°, 30°). The density of texture decreased with the increase in loading cycle, but the dispersion of texture increased. After four cycles of MDIF, the non-basal texture (1010) 02> texture was observed, and the Euler angles were (82°, 33°, 0°). The highest achieved mechanical properties for Ti-6Al-4V alloy in the MDIF condition were a yield strength 900 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 921 MPa, and an elongation of 12.1% at room temperature. The increase in MDIF cycles improved the hardness of the alloy. The significant improvement in mechanical properties was attributed to the ultrafine-grained microstructure.

In this study, the tensile mechanical properties of a 2A14 aluminum alloy produced by extrusion were tested at room temperature to investigate the tensile fracture behavior. The results showed that the tensile fracture of the alloy was mixed intergranular and transgranular ductile fracture, as numerous coarse second-phase particles were distributed in a band along the loading direction, making it prone to microcracking. This was determined to be the main cause of fracture failure of the alloy. In addition, we observed large α-AlFeMnSi(Cu), Al(Fe,Mn)Cu, AlCuMgSi, and Al2Cu phases in the microstructure of the 2A14 aluminum alloy, and both Al2Cu second phase and precipitation-free phase zone (PFZ) at the grain boundaries were observed, which made the alloy susceptible to fracture failure and reduced the mechanical properties of the alloy.

Background: B-cell-deleted therapy has been successfully used for children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), suggesting that B cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of INS. B cells are a heterogenous population comprised of subpopulations distinguished by their phenotypes. However, few studies have focused on the alteration of B-cell homeostasis in INS.Methods: We measured the levels of B-cell subsets in the blood of 87 INS children via flow cytometry, prior to treatment with steroids. INS patients were divided into steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) groups based on their sensitivities to steroids after a one-month follow-up. Subsequently, we compared these INS patients with age- and sex-matched patients with relapse (n = 35) and remissions (n = 32), as well as healthy controls (n = 75).Results: We found that 65 SSNS patients exhibited an altered peripheral-blood B-cell-subset distribution, with increased levels of total, transitional, memory, IgM (immunoglobulin M) memory and switched-memory B cells compared to 22 SRNS patients. The proportion of total B cells was significantly higher in the SSNS group (22.1 ± 6.7% L, p < 0.001) than in the SRNS, remission, and control groups. In contrast, the levels of B-cell subsets in SRNS patients were generally the same as those in remission patients and healthy controls. Patients in relapse presented elevated memory B cells compared to those in other groups. The area under the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve of transition B cells at initial onset for the prediction of SSNS was 0.907 (95% confidence interval, 0.835–0.979). The analysis rendered an optimal cut-off value of 2.05 (% Lymphocyte) corresponding to 79.1% sensitivity and 90.9% specificity.Conclusions: We observed and verified that B-cell subsets are significantly altered in children with SSNS. We propose that elevated transitional B cells may be a promising marker for predicting successful immunosuppressive therapy during the initial onset of INS. Further research is needed to determine the function of memory B cells in INS.

AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets were prepared by low-speed extrusion at different temperatures, i.e., 350 °C, 400 °C, and 450 °C. The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of extruded AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets were studied. Results indicate that the low-speed extrusion obviously improved the microstructure of magnesium alloys. As the extrusion temperature decreased, the grain size for the produced AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets decreased, and the (0001) basal texture intensity of the extruded sheets increased. The yield strength and tensile strength of the extruded sheets greatly increased as the extrusion temperature decreased. The AZ31 magnesium alloy sheet prepared by low-speed extrusion at 350 °C exhibited the finest grain size and the best mechanical properties. The average grain size, yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation of the extruded sheet prepared by low-speed extrusion at 350 °C were ~2.7 μm, ~226 MPa, ~353 MPa, and ~16.7%, respectively. These properties indicate the excellent mechanical properties of the extruded sheets prepared by low-speed extrusion. The grain refinement effect and mechanical properties of the extruded sheets produced in this work were obviously superior to those of magnesium alloys prepared using traditional extrusion or rolling methods reported in other related studies.

Understanding the hot deformation behavior of steel and establishing corresponding hot processing maps are crucial methods for determining appropriate hot processing parameters. In this article, the hot deformation behavior of a high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel was investigated in the temperature range of 900–1150 °C and the strain rate range of 0.01–10 s−1 on a Gleeble-3500 thermo-mechanical simulator. The results show that the flow stress of experimental steel increases with decreasing deformation temperature and increasing strain rate. Based on the Arrhenius model, a constitutive equation was developed for the experimental steel, with a hot deformation activation energy of 603.347 kJ/mol. The hot processing maps were created employing the dynamic material model to determine the optimum hot processing conditions for the experimental steel at different strain levels.