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This paper realizes the simultaneous optimization of a vessel’s course and speed for a whole voyage within the estimated time of arrival (ETA), which can ensure the voyage is safe and energy-saving through proper planning of the route and speed. Firstly, a dynamic sea area model with meteorological and oceanographic data sets is established to delineate the navigable and prohibited areas; secondly, some data are extracted from the records of previous voyages, to train two artificial neural network models to predict fuel consumption rate and revolutions per minute (RPM), which are the keys to route optimization. After that, speed configuration is introduced to the optimization process, and a simultaneous optimization model for the ship’s course and speed is proposed. Then, based on a customized version of the A* algorithm, the optimization is solved in simulation. Two simulations of a ship crossing the North Pacific show that the proposed methods can make navigation decisions in advance that ensure the voyage’s safety, and compared with a naive route, the optimized navigation program can reduce fuel consumption while retaining an approximately constant time to destination and adapting to variations in oceanic conditions.

The real-time transfer case installed on the four-wheel drive vehicle with a longitudinally mounted engine, can distribute not only the engine drive torque, but also the engine drag torque between the front and rear axles, to improve vehicle traction and stability performance. When under vehicle coasting condition, the engine drag torque may cause vehicle rear wheel slippage on low friction adhesion road, which causes a vehicle to be unstable and spin in. Although the current engine Drag Torque Control technology has the ability to reduce rear wheel longitudinal slippage by engine torque control, but the control effect is poor, the wheel slip ratio is large and the slipping duration is long, the vehicle still has the tendency to spin in. This paper proposed a new transfer case coasting control strategy to avoid this problem. Through the pre-load control based on vehicle coasting characteristics and closed-loop feedback control based on rear axle slip state, the rapid dynamic distribution of engine drag torque between the front and rear axle is realized to avoid single axle slippage and improve vehicle coasting stability. Through test vehicle verification, the proposed control strategy could significantly improve vehicle coasting deceleration and stability performance.

In order to further improve the vehicle economy of hybrid vehicles, this paper first discusses the existing hybrid energy management strategies, and analyzes the shortcomings of the existing strategies considering the actual road conditions, and points out the importance of future road condition information to energy management. Then, an energy prediction management strategy by acquiring future road condition information is proposed. The main work of this paper is centered on this strategy. This strategy is to use information about future working conditions provided by navigation and other sensing systems and predict energy consumption in future working conditions, so as to optimize the energy management strategy between engine and motor. The strategy is mainly composed of four parts: future information acquisition, future energy consumption prediction, energy management target calculation, and control target execution. Among them, future information acquisition is to obtain future road condition information through perception systems such as navigation and V2X; future energy consumption prediction is to estimate the energy demand in the future vehicle driving direction based on the future information; The energy management target calculation is to plan the energy distribution management method in advance with the goal of optimizing the economy; the control target execution is that each assembly component performs corresponding actions according to the energy distribution requirements. Finally, this paper takes the powertrain of a hybrid vehicle as the carrier, and conducts a powertrain bench test by simulating road conditions. The results show that the proposed HEV energy prediction management method based on future road condition information can realize the optimal allocation and management of energy by predicting the energy demand in the future driving direction on the basis of the existing control strategy. Ultimately, the vehicle economy can be further improved without changing driving habits.

Metal sulfides are promising supercapacitor electrode materials with a large theoretical capacity and rich operability.

To break the stereotype that silica can only be reduced via a magnesiothermic and aluminothermic method at low-temperature condition, the novel strategy for converting silica to SiO

The corrosion properties of AISI316L stainless steel (316 L SS) as bipolar plates are investigated under aqueous acid methanol solutions (0.05 M H2SO4 + 2 ppm HF + 10 M HCOOH + x M CH3OH (x = 0, 3, 6 and 9) solutions at 70 °C) to simulate the varied anodic operating conditions of direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). When the methanol content is higher, the potentiodynamic, potentiostatic polarisation and EIS tests of the 316 L SS bipolar plates all show excellent corrosion resistance. The surface morphology and the glow discharge mass spectrometer (GDMS) illustrate that the surface corrosion on 316 L SS bipolar plates is slowed down when the methanol concentration is increased. These results indicate the methanol plays the role in retarding the corrosion rate of the 316 L SS in simulated DFAFCs anodic operating conditions by restricting the proton conductivity in the test solutions. The sample tested in higher content methanol solution has smoother corroded surface and thinner passivation film, which contributes to a lower interfacial contact resistances (ICR) value.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis. Exploring novel serum biomarkers and the underlying mechanism is crucial for the early diagnosis and precise therapy of PDAC.Methods: Exosomes were isolated from serum samples of 92 PDAC patients and 44 healthy subjects. Serum exosomal microRNAs (exo-miRNAs) were detected by small RNA sequencing, verified by qRT-PCR, and their diagnostic performance and prognostic value were evaluated. In vitro experiments and orthotopic tumor mouse models were conducted to investigate the effect of miR-519a/522-5p on PDAC. Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics were used to explore the underlying mechanism of miR-519a/522-5p.Results: Compared to the healthy control, all three PDAC subgroups (stage I-III) displayed a specific deregulated serum exo-miRNA profile. A panel of 3 serum exo-miRNAs (let-7g-3p, miR-490-5p, and miR-519a/522-5p) was established as novel diagnostic biomarkers for PDAC, which exhibited high sensitivity and specificity in clinical cohort. Among the three exo-miRNAs, miR-519a/522-5p was found to be an independent prognostic factor for PDAC and associated with tumor features particularly invasion/metastasis. In vitro and in vivo experiment confirmed that miR-519a/522-5p promoted invasiveness/metastasis of PDAC cells. Moreover, miR-519a/522-5p could be effectively delivered via exosomes and increased the invasiveness of recipient PDAC cells. Multi-omics analysis showed a comprehensive miR-519a/522-5p-regulated molecular network, in which glycolysis played a central role. We further validated that miR-519a/522-5p enhanced glycolysis by targeting sestrin2.Conclusion: Serum exo-miRNAs could be novel and promising candidates for precise diagnosis and treatment of PDAC. Tumor-derived exo-miR-519a/522-5p promotes PDAC cellular invasiveness by enhancing Warburg effect.

This letter presents a robust active contour model driven by the local threshold preprocessing fitting energies to actualize fast segmentation of inhomogenous images. First, the local threshold preprocessing is carried out to compute two local intensity means. Second, these two means are sorted and serve as the local area fitting centres, which makes the contour move along the internal or external target boundaries. Finally, the above local area fitting centres are used to build the model's energy functional based on the symmetric cross entropy. Experimental results of the real inhomogenous images confirm that the presented model can segment inhomogenous images much faster and is robust to the setting up of the original contour.

To improve the interfacial conductivity and corrosion resistance of AISI430 stainless steel (430SS) as bipolar plates for direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs), a Nb0.8Zr0.2 layer has been successfully synthesized via the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique on the surface of 430SS. This Nb0.8Zr0.2 layer is smooth, uniform, and comparatively compact without any surface flaw and micropore. Investigation under the simulated anodic environment of DFAFCs (0.05 M H2SO4 + 2 ppm HF + 10 M HCOOH at 70 °C) shows that the corrosion resistance of 430SS is obviously ameliorated after the PLD modification. In addition, the interfacial contact resistance of Nb0.8Zr0.2-430SS (6.0 mΩ cm2) is much smaller than that of bare 430SS (151.3 mΩ cm2) at the clamping force of 140 N cm−2. Besides, different from the highly increased interfacial contact resistance of bare 430SS, the Nb0.8Zr0.2-430SS shows a minor increase resistance after potentiostatic tests in simulated anodic environment of DFAFCs.

The high-performance anode electrode material has been the major challenge of sodium ion batteries (SIBs). In this paper, we report a facile strategy to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) network structures where Na2Ti3O7 nanotube species are anchored to the composites composed of graphite phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and ultrafine graphene, and demonstrates the excellent electrochemical performance as a sodium storage material. The good integration of g-C3N4 and graphene provides more active sites for Na+ insertion/extraction and accommodates the volume expansion of Na2Ti3O7. The Na2Ti3O7 nanotube into these carbon matrix can effectively shorten the transport paths of Na+. Therefore, the Na2Ti3O7NT/g-C3N4/RGO electrode exhibits a superior cycling efficiency and rate capability. When used as the anode material of sodium half-cell, the reversible capacity of the synthesized Na2Ti3O7NT/g-C3N4/RGO composite is as high as 210.8 mAh g−1 after 300 cycles at 0.1 A g−1 and good rate capability (104.7 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1). After the 50 cycle, the corresponding coulomb efficiency remained basically stable and is up to 98%. In addition, the half-cell provides high energy density of 364 Wh kg−1 at power density of 0.048 W kg−1.

A flower ball-like histidine-functionalized graphene quantum dots/Ni-Co LDH (His-GQD/LDH) composite is synthesized via microwave method. The GQDs are uniformly interspersed on LDH surface and the radius of flower balls is approximately 200 nm. The synergistic effect of His-GQD and LDH can signally increase the specific surface areas and conductivity of the composite, thus endowing the composite high specific capacitance (1526 F g−1) and an admirable cycling stability (82.36% capacitance retention). Moreover, we have manufactured a supercapacitor employing His-GQD/LDH and active carbon (AC) as positive/negative electrodes. The device exhibits the maximum energy of 48.89 W h kg−1 at 0.80 kW kg−1, as well as prominent cycling stability (91.13% capacitance retention). This work provides a practicle experimental method of synthesizing hybridizing histidine-functionalized carbon derivatives with LDH by microwave synthesis. Meanwhile, we are optimistic to believe that the electrode material can be extensively applied for supercapacitor because of its splendid electrochemical properties and facile synthesis.

A network-like structure consisting of an amorphous nickel–cobalt layered double hydroxide nanofilm anchored to Co 3 O 4 nanowires (Co 3 O 4 /NiCo-LDH) is grown on nickel foam via hydrothermal reaction and electrochemical deposition. The complex interlocking network-like structure provides three-dimensional interconnected porous channels for electron transport and ion diffusion, and provides optimal access to active sites; this results in rapid Faradaic redox reactions. This intriguing advantage gives the optimal Co 3 O 4 /NiCo-LDH electrode outstanding electrochemical performance, with an ultrahigh specific capacity of 1067 C g -1 , and high rate performance, with 73.28% capacity retention at 20 A g -1 . When it is combined with an activated carbon (AC) electrode, the Co 3 O 4 /NiCo-LDH//AC device exhibits a maximum energy density of 74.4 Wh kg -1 at a power density of 989 W kg -1 and excellent cycling stability, with 91.57% retention after 7000 cycles. This study provides new options and an important foundation for rational design of network-like structures for application in hybrid supercapacitors.

Stainless steel can be applied as interconnect materials in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) at operating temperatures 600–800 °C. Chromium (Cr)-forming stainless steel as an interconnect plate possesses a low oxidation resistance at high temperature and electrical conductivity, and volatility of Cr oxide scale can poison the cathode material. One effective strategy is to use a surface coating to improve interconnect performance. This work is to form cobalt (Co)-containing coatings on the surface of AISI 430 ferritic stainless steel interconnect via pack cementation approach. The resultant coating is extremely effective at heightening the oxidation resistance and electrical conductivity of AISI 430 ferritic stainless steel. The area specific resistance of samples was measured as a function of time. The area specific resistance of coated sample with 2% of activator content and holding time of 2 h is 90.21 and 108.32 mΩ cm2 after 450 h of oxidation in air, respectively. Additionally, the coated sample with 2% of activator content and holding time of 2 h has a weight change of merely 0.299 and 0.231 mg/cm2 after 650 h of isothermal oxidation at 800 °C, separately. The results displayed that the formation of CoFe2O4 spinel coating enhanced oxidation resistance by inhibiting the outward diffusion of Cr cations and the inward diffusion of oxygen anions.

Gastric cancer is a heterogeneous group of diseases with only a fraction of patients responds to immunotherapy. The relationships between tumor DNA damage response, the immune system and immunotherapy have recently attracted attention. Accumulating evidence indicate that DNA repair landscape is a significant factor in driving response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. In this study, to explore new prognostic and predictive biomarkers for gastric cancer patients who are sensitive and responsible to immunotherapy, we developed a novel 15-DNA repair gene signature (DRGS) and its related scoring system and evaluated the efficiency of DRGS in discriminating different molecular and immune characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of gastric adenocarcinoma. The results showed that DRGS high score patients showed significantly better therapeutic outcomes compared to DRGS low score patients (P < 0.001). Integrated analysis of multi-omics data demonstrated that the patients with high DRGS score were characteristic of high levels of anti-tumor lymphocytes infiltration, tumor mutation burden (TMB) and PD-L1 expression, and these patients exhibited a longer overall survival and may benefit more from ICB therapy, as compared to the low-score patients. Therefore, the DRGS and its scoring system may have implications in tailoring immunotherapy in gastric cancers.

Purpose Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a spindle cell neoplasm that rarely occurs in orbit. This study aimed to report clinical, imaging, and pathological features of three patients with recurrent orbital SFTs.Methods Clinical, imaging, and pathological data of the three patients were retrospectively reviewed, and the results were compared with those of previously reported cases with recurrent orbital SFT. Results One female and two male patients (mean age, 54 years old) were included in this study. The present cases and literature review showed that the average time to recurrence in patients who aged under 50 years old was shorter than that in those who aged over 50 years old. The most common site for recurrent orbital SFT was the retrobulbar area of the orbit (23.8%). Imaging examinations showed consistent intensity of MRI signals before and after recurrence. Immunohistochemical results of all cases revealed the expressions of CD34. The mitotic rate increased in 4/8 cases, and the percentage of Ki-67-positive cells was elevated in 5/16 cases. Conclusion These results suggested that young patients were more likely subjected to recurrent orbital SFT. The postoperative pathological diagnosis revealed that patients with recurrent orbital SFT had more nuclear abnormalities and mitotic activity, as well as a higher percentage of Ki-67-positive cells, indicating that orbital recurrent SFT tended to be malignant according to both morphological features and immunohistochemistry results.

The Mn3O4@C microspheres were prepared by combining a low temperature coating method of one-step hydrothermal process and subsequently annealing treatment. In this method, the resorcinol and formaldehyde (RF) were applied as carbon source to enhance the electrical conductivity of Mn3O4 microspheres. The resulting core-shell Mn3O4@C microspheres comprised of irregular aggregated nanoparticles with an average diameter of approximately 2 μm. The Mn3O4 microspheres were homogeneously coated by the carbon layers with a thickness of 50 nm. The Mn3O4@C microspheres exhibit dramatically excellent reversible discharge capacity of 913.8 mAh/g at 0.5 A/g after 300 cycles with an outstanding rate capability. The discharge capacity of Mn3O4@C microspheres could maintain up to 992 mAh/g even after 800 cycles at 1 A/g. The improved electrochemical performance of the synthesized Mn3O4@C microspheres is attributed to the fact that the carbon-shell structure can effectively buffer volume change, maintain structure integrity and improve electrical conductivity. The Mn3O4@C microspheres could be utilized as a promising candidate as the anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

Spherical-like Li[Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2]O2 (LiNCM622) cathode material is successfully prepared with the precursor of Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2(OH)2 (NCM622OH) synthesized via an improved continuous hydroxide co-precipitation method (CHCP). The morphology, particle size distribution and electrochemical performance of the as-prepared cathode materials could not change over time. The CHCP system designed in this work could extremely improve the production efficiency of the LiNCM622 cathode material. The as-prepared LiNCM622 powder presents a type of spherical structure composed of secondary particles with a typical α-NaFeO2 lamellar structure. It delivers an initial discharge capacity of 208.5 mAh/g at 0.1C (18 mA/g) with a capacity retention of 92.9% after 214 cycles in the voltage window of 2.8–4.3 V. Most impressively, the specific capacity could also maintain 101.1 mAh/g even at 10 C, with a capacity loss of only 10.5% after 1200 cycles.

A nanoscale petal-like α-Ni(OH)2/reduced graphene oxide (α-Ni(OH)2/RGO) composite was synthesized with the one-step microwave method. α-Ni(OH)2 particles with sizes of approximately 200 nm are uniformly distributed on the reduced graphene oxide sheet in the sample. When used as an electrode for alkaline rechargeable batteries, the discharge capacity of the α-Ni(OH)2/RGO composite reaches 333.5 mAh/g at 0.2C and 247.1 mAh/g at 10 C, respectively, with an excellent rate capability. After 2000 cycles, the capacity of the electrode is insignificantly attenuated, indicating a high capacity retention and cycling stability. The outstanding electrochemical properties are attributed to the nanoscale petal-like structure α-Ni(OH)2 anchoring on the RGO sheets, which facilitates ion diffusion and increases the active surface, which is effectively reacting with the electrolyte. The nanoscale petal-like electrode material fabricated in this study provides clues to address the problem of energy applications of high-performance alkaline rechargeable batteries.

The highly conductive and corrosion resistant diffusion layers of niobium, niobium nitrides and niobium carbides have been successfully fabricated on AISI430 stainless steel (430 SS) via a plasma s...

Although C/SiOx (0

Purpose The purpose of this study is to improve the surface electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance of AISI430 stainless steel (430 SS) as bipolar plates for direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC). Design/methodology/approach The niobium diffusion layers have been successfully synthesized on 430 SS substrate by the plasma surface diffusion alloying technique under different diffusion alloying time. Findings The surface morphology of Nb-modified 430 SS prepared under the diffusion alloying time of 2 h is more homogeneous, relatively sleek and compact without surface micropore and other common surface blemishes. The potentiostatic and potentiodynamic polarization measurements manifest that Nb-modified 430 SS prepared under the diffusion alloying time of 2 h enormously ameliorate the corrosion resistance of bare 430 SS compared with other Nb-modified 430 SS samples and its corrosion current density is maintained at −1.4 µA cm−2 in simulated anodic environment of DFAFC (0.05 M H2SO4 + 2 ppm HF + 10 M formic acid at 50 °C). Originality/value The effect of diffusion alloying time on the corrosion resistance and surface conductivity of Nb-modified 430 SS has been carefully studied. The Nb-modified 430 SS samples prepared at the diffusion alloying time of 2 h have the best surface electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance in the simulated anodic environment of DFAFC.

The Li4Ti5O12/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) composite was fabricated via a solvothermal method followed by heating treatment at 700 °C for 5 h. In this method, g-C3N4 acted as a support to enhance the electronic conductivity of Li4Ti5O12. When tested as anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the as-synthesized Li4Ti5O12/g-C3N4 composite displays a reversible capacity of as high as 150.8 mAh/g with a capacity retention of 86.8% at 0.5 C after 502 cycles. The cycling performance of the composite is enhanced, which could be attributed to the existence of g-C3N4 support.

Herein, Y-doped Ni(OH)2 composites were successfully fabricated via a simple hydrothermal process. The specific surface areas were significantly improved when Y3+ ions were incorporated into the Ni hydroxide lattice. The Y-doped Ni(OH)2 electrode exhibited the remarkable specific capacity of 735.46 C g−1 at 1.5 A g−1 and ultrahigh rate performance with 71.36% capacity retention at 20 A g−1. The optimum Y-doped Ni(OH)2 electrodes were further evaluated for application in an asymmetric supercapacitor, demonstrating the maximum energy density of 55.49 W h kg−1 at the power density of 843.31 W kg−1 as well as satisfying cycling performance with 85.8% retention after 7000 cycles.