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Time-frequency domain reflection (TFDR) method has the advantages of maturity, convenience and high resolution, so it is widely applied to locate defects in various cables. To ensure the fracture defect of the instrumentation and control (I&C) cable can be effectively discriminated and precisely located in nuclear power plant (NPP), an improved TFDR method is proposed by intervening thermal stress in this paper. Subsequently, different degrees of fracture defects are simulated in a 50-meter multi-core I&C cable, and traditional TFDR and improved TFDR methods are used for detection and verification. Comparing the detection results of both, the peak localization of improved TFDR method for weak defect fracture is improved to 0.2, which is 2.5 times of the traditional TFDR method, and the localization error rate is less than 2.5%. Compared to the traditional TFDR method, improved TFDR method utilizes the thermal stress fluctuation variance curve as the basis for defect identification, the identification power of weak fracture defects can be substantially improved. The original localization distance can be corrected to improves the accuracy of weak fracture damage in improved TFDR method. So the effective identification and localization of weak defects can be further achieved in improved TFDR method.

Magnesium–lithium hybrid batteries (MLHBs) using a dual-ion electrolyte and safe Mg anode have promising potential for high-performance energy storage. Here, we develop an MLHB constructed of a hollow multi-layered NiS/Co3S4/carbon cathode and an all-phenyl-complex/lithium chloride (APC-LiCl) electrolyte. The hollow multi-layered structure and carbon matrix accommodate volumetric expansion and facilitate electrolyte penetration. The APC-LiCl electrolyte displays a stable electrochemical window. The MLHB shows a high specific capacity of 398 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g−1, and a stable capacity at 1.0 A g−1 after cycling 500 times. Moreover, stable rate performance and temperature tolerance are achievable. These findings would enable this design to be promising for developing other hybrid battery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has been found to have a high mortality rate. Despite continuous efforts, current histopathological classification is insufficient to guide individualized therapies of PDA. We first define the molecular subtypes of PDA (MSOP) based on a meta-cohort of 845 samples from 11 PDA datasets. We then performed functional analyses involving immunity, fibrosis and metabolism. We recognized six molecular subtypes with different survival statistics and molecular composition. The squamous basal-like (SBL) subtype had a poor prognosis and high infiltration of ENO1+ (Enolase 1)/ADM+ (Adrenomedullin) cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). The immune mesenchymal-like (IML) subtype and the normal mesenchymal-like (NML) subtype were characterized by genes associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) activities and immune responses, having favorable prognoses. IML was featured by elevated exhausted immune signaling and inflammatory CAFs infiltration, whereas NML was featured with myofibroblastic CAFs infiltration. The exocrine-like (EL) subtype was high in exocrine signals, while the pure classical-like (PCL) subtype lacked immunocytes infiltration. The quiescent-like (QL) subtype had diminished metabolic signaling and high infiltration of NK cells. SBL, IML and NML were enriched in innate anti-PD-1 resistance signatures. In sum, this MSOP depicts a vivid cell-to-molecular atlas of the tumor microenvironment of PDA and might facilitate to design a precise combination of therapies that target immunity, metabolism and stroma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the prevalent son preference in China, this paper proposes a new measure of relative bargaining power within the household. Using data from China Health and Nutrition Survey, we show that a woman with a first-born son has a 3.9 percentage points' greater role in household decision-making than a woman with a first-born daughter. Having a first-born son improves the mother's nutrition intakes and reduces her likelihood of being underweight. While thinking of these impacts as being channeled through intrahousehold bargaining power, we cannot fully rule out other possible direct effects of a first-born son on the outcomes. (Contains 7 tables, 1 figure and 8 footnotes.)

Research Summary: This paper develops a theoretical explanation for why economic inequality may affect individuals' decision to engage in entrepreneurial activities. We argue that inequality may have a positive impact on entrepreneurship because it triggers social comparison, thus motivating individuals to become entrepreneurs. Moreover, such effect is stronger for people in the middle economic status group than for those in the top or bottom groups, as middle economic status group has both the motivation and capability to take entrepreneurial actions. We use a sample of 3,879 Chinese households from 2010 to 2018 and merge them with county‐level variables to test our hypotheses. The results support our hypotheses and remain consistent across different model specifications, including models controlling for the potential endogeneity between inequality and entrepreneurship. Managerial Summary: The rising economic inequality around the world has drawn widespread attention. Although inequality may not be desired, the optimistic takeaway from this paper is that inequality might also have a positive side by motivating entrepreneurial activities, especially for people from the middle economic class. While exerting continuous efforts to reduce poverty, governments could also properly treat the entrepreneurial spirit inspired by inequality and guide it to encourage entrepreneurship. From a dynamic point of view, emerging economies, when progressing toward a more liberal and market‐oriented economy, might go through a period of time with increasing inequality. Thus different countries, due to their unique social and economic backgrounds, may not share one pareto optimal inequality ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

True design with grammars lies in the creation of the grammar rules, not in the application of the rules to generate design alternatives. Existing grammars can be modified to describe new languages of designs [1-4]. Studying an epicyclic gear train graph grammar leads to purposeful relaxation of grammar rules and subsequent discovery of new designs. A revised new EGT grammar is presented, which is designed to generate a wider selection of valid EGTs. [DOI: 10.1115/1.1758256]

A patented double crank ring-plate-type cycloid drive is introduced in this paper. The new drive requires no output unit and places no limit on the size of the tumbler bearing. The drive is able to transfer larger torque than a typical existing planetary cycloid drive. The newly designed double crank ring-plate cycloid drive preserves the standard advantages of planetary pin-cycloid drives. Its working principles, advantages and design issues are discussed. Promising results from prototype testing are presented. [DOI: 10.1115/1.1758254]