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Roadside sensing units' (RSUs) perception capability may be substantially impaired by occlusion issue even they work cooperatively. However, the joint influence of static and dynamic occlusions in real‐life situations remains inadequately considered in optimizing RSUs' placement. This study proposes a virtual‐real‐fusion simulation (VRFS) framework that combines traffic simulation and point clouds of real‐world road environment to optimize RSUs' deployment. Point clouds and triangular meshes are used to model static and dynamic obstacles, respectively. A structure‐retained spherical projection method is developed to efficiently emulate RSUs' data collection. Based on the developed VRFS, the probabilistic occupancy maps (POM) are created to represent traffic scenarios. The POM‐based cross entropy (CE) is proposed as the surrogate metric for evaluating the detection performance of cooperative RSUs. The Bayesian optimizer is applied to optimize the RSUs' placement parameters (decision variables) by minimizing CE. Test results show that it is viable to use the POM‐based CE as a proxy for evaluating cooperative RSUs' sensing performance. Considering the occlusion effect adds to the efficacy of POM‐based CE as a surrogate metric. Compared with traffic volume, the adverse effect of the proportion of large vehicles on RSUs' detection performance is more significant. There are no significant patterns regarding how the optimized RSU positions vary with traffic parameters. The comparisons with existing methods further verify the importance of considering both static and dynamic occlusions in optimizing RSUs' placement. Besides, the proposed method can yield better optimization results more efficiently than existing approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the efficacy of synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in distinguishing high-grade gliomas (HGGs) from solitary brain metastases (SBMs) in peritumoural oedema. Thirty-five patients with HGGs and 25 patients with SBMs were recruited and scanned using synthetic MRI using a 3 T scanner. Two radiologists measured synthetic MRI-derived relaxation values independently (T1, T2, proton density [PD]) in the peritumoural oedema, which was used to generate quantitative metrics before (T1 native , T2 native , and PD native) and after (T1 post , T2 post , and PD post) contrast agent injection. Student's t -test or the Mann–Whitney U -test was performed to detect statistically significant differences in the aforementioned metrics in peritumoural oedema between HGGs and SBMs. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the efficacy of each metric in distinguishing the two groups, and the areas under the curves (AUCs) were compared pairwise by performing the Delong test. The mean T1 native , T2 native , and T1 post values in the peritumoural oedema of HGGs were significantly lower compared with SBMs (all p< 0.05). The T1 post value had a higher AUC (0.843) in differentiating HGGs and SBMs than all other individual metrics (all p< 0.05). The combined T1 native , T2 native , and T1 post model had the best distinguishing performance with an AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.987, 94.3%, and 100%, respectively. Synthetic MRI may be a potential supplement to the preoperative diagnosis of HGGs and SBMs in clinical practice, as the synthetic MRI-derived tri-parametric model in the peritumoural oedema showed significantly improved diagnostic performance in distinguishing HGGs from SBMs. • Synthetic MRI can detect the difference between HGGs and SBMs in peritumoral edema. • T 1post value showed superior distinguishing performance than other single metrics. • Combine model (T 1pre + T 2pre + T 1post) can further improve the diagnostic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaves of Emmenopterys henryi Oliv. cultured under 25°C/20°C (CK) and 42◦C/37◦C (heat stress, HS), respectively, were used for physiological and transcriptomic analysis based on RNA-seq technology. Results showed that net photosynthesis rate (PN), ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity, chlorophyll and brassinosteroid (BR) content, and leaf angle (LA) decreased significantly while the contents of H2O2, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), abscisic acid (ABA) and anthocyanin, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guajacol-dependent peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased obviously under HS. RNA-seq analysis indicated that 9492 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found, of which 4368 were up-regulated and 5124 were down-regulated. The most enriched KEGG pathways of DEGs were photosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, secondary metabolites biosynthesis. HSPs, SOD, CAT, POD, APX were up-regulated whereas genes related to photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII) light-harvesting complex and reaction center proteins, cytochrome b6-f complex, plastocyanin, ATP synthase, Rubisco, Rubiscoactivase (RCA), and chlorophyll biosynthesis were down-regulated under heat stress. HS resulted in downregulation of genes related to BR biosynthesis and positive regulation in BR signaling but upregulation of genes related to inactivation of BR. Anthocyanin accumulation in E. henryi under HS might resulted from upregulation of PAL, CHI, DFR whereas downregulation of ANR and LAR. HS led to increase of ABA level but downregulation of genes related to ABA signaling. Transcription factors HSFA, HSFB and HSFC were involved in E. henryi HS response. E. henryi might responds to HS via regulating photosynthesis, antioxidase activity, ABA and BR metabolism and signaling, anthocyanin metabolism and HSPs and HSFs expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to develop a model for predicting chemoradiation response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients by integrating radiomics and deep-learning features and combined intra- and peritumoral regions with pre-treated CT images. This study enrolled 462 patients with NSCLC who received chemoradiation. On the basis of pretreated CT images, we developed three models to compare the prediction of chemoradiation: intratumoral, peritumoral and combined regions. To further illustrate each model, we established different feature integration methods: a) radiomics model with 1500 features; b) deep learning model with a multiple instance learning algorithm; c) integrated model by integrating radiomic and deep learning features. For radiomics and integrated models, support vector machine and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were used to extract and select features. Transfer learning and max pooling algorithms were used to identify high informative features in deep learning models. We applied ten-fold cross validation in model training and testing. The best area under the curve (AUC) of intratumoral, peritumoral and combined models were 0.89 (95% CI, 0.74–0.93), 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75–0.92) and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.81–0.95), respectively. It indicated the importance of the peritumoral region for treatment response prediction and should be used in combination with the intratumoral region. Integrated models gave better results than models with radiomics and deep learning features alone in all regions of interest and radiomics models outperformed deep learning models in any comparative models. The model that integrate radiomic and deep learning features and combined intra- and peritumoral regions provide valuable information in predicting treatment response of chemoradiation. It can help oncologists customize personalized clinical treatment plans for NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Valgus-varus deformity (VVD) is a common leg bone problem in broilers that causes serious economic losses to the breeding industry. The genetic aetiology of VVD is not clear, which restricts the genetic control of VVD. 2. In this study, knee cartilage of 35-day-old VVD and normal broilers was sequenced by whole-genome bisulphite sequencing (WGBS). The unique whole-genome DNA methylation profile of VVD broilers was described, and the methylation data and transcription data were used for joint analysis. 3. The mean methylation level of the VVD group was greater than that in the normal group. A total of 4315 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were detected from methylation data, with the highest DMR density on chromosomes 25, 27, 31 and 33. DMRs were mainly located in introns, which accounted for more than 60%, followed by promoter and exon regions. 4. A total of 2326 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were identified from DMRs, including 1159 genes with upregulated DMRs, 936 genes with downregulated DMRs, and 231 genes with two types of DMRs. 5. The ESPL1 gene may be an important epigenetic gene of VVD. The methylation of particular CpG17, CpG18 and CpG19 sites in the promoter region of the ESPL1 gene may hinder the binding of transcription factors and promoters and increase the expression of ESPL1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco-tourism, a sustainable and responsible form of tourism, offers travelers the opportunity to explore and appreciate the natural world while contributing to the conservation of fragile ecosystems. It has gained popularity as an alternative to traditional tourism, which often poses significant threats to the environment. However, eco-tourism is not without its complexities and challenges. In this article, we will examine the impact of eco-tourism on fragile ecosystems, explore its potential benefits and drawbacks, and discuss strategies for achieving a harmonious balance between conservation and tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the frequency of paediatric hand injuries, recommendations for diagnostic investigations are limited due to paucity of published guidelines. This has led to inappropriate diagnoses and therefore inappropriate management. Ultrasonography is a portable, non-ionising imaging modality that allows rapid real-time evaluation of anatomical structures at a low cost and without sedation. In the adult population, ultrasonography has already been shown to improve accuracy in hand injury diagnoses. However, in the paediatric population, only one narrative review focuses on the application of ultrasonography to diagnose hand injury. A systematic search using PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane database of systematic reviews and University Library of York, Keele, Edinburgh and King's College London was conducted to assess literature surrounding use of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool for paediatric hand injuries. The literature search yielded 11,860 articles and 21 studies were identified with a total of 30 patients. Ultrasonography was observed to be an accurate tool for diagnosing bone, tendon, ligament and nerve injuries in children. The results of our study suggest that ultrasonography should be considered as an early diagnostic step for paediatric hand injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-spatial-resolution H  i observations have led to the realization that the nearby (within few hundreds of parsecs) Galactic atomic filamentary structures are aligned with the ambient magnetic field. Enabled by the high-quality data from the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope for the Galactic ASKAP H  i survey, we investigate the potential magnetic alignment of the |$\gtrsim\!{10}\, {\rm pc}$| -scale H  i filaments in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Using the Rolling Hough Transform technique that automatically identifies filamentary structures, combined with our newly devised ray-tracing algorithm that compares the H  i and starlight polarization data, we find that the H  i filaments in the north-eastern end of the SMC main body ('Bar' region) and the transition area between the main body and the tidal feature ('Wing' region) appear preferentially aligned with the magnetic field traced by starlight polarization. Meanwhile, the remaining SMC volume lacks starlight polarization data of sufficient quality to draw any conclusions. This suggests for the first time that filamentary H  i structures can be magnetically aligned across a large spatial volume (⁠|$\gtrsim\!{\rm kpc}$|⁠) outside of the Milky Way. In addition, we generate maps of the preferred orientation of H  i filaments throughout the entire SMC, revealing the highly complex gaseous structures of the galaxy likely shaped by a combination of the intrinsic internal gas dynamics, tidal interactions, and star-formation feedback processes. These maps can further be compared with future measurements of the magnetic structures in other regions of the SMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase-modulated metasurfaces (PMMs) have attracted considerable attention because of their widespread application in many fields. However, the most existing PMMs are only available in a relatively narrow band. In this paper, we propose a design of a broadband PMM based on vanadium dioxide (VO2) patches. The unit cell of the proposed PMM is composed of a surface layer supported by a 0.5 mm F4B with a dielectric constant of εr = 2.65, and a dielectric layer with a metal ground on its back. The surface layer consists of two opposite T-shaped metal patches connected by a VO2 patch. The VO2 patch can be used as an active element due to the insulator-to-metal transition of VO2. The process of phase transition is achieved by direct heating with a heating plate, without additional feeders affecting the performance of the PMM. The designed PMM can achieve a broadband phase difference within 180° ± 37° from 6.94 to 20.84 GHz, with a fractional bandwidth of 100%. Both full wave simulation and measurement results show that the proposed metasurface presents a good phase reconstruction performance over a wideband frequency range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-accuracy thermophysical property measurement technique plays a significant role in the development of new materials and structures. Especially with the emerging nanomaterials, techniques that can provide thermophysical property measurement for nanoscale structures become urgent needed. Here, a Labview-3ω technique with automatic data acquisition and thermal measurement functions on the basis of the conventional 3ω technique is developed, which greatly improves the measurement speed, accuracy, and uncertainty for a wide range of nanomaterials. This high-speed, automatic, and intelligent measurement method provides great application potential for a thermophysical property measurement of various materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report the generation of Ar plasmas by using an electron beam passing through a diamond window. It is observed that plasma brightness varies with the electron beam energy and the duty cycle. The transmission properties of the electrons in a 5-μm-thick diamond film are investigated by both experiments and Monte Carlo simulation. The measured transmittance of the electron beam increases from 20% to 80% by increasing the incident energy of the electron beam on the diamond window from 32.5 keV to 50 keV. The diamond window was checked using a CCD camera and SEM after plasma generation experiments. It is found that the focused electron beam passes through the central region of the diamond window, from the incident plane to the exit plane, and the cross section of the diamond window gradually changes from textured morphology to a featureless structure, indicating that the main energy loss of electrons in the diamond window occurs in the later stage of the transmitting journey. The interaction between the electron and the diamond causes the structure change of the diamond. The simulated transmittances of the electron beam with respect to its incident energy are in agreement with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using two counter-propagating ultra-intense lasers interaction with a solid aluminum (Al) target, an all-optical scheme was demonstrated with the generation of high-bright GeV photons and high energy density electron–positron pairs. The multi-photon Breit–Wheeler (BW) process is simulated by Particle-in-cell (PIC) code EPOCH with a quantum electrodynamics (QED) module implemented. The target front side keeps still due to the involvement of hot electrons in the target in two colliding laser schemes. High-frequency photons are produced by hot electrons colliding with the reflected laser pulse at the front of the target, followed by electron and positron pairs production. On the lateral side of the target, electron bunches are extracted from the target by the p-polarized laser electromagnetic field and accelerated by the laser pondermotive force to collide with the counter-propagating laser. By modulating the target transversal size, the pulse energy is allocated to the target front side and lateral side. It is found that on the lateral side the laser will be more efficient in the generation of gamma photons and positrons, which may helpful for investigating high-energy pair production and gamma-ray emission. The generated positrons are as dense as 40 nc and can be accelerated to over 1 GeV. On the target longitudinally front side, the participation of hot electrons in the target plays an important role in the generation of photons and positrons. When the target length is set to the corrected skin depth of the plasma, electrons are fully involved in photon production. The pairs yield reaches 1.68 × 1011, whose density is 90 nc. These findings propose a feasible scheme to produce high-energy and high-density pair plasma for extensive scientific research and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key to achieve efficient degradation of organic pollutants lies in improving the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in photocatalysts. Here, the hydrogen bonds between g-C3N4 layers were broken by concentrated acid etching and exfoliation to obtain a more dispersed and lighter g-C3N4 nanosheet structure, and then the CdS spherical nanoparticles were dispersed on g-C3N4 nanosheets by hydrothermal method. The optimal loading of CdS on g-C3N4 nanosheets was determined by testing the degradation performance of the composite photocatalysts with different loading amounts. The degradation performance was tested by simulating sunlight using a 700-800 W xenon lamp equipped with a 420 nm cut-off filter, which showed that the degradation of MB by 7% CdS/g-C3N4 photocatalyst was 90.7% for MB. It indicates that concentrated acid treatment and loading of CdS nanoparticles can significantly improve the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 nanosheets, which is attributed to the enhancedup conversion function of g-C3N4 by loading CdS to enhance the response range and ability of g-C3N4 in visible light and the photogenerated electron-hole pair separation rate by loading CdS, thus improving the photocatalytic performance of the composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. This study explored the tissue metabolic status and the relationship with inflammation in valgus-valgus deformity (VVD) broilers with increasing age. 2. Tissue and blood from VVD and healthy broilers were collected at two, four and five weeks old. A fully automated biochemical analyser, real-time PCR, HE staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect tissue metabolic indexes, mRNA levels of inflammation and apoptosis cytokines in immune organs, histological changes and serum inflammation and immune-related protein contents in VVD broilers. 3. The results showed that VVD increased the levels of total protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase at five weeks of age, aspartate aminotransferase, urea and creatine kinase in blood at two weeks of age. It upregulated the gene expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, NF-κB and TGF-β and apoptotic factors FAS, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and 9 in immune organs; increased levels of serum proteins TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and decreased levels of serum immunoglobulins IgY and CD3+. 4. In addition, with increasing age, IL-10 gene expression gradually increased in the BF and decreased in the spleen. 5. In conclusion, VVD broilers have disorders of liver and kidney metabolism, inflammation and apoptosis of immune organs and increased levels of serum inflammatory factor proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China is constantly striding forward from a large foundry country to a powerful one, the requirements of high purity cast iron for high-end castings have increased significantly and urgently. However, high purity cast iron produced by blast furnaces in China is always unable to meet national standard of high-end castings due to the exceeding of Ti. Based on the thermodynamic analysis, a detitanization method of increasing N in hot cast iron to promote the formation and clusters of TiN is proposed. High-temperature experiment has proved that N-addition can effectively promote the formation and clusters of TiN in hot cast iron, which provides the possibility for subsequent removal of Ti from high purity cast iron to meet the national standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel smelting produces a large amount of nickel slag which contains a lot of Fe in the form of FeO. The effect of FeO content on the melting properties and structure of nickel slag is investigated by thermodynamic calculations and experiments, using the nickel slag of water quenching furnace as raw material, which is simplified to CaO-SiO2-FeO-MgO slag system. The results are as follows: with increasing FeO content, the precipitated primary phase changes from melilite to olivine. The liquidus temperature, softening temperature, hemispherical temperature, flow temperature, viscosity, and critical viscosity temperature of the slag system tend to decrease gradually, but the solid phase temperature tends to decrease first and then increase. The centre of the symmetric stretching vibration band of the [SiO4]4 tetrahedron -in the slag system shifts to the low wavenumber region. The mole fraction of O0 in the slag continuously decreases, and the mole fraction of O- and O2- increases. The complex silicon-oxygen tetrahedron structure gradually disintegrates and the structural unit tends to be simple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotic bacteria could be administrated to broilers using the in ovo injection technique during 17.50 and 19.20 d of incubation to accelerate microbial maturation in the intestinal tract. The effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR) injected in-ovo on intestinal morphology, mRNA expressions of intestinal health-related genes, and selected intestinal microbial of yellow broilers with or without Eimeria challenge were studied. A total of 360 yellow broiler hatching eggs were randomly assigned into 6 treatments with 60 replicate eggs per treatment. Six treatments were arranged in a 3 (LR dosage at 0, 10⁶, and 10⁸ CFU/egg at 18.5 d of incubation) × 2 (Eimeria oocyst challenge vs. PBS challenge at 10 d of age) factorial design. Tissues and cecal contents were sampled on d 19 posthatch. Our results indicated that the coccidial infection increased duodenum, jejunum, and liver relative weights to body weight, duodenal crypt depth, and HSP90 expression, and reduced goblet cell density and Occludin expression. In ovo injection of LR at 106 CFU/egg downregulated the Occludin expression and increased the Clostridium perfringens level in Eimeria -challenged broilers. When the LR dosage increased to 10⁸ CFU/egg, relative weights of duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and liver increased, villus length of lower small intestine and cecal Lactobacillus abundance in challenged broilers were reduced, and the Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens abundances in unchallenged broilers were increased. In summary, in ovo injection of LR at a dosage equal to or higher than 106 CFU per egg exacerbated coccidial infection in the intestinal tract and resulted in cecal bacterial imbalance. The probiotic dosage must be considered for in ovo administration in broiler production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planning power system (PS) towards renewable energy is crucial for reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2) emission as well as mitigating climate change. However, the inherent uncertainty and hierarchical structure of PS pose intractable challenges to the planning process. This study develops a multi-GCM-based interval bi-level programming (MIBP) method that can balance two-level decision-making conflict between CO 2 -emisison reduction and system cost minimization. MIBP can also deal with uncertainties expressed as interval values in objective functions and constraints. Then, a MIBP-PS model is formulated to plan PS for China (2021–2050), where the upper-level objective is to minimize CO 2 emission and the lower-level objective is to minimize the system cost. The major findings are: (i) the CO 2 emission for PS would reach peak value before 2030 and then reduce by [10.2, 20.4]% in 2050, which is mainly owing to the curtailment of fossil fuel; (ii) compared with the conventional model, CO 2 emission from MIBP-PS model could decrease by [3.1, 4.8]%, which shows the superiority of the developed model; (iii) the fossil-fuel power would be gradually replaced by renewable energy, and the proportion of coal-fired power would decrease by 38.8% by 2050, especially small coal-fired facilities (i.e., below 0.3 GW) should be gradually phased down. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micropigmentation of the nipple-areolar complex is the final aesthetic step in autologous breast reconstruction. The mechanism of referred pain observed in patients during micropigmentation after a non-neurotonized pedicled latissimus dorsi flap breast reconstruction is poorly understood. Patients undergoing micropigmentation for nipple-areolar restoration at our breast unit were included in this study. Baseline sensitivity of both breasts was recorded using a questionnaire and non-invasive Semmes–Weinstein monofilament testing. Patients experiencing local and regional referred symptoms, while undergoing micropigmentation, were identified and their clinical data were collected and analysed. Three months postoperatively, the patients completed a questionnaire pertaining to their satisfaction and future analgesic preference. Thirty (17.8%) patients experienced referred sensations during micropigmentation. Their symptoms ranged from "ache" (6.7%), "discomfort" (13.3%) to "deep pain" (13.3%) and were either local and/or referred to ipsilateral axilla, upper limb and back. The majority were pleased with postoperative outcomes [shape (30, 100%), size (28, 93.3%), colour match (22, 73.3%)] and a small number were not satisfied with the shape (2, 6.7%,) position (1, 3.3%) and appearance of the tattoo (1, 3.3%). Micropigmentation is a safe procedure with good patient satisfaction and low rates of complications; however, patients may experience significant local or referred symptoms. This observation can be explained by the proposed "somato-somatic" theory of referred pain and ascertains the need for use of oral and/or local anaesthetic as well as improved counselling in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the feasibility of non-enhanced and free-breathing whole-heart magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MRCA) using multishot gradient-echo planar imaging (MSG-EPI). In total, 29 healthy volunteers were recruited for free-breathing whole-heart MRCA acquisition using the MSG-EPI sequence and fast gradient echo (GRE) sequence. After the examination, the actual scanning times, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the left main (LM) coronary artery, subjective quality scores for each segment, and evaluable length of the coronary artery were recorded and statistically analysed. There was no significant difference between the SNR LM of the MSG-EPI sequence and fast GRE sequence (p= 0.130), but the CNR LM of the MSG-EPI sequence was higher (p= 0.001). The subjective quality score of the mid- and distal left anterior descending branch as well as the distal circumflex branch of the coronary artery in the MSG-EPI sequence was higher than that in the fast GRE sequence (p= 0.003, 0.001, and 0.003, respectively). The evaluable length of the left anterior descending branch and the circumflex branch was better using the MSG-EPI sequence than that of the fast GRE sequence (p= 0.015 and < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, the scanning time of the MSG-EPI sequence was 54.5% less than that of the fast GRE sequence (p< 0.001). The MSG-EPI sequence improves the subjective and objective image quality of MRCA as well as reduces the scanning time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes an efficient surrogate-assisted design optimization method based on a multicriteria optimal Latin hypercube design (LHD) for multi-objective optimization of a surface-mounted permanent-magnet vernier machine (SPMVM). An improved iterated local search (ILS) method is proposed to optimize the spatial distribution uniformity and orthogonality of LHDs so that the data feature over the wide ranges of optimization variables can be captured more efficiently. Using the optimal LHD, a highly generalizable surrogate model can be trained with fewer samples, thus greatly reducing the required number of finite element analysis (FEA) cases and improving the optimization efficiency. A prototype corresponding to the optimal design is built and measured to validate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we use the FLASH radiation hydrodynamic code and the FLYCHK atomic code to investigate the energy conversion and spectra associated with laserâ€"Sn target interactions with 1 and 2 µ m wavelength lasers. We found that the conversion efficiency (CE) reached as much as 3.38% with the 2 µ m laser, which is 1.48 percentage points higher than the 1 µ m laser (CE = 1.9%). In addition, we analyzed the contribution of dominant ionization states to the emission spectrum for both lasers. We observed that the growths of the out-of-band emission eventually led to a broadening of the spectrum, resulting in a reduction of spectral purity for the 1 µ m laser. By contrast, the emission main peaks were all centered near 13.5 nm for the 2 µ m laser, which is beneficial for efficient emission of light with a 13.5 nm wavelength (relevant for nanolithographic applications). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically investigate atom interferometric schemes based on three Kapitza–Dirac pulses in a one-dimensional harmonic trap. Kapitza–Dirac pulses as beam splitters create several spatially addressable modes with different momentum. The one-dimensional harmonic potential well acts as a mirror in an optical interferometer, which causes different modes to interfere and numerous high-contrast fringes appear in each mode at the time of measurement. The sensitivity of this atom interferometer in measuring gravitational acceleration can reach Δ g / g ≈ 10 - 10 , which is further improved with increasing the number of modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Si–B–N ceramic hard films were prepared by injecting N 2 +SiH 4 +B 2 H 6 reaction gas into an argon DC arc plasma jet at reduced pressure. XPS, FT-IR, SEM, and microhardness tester were used to characterize the samples, and the optical properties of Ar discharge plasma jet with and without reaction gas injection were studied by a multichannel high-resolution spectroscopy and a wide spectral range spectroscopy. It is found that the deposited films are mainly composed of Si, B, N and O. The film surface presents a dense structure with hundred-nanometer-sized clusters, and the hardness of sample is greatly enhanced. When the reaction gas is injected into the plasma jet, the emission of excited atoms in the background plasma is greatly reduced, and the growth rate of Si–B–N film shows a significant downward trend as the reaction gas injection ring or substrate holder is moved away from the torch nozzle. A slight enhancement of background plasma emission is observed near the substrate surface with increasing the distance between gas injection ring and torch nozzle, which indicates that the suppression effect of the reactive gas injection on the background plasma emission and the activation efficiency of the reaction gas are weakened, thereby reducing the deposition rate. • SiBN films were prepared by injecting N 2 +SiH 4 +B 2 H 6 gas into an argon DC arc plasma. • The background plasma emission is greatly reduced when the reaction gas is injected. • The growth rate decreases as injection ring or substrate is moved away from nozzle. • The background emission near the substrate enhances as the ring is away from nozzle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the current issue of the difficulty to use the hot outdoor environment during summer nights to provide coolness for phase change materials (PCM) and thus reduce building energy consumption in hot summer areas, a novel cold energy storage unit has been proposed. It replaces the hot outdoor environment with other free or cheap cold sources. An experimental setup is built to investigate the cold storage and release performance of the PCM storage unit. Later, the well-validated numerical model is conducted to further explore thermal performance of the PCM storage unit. The numerical result indicates that the cold storage process can be completed from 64.33 min to 96.56 min when the water inlet temperature varies from 10 °C to 16 °C. Further, during the cold release process, the PCM storage unit can reduce the temperature of the hot air by a maximum of about 8–12 °C when the air inlet temperature ranges from 32 °C to 38 °C. The cold release efficiency is varied between 81.65 % and 96.44 %. In conclusion, the findings provide a promising way for cold storage and space cooling of buildings in hot summer areas through the cold energy storage unit. • The cold storage process can be realized through free or cheap cold sources. • The cold energy storage unit can reduce energy consumption of space cooling. • The cold energy storage unit has a short charging time and a long discharging time. • The cold-release efficiency of the cold energy storage unit is as high as 96.44 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the current issue of the difficulty to use the hot outdoor environment during summer nights to provide coolness for phase change materials (PCM) and thus reduce building energy consumption in hot summer areas, a novel cold energy storage unit has been proposed. It replaces the hot outdoor environment with other free or cheap cold sources. An experimental setup is built to investigate the cold storage and release performance of the PCM storage unit. Later, the well-validated numerical model is conducted to further explore thermal performance of the PCM storage unit. The numerical result indicates that the cold storage process can be completed from 64.33 min to 96.56 min when the water inlet temperature varies from 10 °C to 16 °C. Further, during the cold release process, the PCM storage unit can reduce the temperature of the hot air by a maximum of about 8–12 °C when the air inlet temperature ranges from 32 °C to 38 °C. The cold release efficiency is varied between 81.65 % and 96.44 %. In conclusion, the findings provide a promising way for cold storage and space cooling of buildings in hot summer areas through the cold energy storage unit. • The cold storage process can be realized through free or cheap cold sources. • The cold energy storage unit can reduce energy consumption of space cooling. • The cold energy storage unit has a short charging time and a long discharging time. • The cold-release efficiency of the cold energy storage unit is as high as 96.44 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Investigation of a solar energy storage system under low-grade solar energy. • Dynamic heat storage and release processes under multiple parameters. • Matched collecting areas for different grades of meteorological conditions. • Performance optimization process of the solar thermal energy storage system. Designed and operational parameters matter greatly in how successful an energy storage system performs. However, a current challenge in matching suitable these parameters lies in the poor understanding of such systems' performance under dynamic weather conditions. In this paper, we investigated a phase change material (PCM) storage unit that is particularly aimed for poor-solar areas, and connected the unit to a flat plate solar collector to establish a complete solar thermal energy storage system (STESS). To optimize the system performance, different grades of solar radiation and outdoor ambient temperatures are introduced, and the effects of heat transfer fluid (HTF) flow rates and solar collecting areas are investigated numerically through multiple performance evaluation parameters. The results indicate that the solar collecting area has a significant effect on the performance of the STESS compared to that of the water flow rate. And different collecting areas of 1 m2, 1.5 m2, and 3 m2 with an optimal water flow rate of 0.06 m3/h are matched to different average daily solar radiation of 203.4 W/m2, 155.2 W/m2, 92.7 W/m2, respectively. Further for the heat release process, different heat release efficiencies from 88.32 % to 97.12 % with different energy consumption of the fan from 0.003 kWh to 0.063 kWh are obtained when the air flow rate is increased from 30 m3/h to 90 m3/h. One of the air flow rates of 60 m3/h is superior for the STESS considering higher heat release efficiency and lower energy consumption of the fan. The findings of this paper will contribute to optimizing the performance of a STESS in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the use of a modified laparoscopic repair of paraostomy hernia technique, called “D-Type parastomal hernia repair surgery” which combines abdominal wall and extraperitoneal stoma reconstruction, in patients with parastomal hernia (PSH) following colorectal stoma surgery. The aim was to determine whether D-type parastomal hernia repair surgery is a promising surgical approach compared to the traditional laparoscopic repair technique (Sugarbaker method) for patients with PSH.PSH patients were selected and retrospectively divided into two groups: the study group underwent D-type parastomal hernia repair, while the control group underwent laparoscopic Sugarbaker repair. Clinical data from both groups were analyzed.Compared to control group (n = 68), the study group undergoing D-type stoma lateral hernia repair had significant increase in total operative time (98.82 ± 12.37 min vs 124.61 ± 34.99 min, p < 0.001). The study group also showed better postoperative stoma bowel function scores in sensory ability, frequency of bowel movements, and clothing cleanliness without a stoma bag (p = 0.037, 0.001, 0.002). The treatment cost was significantly higher in the control group (3899.97 ± 260.00$ vs 3215.91 ± 230.03$, p < 0.001). The postoperative recurrence rate in the control group was 26.4%, while in the study group, it was 4.3%, with a significant statistical difference (p = 0.024). In terms of long-term postoperative complications, the study group had an overall lower incidence compared to the control group (p = 0.035). Other parameters showed no significant differences between the two groups.The study suggests that D-type parastomal hernia repair surgery is a safe and feasible procedure. Compared to traditional surgery, it can reduce the recurrence of lateral hernia, improve postoperative stoma bowel function, and save medical resources.Methods: This study investigated the use of a modified laparoscopic repair of paraostomy hernia technique, called “D-Type parastomal hernia repair surgery” which combines abdominal wall and extraperitoneal stoma reconstruction, in patients with parastomal hernia (PSH) following colorectal stoma surgery. The aim was to determine whether D-type parastomal hernia repair surgery is a promising surgical approach compared to the traditional laparoscopic repair technique (Sugarbaker method) for patients with PSH.PSH patients were selected and retrospectively divided into two groups: the study group underwent D-type parastomal hernia repair, while the control group underwent laparoscopic Sugarbaker repair. Clinical data from both groups were analyzed.Compared to control group (n = 68), the study group undergoing D-type stoma lateral hernia repair had significant increase in total operative time (98.82 ± 12.37 min vs 124.61 ± 34.99 min, p < 0.001). The study group also showed better postoperative stoma bowel function scores in sensory ability, frequency of bowel movements, and clothing cleanliness without a stoma bag (p = 0.037, 0.001, 0.002). The treatment cost was significantly higher in the control group (3899.97 ± 260.00$ vs 3215.91 ± 230.03$, p < 0.001). The postoperative recurrence rate in the control group was 26.4%, while in the study group, it was 4.3%, with a significant statistical difference (p = 0.024). In terms of long-term postoperative complications, the study group had an overall lower incidence compared to the control group (p = 0.035). Other parameters showed no significant differences between the two groups.The study suggests that D-type parastomal hernia repair surgery is a safe and feasible procedure. Compared to traditional surgery, it can reduce the recurrence of lateral hernia, improve postoperative stoma bowel function, and save medical resources.Result: This study investigated the use of a modified laparoscopic repair of paraostomy hernia technique, called “D-Type parastomal hernia repair surgery” which combines abdominal wall and extraperitoneal stoma reconstruction, in patients with parastomal hernia (PSH) following colorectal stoma surgery. The aim was to determine whether D-type parastomal hernia repair surgery is a promising surgical approach compared to the traditional laparoscopic repair technique (Sugarbaker method) for patients with PSH.PSH patients were selected and retrospectively divided into two groups: the study group underwent D-type parastomal hernia repair, while the control group underwent laparoscopic Sugarbaker repair. Clinical data from both groups were analyzed.Compared to control group (n = 68), the study group undergoing D-type stoma lateral hernia repair had significant increase in total operative time (98.82 ± 12.37 min vs 124.61 ± 34.99 min, p < 0.001). The study group also showed better postoperative stoma bowel function scores in sensory ability, frequency of bowel movements, and clothing cleanliness without a stoma bag (p = 0.037, 0.001, 0.002). The treatment cost was significantly higher in the control group (3899.97 ± 260.00$ vs 3215.91 ± 230.03$, p < 0.001). The postoperative recurrence rate in the control group was 26.4%, while in the study group, it was 4.3%, with a significant statistical difference (p = 0.024). In terms of long-term postoperative complications, the study group had an overall lower incidence compared to the control group (p = 0.035). Other parameters showed no significant differences between the two groups.The study suggests that D-type parastomal hernia repair surgery is a safe and feasible procedure. Compared to traditional surgery, it can reduce the recurrence of lateral hernia, improve postoperative stoma bowel function, and save medical resources.Conclusion: This study investigated the use of a modified laparoscopic repair of paraostomy hernia technique, called “D-Type parastomal hernia repair surgery” which combines abdominal wall and extraperitoneal stoma reconstruction, in patients with parastomal hernia (PSH) following colorectal stoma surgery. The aim was to determine whether D-type parastomal hernia repair surgery is a promising surgical approach compared to the traditional laparoscopic repair technique (Sugarbaker method) for patients with PSH.PSH patients were selected and retrospectively divided into two groups: the study group underwent D-type parastomal hernia repair, while the control group underwent laparoscopic Sugarbaker repair. Clinical data from both groups were analyzed.Compared to control group (n = 68), the study group undergoing D-type stoma lateral hernia repair had significant increase in total operative time (98.82 ± 12.37 min vs 124.61 ± 34.99 min, p < 0.001). The study group also showed better postoperative stoma bowel function scores in sensory ability, frequency of bowel movements, and clothing cleanliness without a stoma bag (p = 0.037, 0.001, 0.002). The treatment cost was significantly higher in the control group (3899.97 ± 260.00$ vs 3215.91 ± 230.03$, p < 0.001). The postoperative recurrence rate in the control group was 26.4%, while in the study group, it was 4.3%, with a significant statistical difference (p = 0.024). In terms of long-term postoperative complications, the study group had an overall lower incidence compared to the control group (p = 0.035). Other parameters showed no significant differences between the two groups.The study suggests that D-type parastomal hernia repair surgery is a safe and feasible procedure. Compared to traditional surgery, it can reduce the recurrence of lateral hernia, improve postoperative stoma bowel function, and save medical resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel thermal energy storage unit (TESU) that can store the heat from lower solar radiation during daytime and preheat air in winter during nighttime for areas with poor solar resources is proposed. To achieve an efficient operation of this TESU for poor solar conditions, this study proposed a structure that innovatively combines tube bundle and spiral tube heat exchangers to enhance heat transfer with paraffin wax as the phase change material (PCM). The thermal performance of the TESU is then evaluated by experimental measurements and a three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model. The numerical modelling provides details of the solidification behavior of the PCM and the two heat transfer processes - thermal heat extracted from PCM and the effective discharging process. Results show that the pure conduction model can suitably describe the solidification process of PCM. The possible maximum amount of heat extraction of 4.68 MJ can be achieved during the discharging process in 20h. Moreover, an air outlet temperature of 11.5 °C is considered the lowest effective temperature. The effective heat extraction efficiency is about 89.74% till the lowest effective temperature is reached. • A novel TESU combining water and air heat exchanger with PCM is proposed. • A numerical calculation method is proposed for the coupled heat transfer process. • The maximum heat extraction 4.68 MJ can be achieved during the discharging process. • The effective heat extraction efficiency of about 89.74% can be reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data indicate that dietary thiamine supplementation can partly alleviate rumen epithelium inflammation and barrier function in goats fed a high-concentrate diet. The current work aimed to explore whether thiamine promotes rumen epithelium development by regulating carbohydrate metabolism during a long period of feeding high levels of concentrate. For the experiment, 24 female Boer goats (35.62 ± 2.4 kg of body weight) in parity 1 or 2 were allocated to 3 groups (8 goats per replicate) receiving a low-concentrate diet (concentrate:forage 30:70), a high-concentrate diet (HC; concentrate:forage 70:30), or a high-concentrate diet (concentrate:forage 70:30) supplemented with 200 mg of thiamine/kg of dry matter intake (HCT; concentrate:forage 70:30). On the last day of 12 wk, rumen fluid and blood samples were collected to measure ruminal parameters, endotoxin lipopolysaccharide, and blood inflammatory cytokines. Goats were slaughtered to collect ruminal tissue to determine differential metabolites, enzyme activities, and gene expression. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the HCT group had significantly increased concentrations of d -glucose 6-phosphate, d -fructose 6-phosphate, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, thiamine pyrophosphate, oxaloacetate, acetyl-CoA, succinyl-CoA, sedoheptulose 7-phosphate, ribose 5-phosphate, and NADPH compared with the HC group. The pyruvate dehydrogenase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and transketolase enzyme activities in the rumen epithelium of the HCT group were higher than those in the HC group. The plasma total antioxidant capacity values for the HCT group were greater than those for the HC group. The rumen epithelium ATP content in the HCT group was higher than that in the HC group. Compared with the HCT group, the HC group had a lower mRNA abundance of CCND1, CCNA2, CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, BCL2, PI3K , and AKT1. Taken together, the results suggest that dietary thiamine supplementation could ameliorate disorders in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the pentose phosphate pathway induced by a long-term high-concentrate diet and could promote rumen epithelial growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: the novel mutations in the LRTOMT gene was reported in a Chinese patient with nonsyndromic, congenital profound sensorineural hearing loss. Methods: one boy with hearing loss was enrolled from nonconsanguineous family in the study. Targeted genomic enrichment and massively parallel sequencing of all 415 known hearing loss genes were performed to find possible genetic etiology. Various bioinformatics tools were used to assess the pathogenicity of the variants. Interpretation of variants was performed according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines to identify the genetic cause of hearing loss. Results: compound heterozygotes with a novel nonsense mutation (c.451C>T, p.Arg151X) and a novel missense mutation (c.358G>A, p.Gly120Ser) located in splice site were identified in the LRTOMT gene. The two mutations were segregated in both alleles of LRTOMT, present within the LRTOMT2 protein coding region. Nonsyndromic, congenital profound sensorineural hearing loss without detectable residual hearing was found in the patient, and autosomal recessive inheritance was indicated. Conclusion: a novel missense mutation located in splice site was found in the LRTOMT gene in our study. The compound heterozygous mutation increases the spectrum of LRTOMT gene mutations associated with hearing loss in the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new scheme is proposed to enhance the conversion efficiency (CE) of soft x-rays (0.1–1.5 keV) generated by irradiating a double-gold-foil target using double laser pulses to collide gold plasmas. A detailed analysis of the hydrodynamic evolution of the colliding plasmas is performed by using one-dimensional radiation hydrodynamic simulations. The results show that the total soft x-ray CE can be enhanced up to 71.5% by setting the foil thickness as d1 = 0.3 μm, and this is 14.5% higher than that for a single laser irradiating a single-gold-foil target. Most of the enhanced soft x-ray CEs are generated from a stagnation layer formed by plasma collisions. Such a scheme is simple and practical, which is beneficial for their applications in astrophysical opacity calculations, inertial confinement fusion, and hydrodynamic instability analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate operational risk assessment model of urban road traffic safety is an important basis to reduce the probability of accidents. This paper constructs a risk assessment model of urban road traffic safety operation based on vehicle road aggregation. First, the braking response time of vehicles on urban roads is obtained, and the braking acceleration speed of vehicles is perceived, and the minimum safety threshold of vehicles is set, and the safe distance of roads is extracted. Then, cloud computing was used to fuse vehicle end perception data and road end perception data, and the clustering center of operation data was automatically determined by linear regression model and residual analysis, and the dimensions of different attribute data were determined by binary method. Finally, the risk index system of urban road traffic safety operation is constructed, and the risk evaluation model is designed by using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The results show that the model can improve the accuracy of safe operation risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral evolution in angiosperms is thought to be driven by pollinator‐mediated selection. Understanding flower integration and adaptation requires resolving the additive and nonadditive contributions of floral pollinator attraction and pollination efficiency traits to fitness components.In this study, a flower manipulation experiment with a factorial design was used to study the adaptive significance of galea height (a putative attraction trait) and entrance width (a putative efficiency trait) in Aconitum gymnandrum Maxim. flowers. Simultaneously, phenotypic selection analysis was conducted to examine selection by pollinators on galea height, entrance width, nectar production and plant height.Increased galea height increased the pollinator visitation rate, which confirmed its attractiveness function. Increasing floral entrance width by spreading the lower sepals increased the seed number per fruit without affecting pollinator visitation. This suggests a pollination efficiency role for the entrance width. The phenotypic selection analysis, however, did not provide evidence of pollinator‐mediated selection for either of these traist, but it did for plant height. According to the manipulation treatment and correlational selection results, the combined variation in galea height and entrance width of A. gymnandrum flowers did not have nonadditive effects on female reproductive success.This study demonstrated the adaptive value of A. gymnandrum flowers through manipulation of an attractiveness trait and an efficiency trait. However, neither trait was associated with pollinator‐mediated selection. A combination of manipulating traits and determining current phenotypic selection could help to elucidate the mechanism of selection on floral traits involved in different functions and flower integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with intellectual disabilities (ID) typically master walking skills much later than typically developing (TD) children and have poor postural control ability. This study aimed to explore the gait ability and characteristics of children with ID and whether there is any difference in walking ability between them and TD children. Method: In this study, integrating kinematic–biomechanic–dynamic measurement methods and corresponding analysis methods (video analysis, three‐dimensional force analysis and electromyography test analysis) were used to characterise and compare the gait patterns between ID children and TD children. Results: ID children's step length/leg length ratio was lower than TD children. The left‐leg single‐leg support time and step length of ID children were shorter than TD children. While walking, ID children touched the ground with the whole foot pad and could not powerfully thrust against the ground with their toes. Their left legs had obvious disadvantages compared with their right legs. ID children's lower limb muscle strength was lower than TD children, and their thigh muscles had an obvious compensation function. Conclusions: Correcting ID children's gait should be an important teaching goal for physical education institutors and teachers. Muscle‐strength and flexibility training can help ID children reinforce core strength and better coordinate lower limbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present lithofacies classifications for a tight gas sandstone reservoir by analyzing hierarchies of heterogeneities. We use principal component analysis (PCA) to overcome the two level of heterogeneities, which results in a better lithofacies classification than the traditional cutoff method. The classical volumetric method is used for estimating oil/gas in-place resources in the petroleum industry since its inception is not accurate because it ignores the heterogeneities of and correlation between the petrophysical properties. We present the importance and methods of accounting for the heterogeneities of and correlation between petrophysical properties for more accurate hydrocarbon volumetric estimations. We also demonstrate the impacts of modeling the heterogeneities and correlation in porosity and hydrocarbon saturation for hydrocarbon volumetric estimations with a tight sandstone gas reservoir. Furthermore, geoscientists have traditionally considered that small-scale heterogeneities only impact subsurface fluid flow, but not impact the hydrocarbon resource volumetric estimation. We show the importance of modeling small-scale heterogeneities using fine cell size in reservoir modeling of unconventional resources for accurate resource assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of the diagnostic value of interleukin-27 (IL-27) for tuberculous pleurisy (TP). Methods Literature on IL-27 diagnosis of TP was retrieved and screened from six databases (four English databases and two Chinese databases). The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio and summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) were measured to assess accurately the comprehensive evaluation of IL-27 for TP. Results Eleven studies with a total of 1454 patients were identified in the analysis. The combined diagnostic value of IL-27 for TP was as follows: sensitivity of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93–0.97), specificity of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.89–0.92), positive likelihood ratio of 13.99 (95% CI: 7.01–27.93), negative likelihood ratio of 0.07 (95% CI: 0.05–0.10), diagnostic odds ratio of 275.20 (95% CI: 112.83–671.23) and area under the SROC of 0.9830. Conclusion IL-27 has an excellent diagnostic value for TP and could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for TP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shear viscosity of nuclear matter is extracted via the Green–Kubo formula and the Gaussian thermostated SLLOD algorithm (the shear rate method) in a periodic box by using an improved quantum molecular dynamic (ImQMD) model without mean field, also it is calculated by a Boltzmann-type equation. Here a new form of the Green–Kubo formula is put forward in the present work. For classical limit at nuclear matter densities of 0.4 ρ 0 and 1.0 ρ 0 , shear viscosity by the traditional and new form of the Green–Kubo formula as well as the SLLOD algorithm are coincident with each other. However, for non-classical limit, shear viscosity by the traditional form of the Green–Kubo formula is higher than those obtained by the new form of the Green–Kubo formula as well as the SLLOD algorithm especially in low temperature region. In addition, shear viscosity from the Boltzmann-type equation is found to be less than that by the Green–Kubo method or the SLLOD algorithm for both classical and non-classical limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a study of highly controllable, quasi-static hollow plasma channels generated by ion motion following a laser–plasma interaction via numerical simulations. These channels are generated by ion motion in a nonlinear wakefield, which has an asymmetry between focusing and defocusing periods. Such plasma channels, driven by a fs duration, 100 TW level laser pulse, have the capability to guide more powerful laser pulses. Moreover, we show that curved plasma channels can be generated in a transverse density gradient plasma and all-optical guiding of a second, significantly more powerful laser pulse in such a curved plasma channel. This mechanism may be useful for creating plasma optics for multi-stage TeV laser plasma accelerators and compact synchrotron radiation sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we investigate the effects of laser polarization and wavelength on electron injection dynamics in a laser wakefield accelerator. During the ionization process, electrons gain residual momentum and kinetic energy via above threshold ionization, which has a strong dependence on laser polarization. A circularly polarized laser pulse results in a much higher residual momentum and kinetic energy gain for the ionized electrons compared with the linearly polarized case. This residual momentum results in particle injection because of the sensitivity of particle trapping to the initial conditions and enhanced the total injected beam charge in both experiments and particle-in-cell simulations. Due to the strong correlation of above threshold ionization with laser wavelength, in this work we extended the investigation to long wavelength (up to 20 μm) drive pulses using particle-in-cell simulations. Owing to the gain in kinetic energy, it may be expected that the charge trapped would consistently increase for circular polarization with increasing laser wavelength, but this was not observed. Instead, there are oscillations with wavelength in the relative trapped charge between linear and circular polarization cases, which arise because of ionization and heating effects on the plasma. Our studies highlight the complex interplay between several different physical effects, including injection regimes—above threshold ionization assisted injection, wave-breaking injection by carrier-envelope-phase effects and ionization injection—ionization gradient induced laser pulse evolution, and thermal modifications to the wake structure that need considering when extrapolating laser wakefield acceleration to different wavelength regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As-cast in-situ nanoparticle reinforced CuSn10Zn2Fe1.5Co0.5 (wt-%) alloy was selected as base metal (BM) and filler for welding. Butt joints were obtained by tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. Microstructure of weld metal was characterised. Nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 5 nm are uniformly dispersed in the primary copper matrix in size of micro or nano scales for weld metal. A large number of nano grains with size of about 20 nm can be found in the weld metal as well. Mechanical properties of weld metal were comparable to those of heat-treated BM. Strengthening and toughening strategies for the weld metal were discussed through fabricating in-situ nanoparticles and nano grains in the weld metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the presence of highly permeable pathways, such as faults and fractures zones, coal seam gases, particularly CO2, could potentially migrate upwardly from the coal deposits into the shallow subsurface and then to the atmosphere. This letter reports soil gas mapping and gamma ray survey in coal basin of Hunter River Valley, Australia. The survey facilitated the delineation of fault structures across the sampling regions, where the identified faults were confirmed by an independent drilling investigation later. Furthermore, to evaluate the gas emission fluxes from coalbeds through fault zones, the measured CO2 concentrations, coupled with an inverse modeling, enable the estimation of the width of the fault zone and associated CO2 emission flux in the range of 2 × 10−5–6 × 10−5 mol/m2/s at the study site. Our new approach provides a way to determine emissions of gases from deep formations, which may contribute considerably to the greenhouse gases cycles. Plain Language Summary: Australia is one of the world's biggest coal exporters. Total fugitive emissions in Australia have increased in line with the expanding coal and gas production sector. CO2 emissions may occur during the operation and following the closure of coal mines and coal seam gas fields. Leakage of gases to the atmosphere may be induced through fractured gas‐bearing strata and open vents. Hence, the emissions of CO2 from coal basins should be counted toward the overall emissions budget. The new approach proposed by the current study can be applied to estimate emissions of CO2 from fracture and fault zones, which have not been well quantified and yet can be potentially an important source of greenhouse gases contributing to the overall budget at a global scale. So this work could provide a better track progress on international emission commitments. Key Points: Field assessments on gas emission fluxes from coal basin at fault zones in the Hunter River Valley, AustraliaSoil gas mapping and gamma ray survey delineated several fault structures across the sampling transects, which were later confirmed by an independent borehole drilling investigationAn inverse modeling is applied to determine the width of the fault zone and its CO2 emission flux at the study site [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: Biomechanical stress plays an essential role in coronary atherosclerosis (CAS), however, inter-relations between mechanical conditions and gene expressions remain unclear. METHODS: We constructed finite element model of CAS to map human wall shear stress (WSS). Biopsy aortic tissue samples were obtained from 3 CAS patients. Gene expression pattern in CAS was analyzed by GEO datasets. Immunofluorescence staining and western blot confirmed protein expression and localization. RESULTS: Peak WSS was significantly increased in the vessel stenosis of CAS at 0.25 s (mean 55.1 Pa). Analyses results of GSE76275 showed matrix metalloproteinases1 (MMP1) and phosphodiesterase- 2A (PDE2A) up-regulation in endothelial shear responsiveness, which was further validated and localized in vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and other cells by double immunofluorescence staining. Western blotting assay demonstrated up-regulation of MMP1 and PDE2A expression dependent on the WSS. CONCLUSIONS: MMP1 and PDE2A up-regulations rely on increased WSS in development and risk of CAS, suggesting that their elevation may be potential target for diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control of water content of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) within a reasonable rangeis a question worthy of study. This paper addresses questions of water transport, water fault, and water management methods in a PEMFC. Both an excess (overflow) or lack (dehydration) of water in a fuel cell may affect the performance and the service life. Herein, we describe in detail the effects of water content on the cathode, anode, gas diffusion layer (GDL), catalyst layer (CL) and flow channel. Monitoring the flow and accumulation of water directly in the PEMFC is the most effective approach to determine which of the two scenarios, overflow or dehydration, occurs. The water transport can be effectively investigated in a transparent fuel cell, using neutron scanning, nuclear magnetic resonance, and X-ray irradiation. Regarding the PEMFC water management, this paper reviews some current methods, such as improvement of the flow field structure, changing hydrophilic materials, and optimizing control systems. • Different transmission mechanisms of water in GDL, CL, membrane and flow channel. • The pressure drop method and the visualization of liquid water for judging water failure. • The improvement of PEMFC shape, hydrophobicity and control system for water management. • Overflow and dehydration will greatly reduce the performance and life of PEMFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anyone who has visited a science museum has seen the demonstration where a beach (or ping-pong) ball is suspended in mid-air at a fixed position by constant blowing from below. After a while, the ball inevitably tumbles to the ground but can easily be rebalanced, by hand, again at the suspension point. Here, we ask a different more delicate question. Can we blow the ball from rest, starting at the nozzle opening (x = 0), moving it up to the suspension point x = x * above the nozzle? We show that it is not possible to do this using constant blowing because the point at which the downward gravitational force balances the upward blowing force is an elliptic fixed point of the governing equations, so there is no transfer trajectory that connects the origin to x *. To overcome this problem, we design time-dependent blowing schedules that achieve the transfer, making use of orbit transfer ideas developed in the orbital mechanics literature. Then, we ask which of these time-dependent schedules are optimal? We show that, generally, it is bang–bang (on–off) blowing schedules that achieve the transfer in minimal time, using minimal energy (action) and minimal air volume. For certain parameter values, however, there are more complicated blowing schedules that are optimal (with respect to energy), which can be designed using the Pontryagin Maximum Principle (PMP) and singular control. We use elementary concepts from mechanics, nonlinear dynamics, and control theory and challenge the inclined experimentalist to try to implement some of these nonconstant blowing schedules in the lab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]