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Summary: Cooperative transmission is of great significance in data transmission and resource schedule in mobile cellular communication networks. To attain the desired network transmission performance objectives over the whole cellular network system, we propose an appropriate cooperative data transmission scheme to optimize the data delivery efficiency in terms of the transmission time consumption for each and every transmission group. The proposed transmission optimization scheme includes the tasks of determining the transmission group, allocating the channel rate resource, specifying the cooperative transmission mechanism, and performing resource allocation and schedule as well. Firstly, we propose a utility function based rate allocation scheme to optimize the channel rate resource utilization for all those transmission groups over the cellular communication network. Based on it, we further present a cooperative data transmission scheme to deal with the data delivery and reception for all those subgroups with high efficiency over the whole network system. Particularly, we propose a resource efficiency function‐based coordination scheduling (EFCS) scheme to conduct the cooperative data transmission and resource schedule as well for each transmission group within the network. The EFCS scheme facilitates to determine the subgroups for schedule over each scheduling cycle, which can produce the best data transmission efficiency across both the direct and cooperative transmission hop. Both the theoretical analysis and the simulation evaluation results verify the superior performance of our proposed cooperative data transmission scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A channel with one backward-facing step and one forward-facing step is a typical configuration in engineering applications. In the channel, good heat transfer performance is often required, and the enhancement is usually achieved by employing different passive control methods, such as modification of geometric configuration or application of nanofluid. However, the other control method, i.e., active flow control (AFC), which is likely more effective, has been rarely applied in such a scenario. This study aims to bridge this gap by exploring how a rigid plate affects the heat transfer of the channel. The plate either is stationary or actively rotates, corresponding to passive flow control or AFC. The influences of the horizontal position of the plate (S) and its orientation angle (θ) on the heat transfer performance are studied when the plate is stationary to provide a baseline. Compared to the baseline, the effects of S, θ, and the rotation frequency (fr) are revealed when the plate undergoes a sinusoidal rotation. Such a thermo-fluid dynamic problem is numerically simulated by the immersed-boundary lattice Boltzmann method. The results show that the plate can improve the heat transfer performance no matter whether it rotates or not, compared to the case without a plate. The rotating plate outperforms the stationary one when θ and fr are properly chosen at each S. Substantial improvement can be achieved when vortex synchronization or resonance occurs in the channel, i.e., when the natural vortex shedding frequency is close or equal to fr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyester and polyether are two key oxygenated polymers, and completely alternative sequence of poly(ester-alt-ether) could efficiently combine the advantages (including flexibility, degradability, etc.) of both segments. Currently, despite their copolymers could be synthesized from one-pot mixture of cyclic esters and epoxides, perfectly alternative microstructure is very challenging to realize and typically restricted to certain monomer pairs. Moving forward, synthesizing poly(ester-alt-ether) from commercially available and largescale monomers would be a significant advance. For example, successfully commercialized poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), which is not easily soluble in polymers due to its high crystallinity and is brittle and difficult to control the degradation cycle, would encounter a new paradigm if engineered into poly(ester-alt-ether). In this work, starting from the design of monomer with hybrid structures, we successfully synthesized a series of 1,4-dioxan-2-one containing different substituents based on glycolide (GA) and epoxides using commercially available Salen-Cr(III) and PPNCl catalytic systems. The new monomers underwent ring-opening polymerization (ROP) to form a series of poly(ester-alt-ether) with perfectly alternating glycolic acid and propylene glycol repeat units under catalytic system of thiourea/base. The poly(ester-alt-ether) have significantly lower glass-transition temperature than PGA. Additionally, the poly(ester-alt-ether) can be chemically recovered to monomer using Sn(Oct)2 or 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undecane-7-ene (DBU) as a catalyst in solution, thus establishing a closed-loop life cycle. From monomers derived from GA and epoxides, this work furnishes a novel strategy for the synthesis of poly(ester-alt-ether) with chemical recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the glass network has been tailored by introducing the modifier WO 3 when a Ho3+/Yb3+ co-doped bismuth-tellurite glass composition was designed. The physical, absorption, emission, structure, and gain characteristics of the glasses with the different contents of WO 3 were investigated comprehensively based on various tests and analytical methods such as absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, Raman spectra, and J-O theory. The results show that both the optical band gap and the bridge oxygen content are enhanced remarkably while the substitution of TeO 2 by WO 3 , accelerating the transition from [TeO 3 ] to [TeO 4 ] units. Simultaneously, the value of Ω 6 reached the maximum of 2.26×10-20 cm2 when the WO 3 is equal to 10 mol%, indicating that the Stark splitting of Ho3+: 5I 7 energy level is the weakest. The optimal FWHM and the gain coefficient are 143.3 nm and 2.22 cm-1, respectively. Furthermore, a blue shift of the central wavelength in absorption and emission peaks can be observed at the 2 μm band. As mentioned above, the bismuth-tellurite glass prepared is an ideal gain material that can realize a wider spectra span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dieulafoy's disease is a rare and important cause of recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding, which can cause fatal gastrointestinal bleeding. We reported a patient with Dieulafoy's disease in both of the stomach and duodenum for the first time. The patient achieved no effective hemostasis after two endoscopic treatments and two arterial angiography embolizations. Finally, successful hemostasis was achieved through surgery. There are many endoscopic treatment methods, but there is no consensus on the best treatment for hemorrhagic Dieulafoy's disease. Surgery is only a last resort after the failure of endoscopic treatment and angiography embolization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a group of rapidly progressive autosomal recessive disorders characterized by intrahepatic cholestasis. PFIC-3 is caused by mutations in the ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 4 gene (ABCB4), which encodes multidrug resistance protein 3 (MDR3/ABCB4). Patients are usually in infancy or childhood, but cirrhosis and portal hypertension may be the first manifestation in older children or young adults. Case presentation: A 25-year-old young woman with recurrent abnormal hepatic function was mainly characterized by increased gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and bile acid with cryptogenic cirrhosis. After 7 months of treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), her hepatic pathology suggested there were also obvious widening and venous fibrosis around the portal vein, and slight bile duct hyperplasia at the edge of the portal area. Infiltration of inflammatory cells around the portal vein and hepatocyte ABCB4/MDR3 protein was basically normal. Sequencing indicated the patient had heterozygous mutations in the ABCB4 gene: c.2696C > G and wes [hg19]7q21.12(87032513–87033422) × 1. Through SWISS-MODEL Predict for protein structures, the missense mutation results in protein side chain missing a methyl group (-CH3), and the deletion mutation results in the serious damage to the structure of MDR3 protein which lead to phosphatidylcholine deficiency of bile in the capillary bile ducts. The toxic effect of bile salts then damages the bile ducts, causing cholestasis and cholangitis, which can then develop into biliary cirrhosis. Through the analysis of pathogenicity prediction software, the mutations led to PFIC3. After treatment of UDCA for 29 months, her cirrhosis was improved, hepatic function was close to normal. Conclusion: Novel heterozygous mutations are the molecular pathological cause of PFIC3 in this patient. All young adult patients with occult cirrhosis should be tested for ABCB4. Early diagnosis of PFIC3 and continued treatment with UDCA are key to improving prognosis and delaying the onset of end-stage liver disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific prediction of net carbon emissions in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region is of significance to examine carbon emission reduction in the context of the "double carbon" target. In this study, the carbon peak and carbon neutrality states in the BTH region are determined through a regional double carbon target analysis framework, and a logistic chaotic sparrow search algorithm backpropagation neural network hybrid model (LCSSA-BP) optimized by a logistic chaotic sparrow search algorithm (LCSSA) is used to forecast the net carbon emissions. The findings reveal that the net carbon emissions in the BTH region generally increased during the study period; Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei are in different stages toward the realization of the double carbon target; population size, affluence, and urbanization rate are positively correlated, whereas the proportion of foreign direct investment and energy intensity is negatively associated with net carbon emissions; the prediction accuracy of the LCSSA-BP is superior to that of the SSA-BP and BP neural network, and it can be used to forecast the net carbon emissions in the BTH region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the geopolitical crisis radiates into the area of sustainable development, it has become a major challenge hindering the process of sustainable human development. Thorough research is necessary to determine how global geopolitical concerns affect sustainable development. Based on the methodology and paradigm of bibliometrics, this study incorporated the research of geopolitical influences on sustainable development into the analytical framework, creating and comparing structural changes in the field before and after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and systematic basic research using data from relevant publications included in Web of Science core collection. The results indicate that the study of geopolitical influences on sustainable development has attracted widespread interest among scientists and that the number of publications on the subject has been on the rise, Environmental Sciences Ecologic have become the most dominant subject in the research field of the topic. The geographical distribution of publications shows that developed countries have more publications in this field. The evolution of the dynamics of international collaboration reveals heterogeneity in the patterns of country and author collaboration before and after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a decrease in the clustering of country collaboration, and the replacement of the United States by China as the country with the highest intensity of collaboration after the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and author collaboration networks show a lack of high-impact author groups in the subject. Thematic clustering results reveal that geopolitical risks have influenced economic, social, and environmental sustainability, which include impacts on economic development, energy security, global supply chains, the water environment, and many others. At the end of the article, relevant suggestions are proposed for achieving sustainable development goals under geopolitical threats. [Display omitted] • Extensive research has been conducted worldwide on how geopolitical risk affects sustainable development. • International collaboration is influenced by geopolitics, which are particularly reflected in the collaboration of Russia and Ukraine. • International organizations play a crucial role in providing knowledge bases. • Geopolitical impacts for sustainable development involves the "three pillars". • The geopolitical influence on sustainability requires serious attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• UC, XPS, DRS spectra, luminescence decay and energy transfer of BHYTO: 0.05Li phosphors were discovered systemly. • Sintering temperature has important influence on the UC luminescence of BHYTO: 0.05Li. • Increased grain size induced by thermal effects play an critical role on emission enhancement of BHYTO: 0.05Li. • Increased defects sintered at high temperature such as Bi and O vacancies degraded the UC luminescence. The effects of different sintering temperatures on the structure and upconversion luminescent properties of Li+ doped Bi 3.46 Ho 0.04 Yb 0.5 Ti 3 O 12 : 0.05Li (BHYTO: Li) phosphors were investigated. The upconversion emission intensity first increases and then decreases with the increase of sintering temperature from 700 to 1000 °C. The temperature induced grain growth contributes to the enhancement of UC luminescence, but the increased defects such as Bi and O degrade the luminescence. The combined effect of them makes the optimal luminescence appears in the specimens sintered at 800 °C, which is about 2 times stronger than that of those specimens sintered at 700 and 1000 °C. The mean lifetime for the specimens sintered from 700 to 1000 °C increases monotonically from 60.2 to 81.5 μs, with band gap (E g) from 2.8 to 3.0 eV. The maximal quantum efficiency can reach 0.28 % due to enhanced crystallinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a novel active-flow-control strategy for bluff bodies to hide their hydrodynamic traces, i.e., strong shears and periodically shed vortices, from predators. A group of windward-suction-leeward-blowing (WSLB) actuators are adopted to control the wake of a circular cylinder submerged in a uniform flow. An array of velocity sensors is deployed in the near wake to provide feedback signals. Through the data-driven deep reinforcement learning, effective control strategies are trained for the WSLB actuation to mitigate the cylinder's hydrodynamic signatures. Only a 0.29% deficit in streamwise velocity is detected, which is a 99.5% reduction from the uncontrolled value. The same control strategy is found also to be effective when the cylinder undergoes transverse vortex-induced vibration. The findings from this study can shed some light on the design and operation of underwater structures and robotics to achieve hydrodynamic stealth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective regulation of the magnetism and interface of ferromagnetic materials is not only of great scientific significance, but also has an urgent need in modern industry. In this work, by using the first-principles calculations, we demonstrate an effective approach to achieve non-volatile electrical control of ferromagnets, which proves this idea in multiferroic heterostructures of ferromagnetic LaTiO3 and ferroelectric BiFeO3. The results show that the magnetic properties and two-dimensional electron gas concentrations of LaTiO3 films can be controlled by changing the polarization directions of BiFeO3. The destroyed symmetry being introduced by ferroelectric polarization of the system leads to the transfer and reconstruction of the Ti-3d electrons, which is the fundamental reason for the changing of magnetic properties. This multiferroic heterostructures will pave the way for non-volatile electrical control of ferromagnets and have potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmission of a quantum state is essential for performing quantum information processing tasks. The communication channel will be inevitably immersed in its surrounding environment under realistic conditions. In this paper, we investigate the influence of environment noise on the transmission fidelity when transferring a quantum state through a spin chain. The non-Markovian open system dynamics is systematically analyzed by using the quantum state diffusion equation method. With each spin immersed in its own finite temperature and non-Markovian heat bath, we consider three types of system–bath interaction: dephasing, dissipation and spin-boson. The transmission fidelity is found to decrease with the increasing bath temperature and system–bath coupling strength. Interestingly, we find that the bath non-Markovianity can help enhancing the transmission fidelity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning has recently become a promising technique in fluid mechanics, especially for active flow control (AFC) applications. A recent work [Rabault et al., J. Fluid Mech. 865, 281–302 (2019)] has demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) in performing AFC over a circular cylinder at Re = 100, i.e., in the laminar flow regime. As a follow-up study, we investigate the same AFC problem at an intermediate Reynolds number, i.e., Re = 1000, where the weak turbulence in the flow poses great challenges to the control. The results show that the DRL agent can still find effective control strategies, but requires much more episodes in the learning. A remarkable drag reduction of around 30% is achieved, which is accompanied by elongation of the recirculation bubble and reduction of turbulent fluctuations in the cylinder wake. Furthermore, we also perform a sensitivity analysis on the learnt control strategies to explore the optimal layout of sensor network. To our best knowledge, this study is the first successful application of DRL to AFC in weakly turbulent conditions. It therefore sets a new milestone in progressing toward AFC in strong turbulent flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control of the dynamics of an open quantum system is crucial in quantum information processing. Basically there are two ways: one is the control on the system and the other is tuning the bath parameters. In this paper, we use the latter to analyze the non-Markovian dynamics of the open system. The model is that the system is immersed in non-Markovian squeezed baths. For the dynamics, a non-Markovian master equation is obtained using the quantum state diffusion (QSD) equation technique for the weak system–bath couplings. We take the adiabatic evolution or quantum state transmission as examples to analyze the effects of the bath parameters: non-Markovianity γ , the squeezed direction θ and squeezed strength r. For the adiabatic or state transmission fidelity, the calculation results show that they both can be enhanced by a smaller γ or bigger p -quadrature. Interestingly, when 0 < θ < π / 2 , the squeezed quadrature is determined by the combination of r and θ , and by numerical simulation we find that the fidelity peak occurs at r = 1 − 2 θ / π. The fidelities increase with increasing r when r ∈ (0 , 1 − 2 θ / π ]. When θ ≥ π / 2 , lower fidelities are obtained due to the squeezed baths. Our results show that the dynamics of the open systems can be effectively controlled by reservoir engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on ecological total-factor energy efficiency (ETFEE) is conducive to energy conservation, emission reduction, and ecological protection. This paper focuses on the measurement and decomposition of the ETFEE in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region in China. In order to measure the ETFEE values, the window technology is combined with a nonradial and nonoriented SBM-undesirable model considering undesirable outputs to overcome the defect of insufficient data of research objects and ensure the calculation process to be implemented. The findings show that Beijing and Tianjin are DEA-efficient, while Hebei is not. The technological progress rates of Beijing and Tianjin reach up to 11.92% and 14.96%, while that of Hebei retrogresses by 4.47%. The scale efficiencies of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei are 97.75%, 86.60%, and 93.81%, respectively, which means that there are potentials for further optimization in the energy structures. The impulse response results between the energy structure and the ETFEE show that the proportions of coal and petroleum have negative effects on the ETFEE, while that of natural gas has a positive effect. The research results can provide reference for decision makers to formulate regional development plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ethanol use disorders are a serious medical and public health problem in the world today. Acute ethanol intoxication can lead to cognitive dysfunction such as learning and memory impairment. Gamma oscillations (γ, 30–80 Hz) are synchronized rhythmic activity generated by population of neurons within local network, and closely related to learning and memory function. The hippocampus is a critical anatomic structure that supports learning and memory. On the grounds of structure and function, hippocampus can be divided into the intermediate (IH), the dorsal (DH), and ventral hippocampus (VH). The current study is the first to investigate the effects of acute ethanol on γ oscillations in these sub-regions of rat hippocampal slices. Methods: The sustained γ oscillations were induced by 200 nM kainate (KA) in the CA3c of IH, DH, and VH. When KA-induced γ oscillation reached the steady state, ethanol (50 mM or 100 mM) was applied and the effects of ethanol on γ oscillation power was measured in the slices sequentially sectioned from ventral to dorsal hippocampus of adult rats. Results: In the intermediate hippocampal slices, compared with control (KA only), ethanol (50 mM) caused 36.1 ± 3.9% decrease in γ power (p < 0.05, n = 10), while ethanol (100 mM) caused 55.3 ± 5.5% decrease in γ power (p < 0.001, n = 14). In the dorsal hippocampus, only ethanol (100 mM) caused 18.1 ± 8.6% decrease in γ power (p < 0.05, n = 12). However, in the ventral hippocampus, neither 50 mM nor 100 mM ethanol affected γ oscillation. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that ethanol may produce the differential suppression of γ oscillations in a dose-dependent manner in different sub-regions of hippocampus, suggesting that the modulation of ethanol on hippocampal γ oscillation is region-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brilliant plasmonic colors with long‐standing stability are generated via laser direct writing. This plasmonic coloring system is made of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) layer embedded in the quartz glass formed by ion implantation. The laser‐induced plasmonic heating merges the small Ag NPs into larger ones, which modifies the plasmon resonances. The plasmon resonances can be further tuned via changing the irradiation time and power, which shows scattering colors ranging from red to green and cyan. By scanning the laser across the Ag NPs layer, sophisticated plasmonic patterns and images with high resolution (≈105 DPI) can be obtained and preserved over long time (several months). This plasmonic coloring system via laser printing is facile, cost‐effective, accurate, and highly stable with rich hue, compared to other plasmonic color systems, which bears significant potentials for industrial applications such as optics, displays, decorations, data storage, and anti‐counterfeiting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a transcription product of the mammalian genome that regulates the development and growth in the body. The present study aimed to analyze the expression dynamics of lncRNA in sika antler mesenchymal and cartilage tissues by high-throughput sequencing. Bioinformatics was applied to predict differentially expressed lncRNAs and target genes and screen lncRNAs and mRNAs related to osteogenic differentiation, cell proliferation, and migration. Finally, the expression of the lncRNAs and target genes were analyzed by qRT-PCR. The results showed that compared to the cartilage tissue, the transcription levels of lncRNA and mRNA, 1212 lncRNAs and 518 mRNAs, in mesenchymal tissue were altered significantly. Thus, a complex interaction network was constructed, and the lncRNA-mRNA interaction network correlation related to osteogenic differentiation, cell proliferation, and migration was analyzed. Among these, the 26 lncRNAs and potential target genes were verified by qRT-PCR, and the results of qRT-PCR were consistent with high-throughput sequencing results. These data indicated that lncRNA promotes the differentiation of deer antler mesenchymal tissue into cartilage tissue by regulating the related osteogenic factors, cell proliferation, and migration-related genes and accelerating the process of deer antler regeneration and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We document the complete (or nearly complete) mitogenomes of 20 Delphacidae taxa, and together with 17 other delphacid mitogenomes currently in GenBank, to reconstruct the phylogeny of the Delphacinae and to investigate mitogenome differences among members of Delphacini, Tropidocephalini and Saccharosydnini. The mitogenomes of the 20 species encode the complete set of 37 genes usually found in animal mitogenomes. The length of complete mitogenomes in Delphacinae ranges from 15,531 to 16,231 bp. The gene order of all newly sequenced mitogenomes are identical, and the mitogenome gene order of Stenocranus matsumurai Metcalf in Stenocraninae has a transposition of tRNA Thr . The two-clade system in Tropidocephalini was supported with high value (PP = 1, BS = 100), and the monophyly of Bambusiphaga was recovered in this study. Finally, we found that the host shift from plants with a C 3 to a C 4 photosynthetic pathway appears to have occurred independently in several clades. • A new gene order in Delphacidae was found. • The phylogenetic analyses show that the two-clade system in Tropidocephalini proposed by Huang et al. (2017) was supported. • The host shift from plants with a C 3 to a C 4 photosynthetic pathway appears to have occurred independently five times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate and reasons and also the risk factors for unplanned reoperation after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) in a single center.Patients and Methods: This retrospective analysis included patients who underwent PD in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 2010 and January 2018. The patients were divided into nonreoperation and reoperation groups according to whether they underwent unplanned reoperation following the primary PD. The incidence and reasons were examined. In addition, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for unplanned reoperation.Results: Of the 330 patients who underwent PD operations, 22 (6.67%) underwent unplanned reoperation. The main reasons for reoperation were postpancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage (PPH) (12/22 [54.5%]) and pancreaticoenteric anastomotic (PEA) leak (5/22 [22.7%]). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified that diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 3.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-12.90; P = 0.04), intraoperative blood loss ≥400 mL (OR, 4.06; 95% CI, 1.29-12.84; P = 0.02), occurrence of postoperative complications in the form of PPH (OR, 30.67; 95% CI, 8.85-106.31; P < 0.001), and PEA leak (OR, 11.53; 95% CI, 3.03-43.98, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for unplanned reoperation.Conclusions: Our results suggest that diabetes, intraoperative blood loss ≥400 mL, PPH, and PEA leak were independent risk factors for unplanned reoperation after primary PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate and reasons and also the risk factors for unplanned reoperation after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) in a single center. Patients and Methods: This retrospective analysis included patients who underwent PD in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 2010 and January 2018. The patients were divided into nonreoperation and reoperation groups according to whether they underwent unplanned reoperation following the primary PD. The incidence and reasons were examined. In addition, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for unplanned reoperation. Results: Of the 330 patients who underwent PD operations, 22 (6.67%) underwent unplanned reoperation. The main reasons for reoperation were postpancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage (PPH) (12/22 [54.5%]) and pancreaticoenteric anastomotic (PEA) leak (5/22 [22.7%]). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified that diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 3.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–12.90; P = 0.04), intraoperative blood loss ≥400 mL (OR, 4.06; 95% CI, 1.29–12.84; P = 0.02), occurrence of postoperative complications in the form of PPH (OR, 30.67; 95% CI, 8.85–106.31; P < 0.001), and PEA leak (OR, 11.53; 95% CI, 3.03–43.98, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for unplanned reoperation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that diabetes, intraoperative blood loss ≥400 mL, PPH, and PEA leak were independent risk factors for unplanned reoperation after primary PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new fluorescence sensor (QDs-IIP), based on ion-imprinted polymers (IIP) as recognition element and Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) as fluorophore, was synthesized for the selective and sensitive determination of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) ions. The QD was first coated by SiO2 layer, and then modified with Cr(VI)-imprinted polymer. Several parameters affecting fluorescence intensity such as tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) volume, ZnS:Mn@SiO2 amount, and radiation time were investigated and optimized. The QDs-IIP was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Furthermore, the fluorescence quenching mechanism was investigated by using UV-VIS and fluorescence spectrophotometer, and it was found that internal filtration effect was the main fluorescence quenching mechanism. The relative fluorescence intensity (F0/F) increased linearly with the increase of Cr(VI) concentration in the range of 20 μg L−1–1.0 mg L−1. The QDs-IIP sensor showed high recognition selectivity for Cr(VI) in comparison with the QDs-NIP sensor with an imprinting factor (IF) of 2.53, and it could be reused 5 times. In addition, an analytical method of Cr(VI) based on the QDs-IIP sensor was established with a limit of detection of 5.48 μg L−1, and was then applied to actual water samples with satisfactory results. Therefore, QDs-IIP can be deemed as a practicable fluorescent sensor for trace Cr(VI) detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the use of high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics simulations in machine-learning based active flow control. More specifically, for the first time, we adopt the genetic programming (GP) to select explicit control laws, in a data-driven and unsupervised manner, for the suppression of vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a circular cylinder in a low-Reynolds-number flow (Re = 100), using blowing/suction at fixed locations. A cost function that balances both VIV suppression and energy consumption for the control is carefully chosen according to the knowledge obtained from pure blowing/suction open-loop controls. By implementing reasonable constraints to VIV amplitude and actuation strength during the GP evolution, the GP-selected best ten control laws all point to suction-type actuation. The best control law suggests that the suction strength should be nonzero when the cylinder is at its equilibrium position and should increase nonlinearly with the cylinder's transverse displacement. Applying this control law suppresses 94.2% of the VIV amplitude and achieves 21.4% better overall performance than the best open-loop controls. Furthermore, it is found that the GP-selected control law is robust, being effective in flows ranging from Re = 100 to 400. On the contrary, although the P-control can achieve similar performance as the GP-selected control at Re = 100, it deteriorates in higher Reynolds number flows. Although for demonstration purpose the chosen control problem is relatively simple, the training experience and insights obtained from this study can shed some light on future GP-based control of more complicated problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miR) serve important roles in the development and progression of tumors by targeting different genes. miR-520a-3p reported in lung and breast cancers as a tumor suppressor gene. However, the expression and functional significance of miR-520a-3p is not completely understood in gastric cancer (GC). In the present study, it was demonstrated that the expression levels of miR-520a-3p were significantly downregulated in GC tissues and cells using RT-qPCR. In addition, downregulated expression of miR-520a-3p was associated with the clinical stage of the tumor and invasion in patients with GC. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-520a-3p significantly inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and migration in SGC-7901 and MGC-803 GC cell lines using proliferation, wound healing and cell invasion assays. Spindle and kinetochore associated 2 (SKA2) was upregulated in GC cells using western blot analysis and a target gene of miR-520a-3p; miR-520a-3p mimics significantly reduced SKA2 expression. In addition, upregulation of SKA2 protein expression SKA2 reversed the miR-520a-3p-mediated inhibition of SGC-7901 cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In conclusion, miR-520a-3p functioned as a tumor suppressor gene by targeting SKA2 in GC cell lines, and may serve as a novel prognostic and potential therapeutic marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ribonuclease inhibitor (RI), also termed angiogenin inhibitor, acts as the inhibitor of ribonucleolytic activity of RNase A and angiogenin. The expression of RI has been investigated in melanoma and bladder cancer cells. However, the precise role of RI in tumorigenesis, in addition to RI-induced autophagy, remains poorly understood. In the present study, it was demonstrated that RI positively regulated autophagy in human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells as indicated by an increase in light chain 3 (LC3)-II levels. Furthermore, RI regulated cell survival in HT29 cells. In addition, autophagy-associated proteins, including beclin-1 and autophagy-related protein 13, were increased in response to RI-induced autophagy, and the protein kinase B (Akt)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)/Unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase (ULK1) pathway may be involved in the activation of autophagy induced by RI overexpression. Taken together, the evidence of the present study indicated that the overexpression of RI induced ATG-dependent autophagy in CRC cells via the Akt/mTOR/ULK1 pathway, suggesting that the upregulation of RI activity may constitute a novel approach for the treatment of human colorectal carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several dermoscopy training programs have found the accuracy of dermoscopy examination depends on adequate training of practitioners. Smartphones are readily available and time‐efficient tools for dermoscopy training. Aim: To evaluate the learning efficacy of utilizing dermoscopy smartphone wallpapers to train medical students, PGY (postgraduate year)‐1 trainees, and junior dermatological residents without prior dermoscopy training. Methods: We designed smartphone wallpapers with dermoscopy pictures and features of several common melanocytic and nonmelanocytic conditions. Pretests and posttests were performed before and after a 10‐day‐long smartphone wallpaper training program to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy using dermoscopy images. Results: Significant progressions were noted between the pretest and posttest scores both in the nonmelanocytic (P < 0.001) and the melanocytic (P = 0.003) sections. Medical students and PGY‐1 trainees demonstrated more significant improvement in nonmelanocytic lesions, compared to dermatology residents. Residents of dermatology showed more progression in the melanocytic section than nonresidents. Limitations: There were limited participants. The frequency and time allotted by each participant in perusing the wallpapers were variable. Further study of the application on clinical practice is still needed. Conclusion: Smartphone wallpapers training improves dermoscopic interpretation significantly in medical students, PGY‐1 trainees, and dermatological residents. The background knowledge of dermatology has an effect on the degree of improvement in the training course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Corydalis is recognized as one of the most taxonomically challenging plant taxa. It is mainly distributed in the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains, a global biodiversity hotspot. To date, no effective solution for species discrimination and taxonomic assignment in Corydalis has been developed. In this study, five nuclear and chloroplast DNA regions, ITS, ITS2, matK, rbcL, and psbA‐trnH, were preliminarily assessed based on their ability to discriminate Corydalis to eliminate inefficient regions, and the three regions showing good performance (ITS, ITS2 and matK) were then evaluated in 131 samples representing 28 species of 11 sections of four subgenera in Corydalis using three analytical methods (NJ, ML, MP tree; K2P‐distance and BLAST). The results showed that the various approaches exhibit different species identification power and that BLAST shows the best performance among the tested approaches. A comparison of different barcodes indicated that among the single barcodes, ITS (65.2%) exhibited the highest identification success rate and that the combination of ITS + matK (69.6%) provided the highest species resolution among all single barcodes and their combinations. Three Pharmacopoeia‐recorded medicinal plants and their materia medica were identified successfully based on the ITS and ITS2 regions. In the phylogenetic analysis, the sections Thalictrifoliae, Sophorocapnos, Racemosae, Aulacostigma, and Corydalis formed well‐supported separate lineages. We thus hypothesize that the five sections should be classified as an independent subgenus and that the genus should be divided into three subgenera. In this study, DNA barcoding provided relatively high species discrimination power, indicating that it can be used for species discrimination in this taxonomically complicated genus and as a potential tool for the authentication of materia medica belonging to Corydalis. This study provides an effective method for the classification and identification of this taxonomically challenging plant taxa, promotes the formation of a more integrated taxonomic system of Corydalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Recurrent erythema multiforme major (EMM), mostly triggered by herpes infection, can be a clinical challenge. • A vicious circle of recurrence may be developed due to herpes reactivation and prolonged use of systemic corticosteroids. • Add-on treatment of recurrent EMM by levamisole showed effectively reducing the frequency and severity of recurrent EMM. • As an immunomodulator, levamisole potentially achieved a long term remission of recurrent EMM. Abstract Background Erythema multiforme major (EMM) is an immune-mediated mucocutaneous eruption mostly triggered by herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. A vicious circle of recurrence may be developed due to HSV reactivation and prolonged use of systemic corticosteroids to control EMM. Levamisole is an immunomodulator and has been applied to prevent relapses of recurrent HSV infection. Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of levamisole in patients with recalcitrant recurrent EMM. Methods We enrolled 23 patients with recurrent EMM treated with levamisole and 24 controls, and analyzed the demographics, treatments and outcomes. Results Patients with recurrent EMM for years (mean 3.99 ± 2.71) showed significantly reduced recurrences after various durations of levamisole treatment (recurrences after and before treatment: 3.98 ± 1.04 vs 6.75 ± 1.45 times per year, p = 1.33x10−8). The recurrences of EMM also significantly reduced after levamisole treatment comparing to that of patients without levamisole treatment (p = 3.77x10−9). No patient was reported to have severe side effects during or after levamisole treatment. Conclusions Levamisole was effective in reducing recurrences of recalcitrant recurrent EMM and can thus be considered an alternative or add-on therapy for this disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a devastating swine infectious disease. Development of high-performance methods to diagnose and evaluate viral immune status remains very important to control PEDV. Here, a recombinant S1 protein-based indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (rpS1-iELISA) was developed to monitor IgA antibody in the colostrum. Optimized cut-off value of the rpS1-iELISA was determined as 0.448. Results yielded a sensitivity of 96.87% and a specificity of 100.0%. Repeatability tests indicated that the coefficients of variation of the colostrum samples within and between runs were both less than 8%. Test results of 523 field colostrum samples showed that the rpS1-iELISA had excellent agreement with immunofluorescence assay (kappa = 0.958) and better test performance than a commercial ELISA kit. This test will aid in future diagnostics and assessment of the protective levels of mucosal immune response against PEDV by measuring IgA levels in the colostrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-vivo intravital short wavelength infrared (SWIR, 1000–2300 nm) fluorescence imaging has attracted considerable attention in the imaging of tumor vasculature due to its low background, high sensitivity, and deep penetration. It can noninvasively provide dynamic feedback on the tumorigenesis, growth, necrosis and metastasis. Herein, monodisperse Nd 3+ -doped core-shell downconversion luminescent nanocrystals with strong emission in the second near-infrared (NIR II) window, strong temperature-dependent paramagnetism and fast attenuation to X-rays were prepared from ultra-small nanoclusters. The use of nanoclusters resulted in very uniform bright nanocrystals with a relative quantum yield comparable to the standard dye IR-26. These bright NIR nanocrystals were modified with 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine- N -[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000] to endow with excellent water-solubility, biocompatibility and a blood circulation half-life of 5.9 h. They were then successfully used to demonstrate the variation of tumor vasculature with tumor progression from tumorigenesis, growth, to necrosis in the subcutaneous breast tumor through the NIR II fluorescence imaging. They were also used as contrast agent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging of tumor to provide complementary anatomic structure. Their great potential in NIR II imaging of tumor was further demonstrated with an orthotopic breast tumor. Their in-vivo biosafety was also investigated by hemanalysis and histological analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing high performance plasma facing materials (PFMs) is one of the greatest challenges for fusion reactors, because PFMs face unprecedented harsh environments including high flux plasma exposure, fast neutron irradiation and large transmutation gas. Tungsten (W) is considered as one of the most promising PFMs. Rapid accumulation of helium (He) atoms in such environments can lead to the He bubbles nucleation and even the formation of nano- to micro-scale “fuzz” on W surface, which greatly degrade the properties of W itself. The possible ejection of large W particulates into the core plasma can cause plasma instabilities. Here, we present a new strategy to address the root causes of bubble nucleation and “fuzz” formation by concurrently releasing He outside of W matrix through the nano-engineered channel structure (nanochannels). Comparing to ordinary bulk W, nanochannel W films with high surface-to-volume ratios are found to not only delay the growth of He bubbles, but also suppress the formation of “fuzz” (less than a half of the “fuzz” thickness formation in bulk W). Molecular dynamic (MD) simulation results elucidate that low vacancy formation energy and high He binding energy in the nanochannel surface effectively help He release and affect He clusters distribution in W during He ion irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Iron plays a fundamental role in cell biology and its concentration must be precisely regulated. It is well documented that excess iron burden contributes to the occurrence and progression of cancer. Hepcidin secreted by liver plays an essential role in orchestrating iron metabolism. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the ability of angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) to decrease iron burden in tumor-bearing mice and the mechanism of ASP regulation hepcidin expression. Methods: Western blot, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the regulation of hepcidin and related cytokines by ASP. The role of ASP in tumor proliferation was investigated using in vivo assays. Iron depositions and iron concentrations in organs were determined by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: We found that ASP could inhibit tumor growth in mice xenografted with 4T1 and H22 cancer cells. In vivo experiments also showed that ASP could potently regulate hepcidin expression in liver and serum and decrease iron burden in liver, spleen and grafted tumors in mouse model. Treatment with ASP in hepatic cell lines reproduced comparable results in decreasing hepcidin as in mouse liver. Furthermore, we found that ASP markedly suppressed the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), JAK2, p-STAT3, and p-SMAD1/5/8 in liver, suggesting that JAK/STAT and BMP-SMAD pathways were involved in the regulation of hepcidin expression by ASP. We also found down-regulation of iron-related cytokines in ASP treated mice. Conclusion: The present study provides new evidence that ASP decreases hepcidin expression, which can reduce iron burden and inhibit tumor proliferation. These findings might aid ASP developed as a potential candidate for cancer treatment in patients with iron overload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare acquired condition caused by the transplacental passage of maternal autoantibodies. It is characterized by cutaneous, cardiac, hepatobiliary, hematological and neurological involvement. Cutaneous findings of NLE are variable, but few reports in the literature describe the presence of erosions or epidermal loss in NLE. Herein, we describe the case of an infant with NLE presenting as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), with cardiac, hematologic, hepatobiliary and neurologic abnormalities. The characteristic features by which to differentiate SJS-like NLE from infant SJS include subacute course, cardiac abnormalities, positive serology tests and direct immunofluorescence, histopathologic findings with melanin incontinence, periadnexal infiltrates, and mucin deposit. Though rare, it is important to consider lupus erythematosus as a potential cause of acute syndrome with focal epidermal necrosis or pan-epidermolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of the evolution of embedded helium (He) bubbles in tungsten are very important for understanding the failure mechanism of tungsten as a plasma-facing material. In this work, the processes of He bubble evolution under neutron irradiation and non-irradiation conditions have been investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The influences of temperature, helium/vacancy ratio, and surface crystal orientations on the stability and evolution of He bubbles were discussed. Four evolution cases (standing, expanding, bursting, and oversaturation expanding) of He bubbles under {1 0 0}, {1 1 0}, and {1 1 1} surfaces were found, and the oversaturation expanding case was discussed in detail. In particular, the differences between the stable bubbles bursting from {1 0 0}, {1 1 0}, and {1 1 1} surfaces under neutron irradiation condition were investigated. It was also found that He bubbles can burst from the surfaces (especially from a surface with low crystal face density) more easily under neutron irradiation condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) are usually formed as rigid π‐conjugated networks and insoluble in common solutions which in turn have limitations in molding or process for applications due to its unprocessability. In this work, a series of CMPs containing thiophene‐moieties (SCMPs) are obtained by dibromothiophene with carbon branched chain and ethynylbenzene monomers. The solubility of the SCMPs would be significantly improved by tuning the length of alkyl chains in alkyl‐substituted dibromothiophene monomers. SCMPs products bearing different alkyl‐substituted dibromothiophene moiety exhibit an interesting transition from insolubility to solubility in most common organic solvents, which would greatly improve its processability. Taking advantage of its solubility, freestanding SCMPs films and flexible and transparent UV resistant PDMS films based on SCMPs coatings can be easily fabricated by simple coating methods. These finding may provide a possibility for future design and fabrication of soluble and processable CMPs by rational design and tuning alkyl‐substituted aromatic monomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Medical students and residents will encounter many cutaneous fungal infections in medical practice. However, the training for identification of medical fungi has been insufficient due to limited lecture‐based courses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of using smartphone‐based wallpapers in learning the microscopic morphology and colony characteristics of medical fungi for medical students and residents. Methods: A smartphone‐based wallpaper learning module using a wallpaper‐changing software application (app) was introduced in this 3‐week training course. Twenty‐six participants were enrolled and divided into two groups: nondermatology trainees, including medical students and postgraduate year one (PGY‐1) doctors who have not yet specialized, and dermatology trainees (dermatology residents). All of the participants completed a 3‐week training course, and the effectiveness of the module was evaluated by pre‐ and post‐course multiple‐choice examinations. Results: Both nondermatology and dermatology trainees scored significantly higher in post‐course examinations than pre‐course examinations (P < 0.001). The dermatology trainees performed better than nondermatology trainees in the pre‐course examinations (P < 0.001). In the post‐course examinations, no significant difference in scores was noted between dermatology and nondermatology trainees (P = 0.573). Discussion: The smartphone‐based wallpaper learning module was effective in helping medical students and residents learn and memorize morphologic characteristics of fungi. In comparison to conventional lecture‐based learning, this new mobile module was more readily accessible and convenient for learners to engage in learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of high density small sinks, such as voids, to collect and store helium atoms inside might be a potential new strategy for designing nanostructured materials with high radiation resistance to swelling and embrittlement. To understand the role of pre-existing nanovoids on irradiation, we investigated the evolutions of micro-structure and mechanical properties of the YSZ/Al 2 O 3 multilayered nanofilms irradiated by He + ions to different fluences. Compared to the Al 2 O 3 monolithic film and the single crystal bulk YSZ, smaller He bubbles were found in the Al 2 O 3 layers of the YSZ/Al 2 O 3 multilayered nanofilms with pre-existing nanovoids after He + ion irradiation. The growth of He bubbles was restricted inside the Al 2 O 3 layers to avoid the formation of large bubbles. In contrast to the radiation-induced hardening in traditional materials, radiation-induced softening is observed in the YSZ/Al 2 O 3 multilayered nanofilms with pre-existing nanovoids irradiated to high fluences. In addition, the hardness to Young's modulus (H/E) ratio of the YSZ/Al 2 O 3 multilayered nanofilms increases in response to irradiation, which suggests a potential improvement in the wear resistance of the irradiated YSZ/Al 2 O 3 multilayered nanofilms. A defect “loading-unloading” effect at the interfaces was proposed to explain the enhanced radiation tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a cost-effective material to replace Pt catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) holds great promising for clean energy technologies. In this work, we developed a simple way to prepare nanoporous Si by argon ion irradiation at 90 keV to fluences of 0.5, 1, 2 × 10 17 ions/cm 2 . After post-irradiation annealing at 700 °C in vacuum (2 × 10 −4 pa) for 5 h, the nanoporous Si was formed which displays largely enhanced electrocatalytic water splitting compared with the unirradiated Si. We also investigated the influence of fluence on morphology and the HER performance of the electrocathodes. It was found that 1 × 10 17 Ar + ions/cm 2 irradiated Si showed the highest HER performance. The largely enhanced HER activity comes from the unique morphology which results by Ar + ions irradiation and post-irradiation annealing. We further fabricated electrocathodes by coating Ni film on the nanoporous Si, significant improvement of the HER performance compared with Ni coated planar Si was found. Using the ion irradiation technology, we developed a new method to fabricate electrocathode with large specific surface area for largely enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fracture flow is the dominant flow in many cases in a fractured rock mass, which behaves more heterogeneous, anisotropic and irregular than porous flow because of the complexity of the fracture networks. Rock mass with fracture networks is commonly represented by homogenized continuous models to reduce the impractical computational complexity. In this paper, a density-reduced equivalent discrete fracture network (E-DFN) method is proposed to simplify the original highly dense target DFN (T-DFN) models. An equivalent permeability factor is derived for the fracture sets in the simplified E-DFN models. A number of T-DFNs with different fracture patterns are stochastically generated and fluid flow is simulated in both T-DFN and corresponding E-DFN to test the effectiveness of the proposed method. Results show the permeability similarity of the two DFN systems and high accuracy of the proposed E-DFN method. The proposed method takes the advantage of permeability similarity of DFN systems, and it significantly reduces the computational complexity and cost while the characteristics of the fluid flow such as heterogeneity, irregularity, and discontinuity in highly fractured rock mass are well retained. Because of the statistical equivalence of the two DFN systems, Monte Carlo simulations can be used to optimize the equivalent permeability factor and to achieve more accurate and reliable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fiber pre-spreading is of great importance when the continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites are produced by the melt impregnation process. In this paper, an improved spreading device is introduced, in which via grooving the pins for the airflow, the fiber is pre-spread by the combination of the airflow and the rolls. The objective of this operation is to reduce the contact friction between the fiber bundle and the pins surface, thereby reducing fiber fracture during the pre-spreading process. The influence of airflow on the pre-spreading of the fiber bundle is also investigated in this paper. It is found that the effect of airflow on the impregnation is significant and the fiber fracture rate is reduced effectively by analyzing the water absorption rate, interlayer shear strength and fiber fracture rate of the prepreg. When the air pressure is 0.2 MPa, the performance of the prepreg is optimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-phase flow unified pipe network method is developed to simulate CO 2 evolution in fractured saline aquifers. Fractures are explicitly represented in the proposed method. The two-phase flow in both rock matrix and fractures is considered by using different equivalent pipe flow models respectively, namely the two-phase matrix pipe flow model and the two-phase fracture pipe flow model. The equivalent flow coefficients of the pipe flow models are derived based on flow rate equivalence. The coupling of the fracture pipe flow and matrix pipe flow is treated by applying the extended capillary pressure conditions. Brooks-Corey relative permeability model and capillary model are adopted to simulate CO 2 (non-wetting phase) invasion into the brine (wetting phase) saturated formation, which is a typical drainage process. Accurate Equations of State for calculating density and viscosity of CO 2 are incorporated to reflect its change in hydraulic characteristics during the injection processes. The proposed method is simple yet robust and not sensitive to the mesh quality. The complex geological and topological features of fracture networks can, therefore, be well retained in the proposed method. The anisotropy and heterogeneity characteristics of the fractured rock mass caused by the fracture networks can be accurately represented. The proposed method is verified by comparing to other numerical methods. Both 2D and 3D models with complex fracture networks are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of proposed method. Numerical examples show that fractures can significantly affect the distribution and evolution of CO 2 in aquifers and the differences of entry capillary pressures for fractures and matrix rock should be accurately simulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic lymphoplasmacellular mucositis ( ILPM) is a group of disorders histologically characterized by dense infiltrates of lymphocytes and plasma cells in submucosa. These lesions were initially observed on the glans penis and vulva, and later on buccal mucosa, lips, gingiva, tongue, epiglottis, larynx and other mucosal surfaces have also been reported. We have reviewed the previously reported cases of ILPM with lip involvement, outlining the clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of the entity to date. The etiology of ILPM is unknown, and the diagnosis is largely one of exclusion. To date, no consensus or consistently effective treatment for ILPM is available. Herein, we report an 18-year-old woman presented with markedly swollen lips with severe erosions, bleeding and yellow to black crusts who was diagnosed to have ILPM by histopathological study. The case occurred on rare lip site with an unusual appearance. Various treatment modalities were tried, but the responses were unsatisfactory and the lesion only responded to long-term administration of oral steroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 gene coding the protein menin was originally identified in patients with multiple endocrine tumors, and is mainly expressed in the cell nucleus. Multiple lines of evidence have indicated that menin acts as a tumor suppressor protein interacting with other various proteins. The mechanism of menin inhibiting tumorigenesis remains unclear. The present study analyzed the expression of menin and IQ motif-containing GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) proteins in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines, and investigated the association between these two molecules. Western blotting was used to determine the quantity of target proteins. Cell proliferation was measured using MTT assay. It was found that the protein expression of menin was lower in gastric cancer tissues and AGS cells, while the protein expression of IQGAP1 was higher, compared with the levels observed in normal tissues and GES-1 cells. Ectopic expression of IQGAP1 stimulated the proliferation of gastric cancer cells, but did not affect the expression of menin. However, overexpression of menin inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. The inhibition was partly achieved through inhibiting the expression of IQGAP1, which was accompanied by inhibition of PI3K and NF-κB expression. Taken together, the present results suggest a novel function for menin and IQGAP1 contributing to suppress the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock masses are often conceptualized as dual-permeability media containing fractures or fracture networks with high permeability and porous matrix that is less permeable. In order to overcome the difficulties in simulating fluid flow in a highly discontinuous dual-permeability medium, an effective unified pipe network method is developed, which discretizes the dual-permeability rock mass into a virtual pipe network system. It includes fracture pipe networks and matrix pipe networks. They are constructed separately based on equivalent flow models in a representative area or volume by taking the advantage of the orthogonality of the mesh partition. Numerical examples of fluid flow in 2-D and 3-D domain including porous media and fractured porous media are presented to demonstrate the accuracy, robustness, and effectiveness of the proposed unified pipe network method. Results show that the developed method has good performance even with highly distorted mesh. Water recharge into the fractured rock mass with complex fracture network is studied. It has been found in this case that the effect of aperture change on the water recharge rate is more significant in the early stage compared to the fracture density change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China’s energy issues and carbon emissions have become important global concerns. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the fulfillment of China’s commitment to carbon emissions reduction by 2030. We establish the Markov chain model to analyze the transition of primary energy structure and carbon emissions in China by 2030 without artificial intervention and build three multiobjective optimization models to analyze China’s energy structure and emissions reduction targets by 2030 under three scenarios (scenario of energy structure optimization, scenario of energy intensity optimization, and scenario of energy structure-intensity optimization). The findings show that the proportions of coal, oil, natural gas, and nonfossil energy will reach 17.89%, 11.52%, 49.43%, and 21.16%, respectively; the total decreases in CO2 intensity reach 43.11%, 61.78%, and 60.64%, respectively; the CO2 emissions under these three scenarios are 25.092, 16.859, and 17.359 billion tons. In other words, China’s emissions reduction targets cannot be easily achieved. In order to keep pace with China’s overall mitigation agenda, we put forward the policy recommendations. Through these analyses and discussions, we hope to make contributions to policy stimulation in energy, carbon emissions, and ecological protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

“Shortcuts to adiabaticity” represents a strategy for accelerating a quantum adiabatic process, is useful for preparing or manipulating a quantum state. In this paper, we investigate the adiabaticity in the dynamics of an XY spin chain. During the process of cutting one long chain into two short chains, a “shortcut” can be obtained by applying a sequence of external pulses. The fidelity which measures the adiabaticity can be dramatically enhanced by increasing the pulse strength or pulse duration time. This reliability can be kept for different types of pulses, such as random pulse time interval or random strength. The free choice of the pulse can be explained by the adiabatic representation of the Hamiltonian, and it shows that the control effects are determined by the integral of the control function in the time domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new tigliane-type diterpene esters, 1- 3 with unusual 7-oxo-5-ene or 7-hydroxy-5-ene moieties in their skeletons, were isolated from the leaves of Croton tiglium. Their structures were unambiguously elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of the primary energy structure has been considered as one of the important measures to achieve the carbon emissions reduction targets in China. This current paper constructed a Markov chain model, which was used to forecast the transition of primary energy structure. GM (1, 1) model and a linear regression model were used to predict the total energy consumption in 2020 and 2030. Then, the CO2 emissions intensity was calculated, and the realization of carbon emissions reduction targets in China was analyzed. The findings indicated that (1) China’s nonfossil energy share in primary energy cannot be achieved naturally. (2) Part of the carbon emissions intensity in China’s commitments was not binding actually. (3) The realization of the carbon emissions peak and the reduction target of carbon emissions intensity in 2030 would need the policy intervention. In the last part of this paper, policy recommendations on carbon emissions reduction in China were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]