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The main challenge faced by spacecraft is the large temperature difference in its operating environment. Thermal control coatings prepared on spacecraft and instrument surfaces are currently the most efficient ways for heat dissipation and control. In this work, Al2O3-xTiO2 composite coatings with different TiO2 contents were prepared on 7075-Al alloy substrate by supersonic plasma spraying technology. The microstructure, phase composition, mechanical properties, thermal control properties, and corrosion resistances of the coatings were investigated. The raw stock feeds were mainly composed of α-Al2O3 and anatase TiO2, but the coatings were mainly γ-Al2O3 and rutile TiO2. The average Vickers microhardness of the coatings decreased from 1198.9 to 810.4 HV0.2 with the increase of TiO2 contents, but the elastic modulus increased from 158.5 to 244.3 GPa. The thermal control properties of the coatings were promoted with the growth of TiO2 contents, and the absorptance increased from 27.1 to 89.2% with the emittance from 83.7 to 86.5%. The corrosion potential and corrosion resistance of the coating gradually increased with TiO2 content due to its gradually improved hydrophobicity. This work broadens the application boundary of Al2O3-xTiO2 composite coating and provides an innovative idea for material selection of thermal control coatings.

Aluminum–Lithium (Al–Li) alloys widely used in aerospace manufacture are highly susceptible to corrosion, which limits their industrial applications. Herein, 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTES) is used as a modifier for low-surface-energy treatment of TiO2 nanoparticles. The water-based polyurethane (PU) is made as a binder to achieve a tight bonding between modified ceramic particles and Al–Li alloy, thus resulting in the extremely-feasible air-spraying preparation of a superhydrophobic coating with strong abrasion resistance. The water contact angle (CA) of as-prepared coating achieves 160 ± 0.83°, and the rolling angle (SA) is as low as 5.95 ± 0.59°. The surface structure, organization and composition are further characterized using SEM, EDS, XPS and laser confocal microscopy. Meanwhile, the electrochemical impedance and potentiodynamic polarization tests are performed for corrosion characterization. The results show that the corrosion potential of such coating increases by 170 mV compared with substrate, the corrosion current density decreases by two orders of magnitude, and the impedance modulus increases by two orders. The corrosion inhibition rate of the as-prepared coating is 98.8%, indicating that the corrosion resistance has been significantly enhanced. In addition, the mechanical robustness and stability of the coating is evaluated and confirmed using a sandpaper rubbing test. It also possesses great self-cleaning, anti-pollution and thermostable behaviors, thereby allowing them to work in extreme manufactures. Moreover, the as-prepared coating exhibits excellent adaptability to various materials and anti-icing property. This work sheds positive insights in enlarging industrial applications of multifunctional ceramic coatings in aerospace fields.

Abstract Biogeographic barriers to gene flow are central to studies of plant phylogeography. There are many physical and geographic barriers in China, but few studies have used molecular ecological evidence to investigate the natural geographic isolation barrier of the Qinling Mountains-Huaihe River Line (QHL). Allium macrostemon is a precious Chinese perennial herb belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family. It is used as a food and medicine, with a variety of health and healing properties. Five SSR markers, three chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers (psbA-trnH, rps16 and trnL-F), one nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) marker (ITS), and simplified genome GBS sequencing were used to analyse the genetic diversity and structure of A. macrostemon. Combining SSR, cpDNA, nrDNA ITS data and GBS analysis results, we divided A. macrostemon populations into northern and southern groups, with the southern group further divided into southwestern and central-southeastern groups. Niche simulation results reveal that the distribution area of A. macrostemon will reach its maximum in the future. These data indicate that the regional separation of A. macrostemon has been maintained by the combined influence of a geographical barrier and Quaternary climate, and that the back-and-forth fluctuations of QHL and Quaternary climate have played an important role in this process. QHL acts as a north-south dividing line in phylogeography and population genetic structure, promoting physical geographic isolation. This study provides a theoretical basis for the conservation, development, and utilization of A. macrostemon resources. It further provides a reference for understanding the systematic geographical pattern of the large-scale spatial distribution of plants in China and enriches our understanding of Quaternary plant evolution in areas with complex terrain.

Abstract Celiac Disease (CD) is a primary malabsorption syndrome resulting from the interplay of genetic, immune, and dietary factors. CD negatively impacts daily activities and may lead to conditions such as osteoporosis, malignancies in the small intestine, ulcerative jejunitis, and enteritis, ultimately causing severe malnutrition. Therefore, an effective and rapid differentiation between healthy individuals and those with celiac disease is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment. This study utilizes Raman spectroscopy combined with deep learning models to achieve a non-invasive, rapid, and accurate diagnostic method for celiac disease and healthy controls. A total of 59 plasma samples, comprising 29 celiac disease cases and 30 healthy controls, were collected for experimental purposes. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Multi-Scale Convolutional Neural Network (MCNN), Residual Network (ResNet), and Deep Residual Shrinkage Network (DRSN) classification models were employed. The accuracy rates for these models were found to be 86.67%, 90.76%, 86.67% and 95.00%, respectively. Comparative validation results revealed that the DRSN model exhibited the best performance, with an AUC value and accuracy of 97.60% and 95%, respectively. This confirms the superiority of Raman spectroscopy combined with deep learning in the diagnosis of celiac disease.

Abstract Objective This study aimed to develop and apply a nomogram with good accuracy to predict the risk of CRAB infections in neuro-critically ill patients. In addition, the difficulties and expectations of application such a tool in clinical practice was investigated. Methods A mixed methods sequential explanatory study design was utilized. We first conducted a retrospective study to identify the risk factors for the development of CRAB infections in neuro-critically ill patients; and further develop and validate a nomogram predictive model. Then, based on the developed predictive tool, medical staff in the neuro-ICU were received an in-depth interview to investigate their opinions and barriers in using the prediction tool during clinical practice. The model development and validation is carried out by R. The transcripts of the interviews were analyzed by Maxqda. Results In our cohort, the occurrence of CRAB infections was 8.63% (47/544). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the length of neuro-ICU stay, male, diabetes, low red blood cell (RBC) count, high levels of procalcitonin (PCT), and number of antibiotics ≥ 2 were independent risk factors for CRAB infections in neuro-ICU patients. Our nomogram model demonstrated a good calibration and discrimination in both training and validation sets, with AUC values of 0.816 and 0.875. Additionally, the model demonstrated good clinical utility. The significant barriers identified in the interview include “skepticism about the accuracy of the model”, “delay in early prediction by the indicator of length of neuro-ICU stay”, and “lack of a proper protocol for clinical application”. Conclusions We established and validated a nomogram incorporating six easily accessed indicators during clinical practice (the length of neuro-ICU stay, male, diabetes, RBC, PCT level, and the number of antibiotics used) to predict the risk of CRAB infections in neuro-ICU patients. Medical staff are generally interested in using the tool to predict the risk of CRAB, however delivering clinical prediction tools in routine clinical practice remains challenging.

Abstract The Yunnan‐Guizhou Plateau (YGP) is characterized by the distinctive isolated habitat of the limestone Karst Islands and features the Wumeng Mountains, which divide the YGP into the two Plateaus of Yunnan and Guizhou. This study aimed to assess the effects of geographic isolation and past climate fluctuation on the distribution of flora in the YGP. To achieve this, we carried out the phylogeographical pattern and genetic structure based on chloroplast and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence in relation to past (Last Glacial Maximum) and present distributions based on ecological niche modeling for Morella nana, an important wild plant resource and endemic to the YGP once considered a vulnerable species. The results suggest that the genetic and chlorotype network structures of M. nana are divided into at least two groups: cpDNA chlorotype H2 (or dominant nrDNA haplotypes h1 and h2), distributed primarily to the east of the Wumeng Mountains, and cpDNA chlorotypes H1 and H3–H10 (or dominant nrDNA haplotype h2 and h3), distributed to the west of the Wumeng Mountains. A deep genetic split was noted within the two groups to reach 25 steps, especially for the cpDNA fragment variation. This east–west divergence reveals the existence of a natural geographical isolation boundary in the form of the Wumeng Mountains, and supports the existence of at least two glacial refuges during the Quaternary glacial period, along with two genetic diversity center, and at least two large geographic protection units for the important species of M. nana. This study indicates that the phylogeographical pattern of M. nana can be attributed to geographic/environmental isolation caused by the Wumeng Mountains and climate fluctuation during the last glacial maximum, and proposes an effective strategy to protecting this important plant resource.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological characteristics, whole genome, and antibacterial effect of V. parahaemolyticus phage 474x1 in food. Methods: The phage 474x1 was isolated from shrimp purchased from seafood market with V. parahaemolyticus strain 474 as host strain. The morphology of phage 474x1 was observed by transmission electron microscopy. One-step growth curve was determined, and its sensitivity to temperature and pH was assessed. The whole genome sequence of 474x1 was analyzed, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the sequence of large subunit of phage terminase. The inhibitory effect of the phage on V. parahaemolyticus in shrimp meat was evaluated using the total colony count method. Results: A lytic phage against V. parahaemolyticus was isolated which named 474x1, and it could lyse 19 out of 23 strains of V. parahaemolyticus (82.61%). The phage had typical characteristics of a tailed bacteriophage in Myoviridae. The optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) was 0.01, and the one-step growth curve showed that the latent period of 474x1 was 10 min, and the burst size was 115 PFU/cell. The phage was active over a wide range of temperature (30~60 ℃) and pH (4~11). The whole genome of 474x1 was 47830 bp long, and 69 open reading frames were predicted and annotated, including 14 genes with specific functions. Comparative genomics analysis showed that 474x1 had high homology with Vibrio phage Vp41s3, and phylogenetic analysis also indicated that 474x1 was most closely related to the phage Vp41s3. In the application experiment, the number of bacteria in the experimental group with MOI=1000 at 4 ℃ decreased by 0.39 lgCFU/mL compared to the control group at 3 h, while the experimental group with MOI=10000 at 4 ℃ decreased by 0.92 lgCFU/mL compared to the control group at 12 h. At 25 ℃, the number of bacteria in the MOI=1000 and MOI=10000 groups decreased by 1.04 lgCFU/mL and 1.82 lgCFU/mL at 6 h, respectively. The results indicated that phage 474x1 could significantly inhibit the growth of host bacteria in shrimp meat. Conclusion: A new V. parahaemolyticus phage was isolated from shrimp, which had large burst size, short latent period, and showed good stability below 60 ℃ and tolerated a wide range of pH. In addition, the phage had good bacteriostatic effect in food, laying a foundation for the prevention and control of pathogenic strains of V. parahaemolyticus.

Accurate delineation of paddy fields holds importance in ensuring food security, efficient water resource management, and precise evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions. Here we propose an innovative approach, the asynchronous flooding and object-based (AF-OB) model, aimed at optimizing phenology-based paddy field mapping. The AF-OB model capitalizes on the asynchronous flooding phenomenon observed between paddy fields and nonpaddy fields, along with the seasonal variations in the normalized difference vegetation index. The simple noniterative clustering algorithm is integrated to mitigate the common issue of the “pretzel effect” encountered in paddy field mapping. Evaluation through independent samples yields compelling results, with the paddy field map generated by the AF-OB method achieving an overall accuracy of 94.28%. The paddy fields extracted using the AF-OB method exhibit alignment with statistical data, surpassing comparable algorithms relying on alternative land use products in terms of visual quality. Furthermore, the AF-OB model exhibits stability across time, space, and sensors, thus enhancing its applicability and robustness. The outputs of the AF-OB method offer reference data for informed agricultural production planning and the effective management of water resources.

(1) Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews) is a woody ornamental plant originating from China, and beloved by people worldwide. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) play a crucial role in regulating the flowering quality of tree peonies in both field and potted conditions. However, the effects of NSCs accumulation and allocation in various organs during the vegetative growth stage on the flowering quality of tree peony under forcing culture remains unclear. (2) Two-year-old grafted seedlings of tree peony cv. ‘Luoyanghong’ were subjected to orthogonal treatments to investigate the role of NSCs accumulation in plants’ developmental process. We measured leaf photosynthetic capacity, NSCs accumulation in the organs of seedlings, observed key ornamental characteristics of flowering quality under forcing culture conditions, and evaluated the qualities of seedlings and flowers using the seedling index (SI) and flowering index (FI), respectively. (3) There was a significant positive correlation between leaf photosynthetic capacity and NSCs accumulation in both the whole plant and roots of potted tree peony. Roots were identified as the primary organs for NSCs accumulation in potted tree peonies. Sufficient NSCs accumulation in the plant, particularly in the roots during the defoliation period, was essential not only for enhancing the seedling quality of potted tree peonies but also for improving the flowering quality under forcing culture conditions. Both the seedling index (SI) and flowering index (FI) exhibited a significant dose-response with increasing root NSCs accumulation at defoliation. The T3 group, which involved slight root pruning (by 25%), combined with a high-concentration rooting agent (750 mg·L−1) and Metarhizium anisopliae (20 million U·mL−1), resulted in the highest photosynthetic capacity, SI, FI and NSCs accumulation status (NSCAR), making it the optimal treatment combination. (4) This finding indicates that increasing NSCs accumulation in the roots of potted tree peonies is a crucial biological foundation for producing high-quality potted flowers under forcing culture conditions, which provide new insights into the importance of NSCs in tree peony flowering and may improve the production technology for high-quality potted tree peony flowers under forcing culture conditions.

The application of reinforced concrete modular integrated construction (MiC) has gained popularity in Hong Kong, but challenges still exist in the temporary tying of side walls during composite wall construction. This paper presents an innovative inner tie system for composite walls, applied in a MiC project in Hong Kong. The system’s components are installed on the side walls of precast modules in the factory without the need to penetrate through the walls. After transport to the site, by rotating the loop on-site to engage the hook, the tying effect is achieved during on-site concrete pouring between the interstitial space of two modules. This system eliminates the use of tie bolts that penetrate precast side walls, allowing for comprehensive interior fitting-out in the factory and minimizing disruptions to internal decoration during on-site construction. The paper presents the system’s mechanism, nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulation, section size optimization, and validation through tensile and punching shear tests. Furthermore, an instrumented mockup module assembly was carried out, and the system was eventually applied in a real MiC project. The system can effectively control the horizontal deformation of MiC module side walls within a limit. Compared to current existing tying methods, this system offers easy installation, load-bearing reliability, adaptability to certain construction errors, savings on manpower and construction time, and also a decrease in construction waste and carbon emission. It will provide a valuable reference for future MiC projects.

Deploying renewable generation to replace conventional fossil-fuel-based energy supplies provides an important pathway for the decarbonization of steelmaking plants. Meanwhile, it is also crucial to improve the flexibility of blast-furnace-gas-fired combined-cycle power plants (BFGCCs) to ease the accommodation of uncertain renewable generation. To this end, this paper proposes the deployment of a molten salt heat storage (MSHS) system in BFGCCs to store the heat of gas turbine flue gas so that the power–heat coupling of these BFGCCs can be unlocked to enhance the flexibility of the energy supply. A stochastic capacity optimization of an integrated BFGCC–MSHS–wind–solar (BMWS) energy system is presented to determine the optimal installed capacities of a BFG holder, MSHS, wind turbine, and PV panel, aiming to achieve an economic and safe energy supply for the entire system. Multiple scenarios considering uncertain fluctuations in load demands and renewable generation are generated with the Monte Carlo method based on a typical scenario. These scenarios are then reduced to representative scenarios using the synchronous substitution and reduction method for stochastic capacity optimization to enhance the reliability of the results. The case study results demonstrate that configuring MSHS reduces the total annualized cost of the BMWS system by 2.28%. Furthermore, considering the uncertainties of the power/heating load and wind/PV generation can reduce the expected annualized total cost of the BMWS system and the corresponding standard deviation by 5.66% and 81.45%, respectively. The BMWS system can achieve 730.68 tons of equivalent CO2 reduction in 24 h due to the successful utilization of renewable energy. This paper provides an effective approach for the decarbonization of energy generation systems in steelmaking plants.

IntroductionNon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are currently the most widely used anti-inflammatory medications, but their long-term use can cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract(GIT). One of the risk factors for GIT injury is exposure to a high-altitude hypoxic environment, which can lead to damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier. Taking NSAIDs in a high-altitude hypoxic environment can exacerbate GIT injury and impact gut microbiota. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms by which resveratrol (RSV) intervention alleviates NSAID-induced intestinal injury in a high-altitude hypoxic environment, as well as its role in regulating gut microbiota.MethodsAspirin was administered orally to rats to construct a rat model of intestinal injury induced by NSAIDs. Following the induction of intestinal injury, rats were administered RSV by gavage, and the expression levels of TLR4, NF-κB,IκB as well as Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin proteins in the different treatment groups were assessed via Western blot. Furthermore, the expression of the inflammatory factors IL-10, IL-1β, and TNF-α was evaluated using Elisa.16sRNA sequencing was employed to investigate alterations in the gut microbiota.ResultsThe HCk group showed elevated expression of TLR4/NF-κB/IκB pathway proteins, increased expression of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α, decreased expression of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, and expression of intestinal mucosal barrier proteins ZO-1 and Occludin. The administration of NSAIDs drugs in the plateau hypoxic environment exacerbates intestinal inflammation and damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier. After treatment with RSV intervention, the expression of TLR4/NF-κB/IκB signaling pathway proteins would be reduced, thereby lowering the expression of inflammatory factors in the HAsp group. The results of HE staining directly show the damage to the intestines and the repair of intestinal mucosa after RSV intervention. 16sRNA sequencing results show significant differences (PConclusionResveratrol can attenuate intestinal damage caused by the administration of NSAIDs at high altitude in hypoxic environments by modulating the TLR4/NF-κB/IκB signaling pathway and gut microbiota composition.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to develop and validate a simple-to-use nomogram model to assess the risk of infection caused by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in neurocritically ill patients. The clinical data of 544 patients with CRKP infection admitted to a neurointensive care unit (neuro-ICU) were retrospectively analyzed. The demographic data, laboratory test results, and clinical characteristics of patients in the neuro-ICU were collected. Subsequently, multivariate regression analysis was used to construct a nomogram to predict the risk of CRKP infection in these patients. The calibration ability, clinical effectiveness, and discriminative ability of the nomogram were evaluated. The incidence of CRKP infection was estimated to be 6.43%, and a majority of bacterial isolates causing the infection were found in sputum (74.3%). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the number of antibiotics of ≥2 [odds ratio (OR): 9.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.78–29.71], undergoing surgery (OR: 3.84, 95% CI: 1.09–13.54), and long neuro-ICU stay (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01–1.14) were associated with CRKP infection in neurocritically ill patients. The nomogram model demonstrated good calibration and discrimination in both the training and validation sets, with area under the curve values of 0.860 and 0.907, respectively. This study developed and validated a nomogram that combines three easily accessed variables during clinical practice to predict the risk of nosocomial CRKP infection in neuro-ICU patients. The tool demonstrated a good predictive performance and discrimination, which might serve as a useful tool to facilitate early detection and reduction of the CRKP infection risk in neurocritically ill patients. IMPORTANCE Patients in neuro-ICU are at a high risk of developing nosocomial CRKP infection owing to complex conditions, critical illness, and frequent invasive procedures. However, studies focused on constructing prediction models for assessing the risk of CRKP infection in neurocritically ill patients are lacking at present. Therefore, this study aims to establish a simple-to-use nomogram for predicting the risk of CRKP infection in patients admitted to the neuro-ICU. Three easily accessed variables were included in the model, including the number of antibiotics used, surgery, and the length of neuro-ICU stay. This nomogram might serve as a useful tool to facilitate early detection and reduction of the CRKP infection risk of neurocritically ill patients.

BackgroundExperimental studies have shown that radiofrequency electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones can cause adverse effects on male reproductive health, including decreased semen quality and altered sex hormones. However, the results of epidemiological studies on the relationship between mobile phone use and male semen quality are inconsistent. Furthermore, there are few epidemiological studies on the association of mobile phone use with sex hormones.ObjectiveTo explore the associations of mobile phone use with male semen quality and sex hormones.MethodsA total of 2045 men visited the reproductive medicine center of a hospital in Wuhan and ordered infertility examination were recruited from December 2018 to January 2020. Information on mobile phone use was obtained using a questionnaire. Among them, 1232 and 1694 men were eligible for semen quality analyses and sex hormone analyses, respectively. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations of mobile phone use with male semen quality and sex hormones.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders, there was no statistically significant associations of mobile phone use with sperm progressive motility, sperm total motility, sperm concentration, sperm count, or serum luteinizing hormone (P>0.05). However, serum total testosterone showed a declined tendency with increasing daily duration of mobile phone use (Ptrend=0.08). Compared with men with daily mobile phone use of 0-2 h, men with daily mobile phone use of 2.1-5, 5.1-8, and >8 h showed decreased serum total testosterone concentrations by 6.29% (95%CI: 0.40%-11.84%), 6.01% (95%CI: 0.60%-12.19%), and 7.87% (95%CI: 0.40%-14.79%), respectively.ConclusionMobile phone use is not associated with male semen quality and serum luteinizing hormone, but increasing daily duration of mobile phone use is potentially associated with a tendency to lower male serum total testosterone.

Recognizing the risk of fluvial bank erosion is an important challenge to ensure the early warning and prevention or control of bank collapse in river catchments, including in the Yangtze River. This study introduces a geomorphons-based algorithm to extract river bank erosion information by adjusting the flatness from multibeam echo-sounding data. The algorithm maps ten subaqueous morphological elements, including the slope, footslope, flat, ridge, peak, valley, pit, spur, hollow, and shoulder. Twenty-one flatness values were used to build an interpretation strategy for the subaqueous features of riverbank erosion. The results show that the bank scarp, which is the erosion carrier, is covered by slope cells when the flatness is 10°. The scour pits and bank scars are indicated by pit cells near the bank and hollow cells in the bank slope at a flatness of 0°. Fluvial subaqueous dunes are considered an important factor accelerating bank erosion, particularly those near the bank toe; the critical flatness of the dunes was evaluated as 3°. The distribution of subaqueous morphological elements was analyzed and used to map the bank erosion inventory. The analysis results revealed that the near-bank zone, with a relatively large water depth, is prone to form large scour pits and a long bank scarp. Arc collapse tends to occur at the long bank scarp to shorten its length. The varied assignment of flatness values among terrestrial, marine, and fluvial environments is discussed, concluding that diversified flatness values significantly enable fluvial subaqueous morphology recognition. Consequently, this study provides a reference for the flatness-based recognition of fluvial morphological elements and enhances the targeting of subaqueous signs and risks of bank failure with a range of multibeam bathymetric data.

The authors demonstrate an approach for imaging moving objects through a tortuous corridor filled with a random media. Their reduced spatial- and ensemble-speckle intensity correlation method allows for reconstruction of centimeter-sized hidden object with sub-millimeter resolution.

BackgroundA growing number of studies have implicated that gut microbial abundance and metabolite concentration alterations are associated with celiac disease (CD). However, the causal relationship underlying these associations is unclear. Here, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) to reveal the causal effect of gut microbiota and metabolites on CD.MethodsGenome-wide association study (GWAS) summary-level data for gut microbiota, metabolites, and CD were extracted from published GWASs. Causal bacterial taxa and metabolites for CD were determined by two-sample MR analyses. The robustness of the results was assessed with sensitivity analyses. Finally, reverse causality was investigated with a reverse MR analysis.ResultsGenetically, increased genus Bifidobacterium was potentially associated with higher CD risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.447, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.054–1.988, p = 0.022) while phylum Lentisphaerae (OR = 0.798, 95% CI: 0.648–0.983, p = 0.034) and genus Coprobacter (OR = 0.683, 95% CI: 0.531–0.880, p = 0.003) were related to lower CD risk. Moreover, there were suggestive associations between CD and the following seven metabolites: 1-oleoylglycerophosphoethanolamine, 1-palmitoylglycerophosphoethanolamine, 1,6-anhydroglucose, phenylacetylglutamine, tryptophan betaine, 10-undecenoate, and tyrosine. Sensitivity analyses deemed the results reliable without pleiotropy.ConclusionWe investigated the causal relationships between gut microbiota, metabolites, and CD with two-sample MR. Our findings suggest several novel potential therapeutic targets for CD treatment. Further understanding of the underlying mechanism may provide insights into CD pathogenesis.

The shear deformation of rock joints is significant for the safety and stability of rock engineering. In order to study the constitutive relation of shear deformation in jointed rock mass under a normal stress, the direct shear tests under different normal stresses were carried out on the sandstone specimens with irregular joints using the RDS-200 rock direct shear test system. Based on the shear stress−deformation curve of the jointed rock, it can be divided into four stages including pre-peak compaction stage, linear stage, yield stage and post-peak softening stage. The post-peak softening stage can be further divided into three types including platform type, gradual decline type and drop type based on the decreasing magnitude and rate of shear stress at the post-peak period. The shear deformation constitutive model of the sandstone with irregular joints was established using piecewise function based on the shear deformation characteristics at different stages. Compared with the existing constitutive models, the new proposed shear deformation constitutive model of the jointed rock mass has a much higher fitting accuracy for the experimental results, which can better describe the deformation characteristics of the jointed rock in the whole shear process. The shear stress−shear displacement curve of irregular joints with different roughness coefficients under different normal stresses can be predicted after determining the relevant model parameters in the corresponding empirical formula after some direct shear tests. The research is practical for understanding the shear deformation of joints in rocks by numerical simulation and the safety evaluation of engineering.

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune small bowel disease. The pattern of gut microbiota is closely related to dietary habits, genetic background, and geographical factors. There is a lack of research on CD-related gut microbiota in China. This study aimed to use 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomics to analyze the fecal microbial composition and metabolome characteristics in patients diagnosed with CD in Northwest China, and to screen potential biomarkers that could be used for its diagnosis. A significant difference in the gut microbiota composition was observed between the CD and healthy controls groups. At the genus level, the abundance of Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Veillonella, and Allisonella communities in the CD group were increased (Q

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) as an endocrine disrupting chemical has been shown to alter reproductive endocrine function, but little is known on its analogues such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) with increasing usage and exposure. Objective: To explore the associations between exposures to BPA, BPF and BPS and serum reproductive hormones among reproductive-aged Chinese men. Methods: We measured BPA, BPF and BPS concentrations in repeated urine samples and multiple reproductive hormones in the serum samples collected from 462 men attending an infertility clinic in Wuhan, China. Linear regression models were applied to assess the associations between averaged urinary BPA, BPF and BPS levels and serum hormone concentrations, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were further utilized to explore potential non-linear associations. We also examined potential modifying effects by age and body mass index (BMI). Results: There was little evidence of associations between BPA exposure and altered reproductive hormones. However, we found that elevated BPF and BPS exposures were in negative associations with estrogen (E2) levels and E2/T (total testosterone) ratio (all P for trends 30 years, whereas their associations with reduced SHBG levels were more pronounced among men aged ≤ 30. Also, BPS exposure in negative association with FSH only emerged among men with BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 (P for interaction = 0.03). Conclusion: BPF and BPS exposures were negatively associated with male serum E2, E2/T ratio and SHBG levels, and these associations varied by age and BMI.

Various types of urban art emerged and prospered in recent decades when degenerating cities were embracing art as a marketing strategy. This urban-rejuvenation approach sheds less light on the agency and motivation of artists. This paper examines how ethnic artists represent traumatic memory, reflect nostalgia and mobilize individuals to collaborate with one other to build resilience. This study contributes to the literature that explores the agency and creativity of underrepresented minority artists in global society at large.

Human studies on association between bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and semen quality, mostly based on single urinary measurement, are inconsistent. There is limited human evidence on BPA analogues such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS), and little is known on potential effects of bisphenol mixtures. We aimed to explore whether individual or mixtures of BPA, BPS and BPF assessed in repeated urinary measurements were associated with semen quality among 984 Chinese men from an infertility clinic. We found that higher BPA exposure was associated with increased odds ratios (ORs) of having below-reference sperm concentration, total sperm count, progressive motility and total motility (all P for trends

With the rapid growth of photovoltaic (PV) power in recent years, the stability of system operation, the performance of system contingency analysis as well as the power quality of the power grid are threatened by the inherent uncertainty and fluctuation of PV output. It is necessary to have the knowledge of PV output characteristics for reliable power system dispatching. Day-ahead PV power forecasting is an effective support for achieving optimal dispatching. Probabilistic forecasting can describe the uncertainty that is difficult to depict by deterministic forecasting, and the forecasting results are more comprehensive. An ensemble nonparametric probabilistic forecasting model of PV output is proposed based on the traditional deterministic forecasting method. Quantile regression averaging (QRA) is used to ensemble a group of independent long short-term memory (LSTM) deterministic forecasting models for obtaining the probabilistic forecasting of PV output. Real measured data are used to verify the effectiveness of this nonparametric probabilistic forecasting model. Additionally, in comparison with the benchmark methods, LSTM-QRA has higher prediction performance due to the better forecasting accuracy of independent deterministic forecasts.

Since 1949, the Miao nationality in China has encountered historic opportunities for development. This paper reviews four aspects of the historical achievements of the Miao nationality in China: education, youth organizations, cultural heritage, and new media and women’s empowerment.By analyzing official statistics and autoethnographic data, we demonstrate that the agency of the Miao has contributed to these historical achievements. We argue that the Miao have seized many chances to promote development. Moreover, this paper emphasizes that the Miao have diverse cultures and an imbalance in development in various areas. These diverse features demonstrate that a single criterion cannot be used to measure the complicated situation and we call for further transdisciplinary research.

A multifunctional aviation aluminum alloy with good superhydrophobicity and corrosion resistance was prepared by a two-step process of etching followed by polymer modification. Meanwhile, micro- and nanostructures formed on the processed sample. Compared with bare sample, the static liquid contact angle on the as-prepared sample was increased by 100.8°. Further polarization tests showed that the corrosion potential of such a sample increased, and the corrosion current density decreased obviously, thus suggesting that the corrosion resistance of the modified sample was significantly improved. The same conclusion was confirmed by subsequent impedance testing. The work is of great economic value and practical significance to enhance the corrosion resistance of aviation actuator materials and also lays a foundation for future hydrophobic application research in aeronautical engineering.

Abstract. Background:. The pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains not fully understood. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of OSA by assessing the association between the human tandem of P domains in a weak inwardly rectifying K+ channel (TWIK)-related acid-sensitive K+ channel-1 (TASK-1) gene and OSA. Methods:. A total of 164 patients with severe OSA and 171 patients without OSA were recruited from the Center for Hypertension of People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (China) from April to December in 2016. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs1275988 and rs2586886) in the TASK-1 gene were selected and genotyped using a kompetitive allele specific polymerase chain reaction genotyping system. Clinical-pathological characteristics and genotype data were compared between the severe and non-OSA groups to explore the association between TASK-1 gene polymorphism and severe OSA. Results:. There were no significant differences in genotype distribution, allele frequency, and the recessive and dominant model of the two selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs1275988 and rs2586886) between the severe and non-OSA groups in the total population (P > 0.05). However, for patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥28 kg/m2, the distribution of genotypes and alleles, and the recessive model (GG + GA vs. AA) exhibited significant differences between the severe and non-OSA group (for genotypes: P = 0.014 and P = 0.026; for alleles: P = 0.006 and P = 0.011; for the recessive model: P = 0.005 and P = 0.009, respectively). The simple logistic regression analysis revealed that the GG genotype was a risk factor for OSA. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were 4.902 (1.582–15.186, P = 0.006) for rs1275988 and 4.420 (1.422–13.734, P = 0.010) for rs2586886, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the combination of GG genotypes of rs1275988 with BMI ≥28 kg/m2 increased the risk of severe OSA (OR = 8.916, 95% CI 4.506–17.645, P

As the coupling and integration of multi-energy flow in the integrated energy system (IES) deepen increasingly, the cascading failure will develop across different energy systems more easily and widely through the energy hub (EH). And it brings great challenges to the security and reliability of IES. The defects of the present cascading failure model of IES have been summarized, and a novel search strategy of fault chains in IES combined heating and power network was proposed in this paper. First, the initial risk assessment index of each energy branch is proposed to form the initial fault sets. Then, combined heat and power control (CHPC) strategies are introduced to deal with the branch overload conditions during the cascading failure. What is more, in order to reduce the workload and overcome the limitation of present methods, we analyzed the relevance of the branches to be predicted by using the kernel fuzzy C-means (KFCM) clustering algorithm and select the branches with the highest value of relevance as the subsequent failure. Based on the predicted fault chain, vulnerability analysis is presented to locate critical component and find out the correlation between cascading outages. The comprehensive evaluation index is also established to effectively evaluate the impact severity of cascading failure. Finally, the case studies are carried out on the combined heating and power systems to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

In this paper, a three-order Taylor-type numerical differentiation formula is firstly utilized to linearize and discretize constrained conditions of model predictive control (MPC), which can be generalized from lower limb rehabilitation robots. Meanwhile, a new numerical approach that projected an active set conjugate gradient approach is proposed, analyzed, and investigated to solve MPC. This numerical approach not only incorporates both the active set and conjugate gradient approach but also utilizes a projective operator, which can guarantee that the equality constraints are always satisfied. Furthermore, rigorous proof of feasibility and global convergence also shows that the proposed approach can effectively solve MPC with equality and bound constraints. Finally, an echo state network (ESN) is established in simulations to realize intention recognition for human–machine interactive control and active rehabilitation training of lower-limb rehabilitation robots; simulation results are also reported and analyzed to substantiate that ESN can accurately identify motion intention, and the projected active set conjugate gradient approach is feasible and effective for lower-limb rehabilitation robot of MPC with passive and active rehabilitation training. This approach also ensures computational when disturbed by uncertainties in system.

Preparing super-hydrophobic surfaces with additive manufacturing (AM) and multi-step processes improves corrosion resistance of Al alloys. But the incorporation of dissimilar metals accelerates matrix corrosion, additive polymers cannot offer a long-term structural stability, and multi-step methods are complicated and costly. Hereon, stable micro-craters and nano-terraces on AA5052 sheet with enhanced water repellence and durable corrosion resistance are fabricated via low-cost subtractive manufacturing (SM) strategy. After fluoridation process, as-fabricated hierarchical structures possess highlighted self-cleaning and anti-adhesion capabilities. The following electrochemical test shows that the resultant surface effectively acts as a barrier against seawater infiltration suggesting superior anti-corrosion capacity. Meanwhile, the bacterial colony count test shows that the surface also possesses excellent resistance to microbiological adhesion. Such economic, efficient and environmental SM process is of great potential in fabricating multifunctional Al alloys with durable anti-corrosion, super-hydrophobic and bacteriostatic behaviors. Keywords: Subtractive manufacturing, Structural stability, Water repellence, Corrosion resistance, Bacteria inhibition

Under high-strain-rate conditions, Ti and steel in Ti-steel clad plate deformed, with the deformation compatibility mechanism playing a key role at the bonding interface. The interfacial microstructure and deformation mechanism of Ti-steel clad plate under high strain were investigated in this paper. The results show that, for the steel side, with increasing strain rate, the number of small-angle (3°-10°) grain boundaries increases and texture component {112} 〈241〉gradually evolves into textures {665} 〈386〉 and {111} 〈110〉. For the Ti side, with increasing strain rate, deformation twins appear. Different deformation twins such as tensile twin {1121} 〈1100〉, compression twin {1122} 〈1123〉, and tensile twin {1012} 〈1011〉are produced. The deformation mechanism of the Ti side at high strain rate transforms from a conventional"twin deformation"mode to the compound deformation mode"coexistence of dislocation slip and twin deformation. "With the increase of strain rate, the bonding interface would coordinate the different deformation resistances of both sides, to achieve a continuous deformation without any materials damage. The main coordination mechanism relies on the bonding interface and the slip of adjacent grains.

Non-traditional lithium isotope is a frontier in isotope geochemistry and has been applied to the studies of Solid Earth Sciences, such as the lithosphere and fluids from the Earth's surface to the mantle. Lithium isotopic compositions of 7 standard reference materials BHVO-2, JB-2, BCR-2, AGV-2, NKT-1, L-SVEC and IRMM-016 are reported in this paper. The rock standards were digested with HNO3-HF mixed acids. Cation exchange resin AG50W-X8 was used for the separation of Li from other elements. Li isotope ratios were determined by Multi-Collector-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), and isotopic mass fractionation was calibrated by standard-sample bracketing. The Li isotopic compositions and the analytical uncertainties (reported in 2SD) of analyzed standard reference materials were: 7LiBHVO-2-L-SVEC=4.7‰±1.0‰ (n=53), 7LiJB-2-L-SVEC=4.9‰±1.0‰ (n=20), 7LiBCR-2-L-SVEC=4.4‰±0.8‰ (n=8), 7LiAGV-2-L-SVEC=6.1‰±0.4‰ (n=14), 7LiNKT-1-L-SVEC=9.8‰±0.2‰ (n=3), 7LiL-SVEC-L-SVEC=-0.3‰±0.3‰ (n=10), 7LiIRMM-016-L-SVEC=0.0‰±0.5‰ (n=10). The results were in good agreement with published data within analytical uncertainties. The accuracy of this method is about ±0.5‰ and the long-term external precision (2SD) of replicate analyses including the entire pretreatment procedure is less than ±1.0‰, and is similar to the state of the art method. The reported data of 7 standard reference materials provided a new standard framework for Li isotope research, and enabled the evaluation of the quality of data retrieved from geological samples. The influence of sample size was also assessed by loading different amounts of separated IRMM-016 solutions. The results show that when the lithium concentration has reached 100 μg/L, the measured lithium isotopic compositions are in coincidence with the accepted value within uncertainty, and the sample size does not affect the accuracy of measurements.

With the refinement and intelligence of power system optimal dispatching, the widespread adoption of advanced grid applications that consider the safety and economy of power systems, and the massive access of distributed energy resources, the requirement for bus load prediction accuracy is continuously increasing. Aiming at the volatility brought about by the large-scale access of new energy sources, the adaptability to different forecasting horizons and the time series characteristics of the load, this paper proposes a phase space reconstruction (PSR) and deep belief network (DBN)-based very short-term bus load prediction model. Cross-validation is also employed to optimize the structure of the DBN. The proposed PSR-DBN very short-term bus load forecasting model is verified by applying the real measured load data of a substation. The results prove that, when compared to other alternative models, the PSR-DBN model has higher prediction accuracy and better adaptability for different forecasting horizons in the case of high distributed power penetration and large fluctuation of bus load.

Multi-district integrated energy system (IES) can make full use of the complementary characteristics of district power and thermal system, and loads in different districts. It can improve the flexibility and economy of system operation, which has a good development prospect. Firstly, based on the general energy transfer model of the district heating network (DHN), the DHN system is described by the basic equations of the heating network and nodes considering the characteristics of the transmission time delay and heat loss in pipelines. A coupling model of DHN and multi-district IES is established. Secondly, the flexible demand response (FDR) model of electric and thermal loads is established. The load characteristics of each district in IES are studied. A shiftable load model based on the electric quantity balance is constructed. Considering the flexibility of the heat demand, a thermal load adjustment model based on the comfort constraint is constructed to make the thermal load elastic and controllable in time and space. Finally, a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model for operation optimization of multi-district IES with the DHN considering the FDR of electric and thermal loads is established based on the supply and demand sides. The result shows that the proposed model makes full use of the complementary characteristics of electric and thermal loads in different districts. It realizes the coordinated distribution of thermal energy among different districts and improves the efficiency of thermal energy utilization through the DHN. FDR effectively reduces the peak-valley difference of loads. It further reduces the total operating cost by the coordinated operation of the DHN and multi-district IES.

Recently, a large number of distributed photovoltaic (PV) power generations have been connected to the power grid, which resulted in an increased fluctuation of the net load. Therefore, load forecasting has become more difficult. Considering the characteristics of the net load, an ultrashort-term forecasting model based on phase space reconstruction and deep neural network (DNN) is proposed, which can be divided into two steps. First, the phase space reconstruction of the net load time series data is performed using the C-C method. Second, the reconstructed data is fitted by the DNN to obtain the predicted value of the net load. The performance of this model is verified using real data. The accuracy is high in forecasting the net load under high PV penetration rate and different weather conditions.

Corrosion failure is a thorny issue that restricts the applications of Al alloys. As a research hotspot in functional realization, hydrophobic fabrication exactly offers an efficient method to settle metallic corrosions. This work has developed a facile and low-cost method to enhance corrosion resistance of Al alloys. The micro-nano dendrites have been firstly prepared on metallic substrate using one-step potentiostatic deposition. Then, wetting and electrochemical behaviors have been systematically investigated after stearic acid modification. Results show that the as-prepared surface possesses amplified and durable water repellence with an apparent contact angle (CA) of 154.2° and a sliding angle (SA) of 4.7°. Meanwhile, owing to the trapped air in dendrites, the newly-generated solid-air-liquid interfaces help to resist seawater penetration by reducing interfacial interactions on the super-hydrophobic surface as well as significantly enhance its corrosion resistance. This work sheds positive insights into extending the applications of Al alloys in many areas, especially for ocean engineering fields.

Tensile testing results of spray cast Ni3Al-based superalloy indicated that the yield strength and tensile strength increase with the increasing of temperature and reached maximum at around 760℃, then decrease with the increasing of temperature. After high temperature isostatic pressing (HIP), yield strength decreased and ductility and tensile strength increased. Stereographic projection showed that no matter at room temperature, medium temperature or high temperature, cracks extend along (111).