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Reactor pressure vessel (RPV) studs act as sealing fasteners connecting the top cover and cylinder of RPVs. The failure of the external threads of RPV studs negatively affects the operation and maintenance of nuclear islands. In this paper, triaxial rolling technology was applied to the production of RPV studs for the first time, and the process parameters were optimized based on finite element simulations and rolling tests. The effects of triaxial rolling on the surface morphology and microstructure of the external threads of an RPV stud were examined. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) were employed to explore the grain refinement mechanism of the external threads of the RPV stud induced by severe plastic deformation during the triaxial rolling process. An RPV stud assembly test platform was used to conduct a 1:1 installation and tensile pre-tightening test on the external threads of the RPV stud processed by turning and rolling. It was found that the surface roughness of the RPV stud processed by triaxial rolling was less than 0.2 μm, which was 88% lower than that of the RPV stud processed by turning. A large number of ultra-fine grains appeared at the grain boundary of lamellar ferrite, forming a chain structure, and the proportion of ultra-fine grains on the thread root surface reached 63.5%. The microhardness at the thread root was 385 HV, which was 16% higher than that of the matrix. Under the same load, the RPV stud processed by triaxial rolling had more stable mounting torque and less tensile elongation than the RPV stud processed by turning, manifesting better assembly performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies here have demonstrated that the rabbit sacculus rotundus-derived antimicrobial peptides (RSRP) could alter the intestinal mucosal immune responses in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens, however, the protective effects of RSRP on chickens against infection remain questionable. In the present study, eighty SPF chickens were randomly divided into five groups and challenged with very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) to determine the protective effects and its underlying mechanism of RSRP. Histopathology examination found that vvIBDV-infection caused severe damage in the bursa of Fabricius, especially the bursal lymphoid follicles underwent severe necrosis, depletion, hemorrhage, and edema. Unexpectedly, RSRP intervention significantly reduced the necrosis and depletion of lymphoid follicles in the vvIBDV-infected chickens. Moreover, RSRP treatment significantly decreased the expression of Bax (P < 0.01) as well as remarkably promoted the expression of Bcl-2 (P < 0.01), concomitantly alleviated the excessive apoptosis in the immune organs such as the bursa of Fabricius during vvIBDV infection. Notably, consistent with our previous reports that increased mast cell activation and degranulation in the bursa after vvIBDV infection, RSRP administration considerably reduced the mast cell density and the expression of tryptase, a marker for activated mast cells. Collectively, the present study indicates that rabbit sacculus rotundus-derived antimicrobial peptides could effectively protect the major immune organs including the bursa of Fabricius from the damage caused by vvIBDV infection, which provides the possibility and a promising perspective for the future application of antimicrobial peptides for poultry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Tripterin significantly downregulated the expression of CHIPS by regulating the SaeRS two-component regulatory system. • Tripterin promoted neutrophil chemotaxis by downregulating the expression of CHIPS. • Tripterin inhibited biofilm and promoted neutrophil infiltration into the interior of the biofilm. • Tripterin can alleviate bacteremia caused by MRSA. Neutrophils are the most important innate immune cells in host defense against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, MRSA orchestrates precise and timely expression of a series of virulence factors, especially the chemotaxis inhibitory protein of Staphylococcus aureus (CHIPS), to evade neutrophil-mediated host defenses. Here, we demonstrated that tripterin, a plant-derived bioactive pentacyclic triterpenoid, had a low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.28 µg/mL and displayed excellent anti-MRSA activity in vitro and in vivo. RNA-seq and further knockdown experiments revealed that tripterin could dramatically downregulate the expression of CHIPS by regulating the SaeRS two-component regulatory system, thereby enhancing the chemotactic response of neutrophils. Furthermore, tripterin also displayed a potential inhibitory effect on biofilm components to enhance neutrophil infiltration into the interior of the biofilm. In a mouse bacteremia model, tripterin could still maintain an excellent therapeutic effect that was significantly better than that of the traditional antibiotic vancomycin. Overall, these results suggest that tripterin possesses a superior antibacterial activity via breaking CHIPS-mediated immune evasion to promote neutrophil chemotaxis, thus providing a novel strategy for combating serious pathogenic infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multiclass change detection task aims to segment an area of land change and to identify the type of ground change exploiting bi-temporal remote-sensing images. In recent years, this technology has become an important means of analysing remote-sensing data and has shown great potential in accurately understanding changes on the earth's surface. However, the existing methods are mainly for binary change detection tasks and cannot detect the specific information of the change category. Hence, in this paper, we propose an end-to-end densely connected network, entitled Y-Net, employing a Siamese structure for multiclass change detection. The proposed network uses a dual-stream DenseNet to extract bi-temporal change features during the encoding stage and introduces the attention fusion mechanism for the decoding stage to enhance the attention to changing features. Add the dice loss to reduce the impact of sample imbalance on multiclass change detection. The suggested network utilizes a deep supervision strategy for each decoding layer to achieve change graph reconstruction of different levels. Y-Net is evaluated on the challenging multiclass change detection data set SECOND, and the ablation study verified the effectiveness of the attention fusion module and dice loss for multiclass change detection, considering both visual interpretation and quantitative evaluation, confirming that the proposed method is superior to current state-of-the-art change detection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The change detection (CD) of heterogeneous remote sensing images is an important but challenging task. The difficulty is to obtain the change information by directly comparing the different statistical characteristics of the images acquired by different sensors. This paper proposes an unsupervised method for heterogeneous image CD based on an image domain transfer network. First, an attention mechanism is added to the Cycle-generative adversarial networks (Cycle-GANs) to obtain a more consistent feature expression by transferring bi-temporal heterogeneous images to the common domain. The Euclidean distance of the corresponding pixels is calculated in the common domain to form a difference map, and a threshold algorithm is applied to get a rough change map. Finally, the proposed adaptive Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) algorithm reduces the noise introduced by false detection, and the final change map is obtained. The proposed method is verified on three real heterogeneous CD datasets and compared with the current state-of-the-art methods. The results show that the proposed method is accurate and robust for performing heterogeneous CD tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Migratory birds are considered natural reservoirs of avian influenza A viruses (AIVs). To further our viral ecology knowledge and understand the subsequent risk posed by wild birds, we conducted a 4-year surveillance study of AIVs in the bird wintering wetlands of the Yangtze River, China. We collected over 8000 samples and isolated 122 AIV strains. Analyses were then carried out with 108 novel sequenced genomes and data were deposited in GISAID and other public databases. The results showed that the Yangtze River wintering wetlands functioned as a mixing ground, where various subtypes of AIVs were detected harboring a high diversity of nucleotide sequences; moreover, a portion of AIV gene segments were persistent inter-seasonally. Phylogenetic incongruence presented complex reassortment events and distinct patterns among various subtypes. In addition, we observed that viral gene segments in wintering wetlands were closely related to known North American isolates, indicating that intercontinental gene flow occurred. Notably, highly pathogenic H5 and low pathogenic H9 viruses, which usually circulate in poultry, were found to have crossed the poultry/wild bird interface, with the viruses introduced to wintering birds. Overall, this study represented the largest AIV surveillance effort of wild birds within the Yangtze River wintering wetlands. Surveillance data highlighted the important role of wintering wild birds in the ecology of AIVs and may enable future early warnings of novel AIV emergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to resolve the global warming problem, Ammonia-Diesel Dual-Fuel (ADDF) combustion has been a feasible strategy for burning ammonia to reduce carbon emissions from internal combustion engines. In the research of this paper, an ADDF engine experimental platform was developed and established. Premixed-Charge Compression Ignition (PCCI) combustion and diesel-piloted combustion modes under different operating conditions were investigated to achieve the goals of high thermal efficiency and low emissions. Moreover, the influence of diesel injection strategy and intake pressure on combustion, gaseous and particle emissions were explored. The results indicate that high thermal efficiency can be obtained using PCCI mode with early injected diesel, which forms a homogeneous mixture with ammonia under the low load condition. Under medium and high load conditions, less diesel was injected early, and ignition was delivered by a pilot injection of diesel close to the top dead centre. Under all operating conditions, the gross indicated thermal efficiency (ITEg) exceeded 48%, and the maximum ITEg was 51.5%, which was comparable to the diesel-only mode. Meantime, the emission of ammonia, NO and N 2 O were normally below 6 g/kWh, 7 g/kWh, and 1 g/kWh, respectively. With increasing ammonia energy substitution ratio, the particle emission changed from accumulation-mode particles to nucleation-mode particles, but the mass of accumulation-mode particles dominated. • As the load increased, the optimal combustion mode changed from PPCI mode to diesel-pilot mode. • The gross indicated thermal efficiency under different operating conditions exceeded 48%. • Nitrogen-containing emissions were controlled at a low level. • With increasing R AE , the particle emission changed from accumulation-mode particles to nucleation-mode particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of modified titanium tension band plus patellar tendon tunnel steel 8 "reduction band" versus titanium cable tension band fixation for the treatment of patellar lower pole fracture. Materials and Methods: 58 patients with lower patella fracture were enrolled in this study, including 30 patients treated with modified titanium cable tension band plus patellar tibial tunnel wire "8" tension band internal fixation (modified group), and 28 patients with titanium cable tension band fixation. All patients were followed up for 9∼15 months with an average of 11.6 months. Results: Knee flexion was significantly improved in the modified group than in the titanium cable tension band group (111.33 ± 13 degrees versus 98.21 ± 21.70 degrees, P = 0.004). The fracture healing time showed no significant difference. At the end of the follow-up, the improvement excellent rate was 93.33% in the modified group, and 82.14% in the titanium cable tension band group. Titanium cable tension band internal fixation loosening was found in 2 cases, including 1 case of treatment by two surgeries without loose internal fixation. Conclusions: The modified titanium cable tension band with "8" tension band fixation showed better efficacy for lower patella fractures than titanium cable tension band fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Maximum mean discrepancy was employed to decide the optimal structure of the self-organizing neural network and find the overlapping area between classes adaptively. • A region-dependent processing strategy was introduced. • The proposed model has been evaluated on the imbalanced aluminum tube defect dataset compared with seven state-of-the-art models. Experimental results showed that our method had superior performance. Modern industrial products are developing in intelligence, information, and integration. Hence higher quality requirements are put forward for the reliability of its parts. Computer vision-based automatic defect detection method shows a promising application prospect due to its advantages such as contactless and fastness. However, it is challenging to detect surface defects since the shape and location of the defects vary randomly. Moreover, this task becomes more difficult due to the defects' rarity, limiting the dataset's size and rendering it imbalanced. This study proposed a novel defect detection algorithm based on a metaheuristic self-organizing neural network (MSOM) to deal with the imbalanced dataset. The Maximum mean discrepancy was introduced to build the fitness function and the optimal structure of MSOM was determined by solving the fitness function iteratively. Experimental results showed that our method outperformed seven state-of-the-art algorithms on the imbalanced dataset of aluminum tube defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel intelligent optimal control strategy for crawler vehicles with semi-active suspension. The proposed control strategy aims at improving vehicle ride comfort by addressing contradictory suspension properties requirements of ride comfort and handling stability simultaneously. After establishing seven degrees of freedom dynamic model of the crawler vehicle, a comprehensive evaluation index is developed to trade off among various vehicle performances, which include ride comfort, damper thermal reliability, elastic element fatigue and handling stability. Then, using modified staged continuous tabu search (MSCTS) algorithm, the optimal control efforts of semi-active suspension, damping ratios, are determined by minimizing the cost function defined by the comprehensive evaluation index. Demonstrated by simulations with triangle convex block and random ground roughness excitations, MSCTS control strategy can successfully improve ride comfort performance and achieve the optimal comprehensive performance as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the microstructure and the kinematic model during solution treatment of a powdered metallurgical Ni-based material were investigated in this work. The results showed that the solvus temperature of the γ′ phase was as high as 1170 °C–1200 °C. An improved JMAK model was used to describe the γ′ dissolution behaviour over a continuous temperature range. In the model, the constants were regarded as the equations for temperature, and the correlation coefficient R was 0.9994. The grain growth behaviour below 1200 °C was different from that above 1200 °C; therefore, the raw material was well understood with a segmented model, and R was 0.9771. During the cooling stage, as the cooling rate was increased, the size of γ′ decreased quickly at the beginning and then entered a stable phase; finally, it exhibited secondary reduction. As the γ′ size decreased, the hardness of the alloy first increased and then changed slowly. A cubic polynomial was established to calculate the size of γ′ at different cooling rates, and R was 0.97367. A new hardness prediction model was used to predict the hardness with different values of γ′ for the alloy, and R was 0.9710. • Characteristics were determined for γ′ and grain during solution treatments. • An improved JMAK model was proposed to describe the dissolution of the γ′ phase. • A segmentation model was used to understand the grain growth process. • A polynomial was developed to calculate γ′ sizes for different cooling rates. • A model was established to predict the hardness for different γ′ sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical disturbance of compacted grassland soil can reduce the compaction level. This paper aimed to provide recommendations for optimising plough point design and the formulation of grassland loosening operation standards by analysing the disturbance degree and loosening effectivity of compacted grassland soil. A grassland disturbance test was conducted by using different types of plough points (straight, chisel, diamond, and arrow), tillage depths (50, 100, and 150 mm), and shank spacings (250, 300, and 350 mm). A soil disturbance model was established to determine the disturbance threshold of the compacted soil. The results showed that the straight point cut through the grassland soil along the edge of the shank, the chisel point sheared it into strips and blocks, the diamond and arrow point produced furrows in the grassland. The disturbance degree of the grassland soil increased as the tillage depth increased for all four points and as the shank spacing decreased for the chisel, diamond, and arrow point. The average values of the soil disturbance index (SDI) were 1.19, 1.34, 1.30, and 1.22 for the straight, chisel, diamond, and arrow point, respectively. The significance analysis showed that the loosening effectivity of the chisel and diamond point was significantly better than that of the straight and arrow point. The chisel point plot had the highest mean SDI, indicating it was more effective than the other three points in loosening the compacted grassland soil. The optimum loosening effectivity was achieved at a soil disturbance rate of 26%. • Moderate loosening was effective in reducing soil compaction in grassland. • Recommended shank spacing 350–400 mm and tillage depth 100–150 mm. • Trends of the soil disturbance parameters the same for the four plough points. • Chisel point provided optimum loosening effectivity on compacted grassland soil. • Loosening effectivity was optimal at a soil disturbance rate of 26%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Support vector regression (SVR) has unique advantages in system modeling because of the structural risk minimization principle. However, its model generalization ability is subject to excitation signals and kernel parameters. An SVR modeling method excited by sinusoidal signals based on kernel space features is proposed to improve the generalization ability. First, the effect of amplitude of the sinusoidal excitation signals on the generalization ability of SVR model is analyzed. The following conclusions are drawn. The amplitude of the best excitation signal should be in the same order of magnitude as that of actual input signal and not smaller than the amplitude of the actual input signal. Second, based on the considered SVR modeling problem in the classification problem, the kernel space feature named inter-cluster distance (ICD) is employed to determine a more effective searching range of the kernel parameter. Simulation experiments results show less training time and the superior generalization ability of the proposed method. Thus, the proposed method can be used as a guide to select the sinusoidal excitation signals and kernels parameters of SVR models. © 2017 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microelectromechanical system ( MEMS) gyroscope provides a new method to design a low-cost untwisting spin platform to be used in a single-axis, stable strap-down inertial navigation system. However, the MEMS gyroscope's drift reduces the effectiveness of the closed-loop feedback control. Thus, a new method of drift suppression is proposed in this paper based on phase space reconstruction in order to improve the platform's performance. The feasibility of the MEMS gyroscope's drift suppression is analyzed using linear decomposition based on phase space. The system drift is estimated by phase space reconstruction. The optimal embedding dimension is found through a grid search. The number of dimensions for dimension reduction analysis is selected according to the minimum eigenvalue. The mapping from the high-dimensional phase space onto the low-dimensional phase space is obtained by minimizing the variance. A Kalman filter is used to compensate the residual sequence further. The proposed method is applied to an untwisting spin platform based on the MEMS gyroscope L3G4200D. The experimental results show that it can reduce the platform drift rate effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compression and relaxation properties of selected biomass for briquetting (barley, oat, canola and wheat straw) were investigated to determine the correlation with variables (pressure, particle size (hammer mill screen size) and moisture contents). The applied pressure ranged from 7.03 to 14.06 MPa. Three hammer mill screen sizes (19.05, 25.40 and 31.75 mm) were used to grind the biomass samples. The ground biomass materials were conditioned to moisture contents of 9%, 12% and 15% (w.b.). The results indicated that the compact density of biomass increased with increasing pressure and moisture content. The relaxation properties of selected materials were affected by the set variables. Biomass materials had a higher stress relaxation speed with higher applied pressure and lower moisture content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonlinear proportional-integral-differential (NPID) controller used for predictive control tunes the proportional, integral, and differential gain coefficients according to the system prediction output. The prediction error has great influence on its performance. In this paper, we propose a dual support vector machine (SVM) NPID controller using an SVM prediction system output with less error. System model reflecting the system feature is constructed by SVM, based on the training dataset gained by system transfer function. The error compensation model is also constructed by SVM, based on prediction error with the above system model. The system prediction output is obtained by the aforementioned SVM models. And it is used to compute the PID gain coefficients. Simulation results of typical systems show that the proposed method has very little prediction error and high control performance. © 2015 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silaging nutrient-rich phase grass with bags in the field can reduce nutrient loss, maintain green feed nutrients, and facilitate long-term preservation; thus promotes the growth of good livestock. To facilitate direct storage of forage harvested in the field, one self-propelled grass silage combined bagging machine was developed.. It integrated the cutting device, a conveyor feeding device, a crushing and throwing device, vertical auger conveyor equipment, grass bagging density control device. And their key device parameters were calculated. The self-propelled grass silage combined bagging machine used disc cutter to cut grass, the blade root diameter and top diameter were 500 and 620 mm, and the critical forward speed of the machine was 17.9 km/h so that leakage could be prevented and repeat cutting could be reduced. The designed grinding hob diameter and the width were 550 and 480 mm. it's rated rotating speed was 1600 r/min and the linear velocity of the feed roller was from 2.1-17.1 m/s when the length of the cutting grass was 5-40 mm. The diameters of the front and intermediate feed roller were 300 and 260 mm, and the calculated rear feeding roller diameter was 90 mm. In order to minimize forage accumulation, the designed throwing roller diameter was 300 mm, the width was 510 mm, the angular velocity was 2 600 r/min, the leaf number was 4, and the angle of thrown pieces of angle was 20°. The displacement and velocity equations at any moment from the start. Grass compressed by screw auger before output from the silo. The compression ratio of the screw mechanism can be adjusted for achieving the desired output squeeze effect. The three different of compression ratio screw auger were designed for different types of forage, and spirals can be changed by the exchange of connecting flange. According to squeeze theory, the designed spiral inner diameter was 100 mm and screw conveyor segment pitch was 345 mm at the beginning of variable pitch segments, meanwhile the surface of screw extruder was polished and longitudinal grooves in the barrel were built for increasing the extrusion effect. The crushed forage was loose and easy to squeeze, and had a large volume gradient. Then the volume gradient became small, and pitch gradually becomes small, so rational compression ratio made compression effect better. Finally, the critical rotation speed was calculated and was 99 r/min. In the self-propelled silage harvester, this innovative design combined automatic pneumatic tying device could greatly reduce labor intensity. Working performance test of the developed prototype was conducted with forage whose moisture content is 78%. Results showed a stubble height was 5-15 mm, cutting leakage loss was 0.85%, average bagging density was 320 kg/m3, average bagging time was 30 s per bag, tying rate was 100%. With average forward speed at 2.3 m/s, operation capability of the machine can achieve 0.53-0.67 hm2/h without clogging. The presented study provides a new approach for the harvest and storage of silage grass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Stimulation with a magnetized arc plasma (MAP) can improve seed germination and seedling growth. This technology has been applied in practice and works well. In this paper, the effects of different MAP intensities on old seeds of Spinacia oleracea L. Beiouzhizun were investigated to determine the optimal conditions for improving germination. The vigor and germination rate were compared between treated and untreated seeds under laboratory conditions. The results show that the vigor and rate were much greater for the treated seeds compared to the untreated ones. The germination vigor increased by 217.6% and the germination rate by 137.2% for a treatment intensity of 2.0 A repeated three times. This was the optimum treatment for stimulating potential vigor and promoting seed germination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The conditioner suspension of the mower conditioner is the most important load-bearing part of the whole machine. In order to reduce the weight of the conditioner suspension, and ensure the sufficient stiffness of the equipment, this paper analyzed and classified the boundary conditions and load cases during the working time. Taking minima of the general flexibility of the conditioner suspension as the objective function, setting volume fraction and modal properties as constraints, optimization of the structural topology of the conditioner suspension design was carried out based on the variable density method. By analyzing the changes in stiffness and natural frequency before and after optimization, contrast to the results shown that the stiffness and dynamics of suspension have greatly improved after being optimized. It shown the effectiveness and feasibility of designing the conditioner suspension of the mower conditioner by using the topology optimization method, and it provides a reference method for technical improvements of similar equipment. It was indicated that the topology optimization method used for the design of conditioner suspension was effective and feasible, which provided a reference method for technical improvements of similar equipment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Granulomas, the pathologic hallmarks of tuberculosis, are composed of tightly numerous immune cells that respond to a variety of persistent stimuli during pathogen–host interaction. The granuloma is essential for host containment of mycobacterial infection, however, the mechanism of host and pathogen determinants to recruit immune cells at the site of inflammation and the formation of granulomas remains elusive until now. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a cytokine produced by many cell types, modulates cellular and humoral immune responses and promote lymphocytes migration to the site of infection. In this study, we evaluate the expression of MIF in tuberculous granulomas by three different models of diseases: mouse, human tissues and zebrafish. The overall results demonstrated that the expression of MIF positive signals markedly increased in the tissues which have been infected with mycobacterium, whereas a few presence of MIF in the PBS-treated animals (means the control group). In the mycobacterial-infected animals, the MIF positives distributed extensively within the granuloma especially in the multinucleated giant cells. Thus, three independent lines of evidence support the hypothesis that MIF may be an important player in aggregate immune cells to the granuloma microenvironments in these animal models of tuberculosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Conventional tillage practices are traditional methods to restore the degraded grasslands. However, the risk of wind and water erosion increases dramatically. To remedy these degraded grasslands and conserve soil and water, a rotary cutting mechanism named soil-gashing and root-cutting device was designed and tested in typical degraded grassland. The grass specie was leymus-chinensis, which is the main forage in Northern China. This device consisted of eight sets of cutting tools, and each set of tools had three identical crescent cutting blades. It can create consecutive openings in compacted soil. These openings provided soil aeration and promoted the growth of leymus-chinensis. Field experiments indicated that the maximum cutting depth was 200mm while the average width of slits was 12.8mm. No soil overturning was observed. To reduce the torque required to drive this cutting mechanism, the crescent cutting blade was optimized through indoor soil bin tests. Field tests were then conducted to evaluate the effect of this cutting mechanism on the soil physical and chemical properties and the crop yield of a degraded grassland. Results showed that soil organic matter and total nitrogen were significantly increased in the second year of soil-gashing and root-cutting treatment, and the soil pH value was reduced to the suitable level for the growth of leymus-chinensis. The soil bulk density was reduced, and the soil porosity increased after a one-year period though these changes were not statistically significant. Grass yield was increased by 94.8% in the second year. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use of avian herpesviruses (Marek''s disease virus, MDV) as vectors to express the capsid protein of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was well established, and its protection against IBDV challenge has been evaluated previously. However, there is little data about rMDV1 expressing the VP2 protein of IBDV protecting SPF and commercial chickens against virulent IBDV (vIBDV) challenge. In this study, we constructed a stable rMDV1 expressing the VP2 protein of IBDV by inserting the coding sequence within the US10 gene of MDVl by homologous recombination and designated this as rMDVl-US10L, and evaluated effectiveness of the recombinant VP2 protein with SPF chickens and commercial chickens with maternal antibodies in vIBDV challenge. The results can be summarized as follows: (1) We constructed a rMDV1 expressing IBDV-VP2 under the control of the MDV1 glycoprotein B (gB) promoter [rMDV1-US10L]. (2) rMDV-VP2 protein was readily expressed and induced 53% protection against a vIBDV challenge in SPF chickens with 103 PFU/chicken, whereas 104 PFU induced 73% protection. (3) Vaccination of commercial chickens having maternal antibodies to rMDV1-VP2 induced 87% protection in vIBDV challenge, which was similar to results using the live vaccine, BJ87 IBDV strain, in commercial chickens. These results demonstrate that the VP2 antigen expressed in the MDV vector was an effective and stable vaccine in correlation with the vaccine efficacy against lethal IBDV challenge, and can provide a better protective effect that is likely to persist for the life of the chickens. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recent studies here have demonstrated that increased mast cell populations and tryptase activity contribute to lesion formation in regions of immune organs in special-pathogen-free chickens after infection with very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV). Mast cells and their mediators have been implicated in acute inflammatory injury after vvIBDV infection, but their precise role in this process remains elusive. In this study, the role of mast cells in the vvIBDV infection process was examined using ketotifen, a mast cell membrane stabilizer. On days 1, 2, and 3 postinfection, the bursa of Fabricius (BFs) were collected to quantify mast cells, tryptase and histamine contents by cytochemistry, immunohistochemistry and fluorospectrophotometry analyses, respectively. The results showed that the mast cell populations, tryptase expression, and histamine released increased significantly in the BFs (p <0.01) of infected birds compared to controls, and acute inflammatory responses were observed in the former. In contrast, in infected chickens pretreated with ketotifen, mast cells, tryptase, and histamine were markedly decreased (p <0.01) and probably as a result, the BFs remitted significantly. The overall results suggest that mast cells are positively involved in BF injury induced by vvIBDV infection. Inhibition of mast cell degranulation and concurrent mediator release may represent a novel strategy to modulate this process. This study, thus, advances the understanding of the acute inflammatory injury mechanisms triggered by vvIBDV infection and the contribution of mast cell activity in this process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In addition to their well-characterized role in allergic inflammation, recent data confirm that mast cells play a more extensive role in a variety of viral infections. The contribution of mast cells to Newcastle disease pathogenesis has not been investigated. We evaluated mast cell activity after Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection in specific pathogen free chickens using cytochemical and immunocytochemical analyses. The results were as follows. Severe tissue damage was observed in the proventriculus, duodenum, jejunum and caecal tonsil, and NDV antigens were detected and presented extensively in these tissues. Second, in the NDV-infected group, the mast cell population was increased markedly in the proventriculus, duodenum, jejunum and caecal tonsil at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after infection (P<0.01). However, very few mast cells were observed in those same tissues in the control. More intriguingly, the greatest number of mast cells was found in the proventriculus, which also showed the greatest level of NDV antigens. Third, the content of tryptase was significantly higher (P<0.01) in the NDV-infected group compared with the control from 24 to 96 h post infection). Furthermore, as an important protease released by mast cells, tryptase had a positive correlation with mast cell distribution. These data indicated that mast cells were involved in the response to NDV. Our results also suggested that the broad range of mast cell mediators might have a role in the pathology of Newcastle disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The potential role of the mast cells in the invasion of very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) is unknown. We evaluated mast cell activity and tryptase production after vvIBDV infection in special pathogen-free (SPF) chickens using cytochemistry and immunohistochemistry analyses. The results were as follows: (1) severe histologic lesions were observed in the thymus, spleen, cloacal bursa, liver, kidney and other tissues. vvIBDV viral antigens were detected and presented extensively in the parenchymatous organs, in particular, the cloacal bursa, liver, kidney, thymus, spleen and pancreas. (2) In the vvIBDV-infected group, the mast cell population increased markedly in the liver, kidney, thymus, glandular stomach, spleen and cloacal bursa on days 1, 2 and 3 after vvIBDV infection (p <0.05). However, very few mast cells were observed in those same tissues in the controls, especially in the bursa of Fabricius. (3) Tryptase, a marker for activated mast cells, has a positive correlation with mast cell distribution. The mast cells identified in the tissues were likely to be activated since they were associated with cell degranulation and the presence of tryptase. Furthermore, the co-localization of mast cells, and presence of vvIBDV antigens suggests that the mast cells were activated by vvIBDV infection. Our results also suggest that tryptase may contribute to the inflammation of acute IBD induced by vvIBDV infection. Our research contributes to the further understanding of inflammatory response mechanisms and the contribution of mast cell activity to this process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A high level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) is one of the most important risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of death worldwide. However, a low concentration of LDL may be protective. Genome-wide association studies revealed that variation in ADTRP gene increased the risk of CAD. In this study, we found that a low concentration of oxidized-LDL induced the expression of ADTRP. Further analyses showed that knockdown of the expression of LDL receptor genes LDLR , CD36 , or LOX-1 significantly downregulated ADTRP expression, whereas overexpression of LDLR / CD36 / LOX-1 markedly increased ADTRP expression through the NF-κB pathway. Like ADTRP , LDLR , CD36 and LOX-1 were all involved in endothelial cell (EC) functions relevant to the initiation of atherosclerosis. Downregulation of LDLR / CD36 / LOX-1 promoted monocyte adhesion to ECs and transendothelial migration of monocytes by increasing expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and P-selectin, decreased EC proliferation and migration, and increased EC apoptosis, thereby promoting the initiation of atherosclerosis. Opposite effects were observed with the overexpression of ADTRP and LDLR / CD36 / LOX-1 in ECs. Interestingly, through the NF-κB and AKT pathways, overexpression of ADTRP significantly upregulated the expression of LDLR , CD36 , and LOX-1 , and knockdown of ADTRP expression significantly downregulated the expression of LDLR , CD36 , and LOX-1. These data suggest that ADTRP and LDL receptors LDLR/CD36/LOX-1 positively regulate each other, and form a positive regulatory loop that regulates endothelial cell functions, thereby providing a potential protective mechanism against atherosclerosis. Our findings provide a new molecular mechanism by which deregulation of ADTRP and LDLR/CD36/LOX-1 promote the development of atherosclerosis and CAD. Schematic diagram of cross-regulation between ADTRP and LDL receptors LDLR/CD36/LOX-1 in regulation of endothelial cell functions involved in the initiation of atherosclerosis. ox-LDL can stimulate the expression of ADTRP through LDLR/CD36/LOX-1. Increased expression of LDLR/CD36/LOX-1 enhances the expression of ADTRP. ADTRP can increase the expression of LDLR/CD36/LOX-1. Increased LDLR/CD36/LOX-1 expression promotes ox-LDL uptake into the cytoplasm. After entering the cytoplasm, LDL dissociates from the LDL receptors, and the LDL receptors are recycled to the plasma membrane. LDL is then shuttled into lysosomes and degraded for cellular utilization. Reduced expression of ADTRP and LDLR/CD36/LOX-1 enhances ox-LDL-induced monocyte adhesion to the endothelium. Monocytes are then transmigrated across the endothelium, deposited onto the vessel wall, and transformed into macrophages and foam cells, resulting in the formation of plaques and development of atherosclerosis. [Display omitted] • Oxidized LDL stimulates the expression of CAD susceptibility gene ADTRP. • ADTRP positively regulates the expression of LDL receptor genes LDLR / CD36 / LOX-1. • LDLR / CD36 / LOX-1 positively regulate the expression of ADTRP. • ADTRP and LDLR/CD36/LOX-1 regulate monocyte adhesion to ECs and transendothelial migration of monocytes. • ADTRP and LDLR/CD36/LOX-1 regulate EC proliferation, apoptosis, migration and capillary tube formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the interaction between the surface soil and the soil-contacting component (65 Mn) in the camellia oleifera forest planting area in Changsha City, Hunan, China, in this study, we conducted discrete element calibration using physical and simulation tests. The chosen contact model was Hertz–Mindlin with JKR cohesion, with the soil repose angle as the response variable. The repose angle of the soil was determined to be 36.03° based on the physical tests. The significant influencing factors of the repose angle determined based on the Plackett–Burman test were the soil–soil recovery coefficient, soil–soil rolling friction coefficient, soil-65 Mn static friction coefficient, and surface energy of soil for the JKR model. A regression model for the repose angle was developed using the Box–Behnken response surface optimization method to identify the best parameter combination. The optimal parameter combination for the JKR model was determined as follows: surface energy of soil: 0.400, soil–soil rolling friction coefficient: 0.040, soil-65 Mn static friction coefficient: 0.404, and soil–soil recovery coefficient: 0.522. The calibrated discrete element parameters were validated through experiments on the repose angle and steel rod insertion. The results indicated that the relative errors obtained from the two verification methods were 2.44% and 1.71%, respectively. This research offers fundamental insights for understanding the interaction between soil and soil-contacting components and optimizing their design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The crack initiation sites are located at the margin of the specimen which is named linear fracture structure. • The location of maximum stress zones is correspond to the fail of the twins torsion spring. • The simulation results are consistent with the experimental test of fatigue. To meet the vibration isolation requirements, the twins torsion spring is placed between the pivot and the clutch, which can make the generator and front gear train run more stably, and improve the durability of the system. In this study, the twins torsion spring was winded by SUS 631 stainless steel, and was treated by medium-temperature tempering. The fatigue life of the twins torsion spring was investigated. The morphology of fatigue fracture of the twins torsion spring was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). And the vickers micro-hardness of the spring was tested by micro-hardness tester. Large amount of shrinkage porosity can be found in the fatigue extension area and instantaneous fault zone. And the average micro-hardness was about 565.5 HV on the area near the fracture. In order to analyze the causes of the fracture, the fatigue life was simulated by finite element (FE) numerical analysis. The simulation results are consistent with the experimental test of fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To attain microstructure transformation and the kinetics of phase transformation under stress during the annealing process, dilatometric curves of phase transformation for Q235 steel were tested using a Gleeble-3500 thermal-mechanical simulator under different uniaxial compressive stresses. The Johnson–Mehl–Avrami (JMA) model considering impingement correction was applied to study the phase-transformation kinetics during annealing. The results showed that the grain size increased with increasing uniaxial compressive stresses because it provided additional energy for grain growth. Furthermore, the interfacial migration velocity decreased with increasing stress owing to grain coarsening and a decrease in the density of the α/γ boundary. Meanwhile, the stress reduces the sum of the misfit accommodation energy and interface energy caused by the transformation, and the driving force required for the transformation of austenite to ferrite decreases. Hence, it was concluded that uniaxial compressive stress plays a complex role in the phase transformation, which inhibits interfacial migration and the transformation rate while providing additional energy for the transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electric vehicle (EV) cluster charging strategy is a key factor affecting the grid load shifting in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) mode. The conflict between variable tariffs and electric-powered energy demand at different times of the day directly affects the charging cost, and in the worst case, can even lead to the collapse of the whole grid. In this paper, we propose a multi-agent reinforcement learning and long-short memory network (LSTM)-based online charging strategy for community home EV clusters to solve the grid load problem and minimize the charging cost while ensuring benign EV cluster charging loads. In this paper, the accurate prediction of grid prices is achieved through LSTM networks, and the optimal charging strategy is derived from the MADDPG multi-agent reinforcement learning algorithm. The simulation results show that, compared with the DNQ algorithm, the EV cluster online charging strategy algorithm can effectively reduce the overall charging cost by about 5.8% by dynamically adjusting the charging power at each time period while maintaining the grid load balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia, as a hydrogen-derived fuel, primarily emits N 2 O and NO x when burned in an engine. The emissions originate from ammonia fuel and nitrogen in the air. In this paper, the N of N 2 was labeled by isotope labeling method, so that the nitrogen element in the formation path of the thermal N 2 O and NO x was labeled, and the chemical reaction path of the formation and evolution of the fuel and thermal nitrogen oxide was defined. In addition, the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics, generation and evolution rules of fuel and thermal nitrogen oxide in ammonia-diesel dual-fuel engine, as well as the influence of different ammonia energy ratios on the generation ratio of two types of N 2 O and NO x were studied by combining experiment and simulation. The ammonia energy ratio is defined as the proportion of energy provided by ammonia in a constant total lower calorific value. The results showed that when the ammonia energy ratio increased from 20 % to 60 %, the emissions of NO and NO 2 decreased, but the proportion of fuel NO and NO 2 increased. The proportion of N 2 O in nitrogen oxide emission increased from 7.3 % to 20 %. Fuel N 2 O accounts for about 90 % of N 2 O emission. Fuel N 2 O and NO x were mainly generated in ammonia-rich, low-temperature regions and thermal N 2 O and NO x were mainly generated in the high-temperature regions. Temperature significantly affected N 2 O generation. • The N in ammonia-diesel mechanism was labeled by isotope labeling method. • The chemical reaction paths of fuel and thermal nitrogen oxide were analyzed. • The nitrogen oxide emission characteristics were studied by engine experiments. • The content and generate features of fuel and thermal nitrogen oxides were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractDrug-induced liver injury (DILI) is characterized by hepatocyte injury, cholestasis injury, and mixed injury. The liver transplantation is required for serious clinical outcomes such as acute liver failure. Current studies have found that many mechanisms were involved in DILI, such as mitochondrial oxidative stress, apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, etc. Ferroptosis occurs when hepatocytes die from iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and plays a key role in DILI. After entry into the liver, where some drugs or chemicals are metabolized, they convert into hepatotoxic substances, consume reduced glutathione (GSH), and decrease the reductive capacity of GSH-dependent GPX4, leading to redox imbalance in hepatocytes and increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation level, leading to the undermining of hepatocytes; some drugs facilitated the autophagy of ferritin, orchestrating the increased ion level and ferroptosis. The purpose of this review is to summarize the role of ferroptosis in chemical- or drug-induced liver injury (chemical/DILI) and how natural products inhibit ferroptosis to prevent chemical/DILI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Support Vector Regression (SVR), which converts the original low-dimensional problem to a high-dimensional kernel space linear problem by introducing kernel functions, has been successfully applied in system modeling. Regarding the classical SVR algorithm, the value of the features has been taken into account, while its contribution to the model output is omitted. Therefore, the construction of the kernel space may not be reasonable. In the paper, a Feature-Weighted SVR (FW-SVR) is presented. The range of the feature is matched with its contribution by properly assigning the weight of the input features in data pre-processing. FW-SVR optimizes the distribution of the sample points in the kernel space to make the minimizing of the structural risk more reasonable. Four synthetic datasets and seven real datasets are applied. A superior generalization ability is obtained by the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-sowing treatment of seeds by plasma can improve seed vigor and promote seed germination and growth. To solve the problems of low processing volume and uneven treatment in plasma seed treatment devices, according to the process scheme of medium-blocking discharge plasma seed treatment, a medium-blocking discharge vibration-uniform material plasma seed treatment device was designed, the structure and working principle of the vibration-uniform material device were systematically analyzed, and the mathematical model of seed force was established. According to electromagnetic vibration theory, the seed sorting and conveying principles were analyzed in the lower trough, and the relevant parameters were selected and calculated. Using EDEM discrete element simulation software, a numerical simulation of alfalfa seed feeding and vibration-uniform material process was carried out. A three-factor, three-level orthogonal test was established. The results showed that the vibration amplitude and groove shape significantly affected the coefficient of variation of seed uniformity on the groove during the seed feeding and vibration-uniform material processes, and the groove wheel speed had a certain effect on the coefficient of variation of uniformity. The main order of factors affecting the uniformity of seed spreading was vibration amplitude B > notch shape C > speed A. The optimal speed was 35 r/min, the optimal notch shape was circular, and the optimal vibration amplitude was 0.55 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel end-to-end adaptive multiscale fully convolution network for bearing fault diagnosis under noisy environments is proposed. • The proposed AMFCN significantly enhances the feature extraction ability, noise immunity and robustness of CNN. • The AMFCN performs state-of-the-art under various noise environments on CWRU and Paderborn bearing fault datasets. Intelligent algorithms based on convolutional neural network (CNN) has demonstrated remarkable potential in diagnosing bearing faults. However, Accurate and robust fault diagnosis using CNNs in noisy environments remains a challenge. In this paper, we propose an end-to-end adaptive multiscale fully convolutional network (AMFCN) for intelligent bearing fault diagnosis under various noise environments. Firstly, we enhance noise adaptability by retrofitting raw signals with random sampling. Then the convolution with huge kernel is innovatively applied for wide-area temporal feature extraction and high-frequency noise suppression. By stacked residual adaptive multiscale convolution (Res_AM) blocks, the AMFCN can adaptively adjust the feature weights from different convolution scales and selectively focus on important features. The AMFCN outstrips five advanced baseline models across two bearing fault datasets with various noise environments. The proposed AMFCN significantly enhances the feature extraction ability, noise immunity, and robustness, surpassing conventional CNNs and other advanced multi-scale CNNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser‐free photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising noninvasive therapeutic modality for deep‐seated tumor, yet is constrained by low efficiency due to the limited stimulation strategies. Herein, a novel miRNA‐responsive laser‐free PDT was developed through metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs)‐mediated chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) nanoplatform. The photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6)‐loaded MOFs were functionalized with hairpin nucleic acids for sensitive responsiveness of tumor biomarker miRNA through catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA), which enabled the amplified assembly of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)‐mimicking hemin/G‐quadruplex DNAzyme on MOFs. Simultaneously, the on‐MOF assembled DNAzymes efficiently catalyzed chemiluminescence reaction to stimulate adjacent Ce6 in the presence of luminol and H2O2, thus allowing the CRET‐mediated Ce6 luminescence and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation for self‐illuminating PDT. The CRET nanoplatform achieved significant malignant cell apoptosis and tumor inhibition effects without external laser irradiation. It is envisioned that the miRNA‐amplified CRET nanoplatform might be a selective and highly efficient antitumor nanomedicine for precise theranostic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil–tool interaction poses an ongoing challenge to researchers, developers, and manufacturers. Numerous studies have focused on reaction forces, resistances, and associated soil failures during the penetration of tillage tools into soil or their surface movements. However, little research has been devoted to the interactions involved in the torsion failure of soil in agricultural tillage systems. To study the resistance of soil to failure due to torsion actions, this study develops a torsion-induced soil failure estimation model that is used to obtain relevant parameters based on in-situ experiments conducted in a soil bin by using soil with different physical properties (i.e., moisture content and soil density). Four vanes with various diameters but the same height (5 cm) were designed. The maximum torques at which soil failure occurred were then measured and analyzed. The results revealed a power function relationship between the soil failure due to torsion and the diameter of the vane, i.e., T = αD β ( R 2  > 0.96). The dimensionless parameters α and β of the estimation model were found to be related to the soil moisture (P < 0.05) and bulk density (P < 0.05), respectively. The values of both α and β varied nonlinearly with the soil moisture content, cone index, and bulk density. It was concluded that the power function can be applied to describe the relationship between the torque and the diameter of the vane; with the measurement device performing a torsion action in the soil layer, the torque at which soil failure occurs can be estimated by using the diameter of the vane along with the moisture content of the soil and its bulk density. When the height of the vane was constant, the torsion could be predicted by using the proposed power function model at certain soil conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New tillage and planting tools causing low soil disturbance and minimizing vegetation deterioration are desired in the conservation tillage technology development. This paper attempted to study the effect of tine geometry in its vertical movement on penetration resistance. Four kinds of tines were defined (i.e. rectangle, triangle, crescent and mososeries) based on the geometry of the cutting edge. The effects of tine geometry, thickness, and penetration depth on soil penetration resistance were investigated and side soil disturbance evaluated. Finite element method with a Drucker–Prager elasto-plastic model was introduced to simulate the material behavior of sandy loam soil taken from Hebei province in China. Each tine was considered as a discrete rigid body with a reference point at the top-midpoint of the central plane, at which the vertical force (penetration resistance) was calculated. Results indicated that the rectangle tine obtained the highest penetration resistance as compared to the others. Penetration resistances of all the tines increased with the attack surface area with a power function, nonlinear tendency with thickness and a quadratic function with penetration depth. A crescent soil deformation area existed through the penetration process. It can be concluded that the FEM can maximize the understanding of tine geometry effects on penetration resistance and soil deformation area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine the briquetting characteristics of biomass in a commercial setting, a hydraulic briquetter was used to study the compaction behavior of biomass grinds from barley, oat, canola and wheat straw. The selected straw samples were ground with a hammer mill using screen sizes of 19.05, 25.40 and 31.75 mm and conditioned to three moisture content levels of 0.09, 0.12 and 0.15 (w.b.). The residence time was about 6–10 min before being extruded from the briquetter. The specific energy, throughput, as well as the density, and durability of manufactured briquettes were measured during or after briquetting. The applied compression pressure at different parameter combinations ranged from 7 to 14 MPa. Higher pressure resulted at higher biomass moisture content. Hammer mill grinding of biomass with a large screen size (31.75 mm) resulted in high energy consumption and low throughput during briquetting. The increase in moisture content decreased the total energy consumption and increased the throughput of the briquetter. Briquette densities were of consistently higher value when biomass samples were compressed at a lower moisture level. The moisture content and hammer mill screen size indirectly influenced the briquette densities by affecting the pressure and residence time in commercial briquette production. Briquettes were successfully formed without adding a binder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GaoFen-5 (02) (GF5-02) is a new Chinese operational satellite that was launched on 7 September 2021. The Directional Polarimetric Camera (DPC) is one of the main payloads and is mainly used for the remote sensing monitoring of atmospheric components such as aerosols and water vapor. At present, the DPC is in the stage of on-orbit testing, and no public DPC precipitable water vapor (PWV) data are available. In this study, a PWV retrieval algorithm based on the spectral characteristics of DPC data is developed. The algorithm consists of three parts: (1) the construction of the lookup table, (2) the calculation of water vapor absorption transmittance (WVAT) in the band at 910 nm, and (3) DPC PWV retrieval. The global PWV results derived from DPC data are spatially continuous, which can illustrate the global distribution of water vapor content well. The validation based on the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) PWV data shows that the DPC PWV data have accuracy similar to that of Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) PWV data, with coefficient correlation of determination ( R 2 ), mean absolute error (MAE), and relative error (RE) of 0.32, 0.30, and 0.93 using the DPC and 0.23, 0.36, and 0.96 using the MODIS, respectively. The results show that our proposed DPC PWV retrieval algorithm is feasible and has high accuracy. By analyzing the errors, we found that the calibration coefficients of the DPC in the 865 nm and 910 nm bands need to be updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The minimum data set consisted of forage biomass, bulk density, and pH. • The non-linear scoring method is best suited for assessing this work. • The soil-root composites quality increased as grassland coverage increased. • The main obstacle factors of degraded Leymus chinensis grassland were determined. Soil quality index (SQI) is widely used to assess the status and use potential of soils, and it is also an important prerequisite for taking effective remedial measures for degraded land. The objectives of this study are as follows: (1) to construct a soil-root composites quality index (SRCQI) by selecting the minimum data set (MDS) and membership function that are most suitable for evaluating degraded Leymus chinensis grassland, and to analyze the relationship between the SRCQI and degraded environment; and (2) to determine the main obstacle factors of degraded Leymus chinensis grassland and propose corresponding control measures. In this study, 15 evaluation indicators representing the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil-root composites layer (SRCL) of Leymus chinensis grassland were measured. The MDS was determined by principal component analysis (PCA), and the accuracy of MDS was verified by Pearson correlation analysis. The suitability of three membership functions (linear membership function, nonlinear membership function, and three-effect membership function) was compared by the coefficient of variation (CV) and ANOVA. The SRCQI was constructed to evaluate the quality of Leymus chinensis grassland SRCL with different degradation degrees. An obstacle factor model was introduced to determine the dominant obstacle factors affecting degraded Leymus chinensis grassland. The results showed the following: (1) for the SRCL of Leymus chinensis grassland, the MDS could be constructed by forage biomass, bulk density, and pH; (2) based on the highest F value (102.800) and CV value (23.35%), the non-linear membership function was determined to be the optimal membership function for the quality evaluation of SRCL of Leymus chinensis grassland; (3) the average SRCQI of Leymus chinensis grassland with coverages of 70–80%, 60–70%, 50–60%, and 40–50% were 0.617, 0.532, 0.406, and 0.398, respectively, where the SRCQI gradually decreased with the aggravation of grassland degradation (coverage reduction); and (4) the main obstacle factors of degraded Leymus chinensis grassland were determined as follows: the available potassium, forage biomass, moisture content, and organic matter content were relatively low, and the obstacle degrees were 9.66%, 9.06%, 8.22%, and 8.15%, respectively. This study provides a sensitive and effective approach for the quantitative evaluation of the SRCL of Leymus chinensis grassland susceptible to compaction degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Jianchang Black goats are one of the indigenous black goat breeds in China. They are known for their crude feed tolerance but have a low growth rate and small body size. However, little is known about the genetic composition of Jianchang Black goats. The purpose of this study was to systematically examine the genetic composition of this breed by conducting multiple population genetic analyses. Our results revealed that Jintang Black and Yunshang Black goats showed a close genetic relationship with a non-negligible amount of gene flows but were genetically distant from Jianchang Black goats. Jianchang Black goats generally showed moderate inbreeding levels. Importantly, we identified several putatively selected genes that may be potentially related to immunity, behavior, and reproduction in this breed. The current study provides valuable references and genomic resources for the future breeding of Jianchang Black goats. Understanding the genetic composition of indigenous goats is essential to promote the scientific conservation and sustainable utilization of these breeds. The Jianchang Black (JC) goat, a Chinese native breed, is solid black and exhibits crude feed tolerance, but is characterized by a low growth rate and small body size. Based on the whole-genome sequencing data for 30 JC, 41 Jintang Black (JT), and 40 Yunshang Black (YS) goats, and 21 Bezoar ibexes, here, we investigated the genetic composition of JC goats by conducting analyses of the population structure, runs of homozygosity (ROH), genomic inbreeding, and selection signature. Our results revealed that JT and YS showed a close genetic relationship with a non-negligible amount of gene flows but were genetically distant from JC, apart from Bezoars. An average of 2039 ROHs were present in the autosomal genome per individual. The ROH-based inbreeding estimates in JC goats generally showed moderate values ranging from 0.134 to 0.264, mainly due to rapid declines in the effective population size during recent generations. The annotated genes (e.g., IL2, IL7, and KIT) overlapping with ROH islands were significantly enriched in immune-related biological processes. Further, we found 61 genes (e.g., STIM1, MYO9A, and KHDRBS2) under positive selection in JC goats via three complementary approaches, which may underly genetic adaptations to local environmental conditions. Our findings provided references for the conservation and sustainable utilization of JC goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ablation of ift27 in zebrafish leads to progressive late-onset photoreceptor degeneration. • Rods degenerate before cones in ift27-/- zebrafish. • IFT27 is involved in the long-term maintenance of cilia morphology. • Loss of IFT27 causes defects in the Hedgehog signaling pathway. • Abnormal distribution of GLI2 in cilia of IFT27 -deficient cells. Approximately a quarter of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is caused by mutations in transport-related genes in cilia. IFT27 (Intraflagellar Transport 27), a core component of the ciliary intraflagellar transport (IFT) system, has been implicated as a significant pathogenic gene in RP. The pathogenic mechanisms and subsequent pathology related to IFT27 mutations in RP are largely obscure. Here, we utilized TALEN technology to create an ift27 knockout (ift27-/-) zebrafish model. Electroretinography (ERG) detection showed impaired vision in this model. Histopathological examinations disclosed that ift27 mutations cause progressive degeneration of photoreceptors in zebrafish, and this degeneration was late-onset. Immunofluorescence labeling of outer segments showed that rods degenerated before cones, aligning with the conventional characterization of RP. In cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells, we found that IFT27 was involved in maintaining ciliary morphology. Furthermore, decreased IFT27 expression resulted in the inhibition of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, including decreased expression of key factors in the Hh pathway and abnormal localization of the ciliary mediator Gli2. In summary, we generated an ift27-/- zebrafish line with retinal degeneration which mimicked the symptoms of RP patients, highlighting IFT27 ′s integral role in the long-term maintenance of cilia via the Hh signaling pathway. This work may furnish new insights into the treatment or delay of RP caused by IFT27 mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initiation and evolution of adiabatic shear band (ASB) were investigated in extruded 7003 aluminum alloy. The main objectives are to clarify the sequence of typical events in the high-speed impact deformation process. High-speed impact tests were conducted on cylindrical samples using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) at a strain rate of 2200 s−1. The results reveal several key findings. Firstly, ASB initiation occurs after peak stress. In this study, the critical strain required for ASB initiation is 0.33 in the entire sample and 1.95 in the local deformation region. ASB initiation is attributed to material softening caused by temperature rise of the sample under high-speed impact load. Secondly, the temperature rise and recrystallization occurring inside the ASB are the results of the ASB evolution. The initial stage of ASB evolution manifests as deformed ASB (DASB) with elongated fiber grains. Subsequently, rotational dynamic recrystallization takes place within the DASB, eventually transforming into transformed ASB (TASB) characterized by fine equiaxed grains. Furthermore, the plastic deformation within DASB is dominated by strain hardening behavior, while within TASB, it is dominated by softening behavior. Notably, within the DASB, a significant proportion, specifically 81%, of the grain boundaries exhibit small angle of less than 6°. However, within the TASB, the grain boundaries gradually develop into random distributions. The sequence of typical events during high-speed impact deformation is identified as follows: stress peak, temperature rise of the sample, ASB initiation, ASB propagation, temperature rise within ASB, and dynamic recrystallization within ASB. • The initiation and evolution of adiabatic shear band in extruded 7003 alloy were studied. • The study focuses on ASB features such as temperature, critical strain, and recrystallization. • ASB initiation is attributed to the softening caused by temperature rise of sample. • Temperature rise and recrystallization in the ASB are the results of its evolution. • The sequence of typical events during dynamic deformation is clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Combine the advantages of deep learning algorithms and edge detection algorithms. • Optimize the S2ANet model. • Propose the idea of locating slices and unifying the direction of seeds. • Design a new method for seed rotation determination. Internal cracks produced on the inner endosperm side of corn seeds are difficult to identify. During actual production, the random falling of numerous corn seeds increases the difficulty of crack detection. To date, there has been little research on internal crack detection in corn seeds. This paper reports a new detection method that combines a deep learning algorithm with edge detection threshold processing. This method is based on the optimized S2ANet model. The Average Precision (AP) value of the optimized S2ANet model reached 95.6%, >9% higher than that of the original model. This method also involves novel methodological approaches for obtaining uniform seed direction. Experiments showed that it effectively solves the problems of random seed numbers, random seed orientations, different types of light source transmission, and difficulties in dataset production. In an experiment with individual seed types (cracked and non-cracked), the identification accuracy was 95.08% for cracked seeds and 95.75% for non-cracked seeds. In an experiment with a mixture of seed types, the average precision of 10 trials was 95.91%, the average recall was 94.8%, and the average F-score value (F1) was 95.34%. This level of accuracy is higher than that achieved through the direct use of deep learning detection algorithms. This study makes a valuable contribution to the detection of internal cracks in corn seeds on industrial inspection lines. At the same time, it provides a new approach for non-destructive testing of plant seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Densification is required for efficiently handling and transporting biomass as feedstock for biofuel production. Binders can enhance straw pellet strength and improve the pellet performance. The present investigation aimed to optimize binders and compression load for wheat straw pelletization using a single pelleting unit. Response surface methodology was employed by using a four-factor, five-level central composite design with wood residue (%, w/w), bentonite (%, w/w), crude glycerol (%, w/w), and compression load (N) as process parameters. The pellet tensile strength, specific energy consumption of pelleting, and pellet density were the response variables. The higher heating value, ash content of the pellet product and the cost of the feedstock were also considered in optimizing binder addition. The developed model fitted the data and was adequate for binder analysis and optimization. Wheat straw pellet, with the addition of 30% wood residue, 0.80% bentonite, and 3.42% crude glycerol, in addition to 4 000 N of compressive load, was identified as optimal with good performance of pellet tensile strength (1.14 MPa), specific energy consumption (32.6 kJ/kg), and pellet density (1 094 kg/m3) as well as low ash content (6.13%) and high heating value (18.64 MJ/kg). Confirmation tests indicated high accuracy of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crude glycerol, bentonite, lignosulfonate, and softwood residue (wood residue) were investigated in this study as binders for biomass fuel pellets for thermochemical conversion to enhance pellet quality for transportation and storage. The mass fraction of water of the wheat straw and the wood residue used for pelleting were 0.0676 and 0.0949, respectively. Wheat straw with crude glycerol, bentonite, lignosulfonate, wood residue, and pretreated wood residue with crude glycerol were compressed in a single pelleting unit at a temperature of 95 °C. The specific energy consumption, density, dimensional stability, tensile strength, calorific value, ash content, and chemical composition of the pellets made were determined. Results showed that the specific energy consumption for wheat straw pelletization significantly decreased with the addition of lignosulfonate, bentonite, wood residue, and pretreated wood residue with crude glycerol. With the addition of binders chosen in this study, the tensile strength of wheat straw pellets was improved with values ranging from 1.13 to 1.63 MPa. There was a significant increase in the higher heating value (17.98 MJ kg −1 to 18.77 MJ kg −1 ) when crude glycerol, wood residue, and pretreated wood residue were used as binders. The addition of both pretreated and non-pretreated wood residue significantly decreased the ash content of wheat straw pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metalens is a planar optical device that can accurately control the phase, polarization, and amplitude of light. Aiming at the application requirements of polarization imaging equipment for miniaturization, integration, and common field of view, we designed and fabricated two kinds of orthogonally polarized metalenses based on amorphous silicon and fused quartz. These metalenses can achieve orthogonal linear or circular polarization light imaging with a common field of view. The samples with a 2-mm diameter and 20-mm focal length were fabricated by electron beam exposure. The test results show that these metalenses can realize the imaging of orthogonal linearly or circularly polarized light simultaneously; the focusing efficiency is more than 50%, and the polarization contrast is >22 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Anisotropic behavior of the as-extruded 7003 aluminum alloy was studied. • The 0° sample deforms uniformly, while 45° and 90° samples display anisotropic behavior. • The strain anisotropy in 45° and 90° samples during high-speed impact is more significant. • The 90° sample experiences rapid failure under high-speed impact. • Adiabatic shear bands are observed in all deformed samples under high-speed impact. The anisotropic behavior of as-extruded 7003 aluminum alloy under quasi-static compression and high-speed impact was studied using samples with axes parallel to extrusion direction (ED) (0° sample), at an angle of 45° to ED (45° sample), and perpendicular to ED (90° sample). The experimental results show that the yield stress of the 0° sample is the highest, while the 45° sample is the lowest. Compared with other samples, the 90° sample is more sensitive to the applied strain rate, which experiences a rapid failure after reaching peak stress under high-speed impact. Under quasi-static compression and high-speed impact, the 0° sample exhibits nearly uniform deformation, while the 45° and 90° samples exhibit anisotropy behavior. Due to the occurrence of adiabatic shear, the plastic deformation anisotropy in 45° and 90° samples under high-speed impact is more significant compared to quasi-static compression. For the 45° and 90° samples, the r values, which characterize plastic deformation anisotropy, decrease from 0.77 to 0.82 under quasi-static compression to 0.46 and 0.40 under high-speed impact. In addition, adiabatic shear bands are observed in all deformed samples under high-speed impact, while only the 90° sample fractures. Due to the significant difference in Schmidt factors along ED and transverse direction (TD), plastic deformation of the 90° sample under high-speed impact is mainly concentrated in TD, while the deformation in ED is very small. The extremely uneven deformation leads to earlier nucleation and faster development of ASBs in TD, causing the 90° sample to fracture under high-speed impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]