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The one degree of freedom (1-DOF) manipulator with nano-resolution is a significant component in the micro-/nano-manipulation. In order to simultaneously achieve a large stroke and high precision, a piezo-driven 1-DOF flexure-based manipulator consisting of an enhanced double Scott-Russell mechanism (EDSRM), a lever type mechanism, and a Z-shaped mechanism is proposed in this paper. Analytical models are developed to examine the kinetostatic and dynamic properties of the manipulator. A finite element analysis is further performed to evaluate the characteristics of the EDSRM and the complete manipulator. The prototype is fabricated on monolithic AL7075, and various experimental tests have been carried out to investigate the correctness of the modeling. The experimental results show that the proposed manipulator has a satisfactory amplification ratio, static stability, and dynamic performance.

The isotope $^{220}\mathrm{Pa}$ produced in the reaction $^{40}\mathrm{Ar}+^{187}\mathrm{Re}$ at a beam energy of 198.7 MeV was reinvestigated via the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-spectroscopic method. A new $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decaying state in $^{220}\mathrm{Pa}$ has been observed with an energy ${E}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=9664(40)\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{keV}$ and with a half-life ${T}_{1/2}={233}_{\ensuremath{-}56}^{+108}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ns}$. The spin parity of the state is tentatively suggested to be (${3}^{\ensuremath{-}}$). The $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ energy and half-life of the (${1}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) ground state are measured to be ${E}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}=9548(30)\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{keV}$ and ${T}_{1/2}=0.75(8)\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$, respectively. The reduced $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ width, inferred from the present data, fits well into the systematics for $N=129$ isotones.

A new α-emitting isotope ^{214}U, produced by the fusion-evaporation reaction ^{182}W(^{36}Ar,4n)^{214}U, was identified by employing the gas-filled recoil separator SHANS and the recoil-α correlation technique. More precise α-decay properties of even-even nuclei ^{216,218}U were also measured in the reactions of ^{40}Ar, ^{40}Ca beams with ^{180,182,184}W targets. By combining the experimental data, improved α-decay reduced widths δ^{2} for the even-even Po-Pu nuclei in the vicinity of the magic neutron number N=126 are deduced. Their systematic trends are discussed in terms of the N_{p}N_{n} scheme in order to study the influence of proton-neutron interaction on α decay in this region of nuclei. It is strikingly found that the reduced widths of ^{214,216}U are significantly enhanced by a factor of two as compared with the N_{p}N_{n} systematics for the 84≤Z≤90 and N126 even-even nuclei. The abnormal enhancement is interpreted by the strong monopole interaction between the valence protons and neutrons occupying the π1f_{7/2} and ν1f_{5/2} spin-orbit partner orbits, which is supported by the large-scale shell model calculation.

A new, very short-lived neutron-deficient isotope ^{222}Np was produced in the complete-fusion reaction ^{187}Re(^{40}Ar,5n)^{222}Np, and observed at the gas-filled recoil separator SHANS. The new isotope ^{222}Np was identified by employing a recoil-α correlation measurement, and six α-decay chains were established for it. The decay properties of ^{222}Np with E_{α}=10016(33) keV and T_{1/2}=380_{-110}^{+260} ns were determined experimentally. The α-decay systematics of Np isotopes is improved by adding the new data for ^{222}Np, which validates the N=126 shell effect in Np isotopes. The evolution of the N=126 shell closure is discussed in the neutron-deficient nuclei up to Np within the framework of α-decay reduced width.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in inflammation. It is partly produced by three forms of NOS: eNOS of inflammatory cells, nNOS of neural cells and iNOS (inducible isoform). Estrogens can cause an anti-inflammatory effect, although it is not yet clear through which NOS isoforms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the different NOS isoforms, as well as estrogen receptors (ERs) α and β, on the anti-inflammatory effects of estrogens. To avoid the influence of endogenous glucocorticoids or sexual hormones, male rats were hypophysectomized. Animals were segregated into two control groups (no-treatment control group and SHAM-operated animals) and three hypophysectomized groups (no-hormonal treatment, with estradiol-17β, or with testosterone replacement treatment). Freund's complete adjuvant (1 mg) was administered to the footpad of all animals. Measurements were made based on footpad inflammation (with a plethysmometer) such as eNOS, nNOS, iNOS and ER α and β protein expression (by immunohistochemistry principle/method) on days 1, 7 and 14. Only estradiol decreased inflammation, accompanied by increased levels of eNOS and nNOS and differential expression of ERs α and β in the inflammatory infiltrate. The higher levels of estradiol-induced eNOS and nNOS ocurred perhaps through the activation of ER β.

A new short-lived neutron-deficient isotope ^{220}Np was synthesized in the fusion-evaporation reaction ^{185}Re(^{40}Ar,5n)^{220}Np at the gas-filled recoil separator SHANS. Based on the measurement of the correlated α-decay chains, the decay properties of ^{220}Np with E_{α}=10040(18) keV and T_{1/2}=25_{-7}^{+14} μs were determined, which are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. From the new experimental results coupled with the recently reported α-decay data of ^{219,223}Np, the α-decay systematics for Np isotopes around N=126 was established, which allows us for the first time to test the robustness of the N=126 shell closure in Z=93 Np isotopes. The results also indicate that, in the region of nuclei with Z≥83, the proton drip line has been reached for all odd-Z isotopes up to Np.

Bearing capacity and durability of corroded steel bars is strongly deteriorated, and the degradation of mechanical properties versus corrosion ratio is topical. Given the random nature of corrosion process, stochastic method can be used to describe mechanical performance of corroded steel bars. In this paper, to simulate marine tidal zone environment, steel bars corroded by chloride solution under dry-wet cycling are studied experimentally, while mechanical performance deterioration of corroded steel bars is analyzed statistically. The corrosion ratios of specimens are found to increase over time for several phases, while their strength dropped with corrosion ratio. The residual nominal strength to corrosion ratio of steel bars is found to be well fitted with the Gumbel distribution, which parameters are calculated and discussed in detail.

To investigate the possible function and mechanism of lncRNA SNHG8 in the pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma.We utilized qRT-PCR to detect the expression of SNHG8 in 60 cases of endometrial carcinoma and 25 cases of normal endometrium; after that, the endometrial carcinoma cell lines were screened. SNHG8 was transfected into endometrial carcinoma cells by Lipofectamine and the proliferative activity of cells was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Bioinformatics methods were used to detect the target microRNA. miR-152 is predicted to bind to SNHG8 and target genes of c-MET. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to detect the relative luciferase activity between miR-152 and c-MET, SNHG8. The interactions between SNHG8, miR-152, and c-MET were further verified by transfection of miR-152 mimics, miR-152 mimics + OE-SNHG8, SNHG8 siRNA, and SNHG8 siRNA + miR-152 inhibitor.SNHG8 expression in endometrial carcinoma tissue was significantly higher than that in normal endometrium. After transfection with SNHG8 siRNA, the cell viability of AN3CA cells decreased, whereas the activity of Ishikawa was increased after transfection with SNHG8 overexpression plasmid. Bioinformatics predictions and dual luciferase reporter assay illustrated that SNHG8 was bound to miR-152 and miR-152 targeted on c-MET. In addition, miR-152 mimics inhibited the expression of c-MET, and the inhibitory effect was reversed after SNHG8 overexpression. Silencing SNHG8 reduced c-MET expression, and c-MET expression was reversed after addition of miR-152 inhibitor.SNHG8 is highly expressed in endometrial carcinoma, and SNHG8 targets c-MET through miR-152 to regulate the proliferation of endometrial cancer cells.

To study the effects of metformin on streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in rats.Wistar male rats were divided into two groups: standard diet (SD, n = 20) group and high-fat diet (HFD, n = 80) group. Twenty rats in HFD group were randomly treated with metformin (EI group). After 6 weeks, among rats in HFD group, 20 rats were intraperitoneally injected with citrate buffered saline (IR group), 20 rats treated with metformin per day for 4 weeks (LI group), and 20 rats were given nothing (DM group). Rats in SD group were injected with citrate buffered saline as normal control (NC) group. Moreover, streptozotocin (STZ) was used for inducing diabetes. The metabolic parameters, such as body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin concentration (FINS), total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and total bile acid (TBA) were measured.Compared with SD group, the levels of body weight, FBG, TC, LDLC, TBA and FINS and AUC (glucose) were significantly higher in HFD group. After administration of metformin, the levels of FBG, TG, TC, LDLC and TBA in DM and LI group were higher than NC group. Besides, the FBG, TG, TC, TBA and LDLC levels in EI group were higher than DM group.Metformin may help to improve the glucose and lipid metabolism by influencing the level of serum total bile acids. A combination of HFD and metformin could be effective in the treatment of rats with T2DM.

The correlation method is used to determine the period of a torsion pendulum. Calculation shows that this method cannot only suppress the disturbance of white noise, but it is also insensitive to drift and damping of the torsion pendulum. An estimate of the frequency based on this method is an approximative minimum variance unbiased estimator.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors gefitinib and erlotinib are effective in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the median survival of patients is short. Here, we describe 2 patients with NSCLC receiving conventional chemotherapy and alternative treatment with gefitinib or erlotinib as second-line therapy. The first patient was alive at 8 years with alternative conventional chemotherapy and gefitinib, and the second patient was alive at long-term follow-up with conventional chemotherapy and gefitinib or erlotinib. Gefitinib, erlotinib, and conventional chemotherapy can be combined for satisfactory therapy for NSCLC.

The growth defects in solution grown L-arginine phosphate monohydrate (LAP) organic crystals were investigated by white-beam synchrotron radiation topography. The crystals were cut into slices in different directions. The transmission topographies showed the dislocations, growth striations, growth sector boundaries and inclusions in both (100) slice and (001) slice with different reflection. We also presented the contrast of microbe, which is a severe problem in LAP crystal growth. The topography with 015 reflection showed the dislocations originated from the surface of the seed and following the (00 1) and (100) direction, and the Burgers vectors of those dislocations were determined. The dynamic images of growth sector boundaries were also showed clearly.

The use of a small circular hole in elastostatic photoelasticity to determine the stress tensor for any two-dimensional general loading situation is well known. The original application required fringe-order information at four points on the boundary, on opposite sides, along the axes of symmetry or principal stress directions. Later, to obtain greater precision, it was adapted so that fringe information inside the field could be used. This led to the also limited use of fringe-order information from four points at 1.4 and two times the radius of the hole, along the principal axes of symmetry. More recent work has even allowed the use of fringe-order information, at a fixed radius, anywhere along the two principal axes of symmetry. The greatest limitation of all of these approaches is that the majority of the fringe-order information that is available, away. from the axes of symmetry, is not utilized at all. The current work presents a least-squares approach to the hole method that allows the simultaneous use of information anywhere and at any radial distance from the center of the hole inside the stress field. The objectives of this paper are: to apply the use of the least-squares approach to the hole method in photoelasticity; and, to show the consistent and practical application of this least-squares approach to the hole method. The achievement of this last objective permits the use of the values of specimen birefringence at a large number of points, taken from anywhere in the field around the hole.

The hyperbranched polymers can be made by self-condensing vinyl polymerization without gelation transition. The average molecular weights, as well as the average sizes, can reach infinite values as the reaction is quantitatively completed, and the scaling forms of the molecular parameters should exist. In the paper, based on a recursion formula, the scaling form of the number fraction distribution and the number of the n-mers are given analytically as the conversion of double bonds is near 1. The mean square radius of gyration for very large hyperbranched polymers is calculated explicitly to give a scaling exponent. Finally, a scaling relation associated with the fractal dimension and the polydispersity exponent is given clearly.

A post implantation microwave annealing technique has been used for the electrical activation of Al+ implanted ions in semi-insulating 4H-SiC. The annealing temperatures have been 2000-2100 degrees C. The implanted Al concentration has been varied from 5 x 10(19) to 8 x cm(-3). A minimum resistivity of 2 x 10(-2) Omega.cm and about 70% electrical activation of the implanted Al has been measured at room temperature for an implanted Al concentration of 8 x 10(2) cm(-3) and a microwave annealing at 2100 degrees C for 30 s.

An investigation of twin structures in NdP5O14 single crystals has been undertaken using white‐beam synchrotron x‐ray topography. The so‐called a‐type twins along the a axis are clearly revealed in the topographs. The displacements of the images that arise from the twins are directly measured in different topographs. With the measured values, the monoclinic distortion angle δ(δ=β−90°) is calculated, which is in good agreement with the unit cell parameters. A fine‐beam Laue diffraction pattern of the twin has also been taken which is well consistent with its simulation. From these results, the twin structures of NdP5O14 are discussed.

Ultra‐fast high‐temperature microwave annealing at temperatures as high as 2050 °C for 30 s has been performed on phosphorus ion‐implanted 4H‐SiC for phosphorus doping concentrations in the range 5×1019 cm−3–8×1020 cm−3. For comparison, inductive heating furnace anneals were performed at 1800 °C–1950 °C for 5 min. Electrical resistivity of the P+‐implanted samples decreased with increasing annealing temperature reaching a minimum value of 6.8×10−4 Ωcm for 2050 °C/30 s microwave annealing and a slightly higher value for 1950 °C/5 min inductive heating furnace annealing. X‐ray rocking curve measurements showed that the microwave annealing not only removed the lattice damage introduced by the ion‐implantation process, but also the defects present in the original virgin sample as well.

The SHANS spectrometer is under construction in the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Science. The RFQ cooler and buncher RFQ1L is one of the key devices in the SHANS. To perform direct mass measurement, the Lanzhou Penning Trap LPT is also under construction. In this symposium, the principle of the SHANS, the status of RFQ1L and LPT and some primary test results will be reported.

The first spectroscopic study for the beta decay of N-21 is carried out based on beta-n, beta-gamma, and beta-n-gamma coincidence measurements. The neutron-rich N-21 nuclei are produced by the fragmentation of the E/A=68.8 MeV Mg-26 primary beam on a thick Be-9 target and are implanted into a thin plastic scintillator that also plays the role of beta detector. The time of flight of the emitted neutrons following the beta decay are measured by the surrounding neutron sphere and neutron wall arrays. In addition, four clover germanium detectors are used to detect the beta-delayed gamma rays. Thirteen new beta-delayed neutron groups are observed with a total branching ratio of 90.5 +/- 4.2%. The half-life for the beta decay of N-21 is determined to be 82.9 +/- 7.5 ms. The level scheme of O-21 is deduced up to about 9 MeV excitation energy. The experimental results for the beta decay of N-21 are compared to the shell-model calculations.

This article introduces the development of a software environment for both Visualized modeling and simulation of mechatronic multi-domain systems. The environment utilises Modelica language to model multi-domain systems and uses an open source Modelica compiler called OpenModelica compiler to obtain executable files for simulation. Basically the environment resembles a commercial simulation programme called Dymola in which there is a proprietary Modelica compiler. Additional ideas from other commercial products are adopted and integrated into the environment to establish a more general framework. Based on such a framework, it is demonstrated how academic researchers can develop integrated software for simulation and analysis of complex mechatronic systems without much dependence on commercial products. Major features of the environment include tree browsers of Modelica libraries, Modelica text editor and 2-D diagram editor, simulation output data plotting windows, flexible interconnections to external 3D visualization software, and custom scripts for design of experiments.

Xylitol may be produced with microbial fermentation technology when xylose is used as the raw material. It is important in scientific research and production fields concerned with xylose and xylitol to develop the method of separation and detection. The anionic complexes with strong UV absorption at 195 nm will form by dissolving xylose and xylitol in borax solution. They may be separated with borax buffer by use of capillary zone electrophoresis. It was shown that the resolution between xylose and xylitol gradually increased with the increase of borax concentration, but its maximum concentration was 130 mmol/L at room temperature. The resolution depended on the pH of running buffer with a maximum at pH 9.55. The resolution was independent of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide when its concentration was between 4 x 10(-6) mmol/L-8 x 10(-4) mmol/L. So the optimum conditions were as follows: borax concentration of 130 mmol/L, pH 9.55 and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide concentration of 5 x 10(-5) mmol/L in running buffer; separating voltage of -12 kV; column temperature of 25 degrees C. Xylose and xylitol could be separated on base line in 6 min under these conditions. Samples from fermentation process and the recoveries of spiked samples were determined. The relative standard deviations of the results were between 1.42%-3.11% for xylose, and 0.62%-1.32% for xylitol. The recoveries were between 96.0%-108.0% for xylose and 94.0%-109.0% for xylitol.

The expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) was studied immunohistochemically in fifty-seven Chinese patients with primary invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the pancreas. The frequency of expression of EGF and EGFR was 73.7% and 68.4%, respectively. The frequency of their co-expression was 61.4%. No significant relationships were seen between the expression of EGF and its receptor and the patients' age, gender, site of the tumor, stage, and grade. Positive co-expression of EGF and EGFR was significantly associated with the poor prognosis. The median survival of the EGF(-)EGFR(-) group for 17.2 months was longer than that of the EGF(+)EGFR(+) group for 9.7 months (p = 0.02), as well as that of the other groups of EGR(+)EGFR(-), EGF(-)EGFR(+), and EGF(+)EGFR(+) for 9.9 month (p = 0.03). These results suggested that EGF and EGFR were frequently expressed in Chinese patients with IDC of the pancreas. Their co-expression may be a useful prognostic indicator for pancreatic cancer.

Potential applications of SiC include components for advanced turbine engines, tube assemblies for radiant burners and petrochemical processing and heat exchangers for high efficiency electric power generation systems. Reliable methods for joining SiC are required in order to cost-effectively fabricate components for these applications from commercially available shapes and sizes. This manuscript reports the results of microwave joining experiments performed using two different types of SiC materials. The first were on reaction bonded SiC, and produced joints with fracture toughness equal to or greater than that of the base material over an extended range of joining temperatures. The second were on continuous fiber-reinforced SiC/SiC composite materials, which were successfully joined with a commercial active brazing alloy, as well as by using a polymer precursor.

Microwave rapid thermal annealing has been utilized to remove the lattice damage caused by nitrogen (N) ion-implantation as well as to activate the dopant in 6H-SiC. Samples were annealed at temperatures as high as 1400 °C, for 10 min. Van der Pauw Hall measurements indicate an implant activation of 36%, which is similar to the value obtained for the conventional furnace annealing at 1600 °C. Good lattice quality restoration was observed in the Rutherford backscattering and photoluminescence spectra.

Eight cases of the primary hepatosarcoma were reported in this paper. These cases were verified by resection and pathological examination. The abdominal pain and mass were of the main clinical features. The image studies showed the occupied lesions of the liver. The preoperative differential diagnosis is of difficulty. All these cases were misdiagnosed: 6 cases (75%) as cystic lesions and 2 cases (25%) as cancer of the liver, The sarcoma of the liver is usually huge and central necrotized which formed liquid-cavity. Therefore the differential diagnosis of huge mixed cystic lesions of the liver should be stressed. During operation, the frozen section pathological examination should be performed as a routine in case misdiagnosis and mistreatment happen. Early surgical resection is suggested in order to raise the survival rate.

Microwave sintering of zirconia toughened mullite (ZTM) has been performed in a single mode applicator. In comparison with conventional sintering, microwave processing of ZTM leads to a higher density and finer grain size. Microstructure of microwave sintered ZTM was characterized by TEM and HRTEM techniques. The pinning of intergranular ZrO2 dispersoids retarded the grain growth of mullite matrix. The observation of a considerable number of trans-granular microcracks indicates that microcracking toughening is the main toughening mechanism for ZTM.

Sixty male Wistar rats were randomized into six groups. In the control and injury group normal saline and oleic acid were injected in tail veins respectively. Dexamethasone, Salviae mitiorrhizae, Ligustrazini and phenobarbitalum natrium were intraperitoneally for the other four groups 15 minutes before the intravenous injection of oleic acid separately. The results showed that the Bmax of beta-adrenoceptor in injury group were decreased markedly and there was correlation between the decreasing of beta-adrenoceptor numbers and pathologic damage in acute lung injury rat. The Bmax of beta-adrenoceptor in cortisone group were similar to control group, which indicated that cortisone is effective to prevent pathologic damage from lung injury by maintenance of the activity of beta-adrenoceptor.

Pulmonary function was studied in sixty patients with pleural effusion and seventy patients with fibrothorax. The patients with pleural effusion were divided into three groups according to the extent of the effusion. The patients were submitted to spirometry and arterial blood gas analysis. The effects of pleural effusion on pulmonary function is evaluated with regards to the size of effusion. Small-size pleural effusion little affects arterial oxygen tension. Pleural effusion and fibrothorax have a similar pattern of pulmonary function.

The effects of lung surgery on respiratory function were investigated in 80 patients; 17 patients were submitted to left pneumonectomy (LPN); 11 patients were submitted to right pneumonectomy (RPN); 7 patients underwent a left upper lobectomy (LUL); 16 patients a left lower lobectomy (LLL); 17 patients were submitted to right upper lobectomy (RUL); 12 patients underwent right lower lobectomy (RLL). All patients were submitted to spirometry and arterial blood gas analysis. The effects of lung surgery on respiratory function depends upon the extent of the resected tissue.