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Alkali metal‐doped boron clusters have captured much attention because of their novel electronic properties and structural evolution. In the study of RbBn0/− (n = 2–12) clusters, the minimum global search of the potential energy surface and structure optimization at the level of PBE1PBE by using the CALYPSO method and Gaussian package coupled with DFT calculation; the geometrical structures and electronic properties are systematically investigated. At n = 8, the ground‐state structures are composed of an Rb atom above B atoms, forming a structurally stable pagoda cone. By stability analysis and charge transfer calculation, the RbB8− cluster shows more stability. It found that s‐p hybridization between Rb atom and B atoms as well as s‐p hybridization between B atoms is one of the reasons for the outstanding stability exhibited in the RbB80/− clusters by using DOS and HOMO–LUMO orbital contour maps. The chemical bonding of the RbB80/− groups was analyzed by using the AdNDP method, and B atoms with larger numbers readily form multi‐center chemical bonds with the Rb atom. From the results of the bonding analysis, the interaction between the Rb atom and B atoms strengthens the stability of the RbB80/− clusters. It is hoped that this work provides a direction for experimental manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we used CALYPSO program which is conjuncted with DFT to investigate Li doped small-sized neutral Bn clusters. From ground-state and low energy structures, the properties and geometric significance of Li-doped boron clusters are greatly affected. Except for LiB9, which adds a B atom on preceding LiB8 boron wheel, the ground-state clusters of LiBn are formed by replacing the terminal boron atom of the Bn+1 clusters in the same size with a Li atom or by adding a Li atom to the Bn clusters. The transition point from 2 to 3D configuration of LiBn clusters appears at n = 5. The stability of LiBn clusters was analyzed by calculating the average binding energy, Gibbs free energy, first-order differential energy, second-order differential energy, HOMO–LUMO gap (the energy gap between the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) and charge transfer. The results show that the LiB11 cluster with excellent symmetry and planar structure is the relative most stable structure. Molecular orbital and chemical bonding analysis indicated that the main reason for the stability of the LiB11 cluster is mainly due to the strong s-p bonding of B–B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a novel tensor factorization-based method for the third-order tensor completion problem with spatio-temporal characterization. For this aim, we consider tensor fibered rank, which extends tubal rank, to improve the flexibility and accuracy of data characterization. Based on this rank, we apply a factorization-based method to complete the third-order low-rank tensors with spatio-temporal characteristics, which are intrinsic features of image, video and internet traffic tensor data. The model not only makes good use of the low-rank structure of tensors, but also takes into account the spatio-temporal characteristics of the data. Finally, we report numerical results on completing image, video and internet traffic data. The results demonstrate that our method outperforms some existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this paper is to develop a nonconvex optimization model for third‐order tensor completion under wavelet transform. On the one hand, through wavelet transform of frontal slices, we divide a large tensor data into a main part tensor and three detail part tensors, and the elements of these four tensors are about a quarter of the original tensors. Solving these four small tensors can not only improve the operation efficiency, but also better restore the original tensor data. On the other hand, by using concave correction term, we are able to correct for low rank of tubal nuclear norm (TNN) data fidelity term and sparsity of l1$$ {l}_1 $$‐norm data fidelity term. We prove that the proposed algorithm can converge to some critical point. Experimental results on image, magnetic resonance imaging and video inpainting tasks clearly demonstrate the superior performance and efficiency of our developed method over state‐of‐the‐arts including the TNN and other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halide ions have emerged as important surface active species that regulate the growth of nanomaterials and concomitant physicochemical properties. However, there are very few reports concerning anion exchange of halide ions for the growth and conversion of nanocrystals or nanoclusters. Herein, we present the transformations of silver(I) chalcogenide clusters induced by doping halide ions, which are particularly of interest because of individual pathways controlled by ion species and amounts. Based on the cluster transformation, we further developed a luminescence turn-on sensor with high selectivity, detecting Cl− and Br−. This work opens a new way of understanding the growth of clusters and developing their luminescence sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the geometric structure and physicochemical properties of Li2Bn0/− (n = 1–12) clusters were investigated using CALYPSO structure prediction software in combination with density functional theory at B3LYP/6-311G level. The results suggest that the doping of Li atoms has a significant effect on the ground state geometry of the Bn clusters. The stability changes with the increase in the number of boron atoms. Then two stable ground state structures, Li2B8 and Li2B9−, are selected for further analyzing their molecular orbitals and bonding properties. It is demonstrated that the stability of the Li2Bn0/− (n = 1–12) clusters originates from the s–p hybridization between B–B and Li–B. It is expected that this work can provide some references for future research on boron-based nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low Tucker rank tensor completion has wide applications in science and engineering. Many existing approaches dealt with the Tucker rank by unfolding matrix rank. However, unfolding a tensor to a matrix would destroy the data's original multi‐way structure, resulting in vital information loss and degraded performance. In this article, we establish a relationship between the Tucker ranks and the ranks of the factor matrices in Tucker decomposition. Then, we reformulate the low Tucker rank tensor completion problem as a multilinear low rank matrix completion problem. For the reformulated problem, a symmetric block coordinate descent method is customized. For each matrix rank minimization subproblem, the classical truncated nuclear norm minimization is adopted. Furthermore, temporal characteristics in image and video data are introduced to such a model, which benefits the performance of the method. Numerical simulations illustrate the efficiency of our proposed models and methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C24H16N11O3Sm, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 6.745(6) Å, b = 21.943(19) Å, c = 16.132(14) Å, β = 95.362(13)°, V = 2378(4) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0446, wRref(F2) = 0.1162, T = 296 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition‐metal‐based oxyhydroxides are efficient catalysts in biomass electrooxidation towards fossil‐fuel‐free production of valuable chemicals. However, identification of active sites remains elusive. Herein, using cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) as the archetype and the electrocatalyzed glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) as the model reaction, we track dynamic transformation of the electronic and atomic structure of the catalyst using a suite of operando and ex situ techniques. We reveal that two types of reducible Co3+‐oxo species are afforded for the GOR, including adsorbed hydroxyl on Co3+ ion (μ1‐OH−Co3+) and di‐Co3+‐bridged lattice oxygen (μ2‐O−Co3+). Moreover, theoretical calculations unveil that μ1‐OH−Co3+ is responsible for oxygenation, while μ2‐O−Co3+ mainly contributes to dehydrogenation, both as key oxidative steps in glucose‐to‐formate transformation. This work provides a framework for mechanistic understanding of the complex near‐surface chemistry of metal oxyhydroxides in biomass electrorefining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition‐metal‐based oxyhydroxides are efficient catalysts in biomass electrooxidation towards fossil‐fuel‐free production of valuable chemicals. However, identification of active sites remains elusive. Herein, using cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) as the archetype and the electrocatalyzed glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) as the model reaction, we track dynamic transformation of the electronic and atomic structure of the catalyst using a suite of operando and ex situ techniques. We reveal that two types of reducible Co3+‐oxo species are afforded for the GOR, including adsorbed hydroxyl on Co3+ ion (μ1‐OH−Co3+) and di‐Co3+‐bridged lattice oxygen (μ2‐O−Co3+). Moreover, theoretical calculations unveil that μ1‐OH−Co3+ is responsible for oxygenation, while μ2‐O−Co3+ mainly contributes to dehydrogenation, both as key oxidative steps in glucose‐to‐formate transformation. This work provides a framework for mechanistic understanding of the complex near‐surface chemistry of metal oxyhydroxides in biomass electrorefining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of atomically precise semiconductors Ag–S clusters is a subject of intense research interest, yet the formation mechanism of such nanoclusters remains obscure due to their uncontrolled fast nucleation process in solution. Herein, we have investigated the reaction mechanism responsible for {Ag32S3} nucleation using UV, ESI-MS, NMR and SCXRD analyses. Triphenylphosphorus sulfide (PPh3S) was surprisingly found to slow down the kinetic process of the cluster nucleation. Furthermore, a key precursor [Ag2(Ph3P＝S)4]2+ was captured, which was attacked by Agn(C≡CBut)m and traces of water to generate {Ag32S3}. This mechanism provides valuable new insights into the synthesis of inorganic magic-size clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas–droplet reactions occur at the microdroplet interface and tend to be greatly accelerated, which has great potential value in chemical analysis. To exploit such value, we combined online derivatization with secondary electrospray ionization (SESI) to implement a special ionization technique, termed reactive SESI, for rapid analysis of gas samples. Specifically, a suitable reagent was added to the spray solvent of SESI to initiate rapid derivatization of gas analytes in the microdroplets. The product ions are subsequently detected using a mass spectrometer. Compared to offline derivatization in bulk solution, reactive SESI can provide a higher yield and a faster reaction rate, and it allows the detection of intermediate ions. It is found that the signal changes of the analyte, intermediate, and product ions are highly consistent, indicating that a two-phase derivatization process may occur at the droplet interface. For reactive SESI-MS analysis, the use of a sub-ambient pressure SESI source can significantly improve the detection efficiency, making this technique truly useful for analytical applications, including the quantification of formaldehyde at tens of ppb levels in air, as well as the detection of various trace VOCs in exhaled breath from mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the oily sludge (OS) from a local waste oil recycling plant was reused as a precursor for producing porous magnetic carbon composites (CC) by pyrolysis, followed by carbon dioxide activation. Based on the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the OS feedstock, the preparation experiments were performed at 800–900 °C. From the pore analysis of the CC products, it indicated an increasing trend, as the BET surface area greatly increased from about 1.0 to 44.30 m2/g. In addition, the enhancement effect on the pore properties can be consistently obtained from the acid-washed CC products because the existing and new pores were reformed due to the leaching-out of inorganic minerals. It showed an increase from 32.27 to 94.45 m2/g and 44.30 to 94.52 m2/g at 850 and 900 °C, respectively, showing their mesoporous features. These porous and iron-containing features were also observed by the scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). In addition, the adsorption removal of total organic carbon (TOC) in the raw wastewater, by the CC product, showed its high performance (>80%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the role of the nucleotide-binding-domain -and leucine-rich repeat -containing (NLR) family, pyrin-domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the pathogenesis of polymyositis (PM). Methods: Immunochemistry was performed to analyze the NLRP3, caspase-1 and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) expression in the muscle tissue of PM patients. Rat model of PM and C2C12 cell were used to investigate the potential role of NLRP3 inflammasome in PM. Results: The percentage of CD 68+ macrophages, and the expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β in the muscle tissue were elevated in 27 PM patients. LPS/ATP treatment resulted in activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and secretion of IL-1β as well as interferons (IFNs) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in the Raw 264.7 macrophages. Meanwhile, LPS/ATP challenged activation of NLRP3 inflammasome induced overexpression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), a key molecular of PM in the co-cultured C2C12 cells. The effect was decreased by treatment of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950 or siRNA of NLRP3 inflammasome. These findings suggested certain levels of IL-1β rather than IFNs up-regulated MHC-I expression in C2C12 cells. IL-1β blockade using neutralizing IL-1β monoclonal antibody or siRNA of IL-1β suppressed MHC-I overexpression. In vivo, NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition by MCC950 reduced the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β and MHC-I in the muscle tissue of PM modal rats. Also, it attenuated the intensity of muscle inflammation as well as the CRP, CK, and LDH levels in the serum. Conclusion: NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β axis may play an important role in the development of PM. Inhibition of NLRP3 activation may hold promise in the treatment of PM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the role of the nucleotide-binding-domain -and leucine-rich repeat -containing (NLR) family, pyrin-domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the pathogenesis of polymyositis (PM). Methods: Immunochemistry was performed to analyze the NLRP3, caspase-1 and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) expression in the muscle tissue of PM patients. Rat model of PM and C2C12 cell were used to investigate the potential role of NLRP3 inflammasome in PM. Results: The percentage of CD 68+ macrophages, and the expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β in the muscle tissue were elevated in 27 PM patients. LPS/ATP treatment resulted in activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and secretion of IL-1β as well as interferons (IFNs) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in the Raw 264.7 macrophages. Meanwhile, LPS/ATP challenged activation of NLRP3 inflammasome induced overexpression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), a key molecular of PM in the co-cultured C2C12 cells. The effect was decreased by treatment of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950 or siRNA of NLRP3 inflammasome. These findings suggested certain levels of IL-1β rather than IFNs up-regulated MHC-I expression in C2C12 cells. IL-1β blockade using neutralizing IL-1β monoclonal antibody or siRNA of IL-1β suppressed MHC-I overexpression. In vivo, NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition by MCC950 reduced the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β and MHC-I in the muscle tissue of PM modal rats. Also, it attenuated the intensity of muscle inflammation as well as the CRP, CK, and LDH levels in the serum. Conclusion: NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β axis may play an important role in the development of PM. Inhibition of NLRP3 activation may hold promise in the treatment of PM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate prediction of the enemy's combat missions in combat deductions is helpful to improve the quality of command decision. Intelligent combat mission prediction method is a technical means to adapt to the fast-paced complex modern war, and is an important part of intelligent command decision technology. In this paper, based on the solution of the problems of combat mission prediction, it is modeled as a multi-instance learning (MIL) problem according to the characteristics of the problem. To effectively integrate expert knowledge and combat deduction data, a MIL model called multi-instance genetic fuzzy system (MIGFS) is designed and implemented based on the genetic fuzzy systems (GFSs). The model is composed of multiple genetic sub-fuzzy systems (sub-FSs). By means of multi-tasking genetic fuzzy systems (MTGFSs) algorithm, multiple sub-FSs have been trained separately to solve the problem of excessive time consuming and high cost because of synchronously training too many sub-FSs. Furthermore, to complete the integration of instance prediction to bag prediction, the weighted average is used instead of the traditional max function, and the mutation problem of taking the max function is solved by learning the weight parameters of the sub-FSs. A more continuous and smooth result integration method is implemented, and the prediction accuracy is improved. Finally, a demonstrative experimental case of wargaming has been taken to illustrate that MIGFS can successfully apply MIL to combat deductions with a small amount of data, and effectively solve the problems of combat mission prediction, which demonstrates the feasibility and practicability of the proposed MIGFS model. This method can well model the problems of combat mission prediction into MIL problems, and solve the problems well, which is a good start. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on Cybertwin supporting advanced vehicle-to-everything (V2X) applications in the future intelligent and securing vehicular 6G network. Topics include becoming the personal AI assistant and acting as a security agent through customizing the visibility of recorded data; and proposing scheme good security performances in terms of symbol error rate (SER) and secrecy outage probability.

• The evolution of the structures for Mg 2 Bn0/– (n = 1–12) clusters has be elucidated. • The corresponding ground state structures are determined. • The local stable ground state structure is found. • The properties of electrons and bonds of the most stable isomers are discussed. In this paper, a global search for the lowest energy structure of Mg 2 B n 0/- (n = 1–12) clusters is performed based on Density functional theory combined with the particle swarm optimization algorithm program CALYPSO. The geometry, stability, charge transfer, and bonding properties of the clusters were analyzed at the B3LYP/def2-tzvp level. Then Mg 2 B 8 with high symmetry D 4h was found to be the magic numbers cluster among them. The doped clusters Mg 2 B n 0/− were compared with the pure boron clusters B n+2 0/− (n = 1–12) at the same level. The following results are obtained: as the number of boron atoms increases, the boron clusters doped with Mg atoms change from a two-dimensional planar or quasi-plane structure to a three-dimensional structure. The doped magnesium atoms are always positively charged in the convex capped position. And the doping of Mg atoms drives the overall stabilization of the boron clusters and makes the clusters more compact. There is a large amount of charge transfer between the Mg atom and the B atom, and the main orbitals involved are the S and p orbitals. There are strong interactions between the two atoms of boron and magnesium. Through the analysis of the bonding properties, it was found that the s-p hybridization mode between Mg B is the main reason for the enhanced cluster stability. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The evolution of the structures for Mg 2 Bn0/– (n = 1–12) clusters has be elucidated. • The corresponding ground state structures are determined. • The local stable ground state structure is found. • The properties of electrons and bonds of the most stable isomers are discussed. In this paper, a global search for the lowest energy structure of Mg 2 B n 0/- (n = 1–12) clusters is performed based on Density functional theory combined with the particle swarm optimization algorithm program CALYPSO. The geometry, stability, charge transfer, and bonding properties of the clusters were analyzed at the B3LYP/def2-tzvp level. Then Mg 2 B 8 with high symmetry D 4h was found to be the magic numbers cluster among them. The doped clusters Mg 2 B n 0/− were compared with the pure boron clusters B n+2 0/− (n = 1–12) at the same level. The following results are obtained: as the number of boron atoms increases, the boron clusters doped with Mg atoms change from a two-dimensional planar or quasi-plane structure to a three-dimensional structure. The doped magnesium atoms are always positively charged in the convex capped position. And the doping of Mg atoms drives the overall stabilization of the boron clusters and makes the clusters more compact. There is a large amount of charge transfer between the Mg atom and the B atom, and the main orbitals involved are the S and p orbitals. There are strong interactions between the two atoms of boron and magnesium. Through the analysis of the bonding properties, it was found that the s-p hybridization mode between Mg B is the main reason for the enhanced cluster stability. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune‐mediated hypersensitivity reactions to ticks and other arthropods are well documented. Hypersensitivity to ixodid (hard bodied) ticks is especially important because they transmit infection to humans throughout the world and are responsible for most vector‐borne diseases in the United States. The causative pathogens of these diseases are transmitted in tick saliva that is secreted into the host while taking a blood meal. Tick salivary proteins inhibit blood coagulation, block the local itch response and impair host anti‐tick immune responses, which allows completion of the blood meal. Anti‐tick host immune responses are heightened upon repeated tick exposure and have the potential to abrogate tick salivary protein function, interfere with the blood meal and prevent pathogen transmission. Although there have been relatively few tick bite hypersensitivity studies in humans compared with those in domestic animals and laboratory animal models, areas of human investigation have included local hypersensitivity reactions at the site of tick attachment and generalized hypersensitivity reactions. Progress in the development of anti‐tick vaccines for humans has been slow due to the complexities of such vaccines but has recently accelerated. This approach holds great promise for future prevention of tick‐borne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivated species diversity can provide numerous benefits to agricultural systems. Many ecological theories have been proposed to understand the relationships between plant species diversity and trophic interactions. However, extending such theories to socioeconomic systems has been rare for agriculture. Here, we establish ten hypotheses (e.g., the natural enemy hypothesis, resource concentration hypothesis, insurance hypothesis, and aggregation hypothesis) about the relationships between cultivated species diversity (i.e., crop diversification, co-cultures of crops and domestic animals, and co-cultures of crops and edible fungi) and trophic cascades of crops, invertebrate herbivores and natural enemies in cropping systems. We then explore the socioeconomic advantages (e.g., yield, economic and environmental performance) of these trophic cascades. Finally, we propose a multi-perspective framework to promote the cascading social-ecological benefits of species diversity for agricultural sustainability. Integrating the benefits of trophic cascades into agricultural socioeconomic systems requires policies and legislation that support multi-species co-culture practices and the willingness of consumers to pay for these practices through higher prices for agricultural products. Wan, Dainese et al. discuss the relationship between trophic cascades and diversity of cultivated species and propose a framework to promote social-ecological benefits through these interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum cofactor sulfurase (MoCoS) is a key gene involved in the uric acid metabolic pathway that activates xanthine dehydrogenase to synthesise uric acid. Uric acid is harmful to mammals but plays crucial roles in insects, one of which is the immune responses. However, the function of Bombyx mori MoCoS in response to BmNPV remains unclear. In this study, BmMoCoS was found to be relatively highly expressed in embryonic development, gonads and the Malpighian tubules. In addition, the expression levels of BmMoCoS were significantly upregulated in three silkworm strains with different levels of resistance after virus infection, suggesting a close link between them. Furthermore, RNAi and overexpression studies showed that BmMoCoS was involved in resistance to BmNPV infection, and its antivirus effects were found to be related to the regulation of uric acid metabolism, which was uncovered by inosine‐ and febuxostat‐coupled RNAi and overexpression. Finally, the BmMoCoS‐mediated uric acid pathway was preliminarily confirmed to be a potential target to protect silkworms from BmNPV infection. Overall, this study provides new evidence for elucidating the molecular mechanism of silkworms in response to BmNPV infection and new strategies for the prevention of viral infections in sericulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective is to report a female carrier of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) presented with remarkable asymmetric limb weakness and atrophy caused by a heterozygous point mutation in DMD gene. The patient was born in a non-consanguineous marriage. She experienced slowly progressive weakness and atrophy of her right limbs for approximately 20 years. The thigh muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed obvious atrophy with fatty replacement on the right thigh compared with the left, and the ‘trefoil with single fruit sign’ was observed. Muscle pathology revealed decreased dystrophin protein expression in scattered fibers. The multiplex ligation-dependent probe analysis (MLPA) analysis did not detect any large rearrangements. Subsequent whole exome sequencing (WES) identified a heterozygous nonsense mutation, c.1471C>T (p. Q491* ) of dystrophin (DMD) gene in the patient. This report highlights that marked hemiatrophy can occur in a female manifesting carriers of DMD and WES should be considered in MLPA-negative patients. Muscle MRI can serve as an adjunct to diagnose dystrophinopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a marine and estuarine bacterium that poses a major threat to human health worldwide. In this study, from 2017 to 2019, we evaluated 900 food samples collected from China in 2017, with the aim of determining the incidence and features of V. parahaemolyticus in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, shrimp and fish in China. The contamination rates in these were 3.67, 19.33 and 10.67%, respectively, and the prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus was higher in summer than in winter. In addition, 101  V. parahaemolyticus strains were isolated. Our results suggested that most of the isolates were resistant to aminoglycosides based on the antimicrobial resistance patterns of these aquatic product isolates against 14 antimicrobial agents. Furthermore, most of the isolates were multidrug-resistant. Serotyping showed that the isolates of the O2 serotype comprised the maximum proportion. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence (ERIC)-PCR results indicated that the isolates (n  = 101) could be classified into 12 clusters. There were 82 STs suggesting genetic variation and relatedness among these isolates. Our findings demonstrated the presence of V. parahaemolyticus in foods from Chinese retail markets and show that this methodology can be used for microbiological risk assessment in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which normally manifests as a multi-joint inflammatory reaction, is a common immunological disease in clinical practice. However, the pathogenesis of RA has not yet been fully elucidated. Rituximab (RTX) is an effective drug in the treatment of RA, however its therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of action require further investigation. Thus, the present study aimed to screen the candidate key regulatory genes and explain the potential mechanisms of RA. Gene chips of RA and normal joint tissues were analyzed and, gene chips of RTX before and after treatment were investigated. In the present study, strong evidence supporting the pathogenesis of RA and mechanism of action of RTX were also revealed. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using the limma package of RStudio software. A total of 1,150 DEGs were detected in RA compared with normal joint tissues. The upregulated genes were enriched in 'interleukin-12 production', 'I-κB kinase/NF-κB signaling', 'regulation of cytokine production involved in immune response' and 'cytokine metabolic process'. Functional enrichment analysis showed that RTX was primarily involved in the inhibition of 'adaptive immune response', 'B cell activation involved in immune response' and 'immune effector process'. Subsequently, leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B member 1 (LILRB1), a hub gene with high connectivity degree, was selected, and traditional Chinese medicine libraries were molecularly screened according to the structure of the LILRB1 protein. The results indicated that kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucoside exhibited the highest docking score. In the present study, the DEGs and their biological functions in RA and the pharmacological mechanism of RTX action were determined. Taken together, the results suggested that LILRB1 may be used as a molecular target for RA treatment, and kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucoside may inhibit the pathological process of RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Unusual clinical course. Background: The pathogenesis of sporadic multiple meningiomas in the patients without history of neurofibromatosis type II remains unclear. We report whole exome sequencing (WES) of 2 metachronous multiple meningiomas of the same patient. Case Report: A 39-year-old female had a 5-month history of headache and her magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a significantly enhanced intracranial space-occupying pathology with dura tail sign and skull invasion. She had no history of neurofibromatosis type II or other tumors. Tumor resection achieved Simpson grade I and the pathological studies revealed an atypical meningioma. After surgery, she accepted focal external-beam radiation therapy. One year later, MRI showed a significantly enhanced intracranial space-occupying pathology near the primary site of the previous tumor. She had only a mild headache. Simpson grade I resection of the tumor was achieved. The pathological diagnosis was still an atypical meningioma. WES on both tumors identified 220 common somatic gene mutations and 43 different somatic gene mutations. Three deleterious mutated genes including QRICH2, KIF2C, and MUC16 were identified only in the first tumor, and 9 deleterious mutated genes including FCGBP, RPS6KA5, GOLGA6L2, IGHV3-66, RPTN, AGRN, USP6, CLTCL1, and PABPC3 were identified only in the second tumor. As shown by the identical result of 3 prediction tools, RPS6KA5 and AGRN were most likely to be related to the progress of multiple atypical meningiomas. Conclusions: The metachronous meningiomas with same World Health Organization (WHO) grades in the same patient could have distinct genetic aberration patterns. The roles of RPS6KA5 and AGRN in the rapid progress of multiple atypical meningiomas need further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is an effective way to improve the spectrum efficiency of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where this advancement can be fully exploited by employing a proper user selection strategy in the multiuser MIMO system. However, for multiuser scenarios, information-theoretic throughput may not be properly used as the performance indicator since the constraints at the receiver (e.g., suboptimal detectors) are not taken into consideration. In this paper, we adopt the error probability (EP) as the performance metric, which is equivalent to the practical throughput efficiency and can take the critical constraints into consideration. We analyze the pair-wise error probability (PEP) performance of different detectors and propose two kinds of user selection methods to minimize the PEP. To facilitate the detection performance evaluation, we further investigate the multiuser diversity of the proposed selection methods and derive a tight lower PEP bound for the case with randomly selected users. From the analytical and numerical results, we demonstrate that the proposed multiuser selection methods can suppress the inter-user interference effectively and achieve better performance than that of the state-of-the-art method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Speed, acceleration and tracking are used to analyzed mixed traffic flow safety. • 3 conflict regions are divided based on Haar-Adaboost algorithm. • Traffic characteristics with and without conflicts in three regions are compared. • New safety factors of mixed traffic flow at intersection are proposed. Mixed traffic is the typical characteristic of urban traffic in China. Especially on the crosswalks at signalized intersection, mixed traffic flow is large, traffic conflicts happen frequently. So, the traffic safety analysis is one of the research directions at signalized intersection. The main conflicts on the pedestrian crosswalk include the conflict among pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles as well as the conflict between the right-turning motor vehicles and pedestrians. Several impacts are imposed on the order of mixed traffic flow on the crosswalk by the above conflicts. In this paper, on the basis of on-the-spot filming and investigation, 3 regions are categorized based on Harr-Adaboost algorithm according to traffic characteristics of mixed traffic flows. Typical parameters such as speed and trajectory of pedestrian, non-motorized vehicle and right-turning motor vehicle as well as the variation of each characteristic results from the traffic conflicts in 3 regions including the pedestrian crosswalk and its vicinity are analyzed. The concluded characters could be used to optimize the intersection design and traffic control and improve the safety of mixed traffic individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Germanium/niobium/polyetherketoneketone ternary biocomposite was fabricated. • Crisscross micro-nano patterns on the composite created by femtosecond laser. • Composite with anti-inflammatory function boosted osteoblastic differentiation. • Composite facilitated bone-bonding and prevented infection. Loosening and infection are two main reasons for the failure of orthopedic implants. Bone-bonding strengthens the fixation/stability of implants with host bone that extends its service life. Herein, a germanium (Ge)/niobium (Nb)/polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) ternary composite (GNP) was fabricated by melting blend, and crisscross micro-nano patterns on GNP (GNPF) were created by femtosecond laser. The results displayed compared with PEKK and GNP, GNPF with micro-nano patterns displayed remarkable upgradation in surface properties with higher roughness and hydrophilicity/surface energy, etc. GNPF not only promoted osteoblast differentiation but also encouraged the M2 macrophage polarization in vitro. Moreover, GNPF inhibited the bacteria reproduction in vitro , and resisted infection in vivo owing to the sustained release of Ge ion. Further, GNPF remarkably facilitated bone-formation and bone-bonding by inhibiting fibrous capsules in vivo. The mechanism for enhancements of osteoblast response and M2 macrophage polarization in vitro , and bone-bonding in vivo for GNPF was attributed to the cooperative effect of the micro-nano patterns and sustained release of Ge/Nb ions. Consequently, GNPF with osteogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial functions boosted bone-bonding and resisted infection, thereby displaying a promising potential for construction of segmental bone defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Porous ultrathin WO 3 nanoflake array was prepared by one-step hydrothermal method. • The morphologies of WO 3 nanoarrays can be tuned by the dosage of (NH 4) 2 C 2 O 4. • WO 3 arrays showed remarkable photocurrent of 1.80 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs RHE. • The reasons for the improvement of photoelectrochemical performance were discussed. Abstract To overcome the limitation of minority carrier diffusion length and high recombination of electron-hole pairs, porous ultrathin tungsten trioxide (WO 3) nanoplate arrays with amorphous layer were prepared by one-step hydrothermal method without pre-seeded which possessed the highest photocurrent density of 1.80 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs RHE and 100 mV cathodic shift of onset potential with 0.20 g dosage of (NH 4) 2 C 2 O 4. The remarkable photoelectrochemical performance mainly benefits from enhanced red-shift light absorption, cathodic shifted onset potential, lowest recombination of photoelectron-hole pairs and abundant active surface areas. These results confirm that engineering the thickness and surface state of oxide semiconductor nanoplate arrays are the promising ways to improve the photoelectrochemical performance for solar water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the potential clinical value of material separation enabled by dual-energy spectral computed tomography in detecting left atrial appendage thrombi. The study enrolled 24 patients who were scheduled to undergo atrial fibrillation ablation (12 with and 12 without left atrial appendage thrombi). Computed tomograms were acquired in gemstone spectral imaging mode; the densities in the regions of the left atrial appendage cavities, pectinate muscles, and left atrial appendage thrombi were analyzed on monochromatic 70-keV images. Iodine and blood were chosen as the material basis pair; the iodine and blood densities were observed and quantitatively determined from the iodine- and blood-specific material decomposition images. On the 70-keV monochromatic and iodine-specific images, the left atrial appendage pectinate muscles and thrombi appeared as areas of hypodense attenuation. On the blood-specific images, similar areas of high attenuation were observed in the thrombi and cavities, whereas lower attenuation was noticed in the pectinate muscles. The quantitative iodine and blood densities in the pectinate muscles were lower than those in the cavities (P <0.001). The iodine densities in the thrombi were lower than those in the cavities (P <0.001); however, blood densities did not differ significantly between the thrombi and cavities (P=0.192). Compared with the pectinate muscles, the thrombi showed lower blood-density differences (P=0.003) and higher iodine-density differences (P=0.006) in relation to the cavities. Spectral computed tomography-enabled material separation is a novel method for differentiating left atrial appendage thrombi from pectinate muscles. The potential applications of this technology warrant further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • An optimized T-trap with uniform electric field was obtained based on electric field analysis and SIMION simulation. • A high correlation was found between the in-trap electric field gradient distribution and the ion emission characteristics. • Directional ion excitation ability can be achieved with appropriate structure modification. • The finding can be used to implement structure optimization of asymmetric ion trap analyzers. Abstract The toroidal-cylindrical ion trap (TCIT) is a small multi-function tandem ion trap analyzer with a simple structure and a compact design. The asymmetric structure of the out toroidal ion trap (T-trap) confers the in-trap region with a non-uniform electric field distribution, particularly when a plate ring electrode is used. To optimize the electric field distribution in the trap, the shapes of the toroidal electrodes were modified to compensate for the electric field. For this purpose, we developed a simple simulation-based method for evaluating the optimized asymmetric structure of the ion trap electrode. Specifically, static electric field distribution in the trap was acquired using COMSOL software and then simply analyzed, while the SIMION simulation platform was adopted to characterize both the ion motion and the performance of the T-trap with an modified structure. The results revealed that electrode optimization can not only improve the non-uniformity of the in-trap electric field distribution but also implement unidirectional emission of the ions upon resonance excitation, thereby significantly increasing the utilization efficiency of the ions in TCIT. In addition, a high correlation was found between the electric field gradient distribution in the trap and the ion emission characteristics, which can provide an simple but useful guiding significance for the performance and structural optimization of T-trap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the clinical pattern, survival rate, causes of death and risk factors in a large cohort of Chinese Han patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Inpatients treated from 2002 to 2014 were included in this study. Patients were classified into diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc), and SSc-overlap syndrome groups. Data were analyzed using Chi-squared tests, Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards modeling. Among a total of 201 patients, dcSSc (50.2%) was the major subtype, followed by lcSSc (30.3%) and SSc-overlap (19.4%). Interstitial lung disease (ILD, 148/201, 74%) was the most frequent organ involvement. The overall survival rates were 98% and 95% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. The overall standard mortality ratio (SMR) was 2.22. The most common cause of death was ILD combined with infection (8/16, 50%), followed by kidney failure (2/16, 12.5%). On crude analysis, pulmonary hypertension, ILD, cardiac involvements, renal involvements, and digital ischemia were associated with poor prognosis. On multivariate analysis, pericardial effusion (p = 0.000) and digital ischemia (p = 0.016) were independent prognostic factors of death. The mortality rate of patients with SSc is mildly increased in comparison with the general population. ILD is the most common systemic involvement and the principal cause of death in SSc. Pericardial effusion and digital ischemia are independent factors associated with death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the multiuser detection in a millimeter-wave (mm-wave) wireless communication system using hybrid beamformers, where uplink transmissions are considered under limited scattering. For a base station, with the condition that the number of radio-frequency (RF) chains is relatively smaller than that of users, we consider opportunistic beamforming with analog beams for multiple-signal detection and derive a closed form expression for system sum rate. By applying the minimum mean square error (MMSE)-filter with the proposed opportunistic hybrid beamforming algorithm, the system performance can be further improved. Through simulation results, it is shown that the proposed MMSE-based multiuser detection approaches are attractive for hybrid mm-wave systems to support a large number of users with a small number of RF chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The evolution of the structures for Ca 2 Mg n – (n=1-15) clusters has be elucidated. • The corresponding ground state structures are determined. • One of the most stable structural units are found. • The properties of electrons and bonds of the most stable isomers are discussed. In recent years, the structure and properties of alkaline earth metal-doped Mg clusters have attracted much attention. Here, we investigated the structural properties, stability analysis, chemical bonding properties and charge transfer properties of Ca 2 Mg n ˉ (n=1-15) nanoclusters by using the efficient CALYPSO structure search software and the DFT full domain search method based on B3PW91 level calculation. It is found that most of their ground state structures can inherit pure Mg n+2 ˉ (n=1-15) clusters with high symmetry. We further compare the experimental and theoretical PES spectral data using pure Mg n+2 ˉ (n=1-15) and find a high agreement, which also indicating the validity of my calculated all-domain most stable structure. We found the outstanding stability of the pentagonal Ca 2 Mg 7 ˉ by stability analysis. Charge transfer occurred in all Ca 2 Mg n ˉ clusters, and this transfer was from Ca to Mg. The chemical bonding properties and molecular orbital revealed that the contribution of Mg- s and Mg- p to the molecular orbitals led to the formation of strong Mg-Mg bonds in the Ca 2 Mg 7 ˉ cluster, the s-p hybridization between Ca and Mg atoms and between Mg and Mg atoms also led to more powerful Mg-Mg bonds and Ca-Mg bonds, which is strong evidence for the stability of the Ca 2 Mg 7 ˉ clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• For the LRTC problem, we define a novel non-convex tensor pseudo-norm to replace the weighted sum of the tensor nuclear norm (WSTNN) as a tighter rank approximation. • For the TRPCA problem, we first introduce the noise analysis and decompose the visual frequency sequence into three terms, which are low rank static background, sparse foreground and dynamic background. • Then, we introduce spatio-temporal matrix to make better use of the inherent spatio-temporal characteristics of low-rank static background and sparse foreground. • Finally, we introduce an incoherent term to constrain the sparse foreground and the dynamic background to improve the separability. Recently, the convex low-rank 3rd-order tensor recovery has attracted considerable attention. However, there are some limitations to the convex relaxation approach, which may yield biased estimators. To overcome this disadvantage, we develop a novel non-convex tensor pseudo-norm to replace the weighted sum of the tensor nuclear norm as a tighter rank approximation. Then in tensor robust principle component analysis, we introduce the noise analysis to separate the spare foreground from the dynamic background more accurately. Furthermore, by introducing a spatio-temporal matrix, we can make better use of the inherent spatio-temporal characteristics of the low-rank static background and sparse foreground. Finally, we introduce an incoherent term to constrain the sparse foreground and the dynamic background to improve the separability. Some preliminary numerical examples of color image, video, and face image data sets are presented to illustrate the efficiency of our proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the zero prefix (ZP) structure, we propose an efficient block transmission algorithm using distributed space-time codes in the asynchronous cooperative communication systems. To accomplish the new frame, ZP is inserted in front of the data block to combat the relative delay between the asynchronous relays, while zero suffix (ZS) is appended at the end of the block to remove the interblock interference caused by the time dispersing channel; so, we employ this ZP–ZS precoding form to make the coded frames synchronous. It should be noted that single carrier transmission and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) are both compatible with the frame. For single carrier transmission, conventional space-time equalizers can be investigated at the destination node to cancel the multipath interference. To further improve the performance, an improved QR decomposition-based recursive interference cancellation (QRD-RIC) detector is employed, where joint QRD is adopted on the combination of channel matrices from different relays, and then spatial-and-multipath diversity combinations are introduced and improved into the proposed system, where the spatial and multipath diversities are acquired. For OFDM, the fractionally spaced frequency-domain MMSE diversity receiver is employed, since the guard interval in our framing scheme implies oversampling in the frequency domain. Numerical simulations show that the proposed algorithms are effective for the asynchronous transmissions under frequency selective fading channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For non-coding RNA gene mining, especially microRNA mining, there are many challenges in the classification of imbalanced data. A novel classification method based on the Adaboost algorithm is proposed to handle the imbalance of positive and negative cases. Unstable-Adaboost is improved with respect to the initial weight assignment, the base classifier selection, the weight adjustment mechanism and other aspects. Furthermore, the Stable-Adaboost algorithm is proposed, which adjusts the weight of the sample set to rapidly achieve a more balanced training set. In addition, the Stable-Adaboost algorithm can ensure that the follow-up training set is maintained in a balanced state by optimizing the weight adjustment mechanism of incorrectly classified samples and stabilizing the classification performance. Experimental results show the superiority of Unstable-Adaboost and Stable- Adaboost in imbalance classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new dinuclear bismuth(III) coordination polymer {[Bi(H2O)]2(C7H3NO4)2(C12H8N2)2(N3)2·2H2O}n (1) containing three types of ligands has been synthesized using a solvothermal method and characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray single-crystal structural analysis. The compound can be viewed as a three-dimensional supramolecular network that is constructed by Bi3+ cations, N3− anions, pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate (2,5-pdc2−), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands. Moreover, the luminescence properties, quantum yield, luminescence decay, and thermal stabilities of 1 were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new dinuclear bismuth(III) coordination polymer {[Bi(H2O)]2(C7H3NO4)2(C12H8N2)2(N3)2·2H2O}n (1) containing three types of ligands has been synthesized using a solvothermal method and characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray single-crystal structural analysis. The compound can be viewed as a three-dimensional supramolecular network that is constructed by Bi3+ cations, N3− anions, pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate (2,5-pdc2−), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands. Moreover, the luminescence properties, quantum yield, luminescence decay, and thermal stabilities of 1 were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the problem of optimization design of complex discrete variables in practical application, the optimization design method of discrete variables and the processing methods of discrete variables are analyzed. The shortcomings of these methods are summarized, and the characteristics of genetic algorithms and discrete variables are combined to propose a self-adaptive discrete non-uniform crossover operator and adaptive discrete mapping mutation operator, so that the genetic operation can be implemented in discrete space for higher efficiency search. Combined with the optimal individual protection strategy and adaptive crossover and mutation strategy execution sequence, accelerate the population rate of global optimization, overall improve the efficiency of the algorithm of discrete optimization, through the design of a practical discrete variable optimization problems research, verified the effectiveness of the algorithm to solve the problem of discrete optimization design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells can be reprogrammed to provide an unlimited cell resource showing great potential in disease modeling and regenerative medicine. However, the traditional method for reprogramming cells into iPSCs using genome-integrating retro- or lenti-viruses remain an obstacle for its application in clinical settings. We tried the possibility to generate pre-iPSCs from human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) by nongenetic reprogramming using recombinant cell-penetrating proteins OCT4/KLF4/SOX2 (PTD-OKS) and the cocktail of small molecules (VCFZ). Our experimental results demonstrated that PTD-OKS in combination with VCFZ (VCFZ+OKS) could significantly enhance the stemness of ADSCs and easily get pre-iPSCs after 25 days treatments. The pre-iPSCs showed similar morphology to iPSCs, which were positive for alkaline phosphatase staining. Furthermore, RT-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that VCFZ+OKS could significantly upregulate the expression of OCT4, KLF4, SOX2, and NANOG gene after 25 days treatment. And immunofluorescence staining also showed that the protein makers of pluripotent stem cell were positively expressed in VCFZ+OKS treated group. Our data suggest that nongenetic-mediated reprogramming from ADSCs may be a promising stem cell sources for cell therapy in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A miniature ion trap mass spectrometer with capillary direct sampling and vacuum ultraviolet photoionization source was developed to conduct trace analysis of organic compounds in liquids. Self-aspiration sampling is available where the samples are drawn into the vacuum chamber through a capillary with an extremely low flow rate (less than 1 μL/min), which minimizes sample consumption in each analysis to tens of micrograms. A pulsed gas-assisted inlet was designed and optimized to promote sample transmission in the tube and facilitate the cooling of ions, thereby improving instrument sensitivity. A limit of detection of 2 ppb could be achieved for 2,4-dimethylaniline in a methanol solution. The sampling system described in the present study is specifically suitable for a miniature photoionization ion trap mass spectrometer that can perform rapid and online analysis for liquid samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Minimum Vertex Weighted Coloring (MinVWC) problem is an important generalization of the classic Minimum Vertex Coloring (MinVC) problem which is NP-hard. Given a simple undirected graph G = (V , E) , the MinVC problem is to find a coloring s.t. any pair of adjacent vertices are assigned different colors and the number of colors used is minimized. The MinVWC problem associates each vertex with a positive weight and defines the weight of a color to be the weight of its heaviest vertices, then the goal is the find a coloring that minimizes the sum of weights over all colors. Among various approaches, reduction is an effective one. It tries to obtain a subgraph whose optimal solutions can conveniently be extended into optimal ones for the whole graph, without costly branching. In this paper, we propose a reduction algorithm based on maximal clique enumeration. More specifically our algorithm utilizes a certain proportion of maximal cliques and obtains lower bounds in order to perform reductions. It alternates between clique sampling and graph reductions and consists of three successive procedures: promising clique reductions, better bound reductions and post reductions. Experimental results show that our algorithm returns considerably smaller subgraphs for numerous large benchmark graphs, compared to the most recent method named RedLS. Also, we evaluate individual impacts and some practical properties of our algorithm. Furthermore, we have a theorem which indicates that the reduction effects of our algorithm are equivalent to that of a counterpart which enumerates all maximal cliques in the whole graph if the run time is sufficiently long. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate a beamforming (BF) scheme for a dual-hop multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) amplify-and-forward (AF) relay network in the presence of multiple cochannel interferences (CCIs) at both the relay and the destination nodes. In order to maximize the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio at the destination node, the optimal BF weights for the relay network in the presence of CCIs are derived. A tight lower bound on the outage probability (OP) is derived in a closed form by assuming that multiple CCIs have equal power at the relay and destination nodes. Through computer simulations, it is shown that the proposed BF scheme can outperform the existing schemes. Furthermore, the impacts of antenna configurations, CCIs, and power allocation on the outage performance of the MIMO AF relay systems have been demonstrated with simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The increased thermal efficiency of fossil power plants calls for the development of advanced creep-resistant alloy steels like T92. In this study, microstructures found in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of a T92 steel weld were simulated to evaluate their creep-rupture-life at elevated temperatures. An infrared heating system was used to heat the samples to 860 °C (around AC1), 900 °C (slightly below AC3), and 940 °C (moderately above AC3) for one minute, before cooling to room temperature. The simulated specimens were then subjected to a conventional post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) at 750 °C for two hours, where both the 900 °C and 940 °C simulated specimens had fine grain sizes. In the as-treated condition, the 900 °C simulated specimen consisted of fine lath martensite, ferrite subgrains, and undissolved carbides, while residual carbides and fresh martensite were found in the 940 °C simulated specimen. The results of short-term creep tests indicated that the creep resistance of the 900 °C and 940 °C simulated specimens was poorer than that of the 860 °C simulated specimens and the base metal. Moreover, simulated T92 steel samples had higher creep strength than the T91 counterpart specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale A novel toroidal-cylindrical ion trap (TCIT) design is introduced based on a compact dual ion trap system that comprises an outer toroidal ion trap (T-trap) and an inner cylindrical ion trap (CIT). These two traps have specific but different functions that can improve the performance of tandem mass analysis operation. Methods The TCIT is studied by using a simulated mass spectrometer platform that is mainly based on SIMION modeling and extensive data processing. This platform combines different functions, such as simulation of ion motion and field calculations, as well as acquisition of a simulated mass spectrum. Results The main steps of the MS operation, including the full scan process, the mass-selective ejection of the ions in the T-trap, and the capture of the injected precursor ions in the CIT, are realized using the abovementioned platform. In addition, the simulated design is optimized for improved mass analysis performance. Conclusions For the outer T-trap, when the outside surface of the inner cylindrical electrode is modified to include a circular arc with appropriate radius, the ion ejection efficiency that is directed into the CIT could be significantly enhanced. In the case of the inner CIT, the ion capture efficiency could be improved to more than 90% with geometry optimization. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the warfare between herbivore and host plant, insects have evolved a variety of defensive mechanisms, including allelochemical transformation and excretion. Several studies have explored the transcriptome responses of insects after host plant shifts to understand these mechanisms. We investigated the plastic responses of Heliconius melpomene larvae feeding on a native host Passiflora menispermifolia and a less strongly defended nonhost species, Passiflora biflora. In total, 326 differentially expressed genes were identified, with a greater number upregulated on the more strongly defended native host. Functional annotation showed that detoxifying enzymes, transporters and components of peritrophic membrane were strongly represented. In total, 30 candidate detoxification genes were differentially expressed, with glutathione S-transferases ( GSTs) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) showing the highest proportion of differential expression, 27.3% and 17.3%, respectively. These differentially expressed detoxification genes were shown to evolve mainly under the influence of purifying selection, suggesting that protein-coding evolution has not played a major role in host adaptation. We found only one gene, GSTe3, with evidence of adaptive evolution at H40, which is around the G-site and might alter enzyme activity. Based on our transcriptome and molecular evolution analysis, we suggest that transcriptional plasticity of genes in a herbivore may play an important role in adaptation to a new host plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a new protocol of asymmetric bidirectional controlled teleportation by using a seven-qubit cluster state as the quantum channel. That is to say Alice wants to transmit an arbitrary single-qubit state to Bob and Bob wants to transmit an arbitrary two qubit state to Alice via the control of the supervisor Charlie. One only need perform the Bell-state measurements and single-qubit measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]