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The deposition of diamond films on tungsten carbide-based tools can greatly improve the life and performance of cutting tools. However, the deposition of diamond coatings on cemented carbide (WC-Co) suffers from poor film-base bond strength. In this paper, diamond coatings were deposited of phytocrystalline metal micropowders (pure, Nb, Ti, Ta) pretreatment method and the properties of diamond films were analyzed by energy spectrometry (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and bonding strength test of diamond films. The results show that through the experiment of the pretreatment process of surface implanted crystal metal micropowder, the best implanted crystal metal micropowder was obtained, the surface quality of implanted crystal titanium (Ti) coating was improved, the diamond Raman peaks were sharp and the indentation cracks had a crack diameter of 389 μm, which is small and has the highest bond strength. The pretreatment process of phytocrystalline diamond micropowder can deposit high-performance diamond coatings and improve the bonding strength between the coating and the substrate film base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For measuring melt diffusion with in situ and high accuracy, this paper proposes a multi-slice sliding radiography technique. This technique combines the multi-sliding cell technique and x-ray radiography and inherits the advantages of both. It not only visualizes the diffusion process but is also suitable for the diffusion coefficient measurement of systems with low or even no absorption contrast. In addition, by introducing isotopes, self-diffusion and interdiffusion can, in principle, be measured simultaneously with high precision. The details related to the design of this technique and the experiments are reported in this paper. Reliability and validity of this technique are demonstrated by its measurements in Al80Cu20 melt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the trimester‐specific associations between maternal total physical activity level vs moderate‐to‐vigorous exercise and fetal growth disorders. Methods: We analyzed 2062 mother–neonate pairs participating in the longitudinal China Medical University Birth Cohort Study. The Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess the physical activity level of women during the three trimesters. A higher level of total physical activity was defined as meeting or exceeding the cohort‐specific 75th percentile, and a higher level of exercise was defined according to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Fetal growth disorder was defined as small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) or large‐for‐gestational age (LGA) at birth. Results: Of the neonates included in this study, 7.1% were SGA and 15.5% were LGA. A higher level of total physical activity during the first trimester (adjusted relative risk (aRR), 0.62 (95% CI, 0.42–0.91)) and second trimester (aRR, 0.62 (95% CI, 0.41–0.95)) was associated with a lower risk of SGA, and a higher level of total physical activity during the third trimester was associated with a lower risk of LGA (aRR, 0.73 (95% CI, 0.54–0.97)). When analyzing physical activity by subtype, a higher level of occupational physical activity during the first and second trimesters was associated negatively with SGA risk, and higher levels of occupational and low‐intensity physical activity during the first trimester were associated negatively with LGA risk. No significant association was found between maternal adherence to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and risk of fetal growth disorders. Conclusions: A higher total physical activity level during the first and second trimesters was associated with a decreased risk of SGA, whereas a higher total physical activity level in the third trimester was associated with a decreased risk of LGA. Pregnant women should be advised to increase their total physical activity levels instead of focusing on engaging in only moderate‐to‐vigorous exercise. © 2024 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the problem of estimating a stochastic signal from nonlinear uncertain observations with time-correlated additive noise described by a first-order Markov process. Random deception attacks are assumed to be launched by an adversary, and both this phenomenon and the uncertainty in the observations are modelled by two sets of Bernoulli random variables. Under the assumption that the evolution model generating the signal to be estimated is unknown and only the mean and covariance functions of the processes involved in the observation equation are available, recursive algorithms based on linear approximations of the real observations are proposed for the least-squares filtering and fixed-point smoothing problems. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the developed estimation algorithms are verified by a numerical simulation example, where the impact of uncertain observation and deception attack probabilities on estimation accuracy is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the gene expression and metabolic pathways involved in flower development at different growth stages of Camellia oleifera, this study focused on leaves collected during the juvenile stage, initial fruiting stage, and peak fruiting stage of the ‘Dabieshan 1’ C. oleifera variety. Transcriptome sequencing analysis was performed to obtain the transcriptome data of leaf samples during the pre-flowering period. The annotated genes included key regulators of flower development pathways, such as FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1), SUPPRESSOR OVEREXPRESSION CONSTANS 2 (SOC2), as well as genes involved in the photoperiod pathway, including CYCLING DOF FACTOR 2 (CDF2), CYCLING DOF FACTOR 3 (CDF3), and LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY). Specifically, 7 UniGene sequences of the CDF2 gene, 3 UniGene sequences of the CDF3 gene, and 3 UniGene sequences of the LHY gene were identified, highlighting their important roles in flower development regulation in C. oleifera. Gene Ontology analysis demonstrated enrichment in various biological processes related to carbohydrate metabolism, biosynthesis, and environmental response, while differentially expressed genes in the molecular function category were associated with degradation activities. In terms of cellular components, the differentially expressed genes were enriched in ribosome and plasma membranes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed enrichment in multiple metabolic pathways, biosynthesis, and degradation across the three developmental stages of C. oleifera leaves. These findings provide a foundation for further investigation into the energy metabolism involved in the regulation of flower development in C. oleifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creep resistance of martensitic power plant steels depends strongly on the dispersion of various types of precipitates in the microstructure. Reliable prediction of rupture strength of such alloys thus demands accurate description of the microstructure evolution during service. A material model that calculates the simultaneous precipitation kinetics and hardening in these steels has been reported previously. The creep rupture model reported here is a natural extension of the previous research. This model has been validated against experimental creep rupture data of wide-used 9–12% Cr steels. It allows the effect of variation in alloy conditions, such as composition and heat treatments, on rupture strength to be quantitatively evaluated for a given alloy grade. Results show that such variations can lead to significant differences in the calculated rupture strength, which are believed to be largely responsible for the wide scatter in the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine‐scale seasonal snow depth observations can improve estimates of snow water equivalent at critical times of year. Airborne lidar is the current gold standard for snow depth measurement, but it involves high costs and relatively limited coverage. Using very‐high‐resolution satellite stereo images from WorldView‐2, WorldView‐3, and Pléiades‐HR 1A/1B, we produced a six‐year time series (2017–2022) of spatially continuous digital elevation models for an 874 km2 study area over Grand Mesa, Colorado. We generated high‐resolution stereo snow depth maps that capture intra‐ and interannual variability and span multiple anomalous years (58%–158% of median peak SNOTEL snow depth). Comparisons with near‐contemporaneous airborne lidar snow depth measurements showed good agreement, with median offset of −0.13 m, precision of 0.19 m and accuracy of 0.31 m. Our results suggest that satellite stereo can provide snow depth observations with the spatiotemporal coverage needed to improve operational forecast models and inform adaptive management strategies. Plain Language Summary: Detailed observations of snow depth can help us better understand how much water is stored as snow during important times of the year. We used high‐resolution images from commercial satellites to create detailed maps of snow‐covered surfaces for a study site in Colorado. Using a technique called stereo photogrammetry, we created precise three‐dimensional models of surface elevation from these images. By subtracting a snow‐free summer ground surface model from the winter snow surface models, we estimated snow depth over large areas and multiple years. Our satellite snow depth estimates agreed with snow depth measurements from airborne lidar and field campaigns. This satellite stereo approach helps us understand how mountain snow depth varies from year to year, providing valuable information to improve models and decisions for water resources management. Key Points: Satellite stereo photogrammetry offers repeat, spatially continuous, high‐resolution snow depth measurements over large areasStereo snow depth measurements are within ∼0.13–0.33 m of near‐contemporaneous airborne lidar and in situ measurementsStereo snow depth captures detailed intra‐ and interannual snow depth variability in low and high snow years [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruit skin color is an important economic trait of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) and is determined by the concentration of anthocyanins. Light intensity significantly affects anthocyanin accumulation. Anthocyanin content is closely related to enzyme activity and gene expression. In this study, the anthocyanin content, the activity of related enzymes and the expression of genes involved in the development process of 5-year ‘Pink Blue’ cranberry were studied. The results showed that with increasing light intensity, the content of anthocyanin glycosides increased, while that of flavonoids, chlorophylls and carotenoids decreased. Except for chalcone isomerases (CHI) and flavonol synthetases (FLS), all enzymes involved in anthocyanin synthesis showed the same trend as anthocyanin glycosides. The expression of genes for transcription factors, such as VcMYB1 and VcbHLH004, and certain photoreceptor factors were significantly downregulated under shading conditions. Correlation analysis showed that flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase (F3'5'H) and VcF3'5'H4 are the key enzymes for anthocyanin glycoside synthesis in blueberry as well as the corresponding enzyme genes. This study provides a foundation for further research on the mechanism of light-induced anthocyanin synthesis in blueberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel complex (p-cymene)Ru(S2C2B10H9)(PhCH=CCH2OCH(Ph)C≡CH)·CH2Cl2 based on the ortho-carborane-1,2-dithiolate ligand and 1-phenyl-2-propyn-1-ol has been synthesized successfully and characterized by IR, NMR, MS, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The complex crystallizes in monoclinic system, space group P21/n with: a = 10.221(4) Å, b = 14.912(6) Å, c = 24.182(10) Å, α = 90.00°, β = 99.096(6)°, γ = 90.00°, C31H40B10Cl2ORuS2, Mr = 772.82, V = 3639(3) Å3, Dc = 1.410 g/cm3, Z = 4, F(000) = 1576, μ(MoKα) = 0.719 mm–1, R = 0.0600 and wR = 0.1561 for 5463 observed reflections (I > 2σ(I)). Structural analysis shows that there are the coordination of C=C bond, the formation of C–S bod, and metal-induced B–H activation with the formation of Ru–B bond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a significantly difficult problem to obtain the diffusion coefficients by analyzing the concentration profiles in multicomponent melts. Here, based on the Onsager reciprocal relations, we report a new analysis method, which can achieve the diffusion coefficient matrix by fitting the concentration profiles under a given diffusion time. Our method allows us to obtain the interdiffusion coefficient matrix in a multicomponent system via just a single diffusion couple experiment. Thus, it shows obvious merits compared to the previously reported diffusion path method and the square root diffusivity method. As a qualifying example, the four independent interdiffusion coefficients in a Ce–Al–Cu ternary liquid alloy have been derived from the concentration profiles measured by the multi-slice sliding cell technique. It is demonstrated that such a single experiment analysis method shows great potential for wide use in a multicomponent system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonatal acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication, especially in the neonatal intensive care unit, that is associated with long term consequences and poor outcomes. Early detection and treatment is critical. Currently, neonatal AKI is defined with urinary markers and serum creatinine, with limitations on early detection and individual treatment. There have been numerous biomarkers and risk factor scores that have been studied for their ability to predict neonatal AKI. To move towards personalized medicine, neonatal AKI must be categorized into phenotypes and subphenotypes that fully encapsulate the diverse causes and specific treatments. This review aims to advance our understanding of neonatal AKI detection through the use of biomarkers, subphenotypes, and phenotypes to move towards personalized treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The PET scanners with long axial field of view (AFOV) having ~ 20 times higher sensitivity than conventional scanners provide new opportunities for enhanced parametric imaging but suffer from the dramatically increased volume and complexity of dynamic data. This study reconstructed a high-quality direct Patlak Ki image from five-frame sinograms without input function by a deep learning framework based on DeepPET to explore the potential of artificial intelligence reducing the acquisition time and the dependence of input function in parametric imaging. Methods: This study was implemented on a large AFOV PET/CT scanner (Biograph Vision Quadra) and twenty patients were recruited with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) dynamic scans. During training and testing of the proposed deep learning framework, the last five-frame (25 min, 40–65 min post-injection) sinograms were set as input and the reconstructed Patlak Ki images by a nested EM algorithm on the vendor were set as ground truth. To evaluate the image quality of predicted Ki images, mean square error (MSE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and structural similarity index measure (SSIM) were calculated. Meanwhile, a linear regression process was applied between predicted and true Ki means on avid malignant lesions and tumor volume of interests (VOIs). Results: In the testing phase, the proposed method achieved excellent MSE of less than 0.03%, high SSIM, and PSNR of ~ 0.98 and ~ 38 dB, respectively. Moreover, there was a high correlation (DeepPET: R 2 = 0.73, self-attention DeepPET: R 2 =0.82) between predicted Ki and traditionally reconstructed Patlak Ki means over eleven lesions. Conclusions: The results show that the deep learning–based method produced high-quality parametric images from small frames of projection data without input function. It has much potential to address the dilemma of the long scan time and dependency on input function that still hamper the clinical translation of dynamic PET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A triple-scale model of a molecular liquid, where atomistic, coarse-grained, and hydrodynamic descriptions of the same substance are consistently combined, is developed. Following the two-phase analogy method, the continuum and discrete particle representations of the same substance are coupled together in the framework of conservation laws for mass and momentum that are treated as effective phases of a nominally two-phase flow. The effective phase distribution, which governs the model resolution locally, is a user-defined function. In comparison with the previous models of this kind in the literature which used the classical Molecular Dynamics (MD) for the particulate phase, the current approach uses the Adaptive Resolution Scheme (AdResS) and stochastic integration to smoothen the particle transition from non-bonded atom dynamics to hydrodynamics. Accuracy and robustness of the new AdResS-Fluctuating Hydrodynamics (FH) model for water at equilibrium conditions is compared with the previous implementation of the two-phase analogy model based on the MD-FH method. To demonstrate that the AdResS-FH method can accurately support hydrodynamic fluctuations of mass and momentum, a test problem of high-frequency acoustic wave propagation through a small hybrid computational domain region is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discrepancy between the value of the Hubble constant H 0 measured from the local distance ladder and from the cosmic microwave background is the most serious challenge to the standard ΛCDM model. Various models have been proposed to solve or relieve it, but no satisfactory solution has been given until now. Here, we report a late-time transition of H 0, i.e. H 0 changes from a low value to a high one from early to late cosmic time, by investigating the Hubble parameter H (⁠|$\mathit{ z}$|⁠) data based on the Gaussian process (GP) method. This finding effectively reduces the Hubble crisis by 70 per cent. Our results are also consistent with the descending trend of H 0 measured using time-delay cosmography of lensed quasars at 1 σ confidence level, and support the idea that the Hubble crisis arises from new physics beyond the standard ΛCDM model. In addition, in the ΛCDM model and |$w$| CDM model, there is no transition behaviour of H 0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most explosive phenomena and can be used to study the expansion of Universe. In this paper, we compile a long GRB sample for the E iso– E p correlation from Swift and Fermi observations. The sample contains 221 long GRBs with redshifts from 0.03 to 8.20. From the analysis of data in different redshift intervals, we find no statistically significant evidence for the redshift evolution of this correlation. Then we calibrate the correlation in six subsamples and use the calibrated one to constrain cosmological parameters. Employing a piece-wise approach, we study the redshift evolution of dark energy equation of state (EOS), and find that the EOS tends to be oscillating at low redshift, but consistent with −1 at high redshift. It hints at dynamical dark energy at 2 σ confidence level at low redshift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction of 16-electron complex (p-cymene)Ru(S2C2B10H10) (I) with (cyclo-C6H10)(OH)C≡CH in CH2Cl2 at —10 °C leads to a new complex (p-cymene)Ru(S2C2B10H9)(CH2C(OH)(cyclo-C6H10)) (II), which spontaneously lose water to generate complex (p-cymene)Ru(S2C2B10H9)(CH2C(cyclo-C6H9)) (III) in CH2Cl2 at room temperature. Both complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, mass, IR and NMR spectroscopy. X-ray structural analysis was performed on III. For complex III crystallographic data are: space group P21/c, a = 10.9787(11) Å, b = 14.5241(15) Å, c = 17.1028(17) Å, α = 90°, β = 107.8030(10)°, γ = 90°, V = 2596.5(5) Å3, Dc = 1.401 g/cm3, Z = 4, F(000) = 1176, μ = 0.774 mm–1. In the structure, the coordinated terminal alkyne is bonded to one of the Ru–S bonds, B-substitution occurs at the o-carborane cage in the position B(3) with the formation of Ru–B bond, and the central ruthenium atom bonded to a p-cymene ring satisfies the 18-electron rule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very-high-resolution (VHR) optical imaging satellites can offer precise, accurate, and direct measurements of snow-covered areas (SCA) with sub-meter to meter-scale resolution in regions of complex land cover and terrain. We explore the potential of Maxar WorldView-2 and WorldView-3 in-track stereo images (WV) for land and snow cover mapping at two sites in the Western U.S. with different snow regimes, topographies, vegetation, and underlying geology. We trained random forest models using combinations of multispectral bands and normalized difference indices (i.e., NDVI) to produce land cover maps for priority feature classes (snow, shaded snow, vegetation, water, and exposed ground). We then created snow-covered area products from these maps and compared them with coarser resolution satellite fractional snow-covered area (fSCA) products from Landsat (~30 m) and MODIS (~500 m). Our models generated accurate classifications, even with limited combinations of available multispectral bands. Models trained on a single image demonstrated limited model transfer, with best results found for in-region transfers. Coarser-resolution Landsat and MODSCAG fSCA products identified many more pixels as completely snow-covered (100% fSCA) than WV fSCA. However, while MODSCAG fSCA products also identified many more completely snow-free pixels (0% fSCA) than WV fSCA, Landsat fSCA products only slightly underestimated the number of completely snow-free pixels. Overall, our results demonstrate that strategic image observations with VHR satellites such as WorldView-2 and WorldView-3 can complement the existing operational snow data products to map the evolution of seasonal snow cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submerged close-range impinging jets (CRIJs) are widely applied to numerous engineering fields; however, the research on the dynamic flowfield of close-range impinging jets, especially when the impinging distance is very small, is not yet sufficient in the numerical simulation and experiment. In the present study, the time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) is used to measure the dynamic flowfield of an impinging jet with the impinging distance of H/D = 1. Here, H is the nozzle inner diameter and D is the impinging distance. The effects of the Reynolds number Re and the nozzle end-profile (wall constraints) on the vortex generation and migration inside and outside the gap are investigated. The obtained experimental data are further analyzed using the vorticity analysis and the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method. It is found that the Reynolds number affects the vortex generation and migration in different ways for nozzles with different end-profiles. The Reynolds number affects only slightly the flow pattern of the basic nozzle (nozzle I). On the contrary, the Reynolds number can strongly affect the flow pattern of the bevel nozzle (nozzle II) and dynamic vortices can appear when the value of Re increases to 1600. The dynamic vortex migration from the gap to the outside exhibits significant periodic characteristics. The vorticity analysis determines the vorticity size and distribution of the time-averaged field. Further, the energy distribution and variation in the vortices outside the gap are revealed based on the distribution of the large-scale structure of the transient field in the POD analysis. The transient pulsating velocity fields of the first four modes illustrate the abrupt and periodic characteristics of the velocity field at the microscopic time-scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L. Y. Jia recently proposed an algorithm that applies the variational method directly to coherent-pair condensates (VDPC) [L. Jia, Phys. Rev. C (2019).] Now I'll make changes to the VDPC algorithm that applies it to the Constraint Hatree–Fock theory. I derived expressions of the mean energy extremum with linear constraints and the analytic form of the Lagrangian multiplier. In addition, I acquire an angle through the inverse tangent of the energy minimum to the electric quadrupole moment in Fig. 3, which describes the unconstrained energy under an equivalent rotating system. I demonstrate the new algorithm in a semirealistic example using the realistic V low − k interaction in the large model spaces (up to 15 harmonic-oscillator major shells). In this work, I am interested in a wave function | ψ (Q) 〉 , which minimizes the total energy under the constraint that has a fixed expectation Q = 〈 ψ | Q ̂ | ψ 〉. I graphed the results as just an energy extreme versus electric quadrupole moment graph. The result shows that Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 7.2 in [P. Ring and P. Schuck, The Nuclear Many-body Problem (Springer Science & Business Media, 2004)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most luminous explosions in and can be detectable out to the edge of the universe. They have long been thought to be able to extend the Hubble diagram to very high redshifts. Several correlations between temporal or spectral properties and GRB luminosities have been proposed to make GRBs cosmological tools. However, those correlations cannot be properly standardized. In this paper, we select a long-GRB sample with X-ray plateau phases produced by electromagnetic dipole emissions from central newborn magnetars. A tight correlation is found between the plateau luminosity and the end time of the plateau in the X-ray afterglows out to the redshift z = 5.91. We standardize these long-GRB X-ray light curves to a universal behavior through this correlation, with a luminosity dispersion of 0.5 dex. The derived distance–redshift relation of GRBs is in agreement with the standard ΛCDM model both at low and high redshifts. The evidence for an accelerating universe from this GRB sample is 3σ, which is the highest statistical significance from GRBs to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deterioration of CaO-SiO2 based mold flux caused by the reaction of steel -slag interface is a bottleneck restricting the high Mn-Al steel continuous casting production efficiently. Therefore, the development of low-reactivity mold flux has become a research hotspot. In this paper, the scheme of high Al2O3 and low SiO2 was adopted to suppress or reduce the occurrence of steel-slag reaction. Drawing binary phase diagram of mold flux based on the CaO–Al2O3 composition, the influence of different solvents on the melting characteristics of the mold flux were investigated and the reasonable mass ratio of CaO/Al2O3 and the content of SiO2, SrO, MgO, Na2O and B2O3 were determined. According to the viscosity and the melting temperature model calculation, the physical property is beneficial for the composition design of low-reactivity mold flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), as a possible probe to extend the Hubble diagram to high redshifts, have attracted much attention recently. In this paper, we select two samples of GRBs that have a plateau phase in X-ray afterglow. One is short GRBs (SGRBs) with plateau phases dominated by magnetic dipole (MD) radiations. The other is long GRBs (LGRBs) with gravitational wave (GW) dominated plateau phases. These GRBs can be well standardized using the correlation between the plateau luminosity L 0 and the end time of plateau tb. The so-called circularity problem is mitigated by using the observational Hubble parameter data and Gaussian process method. The calibrated L 0 – t b correlations are also used to constrain Lambda cold dark matter (ΛCDM) and w (z) = w 0 models. Combining the MD–LGRBs sample from Wang et al. (2021) and the MD–SGRBs sample, we find |$\Omega _{\mathrm{ m}} = 0.33_{-0.09}^{+0.06}$| and ΩΛ = |$1.06_{-0.34}^{+0.15}$| excluding systematic uncertainties in the non-flat ΛCDM model. Adding Type Ia supernovae from Pantheon sample, the best-fitting results are w 0 = |$-1.11_{-0.15}^{+0.11}$| and Ωm = |$0.34_{-0.04}^{+0.05}$| in the w = w 0 model. These results are in agreement with the ΛCDM model. Our result supports that selection of GRBs from the same physical mechanism is crucial for cosmological purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate, in a Chinese population, the performance of a screening strategy for preterm pre-eclampsia (PE) using The Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF)'s competing-risks model and to explore its clinical applicability in mainland China.Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study including 10 899 women with singleton pregnancy who sought prenatal care at one of 13 hospitals, located in seven cities in mainland China, between 1 December 2017 and 30 December 2019. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) and maternal serum levels of placental growth factor (PlGF) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation were measured and converted into multiples of the median using Chinese reference ranges. Individualized risk for preterm PE was calculated using the FMF algorithm. Prior risk was calculated based on maternal demographic characteristics and obstetric history. We evaluated the efficiency of the screening strategy using various combinations of biomarkers and analyzed its predictive performance for a composite of placenta-associated adverse pregnancy outcomes, including PE, placental abruption, small-for-gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth, at fixed false-positive rates for preterm PE.Results: We identified 312 pregnancies that developed PE, of which 117 cases were diagnosed as preterm PE (< 37 weeks' gestation). There were 386 pregnancies complicated by severe composite placenta-associated adverse outcome, including preterm PE, 146 cases of severe SGA (birth weight < 3rd percentile) neonate, 61 cases with placental abruption and 109 cases of early preterm birth < 34 gestational weeks. The triple-marker model containing biomarkers MAP, UtA-PI and PAPP-A achieved, at fixed false-positive rates of 10%, 15% and 20%, detection rates for preterm PE of 65.0%, 72.7% and 76.1%, respectively, and detection rates for severe composite placenta-associated adverse outcome of 34.7%, 41.7% and 46.4%, respectively. Replacing PAPP-A with PlGF or adding PlGF to the model did not improve the performance. Of women screening positive for preterm PE at a fixed 5% false-positive rate, an estimated 30% developed at least one placenta-associated adverse pregnancy outcome, including PE, placental abruption, SGA (birth weight < 10th percentile) and preterm birth < 37 weeks.Conclusions: The FMF competing-risks model for preterm PE was found to be effective in screening a mainland Chinese population. Women who screened positive for preterm PE had increased risk for other placenta-associated pregnancy complications. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We revisit the mechanism of viscous vortex reconnection by considering the collision of vortex rings over a range of initial collision angles and Reynolds numbers. While the overall reconnection process is similar to anti-parallel vortex reconnection, we find that collision angle exerts significant influence over the process, altering the evolution of various global and local quantities. The collision angle primarily manipulates the "pyramid" process, a recently identified stretching mechanism proposed by Moffatt and Kimura ["Towards a finite-time singularity of the Navier-Stokes equations Part 1. Derivation and analysis of dynamical system," J. Fluid Mech., 861, 930–967 (2019)] to be a potential pathway for finite-time singularity of Euler's equations, during the approach stage of the rings. However, the "pyramid" process is short-lived for viscous vortices. The present work shows that the "pyramid" process is arrested by parallelization of the colliding vortices, wherein contact of the colliding vortices halts their motion toward each other at the pyramid apex, allowing the rest of the vortex tube to "catch up," breaking the pyramid structure. Parallelization marks the transition to a second phase of stretching, where the colliding vortices remain parallel. Vorticity amplification from pyramid stretching is significantly stronger than for its parallel counterpart, and is thus the dominant factor determining reconnection properties. Based upon the findings in this study, we conjecture that the parallelization process is the primary mechanism that prevents the finite-time singularity through the pyramid process. Critically, the Reynolds number scaling for the reconnection rate differs depending on the collision angle, which challenges the conjecture of universal Reynolds number scaling in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gravity dams are important infrastructures, and their failure can affect public security. In this work, physical modeling was conducted to determine the dynamic responses and types of damage to gravity dams subjected to underwater explosions. Five tests under different impoundment levels, centrifugal accelerations, standoff distances, detonation depth, and equivalent weights were performed in a centrifuge. The mechanism of dynamic responses of the dam was analyzed. The peak strain and displacement by the shock wave and bubble pulse were both reached when the impulses of the dynamic loads were maximum. Different failure modes and degrees of damage were observed in the tests. When the explosive detonated in shallow water, a more substantial structural bending moment was generated by the shock wave to cause structural failure by bending. When the impoundment level was reduced, the dynamic responses were reduced due to the decrease in shock energy or impulse on the structure. However, new deformation or failure mode can be induced when the impoundment level is lower. Better understanding of the dynamic mechanism and proper control of the impoundment level would be helpful for dam protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the optical pulse response of a superconducting half-wavelength coplanar waveguide (CPW) resonator. We apply a short optical pulse to the center strip of the CPW resonator, where the current distribution shows antinodes or nodes for different resonance modes, and measure the frequency response. We develop a time-dependent variable inductance circuit model with which we can simulate the optical pulse response of the resonator. By fitting this model to experimental data, we extract the temporal kinetic inductance variations, which directly reflect the quasi-particle recombination with time and diffusion in space. We also retrieve the spatial size of the quasi-particle distribution and the quasi-particle diffusion constant. Our study is very useful for the design of photon-counting kinetic inductance detectors, and the method developed in this work provides a useful way to study the quasi-particle dynamics in the superconductor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shortest path problem is an important problem in traffic network analysis, and is also the basis of resource allocation, route design and other optimization problems. In this paper, a method of shortest path generation in urban traffic network considering traffic convenience is proposed. The traffic congestion is analyzed by phase saturation and area saturation. According to the transportation capacity of the intermediate stations in the transportation network, the number of the intermediate stations in the transportation network is calculated, the total passenger flow in the transportation area is obtained, and the starting and ending points of the transportation network are determined. Taking the starting and ending points of the urban transportation network as the nodes of the urban transportation network, the topological structure of the urban transportation network is constructed, and the shortest path generation model of the urban transportation network is established by using the edge sequence search algorithm, the shortest path of urban transportation network considering traffic convenience is generated. The simulation results show that the shortest path generation time of the proposed method is short, the generation accuracy is high, and the highest accuracy is 95%. This method provides a theoretical basis for the effective improvement of traffic congestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A moderate magnitude earthquake with Mw 5.8 occurred on June 17, 2019, in Changning County, Sichuan Province, China, causing 13 deaths, 226 injuries, and serious engineering damage. This earthquake induced heavier damage than earthquakes of similar magnitude. To explain this phenomenon in terms of ground motion characteristics, based on 58 sets of strong ground motions in this earthquake, the peak ground acceleration (PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), acceleration response spectra (Sa), duration, and Arias intensity are analyzed. The results show that the PGA, PGV, and Sa are larger than the predicted values from some global ground motion models. The between-event residuals reveal that the source effects on the intermediate-period and long-period ground motions are stronger than those on short-period ground motions. Comparison of Arias intensity attenuation with the global models indicates that the energy of ground motions of the Changning earthquake is larger than those of earthquakes with the same magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few relevant research attempts have been made to determine heavy metal resistance mechanisms of rhizomatous perennial plants. Thus, it is pertinent to investigate the physiological and biochemical changes in Phragmites australis under metal‐stressed conditions to facilitate the development of strategies to enhance copper (Cu) tolerance.We measured parameters related to plant growth and development, metal translocation and physiological responses of P. australis subjected to Cu stress. In addition, the differentially expressed proteins (DEP) were evaluated using the isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) system.A large amount of copper accumulates in the roots of P.australis, but the growth parameters were not sensitive to Cu. However, the high concentration of Cu reduced the content of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, and the expression of important photosynthesis proteins PsbD, PsbO and PsaA were all down‐regulated, so photosynthesis was inhibited. In contrast, the content of ascorbic acid and proline both increased with the increase of copper stress.P.australis fixed a large amount of Cu in its roots, limiting the migration of Cu to other parts of the plant. Moreover, Cu stress can affect photosynthesis by inhibiting the activity of PSI, PSII and LHCII. In addition, P.australis synthesizes ascorbic acid through the D‐mannose/L‐galactose pathway, and synthesizes proline through the ornithine pathway. Ascorbic acid and proline can increase Cu tolerance and protect photosynthesis. These results provide a theoretical basis for understanding the tolerance and repair mechanisms of plants in response to heavy metal pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) of L10 Fe0.5(Pd1-xPtx)0.5 alloy films with both experiments and first-principles calculations. In the visible region, negative Kerr rotation and ellipticity peaks are, respectively, observed in the regions of 1.5-2.0 eV and 1.7-2.6 eV. These peaks are shifted towards higher energies, and their magnitudes are enhanced for larger x. The MOKE evolution is mainly ascribed to the anomalous Hall conductivity contributed by the spin-down d↓;x2-y2 bands from Pd and Pt. We established a close correlation among the MOKE spectra, the spin orbit coupling strength, and the band feature for this prototypical system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) of L10 Fe0.5(Pd1-xPtx)0.5 alloy films with both experiments and first-principles calculations. In the visible region, negative Kerr rotation and ellipticity peaks are, respectively, observed in the regions of 1.5–2.0 eV and 1.7–2.6 eV. These peaks are shifted towards higher energies, and their magnitudes are enhanced for larger x. The MOKE evolution is mainly ascribed to the anomalous Hall conductivity contributed by the spin-down d↓,x2-y2 bands from Pd and Pt. We established a close correlation among the MOKE spectra, the spin orbit coupling strength, and the band feature for this prototypical system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the heating events in the nascent solar system recorded by rare earth element isotopic fractionation in refractory inclusions. It mentions that equilibrium condensation of solar gas as invoked to explain the abundance of refractory elements in planets and meteorites. It discusses that depletions in both the least and most refractory rare earth elements (REEs) in meteoritic group II calcium-aluminum rich inclusions.

The gravitational potential ϕ = GM / Rc 2 at the surface of the white dwarf G191−B2B is 10 000 times stronger than that at the Earth's surface. Numerous photospheric absorption features are detected, making this a suitable environment to test theories in which the fundamental constants depend on gravity. We have measured the fine-structure constant, α, at the white dwarf surface, used a newly calibrated Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph spectrum of G191−B2B, two new independent sets of laboratory Fe  v wavelengths, and new atomic calculations of the sensitivity parameters that quantify Fe  v wavelength dependency on α. The two results obtained are: Δα/α0 = (6.36 ± 0.35stat ± 1.84sys) × 10−5 and Δα/α0 = (4.21 ± 0.48stat ± 2.25sys) × 10−5. The measurements hint that the fine-structure constant increases slightly in the presence of strong gravitational fields. A comprehensive search for systematic errors is summarized, including possible effects from line misidentifications, line blending, stratification of the white dwarf atmosphere, the quadratic Zeeman effect and electric field effects, photospheric velocity flows, long-range wavelength distortions in the HST spectrum, and variations in the relative Fe isotopic abundances. None fully account for the observed deviation but the systematic uncertainties are heavily dominated by laboratory wavelength measurement precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Food allergy is related to increasing risk of the development of allergic asthma, but the precise interplay between sensitization to different allergens in different compartments of the body is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to develop a novel humanized murine model of mixed food and respiratory allergy that recapitulates the human anaphylactic response and to more clearly understand the impact of food allergies on asthma. Immunodeficient mice transferred with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from donors with peanut and house dust mite (HDM) allergy were exposed and challenged to peanut. Between peanut exposure and challenge, mice were intranasally treated to HDM. Allergic parameters were analyzed. Allergen‐specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E in sera could only be measured in mice treated with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) plus allergen. A preceding peanut exposure increased IgE levels, histamine release, bronchial hyper‐responsiveness and lung inflammation. Recruitment of inflammatory cells to the airways was aggravated associated with an enhanced T helper type 2 (Th2)/Th17 cytokine secretion when the two allergies were present. A preceding peanut exposure amplifies allergic asthma in this humanized model, which may contribute to the understanding of underlying immunological mechanism of polysensitization occurring in allergic individuals and evaluation of therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-dimensional carbon allotropes have attracted much attention due to their great potential for applications in future electronic and magnetic devices. Recently, new graphene-like nanoribbons consisting of four-, six-, and eight-membered carbon rings have been synthesized successfully, and a related two-dimensional structure net-Y was subsequently proposed. Here, we report theoretical investigations on the structural stability and magneto-electronic properties for the net-Y armchair nanoribbons doped with low-concentration transition metal (TM) atoms (Mn, Ni, Fe, Co, and V), especially focusing on their electric-magnetic and mechano-magnetic coupling effects. The calculated binding energy and molecular dynamics simulation confirm that all these ribbons hold a high stability. Particularly, by TM-doping, the intrinsic non-magnetic semiconducting ribbon can be converted to a bipolar magnetic semiconductor (BMS), a half metal (HM), or a spin-degenerate magnetic semiconductor (MSC), presenting rich magnetic features. Meanwhile, this magnetism is flexibly tunable by the transverse electric field or stretched strain. For example, a low electric field can transform the ribbon into the HM phase, and the mechanic strain can realize a continuous magnetic phase transition among BMS, magnetic metal (MS), MSC, HM, and half semiconductor. These findings indicate that the TM-doped net-Y ribbon possesses favorable magnetism, which might have promising applications in magnetic nanodevices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the cosmic anisotropy from the SN-Q sample, consisting of the Pantheon sample and quasars, by employing the hemisphere comparison (HC) method and the dipole fitting (DF) method. Compared to the Pantheon sample, the new sample has a larger redshift range, a more homogeneous distribution, and a larger sample size. For the HC method, we find that the maximum anisotropy level is ALmax = 0.142 ± 0.026 in the direction (l, b) = (316.08°−129.48+27.41 316.08 ° − 129.48 + 27.41 $ {316.08^\circ}^{+27.41}_{-129.48} $ , 4.53°−64.06+26.29 4.53 ° − 64.06 + 26.29 $ {4.53^\circ}^{+26.29}_{-64.06} $). The magnitude of anisotropy is A = (−8.46 −5.51+4.34 − 5.51 + 4.34 $ ^{+4.34}_{-5.51} $) × 10−4 and the corresponding preferred direction points toward (l, b) = (29.31°−30.54+30.59 29.31 ° − 30.54 + 30.59 $ {29.31^\circ}^{+30.59}_{-30.54} $ , 71.40°−9.72+9.79 71.40 ° − 9.72 + 9.79 $ {71.40^\circ}^{+9.79}_{-9.72} $) for the quasar sample from the DF method. The combined SN and quasar sample is consistent with the isotropy hypothesis. The distribution of the dataset might impact the preferred direction from the dipole results. The result is weakly dependent on the redshift from the redshift tomography analysis. There is no evidence of cosmic anisotropy in the SN-Q sample. Though some results obtained from the quasar sample are not consistent with the standard cosmological model, we still do not find any distinct evidence of cosmic anisotropy in the SN-Q sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are identified as moderate, which is defined as having a fever or dry cough and lung imaging with ground-glass opacities. The risk factors and predictors of prognosis in such cohorts remain uncertain. All adults with COVID-19 of moderate severity diagnosed using quantitative RT-PCR and hospitalized at the Central Hospital of Wuhan, China, from 1 January to 20 March 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The main outcomes were progression from moderate to severe or critical condition or death. Among the 456 enrolled patients with moderate COVID-19, 251/456 (55.0%) had poor prognosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified higher neutrophil count: lymphocyte count ratio (NLR) on admission (OR 1.032, 95% CI 1.042–1.230, p 0.004) and higher C-reactive protein (CRP) on admission (OR 3.017, 95% CI 1.941–4.690, p < 0.001) were associated with increased OR of poor prognosis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for NLR and CRP in predicting progression to critical condition was 0.77 (95% CI 0.694–0.846, p < 0.001) and 0.84 (95% CI 0.780–0.905, p < 0.001), with a cut-off value of 2.79 and 25.95 mg/L, respectively. The AUC of NLR and CRP in predicting death was 0.81 (95% CI 0.732–0.878, p < 0.001) and 0.89 (95% CI 0.825–0.946, p < 0.001), with a cut-off value of 3.19 and 33.4 mg/L, respectively. Higher levels of NLR and CRP at admission were associated with poor prognosis of individuals with moderate COVID-19. NLR and CRP were good predictors of progression to critical condition and death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the automatic detection method of hyperthyroidism based on the deep learning of the modified LeNet-5 network and to establish a detection method with higher precision and better performance, a total of 180 facial images of patients with hyperthyroidism in the ultrasound imaging department of the HwaMei hospital were collected as well as 180 facial images of healthy persons were collected to serve as the control group. A method was proposed for the detection of hyperthyroidism based on the modified LeNet-5. Three test groups were designed by randomized controlled experiment design for the detection of hyperthyroidism, in which the control group was tested manually by experienced doctors, the LeNet-5 network learning group adopted the classical LeNet-5 network learning algorithm and the experimental group used the modified LeNet-5 network learning algorithm. Evaluation indices included the accuracy, detection efficiency, sensitivity, specificity and F1 score of the detection. At the same time, differences between the two algorithms in the detection of thyroid nodules were compared. There was no significant difference between the 3 groups in the accuracy and specificity of detection of hyperthyroidism. In terms of the detection efficiency and sensitivity, the performance of the network learning algorithm group and learning group was better than that of the control group. Both the network learning algorithm group and experimental group could detect the thyroid nodules accurately, but there was no significant difference in the accuracy of detecting the type of thyroid nodules. The correct rate of malignant thyroid nodules was significantly higher than that of the benign thyroid nodules. The modified LeNet-5 network algorithm showed acceptable consistency with experienced doctors in the detection of hyperthyroidism, and this method was useful for the exclusion of thyroid malignant tumours and can be used as a simple method to exclude and identify malignant thyroid tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China has had about 1.2 billion mobile-phone users, and this number continues to grow. However, mobile-health services (mHealth) are currently in the initial stage, and have not yet prevailed in China. Additionally, the prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) in China is 1700/100,000 (≥65 years). Indeed, these PD patients would benefit from mHealth to manage their disease. Therefore, we designed a study to determine attitudes toward smartphone applications (apps) for chronic condition self-management, and to discover the practicality of these apps among PD patients in China.Methods: We selected 204 participants with PD between 52 and 87 years old and surveyed their attitudes concerning the use of smartphone apps for chronic condition management via questionnaires.Results: Among the participants, 65.19% had smartphones. Among these smartphone users, 82.84% expressed a preference for using apps for PD management. This group tended to be younger and more frequent web users with higher education and better medication compliance, and they tended to have a longer PD course and worse conditions (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.041, P < 0.001, P = 0.013). Additionally, the willingness to apply apps for PD self-management was positively related to education (P < 0.001) and negatively related to age and PD course (P = 0.017, P < 0.001).Conclusion: In China, patients with PD have a generally positive attitude towards self-management through smartphone apps. Consequently, improving the coverage of smartphones with practical and handy apps is a promising strategy for PD self-management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an effective energy-absorbing cable, constant resistance large deformation (CRLD) cables have been widely applied in rock engineering projects; however, to the best of our knowledge, its interaction mechanism with the surrounding rock has never been studied. According to previous practical projects, the CRLD cable–rock interaction differs from that of conventional cables because of the tubular expansion during the CRLD process, and it influences the performance of the cable reinforcement system. Therefore, an attempt was made to investigate the characteristics of the CRLD cable–rock interaction under static pull-out loading by using a coupled numerical method. The structure of the CRLD cable was modelled via the finite-difference method, and the surrounding rock was modelled via the discrete-element method. The micro-parameters of the surrounding rock were carefully calibrated, and the macro-parameters of the CRLD cable were verified by comparing them with a corresponding experimental test in the laboratory. The numerical results were carefully analysed. The constant resistance forces of a single CRLD cable and a CRLD cable reinforcement system were compared. The distribution of the normal and shearing stresses on the cable–rock interface was obtained, and the evolution mode of the pull-out strength was examined. In addition, the failure mode of the grouting material and surrounding rock was studied on a micro-scale. The findings describe the interaction of the CRLD cable against the surrounding rock, reveal its special anchorage mechanism, and can be used to predict and improve the performance of the CRLD cable reinforcement system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control of impurities, fuel recycling and hydrogen content by lithium evaporative coatings and real-time lithium powder injection (LPI) in EAST are studied for high performance H-mode discharges of up to ∼100 s. The results show that the lithium evaporative coatings significantly reduced both the low-Z impurity carbon and high-Z impurity tungsten as well as molybdenum concentration in the plasmas, and the impurities concentration significantly reduced with the accumulated lithium coatings and maintained well afterwards. Specifically the high-Z tungsten core impurity concentration was maintained between 3 ppm–15 ppm during the 101 s H-mode discharge, which is acceptable for the long pulse operation. In addition, real-time wall conditioning via LPI successfully reduced the core high-Z metal impurities by 50% during ∼35 s long pulse H-mode discharge, exhibiting strong compatibility between real-time LPI with long pulse discharges. In addition, evaporative lithium coatings demonstrated fuel recycling control, with fuel recycling obviously reducing with lithium coatings and maintaining well afterwards. Also, the lithium evaporative coatings reduced the hydrogen minority species content, represented by the density ratio H/(H + D), from ∼50% down to ∼5% with accumulated lithium coatings; low hydrogen fraction improved the ICRF minority heating efficiency. Finally the real-time LPI reduced the recycling coefficient Rglobal from 0.95 to 0.82. With these wall conditionings help, the plasma density controlled well during the 101 s long pulse H-mode discharge. These results provide valuable references on impurities, fuel recycling and hydrogen content control for future longer pulse high performance H-mode operation (≥400 s) in EAST and future fusion devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the dynamic behavior of bed-load sediments under unsteady flow conditions is experimentally investigated and discussed. A series of experiments were conducted in a 6-m-long laboratory flume with naturally shaped hydrographs, and a video technique was applied to simultaneously monitor the bed-load motion and variations in the water level. Analysis of the experimental results demonstrated that the flow unsteadiness contributes to easier entrainment of the bed load, and the effect on the bed-load behavior decreases with an increase in the hydrograph duration. A further analysis revealed that the time lag between the occurrence of the peak discharge and that of the peak sediment transport rate is related to the base flow, and the bed-shear-stress peak triggers the bed-load transport peak. An unsteadiness parameter is proposed to account for the influence of the bed-load incipient. The regression analysis indicates a strong linear relationship between the bed-load transport and the unsteadiness parameters, which can be used for the estimation of the bed-load motion in the unsteady flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new complex [(p-Cymene)Ru(S2C2B10H9)(CH2CCH(OH)Fc)]2 · 0.5H2O (Fc = ferrocenyl) based on the 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-1,2-dithiolate ligand and FcCH(OH)C≡CH has been synthesized successfully and characterized by IR, NMR, MS, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, in which the alkyne is inserted into one of the Ru–S bonds that may further lead to metal-induced B‒H activation, hydrogen atom transfer from the carborane via the metal center to the inserted alkyne, and the generation of a Ru–B bond. The complex crystallizes in triclinic system, space group with a = 12.7329(5), b = 13.8422(5), c = 20.0796(7) Å, α = 87.249(3)°, β = 89.311(3)°, γ = 62.961(4)°, C50H73B20O2.5S4Fe2Ru2, Mr = 1372.37, V = 3148.39(19) Å3, ρc = 1.448 g/cm3, Z = 1, F(000) = 1394, µ(MoKα) = 1.094 mm–1, R = 0.0473 and ωR = 0.0990 for 9294 observed reflections (I > 2σ(I)). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning has been widely applied in many areas, with promising results and large potential. In this article, deep reinforcement learning-based irrigation scheduling is proposed. This approach can automate the irrigation process and can achieve highly precise water application that results in higher simulated net return. Using this approach, the irrigation controller can automatically determine the optimal or near-optimal water application amount. Traditional reinforcement learning can be superior to traditional periodic and threshold-based irrigation scheduling. However, traditional reinforcement learning fails to accurately represent a real-world irrigation environment due to its limited state space. Compared with traditional reinforcement learning, the deep reinforcement learning method can better model a real-world environment based on multi-dimensional observations. Simulations for various weather conditions and crop types show that the proposed deep reinforcement learning irrigation scheduling can increase net return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) is a modern 3D Computed Tomography X-ray technique for the early detection of breast tumors, which is receiving growing interest in the medical and scientific community. Since DBT performs incomplete sampling of data, the image reconstruction approaches based on iterative methods are preferable to the classical analytic techniques, such as the Filtered Back Projection algorithm, providing fewer artifacts. In this work, we consider a Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction (MBIR) method well suited to describe the DBT data acquisition process and to include prior information on the reconstructed image. We propose a gradient-based solver named Scaled Gradient Projection (SGP) for the solution of the constrained optimization problem arising in the considered MBIR method. Even if the SGP algorithm exhibits fast convergence, the time required on a serial computer for the reconstruction of a real DBT data set is too long for the clinical needs. In this paper we propose a parallel SGP version designed to perform the most expensive computations of each iteration on Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). We apply the proposed parallel approach on three different GPU boards, with computational performance comparable with that of the boards usually installed in commercial DBT systems. The numerical results show that the proposed GPU-based MBIR method provides accurate reconstructions in a time suitable for clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C60 nanotubes with diameters of smaller than 500 nm are fabricated by a modified liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method. In situ angle dispersive synchrotron x ray diffraction and Raman scattering under pressures have been employed to study the structure evolution of the C60 nanotubes. The experimental results indicate that there is a pressure induced irreversible amorphization at 40.1 GPa. An isostructural phase transition occurs in the pressure range of 9.29-12.2 GPa, which is probably relative to the changes in the bonding type of C60 nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]