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Laser powder bed fused (LPBFed) AlSi10Mg is recognised for its superior mechanical properties. However, its thermal stability has never been justified. Herein, we exposed as-built AlSi10Mg to different temperatures (200-500°C) for only 3 min to evaluate its thermal stability. Results showed that LPBFed AlSi10Mg had relatively low thermal stability. Only 3 min of thermal exposure at 200°C would deteriorate its tensile strength dramatically. Microstructural analysis revealed that with increasing thermal input, as-built AlSi10Mg exhibited a microstructural evolution similar to annealing of cold-worked metals, namely recovery, recrystallisation followed by grain-growth. The excessive energy stored in as-built microstructure due to fast cooling during LPBF was deduced as the driving force for this phenomenon. Therefore, such microstructural change was at the expense of dislocations stored in the as-built material, which in turn caused deterioration in tensile strength. The present findings may provide guidance for the application of LPBFed AlSi10Mg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diglyphus Walker, 1844 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an economically important genus including species acting as biocontrol agents against agromyzid leafminer pests. A new species of Diglyphus, Diglyphus difasciatus Liu, Hansson & Wan, sp. nov., was discovered during the identification of agromyzid leafminers and their associated parasitoid wasps collected from 2016 to 2022 in China, based on morphological characteristics and molecular analyses of COI, ITS2 and 28S genes. Diglyphus difasciatus is similar to D. bimaculatus Zhu, LaSalle & Huang, distinguished by two interconnected infuscate vertical bands on the fore wing and the color of the scape. Molecular data support D. difasciatus and D. bimaculatus as two different species. The mean genetic distances between D. difasciatus and D. bimaculatus were 11.33%, 8.62%, and 0.18%, based on the COI, ITS2, and 28S genes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the existence and qualitative properties of multiscale steady vortex patches for Euler equations in a 2D bounded domain. By considering certain maximization problems for the vorticity, we obtain the existence of double vortex patches which are trapped in a neighborhood of two points. Limiting localizations of these two points are determined by the Robin function and the boundary of the domain, rather than critical points of the Kirchhoff--Routh function H2, which is quite different from all the known results. Moreover, the strengths of two components of vorticity are of different order. Multiscale vortex patches concentrating near k points are also constructed for any integer k ̥ 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we prove nonlinear orbital stability for steady vortex patches that maximize the kinetic energy among isovortical rearrangements in a planar bounded domain. As a result, nonlinear stability for an isolated vortex patch is proved. The proof is based on conservation of energy and vorticity, which is an analogue of the classical Liapunov function method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new lanthanide coordination polymers, [H3O][Ln3(HPA)10(H2O)3·2H2O] (Ln = Pr for 1, Ln = Nd for 2), [Ln2(HPA)6(H2O)4·2H2O] (Ln = Sm for 3, Ln = Tb for 4) (HHPA =3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid), were successfully synthesized and characterized. 1 and 2 are isostructural and have 1D metal chain structure, while 3 and 4 show 0D network with binuclear subunits. The results indicated that the effect of reaction temperature can modulate the final structures. The HPA ligands adopt bidentate chelating and tridentate chelating bridging modes to coordinate with Ln(III) ions in 1-4. It has been shown that 4 can act as a fluorescent sensor for highly sensitive detection of nitroaromatics and Fe3+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the effects of three amino acids, which are glutamic acid (Glu), lysine (Lys), and glycine (Gly), on the pasting and short-term retrogradation properties of rice starch (RS) were studied. The mechanism of amino acids affecting the pasting and short-term retrogradation properties of starch was further examined based on the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method. It was revealed that the addition of Glu and Lys decreased the peak viscosity and increased the pasting temperature of RS, while Gly showed little or no obvious effect on the pasting property of RS. FTIR and X-ray diffraction data showed that short-term retrogradation of rice starch gels were restrained by supplement of Gly, Lys, and Glu. MD simulations indicated that compared to Gly, Glu, and Lys had better abilities to obstruct the pasting of starch system and delayed its short-term retrogradation. The observed results of RVA, XRD, and FTIR showed different effects of the three amino acids (Glu, Lys, and Gly) on the pasting and short-term retrogradation properties of rice starch, which corresponded to the calculation of the molecular dynamics. Furthermore, the result indicates the feasibility of predicting the behavior of amino acids and starch fractions in water based on the MD simulation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucocorticoid‑induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) is expressed at high levels on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Following activation by its ligand (GITRL), GITR influences the activity of effector T cells and Tregs and participates in the development of numerous autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including asthma. However, the GITR/GITRL expression level in lung tissue and its influence on group 2 innate lymphocytes (ILC2s) in asthma remains unclear. The present study detected the number of ILC2s and the expression levels of GITR and GITRL in the lung tissues of asthmatic mice by flow cytometry analysis, immunofluorescence staining and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results demonstrated that the number of ILC2s and the expression levels of ILC2‑associated molecules (interleukin‑33 receptor ST2, RAR related orphan receptor A and inducible T cell costimulator) were increased in the lung tissues of asthmatic mice. The upregulated ILC2s were accompanied by an increased number of GITR‑positive cells in the spleen and lung tissues, and additionally an increased level of GITRL mRNA in lung tissue in asthma. In addition, increased mRNA expression levels of interleukin (IL)‑5 and IL‑13 were observed in the asthmatic lung, and there was a significant, positive correlation between the mRNA levels of GITR/GITRL and ILC2‑associated molecules. Therefore, GITRL treatment may increase the number of ILC2s and/or GITR‑positive cells in lung tissue. These results indicated that the activity of GITR‑expressing ILC2s may be enhanced via interaction of GITRL and GITR, which may contribute to pathogenesis of asthma. These findings present potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Absolute orientation is an important method in the field of photogrammetry. The technique is used to transform points between a local coordinate reference system and a global (geodetic) reference system. The classical transformation method uses a single set of similarity transformation parameters. However, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the classical method is large, especially for large-scale aerial photogrammetry analyses in which the points used are triangulated through free-net bundle adjustment. To improve the transformation accuracy, this study proposes a novel absolute orientation method in which the transformation uses various sets of local similarities. A Triangular Irregular Network (TIN) model is applied to divide the Ground Control Points (GCPs) into numerous triangles. Local similarities can then be computed using the three vertices of each triangle. These local similarities are combined to formulate the new transformation based on a weighting function. Both simulated and real data sets were used to assess the accuracy of the proposed method. The proposed method yields significantly improved plane and z-direction transformed point accuracies compared with the classical method. On a real data set with a mapping scale of 1:30,000 for a 53 km × 35 km study area, the plane and z RMSEs can be reduced from 1.2 m and 12.4 m to 0.4 m and 3.2 m, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress has consistently been linked to breast carcinogenesis, and mitochondria play a significant role in regulating reactive oxygen species generation. In our previous study, we found that increased levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and the presence of mitochondrial length heteroplasmies in the hypervariable (HV) regions 1 and 2 (HV1 and HV2) in peripheral blood are associated with increased risk of breast cancer. In current study with 1000 breast cancer cases and 1000 healthy controls, we intended to replicate our previous findings. Overall, levels of mtDNA copy number were significantly higher in breast cancer cases than healthy controls (mean: 1.17 versus 0.94, P < 0.001). In the multivariate linear regression analysis, increased mtDNA copy number levels were associated with a 1.32-fold increased risk of breast cancer [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15-1.67]. Breast cancer cases were more likely to have HV1 and HV2 region length heteroplasmies than healthy controls (P < 0.001, respectively). The existence of HV1 and HV2 length heteroplasmies was associated with 2.01- and 1.63-folds increased risk of breast cancer (for HV1: OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.66-2.42; for HV2: OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.34-1.92). Additionally, joint effects among mtDNA copy number, HV1 and HV2 length heteroplasmies were observed. Our results are consistent with our previous findings and further support the roles of mtDNA copy number and mtDNA length heteroplasmies that may play in the development of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Due to the significant luminescent properties of ZnS and the half metallic features of Cr doped ZnS (Zn0.75Cr0.25S), many researches have been done to make possible the use of these materials in optical and spintronic devices. The environmental conditions, such as, high pressure and high temperature, are crucial for the device service, however, it is difficult to exploit this issue from the experimental aspect. Therefore, spin-polarized first-principle calculations were performed to study the structural stability, band structure and magnetic properties of zincblende ZnS and Zn0.75Cr0.25S under pressure. It is shown that ZnS can exist stably under pressure up to 10GPa, while Zn0.75Cr0.25S becomes unstable under a pressure of 5GPa or so. The bulk modulus (BH ), Poisson ratio (v) and anisotropic parameter (A) of ZnS and Zn0.75Cr0.25S increase with pressure, but the shear modulus (GH ) decreases. BH and GH of Zn0.75Cr0.25S are smaller than those of ZnS, while v and A of Zn0.75Cr0.25S are larger than those of ZnS. Both ZnS and Zn0.75Cr0.25S behave in a ductile manner, while Zn0.75Cr0.25S is more anisotropic and is easier to induce deformation than ZnS. As for ZnS, the direct band structure is kept but the band gap increases gradually with the pressure. As for Zn0.75Cr0.25S, the half metallic features are maintained up to a pressure of 10GPa, but both the band gap for minority spin and the half metallic band gap have the largest values under 6Pa. The spin exchange splitting energy Δ x (d) and Δ x (pd) decrease with the increase of pressure. The negative values of Δ x (pd) under pressure imply that the effective potential (Eep ) of the minority spin is more attractive than that of majority spin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Using the first-principle method, the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Zn0.75Cr0.25M (M=S, Se, Te) have been investigated. The calculated formation energy and cohesive energy of Zn0.75Cr0.25M are negative and the absolute values of them decrease with the increase of atomic radius as well as the electronegativity of the anions. Zn0.75Cr0.25M display half-metallic characteristics with energy band gaps of 1.06, 0.65 and 0.83eV, respectively. The conventional gaps for minority spin are 2.91, 2.16 and 1.75eV for Zn0.75Cr0.25S, Zn0.75Cr0.25Se and Zn0.75Cr0.25Te respectively, which decrease with the increase of anion radius successively, similar to that observed in the binary compounds of ZnM. For all the three materials, exchange splitting energies due to the effect of Cr 3d state are negative, implying that the effective potential is more attractive for minority spin than that for majority spin, and the absolute value of decreases with the increase of atomic radius of anions. The calculated positive values of suggest interactions between Zn-s and Cr-3d states are repulsive, while the negative values of show that p–d interactions at the valence band are more attractive. All these conclusions demonstrate that Zn0.75Cr0.25M are promising candidates for practical applications in spintronics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Low density ZnO nanorods are grown by modified chemical vapor deposition on silicon substrates using gold as a catalyst. We use high resolution photoluminescence spectroscopy to gain the optical properties of these nanorods in large scale. The as-grown samples show sharp near-band-gap luminescence with a full width at half maximum of bound exciton peaks at about 300 &mgr;eV the ratio of ultraviolet/yellow luminescence larger than 100. Highly spatial and spectral resolved scanning electron microscope-cathodoluminescence is performed to excite the ZnO nanorods in single rods or different positions of single rods with the vapour-solid growth mechanism. The bottom of the nanorod has a 3.31-eV luminescence, which indicates that basal plane stacking faults are related to the defects that are created at the first stage of growth due to the misfit between ZnO and Si. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The band alignment of a (0001)CdS/CdTe heterojunction is in situ studied by synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy (SRPES). The heterojunction is formed through stepwise deposition of a CdTe film on a wurtzite (0001)CdS single crystalline substrate via molecular beam epitaxy. CdS shows an upward band bending of 0.55 eV, the valence band offset ΔEv is calculated to be 0.65 eV and the conduction band offset ΔEc is 0.31 eV. The interfacial band alignment is sketched to display type-I band alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mast cells are critical for various allergic disorders. Mast cells express Src family kinases, which relay positive and negative regulatory signals by Ag. Lyn, for example, initiates activating signaling events, but it also induces inhibitory signals. Fyn and Hck are reported to be positive regulators, but little is known about the roles of other Src kinases, including Fgr, in mast cells. In this study, we define the role of Fgr. Endogenous Fgr associates with FcεRI and promotes phosphorylation of Syk, Syk substrates, which include linkers for activation of T cells, SLP76, and Gab2, and downstream targets such as Akt and the MAPKs in Ag-stimulated mast cells. As a consequence, Fgr positively regulates degranulation, production of eicosanoids, and cytokines. Fgr and Fyn appeared to act in concert, as phosphorylation of Syk and degranulation are enhanced by overexpression of Fgr and further augmented by overexpression of Fyn but are suppressed by overexpression of Lyn. Moreover, knockdown of Fgr by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) further suppressed degranulation in Fyn-deficient bone marrow-derived mast cells. Overexpression of Fyn or Fgr restored phosphorylation of Syk and partially restored degranulation in Fyn-deficient cells. Additionally, knockdown of Fgr by siRNAs inhibited association of Syk with FcεRIγ as well as the tyrosine phosphorylation of FcεRIγ. Of note, the injection of Fgr siRNAs diminished the protein level of Fgr in mice and simultaneously inhibited IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. In conclusion, Fgr positively regulates mast cell through activation of Syk. These findings help clarify the interplay among Src family kinases and identify Fgr as a potential therapeutic target for allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To observe the Te inclusions distribution along the axial direction of CdZnTe ingots, batches of as-grown detector-grade CdZnTe crystals grown by vertical Bridgman method, were investigated using IR transmission imaging. However, there is not a rigorous regularity for the micron-scale Te inclusions distribution along the axial direction of CdZnTe ingots according to the measurements of the present investigation. The size and distribution variations of Te inclusions are attributed to the growth velocity, furnace temperature situation and morphological changes at the liquid-solid interface during crystal growth. Electron mobility lifetime products were discussed in conjunction with Te inclusions. However, no strict correlations are identified between the sizes and concentrations of Te inclusions and the γ-ray spectroscopy response. Extended defects in CdZnTe crystals, which are not visible via IR transmission imaging, potentially attribute to CdZnTe detectors performance degrades. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The vibrational Raman spectra of cadmium manganese telluride (Cd1−x Mn x Te, CMT) were investigated in the range of 100–400cm−1 at room temperature. The dominant peaks at 140 and 161cm−1 were identified as transverse optic (TO) mode and longitudinal optic (LO) mode of “CdTe-like”, while the emission peak at 124cm−1 was attributed to Te precipitates. The Te precipitates in CMT crystals were further investigated by field scanning electron microscope (FSEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. The results showed that the Te precipitates were the monoclinic phase with cell parameters of a =0.3104nm, b =0.789nm, c =0.4683 and β =92.71°. The orientational relationship between Te precipitate and the matrix was determined to be . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Mast cells are responsible for IgE-mediated allergic responses. Although dietary flavonoid morin has been known to suppress mast cell activation, its in vivo anti-allergic activity and the underlying mechanisms remain are largely unknown. In this study, we determine whether morin suppresses IgE-mediated allergic responses in an animal model and its mechanism of action. Morin suppressed IgE-mediated PCA in mice (ED50 23.9mg/kg) and inhibited degranulation and production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-4 in antigen (Ag)-stimulated mast cells. The mechanism of action was a follows. Morin inhibited the activating phosphorylation of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) and linker for activation of T cells (LAT) in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells and bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). Akt and the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were inhibited as well. In vitro kinase assay indicated that Fyn kinase, not Lyn and Syk, was inhibited by morin in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 5.7μM). In conclusion, the results suggest that morin suppresses the IgE-mediated allergic response by primarily inhibiting Fyn kinase in mast cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper investigates two weighted least squares (WLS) approaches to the problem of load estimation (LE) in unbalanced power distribution networks: 1) the WLS load parameter method in [3] is restated more rigorously and 2) a constrained distribution state estimation (DSE)-based method is introduced to consider operating and loading constraints. Detailed simulation results on 394-bus radial and weakly meshed power distribution systems are evaluated through four error indices proposed in [15]. The results of both methods are compared and discussed. Observability issues are also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the characterization of the human lung CYP2F1 gene and identification of a novel lung-specific binding motif. Ability of the gene to encode a cytochrome p-450 enzyme capable of bioactivating a number of pulmonary selective toxicants; Mechanisms governing the unique tissue-specific regulation of the gene; Sequencing of cosmid and bacterial artificial chromosomes.

This paper investigates the problem of load estimation in unbalanced, radial power-distribution networks. The problem is formulated as a weighted l[sub ∞]-estimation problem with equality and inequality constraints. Properties of the measurement Jacobian are exploited to develop a solution algorithm that decomposes the network into several smaller zones. Detailed tests on a 20-bus, unbalanced, radial distribution network are presented with promising results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-sensing actuators use a single piezoelectric element as actuators and sensors simultaneously. This paper proposes the asymmetric indirect-driven self-sensing actuation (AIDSSA) circuit to realize the concept of self-sensing in piezoelectric-actuated systems. Unlike traditional circuits relying on differential amplifiers, the AIDSSA circuit is constructed with only op-amps and uses negative feedback to reject the common-mode interferences from the control command. The new circuit requires simpler conditions of component matching and is able to sense the mechanical responses with a uniform gain and without a phase lag. The actuator is able to achieve full-stroke actuation while sensing is performed, because AIDSSA introduces no undesirable dynamics into the control loop. For the first time, the sensing and actuation transfer functions in self-sensing actuators have become fully decoupled at all frequencies. The investigation takes the form of an industrial application of hard disk drives, and demonstrates the usefulness the circuit in complex positioning systems. Experimental results show that the position error variance, a measure of disturbance rejection capability, has been improved by about 15% in the track-following mode relative to the same servo before modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments worldwide have announced stimulus packages to remobilize the labor force after COVID-19 and therefore to cope with the COVID-19-related recession. However, it is still unclear how to facilitate large-scale work resumption. This paper aims to clarify the issue by analyzing the large-scale prefecture-level dataset of human mobility trajectory information for 320 million workers and about 500,000 policy documents in China. We model work resumption as a collective behavioral change due to configurations of capacity, motivation, and policy instruments by using qualitative comparative analysis. We find that the effectiveness of post-COVID-19 recovery stimulus varied across China depending on the fiscal and administrative capacity and the policy motivation of the prefecture. Subnational fiscal and procurement policies were more effective for the wholesale and retail sector and the hotel and catering sector, whereas the manufacturing and business services sectors required more effort regarding employment policies. Due to limited prefectural capacity and wavering policy motivation, the simultaneous adoption of fiscal, employment, and procurement policy interventions endangered post-COVID-19 work resumption. We highlight the necessity of tailored postcrisis recovery strategies based on local fiscal and administrative capacity and the sectoral structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ab initio calculations on the ground and low-lying excited states (X2Σ+, 22Σ+, 32Σ+, 14Π, 24Π, 14Σ+, 24Σ+, and 34Σ+) of KBe molecule have been performed using multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) plus Davidson corrections (MRCI+Q) approach with all electron basis set aug-cc-pCV5Z-DK for Be and def2-AQZVPP-JKFI for K. The 32Σ+, 14Π, 24Π, 14Σ+, 24Σ+, and 34Σ+ states are investigated for the first time. Inner shell electron correlations are computed on the potential energy curves (PECs) calculations. The spectroscopic and molecular parameters are also predicted. In addition, The transition properties including transition dipole moment, Franck–Condon factors qυ′υ″, Einstein coefficients Aυ′υ″, and the radiative lifetimes τυ′ for the , , and transitions are predicted at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of de-trapping on the carrier transport process in the CdZnTe detector is studied by laser beam-induced transient current (LBIC) measurement. Trapping time, de-trapping time, and mobility for electrons are determined directly from transient waveforms under various bias voltages. The results suggest that an electric field strengthens the capture and emission effects in trap center, which is associated with field-assisted capture and the Poole–Frenkel effect, respectively. The electron mobility is calculated to be 950 cm2/V·s and the corresponding electron mobility-lifetime product is found to be 1.32×10−3 cm2/V by a modified Hecht equation with considering the surface recombination effect. It is concluded that the trapping time and de-trapping time obtained from LBIC measurement provide direct information concerning the transport process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of air-cooled units is significantly affected by meteorological conditions because they use the ambient air directly as the cooling medium. The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of air-cooled units on grid stability under extreme meteorological conditions. Based on the characteristics of air-cooled units, cooling air face velocity and temperature are two main meteorological factors taken into consideration. A dynamic model of the air-cooled units is developed. Since grid frequency is a representation of grid stability, the above model is then applied to a mathematical model to analyse the primary frequency regulation process of a grid. A coefficient to measure the primary frequency regulation ability (PFRA) is defined and the calculation of PFRA is put forward. To increase the reliability of the study, the performance of the grid under different meteorological conditions is also studied in frequency domain. Case studies under generator tripping and steep load rising conditions are studied. The corresponding PFRA and the maximum capacity proportion of air-cooled units are calculated. This study provides a constructive guide for the operation of air-cooled units under different meteorological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of STING signaling in DCs promotes antitumor immunity. Aerobic glycolysis is a metabolic hallmark of activated DCs, but how the glycolytic pathway intersects with STING signaling in tumor-infiltrating DCs remains elusive. Here, we show that glycolysis drives STING signaling to facilitate DC-mediated antitumor immune responses. Tumor-infiltrating DCs exhibited elevated glycolysis, and blockade of glycolysis by DC-specific Ldha/Ldhb double deletion resulted in defective antitumor immunity. Mechanistically, glycolysis augmented ATP production to boost STING activation and STING-dependent DC antitumor functions. Moreover, DC-intrinsic STING activation accelerated HIF-1α–mediated glycolysis and established a positive feedback loop. Importantly, glycolysis facilitated STING-dependent DC activity in tissue samples from patients with non–small cell lung cancer. Our results provide mechanistic insight into how the crosstalk of glycolytic metabolism and STING signaling enhances DC antitumor activity and can be harnessed to improve cancer therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To explore the current situation, existing problems and possible causes of said problems with regards to physician-nurse communication under an environment of increasingly widespread usage of Hospital Information Systems and to seek out new potential strategies in information technology to improve physician-nurse communication.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 physicians and nurses in five leading tertiary grade A hospitals in Beijing, China (two physicians and two nurses in each hospital). The interviews primarily included three aspects comprising the current situation and problems of clinical physician-nurse communication, the application and problems of Hospital Information Systems, and assessments on the improvement of physician-nurse communication through the usage of information technology. The inductive conventional content analysis approach was employed.Results: (1) Physicians and nurses are generally quite satisfied with the current situation of communication. However, the information needs of nurses are prone to being overlooked, and the communication methods are primarily synchronous communication such as face-to-face and phone communication. (2) Hospital Information Systems are gradually being used for physician-nurse communication; in the meantime, physicians and nurses face challenges with regards to the improvement of physician-nurse communication through the usage of information technology. Challenges differ based on the different stages of using the system and the different levels of understanding of physicians and nurses towards information technology. Their dissatisfaction mainly deals with system errors and the level of convenience in using the system. (3) In-depth interviews found that in general, physicians and nurses have a strong interest and trust in improving physician-nurse communication through appropriate information technology, e.g., communication methods such as information reminders for physicians and nurses through mobile devices and instant voice-to-text conversion methods.Conclusions: There are objective risks in physician-nurse communication in Chinese hospitals, and clinical information systems lack solutions to the relevant problems. Developing a dedicated, mobile, quick and convenient module for physician-nurse communication within existing hospital information system with automatic reminders for important information that segregates between synchronous and asynchronous communication according to the different types of information could help improve physician-nurse communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anomaly detection of steam turbines is to recognize infrequent instances within sensor data that plays a vital role in stable power supply. Machine learning models have been applied to diagnose the faults of turbine and verified useful for identifying engine problem. To detect anomalies of steam turbines with machine learning methods, here, an approach called hierarchical pre-warning strategy is proposed that combines clustering methods with classification methods. Three different clustering methods, K-means, Isolation Forest and Local Outlier Factor, are chosen to separate anomalies from normal data. Since clustering results cannot give unanimous decision, the clustering instances are labelled with three classes, real anomalies, suspected anomalies and normal data, according to their overlapping recognition. Subsequently, five classification algorithms, k-nearest neighbour, support vector machine, decision tree, random forest and gradient boosting decision tree, have been examined to train the labelled data set. The classification results illustrate that gradient boosting decision tree and random forest are much more precise to detect real anomalies of steam turbines. The real anomalies identified by clustering methods have been classi- fied into suspected anomalies by this approach that is more practicable and consistent with ground truth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hot-tearing susceptibility (HTS) of Mg-6Zn-xGd (x=0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6) alloys was evaluated using a constrained rod casting (CRC) method. The results show that the HTS curve follows a typical "Λ" shape with the increase of Gd content. The Mg-6Zn-2Gd alloy has the highest while Mg-6Zn-6Gd alloy has the lowest HTS value. The hot-tearing behavior characteristics of Mg-6Zn-xGd alloys were further studied through a multifunctional hot-tearing test device. According to the dendrite contact point inferred from the stress curve, the Clyne-Davies criterion was modified and found to be accurate in predicting the HTS of Mg-6Zn-xGd alloys. Microstructure observation reveals that the grain size and the volume of eutectic liquid are the two key factors affecting HTS of Mg-6Zn-xGd alloys. The large grain with columnar structure can easily promote initiation and propagation of hot-tearing due to the poor feeding and coordinating deformation capability, which have a harmful effect on HTS. A higher volume fraction of eutectic phase can refill the cracking and provide continuous feeding channels by dendrite bridge and thicker liquid film, thus increase the hot-tearing resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water-lubricated bearings have been paid attention for their advantages to reduce the power loss and temperature rise and increase load capacity at high speed. To fully study the complete dynamic coefficients of two water-lubricated, hydrostatic journal bearings used to support a rigid rotor, a four-degree-of-freedom model considering the translational and tilting motion is presented. The effects of tilting ratio, rotary speed, and eccentricity ratio on the static and dynamic performances of the bearings are investigated. The bulk turbulent Reynolds equation is adopted. The finite difference method and a linear perturbation method are used to calculate the zeroth- and first-order pressure fields to obtain the static and dynamic coefficients. The results suggest that when the tilting ratio is smaller than 0.4 or the eccentricity ratio is smaller than 0.1, the static and dynamic characteristics are relatively insensitive to the tilting and eccentricity ratios; however, for larger tilting or eccentricity ratios, the tilting and eccentric effects should be fully considered. Meanwhile, the rotary speed significantly affects the performance of the hydrostatic, water-lubricated bearings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the large-scale grid connection of new energy power, the random fluctuation existing in the power system is intensified, which leads to frequent fluctuation of load instructions of thermal power units. It is of great significance to improve the variable load performance of the coal-fired units. It is more difficult to control the superheated steam temperature (SST). In order to improve the control performance of SST, a state variable fuzzy predictive control method is proposed in this paper. Firstly, Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy state observer is used to approximate the non-linear plant of the SST. At the same time, based on the state observer, a fuzzy state feedback controller is designed to improve its dynamic characteristics. Thirdly, based on the extended predictive model of the state feedback controller, a model predictive controller is designed to realize the SST tracking control. Dynamic simulation shows the effectiveness of the strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular dynamics simulations were applied to study the structural and transport properties, including the pair distribution function, the structure factor, the pair correlation entropy, self-diffusion coefficient, and viscosity, of liquid iron under high temperature and high pressure conditions. Our calculated results reproduced experimentally determined structure factors of liquid iron, and the calculated self-diffusion coefficients and viscosity agree well with previous simulation results. We show that there is a moderate increase of self-diffusion coefficients and viscosity along the melting curve up to the Earth-core pressure. Furthermore, the temperature dependencies of the pair correlation entropy, self-diffusion, and viscosity under high pressure condition have been investigated. Our results suggest that the temperature dependence of the pair correlation entropy is well described by T-1 scaling, while the Arrhenius law well describes the temperature dependencies of self-diffusion coefficients and viscosity under high pressure. In particular, we find that the entropy-scaling laws, proposed by Rosenfeld [Phys. Rev. A 15, 2545 (1977)] and Dzugutov [Nature (London) 381, 137 (1996)] for self-diffusion coefficients and viscosity in liquid metals under ambient pressure, still hold well for liquid iron under high temperature and high pressure conditions. Using the entropy-scaling laws, we can obtain transport properties from structural properties under high pressure and high temperature conditions. The results provide a useful ingredient in understanding transport properties of planet's cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vehicular participatory sensing, vehicles may provide false data or low-quality data. Building trust in vehicular ad hoc networks is an efficient way to deal with this issue. On one hand, vehicles need to disclose necessary information to demonstrate their trustworthiness. On the other hand, vehicles tend to hide their sensitive information to preserve user privacy. Therefore, privacy and trust are conflict in vehicular ad hoc networks. A cluster-based reputation framework named ClusterRep is proposed to balance privacy and trust in vehicular ad hoc networks. In this framework, the cluster head collaborates with cluster members to change pseudonyms and reputation values. The experiments show the scalability and the effectiveness of the ClusterRep compared with Beta strategy and IncogniSense-floor strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the protective mechanism of violaxanthin de-epoxidase (VDE) zeaxanthin in Cerasus humilis under drought and salt-stress conditions, we cloned the entire cDNA sequence of ChVDE from C. humilis and generated ChVDE-overexpression (OE) and ChVDE-complementation (CE) Arabidopsis plants. The open reading frame of ChVDE contained 1,446 bp nucleotides and encoded 481 amino acids. The ChVDE showed the highest similarity with those of Camellia sinensis and Citrus sinensis. Subcellular localization analysis showed that ChVDE was located in the chloroplasts. OE plants showed stronger root growth and higher levels of total chlorophyll as compared to WT and VDE mutant (npq1-2) plants. Moreover, the relative de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle pigments (A + Z)/(V + A+Z) was higher in OE plants than in the controls. OE plants had enhanced photosynthetic rates, respiration rates, and transpiration rates compared with the WT or npq1-2 plants after drought or salt treatment. Collectively, our results demonstrate that ChVDE plays a positive role in both drought and salt tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is universally utilized in cruciferous vegetables. However, the Chinese cabbage hau CMS lines, obtained by interspecific hybridization and multiple backcrosses of the Brassica juncea (B. juncea) CMS line and Chinese cabbage, show obvious leaf etiolation, and the molecular mechanism of etiolation remains elusive. Here, the ultrastructural and phenotypic features of leaves from the Chinese cabbage CMS line 1409A and maintainer line 1409B are analyzed. The results show that chloroplasts of 1409A exhibit abnormal morphology and distribution. Next, RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) is used to identify 485 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between 1409A and 1409B, and 189 up-regulated genes and 296 down-regulated genes are found. Genes that affect chloroplasts development, such as GLK1 and GLK2, and chlorophyll biosynthesis, such as PORB, are included in the down-regulated DEGs. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis validate that the expression levels of these genes are significantly lower in 1409A than in 1409B. Taken together, these results demonstrate that leaf etiolation is markedly affected by chloroplast development and pigment biosynthesis. This study provides an effective foundation for research on the molecular mechanisms of leaf etiolation of the hau CMS line in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus as a major nutrient element in water ecosystems is a key factor affecting algae growth in rivers. This paper adopts the sequential extraction method for phosphorus fractionation to study the distribution of phosphorus forms in riparian soils and peripheral river sediments, then to analyze the relationship between different phosphorus forms and their significance within a watershed environment. The results show that: 1) the contents of NH4Cl-P, BD-P, and HCl-P in riparian soils are more widespread than those in river sediments, 2) the distribution patterns of phosphorus fractions in different catchments of Jianxi Basin are varied for soil and sediment, and 3) the ratio of BAP/TP is the highest in Chongyangxi catchment and the lowest in Songxi catchment. Phosphorus in riparian soils is mainly affected by agricultural activities, significantly for NaOH-P and HCl-P. And phosphorus forms in sediments are obviously affected by domestic sewage. The phosphorus contents and fractions in riparian soils change more significantly than those in river sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema the Effect of Early Prevention and Nursing Observation," by Qu Hong, Hongjing Lin, and Jie Wan is presented.

Thymic atrophy occurs during normal aging, and is accelerated by exposure to chronic stressors that elevate glucocorticoid levels and impair the naïve T cell output. The orexigenic hormone ghrelin was recently shown to attenuate age-associated thymic atrophy. Here, we report that ghrelin enhances the proliferation of murine CD4+ primary T cells and a CD4+ T-cell line. Ghrelin induced activation of the ERK1/2 and Akt signaling pathways, via upstream activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and protein kinase C, to enhance T-cell proliferation. Moreover, ghrelin induced expression of the cell cycle proteins cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and retinoblastoma phosphorylation. Finally, ghrelin activated the above-mentioned signaling pathways and stimulated thymocyte proliferation in young and older mice in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular dynamics simulations were applied to study the dynamic and structural properties of supercooled liquid and glassy iron in the rapid-cooling processes. The mean-square displacement and the non-Gaussian parameter were used to describe the dynamic properties. The evolution of structural properties was investigated using the pair distribution functions and bond-angle distribution functions. Results for dynamic and structural relaxations indicate that the dynamic features are consistently correlated with the structure evolution, and there are three temperature regions as the temperature decreases: (1) at higher temperatures (1500 K, 1300 K, and 1100 K), the system remains in the liquid characteristics during the overall relaxation process. (2) At medial temperatures (1050 K, 900 K, and 700 K), a fast β-relaxation is followed by a much slower α-relaxation. There is a little change in the structural properties in the β-relaxation region, while major configuration rearrangements occurred in the α-relaxation range and the crystallization process was completed at the end of α-relaxation region. (3) At lower temperature (500 K), the system shows glassy characteristics during the overall relaxation process. In addition, the melting temperature, glass transition temperature and diffusion coefficients of supercooled liquid iron are also computed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Support vector regression (SVR) techniques are aimed at discovering a linear or nonlinear structure hidden in sample data. Most existing regression techniques take the assumption that the error distribution is Gaussian. However, it was observed that the noise in some real-world applications, such as wind power forecasting and direction of the arrival estimation problem, does not satisfy Gaussian distribution, but a beta distribution, Laplacian distribution, or other models. In these cases the current regression techniques are not optimal. According to the Bayesian approach, we derive a general loss function and develop a technique of the uniform model of v-support vector regression for the general noise model (N-SVR). The Augmented Lagrange Multiplier method is introduced to solve N-SVR. Numerical experiments on artificial data sets, UCI data and short-term wind speed prediction are conducted. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using first principles calculations, we investigate the structural, optical, and electronic properties of LiNbO3 (LN) and M doped LN (M=Mg, Fe). The density of states are calculated to analyze the effect of doping Mg and Fe ions on the absorption spectra and electronic properties of LN. The results show an ultraviolet shift in the optical absorption edge of Mg-doped LN compared with that of intrinsic LN. On the contrary, the absorption edge of Fe-doped LN crystal reveals a red shift. The optical absorption spectra show an improved optical response in the visible range for Mg-doped LN, which significantly differs from that obtained for Fe-doped LN. The electronic excitations from the valence band to the conduction band of LN leads to an improved optical absorption response in the visible region as observed experimentally. The obvious changes of the doped LN crystal are found in some cases, which provide a helpful guide for preparing doped LN crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty theory is a branch of axiomatic mathematics dealing with experts' belief degree. Considering the uncertainty with experts' belief degree in the evaluation system and the different roles which different indices play in evaluating the overall goal with a hierarchical structure, a new comprehensive evaluation method is constructed based on uncertainty theory. First, index scores and weights of indices are described by uncertain variables and evaluation grades are described by uncertain sets. Second, weights of indices with respect to the overall goal are introduced. Third, a new uncertainty comprehensive evaluation method is constructed and proved to be a generalization of the weighted average method. Finally, an application is developed in evaluating software quality, which shows the effectiveness of the new method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Osteoclasts, multinucleated bone-resorbing cells, are closely associated with bone diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Osteoclasts are derived from hematopoietic precursor cells, and their differentiation is mediated by two cytokines, including macrophage colony stimulating factor and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL). Previous studies have shown that arctigenin exhibits an anti-inflammatory effect. However, the effect of arctigenin on osteoclast differentiation is yet to be elucidated. In this study, we found that arctigenin inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow macrophages in a dose-dependent manner and suppressed RANKL-mediated bone resorption. Additionally, the expression of typical marker proteins, such as NFATc1, c-Fos, TRAF6, c-Src, and cathepsin K, were significantly inhibited. Arctigenin inhibited the phosphorylation of Erk1/2, but not p38 and JNK, in a dose-dependent manner. Arctigenin also dramatically suppressed immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif-mediated costimulatory signaling molecules, including Syk and PLCγ2, and Gab2. Notably, arctigenin inhibited the activation of Syk through RANKL stimulation. Furthermore, arctigenin prevented osteoclast differentiation in the calvarial bone of mice following stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. Our results show that arctigenin inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, arctigenin may be useful for treating rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aggregation changes of whey protein induced by high-pressure microfluidization (HPM) treatment have been investigated in relation with their functional properties. Whey protein was treated with HPM under pressure from 40 to 160 MPa. Functional properties (solubility, foaming, and emulsifying properties) of whey protein concentrate (WPC) ultrafiltered from fluid whey were evaluated. The results showed significant modifications in the solubility (30% to 59%) and foaming properties (20% to 65%) of WPC with increasing pressure. However, emulsifying property of WPC treated at different pressures was significantly worse than untreated sample. To better understand the mechanism of the modification by HPM, the HPM-induced aggregation changes were examined using particle size distribution, scanning electron microscopy, and hydrophobicity. It was indicated that HPM induced 2 kinds of aggregation changes on WPC: deaggregation and reaggregation of WPC, which resulted in the changes of functional properties of WPC modified by HPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Interleukin (IL)-32 is a recently described cytokine that appears to play a critical role in a variety of inflammatory diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, thus far, the regulation of IL-32 production has not been fully established. Here, we report on signaling pathways that regulate the production of IL-32α, the most abundant isoform, in the human alveolar epithelial cell line, A549. IL-32α was expressed and secreted by IL-1β. The IL-32 expression was attenuated by PP2 (a Src-family kinase [SFK] inhibitor), rottlerin (a protein kinase [PK] Cδ inhibitor), and LY294002 (a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI3K] inhibitor). Furthermore, the overexpression of Fgr rather than other SFKs upregulated IL-32α expression, while Fgr small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection downregulated it. The suppression of Fgr with PP2 and Fgr siRNA inhibited activating phosphorylation of PKCδ and PI3K/Akt, but not IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK)1, a well-known MyD88-dependent signaling molecule, and Erk1/2, p38, and JNK. Rottlerin and PKCδ siRNA also inhibited expression of IL-32α and activation of PI3K/Akt, but not of IRAK1 and mitogen activation protein (MAP) kinases. MyD88 siRNA suppressed the expression of IL-32α and the phosphorylation of IRAK1, PI3K, and MAP kinases, but not of PKCδ. Of interest, both Fgr/PKCδ and MyD88-dependent signals regulated PI3K/Akt, suggesting that it is a crosstalk molecule. Among MyD88-dependent MAP kinases, only p38 regulated IL-32α expression and PI3K/Akt activation. With these results, we demonstrated that the expression and secretion of IL-32α are regulated by MyD88-dependent IRAK1/p38/PI3K and independent Fgr/PKCδ/PI3K pathways, and that Fgr and PKCδ are critical for the MyD88-independent IL-32α production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pituitary adenoma with ossification is a rare histological variant. Previously there have been four cases reported in the literature. Here a case of pituitary prolactin-producing adenoma with bone formation in a 21-year-old woman is described. The patient had irregular menstruation for three years. MRI revealed an unusual 1.5 cm3 ovoid nodule with partial shell-like structure showing heterogeneous signals. The pre-operative prolactin serum level was 258.78 ng/mL. The patient was operated through the trans-sphenoidal pathway under general anesthesia. Histologically, the tumor was parenchymal and mostly replaced by the well-differentiated lamellar bony tissue. Sheets of tumor cells interweaved with the mature lamellar bone trabeculae showing no cellular atypia. The cytoplasm of the adenoma cells was slightly eosinophilic and the myelo-adipose metaplastic foci were also found within the parenchyma. Immunohistochemical staining of tumor cells showed positive expressions of prolactin, synaptophysin and chromogranin A in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Meanwhile, negative expressions of S-100, epithelial membrane antigen, GFAP and other pituitary hormones were also demonstrated. As a rare histological variant of pituitary adenoma, the current case of pituitary prolactin producing adenoma with ossification is reported. It is speculated that the ossification may be derived from the osteo-metaplasia of mesenchymal fibroblasts resulting from the effects of both secondary ischemia by the outgrowth of the tumor and/or the autocrine effect of prolactin in this case. The bony shell structure may limit the growth of pituitary adenoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The anti-allergic action of various Oriental medicinal herbs was investigated using in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Of these extracts, the ethanol extract of Meliae cortex (MC) exhibited the most potent activity in mast cells; its IC50 values were 29±1.5 μg/ml for antigen stimulation and 57±3.4 μg/ml for thapsigargin stimulation. It inhibited compound-48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis by 52.9% at a dose of 300 mg/kg in mice; it also inhibited the expression of the proinflammatory mediator TNF-α. With regard to its mechanism of action, MC suppressed the activating phosphorylation of Syk, a key enzyme in mast-cell signaling processes and that of Akt in a dose-dependent manner. It also inhibited the MAP kinase ERK1/2, which is critical for the production of inflammatory cytokines in mast cells, as indicated by the suppression of the activating phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Taken together, these results suggest that the anti-allergic activity of MC may be due to the inhibition of histamine secretion and cytokine expression through the Syk inhibition in mast cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper investigates how BST204, a fermented ginseng extract, affects the expression and mechanism of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). BST204 was prepared by incubating crude ginseng extract with ginsenoside-β-glucosidase. Unexpectedly, BST204 had no effect on the level of COX-2 protein in unstimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and it suppressed the level of COX-2 protein and PGE2 production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. It did not show any suppressive effect, though, on the COX-2 mRNA level. To investigate the suppressive mechanism of COX-2 protein, the activating phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase and 4E-BP1, which are important for translation, were measured. The phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase, not 4E-BP1, was increased by LPS in a time-dependent manner, and was inhibited by BST204 in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of COX-2 protein, however, was partially suppressed by rapamycin, an upstream inhibitor of p70 S6 kinase. Therefore, this paper suggests that the suppression of COX-2 protein by BST204 was partially correlated with the inhibition of p70 S6 kinase activation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]