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The large Stokes shifts usually result in open circuit voltage (VOC) reduction, which will affect the photovoltaic performance of the material. Recently, three-dimensional organosulfide-halide perovskites (CYS)PbCl2 and (CYS)PbBr2 [CYS: +NH3(CH2)2S−] have received much attention in the photovoltaic field due to their higher stability and similar photoelectric properties (desirable direct bandgap, band dispersion, and light absorption) than MAPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, and I). Unfortunately, both materials exhibit large Stokes shifts emission. Thus, to be clear about their application prospects in the photovoltaic field, the origin of the large Stoke shift needs to be investigated. Moreover, the bandgaps of (CYS)PbBr2 (2.17 eV) and (CYS)PbCl2 (2.32 eV) are higher than the ideal bandgap value of (0.9–1.6 eV) for photovoltaic materials. Based on density functional theory, this paper explores the cause of large Stokes shifts and further improves the photovoltaic performance of the materials by halogen substitution. The calculation results show that the large Stokes shifts come from defect emission rather than intrinsic self-trapping emission and the I atom substitution can reduce the bandgap [(CYS)PbI2; gap = 1.85 eV] and enhance the optical absorption and carrier migration ability without destroying the direct bandgap. Our research will promote the experimental synthesis of more excellent perovskite photovoltaic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the alterations in saliva metabolites among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma both pre-radiotherapy and post-radiotherapy by metabolomics. To analyze the change in saliva metabolites in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma before and after radiotherapy by applying MR radiomics features. To establish a foundation for early prediction of radiation-induced parotid gland injury. 21 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who have undergone radiotherapy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between 2022-1-1 and 2022-12-31 were selected in this study. Saliva specimens and MR Images were obtained before the first radiotherapy and after the last radiotherapy. Metabolites in saliva samples were detected using metabolomics, and the alterations in metabolite levels before and after radiotherapy were analyzed. The parotid gland was delineated on T1WI and T2WI sequences as regions of interest, from which the imaging features were extracted and screened to obtain stable characteristics. Subsequently, the changes in imaging features before and after radiotherapy were analyzed. The metabolic-imaging damage profile of parotid radiotherapy was derived by conducting correlation analysis on the omics data from both modalities. During parotid gland irradiation, changes in saliva metabolites and pathways more accurately reflect the combined effects of inflammation and tumor. The study identified six target metabolites. A total of 668 metabolites were detected in the saliva samples of the radiotherapy group. The T1WI and T2WI yielded a total of 1130 image omics features, and after screening using the lasso regression 5-fold cross-validation method, six of T1WI and four of T2WI non-zero coefficient image omics features were obtained. The Metascores, Radscore-T1 and Radscore-T2 scores were computed for each patient through the linear fusion of selected features. Through the correlation analysis of them, it is evident that there exists a strong and statistically significant correlation between Metascores and both Radscore-T1 and Radscore-T2 scores. Additionally, the readily obtainable imaging data can effectively reflect changes in saliva metabolomics. The integration of these two modalities enables a more comprehensive analysis model for assessing parotid gland injury. Radiation-induced injury of the parotid gland is a prevalent occurrence during and after radical radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, significantly impacting treatment compliance and patients' quality of life. This study presents an initial description of a comprehensive radiation damage map based on the parotid gland, identifying specific molecular markers and imaging characteristics that can effectively reflect the progression of this damage. By constructing dual-modal omics data, we aim to establish a metabolic-imaging damage map for parotid gland radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desertification is a consequence of a number of important processes occurring in arid and semi-arid conditions. As a rule, the process of desertification of the territory of Kazakhstan and Central Asia is considered in connection with the changes that occurred in its geological periods. The article discusses the problems of desertification and measures to prevent it, since the desert zone occupies most of the territory of Kazakhstan. Thus, it is one of the most susceptible regions of the world to desertification. In our research work, we analyzed the main features of the desert and semi-desert zones of Kazakhstan, the spatial distribution of the sensitivity to desertification of the territories of Kazakhstan, the processes of the history of formation, the negative consequences of desertification and measures to prevent desertification processes. The results of the analysis that most of the territory of Kazakhstan, especially in densely populated southern and western regions, has a large number of desert and semi-desert lands, while these regions are prone to desertification. As can be seen from the discussion of the negative consequences of desertification, desertification and drought in Kazakhstan cause not only environmental, but also economic and social problems. We also noticed that although measures to prevent desertification in Kazakhstan were well applied in Soviet times, little time has been devoted to this issue since independence. However, the results of the differentiation of materials show that over the past ten years a number of measures to combat desertification at the international and state levels have begun in Kazakhstan. One of the urgent problems identified in the article is the incomplete implementation or suspension of some projects to prevent desertification in Kazakhstan, a phenomenon that requires further in-depth study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new imaging model with data-dependent prior and sparsity prior is proposed. • A new semi-supervised learning is developed to predict the data-dependent prior. • The new method reshapes the imaging paradigm. • The performance benefits and robustness of the proposed algorithm are verified. Despite the enormous potential of the electrical capacitance tomography technology for the process industry, one of the main technological gaps and obstacles that must be overcome is the low accuracy reconstruction. To address this technical challenge, the data-dependent prior is introduced in this study, which is combined with the electrical measurement mechanism and the domain knowledge to reshape the tomographic imaging problem into a new optimization problem. The introduction of the data-dependent prior not only bridges the physical model and the advanced semi-supervised learning technique, but also improves the adaptability of the reconstruction model. A new numerical scheme that integrates the merits of the half-quadratic splitting method and the forward-backward splitting technique with a speedup strategy is proposed to solve the challenging imaging model, leading to the reduced computational burden. A new robust sparse semi-supervised extreme learning machine method that leverages both labeled and unlabeled samples and effectively handles high-dimensional image data is developed to predict the data-dependent prior, and the training is recast into a new optimization problem that is solved by a new numerical method. The novel imaging method achieves the reconstruction paradigm shift and acts as a catalyst for improving imaging quality. The evaluation of a series of reconstruction cases validates that the novel method shows satisfactory performances, outperforming both popular and classical imaging methods in terms of robustness and reconstruction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This is the first-in-human trial of Temporally Feathered Radiation Therapy (TFRT). • In this study, patients with head and neck cancer were treated with TFRT. • Technical feasibility of TFRT was established. • TFRT was delivered without introducing error or delays in radiation commencement. • Tumoricidal radiation dose was delivered by each TFRT subplan and composite plan. Prior in silico simulations of studies of Temporally Feathered Radiation Therapy (TFRT) have demonstrated potential reduction in normal tissue toxicity. This R-IDEAL Stage 1/2A study seeks to demonstrate the first-in-human implementation of TFRT in treating patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Patients with HNSCC treated with definitive radiation therapy were eligible (70 Gy in 35 fractions) were eligible. The primary endpoint was feasibility of TFRT planning as defined by radiation start within 15 business days of CT simulation. Secondary endpoints included estimates of acute grade 3–5 toxicity. The study met its accrual goal of 5 patients. TFRT plans were generated in four of the five patients within 15 business days of CT simulation, therefore meeting the primary endpoint. One patient was not treated with TFRT at the physician's discretion, though the TFRT plan had been generated within sufficient time from the CT simulation. For patients who received TFRT, the median time from CT simulation to radiation start was 10 business days (range 8–15). The average time required for radiation planning was 6 business days. In all patients receiving TFRT, each subplan and every daily fraction was delivered in the correct sequence without error. The OARs feathered included: oral cavity, each submandibular gland, each parotid gland, supraglottis, and posterior pharyngeal wall (OAR pharynx). Prescription dose PTV coverage (>95%) was ensured in each TFRT subplan and the composite TFRT plan. One of five patients developed an acute grade 3 toxicity. This study demonstrates the first-in-human implementation of TFRT (R-IDEAL Stage 1), proving its feasibility in the modern clinical workflow. Additionally, assessments of acute toxicities and dosimetric comparisons to a standard radiotherapy plan were described (R-IDEAL Stage 2a). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To design and assess a novel protocol that employs isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) for rapid detection of extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL)‐producers in clinical pathogens. Methods and Results: A total of 69 clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates were examined in the new ESBL‐ITC test by examining the heat profiles associated with enzyme hydrolysis of different substrates (imipenem, cefotaxime and clavulanic acid). The presence of β‐lactamase genes in the bacteria tested was confirmed by PCR and DNA sequencing. Comparative analysis between ESBL‐ITC and conventional minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC)/combined disk method (CDM) showed high agreement between the two assays. However, the ESBL‐ITC test had a remarkable advantage of providing testing result within 1 h, in comparison to the 32–48 h required by MIC/CDM. Conclusions: The ESBL‐ITC test developed in this work offers a new option for rapid and accurate detection of ESBL‐producers. Significance and Impact of the Study: Timely detection of ESBL‐producers is vital to guide the decision‐making process in clinical treatment as well as in hospital‐infection control. The new ESBL‐ITC test provides a rapid phenotypic assay that can be further adapted for clinical diagnosis of ESBL‐producing pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxicity and degradation of hybrid lead-halide perovskites hinder their extensive applications. It is thus of great importance to explore non-toxic alternative materials with excellent stability and optoelectronic property. We investigate the atomic structures and optoelectronic properties of non-toxic organic tin bromide perovskites (OTBP) with one/zero-dimensional (1D/0D) structures by first-principles calculations. The calculated atomic structures show that the 1D/0D OTBPs are stable and the structure of inorganic octahedra in 0D is higher order than that in 1D. Moreover, the origination of exceptional purity emitting light in experiments is explained based on the calculated electronic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial muscles actuated by negative pressure offer significant benefits over those driven by positive pressure, such as high contraction ratios and improved safety, making them a promising option for various applications. This paper studies the contraction force characteristic of a bellows-like artificial muscle actuated by negative pressure. Initially, the structure, fabrication, and working principle of the artificial muscle were introduced. Subsequently, based on the force balance method, the contraction force was decomposed as the forces acted by the difference value of the inner and the outer pressures on the end plate, and the tension force derived from the adjacent contraction unit. To reduce complexity, the contraction process was divided into three phases according to the distinct contact conditions of the contraction units: uncontacted, locally contacted, and fully contacted with crests. The deformations of the contraction units in each phase were analyzed, and the corresponding contraction forces were derived. An experiment platform was constructed to test the force by changing the dimension parameters and pressure, obtaining the output force data during isobaric contraction. Finally, a comparison of the experimental and calculated results substantiated the aptness of the theorem model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new imaging method is proposed for the ECT reconstruction. • Data-driven prior and sparsity-driven prior are injected into the imaging model. • Ensemble extreme learning machine is developed to predict the data-driven prior. • A new optimizer is developed to solve the built imaging model. • The effectiveness of the proposed imaging technique are numerically validated. Electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is a potential measurement technology for industrial process monitoring, but its applicability is generally limited by low-quality tomographic images. Boosting the performance of inverse computing imaging algorithms is the key to improving the reconstruction quality (RQ). Common regularization iteration imaging methods with analytical prior regularizers are less flexible in dealing with actual reconstruction tasks, leading to large reconstruction errors. To address the challenge, this study proposes a new imaging method, including reconstruction model and optimizer. The data-driven regularizer from a new ensemble learning model and the analytical prior regularizer with the focus on the sparsity of imaging objects are combined into a new optimization model for imaging. In the proposed ensemble learning model, the generalized low rank approximations of matrices (GLRAM) method is used to carry out the dimensionality reduction for decreasing the redundancy of the input data and improving the diversity, the extreme learning machine (ELM) serves as a base learner and the nuclear norm based matrix regression (NNMR) method is developed to aggregate the ensemble of solutions. The singular value thresholding method (SVTM) and the fast iterative shrinkage-thresholding algorithm (FISTA) are inserted into the split Bregman method (SBM) to generate a powerful optimizer for the built computational model. Its comparison to other competing methods through numerical experiments on typical imaging targets demonstrates that the developed algorithm reduces reconstruction error and achieves much more improvement in imaging quality and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conformal prediction is a general method that converts almost any point predictor to a prediction set. The resulting set retains the good statistical properties of the original estimator under standard assumptions, and guarantees valid average coverage even when the model is mis-specified. A main challenge in applying conformal prediction in modern applications is efficient computation, as it generally requires an exhaustive search over the entire output space. In this paper we develop an exact and computationally efficient conformalization of the lasso and elastic net. The method makes use of a novel piecewise linear homotopy of the lasso solution under perturbation of a single input sample point. As a by-product, we provide a simpler and better-justified online lasso algorithm, which may be of independent interest. Our derivation also reveals an interesting accuracy-stability trade-off in conformal inference, which is analogous to the bias-variance trade-off in traditional parameter estimation. The practical performance of the new algorithm is demonstrated in both synthetic and real data examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The image reconstruction is an important step in the electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) technology, and its performance directly impacts the reconstruction precision (RP). Beyond existing optimization-based imaging techniques, in this study the data-dependent reference image abstracted by the regularized random vector functional link network (RVFLN) and the domain expertise about imaging targets (ITs) are simultaneously encapsulated as regularizers to form a more effective imaging model. The three-operator splitting (TOS) technique is developed to solve the proposed imaging model more effectively, which extends the flexibility of the TOS method with the improvement in the utilization of image priors. Numerical validation results indicate that the proposed imaging technique achieves better reconstructions as compared with the state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, many kinds of plasma jets are used for enhancing the hydrophilicity of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) attributed to the key radical OH by reaction with water. In order to increase the products of OH, the ambient humidity is regulated instead of working gas to avoid the instability of discharge in this paper. And the relationship of hydrophilicity, ambient humidity and OH density coupled with the Ar plasma jet characteristics is investigated. The results show that at water content of 6 mg/L, the electron excitation temperature and the argon metastable reach the peak value. Thus, the OH density reaches maximum of 4 × 10 15  cm −3 , whereas O atoms diminish gradually. Under this condition, more O-polar groups are injected into the surface because of the high production of OH, implying the dominant radical in the surface treatment of PTFE At the same time, the etching effect of the plasma is the strongest. Thus, the smallest contact angle is reduced to 37°. While OH product at water content of 2.3 mg/L is higher than that of 9.5 mg/L, the contact angle of the former is larger because of the etching effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gas temperature field measurement is crucial for the monitoring of the objects of interest. Owing to the distinct advantages, including non-invasive sensing, high safety, etc., the ultrasonic tomography (UT) method is considered to be a promising visualization measurement method, in which acquiring high-quality images is vital for real-world applications. In this paper, a new UT measurement system that integrates the Data Acquisition Card and a Single Chip Microcomputer is proposed for the temperature distribution measurement. A hardware system is designed to alleviate the inertia delay phenomenon. A reconstruction model that simultaneously emphasizes the inaccurate properties on the reconstruction model and the measurement data is proposed. By means of introducing the radial basis function method and the framework of the Tikhonov regularization technique, a two-stage reconstruction method is proposed to alleviate the ill-posed nature in the UT inverse problem. A new objective functional is proposed to convert the original reconstruction task into an optimization problem, and the simulated annealing algorithm is deployed to effectively solve the proposed objective functional. Experimental results validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed reconstruction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The feeding habits of the Chinese minnow, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (Sauvage & Dabry de Thiersant, 1874), were investigated in the Laohegou River, a tributary of the upper Yangtze River, China. A total of 412 specimens were collected by electrofishing in four seasons of 2012, 7 days per season. Diet composition was analyzed according to season, size classes and sex. The Chinese minnow is a generalist omnivorous species, whose diet consists of aquatic insects and plants. Besides algae, Hemiptera, Ephemerida, Trichoptera, Odonata, Diptera were the most dominat food items. The Shannon‐Wiener index on diet items showed no significant differences between major food items (p > .05) or between seasons, size classes and sexes. In contrast, fullness index and dietary breadth analysis both indicated significant diet changes between seasons. Consequently, this study provides information on feeding habits of R. oxycephalus, which may be useful in cultivation trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional or three-dimensional images from the electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) technology provide powerful evidences for revealing complicated mechanisms behind behaviors of tomographic objects. In order to satisfy the increasing demands of dynamic measurements in real-world industrial applications, in this paper a sequential dynamic imaging model is proposed to model the inverse problem with the focus on the ECT imaging, and a new cost function that encapsulates the temporal constraint, the reweighted L1 norm based spatial constraint and the reweighted nuclear norm based low rank constraint is constructed to convert the dynamic inversion problem into a minimization problem. A new algorithm that splits an intractable optimization problem into several simpler sub-problems is developed to solve the new cost function. Comprehensive evaluations of representative imaging targets and comparisons with state-of-the-art imaging algorithms demonstrate the superiorities of the imaging technique proposed in this study on improving the imaging quality and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The appealing superiorities, including high-speed data acquisition, nonintrusive measurement, low cost, high safety and visual presentation, lead to the success of the electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) technique in the monitoring of industrial processes. High-accuracy tomographic images play a crucial role in the reliability of the ECT measurement results, which provide the powerful scientific evidences for investigating the complicated mechanisms behind the behaviors of the imaging objects (IOs). Beyond the existing numerical algorithms that are developed for the solution of the inverse problem in the ECT area, a data-driven two-stage reconstruction method is proposed to improve the reconstruction quality (RQ) in this paper. At the first stage, i.e., the learning stage, the regularized extreme learning machine (RELM) model solved by the split Bregman technique is developed to extract the mapping between the tomographic images reconstructed by the some algorithm and the true images according to a set of training samples. At the second stage, i.e., the prediction stage, a new IO is reconstructed by the same algorithm used in computing training samples, and then the imaging result is considered as an input of the trained RELM model to predict the final result. The performances of the proposed reconstruction method are compared and evaluated by the means of the numerical simulation approach using the clean and noisy capacitance data with different noise levels (NLs). Quantitative and qualitative comparison results validate the practicability and effectiveness of the proposed data-driven reconstruction method. Research findings provide a new insight for the improvement of the reconstruction accuracy and robustness in the ECT area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, pulsating direct current air-water plasma jet, which can increase the production of •OH and decrease the temperature, is studied. The results show that the discharge mode changes in one cycle from corona discharge with steep Trichel current pulse to glow-like discharge. It is unknown whether the different discharge modes and water ratio have an effect on the transient process of the excited O and •OH production and the mechanism of plasma propagation. So, a series of experiments are done in this paper. The results show that the changing rules of both the excited state O and the discharge current reach their two peak values synchronously. And its maximum appears at the time of the first peak current value in corona mode. However, the change of the excited state •OH is different. It increases to its maximum at the time of the second peak current value in glow-like mode. Besides, the intensified charge coupled device photographs show that the luminous intensity of the discharge zone at the first peak current value in corona mode is stronger than the second peak current value in glow-like mode. At the same time, the discharge area of the former is larger than the latter. Nevertheless, with the increase in water ratio, the discharge area change reversed. Additionally, the air plasma plume propagation depends on the gas flow. The initial propagation velocity decreases with the increase in water ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calligonum caput-medusae is known to grow well when irrigated with water containing NaCl. The aim of this study was to investigate ecophysiological responses of C. caput-medusae to different NaCl concentrations. In our study, we examined the effect of 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mM NaCl. Our results demonstrated that maximum seedling growth occurred at 50 mM NaCl. Photosynthetic parameters, such as the photosynthetic pigment content and gas exchange parameters, correlated with growth response. High salinity (≥ 100 mM NaCl) resulted in a significant reduction of the plant growth. Similarly, marked declines in the pigment content, maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance were also detected. However, intercellular CO 2 concentration showed a biphasic response, decreasing with water containing less than 200 mM NaCl and increasing with NaCl concentration up to 400 mM. Water-use efficiency and intrinsic water-use efficiency exhibited the opposite response. The reduction of photosynthesis at the high NaCl concentration could be caused by nonstomatal factors. High salinity led also to a decrease in the relative water content and water potential. Correspondingly, an accumulation of soluble sugars and proline was also observed. Na and Cl concentrations increased in all tissues and K concentrations were maintained high during exposure to NaCl compared with the control. High salinity caused oxidative stress, which was evidenced by high malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents. In order to cope with oxidative stress, the activity of antioxidative enzymes increased to maximum after 50 mM NaCl treatment. The data reported in this study indicate that C. caput-medusae can be utilized in mild salinity-prone environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the distribution characteristics of the Moho interface and the relationship between the Moho depth and the main sedimentary basins in the southern South China Sea and its adjacent areas, this paper adopts gravity anomaly data and multi-scale decomposition of two-dimension discrete wavelet transform to analyse the gravity field and the characteristics of the multi-order decomposition in the study area. Through the method of Parker-Oldenburg Iterative Inversion, the Moho depth of the study area has been obtained based on four-order approximation of Bouguer anomaly and constrained by the data of the CRUST1.0 model. By analysis and comparison, the optimum inversion parameters and the final inversion results of the Parker-Oldenburg Iterative Inversion have been explored. The distribution of the Moho depth in the study area takes on a double 'V'-type characteristic. In addition, the Moho morphology of the three main kinds of basins in the study area has also been concluded. The crustal thickness of the sedimentary basin indicates, in the case of the nature of the basins' crust, that the transition from north to south is from continental crust to transitional crust. These results provide the basis for further study of the gravity field, the deep geological structure in the southern South China Sea and the prediction of oil and gas prospects. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Liver resection for intermediate (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer ( BCLC) stage B) hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) remains controversial. This study attempted to demonstrate the effectiveness of preresection transarterial chemoembolization ( TACE) as a selection criterion for BCLC-B HCC. Methods The study included patients with BCLC-B HCC who underwent liver resection after TACE. The tumour response to TACE was evaluated according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours ( mRECIST). Patients with a complete or partial response comprised the responder group, whereas those with stable or progressive disease were classified as non-responders. Results A total of 242 patients were included. After between one and eight sessions of TACE, 141 patients were included in the responder group: 37 patients (15·3 per cent) who achieved a complete response and 104 who had a partial response. The cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 97·2, 88·7 and 75·2 per cent respectively in the responder group, compared with 90·1, 67·3 and 53·5 per cent among 101 non-responders ( P < 0·001). Tumour-free survival rates were also better among responders than non-responders ( P < 0·001). In multivariable analysis, independent predictors of overall and tumour-free survival were response to TACE and microvascular invasion (all P < 0·001). Conclusion mRECIST may represent selection criterion for intermediate HCC for surgical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new dimensionality reduction based temperature distribution sensing (TDS) method is proposed to reconstruct the temperature distribution via the limited number of the scattered temperature measurement data. The projective nonnegative matrix factorization (PNMF) method is developed to exact the basis vectors, and the augmented Lagrangian multipliers (ALM) method is proposed to solve the proposed PNMF model. A dimensionality reduction model is obtained via projecting the original temperature distribution onto the spaces spanned by a set of basis. An objective functional that considers the inaccurate properties of the reconstruction model and the measurement data, the Shearlet regularization and the total variation (TV) method is proposed to convert the TDS task into an optimization problem, where the temperature distribution is indirectly reconstructed via solving a low-dimensional vector. An iteration scheme is developed to solve the objective functional. Numerical simulation results validate the feasibility of the proposed reconstruction algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, we review some recent theoretical advances for the calculation of breakup cross sections in reactions induced by weakly-bound nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), we shall investigate the possibility of observing surface-enhanced sum-frequency generation (SESFG), which refers to the transformation of ordinary vibrational SFG (i.e. singly resonant) into SESFG. Two mechanisms of SESFG will be studied; one is due to the transformation of singly-resonant vibrational SFG into doubly resonant vibrational SFG (that is, both vibrationally resonant and Raman-scattering resonant) and the other is due to the enhancement of the polarizability in addition to the original vibrational resonance in vibrational SFG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Different methods for changing blood test-ordering behavior in primary care have been proven effective. However, randomized trials comparing these methods are lacking.Objective: To compare the effect of two versions of BloodLink, a computer-based clinical decision support system, on blood test ordering among general practitioners.Design: Randomized trial.Setting: 44 practices of general practitioners in the region of Delft, the Netherlands.Participants: 60 general practitioners in 44 practices who used computer-based patient records in their practices.Intervention: After stratification by solo practices and group practices, practices were randomly assigned to use BloodLink-Restricted, which initially displays a reduced list of tests, or BloodLink-Guideline, which is based on the guidelines of the Dutch College of General Practitioners.Measurements: Average number of blood tests ordered per order form per practice.Results: General practitioners who used BloodLink-Guideline requested 20% fewer tests on average than did practitioners who used BloodLink-Restricted (mean [+/-SD], 5.5 +/- 0.9 tests vs. 6.9 +/- 1.6 tests, respectively; P = 0.003, Mann-Whitney test).Conclusions: Decision support based on guidelines is more effective in changing blood test-ordering behavior than is decision support based on initially displaying a limited number of tests. Guideline-driven decision support systems can be effective in reducing the number of laboratory tests ordered by primary care practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the vivid visualizations obtained of the spatial material distributions of inaccessible objects, electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is considered to be a promising method for the monitoring and control of various industrial processes in which image reconstruction algorithms play important roles in practical applications. In this study, the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method is used to derive a low-dimensional model for ECT imaging problems. We propose a POD-based dimensionality reduction dynamic imaging model, which incorporates the time-varying properties of dynamic imaging objects and prior knowledge obtained from previous measurements, other sensors, or numerical simulation results to simultaneously improve the accuracy and speed of image reconstruction. In the framework of this POD-based low-dimensional imaging model, we propose a new objective functional that integrates additional prior information related to imaging objects to convert the ECT image reconstruction task into an optimization problem. The split Bregman iteration (SBI) method is employed to search for the optimal solution to the proposed objective functional. Unlike standard pixel-based imaging methods, the proposed low-dimensional imaging model is obtained by projecting the original unknown variables onto subspaces spanned by a set of orthogonal basis vectors, where the unknown images are reconstructed indirectly by estimating a low-dimensional coefficient vector. Our theoretical study and numerical simulation results validate the superior performance of the proposed imaging method in alleviating the ill-posedness of the ECT image reconstruction problem, as well as increasing the imaging quality, decreasing the computational cost, improving the reconstruction speed, and enhancing robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been proposed that thalamic mediodorsal (MD) and ventromedial (VM) nuclei form thalamic ‘nociceptive discriminators’ in discrimination of nociceptive afferents, and specifically govern endogenous descending facilitation and inhibition. The present study conducted in rats was to explore the role of thalamic MD and VM nuclei in modulation of cerebral neuronal activities by means of detection of spatiotemporal variations of Fos expression within the cerebral cortex. Following a unilateral intramuscular injection of 5.8% saline into the gastrocnemius muscle, Fos expression within the bilateral, different areas of the cerebral cortex except S2 was significantly increased ( P < 0.05). Particularly, the increases in Fos expression within the cingulate cortex and the insular cortex occurred at 0.5 h, 4 h and reached the peak level at 4 h, 16 h, respectively. Electrolytic lesion of the contralateral thalamic MD and VM nuclei significantly blocked the 5.8% saline intramuscularly induced increases in Fos expression within the bilateral cingulate and insular cortices, respectively. Additionally, the 5.8% saline-induced Fos expression in the cingulate cortex and the insular cortex were dose-dependently attenuated by microinjection of μ-opioid antagonist β-funaltrexamine hydrochloride into the thalamic MD and VM nuclei. It is suggested that (1) the neural circuits of ‘thalamic MD nucleus – cingulate cortex’ and ‘thalamic VM nucleus – insular cortex’ form two distinct pathways in the endogenous control of nociception, (2) mirror or contralateral pain is hypothesized to be related to cross-talk of neuronal activities within the bilateral cerebral cortices modulated by μ-opioid receptors within the thalamic MD and VM nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large sets of disjoint group-divisible designs with block size three and type 2 n 4 1 were first studied by Schellenberg and Stinson and motivated by their connection with perfect threshold schemes. It is known that such large sets can exist only for n ≡ 0 ( mod 3 ) and do exist for n = 2 k ( 3 m ) , where m ≡ 1 ( mod 2 ) and k = 0 , 3 or k ≥ 5 . A special large set called * LS ( 2 n ) has played a key role in obtaining the above results. In this paper, we shall give a generalization of an * LS ( 2 n ) and use it to obtain a similar result for k = 2 , 4 and partially for k = 1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial metabolic activities of soils sampled at eight depths (0-5, 5-15, 15-30, 30-50, 50-70, 70-100, 100-150 and 150-200 cm) in shelter forests (comprising the tree species, Haloxylon sp.) along the Tarim Desert Highway under drip irrigation with different saline waters were investigated by using Biolog technology. Variance analysis and principal component analysis were conducted. The average well colour development ( AWCD) values for single carbon source use by microorganisms increased with the incubation time. The microorganisms reached a lag phase within 24 hours of incubation and entered exponential and stationary phases after 48 and 216 hours of incubation, respectively; however, the death phase was not obvious. As the salinity of drip irrigation water increased, the AWCD values significantly decreased; the AWCD value in the land drip-irrigated with lowest saline water (S8) was roughly 20% larger than that of the land drip-irrigated with highest saline water (S1), which was mainly caused by the differences in the use of carboxylic acids, amino acids and phenolic compounds by soil microorganisms. The vertical differences in carbon source utilization by soil microbial communities were obvious: these may be caused by the vertical differences in soil organism abundance associated with distribution of roots in the shelter forest. The largest and smallest AWCD values were noted in the 70-100-cm soil layer and 0-5-cm topsoil layer, respectively. The correlation coefficients between the AWCD values and soil organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available potassium, available phosphorus, pH, cation exchange capacity and bulk density were > 0.85. Thus, the differences in carbon source metabolism activities of soil microorganisms were caused mainly by the soil chemical properties, with total nutrients being the main driving factor. Furthermore, the amounts of carboxylic acids, amino acids and polymers provided sensitive markers for distinguishing the ability of soil microorganisms to use carbon sources under drip irrigation with different saline waters. Saline water irrigation affected the soil microbial community in shelter forest and produced obvious differences among the shelter forests irrigated with different saline waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twelve bi-/tridentate Schiff-base ligands ( L 1 – L 12 ) have been designed, synthesized and coordinated with ion-exchanged Co–MOR (Mordenite) forming a series of Co–MOR( L ) composite catalysts, for which various analyzes and characterizations are conducted. Selectively catalytic epoxidation of α -pinene with dry air over Co–MOR( L ) catalysts has been carried out, where uses TBHP in small amounts as the initiator. Among these Co–MOR( L ) catalysts, Co–MOR( L 8 ) exhibits the best activity for the titled reaction to obtain 85.8 mol% conversion and 90.8% selectivity of epoxide. Some factors such as the structure of ligands, the oxidants, the solvents, the catalyst amount, the reaction temperature and time play important roles in controlling the epoxidation. The recyclable stability of the Co–MOR( L 8 ) catalyst is confirmed. The studies on the electrochemical behaviors of Co species in Co–MOR( L 8 ) reveal the importance of reversible change between Co oxidation states for the epoxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are numerous sources of mechanical energy in our environment, such as ultrasonic waves, body movement, and irregular air flow/vibration. Here, we present a simple, cost-effective approach for fabricating a flexible nanogenerator and apply it to harvest energy from environmental mechanical vibrations. The nanogenerator was based on ZnO nanorods grown on common paper substrate using a lowtemperature hydrothermal method. Piezoelectric currents were measured by attaching the nanogenerator on the surface of a cantilever and a wind-up drum, respectively. At the same time, the vibrations of the cantilever and wind-up drum could also be characterized by the corresponding output signals. This is a practical and versatile technology with the potential for converting a variety of environment energy into electric energy, and also with the application for pre-warning of emergency, such as earthquake and burgling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging objects in electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) measurement are often in a dynamic evolution process, and exploiting the spatial–temporal properties of the dynamic reconstruction objects is crucial for the improvement of the reconstruction quality. Based on the multiple measurement vectors, in this paper a robust dynamic reconstruction model that incorporates the ECT measurement information and the dynamic evolution information of a dynamic object, in which a series of dynamic images is cast as a third-order tensor that the first two dimensions are space and the third is time, is proposed. Under the considerations of the two-dimensional spatial structure property of a difference image and the spatial–temporal property of a third-order image tensor, a new objective functional that fuses the ECT measurement information, the dynamic evolution information, the temporal constraint, the spatial constraint, the low rank constraint of a difference image and the low n -rank constraint of a third-order tensor is proposed, where the images are reconstructed by a batching pattern. The split Bregman iteration (SBI) algorithm is developed for solving the proposed objective functional. Numerical simulations are implemented to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed algorithm on improving the reconstruction quality and the robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for selective excitation of Ince-Gaussian modes is presented. The method is based on the spatial distributions of Ince-Gaussian modes as well as the transverse mode selection theory. Significant diffraction loss is introduced in a resonator by using opaque lines at zero-intensity positions, and this loss allows to excite a specific mode; we call this method 'loss control.' We study the method by means of numerical simulation of a half-symmetric laser resonator. The simulated field is represented by angular spectrum of the plane waves representation, and its changes are calculated by the two-dimensional fast Fourier transform algorithm when it passes through the optical elements and propagates back and forth in the resonator. The output lasing modes of our method have an overlap of over 90 % with the target Ince-Gaussian modes. The method will be beneficial to the further study of properties and potential applications of Ince-Gaussian modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The image reconstruction task in electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is an ill-posed problem, in which image reconstruction methods play a vital role in real applications. In this paper, a multiple measurement vector-based dimensionality reduction dynamic reconstruction model that simultaneously utilizes the ECT measurement information and the dynamic evolution information of a dynamic object is proposed. A robust sparse orthogonal projective non-negative matrix factorization (RSOPNMF) method is proposed for extracting the basis vectors from a set of snapshots, and the split Bregman iteration (SBI) algorithm is used to solve the RSOPNMF model. The original unknown variables are projected onto the subspaces spanned by a set of the basis vectors extracted by the RSOPNMF method from a set of snapshots to obtain a low-dimensional model, where the images are indirectly reconstructed by solving the corresponding low-dimensional coefficient vector, and thus the dimensionality of the unknown variables is reduced and the computational cost are decreased. Based on the multiple measurement vectors and the dimensionality reduction model, an objective functional that incorporates the ECT measurement information, the dynamic evolution information of a dynamic object, the spatial constraint and the temporal constraint is proposed, in which the unknown variables are solved in a batching pattern. An iterative scheme that integrates the beneficial advantages of the SBI method and the forward–backward splitting algorithm is developed for solving the proposed objective functional. Numerical simulation results validate the feasibility of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A robust dynamic reconstruction model is presented for ECT reconstruction. [•] An objective functional is proposed for modeling the image reconstruction problem. [•] An iteration scheme is developed for solving the proposed objective functional. [•] The feasibility of the proposed algorithm is numerically validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different track failures are proven to have different influences on train-track interactions, but their influence on pantograph-catenary interactions has not been investigated thus far. In this work, the influences of typical track failures on pantograph-catenary interaction dynamics are first investigated. A reduced train-track-pantograph-catenary interaction model is developed to study these effects. In this model, the long catenary is reduced to a small moving area around the moving pantograph, and this area is considered and modelled as the reduced catenary model based on the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian method. The reduced catenary model and moving pantograph are formulated as the reduced pantograph-catenary interaction model, and it is further unidirectionally connected with the existing reduced train-track interaction model to formulate the reduced train-track-pantograph-catenary interaction model. The present reduced pantograph-catenary model is first validated by the EN50318-2018 standard, and the influences of track irregularity, track buckling, fastening failure, and track settlement on pantograph-catenary interaction dynamics are studied. The investigation results first show that the track settlement with a long wavelength has a significant influence on the pantograph-catenary interaction dynamics and can even cause contact loss with a good train-track interaction behaviour. Thus, it should be further mentioned in the maintenance of the track structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to enhance the quintessential "five temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms" (5Ts) screener by incorporating frequency options and distinguishing between TMJ and muscle pain. The diagnostic accuracy along with cut‐off points for the effective identification of TMDs was also established. Methods: Participants, aged ≥18 years, were recruited from a university‐based hospital. After completing surveys encompassing demographic data and the enhanced 5Ts (with frequency options [5Ts‐F] and differentiation of TMJ/muscle pain [6Ts‐F]), protocolized interviews and clinical examinations were performed following DC/TMD. The diagnostic accuracy and best cut‐off points were determined with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs). Results: 324 participants were recruited (mean age 30.0 ± 11.4 years). Among these, 86.4% had TMDs. 5Ts exhibited high diagnostic accuracy for detecting all TMDs (AUC = 0.92) with sensitivity/specificity values of 83.9%/88.6%. Both 5Ts‐F and 6Ts‐F had slightly better accuracy (AUCs = 0.95/0.96), comparable sensitivity, and superior specificity (97.7%) compared to 5Ts. The best cut‐off points were 1.5 for 5Ts and 2.5 for 5Ts‐F/6Ts‐F. Conclusions: Although all three TMD screeners presented high diagnostic accuracy, 5Ts‐F/6Ts‐F had notably improved specificity. 5Ts scores of >1.5 and 5Ts‐F/6Ts‐F scores of >2.5 are to be applied for screening the presence of TMDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare short- and long-term outcomes between the living donors and patients without cirrhosis after left lobe resection. Material and Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 40 left lobe donors (Group 1) and from 40 patients who had undergone left liver resection for various diseases (Group 2) from 2002 to 2010. In addition to preoperative parameters, we compared intraoperative variables as well as, short- and long-term outcomes, including postoperative complications and laboratory test results. The liver functions included total bilurubin (TB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), international normalized ratio (INR), and albumin (ALB) compared as well as changes in white blood cell (WBC) count and platelet count. Results: The preoperative parameters of the two groups were comparable. There was significantly more blood loss in Group 2 than Group 1 (422.5 mL vs 318.8 mL; P = .001), leading to more autologous blood transfusions in Group 2 (P = .008). The other intraoperative variables were similar between the two groups. The overall postoperative complication rate was similar: 4% in Group 1 and 8% in Group 2 (P = .213); however, there were longer hospital stays and overall costs in Group 1 (P < .05). The total bilirubin level, AST, and ALT of Group 2 were worse than those in Group 1 during the early postoperative period. Upon long-term follow-up the postoperative platelet count decreased in the two groups compared with the preoperative levels. Conclusion: The type and rate of complications following left hepatectomy were similar between donors and noncirrhotic hepatic patients. Nevertheless, more serious liver dysfunction postoperatively was observed among the patient group. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Owing to distinct advantages such as the easy implementation, low cost, high safety and non-intrusive sensing, the electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is considered as a promising visualization measurement technique, in which reconstructing high quality images is highly desirable for real applications. In this paper, a multi-scale dynamic reconstruction model, which simultaneously utilizes the ECT measurement information and the dynamic evolution information of a dynamic object, is presented. The original dynamic image reconstruction problem is decomposed into a sequence of inverse problems, which are solved successively from the largest scale to the original scale. A generalized objective functional that considers the ECT measurement information, the dynamic evolution information of a dynamic object, the temporal constraint and the spatial constraint is proposed. An iterative algorithm, which integrates the beneficial advantages of the evolutionary strategy (ES) algorithm and the homotopy method, is designed for solving the proposed objective functional. Numerical simulations are implemented to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed algorithm. For the cases simulated in this paper, the quality of the images reconstructed by the proposed algorithm is improved, which indicates that the proposed algorithm is successful in solving ECT inverse problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is considered a promising visualization measurement technique, in which image reconstruction algorithms play an important role in real applications. In this paper, a dynamic reconstruction model, which integrates the ECT measurement information and the dynamic evolution information of the reconstruction objects, is presented. A generalized objective function, which simultaneously considers the ECT measurement information, the dynamic evolution information of the objects of interest, the temporal constraints and the spatial constraints, is proposed. An iteration scheme that integrates the beneficial advantages of the split Bregman iteration technique and the homotopy algorithm is developed for solving the proposed objective function. Numerical simulations are implemented to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. For the cases simulated in this paper, the accuracy of the images reconstructed by the proposed algorithm is improved and the artifacts in the reconstructed images can be removed effectively, which indicates that the proposed algorithm is successful in solving ECT inverse problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently, we hypothesized that supraspinal structures may have important functions in discriminating between noxious mechanically and heat mediated nociception through distinct functions: facilitation and inhibition. In this study, conducted in conscious rats, we explored the role of different thalamic nuclei: the mediodorsal (MD) nucleus, the central medial (CM) nucleus, the submedius (SM) nucleus, the ventralmedial (VM) nucleus and the ventral posterolateral (VPL) nucleus, in the descending control of secondary and contralateral mechanical hyperalgesia and heat hypoalgesia occurring in intramuscularly hypertonic (HT, 5.8%) saline-induced muscle nociception. We found that the MD nuclei participated in the descending facilitation of mechanical hyperalgesia, and that the VM nuclei were specifically involved in the descending inhibition of heat hypoalgesia. Neither descending facilitation nor descending inhibition was affected after electrolytic lesion of the thalamic CM, SM, and VPL nuclei. This descending facilitatory and inhibitory modulation of nociception was strengthened by glutamate, and weakened by GABA, microinjected into the thalamic MD and VM nuclei. It is suggested that (1) thalamic MD nucleus and VM nucleus form two distinct endogenous systems in the control of noxious mechanically and heat evoked responses, and (2) the strengthening of descending inhibition and the weakening of descending facilitation by means of up regulation and down regulation of appropriate receptor expression in the VM and MD nuclei may provide a new strategic policy in treating pathological pain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We explored the role of negative performance beliefs and self-focused attention considered central to psychological models of social anxiety but not studied in autism. Firstly, we compared self- and observer ratings of performance on a social task for 71 young autistic people, 41 high and 30 low in social anxiety, finding a significant main effect of social anxiety but not rater. Subsequently, 76 autistic young people, 46 high and 30 low social anxiety completed measures of interoceptive sensibility and focus of attention following a social task. Only heightened interoceptive sensibility fully mediated the relationship between self-ratings of social performance and social anxiety. These findings suggest awareness of bodily sensations are critical to anxiety in social situations with implications for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is considered as a promising process tomography (PT) technique, and the speed and accuracy of the image reconstruction algorithms play an important role in successful applications of ECT. In this study, a dynamic reconstruction model, which integrates the ECT measurement information and physical evolution information of the objects of interest from the dynamics equations, is presented. The constrained ensemble Kalman filter (CEnKF) method is introduced for solving the dynamic model. In the update step within the CEnKF method, a generalised objective functional, which has been developed using the M-estimation and a generalised stabilising functional, is proposed. An efficient algorithm, which integrates the beneficial advantages of the filled function method and the homotopy method, is designed for searching a possible global optimal solution. Numerical simulations are implemented to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. For the cases simulated in this study, the accuracy and spatial resolution of the reconstructed images by the proposed algorithm are improved, and the artefacts in the reconstructed images can be removed effectively, which indicate that the proposed algorithm is a promising candidate for solving the ECT inverse problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Compressed sensing (CS) is considered as a promising signal processing technique, and successful applications of the CS theory depend mainly on the accuracy and speed of the reconstruction algorithms. In this paper, a generalized objective functional, which has been developed using the combinational estimation and an extended stabilizing functional, is proposed. An efficient iterative scheme, which integrates the beneficial advantages of the homotopy method, the shuffled frog-leaping (SFL) algorithm and the harmony search (HS) algorithm, is designed for searching a possible global optimal solution. Numerical simulations are implemented to evaluate the numerical performances and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Excellent numerical performances and encouraging results are observed. For the cases considered in this paper, a dramatic improvement in the reconstruction accuracy is achieved, which indicates that the proposed algorithm is a promising candidate for solving CS inverse problem. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Successful applications of electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) depend on the speed and precision of the image reconstruction algorithms. In this paper, based on the semiparametric model, a generalized objective functional that considers the outliers in the measured capacitance data and the model error is proposed. A regularized combination minimax estimation is developed. An efficient algorithm, which integrates the advantages of the homotopy method where the homotopy equation is designed by the fixed-point homotopy and solved using the fixed-point iteration algorithm based on the alternate iteration scheme, the quantum particle swarm optimization algorithm that is coupled with the crossover and mutation operators, and the simulated annealing algorithm, is proposed. This algorithm is tested by the noise-free capacitance data and the noise-contaminated capacitance data, and encouraging results are observed. Numerical simulation results reveal the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed algorithm. In the cases of the reconstructed objects considered in this paper, the reconstructed results by the proposed algorithm show great improvement in the spatial resolution and accuracy. The spatial resolution of the reconstructed images is enhanced, and the artifacts in the reconstructed images can be removed effectively. Furthermore, the reconstructed results by the proposed algorithm under the noise-contaminated capacitance data reveal that the proposed algorithm is very competent to deal with the inaccurate nature in the capacitance data. Consequently, a promising algorithm is introduced for ECT image reconstruction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]