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In this article, we calculate the value-at-risk (VaR) for large portfolios in intensity models, where the idiosyncratic and systematic risk exposures as well as the impact of past default losses are subsumed into the intensity processes. The adopted method is based on the theory of saddlepoint approximation for continuous-time Markov processes whose transition densities and distribution functions can be approximated in closed forms. A simple example with theoretical and numerical results is presented in the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous transmit and receive wireless communications have been highlighted for their potential to double the spectral efficiency. However, it is necessary to mitigate self-interference (SI). Considering both the SI channel and remote transmission (RT) channel need to be estimated before equalizing the received signal, we propose two adaptive algorithms for linear and nonlinear self-interference cancellation (SIC), based on a multi-layered joint channel estimator structure. The proposed algorithms estimate the RT channel while performing SIC, and the multi-layered structure ensures improved performance across various interference-to-signal ratios. The M-estimate function enhances the robustness of the algorithm, allowing it to converge even when affected by impulsive noise. For nonlinear SIC, this paper introduces an adaptive algorithm based on generalized Hammerstein polynomial basis functions. The simulation results indicate that this approach achieves a better convergence speed and normalized mean squared difference compared to existing SIC methods, leading to a lower system bit error rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, micro-arc oxidation was applied to fabricate a high voltage resistance Al2O3-based ceramic coating on the surface of aluminum alloy. The microstructure and insulating properties of the coatings were characterized by XRD, SEM and breakdown voltage testers. The growth behavior and insulation property of the oxide layer in "soft" regime conditions of micro-arc oxidation were determined. The relative contents of α-Al2O3 increased with "soft" plasma discharge time. The soft plasma discharge brought about a tendency of the micro-arc oxide coating to grow outward, further repairing the coating defects and yielding a denser coating layer with improved corrosion protection. Due to the presence of negative currents, the thickness of the whole layer increased, while the inner layer became denser and thicker as a consequence of soft sparks, favoring an increase in the density of the bulk coating layer. The breakdown voltage reached values above 1000 V after 20 min of soft plasma discharge, improving the of micro-arc oxidation coating insulation properties. The oxide layer is thus proposed as a potential candidate for insulation shielding of etching equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the effects of cutting parameters on the ultimate shear stress and specific cutting energy of sisal leaves can provide a basis for the design of high-efficiency and energy-saving harvesting machinery. In this study, hybrid (H.) 11648 sisal leaves (83% wet basis) were investigated experimentally using the single-factor method and the response surface method under quasi-static cutting conditions. The results showed that the cutting speed, blade oblique angle, blade entry angle, and leaf elevation angle significantly influence the ultimate shear stress and specific cutting energy of sisal leaves. The interaction term of the blade oblique angle and leaf elevation angle significantly affects the ultimate shear stress, while the interaction term of the cutting speed and blade oblique angle significantly affects the specific cutting energy. The values of the optimal cutting parameters, namely the cutting speed, blade oblique angle, blade entry angle, and leaf elevation angle, obtained by solving the multi-objective response equation were 500 mm min−1, 24.23°, −28.8°, and 20°, respectively. Under this setting, the ultimate shear stress and specific cutting energy for the sisal leaf could be reduced by 43.48% and 10.71%, respectively, compared with the case close to practical harvesting. Within acceptable ranges of the ultimate shear stress and specific cutting energy, increasing the cutting speed and utilising viable parameter values that are close to the optimised ones can also have a positive effect on peak cutting force reduction, energy savings, and miniaturisation of harvesting machinery. • Cutting parameters affect the cutting force and energy consumption of sisal leaves. • Horizontal cutting or oblique cutting is better than vertical cutting. • Increase the cutting speed can reduce the cutting force and energy consumption. • Provide new ideas for designing sisal leaves harvesting machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Cancer cachexia is a common cause of death among cancer patients with no currently effective treatment available. In animal models, aberrant activation of STAT3 in skeletal muscle contributes to muscle wasting. However, clinically the factors regulating STAT3 activation and the molecular mechanisms involved remain incompletely understood.Experimental Approach: The expression of HSP90 and the activation of STAT3 were detected in muscle from the patients with cancer cachexia or the tumour-bearing cachectic mice. HSP90 inhibitors, including 17DMAG (alvespimycin) and PU-H71, were administered to cachexic mice and cachexia parameters, weight loss, food intake, survival rate, body composition, serum metabolites, muscle wasting pathology and catabolic activation were analysed. The co-culture of C2C12 myotube cells with C26 conditioned media was performed to investigate the pathological mechanism involved in catabolic muscle wasting. The roles of HSP90, STAT3 and FOXO1 in myotube atrophy were explored via overexpression or knockdown.Results: An enhanced interaction between activated STAT3 and HSP90 in the skeletal muscle of cancer cachexia patients, is a crucial for the development of cachectic muscle wasting. HSP90 inhibitors 17DMAG and PU-H71 alleviated the muscle wasting in C26 and models or the myotube atrophy of C2C12 cells induced by C26 conditional medium. Prolonged STAT3 activation transactivated FOXO1 by binding directly to its promoter and triggered the muscle wasting in a FOXO1-dependent manner in muscle cells.Conclusion and Implications: The HSP90/STAT3/FOXO1 axis plays a critical role in cachectic muscle wasting, which might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer cachexia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the joint Laplace transform of the sticky Brownian motion on an interval, its occupation time at zero and its integrated process. The perturbation approach of Li and Zhou [The joint Laplace transforms for diffusion occupation times, Adv. Appl. Probab.45 (2013) 1049–1067] is adopted to convert the problem into the computation of three Laplace transforms, which is essentially equivalent to solving the associated differential equations with boundary conditions. We obtain the explicit expression for the joint Laplace transform in terms of the modified Bessel function and Airy functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) disrupts energy homeostasis and leads to weight gain. The fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene has been consistently identified to be associated with HFD-induced obesity. The hypothalamus is crucial for regulating energy balance, and HFD-induced hypothalamic leptin resistance contributes to obesity. FTO, an N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation regulator, may be a key mediator of leptin resistance. However, the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the association between FTO and leptin resistance. After HFD or standard diet (SD) feeding in male mice for 22 weeks, m6A-sequencing and western blotting assays were used to identify target genes and assess protein level, and molecular interaction changes. CRISPR/Cas9 gene knockout system was employed to investigate the potential function of FTO in leptin resistance and obesity. Our data showed that chemokine (C-X3-C motif) ligand 1 (CX3CL1) was a direct downstream target of FTO-mediated m6A modification. Furthermore, upregulation of FTO/CX3CL1 and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) in the hypothalamus impaired leptin-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling, resulting in leptin resistance and obesity. Compared to wild-type (WT) mice, FTO deficiency in leptin receptor-expressing neurons of the hypothalamus significantly inhibited the upregulation of CX3CL1 and SOCS3, and partially ameliorating leptin resistance under HFD conditions. Our findings reveal that FTO involved in the hypothalamic leptin resistance and provides novel insight into the function of FTO in the contribution to hypothalamic leptin resistance and obesity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe haze in Beijing during February of 2020, corresponding to the pandemics of Covid-19, was ascribed to residential coal combustion, which is always air lean or of oxygen deficiency, for household heating in the rural areas around Beijing. In this study, a drop-tube furnace combustion system was employed, where five types of representative coal were burned under the conditions of three respective temperatures and an oxygen-deficient combustion condition to simulate different residential coal combustion regimes. The on-line number concentration distribution of particulate matters in flue gas emitted was obtained. By size-segregated particulate matters of PM 1 , PM 2.5 and PM 10 collected in a three-stage sampler during various coal burning, the mass of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) and optical properties of light-absorbing organic carbonaceous aerosol were measured extensively. The results indicated that high temperature encouraged the formation of sub-micron and ultra-micron particles. It was found that coal types had a great impact on the formation of EC aerosols, that is, the mass of EC decreased with increasing geological maturity. Besides, the formation of EC was also affected by temperature, that is, the lower the temperature was, the more EC components were generated. The optical properties of the aerosol particle extracted by methanol from PM 1 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 were measured and explored. The high values of absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) and mass absorption efficiency at the wavelength of 365 nm (MAE 365) indicated the high wavelength-dependence characteristics and strong light absorbing abilities of brown carbon (BrC) from residential coal burning. AAE values from 1200 °C combustion emissions was observed to be diminishing with increasing fixed carbon to volatile matter ratio (FC/VM) and decreasing OC/(OC + EC). In addition, MAE 365 values from low-temperature combustion were higher. These findings help us better understand the role that household coal burning plays in global BrC emission and its harm on the environment and human health. Unlabelled Image • Emissions from insufficient coal combustion of different coal types and different temperatures were explored. • Formation of particulate matters was reduced under lower temperature. • Formation of elementary carbonaceous aerosols was sensitive to temperatures and coal types. • Brown carbon emissions from low-temperature insufficient coal combustion were more wavelength-dependent and light-absorbing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the problem of robust fault detection is investigated for nonlinear uncertain Markovian jump systems subject to time-varying delays, Lipschitz nonlinearities and parameter uncertainties under the event-triggered protocol. The event-triggered mechanism is introduced to adjust the transmission frequency of the data sent to the remote module. An event-based fault detection method is presented to guarantee the sensitivity of residual to fault and the attenuation of the effect from the disturbance on the residual. In this way, the considered fault detection problem is solvable by testifying the feasibility of H ∞ filtering problem. By constructing the mode-dependent Lyapunov functional, new sufficient criteria are derived in terms of the linear matrix inequality technique, which insures the stochastic stability with prescribed performance for addressed MJSs. In the end, a numerical example is exploited and the validity of newly presented event-based fault detection method is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A significant proportion of patients with HPV-associated OP-SCCs and IRFs/HRFs following surgery did not receive PORT or POCRT. • Lack of receipt of PORT or POCRT for both IRF and HRFs was associated with inferior OS. • No difference in OS was noted between PORT and POCRT for patients with HRFs. Intermediate and high-risk features (IRFs/HRFs) for locoregional recurrence following initial surgery for oropharyngeal SCCs (OP-SCCs) were defined prior to the known association of HPV with OP-SCC. There are limited reports on practice patterns and outcomes associated with post-operative radiation therapy (PORT) or chemoradiation (POCRT) for HPV-associated OP-SCCs. The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with HPV-associated OP-SCCs managed initially with surgery with IRFs or HRFs. IRFs were defined as pT3/T4 disease, pN1-3 disease, and lymphovascular space invasion, and HRFs as positive margins and extranodal extension (ENE). Patients were stratified into no adjuvant therapy, PORT, or POCRT arms. Kaplan-Meier analysis was utilized for comparison of overall survival (OS) between treatment arms followed by a Cox multivariate (MVA) proportional-hazards model and propensity score analyses with inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW). We identified 6,301 patients; 51.2% had IRFs only and 48.8% had HRFs. Regarding treatment, 25.5%, 38.2%, and 36.3% of patients received no RT, PORT, and POCRT, respectively. Patients with IRFs who did not receive RT or CRT had inferior 8-year OS (81.1% vs. 87.8%; p < 0.001) that remained significant on IPTW MVA (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.69 (95% CI: 1.27–2.24; p < 0.001). Among patients with HRFs, 8-year OS was not significantly different between patients receiving PORT vs. POCRT (77.3% vs. 79.2%; p = 0.22) that remained insignificant on IPTW MVA (HR = 0.91(0.72–1.17); p = 0.48). A significant proportion of HPV-associated OP-SCC patients with IRFs or HRFs did not receive PORT, which was associated with inferior OS. We did not demonstrate with statistical power that POCRT vs. PORT was associated with superior OS in patients with HRFs, though prospective studies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Murray's law of tree-like rectangular microchannel network is reexamined. • Effect of dimensional and structural parameters on the Murray's law are investigated. • Convective heat transfer of a tree-like rectangular microchannel heat sink is studied. Abstract The present work theoretically and numerically reexamines the Murray's law to design a tree-like rectangular microchannel network with constant microchannel height under the constraint of constant total channel volume, and investigates effects of the dimensional and structural parameters of the tree-like network on the optimal width ratio and optimal hydraulic diameter ratio of rectangular microchannels at two successive branching levels to achieve a minimum hydraulic resistance. The results show that the optimal hydraulic diameter ratio of the tree-like rectangular microchannel network does not follow the conventional Murray's law. Both the optimal width ratio and the optimal hydraulic diameter ratio to achieve a minimum hydraulic resistance strongly depend on the dimensional and structural parameters including rectangular channel height H , total channel volume V , channel length ratio γ , channel length at the initial branching level L 0 , branching number N and branching level m of the tree-like network. Additionally, the present work finds that the average convective heat transfer coefficient of a heat sink with an elementary T-shaped tree-like rectangular liquid-cooling microchannel network with the constant channel height increases with both the increasing width ratio of microchannels at two successive branching levels and the increasing channel height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study option prices under a feasible threshold diffusion model subject to jump-to-default risk where the default intensity takes a negative power of the underlying stock price. The model incorporates the regime switches endogenously by assuming the volatility to shift from one regime to another when the stock price crosses the pre-specified threshold level. This threshold can be understood as the psychological price barrier. Using the probabilistic approach, we obtain the Laplace-transform-based analytical solutions to the pricing problem of European vanilla options. Numerical analysis in the end examines the option-related quantities using the derived results and shows the impact of jump-to-default risk and threshold effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-temperature thermochronology is used widely in the Tibet plateau uplift. Some researches, however, have defined the time of rapid denudation as simply rock uplift and have neglected the fact that the rock denudation recorded by fission track (FT) data was controlled by both surface incision and rock uplift. The incision of the Yarlung Zangbo River had a significant influence on uplift history inversion in Southern Tibet. This paper simulated the bedrock denudation and river incision histories using apatite fission track (AFT) data sampled from the Gangdese conglomerate belt, which is located in the middle of Southern Tibet, and analyzed the geological meaning of the AFT age of each sample. The results showed the following: (1) In the early Miocene (22–16 Ma), both the value of the denudation rate and the incision rate were high (0.56 mm/yr and 0.24 mm/yr). (2) In the middle-late Miocene, the incision rate (0.12 mm/yr) was similar to the denudation rate (0.09–0.11 mm/yr). (3) The historical model between river incision and bedrock denudation revealed a significant difference in the denudation rate during the period ca. 8–6 Ma. Combining these data with previously published thermochronological ages and synthesizing these ages with regional geological, we arrived at the following conclusions: (1) In the early Miocene, the denudation event probably was caused by a combined result of Indian plate rollback and the incision of the Yarlung Zangbo River. (2) In the middle-late Miocene, the denudation rate was consistent with the incision rate, which suggested that the denudation episode was caused by climate change associated with Asian monsoon intensification. (3) After 8 Ma, the stable and slow incision rate indicated that regional drastic uplift had ceased. The paleo-elevation of the research area had approached, and even exceeded, the present-day elevation in the late Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the influence of a sulfate-based starch water-reducing agent on the setting time of cement, a novel starch-based water-reducing agent, namely sulfate-based starch maleic acid monoester (SAMAS), was designed to adjust its hydrophilicity by maleic acid monoester. Gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and 1H NMR nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to characterize the prepared SAMAS, while Zeta potential, UV–Vis absorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, cement paste fluidity, and setting time measurements were conducted to investigate its dispersion performance, retardation performance, adsorption behavior, and mechanism of action. SAMAS exhibited good dispersion performance and did not significantly prolong the setting time of the cement. In addition, the dispersion performance of SAMAS was found to depend mainly on steric hindrance, and its weak retardation performance originated from the hydrophilic regulation of the maleic acid monoester groups, which ensures the normal progress of the cement hydration reaction by hindering the formation of a hydration film. • SAMAS is prepared using a clean and industrializable method. • SAMAS shows excellent dispersion performance and unique weak retarding performance. • Revealed the adsorption characteristics and mechanism of action of SAMAS [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a closed-form likelihood approximation for one type of affine point processes widely used in financial credit risk models. We proceed by first conjecturing the concrete series form of the transition density, verifying our postulation and then establishing the related coefficients by means of Kolmogorov equations. The asymptotic properties of the maximum-likelihood estimators (MLEs) are given in the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the close connection between the skew Brownian motion and the random particle motion in heterogeneous media, we investigate the reflected skew Brownian motion and try to find out its relationship with the corresponding dispersion problem when there exists a reflecting boundary. Through the use of the knowledge of stochastic analysis, we provide some basic properties of reflected skew Brownian motions, including the transition density, the Laplace transform of the first passage time, and some related results. A simple method to generate the sample path is also proposed. At the end of this paper, we reveal the strong relationship between the reflected skew Brownian motion and the solute dispersion in the presence of a sharp interface and a reflecting boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a real-time monocular visual odometry system that achieves high accuracy in real-world autonomous driving applications. First, we demonstrate robust monocular SFM that exploits multithreading to handle driving scenes with large motions and rapidly changing imagery. To correct for scale drift, we use known height of the camera from the ground plane. Our second contribution is a novel data-driven mechanism for cue combination that allows highly accurate ground plane estimation by adapting observation covariances of multiple cues, such as sparse feature matching and dense inter-frame stereo, based on their relative confidences inferred from visual data on a per-frame basis. Finally, we demonstrate extensive benchmark performance and comparisons on the challenging KITTI dataset, achieving accuracy comparable to stereo and exceeding prior monocular systems. Our SFM system is optimized to output pose within 50 ms in the worst case, while average case operation is over 30 fps. Our framework also significantly boosts the accuracy of applications like object localization that rely on the ground plane. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, we investigate some properties of the doubly skewed CIR process which is an extension of skew Brownian motion. The weak existence and pathwise uniqueness of this process is considered in the beginning. Then we present the explicit formulae for the stationary density function and show that the process is positive Harris recurrent and geometrically ergodic. We also provide the explicit Laplace transforms of the first hitting times by using the basic theory of linear diffusions. As a natural corollary, the expectations of the first hitting times are given in the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To present preliminary experience of 'renal pedicle rotation' method in retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RLPN) for renal ventral tumors. Methods: A retrospective analysis of renal surgery database about patients undergoing RLPN was conducted. We identified 14 consecutive cases of all the surgeries from December 2013 to October 2014 with renal ventral tumors. The 14 surgeries were all in the application of renal pedicle rotation method, an intraoperative skill in which surgeons rotates the kidney on renal pedicle axis after separating renal artery and vein for a better tumor exposure. Results: A total of 14 patients underwent RLPN. All surgeries were successful without conversion to radical nephrectomy or open partial nephrectomy. The mean operative time was 171.1±47.2 min (range 83-246), the mean warm ischemia time was 15.9±9.8 min (range 7-35) and the mean estimated blood loss was 89.3±102.2 mL (range 10-300). Mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.2±1.9 days (range 4-10) and mean retroperitoneal drainage was 4.2±1.4 days (range 2-8). No intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperative complications developed in four patients. All patients had negative margins and pathological examination revealed 10 (71.4%) clear cell carcinomas, two (14.2%) epithelial renal angiomyolipoma, one (7.1%) papillary carcinoma and one (7.1%) nephrotuberculosis. The review of the early oncologic outcomes revealed no local recurrence and distant metastasis. Conclusion: The renal pedicle rotation method might be a feasible and safe procedure to get a better tumor exposure for incision and suture in renal ventral tumors RLPN surgeries with acceptable postoperative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf senescence and abscission play crucial role in annual plant adapting to seasonal alteration and climate changes by shortening life cycle and development process in response to abiotic and/or biotic stressors underlying phytohormones and environmental signals. Ethylene and abscisic acid are the major phytohormones that promotes leaf senescence, involving various transcription factors, such as EIN3 (ethylene-insensitive 3) and EIL (ethylene-insensitive 3-like) gene family, controlling leaf senescence through metabolite biosynthesis and signal transduction pathways. However, the roles of EIN3 regulating leaf senescence responding to environmental changes in perennial plant, especially forestry tree, remain unclear. In this study, we found that BpEIN3.1 from a subordinated to EIL3 subclade, is a transcription repressor and regulated light-dependent premature leaf senescence in birch (Betula platyphylla). BpEIN3.1 might inhibits the transcription of BpATPS1 by binding to its promoter. Shading suppressed premature leaf senescence in birch ein3.1 mutant line. Ethylene and abscisic acid biosynthesis were also reduced. In addition, abscisic acid positively regulated the expression of BpEIN3.1. This was demonstrated by the hormone-response element analysis of BpEIN3.1 promoter and its gene expression after the hormone treatments. Moreover, our results showed that abscisic acid is also involved in maintaining homeostasis. The molecular mechanism of leaf senescence provides a possibility to increasing wood production by delaying of leaf senescence. • Function of BpEIN3.1 regulating leaf senescence in Betula platyphylla was analyzed. • BpEIN3.1 served in inhibition of ethylene and abscisic acid biosynthesis, which delayed leaf senescence. • Light affects leaf senescence of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of cutting parameters on the cutting performance of sisal leaves under the impact cutting and to obtain the optimal cutting parameters to reduce cutting force and cutting energy. A rotary cutting method for sisal leaves was proposed, and the experimental results showed that cutting parameters had a significant impact on the ultimate shear stress and the specific cutting energy of sisal leaves. Increasing the cutting speed helps to reduce the ultimate shear stress and the specific cutting energy, but the specific cutting energy will increase when the cutting speed is greater than 3 m/s. Meanwhile, under the leaf elevation angle of 45° and the blade oblique angle of 40°, the minimum average ultimate shear stress (7.03 × 10−2 MPa) and minimum specific cutting energy (2.49 × 10−3 J/mm2) were achieved at the cutting speeds of 5 m/s and 3 m/s, respectively. Besides, the lowest cutting cross-section splitting degree was achieved under the blade oblique angle of 40°. The experiment results show that the cutting method proposed in this paper is effective, which provides an important basis for improving the current sisal leaf-cutting device and developing economic sisal leaves harvesting equipment in the future. [Display omitted] • A rotary cutting method was proposed for cutting sisal leaves. • The influence of cutting parameters on the cutting performance was investigated. • The optimal cutting parameter settings were obtained. • Increasing the blade oblique angle can improve the quality of cutting cross-section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Current trials for HPV-associated oropharyngeal SCCs (OP-SCCs) are evaluating treatment de-escalation including use of concurrent immunotherapy with radiation therapy (I-RT). Given limited prospective data following I-RT, we aimed to examine this question utilizing the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). Methods: The NCDB was queried for patients with HPV-associated OP-SCCs eligible for current de-escalation studies with AJCC 7th edition T1–T2/N1–N2b and T3/N0–N2b disease. Patients were stratified into I-RT, concurrent chemoradiation (C-RT), and radiation therapy alone (RT) arms. Kaplan–Meier analysis was utilized to compare overall survival (OS) between treatment arms followed by a Cox multivariate (MVA) proportional hazards model controlling for tumor and patient characteristics and propensity-score analyses with inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW). Results: We identified 4768 patients; 313 received I-RT, 3660 patients received C-RT, and 795 received RT. Median age was 62 years (range 27–90) with a median Charlson–Deyo co-morbidity score of 0 (range: 0–3). The vast majority were cN1–N2a (88.8%) and 26.5% were cT3. On MVA, inferior 3-year and 8-year OS was noted following I-RT (81.6% and 70.5%) vs. C-RT (90.6% and 79.4%) (HR = 1.69 (95% CI: 1.29–2.21); p < 0.0001) with no significant difference vs. RT (88.1% and 75.8%) (HR = 1.07; p = 0.80). This was also maintained on IPTW-analysis (HR = 1.62 (95% CI: 1.23–2.15); p = 0.001). Conclusions: I-RT was associated with significantly poorer OS vs. C-RT with no benefit compared to RT for HPV-associated OP-SCCs. I-RT is not recommended outside of currently accruing clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe a method for streamlining the process of elective nodal volume definition for head-and-neck (H&N) intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) planning. Methods and Materials: A total of 20 patients who had undergone curative-intent RT for H&N cancer underwent comprehensive treatment planning using three distinct, plan design techniques: conventional three-field design, target-defined IMRT (TD-IMRT), and conformal avoidance IMRT (CA-IMRT). For each patient, the conventional three-field design was created first, thereby providing the “outermost boundaries” for subsequent IMRT design. In brief, TD-IMRT involved physician contouring of the gross tumor volume, high- and low-risk clinical target volume, and normal tissue avoidance structures on consecutive 1.25-mm computed tomography images. CA-IMRT involved physician contouring of the gross tumor volume and normal tissue avoidance structures only. The overall physician time for each approach was monitored, and the resultant plans were rigorously compared. Results: The average physician working time for the design of the respective H&N treatment contours was 0.3 hour for the conventional three-field design plan, 2.7 hours for TD-IMRT, and 0.9 hour for CA-IMRT. Dosimetric analysis confirmed that the largest volume of tissue treated to an intermediate (50 Gy) and high (70 Gy) dose occurred with the conventional three-field design followed by CA-IMRT and then TD-IMRT. However, for the two IMRT approaches, comparable results were found in terms of salivary gland and spinal cord protection. Conclusion: CA-IMRT for H&N treatment offers an alternative to TD-IMRT. The overall time for physician contouring was substantially reduced (approximately threefold), yielding a more standardized elective nodal volume. Because of the complexity of H&N IMRT target design, CA-IMRT might ultimately prove a safer and more reliable method to export to general radiation oncology practitioners, particularly those with limited H&N caseload experience. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

With the advantages of high efficiency, clean and renewable energy, the technology of sorption/desorption-based atmospheric water harvesting powered by solar energy has gradually attracted the increasing attention of researchers. In this review paper, through analyzing and summarizing the principles, the performance indexes, the measurements of parameters, the material types, the morphology modification, and the system design and devices of this technology, it was found that the existing research mainly focused on adsorbents, while there are still some imperfections, such as limited application circumstances, instability, discontinuous working and long cycle. Accordingly, the direction of future research is expected to redesign adsorbent materials for higher adsorption-desorption rate and wider range of applications, add heat accumulator and air-driving equipment to make system controllable and flexible, miniaturize devices for convenient utilization, and optimize systems to shorten the water collection cycle and to achieve rapid and continuous working. To follow the direction above, there are also some suggestions for adsorbents and system design. • Summarize typical materials and their latest development in the sorption/desorption-based atmospheric water harvesting system. • Generalize and compare the efficiency, used materials, and characteristics of typical atmospheric water harvesting devices. • Point out improvement directions to develop an efficient, economic and environmental atmospheric water harvesting device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a very serious diabetes complication. Changes in the O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification are associated with many diseases. However, its role in DR is not fully understood. In this research, we explored the effect of O-GlcNAc modification regulation by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in DR, providing some evidence for clinical DR treatment in the future. Bioinformatics was used to make predictions from the database, which were validated using the serum samples of diabetic patients. As an in vivo model, diabetic mice were induced using streptozotocin (STZ) injection with/without an AMPK agonist (metformin) or an AMPK inhibitor (compound C) treatment. Electroretinogram (ERG) and H&E staining were used to evaluate the retinal functional and morphological changes. In vitro, 661 w cells were exposed to high-glucose conditions, with or without metformin treatment. Apoptosis was evaluated using TUNEL staining. The protein expression was detected using Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. The angiogenesis ability was detected using a tube formation assay. The levels of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) in the serum changed in the DR patients in the clinic. In the diabetic mice, the ERG wave amplitude and retinal thickness decreased. In vitro, the apoptotic cell percentage and Bax expression were increased, and Bcl2 expression was decreased in the 661 w cells under high-glucose conditions. The O-GlcNAc modification was increased in DR. In addition, the expression of GFAT/TXNIP O-GlcNAc was also increased in the 661 w cells after the high-glucose treatment. Additionally, the Co-immunoprecipitation(CO-IP) results show that TXNIP interacted with the O-GlcNAc modification. However, AMPK activation ameliorated this effect. We also found that silencing the AMPKα1 subunit reversed this process. In addition, the conditioned medium of the 661 w cells may have affected the tube formation in vitro. Taken together, O-GlcNAc modification was increased in DR with photoreceptor cell degeneration and neovascularization; however, it was reversed after activating AMPK. The underlying mechanism is linked to the GFAT/TXNIP-O-GlcNAc modification signaling axis. Therefore, the AMPKα1 subunit plays a vital role in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the transformation of cells in tissue culture and induced tumors by E6 and E7 oncoproteins from high risk human papillomaviruses (HPV). Determination of whether the E6 and E7 can affect deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage responses in vivo; Method and materials used in the treatment of mice with ionizing radiation; Comparison of the DNA synthesis in nontransgenic and E6-transgenic mouse epidermis.

A facile and tunable strategy is proposed to fabricate the Janus porous membrane (JPM) comprising hydrophobic and controlled-hydrophilic wetting surfaces. The control over the wettability of hydrophilic surface is well achieved by tuning the temperature, reaction time, and surface modification. The JPM has directional cross-plane water transport ability, which is demonstrated in water harvest. The prepared JPM exhibits an interesting cross-plane unidirectional selectivity for oil transport at oil-water interface. The synergistic effect developed due to the directional oil transport and charge-screening, which offered an efficient separation of both the heavy oil and light oil from oil-in-water emulsions utilizing large pore size JPM. This easy-to-prepare and tunable strategy endows the JPM with many practical applications that is important for the evolution of JPM from a scientific concept to practical materials in real world. The large pore size JPM with synergistic effect developed due to the directional liquids transport and charge-screening can efficient separate both the heavy oil and light oil from surfactant stabilized oil-in-water emulsions. Image 1 • A facile and tunable strategy to fabricate the JPM with controllable wettability is proposed. • The as-prepared JPM shows intelligent liquids manipulation behavior. • The liquids manipulation property of the JPM is demonstrated in water harvesting. • The large pore size JPM can realize the separation of surfactant stabilized O/W emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding reliable and easy-to-obtain predictors of severe infectious complications after shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is a major clinical need, particular in symptom-free hydronephrosis. Therefore, we aim to prospectively investigate the predictive value of Hounsfield units (HU) in renal pelvis urine for the risk of severe infectious complications in patients with ureteral stones and symptom-free hydronephrosis after SWL. This multi-center prospective study was conducted from June 2020 to December 2023. The HU of renal pelvis urine was measured by non-enhanced computed tomography. The severe infectious complications included systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, and septic shock. Binary logistic regression models assessed the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Finally, 1,436 patients with ureteral stones were enrolled in this study. 8.9% (128/1,436) of patients experienced severe infectious complications after SWL treatment. After adjusting confounding variables, compared with the patients in the lowest renal pelvis urine density quartile, the OR (95% CI) for the highest quartile was 32.36 (13.32, 78.60). There was a positive linear association between the HU value of renal pelvis urine and the risk of severe infectious complications after SWL (P for trend < 0.001). Furthermore, this association was also observed stratified by age, gender, BMI, stone size, stone location and hydronephrosis grade (all P for interaction > 0.05). Additionally, the nonlinear association employed by restricted cubic splines is not statistically significant (nonlinear P = 0.256). The AUROC and 95%CI of renal pelvis urine density were 0.895 (0.862 to 0.927, P value < 0.001). The cut-off value was 12.0 HU with 78.59% sensitivity and 85.94% specificity. This multi-center prospective study demonstrated a positive linear association between HU in renal pelvis urine and the risk of severe infectious complications in patients with ureteral stones and symptom-free hydronephrosis after SWL, regardless of age, gender, BMI, stone size, stone location, and hydronephrosis grade. These findings might be helpful in the SWL treatment decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lotus leaf has the Janus wettability and outstanding floatability at multiphase interface. The ingenious design on lotus leaf surfaces enlightens us to fabricate the superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic binary cooperative membrane. Making use of the poor permeability of the candle soot, deposition of a layer of candle soot enables to form the Janus membrane with anisotropic wettability on different surfaces. After fixed by the hydrophobic polymer, the superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic binary cooperative membranes are prepared successfully on various membranes, such as filter paper, cotton fabric and copper mesh. The Janus membrane exhibits excellent interfacial floatability at the immiscible oil–water interface as a separator, thus affording high-performance immiscible oil/water separation without applied external pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread interest has been drawn to the use of solid waste fillers as a partial replacement for natural fillers in high-performance asphalt mixtures in recent years. However, variations in the material properties of solid waste fillers remain a problem for the recycling method. To address this issue, the limestone powder in asphalt mixtures was replaced with three solid waste fillers, including steel slag powder, tailings powder and calcium carbide slag powder in this study. The chemical composition of the fillers was first characterized to assess the homogeneity of the material. Then, a dense-graded asphalt mixture (AC) and a stone matrix asphalt (SMA) mixture were designed, produced and characterized for wet stability. The results show that the asphalt mixtures with solid waste fillers were superior to limestone powder (LP) asphalt mixtures in terms of resistance to water damage, and the steel slag powder showed the best improvement in moisture stability of the asphalt mixtures. The optimum substitution of solid waste filler for limestone filler was 25%. With the addition of anti-stripping agents, the moisture stability of the asphalt mixture with limestone filler was also greatly enhanced. On the contrary, a marginal enhancement was observed in the moisture stability of asphalt mixtures using solid waste fillers. Solid waste fillers can be used in asphalt mixtures and have a similar function as that of anti-stripping agents. In summary, the use of solid waste fillers to replace mineral fillers in asphalt mixtures is a reliable, value-added recycling option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, bacteria’s therapeutic role has aroused attention in medicinal and pharmaceutical research. While bacteria are considered among the primary agents for causing cancer, recent research has shown intriguing results suggesting that bacteria can be effective agents for cancer treatment – they are the perfect vessels for targeted cancer therapy. Several bacterial strains/species have been discovered to possess inherent oncolytic potentials to invade and colonize solid tumors in vivo. The therapeutic strategy of using bacteria for treating cancer is considered to be effective; however, the severe side effects encountered during the treatment resulted in the abandonment of the therapy. State-of-the-art genetic engineering has been recently applied to bacteria therapy and resulted in a greater efficacy with minimum side effects. In addition, the anti-cancer potential of tumor-targeting bacteria through oral administration circumvents the use of the intravenous route and the associated adverse effects. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the latest literature on the role of bacteria in cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel liquid-infused, patterned, porous membrane system with anti-fouling characteristics is prepared via simple co-infusion of oil and water within hydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces of a porous membrane, respectively. This membrane simultaneously repels the immiscible water and oil exhibiting excellent interfacial floatability at the oil–water interface as a separator, thus showing promise for use in applications in the immiscible oil/water separation industry and liquid–liquid extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the optimal forming parameters for printing flexible circuits using aerosol jet printing technology are explored through numerical simulation and experiments. The printhead during the deposition process is numerically simulated. By employing the controlled variable method, the process parameters such as gas flow rate, working distance, nozzle diameter, and printing speed are selected to investigate their effects on the morphology of the printed lines. Accordingly, single-factor experiments are designed to validate the printing of flexible circuits on both planar and curved substrates. Laser micro-sintering is utilized to improve the conductivity of the printed lines and ultimately fabricate flexible strain sensors. Under the sheath gas flow rate of 400 sccm, carrier gas flow rate of 100 sccm, working distance of 3 mm, nozzle diameter of 500 μm, and printing speed of 10 mm/s, the optimal morphology of the printed lines is achieved with low linewidth characteristics. The variations in the focal ratio, working distance, nozzle diameter, and printing speed significantly affect the minimum feature line width and morphology of the printed lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of chemical herbicides has jeopardized concerns about food safety and ecological consequences. To address these issues and reduce reliance on chemical herbicides, a physical weed control device was developed for the tillering stage in paddy fields. This device features a biomimetic duckbill-like vibration chain that effectively controls weed outbreaks. The chain penetrates the soft surface soil of the paddy field under gravity and rapidly stirs the soil through vibration, leading to the detachment of the weed roots anchored in the surface layer. Simultaneously, the device avoids mechanical damage to rice seedlings rooted in deeper soil. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chain structural parameters (the number of chain rows, vibration amplitude, and length of chains) and operational parameters (vibration frequency and working velocity) on weed control efficiency and rice seedling damage. Through a central composite regression field test, the optimal device structure and operational parameters were determined. The optimization results demonstrated that a vibration amplitude of 78.8 mm, a chain length of 93.47 cm, and 3.4 rows of chains, along with a vibration frequency and working velocity ranging from 0.5 to 1.25 m/s, achieved an optimal weeding effect. Under the optimal parameter combination, field test results demonstrated that approximately 80% of the weeds in the field were effectively cleared. This indicates that the design of the biomimetic duckbill-like vibration chain weeding device exhibits a relatively superior weeding performance, offering a practical solution for the management of weeds in rice fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims High level of saturated fatty acids leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation in the development of insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. We recently found that puerarin improved impaired insulin signaling in skeletal muscle in diabetic animals and in myotubes in vitro . However, whether puerarin can act directly on muscle cells to alleviate lipid-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation remains obscure. This study was conducted to analyze the attributive properties of puerarin against mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation in skeletal muscle cells with insulin resistance. Main methods The effects of puerarin on mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation, dynamics of fusion, fission and mitophagy, oxidative stress, as well as inflammatory response and insulin sensitivity in L6 myotubes treated with palmitate were examined. Key findings Puerarin pretreatment improve insulin sensitivity and prevented muscle cells from palmitate-induced mitochondrial dysfunction manifested by the increases of complex I activity, mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP generation, and the decrease of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Augmented expression of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and the detoxification of ROS were also observed upon puerarin supplementation. Moreover, puerarin modulated mitochondrial fusion and fission, and rescued palmitate-impaired mitophagy via phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced putative kinase 1(PINK1)/Parkin pathway. In addition, puerarin attenuated palmitate-induced inflammation through the inhibition of toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway. Significance Our findings indicated that puerarin could act directly on muscle cells to attenuate palmitate-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired mitophagy and inflammatory response, thereby contributing to the improvement of insulin sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To realize the autonomous operation of a terraced rice sowing robot, a set of sowing robot operation path planning algorithms with universal significance for small, irregular terraced plots is proposed. According to the characteristics of terraces and the agronomic requirements of sowing seeding, the operation path mainly includes parallel operation and boundaries surrounding the operation path. The boundary pre-collision detection method is expounded, and the cyclic detection method judges the U-turn area. The Bézier curve fitting algorithm was used to smooth the boundary wrapping path. To verify the feasibility of the algorithm, four typical irregular small fields located in 666.7-hectare terraces of Sama in Hong He Prefecture, Yunnan Province, were randomly selected, and a field map was obtained through Google Earth. An existing seeding robot was used as a model, and the simulation and comparison tests were carried out with the mainstream EHNS algorithm and boundary polyline algorithm under the ROS-kinetic platform in the Cen Village Scientific Research Base of South China Agricultural University. The actual boundaries of the four fields with the same simulation test were used as the map to verify the field experiment. The simulation test results show that the area coverage of the sowing operation is greater than 93.53% and the replay rate is less than 3.46%, and the field test results show that the area coverage of the sowing operation is greater than 94.33% and the replay rate is less than 3.03%. The simulation test is in good agreement with the field test results, indicating that the algorithm has good adaptability, which meets the requirements of a sowing robot for sowing operation path planning and can provide a certain reference for the path planning of irregular field operation robots in hilly and mountainous areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cachexia is characterized by progressive weight loss accompanied by the loss of specific skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Increased lactate production, either due to the Warburg effect from tumors or accelerated glycolysis effects from cachectic muscle, is the most dangerous factor for cancer cachexia. This study aimed to explore the efficiency of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) in blocking Cori cycle activity and its therapeutic effect on cachexia-associated muscle wasting. A C26 adenocarcinoma xenograft model was used to study cancer cachectic metabolic derangements. Tumor-free lean mass, hindlimb muscle morphology, and fiber-type composition were measured after in vivo 2-DG administration. Activation of the ubiquitin-dependent proteasome pathway (UPS) and autophagic–lysosomal pathway (ALP) was further assessed. The cachectic skeletal muscles of tumor-bearing mice exhibited altered glucose and lipid metabolism, decreased carbohydrate utilization, and increased lipid β-oxidation. Significantly increased gluconeogenesis and decreased ketogenesis were observed in cachectic mouse livers. 2-DG significantly ameliorated cancer cachexia-associated muscle wasting and decreased cachectic-associated lean mass levels and fiber cross-sectional areas. 2-DG inhibited protein degradation-associated UPS and ALP, increased ketogenesis in the liver, and promoted ketone metabolism in skeletal muscle, thus enhancing mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity. 2-DG effectively prevents muscle wasting by increasing ATP synthesis efficiency via the ketone metabolic pathway and blocking the abnormal Cori cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Ti, Al)N coatings with different Al target power densities on the surface of M2 high-speed steel were deposited by magnetron sputtering to study the tribological properties. The phase composition, microstructure, and element distribution of coatings were characterized by x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy dispersive spectrometry. The results showed that the tribological properties of the coatings were closely related to the power density of the Al target. With a gradual increase in the Al target power density, the microhardness increased from 1324.7 to 2819.2 HV. Meanwhile, when Al target power density was 7.9 W/cm2, the coatings exhibit the lowest coefficient of friction (COF = 0.23). By comparison, it was found that (Ti, Al)N coatings exhibited a smooth surface, uniformly dense columnar structures, and smaller grain sizes due to the addition of Al atoms. (Ti, Al)N coatings showed a unique microstructure that determined their excellent tribological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The torque of the conveyor is significantly affected by both the structural parameters of the conveyor and the characteristics of the particles being transported. This study aims to analyze the forces acting on particles at the material Filling port was conducted to identify the factors that contribute to torque instability during screw conveyor operation. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is used to investigate the impact of four factors: the termination angle of filling port, the length of the filling port, the clearance between the screw and the casing, and the helix angle on particle forces and screw torque. The results indicate that particle forces at the Filling port are the main contributors to torque instability, while the transportation of particles within the normal conveying section has a relatively minor effect on torque stability. This research provides valuable insights into the factors that cause torque instability in screw conveyors. [Display omitted] • The interaction between the filling port structure and particles was analyzed. • Some particles at the filling port are sheared and squeezed. • Such shearing and squeezing will lead to unstable screw torque or jamming. • The structural parameters of the filling port influence particle force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroinflammation following peripheral surgery is a pivotal pathogenic mechanism of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). However, the key site of inflammation-mediated neural damage remains unclear. Impaired mitochondrial function is a vital feature of degenerated neurons. Dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), a crucial regulator of mitochondrial dynamics, has been shown to play an essential role in synapse formation. Here, we designed experiments to assess whether Drp1-regulated mitochondrial dynamics and function are involved in the pathological processes of POCD and elucidate its relationship with neuroinflammation. Aged mice were subjected to experimental laparotomy under isoflurane anesthesia. Primary neurons and SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to tumor necrosis factor (TNF). We found an increase in Drp1 activation as well as mitochondrial fragmentation both in the hippocampus of mice after surgery and primary neurons after TNF exposure. Pretreatment with Mdivi-1, a Drp1 specific inhibitor, reduced this mitochondrial fragmentation. Drp1 knockdown with small interfering RNA blocked TNF-induced mitochondrial fragmentation in SH-SY5Y cells. However, the application of Mdivi-1 exhibited a negative impact on mitochondrial function and neurite growth in primary neurons. Calcineurin activity was increased in primary neurons after TNF exposure and contributed to the Drp1 activation. The calcineurin inhibitor FK506 exhibited a Drp1-independent function that mitigated mitochondrial dysfunction. Finally, we found that FK506 pretreatment ameliorated the neurite growth in neurons treated with TNF and the learning ability of mice after surgery. Overall, our research indicated a crucial role of mitochondrial function in the pathological processes of POCD, and neuronal metabolic modulation may represent a novel and important target for POCD. [Display omitted] • Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission involved in the pathological processes of POCD. • Mitochondrial dysfunction occurred prior to fission under TNF stimulation. • Inhibiting fission worsened mitochondrial function and neural outcome. • Calcineurin mediated Drp1 activation in response to TNF stimulation. • Calcineurin inhibition may be a potential therapeutic strategy for POCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the accuracy of the parameters used in discrete element simulation study of coconut bran, physical and simulation experiments were combined to calibrate discrete element simulation parameters of the species. First, the intrinsic parameters and actual stacking angle of coconut bran were measured through physical tests. Next, the simulated stacking angle was used as the response value, Plackett-Burman test was designed with Design-Expert software, and the parameters that had a significant impact on the stacking angle were identified and selected. The results of the screening test show that the static friction coefficient of coconut bran-coconut bran, the rolling friction coefficient of coconut bran-coconut bran and the static friction coefficient of coconut bran-steel plate have significant effects on the stacking angle. The relative error of the stacking angle was taken as the evaluation index, the steepest climbing test was performed on the three significant parameters, the value range of the significance parameter was optimized, and Box-Behnken test was adopted to establish the quadratic regression model between the stacking angle and significance parameters based on response surface methodology (RSM). the stacking angle of 20.08° measured by the physical experiment was taken as the target value in the model, and the regression equation was optimized to obtain the optimal combination of parameters: 0.48 for the static friction coefficient of coconut bran-coconut bran, 0.28 for the rolling friction coefficient of coconut bran-coconut bran, and 0.39 for the static friction coefficient of coconut bran-steel plate. Finally, the verification tests on the stacking angle and fluidity of coconut bran were carried out, and the results show the average relative errors of the two tests are small, which verify the reliability of the calibration results and research methods of coconut bran simulation parameters. The research results show the calibrated parameters can provide references for the selection of coconut bran discrete element simulation parameters and the design and optimization of related equipment. [Display omitted] • DEM-RSM is used to calibrate the simulation parameters of coconut bran. • The significant parameters on the stacking angle of coconut bran are carried out. • The optimal combination of parameters is obtained by optimizing regression equation. • The accuracy of the simulation parameters of coconut bran is improved. • Providing references for the design and optimization of related equipment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense exposure to artificial bright light increases the risk of retinal damage resulting in blurred vision and blindness. Long-term exposure to bright light elevates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, which results in photoreceptor cell degeneration. However, to the best of our knowledge, the molecular mechanism associated with light-induced retinopathy remains unclear. In the present study, the mechanisms involved in light-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis were investigated along with the protective effects of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) in photoreceptor cell degeneration. EGb 761 was administered to mice at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg for 7 days prior to exposure to bright light (5,000 lux for 24 h). Furthermore, photoreceptor cell disorders were evaluated using electroretinogram (ERG) and H&E staining analyses. The expression levels of antioxidant genes and proteins ERK, thioredoxin (Trx) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and the induction of apoptosis cytochrome c (Cyc), cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. ERG and histological analysis revealed that exposure to bright light induced functional and morphological changes to the photoreceptor cells. Exposure to bright light increased the levels of Cyc, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, and decreased the levels of phosphorylated (p-) Erk, Nrf-2 and thioredoxin (Trx). However, treatment of mice with EGb 761 increased the expression levels of antiapoptotic (Bcl-2) and antioxidant (p-Erk, Trx and Nrf-2) proteins and decreased the expression levels of the apoptotic genes (Cyc, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax). Based on these findings, the present study suggested that prolonged exposure to light induces photoreceptor cell degeneration, where EGb 761 treatment may serve a therapeutic effect on the development of photoreceptor cell degeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IL-6 has been suggested to function as an autocrine mitogen in the psoriatic epidermis. The biological activity of IL-6 relies on interactions with its receptors, including the membrane-bound IL-6 receptor (mIL-6R) and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R). Our study presents data showing that the levels of plasma IL-6 and sIL-6R were elevated in psoriatic patients. Genotyping of two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-6R (rs4845617 and rs2228145) demonstrated that the SNP IL-6R (rs4845617) rather than IL-6R (rs2228145) shows a significant association with psoriasis (P = 0.006). To verify the functions of sIL-6R, cultured keratinocytes and imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic model mice were treated with sIL-6R. We found that the presence of sIL-6R in the HaCaT cell culture medium enhanced the IL-6-induced Stat3 activation, which resulted in abnormal keratinocyte proliferation and aberrant differentiation. Furthermore, the application of sIL-6R in vivo accelerated the pathological development of the disease. Our results demonstrate for the first time that genetic polymorphisms in the IL-6R gene are associated with psoriasis disease phenotypes in a Chinese psoriatic patient population; sIL-6R-mediated trans-signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, suggesting potential therapeutics for psoriasis. Key messages: Patients with psoriasis displayed higher levels of IL-6 and sIL-6R compared with healthy controls. Analysis of genotypes revealed that IL-6R rs4845617 GG genotype associated with the risk of psoriasis. Supplement of sIL-6R further enhanced IL-6-induced Stat3 activation in keratinocytes. In vivo administration of sIL-6R accelerated, whereas sgp130FC alleviated, the pathological development of psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depth estimation and semantic segmentation play essential roles in scene understanding. The state-of-the-art methods employ multi-task learning to simultaneously learn models for these two tasks at the pixel-wise level. They usually focus on sharing the common features or stitching feature maps from the corresponding branches. However, these methods lack in-depth consideration on the correlation of the geometric cues and the scene parsing. In this paper, we first introduce the concept of semantic objectness to exploit the geometric relationship of these two tasks through an analysis of the imaging process, then propose a Semantic Object Segmentation and Depth Estimation Network (SOSD-Net) based on the objectness assumption. To the best of our knowledge, SOSD-Net is the first network that exploits the geometry constraint for simultaneous monocular depth estimation and semantic segmentation. In addition, considering the mutual implicit relationship between these two tasks, we exploit the iterative idea from the expectation–maximization algorithm to train the proposed network more effectively. Extensive experimental results on the Cityscapes and NYU v2 dataset are presented to demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanoluminescent (ML) materials have garnered significant attention due to their capacity for converting mechanical stress into light emission without the need for external power sources. However, very limited efforts have been cast on the response and utilization of water stimulation using ML materials. Herein, we present a highly efficient self-powered luminescent film that exhibits excellent water-responsive properties. The ML intensity of this film shows the zero-quenching performance when exposed to corrosive solutes (acid or saline solution) and within a broad temperature range of 0−100 °C. The ML intensity of the film remains unaffected by long-term water immersion and the impact of water (>1000 times), providing evidence of the durability of this film in humid environments. The COMSOL simulations aim to uncover the dynamic stress distribution of the ML film under two different modes of water stimulation (vibration and deformation). Furthermore, this ML film is used for water speed sensing, and its water speed sensing range is 0.8 m s−1 −6.02 m s−1. Meanwhile, the film's applications have been demonstrated in illumination and display under hydrodynamic force stimulation, human motion recognition, and underwater sensing and communication. The results show that the film can effectively realize the response and visualization to the hydrodynamic force and broaden the application field of mechanoluminescent materials. The water-driven mechanoluminescent film has successfully realized the collection and utilization of water energy and has been successfully applied in water velocity sensing, water-driven lighting, and underwater information communication. [Display omitted] • Robust self-powered mechanoluminescent films for harvesting and direct utilization of water energy. • First self-powered ML peed sensor applicable under harsh environments like high temperature, acid, and saline solution. • Water-driven sensing and underwater communication of the self-powered ML film are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious neurodegenerative disease that is induced by hyperglycaemia. Oxidative stress, inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are involved in the development of DR. Sulforaphane (SF) is widely found in cruciferous plants and has a protective effect against retinal neurodegeneration in diabetes, but the mechanism is unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which SF protects against photoreceptor degeneration in diabetes. In vivo, a mouse model of diabetes was established by streptozotocin (STZ) injection, and the mice were treated with/without SF. Electroretinography (ERG) and H&E staining were used to evaluate retinal function and morphology. In vitro, 661w cells were treated with AGEs with/without SF. Cell viability and apoptosis were analysed by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. The expression of proteins and genes was assessed by western blot and qRT-PCR. The amplitude of the a-wave was decreased and the morphology was changed in the diabetic mice, and these changes were delayed by SF treatment. The percentage of apoptotic cells was increased and the cell viability was decreased after the treatment of 661w cells with AGEs. Moreover, the expression of GRP78, Txnip and TNFα was increased, however, this increased expression was reversed by SF treatment via AMPK pathway activation. Taken together, these data show that SF can delay photoreceptor degeneration in diabetes, and the underlying mechanism is related to the inhibition of ER stress, inflammation and Txnip expression through the activation of the AMPK pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Organic carbon and elemental carbon have totally different formation mechanisms. • Increasing oxygen concentration can reduce the emission of carbon components. • The AAE of coal combustion is much smaller than that of atmospheric aerosol. • Coal combustion is significant in light absorption capacity of atmospheric aerosol. Under typical Chinese wintry rural conditions, dominating individual coal heating would emit lots of the fine fraction of ambient aerosol exclusively including carbonaceous particulate matter. In this study, a specified drop tube furnace system is employed to simulate experimentally particle matter emitted during individual coal combustion. Emphatically, the effects of coal types, oxygen concentration and combustion ambient on the formation characteristics of carbonaceous aerosols in the flue gas were discussed. It was found that the fraction of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in the flue gas produced by bituminous coal combustion was lower than that of lignite. Meanwhile, with the increase of oxygen concentration, the production of OC and EC decreased, but the sensitivity of EC to oxygen concentration was higher than that of OC, which indicated that the formation mechanism of OC and EC is extremely different. Noticeable, the Absorption Ångström Exponent (AAE) of methanol-soluble organic carbon (MSOC) is higher than that of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), which indicates that a large amount of methanol-soluble but water-insoluble brown carbon has strong light absorption capacity between 330 nm and 550 nm, and its light absorption capacity tends to be in the short-wave region. The mass absorption efficiency (MAE) of brown carbon produced by coal combustion (0.1–1 m2/gC) is similar to that of atmospheric aerosol (0.3–1.8 m2/gC), which indicates that the contribution of brown carbon emitted from coal combustion to the light absorption capacity of atmospheric aerosol should not be underestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed size and shape are important traits determining yield and quality in soybean. However, the genetic mechanism and genes underlying these traits remain largely unexplored. In this regard, this study used two related recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations (ZY and K3N) evaluated in multiple environments to identify main and epistatic-effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for six seed size and shape traits in soybean. A total of 88 and 48 QTLs were detected through composite interval mapping (CIM) and mixed-model-based composite interval mapping (MCIM), respectively, and 15 QTLs were common among both methods; two of them were major (R2 > 10%) and novel QTLs (viz., qSW-1-1ZN and qSLT-20-1K3N). Additionally, 51 and 27 QTLs were identified for the first time through CIM and MCIM methods, respectively. Colocalization of QTLs occurred in four major QTL hotspots/clusters, viz., "QTL Hotspot A", "QTL Hotspot B", "QTL Hotspot C", and "QTL Hotspot D" located on Chr06, Chr10, Chr13, and Chr20, respectively. Based on gene annotation, gene ontology (GO) enrichment, and RNA-Seq analysis, 23 genes within four "QTL Hotspots" were predicted as possible candidates, regulating soybean seed size and shape. Network analyses demonstrated that 15 QTLs showed significant additive x environment (AE) effects, and 16 pairs of QTLs showing epistatic effects were also detected. However, except three epistatic QTLs, viz., qSL-13-3ZY, qSL-13-4ZY, and qSW-13-4ZY, all the remaining QTLs depicted no main effects. Hence, the present study is a detailed and comprehensive investigation uncovering the genetic basis of seed size and shape in soybeans. The use of a high-density map identified new genomic regions providing valuable information and could be the primary target for further fine mapping, candidate gene identification, and marker-assisted breeding (MAB). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar derived from straw is a potential low-cost adsorbent for metal ions and organic pollutants, but its practical application is still limited by the adsorption capacity. In this study, the correlation between the biochar's properties and pyrolysis temperature was explored. The adsorption mechanism was studied by monitoring the changes of biochar properties before and after adsorption using BET, SEM, XPS and FT-IR spectroscopy. The adsorption mechanism was revealed following the adsorption kinetics and the changes in biochar's properties before and after adsorption. The methylene blue (MB) and Pb2+ adsorption removal efficiency reached 95% at the initial concentration of 125 and 500 mg/L, respectively. Physisorption, chemisorption, and pore filling mechanisms determined the adsorption process of MB and Pb2+ on biochar. The Pb2+ adsorption process was highly affected by chemical co-precipitation at higher pyrolysis temperatures. The appearance of tar particles increased the adsorption rate of Pb2+. The biochar obtained at the pyrolysis temperature at 500, 800 and 900°C proved to be applicable for Pb2+ removal. Chemisorption and porosity dominated the MB adsorption, and biochars produced at pyrolysis temperatures of 200, 800 and 900°C are potential materials for MB removal. This study provides optimal pyrolysis conditions for transforming maize straw into valuable, low-cost materials for the removal of different pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]