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Background: Liver allograft fibrosis (LAF) is prevalent among children with long-term survival after liver transplantation (LT). The authors aimed to identify clinical risk factors, with a focus on the impact of immunosuppression (IS) level in the early post-transplant period on LAF. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on pediatric LT recipients with at least 1-year of follow-up. Cox regression models were used to analyze risk factors associated with LAF, and landmark analysis was used to evaluate the impact of IS level on LAF. Longitudinal analysis was also conducted in patients with paired biopsies. Results: A total of 139 patients involving 174 liver biopsies were included. With 2.3 to 5.9 years of follow-up, LAF was detected in 91.4% of patients (7.9% were significant), up to 88.2% of whom showed normal liver function. Episodes of acute rejection, biliary complications, cytomegalovirus infection, and prolonged cold ischemia time were independent risk factors. Besides, the risk of LAF in patients with relatively low IS levels at postoperative 1-3, 3-6, 6-12, and 12-36 months was higher than the counterparts. Especially, in patients with relatively high IS levels (mean tacrolimus trough concentration = 5.1 ng/ml) during postoperative 12-36 months, the risk of LAF was 67% lower in the short future (P=0.006). In paired analysis, patients with increased IS levels were more likely to achieve fibrosis-reduction (HR=7.53, P= 0.025). Conclusions: Mild to moderate LAF is common among pediatric LT recipients and can appear early and silently. Maintaining adequate levels of IS during 1-3 years after LT seems crucial to ensure protection against LAF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's perspective of the Indo-Pacific as a set of strategies initially developed by Japan but mainly driven by the United States (US), appears to be shifting. Beijing originally viewed such approaches as directly countering its influence in the mega-region of the same name. Yet, more recently China has made pronouncements that seem to suggest its relative support of particular state and regional organisation's Indo-Pacific strategies. This article explores this changing perspective and the dilemmas facing China as a rising global power in a liberal international order through the lens of strategic narratives. On the one hand China understands that it needs to engage the global system and cannot isolate from it, and at the same time, Beijing seeks to challenge the US-led liberal international order to achieve its ambitions. This dual approach is explained through China's use of alternative diplomacy and is further explored through two examples. The first is China's engagement in the Western Indo-Pacific and specifically Africa (an emphasis of this journal volume), where it remains a strategic partner in the political and tangible economic sense. Secondly, at the conceptual level, the Indo-Pacific is not yet an institutionalised concept and its contours and future are left open to interpretation. Since allegiances and interests are shifting, China has the opportunity to contribute to the very ideas and norms that inform what the 'Indo-Pacific' means in ways that can further its own strategic interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the evolution of the 'Indo-Pacific' as a concept and geopolitical social construct. Since 2007, the concept has been framed predominatly to fit the geostrategic concerns of global North powers. Contrary to this slant taken by an array of recent Indo-Pacific strategies, the concept itself is historically rooted in ideas of anticolonial politics, social justice, developmentalism, and cooperation. Regional Security Complex (RSC) theory is applied as a useful conceptual framework and shows how security problems and concerns are intimately tied to others and are thereby relational. Indeed, such a theory will need to increasingly account for ocean regions and move away from a terra-centric focus. Finally, the article explores the role of political geography. While the security complex in this mega-region is defined by particular states, the physical boundaries remain open to interpretation based on a state's view of itself and its geography, as well as how it makes sense and projects its changing interests. It is for these reasons that the western Indo-Pacific and African littoral states remain unevenly accounted for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses The concept of 'Indo-Pacific' has rapidly evolved over the past decade and a half, with a shift from the previous emphasis on 'Asia Pacific'. Countries and regional organizations have released Indo-Pacific strategies or policies, indicating their recognition of the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific in the global political and economic arenas, as well as their efforts to address the rise of China and its global influence.

Background: Malignancies-related esophagogastric junction (EGJ) obstruction is usually diagnosed in inoperable status with poor clinical outcomes. Metallic stent placement at EGJ could improve dysphagia for these patients. However, studies regarding the outcomes in these patients receiving metallic stents are still limited. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of metallic stent placement in malignant EGJ obstruction. Methods: Forty-one patients with inoperable malignant EGJ obstruction receiving metallic stent placement were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical outcomes between different stents and deployment techniques were analyzed. Results: The overall technical success rate was 97.6% and clinical success rate was 92.1%. The median overall survival time was 77 (4-893) days, and the patency time was 71 (4-893) days, respectively. Poststent radiotherapy significantly prolonged survival and stent patency. Between patients receiving uncovered or partially covered metal stents, there was no difference in procedurerelated complications, survival time, and stent patency time. Moreover, the clinical outcomes in patients receiving duodenal stents for malignant EGJ obstruction are not inferior to those receiving esophageal stents. Conclusion: This study provides crucial information for endoscopists to establish individualized stenting strategies for malignant EGJ obstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older adults with depression more frequently experience somatic and gastrointestinal (GI) problems compared with people without depression and younger adults with depression. However, whether GI symptoms are predictive of elevated rates of depression among older adults is unclear. Methods: We enrolled 106 older adults (>60 years old); 69 had late-life depression (LLD), and 37 were controls. All participants gave ratings on the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Food consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and a Mediterranean diet score was used as a covariate. Results: Compared with the controls, patients with LLD reported higher levels of depressive and GI symptoms and reported more reflux, abdominal pain, and dyspepsia symptoms, and these symptoms were correlated with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores (GSRS total: β = 0.47; reflux: β = 1.47; abdominal pain: β = 1.98; dyspepsia: β = 1.02; all p < 0.01). After demographic variables and Mediterranean diet score were controlled for, a logistic regression analysis indicated that total GSRS score was an independent determinant of LLD (odds ratio: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04-1.38). Moreover, a stratified analysis by depression severity indicated that higher total GSRS score may contribute to greater depression severity (odds ratio: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.04-1.52). Conclusion: We provide evidence that GI symptoms are associated with depressive symptoms among patients with LLD. Older people with more specific GI symptoms, such as reflux, abdominal pain, and dyspepsia, are potentially at greater risk of having LLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder with a variety of clinical findings. Variants in the TSC complex subunit 1 gene (TSC1) or the TSC complex subunit 2 gene (TSC2) are responsible for TSC. Methods: Physical examinations, computed tomography scans, and light microscopy analyses were performed on the TSC patient from a Han-Chinese pedigree. Whole-exome sequencing combined with Sanger sequencing were performed on the family members. Results: The TSC patient showed typical clinical features, including facial angiofibromas, gingival fibromas, a shagreen patch, hypomelanotic macules, ungual fibromas, subependymal nodules, multiple pulmonary cysts, and renal hamartomas. A de novo heterozygous c.5146delG (p.Ala1716Profs*110) variant in the TSC2 gene was identified in the TSC patient of the Han-Chinese family. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the TSC2 c.5146delG variant associated with TSC. Conclusion: The study expanding the disease-causing variant spectrum, suggests that whole-exome sequencing combined with Sanger sequencing may be a method for TSC diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and may facilitate the development of genetic counseling and targeted gene therapy for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular dysfunction in cirrhotic patients affects survival and the development of cirrhotic complications. We aimed to evaluate potential echocardiographic parameters to predict mortality and acute kidney injury (AKI) in cirrhotic patients. Methods: A total of 103 cirrhotic patients who underwent echocardiography between February 2009 and August 2016 in Taipei Veterans General Hospital were retrospectively enrolled. Cardiac function was evaluated using transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging. Cox hazard regression analysis was used for assessing predictors for 1-year mor- tality and AKI within 1 year. Results: Baseline echocardiographic parameters were similar between survivors (n = 92) and nonsurvivors (n = 11). Lower serum levels of albumin, as well as higher albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) scores, Child-Pugh scores, and model for end-stage liver disease scores were observed in nonsurvivors. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis revealed Child-Pugh score as the only predictor of 1-year mortality. Baseline serum creatinine (Cr) > 1.5 mg/dL, total bilirubin > 2 mg/dL, and a higher E/e' ratio predict occurrence of AKI within 1 year. Among patients with serum Cr < 1.5 mg/dL, an increased atrial filling velocity and higher ALBI scores predict AKI occurrence within 1 year. Conclusion: Severity of underlying liver disease but not echocardiographic parameters predicts 1-year mortality in cirrhosis. Early echocardiographic signs of diastolic dysfunction and higher ALBI scores may predict development of AKI in cirrhotic patients with serum Cr < 1.5 mg/dL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing availability of genetic testing for modern immunologists in the evaluation of immune diseases could provide a definite diagnosis in elusive cases. A 27-year-old white male patient presented to the clinic with recurrent sinopulmonary and cutaneous infections since childhood. The patient's mother had seronegative polyarthritis, and one of two sisters of the patient had chronic sinopulmonary infections. Serum immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses, lymphocyte subset markers, mannose-binding lectin, mitogen and antigen stimulation, bacteriophage study, and Streptococcus pneumoniae titers to 23 serotypes were all normal. B-cell phenotyping revealed a decrease in both nonswitched memory B cells (CD19+CD27+IgD+) and switched memory B-cells (CD19+CD27+IgD-). Genetic testing and the improvement of clinical symptoms after IgG replacement led to the final diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently, evidence regarding the strategies of antibiotic use in patients with acute cholecystitis after receiving percutaneous cholecystostomy is limited. Hence, we aimed to investigate the outcomes in patients with inoperable acute cholecystitis receiving narrow or broad-spectrum antibiotics after percutaneous cholecystostomy. Methods: A total of 117 patients receiving percutaneous cholecystostomy were categorized into moderate and severe acute cholecystitis defined by the Tokyo guideline and then divided into group A (narrow-spectrum antibiotic use) and group B (broadspectrum antibiotic use). The clinical outcomes and complications were analyzed. Results: In moderate acute cholecystitis (n = 80), group A patients (n = 62) had similar early recurrent rate (11.3% vs 16.7%; p = 0.544) and a shorter length of hospital stay (13.4 ± 8.6 vs 18.6 ± 9.4 days; p = 0.009) as compared with group B patients (n = 18). No in-hospital mortality occurred in moderate acute cholecystitis. In severe acute cholecystitis (n = 37), both groups had similar length of hospital stay (16.3 ± 12.2 vs 20.9 ± 9.5 days; p = 0.051), early recurrent rate (0% vs 16.7%; p = 0.105), and in-hospital mortality rate (5.3% vs 16.7%; p = 0.340). Although group B patients with severe cholecystitis had higher serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (Alk-P) and higher proportion of underlying malignancy, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class IV and septic shock, the clinical outcomes were not inferior to patients in group A. Conclusion: In moderate acute cholecystitis after percutaneous cholecystostomy, patients receiving narrow-spectrum antibiotics have comparable clinical outcomes as those treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. However, in severe acute cholecystitis, broad-spectrum antibiotics might still be necessary to rescue these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoscaled Ni(OH)2 was prepared with a new method involving separate nucleation and aging steps in a colloid mill with NaBH4 as the reducing agent. The as-synthesized Ni(OH)2 nanomaterials were investigated by power X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning Electron microscopy(SEM). The electrochemical behavior of Ni(OH)2 is further investigated as electrode materials for supercapacitors. We find that when the crystallization temperature is 90°C, the nanomaterials achieve the best electrochemical behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Performance of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) is important to active aging. Different types of social support may play roles in the process of performing IADLs. This study investigated effect of social support on changes of IADL function in older adults over a 10-year period. Methods: The Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging (TLSA) database from 1996 to 2007 was used. IADL disability was defined as difficulties in either grocery shopping or using telephones as a dichotomous variable. A total of 1742 older adults (60-70 years) without IADL disability in 1996 were included. Receiving instrumental (ISS) and emotional social support (ESS), giving ISS and ESS to others, being amember of any association, or engaging in volunteering were assessed. Results: Among these elders in 1996, 85% received ISS and ESS, and 10.8% provided ISS to others. Only 5% engaged in volunteering, and 44.9% were a member of an association. The GEE model showed that receiving ESS decreased the risk of IADL disability; giving ISS and being a member of an associationwere associated with a lower probability of IADL disability after adjustment for personal characteristics, comorbidities, physical performance, cognition and depression. Conclusions: Receiving emotional support, giving instrumental support to others, and engaging in memberships have protective effects on IADL disability. These results demonstrate the needs of supporting systems and resources that older adults can provide for themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: High-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) has been used recently to characterize median and ulnar nerves but is seldom used to characterize the lower extremity nerves. The reference standard for normal the lower extremity nerves has not been established. Thus, this study measured the cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the sciatic nerve of 200 healthy male or female volunteers, aged 18-80 using HRUS. These data provide basic clinical data for the use of high-resolution ultrasound for the future diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic evaluation of peripheral neuropathies. Methods: Two hundred healthy volunteers with 400 lower extremities were studied with HRUS. According to their age, the subjects were assigned to young group (18-30 years, n = 75), middle group. (31-60 years, n = 70), and old group(61-80 year, n = 55).Age, sex, height, weight were recorded and CSAs of sciatic nerve were obtained at every predetermined sites. Results: The mean CSAs of sciatic nerves at GS and MGPF were 0.527 ± 0.028 cm2 and 0.444 ± 0.026 cm² respectively. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that the mean CSAs were correlated with height and weight. There was no difference in mean CSAs among the three groups (P> 0.05). Women had smaller CSAs of the normal Sciatic nerves than men in two measuring sites (GS, MGPF) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Peripheral nerve ultrasonography is a reliable and reproducible diagnostic method in the hands of experienced examiners. Normal values for the sciatic nerve nerves are provided by our study. Thus, reference values of Sciatic nerve CSA of the lower extremity can facilitate the analysis of abnormal nerve conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of interference alignment(IA) in signal space in the scenario of multiple cell and multiple user cellular networks, as the feasibility issue is closely related to the solvability of a multivariate polynomial system, we give the mathematical analysis to support the constraint condition obtained from the polynomial equations with the tools of algebraic geometry, and a new distribute IA algorithm is also provided to verify the accessibility of the constraint condition for symmetric system in this paper. Simulation results illustrate that the accessibility of the constraint condition is hold if and only if the degree of freedom(DoF) of each user can be divided by both the transmit and receive antenna numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the incidence of colorectal cancer is steadily increasing, screening for colorectal cancer with conventional approaches is not routinely performed in China. Noninvasive screening methods are attractive options to resolve this issue. Syndecan-2 (SDC2) is frequently methylated in colorectal cancer. However, the value of a stool test of methylated SDC2 for the detection of colorectal cancer is unknown. Methods: Methylation status of SDC2 was tested in cell lines and 398 colorectal tissue samples and further evaluated with 497 stool samples, including 196 from colorectal cancer patients, 122 from adenoma patients, and 179 from normal individuals, using real-time methylation-specific PCR. The impacts of one quantitative partial stool sampling device and 17 potentially interfering substances on the performance of fecal methylated SDC2 were also analyzed. SDC2 expression was also measured. Results: SDC2 methylation level was higher in 96.8% (120/124) of colorectal cancer tissues compared with paired adjacent normal epithelia. Stool test of methylated SDC2 detected 81.1% (159/196) of colorectal cancer and 58.2% (71/122) of adenomas at a specificity of 93.3% (167/179). No significant difference was found between partial and whole stool collection on colorectal cancer detection (P > 0.05, R² = 0.80). Among 17 interfering substances, only berberine at high concentrations inhibited fecal detection of methylated SDC2. SDC2 was overexpressed in colorectal cancer tissues compared with normal epithelia. Conclusions: Fecal methylated SDC2 is a valuable biomarker for the noninvasive detection of colorectal neoplasms. Impact: Stool DNA test of methylated SDC2 would serve as an alternative method for screening colorectal neoplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A green method for the synthesis of quinoline amino thiocarbamyl phosphate was developed. 6-iodine-quinoline was obtained from 6-chlorine-quinoline and hydrogen iodate via substitution reaction. Then, toluene as solvent, the C6-I was substituted by commercially available silver thiocyanate at 115 °C for 12 h. Quinoline amino thiocarbamyl phosphate was first synthesized by C6-NCS quinoline and HPO(OEt)2, which provides a new method for synthesizing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to incomplete aperture coverage and complex overburden structures, the migration process cannot provide a true-amplitude image even though a true-amplitude propagator is used. Amplitude compensation based on source-side illumination ignores the aperture effects on the receiver side, and it may fail to recover the true-reflection/scattering strength of a geologic structure from the image. The structural dip largely controls if the wave incident on the structure can be reflected back and received by the acquisition aperture, so it should be taken into account in removing the acquisition effects from the migration image. We derived a dip-angle domain amplitude correction from the resolution theory. The stacked migration image created by reverse time migration was decomposed into common dip images, which were compensated individually by the corresponding amplitude correction factor. Then, we summed up the corrected images to form a final image. To construct the amplitude correction factor, we generated a monofrequency Green's function at the shot/geophone location and further decomposed it into incident/scattered plane waves. They were combined based on Snell's law to construct correction factors for different dips. The final amplitude correction factor was formed by visiting all the shot-geophone pairs in the observation system. We devised efficient algorithms to make the amplitude correction more practical. We evaluated two numerical experiments, a five-layer model and the SEG/EAGE salt model, in which the amplitude correction led to a scalar/pressure image with an amplitude better matching the true impedance contrasts of subsurface structures, especially in areas with steep dips and in subsalt regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects on recall performance, cognitive status, and food intake when using accumulating cues in a spaced retrieval (SR) paradigm. in a double-blinded experimental design, 32 participants in the SR combined with errorless learning (SR/EL) group and 29 participants in the SR-only group were trained in a variety of eating-related actions. Accumulating cues were used within each SR trial in the SR/EL group. The participants' recall performance, the Mini- Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, and the portion of a meal that participants had eaten were measured. After the 8-week training period, results showed significantly improved recall performances (P < 0.0031) and food intake (t = 2.140, P = 0.038) in the SR/EL group compared with the SR-only group. MMSE scores showed no significant differences after the 8-week intervention (t = 1.315, P = 0.194). Results suggest that an SR/EL intervention could create optimal learning conditions for the self-regulation of common eating difficulties in people with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recognized that the envelope fluctuation and decay of seismic records carries ultra low-frequency (ULF, i.e., the frequency below the lowest frequency in the source spectrum) signals that can be used to estimate the long-wavelength velocity structure. We then developed envelope inversion for the recovery of low-wavenumber components of media (smooth background), so that the initial model dependence of waveform inversion can be reduced. We derived the misfit function and the corresponding gradient operator for envelope inversion. To understand the long-wavelength recovery by the envelope inversion, we developed a nonlinear seismic signal model, the modulation signal model, as the basis for retrieving the ULF data and studied the nonlinear scale separation by the envelope operator. To separate the envelope data from the wavefield data (envelope extraction), a demodulation operator (envelope operator) was applied to the waveform data. Numerical tests using synthetic data for the Marmousi model proved the validity and feasibility of the proposed approach. The final results of combined EI+WI (envelope-inversion for smooth background plus waveform-inversion for high-resolution velocity structure) indicated that it can deliver much improved results compared with regular full-waveform inversion (FWI) alone. Furthermore, to test the independence of the envelope to the source frequency band, we used a low-cut source wavelet (cut from 5 Hz below) to generate the synthetic data. The envelope inversion and the combined EI+WI showed no appreciable difference from the full-band source results. The proposed envelope inversion is also an efficient method with very little extra work compared with conventional FWI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay develops a structured comparison between Taiwan and the three Central and East European countries of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary (the CEE trio). The purpose is to explore the social and institutional factors that impact democratic performance. The rationale of the comparison is presented first, followed by a tracking of democratic development in the four cases. The CEE trio is juxtaposed to Taiwan to show their initial differences in dominant social cleavage, electoral regime, party system, and constitutional structure. The CEE trio has a material cleavage, proportional electoral regime, multiparty structure, and parliamentary (or proparliament semipresidential) system, compared to Taiwan's prematerialist identity cleavage, single nontransferable vote turned mixed member majoritarian electoral system, two-party structure, and a semipresidential regime that tilts toward the president. The CEE trio was closer to Lijphart's "consensus" model, while Taiwan clearly demonstrated features of "majoritarianism." Initially, the CEEs performed a little better than Taiwan in the Freedom House and Polity IV scores, ostensibly conforming to Lijphart's preference for consensus democracy. The social cleavage differences between the two, however, gradually have been reduced over the last decade, as the CEEs have turned more identity-centered at the expense of the traditional left-right divide, while Taiwan gradually has shifted to distributional politics in a period of economic slowdown. Institutionally, the two remain distant, as Taiwan's electoral reform made it more majoritarian, while the CEEs remained proportional (the shift of the Czech Republic from parliamentarism to semipresidentialism by instituting direct presidential election is an exception, but the president in all likelihood will be ceremonial). The CEEs' political competition became more conflictual with its shift to identity, while Taiwan shied away from blatant identity mobilization toward more urbane politics. The changes in Freedom House and Polity IV scores demonstrate the impact of changing social cleavage. Although institutionally more majoritarian, Taiwan's shift away from identity politics boosts its democratic performance, while the CEEs' development in the opposite direction dampens their democratic prospects, the proconsensus institutional model there notwithstanding. Through this structured comparison, we tentatively conform to Lijphart's suggestion that consensus democracy tends to be kinder and gentler, with a critical caveat that a more conflict-prone social cleavage may negate its moderating effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variable coefficient, rotation-modified extended Kortweg-deVries (vReKdV) model is applied to the study of the South China Sea (SCS), with focus on the effects of the high-order (cubic) nonlinearity and the rotation on the disintegration process of large-amplitude (170 m) Internal Solitary Waves (ISWs) and the semi-diurnal internal tide propagating from the deep basin station to the slope and shelf regions in a continuously stratified system. The numerical solutions show that the high-order nonlinearity significantly affects the wave profile by increasing the wave amplitude and the phase speed in the simulated area. It is shown that the initial KdV-type ISW will decay faster when the rotation dispersion is considered, however the wave profile does not change significantly and the rotation effect is not important. The simulations of the semi-diurnal internal tide indicate that the phase of the wave profile is shifted earlier when the rotation effect is included. A solitary wave packet emerges on the shelf, and the wave speed is also greater when considering the rotation dispersion. In addition, the effects of the background currents are discussed further in this paper. It is found that the background currents generally change the magnitude and occasionally change the sign of the nonlinear coefficients in the northern SCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, cobalt sulfide (COS) thin film was electrochemically deposited on a transparent conducting glass substrate in a neutral aqueous by means of a simple pulse-reversal (PR) deposition technique, and employed as a counter electrode (CE) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) for the first time. Initially, extensive electrochemical measurements were conducted to investigate the deposition mechanism for the proposed PR deposition mode and determine the suitable pulse potentials. When compared to the conventional potentiostatic (PS) deposition mode, the proposed PR deposition mode can facilitate the formation of single-component CoS with granular morphology. Moreover, the effects of the parameters in the PR mode, including duty cycle and pulse frequency, on the electrocatalytic activity for I3- reduction were investigated. After the optimization, the CoSPR CE at duty cycle of 0.1 and pulse frequency of 1/30 Hz showed the most excellent electrocatalytic activity for I3- reduction among all electrodeposited-CoS CEs. The DSC with the CoSPR CE exhibits an impressive cell efficiency of 5.48%, which is much better than that of the DSC with CoSPS CE (2.13%) and comparable to that of the DSC using Pt CE (5.50%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors causing death in Fujian Province, China. However, the mortality of gastric cancer is greatly varied in different areas in Fujian; for example, the mortality in Changle City is 7.4 times higher than that in Fuan City. In this study, we compared the differences in serological parameters, pepsinogen (PG) I, PG II, gastrin-17 (G-17), and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antibody, between the two cities. It has been reported that low serum PG I is correlated with atrophic gastritis, a high-risk condition for developing gastric cancer, while high serum G-17 has been used for serological detection of atrophic corpus gastritis. We recruited 224 healthy subjects in Changle and 229 healthy subjects in Fuan, matched in age and sex. The serum levels of PG II and G-17 were significantly higher in Changle than those in Fuan. Importantly, the frequency of the subjects with low serum PG I (< 25 μg/L) was significantly higher in Changle than in Fuan, although the serum PG I levels were similar between the two cities. Moreover, the percentage of the subjects with high serum G-17 (> 2 pmol/L) and the positive rate of serum IgG antibody against H. pylori were significantly higher in Changle than those in Fuan. The detected differences in these serological parameters are consistent with the notion that the prevalence of atrophic gastritis may be higher in Changle than in Fuan, which results in a higher risk condition for developing gastric cancer in Changle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of SSDs (Solid State Drives), traditional hard drives in many applications have been replaced by SSDs. Since SSDs consist of NAND flash memory, the main challenge to SSDs is that NAND flash memory is highly sensitive to write requests. A lot of write requests will cause garbage collection to reclaim free space due to the "out-place update" characteristic of flash memory. Frequent activities of garbage collection will reduce the lifetime of flash memory and overall performance. When SSDs are used for data storage, how to significantly decrease the amount of data written will become an important topic. In the paper, we will propose a data de-duplication access framework for SSDs. The objective is to eliminate duplicate data as much as possible and reduce space consumption. We will combine a file-based de-duplication and a static chunking de-duplication scheme to reach a complete data de-duplication. We will also investigate application-based locality and filename locality to find out duplicate data. According to the experimental results, the proposed framework can efficiently identify duplicate data and decrease a lot of data written, and at the same time, the overhead is also reasonable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: With the increasingly degraded water environment, some substances will gradually accumulate in our drinking water source—the surface water, and finally threaten drinking water safety when their contents reach a certain amount. To give early warning on those potential threats to water safety, we can choose corresponding water quality control indexes, i.e. water quality factors, to take proper countermeasures by building a water quality model simulating change trend of the water source quality based on historical data, which is favorable for ensuring the water source quality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The allelopathy of aquatic plants which can inhibit the excessive breeding of algae is a new water quality control technology which is low-carbon and green compared with the traditional treatment methods. In this experiment, choosing the content of algal cell''s chlorophyll-a as an basic indicator, the allelopathy degree of different concentrations of O-Dihydroxybenzene and Pyrogallol on algal growth and metabolism is analyzed, and choosing A560nm as an indicator, the influence of different concentrations of O-Dihydroxybenzene and Pyrogallol on superoxide dismutase activity of Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Chick is analyzed. And to explore the relationship of allelopathy and superoxide dismutase activity, the results could be used to provide an experimental basis for the technology of allelopathy on the growth of algae control. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study which examines the use of high-resolution ultrasonography in analyzing the median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) in healthy Han individuals from Guiyang, China. Quantitative analysis and ultrasound measurement are employed to assess CSA value. Results show that CSA values at the wrist crease, pisiform bone and hamate bone are greater in older people than the younger group while CSA values for the upper limbs can help in determining abnormal nerve conditions.

Seismic interferometry using far-field correlation is a technique to obtain the Green's function between two receivers using passive wave-field recordings, and often it is under the theoretical assumption that sources are in the far field when in fact they may not be. Using a heterogeneous medium enclosed by a closed boundary on which the sources are fired, we offer two views on the meaning of the far-field correlation. In the intrinsic view, the validity of the far-field correlation is based on the far-field approximation for wave scattering, and it is investigated by comparing various physical dimensions in the heterogeneous interior, regardless of the exterior. However, the extrinsic view centers on the medium properties in the exterior only without considering the interior. Previous studies showed that, with the correct scattering model and complete source coverage, no spurious arrivals should be generated if the illuminating sources are in the far field. We investigate the case of near-field cross correlation. This problem is considered in the context of two-dimensional space with a single embedded scatterer that is represented by a cylindrical inclusion with small radius. An analytical solution for the scattered wave is computed. However, if the sources are not in the far field, the cross-correlation kernel must be used to eliminate the spurious arrival, in addition to the correct scattering model and full source aperture. The kernel accounts for the near-field illumination of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films as an antireflective (AR) coating layer have been successfully fabricated on GaAs solar cells by the sol-gel method. ZnO films were prepared chemically by spin coating the gel with an aqueous solution of zinc acetate and ethanolamine. The current-voltage measurements of the solar cells confirmed the increase of the short-circuit current induced by the AR effect. The open-circuit voltage and fill factor were also improved by the surface passivation. As a result, the conversion efficiency of the cells without an AR coating (8.2%) was significantly enhanced to 13.6%. The results indicate that the chemical deposition of ZnO was effective for the AR coating of GaAs solar cells. Additionally, we demonstrate that the cells coated with radiation resistant ZnO films exhibit less efficiency decay than the devices without such treatment. Under the maximum proton fluence of 1013 cm-2, the conversion efficiency decay was reduced to 69.8%, while the solar cells without ZnO films showed an efficiency decay of 83.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed an efficient method of directional illumination analysis in the local angle domain using local exponential frame beamlets. The space-domain wavefields with different shot-receiver geometries are decomposed into the local angle domain by using the local exponential beamlets, which form a tight frame with the redundancy ratio two and are implemented by a linear combination of local cosine and local sine transforms. Because of the fast algorithms of the local cosine/sine transforms, this method is much more efficient than the previously used decomposition methods in directional illumination analysis, such as the local slant-stacking method and the Gabor-Daubechies frame method. The results of directional illumination (DI) maps and the acquisition dip responses (ADR) for the 2D SEG/EAGE salt model and the 45-shot 3D SEG/EAGE model demonstrated the validity and feasibility of our method. Compared with the illumination results using local slant-stacking decomposition, the new method produces illumination maps of similar quality, but it does so a few times faster. Furthermore, because of its high computational efficiency and saving in memory usage, the new method makes the 3D directional illumination analysis readily applicable in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-related multiples or internal multiples can produce artifacts in migrated images using one-way wave-equation methods. Salt-body-related internal-multiple removal remains a challenging problem for this approach. To investigate the effects of salt-body-related internal multiples on subsalt imaging, the boundary-element method is implemented in a one-way/one-return scheme to separate the primary transmission/reflection arrivals at the salt boundaries from the internal multiples. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective for modeling primary transmission/ reflection arrivals through/from irregular interfaces between strong-velocity-contrast media. Internal multiples are obtained through straight subtraction of primary reflection arrivals from full reflected-wave data. The image from prestack depth migration of these pure internal multiples using one-way propagators is compatible with some strong artifacts in the subsalt region from migration of full-wave data using the same one-way propagators. Results suggest that a significant part of artifacts in the subsalt region in the prestack image for the 2D SEG-EAGE salt model using one-way propagators might be caused by salt internal multiples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy-angle distributions in the local image matrix, which is a function of local incident and receiving angles at a subsurface point, are different for a planar reflector and a diffraction point. The former exhibits a linear distribution along a certain dip direction, whereas the latter shows a scattered distribution in the entire matrix. Therefore, the singular values of the local image matrix in the local angle domain indicate the energy distribution along different dip directions. The difference between the auto- and cross-correlation coefficients of the sets of singular values between adjacent image points can be used to distinguish these two types of targets and obtain prestack images which contain only diffraction points. Using three synthetic examples, we found that the method can effectively image diffraction points. Seismic images of diffraction points may provide important information about geological discontinuities and diffraction points can be taken as secondary sources for potential applications in imaging subsalt structures which are poorly illuminated by primary waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directional illumination analysis based on one-way wave equations has been studied extensively; however, its inherent limitations, e.g., one-way propagation, wide-angle error, and amplitude inaccuracy, can severely hinder its applications for accurate survey design and true-reflection imaging corrections in complex media. We have analyzed the illumination in the frequency domain using full two-way wave propagators considering the extensive computation and huge storage required for time-domain methods, and the fact that the illumination is frequency dependent. This full-wave analysis can provide frequency-dependent full-angle true-amplitude illumination not only for the downgoing waves but also for the upgoing waves, including turning waves and reflected waves. Two methods were considered to decompose the full wavefield into the local angle domain: a direct full-dimensional decomposition and more efficient split-step decomposition composed of three lower-dimensional decompositions. The results of illumination analysis demonstrated the advantages of this method. The two decomposition methods produced similar results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-way wave propagators have been used extensively in forward and inverse problems. The advantages of one-way wave propagators are the fast speed of computation and the large savings in computer resources. However, regular one-way wave propagators have inherent angle limitation to within 90° of the preferred direction (e.g., z-direction). We propose to overcome the limitation by a superwide-angle one-way method, which combines and interpolates two orthogonally propagated one-way wavefields in the 2D case. A weight function determined by the propagation angle is employed to combine the two one-way wavefields. In the current implementation, we use the wavefield gradient to estimate the propagation angle. Numerical experiments show that the proposed method has accurate superwide-angle (>90°) propagation and can model turning waves well. By applying the superwide-angle one-way wave propagator on several synthetic model data sets, we can demonstrate the validity of the method in imaging steep and overhanging salt flanks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave-equation-based acquisition aperture correction in the local angle domain can improve image amplitude significantly in prestack depth migration. However, its original implementation is inefficient because the wavefield decomposition uses the local slant stack (LSS), which is demanding computationally. We propose a faster method to obtain the image and amplitude correction factor in the local angle domain using beamlet decomposition in the local wavenumber domain. For a given frequency, the image matrix in the local wavenumber domain for all shots can be calculated efficiently. We then transform the shot-summed image matrix from the local wavenumber domain to the local angle domain (LAD). The LAD amplitude correction factor can be obtained with a similar strategy. Having a calculated image and correction factor, one can apply similar acquisition aperture corrections to the original LSS-based method. For the new implementation, we compare the accuracy and efficiency of two beamlet decompositions: Gabor-Daubechies frame (GDF) and local exponential frame (LEF). With both decompositions, our method produces results similar to the original LSS-based method. However, our method can be more than twice as fast as LSS and cost only twice the computation time of traditional one-way wave-equation-based migrations. The results from GDF decomposition are superior to those from LEF decomposition in terms of artifacts, although GDF requires a little more computing time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industry control processes are considered into a class of sampled-data systems with norm-bounded uncertainty in this paper. In the point of view of digital redesign principle, a kind of robust state feedback controller is designed by using linear matrix inequalities (LMI). The controller can make the disturbed sampled-data systems stable. And then for adapting the systems with the disturbance, the controller of sample-data systems with norm-bounded uncertainty is designed in detail. Robust control law that satisfies given conditions is derived. The proposed method provides the matching of outputs between the original continuous-time system and the redesigned disturbed of sampled-data system. The result is got through solving a class of a dynamic program problem with LMI constraints. Finally a numerical example shows that the proposed method is feasible and the robust state feedback controller is better than that in ordinary design manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-way approximations for regional phases slice the half-space crustal wave guide into a number of slabs perpendicular to the propagation direction; the Moho discontinuity can be easily treated as a perturbation from the crustal background. The advantage of one-way propagation methods is their great saving of computing time and memory compared to full-waveform numerical methods, especially for 3D simulations. In this article, we present general 2.5D SH formulas for the thin-slab method and a generalized screen propagator (GSP) for simulating SH wave propagation in the heterogeneous half-space crustal wave guide. Comparisons of numerical results with a finite-difference (FD) algorithm for a standard flat crustal model show excellent agreement, demonstrating the validity and accuracy of the 2.5D GSP for the half-space problem. We then compare the curves of energy attenuation calculated by the 2D and 2.5D formulas. The comparison shows that the energy attenuation of the 2.5D case is about 1.5-3 times greater than that of the 2D case when the trapped mode is formed. The SH screen propagator is also used to simulate two laterally unvarying (in the y direction) crustal models, showing the path effects on regional wave propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]