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The finite volume method (FVM) is used to numerically investigate the sloshing behaviors of dual liquid tanks with gas inflow in this study. The sloshing process of a single liquid tank is simulated to verify the feasibility of the numerical method. Three different inlet boundary conditions are then discussed in order to obtain a reasonable gas flow rate. The sloshing process of a dual liquid tank with the gas inflow is simulated, and the effects of three different factors on the sloshing behaviors are investigated. The results indicate that the overload, flow rate, and filling ratio can affect the peak value of the impact force acting on the tank wall. The impact force is positively proportional to the overload (1G, 3G, or 5G). An increase in flow rate (50 g/s, 1000 g/s, or 5000 g/s) or a decrease in filling ratio (99.52%, 75.64%, or 63.69%) can increase the size and number of bubbles, leading to intensified sloshing behavior and increased impact force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature dependence of anomalous magnetoresistance and weak antilocalization (WAL) is studied in HgTe/CdTe (111) quantum wells (QWs). An anomalous positive to negative magnetoresistance transformation dependent on temperature is observed in HgTe/CdTe QWs grown at 157 °C, but not in those grown at 160 °C. The Hikami–Larkin–Nagaoka model is employed to analyze the WAL effect. A high-resolution transmission electron microscopy investigation of the HgTe–CdTe interface supports the transport results. For HgTe topological insulators, the anomalous magnetoresistance may be caused by temperature-induced fluctuations in conduction, which could transform the inverted energy band to a normal energy band. At high temperature, the negative magnetoresistance may be due to scattering of the interface defective states under the normal energy band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to clarify underlying processes driving the coexistence of woody species in the evergreen broadleaved forest of Southern Vietnam. In 2022, we established two 2-ha study plots in Dong Nai Culture and Nature Reserve, Dong Nai province, Vietnam, and fully mapped all trees with a diameter at breast height (dbh) = 2.5 cm, their species name and dbh were recorded. Spatial analyses and models of individual species-area relationships were used to measure species interactions, scale dependence, and species diversity at different scales. Our findings showed that dominant species exhibited mainly aggregated spatial patterns at small scales of r < 30 m and independent association patterns accounted for a high proportion at scales of 1-50 m (89.9%-94%). Intra- and interspecific interactions were mainly observed at small scales of r < 30 m. The spatial patterns of species diversity were influenced by asymmetric interactions of tree individuals at different life-history stages. Dispersal limitation and interspecific interactions controlled the spatial distribution, association patterns, and diversity of species. Our study suggests that the unified neutral theory and asymmetric competition theory are appropriate explanations for tree species diversity in the evergreen broadleaved forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the performance of anti-acid erosion, silica fume, silicon nitride, organic silicone emulsion agent and fly ash ceramsite are all mixed into concrete as admixture. The acid corrosion environment is simulated by laboratory test. Compressive strength of concrete with different curing ages are tested. Compressive strength and pore distribution of concrete dipping in sulphate and in hydrochloride for 90d are tested. The result shows that concrete with additional materials has better anti-acid corrode performance than the common one. The compressive strength of concrete with additional materials is higher than the common concrete. The pore distribution curve of the concrete with additional materials can keep steady no matter in sulphate or in hydrochloride. This kind of concrete with high anti-acid corrosion durability has been used in the piles construction of the bridges which is surrounded by acid soil and play an important role in enhancing the durability of the bridge.

Predicting landslide displacement is of great significance in geotechnical engineering. An iteration-based combined prediction method was proposed for predicting the landslide displacement in this paper. Firstly, the landslide displacement was predicted by 10 latest multivariable grey models, and then the final landslide displacement prediction value was obtained through an iteration-based combined strategy. Concurrently, the reliability of the quadratic programming-based combined prediction method (QPCPM) and the iteration-based combined prediction method (ICPM) was rigorously proved in this paper. In addition, the inapplicability conditions of the optimal weight-based combined prediction method (OWCPM) were pointed out. ICPM could be regarded as a simplified version of QPCPM. The Bazimen and Baishuihe landslides in the Three Gorges Reservoir area of China were used as numerical examples to elaborate the performance of ICPM. This paper also demonstrated the reliability of ICPM by considering the effects of rainfall and reservoir water level on landslide displacement. Overall, ICPM features in simple and easy calculation and has rosy engineering application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the phase transformation mechanism of various carbon sources in the synthesis of diamond by direct detonation method was studied. Through designing comparison experiment and the X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization technique, an experimental study was conducted on the detonation process with the external of the combined carbon source and free carbon source, and without the participation of the external carbon source. The laws of phase transformation of the various carbon sources are obtained, in which the surplus carbon in the explosives participates in the formation of diamonds through the collision growth of droplet-like carbon, the added bonded carbon does not participate in the synthesis of diamond, and the added free carbon forms diamonds through the Martensitic transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin receptor type 1 (MTNR1A or MT1) is known to play an important role in cancer progression; however, its prognostic value for resected gastric adenocarcinoma (RGA) is unknown. In this study, we examined the potential of MT1 as a prognostic biomarker for RGA. The expression of the MT1 was evaluated in 67 patients with RGA by immunohistochemistry, and the relationship between MT1 levels and RGA prognosis was analyzed by Chi-square test, multivariate Cox regression, Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test. High MT1 expression was associated with a poor survival rate (29.0%, p=0.002) and the occurrence of metastasis (62.9%, p=0.004). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log rank tests revealed that patients with high expression of the MT1 had significantly shorter median overall survival compared to those with low expression (33.0 vs. 65.0 months, respectively; p=0.02). Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that the calculated death risk (hazard ratio [HR]) in patients with high expression levels of the MT1 increased to 2.68 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-5.94, p=0.015), which was higher compared to those with low levels. HR of death was also high in patients with advanced T stage (2.51; 95 % CI 1.00-6.26, p=0.049) and metastasis (5.02; 95% CI 1.94-13.03, p=0.001). Our results showed that high MT1 expression in primary gastric adenocarcinoma tissues was associated with the occurrence of metastasis and poor prognosis. It may have prognostic significance as a potential biomarker in patients with RGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Tumor-derived exosomes have been repeatedly studied as tumor antigens, suppressing T-cell signaling molecules and promoting apoptosis in ovarian cancer (OC). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recognized as major regulators in tumorigenesis, including OC. For this study, we try to find out the mechanism of exosomes and lncRNA FAL1 in OC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After the extraction and identification of exosomes, the internalization of exosomes was observed. Invasion and migration experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of SKOV3 cells-secreted exosomes on OC tumorigenesis and metastasis. Furthermore, the in vivo findings were verified via xenograft tumors in nude mice. FAL1 was knocked out on exosomes. OC cells treated with exosomes were co-cultured with lncRNA FAL1 or/and PTEN to measure cell invasion and migration. RESULTS: SKOV3-secreted exosomes were absorbed and internalized by OC cells. After exosome treatment, the migration and invasion of OC cells were enhanced, tumors in nude mice were larger and heavier, metastasis was increased, and lncRNA FAL1 expression was increased. When lncRNA FAL1 was knocked out, the promoting effects of SKOV3 cells-secreted exosomes on OC cell metastasis were weakened, along with increased PTEN level and decreased AKT phosphorylation level. In HO-8910PM cells treated with siRNA-FAL1 exosomes and siRNA-PTEN, cell invasion and migration, and AKT phosphorylation were restored. CONCLUSIONS: SKOV3-secreted exosomes inhibited the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway by transferring lncRNA FAL1, thus inhibiting OC cell metastasis in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As oxygen vacancies play an important role in ferromagnetism of rutile TiO2, a method of γ-ray irradiates rutile TiO2 single crystals was subtly proposed to study the effect of oxygen vacancies on magnetic properties. Remarkably, room temperature ferromagnetism was observed in γ-ray irradiated rutile TiO2 single crystals, and the saturation magnetization is the strongest when dose is 4 × 104 Gy which assigned to ESR results. Since the displacement threshold energy of Ti atom is much bigger than that of O atom, the defects produced by γ-irradiation are mainly oxygen vacancies. After irradiation, XPS, PL spectra indicate the presence of oxygen vacancies(VO), Ti3+, and VO-Ti3+ composite defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species and bio-availability of phosphorus (P) in primary, secondary and digested sludge were fractionated and further analyzed in this study. Results showed that inorganic P (IP) was the primary P fraction in the secondary sludge and digested sludge, in which non-apatite IP (NAIP) amounted to 91.6% and 69.3% of total IP, respectively. Organic P (OP), accounting for about 71.7% of total P (TP), was the dominant P composition in primary sludge. The content of bio -available P was about 9.7, 43.4, 29.8 mg-P/g-TS in primary sludge, secondary sludge and digested sludge, respectively, suggesting secondary sludge is the optimal choice when land application of sewage sludge is taken into consideration, followed by digested sludge and primary sludge. Polyphosphate and orthophosphate, comprising approximately 54.3% and 89.2% of TP, were the dominant P species in the secondary sludge and digested sludge, respectively. Monoester-P (54.6% of TP in extract) and diester- P (24.1%) were identified as OP species in primary sludge by Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31PNMR). The present results would be helpful for P recovery and recycling from sewage sludge in wastewater treatment plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the structural, electrical, and optical properties of 5% niobium doped TiO2 thin films grown on various substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The epitaxial anatase Nb:TiO2 film on LaAlO3 is shown to be an intrinsic transparent metal and its metallic property arises from Nb substitution into Ti site as evidenced by the Rutherford backscattering channeling result. In contrast, the rutile Nb:TiO2 thin films show insulating behaviors with 2–3 orders higher room temperature electrical resistivity and ∼30 times lower mobility. A blueshift in the optical absorption edge is observed in both phases, though of differing magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the defect structure in pure Co-doped and (Co, Nb)-doped TiO2 (anatase) thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition on (001) single crystal LaAlO3. Although both films exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism, dilute Nb doping significantly improves the conductivity and microstructure of the TiO2 (anatase) thin film at the cost of a lower saturation magnetization. Z-contrast imaging and electron-energy-loss-spectroscopy study in the scanning transmission electron microscope show cluster-free microstructure in the (Co, Nb)-doped thin film although Co is enriched into the surface and forms a CoxTi1-x-yNbyO2-δ phase. In contrast, metallic Co, rutile TiO2, and cobalt oxide nanoparticles combined with some crystallographic shear defect structures are observed in the pure Co-doped thin film. The magnetic behavior in each film can be explained with the presence of these defect states or second phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Die performance and its service life are a non-trivial issue in metal-forming industry due to three overriding issues in this industry cluster: productivity, cost and quality are mainly dependent on it. Many factors in die life cycle from design and fabrication to downstream service all affect die performance and its service life. These factors could include die design and structure, material properties, dies manufacturing and metal-forming processes, and die service conditions. The issue about how to develop an efficient and practical methodology for die life assessment and improvement has not yet been fully addressed despite the fact that dies have been used in industry for many decades. In this paper, the metal fatigue theory and FEM technique are used as the basis for the development of a methodology for die fatigue life analysis and improvement. The stress-life or S-N approach is used for die fatigue analysis. To explore extensively and reveal the dynamic die stress state panorama during the forming loading cycle, a CAE-based approach is deployed for stress analysis. Based on the S-N approach and CAE analysis, a CAE-enabled methodology is then orchestrated and finally implemented in this research. Using an industrial part as a case study, the validity, robustness and efficiency of the developed methodology are verified. The methodology can provide a satisfactory solution for die life assessment and improvement in metal-forming industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]