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AlSi10Mg alloy was prepared by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties after diverse aging temperatures were systematically studied. The metastable ultra-fine cellular structure was obtained for as-built specimens. Aging at lower temperatures (100–225°C) promotes the formation of a large number of Si-rich precipitates, and the original Si networks can be retained. With the increase in aging temperature, Si network gradually broke apart, and Si-rich particles grew and spheroidised. The hardness increases with temperatures up to 175°C, and decreases thereafter, while the opposite trend was observed for elongation. Excellent comprehensive mechanical properties with a tensile strength of 381 MPa and elongation of 5.2% can be obtained at 225°C for 2 h.HighlightsThe effect of aging temperatures on microstructure stability and mechanical properties of additive manufacturing AlSi10Mg alloy has been revealed systematically.The Si-rich precipitates and eutectic Si network were responsible for the observed mechanical properties changes.A good combination of strength and ductility is obtained at 225°C for 2 h aging heat treatment.

ABSTRACT Steel slag is a potential mineral admixture for concrete. In this paper, the influence of steel slag on the compressive strength, drying shrinkage, permeability to chloride, and carbonation resistance [...]

Falsified lamivudine/zidovudine/nevirapine tablets: rapid identification using X-ray fluorescence technique The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique was used to determine bromine (Br) concentration in lamivudine/zidovudine/nevirapine (Zidolam-N[R]) tablets from fourteen batches drawn from [...]

Temperature, as a critical abiotic factor, might influence the effectiveness of biological control by parasitoids in host-parasitoid systems. In this study, Neochrysocharis formosa(Westwood), a larval endoparasitoid, is used to investigate the efficacy of biological control on a vegetable agriculture pest, Liriomyza sativaeBlanchard, reared on kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgarisL.), at four constant temperatures (26, 29, 32, and 35°C) under laboratory conditions. Our results show that high temperatures (29, 32, and 35°C) do not significantly affect lifetime host-killing events of female adults by increased daily host-killing events compared to temperature of 26°C, although their lifespans decrease with an increase in temperatures. Each life-history trait of female adults (lifespan, parasitism, stinging, or non-reproductive host-killing events) present a linear relation with temperatures and host-feeding events, respectively. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of biocontrol efficacy of parasitoid N. formosaagainst agromyzid leafminers at high-temperature seasons or environments.

China actively broadens its channels for environmental protection and limits pollutant emissions through industrial structure adjustment and technical progress. Based on panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2003 to 2017, this study investigated the effects of industrial structure adjustment and technical progress on environmental pollution using spatial Dubin models. The findings show the following. (1) As the economy develops, the situation of environmental pollution in various regions deteriorates; moreover, spatio-temporal dependence is an aspect of environmental pollution. (2) Industrial structure adjustment and technical progress are beneficial to environmental improvement. Furthermore, there are spillover effects in factors such as industrial structure and technical progress to varying degrees. Thus, this study suggests that the path of coupling between industrial structure and technical progress should be explored to establish a pollution filtering mechanism, thereby improving environmental quality.

Background: A centrifugal vane pump driven by a three-phase AC motor is a key component for modern equipment. Therefore, its condition directly affects the operating and safety performance of the system. Modeling and simulation are effective methods for the system analysis. Methods: A mathematical model of a Tank-to-Engine Fuel Feed System (T-EFFS) is designed based on its phased-mission behavior and structure redundancy. Both of the damage modes that arise frequently in a given type of system are tracked: the fuel feed pump seal damage due to fatigue and the vane damage due to corrosion. Then, a multiple degradation T-EFFS model is established to simulate the fuel pressure at the system outlet under different damage modes. The morphological spectrum decrement index is used to describe the damage of the system. Results: The results show that the T-EFFS model can describe the phased-mission behavior of the system and meet the requirement of the fuel flow rate for the entire mission profile. Then, the decrease in the fuel pressure of the T-EFFS with the cumulative effects of vane damage and crack growth under different behavior modes is simulated along its life span. Conclusion: This work aims to provide a model and data support for a subsequent investigation. The results can be used to fit the health background curve of the system, predict the performance degradation trend of the system at given life points, and further evaluate its remaining service life.

Alpiniae oxyphylla fructuswas extensively utilized both as dietary supplements and traditional herbal medicines for healthcare functions and has exhibited a positive impact on animal health. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Alpiniae oxyphyllae fructuspowder (AOP) on production performance, egg quality, egg yolk fatty acid composition, reproductive hormones, antioxidant capacity, immunity, anti-apoptosis ability, and intestinal health in hens. A total of 252 Hainan Wenchang laying hens (30-week-old) were randomly divided into three groups with six replicates, a basic diet with 0 (CON), 1 g/kg AOP (AOP1), and 3 g/kg (AOP3) mixed AOP. The AOP supplementation was found to decrease the feed conversion ratio and embryo mortality but to increase the laying rate, average egg weight, and oviduct index linearly (p < 0.05). Furthermore, AOP treatment reduced the total saturated fatty acids and palmitic acid (C16:0) in the egg yolk while increasing eggshell strength, albumen height, and haugh unit (p < 0.05). The serum levels of albumin and phosphorus were increased, whereas total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels decreased as a result of AOP treatment (p < 0.05). The inclusion of 3 g/kg AOP had higher 17 β-estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in serum, while it up-regulated follicle-stimulating hormone receptor and gonadotropin-releasing hormone expression in ovary (p < 0.05). Dietary AOP strengthened the expression of nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 in ovary and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity, but had a lower malondialdehyde content in serum (p < 0.05). AOP at 3 g/kg up-regulated superoxide dismutase 1 and heme oxygenase 1 expression in jejunum and ovary (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, AOP supplementation down-regulated p53 expression in ovary and bcl-2-associated x expression in liver and jejunum, especially 3 g/kg of AOP had lower caspase-8 concentrations and down-regulated bcl-2-associated x and caspase-3 expression in ovary (p < 0.05). AOP treatment increased serum levels of immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M and upregulated interleukin-4 expression in the liver, while decreasing interleukin-1β expression in liver and ovary and nod-like receptor protein 3 expression in jejunum (p < 0.05). Dietary AOP increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth but decreased crypt depth in jejunum, especially when 1 g/kg AOP increased expression levels of occludin, mucin-2, peptide-transporter 1, and sodium glucose cotransporter 1 in jejunum (p < 0.05). AOP treatment altered the composition of the cecal microbial community, as evidenced by increased abundance of Oscillospiraand Phascolarctobacteriumand reduced richness of Clostridiaceae_Clostridium. Dietary AOP supplementation enriched lipid, amino acid, and propanoate metabolism. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that the genera Oscillospira, Blautia, and Megasphaerawere related to laying performance and intestinal integrity. In brief, supplementation of AOP, especially at 3 g/kg, could improve production performance and egg quality of hens via modulating reproductive hormones, antioxidant capacity, immunity, intestinal barrier, and cecal microbiota. Overall, the present work recommends the dietary inclusion of AOP as a beneficial additive for improving the performance of hens.

To improve the dynamic load-sharing performance and achieve lightweight, the twin rotors concentric face gear power-split transmission system (TRFGPSTS) was optimized. The gear tooth matching conditions of the system based on the design characteristics of power flow closed-loop and virtual constraint configuration of the system are established, and the basic parameters of each gear meet the requirements of the system load-sharing layout and synchronous meshing of each branch movement are calculated. Based on the lumped mass parameter method, combined with the calculation results of gear tooth matching, the 45-DOF bending torsional coupling dynamic model of the system was established considering time-varying meshing stiffness, support stiffness, manufacturing and installation errors, and other factors, and the influence of each factor on the dynamic load-sharing performance of the system was analyzed. Combined with the influence law of various factors, a multi-objective dynamic load-sharing optimization design model was established with the best dynamic load-sharing performance and the minimum system quality as the objective function. Through the weighted combination method, the global optimal solution of the system optimization design was determined, and the influence of each parameter on the optimization objective function was analyzed. The correctness of the results was verified by using the genetic algorithm based on Pareto frontier distribution. The results show that the dynamic load-sharing characteristics of the system become worse with the increase of error and torsional stiffness, and are more sensitive to the influence of various error parameters. The optimization process focuses on the geometric parameters such as the Module, the teeth Number, the Pressure angle, and the Tooth width of each gear, which can reflect the degree of influence on the dynamic load-sharing and lightweight of the system. After optimization, the dynamic load sharing coefficient (DLSC) was reduced to 1.017, and the overall geometric volume was reduced to 1.473 × 108mm3. It provides a theoretical basis for the design and research of a new type of helicopter power transmission system with a compact structure, good maneuverability, and high reliability.

A study to examine the utility of s-[[kappav].sup.2] statistics suggested by Orlando and Thissen (2000) in measuring item fit for multidimensional item response models is conducted. Findings suggest that statistic is adequate of measuring item fit for multidimensional item response models.

According to the response formulas of the scalar CSAMT (controlled source audio‐frequency magnetotelluric) method, its programs can be designed in several manners with different sources such as a vertical double dipole source and a three‐dipole source of varied geometries. Through numerical simulation, this study obtains the value distributions of X‐ and Y‐direction components of the resultant electromagnetic (EM) field, which permit to further analyze the effective observational area. The results show that the distribution of crosslike source exhibits scattered weak responses, representing a smaller effective observational zone. Meanwhile, its requirement to the terrain condition of the working site is very harsh, thus cannot work well in mountainous areas with high topographic relief. Based on the principle of the rotating three‐dipole device, we propose a new device composed of multiple dipole sources for the CSAMT which can facilitate integrated measurement of tensors of the EM field. Compared with the cross‐like source, this approach can realize measurement throughout the whole area without weak‐value zones. Moreover, this new device is easy to deploy in various terrains. The results of this study provide a technical basis for further engineering production of tensor measurement.

To observe the effect of Tiaoshen Kaiqiao acupuncture in the treatment of ischemic post-stroke depression.

Five new diterpenoid alkaloids, ajacisines A-E (1-5), were isolated from Delphinium ajacis, along with seven known alkaloids (6-12). On the basis of their spectral data (IR, UV, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and chemical properties, the structures of compounds 1-12 were identified. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antiviral activities against respiratory syncytial virus, and compounds 3-5 and 8 exhibited moderate to weak effects with IC50 values of 75.2 ±1.1, 35.1 ±0.6, 10.1 ±0.3, and 50.2 ±0.5 µM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) is a technically demanding procedure but is gradually gaining acceptance in clinical practice. This study was performed to compare the short-term outcomes of LPD with open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD). The perioperative data of the patients who underwent LPD (n = 25) and OPD (n = 40) from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021 at Zhangjiagang Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University were collected and retrospectively analyzed. All patients received R0 resection, and none of the patients died within the perioperative period. The preoperative data (gender, age, body mass index [BMI], and preoperative bilirubin), the intraoperative data (operative time, number of retrieved lymph nodes), and postoperative data (level 1 monitoring time, postoperative fluid diet time, postoperative fluid feeding time, and hospitalization cost) were comparable between the 2 groups (P > .05). The estimated blood loss, abdominal drainage tube removal time, postoperative hospital stay, catheter removal time, and analgesic drug use were significantly lesser in the LPD group, when compared to the OPD group (P < .05). LPD is safe and feasible. Compared to OPD, LPD has less surgical trauma, less intraoperative bleeding, and faster postoperative recovery.

Ten indole alkaloids (1-10) were obtained from an antifungal extract of Winchia calophylla, of which two (2 and 4) were new. N(4)-Methyl-10-hydroxyl-desacetylakuammilin (2) was an akuammiline-type indole alkaloid. N(1)-Methyl-echitaminic acid (4) was an unusual zwitterion with a basic vincorine-type skeleton. This is the first report of 10 in W. calophylla. The structures of all of the compounds were determined based on spectroscopic data, and their bioactivities were assessed. Compound 1 showed potent activity against the plant pathogenic fungi of Penicillium italicum and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp cubens with IC50 s of 10.4 and 11.5 µM, respectively, and 3 inhibited Rhizoctonia solani with an IC50 of 11.7 µM. Compounds 2 and 4 showed weak cyto-toxicity against the human leukemic cell line HL-60 in vitro with IC50s of 51.4 and 75.3 µM, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed weak activity against acetylcholinesterase with IC50 s around 61.3 and 52.6 µM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A striking scheme called "counterfactual quantum cryptography" gives a conceptually new approach to accomplish the task of key distribution. It allows two legitimate parties to share a secret even though a particle carrying secret information is not, in fact, transmitted through the quantum channel. Since an eavesdropper cannot directly access the entire quantum system of each signal particle, the protocol seems to provide practical security advantages. However, here we propose an eavesdropping method which works on the scheme in a finite key scenario. We show that, for practical systems only generating a finite number of keys, the eavesdropping can obtain all of the secret information without being detected. We also present a improved protocol as a countermeasure against this attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the incomplete decision information of mining projects, a new interval evaluation method basing on D-S evidence theory is applied to comprehensive evaluation of mineral resources. Index dates of evaluation system are assigned by the basic probability function . The probability value related to weights and membership grade for indexes .The Bays interval is estimated through evidence combination of dates and computed in decision making. Application to assessment of mining right transaction information are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.

Along with the high-speed development of social economy in our country, the country invests more in infrastructure construction. The ratio of concrete in coarse aggregate has great impact on engineering quality. If there are any proportion problems, a certain degree of engineering accidents and sometimes even devastating accidents can be caused. This article studies the correlation between concrete proportioning and cement dosage in coarse aggregate through practices, discovers the importance of reasonable selection of coarse aggregate in economic cement mixing ratio configuration process, and realizes the implementation of project cost reduction in project design.

Wind tunnel tests were conducted in an NH-2-type wind tunnel to investigate the wind pressure coefficients and their distribution on the surfaces of a single-span plastic greenhouse and a solar greenhouse. Wind pressures at numerous points on the surfaces of the greenhouse models were simultaneously measured for various wind directions. The critical wind speeds, at which damage occurred on the surfaces of single-span plastic greenhouses and solar greenhouses, were derived. To dearly describe the wind pressure distribution on various surface zones of the greenhouses, the end surface and top surface of the plastic greenhouse and the transparent surface of the solar greenhouse were divided into nine zones, which were denoted as Zone I to Zone IX. The results were as follows: 1) At wind direction angles of 0° and 45°, the end surface of the single-span plastic greenhouse was on the windward side, and the maximum positive wind pressure coefficient was near 1. At wind direction angles of 90° and 180°, the entire end surface of the single-span plastic greenhouse was on the leeward side, and the maximum negative wind pressure coefficient was near -- 1. The maximum positive wind pressure on the end surface of the single-span plastic greenhouse appeared in Zone IV at a wind direction angle of 15°, whereas the maximum negative pressure appeared in Zone VIII at a wind direction angle of 105°. 2) Most of the wind pressure coefficients on the top surface of the plastic greenhouse were negative. The maximum positive and negative wind pressure coefficient on the top surface of the plastic greenhouse occurred in Zones I and II, respectively, at a wind direction angle of 60°. 3) At a wind direction angle of 0°, the distribution of wind pressure coefficient contours was steady in the middle and lower zones of the transparent surface of the solar greenhouse, and the wind pressure coefficients were positive. At a wind direction angle of 90°, the wind pressure coefficients were negative on the transparent surface of the solar greenhouse. A maximum positive wind pressure coefficient was attained at a wind direction angle of 30° in Zone IX, whereas the maximum suction force occurred in Zone VII at a wind direction angle of 135°. 4) The minimum critical wind speeds required to impair the single-span plastic greenhouse and solar greenhouse were 14.5 and 18.9 m⋅s-1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high precision high-order curvature-compensated bandgap reference (BGR) compatible with standard BiCMOS process is presented in this paper that is capable of working down to input voltages of 1.6 V with 1.285 V output voltage. High-order curvature correction for this reference is accomplished by a novel piecewise technique, which realizes exponential curvature compensation in temperature range, and a logarithmic compensation term proportional to VT In T in higher temperature range through simple structures. Experimental results of the proposed BGR implemented in 0.5-μm BiCMOS process demonstrate that a temperature coefficient (TC) of 5 ppm/°C is realized at 3.6 V power supply, a power-supply noise attenuation (PSNA) of 70 dB is achieved without filtering capacitors, and the line regulation is better than 0.47 mV/V from 1.6 V to 5 V supply voltage while dissipating a maximum supply current of 25 μA. The active area of the presented BGR is 180 μm × 220 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The propulsion shafting is one typically continuous, elastic and stepped body. To design an active controller for propulsion shafting by applying the modern control theory, an accurate reduced-order model with lumped parameters is required. This research concentrated on the reduced-order modelling method for longitudinal vibration control of a direct transfer marine propulsion shafting. The longitudinal vibration modes of the propulsion shafting were determined with one-dimension elastic wave approach based on its continuous model in advance. Taking into account of the unobservability and uncontrollability of mode nodes, the nodes of the neglected low highest mode were selected as locations of the reduced-order model mass points. By modifying mode shapes of the reduced-order model with sensitivity analysis, the reduced-order model can accurately represent the first low order modes of the continuous propeller-shafting system, enabling the effectiveness of controller design in the physical state space.

An icing rate sensor based on infrared spectrum absorption is researched in this paper, which two infrared laser diodes are used in. Two laser diodes are driven by pulse circuit, and the key technology of the icing rate sensor based on infrared spectrum absorption is put forward. The icing rate sensor is smaller cubage, easier to extend and more steadfast components than the traditional circumvolving filter project.

The basic idea of H2-C mixture reduction reflects the advantages of hydrogen for fast reaction and low heat absorption in a smelting reduction reactor where hydrogen is used as the main reducing agent and carbon as the main heat generator on purpose to cut down the total energy consumption and CO2emission. This work aimed at the experimental investigation of the optimal carbon/hydrogen ratio, a key parameter of iron oxide reduction with mixture reductive agents of carbon and hydrogen. Experiments were carried out using a pure Al2O3crucible which was placed in a tubular furnace for high temperature. Two investigation methods were adopted: one was injecting an acetylene/hydrogen mixture reducing gas into molten iron oxides, and the other was blowing hydrogen into an iron bath during continuous feeding of fine ore mixing solid carbon. Parameters such as the apparent de-oxidation rate and utilization ratio of reductive agents were calculated from content analysis of the exhaust gas after dust removal and drying. In the experiments the highest total de-oxidation rate and satisfactory apparent utilization ratio of hydrogen were obtained under conditions with temperatures of 1823 K and the carbon/hydrogen ratio in the region of 0.5:1 to 1:1.

The basic idea of H2-C mixture reduction reflexes using hydrogen as main reductor and carbon as main heat generator in iron bath smelt reduction reactors on purpose to cut down total energy consumption and CO2 emission. The author applied the methods of modeling for separating regions and [1]complex integration to research the kinetics behavior of the reactor. Changes of temperature and concentration field in each region were calculated after modeling from theories for solid-liquid, solid-gas and gas-liquid reactions combining theories of shrinking core, combustion and deoxidization etc. Besides some boundary- and initial conditions were got from inlet variables, other conditions included substance and energy exchanges on boundaries between different reaction regions were determined from the translation of all boundary coordination. After dispersion treatment with Control-Volume-Method, the whole model was programmed into special software for digital simulation. Corresponding author: HONG Xin, Shanghai University, Phone/Fax: 021-56331176, E-mail: xhong@online.sh.cn

The Chaidaer-muli railway winds along the Datong River in the central region of the Qilian Mountains. The widely distributed permafrost along the railway is characterized by swampy and warm, which leads to the poor Engineering geologic conditions of the transportation line from the point of frozen soil. That the extending direction of the railway is nearly southeast-northwest causes its roadbed experience the yin-yang slope problems. To improve the stability of frozen soil roadbed, proactive cooling measures were adopted in a large proportion of the roadbed with permafrost, in which about 20km railway was equipped with thermosyphon. At the same time, different design parameter was adopted in the sunny and shady side slopes in the thermosyphon parts. Observation data in the experimental section with warm permafrost shows, under the condition of current thermosyphon techniques and design parameters, thermosyphon measures can effectively cool the frozen soil roadbed, substantially reduce the settlement and successfully solve the yin-yang slope problem of the railway subgrade in swampy warm permafrost.

The erosion of west beach in Beidaihe has become severe in the recent years. In order to nourish the beach, four different engineering nourishment schemes are proposed. As a near shore project, wave is the main force in the sea area of west beach. Based on the information above, wave fields in the sea area of west beach under both ordinary wave condition (S, Hs=0.7m, T=3.2s) and strong wave condition (NE, Hs=1.5m, T=4.7s) are analyzed. The result shows that beach nourishment with two jetties and three submerged breakwaters protects the west beach most effectively.

The relationship between lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway-derived volatiles and LOX gene expression was evaluated in kiwifruit [Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C.F. Liang et A.R. Ferguson var. deliciosa cv. Bruno] during postharvest ripening at 20 °C. The C6 aldehydes n-hexanal and (E)-2-hexenal were abundant in peel compared with flesh tissue and declined as kiwifruit ripened. Esters such as ethyl butanoate and methyl butanoate were lower in the peel than flesh and accumulated when the fruit underwent a climacteric rise in ethylene production. Total LOX activity was higher in the peel than in the flesh and increased as kiwifruit ripened. Expression of AdLox2, AdLox3, AdLox4 and AdLox6 was high in the peel, whereas AdLox1 and AdLox5 showed similar levels in the peel and flesh at the ethylene climacteric. AdLox1 and AdLox5 transcript levels increased and AdLox2, AdLox3, AdLox4 and AdLox6 levels decreased during postharvest fruit ripening. Principal component analysis showed that n-hexanal and (E)-2-hexenal were grouped with LOX genes that were downregulated as kiwifruit ripened. The possible roles of LOX genes in relation to kiwifruit volatile formation during fruit ripening are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the feature of flight flutter test data with atmospheric turbulence excitation, a method which combines wavelet transformation with random decrement technique for identifying flight flutter modal parameters is presented. This approach firstly uses random decrement technique to gain free decays corresponding to the acceleration response of the structure to some non-zero initial conditions. Then the continuous Morlet wavelet transformation of the free decays is performed; and the Parseval formula and residue theorem are used to simplify the transformation. The maximal wavelet transformation coefficients in different scales are searched out by means of band-filtering characteristic of Morlet wavelet, and then the modal parameters are identified according to the relationships with maximal modulus and angle of the wavelet transform. In addition, the condition of modal uncoupling is discussed according to variation trend of flight flutter modal parameters in the flight flutter state. The analysis results of simulation and flight flutter test data show that this approach is not only simple, effective and feasible, but also having good noise immunity.

DNA strand scission and base release in 3‘dTMP, induced by H and OH radical addition to thymine, is studied at the DFT B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level in the gas phase and in solution. In particular the mechanism of H atom transfer subsequent to radical formation, from C2‘ on the sugar to the C6 site on the base, is explored. Bulk solvation is found to lower the barrier by up to 5 kcal mol-1and the reaction energy by up to 12 kcal mol-1for the hydroxyl radical adducts. The strengths of the N1−C1‘(N1-glycosidic bond) and C3‘−O(P) bonds are calculated, showing that homolytic bond breaking processes are largely favored in both cases. The barrier for C3‘−O(P) bond rupture is approximately 18.2 kcal mol-1, and its breakage is preferred by 10−15 kcal mol-1over that of N1-glycosidic bond cleavage in both the gas phase and solvents, which is consistent with the changes in C3‘−O(P) and N1−C1‘ bond lengths during the H transfer reactions. Mulliken spin densities, NPA charges, and vertical electron affinities are calculated to clarify the reactive properties of the intramolecular H-transfer radicals.

Modified LDL in human plasma including small, dense LDL (sdLDL) and oxidized LDL carries a more negative charge than unmodified LDL and is atherogenic. We examined the effects of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I)/POPC discs on charge-based LDL subfractions as determined by capillary isotachophoresis (cITP). Three normal healthy subjects and seven patients with metabolic disorders were included in the study. LDL in human plasma was separated into two major subfractions, fast- and slow-migrating LDL (fLDL and sLDL), by cITP. Normal LDL was characterized by low fLDL, and mildly oxidized LDL in vitro and mildly modified LDL in human plasma were characterized by increased fLDL. Moderately oxidized LDL in vitro and moderately modified LDL in a patient with hypertriglyceridemia and HDL deficiency were characterized by both increased fLDL and a new LDL subfraction with a faster mobility than fLDL [very-fast-migrating LDL as determined by cITP (vfLDL)]. cITP LDL subfractions with faster electrophoretic mobility (fLDL vs. sLDL, vfLDL vs. fLDL) were associated with an increased content of sdLDL. Incubation of a plasma fraction with d > 1.019 g/ml (depleted of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins) in the presence of apoA-I/POPC discs at 37°C greatly decreased vfLDL and fLDL but increased sLDL. Incubation of whole plasma from patients with an altered distribution of cITP LDL subfractions in the presence of apoA-I/POPC discs also greatly decreased fLDL but increased sLDL. ApoA-I/POPC discs decreased the cITP fLDL level, the free cholesterol concentration, and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity in the sdLDL subclasses (d = 1.040–1.063 g/ml) and increased the size of LDL. ApoA-I/POPC discs reduced charge-modified LDL in human plasma by remodeling cITP fLDL into sLDL subfractions.

In this paper, we present a theoretical framework of fuzzy reasoning model under quotient space structure. It consists of (1) introducing quotient space structure into fuzzy sets, i.e., constructing fuzzy set representations of different grain-size spaces and their relationships; (2) introducing the concept of fuzzy sets into quotient space theory, i.e., introducing fuzzy equivalence relation and discussing its corresponding reasoning in different grain-size spaces; and (3) discussing the relationship and transformation among different granular computing methodologies. The framework proposed is aimed to combine two powerful abilities in order to enhance the efficiency of fuzzy reasoning: one is the ability of computing with words based on fuzzy set methodology, the other is the ability of hierarchical problem solving based on quotient space approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the global convergence and stability of the Hopfield-type neural networks under the critical condition that M1(F) = L-1DF - (FW+WTF)/(2) is nonnegative for any diagonal matrix F, where W is the weight matrix of the network, L = diag(L1, L2,.. . , LN) with 4 being the Lipschitz constant of gi and G(u) = (g1(u1),g2(u2),. . ,gN(uN))T is the activation mapping of the network. Many stability results have been obtained for the Hopfield-type neural networks in the noncritical case that M1 (F) is positive definite for some positive definite diagonal matrix F. However, very few results are available on the global convergence and stability of the networks in the critical case. In this paper, by exploring two intrinsic features of the activation mapping, two generic global convergence results are established in the critical case for the Hopfield-type neural networks, which extend most of the previously known globally asymptotic stability criteria to the critical case. The results obtained discriminate the critical dynamics of the networks, and can be applied directly to a group of Hopfield-type neural network models. An example has also been presented to demonstrate both theoretical importance and practical significance of the critical results obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the method of moment, an effective electromagnetic approach for the substation's grounding grid in high frequency domain is presented. An efficient method based on the generalized pencil-of-function method is developed to calculate the generalized Sommerfeld integral. With the method, the value of Green's function in a two-layer medium can be obtained quickly and accurately. The number of unknown variables of the moment method is small. As the dipole antenna theory is introduced, the frequency of the injected current to the grounding grid can vary in a large scale. The method can be used to analyze not only the performance of the grounding grid, but also other grids located under the earth, in the air or penetrating a lossy interface. The computational results are in good agreement with those obtained by other method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]