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The steering wheel system of a steer-by-wire system (SBW) offers steering torque to the driver. In order to improve its safety and reliability, a dual-redundancy steering wheel system has been proposed by some research. This research proposes a dual-redundancy multi-mode control method for this system, which is divided into different control modes, namely the angle alignment mode, the pivot steer with resistance mode and the uniform approaching to middle position mode, so that the system can adapt to different vehicle running states and driver's manipulation habits. At the same time, a torque balance control method for two channel motors is proposed to balance their torques and an order-reduce and reforming control method is proposed so that the system can still work even one motor fails. Finally, this study built a vehicle test platform to verify the control method and prove its effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE--The aim of this study was to determine the influence of birth weight, a marker of fetal growth, on the development of later impaired glucose metabolism throughout the life span [...]

The article discusses that oilseeds occupy an important place in global agriculture by providing vegetable oils and highprotein meals for food, feed and industrial uses. The leading oilseed crops by volume of world production are soya beans, cottonseed, groundnut, sunflower, canola, coconut and palm. Soya beans constitute the largest share of the world oilseed supply, accounting for 57% of global production from 2001 to 2002.

Background: Currently, laser tracker is the primary instrument used to carry out three-dimensional position measurement in accelerator alignment. Theoretically, three-dimensional measuring data processed by three-dimensional adjustment are more rigorous, however, error accumulation is found in practice. Purpose: In order to control error accumulation and further improve the measurement accuracy of accelerator alignment, this research introduces the laser alignment system into the activity of measurement and data processing. Methods: A measurement scheme combining laser tracker and laser alignment system is proposed. To construct the constraint condition, the offset values from the measuring points to the laser straight-line datum were used. To carry out the three-dimensional adjustment with offset constraint, the laser tracker observations were used. Results: A three-dimensional adjustment function model of laser tracker observations is given. The construction method of the constraint equation is researched, and the calculation formulas of the three-dimensional adjustment with offset constraint are derived. A 200 m linac tunnel control network is designed, using simulation measurement method, the measuring data of laser tracker and the offset values from the measuring points to the laser straight-line datum were generated. The simulated data are calculated by the method given in this paper and the result is analyzed. Conclusion: Simulation result shows introducing the laser alignment system into laser tracker measurement and applying the three-dimensional adjustment with offset constraint can effectively suppress the error accumulation caused by long distance move station measurement.

Steroids, including testosterone, estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol and 17β-ethinyl estradiol, are harmful not only to the population dynamics of aquatic life forms but also to public health. In this study, a marine testosterone-degrading bacterium (strain N3) was isolated from Nanao Island in the South China Sea. In addition, the strain could also use 17β-estradiol (E2), 17β-ethinyl estradiol (EE2), estriol (E3) or cholesterol as a sole carbon source. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain N3 was identified as Vibriosp. Further characterization showed that the strain is aerobic, gram-negative, and mobile and exhibits resistance to ampicillin, carbenicillin, penicillin and spectinomycin. For enhancing its capacity of testosterone degradation, the Plackett–Burman factorial design and the central composite design were used to optimize the culture condition. Under optimal conditions, 92% of testosterone was degraded by Vibriosp. N3 in 48h.

To investigate the inhibitory effect of Sumu (Lignum Sappan) plus Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata) (SF) on the growth and metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma.

Chronic liver injury eventually progresses to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease (ESLD), which are the leading causes of death in patients with liver disease worldwide. ESLD has a variety of etiologies and a complex pathogenesis. This study analyzed the characteristics of ESLD by studying the immune microenvironment and inflammatory microenvironment of ESLD caused by 4 noncancer diseases, including HBV-ALF, ALF, AILD, and AH. We collected transcriptome data from noncancer ESLD patients, collected liver tissue samples and blood samples from ESLD liver transplant patients, and analyzed the immune and inflammatory microenvironments in the liver and blood. The results showed that with the exception of HBV-induced ESLD, there were no significant differences in immune microenvironment scores among patients with ESLD caused by other noncancer diseases. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the inflammatory microenvironment in the liver and blood of patients with ESLD caused by the 4 noncancer diseases. Furthermore, we found that the cytokine, IL-15, could predict the prognosis of ESLD patients.

The large-scale power deficit in the cosmic microwave background fluctuations might be relevant with the physics of preinflation, a bounce, or a superinflationary phase preceding slow-roll inflation, which can provide a singular-free realization of inflation. We investigate the primordial perturbations from such preinflationary evolutions, which generally may consist of multiple phases with different background dynamics, and give a universal formula for the power spectrum of primordial perturbations in terms of the recursive Bogoliubov coefficients. We also apply our formula to corresponding cases and show how the intensity of large-scale power suppression is affected by the preinflationary physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In low-energy effective string theory and modified gravity theories, the propagating speed cT of primordial gravitational waves may deviate from unity. We find that the steplike variation of cT during slow-roll inflation may result in an oscillating modulation to the B-mode polarization specTrum, which can hardly be imitated by adjusting other cosmological parameters, and the intensity of the modulation is determined by the dynamics of cT. Thus provided that the foreground contribution is under control, high-precision cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization observations will be able to put tight constraint on the variation of cT, and so the corresponding theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stripe rust (yellow rust), caused by Puccinia striiformisf. sp. tritici(Pst), is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat throughout the world. H9020-1-6-8-3 is a translocation line originally developed from interspecific hybridization between wheat line 7182 and Psathyrostachys huashanicaKeng and is resistant to most Pstraces in China. To identify the resistance gene(s) in the translocation line, H9020-1-6-8-3 was crossed with susceptible cultivar Mingxian 169, and seedlings of the parents, F1, F2, F3, and BC1generations were tested with prevalent Chinese Pstrace CYR32 under controlled greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that there is a single dominant gene, temporarily designated as YrH9020a,conferring resistance to CYR32. The resistance gene was mapped by the F2population from Mingxian 169/H9020-1-6-8-3. It was linked to six microsatellite markers, including Xbarc196, Xbarc202, Xbarc96, Xgpw4372, Xbarc21,and Xgdm141,flanked by Xbarc96and Xbarc202with at 4.5 and 8.3 cM, respectively. Based on the chromosomal locations of these markers and the test of Chinese Spring (CS) nullitetrasomic and ditelosomic lines, the gene was assigned to chromosome 6D. According to the origin and the chromosomal location, YrH9020amight be a new resistance gene to stripe rust. The flanking markers linked to YrH9020acould be useful for marker-assisted selection in breeding programs.

A copolymer was prepared by grafted a novel phenolic resin to hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile as fluid-loss-control additive. The novel phenolic resin used Bisphenol A residues as raw materials. Results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that the two polymers were grafted into together. It was found that the copolymer gave a well performance under high temperature and high pressure and saline pollution.

A mathematical model considering the inter-phase mass transfer both in the down-comer and the riser of an external-loop airlift reactor was established in this paper. The calculated global volumetric mass transfer coefficient based on the assumption of continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) was different from the local volumetric mass transfer coefficients by the newly proposed mathematical model and the difference was discussed. The effects of mass transfer in the down-comer, the hydrodynamic pressure and the experimental time on the mass transfer coefficient measurement model have been studied in detail. And it was also proved that only the global volumetric mass transfer coefficient, but not the local volumetric mass coefficient, can be obtained from a time-concentration curve in the external-loop airlift reactor.

The polyacrylamide/starch-acrylic acid graft copolymer/bentonite composites with different concentrations of the bentonite and starch-acrylic acid graft copolymer were prepared by in-situ polymerization. The influence of the concentration of the bentonite and starch-acrylic acid graft copolymer on the water absorbency was investigated. The water absorbency of 115 g/g could be achieved with the composite composed of 50wt% bentonite, 17wt% starch-acrylic acid graft copolymer and 33wt% polyacrylamide. The excellent absorption and retention performance of the composite makes it potential to be applied in the model of Rain garden.

About 300 of steroid drugs have been identified since the research and development to steroid drugs was triggered in 1950s. Although much progress in microbial biotransformation on steroid drugs is well-achieved, many efforts are ongoing in order to improve the efficiency of steroidal drug production as well as to degrade their derivatives. In this work an overview of recent and important findings related to patents and various microbial biotransformations of steroidal compounds including dehydrogenation/reduction, hydroxylation, esterification, methylation, halogenation and methoxylation is presented. Both metabolic pathway and genetic manipulation and screening for new strains capable of metabolizing/transforming steroid drugs, as the powerful endocrine disruptors, are introduced since they are serious environmental contaminants.

Abstract:The distribution of the Jurassic coal measures in the northern Qaidam Basin is obviously controlled by the regional structures. Based on the existing data of coalfield exploration and combined with the analysis of coalfield basement structures, features of the main faults, and the distribution of coal measures, this paper brings forward a scheme of coalfield tectonic divisional units and the definition of the coal‐controlling structural styles in the northern Qaidam Basin. The structure control of the distribution of coal measures is further discussed. Several stages of regional tectonic activities since the Indosinian has led to the distribution of coal measures into the characteristics of zonation from the north to south and block from east to west. The results indicate that the structural deformations are the most intense in the front of the three uplifted belts, which are characterized by the combination of thrusts. The coal measures are uplifted to the shallow formations, and are easy to be exploited, but the scale of mines is small because of serious damages by the coal distribution. On the contrary, the stress and strain are weak in the three depressions, with the coal‐controlling structural styles being mainly the thrust‐fold and thrust‐monocline combinations. The distribution of coals in the depressions is relatively stable. The shallower part of the depression will become the key areas for exploration and development of coal resources in the northern Qaidam Basin.

Abstract:Based on the systematic analysis of the coal gangue in Weibei Coalfield, such as petrologic characteristics, chemical composition, nutrient elements, deleterious elements, and the transformation, and compared with the soil element content background values of Loess Plateau and national harmful materials controlling standards, we conclude that the coal gangue in the Weibei Coalfield has huge potential to be used as clay fertilizer.

Abstract Human epidermal growth factor is a polypeptide hormone having many diverse biological functions. This paper first presents the recovery results of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) immediately from the fermentation broth of recombinant Escherichia coli by using an expanded bed system (a couple of STREAMLINE25 and ÄKTA explorer 100). The influences of operational conditions such as linear flow rate, gradient length of NaCl concentration, pH and sample concentration on the purification performances of hEGF in expanded and packed bed modes with STREAMLINE DEAE resin were systematically evaluated. After optimization, the practical recovery procedure in the expanded bed mode was carried out on a scaled-up system under the conditions of linear flow rates of 183 cm/h (upward) and 37 cm/h (downward), sample volume of 300 ml and column bed height of 13.8 cm which yielded a primary product of hEGF from the cell-free supernatant containing hEGF after centrifugation at 4000 rev/min for 15 min. As a result, the hEGF concentration in the product was higher than 20% (w/v), the concentration factor was greater than 4.3 and the total yield was higher than 80%, respectively. At the same time, the results of hEGF recovery by using expanded bed adsorption (EBA), packed bed chromatography (PBC) and salting out were compared. The results show that the procedure of hEGF recovery in expanded bed adsorption has some advantages over the other two procedures, because of its higher concentration factor, recovery yield, productivity, hEGF concentration in the primary product and shorter duration of purification run.

ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle play an important role in apical K(+) recycling, a mechanism essential for maintaining the activity of the Na/2Cl/K-cotransporter. We have previously demonstrated that inhibition of K(ATP) decreases Na(+) and K(+) absorption in the loop of Henle and induces diuretic and natriuretic effects. In the present study, we used renal clearance and in vivo microperfusion techniques to evaluate the effects of the K(ATP) opener minoxidil on the urinary excretion and absorption in the loop of Henle of Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+). Intravenous injection of minoxidil (1.5 mg/kg) significantly decreased fractional Na(+) (FENa) and Mg(2+) (FEMg) excretion and urine volume with a moderate decrease in blood pressure (12%) and glomerular filtration rate (15%). Urine volume decreased 63%, and FENa and FEMg decreased 58 and 37%, respectively. In contrast, K(+) and Ca(2+) excretion did not change significantly. In the microperfusion of the loop of Henle, addition of minoxidil to the perfusion fluid significantly increased fluid (J(v)), Na(+) (J(Na)), Cl(-) (J(Cl)), and K(+) (J(K)) absorption. J(v) increased 44% (from 8.32 to 11.95 nl/min), J(Na) increased 14% (from 1.96 to 2.34 nmol/min), J(Cl) increased 21% (from 1.72 to 2.08 nmol/min), and J(K) increased 57% (from 35.8 to 56.4 pmol/min). We conclude that the activation of K(ATP) leads to stimulation of Na/2Cl/K-cotransporter activity and increases the rates of Na(+), Cl(-), and K(+) absorption in the loop of Henle, an effect contributing to the antidiuretic and antinatriuretic action of this K channel opener.

The abrasion responses were tested on four acrylic veneer materials, K+B Plus®, K+B 75®, Isosit®, and Ivocron®. The studies were performed in two independent research laboratories. Two different brushing machines were used with an abrasive slurry. The results were used for comparing the degree of abrasion for the resin materials. Three analytical methods of measuring the degree of abrasive wear were used: surface profile measurement, microscopic evaluation, and measurement of loss of volume. Isosit showed the best abrasion resistance of the four materials tested.

Based on the effective field theory (EFT) of nonsingular cosmologies, we build a stable model, without the ghost and gradient instabilities, of bounce-inflation (inflation is preceded by a cosmological bounce). We perform a full simulation for the evolution of scalar perturbation, and find that the perturbation spectrum has a large-scale suppression (as expected), which is consistent with the power deficit of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) TT-spectrum at low multipoles, but unexpectedly, it also shows itself one marked lower valley. The depth of valley is relevant with the physics around the bounce scale, which is model-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that if the propagating speed of gravitational waves (GWs) gradually diminishes during inflation, the power spectrum of primordial GWs will be strongly blue, while that of the primordial scalar perturbation may be unaffected. We also illustrate that such a scenario is actually a disformal dual to the superinflation, but it does not have the ghost instability. The blue tilt obtained is 0

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Force curve measurement by atomic force microscopy has begun to establish its usefulness as a new tool for the investigation of the physical properties of biological materials and processes. Since directly observable quantity in such experiments is the magnitude of the deflection of the cantilever in response to the force exerted on it, it is often difficult to distinguish specific sample responses that are to be measured from superfluous ones due to unwanted interactions between the atomic force microscope (AFM) tip and the sample, or the substrate. In this study, we analyzed force curves obtained in our laboratory over protein samples and tried to extract vital information on the mechanical strength of proteins under different conditions.

Atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to measure the force-extension relationship of the globular protein, carbonic anhydrase B, having 259 amino acid residues, under native, denaturing and intermediate solution conditions. For this purpose, the protein was genetically engineered in order to endow it with -SH groups at its N- and C- termini and was fixed to the silanized surface of a silicon wafer using a covalent cross-linker with the reactive end to -SH and with a long spacer of polyethylene glycol. The silicon nitride tip of the AFM was covered with a cross-linker with the reactive end to -SH and was brought into contact with the protein on the silicon surface. Subsequent force curve measurements showed occasional stable bond formation, and the force extension relationship obtained from such curves showed distinct characteristics of the native, denatured and intermediate forms of carbonic anhydrase B.

The effect of hydrogen ions ( H+) diffusion on refractive index profiles of annealed proton-exchanged z-cut LiNbO3waveguides was investigated in this paper. The proton-exchanged samples were proton exchanged in phenylacetic acid and annealed in air at the temperature of 380° C to 420° C for 2 to 6 h. Optical prism-coupling measurements and numerical methods are performed to assess the refractive index profiles of the samples. Two kinds of diffusivities, i.e. substitutional and interstitial, were adopted to account for the extraordinary refractive index profile. The experimental data obtained from infrared spectroscopy and the calculated substitutional indices diffusant indicated that the annealing process resulted in the migration of free OH groups to the surface of the proton-exchange region. These subsequently turned into surface oxides and water.

The optical properties of high-index waveguides in z-cut LiNbO3produced by proton-exchange with capric acid were investigated. These waveguides were characterized optically and were found by the variation of index with depth to exhibit a graded index profile with a high surface index change. The change in the surface index was larger than those obtained from benzoic acid, stearic acid and octanoic acid, and smaller than that obtained from pyrophosphoric acid. The index profile could be simply modeled by the parabolic function. The diffusion rate for the proton-exchanged process was slower than those reported for benzoic acid and pyrophosphoric acid.

High-index optical waveguides have been fabricated from lithium niobate ( LiNbO3) using a simple proton-exchange process. In this study, proton-exchanged planar optical waveguides have been fabricated from z-cut LiNbO3using a new proton source: m-toluic acid. These waveguides were characterized optically and the refractive index was found to vary with depth of waveguides. The variation of the refractive index exhibited a graded index profile with the maximum surface index change ?n= 0.14 measured at a wavelength of 0.633 µ m. The diffusion constant Doand the activation energy Qfor the proton-exchange process were measured to be 2.35×108µ m2/h and 75.63 kJ/mol, respectively.

Proton-exchanged optical planar waveguides have been fabricated in z-cut LiNbO3using new proton sources: m-toluic acid and p-toluic acid. These waveguides were characterized optically and were found to exhibit a graded index profile with a high surface index change, being 0.14 and 0.1337 for m-toluic and p-toluic acid, respectively. The changes in the surface index of both acids were larger than those produced by benzoic acid, stearic acid and octanoic acid, and smaller than that produced by pyrophosphoric acid. The index profile could be approximated by the parabolic function. The diffusion rates for the proton-exchanged process using both m-toluic acid and p-toluic acid were slower than that reported for benzoic acid.