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The methylmercury (MeHg) as the toxic fractions has presented significant threats to biota in freshwater ecosystems. Hg methylation process is demonstrated to be manipulated by biota process (benthic disturbance and algae bloom existence) as well as the abiotic influence (wind fluctuation and illumination intensity) in freshwater ecosystems. However, the mechanisms influencing Hg methylation are still unclear, and the coupled influences of the biotic and abiotic process with the shifts in variation on methylmercury remain unexplored. Accordingly, an annular flume experiment which simulated the freshwater ecosystem, was conducted for 108 days to examine the influences of typical disturbance by chironomid larvae and wind fluctuations on MeHg variation in sediment profiles. The in-situ , passive sampler technique of revealing diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) encompassed the special resin, based on referenced extraction and coloration-computer imaging densitometry, were employed to obtain labile MeHg, Fe, and S concentrations at high resolution. The results indicate that larval bioturbation during the initial period of the experiment could diminish bioavailable MeHg concentrations and change the diffusion direction of MeHg fluxes. However, this inhibitive effect on MeHg concentrations ceased with larvae eclosion. Compared to bioturbation, wind fluctuation exerted slow but sustained inhibition on MeHg release. Furthermore, the eight parameters (dissolved organic carbon (DOC), DO, labile Fe and S concentrations, pH, sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) abundance in sediment, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and EC) could explain more of variation in MeHg concentrations which indicated by the canonical correspondence analysis. And these eight parameters manifest higher explanatory power for MeHg distributed in newly formed sediment. More notably, the comparison results of the multiple and simple regression directly demonstrated the DOC was the fundamental and robust factor to control the MeHg variation in the freshwater ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses a game-theory-based analytical model to examine the consequences of two markup pricing schemes, fixed-dollar markup and percentage markup, in a supply chain-to-chain competition setting with power imbalance between dominant retailers. Our results show that the equilibrium pricing strategy depends on the level of supply chain-to-chain competition. Specifically, if the level of supply chain competition is not sufficiently high, the equilibrium pricing strategy for the two retailers will be the one in which both retailers choose to adopt the percentage markup pricing policy, i.e., the [PP] strategy. Unfortunately, this equilibrium will lead the retailers into the prisoner's dilemma in some common situations. However, if the level of competition is extremely high, the equilibrium pricing strategy will be that where the leader (Retailer 1) chooses the percentage markup pricing policy and the follower (Retailer 2) selects the fixed-dollar markup pricing policy, i.e., the [PF] strategy. This equilibrium pricing strategy always hurts Manufacturer 1, but might benefit Manufacturer 2 when the level of competition exceeds a certain threshold. From the perspective of the end-consumers, they prefer the level of competition to be kept below a certain threshold such that the [PP] strategy becomes the equilibrium pricing strategy because this equilibrium leads to the lowest retail prices. Furthermore, our results show that Retailer 1 suffers a first-mover disadvantage even under a linear demand curve, and this situation cannot be alleviated by abandoning its price-leader position to share power equally with Retailer 2. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome and discuss the method of treatment both-bone forearm fracture in children(4 to 15 years old) with elastic intramedullary nail (EIN) . Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical result of forty-five cases to treat both-bone forearmfracture in children (4 to 15 years old) with elastic intramedullary nail from April，2008 to June，2014．Then we Discussed and analyzed the complication， surgery technique， limb function. Patients were followed up for more than 24 to 30 months after the surgery to continuously evaluate the limb function and fracture healing by physical examination and x-ray image. Results There were 38 children with excellent recovery，7 good and no fair by followed up for 24 to 30 months，9 cases with observed complication due by prominent nail ends，3 patients slightly declined after the surgery，1 patient was observed with ulna fracture delayed recovery during 3 to 8 months of fracture healing. Apposition rate in all cases was>50% in anterior-posterior view and the apposition rate>90% in lateral view. No fracture of ESIN， Nerve injuries， severe displacement were observed during this study. Conclusion The elastic intramedullary nail is a good method to treat children both-bone forearm fracture with lower surgery technique， minimall invasion，if less complications，does not interfere with growth，has good forearmfunction recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the expression of T helper type 1 (Th1)/T helper type 2 (Th2) in herniated nucleus pulposus (NP) and determine their association with sciatic pain. NP was collected from 12 patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) (extrusion group) and 6 patients with a vertebral fracture (control group). The expression of Th1/Th2 and related cytokines in the NP was examined by flow cytometry, Western blot, and immunofluorescent staining. Subsequently, an LDH model was established in male Sprague-Dawley rats, and behavioral testings were carried out. The expression of Th1/Th2 and related cytokines in rat NP and the expression of macrophages in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were also examined. The number of Th1 cells in rat NP dramatically increased on day 14 after the surgery, but significantly decreased on day 28. The number of Th2 cells increased on day 28. Chemokine ligand 3(CCL3) and CD86 proteins (M1-specific molecules) were expressed at a relatively low level in naive DRG, markedly increased on day 14 after the surgery, and decreased on day 28. Arg1 and CD206 protein (M2-specific molecules) were expressed at a relatively low level in naive DRG and markedly increased on day 28. The mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia developed after NP application and finally partially alleviated. The results suggested that the polarization of Th cells might be involved in the pathogenesis of LDH, and this might be achieved via the phenotypic shift of macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this note, we study the cohomology of the nonclassical restricted Lie algebras , over a field of characteristic , which are by definition the Lie algebras of derivations on the truncated polynomial algebras (called the Jacobson-Witt algebras), and simple unless and . We show a vanishing theorem for the cohomology of with coefficients in the trivial module , which says that for all . Moreover, we compute the cohomology of with coefficients in its defining truncated polynomial algebra under a certain assumption on the characteristic of the ground field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXene-based gas-sensitive nanocomposites are an area of high interest in developing high-performance gas sensors that operate at room temperature. Combining MXene with different nano-sized metal oxides is a strategy to improve sensing performance, but poor chemical stability, especially in humid environments, is the biggest obstacle to practical applications. Recently we demonstrated a method to prepare a ternary heterostructure gas sensor by decorating a stable TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x composite with MoO 3 which also provided selectivity. Here, we develop the proposed concept by synthesizing a Cr 2 O 3 /TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x gas-sensitive material that shows a unique rapid and selective response to Triethylamine. In addition, the sensor offers excellent chemical stability and can maintain its morphology and gas sensing performance even after ageing at 500 °C for two months. This work demonstrates the validity of the proposed approach for an additional metal oxide and yields a sensor that exhibits potential for excellent practical application in harsh environment. • Cr 2 O 3 /TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x are prepared and its gas sensing properties are investigated. • The introduced Cr 2 O 3 and TiO 2 tightly wrap MXene with a hydrophobic surface. • The improve Triethylamine sensing performance was achieved based on oxidized MXene. • The sensor exhibits excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and stability to TEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the bladder is rare, and little is known about the prognostic impact of the proportion of sarcomatoid components of the bladder. The present study aimed to assess the prognostic value of the proportion of sarcomatoid components with regard to death and recurrence rates in patients with bladder cancer (BC), and to validate the worse survival results of sarcomatoid carcinomas of the bladder using propensity score matching. Patients with sarcomatoid carcinoma of the bladder who were treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between August 2010 and May 2021 were included in the study. A 1:2 propensity score matching system based on age, sex and pathological T stage was used for sarcomatoid and non-sarcomatoid carcinoma matching. Finally, 114 patients with BC were included. Patients with sarcomatoid carcinoma had worse 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) (69.1 vs. 86.9%; log-rank P=0.008) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (64.1 vs. 83.6%; log-rank P=0.001) rates compared with patients with non-sarcomatoid carcinoma, as had the subgroup with muscle invasion. Multivariate analysis revealed sarcomatoid carcinoma as an independent prognostic factor. Patients with a low proportion of sarcomatoid components (1–50%) had a better prognosis than patients with a high proportion (>50%), and no significant difference was found compared with the non-sarcomatoid group. Overall, a proportion of sarcomatoid components >50% was a predictor of CSS and RFS. Sarcomatoid components markedly increased the risk of death and recurrence in muscle-invasive BC, but not in non-muscle-invasive BC. A higher proportion of sarcomatoid components was significantly associated with poorer survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides, a class of naturally occurring carbohydrates, were widely presented in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Recently, health benefits of polysaccharides have attracted much attention due to their unique characteristics in reactive oxygen species (ROS) management. ROS, by-products of aerobic metabolism linked to food consumption, exhibited a dual role in protecting cells and fostering pathogenesis collectively termed double-edged sword. Some interesting studies reported that polysaccharides could behave as prooxidants under certain conditions, besides antioxidant capacities. Potentiation of the bright side of ROS could contribute to the host defense that was vitally important for the polysaccharides acting as biological response modifiers. Correspondingly, disease prevention of polysaccharides linked to the management of ROS production was systematically described and discussed in this review. Furthermore, major challenges and future prospects were presented, aiming to provide new insight into applying polysaccharides as functional food ingredients and medicine. [Display omitted] • ROS is a kind of inevitable by-product mainly generated from food consumption. • ROS could be 'friend' or 'foe' implicated in the onset and progression of disease. • Polysaccharides act as antioxidants, however, they also behave as prooxidants. • Health benefits of polysaccharides were linked to trigger the good side of ROS. • ROS management elucidate diverse activities of polysaccharides under conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Vehicle model for refrigerated truck with combined cooling and power cycle is proposed. • Dynamic analysis is carried out with road condition and carrying load as key factors. • Cogeneration system realizes saving fuel, additional work, and cooling capacity. • The design suggestions for operating control strategy are given. Waste heat recovery via combined cooling and power cycle (CCP-WHR) has become a promising energy-saving solution for refrigerated trucks owing to its capability for miniaturization, high efficiency, and multi-load supply. To ensure safety, stability, and efficiency under transient driving conditions, CCP-WHR needs to be adapted and coordinated with the complex and extreme fluctuations in energy conversion and transmission of the engine, which are difficult to explore in existing steady-state research. In this study, we establish a dynamic vehicle model for a refrigerated truck with CCP-WHR that can accurately track the driving cycle and adjust the operating mode. The dynamic characteristics, including vehicular operational performance (engine speed, torque, and waste heat parameters) and CCP-WHR output benefits (net work and cooling capacity), are analyzed with driving and load-carrying conditions as critical operating parameters. The comprehensive energy-saving performance of the entire vehicle is evaluated based on the proposed indicators. A refrigerated truck equipped with CCP-WHR demonstrated high adaptability to highway, suburban, and synthetic road conditions. Apart from achieving a 10.0 kW cooling capacity without requiring additional fuel consumption, CCP-WHR achieved a fuel saving of 2.8 L/100 km (6.4 %), additional power generation of 9.1 kW (5.5 %), fuel economy improvement of 8.9 g/kWh (6.3 %), and carbon emission reduction of 73.9 g/km (−6.4 %) under highway and full-load conditions. The dynamic study of the entire vehicle with CCP-WHR has guiding significance for control strategies and engineering prototypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Marrakesh Treaty entered into force in China on May 5, 2022. To fulfill its obligations and guarantee basic education access for visually impaired people, China revised its copyright law and introduced supporting measures for Treaty implementation. This article discusses various issues in designing a legal system for achieving 'intangible accessible environments' for visually impaired people in China and the priorities and possible shortcomings in transforming the Marrakesh Treaty into domestic law. Legislation must carefully avoid using specialized over-protection designs that could exacerbate the marginalization and social isolation of visually impaired people. Furthermore, it is crucial to refine the supporting system for Treaty implementation and strengthen sectoral synergies and international cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the relationships of self-efficacy, coping strategies, and quality of life (QoL) among patients with chronic hepatitis B and to explore whether coping strategies play a mediating role. In this cross-sectional study, 193 patients with chronic hepatitis B from two tertiary hospitals were recruited. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire. The results indicated that physical and mental QoL were positively associated with self-efficacy and negatively associated with resignation coping. Moreover, resignation coping partially mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and physical and mental QoL. Our findings indicated that healthcare providers can enhance self-efficacy with an emphasis on reducing the use of resignation coping to better improve QoL among patients with chronic hepatitis B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moisture or water has the advantages of being green, inexpensive, and moderate. However, it is challenging to endow water-induced shape memory property and self-healing capability to one single polymer because of the conflicting structural requirement of the two types of materials. In this study, this problem is solved through introducing two kinds of supramolecular interactions into semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs). The hydrogen bonds function as water-sensitive switches, making the materials show moisture-induced shape memory effect. The host-guest interactions (β-cyclodextrin-adamantane) serve as both permanent phases and self-healing motifs, enabling further increased chain mobility at the cracks and self-healing function. In addition, these polyvinylpyrrolidone/poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate- co-butyl acrylate) semi-IPNs also show thermosensitive triple-shape memory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major green tea polyphenol compound, plays an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of EGCG on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity in Sarcoma 180 (S180) tumor-bearing mice. Main methods S180 tumor-bearing mice were established by subcutaneous inoculation of S180 cells attached to the axillary region. The extent of myocardial injury was accessed by the amount of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released in serum. Heart tissue was morphologically studied with transmission electron microscopy. Apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔѰm) as well as calcium concentration were measured by flow cytometric analysis. Expression levels of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) were analyzed by Western blot. Key findings Results showed that the combination with EGCG and DOX significantly inhibited tumor growth and enhanced induction of apoptosis compared with DOX alone. Moreover, administration of EGCG could suppress DOX-induced cardiotoxicity as evidenced by alleviating LDH release and apoptosis in cardiomyocyte. EGCG-evoked cardioprotection was in association with the increase of ΔѰm and MnSOD expression. EGCG was also found to attenuate ROS generation and myocardial calcium overload in Sarcoma 180 tumor-bearing mice subjected to DOX. Significance EGCG alleviated DOX-induced cardiotoxicity possibly in part mediated by increasing of MnSOD and Ѱm, reducing myocardial calcium overload and subsequently attenuating the apoptosis and LDH release. Our findings suggest that co-administration of EGCG and DOX have potential as a feasible strategy to mitigate cardiotoxicity of DOX without compromising its chemotherapeutic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic modification provides a means to enhancing disease resistance in animals. Toll-like receptor 4 ( TLR4 ), a member of the TLR family, is critical for the recognition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/endotoxin from Gram-negative bacteria by host immune cells, which initiates cell activation and subsequently triggers a proinflammatory response to the invading pathogens. In this study, the first generation of genetically modified (GM) sheep overexpressing TLR4 was produced by microinjection for better disease resistance. Compared with wild-type (WT) rams, the GM rams have similar growth performance, basic semen quality and spermatozoon ultrastructure. The offspring birth rates after cervical artificial insemination were also similar between GM (90.32%) and WT (92.38%) rams. Overall, the presence and expression of the TLR4 transgene in the genome did not appear to interfere with normal semen production, reproductive traits and the ability of transgene transmission to offspring. The expression levels of TLR4 , tumor necrosis factor and interferon gamma genes in monocyte/macrophages from GM sheep were significantly higher than that from WT sheep at early stages after LPS stimulation. The GM offspring born from the founder transgenic ram inseminated ewes had similar survival rate with WT offspring (88.89% vs 84.86%) at weaning. The TLR4 transgene showed no deleterious effects on growth performance, reproductive traits and offspring survivability of GM rams. Therefore, the GM sheep overexpressing TLR4 provide a powerful experimental model for analyzing function of TLR4 in vivo during infection and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been well observed that a reef crest (ridge) may be present at the reef edge, but so far very few published studies focusing on the effects of such reef-crest on the wave dynamics over fringing reefs. To understand the role of a reef-crest configuration in determining breaking-wave induced setup over the reef flat, a series of experiments were carried out in a wave flume using an idealized fringing reef model with a reef crest. Experimental results were reported for a trapezoidal reef crest with five reef-crest widths under a series of monochromatic waves. Also examined was the reef without a reef crest. Data analysis shows that larger energy dissipation associated with smaller surfzone width around the reef edge occurred with a wider reef crest. The maximum wave-induced setup on the reef flat in the presence of the reef crest was significantly larger than that without, and it also increased with increasing reef-crest width. The reef-crest submergence was found to be a primary parameter controlling the magnitude of wave setup on the reef flat provided that the reef crest was sufficient wide. An alternative semi-analytical 1DH model based on the balance of cross-shore momentum was proposed. The model was validated by present laboratory data as well as three existing 1DH laboratory studies. Comparing with other two representative semi-analytical models in the literature showed that the proposed model was capable of better reproducing the maximum wave-induced setup on the reef flat for a variety of reef profiles with/without a reef crest, different reef-crest water levels, as well as both monochromatic and spectral waves. The model parameter was physically related to the two characteristic lengths in the surf zone and its value was dependent on the fore-reef slope as well as the presence of a reef crest. The 1DH model was also satisfactorily applied to a fringing reef in field conditions where the effects of fore-reef friction and back-reef lagoon were not important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow velocity measurement is important in hydrology. Recently, owing to the popularity of sensors and processors, image-based flow velocity measurement methods have become an important research direction. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is a key example. However, due to the uncertainty of the features, PIV sometimes provides very inaccurate results and always requires customized setups. In this research, we take advantage of the human perception system, that is, the strong abilities related to feature identification and tracking, in order to estimate the surface flow velocity of a river. We developed a method called crowd-based velocimetry (CBV) to incorporate the human perception capacity in the estimation of the flow velocity. CBV includes three main steps: (1) video processing, (2) crowd processing, and (3) statistical processing. We validated CBV by measuring a fast, steady, and uniform river surface flow in an artificial canal. The results show that compared to radar measurements from the center of the flow, CBV measured the surface flow velocity with a deviation ranging between +12.1% and +17.3% from the radar measurement, while PIV resulted in a −1.7% to −24.3% deviation. With rapidly improving mobile devices, CBV allows enormous numbers of people to engage in flow measurement, making CBV more reliable, more efficient, and more economical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the clinical efficacy of Bevacizumab combined with argon green laser in treating fundus macular edema. From May 2009 to April 2013, 78 patients seeking treatment for macular edema in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: i) The experimental group (n=39) and the control group (n=39). Patients in the experimental group were treated with Bevacizumab (Avastin®) combined with argon green laser, and those in the control group were treated exclusively with argon green laser. Therapeutic effects were compared, and postoperative adverse reactions caused by both treatment methods were compared. Our results showed that, after treatment, the macular foveal thickness was reduced noticeably in both groups, while the therapeutic effect of combined treatment was more prominent. Patients in the experimental group gained the best-corrected visual acuity after one month of treatment, while patients in the control group achieved that after three months of treatment. We concluded that the use of Avastin® combined with argon green laser was safe and effective. Visual acuity was improved obviously with minimum adverse reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In search of lanthanide single-molecule magnets, a novel dinuclear dysprosium complex, namely [Dy 2 (L) 2 (DBM) 2 (DMF) 2 ]·3CH 3 OH ( 1 ) (H 2 L = 2-((2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)amino)acetic acid, HDBM = dibenzoylmethane), was synthesized, structurally and magnetically characterized. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis reveals that the key feature of 1 is neutral dinuclear complex, in which two Dy(III) ions with eight-coordinated environment are bridged by two phenoxido oxygen atoms of two o -vanillin Schiff base ligands. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) results revealed that the intact framework of complex 1 stable in methanol solution. Its magnetic susceptibilities to an alternating current revealed that complex 1 exhibits single-molecule magnet behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The gas sensing properties of MnO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x were investigated for the first time. • The introduced MnO 2 contained a large number of oxygen vacancies. • The MnO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x composite exhibited excellent gas sensing performance to hexanal. • The formation of p-p heterojunctions greatly improved the sensing performance. MXene, with unique gas-sensing performance and an ultra-high signal-to-noise ratio, is widely used in low-temperature gas sensing. However, the sensitivity, selectivity, and stability of MXene-based and metal oxide semiconductors (MOSs)/MXene-based gas sensors are still inferior. In the present work, MnO 2 with a large number of oxygen vacancies and high catalytic activity was introduced on the surface and between the layers of Ti 3 C 2 T x -MXene. Due to the existence of more active centers and p-p heterojunctions, the MnO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x composite-based gas sensor responded 10–20 times higher than the pristine Ti 3 C 2 T x -based sensor to different volatile organic compounds at low temperatures. Furthermore, the composite sensor responded to hexanal (lung cancer marker) in a unique and improved way with good reproducibility and stability. New ideas for designing MXene-based sensors for industrial applications were provided by elucidating the gas-sensing mechanism of the MnO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x composite-based gas sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frontispiece: Unlocking Charge Transfer Limitations for Extreme Fast Charging of Li-Ion Batteries Keywords: Charge Transfer; Electrolyte; Fast Charging; Li Plating; Li-Ion Batteries EN Charge Transfer Electrolyte Fast Charging Li Plating Li-Ion Batteries 1 1 1 01/19/23 20230123 NES 230123 B Lithium Ion Batteries b . Fast charging of high-energy Li-ion batteries is achieved by simultaneously reducing the anode and cathode charge transfer energy barriers through electrolyte engineering, as reported by Chong Yan, Qiang Zhang et al. in their Research Article (e202214828). [Extracted from the article]

Fast charging of high-energy Li-ion batteries is achieved by simultaneously reducing the anode and cathode charge transfer energy barriers through electrolyte engineering, as reported by Chong Yan, Qiang Zhang et al. in their Research Article (e202214828). Keywords: Charge Transfer; Electrolyte; Fast Charging; Li Plating; Li-Ion Batteries EN Charge Transfer Electrolyte Fast Charging Li Plating Li-Ion Batteries 1 1 1 01/19/23 20230123 NES 230123 B Lithium Ion Batteries b . Charge Transfer, Electrolyte, Fast Charging, Li Plating, Li-Ion Batteries. [Extracted from the article]

The reef-lagoon-channel system is very typical on the low-lying reef-lined coasts in tropical and subtropical areas. Comparing to the well-studied one-dimensional horizontal (1DH) fringing reefs, little is known about the alongshore wave runup variation and its implication for coastal flooding in such a two-dimensional horizontal (2DH) reef configuration. To better understand the wave processes in an idealized reef-lagoon-channel system, a numerical model is presented in this study, which is based on a set of fully nonlinear Boussinesq equations. Wave breaking is addressed by a shock-capturing scheme and bottom friction is formulated by the Manning frictional law. The adopted model is first validated by a published laboratory dataset in view of wave spectrum, wave height, wave setup, mean current as well as wave runup on the back-reef beach. Subsequently, the effects of hydrodynamic (incident wave height, incident wave period, reef-flat wave level) and reef morphological (fore-reef slope, cross-shore reef-flat width, channel width and frictional coefficient) parameters that are not fully considered by the laboratory experiments are investigated through the numerical simulations. Finally, the model is used to analyze the infragravity (IG) wave resonant modes in the system, and the effects of channel on such modes are also demonstrated. • A Boussinesq model is adopted to investigate the wave processes in a 2DH reef-lagoon-channel system. • Both impacts of hydrodynamic and reef morphological factors on wave transformation and runup are examined. • Two types of resonant systems are excited to amplify the cross-shore infragravity wave motions. • The presence of channel is found to weaken the cross-shore IG wave generation and resonance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Detailed flow measurements along a reef under combined waves and currents are presented. • Offshore/onshore mean flow below wave trough can be found under seaward/shoreward tidal current. • A Reynolds-averaged-Navier-Stokes-equation-based model is validated to analyze the mean flow field and the turbulent kinetic energy. • An existing wave generation module is modified to consider the current effect on waves. Recent field observations have improved our understanding of the role of tidal currents in modulating the wave dynamics over coral reefs. In this study, detailed flow measurements are conducted across an idealized reef profile in a wave-current flume. A typical plunging breaker propagating over both the flooding (shoreward) and the ebbing (seaward) tides are tested, respectively, and compared to the scenario without tidal current (wave only). Laboratory results are reported for the cross-shore distributions of wave height and mean water level as well as the vertical variation of cross-shore mean current below wave trough across a reef. Subsequently, to reproduce the laboratory measurements, the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with a stabilized k-ω SST turbulence model are solved to establish a numerical wave tank. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is used to track the free surface and an existing wave generation module is modified to consider the tidal current effect on waves. The numerical model is first validated by the experimental measurements based on the aforementioned three wave-current scenarios. Subsequently, the mean flow field around the reef surf zone and the cross-shore distribution of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and Reynolds shear stress along the reef profile are examined via numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long waves are amplified as short-wave groups shoal and break over reefs, therefore, having significant impacts on coastal inundation, structure stability, and sediment transport. This study investigated the cross-reef variation of long-wave energy exchange with short-wave group over a reef using fully nonlinear analysis of simulation results by the non-hydrostatic model SWASH. The objective was to elucidate the mechanisms of long-wave transformation under nonlinear short-wave group forcing over a reef, and to assess the consequences of simplifications in linear and weakly nonlinear analyses in this problem. The energy transfer between short and long waves is the work done by radiation stress on long-wave velocity. Unlike conventional linear and weakly nonlinear analysis, the Stokes transport and long-wave modulation of local water depth are included in the fully nonlinear analysis. It was found that only the long-wave energy flux gradient given by the fully nonlinear analysis was balanced by the work done by wave radiation stress over a shallow reef. The fully nonlinear analysis showed that strict mass conservation has to be used to extract long wave velocity properly. In contrast, in linear and weakly nonlinear analysis, the long-wave velocity is extracted from single-point velocity measurements. The fully nonlinear analysis demonstrated that the generation and growth of incoming breakpoint-forced long waves overcame the dissipation of bound long waves in the surf zone, leading to amplification of incoming long-wave energy flux. This phenomenon occurred even when short waves mainly broke over the horizontal reef flat with large submergence, indicating that long-wave evolution is not locally controlled but dependent on wave spatial evolution history. Outgoing breakpoint-forced long waves were dissipated considerably during de-shoaling over the forereef due to substantial energy transfer to incoming short waves, though both of them are free waves. The consistent phase coupling between outgoing long waves and incoming short-wave groups at all frequencies was found to be the primary driving mechanism for the energy transfer. According to the fully nonlinear analysis, the reef-flat submergence may affect the long wave in a complex fashion, i.e. , reducing the submergence may enhance the energy transfer from short waves to long waves or suppress long-wave growth by increasing its frictional dissipation at the same time. • Long-wave energy balance is achieved with fully nonlinear analysis. • Strict mass conservation has to be used to extract long-wave velocity properly. • Long wave amplitude is dependent on short-wave spatial evolution history. • Radiation stress does positive work on incoming long waves in surf zone. • Free outgoing long waves transfer energy to incoming short waves in shoaling zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let F be an algebraically closed field of prime characteristic p > 2 , and n ∈ N + . Let Z ( n ) be the Zassenhaus superalgebra defined over F , which, as the simplest non-restricted simple Lie superalgebra, is the superversion of the Zassenhaus algebra. More precisely, Z ( n ) is the Lie superalgebra of the special super-derivations of the superalgebra Π ( n ) . Here Π ( n ) is the tensor product of the divided power algebra of one variable and the Grassmann superalgebra of one variable. In this paper we study generalized restricted simple modules over the Zassenhaus superalgebra Z ( n ) . Classification of isomorphism classes of generalized restricted simple modules and their dimensions are precisely determined. A sufficient and necessary condition for irreducibility of generalized restricted Kac modules is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variable speed control moment gyros (VSCMGs) cluster with single gimbal have great advantages in performing integrated power/attitude control system. In this paper, the changeable momentum envelop that can satisfy attitude control and energy storage is firstly given. The singularity avoidance characteristic of VSCMGs is firstly analyzed of weighted pseudo-inverse will null motion. A new steering law with constrained momentum envelop is proposed. The new design steering law can reduce the requirement of the flywheel torque and satisfying the requirement of attitude control and energy storage. At last, the simulation result verified that the new steering law can effectively avoided the singularity point and greatly reduced the requirement of flywheel torque. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a semi-analytical method for studying the two-dimensional problem of elastic wave scattering by surface irregularities in a half-space. The new method makes use of the member of a c-completeness family of wave functions to construct the scattering fields, and then applies equal but opposite tractions to those of the foregoing constructed scattering fields on the horizontal surface of the half-space to produce additional scattering fields. These additional scattering fields are a series of Lamb's solutions. Thus the whole scattering field constructed in the series automatically satisfies the Navier equations, the condition of zero traction on the half-space surface, and the radiation boundary conditions at infinity. Using the traction-free conditions along the canyon surface, the coefficients of the series solutions are determined via a least-squares method. For incident P, SV, and Rayleigh waves, the numerical results are presented for the scattering displacements in the vicinity of a semi-circular canyon in the half-space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Zr oxide diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT)-based measurement technique for high-resolution imaging of labile Cr (VI) is introduced in this study. The method is based on the diphenylcarbazide coloration technique for Cr (VI) combined with computer-imaging densitometry, which provides a relation between the accumulated mass of Cr (VI) and the grayscale intensity. The Zr oxide gels show good performance in reflecting the accurate measurement of Cr (VI), independent of the effects of pH, ionic strength, and PO 4 3 − concentration. Settling of the Zr-oxide gel was identified as a simple and effective method to suppress leaching of the claret-colored compound out of the gel. In addition, the optimal volume of added coloration reagent was 125 times that of the binding gel and 30 min was selected as the optimal time for the chromogenic reaction. The relationship between the accumulated Cr (VI) and grayscale intensity was analyzed under the optimized conditions. The Zr oxide DGT technique could also obviously reflect the heterogeneity of sediment. Consequently, Zr oxide DGT-based coloration is certified to be a robust and suitable tool for providing effective and high-resolution information on bioavailable Cr (VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of production of shampoo, the smoothness of the bottle cap is an important part of the quality inspection. At present, the Cap smoothness detect is mainly completed by the human eye, the method has large error and accidental, is not precise enough. In this paper, a method based on image processing to detect the smoothness of bottle cap is proposed. The hardware device is designed and set up to realize the matching of image acquisition and light source. The sliding platform based on parallel slide rail is designed, which can be used to enter and remove samples, and to realize the accurate positioning of the sample. MATLAB and C language programming are used to achieve the image segmentation, enhancement, filtering and other processing of the bottle cap. This system overcomes the problem of eye detection, effectively eliminates the influence of outside interference, and achieves a high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-, pH- and thermal-responsive hydrogels were prepared by introducing dansyl-aggregations and azo-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes as switches. The resulting material showed dual shape memory behavior in response to light, pH or temperature, respectively, and exhibits the triple-shape memory effect in response to light and pH sequentially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of chironomid larvae and hydrodynamics on the bioavailable arsenic (As) in sediments under different conditions was comprehensively investigated through water tank experiments spanning 132 days. The high-resolution technique of revealing diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) with ZrO-Chelex resin was employed in this study; this was done to simultaneously obtain concentrations of labile As and Fe in the profile at millimeter resolution. Bioturbation by larvae may significantly decrease the bioavailable As and Fe concentrations under different hydrodynamic intensities during the first two months of larval burrowing; the greatest difference between the bioavailable As concentration with and without the addition of larvae was seen on the 56th day, with around 49%, 47%, 73% and 67% reduction of As in the profile under static water, 0.3 m s − 1 , 0.5 m s − 1 and 1.0 m s − 1 , respectively. However, these effects were diminished after the 56th day due to the eclosion of the chironomid larvae. The hydrodynamic conditions appeared to not have any significant effect on the labile concentration of As or Fe until after eclosion. The changing distributions of labile As and Fe were consistent with the dissolved oxygen concentrations in the profile under different conditions. Labile As showed the significantly correlation coefficients with labile Fe by a stepwise multiple linear regression under different experimental conditions in this study. We conclude that the decreases in bioavailable As are directly related to conversions between Fe 2 + and Fe 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the flux, anti-fouling and dye separation performance of PES-based membranes, PES mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) blended with ZIF-8@Ti 3 C 2 T x composites were fabricated via a facile one-pot microemulsion strategy. The introduction of hydrophilic components in the microemulsion into the PES matrix enhanced the pore structures and surface polarity of the resulting MMMs, causing them to exhibit high permeation and anti-fouling performance compared to both neat PES and MMMs with ZIF-8. The optimal membrane flux and anti-fouling performance were found to be 280 L·m−2·h−1 and 91 % (bovine serum albumin rejection), respectively, at 3 % microemulsion content. The well-distributed ZIF-8@Ti 3 C 2 T x composites in the MMMs interact with dye molecules, which strengthens the dye retention from high-salinity wastewater. Further, the pore size of the MMMs was positively correlated with the flux but negatively correlated with dye retention. In particular, the M-3 membrane exhibited high flux (140 L·m−2·h−1) and up to 98 % dye rejection in high-salinity wastewater, but its rejection of salt ions was <5 %. In addition, the dye rejection recovery rate of M-3 after each washing exceeded 93 % over 5 fouling/backwashing cycles. These results strongly suggest that MMMs incorporated with ZIF-8@Ti 3 C 2 T x composites have promising application prospects for removing trace dye pollutants from high-salinity wastewater. • ZIF-8@Ti 3 C 2 T x composites were prepared by reverse microemulsion as a nanoreactor. • Ti 3 C 2 T x could improve the dispersion of ZIF-8 in PES MMMs. • Blending with ZIF-8@Ti 3 C 2 T x enhanced the antifouling property of PES MMMs. • PES MMMs incorporating ZIF-8@Ti 3 C 2 T x have high flux in high salinity wastewater. • ZIF-8@Ti 3 C 2 T x /PES MMMs could effectively remove dye from high salinity wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Because there is (t − μ (r)) − υ − 1 ¯ in inequality (7) (see page 3), it is inconvenient to apply numerical formula instantly. In this paper, the following equivalent formula needs to be used to obtain numerical solutions to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the presented control design approach. For υ ∈ (0 , 1) and t = b + n , n ≥ 1 , inequality (7) (see page 3) can also be defined in the following form ∇ b υ ω (t) = 1 Γ (− υ) ∑ j = 1 n Γ (n − j − υ) Γ (n − j + 1) ω (b + j). • Compared with the direct derivation of time in an integer-order time system, this paper utilizes the inequality (10) (see page 3) to perform fractional difference processing on the V (t) function, and iteratively designs the V (t) function step by step, and finally achieves the asymptotic stability of the system. Thus, the back-step recursive approach and fractional discrete-time systems are effectively combined well. • For discrete-time systems, conventional nonlinear continuous-time methods cannot be applied. In this paper, using inequality (10) (see page 3) the backstepping approach can also be applied to fractional discrete-time systems. Finally, through the backstepping method, ∇ b υ V n (t) ≤ − ∑ j = 1 n k j z j 2 (t) ≤ 0 is gained, and Theorem 2.7 is satisfied, so that the system succeeds asymptotic stability. This paper presents a backstepping control for a class of single-input-single-output (SISO) strict-feedback fractional discrete-time systems for the first time. By tracking state variables in error functions, the stability criterion is used to design a controller such that the closed-loop system is stable. Finally, two simulation examples are demonstrated. By using different fractional order parameters, the fractional discrete-time system is stable and the effectiveness of the proposed controller is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Trapa natans husk-derived carbon is a sustainable electrode material for PMFCs. • The power density is 55 mW m−2, which is higher than pure graphite felt electrode. • High surface area and O-containing groups of TNH-GBG enhance the power density. • TNH-based PMFC-SC exhibits high potential for low-cost power generation system. The plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC) is a novel technology that can be used to convert solar energy into electrical energy using microbes in the rhizosphere of plants. However, low power density is one of the major obstacles to the development of PMFCs. In this study, we show that the Trapa natans husk-derived carbon (TNH-GBG) is a potential sustainable electrode material for the Canna indica -based PMFCs. The results of the polarization curve measurements showed that the maximum power density of the PMFC utilizing the TNH-GBG-coated graphite felt as the electrodes could reach 55 mW m−2. This was considerably higher than that of the PMFC with pure graphite felt electrodes (22 mW m−2). The enhanced power density of the TNH-GBG was attributed to its high surface area and high content of oxygen-containing groups on the surface of carbon, which enhanced the hydrophilicity and possibly enhanced the microbial attachment, thereby reducing the activation polarization. Furthermore, when the PMFC (with TNH-GBG-coated graphite felt electrodes) was connected to an external load (1000 Ω), a power density of 20 mW m−2 was maintained for over 10 days, which is also higher than that of the PMFC with the graphite felt electrodes. The PMFC with the TNH-GBG-coated graphite felt electrodes shows a similar performance with the one with commercial activated carbon-coated graphite felt electrodes. However, the price of the TNH-GBG is only one-fifth of the commercially activated carbon. Furthermore, the TNH-based PMFC-supercapacitor system was assembled, and it demonstrated that TNH is a potential low-cost electrode material for sustainable power generation-energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of Spodoptera frugiperda genes toward insecticides is crucial for guiding insecticide use. The regulation of the S. frugiperda genes via long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) under insecticide treatment should be investigated. In this study, 452 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified by analyzing RNA-sequencing data of S. frugiperda under 23 pesticide treatments. We found 59 and 43 differentially expressed lncRNAs that could regulate detoxification-related cytochrome P450 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase genes, respectively. Furthermore, the target genes of differentially expressed lncRNAs were enriched in Pfam, including chitin bind 4 and gene ontology terms such as structural constituent of the cuticle, revealing their potential mechanism of action on the growth inhibition of S. frugiperda larvae. Insecticide-specific expression of lncRNAs highlights the properties and commonalities of different insecticide-induced lncRNA regulatory mechanisms. To conclude, the results of this study provide new insights and perspectives on the use of 23 insecticides via lncRNA regulation of mRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several experiments have shown that delivery of BMP-2 in a delayed fashion from initial surgery may be superior for optimal bone growth. Studies of posterolateral spinal fusion in rabbits have shown that BMP-2 expression physiologically peaks from 4-6 weeks out from surgery. The hypothesis of this experiment was that delayed delivery of ACS/BMP-2 would augment bone growth in a rabbit spine fusion model. By percutaneously delivering ACS/BMP-2 we would be able to deliver osteoinductive material at an optimal time point away from the typical time of surgery application. To determine if controlled delivery of morselized absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) Rh-BMP2 in a delayed manner postsurgery would allow for increased fusion mass in a rabbit spine fusion model. A nicotine-impaired spinal fusion rabbit model. Sixteen male one-year-old rabbits. Histologic, radiologic (radiographic, CT scans) and palpation examinations were performed to determine fusion status and the volume of bone formed. Sixteen male one-year-old rabbits underwent a posterolateral spinal fusion with iliac crest bone graft at L5-L6 while being given nicotine to prevent spinal fusion as previously published. Eight were controls while 8 had morselized RhBMP-2 (4.2mg) injected at the fusion site at 4 weeks postoperatively. At 12 weeks, the rabbits were sacrificed. Histologic, radiologic (radiographic, CT scans) and palpation examinations were performed to determine fusion status and the volume of bone formed. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain were used for histology. There were 4 of 8 rabbits in the control cohort with bilateral fusion and 6 of 8 rabbits in the BMP-DDC that had bilateral fusion based on CT scan analysis. A student's t-test was used to compare the CT scan measured volume of bone created between control (CC) and RhBMP-2 delayed delivery cohorts (BMP-DDC). Seven of 8 rabbits in the BMP-DDC and 5 of 8 rabbits in the CC formed definitive fusion with a positive palpation exam, bridging bone between transverse processes on CT scan and an x-ray showing fusion. Histologic analysis revealed new remodeled bone within the BMP-DDC. There was increased average volume of bone formed within the BMP-DDC vs the CC (22.6±13.1 vs 11.1±3.6 cm^3, p=0.04) Our study shows that injectable morselized ACS/RhBMP-2 can create twice as much bone within a nicotine-impaired rabbit spine fusion model when delivered 4 weeks out from time of surgery. This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the world's second most common cause of cancer-related death. Novel treatments are still urgently needed. S100 calcium-binding protein A4 (S100A4) was demonstrated to be an anticancer therapeutic target. Herein, we found that higher S100A4 expression was associated with a poorer prognosis in publicly available cohorts and a Taiwanese CRC patient cohort. To identify repurposed S100A4 inhibitors, we mined the Connectivity Map (CMap) database for clinical drugs mimicking the S100A4-knockdown gene signature. Ingenol mebutate, derived from the sap of the plant Euphorbia peplus , is approved as a topical treatment for actinic keratosis. The CMap analysis predicted ingenol mebutate as a potent S100A4 inhibitor. Indeed, both messenger RNA and protein levels of S100A4 were attenuated by ingenol mebutate in human CRC cells. In addition, CRC cells with higher S100A4 expressions and/or the wild-type p53 gene were more sensitive to ingenol mebutate, and their migration and invasion were inhibited by ingenol mebutate. Therefore, our results suggest the repurposing of ingenol mebutate for treating CRC by targeting S100A4. • High-S100A4 expression correlates with the poor prognosis in CRC patients. • Ingenol mebutate inhibits S100A4 expression at the transcriptional level. • CRC cells with higher S100A4 expressions and/or the wild-type p53 gene are more sensitive to ingenol mebutate. • Ingenol mebutate inhibits cell migration and invasion in S100A4 high-expressing CRC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective study analyzed the clinical characteristics of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) patients to explore the predictors of poor prognosis. According to the modified Rankin scale score at the last follow-up, the functional prognosis of the patients was reflected. And the prognosis of the patients was comprehensively evaluated by the functional prognosis and the relapse of the patients. The results showed that disturbance of consciousness and delayed first-line immunotherapy were independent risk factors for the poor functional prognosis of AE. In addition, patients with psychiatric symptoms, should be alert for relapse. [Display omitted] • AE mainly had cognitive impairment, psychiatric symptoms and symptomatic epilepsy. • Disturbance of consciousness is a risk factor for poor functional prognosis. • Starting immunotherapy early can improve the functional prognosis of patients. • AE patients, with psychiatric symptoms, should be alert for relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let F be an algebraically closed field of positive characteristic p > 3 , and A the divided power algebra in one indeterminate, which, as a vector space, coincides with the truncated polynomial ring of F [ T ] by T p n . Let g be the special derivation algebra over A which is a simple Lie algebra, and additionally non-restricted as long as n > 1 . Let N be the nilpotent cone of g , and G = Aut ( g ) , the automorphism group of g . In contrast with only finitely many nilpotent orbits in a classical simple Lie algebra, there are infinitely many nilpotent orbits in g . In this paper, we parameterize all nilpotent orbits, and obtain their dimensions. Furthermore, the nilpotent cone N is proven to be reducible and not normal. There are two irreducible components in N . The dimension of N is determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the impacting filter-based receiver is able to transform phase modulation into amplitude peak, a simple threshold decision can detect the Extend-Binary Phase Shift Keying (EBPSK) modulated ranging signal in noise environment. In this paper, an analysis of the EBPSK-MODEM system output gives the probability density function for EBPSK modulated signals plus noise. The equation of detection probability (pd) for fluctuating and non-fluctuating targets has been deduced. Also, a comparison of thepdfor the EBPSK-MODEM system and pulse radar receiver is made, and some results are plotted. Moreover, the probability curves of such system with several modulation parameters are analysed. When modulation parameter is not smaller than 6, the detection performance of EBPSK-MODEM system is more excellent than traditional radar system. In addition to theoretical considerations, computer simulations are provided for illustrating the performance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Goal: Thermography-based infection screening at international airports plays an important role in the prevention of pandemics. However, studies show that thermography suffers from low sensitivity and specificity. To achieve higher screening accuracy, we developed a screening system based on the acquisition of multiple vital-signs. This multimodal approach increases accuracy, but introduces the need for sophisticated classification methods. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the multimodal approach to infection screening from a machine learning perspective. Methods: We conduct an empirical study applying six classification algorithms to measurements from the multimodal screening system and comparing their performance among each other, as well as to the performance of thermography. In addition, we provide an information theoretic view on the use of multiple vital-signs for infection screening. The classification methods are tested using the same clinical data, which has been analyzed in our previous study using linear discriminant analysis. A total of 92 subjects were recruited for influenza screening using the system, consisting of 57 inpatients diagnosed to have seasonal influenza and 35 healthy controls. Results: Our study revealed that the multimodal screening system reduces the misclassification rate by more than 50% compared to thermography. At the same time, none of the multimodal classifiers needed more than 6 ms for classification, which is negligible for practical purposes. Conclusion: Among the tested classifiers k-nearest neighbors, support vector machine and quadratic discriminant analysis achieved the highest cross-validated sensitivity score of 93%. Significance: Multimodal infection screening might be able to address the shortcomings of thermography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical discourse analysis (CDA) in conjunction with a corpus-driven analytical methodology has evolved into a powerful qualitative and quantitative tool for deconstructing and studying political discourse. This study utilizes a corpus-driven CDA approach to examine the dynamics of power distance and the ideological stance in the context of Greater China, as conveyed in the 2013 Report on the Work of the Government of Mainland China and the Policy Address in Hong Kong. Concordancing software was used to generate frequency lists, co-selection patterns, and concgrams for detailed analysis. In particular, study examines differences in usage of the first-person plural pronoun we collocated with modal verbs and related lexical items. Concgrams in discourse analysis offer insights into the discursive practice of political actors in this unique political discourse genre. The findings show that the distribution and utilization of first-person plural pronoun we, and its interplay with other modal verbs and lexical items, comprising a specific "concgram," have provided textual and intertextual evidence for the analytical results of conventional critical discourse analysis. The discussions support that a methodological synergy between corpus linguistics and critical discourse analysis can serve as a powerful tool to deconstruct and analyze political discourses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excavation of reef-flat sand and aggregate for engineering projects is a common practice on atoll islands, with attendant coastal management and hazard mitigation issues. To assess the impact of reef-flat excavation pits on wave transformation, a numerical study is carried out based on one-dimensional weakly dispersive, highly nonlinear Boussinesq equations. Model simulations are compared to field observations made at Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands (Ford et al., 2013a), at a 75-m-wide fringing reef flat with a 17-m-wide, 4-m-deep excavation pit and at an adjacent unmodified reef flat. With a calibrated empirical breaking model and uniform friction coefficient, the numerical model is shown to satisfactorily reproduce the observed sea and swell (SS) and infragravity (IG) frequency band wave heights for a moderate amplitude wave event. By removing the lateral morphological differences of the field experiment, the model shows that an excavation pit reduces/increases shoreline IG/SS wave heights compared to numerical tests without the pit, in qualitative agreement with Ford et al. (2013a). An EOF analysis demonstrates that the reduction in IG wave heights is associated with modifications of the ¼ and ¾ wavelength IG standing modes across the reef caused by the pit. Model tests are used to evaluate the effects of cross-reef pit location and width on wave transformation. Shoreline wave heights are least affected by a pit located near the reef crest, and both SS and IG wave heights increase as the pit location moves shoreward. Shoreline wave heights are an increasing function of pit width as the increase in SS wave height exceeds the decrease in IG wave height produced by the pit. The effects of incident wave height and spectral bandwidth are also examined for the reef with and without pit. It is found that both shoreline SS and IG wave heights increase with the increasing incident wave height for both profiles. The numerical model results also demonstrate that the shoreline response is sensitive to the bandwidth of the incident wave spectrum, and larger IG shoreline wave heights are excited for narrower spectral bandwidths until wave reflection limits the forcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a novel automatic pipeline to build personalized parametric models of dynamic people using a single RGB camera. Compared to previous approaches that use monocular RGB images, our system can model a 3D human body automatically and incrementally, taking advantage of human motion. Based on coarse 2D and 3D poses estimated from image sequences, we first perform a kinematic classification of human body parts to refine the poses and obtain reconstructed body parts. Next, a personalized parametric human model is generated by driving a general template to fit the body parts and calculating the non-rigid deformation. Experimental results show that our shape estimation method achieves comparable accuracy with reconstructed models using depth cameras, yet requires neither user interaction nor any dedicated devices, leading to the feasibility of using this method on widely available smart phones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise evaluation of arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) bioavailability in sediment is crucial to controlling As and Hg contamination, but traditional ex situ measurements hamper comprehensive analysis of labile As and Hg in sediment. In this study, we characterized in situ labile As and Hg in sediment of Lake Hongze using the zirconium (Zr) oxide diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique and 3-mercaptopropyl functionalized silica gel DGT, respectively. The concentrations of DGT-labile As and Hg in the sediment profiles were found to exhibit considerable variation, ranging from 0.15 to 4.15 μg L − 1 for As and from 0.04 to 1.35 μg L − 1 for Hg. As and Hg flux values, calculated based on the concentration gradients measured from the DGT profiles for both the overlying water and sediment close to the sediment–water interface, were used to determine the contamination status of As and Hg. Flux values of As and Hg were between − 0.066 and 0.067 ng cm − 2 d − 1 and between − 0.0187 and 0.0181 ng cm − 2 d − 1 , respectively. The GNU's Not Unix R (GNU R) programming language was used to identify outliers of As and Hg at various depths at the sampling sites. The results indicate that the sites with the most outliers were all located in the regions that were seriously affected by contaminants from the Huai River. The DGT-labile As and Hg concentrations in the 0–30 mm layer were found to be significantly correlated with concentrations of labile As and Hg, total dissolved As and Hg, and total As and Hg in the overlying water, as indicated by ex situ measurements. Results show that DGT is a reliable and high-resolution technique that can be used for in situ monitoring of the labile fractions of As and Hg in sediment in fresh water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aimed at the problem of detecting maneuvering targets in the Gaussian and sea clutter environments and based on the established motion state model, this paper proposed a new scheme that uses a joint radar-communication (JRC) system with Kalman filter to accurately detect the target with the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) theory and a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) based threshold. Also, the theoretical threshold and probability function of GLRT target detection based on CFAR were given. Moreover, target detection probability of the new JRC system in Weibull and K distribution clutter is deduced. In addition to theoretical considerations, simulations and measurement results of the new JRC systems demonstrate excellent detection performance for maneuvering targets in the Weibull and K distribution channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive studies have been carried out to study the performance of mangrove forests in wave height reduction. In this study, the reduction of the inundation and run-up of leading tsunami waves by mangrove forests was investigated through a series of laboratory experiments conducted in a long wave tank. The inundation and run-up were measured using a high speed CCD camera. Solitary waves were used to model the leading tsunami waves. Five vegetation models representing three forest densities and two tree distributions were examined on an impermeable sloping beach, and they were compared with the non-vegetated slope in view of wave reflection, transmission, and run-up. Results show that both incident wave height and run-up could be reduced by up to 50% when the vegetation was present on the slope. Dense vegetation reduced the wave transmission because of the increased wave reflection and energy dissipation into turbulence in vegetation. Normalized wave run-up on the beach decreased with the increase of both normalized incident wave height and forest density. Effect of forest density on the wave run-up on the sloping beach was further examined, and an empirical formula with the density incorporated was proposed. The study also highlighted the importance of tree distribution to wave interaction with vegetation on the slope when the forest density was unaltered, and run-up reduction difference between tandem and staggered arrangements of the trees could reach up to 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jiang, C.; Yao, Y.; Deng, Y., and Deng, B., 2015. Numerical investigation of solitary wave interaction with a row of vertical slotted piles. This study numerically investigated tsunami-like solitary waves propagating over a row of vertical, slotted, cylindrical piles. Existing studies using depth-integrated models, such as shallow-water equations, could not adequately resolve the wave dynamics over water depth. An alternative three-dimensional, numerical model, based on OpenFOAM® software, was developed for this study. The Navier-Stokes equations for two-phase, incompressible flow, combined with methods of large eddy simulation (LES) for turbulence closure and volume of fluid (VOF) for tracking the free surface, were solved. Laboratory experiments were performed on the measurements of flow near the piles and the dynamic pressures on the pile surface. The model was then validated with the laboratory data as well as data in the literature, and good agreements were found for wave, flow, and dynamic pressure near the slotted piles. Finally, a set of numerical experiments was conducted to examine the evolutionary behaviors of wave run-up, vortex generation, and the vertical structure of dynamic pressure around the row of slotted piles and around a single pile. Total force between the row of slotted piles and a single pile was compared and discussed in the light of the Morison equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify the individually optimized thermal annealing conditions for reducing the contact resistivity between highly Ga-doped ZnO (GaZnO) and doped-GaN and for improving the electrical and optical properties of GaZnO, the results of the one-step and two-step growth/annealing processes of GaZnO at various growth and thermal annealing temperatures are compared. The one-step (two-step) process corresponds to the condition of thermal annealing for the whole GaZnO layer (only for a 10-nm GaZnO layer of the first-step growth). The two-step process always results in lower contact resistivity on either p-GaN or n-GaN at any annealing temperature. Lateral and vertical light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with GaZnO layers on the top are fabricated to show that the LED samples with the two-step process have the lower device resistance levels, higher emission efficiencies, and weaker efficiency droop effects, when compared with those with the one-step process. In the lateral LED sample with the two-step process, the combination of the effective atomic interdiffusion at the GaZnO/p-GaN junction under the optimized annealing condition and the preservation of the superior electrical property in the major GaZnO layer without annealing leads to its better performance, when compared with that of the lateral LED sample with the one-step process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]