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Uphill movement is considered an important rehabilitation training activity, with the estimation of its motion intentions based on human surface electromyography (sEMG) signals proving advantageous for enhancing the effectiveness of rehabilitation training. In this study, we propose a novel uphill continuous rehabilitation motion estimation (UCRME) method called URENet to build a mapping model from sEMG of human to multi-joint intentions. First, we introduce a data-driven model and enhance its performance with a new feature extraction set. We evaluated the effectiveness of URENet through walking experiment with six subjects at random slopes. Second, our results indicate that URENet outperforms other methods of sequence prediction in terms of UCRME (p < 0. 001). The performance of the proposed method is compared with the performance of LSTM, ELM and GRU. Different feature sets were also compared. The results show that the proposed URENet method has better performance than the comparison scheme for UCRME, which achieved the minimum normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE) ± standard error of the mean (SEM) (°) of 0. 077 ± 0. 011 , 0. 076 ± 0. 012 , 0. 127 ± 0. 016 for the hip joint motion estimation and 0. 065 ± 0. 01 , 0. 081 ± 0. 01 , 0. 128 ± 0. 008 for the knee joint motion estimation at slopes 7 ° , 12 ° , 17 °. Compared with the comparative schemes, the average reduction rate of multi-joint estimation for the URENet method in the UCRME reached 28.31%. In summary, this study underscores the potential for heightened intention recognition in UCRME through the application of accurate and stable continuous motion estimation. • A novel uphill continuous rehabilitation motion estimation method is proposed. • Accurately establishing the mapping between sEMG and UCRME. • The potential of the proposed method for accurate estimation in UCRME is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the environmental impact of cement production and carbon emissions, the use of supplementary cementitious materials to replace part of the clinker and carbonation curing are two of the most effective strategies for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the cement and concrete industry. This study mainly explores the effects of calcined clay on cement-based materials under different curing conditions (normal curing and carbonation curing), as well as the synergistic effect of calcined clay and carbide slag under different curing conditions. The results demonstrate that: (1) Calcined clays can undergo pozzolanic reactions with hydration products such as Ca(OH) 2. Additionally, the acceleration of the carbonation rate by calcined clay is comparable to that of quartz powder, yet the strength during the later stages of carbonation is slightly higher than that of the sample with added quartz, possibly due to the generation of more gel. (2) The addition of quartz helps to enhance the rate of carbonation. However, when cement is replaced by quartz and burnt clay at the same time (the dilution effect is dominant and the diffusion of CO 2 is fast), it will cause premature carbonation of the samples, resulting in the later carbonation strength being lower than the normal cured strength. (3) The dilution effect caused by the large dosage replacement of calcined clay and calcium carbide slag leads to a reduction in strength. However, the higher Ca(OH) 2 content in carbide slag and its synergistic effect with calcined clay can mitigate some of the negative effects of dilution. • Hydration and carbonation coupling mechanisms in calcium carbide slag-calcined clay-cement composites were studied. • The pozzolanic reaction of calcined clay competes with carbonation, but the carbonation and decalcification of the C-(A)-S-H gel formed by the pozzolanic reaction contribute to strength growth. • Hydration and carbonation coupling in calcium carbide slag and calcined clay compensates for dilution and Ca(OH) 2 depletion by the pozzolanic reaction. • Adding calcined clay increases the Al-phase content, forming more monocarboaluminate and monosulfoaluminate. • C-(A)-S-H and ettringite decalcify in a CO 2 -rich environment, producing lower Ca/Si ratios of gels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of mixed cultures of Saccharomyces and non -Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains to improve the quality and aroma complexity of wines has garnered considerable attention as of late. In this study, three non -S. cerevisiae strains exhibiting a strong β-glucosidase production capacity were screened from the yeasts preserved in the laboratory. Subsequently, the physiological characteristics of the strains were evaluated through growth curve analysis as well as alcohol and osmotic pressure tolerance experiments. Finally, the non -S. cerevisiae strain S14 (Torulaspora delbrueckii) was selected and applied to ferment Yuan'an yellow tea beer combined with S. cerevisiae S189. The results showed that the optimal fermentation performance was achieved when S14 was inoculated first, followed by the addition of S189 after 12 h of fermentation, with an S14:S189 ratio of 10:1. Mixed fermentation resulted in a significant increase in the concentration of volatile flavor compounds in beer, particularly terpenes, alcohols, esters, and acids, which exhibited levels of 520.98 μg/L, 5534.28 μg/L, and 1631.80 μg/L, respectively; these values were 299.25%, 32.45%, and 56.57% higher compared to purebred fermentation. Furthermore, mixed fermentation demonstrated an improvement in the antioxidant activity of beer, as evidenced by the increase in the comprehensive evaluation score (CES) from 1.86 to 2.89. Overall, these findings indicated the notable advantage of non -S. cerevisiae strain S14 in fermenting Yuan'an yellow tea beer. • Non -S. cerevisiae strain was applied to ferment the beer with Yuan'an yellow tea. • The strain S14 (T. delbrueckii) showed a strong ability to produce β-glucosidase. • Mixed brewing increased the content of flavor compounds in Yuan'an yellow tea beer. • Mixed fermentation improved the antioxidant activities of Yuan'an yellow tea beer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of malt is a crucial factor influencing malt flavor. In this study, the volatile compounds of barley malt from four different producing areas were comprehensively characterized by gas chromatography electronic nose (GC-E-Nose), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and gas chromatography ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). GC-E-Nose analysis revealed significant differences in volatile flavor compounds among malt samples from different origins. GC-MS identified 71 volatile compounds, with aldehydes being the most abundant in all four samples. GC-IMS identified 50 volatile compounds, and obtained the most abundant aldehydes included butyraldehyde, 3-methyl-2-butyraldehyde. etc not detected by GC-MS. The combination of GC-MS data with odor activity value (OAV) analysis identified 24 flavor compounds as key aroma compounds (OAV ≥1). Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model combined with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to screen out seven volatile markers: 1-penten-3-ol, decanal, ethyl butyrate, ethyl acetate, ethyl isovalerate, isoamyl acetate, and dimethyl sulfide. The integration of these techniques provided a better characterization of flavor compounds and their differences in malt from different origins. The results provided theoretical guidance for the factory to improve malt flavor quality. • The volatile compounds of barley malt from different origins were studied. • A total of 97 volatile compounds were identified by GC-MS and GC-IMS. • 24 volatiles with OAV ≥1 were identified in different origins of barley malts. • Seven volatile biomarkers were identified based on VIP ＞ 1.4 and p ＜ 0.05. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multispecies microbial mixed fermentation is crucial for the formation of flavors in soy sauce. The present study applied metagenomic strategies to uncover the metabolic network for flavors formation in the non-Cantonese soy sauce in China. Twenty-nine major flavor compounds were identified by GC-MS and HPLC, representing the typical flavor compounds of the non-Cantonese soy sauce, including 3 organic acids, 8 amino acids, and 18 volatile compounds. Metagenomic sequencing and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed the specific functional microbiome, which constituted seven major flavor compounds associated genera, namely Leuconostoc , Staphylococcus , Tetragenococcus , Weissella , Aspergillus , Wickerhamycesa , and Zygosaccharomyces. Aspergillus was primarily responsible for the degradation of raw materials in the early fermentation stage, including the degradation of cellulose and lecithin. It also played an irreplaceable role in the formation of 1-octene-3-ol. Weissella , Staphylococcus, and Leuconostoc played essential metabolic roles in the whole fermentation process, particularly in the metabolism of amino acids and the formation of alcohols. Staphylococcus also participated in the degradation of nitrite/nitrate. Tetragenococcus became the dominant bacteria with the highest relative abundance in the late fermentation stage, which was mainly responsible for the synthesis of acetic acid, lactic acid, and other acids. Additionally, Wickerhamycesa and Zygosaccharomyces also contributed to the formation of alcohols, acids, and aldehydes during the late fermentation stage. This study provides a deeper understanding of the diverse roles in the flavor formation of microorganisms during the traditional condiment soy sauce fermentation process. [Display omitted] • The flavor development metabolic network in soy sauce microbiota was reconstructed. • The enzymes and genera involved in the formation of major flavors were annotated. • The distribution discrepancy of microbes in metabolic pathways was revealed. • Seven genera were found to be closely associated with soy sauce flavor formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately estimating the state-of-charge (SOC) of lithium-ion batteries under complicated temperature conditions is crucial in all-climate battery management systems. This paper proposes a model-based SOC estimation method for series-connected battery pack with time-varying cell temperature. Systematic battery experiments are conducted to investigate the influences of changing temperature on both cell characteristics and cell-to-cell inconsistencies. A normalized open-circuit voltage (OCV) model is developed and applied in cell Thevenin model to describe the temperature-dependent OCV-SOC characteristic. The battery pack SOC is analyzed considering the effect of passive balance control. Then, a lumped parameter battery pack model is established by connecting cell models in series. To reduce computational complexity, a dual time-scale parameter identification framework is proposed which is supported by an online filtering process of selecting variable reference cell (VRC). An adaptive co-estimator is presented to update pack parameters in dual time-scale using an optimized recursive least squares algorithm, and to estimate the battery pack SOC using an extended Kalman filter. Experimental verifications are conducted under time-varying environmental temperature ranging from −40 °C to 40 °C. Results indicate the established model can well describe the dynamic behavior of battery pack, and the proposed method can estimate the battery pack SOC with considerably high precision. • Investigate cell-to-cell inconsistencies experimentally at different temperatures. • Establish a temperature-dependent normalized OCV model. • Select VRC online and develop a dual time-scale identification framework. • Propose a VFFRLS-EKF based co-estimator considering fast-varying cell temperature. • Prove the accuracy and robustness of proposed method experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible perovskite solar cells are new energy devices with a promising future due to their numerous advantages, such as high defect tolerance, strong solar absorption and low non-radiative carrier recombination rates. However, their operational stability is still an ongoing challenge during upgrading, and their inferior moisture corrosion resistance is still a major issue for better performances. Thin-film encapsulation could effectively enhance the operational stability of perovskite solar cells but obtaining encapsulation films with excellent barrier performance always come at the expense of poor flexibility. Therefore, the development of novel encapsulation materials with both barrier performance and flexibility is urgent for the compatibility of flexible applications. In this work, "Plasma-Enhanced Molecular Layer Deposition" was used for the first time to prepare a highly cross-linked, densified flexible encapsulation material AlOC at 40 ℃ to break through the traditional technology. The resulting encapsulation material can be applied to flexible perovskite solar cells as a barrier film without any damage. The as-obtained encapsulation film exhibited a water vapor transmittance rate of 1.44 × 10−5 g m−2 day−1 and preserved 95 % of its initial barrier performance after 10,000 bends with a 3 mm bend radius. Such performance was the best among the reported thin-film encapsulation layers of flexible perovskite solar cells. [Display omitted] • The first proposal of plasma-enhanced molecular layer deposition, and its application in flexible PSCs encapsulation. • First discovery of hydroxylation reaction of O plasma in molecular layer deposition. • First study on the densification and crosslinking by O plasma. • A water vapor transmittance rate of 1.44 × 10−5 g m−2 day−1 and a bending radius limit of less than 3 mm were obtained. • The encapsulated devices maintained 95 % of the initial efficiency after 2400 h under 30 °C and 80 % relative humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregate question answering essentially returns answers for given questions by obtaining query graphs with unique dependencies between values and corresponding objects. Word order dependency , as the key to uniquely identify dependency of the query graph, reflects the dependencies between the words in the question. However, due to the semantic gap caused by the expression difference between questions encoded with word vectors and query graphs represented with logical formal elements, it is not trivial to match the correct query graph for the question. Most existing approaches design more expressive query graphs for complex questions and rank them just by directly calculating their similarities, ignoring the semantic gap between them. In this paper, we propose a novel Structure-sensitive Semantic Matching(SSM) approach that learns aligned representations of dependencies in questions and query graphs to eliminate their gap. First, we propose a cross-structure matching module to bridge the gap between two modalities(i.e., textual question and query graph). Then, we propose an entropy-based gated AQG filter to remove the structural noise caused by the uncertainty of dependencies. Finally, we present a two-channel query graph representation that fuses the semantics of abstract structure and grounding content of the query graph explicitly. Experimental results show that SSM could learn aligned representations of questions and query graphs to eliminate the gaps between their dependencies, and improves up to 12% (F1 score) on aggregation questions of two benchmark datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Due to PPCI engine combustion state is sensitive, MPC has better control effect. • Real-time identification of combustion status without cylinder pressure sensor. • Realize control-oriented emission prediction through fuel injection parameters. • Emission model can realize a fast and accurate prediction of NOx and PM emissions. Model predictive control (MPC) is an effective technology used to improve the control accuracy of low temperature combustion engines. The main purpose of this study is to establish a control-oriented emission prediction model based on fuel injection parameters, which provides the basis for the development of MPC controller for PPCI engines. In this study, the combustion model and backpropagation (BP) neural network emission prediction model of a partially premixed compression ignition (PPCI) diesel engine were established, through which the real-time combustion and emissions can be realized by inputting two-stage fuel injection parameters. The Wiebe function linearization method was proposed for the combustion model to achieve high-precision reconstruction of combustion at different fuel injection parameters. The nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions were predicted using the combustion characteristics calculated by the combustion model. The results show that the established combustion model can accurately reconstruct the heat release rate and cylinder pressure of PPCI combustion, and the maximum error between the calculated and test values of the combustion parameters is less than 9%. The three-layer BP neural network can achieve high-precision predictions of NOx and PM emissions, with a prediction accuracy greater than 95%. Under the 300th continuous transient seconds, the cumulative prediction error of NOx was 2%, and the cumulative prediction error of PM was 4.9%, indicating high accuracy. This provides the basis for developing MPC controllers for PPCI engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The interactions between kidney and thyroid functions have been known for many years, but how the thyroid affects the kidney function is largely unknown. Here we analyzed the role of T3 on the tubular epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is recognized to play pivotal roles in the process of renal fibrosis. T3 was found to significantly inhibit the TGFβ1 induced EMT in human proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2. Meanwhile, T3 induced the expression of miR34a. Molecularly, the T3 receptor could directly bind the T3R recognition motif at the −1505 to −1526bp and −604 to −609bp regions in the miR34a promoter and transcriptionally activate the expression of miR34a upon T3 treatment. Inhibition of the miR34a by miR34a knockdown nearly blocked the effects of T3 on EMT. Taken together, our study here revealed that thyroid hormone T3 could inhibit TGFβ1 induced renal tubular epithelial to mesenchymal transition by increasing miR34a expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fast and accurate fault diagnosis is of great significance for the safe operation of lithium-ion batteries. The fault diagnosis method based on correlation coefficients solves the problem of the heavy calculation burden of the model-based diagnostic method. However, the inconsistencies that affect the accuracy and speed of diagnosis are ignored in the existing studies on correlation-based fault diagnosis. In this study, the influence of inconsistencies in resistance and state of charge on the correlation coefficients was considered to improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis. Voltage sensor faults, connection faults, and short-circuit faults were detected and isolated according to the correlation coefficients and variation in the voltage difference. The cells were arranged in ascending order of the initial voltages, and every three cells were divided into a group. Only two correlation coefficients were calculated for each group. The accuracy and speed of diagnosis were improved by considering the inconsistencies. By grouping cells and introducing a new fault index, which is the variation in the voltage difference, the calculation burden was reduced by more than 50%. The diagnostic method was validated through experiments on a series-connected battery pack. [Display omitted] • A correlation based multi-fault diagnostic method is proposed for battery packs. • Diagnostic accuracy and speed are improved by considering inconsistencies. • Calculation burden is reduced by more than 50%. • The effectiveness of the diagnosis method is verified by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serious performance loss of lithium-ion batteries at subzero temperatures is the major obstacle to promoting battery system in cold regions. This paper proposes a novel heating strategy to heat battery from extremely cold temperatures based on a battery-powered external heating structure. The strategy contains two stages: preheating process for battery cold-start, and temperature holding process for battery temperature control after preheating. The strategy switches from the preheating to the temperature holding according to the power capability of battery pack. Both the electrical and thermal behaviors of battery pack are described based on equivalent circuit models, and the state-of-charge and state-of-power of battery pack are co-estimated online to support the implementation of the strategy. Systematic battery-in-the-loop tests are conducted for a series-connected battery pack to verify the effectiveness of the strategy at – 40 °C. Experimental results show that the battery pack can not only be heated from −41.4 °C to −14.0 °C in 371 s by consuming 6.1% of nominal capacity without being over-discharged, but also output 64.81% and 66.59% of nominal energy for loading the modified dynamic stress test cycles and the modified federal urban driving schedule cycles respectively after preheating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degraded performance of lithium-ion batteries at low temperatures is a key obstacle to the development of battery energy storage system applied in extremely cold environment. Therefore, this paper proposes a heating method based on model prediction to support the low-temperature operation of battery pack without additional power sources. Battery pack model is developed based on Thevenin equivalent circuit model. A co-estimator is established to update model parameters and state-of-charge online using adaptive recursive least squares and extended Kalman filter. The permissible discharging current of pack is predicted based on multiple constraints to prevent over-discharge. Then, the battery-powered heating structure, control circuit, and heating strategy are designed. The strategy contains a preheating process for cold-start and a holding process for stabilizing cell temperature. The method is verified experimentally through systematic battery-in-the-loop tests at the environmental temperature of – 40 °C. Results show that the method can uniformly preheat all in-pack cells from − 40 °C to − 20 °C in 330 s consuming 4.7% of nominal capacity. In holding process, it is energy-efficient to raise cell temperature continuously and then maintain at 5 °C, which makes 68.3% of nominal capacity available when loading a modified federal urban driving schedule. • Propose a battery-powered heating method for the battery pack working at – 40 °C. • Utilize the limited battery power to heat battery pack efficiently. • Develop model-based estimation and prediction to evaluate battery power capability. • Design the heating structure, control circuit, and strategy for heating control. • Conduct battery-in-the-loop tests for experimental verification and investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-carriers (NCs) provide drugs with protective and oriented strategies. Despite their success in parenteral administration, NCs still need to be optimized to meet the more serious obstacles encountered in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The main defense mechanisms include renewing mucus, epithelial obstacles and digestion by GIT segments. These hurdles pose challenges even before NCs target molecules or proteins, which has often led to unsatisfactory delivery efficiency. Therefore, a critical focus is the exemption from negative effects of GIT. A series of adapted NCs have been designed based on surface strategies to form an expected distribution and increase gastrointestinal utilization. In this paper, we review the strategies and efforts of NCs to adapt to gastrointestinal defense components, including the mucus, epithelium and gastrointestinal segments; the related gastrointestinal mechanisms and functions are also summarized synchronously. Last, we discuss the delivery challenges in terms of physiopathological GIT and surface properties of the NCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vladimiriae Radix (VR) is the dry root of Vladimiria souliei (Franch.) Ling or Vladimiria souliei (Franch.) Ling var. cinerea Ling. Costunolide (CO) and dehydrocostus lactone (DE) are the two most effective active ingredients of VR. Raw Vladimiriae radix (rVR) and processed Vladimiriae radix (pVR) are the two most common forms. They have been used for hundreds of years to treat gastritis, gastric ulcer and gastrointestinal pain, but their protective effects on gastric mucosa have been widely considered to be different, and the mechanism is not clear.Purpose: A comparative study of in vivo process and efficacy difference of raw and processed Vladimiriae Radix was carried out to explore the treatment mechanism and to provide reference for the rationality of clinical usage.Methods: In this study, multi-batch rVR and pVR were used to establish the characteristic chromatograms through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to control the qualities of their extracts. A rapid and accurate ultra-high performance liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) method was established and verified, and the concentrations of CO and DE in plasma of rats after oral administration were determined to analyze the pharmacokinetics. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosa injury (AGMI) in rats were quantitatively analyzed by ELISA and Westernblot methods.Results: Characteristic chromatograms study showed that there were 9 common characteristic peaks between the chromatograms of rVR and pVR, and there was a high level (> 0.90) of the similarity between batches (only one batch less than 0.90). The increased levels of Tmax, T1/2 and MRT were found in rats treated with the pVR. Animal model studies indicated that both the two forms of VR could relieve AGMI, but pVR could more effectively reduce the content of ethanol in blood and lower the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, NO, iNOS and MDA, and increase the level of SOD. Results of Westernblot proved that pVR also could inhibit the expression of NF-κB p65, IκBα and up-regulate the expression of HO-1 and NRF2 more operatively to protect gastric mucosa through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant stress mechanisms.Conclusion: Compared with rVR, pVR has an accelerated absorption in vivo and its effect time was prolonged, and the observed improvement of anti-AGMI effect was achieved through anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fault diagnosis is very critical for battery management systems. This paper proposes a fault diagnosis method for voltage sensor and current sensor in Lithium-ion battery pack system using hybrid system modeling and unscented particle filter. Stochastic hybrid automata model the battery pack system as a hybrid system to process simultaneously the continuous variables including state of charge and voltages, and discrete dynamics including faulty modes and normal modes. The unscented particle filter algorithm, which is responsible for the computation of the hybrid system states or modes, is also used to estimate both discrete states and continuous states and output diagnosis results. By using a serial-parallel configuration battery pack, the experimental validation is conducted in different fault scenarios of voltage sensor and current sensor. The results indicate that the method proposed in this paper not only has effective state tracking ability but also achieves accurate diagnosis to the Lithium-ion battery system sensor faults. • Sensor fault diagnosis method is proposed using hybrid system and unscented particle filter for battery system. • Stochastic hybrid automata are set up for battery system. • Unscented particle filter is used for mode estimation in hybrid system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Very few studies have focused on the complication of rod fracture after posterior long construct fusion in adults with spinal deformity. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of this complication.Methods: The study reviewed 213 adult patients with spinal deformity treated by long construct fusion between January 2009 and January 2017. Ten patients (4.6%) with rod fracture were included in the case study group. For each case of rod fracture, we selected two age-matched and gender-matched controls. Independent two-sample t test and Chi-square test were used to compare the differences between variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors of rod fracture.Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between the groups, in terms of additional bone grafts volume (P = 0.015), osteotomy (P = 0.017), skipped screw in sagittal apex region (P = 0.012), TK change (P = 0.023), and preoperative TLK (P = 0.036). However, there were no differences in terms of age (P = 0.933), follow-up time (P = 0.513), gender distribution (P = 0.650), fusion segments (P = 0.085), the number of screws (P = 0.131), density of screws (P = 0.088), preoperative MC (P = 0.120), postoperative MC (P = 0.430), MC change (P = 0.126), preoperative TK (P = 0.590), postoperative TLK (P = 0.074), TLK change (P = 0.064), preoperative LL (P = 0.084), postoperative LL (P = 0.065), and LL change (P = 0.914). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that osteotomy (P = 0.023) and skipped screw strategy in sagittal apex region (P = 0.046) were the primary factors included in the equation [Odds Ratio (OR) = 11.669 and 7.659, respectively].Conclusion: In our study, the prevalence of rod fracture in adult patients with spinal deformity after long construct fusion was 4.6%; osteotomy was the main risk factor of rod fracture these patients. The skipped screws in sagittal apex region could increase the risk of rod fracture because the stress on the rods failed to be distributed to different segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deterioration of cold start performance at high altitudes is one of the main problems that restrict the altitude adaptability of diesel engines. In this study, by adapting the pilot injection strategy to improve cold start performance at different altitudes, the effect of the pilot injection ratio and pilot injection timing on the combustion, performance, and emission characteristics of diesel engines are investigated, and suggestions are proposed for optimizing fuel injection according to the altitude. The experimental results indicated that at high altitudes, the cold start performance was worse and more difficult to reach idle speed, NOx emissions increased due to the longer ignition delay. Compared to the single-injection strategy, the pilot injection strategy can effectively improve the combustion environment in the cylinder and thereby improve the cold start performance. As the altitude increase, decreasing the pilot injection mass can shorten the cold start time. The appropriate advance of pilot injection timing could improve mixture formation, which is conducive to improving the cold start performance and emissions at different altitudes. It can be concluded that advancing the pilot injection timing and increasing the pilot mass is a better injection strategy to improve cold start performance at plain. As the altitude increase, the pilot injection mass should decrease. • The effect of altitude on combustion and emission of diesel engines during cold start at various altitudes was invested. • A pilot injection strategy was adopted to improve cold start performance. • Suggestions for optimizing the fuel injection strategy according to altitudes were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although refractory high entropy films exhibit excellent strength and hardness, their high brittleness often leads to cracking upon frictional contact, resulting in wear resistance that falls short of expectations. This limitation severely restricts their application in industries such as aerospace. In order to address this issue, the development of high entropy composite films has emerged as a viable approach to mitigate friction and enhance reliability. In this paper, a series of (NbMoWTa) 1−x Ag x films were prepared by introducing nano phase Ag into the NbMoWTa system by magnetron sputtering co-deposition. Despite the soft second phase potentially deteriorating the mechanical performance of the composite films, our study demonstrates that the unique chemical nanolayering in the NbMoWTa/Ag can lead to a significant reduction in friction while maintain a high hardness. Compared with the monolithic NbMoWTa film, the (NbMoWTa) 75 Ag 25 film exhibited a 54.3 % reduction in friction coefficient and an 81.6 % decrease in wear rate, demonstrating superior tribological behavior compared to most Ag-containing composite films. The present work provides an effective strategy and facile route, through self-assembling of layered phase, for developing high performance refractory high entropy alloy films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dynamic diffusion mechanism of optically monitored water vapor in thin film defects. • Establish the calculation model of regional resistance after eliminating defects. • Enables accurate measurement of spotless water vapor transmission rate of films with different defect spot densities. Optoelectronic devices' organic materials and metal electrodes are highly susceptible to water vapor. The use of a thin-film encapsulation technique is an effective solution. The accurate water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of thin films, however, is challenging to acquire because of the influence of dust particles in industrial production laboratories. We have developed a low-cost, high accurate optical and electrical combined Ca corrosion test to analyze the permeation at the defects by optical camera and Matlab software, and established a model to eliminate the influence caused by defective spots in the WVTR method for the encapsulated film. We tested the WVTR of aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3) with different defect spot densities to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this process. The results illustrated that regardless of the sample defect spot density, the WVTR acquired by the test method reported in this paper generally agreed with the spotless WVTR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study introduced an electronic conductivity device (ECD) to reduce time of percutaneous transpedicular puncture and frequency of patient valid radiation exposure in percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) or percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). A randomized self-control clinical study was undertaken. Medical records of patients with vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) for bilateral PKP or PVP were collected, and each side was performed randomly with ECD or conventional trocar. We enrolled 61 patients (44 women, 17 men) with 75 vertebras with VCF. Compared with the conventional fluoroscopy group, significant reductions in puncture time (504.33 ± 152.03 vs. 652.68 ± 167.60 seconds; P < 0.001) and fluoroscopy frequency (5.11 ± 1.23 vs. 8.15 ± 1.83; P < 0.001) for each percutaneous puncture were observed in the ECD group. When compared with the VCFs ≤50% group, the 2 indexes in the VCFs >50% group were significantly increased. And in the ECD group, the learning curve in the VCFs >50% group showed a steeper decreasing trend than that in the VCFs ≤50% group. No complications were observed in any patient. ECD could reduce puncture time of percutaneous transpedicular puncture and exposure of radiation in PVP and PKP. ECD has more benefits in complicated transpedicular puncture in patients with vertebral compression >50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulation of the two-stage turbocharging system according to the operation of the diesel engine is key to maximizing its potential for power recovery of an engine at high altitudes. This paper targets air intake recovery of diesel engines at different altitudes, the effects of diesel engine operating conditions, in-cylinder combustion, mechanical efficiency, exhaust temperature, turbocharging system operating parameters, and altitudes on the demand characteristics of the equivalent turbine area (ETA) were analyzed by a thermodynamic model, and a multifactor coupled prediction model for the ETA was established, which can predict the regulation of the ETA at different altitudes and operation conditions based on plain and a small amount of plateau data. To improve the accuracy of the model, the error source of the model was analyzed, and the neural network was adapted to predict major errors. Results indicate that the prediction model had high accuracy and the maximum predicted error of ETA is less than 3%. The control strategy obtained by prediction model can improve air supply and efficiency of turbocharging system, the power and economy of the diesel engine also improved at different altitudes. • The equivalent turbine area prediction model of the turbocharging system at different altitudes is proposed. • The neural network was adopted to predict turbocharger efficiency. • The improvement of the diesel engine performance by prediction model was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the risk factors of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) in Lenke 5 AIS patients after all-pedicle instrumentation and correction, and to compare the difference of radiographic and clinical outcome between PJK and Non-PJK populations.Method: Medical records of Lenke 5 AIS patients were reviewed from January 2008 to January 2013, included posteroanterior and lateral full spine X-ray films preoperatively, postoperatively (4-7 days after surgery), and at final follow-up. Demographic data and radiologic parameters were evaluated. Based on the proximal junctional angle (PJA) at final follow-up, those patients were divided into 2 groups: PJK group (n = 35, PJA≧10°), and Non-PJK group (n = 52, PJA<10°). Comparisons analyses between PJK and Non-PJK groups were carried out. Binary logistic Regression analysis was performed to detect the risk factors of PJK at follow-up.Results: The current study recruited 87 Lenke 5 AIS patients with average follow-up of 4.67 ± 1.17 years. Significant differences between PJK and Non-PJK groups were observed as follows: UIV(P = 0.010), the disruption of junctional ligaments (P < 0.001); preoperative variables [MTC (P = 0.001), TK(P < 0.001), LL (P = 0.017), SVA (P = 0.036), and PJA (P = 0.014)], postoperative variables [TLK(P = 0.004), and PJA (P < 0.001)], and follow-up [SVA (P = 0.014), C-SVA (P < 0.001), and PJA (P0.001). Binary logistic regression showed that the disruption of junctional ligaments, postoperative PJA and UIV (upper instrumented vertebra) at proximal or lower thoracic levels were the main risk factors of PJK [Odds Ratio (OR) = 5.114, 2.345, and 6.212, respectively]. However, the SRS-22 scores did not change significantly in PJK and Non-PJK groups.Conclusion: Greater postoperative PJA, disruption of junctional ligaments, UIV at lower thoracic levels were the main risk factors for PJK in Lenke 5 AIS patients. Recommedation: Preserve junctional ligaments in those individuals with UIV located in the lower thoracic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to verify the moderating roles of lifestyle factors and age between body mass index (BMI), BMI trajectory and depressive symptoms of Chinese adults through a prospective design. The participants who are 18 years old and above from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) were included in the 2016 baseline and 2018 follow-up research. BMI was calculated according to self-report weight (kilogram) and height (centimeter). Depressive symptoms were evaluated via the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD-20) scale. Inverse probability-of-censoring weighted estimation (IPCW) was used to check whether selection bias existed. Modified Poisson regression was performed to calculate prevalence and risk ratios as well as 95% confidence intervals. After adjustment, it was found that the positive associations of persistent underweight (RR = 1.154, P < 0.001) and normal weight → underweight (RR = 1.143, P < 0.001) with 2018 depressive symptoms were significant among middle-aged people, while the negative association of persistent overweight/obesity (RR = 0.972, P < 0.001) was significant in young adults. Notably, smoking moderated the relationship between baseline BMI and subsequent depressive symptoms (interaction P = 0.028). Also, exercise regularly and exercise duration weekly moderated the relationships of baseline BMI (interaction P = 0.004 and 0.015) and trajectories of BMI (interaction P = 0.008 and 0.011) with depressive symptoms among Chinese adults, respectively. Weight management strategies for underweight and normal weight → underweight adults should pay attention to the role of exercise in maintaining normal weight and improving depressive symptoms. • Healthy lifestyles are associated with a healthier weight and better mental health. • In middle-aged, underweight positively related to depressive symptoms. • In young adults, overweight/obesity negatively related to depressive symptoms. • The relationship between BMI and depressive symptoms was moderated by exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether MTNR1B rs4753426 and rs10830963 polymorphisms are correlated with AIS. Summary of background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of spinal deformity, while its etiology remains uncertain. Melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B) gene polymorphisms have been found to be significantly associated with AIS risk; however, some of these results are controversial. Methods: An systematic online search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library to identify case-control studies investigating the relationship between MTNR1B rs4753426 and rs10830963 polymorphisms and the susceptibility of AIS. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) was calculated to assess the associations, and subgroup meta-analyses were performed according to the ethnicity of the study populations. Results: A total of five studies involving 2395 cases and 3645 controls met the inclusion criteria after assessment by two reviewers. Overall, no significant associations were found between MTNR1B rs4753426 polymorphism and AIS risk (C vs. T: OR = 1.11, 95 % CI 0.94-1.30, P = 0.21; CC vs. TT: OR = 1.15, 95 % CI 0.97-1.36, P = 0.12; CT vs. TT: OR = 1.14, 95 % CI 0.97-1.35, P = 0.10; CC/CT vs. TT: OR = 1.14, 95 % CI 0.98-1.33, P = 0.09; CC vs. CT/TT: OR = 1.10, 95 % CI 0.84-1.45, P = 0.48), as well as the MTNR1B rs10830963 polymorphism (G vs. C: OR = 0.99, 95 % CI 0.88-1.12, P = 0.91; GG vs. CC: OR = 0.99, 95 % CI 0.74-1.33, P = 0.96; CG vs. CC: OR = 1.00, 95 % CI 0.84-1.18, P = 0.88; GG/CG vs. CC: OR = 0.99, 95 % CI 0.84-1.17, P = 0.93; GG vs. CG/CC: OR = 0.99, 95 % CI 0.75-1.30, P = 0.92). When stratified by ethnicity, there were no significant associations between MTNR1B rs4753426 and MTNR1B rs10830963 polymorphisms and AIS risk in either Asian or Caucasian populations. Conclusion: MTNR1B rs4753426 and MTNR1B rs10830963 polymorphisms are not obviously associated with risk of AIS in either Asian populations or Caucasian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of 3-D rapid prototyping technology in revision lumbar discectomy. Summary of background data: 3-D rapid prototyping technology has not been reported in the treatment of revision lumbar discectomy. Methods: Patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation who were preparing to undergo revision lumbar discectomy from a single center between January 2011 and 2013 were included in this analysis. Patients were divided into two groups. In group A, 3-D printing technology was used to create subject-specific lumbar vertebral models in the preoperative planning process. Group B underwent lumbar revision as usual. Preoperative and postoperative clinical outcomes were compared between groups included operation time, perioperative blood loss, postoperative complications, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Japan Orthopaedics Association (JOA) scores, and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for back pain and leg pain. Results: A total of 37 patients were included in this study (Group A = 15, Group B = 22). Group A had a significantly shorter operation time (106.53 ± 11.91 vs. 131.92 ± 10.81 min, P < 0.001) and significantly less blood loss (341.67 ± 49.45 vs. 466.77 ± 71.46 ml, P < 0.001). There was no difference between groups for complication rate. There were also no differences between groups for any clinical metric. Conclusion: Using the 3-D printing technology before revision lumbar discectomy may reduce the operation time and the perioperative blood loss. There does not appear to be a benefit to using the technology with respect to clinical outcomes. Future prospective studies are needed to further elucidate the efficacy of this emerging technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the simplified Chinese version of the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (SC-QDS). Study Design and Setting: The QDS was translated and cross-culturally adapted into SC following international guidelines. The SC-QDS was completed by 114 patients with low back pain (LBP) and 65 healthy controls, along with the SC Oswestry Disability Index (SC-ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS). Psychometric evaluation included homogeneity and reproducibility by internal consistency and test–retest reliability and construct validity by calculating the Pearson''s correlation coefficients among QDS, SC-ODI, and VAS. Discriminative validity was determined by student''s t-test. Results: SC-QDS scores were well distributed, with no floor or ceiling effects. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach α 0.976). The items and overall SC-QDS were correlated (r =0.640–0.898 and P <0.0001). Intraclass correlation coefficient of test–retest reliability was excellent (0.987, 95% confidence interval: 0.978–0.992). Construct validity was confirmed by high correlation of SC-QDS and SC-ODI (r =0.901 and P <0.0001) and VAS (r =0.770 and P <0.0001) scores, as was discriminative validity by significantly different SC-QDS scores for patients with LBP and controls (46.3±19.9 vs. 14.6±8.5 and P <0.0001). Conclusions: The SC-QDS has good internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and construct and discriminative validity. The SC-QDS is appropriate for clinical and research uses with Chinese-speaking patients with LBP in mainland China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • A novel gastroretentive drug delivery system was developed of essential oil from Radix Aucklandiae by preparing the hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex loaded into chitosan nanoparticles (V-CD/NPs). • V-CD/NPs showed a remarkable gastric retention performance. • Morphology and in vitro release profiles of V-CD/NPs had a pH-sensitivity. • V-CD/NPs exhibited a prominent protective effect on acute gastric mucosal injury induced by absolute ethanol for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects comparable to cimetidine and the mucosal protection outperformed. The essential oil from Vladimiriae Radix (VEO) is a medicinal natural product with anti-ulcer activity. A novel gastroretentive drug delivery system was developed by preparing the hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) inclusion complex incorporated into chitosan nanoparticles (V-CD/NPs), to improve the bioavailability of VEO and its protective effect on gastric mucosa. The optimum preparation process of V-CD/NPs was obtained by Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken response surface methodology. The resulting V-CD/NPs gained a suitable positive potential and small particle size, and showed stability in simulated gastric fluid, whose morphology and in vitro drug release profiles had a pH-sensitivity. Besides, V-CD/NPs was proved to strongly bind with mucin, and in vivo imaging revealed that it could be retained in the stomach for more than 8 h. The results of drug concentration in gastric tissues showed that the sequential loading of inclusion complex/nanoparticles promoted the local absorption of VEO in gastric tissues, which was favorable to reach the effective therapeutic concentration in the lesioned mucosa area. In comparison to VEO and V-CD, the callback effect of V-CD/NPs on 1L-1β, 1L-6, TNF-α, NF-κB, MDA and SOD was comparable to cimetidine, and V-CD/NPs outperformed in gastric mucosal protection. Therefore, the gastroretentive drug delivery system developed in our study effectively enhanced the anti-ulcer activity of VEO, which could be a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of the acute gastric mucosal injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our findings demonstrate that shikonin reduces osteoclastogenesis in vivo and in vitro. The inhibitory effect is induced by suppression of the interaction between RANK and TRAF6 and the downstream MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, which suggest that shikonin might be potentially used for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. • Shikonin prevents bone loss by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis in vitro and in ovariectomized mice in vivo. • Shikonin reduces the RANKL-induced activation of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. • Shikonin mitigates M-CSF-induced RANK expression and the RANKL-induced RANK-TRAF6 association. Postmenopausal osteoporosis results from estrogen withdrawal and is characterized mainly by bone resorption. Shikonin is a bioactive constitute of Chinese traditional herb which plays a role in antimicrobial and antitumor activities. The study was designed to investigate the role of shikonin on postmenopausal osteoporosis and explore its underlying mechanisms. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to evaluate the effects of shikonin on actin ring formation. The expression levels of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway were determined by Western blot analysis. To determine whether shikonin influences the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced association between receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) and tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6), immunofluorescence staining and immunoprecipitation experiments were performed. During our validation model, histomorphometric examination and micro-computed tomography (CT) were conducted to assess the morphology of osteoporosis. Shikonin prevented bone loss by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis in vitro and improving bone loss in ovariectomized mice in vivo. At the molecular level, Western blot analysis indicated that shikonin inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB), P50, P65, extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and P38. Interaction of TRAF6 and RANK was prevented, and downstream MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways were downregulated. Osteoclastic bone resorption was reduced in the presence of shikonin in vitro and in vivo. Shikonin is a promising candidate for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To examine the risk of bias of methodological quality of reporting randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in major neurology journals before and after the update (2011) of Cochrane risk of bias tool. Methods RCTs in 5 leading neurology journals in 2008 and 2013 were searched systematically. Characteristics were extracted based on the list of the modified Cochrane Collaboration's tool. Country, number of patients, type of intervention, and funding source also were examined for further analysis. Results A total of 138 RCTs were enrolled in this study. The rates of following a trial plan were 61.6% for the allocation generation, 52.9% for the allocation concealment, 84.8% for the blinding of the participants or the personnel, 34.8% for the blinding of outcome assessment, 78.3% for the incomplete outcome data, and 67.4% for the selective reporting. A significant setback was found in “the selective reporting” in 2013 than that in 2008. Trials performed by multi-centers and on a large scale had significantly more “low risk of bias” trials. Not only the number of surgical trials (5.8%) was much less than that of trials using drugs (73.9%), but also the reporting quality of surgical trials were worse ( P = 0.008). Finally, only 17.4% trials met the criterion of “low risk of bias.” Conclusions The modified “risk of bias” tool is an improved version for assessment. Methodological quality of reporting RCTs in the 5neurology journals is unsatisfactory, especially that for surgical RCTs, and it could be further improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]