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Purpose of Review: To explore the mechanism and therapeutic effect of sympathetic nerve regulation on neuropathic pain. Recent Findings: A comprehensive search was conducted in the PubMed and CNKI libraries, using the following keywords: stele ganglion block, neuropathic pain, sympathetic nerve block, sympathetic chemical destruction, and sympathetic radiofrequency thermocoagulation. We selected and critically reviewed research articles published in English that were related to sympathetic modulation in the treatment of neuropathic pain. The collected literature will be classified according to content and reviewed in combination with experimental results and clinical cases. Neuropathic pain was effectively treated with sympathetic regulation technology. Its mechanism includes the inhibition of sympathetic nerve activity, regulation of the inflammatory response, and inhibition of pain transmission, which greatly alleviates neuropathic pain in patients. Stellate ganglion blocks, thoracic and lumbar sympathectomies, chemical destruction, and radiofrequency thermocoagulation have been widely used to treat neuropathic pain. Summary: Sympathetic regulation can effectively relieve pain symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life by inhibiting sympathetic nerve activity, reducing the production and release of pain-related mediators, and inhibiting pain transmission. CT-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the thoracic and lumbar sympathetic nerves is effective and durable, with few complications, and is recommended as a treatment for intractable neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic emission (AE) source localization is a fundamental element of rock fracture damage imaging. To improve the efficiency and accuracy of AE source localization, this paper proposes a joint method comprising a three-dimensional (3D) AE source localization simplex method and grid search scanning. Using the concept of the geometry of simplexes, tetrahedral iterations were first conducted to narrow down the suspected source region. This is followed by a process of meshing the region and node searching to scan for optimal solutions, until the source location is determined. The resulting algorithm was tested using the artificial excitation source localization and uniaxial compression tests, after which the localization results were compared with the simplex and exhaustive methods. The results revealed that the localization obtained using the proposed method is more stable and can be effectively avoided compared with the simplex localization method. Furthermore, compared with the global scanning method, the proposed method is more efficient, with an average time of 10%–20% of the global scanning localization algorithm. Thus, the proposed algorithm is of great significance for laboratory research focused on locating rupture damages sustained by large-sized rock masses or test blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The fermionic Hubbard model (FHM)1 describes a wide range of physical phenomena resulting from strong electron–electron correlations, including conjectured mechanisms for unconventional superconductivity. Resolving its low-temperature physics is, however, challenging theoretically or numerically. Ultracold fermions in optical lattices2,3 provide a clean and well-controlled platform offering a path to simulate the FHM. Doping the antiferromagnetic ground state of a FHM simulator at half-filling is expected to yield various exotic phases, including stripe order4, pseudogap5, and d-wave superfluid6, offering valuable insights into high-temperature superconductivity7–9. Although the observation of antiferromagnetic correlations over short10 and extended distances11 has been obtained, the antiferromagnetic phase has yet to be realized as it requires sufficiently low temperatures in a large and uniform quantum simulator. Here we report the observation of the antiferromagnetic phase transition in a three-dimensional fermionic Hubbard system comprising lithium-6 atoms in a uniform optical lattice with approximately 800,000 sites. When the interaction strength, temperature and doping concentration are finely tuned to approach their respective critical values, a sharp increase in the spin structure factor is observed. These observations can be well described by a power-law divergence, with a critical exponent of 1.396 from the Heisenberg universality class12. At half-filling and with optimal interaction strength, the measured spin structure factor reaches 123(8), signifying the establishment of an antiferromagnetic phase. Our results provide opportunities for exploring the low-temperature phase diagram of the FHM.Antiferromagnetic phase transition is observed in a three-dimensional fermionic Hubbard system comprising lithium-6 atoms in a uniform optical lattice with approximately 800,000 sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image inpainting has been a trending topic among researchers in recent years, which aims to fill missing areas in images while maintaining visual and semantic consistency with the original image. Existing methods have their own limitations. While traditional convolution-based methods excel at filling most holes, they encounter difficulties when faced with large holes due to the limited receptive field. In contrast, Fourier convolutions-based methods exhibit effectiveness in filling large missing areas but have poor ability to restore local details. In this work, we propose the novel multi-resolution inpainting network with Fourier convolutions (MRFNet). Specifically, to better capture the correlation between semantic information in different regions, we first design the multi-scale large kernel attention (MSLKA) and multi-scale attention enhancement module (MSAE). Further, we use MSAE to construct our MRFNet. Ultimately, with the feature aggregation module proposed, our model enables high-fidelity image inpainting. Extensive experiments on two public datasets demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, band structure calculations of two dimensional (2D) anisotropic photonic-crystal fibers (PhCFs) are considered. In 2D PhCFs, Maxwell's equations for the transversal electric and magnetic mode become decoupled, but the difficulty, arising from the anisotropic permittivity ε and/or permeability μ , plaguing the frequency-domain finite difference method, especially the original Yee's scheme, is our top concern. To resolve this difficulty, we re-establish the connection between the lowest order finite element method with the quasi-periodic condition and Yee's scheme using 2D non-orthogonal mesh, whereby the decoupled Maxwell's equations in 2D anisotropic PhCFs are readily discretized into a generalized eigenvalue problem (GEP). Moreover, we spell out the nullspace of the resulting GEP, if it exists, and explicitly construct the Moore–Penrose pseudoinverse of the singular coefficient matrix, whose smallest positive eigenvalues can be solved by the inverse Lanczos method. Extensive band structures of 2D PhCFs are calculated and benchmarked against reliable results to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of vibration wave propagation and various anisotropic media can cause divergence problems in the traditional linear positioning solution process in practical engineering applications. To address this problem, a mathematical algorithm combined with the microseismic positioning principles is developed to formulate a microseismic nonlinear optimal positioning method. The developed algorithm introduces a downhill factor to enhance its stability and convergence for achieving global convergence. Moreover, a multidirectional iterative concept is proposed to improve the precision and scientific validity of the positioning results. This approach effectively minimizes errors in each direction of the localization results. The stability of the algorithm and the accuracy of source results were verified by comparing a rectangular coal block acoustic emission source test with a traditional linear localization algorithm. Its application in engineering fields has also demonstrated its efficacy in reducing the influence associated with the deployment of a microseismic station network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Currently, the cause of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is unknown, and the effectiveness of current drug treatments is unsatisfactory. In March 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved risankizumab, a humanized immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody targeting the p19 subunit of interleukin (IL)-23, for the treatment of PsA in adults. This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of risankizumab in moderate-to-severe PsA. Methods: We conducted a thorough search of relevant databases from the establishment of the databases to October 1, 2023. We conducted a meta-analysis using Stata 12.0 and utilized I2 and Egger tests to assess heterogeneity and publication bias among the studies. Bias assessment was performed using the risk bias map and bias risk summary diagram generated by Revman5.4 software. The review protocols were registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023451894) and adhered to the preferred reporting item of system evaluation (PRISMA) guideline. Results: Six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 5038 patients with PsA treated with either risankizumab or placebo were included in the analysis. At 24 weeks, the risankizumab group demonstrated a significantly higher American College of Rheumatology-20 (ACR20) response rate compared to the placebo group (RR 1.760, 95% CI 1.568–1.977, P < 0.001). Additionally, the risankizumab group showed a significantly higher Minimal Disease Activity (MDA) response rate compared to the placebo group (RR 1.827, 95% CI 1.048–3.184, P < 0.05). The risankizumab group also exhibited improvement in Short Form 36 Questionnaire (SF-36) score (SMD 0.51, 95% CI 0.33–0.69, P < 0.001), with significantly lower Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score (SMD − 0.27, 95% CI − 0.37 to − 0.17, P < 0.001) and higher Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) score (SMD 0.27, 95% CI 0.20–0.35, P < 0.001) compared to the placebo group. Moreover, the risankizumab group had a significantly lower Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score (SMD − 6.12, 95% CI − 10.02 to 2.23, P < 0.001). A study by Mease et al. indicated that patients receiving risankizumab generally demonstrated numerical improvements in the Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI), although the small sample size limits the evidence. Further research is necessary to provide evidence-based guidelines. There were no significant differences in the incidence of serious adverse events (SAE) and serious treatment-emergent adverse events (STEAE) between the risankizumab and placebo groups (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.45–1.28, P = 0.31; RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.49–1.99, P = 0.97, respectively), and the overall incidence of adverse events (AE) was not comparable (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.63–1.94, P = 0.73). Conclusion: Risankizumab showed superior efficacy across multiple outcome measures compared to placebo, with no significant increase in adverse events. Our findings endorse risankizumab as an excellent treatment option for PsA, offering valuable insights for clinicians and patients when choosing appropriate therapeutic interventions. Trial Registration: Retrospectively registered (CRD42023451894, 16 August 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess and compare the effectiveness of various treatment approaches for laryngeal contact granulomas (LCG). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 45 patients diagnosed with LCG at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from October 2017 to May 2023. Based on the treatment modalities administered, patients were categorized into three groups: acid suppression alone, hormone injection combined with acid suppression, and surgery combined with acid suppression. Subsequently, the study compared differences in treatment efficacy and average healing time among these three groups, using various indicators. Results: The findings indicate that the granuloma size in LCG patients with hoarseness (0.126, 95% CI 0.087–0.288) was significantly greater compared to LCG patients without hoarseness (0.047, 95% CI 0.014–0.083) (P = 0.001). However, there were no significant variations in age, morphology (unlobulated/lobulated), laterality ratio (left/right), sex ratio (male/female), history of tracheal intubation (non-intubation/intubation), and RFS score (RFS > 7/RFS ≤ 7) (P > 0.05), regardless of the presence of hoarseness symptoms. At the treatment observation endpoint of 3 months, the curative ratio in the group receiving hormone injection combined with acid suppression was found to be significantly higher compared to the group receiving acid suppression alone (P = 0.018). In addition, the average healing time of patients in the hormone injection combined with acid suppression group was notably shorter than that of the acid suppression alone group (P = 0.007). Conclusions: The combination of hormonal injections and acid suppression may enhance the curative ratio and expedite the healing time of LCG. Level of evidence: 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the performance of an indoor visible light communication (VLC) system in the presence of Gaussian-plus-Laplacian additive noise is investigated. Initially, a realistic VLC system model is established by considering the effects of channel gain and Gaussian-plus-Laplacian additive noise. Theoretical expressions of the average bit error rate (ABER) and average channel capacity are derived, respectively. To show the system performance at a high signal-to-noise ratio, the asymptotic ABER expression is obtained. Numerical results show that all theoretical results agree well with the simulation results. Moreover, the effects of Laplacian noise scale parameter, dimming target, Lambertian order, and the radius of the receiver zone on system performance are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study numerically examines the evolution of the stress and displacement fields of rock sur-rounding an oblique normal fault in the longwall working face of a mine. The aim is to determine the law of activation of an abnormal geological body containing coal and rock mass and to provide timely warnings of geological hazards, such as coal and gas bursts, rock bursts, and flooding during coal mining. A high-precision microseismic monitoring system was used to monitor the activation of and damage to the rock surrounding the mine. The results of numerical simulations coupled with those of microseismic monitoring showed that the coal and rock mass near the fault and goaf was situated in an area of high stress, with a high frequency and energy of microseismic events, wherein changes in the displacement of the roof were more significant when the working face was pushed to the fault layer. The combined analysis provides information on the activation of rock surrounding the coal mine and can be used to provide early warnings of mining accidents. The results provide a reference for the safe mining of the working face and technical guidance for the design parameters of pressure relief holes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a cancer-targeted treatment approach.The occurrence of tumors may be related to microbial infections (Viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.), which probably provokes anti-tumor immunity. However, T cells in the context of cancer become exhausted and dysfunctional. Galectin-9 (Gal-9) is highly expressed in normal tissues and associates with body immune tolerance, and was firstly evidenced with much higher expression on the primary solid tumors than CD80/86 (B7) and CD274 (PD-L1) here, which suggests that Gal-9 may be a key factor in inhibiting the anti-tumor immunity, and its receptor T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3) was discovered on the cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) with high expression as well based on the single cell analysis. The immune checkpoint communications showed that the Gal-9/TIM-3 axis played the most vital role on negatively regulating the anti-tumor immunity of CTL for melanoma. Then, we used a novel transdermal photothermal nanosensitizer (FSGG) loading Gal-9 siRNA (FSGG/siGal-9) for knocking the tumor cells down Gal-9 to block the Gal-9/TIM-3 axis and prohibit CTL exhaustion synergizing PTT against melanoma, which evidenced good effects on inhibiting tumor growth and enhancing anti-tumor immunity, named "photothermal immunotherapy". This paper provides a new perspective for tumor prevention and treatment. This study explores the synergistic effects of photothermal therapy and silencing Gal-9 to achieve photothermal immunotherapy treating melanoma with an integrated FSGG nanostructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful development of a dual-mode sensing chip for deoxynivalenol (DON) detection using photoelectrochemical (PEC) and electrochromic visualization techniques is reported. By laser etching technology, different functional areas, including the photoanode, the cathode, and the electrochromic area, are fabricated on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass. Then, these three areas are further respectively modified with PEC active materials, platinum nanoparticles, and Prussian blue. Under light illumination, photocurrents generate between the photoanode and the cathode due to the separation of photo-induced electrons and holes in the TiO2/3DNGH material. Meanwhile, the photo-induced electrons are transferred to Prussian blue on the visualization area, which will be reduced to colorless Prussian white. The binding of DON molecules and aptamers can promote electron transfer and reduce the recombination of electrons and holes, allowing for simultaneous quantitative detection of DON using either the photocurrent or color change. The sensor chip has a broad detection range of DON concentrations of 1 fg⋅mL−1 to 100 pg⋅mL−1 in the PEC mode with the limit of detection of 0.37 fg⋅mL−1, and 1 to 250 ng⋅mL−1 in the visualization mode with the limit of detection of 0.51 ng⋅mL−1. This portable dual-mode sensor chip can be used in both laboratory and field settings without the need for specialized instruments, making it a powerful tool for ensuring food safety. At the same time, the analysis of the standard addition method of the actual sample by using the sensor chip shows that, in the PEC mode, the recoveries of the dual-mode aptasensor chip were 91.3 to 99.0% with RSD values of 1.73~2.55%, and in visualization mode, the recoveries of the dual-mode aptasensor chip were 99.2 to 102.0% with RSD values of 1.00~6.21%, which indicate good accuracy and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of tempering and of quenching + tempering including step tempering on the microstructure and properties of centrifugally cast rolls made of high-chromium cast iron HCCI is studied. It is shown that the cast iron microstructure is a matrix consisting of retained austenite and martensite and surrounded by a eutectic. Tempering of cast iron without quenching reduces the amount of retained austenite in the structure but has a little effect on the hardness. Quenching improves significantly the uniformity of the microstructure and increases the hardness, which grows still more after tempering. The quenching temperature affects significantly the martensitic transformation temperature Ms , which decreases with increase of quenching temperature; the step quenching has a stronger effect. The hardness of the roll after quenching from 1100°C with a step at 560°C and tempering at 500°C is 64.4 HRC, which is much higher than the hardness of 58.3 HRC after tempering at 500°C without quenching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the risk factors for recurrence of laryngeal amyloidosis (LA). Methods: The clinical data of patients with LA admitted in the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from August 2009 to June 2022 were analyzed retrospectively; then, the risk factors for recurrence and their impacts on the recurrence time were also analyzed. Results: Of the 44 patients with LA, the majority (38 cases, 86.4%) only involved one anatomical region and the others (6 cases, 13.6%) involved two laryngeal regions concurrently. Overall, the glottic region was the most commonly affected area (28 cases, 63.6%), followed by the supraglottic region (16 cases, 36.4%) and subglottic region (6 cases, 13.6%). In addition, all the lesions were categorized as isolated nodule (31.8%), submucosal localized deposition (52.3%), and submucosal diffuse deposition (15.9%) according to their morphologies under electronic laryngoscope. Finally, six patients (13.6%) had recurrence after operation with a median recurrence time of 24.5 months, and subglottic involvement was confirmed to be an independent risk factor for recurrence of LA by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the patients with subglottic involvement presented as submucosal diffuse deposition had a considerable shorter recurrence time (t = 5.759, P = 0.005). Conclusion: The subglottic involvement is an independent risk factor for recurrence of LA. Level of evidence: 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to refine the microstructure and improve the performance of high-speed steel (HSS) roll, the effects of Nb addition on the microstructure, hardness, and wear behavior were evaluated. The results show that adding Nb raises the precipitation temperature of NbC, which is even higher than the liquidus temperature. The NbC precipitates are accompanied by alloying elements such as Mo and V, which decreases the C and alloying element contents in the liquid phase. The variation of the content of C and alloying elements and refined austenite dendrites further refine the microstructure of the eutectic carbides of M6C, M2C, and Cr7C3. The refined as-cast microstructure increases the hardness of cast HSS rolls. However, a decrease in the content of C in austenite weakens the precipitation strengthening effect after heat treatment and results in a slight decrease of the hardness of HSS rolls with the increase of the addition of Nb. The refinement of microstructure, especially primary carbides, improves the continuity and uniformity of oxide film formed on the wear surface, which efficiently retards the wear of the matrix and improves the wear resistance of HSS rolls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical machining (ECM) system shows abundant dynamic phenomena and is a typical nonlinear system; the relationship between the nonlinear dynamic behavior and the surface quality of electrochemical machining is not yet fully understood. In the present work, the nonlinear dynamic behaviors of Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy in the process of electro-dissolution and electrochemical machining with and without magnetic field were researched by phase space reconstruction, saturate correlation dimension, morphology observation, and multifractal spectrum of the machined surface. The relationship between attractor structure and surface morphology was disclosed. The results reveal that a parallel magnetic field enhances the compact degree of the attractor structure whether it is in the electro-dissolution or electrochemical machining system of Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy and increases the number of variables in the electro-dissolution system, that is 8. The surface quality of electrochemical machining of Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy with parallel magnetic field is improved, and the machined surface topography is smoother, simpler, and more homogeneous, which implies that parallel magnetic field facilitates the self-organization behavior in electrochemical machining of Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy. The attractor structure of current density during electrochemical machining of Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy can be used as an indicator for surface quality evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structured abrasive tools (SATs) are considered as one of the next-generation abrasive tool solutions due to their superior ability to transport cutting fluids into grinding zones to lower grinding temperature and therefore enable high-quality machined surfaces. There are several SAT fabrication methods including mechanical, electroplating, brazing, and laser-based methods. Mechanical methods cannot produce SATs with small-sized structures due to significant contact forces, while electroplating has poor controllability of abrasive grain allocations. Brazing requires special machines with high-precision motion control, while laser-based methods need significant efforts on laser parameter selection and optimization. With this, here, we present a multiple-pass rotary wire electrical discharge machining (MPRWEDM) method to address the aforementioned limitations. We also develop a theoretical model of the created kerf profile during the MPRWEDM so as to enable controllable fabrication of SATs. The model was experimentally validated, showing a decent relative error of 9.8%. The nonlinear multiple-pass effect was studied both analytically and experimentally. Based on MPRWEDM, not only the SAT with designed grooves but also the structured surface (having an array of pyramid geometries) generated by the SAT were successfully created, proving the great potential of MPRWEDM in controllable production of even more advanced tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, transcriptional roadblocking has emerged as a crucial regulatory mechanism in gene expression, whereby other DNA-bound obstacles can block the progression of transcribing RNA polymerase (RNAP), leading to RNAP pausing and ultimately dissociation from the DNA template. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms by which transcriptional roadblocks can impede RNAP progression, as well as how RNAP can overcome these obstacles to continue transcription. We examine different DNA-binding proteins involved in transcriptional roadblocking and their biophysical properties that determine their effectiveness in blocking RNAP progression. The catalytically dead CRISPR-Cas (dCas) protein is used as an example of an engineered programmable roadblock, and the current literature in understanding the polarity of dCas roadblocking is also discussed. Finally, we delve into a stochastic model of transcriptional roadblocking and highlight the importance of transcription factor binding kinetics and its resistance to dislodgement by an elongating RNAP in determining the strength of a roadblock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nuclear system is a promising area for demonstrating practical quantum advantage. A comprehensive computation of a nuclear system in a classical computer is beyond the capacity of current classical computers. With the rapid development of hardware, the prospect of using quantum computers in nuclear physics is close at hand. In this paper, we report a full quantum package, QCSH, for solving a nuclear shell model in a quantum computer. QCSH uses the linear combination of the unitary formalism of quantum computing and performs all calculations in a quantum computer. The complexities of qubit resource and the number of basic gates of QCSH are both polynomials to the number of nucleons in nuclei. For example, QCSH is used to calculate the binding energies of 12 light nuclei (i.e., 2H, 3H, 3He, 4He, 6Li, 7Li, 12C, 14N, 16O, 17O, 23Na, and 40Ca). Moreover, we experimentally demonstrate the calculation of deuteron binding energy using a superconducting quantum processor. The result indicates that QCSH can provide meaningful results already in near-term quantum devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a comment on a meta-analysis titled "The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of miR-155 in Cancers." The comment raises several points for discussion regarding the study. It questions whether miR-155 is up-regulated or down-regulated in cancers and whether its expression differs among different tumors. The comment also suggests that the quality of the included articles should be assessed using the NOS score and stratified based on certain factors. Additionally, it highlights the importance of considering the different functions of miR-155-5p and miR-155-3p in cancers. The comment concludes by emphasizing the need for further research and larger sample sizes to reduce bias and heterogeneity in the meta-analysis. [Extracted from the article]

The substitution of biolubricant for mineral cutting fluids in aerospace material grinding is an inevitable development direction, under the requirements of the worldwide carbon emission strategy. However, serious tool wear and workpiece damage in difficult-to-machine material grinding challenges the availability of using biolubricants via minimum quantity lubrication. The primary cause for this condition is the unknown and complex influencing mechanisms of the biolubricant physicochemical properties on grindability. In this review, a comparative assessment of grindability is performed using titanium alloy, nickel-based alloy, and high-strength steel. Firstly, this work considers the physicochemical properties as the main factors, and the antifriction and heat dissipation behaviours of biolubricant in a high temperature and pressure interface are comprehensively analysed. Secondly, the comparative assessment of force, temperature, wheel wear and workpiece surface for titanium alloy, nickel-based alloy, and high-strength steel confirms that biolubricant is a potential replacement of traditional cutting fluids because of its improved lubrication and cooling performance. High-viscosity biolubricant and nano-enhancers with high thermal conductivity are recommended for titanium alloy to solve the burn puzzle of the workpiece. Biolubricant with high viscosity and high fatty acid saturation characteristics should be used to overcome the bottleneck of wheel wear and nickel-based alloy surface burn. The nano-enhancers with high hardness and spherical characteristics are better choices. Furthermore, a different option is available for high-strength steel grinding, which needs low-viscosity biolubricant to address the debris breaking difficulty and wheel clogging. Finally, the current challenges and potential methods are proposed to promote the application of biolubricant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the apoptosis and cycle arrest effects of Oldenlandia diffusa flavonoids on human gastric cancer cells, determine the action mechanisms in association with the mitochondrial dependent signal transduction pathway that controls production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and evaluate the pharmacodynamics of a mouse xenotransplantation model to provide a reference for the use of flavonoids in prevention and treatment of gastric cancer. Methods: Flavonoids were extracted by an enzymatic-ultrasonic assisted method and purified with D-101 resin. Bioactive components were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography. Cell lines MKN-45, AGS, and GES-1 were treated with different concentrations of flavonoids (64, 96, 128, 160 µg/mL). The effect of flavonoids on cell viability was evaluated by MTT method, and cell nuclear morphology was observed by Hoechst staining. The apoptosis rate and cell cycle phases were measured by flow cytometry, the production of ROS was detected by laser confocal microscope, the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were observed by fluorescence microscope, and the expression of apoptotic proteins related to activation of mitochondrial pathway were measured by immunoblotting. MKN-45 cells were transplanted into BALB/c nude mice to establish a xenograft tumor model. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to reveal the subcutaneous tumor tissue. The tumor volume and tumor weight were measured, the expression levels of proliferation markers proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67 were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expression levels of CA72-4 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Oldenlandia diffusa flavonoids inhibited proliferation of MKN-45 and AGS human gastric cancer cells, arrested the cell cycle in G1/S phase, induced accumulation of ROS in the process of apoptosis, and altered MMP. In addition, flavonoids increased Apaf-1, Cleaved-Caspase-3, and Bax, and decreased Cyclin A, Cdk2, Bcl-2, Pro-Caspase-9, and Mitochondrial Cytochrome C (P<0.05). The MKN-45 cell mouse xenotransplantation model further clarified the growth inhibitory effect of flavonoids towards tumors. The expression levels of PCNA and Ki-67 decreased in each flavonoid dose group, the expression level of CA72-4 decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Flavonoids derived from Oldenlandia diffusa can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells by activating the mitochondrial controlled signal transduction pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoassay is the most widely used detection technique in clinical testing. Compared with the traditional enzyme-linked immunoassay, the chemiluminescence immunoassay system based on carboxylated magnetic beads as the separation tool is more advantageous, which can rapidly separate proteins and achieve the purpose of quantitative detection of proteins. Separation tools in chemiluminescence immunoassay techniques are key and the focus of research. However, the domestic technology of preparing carboxylated magnetic beads is still immature, and the market is monopolized by imported products, which is not conducive to the development of domestic chemiluminescence immunoassay technology. Based on this, we propose a simple and convenient new method for the preparation of magnetic microbeads. Firstly, styrene-methyl methacrylate microspheres were polymerized by dispersion polymerization and hydrolyzed to form carboxylated microspheres, then carboxylated microspheres were introduced in the process of classical coprecipitation reaction to synthesize magnetic microbeads, and magnetic microbeads with different magnetic contents were prepared and characterized. The separation effect was then tested by a fully automated chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer, and it was found that carboxylated magnetic beads with a magnetic content of 20% were the most effective in separating proteins, and the coefficient of variation was as low as 3.41%, with a stable and reproducible performance. The chemiluminescence immunoassay technique can separate proteins in a short period of time with a very small amount of carboxylated magnetic microbeads, which is fast and efficient and will help in the early diagnosis of diseases in healthcare facilities and may be a better point-of-care assay.Graphical abstract: Immunoassay is the most widely used detection technique in clinical testing. Compared with the traditional enzyme-linked immunoassay, the chemiluminescence immunoassay system based on carboxylated magnetic beads as the separation tool is more advantageous, which can rapidly separate proteins and achieve the purpose of quantitative detection of proteins. Separation tools in chemiluminescence immunoassay techniques are key and the focus of research. However, the domestic technology of preparing carboxylated magnetic beads is still immature, and the market is monopolized by imported products, which is not conducive to the development of domestic chemiluminescence immunoassay technology. Based on this, we propose a simple and convenient new method for the preparation of magnetic microbeads. Firstly, styrene-methyl methacrylate microspheres were polymerized by dispersion polymerization and hydrolyzed to form carboxylated microspheres, then carboxylated microspheres were introduced in the process of classical coprecipitation reaction to synthesize magnetic microbeads, and magnetic microbeads with different magnetic contents were prepared and characterized. The separation effect was then tested by a fully automated chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer, and it was found that carboxylated magnetic beads with a magnetic content of 20% were the most effective in separating proteins, and the coefficient of variation was as low as 3.41%, with a stable and reproducible performance. The chemiluminescence immunoassay technique can separate proteins in a short period of time with a very small amount of carboxylated magnetic microbeads, which is fast and efficient and will help in the early diagnosis of diseases in healthcare facilities and may be a better point-of-care assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loess disintegration can lead to geotechnical engineering problems, e.g., slope erosion, wetting-induced landslide, and hydroconsolidation. Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) technique is a potential loess reinforcing method. This study investigated the physical-mechanical properties of MICP-treated loess and then explored the mechanism of loess modification by MICP. Here, loess first underwent MICP treatment, i.e., mixing loess with Sporosarcina pasteurii and cementation solution (CS). Then, the effects of the CS concentration (0.2, 0.6, 0.8, and 1 M) on the physical and mechanical properties of the MICP-treated loess were tested. Finally, the static contact angle test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) were conducted to study the mechanism of MICP treatment on loess. Results showed the following property changes of loess after MICP treatment: the liquid limit decreased by 1.7%, the average particle size increased from 6 to 47 µm, the specific gravity decreased from 2.65 to 2.43, the unconfined compressive strength increased from 37 to 71 kPa, and the disintegration time increased from 10 to 25 min. Besides, the shear strength also increased, and the shear strength parameters (cohesion c and internal friction angle ∅) varied with the CS concentration. The static contact angle tests indicated that the water absorption ability of loess was reduced after MICP treatment. SEM and XRD results verified that the CaCO3 from MICP was attributed to the above results. The above findings explained the mechanism of MICP treatment of loess: the CaCO3 coats and cements the particles, and fills the pores of loess, improving the strength and water stability of loess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study aims to investigate whether malnutrition defined by the Global Leadership Initiative in Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria using hand-grip strength (HGS) adequately predict postoperative complications and long-term survival in patients underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer in a similar manner to GLIM-defined malnutrition using skeletal muscle index (SMI).Methods: Patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer from August 2014 to June 2019 were included in this study. Clinical data were prospectively collected. Malnutrition was diagnosed based on the two-step approach following the GLIM criteria. Skeletal muscle mass was assessed using SMI based on abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans, or assessed using HGS.Results: A total of 1359 patients were included in this study, in which 36.2% of the patients were at risk of malnutrition (Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 scores ≥3). The incidence of malnutrition was 28.2% and 27.5% using SMI and HGS, respectively. There was a high agreement between the two criteria of malnutrition (kappa = 0.863, P < 0.001). Both of the two criteria of malnutrition were independently associated with postoperative complications (SMI-GLIM, P = 0.041; HGS-GLIM, P = 0.023), overall survival (P < 0.001, both), and disease-free survival (P < 0.001, both), with similar odds ratio or hazard ratio after adjusting for the same confounding variables. HGS-GLIM malnutrition (P = 0.046) but not SMI-GLIM malnutrition (P = 0.270) was associated with a higher incidence of severe complications.Conclusions: GLIM criteria using HGS is a useful tool to diagnose malnutrition and has a similar or even better predictive value for postoperative complications and long-term survival after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer compared with GLIM criteria using SMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant growth hormone gibberellic acid (GA3), as one of the representative secondary metabolites, is widely used in agriculture, horticulture and brewing industry. GA3 is detected in both plants and several fungi with the ability to stimulate plant growth. Currently, the main mode of industrial production of GA3 is depended on the microbial fermentation via long-period submerged fermentation using Fusarium fujikuroi as the only producing strain, qualified for its natural productivity. However, the demand of large-sale industrialization of GA3 was still restricted by the low productivity. The biosynthetic route of GA3 in F. fujikuroi is now well-defined. Furthermore, the multi-level regulation mechanisms involved in the whole network of GA3 production have also been gradually unveiled by the past two decades based on the identification and characterization of several global regulators and their mutual functions. Combined with the quick development of genetic manipulation techniques, the rational modification of producing strain F. fujikuroi development become practical for higher productivity achievement. Herein, we review the latest advances in the molecular regulation of GA3 biosynthesis in F. fujikuroi and conclude a comprehensive network involving nitrogen depression, global regulator, histone modification and G protein signaling pathway. Correspondingly, the bioengineering strategies covering conventional random mutation, genetic manipulating platform development, metabolic edition and fermentation optimization were also systematically proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To eliminate the negative effect of traditional metal-working fluids and achieve sustainable manufacturing, the usage of nano-enhanced biolubricant (NEBL) is widely researched in minimum quantify lubrication (MQL) machining. It's improved tool wear and surface integrity have been preliminarily verified by experimental studies. The previous review papers also concluded the major influencing factors of processability including nano-enhancer and lubricant types, NEBL concentration, micro droplet size, and so on. Nevertheless, the complex action of NEBL, from preparation, atomization, infiltration to heat transfer and anti-friction, is indistinct which limits preparation of process specifications and popularity in factories. Especially in the complex machining process, in-depth understanding is difficult and meaningful. To fill this gap, this paper concentrates on the comprehensive quantitative assessment of processability based on tribological, thermal, and machined surface quality aspects for NEBL application in turning, milling, and grinding. Then it attempts to answer mechanisms systematically considering multi-factor influence of molecular structure, physicochemical properties, concentration, and dispersion. Firstly, this paper reveals advanced lubrication and heat transfer mechanisms of NEBL by quantitative comparison with biolubricant-based MQL machining. Secondly, the distinctive filmformation, atomization, and infiltration mechanisms of NEBL, as distinguished from metal-working fluid, are clarified combining with its unique molecular structure and physical properties. Furtherly, the process optimization strategy is concluded based on the synergistic relationship analysis among process variables, physicochemical properties, machining mechanisms, and performance of NEBL. Finally, the future development directions are put forward aiming at current performance limitations of NEBL, which requires improvement on preparation and jet methods respects. This paper will help scientists deeply understand effective mechanism, formulate process specifications, and find future development trend of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-reinforced composites have become the preferred material in the fields of aviation and aerospace because of their high-strength performance in unit weight. The composite components are manufactured by near net-shape and only require finishing operations to achieve final dimensional and assembly tolerances. Milling and grinding arise as the preferred choices because of their precision processing. Nevertheless, given their laminated, anisotropic, and heterogeneous nature, these materials are considered difficult-to-machine. As undesirable results and challenging breakthroughs, the surface damage and integrity of these materials is a research hotspot with important engineering significance. This review summarizes an up-to-date progress of the damage formation mechanisms and suppression strategies in milling and grinding for the fiber-reinforced composites reported in the literature. First, the formation mechanisms of milling damage, including delamination, burr, and tear, are analyzed. Second, the grinding mechanisms, covering material removal mechanism, thermal mechanical behavior, surface integrity, and damage, are discussed. Third, suppression strategies are reviewed systematically from the aspects of advanced cutting tools and technologies, including ultrasonic vibration-assisted machining, cryogenic cooling, minimum quantity lubrication (MQL), and tool optimization design. Ultrasonic vibration shows the greatest advantage of restraining machining force, which can be reduced by approximately 60% compared with conventional machining. Cryogenic cooling is the most effective method to reduce temperature with a maximum reduction of approximately 60%. MQL shows its advantages in terms of reducing friction coefficient, force, temperature, and tool wear. Finally, research gaps and future exploration directions are prospected, giving researchers opportunity to deepen specific aspects and explore new area for achieving high precision surface machining of fiber-reinforced composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isotopic fractionation factor and element partition coefficient can be calculated only after the geometric optimization of the molecular clusters is completed. Optimization directly affects the accuracy of some parameters, such as the average bond length, molecular volume, harmonic vibrational frequency, and other thermodynamic parameters. Here, we used the improved volume variable cluster model (VVCM) method to optimize the molecular clusters of a typical oxide, quartz. We documented the average bond length and relative volume change. Finally, we extracted the harmonic vibrational frequencies and calculated the equilibrium fractionation factor of the silicon and oxygen isotopes. Given its performance in geometrical optimization and isotope fractionation factor calculation, we further applied the improved VVCM method to calculate isotope equilibrium fractionation factors of Cd and Zn between the hydroxide (Zn–Al layered double hydroxide), carbonate (cadmium-containing calcite) and their aqueous solutions under superficial conditions. We summarized a detailed procedure and used it to re-evaluate published theoretical results for cadmium-containing hydroxyapatite, emphasizing the relative volume change for all clusters and confirming the optimal point charge arrangement (PCA). The results showed that the average bond length and isotope fractionation factor are consistent with those published in previous studies, and the relative volume changes are considerably lower than the results calculated using the periodic boundary method. Specifically, the average Si–O bond length of quartz was 1.63 Å, and the relative volume change of quartz centered on silicon atoms was − 0.39%. The average Zn–O bond length in the Zn–Al-layered double hydroxide was 2.10 Å, with a relative volume change of 1.96%. Cadmium-containing calcite had an average Cd–O bond length of 2.28 Å, with a relative volume change of 0.45%. At 298 K, the equilibrium fractionation factors between quartz, Zn–Al-layered double hydroxide, cadmium-containing calcite, and their corresponding aqueous solutions were Δ 30 / 28 Si Qtz-H 4 SiO 4 = 2.20 ‰ , Δ 18 / 16 O Qtz - (H 2 O) n = 36.05 ‰ , Δ 66 / 64 Zn Zn - Al LDH-Zn (H 2 O) n 2 + = 1.12 ‰ and Δ 114 / 110 Cd (Cd--Cal)-Cd (H 2 O) n 2 + = - 0.26 ‰ respectively. These results strongly support the reliability of the improved VVCM method for geometric optimization of molecular clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential utilization and development of the Ba isotope tool depend on an accurate δ137/134Ba determination of the samples. During the chemical purification, whether the adsorption process on the surface of the ion-exchange resin could lead to the Ba isotopic fractionation and the degree of fractionation directly influence the accurate δ137/134Ba determination. In the present work, first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory were used to quantify the Ba isotopic equilibrium fractionation factor between the aqueous solution and the resin in the acid leaching process. By constructing and optimizing the geometric configurations of Ba-containing species, (Ba(H2O)n2+, Ba(H2O)nCl2, Ba(H2O)n(NO3)2, and the adsorbed Ba2+ on the surface of the resin, extracting the harmonic vibrational frequencies, we finally at 298 K obtained the fractionations, Δ137/134Basoln-ads = 0.07‰, Δ137/134BaBa(H2O)nCl2-ads = 0.05‰, and Δ137/134BaBa(H2O)n(NO3)2-ads = 0.02‰. Overall, there were almost no Ba isotope fractionations during leaching. Although the Ba isotope fractionation can be magnified by the Rayleigh fractionation process in purification, the difference in δ137/134Ba between the initial and final stages did not exceed 0.060‰ (or 0.045‰) when leaching the standard sample with HCl or HNO3, which is equal to or less than the accuracy of Ba isotopic analysis. At a common yield of 89.75%, Ba isotopic fractionation induced by incomplete recovery was 0.015‰ for HCl (or 0.011‰ for HNO3). Finally, if the influence of an incomplete recovery on the δ137/134Ba determination needs to be ignored, the recovery is suggested to be not less than 67% for HCl (or 46% for HNO3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter is a response to an article titled "Prognostic and Clinical Significance of Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I Expression in Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis." The authors of the letter congratulate the original authors on their comprehensive meta-analysis but suggest some points for further discussion. They recommend registering the protocol of systematic reviews or meta-analyses in an international database, providing a table of quality assessment for eligible studies, stratifying the studies into "triple-negative breast cancer" and "non-TNBC" groups, and explaining the potential sources of heterogeneity. The authors believe that the meta-analysis provides evidence that HLA class I may serve as a prognostic indicator for breast cancer and could contribute to BC immunotherapy. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Rotating components such as rotating beams and plates are working in complex physical environments subjected to nonuniform distribution of their own materials, vibration caused by external excitation may result in work instability, structural fatigue and the like, so the dynamic analysis of rotating structures is of great significance. Methods: Based on the nonlocal elasticity theory and Timoshenko beam model, the vibration of a rotating functionally graded piezoelectric nanobeam is investigated. First, the dynamic governing equations and corresponding boundary conditions are derived by the Hamiltonian principle. Then, the governing equations and boundary conditions are discretized by the differential quadrature method. Subsequently, the vibration characteristics of nanobeams are analyzed after detailed numerical calculations. Results: The effects of various parameters including rotational velocity, nonlocal parameter, functional gradient index, length–height geometry ratio and external voltage on the vibration characteristics under different boundary conditions are examined. Finally, the numerical results show that these parameters have non-negligible effects on the natural frequencies and modal shapes. Conclusions: The dynamics of rotating functionally graded nanobeams are affected by both external kinematic and voltage factors and inherent scale factor and their coupling effects. In particular, a nonlinear small-scale effect is observed for a rotating functionally graded piezoelectric nanobeam, which may be useful to the design and optimization of the nano-electro-mechanical system including the rotating structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are becoming increasingly prevalent in the industries including automobile, aerospace, and military due to their light quality, high specific strength, high corrosion resistance, excellent thermodynamics performance, etc. However, these excellent properties easily result in intensive tool wear, short tool life, and reduced machining accuracy. Although ultrasonic vibration–assisted drilling (UVAD) was considered an effective drilling method to reduce tool wear, most reported studies focused on machining kinematics or mechanics, and very few studies systematically explored the tool wear behaviors in UVAD of CFRP. To fill this gap, this paper aims to investigate tool wear of high-speed steel (HSS) twist drill in UVAD of CFRP and compares these wear behaviors with those in conventional drilling based on the experimental observation of the worn drill morphologies. The effects of cutting parameters on tool wear were discussed with the special focus on the differences in tool wear between conventional drilling (CD) and UVAD. The observed wear behaviors can include abrasion, adhesion, oxidization, or the combination of them. The introduction of UVAD can effectively reduce the average width of tool flank wear with a maximum reduction of 13.0% when compared with CD. Both increased feed rate and decreased spindle speed can lead to decreased tool wear. The findings in this paper might offer guidance on the selection of cutting parameters for extending tool life in UVAD of CFRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel glucosylated (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate derivatives 10–13 having the EGCG analogs conjugated to the d-glucosyl azide were synthesized by carrying out the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction, and were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against a panel of five human cancer cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480) using MTT assays. Compounds 10 and 11 showed the highest levels of cytotoxicity against the HL-60 cells with IC50 values of 4.57 and 3.78 μM, respectively, and showed moderate selectivity toward cancer cell lines. Compound 11 was also shown to induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells. Most notably, inclusion of the perbutyrylated glucose residue in an EGCG derivative was concluded to lead to increased anticancer activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Basecutter of sugarcane chopper harvester plays an important role in reducing the harvesting losses and the stubble damage rate. Previous studies have shown that the parameters of contra-rotating basecutter could be optimized for better cutting qualities. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the influence of critical parameters, the rotational speed (RS) and tilt angle (TA) of cutting disc, sugarcane stalk feeding rate (FR), and sugarcane stool diameter (SD), on basecutting losses (BL). Four single-factor experiments and a four-factor four-level orthogonal experiment were conducted on the contra-rotating basecutter platform. The results of single-factor experiments indicated that the basecutting losses were positively correlated with RS, TA, and SD but negatively correlated with FR. Analysis of range (ANOR) of orthogonal test showed that the influencing order of four factors was SD > RS > TA > FR (9.81 > 5.31 > 4.87 > 4.76), and the optimal combination was RS2, TA1, SD1, and FR3 (200 rpm of disc rotational speed, 5° of disc tilt angle, 60 mm of cane stool diameter, and 1.0 m/s of feeding rate). The results of ANOVA showed that only SD had a significant effect on BL at the significance level of 0.05, while the other three factors had no significant effect on it. This study could provide references for sugarcane grower to keep the planting density of sugarcane in a reasonable range, which could reduce basecutting losses in sugarcane harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loess is an unsaturated soil and is widely distributed in arid and semi-arid areas in northwest China. Air permeability is a key parameter for determining the permeation performance of unsaturated soil. At present, the air permeability of loess is mostly determined by laboratory measurements with few studies using in situ measurements. In this paper, an improved loess air permeameter was used to measure the air permeability of in situ loess and undisturbed loess samples in three typical loess regions. The in situ air permeability measurement results obtained with the improved air permeameter were compared with laboratory (in-lab) permeameter measurements of undisturbed loess samples since the in-lab-based method is relatively mature. Experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of the void ratio, the water content and other parameters of the eroded loess formation on the air permeability of the in situ loess samples. The results showed that the in situ air permeability measurements obtained from the improved air permeameter are highly reliable. The air permeability of loess in different regions was highly correlated with the particle size distribution. The higher the clay content, the lower the number of effective permeation pores and the lower the air permeability of the loess. Increasing depth is positively associated with the water content and the dry density, but negatively related to the void ratio and air permeability. The air permeability was the highest near sinkholes, fissures, and trenches; it initially decreased with increasing distance from these features and stabilized eventually. The results of this study successfully provide technical information and support for engineering applications in loess areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum alloy is the main structural material of aircraft, launch vehicle, spaceship, and space station and is processed by milling. However, tool wear and vibration are the bottlenecks in the milling process of aviation aluminum alloy. The machining accuracy and surface quality of aluminum alloy milling depend on the cutting parameters, material mechanical properties, machine tools, and other parameters. In particular, milling force is the crucial factor to determine material removal and workpiece surface integrity. However, establishing the prediction model of milling force is important and difficult because milling force is the result of multiparameter coupling of process system. The research progress of cutting force model is reviewed from three modeling methods: empirical model, finite element simulation, and instantaneous milling force model. The problems of cutting force modeling are also determined. In view of these problems, the future work direction is proposed in the following four aspects: (1) high-speed milling is adopted for the thin-walled structure of large aviation with large cutting depth, which easily produces high residual stress. The residual stress should be analyzed under this particular condition. (2) Multiple factors (e.g., eccentric swing milling parameters, lubrication conditions, tools, tool and workpiece deformation, and size effect) should be considered comprehensively when modeling instantaneous milling forces, especially for micro milling and complex surface machining. (3) The database of milling force model, including the corresponding workpiece materials, working condition, cutting tools (geometric figures and coatings), and other parameters, should be established. (4) The effect of chatter on the prediction accuracy of milling force cannot be ignored in thin-walled workpiece milling. (5) The cutting force of aviation aluminum alloy milling under the condition of minimum quantity lubrication (mql) and nanofluid mql should be predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Anatomical changes in and hormone roles of the exserted stigma were investigated, and localization and functional analysis of SlLst for the exserted stigma were performed using SLAF-BSA-seq, parental resequencing and overexpression of SlLst in tomato. Tomato accession T431 produces stigmas under relatively high temperatures (> 27 °C, the average temperature in Harbin, China, in June–August), so pollen can rarely reach the stigma properly. This allows the percentage of male sterility exceed 95%, making the use of this accession practical for hybrid seed production. To investigate the mechanism underlying the exserted stigma male sterility, the morphological changes of, anatomical changes of, and comparative endogenous hormone (IAA, ABA, GA3, ZT, SA) changes in flowers during flower development of tomato accessions DL5 and T431 were measured. The location and function of genes controlling exserted stigma sterility were analyzed using super SLAF-BSA-seq, parental resequencing, comparative genomics and the overexpression of SlLst in tomato. The results showed that an increase in cell number mainly caused stigma exsertion. IAA played a major role, while ABA had an opposite effect on stigma exertion. Moreover, 26 candidate genes related to the exserted stigma were found, located on chromosome 12. The Solyc12g027610.1 (SlLst) gene was identified as the key candidate gene by functional analysis. A subcellular localization assay revealed that SlLst is targeted to the nucleus and cell membrane. Phenotypic analysis of SlLst-overexpressing tomato showed that SlLst plays a crucial role during stigma exsertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss a priori error estimates for the finite volume element approximation of optimal control problem governed by Stokes equations. Under some reasonable assumptions, we obtain optimal L 2 -norm error estimates. The approximate orders for the state, costate, and control variables are O (h 2) in the sense of L 2 -norm. Furthermore, we derive H 1 -norm error estimates for the state and costate variables. Finally, we give some conclusions and future works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trust is a major determinant of acceptance of an autonomous vehicle (AV), and a lack of appropriate trust could prevent drivers and society in general from taking advantage of such technology. This paper makes a new attempt to explore the effects of personalised AVs as a novel approach to the cognitive underpinnings of drivers' trust in AVs. The personalised AV system is able to identify the driving behaviours of users and thus adapt the driving style of the AV accordingly. A prototype of a personalised AV was designed and evaluated in a lab-based experimental study of 36 human drivers, which investigated the impact of the personalised AV on user trust when compared with manual human driving and non-personalised AVs. The findings show that a personalised AV appears to be significantly more reliable through accepting and understanding each driver's behaviour, which could thereby increase a user's willingness to trust the system. Furthermore, a personalised AV brings a sense of familiarity by making the system more recognisable and easier for users to estimate the quality of the automated system. Personalisation parameters were also explored and discussed to support the design of AV systems to be more socially acceptable and trustworthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep reinforcement learning (RL) has become one of the most popular topics in artificial intelligence research. It has been widely used in various fields, such as end-to-end control, robotic control, recommendation systems, and natural language dialogue systems. In this survey, we systematically categorize the deep RL algorithms and applications, and provide a detailed review over existing deep RL algorithms by dividing them into modelbased methods, model-free methods, and advanced RL methods. We thoroughly analyze the advances including exploration, inverse RL, and transfer RL. Finally, we outline the current representative applications, and analyze four open problems for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of our meta-analysis was to estimate the effect of VTS on obstetric outcomes of ART singletons. Methods: PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched up to January 2019 to find studies reporting the obstetric outcomes of ART singletons with VTS. Dichotomous data were expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Continuous data were expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% CI. Results: A total of 17 observational studies encompassing more than 60,000 ART singletons were included in this meta-analysis. The impact of VTS on singletons was highly dependent on the definition of VTS, precisely, the vanishing timing and intrauterine growth stage. When VTS happened at or before 14 weeks, regardless of intrauterine growth stage, there were no differences in terms of gestational age (GA) [WMD = − 0.08, 95% CI = − 0.27, 0.10], preterm birth (< 37 weeks) (PTB) [OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.89, 1.70], and low birth weight (< 2.5 kg) (LBW) [OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.00, 2.43] in original singletons versus singleton with VTS. On the contrary, VTS occurred after 14 weeks was associated with significantly shorter GW and lower BW, as well as higher risks of PTB and LBW. When the sac reduced in VTS was an empty gestational sac, there would be no differences in GW, PTB, and LBW between singletons versus singletons with VTS, whereas the loss of a fetus with cardiac-activity was associated with adverse obstetric outcomes. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests whether or not VTS is harmful to obstetric outcomes is highly dependent on the vanishing timing and intrauterine growth stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treated sewage sludge (or biosolid) is a suitable alternative substrate for use in turf production, but the potential of this resource remains to be explored in higher value-added field. In this study, the negative effects of sludge compost and biochar-amended sludge compost amendment on the qualitative performance of sports-field turf, including vegetation stolon index, grade for turf, and sports performance index, were investigated. It was found that sludge compost and biochar-amended sludge compost amendment induced a significant increase in organic matter, total nitrogen, total potassium, and electrical conductivity. In addition, biochar-amended sludge compost also resulted in a significant increase in turf chlorophyll content and the rate of turf weed emergence. Interestingly, electrical conductivity explained 55.4% of the qualitative changes, and electrical conductivity and pH together explained 68% of the qualitative changes. In summary, salinity was the main factor responsible for the negative effect of sludge compost amendment on qualitative performance of sports-field turf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium alloys is a key kind of materials in both aerospace industry and biomedical engineering. However, mechanical grinding process of Ti alloys easily leads to the featureless white layer (WL) extending tens of micrometers beneath the ground surface. Although many relevant studies have been reported so far, the WL quantification in most previous studies was performed by human raw eyes. To fill this gap, this paper proposes an image-processing-based method which can automatically recognise and measure the grinding-induced WL in the Ti alloy workpiece. By comparing the results separately obtained by the proposed method and manual measurement, it shows that the method can recognise and measure the WL region accurately (the maximum absolute error of 0.09 μm) and quickly (1.65 s per micrograph). More importantly, the method does not require any parameter presetting and has good robustness in terms of (i) varied WL region thicknesses, (ii) different workpiece placements and (iii) the interference from the noise pixels. The method therefore is believed to be not only meaningful and helpful to automatically measure the WL thickness in Ti alloys in large quantities, but also transferable to other industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]