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In this paper, we explore what the travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic reveal about the changing geographies of mobilities and the making of homo sacer, the latter constituted through differentiated control of mobilities. Implemented to protect U.S. public health, travel restrictions imposed on travelers from Mainland China during the early days of the pandemic exemplify how sovereign power that declares a state of emergency and creates bare life can be readily applied to groups of people who previously had privileged access to global mobility. In this sense, bare life does not refer to fixed and disadvantaged social categories but is rather contingently and contextually constituted, through the works of hybrid sovereign regimes. At the same time, however, these travelers are not reduced to a state of zero-agency but reside within a liminal space between soft and hard cosmopolitanisms, as they can still deploy agency and cosmopolitan capital to achieve certain degrees of mobility. By examining how Chinese travelers navigated various travel restrictions and the constantly changing policies to travel to the U.S., this paper explores new spaces of exception and forms of bare life, and argues that homo sacer is dynamically, relationally and recursively constructed, both through apparatus of control and the agency of travelers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of polysaccharide drugs requires a thorough understanding of their quantitative and pharmacokinetic properties. However, the complexity of biological samples presents a challenge for direct analysis using UHPLC-QTOF MS. Therefore, it is essential to establish a method for the selective enrichment of polysaccharides. In this study, we developed an efficient method for the quantitative determination of polysaccharides by integrating magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for sample pretreatment and UHPLC-QTOF MS for analysis. The MIPs were prepared using molecularly imprinted and boric acid affinity technologies, which combined the advantages of specific recognition and reversible binding to polysaccharides. The MIPs exhibited high dispersibility and uniform particle size, and adsorption experiments demonstrated their specific recognition of BG136, a polysaccharide with immunological activity. The proposed method was used for the purification and enrichment of BG136 in plasma with recoveries between 91.29% and 113.03%. This simple method demonstrated high selectivity, fast separation, and satisfactory recoveries providing an approach for polysaccharide determination with UHPLC-QTOF MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate sequential change point estimation and detection in univariate nonparametric settings, where a stream of independent observations from sub-Gaussian distributions with a common variance factor and piecewise-constant but otherwise unknown means are collected. We develop a simple CUSUM-based methodology that provably control the probability of false alarms or the average run length while minimizing, in a minimax sense, the detection delay. We allow for all the model parameters to vary in order to capture a broad range of levels of statistical hardness for the problem at hand. We further show how our methodology is applicable to the case in which multiple change points are to be estimated sequentially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically reviewed the relevant studies and summarized the associations of objective measures of residential neighborhood built-environment attributes with sedentary time among adults. Published studies were obtained from PubMed and Scopus, restricting to those published in English language peer-reviewed journals to Oct. 2021. There were nine studies and 48 instances of estimated associations. Most instances showed no statistical-significant associations; by contrast, few instances showed that adults living in a neighborhood characterized by a high density of local destinations and connected intersections were associated with less sedentary time. The findings suggest that a high density of destinations and street intersections around residence may provide opportunities to transfer and access to services, thus reducing the sedentary time. Future research strengthening the research design and measurements are needed to investigate the potential explanations of the associations between residential neighborhood built environments and sedentary time in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exemplarism – the view that exemplary people, whom we admire, are the bearers of our moral concepts – presents considerable challenges to the (widely-assumed) place of moral theory in how we learn to be moral. Exemplarism has been garnered by Amy Olberding to articulate a Confucian approach to moral learning. This paper extends Exemplarism by considering how it may be put into practice, based on a seminal Confucian text, the Analects of Confucius. To date, the majority of discussions on Confucian ethics that have brought Confucian philosophy to the attention of Anglophone scholars tend to focus on conceptually-based matters. There remain questions regarding how these values may be inculcated and embodied in our moral lives. Central to our proposal is the practice of reflective observation (guan 觀), comprised by three integrated components: observation, evaluation, and emulation. Observing, reflectively, is important not only for an individual's acculturation to existing norms and practices but also for how they may subsequently exercise some latitude over their moral practices. Our reflections offer a practical approach to Confucian moral learning. In doing so, we demystify moral learning in Confucianism and open up avenues for future cross-tradition dialogues on moral education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feminist scholars have highlighted the potential of care ethics to challenge the neoliberal social paradigm by underscoring the power of emotion and affect in shaping intersubjectivity. In a similar vein, Hardt and Negri (2001, 2005) stressed the power of affect to challenge capitalism. Other scholars, however, have challenged these positive aspects of emotion in care practices, citing the potential harm caused when affective ties to care recipients or the obligation to provide emotional care exploits workers. This article discusses the paradox of care that simultaneously enables and hurts, nurtures and harms. Based on ethnographic field work in five Chinese state-owned social welfare institutions (SWIs) caring for orphans, this article argues that the emotional labor in SWIs on the one hand produces intersubjectivity among caregivers and children in their care, and on the other hand it harms caregivers emotionally, leading them to use strategies such as drawing emotional boundaries with the orphans to protect themselves from the pain of losing "their" children when they are adopted. This article contributes to the geography of care literature by challenging the fantasy and romanticization of affect in care settings and stressing the paradox of care and affect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently the Chinese government has been actively collaborating with nonprofit nongovernmental organizations to provide social welfare services to older adults at the community level. The role played by NGOs in facilitating governance has only recently gained attention in the literature on Chinese NGOs and urban governance. Addressing this gap, the paper advances geographers' understanding of State–NGO collaborations in facilitating urban governance in the Chinese context using fieldwork in Beijing and Shanghai on the provision of community eldercare services as an example. It also explains the political control of these NGOs and their changing role in the eldercare market. We argue that collaborations between the state and NGOs in China have gradually transferred eldercare services to the NGOs, and led to a fragmented welfare system, which, as a consequence, has facilitated entrepreneurial urban governance. The paper sheds light on community-based organizations, their collaboration with local governments, and how they have become not only welfare providers but a significant site for social control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines factors influencing on student evaluations of teaching (SET) with consideration of disciplinary variations. Data were obtained from a university in Guangzhou of China and consisted of 1443 undergraduate course ratings collected from 19 schools over two semesters. The students and courses are classified into hard and soft disciplinary groupings and divided into four sub-groups for further comparison. The result of the ANOVA test showed significant difference in the mean SET scores across four subgroups; and results of linear models reflect students who major in hard discipline tend to give higher SET scores regardless of the course’s feature. In addition, there was also evidence of possible biases in the ratings according to the features of teachers, students and courses. Overall, the disciplinary differences would need to be considered when decisions are being made on the basis of the SET scores, especially for cross-school evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young drivers are more likely to be involved in traffic accidents. The study aims to explore mechanisms behind distracted driving behaviour, traffic safety environment, driving responsibility, and hazard perception. A conceptual model is proposed based on Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory. The self-reported data from 367 drivers are used to estimate and modify the model based on exploratory factor analysis, structural equation modelling, and bias-corrected bootstrap method. The regression relationships and the mediators have been identified. The traffic safety environment including the traffic enforcement and the driving condition isn't related to the distracted driving behaviour. The traffic enforcement is associated the driving responsibility, the relationships between the driving responsibility, the hazard perception and the driving condition are significant, and the relationships between the distracted driving behaviour, the driving responsibility and the hazard perception are noteworthy. A positive traffic safety environment is beneficial to the safety of young drivers. The sense of driving responsibility and the self-cognition of hazard perception need attention for the early intervention of young drivers' distracted driving behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ladybird beetle, Coccinella septempunctata, is an important predator of soft-bodied insects. To further optimise an artificial diet for rearing the ladybird beetle, we investigated the effects of juvenile hormone (JH), honey, shrimp, rape pollen, lard, and other factors on the biological characteristics of C. septempunctata. Survival and pupation rates of larvae were decreased when JH and lard were added to the artificial diet; however, the addition of lard increased egg hatching to 73.70%, which was significantly higher than the control diet (50.56%). Adding honeybee pupae to the artificial diet shortened the preoviposition period to 7.64 d, compared to 10.36 d in the control diet. Adding honey, shrimp, and honeybee pupae to the diet resulted in 465.12, 452.35, and 423.01 eggs laid, respectively, which was significantly higher than the control diet. The pupation and emergence rates of C. septempunctata larvae fed an artificial diet without JH were significantly higher than those fed an artificial diet with JH; thus, JH and lard should not be added to artificial diets during the larval stage. During the adult stage, adding rape pollen, shrimp, honey, lard, and honeybee pupae to the diet could improve the fecundity of C. septempunctata. These results will be helpful for optimising artificial diets for the mass production of C. septempunctata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More couples worldwide, delay their childbearing years. The increase in age causes a gradual decrease in female ovarian function and fertility, leading to an exponential decrease in women over 35 years of age having children. Although promising for some, assisted reproductive technology (ART) is not promising for older women. Decreased fertility in advanced age has become a growing concern in the field of reproduction. In this study, high-throughput transcriptome sequencing was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) of older women (aged 35–44) with infertility and younger women (aged 25–34). The enriched functions and signaling pathways of DEGs were analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The function of DEGs were analyzed and predicted combined with clinical ART data. Sequencing results were verified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Retrospective clinical data and bioinformatics analyses revealed marked reductions in the retrieved oocyte, metaphase II oocyte, 2PN fertilization, and effective embryo numbers in older women. Although the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates did not differ notably between the groups, the miscarriage rate increased significantly in older women. In total, 620 DEGs were identified, of which 246 were upregulated, and 374 were downregulated in the older group. GO, and KEGG analyses indicated that the mechanism of fertility decline in older women was probably related to chronic inflammation, cytokine receptor interaction, and oxidative stress. In conclusion, combined with basic clinical ART data and pregnancy outcomes, we tried to provide a more intuitive and in-depth understanding of age-related reduction in ovarian function and pathogenesis of infertility with regard to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of laser scanning in the realm of bridge assessment has been primarily limited to measuring large bridge dimensions. Given the scale of these measurements compared to standard accuracy metrics for LiDAR sensors, it follows that they may be captured with relatively small errors (<1%). This paper explores LiDAR's capacity to (a) estimate smaller cross-section dimensions of an operating bridge, and (b) quantify the observed errors in terms of capacity calculations (as opposed to simple percent errors). To satisfy these objectives, sixteen LiDAR scans of an eleven-span steel girder bridge were completed under normal operating conditions. Various dimensional quantities were extracted from the data both directly and using standard plane-fitting approaches (Plane Fitting, Ransac). Results indicated that dimensions obtained from Plane Fitting resulted in flexural capacities 4%-7% less than those computed using the dimensions from the bridge plans. The Ransac method estimated errors within 7%-10%, while the dimensions obtained directly from the point cloud data resulted in capacity errors of 9%-13%. Due to common errors sources, all dimensions were conservatively estimated throughout this study. However, the observed distortion of elements due to fabrication stresses, showed to have the potential of overestimation of dimensions if planar assumptions are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torsades de pointes (TdP) is an irregular heart rhythm characterized by faster beat rates and potentially could lead to sudden cardiac death. Much effort has been invested in understanding the drug-induced TdP in preclinical studies. However, a comprehensive statistical learning framework that can accurately predict the drug-induced TdP risk from preclinical data is still lacking. We proposed ordinal logistic regression and ordinal random forest models to predict low-, intermediate-, and high-risk drugs based on datasets generated from two experimental protocols. Leave-one-drug-out cross-validation, stratified bootstrap, and permutation predictor importance were applied to estimate and interpret the model performance under uncertainty. The potential outlier drugs identified by our models are consistent with their descriptions in the literature. Our method is accurate, interpretable, and thus useable as supplemental evidence in the drug safety assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anastomosis of renal artery and renal vein in mouse models of kidney transplantation is technically challenging. Conventional technique using suture may result in vascular thrombosis. We developed a simple cuff method to anastomose both renal artery and vein. Briefly, the left renal artery was occluded at the junction with abdominal aorta using a small vessel clip, transected at the renal hilum, irrigated with heparinized saline, and passed through the lumen of a seamless tubing made of polyimide. The loose end of the artery was everted over the cuff and secured using an 8-0 silk suture. The cuffed artery was inserted into the donor renal artery and secured with an 8-0 suture. Anastomosis of the renal vein was performed similarly. Isograft transplantation was conducted using BALB/c mice as donor and recipient mice (n = 20). The total operative time was 77 ± 3 min, and the cold ischemic time of the graft kidney was minimized to 20 min. One animal was excluded due to anatomic variant vessels and another one died at three day after surgery without thrombosis. Serum creatinine increased insignificantly after transplantation and remained stable over 12 weeks posttransplant. Five recipient mice were sacrificed for histologic examination at 12 weeks after transplantation. No vascular thrombosis was observed at the site of anastomosis. The isografts showed no evidence of acute and chronic lesions such as extinctive ischemic sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. In summary, cuff anastomosis can be used to eliminate thrombosis formation in the mouse model of kidney transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study certain representations of Lie algebra , which is a subalgebra of extended Schrödinger-Virasoro Lie algebra. We prove the irreducibility of its certain representations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regression analysis has been widely used for face recognition. This paper mainly discuss the following regularized matrix regression problem: Given a set of k image matrices A 1 , A 2 , ... , A k ∈ R m × n and an image matrix B ∈ R m × n , find x = (x 1 , x 2 , ... , x k) T ∈ R k such that min x ∈ R k ∥ x 1 A 1 + x 2 A 2 + ⋯ + x k A k − B ∥ F 2 + λ 2 ∥ x ∥ 2 2 , where x 1 , x 2 , ... , x k are also a set of representation coefficients, λ is the model parameter, and ∥ A ∥ F represents the Frobenius norm of matrix A. Yuan and Liao [S.F. Yuan, A.P. Liao, Least squares Hermitian solution of the complex matrix equation AXB + CXD = E with the least norm. J. Frankl. Inst. 351 (2014), pp. 4978–4997] introduced a new product for matrices and vectors, and solved the least squares Hermitian problem of complex matrix equation A X B + C X D = E. In this paper, we deeply investigate this product and its relative properties about matrix trace, norm, and determinant. We then provide a direct method to get the close form solution for solving the regularized image matrix regression problem in face recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the potential relationship between dairy product consumption and bladder cancer risk, we retrieved eligible studies published up to March 15, 2018, via online database search and manual review of the selected articles. Summary relative risk (RR) estimates were calculated using random-effects models based on high to low intake values. Inter-study heterogeneity was explored using stratified analyses of study design, geographic region, or whether studies adjusted for the confounders age, sex, body mass index, smoking, and education level. We extracted data from 16 studies on milk (5,193 subjects) and 10 studies on dairy products (20,434 subjects). The total study population included 220,952 individuals. Dairy product intake and bladder cancer risk were significantly associated, and milk intake and bladder cancer risk more so. Stratified analysis revealed that the trend was more pronounced in case–control studies, and in studies with impact factor <3 and in Asia. The relationship was confirmed after adjusting for sex and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale score of 7 and 8. Our study shows an inverse association between milk consumption and bladder cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformation of the governance model from a rule of virtue to political realism in China has been a topic of great interest to scholars. In this study, I examine military culture during the Zhou Dynasty and investigate the changes in ethics based on factors such as cultural values, social customs, and political structure to understand the process by which moral values have changed as the governance model transformed from rule of virtue to political realism. I found that military ethics have changed from governance through the use of rituals during the Western Zhou Dynasty to what was called "deception makes an army" during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jiangxititan ganzhouensis gen. et sp. nov. is a new titanosaurian sauropod recovered from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Nanxiong Formation of Jiangxi Province, southern China. It is characterised by: (1) posterior cervical and anterior dorsal centra strongly compressed dorsoventrally; (2) accessory horizontal laminae present within the anterior dorsal pleurocoels; (3) posterior cervical and anterior dorsal neural arches low; (4) posterior cervical and anterior dorsal neural spines deeply bifurcated and widely separated; (5) inverted ‘V’ lamina formed by the left and right medial spinoprezygapophyseal laminae present at the anterior margin of the bifid point in posteriormost cervical and anteriormost dorsal neural spines; (6) triangular fossa formed by the metapophysis, medial and lateral spinoprezygapophyseal laminae present at the anterior margins of the posteriormost cervical and anteriormost dorsal neural spines; (7) postzygapophyses in the posterior cervical vertebrae fan-shaped; (8) medial and lateral spinopostzygapophyseal laminae present in the anterior dorsal vertebrae; and (9) anterior dorsal rib short and gracil. Our phylogenetic analysis places Jiangxititan within the deeply-nested titanosauriform clade Lognkosauria and the sympatric Gannansaurus in a much earlier-diverging lineage. This new discovery thus demonstrates the presence of both early-diverging and late-diverging titanosauriform sauropods in the Late Cretaceous Ganzhou dinosaur fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the connection between paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent, and gastric cancer cells. In this experiment, it is demonstrated that paclitaxel triggers autophagy and inhibits proliferation of gastric cancer cells. An 3–(4,5–dimethyl–2–thiazolyl)–2,5–diphenyl–2–H–tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to detect cell viability and the IC50of paclitaxel. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of P62, and to measure the protein expression of autophagy. Immunofluorescence was used to reveal the appearance of punctate structures in the cytoplasm—this ultrastructure associated with autophagy was observed by microscopy. Electron microscopy revealed the formation of double-membrane autophagosomes, a typical structure of autophagy. In conclusion, our research indicates that paclitaxel may influence gastric cancer BGC823 cells by way of inducing autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stochastic blockmodels and variants thereof are among the most widely used approaches to community detection for social networks and relational data. A stochastic blockmodel partitions the nodes of a network into disjoint sets, called communities. The approach is inherently related to clustering with mixture models; and raises a similar model selection problem for the number of communities. The Bayesian information criterion (BIC) is a popular solution, however, for stochastic blockmodels, the conditional independence assumption given the communities of the endpoints among different edges is usually violated in practice. In this regard, we propose composite likelihood BIC (CL-BIC) to select the number of communities, and we show it is robust against possible misspecifications in the underlying stochastic blockmodel assumptions. We derive the requisite methodology and illustrate the approach using both simulated and real data. Supplementary materials containing the relevant computer code are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Confucius and Mencius intentionally refrained from further discussing military actions because of their consistent belief of ethical governance, thus creating a theoretical gap. This study explores the military ethics in Confucianism by analyzing Xunzi. Xunzi transformed the negative attitude toward war promoted by Confucius and Mencius and argued that war does not contradict the values of humaneness and justice because people supporting these values condemn those who violate such values. One must prevent violence and eradicate evil through war, rather than using war for personal incentives to protect the normal operation of a society. Xunzi promoted the use of temporary military actions as a means for restoring social order, changing the traditional Confucian antiwar perspective of “those who are benevolent have no enemy” advocated by Confucius and Mencius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Via quantitative analysis and interviews, this article examines the credibility and sustainability of Beijing’s patronage policy towards Taiwanese business. The new finding is that the rise of economic nationalism and local protectionism in China is undermining and constraining Beijing’s patronage policy. Consequently, China’s rising economy does not deepen cross-Strait integration but rather crowds out Taiwanese business. Moreover, considering the growing influence of Chinese domestic constraints, this article attempts to provide a bilateral two-level game to grasp the new dynamics on cross-Strait relations under the new normal. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Marine hydrokinetic power generation is a relatively new type of renewable generation. Its predecessors, such as wind power generation, hydropower plant generation, geothermal generation, photovoltaic generation, and solar thermal generation, have gained a lot of attention because of their successful implementation. The successful integration of renewable generation into the electric power grid has energized the power system global communities to take the lessons learned, innovations, and market structure to focus on the large potential of marine hydrokinetic to also contribute to the pool of renewable energy generation. This article covers the broad spectrum of marine hydrokinetic generation. The state of the art of power take-off will be discussed. Types of electrical generators will be presented, and the options for implementation will also be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We demonstrate that the supramolecular structure can be formed through the fibrous self-assembly of the polyfluorene-based polymer F8BT in liquid crystal (LC) 5CB. With the utility of alignment layer, the F8BT molecules can be aligned and formed oriented polymer network. We found that the presence of oriented polymer network makes twisted nematic LC exhibit excellent electro-optical properties (EO) of driving voltage reduction and EO bump peak elimination. The polyfluorene-based supramolecular structure provides the function of stabilizing LC molecules. We consider this functional self-assembled network has potential to apply in various devices for the ability of improving performance in operating property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three methods for ethics instruction are used in Taiwanese military education: the ‘bag-of-virtues’, value-clarification and virtue-ethics methods. This article explains, analyzes and discusses each of these, thereby giving an introduction to how military ethics is taught – and thought of – within the Taiwanese military system. Recommendations are given for how to improve the parts of the system that do not seem to live up to the stated intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this article, for Lasso penalized linear regression models in high-dimensional settings, we propose a modified cross-validation (CV) method for selecting the penalty parameter. The methodology is extended to other penalties, such as Elastic Net. We conduct extensive simulation studies and real data analysis to compare the performance of the modified CV method with other methods. It is shown that the popularK-fold CV method includes many noise variables in the selected model, while the modified CV works well in a wide range of coefficient and correlation settings. Supplementary materials containing the computer code are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article presents a novel bidirectional wavelength reconfigurable optical network utilizing a remotely pumped erbium-doped fiber amplifier and tunable fiber Bragg gratings. The system is experimentally demonstrated at a 10-Gb/s per channel over 20-km fiber span that verifies the metro-network range system performance. The achieved power penalty is less than 1 dB when compared to the back-to-back transmission link. An example of practical application where the proposed module is used as an add/drop multiplexer and a remote node in the bidirectional wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network system is described. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Tungsten (W) is considered to be a promising candidate for plasma facing materials in fusion reactors because of its high melting point, high thermal diffusivity and low sputtering yield. To investigate the multiple hydrogen (H) diffusion behaviours at the W(001) surface, molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the H distributions after diffusion of 1 ns under different conditions. The results of using different H concentrations and temperatures showed the preference of bulk to surface diffusion, and the H distribution patterns of the H/W ratio of 0·1 are analysed in detail with an 'empty' region near the surface. The effect of temperature on H diffusion is also investigated, which gives the highest adsorption peak at a mediate temperature of 900 K. The trapping effect of vacancies on H atoms is demonstrated at different vacancy concentrations. The effect of H embedded depth on H distribution is also investigated together with the effect of temperature, which gives an increasing trend of temperature with the highest adsorption peak with the H depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the popularity of automobile, traffic safety and our lives are inseparable. In vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs), the properties authenticity, privacy and traceability have already been considered in many previous researches. Many automotive systems combine their applications with smart life. In this paper, a speedy seamless safe (3-S) messaging mechanism for roadside-to-vehicle authentication and vehicle-to-vehicle communication is proposed. In addition to the essential requirements mentioned above, 3-S messaging mechanism is designed to reduce the computation cost and provide the seamless communication when the vehicle crosses the various regions. With better performance and availability, our scheme can be applied in various VANET applications, especially in safety systems to provide the drivers active safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, I examined what channels of socialization influence the moral behavior of cadets. We conducted a regression analysis of the effects of parents' attitudes to moral education, the standard and potential curriculum of schools, peer groups, and communication media on individual ethics and discipline using 399 sample participants. The participants were recruited through a questionnaire survey on cadets from academy of military, naval, and air force, and four-year based students from R.O.C. National Defense University. The analysis results showed that the cultivation of morality among cadets was directly influenced by the school's potential curriculum (i.e., intern cadres and officers in company) and their parents' attitudes to moral education during early childhood. The results also indicated that the influence of teaching by example was more significant than that of teaching by precept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planar compact monopole antenna design with triple-band operation for the IEEE 802.16 m worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) system is proposed. By adding C- and L-shaped monopole strips to the antenna, excitation of multiresonant modes can approximate the 2.6, 3.5, and 5.5 GHz bands required for WiMAX (IEEE 802.16 m) operations. The obtained impedance bandwidths across the operating bands approach 168/325/1208 MHz for the 2.6/3.5/5.5 GHz bands, respectively. The proposed uniplanar antenna reduces the antenna size by at least 15%, since overall antenna volume is only 22 × 28 × 0.8 mm3(0.19 λo × 0.243 λo × 0.007 λo, at 2.6 GHz). The measured peak gains and radiation efficiencies approximate 3.0/4.2/4.5 dBi and 77/76/83% in the 2.6/3.5/5.5 GHz band, respectively, and exhibit a nearly omni-directional pattern in theXY-plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Bombax malabaricum DC. (Bombacaceae) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, diarrhea, fever, chronic inflammation, catarrhal affection, and as a diuretic. However, little information is available about its antioxidative activity. Objective: Water, 50% ethanol, and 80% acetone extracts from flowers of B. malabaricum were investigated for their in vitro antioxidant activity in this article for the first time. Then the relationships between antioxidant activity measured by different methods and total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were established. Materials and methods: The antioxidant activities of extracts from B. malabaricum flower were investigated including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), reducing power, and inhibition on phosphatidylcholine liposome peroxidation. Results: Results showed that all the extracts possessed remarkable antioxidant capacity compared with ascorbic or gallic acids. Total antioxidant activities evaluated by ORAC assay of different extracts ranged from 700.03 to 1482.46 μμmol Trolox equivalents/g. The highest TPC of 130.38 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g was observed in 80% acetone extract, whereas the lowest TPC of 57.09 mg GAE/g was obtained in the water extract. Furthermore, TFC exhibited significant ( P < 0.05) positive correlations with DPPH radical-scavenging activity, ORAC, and reducing power. Discussion and conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the flowers of B. malabaricum have excellent antioxidant activities and thus might be a potential source of natural antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To compare the quality of ultrasound images acquired by the new PureWave Crystal transducer with those acquired by a conventional transducer in 'difficult' obstetric subjects. Methods. A predefined list of ultrasound images were obtained from 35 'difficult' obstetric patients using both conventional and new PureWave Crystal transducers by a sonographer. All images were rated using a three-point scale by an independent assessor. Both the sonographer and assessor were experienced in obstetric ultrasound and blinded to the type of transducers being used. A higher score represented better image quality. The scores of each pair of images obtained by the two different ultrasound transducers were compared. Results. The scores for images obtained by the PureWave Crystal transducer were significant higher than those by a conventional transducer, among all 10 structures examined. The new transducer was rated to enable higher diagnostic confidence (82.9%), and produced better image quality for the near field image (94.3%), the far field image (88.6%) and overall (94.3%). Conclusions. Ultrasound transducer incorporating the PureWave Crystal technology produces significantly better image quality for diagnostic purpose in difficult obstetric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this technical report, we will discuss several recent developments at BL02B of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF), with our focus on I in-situ i capabilities by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Compared with TEY mode XAS, the AEY mode XAS obtained from the I m i RAS can further increase the surface sensitivity. After 50 years of effort, near-ambient or ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS or APXPS) has become a useful tool for studying gas and liquid molecules in environmental science [[1], [3]]. Together with the I in-situ i capability of the APXPS system, the AP I m i RAS can extend the HERED mode XAS for the I in-situ i investigation of electronic structure. [Extracted from the article]

Observations of two types of nematic droplet in the nematic-isotropic phase coexistence region are reported. One type contains topological defects and is free to move within a thin, homeotropically treated cell; the other is defect free and appears to be pinned at the substrates. The freely moving droplet represents an apparently new liquid crystal-substrate repulsion, which depends on the director alignments at the substrate and at the surface of the nematic droplet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aminoglycoside antibiotics exhibit broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, good efficacy, and stability. However, due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, their use as broad-spectrum antibiotics is restricted. Bacteria producing the bifunctional enzyme, 6′-aminoglycoside acetyltransferase 2″-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase [AAC(6′)-APH(2″)], can modify aminoglycoside antibiotics, leading to the emergence of clinical drug resistance. A method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) is reported to monitor the modification of aminoglycoside antibiotics and to screen potential inhibitors of AAC(6′)-APH(2″) from marine natural products. Instead of using purified AAC(6′)-APH(2″), Escherichia coli cells harboring AAC(6′)-APH(2″) were employed. In vivo enzyme assays, conducted in the physiological environment, compensated for the disparity between in vitro responses and those in living cells. The inhibition zone method was used to verify the reliability of the UHPLC-MS results. From a library of 63 marine natural products, Mer-C-3 and Mer-c-8e pyridine alkaloids were shown to provide inhibitory activity against AAC(6′)-APH(2″) in living bacteria. The UHPLC-MS-based approach offers improved speed, convenience, and sensitivity compared with the traditional inhibition zone assay for the screening of enzyme inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore a potential relationship between dietary fiber consumption and risk of endometrial cancer (EC), eligible studies published up to 30 June 2018 were retrieved via computer searches and manual review of references. Random-effects models were used to calculate summary relative risk (RR) estimates based on contrasting high- and low-fiber intake values. Sensitivity analysis was conducted, and heterogeneity among study results was explored through stratified analyses by study design, geographic region, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) score, impact factor, and adjustment for several confounders (age, body mass index, smoking, energy intake, and education). We extracted data from 16 studies (involving 6,563 cases). There was a significant association between dietary fiber intake and EC (RR = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78, 0.93). In stratified analysis, this trend was more pronounced in the case–control studies, and in studies conducted in the Americas and Asia. The relationship was further confirmed after adjusting for education level (RR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.88) and age (RR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.83), and NOS scores of 6 (RR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.95) and 7 (RR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.88). In conclusion, our meta-analysis revealed an inverse association between dietary fiber consumption and EC risk. Further efforts should be made to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient approach for in-band radar cross section (RCS) reduction of microstrip patch array antenna without employing extra-low RCS artificial materials is proposed and analysed. The element of the array has a simple structure, consisting of a corner-cut square patch and two tiny perturbation elements. By controlling two independently biased PIN diodes, it can produce linear polarization (LP), left- and right-handed circular polarization (LHCP/RHCP) radiation waves. The backscattering RCS reduction of the array can be achieved by changing the polarization status of array elements. For verification, the performance of a 7 × 7 polarization reconfigurable microstrip array with different polarization modes is designed, compared and analysed. From the simulation and measurement results, the peak RCS of the array can be reduced by more than 7 dB without affecting its radiation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyper-spectral infrared radiance data play an important role in cloud detection. To improve the cloud detection accuracy, this study proposes a novel cloud detection method based on the logistic regression model that uses the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) radiance data of four characteristic channels as the training features. Due to significant differences in the terrain between the land and the sea, the data from the oceans and continents are trained separately. Thereafter, the proposed scheme is verified and compared with existing methods. The results show that the accuracy of the proposed method (97% at sea and 88% on land) outperforms that of the existing Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)/IASI scheme (75% at sea and 55% on land). In addition, the proposed method uses only IASI observations as input and thus does not require the use of other auxiliary data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mission of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) is to serve those who solve complex and critical problems of the world. Notably, the research–practice gap in Operations Management (OM) marginalizes the value and relevance of the IISE. To maintain and enhance the impact of the IISE, we identify major bottlenecks that limit the industrial installation of OM research outcomes. Ranked by the relative importance, the three bottlenecks are verifying the performance improvement, building trust with practitioners, and balancing model accuracy and simplicity, respectively, in the stages of value verification, implementation and development. We propose potential research opportunities and illustrate the challenges and opportunities using real case studies from three Fortune Global 500 companies. In particular, we emphasize the role of data-driven decision methods in dealing with the three bottlenecks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the monitoring data of atmospheric pollutants and the meteorological data in Harbin in 2017, the temporal spatial distribution characteristics of PM2.5 pollution and the relationships between PM2.5 concentration and meteorological factors in this region were analyzed. The PM2.5 concentration data and the meteorological data in 2017 were comprehensively analyzed by using ArcGIS and R. The results show that spatially, the PM2.5 concentration in the central districts of Harbin are high in the southeast and low in the northwest; temporally, PM2.5 pollution is most serious in autumn and winter, with multiple spells of heavy pollution and an obvious "weekend effect", while the air quality is better in spring and summer; overall, relative humidity is positively correlated to PM2.5 concentration, while temperature, wind direction, and wind speed are negatively correlated to PM2.5 mass concentration, and low wind speed and high relative humidity are major contributors to increase of PM2.5 concentration. Implications: Highlight: The use of big data to deal with the data of air pollution and meteorology. Key points: The air pollution data of Harbin in autumn and winter is more serious than that in spring and summer, and is closely related to meteorological factors. Attraction: Big data is used to process air pollution data and meteorological data, and R language is used to describe the relationship between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 1H-pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(8aH)-one derivatives were synthesized via one-pot, three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, urea or thiourea, and 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran using the green and inexpensive Brønsted acidic ionic liquid 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone hydrosulfate ([Hnmp]HSO4) as catalyst under solvent-free conditions. The method has several advantages such as mild conditions, shorter reaction time, good yields, and environmentally benign procedure. Moreover, the catalyst could be recovered conveniently and reused at least four times without evident loss of activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus subtilis is an ideal host for the production of extracellular heterologous proteins. The use of a strong, constitutive promoter is a good means of optimizing the expression of heterologous proteins. In this study, high level extracellular production of subtilisin YaB, a potent meat tenderizer, was achieved by engineering the wild-type subtilisin YaB promoter into an artificial promoter and expressed in Bacillus subtilis host. This artificial promoter provides an efficient tool to produce mutant subtilisin YaB or other recombinant heterologous proteins by B. subtilis at high level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 mounts specific acid-resistance systems against acid stress, making it more difficult to eradicate in food industry. To date, RNAseq-based analysis focusing on the virulence factors within an acidic environment is restricted to asmall part of virulence gene clusters. In this study E.coli O157:H7 survived HCl stress at pH 3.0 for up to 1 h preceded by acid adaptation at pH 5.5 for 1 h. At the same time, bacteria without stimulus were cultured in neutral TSB broth for 2 h.Then, transcriptome analysis was performed to compare virulence-related genes at neutral and acidic pH. Though transcripts indicated adownshift of the flagellar, fimbriae and LEE-associated genes, the increased expression of adhesin-related genes, iron uptake genes and some potential virulence factors were identified. Comparison of the gene expression with respect to virulence factors revealed strongest cell response to the relevant stress and increased protective response for survival in the acidic pH. This suggests that E.coli O157:H7 might be still virulent following HCl stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to explore the role of crizotinib, targeted anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), on r/r systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL). The treated group prospectively screened 20 patients. After taking crizotinib in the first week, 16 patients who were tolerant and sensitive received the combination of crizotinib with chemotherapy. The control group included 27 patients receiving chemotherapy in the same hospital during the same period. The objective remission rates of the treated and control group were 81.3% and 74.1% (p =.869), respectively. The progression-free survival rates at two years in treated and control group were 68.7% and 45.0% (HR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.17–0.99, p <.05), respectively. The overall survival rates at two years in the treated and control group were 86.1% and 78.9% (p =.385, HR = 0.51, 95% CI 0.11–2.30), respectively. The main adverse events included elevated transaminase, diarrhea, and vision abnormalities. Thus, the combination of crizotinib with chemotherapy might be effective in ALK-positive and crizotinib sensitive r/r sALCL patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic diseases are increasing worldwide, associating with increased health costs and decreased quality of life. Allergy is immune-related diseases caused by an allergic immune response to innocuous substance in the environment. At present, research has focussed on the study of the relevance to the microbiome and the phenotypes of allergy, including the relationships among the gastrointestinal microbiome, immune function, and allergic sensitisation. Probiotics as functional food ingredient are thought to secrete functional metabolites that have antibacterial effects on ameliorating intestinal health and CD4+ T helper cells-mediated immunity. This review will summarise the role of probiotics in the immune regulation and flora balance, highlighting recent advances in our understanding of the imbalance of Th subsets and cytokine leading to the immunopathology of allergic reactions. Finally, we discussed the unresolved problems and future research directions in order to promote the clinical application of probiotics immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and environmentally friendly route is developed to produce flower-like MnO2/graphene hydrogel (MnO2/GH) composites with mesoporous structure. The results show that flower-like MnO2 is firmly adhered to the surface and interior of GH. Compared with pure MnO2 and GH, the electrode of MnO2/GH composites exhibits high specific capacitance of 293.7 F/g at 0.5 A/g, and over 87.3% of capacitance has maintained after cycling 2000 times. The excellent electrical conductivity is basically attributed to the large specific surface, the stability microstructure and good conditions for ion-diffusion and ion-transport by MnO2/GH composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) procedures treatments have been tried for older infertile patients, but still can not reverse the aging effect on oocyte, and infertility treatment is expensive, even for people in developed countries. The study aimed to compare outcomes following the application of luteal phase ovulation induction (LPOI) and ultra-short gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) protocols in patients aged more than 40 years undergoing IVF-ET and to examine the effectiveness and feasibility of LPOI. A total of 266 IVF-ET cycles in 155 patients aged 40 years and over were retrospectively analyzed. Of these patients, 105 underwent the ultra-short GnRH-a protocol (GnRH-a group) and 50 underwent LPOI (LPOI group). Various clinical outcomes were compared between these two groups using either t-tests or the chi-square test. The study showed patients in the LPOI group required a higher dosage of human menopausal gonadotropin and a lower dosage of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone than those in the GnRH-a group. Furthermore, though the total dosage of gonadotropin was higher in the LPOI, its cost was lower. Finally, fertilization rates were higher and high-quality embryo rates were lower in the LPOI group, and the live birth rate of LPOI group is higher than (GnRH-a group). These between-group differences were all significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the ultra-short GnRH-a protocol, LPOI may enable higher 2-pronuclear embryo fertilization rates and lower gonadotropin costs to be achieved, indicating that LPOI might be an ideal choice for older patients undergoing IVF-ET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]