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Radar target echoes undergo fading in the presence of specular reflection, which is adverse to radar detection. To address this problem, this paper proposes a radar detection method that uses a single transmitting antenna and three receiving antennas. The proposed method uses the maximum absolute value of the difference in the radar received signal power among the three receiving antennas as the test statistic. First, the target echo in the presence of specular reflection is analyzed. Then, selection of the required number of radar antennas and the heights at which they must be situated are discussed. Subsequently, analytical expressions of the radar detection probability and the false alarm probability are derived. Finally, simulation results are presented, which show that the proposed method improves radar detection performance in the presence of specular reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic tolerance has become an increasingly serious crisis that has seriously threatened global public health. However, little is known about the exogenous factors that can trigger the development of antibiotic tolerance, both in vivo and in vitro. Herein, we found that the addition of citric acid, which is used in many fields, obviously weakened the bactericidal activity of antibiotics against various bacterial pathogens. This mechanistic study shows that citric acid activated the glyoxylate cycle by inhibiting ATP production in bacteria, reduced cell respiration levels, and inhibited the bacterial tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle). In addition, citric acid reduced the oxidative stress ability of bacteria, which led to an imbalance in the bacterial oxidation–antioxidant system. These effects together induced the bacteria to produce antibiotic tolerance. Surprisingly, the addition of succinic acid and xanthine could reverse the antibiotic tolerance induced by citric acid in vitro and in animal infection models. In conclusion, these findings provide new insights into the potential risks of citric acid usage and the relationship between antibiotic tolerance and bacterial metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): To examine the effect and potential mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment in spatial learning, memory, gut microbiota, and JNK signaling in D-galactose-induced AD-like rats. Materials and Methods: The AD-like rat model was generated by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose. Morris water maze was used to determine spatial learning and memory ability, Real-time PCR to determine intestinal flora levels, ELISA to determine tryptophan (Trp) and 5-HT levels in the colon and hippocampal tissues, immunofluorescence to determine 5-HT levels in enterochromaffin cells (ECs), and immunoblotting to determine JNK signaling protein levels in hippocampal tissues. Results: Electroacupuncture pretreatment significantly reduced escape latency and prolonged exploration time in the target quadrant, and significantly increased the relative DNA abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Meanwhile, electroacupuncture pretreatment also reduced colonic 5-HT levels and increased hippocampal 5-HT levels. Moreover, electroacupuncture pretreatment significantly inhibited hippocampal JNK pathway-related protein expression, including 5-HT6R, JNK, p-JUNK, c-JUN, and p-c-Jun. And the combination of GV20 and ST36 was more effective than single acupoints. Conclusion: Electroacupuncture pretreatment improved the learning and memory ability of D-galactose-induced AD-like model rats, changed the gut microbiota composition, and the mechanism may be related to the gut-brain axis and the JNK signaling pathway. In addition, the combination of GV20 and ST36 could further enhance the efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has been explored in Huntington disease (HD) as a potential therapeutic approach; however, a complete synthesis of these results is lacking. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of MSCs on HD. Method. Eligible studies published before November 2022 were screened from Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and Cochrane in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. ClinicalTrial.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were also searched for registered clinical trials. The outcomes in rodent studies evaluated included morphological changes (striatal volume and ventricular volume), motor function (rotarod test, wire hang test, grip strength test, limb-clasping test, apomorphine-induced rotation test, and neuromuscular electromyography activity), cognition (Morris water maze test), and body weight. Result. The initial search returned 362 records, of which 15 studies incorporating 346 HD rodents were eligible for meta-analysis. Larger striatal and smaller ventricular volumes were observed in MSC-treated animals compared to controls. MSCs transplanted before the occurrence of motor dysfunction rescued the motor incoordination of HD. Among different MSC sources, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were the most investigated cells and were effective in improving motor coordination. MSC therapy improved muscle strength, neuromuscular electromyography activity, cortex-related motor function, and striatum-related motor function, while cognition was not changed. The body weight of male HD rodents increased after MSC transplantation, while that of females was not affected. Conclusion. Meta-analysis showed a positive effect of MSCs on HD rodents overall, as reflected in morphological changes, motor coordination, muscle strength, neuromuscular electromyography activity, cortex-related motor function, and striatum-related motor function, while cognition was not changed by MSC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of epilepsy electro-encephalography (EEG) signals is of great significance for the diagnosis of epilepsy, which is one of the common neurological diseases of all age groups. With the developments of machine learning, many data-driven models have achieved great performance in EEG signals classification. However, it is difficult to select appropriate hyperparameters for the models to file a specific task. In this paper, an evolutionary algorithm enhanced model is proposed, which optimizes the fixed weights of the reservoir layer of the echo state network (ESN) according to the specific task. As evaluating a feature extractor relies heavily on the classifiers, a new feature distribution evaluation function (FDEF) using the label information of EEG signals is defined as the fitness function, which is an objective way to evaluate the performance of a feature extractor that not only focuses on the degree of dispersion, but also considers the relation amongst triplets. The performance of the proposed method is verified on the Bonn University dataset with an accuracy of 98.16% and on the CHB-MIT dataset with the highest sensitivity of 96.14%. The proposed method outperforms the previous EEG methods, as it can automatically optimize the hyperparameters of ESN to adjust the structure and initial parameters for a specific classification task. Furthermore, the optimization direction by using FDEF as the fitness of MFO no longer relies on the performance of the classifier but on the relative separability amongst classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We compared the clinical characteristics and survival outcomes after radical radiotherapy between nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with early and late metastases based on a relatively large cohort, which provides valuable data for the planning of clinical surveillance strategies. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective analysis of 10,566 patients who received radical radiotherapy in China from January 2000 to December 2016. Overall survival was the primary endpoint. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests were applied to investigate the association between early or late metastasis and the endpoints. The prognostic value of clinicopathological features was identified using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The cutoff value for time to metastasis was based on ROC analysis. A total of 559 (5.3%) patients developed distant metastases, 297 (53.1%) of which developed early metastatic disease, with the rest (46.9%) developing late metastatic disease. The K-M analysis showed that the patients with late metastatic foci had significantly better post-metastatic OS (P = 0.0056). Multivariate analysis indicated that age, liver metastasis, the number of metastatic foci and time to metastasis (P = 0.013) are independent prognostic factors for OS. After analyzing the impact of different treatment methods, we found that local treatment was an independent protective factor for LM, while local treatment was not associated with a survival benefit for EM disease. Conclusions: The time to metastasis after radical radiotherapy affected the prognosis of NPC patients and local treatment was an independent protective factor that could improve the survival of late metastatic NPC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bis-Schiff base N,N'-ethylene-bis(3-bromosalicylaldimine) (H2L) was prepared from 3-bromosalicylaldehyde and ethane-1,2-diamine. With H2L as ligand, a new copper(II) complex [CuL] (1) and a new cobalt(III) complex [CoL(NCS) (DMF)] (2) were prepared and characterized by physico-chemical methods and single crystal X-ray analysis. X-ray analysis indicates that the Cu atom in complex 1 is in square planar coordination, and the Co atom in complex 2 is in octahedral coordination. The compounds were tested in vitro for their antibacterial activities on Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Both complexes have effective activities on the bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The VOC emission characteristics of the typical fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs) industry were studied for an assessment of the impact on the environment. The results showed that the VOC emissions of the typical FRP industry mainly come from grille, sheet, winding, molding, and pultrusion process links, including ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, and benzene series. The benzene series' concentration represented by styrene was much higher than that of other species. The generation potential of ozone and the SOA in the typical production process were evaluated: in terms of ozone impact, the OFP values of the winding process were the highest, accounting for 65.9% of the total contribution. For the component contribution, the OFP contribution of the benzene series represented by styrene was far more than that of other VOC species, and the styrene mainly came from the use of unsaturated resin. In terms of the SOA impact, the pultrusion process contributed the most to the generation of SOA, accounting for 63.9% of the total SOA contribution. In terms of the component contribution, the contribution of SOA mainly came from the benzene series, accounting for nearly 95% of the total contribution of VOCs. Therefore, FRP enterprises should give priority to controlling the emission of the benzene series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COMplete AMMonia OXidizer (comammox) refers to microorganisms that have the function of oxidizing NH 4 + to NO 3 − alone. The discovery of comammox overturned the two-step theory of nitrification in the past century and triggered many important scientific questions about the nitrogen cycle in nature. This comprehensive review delves into the origin and discovery of comammox, providing a detailed account of its detection primers, clades metabolic variations, and environmental factors. An in-depth analysis of the ecological niche differentiation among ammonia oxidizers was also discussed. The intricate role of comammox in anammox systems and the relationship between comammox and nitrogen compound emissions are also discussed. Finally, the relationship between comammox and anammox is displayed, and the future research direction of comammox is prospected. This review reveals the metabolic characteristics and distribution patterns of comammox in ecosystems, providing new perspectives for understanding nitrogen cycling and microbial ecology. Additionally, it offers insights into the potential application value and prospects of comammox. [Display omitted] • Unraveling the mysteries of comammox: from discovery to ecological significance. • The environmental factors and influencing mechanisms were summarized. • Comammox thriving mostly in freshwater ecosystems. • Is comammox a green engineering process worth further evaluation. • Future focus: evaluating actual contribution and conducting engineering application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyuria is found in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanism is unknown. Here, we show that mice had elevated urine for 7 days after T10 contusion. Using multi-photon confocal microscopy, we performed intra-vital imaging experiments to evaluate water reabsorption in kidney tubules by examining fluorescent intensity in the lumen of the distal tubule from live mice. The data show that SCI significantly reduced the concentrating function of kidney tubules. The reduced water reabsorption appears to be mediated by atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) because SCI increased the expression levels of both ANP and natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPR-A) in the kidney cortex. Our patch-clamp single-channel recordings from split-open distal tubules show that SCI decreased the activity of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Western blot combined with confocal microscopy data show that the levels of 70 kD γ-ENaC, which is an active isoform because of proteolytic cleavage, were significantly reduced in distal tubule principal cells. An NPR-A inhibitor (A71915) given intravenously eliminated the effects of SCI on ENaC and polyuria. These data together with previous studies suggest that SCI causes polyuria, probably by reducing ENaC activity through elevating ANP and NPR-A. Further investigation of the signal transduction pathways may provide useful information for discovering an efficient drug to treat SCI-induced polyuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common invasive malignancy worldwide with poor clinical outcomes. Increasing amount of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in cancer development. However, lncRNAs that are functional in ESCC and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Methods: Transcriptomic analysis was performed to identify dysregulated lncRNAs in ESCC tissue samples. The high expression of LINC00680 in ESCC was validated by RT-qPCR, and the oncogenic functions of LINC00680 was investigated by cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion assays in ESCC cells in vitro and xenografts derived from ESCC cells in mice. RNA-seq, competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis, and luciferase reporter assays were carried out to identify LINC00680 target genes and the microRNAs (miRNAs) bound to LINC00680. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) were used for in vivo treatment. Results: Transcriptome profiling revealed that a large number of lncRNAs was dysregulated in ESCC tissues. Notably, LINC00680 was highly expressed, and upregulation of LINC00680 was associated with large tumor size, advanced tumor stage, and poor prognosis. Functionally, knockdown of LINC00680 restrained ESCC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC00680 was found to act as a ceRNA by sponging miR-423-5p to regulate PAK6 (p21-activated kinase 6) expression in ESCC cells. The cell viability and motility inhibition induced by LINC00680 knockdown was significantly reversed upon PAK6 restoration and miR-423-5p inhibition. Furthermore, ASO targeting LINC00680 substantially suppressed ESCC both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: An oncogenic lncRNA, LINC00680, was identified in ESCC, which functions as a ceRNA by sponging miR-423-5p to promote PAK6 expression and ESCC. LINC00680/miR-423-5p/PAK6 axis may serve as promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is widely recognized as the most common chronic joint disease accompanied by progressive cartilage and subchondral bone damage. Toddalolactone (TOD), a natural compound extracted from Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam., has been widely used in the treatment of stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, and oedema. Nevertheless, what TOD acts as in the pathogenesis and progression of OA hasn't been reported. In this investigation, we have aimed to determine how TOD affects OA in vitro and in vivo. Methods: LPS (10 µg/ml) and IL-1β (10 ng/ml) were employed to induce chondrocyte inflammation or RANKL to induce osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow derived macrophages (BMMs). The effects of TOD on chondrocyte inflammation and osteoclast differentiation were evaluated. Anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) was performed to develop an OA animal model and study the effects of TOD. Results: We found that TOD inhibited the expression of inflammatory and catabolic mediators (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MMP2, MMP9, and MMP13) in inflammatory chondrocytes in vitro. Furthermore, TOD was proven to inhibit RANKL-induced-osteoclastogenesis and inhibit the expression of osteoclast marker genes. Our data also confirmed that TOD suppressed the destruction of articular cartilage and osteoclastogenesis via inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signalling pathways. In the ACLT mouse model, we found that TOD attenuated cartilage erosion and inhibited bone resorption. Conclusions: These results showed that TOD can be adopted as a potential therapeutic agent for OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignancy predominantly associated with infection by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Approximately 12,900 new cases of NPC occur each year, with more than 70% of cases occurring in the east and southeast Asia. NPC is different from ordinary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma due to its particular biological properties and it is highly sensitive to radiotherapy. With the development of RT technology, the 3-year local control rate and survival rates of non-metastatic NPC reached 80-90% in the intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) era. However, whether distant metastatic NPC (de novo mNPC, dmNPC) should receive locoregional RT (LRRT) needs to be clarified.Results: Multivariate analysis identified three independent prognostic factors: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA, number of metastatic lesions, and number of metastatic organs. Through these factors, all patients were successfully divided into 3 subgroups: low-risk (single metastatic organ, EBV DNA ≤ 25,000 copies/ml, and ≤ 5 metastatic lesions), intermediate-risk (single metastatic organ, EBV DNA > 25,000 copies/ml, and ≤ 5 metastatic lesions), and high-risk (multiple metastatic organs or > 5 metastatic lesions or both). By comparing LRRT and non-LRRT groups, statistical differences were found in OS in the low-risk and intermediate-risk subgroups (p = 0.039 and p = 0.010, respectively) but no significant difference was found in OS in the high-risk subgroup (p = 0.076). Further multivariate analysis of different risk stratifications revealed that LRRT can improve OS of low- and intermediate-risk subgroups.Conclusions: The risk stratification of dmNPC may be used as a new prognostic factor to help clinicians organize individualized LRRT treatment to improve the survival outcomes of dmNPC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of SCARF1 on acute rejection (AR), phagocytic clearance of Kupffer cells (KCs), M2 polarization and the exact mechanism underlying these processes. Methods: AAV was transfected into the portal vein of rats, and AR and immune tolerance (IT) models of liver transplantation were established. Liver tissue and blood samples were collected. The level of SCARF1 was detected via WB and immunohistochemical staining. Pathological changes in liver tissue were detected using HE staining. Apoptotic cells were detected using TUNEL staining. KC polarization was assessed via immunohistochemical staining. Primary KCs were isolated and co‐cultured with apoptotic T lymphocytes. Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and polarization of KCs were both detected using immunofluorescence. Calcium concentration was determined using immunofluorescence and a fluorescence microplate reader. The levels of PI3K, p‐AKT and P‐STAT3 were assessed via WB and immunofluorescence. Results: Compared to the IT group, the level of SCARF1 was significantly decreased in the AR group. Overexpression of SCARF1 in KCs improved AR and liver function markers. Enhanced phagocytosis mediated by SCARF1 is beneficial for improving the apoptotic clearance of AR and promoting M2 polarization of KCs. SCARF1‐mediated enhancement of phagocytosis promotes increased calcium concentration in KCs, thus further activating the PI3K‐AKT‐STAT3 signalling pathway. Conclusions: SCARF1 promotes the M2 polarization of KCs by promoting phagocytosis through the calcium‐dependent PI3K‐AKT‐STAT3 signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A rice Zeta family glutathione-S-transferase (OsGSTZ4) gene for Cd detoxification was investigated. • Heterologous expression of OsGSTZ4 in a yeast conferred cellular Cd tolerance. • CHH hypermethylation at a MITE transposable element was found to be inserted in the 5′-untranscribed region of OsGSTZ4. • Three 24-nt siRNAs derived from the TE were detected and was rapidly enriched under Cd stress. • This study helps understand the diversity of gene regulation via an epigenetic mechanism for rice adaptation to the environmental stress. Environmental contaminants such as cadmium (Cd) pose high risks to crop production and human health. The genetic basis for regulation of Cd stress-responsive genes for plant adaptation to adverse environments remains poorly understood. In this study, we characterized a rice Zeta family glutathione-S-transferase (OsGSTZ4) gene for Cd detoxification. Heterologous expression of OsGSTZ4 in a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) conferred cellular Cd tolerance. Transgenic rice overexpressing OsGSTZ4 improved plant growth, attenuated Cd-induced toxicity, and accumulated more Cd in roots. OsGSTZ4 transcription was rapidly induced 3 h after Cd exposure and then declined to the basal level. This was followed by (days after Cd treatment) by CHH hypermethylation (by 41.2 %) at a MITE (Miniature Inverted-repeat Transposable Element) transposable element (TE) inserted in the 5′-untranscribed region (UTR) (-1,722 ∼ -1,392 bp) of OsGSTZ4. Meanwhile, three 24-nt siRNAs derived from the TE (-1,722 ∼ -1,471 bp) were detected and was also rapidly enriched under Cd stress. To validate the possibility that Cd-induced change in OsGSTZ4 expression correlates with the siRNAs-involved CHH methylation through an RdDM (RNA-directed DNA methylation) pathway, genetic analyses were performed. We found that the CHH methylation at the promoter and transcript level of OsGSTZ4 were compromised in the osdrm2 (loss of function for CHH methylation) and osrdr2i (defective in RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 2) but did not change in other types of methyltransferases such as osmet1, ossdg714 or osros1. Promoter deletion analyses confirmed that the siRNA target sequences were essential for the proper expression of OsGSTZ4. Our studies reveal an unusual feedback mechanism by which the Cd-induced rapid OsGSTZ4 expression for Cd tolerance would interplay with the late CHH hypermethylation to silence the TE through the 24-nt siRNAs- and Osdrm2-mediated RdDM pathway, and help understand the diversity of gene regulation via an epigenetic mechanism for rice adaptation to the environmental stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Unqualified manufacturing processes are the root cause of the malfunction. • Internal cracks occurred during the manufacturing of the parts, which were passivated at an excessively fast quenching rate. • The complex thermal stress environment and coarse grains promote crack propagation. • To prevent similar blade failures, some preventive strategies have been proposed. Water wall pipe is one of the key components of thermal power plant, and their premature failure is a common appearance. The occurrence of a leakage accident involving water wall pipes in a thermal power plant boiler prompted an analysis of the causes of cracking and leakage. This analysis was conducted using various methods including optical light microscope (OLM) observation, chemical composition testing, hardness testing, metallographic organization observation, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Based on the findings, relevant suggestions were provided to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents. The test results indicate that the proximity of the leaking pipes to the soot blower and manhole door has created a complex stress environment. Also, the inner wall of the pipes displays passivated quenching cracks, while the outer wall exhibits black dense materials in the high temperature oxidation cracks. The fracture surface clearly exhibits a fatigue fracture pattern, with all cracks being transgranular and oriented perpendicular to the pipe wall. Additionally, coarse grains are observed near the outer surface of the cracks and in some areas in the middle of the pipe wall. The root cause of the failure is inferred to be that the passivation quenching cracks were generated due to improper process control during the manufacturing of the pipe, and the quenching cracks were further expanded by the thermal alternating stress, finally penetrated and leaked under the promotion of large stress environment, uneven grain structure and other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of Dapagliflozin on renal fibrosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats, and to determine the underlying mechanism of action. A total of 24 SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: A normal (Control) group, model group (STZ-induced T2DM rats), Dapagliflozin group (STZ-induced T2DM rats treated with 1 mg/kg Dapagliflozin), and a metformin group (STZ-induced T2DM rats treated with 200 mg/kg metformin), with 6 rats per a group. Peripheral blood and renal tissues were collected from these rats, and the renal indices of each group were examined. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr) of rats were detected. After 24 h, the urine was collected and the urine protein levels were measured. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to detect histological changes in the rat kidney; Masson staining was used to observe the degree of fibrosis in rat renal tissues; and western blot was performed to determine the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), vimentin, E-cadherin, TGF-β1, Smad7, and p-Smad3 in rat renal tissues. Dapagliflozin effectively inhibited the increase in FBG and HbA1c levels in diabetic mice, reduced renal tissue damage, reduced the renal index values, reduced collagen deposition in the glomerulus and interstitial area, and reduced the proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells. In addition, Dapagliflozin significantly lowered the levels of BUN, SCr, and 24-h urine protein, decreased the protein expression of α-SMA, vimentin, TGF-β1, and p-Smad3, and increased the protein expression levels of E-cadherin and Smad7. Together, these results showed that Dapagliflozin alleviated renal fibrosis in STZ-induced T2DM rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the various methods that have been developed, controlling the microstructure of polyimide membranes to achieve excellent separation performance based on target gases remains a challenge. One such method involves rearranging polyimides containing ortho-hydroxyl groups into polybenzoxazoles at temperatures above 400 °C, which can effectively distort the backbones and improve gas diffusion. However, this approach is limited by the extremely high conversion temperatures required and low conversion degrees achieved. The esterification process of the polyimide, which contains ortho-hydroxyl groups to the imide ring, represents a simple and effective approach to enhance the membrane's competitiveness in gas separation without undergoing thermal rearrangement at high temperatures. The polyimide was prepared by the polycondensation of 4,4'-(Hexafluoro isopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride (6FDA), 2,2-double (4,4-amino phenoxy) propane (BAPP), and 2,2-bis(3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl)-hexafluoropropane (6FAP). Microstructures and gas transport coefficients were analyzed when the esterification of 6FDA-BAPP/6FAP was conducted using acetic anhydride and caproic anhydride. In CO 2 /N 2 separation, a-6FDA-BAPP/6FAP exhibits CO 2 permeability of 1279.41 ± 66.93 Barrer and perm-selectivity of 40.80 ± 2.27, owing to the significantly improved affinity to CO 2. The membrane of c-6FDA-BAPP/6FAP exhibit the further improved CO 2 permeability and deteriorated perm-selectivity, due to a leveling effect on the diffusion of CO 2 and N 2 caused by the pendant caproates with longer alkyl chains. The results confirmed that the gas separation performance of polyimide membrane containing ortho-hydroxyl groups is sensitive to the pendant group. [Display omitted] • Esterification of the polyimides containing hydroxyl groups at ortho position of imide rings enhance CO2/N2 separation. • The esterification effectively enhanced CO 2 solubility, resulting in an excellent CO2/N2 separation performance surpass 2008 upper bound. • Longer alkyl chain in the pendant ester groups exhibit a leveling effect on CO 2 and N 2 transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Moreover, it has become a global pandemic. This is of great value in describing the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 patients in detail and looking for markers which are significant to predict the prognosis of COVID-19 patients.Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective study, 476 patients with COVID-19 were enrolled from a consecutive series. After screening, a total of 395 patients were included in this study. All-cause death was the primary endpoint. All patients were followed up from admission till discharge or death.Results: The main symptoms observed in the study included fever on admission, cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. The most common comorbidities were hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Patients with lower CD4+T cell level were older and more often male compared to those with higher CD4+T cell level. Reduced CD8+T cell level was an indicator of the severity of COVID-19. Both decreased CD4+T [HR:13.659; 95%CI: 3.235-57.671] and CD8+T [HR: 10.883; 95%CI: 3.277-36.145] cell levels were associated with in-hospital death in COVID-19 patients, but only the decrease of CD4+T cell level was an independent predictor of in-hospital death in COVID-19 patients.Conclusions: Reductions in lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets were common in COVID-19 patients, especially in severe cases of COVID-19. It was the CD8+T cell level, not the CD4+T cell level, that reflected the severity of the patient's disease. Only reduced CD4+T cell level was independently associated with increased in-hospital death in COVID-19 patients.Trial Registration: Prognostic Factors of Patients With COVID-19, NCT04292964 . Registered 03 March 2020. Retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to explore the performance of concrete with iron tailings sand modified by polypropylene fibers under aggressive environment. Three kinds of concrete (ordinary concrete, concrete with iron tailings sand (ITS), and concrete with ITS modified by polypropylene fibers) were exposed to drying-wetting cycles in 5% Na2SO4 solution for 28, 56, 84, 112, and 140 days. The performance, such as pores distribution, crack width, corrosion products, mass variation, expansion variation, compressive strength, flexural strength, and the diffusion of sulfate ion were measured at regular time intervals during the whole exposure period to describe the associated evolution laws. The results show that, in the process of the corrosion of sodium sulfate solution, the formation of gypsum and ettringite (AFT) has an important impact on the harmful pores (>0.1 μm), cracks, mass variation, expansion variation, compressive strength, and flexural strength of the three concrete. Polypropylene fibers can refine the pores development and inhabit the crack development of the concrete with ITS, further alleviating the rate of sulfate ion attack on concrete and the rate of increase of corrosion products, so that the mass variation, the expansion variation, and the reduction of compressive strength and flexural strength can be limited effectively. Furthermore, in the concrete with ITS modified by 0.1% polypropylene fibers, the content of sulfate ions diffused is always the lowest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to obtain high-performance thermal protection materials, a novel all-carbon triple-layer structure was designed by orderly combining high thermal conductivity carbon/carbon composites (HTC-C/C), polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fiber reinforced composites (PAN-C/C) and carbon foam. During exposure to the oxyacetylene torch, compared with the multi-layer structure made of PAN-C/C and carbon foam, the maximum surface temperature of the triple-layer structure was lowered from 2348 °C to 2215 °C, and the mass ablation rate was reduced by 90.0%, attributed to the excellent heat-dissipation performance and the higher anti-oxidation property of HTC-C/C. When compared with the multi-layer structure composed of HTC-C/C and PAN-C/C, the back surface temperature of the triple-layer structure is further decreased by 700 °C, proving the effective thermal insulation of carbon foam; meanwhile, by isolating the air structure of the intermediate layer made of PAN-C/C was protected from oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to explore the performance of concrete with iron tailings sand modified by polypropylene fibers under aggressive environment. Three kinds of concrete (ordinary concrete, concrete with iron tailings sand (ITS), and concrete with ITS modified by polypropylene fibers) were exposed to drying-wetting cycles in 5% Na2SO4 solution for 28, 56, 84, 112, and 140 days. The performance, such as pores distribution, crack width, corrosion products, mass variation, expansion variation, compressive strength, flexural strength, and the diffusion of sulfate ion were measured at regular time intervals during the whole exposure period to describe the associated evolution laws. The results show that, in the process of the corrosion of sodium sulfate solution, the formation of gypsum and ettringite (AFT) has an important impact on the harmful pores (>0.1 μm), cracks, mass variation, expansion variation, compressive strength, and flexural strength of the three concrete. Polypropylene fibers can refine the pores development and inhabit the crack development of the concrete with ITS, further alleviating the rate of sulfate ion attack on concrete and the rate of increase of corrosion products, so that the mass variation, the expansion variation, and the reduction of compressive strength and flexural strength can be limited effectively. Furthermore, in the concrete with ITS modified by 0.1% polypropylene fibers, the content of sulfate ions diffused is always the lowest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of Eucommia ulmoides and Tribulus terrestris (ET) has been widely utilized in clinical practice for thousands of years, but the mechanism underlying its efficacy has not been elucidated to date. This study attempted to investigate the role played by the intestinal microbiota and fecal metabolism in the response of elderly spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) to ET administration as a treatment for hypertension. Fourteen male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs, 18 months old) were randomly divided into an ET group and an SHR group, and 7 Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats of the same age were employed as the control group. The ET group was intragastrically administered 1.0 g/kg/d ET for 42 days, and SHRs and WKY rats were administered an equal amount of normal saline intragastrically. The intestinal microbiota and fecal metabolism were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing and the GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry)/MS assay. ET treatment decreased blood pressure steadily, improved the colonic tissue morphology, and changed the structure and composition of the imbalanced microbiota in SHRs. Specifically, ET treatment increased the abundance of Eubacterium, which might be one of the target microbes for ET, and had a negative correlation with the levels of α-tocopherol, chenodeoxycholic acid, and deoxycholic acid according to the Spearman correlation analysis. The change in the intestinal microbiota affected the fecal metabolic pattern of SHRs. Eight potential biomarkers were determined to be primarily enriched in ABC transporters, phenylalanine metabolism, central carbon metabolism in cancer, purine metabolism, and protein digestion and absorption. The correlation analysis demonstrated that the abundance of Eubacterium and the decreased levels of α-tocopherol, chenodeoxycholic acid, and deoxycholic acid in the ET group were highly correlated. Our results suggest that ET has a good antihypertensive effect, which may be driven by the intestinal microbiota and their beneficial metabolites. The results of this study may help to elucidate the antihypertensive mechanism of ET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex network reconfiguration has always been an important task in complex network research. Simple and effective complex network reconstruction methods can promote the understanding of the operation of complex systems in the real world. There are many complex systems, such as stock systems, social systems and thermal power systems. These systems generally produce correlated time series of data. Discovering the relationships among these multivariate time series is the focus of this research. This paper proposes a Spearman coefficient reconstruction network (SCRN) method based on the Spearman correlation coefficient. In the SCRN method, we select entities in the real world as the nodes of the network and determine connection weights of the network edges by calculating the Spearman correlation coefficients among nodes. In this paper, we selected a stock system and boiler equipment in a thermal power generation system to construct two complex network models. For the stock network model, we used the classic Girvan–Newman (GN) algorithm for community discovery to determine whether the proposed network topology is reasonable. For the boiler network model, we built a predictive model based on an support vector regression (SVR) model in machine learning, and we verified the rationality of the boiler model by predicting the amount of boiler steam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ubiquitin-proteasome system participates in the pathogenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As an E3 ubiquitin ligase, RNF128 has been proved vital in carcinogenesis, whereas, little is known about the oncogenic mechanisms of RNF128 in HCC. Materials and Methods: Through tissue microarray from HCC patients, we analyzed RNF128 expression and its relationship with clinical outcomes in HCC. Western blot and quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were performed to examine expression levels of RNF128 in HCC tissues and cell lines. Effects of RNF128 on HCC cellular biological functions and the potential mechanism were evaluated through knockdown and overexpression assays in vitro and in vivo methods. Results: RNF128 expression was found to be remarkably elevated in HCC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, the overexpression of RNF128 enhanced hepatoma cells proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and apoptotic resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, RNF128 activated EGFR/MEK/ERK signaling pathway and the EGFR inhibitor, gefitinib partially reversed RNF128-enhanced proliferation, invasion, and migration in hepatoma cells. Conclusion: RNF128 promotes HCC progression by activating EGFR/MEK/ERK signaling pathway, which might function as a novel prognostic molecular signature with the potential to be a candidate therapeutic target for HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To investigate the roles of ER stress in Kupffer cells (KCs) and KC-derived TNF-α in the apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Methods. A rat model of liver fibrosis was established. Liver and blood serum samples were collected. Liver function assays, Masson staining, Sirius Red staining, ELISAs, and TUNEL and immunohistochemical staining were performed. Liver function, liver fibrosis, KC phenotype, inflammatory factors, and number of active HSCs were investigated. KCs were isolated, treated with tunicamycin, and then, cocultured with primary hepatic stellate cells. ELISAs, immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, and Western blotting were performed. KC phenotype, inflammatory factors, HSC apoptosis, and TNF-R1/caspase 8 pathway activity were examined. Results. ER stress in KCs reduced the levels of liver function markers, reduced the degree of liver fibrosis, and increased the number of KCs with the M1 phenotype and the expression of TNF-α. The increase in KC-derived TNF-α reduced the number of active HSCs and increased the activity of TNF-R1/caspase 8. Furthermore, ER stress in KCs promoted the polarization of KCs towards the M1 phenotype and increased the expression of TNF-α. The increase in KC-derived TNF-α triggered the apoptosis of HSCs and the activation of TNF-R1/caspase 8 in vitro, which was consistent with the in vivo results. Conclusion. ER stress in KCs promotes the polarization of these cells towards the M1 phenotype and increases the expression of TNF-α. Then, the increase in KC-derived TNF-α triggers the apoptosis of HSCs through TNF-R1/caspase 8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with parotid lymph node (PLN) metastasis remains unclear. This study was performed to investigate the prognostic significance and optimal staging category of PLN metastasis and develop a nomogram for estimating individual risk. Materials and Methods: Clinical data of 7,084 non-metastatic NPC patients were retrospectively reviewed. Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint. A nomogram was established based on the Cox proportional hazards regression model. The accuracy and calibration ability of this nomogram was evaluated by C-index and calibration curves with bootstrap validation. Results: Totally, 164/7,084 NPC patients (2.3%) presented with PLNs. Multivariate analyses showed that PLN metastasis was a negative prognostic factor for OS, progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS). Patients with PLN metastasis had a worse prognosis than N3 disease. Five independent prognostic factors were included in the nomogram, which showed a C-index of 0.743. The calibration curves for probability of 3- and 5-year OS indicated satisfactory agreement between nomogram-based prediction and actual observation. All results were confirmed in the validation cohort. Conclusion: NPC patient with PLN metastasis had poorer survival outcome (OS, PFS, DMFS, and LRFS) than N3 disease. We developed a nomogram to provide individual prediction of OS for patients with PLN metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To speed up the design process of antenna arrays, a new multibranch artificial neural network (ANN) modeling technique is proposed and applied to tackle the inverse problem of antenna array directivity estimation. In the inverse modeling of an antenna array, the model inputs are electromagnetic parameters, whereas geometrical or physical parameters are set as the outputs. Due to the nonuniqueness of the inverse problem, it is difficult to directly use ANN for inverse modeling. We are trying to solve this problem utilizing monotonicity. The directional derivatives of the corresponding forward problem are calculated and the derivatives are utilized to determine the monotonicity of training data. Based on the monotonicity, the training data are divided into several groups, which are, respectively, used for training parallel branches of ANN. In this way, valid outputs can be provided without the forward model. Three dipole antenna arrays are utilized as examples to verify the efficiency of the proposed technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pair of new mononuclear zinc(II) complexes with hydrazone ligands 4-methoxybenzoic acid (1-pyridin-2-ylmethylidene) hydrazide (HLa) and benzoic acid (1-pyridin-2-ylethylidene)hydrazide (HLb) were prepared. They are [Zn(La)2] (1) and [Zn(Lb)2] (2). The complexes were characterized by physico-chemical methods and single crystal X-ray determination. The tridentate hydrazone ligands coordinate to the Zn atoms through the pyridine nitrogen, imino nitrogen and enolate oxygen atoms. The Zn atom in each complex is six coordinated by two hydrazone ligands, to form octahedral coordination. The complexes have effective activities against the bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to establish and validate two nomograms that predict progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with stage II–IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) while evaluating the benefit of concurrent chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: We randomly divided 3412 patients newly diagnosed with stage II‐IVa NPC between 2008 and 2013 into training and validation 'A' cohorts (n = 1706 each). Another set of patients diagnosed between 2014 and 2016 served as validation cohort 'B' (n = 1503). A Cox multivariate model using the backward stepwise approach was applied to develop the nomograms, which were assessed for accuracy (Harrel C index) and calibration. Results: The 3‐ and 5‐year PFS rates in the training cohort were 86.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 85.0%‐88.6%) and 82.3% (95% CI 80.1%‐84.5%), respectively. For the PFS nomogram, 5 variables were selected based on a backward procedure in the multivariate Cox model (gender, T stage, N stage, Epstein‐Barr virus DNA, and treatment method). The same variables plus patient age and diabetes mellitus were used for the OS nomogram. The Harrell C indices of the training, validation A, and validation B cohorts were 0.711, 0.700, and 0.703, respectively, for PFS, and 0.775, 0.743, and 0.727, respectively, for OS. Both nomograms performed well in terms of calibration in the training and validation cohorts. Conclusions: Our nomograms are reliable prognostic predictors of PFS and OS in patients with stage II‐IVa NPC. These nomograms could robustly estimate an individual's benefit from concurrent chemotherapy, which assists in treatment decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We compared the efficacy and toxicity of three IC regimens (TPF: taxanes, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil; TP: taxanes and cisplatin; and PF: cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil) followed by CCRT in locoregionally advanced NPC.Methods: The retrospective study involved 1354 patients with newly diagnosed stage III-IVA NPC treated with IC and CCRT. The median follow-up time in our cohort was 50 months. Based on EBV DNA level, all the patients with stage IV were divided into low- (pre-EBV DNA < 1500 copies) and high-risk group (pre-EBV DNA ≥ 1500 copies). Progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), locoregional relapse free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) and grade 3-4 toxicities were compared among different IC regimens. The survival rates were compared using log-rank test and a Cox proportional hazards model was used to perform multivariate analyses.Results: A multivariate analysis revealed TPF to be more effective than TP. Among stage III patients, no significant difference in clinical outcome between the different IC regimens was showed, while TPF was associated with significantly better survival conditions in the stage IV patients. A further subgroup analysis revealed that only patients with pre-EBV DNA ≥ 1500 copies could benefit from the application of TPF among stage IV NPC. In terms of acute toxicities, PF was associated with fewer grade 3/4 acute toxicities.Conclusions: In low-risk NPC patients, PF-based IC showed similar efficacy as TPF and TP but was associated with fewer grade 3/4 acute toxicities. In high-risk patients, however, the TPF regimen was superior to PF and TP, although grade 3/4 toxicities were more common with the TPF regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G = (V , E) be a graph. A subset S ⊆ V is a 2-dominating set of G if each vertex in V - S is adjacent to at least two vertices in S. The 2-domination number of G is the cardinality of the smallest 2-dominating set of G. In this paper, we shall prove that the 2-domination number of generalized Petersen graphs P (5 k + 1 , 3) , P (5 k + 2 , 3) and P (5 k + 3 , 3) is 4 k + 2 , 4 k + 3 and 4 k + 4 , respectively. This proves one conjecture due to Bakhshesh et al. (Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Math. Sci.)128 (2018) 17). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid metasurface (HMS) is proposed to form a low-profile wideband antenna array. The antenna element is an array of $4\,\,\times4$ square metal patches and fed by a $50~\Omega $ microstrip line through an H-shaped coupling slot on the ground plane. Only are the edge patches of HMS antenna element grounded by shorting pins for the suppression of surface waves and cross-polarization levels as well as the enhancement of the gain. With the HMS antenna element, a compact $2\times 2$ array with an overall size of $1.58\lambda _{0} \times 1.58\lambda _{0} \times 0.068\lambda _{0}$ ($\lambda _{0}$ is the free-space wavelength at 5.0 GHz) is designed, where the adjacent elements share the edge patches of the elements. The measurement shows the impedance bandwidth of 28% (4.41–5.85 GHz) for $\vert \text{S}_{11}\vert \le -10$ dB is obtained, and the boresight gain is greater than 8.4 dBi across the operating band, covering both fifth-generation (5G) sub 6 GHz and WiFi bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Roe scheme is an important shock-capturing scheme that is known for its good performance. However, the classical Roe scheme suffers from disastrous problems, such as shock instability for hypersonic flows. The entropy fix and the rotated Riemann solver are common methods used to cure the shock instability. However, these methods may introduce a large and unnecessary numerical dissipation. To cure the shock instability with a minimally increasing numerical dissipation, this study investigates the mechanisms of entropy fix and rotated Roe scheme and combines their complementary advantages. Thus, this paper proposes the Roe-ER scheme, which uses the rotated method to identify where the entropy fix is necessary. Therefore, the possible large dissipation of the rotated Roe scheme is replaced by the relatively small value of entropy fix, and areas that adopt the entropy fix are limited in regions where the shock instability may occur. Numerical cases validate the Roe-ER scheme, which is shock stable, features a low additional numerical dissipation, and can use high-order reconstruction to further reduce areas that activate the entropy fix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: LINC01614 was abnormally expressed in myocardial infarction and other heart failures. We attempted to detect the effects of LINC01614 in myocardial ischemia--reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods: H9c2 cardiomyocyte cells were treated with hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) to establish myocardial ischemia (MI) model. Results: Clinical data of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database indicated that LINC01614 was highly regulated in first acute myocardial infarction, whereas miR-138-5p was downregulated in unstable angina pectoris. LINC01614 inhibition promoted cell proliferation and repressed the apoptotic property after H/R treatment using Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry analysis. Downregulation of LINC01614 enhanced the expression of Bcl-2 but attenuated Bax and cleaved caspase 3 expression after H/R treatment. Bioinformatics prediction and dual-luciferase reporter assay determined that LINC01614 directly targeted miR-138-5p and negatively regulated the expression of miR-138-5p. Furthermore, the overexpression of miR-138-5p significantly strengthened the function of si-LINC01614 in H/R groups. Conclusion: Our results illustrated that reduction in LINC01614 attenuated H/R treatment-induced myocardial damage via sponging miR-138-5p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lists and floor plans have been widely adopted as space management tools for educational office buildings. However, the two-dimensional floor plans fail to present the indoor complexity, which hinders users from intuitively observing the indoor equipment arrangements and adapting to the indoor environment within a short time. Meanwhile, insufficient research has been conducted on space management tools regarding building indoor navigation. A Building Information Modeling Space Management (BIMSM) system was proposed in this study based on BIM. This system is comprised of two components, i.e. indoor space allocation management and indoor path navigation. The real-time space usage can be queried and user demands may be matched with available space by applying the Space Usage Analysis (SUA) theory. After the establishment of indoor maps, an improved A* algorithm is used to provide smooth navigation paths, and the visualization of such paths can be provided in mobile terminals. The BIMSM system was applied in an office building in a university in Shanghai, China. In this case study, the overall user satisfaction reached 91.6% by greatly reducing space arrangement failures. The time indoor navigation took outperformed that based on the traditional A* algorithm, with the search efficiency increasing 5.28%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although nearly twenty joint development agreements have been signed since the 1950s, only a few have been implemented and even fewer have achieved successful commercialization. This article discusses the conditions leading to the implementation failures of joint development agreements. Applying the Crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis method to nineteen joint development agreements between 1958 and 2008, this article argues that the only causally-related condition associated with the failed implementation of joint development agreements is the deterioration of bilateral relations, often arising from the maritime boundary dispute that the joint development agreement was supposed to resolve. Other possible hypotheses, such as lack of economic incentives, energy independence, domestic opposition, third-party intervention and disagreements over the details of the project, do not show any correlated pattern with the failure to implement such agreements. The finding provides policy implications for the current boundary disputes in the South China Sea: improved bilateral relations is the prerequisite for the effective implementation of joint development ventures, and not the other way around. Littoral states should also not pursue joint development agreements as a false pretext to secretly consolidate their maritime boundary claims, or to confirm the status of a "dispute". Furthermore, successful negotiations for a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea may help to create a conducive atmosphere for claimant states to agree on the joint development of offshore hydrocarbon resources. [End Page 418] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The failure reasons of a DY08 aluminum alloy elastic coupling connecting the motor of the multi-functional test bench with the experimental device was investigated in this paper based on the fact that the lifespan of coupling was not reached. By the means of chemical composition analysis, mechanical properties test, macroscopic examinations, scanning electron microscopic analysis, fracture energy spectrum analysis, metallographic analysis and finite element analysis, fracture modes of the coupling are described as fatigue fracture failure due to machining defects. Residual machining defects were found on the inside surface of the coupling, which caused the initial crack generation. Stress concentration is generated at the machining defect, causing the crack to expand continuously along the radial direction. Microstructural analysis of the metallographic sample revealed secondary phase present in the alloy's microstructure. Therefore, secondary phase energy spectrum analysis of fracture surface was carried out, and found that the secondary phase contains Mg and Si elements. In addition, the Si element content in the fracture micro-region exceeds the material standard, we deduced that it forms Mg Si secondary compound phase with the Mg element, which increases the strength matrix material. It is shows that the hardness of fracture single micro-areas is significantly higher than other measured points. Furthermore, a finite element analysis was conducted to simulate the coupling in service; the result showed that the coupling does not exceed the strength limit of the material under the rated torque, which indicates that the material strength is qualified. • The machining defects acted as an initiated crack source. • The secondary phase leads to the brittleness increasing and toughness reducing. • The material hardness distribution is uneven due to the Si compounds. • The reason of coupling failure is obtained by using various detection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this study was to subdivide M1 stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with bone-only metastases for prognosis prediction while identifying the treatment effect of locoregional radiotherapy (LRRT) and metastasis radiotherapy (MRT) among patients with different risk. Materials and Methods From November 2006 to October 2016, a total of 226 patients with bone-only metastasic NPC were retrospectively enrolled. All patients developed distant lesions before receiving treatment. All potential prognostic factors were considered and the correlation of the M1 subdivisions with overall survival (OS) was determined by Cox regression hazards model. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to appraise survival condition and log-rank testing was used to compare the differences. Results The median follow-up time was 33.9 months (range, 3 to 126 months). According to multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, the number of metastatic lesions and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA status after palliative chemotherapy (PCT) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Thus, we subdivided patients into three risk groups according to these two factors. Systemic chemotherapy combined with LRRT may benefit patients in low- and intermediate-risk groups but not in the high-risk group. Further aggressive MRT based on systemic chemotherapy showed no survival benefit in any risk group. Conclusion The stratification of NPC patients with bone-only metastasis based on EBV DNA after PCT and the number of metastatic lesions provided promising prognostic value and could aid clinicians in person-specific treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the survival trends and patterns of failure in patients with stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy over the last 20 years. Materials and Methods Thirty-eight hundred and eight patients diagnosed with stage II NPC between January 1990 and December 2012 were involved in this retrospective cohort study. All patients were treated with RT. According to the main imaging techniques and RT technology, we categorized these patients into four calendar periods: 1990-1996, 1997-2002, 2003-2007, and 2008-2012. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis–free survival (DMFS) were served as the clinical outcome. Results After a median follow-up period of 84.7 months, we observed increasing trends in survival and disease control. The 3- and 5-year OS rates increased from 87.1% and 78.7% in the first calendar period to 97.4% and 94.5% in the last calendar period, respectively (p<0.001). Additionally, significant increasing trends could be seen in the PFS and LRFS during the four calendar periods. In the subgroup analysis, the LRFS in patients older than 50 years at diagnosis showed greater improvement than younger patients. However, the rate of distant metastasis was stable and relatively low, as the 5-year DMFS ranged from 90.5% to 94.7% among the four calendar periods. Conclusion The survival rates in patients with stage II NPC showed increasing trends from 1990 to 2012. The advance of RT provided excellent locoregional control and enhanced OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid topology optimization (HTO) method is utilized to optimize the isolation structure of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna. The HTO method, in which the scalar isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) and the level set method (LSM) are integrated, is based on the gradient optimization method with fast convergence speed. It combines the advantages of strong topology-searching ability of SIMP and smooth structure boundary of LSM. The proposed HTO method is adopted to optimize the isolation structure for good impedance matching, high isolation and high polarization purity of the MIMO antenna simultaneously. By setting the optimization structure as a symmetric one, the number of optimization variables is reduced by half. The optimization is validated by the full-wave simulation and the measurement. At the expected frequency of 5.8 GHz, the measured mutual coupling between the MIMO antenna elements with a center-to-center distance of $0.25\lambda _{0}$ is reduced by more than 24 dB, and the cross-polarization ratio reaches more than 27 dB. Furthermore, the reason for the isolation improvement is analyzed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients who underwent rotator cuff repair (RCR) concomitant with long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) tenotomy or subpectoral mini‐open tenodesis. Methods: Prospectively collected data was reviewed on 154 patients, who underwent a LHBT procedure (tenotomy or tenodesis) concomitant with RCR between January 2010 and January 2017. The exclusion criteria were irreparable massive rotator cuff tear, rotator cuff partial tear, subscapular tendon tear, glenohumeral arthritis, and prior shoulder surgery. The two patient groups are as follows: RCR + Tenotomy (Group A) and RCR + Subpectoral mini‐open tenodesis (Group B). The visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, Constant Score scale, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores preoperatively and 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year postoperatively and the latest out‐patient clinic were compared between the two groups. Results: Ninety‐two patients in Group A and 62 patients in Group B completed the follow‐up, with a median follow‐up time of 27 and 42 months respectively. At the final follow‐up, the VAS, Constant, ASES, and DASH scores in Group A were 0.1 ± 0.2, 87.0 ± 12.8, 96.4 ± 4.3 and 6.6 ± 4.8 respectively, and the VAS, Constant, ASES, and DASH scores in Group B were 0.1 ± 0.3, 92.5 ± 3.9, 96.3 ± 3.6 and 2.9 ± 1.3 respectively. Clinical evaluation scales showed satisfactory results in both groups, and there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups at the same follow‐up time. Popeye sign was detected in one case of Group A (1.1%) and in one case of Group B (1.6%, P > 0.05). Conclusion: Both tenotomy and subpectoral mini‐open tenodesis are effective for concomitant lesions of the LHBT in patients with reparable rotator cuff tears, and subpectoral mini‐open tenodesis of the LHBT does not provide any significant clinical or functional improvement than isolated tenotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object: To ascertain the treatment effect of concurrent chemotherapy (CCT) in stage II‐III nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with different Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) DNA level in intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era. Methods: A total of 2742 patients diagnosed with stage II‐III NPC were involved in this study. Patients received IMRT with/without CCT. Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint. Receiver operating characteristics curve was used to determine the cut‐off value of pre‐DNA based on OS. After propensity score matching, the role of CCT was explored in patients with different EBV DNA level. Results: In our cohort, the cut‐off value of pre EBV DNA was 1460 copies/mL (area under curve [AUC], 0.695‐0.769; sensitivity, 0.766; specificity, 0.599). Patients with high EBV DNA level showed poor survival in OS, progression free survival (PFS), locoregional relapse‐free survival (LRFS) and distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS). In patients with EBV DNA level >1460 copies/mL, the concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) group achieved higher 3‐year OS compared with IMRT groups. However, the CCRT and IMRT groups showed comparable OS in patients with EBV DNA ≤1460 copies/mL. In multivariate analyses, CCT was a protective factor for OS, PFS, and LRFS in high‐risk patients (EBV DNA level >1460 copies/mL), while not an independent prognostic factor among the low‐risk patients (EBV DNA level ≤1460 copies/mL). Conclusion: Pre‐EBV DNA could be a useful tool to guide individualized treatment for stage II‐III NPC patients. Additional CCT to IMRT improved the survival for patients with high pre‐EBV DNA, while those with low pre‐EBV DNA could not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing robust and durable nonprecious metal ORR electrocatalysts for use in both alkaline and acidic media is still challenging. Herein, highly dispersed Mn atomic clusters and standalone Fe nanoparticles dual-sites in-situ confined nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (Mn-Fe@NCNTs) were fabricated via a facile one-step process of high-temperature calcination and simultaneous chemical vapor deposition. The resultant Mn-Fe@NCNTs catalysts exhibited excellent ORR catalytic activity and durability in both alkaline and acidic media due to the special constitute and structure, which not only provided abundant active sites and defects, good electronic conductivity and effective electron transfer, but also enhanced the corrosion resistance and decreased the Fenton reactivity of the catalyst. In 0.1 M KOH solution, the half-wave potential of Mn-Fe@NCNTs is 0.872 V, more positive than that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst (E 1/2 = 0.835 V) and many other previously reported NCNTs based non-precious metal ORR electrocatalysts. While in 0.1 M HClO 4 solution, Mn-Fe@NCNTs exhibits a half-wave potential of 0.760 V, only 60 mV negative shift compared to the Pt/C catalyst. Furthermore, the as-prepared catalysts exhibit much higher stability, with much lower current attenuation and smaller shift of the ORR polarization curves after continuous chronoamperometric testing for 29,000 s and continuous CV test for 5,000 cycles, than those of Pt/C in both alkaline and acidic solutions. When applied in Zn-air batteries for testing, the Mn-Fe@NCNTs electrocatalysts are obviously outperforming the commercial Pt/C with higher specific capacity of 774.0 mAh g−1 Zn and power density of 139.2 mW cm−2. This study offers a facile and instructive protocol for developing low-cost and high-efficiency electrocatalysts to be applied in fuel cells, metal-air cells and many other clean electrochemical storage devices. [Display omitted] • Mn atomic clusters and Fe nanoparticles dual-sites in-situ confined NCNTs were fabricated via a facile one-step process. • Mn atomic clusters devoted rich active sites and effectively regulated electronic structure and *OH adsorption. • In-situ confinement of Mn atomic clusters in NCNTs decreased the Fenton reactivity and improved the stability of Mn-Fe@NCNTs. • Mn-Fe@NCNTs exhibited excellent ORR catalytic activity and stability in both alkaline and acidic media. • The maximum power density of the Mn-Fe@NCNTs based ZAB is 139.2 mW cm−2, outperforming the Pt/C based ZAB (106 mW cm−2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Carbon material amidation is presented for sodium-ion battery electrodes. • Amide group renders anode enlarged interlayer distances and active sites. • Symmetric sodium-ion battery has high energy and power density. • The strategy features low cost, scale production, and environmental friendliness. Structure design of carbon materials, like the heteroatom doping, is one of the effective strategies to develop high-performance anode of sodium-ion battery (SIB). However, challenges remain in sodium ion storage capacity, rate capability and cycle life. Here, an amidation structure design strategy is rationally proposed, and the regulated electrode exhibits not only remarkable electrochemical performance, but also great potential in scale commercial production. Mesocarbon microbead (MCMB), a graphitic spherical particle with excellent physiochemical properties but low-cost production process, is applied to the amidation process, achieving enlarged interlayer distances up to ∼ 0.42 nm and rich –CONH 2 active sites. The amidated MCMB (MCMBO-NH 2) anode displays a high specific capacity of 220 mAh/g, with a retention rate of about 83.6 % after 500 cycles. The MCMBO-NH 2 cathode remains stable at the specific capacity of 141 mAh/g after 250 cycles. The symmetric sodium-ion full cell then demonstrates a high energy density of 145 Wh/kg at a large power density of 12,500 W/kg, and an excellent capacity retention rate of 96.1% after 500 cycles, which is superior to the previous work of the symmetric SIBs. The amidation design of carbon materials comes with outstanding battery performance and cost-effective production process, offering a significant commercial value for the industrialization of SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Insufficient blade strength is the direct cause of failure. • The unqualified heat treatment or forging affects the microstructure of the material. • The distribution of δ ferrite affects the mechanical properties of the material. • The consistency of banded δ ferrite direction and fatigue crack propagation direction promotes crack prolongation. • To prevent similar failures of blade, some preventive strategies are proposed. Turbine blade is one of the key components in thermal power plant, and its premature failure is a common accident. The fourth blade of the low-pressure turbine unit in a power plant broke, resulting in the unplanned shutdown of the turbine unit. Through different analysis methods, the failure cause of the steam turbine blade was determined. The macro morphology of the fracture was observed by optical light microscope (OLM), and the micro characteristics of the fracture were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The mechanical properties of the failed blade were analyzed by room temperature tensile test and Charpy impact test. The results indicated that the root cause of blade fracture was the decrease of fatigue strength and rupture strength caused by high δ-ferrite content. Consistency between crack propagation direction and banded δ-ferrite direction further promotes crack initiation and prolongation. Eventually leading to fatigue fracture of the blade. According to the test and analysis results, some recommendations to prevent the early failure of steam turbine blades are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension (HTN) and osteoporosis are associated with the development and progress of atherosclerosis. However, little research has been conducted to examine the relationship between arterial stiffness and bone mineral density (BMD) in men with HTN. This cross-sectional study recruited 355 men with HTN and 353 control patients without HTN. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and BMD measurements were performed. BMD was decreased and baPWV was elevated in patients with HTN compared with control patients (femoral neck [FN] BMD in the HTN and control groups were 0.662±0.195 g/cm2 and 0.713±0.204 g/cm2 , respectively [P=.001], and baPWV in the HTN and control groups were 1403.3±156.8 cm/s and 1354.8±136.0 cm/s, respectively [P<.001]). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that FN BMD was negatively associated with increased baPWV in HTN. Reduced FN BMD may be an independent factor for baPWV in patients with HTN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the clinical outcome in patients with de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated or not treated with locoregional radiotherapy (LRRT) based on plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA level and tumor response after palliative chemotherapy (PCT).Methods: From 2007 to 2016, 502 patients with de novo metastatic NPC were included in this study. All patients were treated with PCT and 315 patients received LRRT. Our primary study endpoint was overall survival (OS).Results: EBV DNA was detected in 461 patients (91.8%) before treatment but was undetectable in 249 patients (49.6%) after PCT. Three hundred and seventeen patients (63.1%) achieved satisfactory response (complete response or partial response) to PCT. Both the post-PCT EBV DNA level and tumor response were independent prognostic factors. Among low-risk patients (patients with undetectable EBV DNA and satisfactory tumor response after PCT), the 3-year OS rate was 80.4% in LRRT-treated patients and 45.3% in patients not treated with LRRT (P < 0.001). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that LRRT was an independent prognostic factor of OS in the low-risk patients (P < 0.001). However, among the high-risk patients (patients with detectable EBV DNA and/or unsatisfactory response after PCT), no statistically significant survival differences were observed between the LRRT and non-LRRT groups.Conclusions: EBV DNA level and tumor response after PCT both correlate with the prognosis of de novo metastatic NPC. In such cases, LRRT may benefit the patients with undetectable EBV DNA levels and satisfactory tumor response after PCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A centrosymmetric O-bridged polynuclear copper(II) complex, [CuL2]n, where L is the deprotonated form of the Schiff base ligand 2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde oxime, has been prepared and characterized by IR, UV and single-crystal X-ray determination. There is a crystallographic inversion center in the complex. The Cu atom in the complex is coordinated by the phenolate oxygen, imino nitrogen and hydroxyl oxygen atoms from two Schiff base ligands, forming octahedral geometry. The complex was tested in vitro for its antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We wished to evaluate the efficacy and safety of liposomal paclitaxel and docetaxel for induction chemotherapy (IC) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods: A total of 1498 patients with newly-diagnosed NPC between 2009 and 2017 treated with IC plus concurrent chemotherapy were included in our observational study. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and grade-3-4 toxicities were compared between groups using propensity score matching (PSM).Results: In total, 767 patients were eligible for this study, with 104 (13.6%) and 663 (86.4%) receiving a liposomal paclitaxel-based and docetaxel-based taxanes, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) regimen, respectively. PSM identified 103 patients in the liposomal-paclitaxel group and 287 patients in the docetaxel group. There was no significant difference at 3 years for OS (92.2% vs. 93.9%, P = 0.942), PFS (82.6% vs. 81.7%, P = 0.394), LRFS (94.7% vs. 93.3%, P = 0.981) or DMFS (84.6% vs. 87.4%, P = 0.371) between the two groups after PSM. Significant interactions were not observed between the effect of chemotherapy regimen and sex, age, T stage, N stage, overall stage, or Epstein-Barr virus DNA level in the subgroup multivariate analysis. The prevalence of grade-3-4 leukopenia and neutropenia in the liposomal-paclitaxel group was significantly lower than that of the docetaxel group (P < 0.05 for all).Conclusions: Compared with docetaxel, liposomal paclitaxel has identical anti-tumor efficacy, but causes fewer and milder adverse reactions in IC for NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]