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Microwave photonics (MWPs) is an emerging interdisciplinary field, where photonics technologies are adopted to facilitate the generation, transmission, detection, and processing of signals at radio-wave, microwave, and millimeter-wave frequencies. Recently, the integrated photonic technology has demonstrated its capability to miniaturize photonic circuits on a single chip, which paves the way for next-generation integrated MWP signal processing systems having reduced size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP) specifications. In particular, by means of incorporating complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) electronic, optical, and optoelectronic components on a single integrated chip, silicon photonic circuits have brought new architectures and functionalities for MWP signal processing. This accelerates the evolution of MWPs from a single-use microwave signal processor toward a multitasking and cascadable MWP system, which is readily adaptable for a wide variety of uses and applications. In this review article, we provide an overview of the fundamental principle of the MWP signal processing topology. Developments in the microwave filtering technologies are reviewed with a focus on the integrated microwave filtering enhanced by optical phase equalization. We also review the recent progress and give an outlook for the future trend in MWP signal topologies, exploring the realization of multitasking and cascadable microwave signal processing systems based on silicon photonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly oriented magnetite (Fe3O4) thin films have been produced by reactive sputtering in a mixture of hydrogen and argon. While different phases can be achieved by varying the ratio between hydrogen and argon, single phase magnetite films can be achieved with hydrogen concentration γ=0.75%–1%. For the sample grown at γ=1.0%, a Verwey transition at about 111 K can be seen from the temperature dependence of the resistivity, which is confirmed in the magnetization measurements. Maximum magnetoresistance (MR) of about 13.8% is observed just about the Verwey transition at T=115 K. MR results also suggest strong coupling among Fe3O4 nanoparticles originated from the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida exchange interaction and dipolar interaction, which requires high order terms of (M/Ms)2 to explain the MR behaviors. However, with the fields applied perpendicular to the plane, MR exhibits a distinct behavior. The MR values under the condition of low fields seem to show a linear relationship with |M/MS|. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have carried out molecular dynamics simulations of model polymer-nanoparticle composites (PNCs) consisting of coarse-grained bead-necklace polymer chains and roughly spherical nanoparticles comprised of like beads for the purpose of gaining understanding of the influence of the nanoparticle-polymer interface on the viscoelastic properties of PNCs. The dynamic shear modulus G[SUBc](t) and viscosity n[SUBc] of the PNCs were determined as a function of nanoparticle volume fraction, specific nanoparticle-polymer interfacial area, and the nature of the nanoparticle-polymer interaction. The viscoelastic properties of the PNCs were well described as a product of a polymer matrix dynamic shear modulus or viscosity and a particle volume fraction dependent effect independent of particle size, analogous to treatments of conventional particle composites. In contrast to many conventional composites, however, the viscoelastic properties of the polymer matrix were strongly perturbed by the nanoparticles and depended upon the nature of the nanoparticle-polymer interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic glass offers several advantages, including high strength, corrosion resistance, and low coercivity. In precision machining fields like optical devices, medical devices, and micro-electromechanical systems, Ti-based metallic glass offers more advantages than Fe- and Zr-based metallic glass. However, its current machinability poses a challenge in meeting the requirements of precision metallic glass parts. To obtain the best machining performance, a thermophysical model of the EDM drilling process was established to simulate the temperature distribution on the surface of metal glass workpiece during EDM drilling. In addition, a new systematic method is utilized to calculate the characteristics of important machining holes, such as inlet and outlet overcut and inlet and outlet edge deviation. In this investigation, the maximum relative overcut and edge deviation are 8.59% and 7.23%, respectively, relative to the electrode radius. To improve the machining quality and machining stability, the slit width should be kept at an ideal value. Therefore, the recommended discharge current is 4–5 A, pulse duration is 50 μ s, and pulse duty ratio is 0.2 - 0.3 when EDM drilling of amorphous alloy. Based on this, the EDM drilling analysis method by numerical and experimental investigation for titanium-based metallic glass is put forward, which provides scientific theoretical guidance for the EDM of drilling it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xue, X.; Wang, X., and Li, L., 2019. Employment absorption capacity of e-commerce service industry. In: Guido-Aldana, P.A. and Mulahasan, S. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources and Exploration. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 93, pp. 879–882. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. E-commerce service industry will play an important role in promoting national economic growth, increasing employment, adjusting industrial structure and improving resource utilization efficiency. With the rapid development of e-commerce and the increasingly serious employment situation, how to promote the employment potential of e-commerce service industry? In this paper, the development of China's e-commerce service industry is analyzed and the methods of employment elasticity analysis and industrial structure deviation are used to study the employment absorption capacity of e-commerce service industry. The research shows that there is a positive correlation between the development of e-commerce service industry and its employment growth. Although their development has not quite matched, e-commerce service industry still has a strong employment absorption capacity. Finally, some suggestions on how to promote and enhance the employment potential of e-commerce service industry are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wolfberry is believed to improve eyesight in traditional Chinese medicine. Soaking wolfberry in thermos cups has become a common health‐preserving practice. The object of this paper was to research the protective effects of wolfberry water extract (WWE) on oxidative injury induced by blue light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) in ARPE‐19 cells and C57BL/6J mice. Wolfberry water extract significantly increased cell viability, reduced ROS production, stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibited apoptosis in blue LED‐induced cells (P < 0.05). The protective effects of WWE against blue LED‐induced cytotoxicity and ROS accumulation in cells were abolished by transfection with Nrf2 siRNA. In blue LED‐exposed C57BL/6J mice, WWE treatment markedly increased the amplitudes of electroretinogram (ERG) waves a and b, increased the thickness of retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL), activated endogenous antioxidant enzymes, and decreased MDA levels in the retina and lens. WWE also promoted NRF2 translocation and the expression of the downstream genes Ho‐1, Nqo1, Gclc, and Gclm in the retina. The protection of WWE in ERG a and b wave amplitudes and ROS levels were abrogated in Nrf2 knockout mice. These results suggested that WWE has beneficial effects on retinal injury induced by blue LED, and mechanisms of action at least partly via the NRF2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The external environment in deep water is quite complicated, during the installation process of subsea cluster manifolds by the drill pipe, the safety and precise localization need to be addressed desperately. In this paper, based on small deformation theory, basic theoretical model on the drill pipe installation of subsea manifolds is proposed and OrcaFlex software is used to make a simulation on setting up the corresponding numerical model in which the installation process is divided into three main phases. Its main purpose is to make a simulation research in guiding for engineers before the practical installation. The displacement and stress state of drill pipe are simulated and their curves in the different phases are obtained. In the different phases of lowering subsea cluster manifold, three factors: current velocity, wave height and manifold weight have an evident impact on tension, bent moment, Mises stress of drill pipe and displacement of subsea manifold, which are quite useful for actual installation in deep water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Example Reference 1 Li H, Wang J, Li L. Expression of EMT-related genes in lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer: a TCGA-based study. B Correction: World J Surg Oncol 21, 55 (2023) b B https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-023-02893-2 b Following publication of the original article [[1]], the authors identified an error in the author names of all authors. [Extracted from the article]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become a major public health problem affecting the elderly population, and there is currently no effective treatment. Although the pathogenesis of AD is unclear, neurotoxicity induced by oxidative stress plays an important role in the progression of AD. Ginseng, the root and rhizome of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, is used not only as an herbal medicine but also as a functional food to support bodily functions. Ginsenoside Rk3 (Rk3), the main bioactive component in ginseng, has a strong antioxidant effect and has not been reported in AD. In this study, we showed that Rk3 improved neuronal apoptosis, decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and restored mitochondrial membrane potential in PC12 and primary neuronal cells. In vivo, we found that Rk3 improved spatial learning and memory deficit in precursor protein (APP)/presenilin 1 (PS1) double transgenic mouse model of AD. Additionally, Rk3 increases glutathione reductase (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels while inhibits malondialdehyde (MDA) production, apoptosis and activation of glial cells in APP/PS1 mice. Mechanistically, we found that the protective effect of Rk3 is in correlation with the activation of AMPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, the findings of this study provide support for Rk3 as a new strategy for the treatment of AD. [Display omitted] • Ginsenoside Rk3, a bioactive component in ginseng, exhibits neuroprotective effects in PC12 cells and primary neuronal cells. • Rk3 significantly alleviates AD pathology with the therapeutic effect better than that of donepezil. • The protective effect of Rk3 is associated with the activation of AMPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway. • Ginsenoside Rk3 is expected to be a potential therapeutic drug for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important energy storage device, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely used in various fields due to their remarkable advantages. The high level of precision in estimating the battery's state of health greatly enhances the safety and dependability of the application process. In contrast to traditional model-based prediction methods that are complex and have limited accuracy, data-driven prediction methods, which are considered mainstream, rely on direct data analysis and offer higher accuracy. Therefore, this paper reviews how to use the latest data-driven algorithms to predict the SOH of LIBs, and proposes a general prediction process, including the acquisition of datasets for the charging and discharging process of LIBs, the processing of data and features, and the selection of algorithms. The advantages and limitations of various processing methods and cutting-edge data-driven algorithms are summarized and compared, and methods with potential applications are proposed. Effort was also made to point out their application methods and application scenarios, providing guidance for researchers in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: What are the main findings? Rapid acquisition technology of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. EIS was used to quickly and effectively estimate the SOH of LIBs. Machine learning method and equivalent circuit method to estimate battery health state. What is the implication of the main finding? EIS were found to be better SOH estimation method. The technology based on EIS has the characteristics of high precision advantages. The method based on EIS of LIBs SOH estimation has been applied to the BMS. Lithium-ion batteries stand out from other clean energy sources because of their high energy density and small size. With the increasing application scope and scale of lithium-ion batteries, real-time and accurate monitoring of its state of health plays an important role in ensuring the healthy and stable operation of an energy storage system. Due to the interaction of various aging reactions in the aging process of lithium-ion batteries, the capacity attenuation shows no regularity. However, the traditional monitoring method is mainly based on voltage and current, which cannot reflect the internal mechanism, so the accuracy is greatly reduced. Recently, with the development of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, it has been possible to estimate the state of health quickly and accurately online. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy can measure battery impedance in a wide frequency range, so it can reflect the internal aging state of lithium-ion batteries. In this paper, the latest impedance spectroscopy measurement technology and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy based on lithium-ion battery health state estimation technology are summarized, along with the advantages and disadvantages of the summary and prospects. This fills the gap in this aspect and is conducive to the further development of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a key influence factor on the lifetime of pulsed capacitors, the repetitive frequency (fR) of charge/discharge is studied in this paper based on the method of TSDC measurement. When fR ranges from 0.1 Hz to 10 Hz, the lifetime of capacitors increases. The TSDC measurement is conducted, which is used to study the parameters of space charge induced by charge/discharge at various frequencies. The measurement result indicates that compared with capacitors which have experienced no charge/discharge, for capacitors that have experienced charge/discharge at 0.1, 1, 8 and 10 Hz for 3000 times, the trap density within the dielectric respectively increases by 66.1, 62.1, 54.8 and 31.5%. For pulsed capacitors which have experienced charge/discharge at 10 Hz, the peak current (IM) is 22.2 pA, meanwhile, for pulsed capacitors which have experienced charge/discharge at 0.1 Hz, the Im is 29.4 pA. For pulsed capacitors which have experienced charge/discharge at 10 Hz, the depth of deep traps is 0.94 eV, and the temperature corresponding to Im is 97 °C, meanwhile, for pulsed capacitors which have experienced charge/discharge at 0.1 Hz, the depth of deep traps is 1.83 eV, and the temperature corresponding to Im is 110°C. The parameters reflecting the characteristic of space charge can reasonably explain why the lifetime of capacitors tested at 10 Hz is three times of that at 0.1 Hz. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Lithium-ion batteries have become the fastest-growing energy storage equipment available for extrinsic and intrinsic reasons. State of Charge (SOC) is one of the lithium-ion batteries' most critical performance indicators, reflecting the remaining capacity. An accurate and stable estimate of SOC is critical for any lithium-ion battery. This paper proposes a hybrid method to achieve stable and real-time battery SOC estimation at different temperatures, composed of an Improved Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (IBGRU) network and Unscented Kalman filtering (UKF). The proposed method is experimentally validated using data from UDDS and US06 driving cycles. The verification results show that the method can adapt to various working conditions and obtain good estimation accuracy and robustness, with MAE and RMSE less than 0.83% and 1.12%, respectively. After transfer learning, the method can also be applied to new lithium-ion batteries and achieve good estimation performance at new temperature conditions. The maximum errors are 4.98% and 5.76% at 25 °C and −10 °C, respectively. Therefore, the IBGRU-UKF method can achieve a more accurate and stable SOC estimation with good expansion performance for different lithium-ion batteries. [Display omitted] • A new hybrid method is proposed to estimate the SOC of lithium-ion batteries. • The IBGRU is designed to improve estimation performance at different temperatures. • The UKF method is developed to smooth the IBGRU network estimation. • The proposed method can be applied to other batteries with transfer learning. • The method can hopefully estimate the battery pack SOC in practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an important viral disease, causing significant economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. Atypical cases caused by highly pathogenic PRRS virus (HP-PRRSV) emerged in 2006 in China. The vaccine strain HuN4-F112 has been developed from the wild-type HP-PRRSV HuN4 through repeated passages on MARC-145 cells. However, the mechanisms of attenuation have yet to be defined. Previous studies have shown that the vaccine strain HuN4-F112 could not effectively replicate in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). In the present study, a series of chimeric and mutant PRRSVs were constructed to investigate regions associated with the virus attenuation. Firstly, the corresponding genome regions (ORF1a, ORF1b and ORFs 2-7) were exchanged between two infectious clones of HuN4 and HuN4-F112, and then the influence of small regions in ORF1a and ORF2-7 was evaluated, then influence of specific amino acids on NSP2 was tested. NSP2 was determined to be the key gene that regulated infection efficiency on PAMs, and amino acids at 893 and 979 of NSP2 were the key amino acids. The results of in vivo study indicated that NSP2 was not only important for infection efficiency in vitro, but also influenced the virulence, which was indicated by the results of survival rate, temperature, viremia, lung score and tissue score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) molecular classification of endometrial cancer (EC) and endometrial atypical hyperplasia (AH) treated with fertility-sparing therapy. Methods: A total of 46 EC and AH patients who received fertility-sparing therapy and TCGA molecular classification tested by next generation sequencing, in Peking University People’s Hospital from June 2020 to December 2021, were retrospectively collected. We analyzed the relationship between molecular classification and clinicopathological factors and treatment outcomes. Results: Of the 46 patients, including 40 EC and 6 AH patients, 70.5% (32 patients) had complete remission (CR) after treatment, with median CR time of 8 months. The cases were distributed as no specific molecular profile (NSMP; n=34, 73.9%) subtype mainly, microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H; n=7, 15.2%), POLE ultra-mutated (n=3, 6.5%), and copy number high (CNH; n=2, 4.3%). Patients with MSI-H subtype had lower body mass index (24.0±5.5 kg/m² ), more family history of tumor (6/7), more with loss of mismatch repair protein expression by immunohistochemical (7/7), and higher Ki67 expression level (3/3). Patients in MSI-H subgroup had the lowest CR rate at 6 months (0/6, p=0.019), and survival analysis showed that such patients were less likely to achieve CR than those with NSMP subtype (p=0.022). Subgroup analysis of patients with NSMP showed that, age ≥30 years and diabetes mellitus related with longer treatment time to CR (p=0.01 and p=0.059, respectively). In addition, CR was obtained in 2 (2/3) POLE ultra-mutated cases and 1 (2/2) CNH case, respectively. Conclusion: TCGA molecular classification relates with the treatment response in patients with EC and AH treated with fertilitysparing therapy. Patients with MSI-H subtype have poor treatment efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radar absorbing materials composited of activated carbon fibers (ACF) as wave-absorber and glass fibers (GF) as impedance modifier were successfully prepared. The structure parameters of rectangular ACF felt screen, the influences of GF-piece and the reflection properties were investigated. It was observed that the effective bandwidth (the reflection loss below −10 dB) increased with the aspect ratio ( a / b ) increasing, but decreased with aperture spacing ( δ ) increasing. A double absorption peak (16.1 dB and 14.2 dB) for the optimized configuration ( a / b = 3, δ = 5 mm, a = 30 mm) appeared at 5.8 GHz and 16.9 GHz, and a wide absorption bandwidth (4–17.6 GHz) could be achieved. When a 30 mm × 15 mm rectangular aperture was filled by GF-piece of 20 mm × 10 mm, the effective bandwidth was improved to 12.1 GHz. The composites with a wide absorption bandwidth could be achieved via designing the proper element parameters and adjusting the composition of ACF and GF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of anthocyanin-rich black currant extract (BCE) on the structural properties of starch and the inhibition of glycosidases, gathering data and research evidence to support the use of low glycemic index (GI) foods. The BCE induced a change in the starch crystal structure from A-type to V-type, resulting in a drop in digestibility from 81.41 % to 65.57 %. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of BCE on glycosidases activity (α -glucosidase: IC 50 = 0.13 ± 0.05 mg/mL and α -amylase: IC 50 = 2.67 ± 0.16 mg/mL) by inducing a change in spatial conformation were confirmed through in vitro analysis. The presence of a 5′-OH group facilitated the interaction between anthocyanins and receptors of amylose, α -amylase, and α -glucosidase. The glycosyl moiety enhanced the affinity for amylose yet lowered the inhibitory effect on α -amylase. The in vivo analysis demonstrated that BCE resulted in a reduction of 3.96 mM·h in blood glucose levels (Area Under Curve). The significant hypoglycemic activity, particularly the decrease in postprandial blood glucose levels, highlights the potential of utilizing BCE in functional foods for preventing diabetes. [Display omitted] • BCE delayed starch digestion by both structural change and glycosidases inhibition. • The 5′-OH of anthocyanin enhanced the ability to bind amylose and glycosidases. • Starch containing BCE attenuated postprandial hyperglycemia in vivo efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A full- length infectious clone of NADC30-like strain was constructed successfully. • The rescued virus, rZJqz, was indistinguishable from their parental virus vZJqz21 in virological characteristics. • rZJqz retained the similar pathogenicity and the typical clinical symptoms. • These findings represent a useful tool for the further development of a new broad-spectrum vaccine. NADC30-like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), which is highly homologous to the NADC30 strain isolated in the United States. The NADC30-like PRRSV was first reported in 2014 in China, where it spread and gradually caused an epidemic. Currently, growing research has shown that NADC30-like strains have greater propensity to recombine with other PRRSV strains, particularly the PPRSV vaccine virus used clinically, making the prevention and control of PRRSV highly complex. To carry out an in-depth molecular biology and virulence analysis, a full-length infectious clone of the NADC30-like strain was successfully constructed and rescued by reverse genetic manipulation. The rescued virus, rZJqz, was indistinguishable from its parental virus, ZJqz21, based on virological characteristics. Further animal experiments demonstrated that rZJqz retained similar pathogenicity and induced the typical clinical symptoms and viral shedding observed in the ZJqz21 challenge model. Together, these results provide a useful tool for further study of the biological characteristics and pathogenicity of NADC30-like strains. Moreover, these findings also provide a solid foundation for studying the recombination of different PRRSVs and developing new and effective universal vaccines in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xue, X.; Wang, X., and Li, L., 2019. Employment absorption capacity of e-commerce service industry. In: Guido-Aldana, P.A. and Mulahasan, S. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources and Exploration. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 93, pp. 879–882. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. E-commerce service industry will play an important role in promoting national economic growth, increasing employment, adjusting industrial structure and improving resource utilization efficiency. With the rapid development of e-commerce and the increasingly serious employment situation, how to promote the employment potential of e-commerce service industry? In this paper, the development of China's e-commerce service industry is analyzed and the methods of employment elasticity analysis and industrial structure deviation are used to study the employment absorption capacity of e-commerce service industry. The research shows that there is a positive correlation between the development of e-commerce service industry and its employment growth. Although their development has not quite matched, e-commerce service industry still has a strong employment absorption capacity. Finally, some suggestions on how to promote and enhance the employment potential of e-commerce service industry are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ship emissions are one of the main sources of air pollution in port cities. The prosperous maritime trade has brought great harm to the air quality of port cities while promoting the development of the world economy. During the berthing process, ship auxiliary machines emit a large amount of air pollutants, which have a great impact on air quality and public health. Alternative marine fuels are being studied and used frequently to reduce ship emissions. This research was carried out to investigate the gaseous and particles emission characteristics of a marine diesel engine during the application of experimental biodiesel fuels. To study the influence of mixed fuels on engine performance, measurements were made at different engine loads and speeds. Different diesel fuels were tested using various ratios between biodiesel and BD0 (ultra-low sulfur diesel) of 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, and 100%. The results indicated the use of biodiesel has little influence on the combustion performance but has a certain impact on exhaust emissions. The octane number and laminar flame speed of biodiesel are higher than those of BD0, so the combustion time of the test diesel engine is shortened under the mixed mode of biodiesel. In addition, a high ratio of biodiesel leads to a decrease of the instantaneous peak heat release rate, causing the crank angle to advance. As the biodiesel blending ratio increased, most of the gaseous pollutants decreased, especially for CO, but it led to an increase of particle numbers. The particle size distribution exhibits a unimodal distribution under various conditions, with the peak value appearing at 30–75 nm. The use of biodiesel has no effect on this phenomenon. The peak positions strongly depend on fuel types and engine conditions. The particulate matter (PM) emitted from the test engine included large amounts of organic carbon (OC), which accounted for between 30% and 40% of PM. Whereas the elemental carbon (EC) accounted for between 10% and 20%, the water-soluble ions components accounted for 6–15%. Elemental components, which accounted for 3–8% of PM emissions, mainly consisted of Si, Fe, Sn, Ba, Al, Zn, V, and Ni. Generally, biodiesel could be a reliable alternative fuel to reduce ship auxiliary engine emissions at berth and improve port air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent nano-ceramics have an important high-transmittance, material-integrating structure and function and a variety of potential applications, such as use in infrared windows, optical isolators, composite armors, intelligent terminal screens, and key materials of solid-state lasers. Transparent ceramics were originally developed to replace single crystals because of their low fabricating cost, controllable shape, and variable composition. Therefore, this study reviews and summarizes the development trends in transparent nano-ceramics and their potential applications. First, we review the research progress and application of laser nano-ceramic materials, focusing on the influence of controllable doping of rare earth ions on thermal conductivity and the realization of large-scale fabrication technology. Second, the latest research progress on magneto-optical transparent nano-ceramics, mainly including terbium gallium garnet (Tb3Ga5O12, TGG) ceramics and terbium aluminum garnet (Tb3Al5O12, TAG) ceramics, are summarized, and their performance is compared. Third, the research progress of transparent armor nano-ceramic materials, represented by MgAl2O3 and Aluminum oxynitride (AlON), are reviewed. Lastly, the progress in electro-optical transparent nano-ceramics and scintillation transparent nano-ceramics is reported, and the influence of the material-fabrication process on electro-optic effect or luminous intensity is compared. Moreover, the effect of particle diameter on fabrication, the relationship between nano powder and performance, and different sintering methods are discussed. In summary, this study provides a meaningful reference for low-cost and sustainable production in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the advantageous effects of purple sweet potato anthocyanin extract (PSPAE) on redox state in obese mice. The normal chow diet (NCD) group, high‐fat/cholesterol diet (HCD) group, and three groups based on HCD and added with low, middle, and high dose of PSPAE (PAL, PAM, and PAH) were raised for 12 weeks. High dose of PSPAE treatment decreased the elevations of the body weight by 24.7%, serum total cholesterol by 48.3%, serum triglyceride by 42.4%, and elevated serum activities of glutathione peroxidase by 53.3%, superoxide dismutase by 57.8%, catalase by 75.4%, decreased serum contents of malondialdehyde by 27.1% and lipopolysaccharides by 40.5%, as well as increased caecal total short‐chain fatty acid by 2.05‐fold. Additionally, PSPAE depressed toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR‐4), nuclear factor kappa‐B (NF‐κB), interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor α, and preserved nuclear factor erythroid‐2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) gene expression. Similarly, the protein expression of Nrf2 was enhanced, while TLR‐4 and p‐NF‐κB/NF‐κB were depressed by PSPAE treatment. Moreover, PSPAE administration promoted the protection of intestinal barrier function and rebuilt gut microbiota homeostasis by blooming g_Akkermansia, g_Bifidobacterium, and g_Lactobacillus. Furthermore, antibiotic interference experiments showed that the gut microbiota was indispensable for preserving the redox state of PSPAE. These results suggested that PSPAE administration could be an opportunity for improving HCD‐induced obesity and the redox state related to gut dysbiosis. Practical Application: Purple sweet potato anthocyanin has diverse pharmacological properties. It is applicable for individuals to consume extracts (as pills or other forms) from raw purple sweet potato if they want to improve obesity or redox state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tin bronze- x Cr 3 C 2 -graphite composites (x = 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) were fabricated by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering. Fine-scale uniform distribution of composites was achieved. The Cr 3 C 2 particles enhanced the mechanical properties and wear resistance of copper-based composites. The as-sintered tin bronze-20Cr 3 C 2 -graphite showed a hardness of 109 HV, a compressive strength of 333 MPa, and a yield strength of 219 MPa. In addition, the wear rate of as-sintered tin bronze-20Cr 3 C 2 -graphite was maintained in the order of 10−5 at 30 N, 50 N, and 70 N. The wear mechanism of the studied composites varied from surface fatigue and adhesion wear to abrasive wear with the increase of Cr 3 C 2 content during dry sliding. These findings provide a new method for developing copper-based composites with enhanced mechanical properties and wear resistance. • The tin bronze-Cr 3 C 2 -graphite composites were fabricated by powder metallurgy. • The Cr 3 C 2 particles enhanced the mechanical properties and wear resistance of copper-based composites. • The wear mechanism of the studied composites varied with the increase of Cr 3 C 2 content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ancient book "Shen Nong's Herbal Classic," Panax ginseng CA Mey was believed to have multiple benefits, including calming nerves, improving cognitive function, and promoting longevity. Ginsenosides are the main active ingredients of ginseng. Ginsenoside RK3 (RK3), a rare ginsenoside extracted from ginseng, displays strong pharmacological potential. However, its effect on neurogenesis remains insufficiently investigated. This study aims to investigate whether RK3 improves learning and memory by promoting neurogenesis, and to explore the mechanism of RK3 action. The therapeutic effect of RK3 on learning and memory was determined by the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition test (NORT). The pathogenesis and protective effect of RK3 on primary neurons and animal models were detected by immunofluorescence and western blotting. Protein expression of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway was detected by western blotting. Our results showed that RK3 treatment significantly improved cognitive function in APPswe/PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice and C57BL/6 (C57) mice. RK3 promotes neurogenesis and synaptogenesis in the mouse hippocampus. In vitro , RK3 prevents Aβ-induced injury in primary cultured neurons and promotes the proliferation of PC12 as well as the expression of synapse-associated proteins. Mechanically, the positve role of RK3 on neurogenesis was combined with the activation of CREB/BDNF pathway. Inhibition of CREB/BDNF pathway attenuated the effect of RK3. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that RK3 promotes learning and cognition in APP/PS1 and C57 mice by promoting neurogenesis and synaptogenesis through the CREB/BDNF signaling pathway. Therefore, RK3 is expected to be further developed into a potential drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). [Display omitted] • RK3 improves cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice. • RK3 improves the learning and memory ability of C57 mice. • RK3 promotes neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. • The effect of RK3 is associated with activation of the CREB/BDNF signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cr 2 O 3 shows the highest rate for propylene reforming but deactivates rapidly. • Mn 1.5 Cr 1.5 O 4 is the most active and stable catalyst for aromatic steam reforming. • Reforming kinetics are consistent with a Mars-van Krevelen type mechanism. • Of the hydrocarbons tested, only the toluene reforming rate is −1 order in H 2. • DRIFTS suggests H 2 inhibits oxidation of the methyl side group of toluene. Catalytic steam reforming of propylene, benzene and toluene was investigated over Mn-Cr-O spinel oxides with different stoichiometry. The catalysts were structurally stable during reforming conditions except for Mn 3 O 4 , which reduced in situ to MnO. The Cr 2 O 3 catalyst showed the highest initial rate for propylene reforming, whereas the Mn-rich Mn 1.5 Cr 1.5 O 4 spinel was the most active and stable catalyst for aromatic reforming. Reforming rates of olefins and aromatics were comparable under 0.05 bar hydrocarbon and 0.40 bar steam at 873 K. The reforming rate of olefins and aromatics was first order in hydrocarbon and slightly inhibited by H 2 O, which is consistent with a Mars-van Krevelen type mechanism. Of the hydrocarbons investigated, only the rate of toluene reforming was negative first order in excess H 2. Results from diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy of adsorbed toluene on a spinel catalyst suggest that H 2 inhibits the rapid oxidation of the methyl group of toluene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel workflow for forecasting production in unconventional reservoirs using reduced-order models and machine-learning. Our physics-informed machine-learning workflow addresses the challenges to real-time reservoir management in unconventionals, namely the lack of data (i.e., the time-frame for which the wells have been producing), and the significant computational expense of high-fidelity modeling. We do this by applying the machine-learning paradigm of transfer learning, where we combine fast, but less accurate reduced-order models with slow, but accurate high-fidelity models. We use the Patzek model (Proc Natl Acad Sci 11:19731–19736, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1313380110, 2013) as the reduced-order model to generate synthetic production data and supplement this data with synthetic production data obtained from high-fidelity discrete fracture network simulations of the site of interest. Our results demonstrate that training with low-fidelity models is not sufficient for accurate forecasting, but transfer learning is able to augment the knowledge and perform well once trained with the small set of results from the high-fidelity model. Such a physics-informed machine-learning (PIML) workflow, grounded in physics, is a viable candidate for real-time history matching and production forecasting in a fractured shale gas reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The urokinase receptor (uPAR) serves as a docking site to the serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) to promote extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and tumor invasion and metastasis. Previously, we had reported a small molecule inhibitor of the uPAR·uPA interaction that emerged from structure-based virtual screening. Here, we measure the affinity of a large number of derivatives from commercial sources. Synthesis of additional compounds was carried out to probe the role of various groups on the parent compound. Extensive structure-based computational studies suggested a binding mode for these compounds that led to a structure–activity relationship study. Cellular studies in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines that include A549, H460 and H1299 showed that compounds blocked invasion, migration and adhesion. The effects on invasion of active compounds were consistent with their inhibition of uPA and MMP proteolytic activity. These compounds showed weak cytotoxicity consistent with the confined role of uPAR to metastasis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the major drivers of economic loss in the swine industry worldwide. In commercial pig production, vaccination is the first option in an attempt to control infectious diseases. Pigs are therefore often immunized with different vaccines, and almost all of them are delivered via the intramuscular (IM) route. However, the IM injection may result in physical damage, stress reactions, and is labor demanding. An alternative route is urgently needed to reduce the disadvantages of conventional vaccination. In this study, a needle-free intradermal (ID) delivery system was evaluated for delivering a live PRRS vaccine as compared with the traditional needle-syringe method. Fifty-two 4-week-old piglets were divided into six groups: piglets in groups A-C were immunized using ID delivery system with 104, 105 and 106 TCID 50 of PRRS candidate vaccine strain rHN-NP49, respectively; piglets in group D were immunized IM with 105 TCID 50 of rHN-NP49; and group E and F were used as challenge and control groups, respectively. At 28 days post vaccination, piglets in group A to E were challenged with a lethal dose of highly-pathogenic PRRSV. Similar results were found in viremia and antibody response among the ID and IM groups during the immunization stage. After challenge, similar results were found in average body weight gain, viral shedding, serum viral load, and clinical score among the immunization groups, with a higher protection ratio in the ID group compared with IM group with the same immunization dose. These results demonstrated that the ID delivery system could provide similar or even better protection compared with IM route, and could be an effective route for PRRS vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared small-target detection under heterogeneous background, as a challenging task, plays an important role in many applications. In practice, there are not only bright targets but also dim targets, e.g., rescue aircraft and vehicles in the forest fire scene. Considering that most existing infrared small-target detection methods are merely aimed at bright targets, a novel method using multiple morphological profiles (MMP) is proposed, which can detect various types of targets whose brightness varies greatly. In the designed morphological feature extraction, different attributes, i.e., area attribute and height attribute, are applied to extract spatial size and contrast information of small-target in the max-tree and min-tree, respectively. Furthermore, discontinuous pruning values are further utilized for different attributes, and a designed fusion strategy of different pruning values results in more robust detection performance. Experimental results validated on two synthetic data and six real data sets demonstrate that the proposed MMP can not only detect a variety of brightness of targets and different types of targets and kinds of spatial sizes of targets but also further improve the contrast between targets and background, and the background clutter is significantly suppressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two Co–Cr–O spinel catalysts with different stoichiometry were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N2 physisorption and temperature-programmed reduction in H2. Excess Co in Co1.5Cr1.5O4 existed as Co3+ that substituted for Cr3+ in the octahedral sites of the spinel lattice. High temperature treatment of the spinel catalysts in H2 resulted in stepwise reduction of Co3+ to Co2+ and eventually to Co metal. Both CoCr2O4 and Co1.5Cr1.5O4 catalysts were active and structurally stable in ethylene steam reforming under differential reaction conditions at 873 K, with the areal reforming rate over Co1.5Cr1.5O4 being one order-of-magnitude greater than that over CoCr2O4. The steady state reforming rate after oxidation was comparable to that over the fresh catalyst for both CoCr2O4 and Co1.5Cr1.5O4, indicating the stability of the spinel structure against reduction under steam reforming conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on data of haze days observed by Puyang Meteorological Station of Henan Province from 1971 to 2012, climatic characteristics, causes and prevention countermeasures of haze in Puyang were discussed. The results showed that annual average haze days in Puyang tended to increase slightly over the past 42 years on the whole, and the increasing trend became obvious since the 1990s. Meanwhile, haze days in Puyang showed an obvious seasonal variation, that is, haze mainly appeared in autumn (from September to November) and winter (from December to next February), and it was the most frequent in winter. Haze formation was closely related to meteorological and environment elements. Increase of calm wind in horizontal direction, inversion layer in vertical direction, and increase of suspended particulate matter could lead to aggregation of air pollutants, so that haze days increased. Some countermeasures against haze pollution, such as controlling pollution sources, limiting discharge of vehicle exhaust and industrial gases, and increasing green area, should be adopted to reduce haze harm to air quality and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• rPRRSV-E2 immunized piglets developed high levels of antibodies against HP-PRRSV and CSFV. • Immunized pigs were well protected from the challenge of HP-PRRSV or CSFV at 20 weeks and 24 weeks post vaccination. • The immune duration of rPRRSV-E2 is at least 5 months against both HP-PRRSV and CSFV. Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) are both important pathogens which seriously harm the economic swine industry worldwide. We have previously demonstrated that rPRRSV-E2 is a promising live, virus-vectored vaccine that provides 100% protection against highly pathogenic PRRSV (HP-PRRSV) and CSFV. Here, we evaluated the duration of immunity (DOI) of the vaccine strain, rPRRSV-E2. Vaccine or cell culture medium was administered to piglets at 4 weeks of age. All immunized piglets developed high levels of antibodies, which could maintain for up to 23 weeks, against PRRSV and CSFV. All immunized pigs were well protected from the challenge of HP-PRRSV or CSFV at 20 weeks and 24 weeks post vaccination. The vaccine protection rate was still 100% at 24 weeks after immunization. The immune efficacy results showed that the immune duration of rPRRSV-E2 could be up to 5 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with venous tumor thrombus (VTT) and bland thrombus (BT), and to evaluate the influence of BT on surgical treatment and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) of RCC with VTT. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 123 patients with RCC and VTT, who underwent surgical treatment in our center between February 2015 and May 2018. Patients were divided into the BT group (21 patients) and non‐BT group (102 patients). Chi‐square and Mann‐Whitney U test were used for categorical and continuous variables respectively. Univariable log‐rank tests and multivariable Cox regressions were conducted to evaluate the prognostic significance of each variable. Kaplan‐Meier plots were performed to evaluate the influence of BT. Results: In the delayed phase of enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), BT and VTT had difference. Patients were divided according to the relative position of BT: proximal end BT (one patients), contralateral renal vein BT (two patients), distal end BT (12 patients), and multiple BT (six patients). The average length of BT was 8.4 ± 5.8 cm (range: 0.6‐20.0 cm). Patients with BT had longer operative time (P =.001), more surgical blood loss (P =.004), higher proportion of open surgery (P =.006), more postoperative complications (P =.011). BT (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.323, P =.007) were independent risk factors for poor prognosis. Conclusions: In the delayed phase of enhanced MRI, BT showed no obvious enhancement, while VTT usually showed enhancement. This was an important basis for preoperative imaging diagnosis of BT. The presence of BT increases the difficulty of surgery, and is correlated with adverse survival outcomes in patients with RCC and VTT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the most important pathogens in the swine industry worldwide. Our previous study had indicated that proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) was a responsive gene in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) upon PRRSV infection. However, whether PCSK9 impacts the PRRSV replication and how the PRRSV modulates host PCSK9 remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated that PCSK9 protein suppressed the replication of both type-1 and type-2 PRRSV species. More specifically, the C-terminal domain of PCSK9 was responsible for the antiviral activity. Besides, we showed that PCSK9 inhibited PRRSV replication by targeting the virus receptor CD163 for degradation through the lysosome. In turn, PRRSV could down-regulate the expression of PCSK9 in both PAMs and MARC-145 cells. By screening the nonstructural proteins (nsps) of PRRSV, we showed that nsp11 could antagonize PCSK9's antiviral activity. Furthermore, mutagenic analyses of PRRSV nsp11 revealed that the endoribonuclease activity of nsp11 was critical for antagonizing the antiviral effect of PCSK9. Collectively, our data provide further insights into the interaction between PRRSV and the cell host and offer a new potential target for the antiviral therapy of PRRSV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ester-functionalized styrene-butadiene rubber (dibutyl itaconate-styrene-butadiene rubber) (D-ESBR) was synthesized by low-temperature emulsion polymerization using dibutyl itaconate (DBI) as a modified monomer containing ester groups. Nonpetroleum-based silica with hydroxy groups was used as a filler to enhance the D-ESBR, which can provide excellent mechanical properties, low rolling resistance, and high wet skid resistance. During the preparation of the silica/D-ESBR nanocomposites, a hydrogen-bonding interface was formed between the hydroxy groups on the surface of silica and the ester groups in the D-ESBR macromolecules. As the content of ester groups in the D-ESBR increases, the dispersion of silica in the nanocomposites is gradually improved, which was verified by rubber process analyzer (RPA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Overall mechanical properties of the silica/D-ESBR modified with 5 wt % DBI were improved and became superior to that of the non-modified nanocomposite. Compared with the non-modified silica/D-ESBR, the DBI modified silica/D-ESBR exhibited a lower tan δ value at 60 °C and comparable tan δ value at 0 °C, indicating that the DBI modified silica/D-ESBR had lower rolling resistance without sacrificing wet skid resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to develop an accurate preoperative scoring system to predict the probability of using laparoscopic surgery in radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy. The clinical data of 123 patients with renal cell carcinoma with renal vein or inferior vena cava tumour thrombus admitted to the Department of Urology at Peking University Third Hospital between January 2015 and May 2018 were retrospectively analysed. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to create the scoring system with an emphasis on the area improvement under the receiver operating characteristic curve. A total of 58 (47.2%) patients underwent complete laparoscopic surgery, 56 (45.5%) underwent complete open surgery and 9 (7.3%) underwent laparoscopic conversion to open surgery. The final multivariable model included the following three factors: Clinical node stage (P=0.030), Mayo classification (P<0.001) and tumour diameter (P=0.001). These three variables were then used to construct the score system named Peking University Third Hospital Laparoscopic Probability (PKUTHLP), which ranges from 0–5. The proportion of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for each level of the PKUTHLP score were as follows: 0 (n=20), 100%; 1 (n=34), 67.6%; 2 (n=21), 33.3%; 3 (n=21), 19.0%; 4 (n=23), 17.4%; and 5 (n=4), 0.0%. Overall, the PKUTHLP score accurately predicted the probability of using laparoscopic surgery in radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy; however, prospective validation of the PKUTHLP scoring system is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A variety of Mn-Cr spinels catalyze ethylene steam reforming at 873 K. • Excess Mn3+ substitutes for Cr3+ in the spinel structure. • Excess Cr3+ phase separates from the spinel to form Cr 2 O 3. • The reforming kinetics are consistent with a modified Mars van Krevelen mechanism. • Mn and Cr oxides are not effective catalysts for the steam reforming of ethylene. A series of Mn-Cr-O spinel catalysts of different stoichiometry was synthesized using a sol-gel method and characterized using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, N 2 and H 2 O adsorption, and H 2 -temperature programmed reduction. The introduction of extra Mn to stoichiometric MnCr 2 O 4 led to Mn3+ substitution in the spinel lattice of Mn 1.5 Cr 1.5 O 4 whereas excess Cr in Mn 0.5 Cr 2.5 O 4 formed Cr 2 O 3. Ethylene steam reforming at atmospheric total pressure and 873 K over the Mn-Cr-O spinel catalysts was nearly first order in ethylene, negative order in water and zero order in excess dihydrogen. The reaction kinetics were consistent with a Mars-van Krevelen type mechanism. Whereas Cr 2 O 3 was nearly inactive for ethylene steam reforming, Mn 3 O 4 was substantially more active than the spinel catalysts, but Mn 3 O 4 deactivated significantly upon in situ reduction to MnO. The spinel catalysts were therefore more active and structurally stable for ethylene steam reforming than either of the pure metal oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Gd and Mn dopants show enhanced activity for coke gasification and oxidation due to presence of oxygen vacancies. • Catalytic activity in a steam–air mixture is primarily governed by air. • Mn doped ceria is the favored catalyst for steam gasification due to its high activity and low cost. A series of α-alumina supported doped (Mn, Gd, Sr) ceria catalysts is investigated for the gasification (steam) and oxidation (air) of industrial coke that was generated during ethane pyrolysis. The catalytic activity is evaluated in the presence of pure steam, air and steam–air mixtures. Gd, Mn and Sr dopants reduce the coke gasification temperature in pure steam by 65 °C compared to the un-catalyzed coke gasification. Gd and Mn also decrease the coke oxidation temperature in air and help the dilute oxidation of coke in the presence of steam + air mixtures by decreasing the diluted oxidation temperature of coke by ∼125 °C. The Mn doped ceria catalyst is able to resist coke formation, during in-situ coking experiments. Structural characterization of the α-alumina supported doped (Gd and Mn) ceria catalysts by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and Raman spectroscopy shows the presence of Ce3+ species and oxygen vacancies, respectively, in the ceria catalysts. The catalytic activity of the Gd-doped sample appears to be related to the presence of increased oxygen vacancies, the smaller crystallite size and a higher catalyst surface area compared to catalysts with other dopants. For the Mn-doped ceria catalyst, the presence of increased oxygen vacancies is suggested to be the main reason for its improved activity. Exposure to steam at high temperatures imparts a negligible effect on the crystallite sizes of the doped ceria catalysts, as evidenced from X-ray diffraction, indicating negligible sintering and good thermal stability of these catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (BST2) can inhibit viral replication. • BST2 exhibits significant anti-PRRSV activity. • BST2 expression is up-regulated during the early phase of infection. • BST2 restricts the expression of viral proteins. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has seriously affected the viability of swine industries worldwide, and effective measures to control PRRSV are urgently required. Understanding the mechanisms of action of antiviral proteins is crucial for developing antiviral strategies. Interferon-induced bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (BST2) can inhibit the replication of various viruses via different pathways. However, little is known about the effects of BST2 on PRRSV. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether the interferon-induced BST2 can inhibit PRRSV replication. We used western blotting and RT-qPCR techniques to analyze the effect of BST2 overexpression and knockdown on PRRSV replication. Overexpression of BST2 inhibited the replication of PRRSV, whereas knockdown of BST2 by small interfering RNA promoted PRRSV replication. Additionally, the expression of BST2 was upregulated during the early phase of PRRSV infection in porcine alveolar macrophages. Analysis of PRRSV proteins showed that BST2 restricted the expression of several non-structural viral proteins. BST2 downregulated the expression of Nsp12 through a proteasome-dependent pathway and downregulated the expression and transcription of E protein. These findings demonstrate the potential of BST2 as a critical regulator of PRRSV replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete genome of a bear picornavirus 1 (BePV-1) in the viscera of an Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) from China was characterized using viral metagenomics and RT-PCR/Sanger sequencing. The genome of BePV1 is 6703 nt long, contains a type-IV IRES 5'UTR with the '8-like' motif, encodes a 2053-aa-long polyprotein showing a 3-4-4 organization pattern and two 2A genes. BePV-1 showed the highest overall genome nucleotide sequence identity of 71.7% to a picornavirus genome from an Arctic ringed seal (Phoca hispida) from Canada, classified as a member of the species Aquamavirus A, currently the only one in the genus Aquamavirus. Phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses of P1 and 3D indicated that Asian bear picornavirus (aquamavirus B) represents the second sequenced member of the genus Aquamavirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high energy density (HED) capacitor is the energy storage component in capacitive pulsed power systems. There is an obvious voltage decay phenomenon, when the capacitor is disconnected from the power supply, and the higher the energy density is, the faster the voltage decays. And the voltage maintaining performance (VMP) of capacitor is of special interests especially in the occasion, which has high requirement of the output energy efficiency. For the HED capacitor made of metallized films, there are three factors affecting the VMP: self-healing, dielectric leakage, and polarization. In order to investigate the effect of above factors on the VMP of HED capacitor, the experiments and analysis of self-healing characteristics, dielectric leakage in stable status, and slow polarization are carried out. For a 4 kV/0.8 MJ/m3 HED capacitor, the self-healing is responsible for 12.68% of the whole voltage decay, and the dielectric leakage contributes for 7.89% with the fact that the insulation resistance is in the range of $6.06 \times 10^{2}$ – $6.31 \times 10^{2}\,\,\text{M}\Omega$. Thus, the voltage decay is mainly caused by the slow polarization. Then a VMP simulation without considering self-healing process is established, and different working parameters such as charging time and holding time are studied by using the VMP simulation. When the charging time is 40, 13.3, and 1.3 s, the voltage decay in 60 s is 3.06%, 3.57%, and 3.85%, respectively, and when the holding time is 0, 10, 100, and 1000 s, the percentage of 60 s voltage decay is 3.06%, 2.71%, 1.23%, and 0.70%, respectively. The results based on the space charge reveal the facts that shorter charging time and holding time would result in faster voltage decay. With the consideration of the energy output efficiency and insulation voltage withstand capability, the charging time and holding time would be compromise values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since late 2011, a pseudorabies virus (PRV) variant with increased virulence in old pigs had caused major disease outbreaks and great economic losses to the pig industry in China. The gene mutations that contributed to the increased virulence were unclear. To study the basis of the enhanced pathogenicity, an infectious bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone consisting of the complete genome of the PRV variant was developed. Using homologous recombination and Cre/LoxP recombination, the recombinant virus rJS-2012-BAC carrying a BAC insertion downstream of the open reading frame (ORF) of gG was constructed. The circular genome of rJS-2012-BAC was extracted from infected Vero cells and transformed into Escherichia coli DH10B, generating the BAC clone pBAC-JS2012. The loxP sites flanking the BAC vector were used to excise the BAC sequences using Cre recombinase. The reconstituted BAC-excision virus, vJS2012 L, from pBAC-JS2012 exhibited similar biological properties to the wild-type virulent strain JS-2012. To manipulate the BAC clone pBAC-JS2012, the galK selection system was adopted to delete the gI/gE gene from pBAC-JS2012 in E. coli and to generate the gI/gE-deleted virus vJS2012-ΔgE/gI. The BAC clone, pBAC-JS2012, retained the same level of virulence as its parent strain and was easily manipulated using a galK system which would facilitate the study of the enhanced pathogenicity of the PRV variant as well as other studies on PRV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and classical swine fever (CSF) are economically significant diseases that affect the swine industry worldwide. However, the current vaccination strategy, which uses two single live attenuated vaccines, can result in interference for each other. In addition, the universally used CSFV vaccine C-strain does not allow for differentiation of infected and vaccinated animals. In this study, rPRRSV-E2, PRRS virus (PRRSV) expressing CSF virus (CSFV) E2, was constructed by reverse genetics. The E2 gene of CSFV was inserted between ORF1b and ORF2 in the genome of the PRRS vaccine virus, HuN4-F112. A copy of transcriptional regulatory sequence 6 was inserted at the 3′ terminal of the exogenous gene to produce CSFV E2 as a unique subgenomic mRNA transcript. The rPRRSV-E2 was stable for at least 25 serial cell passages. Single-shot intramuscular immunization of rPRRSV-E2 into pigs induced PRRSV-specific and CSFV-specific antibodies and fully protected pigs from lethal challenge with highly-pathogenic PRRSV and CSFV. These results demonstrate that a novel strategy for recombinant PRRSV production is effective, and suggest that rPRRSV-E2 is a promising live, virus-vectored vaccine against PRRS and a marker vaccine against CSF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of thermally stable α-alumina supported and unsupported ceria catalysts with varying composition is systematically investigated under realistic coke – catalyst contact conditions for the oxidation of in-situ generated coke during ethylene pyrolysis. These catalysts have been designed for use in high temperature applications of steam cracking. The textural and structural characterization of α-alumina supported ceria catalysts show the absence of solid oxide solutions, with the supported catalysts having distinct ceria domains on the alumina support. For comparison, two types of coke – catalyst contacting are explored: (i) tight contact by grinding industrial coke with catalyst and (ii) realistic in-situ contact, where coke is deposited on the catalytic support. During in-situ coke deposition, ceria-containing catalysts demonstrate resistance to coking as compared to the bare α-alumina support. Ceria and ceria – alumina composites also enabled coke oxidation at lower temperatures than the un-catalyzed coke oxidation. The presence of both Ce 3+ and Ce 4+ is confirmed by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), consistent with the well-known redox capability of ceria catalysts. Kinetic studies revealed 50–80 mol% Ce as the best compositions for oxidation activity towards both industrial and in-situ coke. The catalytic activity correlates with the presence of reactive lattice oxygen atoms on ceria for both types of contact, indicating a similar mechanism of carbon oxidation under in-situ contact and tight contact conditions. A mechanism of reaction involving lattice oxygen of ceria is proposed for the oxidation of coke as well as for retardation of coke deposition on ceria domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of cerium-zirconium mixed oxides doped with alkaline earth metals was prepared by calcining a mixture of Ce 0.8 Zr 0.2 O 2 and the nitrate salt of alkaline earth metals at 1173 K. The results from X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and analytical electron microscopy indicated the alkaline earth compounds were dispersed on the surface of Ce 0.8 Zr 0.2 O 2 . The doped mixed oxides were evaluated in the catalytic reaction of solid coke under tight contact conditions with 10 vol.% O 2 in He at 693 K and with 100 vol.% H 2 O at 993 K using thermogravimetric analysis. For coke oxidation with O 2 , the weight loss was first order in coke, and the measured first order rate constant was proportional to the total surface area of catalyst at low catalyst loadings. For coke gasification with H 2 O, the weight loss was nearly zero order in coke, and the measured areal reaction rate was independent of the total surface area of catalyst at low catalyst loadings. The addition of alkaline earth metals inhibited coke oxidation with dioxygen but promoted coke gasification with steam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To monitor wheat planting performance on real time, a real-time monitoring system of wheat planting performance based on CAN bus was designed. The general structure of the system was elaborate, the hardware and software of the system was designed and the field experiment was conducted. The system included sensor unit for signal collecting, monitoring module, Controller Area Network (CAN) module and terminal, and could monitor the status of seed tube, working speed, rotation velocity of seed shaft. Photoelectric sensor was used to convert quantities of seed tube status into voltage signals, and hall sensor was used to convert quantities of wheel axis rotation velocity into pulse signals. Monitoring module judge the status of seed tube (normal, blocked and missing), and calculate the rotation velocity of wheel axis and seed shaft based on the signals output by sensors. At the same time, monitoring module calculate working speed according to the rotation velocity of wheel axis information. Then the information obtained by monitoring module was uploaded to terminal by CAN bus and displayed on real time on the terminal. The result of the experiment showed that there was no false alarm at the working speed of 10 km/h, the monitoring accuracy of seed tube fault status was >98%, blocked alarm response time <0.2 s, missing alarm response time <0.5 s. The system worked reliably and had a strong ability to anti-dusting and anti-vibration, and effectively monitored wheat planting performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an effective design solution for current-shunt monitor (CSM) adapting to both positive and negative power supply applications, where the supply voltage is input common-mode voltage (CMV) of CSM ranged from − 16 to 60 V. The proposed CSM mainly consists of a high-voltage low-drop output (HVLDO) regulator, a CSM core, and a 2nd-stage gain generator. The HVLDO regulator converts the independent supply voltage (5-16 V) to a stable internal output supply voltage of 5 V for other consequent circuits. The proposed CSM core adopts a fully-differential amplifier, a single-ended output amplifier, current-mirror transistors, and several resistors to constitute a stable negative feedback system. Due to its stable operation, the CSM core with both positive and negative CMV can successfully detect drops across the shunt resistor. The 2nd-stage generator is used to achieve a higher gain. By selecting proper transistor and resistor size in both CSM core and 2nd-stage gain generator, a total scaled gain of 100 V/V is achieved in this study. The proposed CSM architecture has been successfully implemented in a 0. 25 μ m Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS (BCD) technology, and the area is around 1.44 mm 2. Measurements show that the proposed CSM with an input CM voltage ranged from -16–60 V can sense an input voltage difference 4–16 mV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]