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The resistivity of the sintered Cu thick film decreases with the weight percentage of the SiO2–ZnO–B2O3 additive in the mixing glass frits up to 50 wt%. As the weight percentage of the SiO2–ZnO–B2O3 additive in the mixing glass frits is over 50 wt%, the resistivity of the sintered Cu thick films is quite similar. The lowest resistivity (6.62 × 10−6 Ω‐cm) of the sintered Cu thick films occurs at 75 wt% of the SiO2–ZnO–B2O3 additive. Also, we observe the extensive glass phase framing around the large Cu grains in the Cu thick films sintered with low SiO2–ZnO–B2O3 additives (less than 50 wt%) narrows the cross‐section area of the electrical path. On the contrary, the round‐shaped glass phase solidified among the small Cu grains allows a larger cross‐section of the electrical path (a possible lower resistivity) for the Cu thick films sintered with higher SiO2–ZnO–B2O3 additives (larger than 50 wt%). The above results imply that the resistivity of the sintered Cu thick film correlates well with the microstructure (Cu grain size and the glass/Cu composite structure) of the sintered Cu thick films. Twin grain boundaries can clearly be observed in the sintered Cu thick films, especially for the Cu thick film sintered with the higher SiO2–ZnO–B2O3 additives. Owing to small Cu grains size and high density of Cu grain boundary, the probability of the grain boundaries with a high grain‐boundary energy in the Cu thick film sintered with high SiO2–ZnO–B2O3 additive would be much larger, comparing to that in the Cu thick film sintered with low SiO2–ZnO–B2O3 additive. Thus, more annealing twin boundaries formed in the Cu thick film sintered with high SiO2–ZnO–B2O3 additive. Hence, the formation of the twin boundary in the sintered Cu thick film helps reducing the resistivity of the sintered Cu films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by destruction of articular cartilage. The inflammatory response is the most important factor affecting the disease process. As interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) stimulates several key mediators in the inflammatory response, it plays a major role in the pathogenesis of OA. Maslinic acid (MA) is a natural compound distributed in olive fruit. Previous studies have found that maslinic acid has an inhibitory effect on inflammation, but its specific role in the progression of OA disease has not been studied so far. In this study, we aim to assess the protective effect of MA on OA progression by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Our results indicate that, in IL‐1β‐induced inflammatory response, MA is effective in attenuating some major inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2, and inhibits the expression of IL‐6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase‐2, and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) in a concentration‐dependent manner. Also, MA downregulated the expression levels of thrombospondin motif 5 (ADAMTS5) and matrix metalloproteinase 13 in chondrocytes, resulting in reduced degradation of its extracellular matrix. Mechanistically, MA exhibits an anti‐inflammatory effect by inactivating the PI3K/AKT/NF‐κB pathway. In vivo, the protective effect of MA on OA development can be detected in a surgically induced mouse OA model. In summary, these findings suggest that MA can be used as a safe and effective potential OA therapeutic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective * To establish the reference intervals of serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in healthy women of childbearing age in different age groups in Shanghai. Methods * A total of 239 healthy women of childbearing age, who accepted staff physical examination in International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, during July 2019, were enrolled and detected for serum AMH level using chemiluminescence immunoassay. After the outlier exclusion, 234 subjects were finally included and divided into six age groups. The reference intervals of serum AMH in healthy women of childbearing age in different age groups in Shanghai were established. The natural logarithm of serum AMH level and age were fitted by quadratic regression model. Results * The reference interval of serum AMH level was expressed as M(P5-P95), which were 4.76 (0.96-14.17) ng/mL in women aged 19-24 years, 6.03 (1.38-16.56) ng/mL in women aged 25-29 years, 4.30 (0.95-10.73) ng/mL in women aged 30-34 years, 2.40 (0.33-9.27) ng/mL in women aged 35-39 years, 1.04 (0.05-4.00) ng/mL in women aged 40-44 years, and 0.21 (0.01-3.04) ng/ mL in women aged 45-49 years. After logarithmic transformation, serum AMH level and age could well obey the quadratic regression model (R²=0.502). Conclusion * The reference intervals of serum AMH level established for the first time in healthy women of child-bearing age in Shanghai may provide the basis for the evaluation of ovarian reserve function of women of different ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates event-based switching control for production inventory systems with time-varying delays. The different subsystems are established to describe the fact that the different production rates are adjusted to meet the different customer needs, and the conditions of average dwelling time are used to constrain the switchings. The event-triggered scheme, where the event generates when the relative error between the current review-data and the last transmission review-data exceeds a certain threshold, depicts the transmission of raw materials (or finished products) in practice. Then, the sufficient conditions of exponentially stable with a prescribed disturbance attenuation level γ and controller synthesis are formulated as linear matrix inequalitiess for the production inventory switching systems. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: This work can be used in engineering and information applications. Multi-class classification is a very important technique in engineering applications, e.g., mechanical systems, mechanics and design innovations, applied materials in nanotechnologies, etc. A large amount of research is done for single-label classification where objects are associated with a single category. However, in many application domains, an object can belong to two or more categories, and multi-label classification is needed. Traditionally, statistical methods were used; recently, machine learning techniques, in particular neural networks, have been proposed to solve the multi-class classification problem. In this paper, we develop radial basis function (RBF)-based neural network schemes for single-label and multi-label classification, respectively. The number of hidden nodes and the parameters involved with the basis functions are determined automatically by applying an iterative self-constructing clustering algorithm to the given training dataset, and biases and weights are derived optimally by least squares. Dimensionality reduction techniques are adopted and integrated to help reduce the overfitting problem associated with the RBF networks. Experimental results from benchmark datasets are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of Ti top electrode material on the resistive switching properties of ZrO2-based memory film using Pt as bottom electrode was investigated in the present study. When Ti is used as top electrode, the resistive switching behavior becomes dependent on bias polarity and no current compliance is needed during switching into high conducting state. This phenomenon is attributed to the fact that a series resistance between Ti and ZrO2 film, composed of a TiOx layer, a ZrOy layer, and even the contact resistance, imposed a current compliance on the memory device. Besides, our experimental results imply that switching the device into high conducting state is a field driven process while switching back into low conducting state is a current driven process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: One up‐regulated host gene identified previously was found involved in the infection process of Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV), a single‐stranded positive‐sense RNA virus. The full length cDNA of this gene was cloned by 5′ and 3′‐rapid amplification of cDNA ends and found to encode a polypeptide containing a conserved really interesting new gene (RING) domain and a transmembrane domain. The gene might function as an ubiquitin E3 ligase. We designated this protein in Nicotiana benthamiana as ubiquitin E3 ligase containing RING domain 1 (NbUbE3R1). Further characterization by using Tobacco rattle virus‐based virus‐induced gene silencing (loss‐of‐function) revealed that increased BaMV accumulation was in both knockdown plants and protoplasts. The gene might have a defensive role in the replication step of BaMV infection. To further inspect the functional role of NbUbE3R1 in BaMV accumulation, NbUbE3R1 was expressed in N. benthamiana plants. The wild‐type NbUbE3R1‐orange fluorescent protein (NbUbE3R1‐OFP), NbUbE3R1/△TM‐OFP (removal of the transmembrane domain) and NbUbE3R1/mRING‐OFP (mutation at the RING domain, the E2 interaction site) were transiently expressed in plants. NbUbE3R1 and its derivatives all functioned in restricting the accumulation of BaMV. The common feature of these constructs was the intact substrate‐interacting domain. Yeast two‐hybrid and co‐immunoprecipitation experiments used to determine the possible viral‐encoded substrate of NbUbE3R1 revealed the replicase of BaMV as the possible substrate. In conclusion, we identified an up‐regulated gene, NbUbE3R1 that plays a role in BaMV replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive anti-Treponemal immunohistochemistry (original magnification ×200) gl Discussion Lues maligna (malignant syphilis) is a distinct form of secondary syphilis characterized by a widespread papulopustular eruption that rapidly transforms into necrotic, sharply marginated ulcers with hemorrhagic crusts organized in rupioid layers. Histopathological features of lues maligna may be similar to the common form of secondary syphilis, yet the infiltrates are more severe and more granulomatous. 2 Don PC, Rubinstein R, Christie S. Malignant syphilis (lues maligna) and concurrent infection with HIV. [Extracted from the article]

To reveal the effects of different fertilization regimes on weed communities in wheat fields under a rice-wheat rotation system, a survey was conducted before wheat harvest in 2014 after a 4-year- long-term recurrent fertilization scheme. Weed species types, density, height and diversity index under different fertilization and straw-returning schemes in wheat fields were studied and complemented with a canonical correspondence analysis on weed community distribution and soil nutrient factors. Twenty weed species were recorded among 36 wheat fields belonging to 19 genera and 11 families. Beckmannia syzigachne, Hemistepta lyrata, Malachium aquaticum and Cnidium monnieri were widely distributed throughout the sampled area. Long-term fertilization appeared to reduce weed species richness and density, particularly for broadleaf weeds, but increased weed height. Diversity and evenness indices of weed communities were lower and dominance indices were higher in fields where chemical fertilizers were applied alone or combined with organic fertilizers, especially, where organic-inorganic compound fertilizer was used, in which it readily caused the outbreak of a dominant species and severe damage. Conversely, diversity and evenness indices of weed communities were higher and dominance indices were lower when the straw was returned to the field combined with chemical or organic fertilizers, in which weed community structures were complex and stable with lower weed density. Under these conditions weeds only caused slight reduction of wheat growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]