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Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a poor prognosis due to chemotherapy resistance and unfavorable drug transportation. Albumin conjugates are commonly used as drug carriers to overcome these obstacles. However, membrane-bound glycoprotein mucin 4 (MUC4) has emerged as a promising biomarker among the genetic mutations affecting albumin conjugates therapeutic window. Human serum albumin-conjugated arsenic trioxide (HSA-ATO) has shown potential in treating solid tumors but is limited in PC therapy due to unclear targets and mechanisms. This study investigated the transport mechanisms and therapeutic efficacy of HSA-ATO in PC cells with different MUC4 mutation statuses. Results revealed improved penetration of ATO into PC tumors through conjugated with HSA. However, MUC4 mutation significantly affected treatment sensitivity and HSA-ATO uptake both in vitro and in vivo. Mutant MUC4 cells exhibited over ten times higher IC50 for HSA-ATO and approximately half the uptake compared to wildtype cells. Further research demonstrated that ALPL activation by HSA-ATO enhanced transcytosis in wildtype MUC4 PC cells but not in mutant MUC4 cells, leading to impaired uptake and weaker antitumor effects. Reprogramming the transport process holds potential for enhancing albumin conjugate efficacy in PC patients with different MUC4 mutation statuses, paving the way for stratified treatment using these delivery vehicles. • The unique TME and high genetic heterogeneity of PC lead to chemotherapy damage • The penetration of ATO was significantly enhanced after HSA conjugated • The sensitivity of PC cells to HSA-ATO is influenced by the genetic mutation of MUC4 • MUC4 wildtype PC cells are sensitive to HSA-ATO since ALPL associated transcytosis specifically enhanced [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As roads continue to expand globally, the construction of a larger number of bridges has significantly increased the burden on bridge maintenance. Traditional methods for bridge crack detection often suffer from low efficiency and accuracy. To address these issues, we propose an efficient one-stage bridge crack detection method called GBC-BCD based on the YOLOv8n framework. To improve the model’s performance, we introduce the Coordinated Attention mechanism to enhance spatial context awareness and the Bidirectional Feature Pyramid Network to strengthen the ability of feature fusion and multi-scale feature learning. At the same time, in order to make the model more efficient while improving its performance, we introduce the Ghost Module, which significantly reduces the size of the model and raises the speed of object detection. Moreover, we employ transfer learning to improve training efficiency and conserve computational resources for small datasets. Experiments show that our model has the characteristics of lightweight and high speed. Compared with famous lightweight object detection algorithms, the model size is at most reduced by 86.6%, and realises real-time (625 FPS) processing of images ($640 \times 640$640×640), an 8.3 times increment in speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, when the cascaded H-bridge topology is used in the asymmetrical multilevel hybrid energy storage system (AM-HESS), the asymmetry of the energy storage components’ types and voltages makes it difficult for traditional modulation methods to realize an independent power control of each energy storage unit. Thus, these methods cannot be directly applied to the realization of the complex working modes of AM-HESS. To this end, an AM-HESS hybrid level shifted pulsewidth modulation (PWM) (HLS-PWM) technique is proposed. According to the directions of supercapacities’ (SCs’) output power and the total output power of the energy storage system, the HLS-PWM is divided into the two fundamental modes—the same (MP) and opposite (MN) modes. Subsequently, the SC charge and discharge control under both the unit power factor and the nonunit power factor is analyzed for the two modes. Furthermore, five operation modes and the power control method of AM-HESS are implemented through the charge and discharge control of the SC. Finally, simulation and experimental results verify that the proposed HLS-PWM can realize an efficient power control of the AM-HESS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Diabetic nephropathy is a common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and is one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease worldwide. Although there have been many investigations on biomarkers for DN, there is no consistent conclusion about reliable biomarkers. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of circulating retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) in the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with kidney diseases. Materials and Methods. We searched the PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for publications. For the 12 cross-sectional studies that we included in the review, we calculated standard mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for continuous data when the applied scales were different. Risk of bias of included trials was assessed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results. RBP4 concentrations in the micro-, macro-, or micro+macroalbuminuria groups were significantly higher than those in the normal albuminuria group of T2DM patients [ P = 0.001 , SMD 1.07, 95% CI (0.41, 1.73)]. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was negatively associated with circulating RBP4 concentrations in patients with T2DM [summary Fisher's Z = − 0.48 , 95% CI (-0.69, -0.26), P < 0.0001 ]. The albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) was positively associated with circulating RBP4 concentrations in patients with T2DM [summary Fisher's Z = 0.20 , 95% CI (0.08, 0.32), P = 0.001 ]. Conclusion. The levels of circulating RBP4 were significantly higher both in T2DM subjects with micro/macroalbuminuria and in T2DM subjects with declined eGFR. The levels of circulating RBP4 were positively correlated with ACR but negatively correlated with eGFR. Circulating RBP4 could be a reliable biomarker for kidney diseases in T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a fault-tolerant control method for the battery-supercapacitor (SC) hybrid energy storage system (HESS) based on the cascaded multilevel converter during active dc-side failure (ADCF). When ADCF occurs, the magnitude of the output voltage will be seriously affected because of the decline of the dc-side voltage. Consequently, the system cannot operate normally. To tackle this problem, an auxiliary power loop, which uses the dual-frequency phase-shifted carrier pulsewidth modulation to transfer power between different energy storage units, is added into the HESS. The topology of the HESS and the principle of power transfer during failure operation are introduced. The requirement to the numbers of different types of cells: discharging, charging, and standby, is analyzed mathematically. The SC capacity and the control system designs are given. Finally, the simulation results obtained from MATLAB/Simulink as well as experiments based on a prototype are presented to verify the effectiveness of the HESS and the fault-tolerant control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is an important complication of diabetes and the leading cause of end‐stage renal disease globally. Renal tubular damage occurs to varying degrees in the early stages of DN prior to glomerular damage. Renalase (RNLS) is an amine oxidase, which is produced and secreted by the renal tubular epithelial cells. RNLS is reportedly closely related to renal tubular injury in acute and chronic kidney diseases. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the changes in tubular RNLS expression in DN and its correlation with DN‐associated renal tubular injury. Conditional permanent renal tubular epithelial rat‐cell line NRK‐52E was transfected with pcDNA3‐RNLS plasmid or administered recombinant rat RNLS protein and high glucose (HG) dose. A total of 22 adult Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control (CON, n = 10) or diabetic nephrology (DN, n = 12) group. Random blood glucose levels of the rats were measured by sampling of the caudal vein weekly. After 8 weeks, the rat's body weight, 24‐h urinary albumin concentration, and right kidney were evaluated. Our study suggested the decreased expression levels of RNLS in renal tissue and renal tubular epithelial cells in DN rats, accompanied by renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis, apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells, and activation of the p38MAPK signal pathway. Reversing the low RNLS expression can reduce the level of p38MAPK phosphorylation and delay renal tubular injury. Thus, the reduction of renal tubular RNLS expression in DN mediates tubulointerstitial fibrosis and cell apoptosis via the activation of the p38MAPK signal pathway. RNLS plays a key mediating role in DN‐associated tubular injury via p38MAPK, which provides new therapeutic targets and a theoretical basis for early prevention and treatment of DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute the main infiltrating immune cells in the solid tumor microenvironment. Amounting studies have analyzed the antitumor effect on immune response induced by Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), γ-interferon (γ-IFN), and palmitic Acid (PA). However, their combined treatment for gastric cancer (GC) has not been illuminated. Methods: We investigated the relevance of macrophage polarization and the effect of PA and γ-IFN in GC in vitro and in vivo. M1 and M2 macrophage-associated markers were measured by real-time quantitative PCR and flow cytometry, and the activation level of the TLR4 signaling pathways was evaluated by western blot analysis. The effect of PA and γ-IFN on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells (GCCs) was evaluated by Cell-Counting Kit-8, transwell assays, and wound-healing assays. In vivo animal models were used to verify the effect of PA and γ-IFN on tumor progression, and the M1 and M2 macrophage markers, CD8 + T lymphocytes, regulatory T cells (Treg) cells, and the myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in tumor tissues were analyzed by flow cytometry and immunohistochemical (IHC). Results: The results showed that this combination strategy enhanced M1-like macrophages and diminished M2-like macrophages through the TLR4 signaling pathway in vitro. In addition, the combination strategy impairs the proliferative and migratory activity of GCC in vitro and in vivo. While, the antitumor effect was abolished using the TAK-424 (a specific TLR-4 signaling pathway inhibitor) in vitro. Conclusions: The combined treatment of PA and γ-IFN inhibited GC progression by modulating macrophages polarization via the TLR4 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of its high sensitivity to misalignment, precision grinding of free-form surfaces with micron accuracy requires accurate registration of the surface measurement point cloud. Registration of point clouds obtained with a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) is generally an iterative process of finding optimal coordinate transformation between the CMM frame and the model frame of the workpiece by minimizing the point-to-surface distances with probe radius compensation. For free-form surfaces, frequent calculation of point-to-surface distances consumes very much time, and a trade-off has to be made between the efficiency and the accuracy. This paper presents a method for fast registration of free-form surface point clouds based on the point-to-triangle distance which involves only Delaunay triangulation of a two-dimensional dataset, and the surface normal is quickly calculated from cross product. Probe radius compensation is realized by registering the probe center points with the offset surface. We prove that it is equivalent to registering the probe contact points with the nominal surface through theoretical analysis. The registration problem is then formulated as sequential linear least-square problems with properly defined ball constraints. To validate the method, numerical simulations are presented to show the accuracy of the point-to-triangle distance. The registration algorithm also shows excellent robustness against misalignment of tens of millimeters/degrees. Finally measurement, registration, and grinding of a free-form optical surface are experimentally demonstrated. The surface error obtained after registration is used for compensatory grinding which reduces it to micron level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor localization and navigation have become an increasingly important problem in both industry and academia with the widespread use of mobile smart devices and the development of network techniques. The Wi-Fi-based technology shows great potential for applications due to the ubiquitous Wi-Fi infrastructure in public indoor environments. Most existing approaches use trilateration or machine learning methods to predict locations from a set of annotated Wi-Fi observations. However, annotated data are not always readily available. In this paper, we propose a robot-aided data collection strategy to obtain the limited but high-quality labeled data and a large amount of unlabeled data. Furthermore, we design two deep learning models based on a variational autoencoder for the localization and navigation tasks, respectively. To make full use of the collected data, a hybrid learning approach is developed to train the models by combining supervised, unsupervised and semi-supervised learning strategies. Extensive experiments suggest that our approach enables the models to learn effective knowledge from unlabeled data with incremental improvements, and it can achieve promising localization and navigation performance in a complex indoor environment with obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The demand for perennial nonfood crops, such as miscanthus, is increasing steadily, as fossil resources are replaced by biomass. However, as the establishment of miscanthus is very expensive, its cultivation area in Europe is still small. The most common propagation method for miscanthus is via rhizomes, the harvesting of which is very labour‐intensive. Seed propagation is promising, but not suitable for sterile genotypes. In this study, a new vegetative propagation method, ‘collar propagation’, was tested in field and controlled environment studies. Collars are built at the junction between rhizome and stem. They can be harvested in a less destructive way than rhizomes by pulling out the stems from winter‐dormant miscanthus plants. One genotype of each of the species M. sacchariflorus, M. × giganteus, M. sinensis in combination with three fragment types (collars, rhizomes, collars + rhizomes) were tested for establishment success and plant performance. The performance (e.g. dry matter yield) of collar‐propagated plants was either better than or not significantly different from rhizome‐propagated plants. Pregrown plantlets transplanted into the field showed no significant differences in establishment success between the fragments within a genotype. When directly planted into the field however, the fragment ‘rhizome+collar’ had a significantly better establishment success than the other two. The winter survival rate of the fragment ‘rhizome+collar’ was 70% for M. sacchariflorus and 75% for M. × giganteus. Emergence success from collar‐derived plants was not affected by harvest date (harvested monthly from November to February). This study showed that miscanthus propagation via collars is feasible and a promising alternative to rhizome propagation, as the multiplication rate of collars is comparable to that of rhizome propagation. Collar propagation is the more suitable method for the tested genotypes of the species M. sachariflorus and M. × giganteus, but not for M. sinensis genotypes, which may be better propagated by seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In traditional three flat test, it only provides the absolute profile along one surface diameter. In this paper, an absolute testing algorithm based on shift-rotation with three flat test has been proposed to reconstruct two-dimensional surface exactly. Pitch and yaw error during shift procedure is analyzed and compensated in our method. Compared with multi-rotation method proposed before, it only needs a 90° rotation and a shift, which is easy to carry out especially in condition of large size surface. It allows pixel level spatial resolution to be achieved without interpolation or assumption to the test surface. In addition, numerical simulations and optical tests are implemented and show the high accuracy recovery capability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the material removal efficiency and surface quality of single-crystal silicon after magnetorheological finishing, a novel green chemical-mechanical magnetorheological finishing (CMMRF) fluid was developed. The main components of the CMMRF fluid are nano-Fe3O4, H2O2, CH3COOH, nanodiamond, carbonyl iron powder, and deionized water. The novel CMMRF fluid can simultaneously achieve Ra 0.32 nm (0.47 mm × 0.35 mm measurement area), Ra 0.22 nm (5 μm × 5 μm measurement area), and 1.91 × 10−2 mm3/min material removal efficiency. Comprehensive studies utilizing a scanning electron microscope and a magnetic rheometer show that the CMMRF fluid has a high mechanical removal effect due to the well-dispersed nanodiamond and nano-Fe3O4 particles. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectra and Young's modulus test reveal the mechanism of the chemical reaction and the mechanical characteristics deterioration of the modified layer. Under co-enhanced chemical and mechanical effects, an ultra-smooth and highly efficient MRF technology for single-crystal silicon is realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marginal land conversion to perennial energy crops can provide biomass feedstocks and climate change mitigation. However, the effect of perennial energy crop cultivation on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and its underlying mechanism in marginal land still remains incomplete. Here, SOC turnover, stability, and its potential sequestration were evaluated based on 10 years of land use change from C3 grass‐dominated marginal land to C4 energy crops Miscanthus and switchgrass cultivation. The naturally occurring 13C signature down to 60 cm depth was used to determine the energy crops‐derived C. Compared to reference marginal land, Miscanthus plantation increased the SOC stock at 0–60 cm depth by 17.8% and 64.3% in bulk and root zone, respectively. Similarly, the SOC stock under switchgrass was also 16.5% and 93.0% higher in bulk and root zone than in reference marginal land, respectively. The higher SOC stock in the root zone of switchgrass relative to Miscanthus was supported by the higher contribution of C4‐derived C to SOC (44.5% vs. 32.4%). The mean residence time of old C was higher under switchgrass than Miscanthus in the bulk zone across 0–60 cm (p < 0.05) but remained the same at 0–20 cm in the root zone. Specific SOC mineralization and temperature sensitivity were lower in soils under Miscanthus and switchgrass compared to reference marginal land. The partial least squares path model revealed that perennial energy crop cultivation enhances soil C stock via increased C4‐derived C input and reduced mineralization. In conclusion, marginal land conversion to perennial energy crops is a win–win strategy for C sequestration to mitigate climate change and support the growing bioenergy sector with biomass supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perennial energy crops (PECs) such as Miscanthus spp. and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) may have particular influence on microbial communities and their functions in soil organic carbon (C) utilization and mineralization (Cm). In this study, long‐term effects of PECs on Cm and soil hydrolase activities were examined in bulk and rhizosphere soils of Miscanthus and switchgrass grown on a red soil in South China. Long‐term cultivation (10 years) of PECs led to increases in soil organic C (SOC) and the absolute Cm of bulk and rhizosphere soils. Total Cm was correlated with dissolved organic C and dissolved organic nitrogen (N) in red soils. The specific Cm in bulk soils of switchgrass and Miscanthus were decreased by 11.73% and 20.67% comparing with the control group, respectively. Cultivation of PECs led to a relatively high C/N ratio. There was a difference in priming effect on activities of β‐glucosidase (BG), leucine amin peptidase, N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidase (NAG), and phosphatase between rhizosphere and bulk soils. Compared with the control without PECs, BG activity did not change significantly in bulk soils of PECs, whereas NAG activity decreased significantly. Soil microorganisms were generally limited by soil C and phosphorus (P) in the red soil. The C and P limitations were significantly linearly related with relative Cm (p < 0.05). Phosphorus limitations in microbial communities were lower with PECs than in the control, indicating that cultivation of PECs could provide an optimal nutrient environment for both plants and microorganisms. Thus, long‐term cultivation of PECs increased SOC content but decreased specific Cm rates. However, because C and P limitations remain for plants and soil microbial communities, optimum fertilization is also necessary for sustainable growth of PECs on red soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As interference waves in deep reflection data processing, surface waves are often suppressed as noise, but surface waves carry considerable underground media information, including structural information and the physical properties of rocks. Reasonable extraction and use of surface wave signals are of great significance when studying shallow characteristics. Deep reflection data are collected using large offsets, trail spacing, and explosive sources. The surface wave energy tends to be stronger, and the high-frequency surface wave signal is abundant. After extraction and inversion, the shallow shear wave velocity structure can be obtained. Near the Cuonadong dome in the southern Tibetan detachment system (STDS), a large number of leucogranites are developed in the core, containing important rare metal minerals and high metallogenic potential. However, studies regarding the shallow structure in this region are rare. In this paper, we use deep reflection data from a profile through the Cuonadong dome to obtain the S-wave velocity structure of the study area by extracting the surface wave fundamental-mode dispersion curve and inversion. Combined with regional geological and magnetotelluric data, we supposed that the thickness of the Cuonadong dome sediment layer (< 1.4 km/s) varies greatly from east to west, the thickness of the sediment layer is the deepest near the Cuona fault and Jisong fault (more than 1 km), and the core of the dome is the thinnest. Under the Cuonadong dome, there are obvious high-velocity anomalies (> 2.2 km/s), and the horizontal S-wave velocity changes greatly, which is mainly related to the destruction of magmatic activity since the Miocene. These understandings of the structure and velocity field of the Cuonadong dome can provide a powerful geophysical basis for establishing the dome structure model and searching for hidden ore bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ti6Al4V/AA2024 alloy component is fabricated based on interweaving structure. • The compressive shear strength of the Ti6Al4V/AA2024 alloy component is 86.1 MPa. • The Ti6Al4V/AA2024 alloy component's shear strength is 79 % of as-deposited AA2024. • The fracture occurs in the interweaving layer in shear tests. The presence of brittle intermetallic compounds (IMCs) can easily lead to cracks at the interface of titanium/aluminum alloy components. A novel interweaving structure was proposed and a Ti6Al4V/AA2024 dissimilar alloy component was prepared. The interlocking between Ti6Al4V and AA2024 mitigates the adverse effects of brittle IMCs on the Ti/Al interface, while the interweaving of Ti6Al4V and AA2024 avoids the generation of continuous IMCs. The average compressive shear strength of the Ti6Al4V/AA2024 alloy component is 86.1 MPa, which is 79 % of that of as-deposited AA2024. The fracture occurred in the interweaving layer in shear tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinling Orogenic Belt is located at the central part of the China Central Orogenic Belt and links the Qilian and Kunlun Orogenic Belts to the west with the Dabie-Sulu Orogenic Belt to the east, which is sandwiched between the South China Block and North China Block. There have been several geodynamic models developed to explain the evolution process of the Qinling Orogenic Belt, but they remain controversial. The magnetotelluric (MT) method can study subsurface electrical structures. In order to have a better understanding of the tectonic evolution of the Qinling Orogenic Belt, a study of broadband and long period MT profile across the middle Qinling Orogenic Belt is carried out. The MT profile starts from the northeastern margin of the Sichuan basin, crosses the Qinling, and finally reaches the Weihe basin at about 108.5°E. Based on data analysis results, we have finally obtained a lithospheric electrical resistivity model of the middle Qinling Orogenic Belt through three-dimensional (3-D) inversion of magnetotelluric data. The MT result reveals that the Sichuan and Weihe basins may have remnants of the ancient craton basement in our study area. The electrical structure characteristics of the South Qinling Belt and North Qinling Belt are obviously different, the South Qinling Belt is relatively low resistivity, while the North Qinling Belt is relatively high resistivity. This may indicate that the Southern Qinling Belt is affected by the later strike slip extrusion and the Northern Qinling Belt is a relatively stable block. The lithospheric mantle of middle Qinling Orogenic Belt is characterized by overall high resistivity, which may indicate that the lateral extrusion effect of the Tibetan Plateau material is negligible in this region. • Lithospheric electrical structure of the middle Qinling Orogenic Belt was obtained from 3-D inversion of MT data. • The Southern Qinling is affected by the strike-slip fault and the Northern Qinling is a relatively stable block. • Lithospheric mantle is not greatly affected by the eastward extrusion of the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative energy sources, derived from biomass feedstocks, are important for China's energy security. To evaluate China's capacity for bioenergy in the future, Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques were adopted to identify potentially productive marginal areas for the growth of 16 energy crops and to comprehensively estimate their biomass and bioenergy production potential under three scenarios. The results showed that a total of 267.23 Mha (i.e., million hectare) of marginal land was available for energy crop production. When assessing the suitability of individual environments for each type of energy crop, the largest total land area of a lignocellulosic energy crop, an oil energy crop, and a lignocellulosic energy tree were 3.64 Mha (Miscanthus spp.), 45.44 Mha (Jatropha curcas L.), and 63.55 Mha [Haloxylon ammodendron (C. A. Mey.) Bunge], respectively. In addition, the proposed production of bioethanol [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], biodiesel [Swida wilsoniana (Wanger.) Sojak], and bio-electricity [H. ammodendron] in the baseline scenario met 31.83%, 26.08%, and 9.2% of ethanol demand for E10, diesel, and electricity in 2016, respectively. Furthermore, if upland and forest land could be used to produce bioenergy, the bioethanol substitution rates of ethanol for E100, diesel, and electric power were calculated as 62.63%, 153.94%, and 60.47%, respectively, for 2040. The results indicated that China's future energy demands could not be satisfied by simply depending on energy crops in most situations. Future bioenergy should be developed based on reliable supplies of several types of biomass materials and dedicated biochemical or thermochemical conversion processes, among other renewable energy sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miscanthus lutarioriparius has a growing area of 100,000 ha and an annual biomass production of 1 Mt around Dongting Lake. However, due to serious soil pollution, there is a concern that the M. lutarioriparius biomass could have high heavy metal (HM) concentrations. This necessitates investigation of biomass quality to find the appropriate end use. Thus, this study aims to investigate the dynamics of HM elements in the M. lutarioriparius biomass and their impact on biomass quality across different growing areas and harvest times. We analyzed the HM concentrations in soil and biomass from 11 sites under different harvesting times (April, August and December). Results showed that Cd in soil samples was 9.43-fold higher than the national standards. The heavily polluted soil caused a high HM concentration in the biomass and the accumulation increased with the delayed harvest. The fresh young shoots in April met the food limitation for Cd and Cr, whereas Pb concentration was slightly higher than the threshold limit. The mature biomass from the southern part had higher Mn, Cd and Pb, but lower Cu, Zn and Cr concentrations than that from the eastern part. These results can provide guidance for guaranteeing the consistent quality of the M. lutarioriparius biomass for bio-based industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, polyploid Miscanthus lutarioriparius (PML) was introduced as a new sustainable and scalable source for cellulose nanocrystal (CNC). The agronomic traits of PML were significantly different from Miscanthus × giganteus (MG), but their chemical components and physical features were similar. Notably, a remarkable co-extraction of hemicellulose, lignin and ash and non-crystalline cellulose was observed during crude cellulose isolation from PML than it from MG by modified alkaline peroxide pretreatment. In addition, subjecting crude cellulose of PML and MG biomass to sulfuric acid hydrolysis provided high-quality CNC. The analysis of particle size distribution, zeta potential, crystalline index, the degree of polymerization, SEM and yield potential suggested that the CNC extracted from PML showed higher stability, processability and productivity than that from MG. Therefore, it provides a new theoretical basis for the applications of CNC prepared by PML and MG. The results also revealed potential genetic approaches for Miscanthus spp. to enhance biomass and CNC yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body temperature is maintained at around 37 °C in humans, but may rise to 40 °C or more during high‐grade fever, which occurs in most adults who are seriously ill. However, endogenous temperature sensors, such as ion channels and heat‐shock promoters, are fully activated only at noxious temperatures above this range, making them unsuitable for medical applications. Here, a genetically encoded protein thermometer (human enhanced gene activation thermometer; HEAT) is designed that can trigger transgene expression in the range of 37–40 °C by linking a mutant coiled‐coil temperature‐responsive protein sensor to a synthetic transcription factor. To validate the construct, a HEAT‐transgenic monoclonal human cell line, FeverSense, is generated and it is confirmed that it works as a fever sensor that can temperature‐ and exposure‐time‐dependently trigger reporter gene expression in vitro and in vivo. For translational proof of concept, microencapsulated designer cells stably expressing a HEAT‐controlled insulin production cassette in a mouse model of type‐1 diabetes are subcutaneously implanted and topical heating patches are used to apply heat corresponding to a warm sensation in humans. Insulin release is induced, restoring normoglycemia. Thus, HEAT appears to be suitable for practical electrothermal control of cell‐based therapy, and may also have potential for next‐generation treatment of fever‐associated medical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), has affected more than 50 million patients worldwide and caused a global public health emergency. Therefore, there is a recognized need to identify risk factors for COVID-19 severity and mortality. A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library) for studies published before September 29, 2020, was performed. Studies that investigated risk factors for progression and mortality in COVID-19 patients were included. A total 344,431 participants from 34 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Regarding comorbidities, cerebrovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), coronary heart disease (CHD), and malignancy were associated with an increased risk of progression and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Regarding clinical manifestations, sputum production was associated with a dramatically increased risk of progression and mortality. Hemoptysis was a risk factor for death in COVID-19 patients. In laboratory examinations, increased neutrophil count, decreased lymphocyte count, decreased platelet count, increased C-reactive protein (CRP), coinfection with bacteria or fungi, increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatine kinase (CK), increased N-terminal pronatriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and bilateral pneumonia in CT/X-ray were significantly more frequent in the severe group compared with the non-severe group. Moreover, the proportion of patients with increased CRP and total bilirubin (TBIL) was also significantly higher in the deceased group than in the survival group. CVD, CKD, sputum production, increased neutrophil count, decreased lymphocyte count, decreased platelet count, increased CRP, coinfection with bacteria or fungi, increased ALT and CK, increased NT-proBNP, and bilateral pneumonia in CT/X-ray were associated with an increased risk of progression in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, the proportion of patients with increased sputum production, hemoptysis, CRP and TBIL was also significantly higher in the deceased group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation using Miscanthus is a valuable technique for the restoration of saline‐alkaline soil, but the potential is not quantified. To assess this potential, a 5 years field experiment was conducted on saline‐alkaline soils with three genotypes of Miscanthus and an unplanted control. The bulk soil (0–20‐cm depth) physicochemical properties were measured annually from 2015 to 2018, while the bacterial and fungal community structures of the rhizosphere soil were investigated by high‐throughput sequencing after 5 years under Miscanthus (2018). The results showed that Miscanthus cultivation on saline‐alkaline soil reduced soil salinization and improved soil fertility on this site. Specifically, compared with the blank control, the five‐years Miscanthus cultivation (mean of three different genotypes pooled) decreased the soil pH by 0.33 units (8.78–8.45) and electrical conductivity by 23.4 μS/cm (226.7–203.3 μS/cm), as well as increasing soil organic matter content from 18.9 to 34.9 g/kg and total potassium content from 15.2 to 18.0 g/kg. In addition, the soil improvement was more pronounced with a longer duration of growth. Miscanthus remediates saline‐alkaline soils by altering the microbial community compositional abundance rather than its diversity. The improvement is due to enrichment of beneficial bacteria leading to soil desalinization (e.g., by Gemmatimonadaceae), litter decomposition (e.g., by Chitinophagaceae), plant growth promotion (e.g., by Micrococcaceae), and the reduction of harmful fungi (e.g., Pleosporales and Chitinophagaceae). Soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, and total potassium were the main physicochemical properties affecting bacterial and fungal communities. Our results quantify the soil improvement potential of Miscanthus and clarify the underlying microbial mechanisms, laying a solid foundation for further implementation of saline‐alkaline soil phytoremediation using Miscanthus. In the future, more extensive multi‐location trials are required to assess if these improvements are seen across a wide diversity of environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Central Yunnan block (CYB) plays a key role in accommodating the crustal tectonic deformation of the southeastern Tibet, but its exact mechanism is poorly understood. Here we obtained a fine S-wave velocity structure of the upper crust across the Xiaojiang fault system in CYB, using the ambient noise tomography with a linear dense short-period array. The result shows a strong S-wave velocity variation along the profile, which is consistent with geomorphology and hypocenters occurred in this area. The velocity variations along the profile correspond well to the major faults seen on the surface and are consistent with the transition from surface erosion, to ductile basement and to rigid basement in the greater depth. Combining the upper crustal structure from our image with the location of hypocenters, we propose that most faults of Xiaojiang fault system cut through the upper crust steeply and control the tectonic deformation of the upper crust in the CYB. • Ambient noise tomography shows a fine S-wave velocity structure of the upper crust across Xiaojiang fault system. • The velocity variations along the profile correspond well to the major faults seen on the surface and are consistent with geomorphology and hypocenters occurred in this area. • Most faults of Xiaojiang fault system cut through the upper crust steeply and control the tectonic deformation of the upper crust in the Central Yunnan Block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling livestock manure in agroecosystems can maintain crop production, improve soil fertility, and reduce environmental losses. However, there has been no comprehensive assessment of synergies and trade-offs in the food-energy-soil-environment nexus under manure application. Here, we evaluate the sustainability of maize production under four fertilization regimes (mineral, mineral and manure mixed, manure, and no fertilization) from the aspect of food security, energy output, soil quality, and environmental impact based on a five-year field experiment. Manure and mineral mixed fertilization maintained grain and straw quantity and quality compared with mineral fertilization. Manure and mineral mixed fertilization increased stem/leaf ratio and field residue index by 9.1–28.9% and 4.5–17.9%, respectively. Manure also maintained the theoretical ethanol yield but reduced the straw biomass quality index by increasing ash. Further, manure application increased the soil quality index by 40.5% and reduced N 2 O emissions by 55.0% compared with mineral fertilization. Manure application showed the highest sustainability performance index of 19, followed by mineral (15), mixed (13), and without fertilization (8). In conclusion, manure application maintains food production and energy output, enhances soil quality, and reduces environmental impact, thereby improving the sustainability of maize production. [Display omitted] • The sustainability under organic and mineral fertilization was evaluated. • Manure application maintained maize yield and bioethanol production potential. • Manure application improved soil quality and maintained N 2 O emissions. • Efficient use of animal manure leads to greater environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainability of bioenergy cropping systems hinges on the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC). Switchgrass and Miscanthus , as the two leading perennial energy crops, have been extensively cultivated on marginal land for bioenergy production. However, the effects of their cultivation on SOC sequestration and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we quantified the contributions of plant– and microbial–derived C to SOC accumulation by tracing 13C natural abundance and amino sugars on switchgrass- and Miscanthus -planted lands (i.e. belongs to poor acidic red soil) experienced 10 years of C 3 –C 4 vegetation conversion. The results showed Miscanthus cultivation induced an approximately 6.3 times greater improvement in SOC compared to switchgrass. However, the organic C stability in Miscanthus -planted soil was comparatively lower than that of switchgrass. This was consistent with our global meta-analysis, whereby Miscanthus and switchgrass cultivation were observed to increase SOC by 16.0% and 7.1%, respectively. Miscanthus –cultivated soil was more replenished by plant–derived C stored in particulate organic C, owing to the greater biomass and lower root quality (reflected by the high ratio of lignin to nitrogen). In contrast, switchgrass–cultivated soil was enriched with more microbial–derived C, as its greater root quality induced a more efficient C utilization by the microbes. This was preferentially associated with the soil minerals. In conclusion, perennial energy crops cultivation on marginal land substantially enhances SOC sequestration, whereas the stability of SOC is dependent on the root traits. • Switchgrass and Miscanthus cultivation enhance SOC sequestration on marginal land. • Switchgrass cultivation stimulates more microbial-derived C accumulation. • Miscanthus -cultivated soils store more C 4 -derived C. • The SOC accrual contrasting pathway is dependent on root biomass and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Monolithic multiple surfaces simplifies the alignment by "freezing" surfaces. • Multiple surfaces including form and orientation are measured simultaneously by a single CGH. • Null test is used as feedback after mapping distortion correction. • Higher accuracy is achieved by corrective machining with fast axis servo. • Null fringes are experimentally observed for monolithic two mirrors in final test. Monolithic multiple freeform mirrors integrate two or more surfaces on a single substrate. Alignment of these surfaces is no longer required because they are frozen there as they are machined. Null test is then critical as a feedback to corrective machining which is indispensable for high accuracy optics. This paper presents a methodology for corrective machining of monolithic multiple freeform mirrors based on holographic null test capable of measuring multiple surfaces simultaneously. The surfaces are firstly related and modeled by coordinate transformation. A single computer generated hologram is then proposed with different regions to compensate aberrations of different surfaces. A combined tilt and power carrier is designed to separate the disturbance orders of diffraction. Mapping distortion in the null test is corrected through a pure ray tracing procedure by introducing a virtual reference sphere. The surface error including the orientation error is then superposed on the nominal surface to generate the tool path for corrective machining with fast axis servo. The tool radius and decenter is recognized by pre-cutting a spherical surface. The remounted workpiece is aligned with the machine tool by using an on-machine probe. Finally the proposed method is experimentally verified by corrective machining monolithic two mirrors with surface error effectively reduced and null fringes observed for both surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is the largest accretionary orogen on Earth, and its evolution has been controversial for a long time. Northeast China and adjacent regions form the eastern portion of the CAOB, which is an important area for exploring the tectonic evolution of both the Northeast Asia and the CAOB. The Erguna and Xing'an blocks are two micro-blocks in the west of Northeast China. The magnetotelluric (MT) method can study subsurface electrical structures. A dense broadband and long period magnetotelluric (MT) profile across the collision belt of the two blocks has been completed. Based on the results of data analysis, a three-dimensional (3-D) resistivity model of the crust and upper mantle has finally been obtained. The MT results show that the Derbugan Fault is not a suture zone, whereas the Xinlin-Xiguitu Fault is considered the boundary of the Erguna and Xing'an blocks by westward subduction. The conductive bodies in the middle-lower crust of the Erguna and Xing'an blocks may have been formed in an extensional environment and imply that the crust is weak. The collision belt includes a prominent high-conductivity anomaly from the lower crust to the upper mantle and indicates the existence of mantle upwelling associated with probable delamination. • 3-D inversion for a dense MT profile in the Northeast China was performed. • A high conductivity layer exists in the mid-lower crust of the collision belt. • The Derbugan Fault may be not a suture zone, the Xinlin-Xiguitu Fault is considered the suture zone of the Erguna and Xing'an blocks by westward subduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various defects during the manufacture of a high-energy laser monocrystalline silicon reflector will increase the energy absorption rate of the substrate and worsen the optical properties. Micron-scale or larger manufacturing defects have been inhibited by mechanism study and improvement in technology, but the substrate performance still fails to satisfy the application demand. We focus on the changes in the optical properties affected by nanoscale and Angstrom lattice defects on the surface of monocrystalline silicon and acquire the expected high reflectivity and low absorptivity through deterministic control of its defect state. Based on the first principles, the band structures and optical properties of two typical defect models of monocrystalline silicon—namely, atomic vacancy and lattice dislocation—were analyzed by molecular dynamics simulations. The results showed that the reflectivity of the vacancy defect was higher than that of the dislocation defect, and elevating the proportion of the vacancy defect could improve the performance of the monocrystalline silicon in infrared (IR) band. To verify the results of simulations, the combined Ion Beam Figuring (IBF) and Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) technologies were applied to introduce the vacancy defect and reduce the thickness of defect layer. After the process, the reflectivity of the monocrystalline silicon element increased by 5% in the visible light band and by 12% in the IR band. Finally, in the photothermal absorption test at 1064 nm, the photothermal absorption of the element was reduced by 80.5%. Intense laser usability on the monocrystalline silicon surface was achieved, and the effectiveness and feasibility of deterministic regulation of optical properties were verified. This concept will be widely applied in future high-energy laser system and X-ray reflectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qilian Shan is located along the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, which is a key area for studying the growth and expansion of the Tibetan Plateau. There have been several geodynamic models developed to explain the deformation pattern of the Tibetan Plateau extending to the northeast, but they remain controversial. The magnetotelluric (MT) method can study subsurface electrical conductivity and rheological properties. A dense broadband and long period magnetotelluric (MT) profile across the middle Qilian Shan has been completed. The MT profile starts from the northeastern margin of the Qaidam Basin, crosses the Qilian Shan and Hexi Corridor, and finally reaches the southwestern margin of the Alashan Block. Based on data analysis results, a three-dimensional (3-D) resistivity model of the crust and upper mantle has finally been obtained. The MT results show that a relatively low resistivity zone exists at the bottom of the upper crust of the Qilian Shan, features as an intracrustal decollement, which indicates the decoupling deformation between the upper and lower crust. The isolated conductive bodies in the middle-lower crust of the Qilian Shan may have formed during the primary stage of plateau growth, suggesting that there may be no existence of the middle-lower crustal flow beneath the Qilian Shan. The Alashan Block lithospheric mantle may have partly underthrust southward the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau. The Tibetan Plateau may have grown and expanded northeastward across the Hexi Corridor to the Heli Shan Fault. • Lithospheric electrical structure along a profile across the Qilian Shan was obtained from 3-D inversion of MT data. • There may be no crustal flow. Alashan Block may have partly underthrust the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau. • Tibetan plateau may have extended northeastward across the Hexi Corridor to the Heli Shan Fault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of its simple structure, high power quality and enhanced output voltage, cascaded multilevel converter (CMC) has been utilized as the main circuit of power conversion system of energy storage system. However, it is difficult to adapt CMC to hybrid energy storage system (HESS) because of the asymmetric power distribution problem. This paper proposes a novel topology for CMC-based HESS, in which, an LC branch is inserted at the end of cascaded H-bridges as a tuned filter, and an odd-harmonic-hybrid-modulation (OHHM) is further proposed to control the harmonic frequency components to transfer power among different energy storage components through the LC branch. The principle of the OHHM technique and the design of the LC branch are analyzed, based on which, a joint energy recovery and SOC balancing system is introduced. The principle and control method of the proposed HESS is verified by both the simulations and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel gate and passivation dielectric stack consisting of a thin metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) grown in-situ Si3N4 (3 nm) and a thick low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) grown Si3N4 (30 nm) in AlGaN/GaN metal–insulator–semiconductor high-electron-mobility transistor (MIS-HEMT) is proposed. The quality of the Si3N4/(Al)GaN interface and the effect on threshold voltage (${V}_{\text {TH}}$) instability and dynamic ${R}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}$ in the MIS-HEMTs with/without the in-situ Si3N4 layer are investigated by high-frequency capacitance-voltage (HFCV), quasi-static (QS) ${C}$ – ${V}$ (QSCV), time-of-fly (TOF) stress/measure, and QS ${I}_{\text {D}}$ – ${V}_{\text {DS}}$ methods. It is founded that the in-situ Si3N4 interfacial layer is effective in improving the dielectric/III-N interface morphology. As a result, better ${V}_{\text {TH}}$ stability and lower ${R} _{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON},\text {D}}/{R} _{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON},\text {S}}$ ratio are observed in devices with the in-situ Si3N4 interfacial layer due to the reduced density of traps close to the dielectric/III-N interface. Time-dependent dielectric breakdown and Weibull performance further verified that the proposed bilayer gate dielectric stack is a promising structure for the high-reliability power transistors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an in-depth numerical investigation into the local buckling behaviour and develops advanced machine learning (ML) -based design methods for high strength steel (HSS) welded I-section beams for predicting the ultimate bending moment resistance under bending. Though HSS welded I-sections are commonly used in construction industry, the interaction effect between the flange and web plates as well as the relatively simplified design formulae result in limited accuracy of ultimate bending moment prediction and complex endeavour is involved for sections subject to local buckling. Finite element models are firstly developed and validated against the collected experimental test data, after which an extensive parametric study is carried out covering a larger range of cross-section slenderness and steel grades. Five ML models including Linear regressor (LR), Support vector regressor (SVR), Artificial neural network (ANN), Random forest regressor (RFR) and Boosting algorithm (XGBoost) were subsequently developed based on the test dataset (experimental and numerical data) to train and test the ML models. Though the current design codes of EN 1993-1-12 and AISC 360-16 can generally provide accurate cross-section classifications with appropriate slenderness limits, the ultimate bending moment resistance predictions are overconservative, particularly for slender sections. The developed ML models outperformed the codified design methods with notable improvements and can be employed in predicting the ultimate bending moment resistance of HSS welded I-section beams under bending. • Finite element modelling of high strength steel I-section is presented. • An extensive parametric study comprising 548 numerical models is carried out. • Slenderness limits specified in existing design codes are assessed. • Five machine learning models for predicting ultimate bending moment resistance is developed. • The performance of the developed machine learning models is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Obvious cracks are found at the Ti/Al interface on both ends with the increase of the number of deposition layers. • The intermetallic compounds thickness for 5 deposit layers is 2.67 times that for 1 deposit layer. • The residual stress at the Ti/Al interface is concentrated at both start and the finish ends of the deposit layer. • The residual stress and intermetallic compounds both contribute to the cracking at the Ti/Al interface. In this paper, different number of AA2024 layers was deposited on Ti6Al4V substrate by using L-DED technology as a preliminary study for the additive manufacturing of Ti-Al dissimilar metal structures. Obvious cracks were found at both ends of the Ti/Al interface when the number of deposition layers was increased to five. To investigate the cracking mechanism, the microstructure at the Ti/Al interface were investigated at first. Continuous intermetallic compounds (IMCs) were formed at the Ti/Al interface. The IMCs were smooth on the side adjacent to Ti6Al4V, and were irregular on the side adjacent to AA2024. The thickness of IMCs increased with the increase of the number of deposition layers. The IMCs thickness for 5 deposit layers was 2.67 times that for 1 deposit layer. Then, the temperature and stress were computed with finite element method. The results showed that the residual stress at the Ti/Al interface was concentrated at both start and finish ends of the deposit layer, and the residual stress increased with the increase of the number of deposition layers. It can be concluded that the cracking at the Ti/Al interface resulted from the increases of the concentrated residual stress and the thickness of IMCs with the increase of the number of deposition layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and highly efficient method for the preparation of tetrasubstituted NH -pyrrole from a wide range of chalcones and diethyl iminodiacetates via a Cu(OAc)2-promoted oxidation/[3+2]cycloaddition/aromatization cascade reaction has been developed. This reaction proceeds through dehydrogenations, deamination, and oxidative cyclization, affording the corresponding products in good to excellent yields. This convenient methodology for constructing tetrasubstituted NH -pyrroles has several advantages over existing methods, such as the use of easily accessible chalcones and readily available diethyl iminodiacetates, and mild reaction conditions. A wide range of substrates are tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Magnetotelluric images were obtained across the Xiaojiang fault system (XJFS). • Fluid-based fault zone conductors divide the resistive upper crust into fault-parallel blocks. • Lower crustal conductors may be associated with shear-enhanced partial melting. • A dynamic model is proposed for understanding the deformation mechanism of the XJFS. It is widely accepted that large-scale strike-slip faults play an important role in accommodating the India‐Eurasia convergence, but the relationships between surface displacements and deep deformation along the faults remain largely uncertain. To address this issue, new magnetotelluric (MT) images were obtained along two profiles across the Xiaojiang strike-slip fault system (XJFS), one of the most tectonically active areas in southwest China. Although different in details, these two profiles show similar overall crustal structures. The upper crust is generally resistive but separated by several narrow, subvertical conductors that broadly coincide with the surface traces of the XJFS. These fault zone conductors (FZCs) are interpreted to represent fault damage zones that formed by strike-slip faulting/shearing along the faults and filled with deeply-sourced magmatic and/or metamorphic fluids. The lower crust is broadly characterized by enhanced conductivity and likely associated with partial melting at high temperatures. These observations are consistent with other geophysical measurements in this area and in favor of the development of ductile flow along the XJFS, although the pattern of flow is more complex than previously suggested. Based on these observations, we propose that active deformation along the XJFS can be better described, in the brittle upper crust, by strike-slip motion along the fluid-weakened faults, and by shear-enhanced ductile flow in the partially molten lower crust. These two mechanisms are not mutually exclusive but rather can be complementary to each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thyroid cancer patients with radioiodine-refractory (RAI-R) disease, resulting from insufficient RAI delivery and/or RAI resistance, have increased mortality and limited treatment options. To date, studies have largely focused on tumor mutations associated with different stages of disease, which could provide prognostic value for RAI-R disease. It was hypothesized that germline variants contributing to intrinsic differences in iodine metabolism, tumor microenvironment, and/or immune surveillance are associated with RAI-R disease. Methods: Whole-genome genotyping data analysis was performed on 1145 Caucasian (CAU) patients, 244 of whom were RAI-R, and 55 African American (AA) patients, nine of whom were RAI-R. Germline-variant association studies were conducted using candidate genes involved in iodine metabolism or DNA-damage repair, as well as genome-wide association analysis. Initial data indicated several notable variants in a small number of patients (n = 7), who were later determined to be AA patients of >80% African ancestry (n = 37). This led to the study focusing on germline single nucleotide polymorphisms uniquely associated with RAI-R AA patients. Sanger sequencing was performed to validate risk alleles and identify the incidence of the common somatic mutations BRAFV600E, NRASQ61R, and HRASQ61R in AA patients whose primary tumor samples were available (28/55). Results: TG, BRCA1, and NSMCE2 haplotypes were identified as being uniquely associated with RAI-R AA patients of >80% African ancestry. All patients with the TG haplotype (n = 4) had a biochemical incomplete response to RAI therapy. Patients with the NSMCE2 haplotype (n = 4) were diagnosed at a young age (13, 17, 17, and 26 years old) with distant metastatic disease at initial diagnosis. The BRCA1 haplotype co-occurred in three out of four patients with the NSMCE2 haplotype. The incidence of BRAFV600E appears lower in papillary thyroid carcinomas from AA patients of >80% African ancestry (3/14; 21%) than in AA patients of <80% African ancestry (6/9; 67%), albeit only just approaching statistical significance (p = 0.077). The tumors available from three RAI-R AA patients were negative for BRAFV600E, NRASQ61R, and HRASQ61R. Conclusions: The identification of candidate RAI-R risk haplotypes may allow early stratification of clinical manifestations of RAI-R disease followed by early intervention and personalized treatment strategies. Functional annotation of candidate RAI-R risk haplotypes may provide insights into the mechanisms underlying RAI-R disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long intergenic non‐coding RNA 152 (LINC00152) was reported to be tightly linked to tumorigenesis and progression in multiple cancers. However, its biological role and modulatory mechanism in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has not been elucidated. In this study, we determined the expression levels of LINC00152 in PTC tissues and cell lines by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion were measured by a Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay, colony formation analysis, wound healing, and transwell invasion assay, respectively. A luciferase reporter assay and qRT‐PCR were used to determine whether LINC00152 interacts with miR‐497 directly. We established a xenograft mouse model to examine the underlying molecular mechanism and effect of LINC00152 on tumor growth in vivo. We found that LINC00152 expression was significantly increased in PTC tissues and derived cell lines. LINC00152 knockdown significantly inhibited proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and impaired tumor growth in vivo. We revealed that LINC00152 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA to the miR‐497 sponge, downregulating its downstream target brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is an oncogene in thyroid cancer. These findings suggest that LINC00152 is responsible for PTC cell proliferation and invasion and exerts its function by regulating the miR‐497/BDNF axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miscanthus is an important plant resource in China, which has energy plant value, bio-material value, and ecological value. However, the taxonomy of Miscanthus remains poorly defined. To clarify the phylogenetic relationships among the Miscanthus species found in China, here we describe their morphological characters, simple sequence repeats (SSRs), inter simple sequence repeats (ISSRs), and trnL-F and rpl16 gene sequences. We identified M. sacchariflorus and M. lutarioriparius as the closest relatives of M. sinensis and M. floridulus , all of which constituted a major group. At the molecular levels, M. lutarioriparius and M. sacchariflorus were always grouped to form a monophyletic group. M. floridulus appeared as a stable secondary clade of M. sinensis. M. nepalensis , M. nudipes , and M. paniculatus were separated from the major group and more closely linked to an outgroup. M. paniculatus fell into an isolated position outside of the major group. Therefore, our findings support placing M. sacchariflorus and M. lutarioriparius in Miscanthus , treating M. lutarioriparius as a variety of M. sacchariflorus , treating M. floridulus as a subspecies of M. sinensis. We do not support merging M. nepalensis and M. nudipes into Miscanthus and propose the recognition of Diandranthus as a standalone genus, which includes D. nepalensis and D. nudipes. We do not support merging M. paniculatus into Miscanthus , and we support the recognition of Rubimons as a separate genus, including R. paniculatus. These data should help with efforts to evaluate and use Miscanthus germplasms. • Phylogenetic relationships between Chinese Miscanthus species and its relatives. • Morphological characters, SSR, ISSR, and trnL-F and rpl16 gene sequences. • Better evaluation and utilization of Miscanthus germplasm resources. • Miscanthus species were distinguished by morphological and molecular indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • WO 3 -CuFe 2 O 4 Z-scheme catalyst was constructed. • Quinoline removal was realized by persulfate-assisted photocatalytic process. • Photogenerated holes and ·OH were the main reactive species. • Degradation mechanism and pathways of quinoline were explored. Quinoline is a kind of organic pollutant difficult to be biodegraded, for which the photocatalysis technology is a commonly used removal method, but the degradation performance still needs to be improved. In this work, the WO 3 -CuFe 2 O 4 Z-scheme system was constructed, and the persulfate (PS)-assisted photocatalytic degradation of quinoline with WO 3 -CuFe 2 O 4 by adding persulfate in the photocatalytic systems was studied. The effects of different systems and key parameters such as catalyst dosage, PS concentration and initial pH value on the degradation efficiency of quinoline were investigated. With the addition of persulfate, the degradation efficiency of quinoline increased from 24.3% to 100% in 150 min, under the condition of [PS] = 3 mmol/L, [catalyst] = 3 g/L, temperature = 25 ± 2 °C, and pH = 9. And the WO 3 -CuFe 2 O 4 catalyst showed excellent reusability according to the result of 5-cycle repeated experiment. The possible degradation mechanism was studied by the quenching test and the identification of intermediates and products, which indicated the degradation of quinoline in WO 3 -CuFe 2 O 4 /VIS/PS system was realized via denitrification, dehydrogenation, hydroxylation and ring breaking processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new pinning-based distributed cooperative control scheme is proposed for multi-agent system (MAS)-based autonomous microgrids. By pinning parts of selected agents, only a small fraction of the pinned agents are controlled by simple feedback controllers, while the other DGAs in the MAS synchronize through the communication coupling among the pinned agents in a distributed manner. The main contributions of this study are as follows: 1) the proposal of a fully distributed control for autonomous microgrids where each agent shares its operation information only with its neighbors, which obviates the requirement for a central controller and complex communication topology; 2) the proposal of a pinning-based control scheme, which reduces the number of controllers, for a predefined consensus can be reached if a small fraction of the pinned agents is controlled; and 3) the proposal of the pinning consensus under uncertain communication topologies that can meet the requirements of line switches and plug-and-play operation. Simulation results are demonstrated to verify the effectiveness and adaptability of the proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper addresses a new distributed cost optimization (DCO) method for load shedding (LS) of an islanded microgrid considering cost. A two-layer improved average consensus algorithm (IACA) of multi-agent system (MAS) is proposed, and the consensus characteristic of which is analyzed in detail. With the global information discovered in the first layer of the IACA, the DCO of LS can be solved by using the synchronization processing of the IACA in the second layer. PSCAD/EMTDC-based simulation models are built to study the value settings of consensus constants and the performances of the proposed DCO method. Simulation results verified the convergence improvement of the IACA and the effectiveness of the proposed DCO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smooth polishing has a good improvement on the medium and high frequency errors of the workpiece, but the surface accuracy of the workpiece will be damaged subsequently. Therefore, a nonlinear compensation method is proposed. The realization mechanism, mathematical model and compensation effect of nonlinear compensated smooth polishing are illustrated separately and verified by experiments. In addition, the process parameters and motion trajectory are optimized by theoretical simulation. The experimental results demonstrate that the full-band error of the workpiece can be improved simultaneously by the smooth polishing method based on nonlinear compensation. The number of iterations for the figuring experiments and smooth polishing is greatly reduced by the nonlinear compensation model, which is significantly beneficial to improve the surface convergence speed and lower the manufacturing cost. • Mathematical model of nonlinear compensation is developed. • The full-band error of the workpiece is converged. • Toolpath is optimized. • Process parameters are optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadband and long-period magnetotelluric (MT) soundings were collected along a 600-km-long EW-trending profile across the southwestern segment of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt (JOB) to explore the possible remnants of ancient tectonic processes beneath the central South China Block (SCB). Beneath the JOB, the resistivity model reveals a west-dipping, trans-lithosphere conductor (<20 Ω ∙ m) embedded within the relatively thick (80–120 km) and highly resistive (>1000 Ω ∙ m) lithosphere, possibly associated with relics of the Neoproterozoic subduction zone between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks. The crustal portion of this conductor is interpreted as solid conducting materials (e.g., graphite, sulfide) that were emplaced into the crust during subduction and orogenesis, whereas its lithospheric mantle portion is more likely to be volatile-bearing minerals formed by subduction-related metasomatic processes. We attribute the greatly reduced asthenospheric resistivities (1~10 Ω ∙ m) below the JOB to low-degree melting of the early-formed metasomatized mantle. In contrast, the lithosphere of the Cathaysia Block is evidently thinned (60–100 km) and segmented by several subvertical, lithospheric-scale conductors (1~30 Ω ∙ m) that are likely associated with fossil fluid pathways along reactivated shear/fault zones. Notably, the thinnest lithosphere sits above a prominent low-resistivity (10 ~ 30 Ω ∙ m) anomaly in the asthenospheric mantle and is spatially coincident with the location of Late Jurassic basaltic outcrops. We interpret these features as signs of lithospheric extension and asthenospheric upwelling driven by roll-back of the Paleo-Pacific Plate during the Late Mesozoic. The results provide key constraints on subduction–accretion tectonics associated with the Neoproterozoic assembly of the SCB and the subsequent lithospheric evolution during the Phanerozoic. [Display omitted] • Dense magnetotelluric soundings reveal high-resolution lithospheric structure beneath central South China. • Relics of Neoproterozoic subduction preserved beneath the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt. • A notably thinned lithosphere is identified beneath the westernmost Cathaysia Block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe environmental and ecological problems have resulted due to the unharvested Miscanthus lutarioriparius biomass in Dongting Lake, the largest miscanthus production hub in the world. Pyrolyzing the miscanthus biomass to produce biochar is a win–win strategy for abandoned miscanthus biomass utilization and Cd-polluted paddy restoration in Hunan. However, the sorption efficiency of biochar requires improvement by modification. It is theoretically possible that biological modification by fungi and bacteria as well as a modification technique using Fe will increase the Cd sorption capacity. Thus, the current study used two biomass biomodification techniques, FB (fungal decomposition) and BB (bacterial digestion), and one biochar Fe-modification technique (by NH 3 ·H 2 O–FeCl 3), and determined their ability to improve biochar quality. The results showed that the biomass modification by FB and BB increased the Cd sorption capacity of the derived biochar. The Cd sorption capacity of FB-derived biochar (36.4 mg g−1) was significantly greater as compared to BB-derived biochar (30.2 mg g−1) and the unmodified control (14.8 mg g−1). This improvement can be further optimized by Fe-modification, with an average potential of 22.2% (13.5–32.3%). The increased Cd sorption capacity is attributed to (in descending order of importance) the increased amount of ash, specific surface area, amount of alkaline functional groups and phenolic hydroxyl groups, and the pH of the biochar after modification. The Fe-FB-derived biochar pyrolyzed under 650 °C was tested and exhibited the highest Cd sorption capacity, at 64.9 mg g−1. Biomodification of M. lutarioriparius biomass and its subsequent pyrolysis to produce biochar will simultaneously provide economic and ecological benefits. This approach provides a model for the integrated production of food and energy from biomass. [Display omitted] • Biomass modification strongly increases the Cd sorption capacity of biochar. • Fungal decomposition and bacterial digestion are effective modification techniques. • The Cd sorption capacity of biochar can be further optimized by Fe modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promoting effect of secondary phase particles on the refinement of matrix grains in a series of Mg–Y1.5–Nd0.6-Zn. x ( x =0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.3) alloys deformed by friction stir processing (FSP) was investigated in this study. The volume fraction of secondary phase in the alloys increased with increment of Zn, and most of the secondary phases were broken into nano-sized particles and dispersed in the matrix during thermal mechanical processing. The resulting fine particles had a remarkable promoting effect on the grain refinement of the Mg matrix during mechanical processing, thermal deformation, and cooling with increasing volume fraction of the secondary phase. For example, the grains of Mg–Y1.5–Nd0.6–Zn1.3 alloy were refined to an average size of 28 nm, compared with the more than 100 nm grain size of the Mg–Y1.5–Nd0.6 alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]