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A very-large-scale integration capable of extracting motion features from moving images in real time has been developed employing row-parallel and pixel-parallel architectures based on the digital pixel sensor technology. Directional edge filtering of input images is carried out in row-parallel processing to minimize the chip real estate. To achieve a real-time response of the system, a fully pixel-parallel architecture has been explored in adaptive binarization of filtered images for essential feature extraction as well as in their temporal integration and derivative operations. As a result, self-speed-adaptive motion feature extraction has been established. The chip was designed and fabricated in a 65-nm CMOS technology and used to build an object detection system. Motion-sensitive target image localization was demonstrated as an illustrative example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have revealed that fluid induced forces and wake structure of a cylinder can be significantly modified by varying the cross-section size along its axis. However, the fluid dynamic characteristics behavior of a flexible cable with a sinusoidal wavy surface remains unclear. The current study endeavors to present a systematic investigation of flow-induced vibrations (FIV) of an infinitely long wavy cable with different wave amplitude (A = 0. 1 D to 0. 3 D) and a constant spanwise wavelength λ = 4 π , by using a highly resolved direct numerical simulation employing a high-order spectral/ h p element method at a Reynolds number of 100, corresponding to laminar flow state. A tensioned beam model with a tension value can trigger a single wave is selected to govern the dynamics of the wavy cables. In addition, the structural dynamics are initialized from a standing wave. The present study focuses on the effects of the wave amplitude on the cable wake and the structural dynamic response, including the transverse displacement, wake pattern, vortex formation length, energy transfer, vortex shedding frequency and flow separation angle. Two completely different vibration modes are identified from the numerical cases studied, and hence the wavy cable are divided into control failure (A < 0. 2 D) and optimal wavy cable (0. 2 D ⩽ A ⩽ 0. 3 D) classes, respectively. It is also revealed that the counter-rotating vortices observed in the optimal wavy cables play an important role in stabilizing the shear layer and elongating the vortex formation length. Furthermore, the three-dimensional wake patterns of the wavy cable are mainly caused by the variations of flow separation angle along its spanwise direction. For the optimal wavy cables, the separation point is almost fixed along its spanwise direction while is variable for the control failure cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a directional-edge-based object tracking system based on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) that can process 640\,\times\,480 resolution video sequences and provide the location of a predefined object in real time. Inspired by biological principle, directional edge information is used to represent the object features. Multiple candidate regeneration, a statistical method, has been developed to realize the tracking function, and online learning is adopted to enhance the tracking performance. Thanks to the hardware-implementation friendliness of the algorithm, an object tracking system has been very efficiently built on an FPGA, in order to realize a real-time tracking capability. At the working frequency of 60 MHz, the main processing circuit can complete the processing of one frame of an image (640\,\times\,480 pixels) in 0.1 ms in high-speed mode and 0.8 ms in high-accuracy mode. The experimental results demonstrate that this system can deal with various complex situations, including scene illumination changes, object deformation, and partial occlusion. Based on the system built on the FPGA, we discuss the issue of very large-scale integrated chip implementation of the algorithm and self initialization of the system, i.e., the autonomous localization of the tracking object in the initial frame. Some potential solutions to the problems of multiple object tracking and full occlusion are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: In this paper, we are concerned with the following nonlinear Schrödinger–Poisson equation where are positive functions, the parameters , tend to and , respectively, as and . Under some simple assumptions on, we give existence and nonexistence results, depending on the parameters and . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The polymer-inorganic hybrid nanogels with temperature-responsive characteristic are of considerable current interest to many fields ranging from fundamental biomaterials science to bionanomedicine. This paper reports the preparation of temperature-responsive hybrid nanogels by immobilization of Bi2O3 quantum dots (QDs) in the interior of a nanogel of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Unlike conventional temperature-responsive hybrid nanogels with the responsive features deriving from the temperature-responsive polymers (e.g. PNIPAMs or non-linear PEGs), we demonstrate that QDs can work cooperatively with the gel networks of PVA, an unconventional responsive polymer, to enable the temperature-induced volume phase transition of the designed Bi2O3@PVA hybrid nanogels. Building on the rationales, Bi2O3@PVA hybrid nanogels can adapt to a surrounding fluids of different temperatures over the physiologically important range of 37–40 °C, convert the disruptions in homeostasis of environmental temperature into high-sensitive fluorescent signals, enter into the mouse melanoma B16F10 cells for dark-field and fluorescence dual-modal imaging, and regulate the release of a model anticancer drug temozolomide. The unconventional strategy that can broaden the design scheme of temperature-responsive hybrid nanogels for theranostic action should enhance our ability to address the complexity of biological systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we are concerned with the following nonlinear Schrödinger–Poisson equations where is a parameter, the potential may be vanishing at infinity, is asymptotically linear at infinity, that is as . For this kind of potential, it seems difficult to find solutions in . Under some assumptions on and , we prove that problem (aaaa) has a positive solution for λ small and has no any nontrivial solution for λ large. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Motivation: Identification of ligand binding pockets on proteins is crucial for the characterization of protein functions. It provides valuable information for protein–ligand docking and rational engineering of small molecules that regulate protein functions. A major number of current prediction algorithms of ligand binding pockets are based on cubic grid representation of proteins and, thus, the results are often protein orientation dependent.Results: We present the MSPocket program for detecting pockets on the solvent excluded surface of proteins. The core algorithm of the MSPocket approach does not use any cubic grid system to represent proteins and is therefore independent of protein orientations. We demonstrate that MSPocket is able to achieve an accuracy of 75% in predicting ligand binding pockets on a test dataset used for evaluating several existing methods. The accuracy is 92% if the top three predictions are considered. Comparison to one of the recently published best performing methods shows that MSPocket reaches similar performance with the additional feature of being protein orientation independent. Interestingly, some of the predictions are different, meaning that the two methods can be considered complementary and combined to achieve better prediction accuracy. MSPocket also provides a graphical user interface for interactive investigation of the predicted ligand binding pockets. In addition, we show that overlap criterion is a better strategy for the evaluation of predicted ligand binding pockets than the single point distance criterion.Availability: The MSPocket source code can be downloaded from http://appserver.biotec.tu-dresden.de/MSPocket/. MSPocket is also available as a PyMOL plugin with a graphical user interface.Contact: hongboz@biotec.tu-dresden.de; mayte@biotec.tu-dresden.deSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutamate receptors, especially N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, are hypothesized to play key roles in opiate tolerance and withdrawal. There is also accumulating evidence that α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonists and group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonists attenuate opiate withdrawal. However, most existing data are derived from adult animal models. Glutamate receptor types undergo dramatic developmental changes during early life. Thus, the pharmacological effects on opiate withdrawal of NMDA receptor, AMPA receptor, and mGluR antagonists in the developing organism may not be comparable to those in the adult. Indeed, NMDA receptor antagonists do not block morphine tolerance or withdrawal in the 7-day-old rat, but are partially effective in the 14-day-old, and fully effective in the 21-day-old. Thus, there is a transition period around the second post-natal week for NMDA receptor antagonists to suppress opiate tolerance and withdrawal. A combination of in vivo and in vitro assays was used in the present studies to test the effect of drugs acting on AMPA and group II mGlu receptors on morphine withdrawal in rats at 7, 14, and 21 days of age. These ages represent the critical periods when various glutamate receptor subunits undergo differential change. In contrast to NMDA receptor antagonists’ early ineffectivness in suppressing morphine withdrawal, the AMPA receptor antagonist and the group II mGluR agonists were effective at all ages tested. Thus, for the human infant patient, pharmacotherapies to reduce opiate tolerance and withdrawal should focus on non-NMDA ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We recently found that repeated application of adenovectors expressing the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) or recombinant TRAIL proteins to TRAIL-susceptible cancer cells resulted in selection and expansion of TRAIL-resistant cells. Overcoming this acquired resistance to TRAIL is desirable for TRAIL-mediated cancer therapy. Here we demonstrate that several chemotherapeutic agents, including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin, and calpain inhibitor I, an NFκB inhibitor, can overcome acquired resistance to TRAIL in DLD1 colon cancer cells. The combination of TRAIL (approved gene symbol TNFSF10) gene therapy and 5-FU enhanced tumor suppression in vivo in nude mice bearing subcutaneous tumors established from TRAIL-resistant colon cancer cells. Whereas treatment with the combination of TRAIL and 5-FU or mitomycin led to enhanced activation of caspase-3, the combination of TRAIL and calpain inhibitor I resulted in enhanced activation of both caspase-8 and caspase-3. Moreover, mitomycin, but not 5-FU or calpain inhibitor I, induced overexpression of the BAX gene, which was correlated with enhanced TRAIL-induced cell killing in TRAIL-resistant DLD1 cells. Together, these results suggest that acquired resistance to TRAIL can be overcome by different mechanisms and that combinations of TRAIL gene therapy and chemotherapy may be a useful approach for cancer treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists are effective in inhibiting the development of morphine tolerance in adult rats. But NMDA receptors undergo dramatic change during the first few weeks of the postnatal life in the rat, and it is unknown whether NMDA receptor antagonists can inhibit the acquisition of opiate tolerance in the developing organism. Here, we investigated the effects of two NMDA receptor antagonists MK-801 and dextromethorphan on the development of morphine tolerance in 7-, 14-, and 21-day-old rats. NMDA receptor antagonists are not effective in attenuating morphine tolerance in the neonatal rat whereas they were partially effected in the 14-day-old and fully effective in rats as old or older than 21 days of age. These data suggest that there exists a transition age, around the second postnatal week in the rat, for the NMDA receptor to play a role in the development of morphine tolerance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The steady-state mRNA levels of the NMDA receptor NR1 subunit were determined by a quantitative solution hybridization assay in selected CNS regions associated with antinociception in the rat. Tissues were obtained by microdissection from rats treated chronically with morphine alone or in combination with LY274614, a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist. Morphine treatment for 7 days resulted in the development of tolerance to morphine’s analgesic effect and produced a significant decrease in the steady-state NR1 mRNA levels in the spinal cord dorsal horn (by 16%), and an elevation in nucleus raphe magnus and medial thalamus (by 26 and 38%, respectively). The NR1 mRNA levels were unchanged in the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus, locus coeruleus, periaqueductal grey, and sensorimotor cortex. NMDA receptor binding in the spinal cord measured with [3H]MK-801 was reduced approximately 50% by chronic morphine treatment. Co-administration of LY274614 (s.c. at 24 mg/kg/24 h via an osmotic pump) not only attenuated the development of morphine tolerance but also prevented the changes in the NR1 mRNA levels induced by chronic morphine administration. Neither a 7-day infusion of LY274614 nor an acute injection of morphine (10 mg/kg, s.c.) changed the NR1 mRNA levels. These results suggest that changes in the expression of the NR1 mRNA induced by chronic morphine in three CNS regions involved in antinociception are associated with the development of morphine tolerance and in the spinal cord, morphine tolerance is associated with the downregulation of NMDA receptors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We investigated the ability of dextromethorphan, a clinically available NMDA receptor antagonist, to attenuate the behaviors and the expression of c-fos mRNA associated with acute morphine withdrawal in the 7-day-old rat. The intensity of the acute morphine withdrawal behaviors and the elevation in c-fos mRNA expression in the brain induced by acute morphine withdrawal were reduced by dextromethorphan. Thus, dextromethorphan can attenuate acute morphine withdrawal in the developing organism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present study examined the ability of LY235959, a competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, to attenuate behaviors and c-fos mRNA expression associated with acute morphine withdrawal in the infant rat. Rat pups were given a single dose of morphine (10.0 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline. Two hours later, pups were removed from the dam and injected with either LY235959 (10.0 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline. Fifteen minutes later acute morphine withdrawal was precipitated with naltrexone (10.0 mg/kg, s.c.) and behaviors were recorded every 15 s for the next 60 min. Immediately after behavioral testing, brain and spinal cord were assayed for c-fos mRNA analysis by solution hybridization. The intensity of the morphine withdrawal syndrome was reduced in pups pre-treated with LY235959. Withdrawal behaviors such as head moves, moving paws, rolling, and walking were decreased, and vocalizations were completely eliminated in pups pre-treated with LY2359559. Acute morphine withdrawal increased c-fos mRNA expression in the brain and the spinal cord, which was attenuated by pre-treatment of LY235959. Thus, in the 7-day-old rat, as in the adult, NMDA receptors play a role in the behavioral and molecular manifestations of acute morphine withdrawal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Rationale: There is increasing evidence that the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and the nitric oxide system are involved in opiate dependence in the adult rat, but whether these results in the adult apply to the infant rat is unknown. Objectives: Here we examined the effects of NMDA receptor antagonists and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, which reduce the opiate abstinence syndrome in adult animals, on morphine withdrawal in the infant rat. Methods: Neonatal rats were injected with morphine sulfate (10.0 mg/kg) twice daily for 6.5 days. On the 7th day, pups were injected with NOS inhibitors (L-NAME or 7-NI), NMDA receptor antagonists (MK-801 or AP-5), or vehicle. After 15 min, the pups were injected with naltrexone (1 mg/kg) to precipitate withdrawal. Behavior for each pup was identified and recorded every 15 s for 10 min before naltrexone injection and 15 min after naltrexone injection. Results: Both L-NAME and 7-NI significantly reduced most withdrawal behaviors in the infant rat, a result in line with previous studies in the adult rat. In contrast, AP-5 reduced some withdrawal behaviors but also increased others (e.g., moving paws). MK-801 was likewise ineffective in reducing most withdrawal behaviors and increased certain withdrawal behaviors (walking and wall climbing). Conclusions: In the infant rat, the production of nitric oxide is involved in opiate withdrawal whereas the NMDA receptor may not yet be functionally active or may play only a minor role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in the digestive system across the world. The function and mechanism of PDLIM1, a cancer-suppressing gene, in gastric cancer progression remain unclear. This study is aimed at investigating the expression features and function of PDLIM1 in GC. RT-qPCR and western blot were used to compare the profiles of PDLIM1 and miR-187 between GC and normal tissues. The cell models of PDLIM1 overexpression and low expression were established in gastric cancer cell lines MKN45 and AGS. CCK8 and BrdU assays measured cell proliferation. Flow cytometry monitored cell apoptosis. Transwell analyzed cell invasion and migration. The influence of miR-187 overexpression on gastric cancer development was assessed. We predicted the targeted correlation between miR-187 and PDLIM1 through bioinformatics, which was corroborated via dual luciferase activity assay and RIP. Meanwhile, the cell model of PDLIM1 overexpression was built in AGS cells transfected with miR-187 mimics. A rescue experiment was conducted to assess the impact of PDLIM1 overexpression on the procancer function of miR-187. As a result, in contrast with normal paracancer tissues, PDLIM1 was substantially downregulated in GC tissues. Moreover, PDLIM1 overexpression considerably dampened proliferation, invasion, and migration in GC cells, boosted the cell apoptosis, and bolstered their sensitivity to cisplatin. PDLIM1 knockdown or miR-187 overexpression dramatically fostered GC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration and repressed cell apoptosis. Mechanism studies demonstrated that PDLIM1 vigorously restrained the profiles of the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway and the downstream target genes. miR-187 targeted PDLIM1, while miR-187 overexpression cramped PDLIM1 expression. The rescue experiment suggested that PDLIM1 overexpression weakened the procancer function of miR-187 in GC cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that PDLIM1 presented a low expression in GC tissues, while miR-187/PDLIM1 participated in GC development and cisplatin sensitivity by mediating the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel device and method are designed to orientally distribute fine and short steel fibers in the cement mortar. • The fiber orientation coefficient of UHPC with oriented steel fiber reaches 0.87 by using image processing method. • The theoretical prediction model of flexural-tensile strength based on composite and bending moment theories is provided. • The multiscale image analysis of the fracture surface reveals the enhancement mechanism. A novel device and method were designed to orientally distribute thin and short steel fibers in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). With the different volume fractions of steel fibers, the mechanical properties of UHPC with orientally distributed steel fibers (group D) and disorderly distributed steel fibers (group L) were compared and analyzed. The fiber orientation coefficient (η θ) by means of image processing and the theoretical prediction model of flexural-tensile strength based on composite and bending moment theories were studied. The multiscale image analysis of the fracture surface was applied to reveal the enhancement mechanism. The results demonstrate that the mechanical properties such as flexural strength, flexural-tensile strength, flexural toughness, and interfacial bonding strength of UHPC in group D are significantly promoted, in contrast to those in group L. The average η θ of 0.85 in group D indicates that this experimental method can substantially improve the arrangement of steel fibers, hereby the efficiency is improved. Besides, the proposed prediction model of flexural-tensile strength based on the composite and bending moment theories, showing a good agreement with the actual test values, is applicable to UHPC. Moreover, oriented steel fibers can produce excellent stress-dispersing and absorbing effects and, thus, play a significant role in strengthening and toughening. In contrast, randomly oriented steel fibers can easily fracture the surrounding matrix in a large area during the drawing process, resulting in the deterioration of mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ·The ultrasonic vibration and dispersants are used to disperse carbon fibers in the mortar. • ·The effect of multiple variables on the mechanical and electrical properties of CFRC are studied. • ·The modified mass variation coefficient is proposed to evaluate the fiber dispersion directly. • ·The micro information of CFRC is investigated by SEM, XRD, and BET. Uniform dispersion of carbon fibers is key to improving the properties of carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composites (CFRC). For the sake of high reliability, several methods were applied to measure the dispersed state of carbon fibers in the matrix. The mechanical and electrical properties of CFRC are assessed directly, while the mass variation coefficient, SEM, XRD, and BET appraise the dispersity indirectly. Experimental results indicate that the high fiber content is beneficial to the promotion of toughness and conductivity of CFRC, while the uniformity becomes enhanced by the higher dispersant content; the carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC) has outstanding dispersion effect compared with other additives. Moreover, the ductility of CFRC is more applicable for estimating the fiber dispersion, which eliminates the matrix interference, and the strength is considerably affected by the matrix defects. Finally, the fiber content has an impact on the macro-level properties of the composites, but the hydration products of mortar are hardly influenced by the dispersants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional high-order spectral/hp computations are carried out for a cylinder undergoing a sinusoidal rotary oscillation about its own axis. Results are examined for R e = 200 and a fixed oscillation amplitude of θ 0 = π. The study concentrates on a domain of forcing frequencies ranging from 0 to 5 f 0 , with f 0 being the natural shedding frequency of the fixed cylinder. The drag of the cylinder is measured to reduce by up to 22% at the optimal frequency. This drag reduction is expected to result from the appearance of negative pressure in the windward regions of cylinder surface. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is then utilized to extract the energetic modes that govern the dynamics of the flow. A novel force decomposition technique proposed by Miyanawala and Jaiman (2019) is reformulated, to allow quantification of the time-dependent contribution from each mode to the pressure drag. Such contribution is found to be affected, in a manner, by the forcing frequency. POD is further used to characterize the spatially evolving nature of the forced wake as it undergoes a transition from the near-wake two-layer shedding pattern to the far-wake Kármán-like shedding pattern. It is also found that a few modes suffice to reconstruct the near-wake accurately, while more modes must be retained to ensure an accurate approximation of the far-wake. • The forced wake is found to be profoundly affected in terms of both its average topology and its dynamics. • A novel force decomposition technique is reformulated, to allow quantification of the time-dependent contribution from each POD mode to the pressure drag. • The spatially localized wake characteristics behind the rotary oscillating cylinder are faithfully correlated with the corresponding dominant POD modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A scalable multi-stage coherent polarization beam combining is introduced. • Four amplifiers are coherent polarization beam combined using this novel method. • An output of 6.9 W is obtained, and brightness is obtained by a factor of 3.3. We develop a scalable multi-stage beam combining system based on the superposition of four tapered diode laser amplifiers using the coherent polarization beam combining. By employing the combination of master oscillator power amplification and active phase control of each amplifier, a stable output power of 6.9 W is obtained with a nearly diffraction-limited beam quality. The combining efficiency is 72%, and the brightness is improved by a factor of 3.3 compared to that of a single amplifier. Our system provides a new solution to obtain a high-coherence and high-brightness diode laser beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The FBR-VD method can effectively deposit different modifiers as nanometer-sized particles on the surface of FA. • Modifiers can break the glass network structure of FA and efficiently stimulate the pozzolanic activity of FA. • The surface of the modified FA permits the deposition of more hydration products than that of the unmodified FA. • The quantity of deposition as well as form of different modified samples are different. The nano-modification and hydration mechanisms of fly ash (FA) modified by fluidized bed reactor-vapor deposition (FBR-VD) has been analyzed microscopically. The experimental fluidized bed reactor (FBR) and chemicals such as HCl (HC), H 2 SO 4 (HS), NaOH (NH), and NaCl (NC) were used to modify the FA. The results show that the strength of samples modified by NH, HC, and NC increased at different ages, where the strength ratio of the sample modified by NC before 3 d exceeds 120%, while the strength of the FA-cement paste modified by HS decreased slightly in the early stage but increased in the later stage. By comparing FA and Ca(OH) 2 (CH) contents of different samples, it could be concluded that modifiers can activate the pozzolanic activity of FA and allow it to participate in the secondary hydration reaction earlier, resulting in higher the intensity of the FA-cement paste. The FBR-VD method can effectively deposit different modifiers as nanometer-sized particles on the surface of FA, causing them to react with FA, and through the changes in the binding energy of the elements, it was proved that the modifiers can break the glass network structure of FA and efficiently stimulate the pozzolanic activity of FA. In the FA-cement hardened paste, the surface of the modified FA permitted the deposition of more hydration products than that of the unmodified FA, and the quantity of deposition as well as form of different modified samples was different. Modifiers had a remarkable effect on the FA-cement hardened paste, effectively promoting the pozzolanic effect of FA and improving the strength of the hardened cement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel welding model is introduced for the butt welding of tailor-welded blanks. • Inspection results prove that this method can satisfy the industrial requirement. • It can simplify processing procedures and improve production efficiency. Due to its excellent corrosion resistance and machinability, stainless-steel material has been widely used in many different areas, such as nuclear power and the aircraft industry. In these applications, the stainless-steel parts often consist of tailor-welded blanks with different thicknesses. It is crucial to keep the tailor-welded blanks of high quality in order to satisfy the demanding requirements. To make the welding process of tailor-welded blanks simple and efficient, a novel welding model for the eave-like structure is proposed in this paper. Based on this model, the butt welding of tailor-welded blanks with a plate thickness combination of 2.0 mm and 1.0 mm are successfully completed by high power diode laser sources. For further inspecting the performance of the welded bead, we analyze the microstructure and evaluate the mechanical strength. The results prove that our tailor-welded blanks can satisfy the industrial requirements. This work gives an experimental guide on the welding of tailor-welded blanks with different thicknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydration mechanism of ultra-high-performance cementitious materials (UHPC) departs considerably from that of normal cementitious materials (NC). In this study, the strength, isothermal calorimetry, chemical shrinkage, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetry (TG) methods are used to determine the hydration characteristics of UHPC and NC that contain silica fume (SF). A simple device was modified to test the chemical shrinkage for long-term growth, and the ultimate chemical shrinkage is obtained by semi-empirical formula fitting. It is found that the degree of hydration of UHPC is significantly lower than that of NC. The hydration kinetics analyzed using the Krstulovic-Dabic model shows that the hydration process of NC is type NG-I-D, which is characterized by gentle and prolonged hydration. However, the hydration of UHPC is type NG-D with the distinguishing features of early sufficiency and later stagnation. The growth of the strength, exothermic evolution, and phase development of UHPC is decelerated as the hydration process proceeds, which confirms the weak development tendency of hydration at the later stage. In addition, the effect of SF on the hydration of UHPC is minor, and the higher content of SF is beneficial to the hydration at the later stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The beam from diode laser is converted to a flat-top distribution for laser hardening. • A detailed investigation on HOSs with different parameters are simulated by using ZEMAX. • A Rockwell hardness of 57 HRC and a hardened depth of 1.6 mm are obtained on 35CrMo metal steel. In this paper, a laser beam from a fiber coupled diode laser source is converted from a Gaussian-like distribution to a flat-top distribution using a set of homogenization optical system, which makes this diode laser source more favorable for laser hardening. Employing this diode laser source, hardening experiments are performed on 35CrMo metal steel. By optimizing parameters of the hardening processing, at the scanning speed of 1100 mm/min and laser power of 1940 W, a Rockwell hardness of 57 HRC and a hardened depth of 1.6 mm are achieved. Experimental results demonstrate the processing ability of this diode laser source in the industrial laser hardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capillary flow of water in an array of open nanotextured microgrooves fabricated by femtosecond laser processing of silicon is studied as a function of temperature using high-speed video recording. In a temperature range of 23–80 °C, the produced wicking material provides extremely fast liquid flow with a maximum velocity of 37 cm/s in the initial spreading stage prior to visco-inertial regime. The capillary performance of the material enhances with increasing temperature in the inertial, visco-inertial, and partially in Washburn flow regimes. The classic universal Washburn's regime is observed at all studied temperatures, giving the evidence of its universality at high temperatures as well. The obtained results are of great significance for creating capillary materials for applications in cooling of electronics, energy harvesting, enhancing the critical heat flux of industrial boilers, and Maisotsenko cycle technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The haze-fog particle dispersion in urban communities will cause serious health and environmental problems, which has aroused society attention. The aim of the present investigation is to reveal the underlying mechanisms of haze-fog particle dispersion via Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method, and then to provide a groundwork for the optimal spatial arrangement of urban architecture. The Delayed Detached-eddy Simulation turbulence model (DDES) and Discrete Phase Model (DPM) are utilized to investigate the wind flow distribution and the particle dispersion around the building group. The numerical results show that the particle dispersion is dominated by the incoming wind flow, the layout of architectural space and the type and distribution of vortex. The 'single body' wake pattern and the vortex impingement wake pattern are identified in the wind flow field, which have different effects on the distribution of haze-fog particle. The cavity formed by the layout of the building group induces primary vortex and secondary vortex, which will make it more difficult for the particles entering the square cavity to flow out. Moreover, the concentration of the particle in the rear of the buildings is relatively low due the effect of attached vortices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Film thickness gradient along a column to achieve peak focusing. • Theoretical model and simulation to understand the underlying mechanism. • Experiments conducted with circular and rectangular columns under various conditions. • The technique is broadly applicable to various stationary phases and column types. This paper reports the development of a stationary phase thickness gradient gas chromatography (GC) column that enables analyte peak focusing and improves separation resolution. Theoretical analysis and simulation demonstrate focusing via a positive thickness gradient, i.e., the stationary phase thickness increases along the column. This effect was experimentally verified by coating a 5 m long capillary column with a film thickness varying from 34 nm at the column inlet to 241 nm at the column outlet. The column was analyzed in forward (thin to thick) and backward (thick to thin) modes and compared to a uniform thickness column with a thickness of 131 nm, using alkanes ranging from C 5 to C 16 and aromatics. Comparison of resolutions between forward mode and the uniform thickness column demonstrated an overall focusing rate (i.e., improvement in peak capacity) of 11.7% on alkanes and 28.2% on aromatics. The focusing effect was also demonstrated for isothermal room temperature separation of highly volatile compounds and temperature programmed separation with different ramping rates. In all cases, peak capacities from forward mode separations are higher than those from other modes, indicating the ability of a positive thickness gradient to focus analyte peaks. This thickness gradient technique can therefore be broadly applied to various stationary phases and column types as a general method for improving GC separation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we conducted three-dimensional direct numerical simulations to investigate the impact of incoming turbulence on the flow dynamics behind a single main cylinder at Reynolds number of Re = 3900. The incoming turbulence is generated by ten side-by-side cylindrical grid bars, whose center-to-center distance T is set equal to 2D, where D is the diameter of both the grid bars and the main cylinder. It is found that in the wake of the grid bars, the non-Gaussian production region and the homogeneous decay region, which are, respectively, located at X / D < 4 and X / D > 4 , were separated by the development of turbulence intensity Ti. Compared to the uniform incoming flow, the hydrodynamic forces induced by the present incoming turbulence are markedly distinct in magnitude. Specifically, the time-averaged drag coefficient C ¯ d is increased by 29.4%, and more surprisingly, the root mean square value of the lift coefficient is increased by as much as 500%. Statistical analysis is then performed, in terms of the Reynolds stresses, mean field, and the turbulent wake visualization to show variations in the flow dynamics. Results indicate that the incoming turbulence could accelerate the turbulent transition of shear layers and lead to a contraction of the vortex formation region. In addition, the long streamwise streaky vortical structures leading to an increase in Reynolds stress are found in front of the cylinder surface, which illustrates that the effect of incoming turbulence has penetrated inside the front boundary layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional large-eddy simulations are carried out for flow past a cylinder beneath a deformable free surface at a fixed Reynolds number of Re = 7550. The results are examined for two Froude numbers of F r = 0.2 and 0.6 and a gap ratio of 0.4, to investigate the effects of the distortion of the free surface on the flow fields and hydrodynamics. At the low Froude number of F r = 0.2 , the deformation of the free surface is small with little influence on the wake characteristics, and an alternative vortex shedding modulated by the free surface is detected in the wake. As the Froude number increases to 0.6, intense interface distortion occurs, which can be divided into three different regions: a hydraulic jump in the region of overtopping, a well-defined long-wavelength wave generation region in the large-scale recirculation zone near the free surface, and a water level recovery slope further downstream. The sudden change in flow regime from locally supercritical to subcritical allows the occurrence of the hydraulic jump. The induced surface waves behind the cylinder are ascribed to the shedding process of three shear layers, two of which are separated from the cylinder surface and one from the free surface. In addition, a jet-like flow originated from the gap between the free surface and the top of the cylinder occurs, exerting a downward thrust on the cylinder and pushing the wake away from the free surface. The Kármán vortex shedding in the wake is suppressed due to the interruption of the jet-like flow. The fluctuations of the wake turbulence and hydrodynamic forces are also suppressed to a low level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Previously observational studies did not draw a clear conclusion on the association between fatty liver diseases and bone mineral density (BMD). Our large-scale studies revealed that MAFLD and hepatic steatosis had no causal effect on BMD, while some metabolic factors were correlated with BMD. The findings have important implications for the relationship between fatty liver diseases and BMD, and may help direct the clinical management of MAFLD patients who experience osteoporosis and osteopenia. Purpose: Liver and bone are active endocrine organs with several metabolic functions. However, the link between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and bone mineral density (BMD) is contradictory. Methods: Using the UK Biobank and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset, we investigated the association between MAFLD, steatosis, and BMD in the observational analysis. We performed genome-wide association analysis to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with MAFLD. Large-scale two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) analyses examined the potential causal relationship between MAFLD, hepatic steatosis, or major comorbid metabolic factors, and BMD. Results: After adjusting for demographic factors and body mass index, logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between MAFLD and reduced heel BMD. However, this association disappeared after adjusting for additional metabolic factors. MAFLD was not associated with total body, femur neck, and lumbar BMD in the NHANES dataset. Magnetic resonance imaging-measured steatosis did not show significant associations with reduced total body, femur neck, and lumbar BMD in multivariate analysis. TSMR analyses indicated that MAFLD and hepatic steatosis were not associated with BMD. Among all MAFLD-related comorbid factors, overweight and type 2 diabetes showed a causal relationship with increased BMD, while waist circumference and hyperlipidemia had the opposite effect. Conclusion: No causal effect of MAFLD and hepatic steatosis on BMD was observed in this study, while some metabolic factors were correlated with BMD. This has important implications for understanding the relationship between fatty liver disease and BMD, which may help direct the clinical management of MAFLD patients with osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The starch synthase (SS) plays important roles in regulating plant growth and development and responding to adversity stresses. Although the SS family has been studied in many crops, it has not been fully identified in sweet potato and its two related species. In the present study, eight SSs were identified from Ipomoea batatas (I. batata), Ipomoea trifida (I. trifida), and Ipomoea trlioba (I. trlioba), respectively. According to the phylogenetic relationships, they were divided into five subgroups. The protein properties, chromosomal location, phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, cis-elements in the promoter, and interaction network of these proteins were also analyzed; stress expression patterns were systematically analyzed; and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed. Ipomoea batatas starch synthase (IbSSs) were highly expressed in tuber roots, especially Ipomoea batatas starch synthase 1 (IbSS1) and Ipomoea batatas starch synthase 6 (IbSS6), which may play an important role in root development and starch biosynthesis. At the same time, the SS genes respond to potassium deficiency, hormones, cold, heat, salt, and drought stress. This study offers fresh perspectives for enhancing knowledge about the roles of SSs and potential genes to enhance productivity, starch levels, and resistance to environmental stresses in sweet potatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a hydraulic lifting pipeline structure widely used in deep-sea oil, gas transportation, and sediment dredging projects, the pipeline configuration is related to the improvement of transportation efficiency and pipeline safety. Particularly, the bending section consumes the most energy and withstands severe erosion. Understanding and predicting the conveying characteristics of two-phase flow in bends is therefore crucial. In this study, CFD-DEM (computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method) simulation method is employed to calculate various cases, considering five parameters: pipeline bending radius and angle, conveying velocity, particle diameter, and concentration, to explore the influence of these parameters on pressure drop and erosion rate of pipeline and result in a data set of hundreds of cases. Based on this data set, seven machine learning models are trained to predict pressure drop and erosion rate, respectively. To enhance model accuracy, the stacking method in ensemble learning is employed to combine multiple models with good performance. Additionally, the Optuna and SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanation) methods are utilized to optimize hyperparameters and explain the degree to which parameters impact the predictions. The result demonstrates that pressure drop is almost unaffected by bending radius, while erosion rate initially decreases and then increases with bending angle, and both increase with other parameters. Among the evaluated models, artificial neural network, XGBoost, and random forest all demonstrate high prediction accuracy. The stacking model further improves the accuracy, with mean absolute error improving by 21.7% and 32.2%, and the SHAP method demonstrated good interpretability, which is basically consistent with CFD-DEM results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects many populations, and screening out the high‐risk populations at an early stage is a challenge. As a sarcopenia index, the relationship between creatinine to cystatin C ratio (CCR) and MASLD remains unclear. This cross‐sectional, prospective study aimed to explore the relationship between CCR and MASLD. Design Firstly, explored the correlation between CCR and MASLD in cross‐sectional analyses. Then excluded the population with baseeline diagnosis of MASLD and analyzed the association with baseline CCR levels and the onset of MASLD in the population with available follow‐up data. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) to evaluate the association between CCR levels and MASLD. Patients and Measurements: This study included 368,634 participants from the UK Biobank for cross‐sectional and prospective analyses. The demographic characteristics and laboratory measurements of all participants were obtained from the UK Biobank. MASLD was diagnosed according to the multi‐society consensus nomenclature. Hepatic steatosis was defined as FLI ≥60. Results: We grouped the study participants according to CCR tertiles. In cross‐sectional analyses, participants in CCR tertile 1 had the highest MASLD risk (OR: 1.070, 95% CI: 1.053−1.088, p <.001). And the similar association was observed in the prospective analyses (CCR tertile 1 OR: 1.340, 95% CI: 1.077−1.660, p =.009; CCR tertile 2 OR: 1.217, 95% CI: 1.021−1.450, p =.029, respectively). After stratification by gender, the significant association between CCR and the onset of MASLD was only observed in males (CCR tertile 1 OR: 1.639, 95% CI: 1.160−2.317, p =.005; CCR tertile 2 OR: 1.322, 95% CI: 1.073−1.628, p =.005, respectively). Conclusion: Our results indicated that lower CCR was significantly associated with higher risk of MASLD, based on which predictive models can be developed to screen populations at high risk of developing MASLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The LBD family is a plant-specific transcription factor family that plays an important role in a variety of biological processes. However, the function of IbLBD genes in sweet potato remains unclear. In this study, we identified a total of 53 IbLBD genes in sweet potato. Genetic structure showed that most of the IbLBD genes contained only two exons. Following the phylogenetic investigation, the IbLBD gene family was separated into Class I (45 members) and Class II (8) members. Both classes of proteins contained relatively conservative Motif1 and Motif2 domains. The chromosomal locations, gene duplications, promoters, PPI network, and GO annotation of the sweet potato LBD genes were also investigated. Furthermore, gene expression profiling and real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that the expression of 12 IbLBD genes altered in six separate tissues and under various abiotic stresses. The IbLBD genes belonging to Class I were mostly expressed in the primary root, the pencil root, and the leaves of sweet potatoes, while the genes belonging to Class II were primarily expressed in the various sweet potato roots. The IbLBD genes belonging to Class I were mostly expressed in the primary root, the pencil root, and the leaves of sweet potatoes, while the genes belonging to Class II were primarily expressed in the fibrous root, pencil root, and tuber root. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are capable of serving as a data collector for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In this paper, we investigate an energy-effective data gathering approach in UAV-aided WSNs, where each sensor node (SN) dynamically chooses the transmission modes, i.e., (1) waiting, (2) conventional sink node transmission, (3) uploading to UAV, to transmit sensory data within a given time. By jointly considering the SN's transmission policy and UAV trajectory optimization, we aim to minimize the transmission energy consumption of the SNs and ensure all sensory data completed collected within the given time. We take a two-step iterative approach and decouple the SN's transmission design and UAV trajectory optimization process. First, we design the optimal SNs transmission mode policy with preplanned UAV trajectory. A dynamic programming (DP) algorithm is proposed to obtain the optimal transmission policy. Then, with the fixed transmission policy, we optimize the UAV's trajectory from the preplanned trace with recursive random search (RRS) algorithm. Numerical results show that the proposed scheme achieves significant energy savings gain over the benchmark schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the hybrid beamforming for the wideband mmWave multiuser MIMO-OFDM system. We characterize the frequency-dependent beam angle problem, i.e., beam squint effect. Firstly, we extend the mmWave channel model from the Saleh-Valenzuela representation with the consideration of beam squint. Secondly, a two-tier hybrid beamforming is proposed to achieve the maximum spectral efficiency in wideband mmWave multiuser MIMO-OFDM system. In the first tier, the Rotman lens array is adopted as the analog precoder to provide true-time-delay (TTD) and reduce the beam squint impairment. Moreover, the first-tier baseband precoder is designed based on block diagonalization (BD) to cancel inter-user interference. We further consider the finite spatial resolution and power leakage problem of the lens array. The second-tier hybrid precoder is proposed to collect the leak power with the phase shifter array. The optimal second-tier hybrid precoder design is formulated as the matrix factorization problem, and the two-tier hybrid precoding algorithm is based on the alternative minimization. It is found that both the beam squint and frequency-selective effect should be considered in the wideband mmWave system. Simulation results show that the proposed two-tier hybrid precoder could reduce beam squint impairment and inter-user interference, and could approximate to the optimal full-digital precoder with much fewer RF chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), distant metastasis is the leading cause of death. Our previous studies have shown that TNBC progression is greatly facilitated by circKIF4A, but uncertainty remains regarding its role in TNBC brain metastasis and the molecular mechanism. In this study, we found notable upregulation of circKIF4A in TNBC cell lines and brain metastases. Inhibition of circKIF4A impaired the ability of TNBC to proliferate, migrate, and cause brain metastasis. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that circKIF4A competed for binding to miR-637 with STAT3 3' UTR. Western blot analysis revealed that inhibition of circKIF4A decreased STAT3 and p62 expression, while increased the LC3B-II/LC3B–I ratio and the expression of Beclin, indicating that downregulation of circKIF4A induced autophagy by competing with STAT3 for binding to miR-637. By employing a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism, the circKIF4A-miR-637-STAT3 axis coordinates brain metastasis in TNBC. circKIF4A can therefore be used as a prognostic biomarker for brain metastasis in TNBC and as a therapeutic target. • CircKIF4A was notably upregulated in triple-negative breast cancer brain metastases and cell lines. • Inhibition of circKIF4A impairs invasion and brain metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer cells. • Downregulation of circKIF4A induced autophagy by competing with STAT3 for binding to miR-637. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a general network model called multi-progressive image deblurring network is proposed to correct blurring artifacts and local imaging details in underwater images. As a solution to nonuniform image distortion, a deformable convolution module was designed to enrich the encoded information of the image representation. Using a stepwise feature refinement module, multi-progressive image deblurring network can reduce the loss of contextual information to produce a more realistic underwater image for subsequent applications. Constructing a loss function based on multi-scale content can help the model improve image perception quality. We conducted experimental evaluations on large-scale image deblurring benchmark datasets, such as GoPro and HIDE, achieving excellent results with 32.84 dB and 31.03 dB peak signal-to-noise ratio, respectively, using the proposed method. Subsequently, a detailed optimization comparison was conducted on the in-house underwater image deblurring dataset. Multi-progressive image deblurring network obtained higher-quality, clearer images. Compared with the current state-of-the-art image deblurring algorithms, the proposed model achieved significant results with a 6.6% increase in deblur performance in peak signal-to-noise ratio. Finally, we conducted ablation experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of all the modules in the proposed framework. • Multi-progressive structure can hierarchically fuse global context information. • MPDNet outperforms almost all the SOTA methods on the benchmark datasets. • MPDNet is enough lightweight for deblurring tasks on mobile computing platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Yak is found in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and represents a meat of high nutritional value and good flavor. However, the production of yak is limited, and yak meat adulteration is a growing concern in the marketplace. To protect consumer rights and prevent unfair competition, it is necessary to use an efficient assay to identify the species of yak meat rapidly and accurately being sold. Methods. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) combined with hydroxy naphthol blue (HNB) was used to identify potential adulterants. The specificity and sensitivity tests of yak-derived components were carried out to achieve the monitoring of yak-derived components. Results. The optimal color development was achieved with an external primer-to-internal primer ratio of 400 nmol/L : 1200 nmol/L, 1.5 mmol/L dNTP, and 0.32 U/μL Bst DNA polymerase with 5 mmol/L MgSO4 at 62°C amplification temperature. The detection sensitivity of LAMP-HNB for yak-derived DNA was up to 1 pg/μL. Conclusion. The LAMP-HNB assays provided a valuable tool for the identification of yak gene from adulterated meat. This further enabled the LAMP-HNB assay to be applicable in the identification of other meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum well (QW) diodes have the capability to function as a light-emitting diode or a photodiode and inherently feature a partial emission-detection spectral overlap. Therefore, QW diode can sense light emission from another diode sharing the same QW active region. In association with distributed Bragg reflection (DBR) technique, we here present a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) visible light communication (VLC) over a single channel by using vertical assembly of red, green, and blue (RGB) QW diodes. The identical QW diodes separately functioning as a transmitter and a receiver establish a wireless communications link. The DBRs enable the transmission of longer-wavelength photons or the reflection of shorter-wavelength photons, creating an optical bandpass filter in conjunction with emission-detection spectral overlap, effectively boosting the capacity of an initially single communication channel. Both the transmitter and the receiver can be switched freely by software, forming time-division multiplexing (TDM) wireless light communication system using single optical path. We unite TDM and WDM together to demonstrate real-time TDM multichannel bidirectional communication using the vertical integration of RGB QW diodes, offering the great potential to establish TDM-WDM VLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s) play a crucial role in various biochemical reactions involved in the synthesis of antioxidants, pigments, structural polymers, and defense-related compounds in plants. As sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) holds significant economic importance, a comprehensive analysis of CYP450 genes in this plant species can offer valuable insights into the evolutionary relationships and functional characteristics of these genes. Results: In this study, we successfully identified and categorized 95 CYP450 genes from the sweet potato genome into 5 families and 31 subfamilies. The predicted subcellular localization results indicate that CYP450s are distributed in the cell membrane system. The promoter region of the IbCYP450 genes contains various cis-acting elements related to plant hormones and stress responses. In addition, ten conserved motifs (Motif1-Motif10) have been identified in the IbCYP450 family proteins, with 5 genes lacking introns and only one exon. We observed extensive duplication events within the CYP450 gene family, which may account for its expansion. The gene duplication analysis results showed the presence of 15 pairs of genes with tandem repeats. Interaction network analysis reveals that IbCYP450 families can interact with multiple target genes and there are protein-protein interactions within the family. Transcription factor interaction analysis suggests that IbCYP450 families interact with multiple transcription factors. Furthermore, gene expression analysis revealed tissue-specific expression patterns of CYP450 genes in sweet potatoes, as well as their response to abiotic stress and plant hormones. Notably, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR) analysis indicated the involvement of CYP450 genes in the defense response against nonbiological stresses in sweet potatoes. Conclusions: These findings provide a foundation for further investigations aiming to elucidate the biological functions of CYP450 genes in sweet potatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malate dehydrogenase (MDH; EC 1.1.1.37) plays a vital role in plant growth and development as well as abiotic stress responses, and it is widely present in plants. However, the MDH family genes have not been explored in sweet potato. In this study, nine, ten, and ten MDH genes in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and its two diploid wild relatives, Ipomoea trifida and Ipomoea triloba, respectively, were identified. These MDH genes were unevenly distributed on seven different chromosomes among the three species. The gene duplications and nucleotide substitution analysis (Ka/Ks) revealed that the MDH genes went through segmental duplications during their evolution under purifying selection. A phylogenetic and conserved structure divided these MDH genes into five subgroups. An expression analysis indicated that the MDH genes were omni-presently expressed in distinct tissues and responded to various abiotic stresses. A transcription factor prediction analysis proved that Dof, MADS-box, and MYB were the main transcription factors of sweet potato MDH genes. These findings provide molecular features of the MDH family in sweet potato and its two diploid wild relatives, which further supports functional characterizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) assisted relaying communication system, where a UAV acts the mobile relay and provides the information transfer from the source to the destination. The simultaneous wireless information and power transfer techniques are considered at the UAV relays, where the UAV harvests energy from the source node, and exclusively uses the harvested energy for the data relaying. To maximize the system throughput, we jointly consider the UAV trajectory optimization and resource allocation problem, where the UAV trajectory is optimized the UAV positions to harvest the benefits of the line-of-sight links, and resource allocation, including power allocation and the subcarrier allocation, is used to achieve optimal network performance with the power constraints. An alternating maximization algorithm is proposed to solve the optimization problem, in which the UAV trajectory optimization and resource allocation are solved iteratively to maximize the total throughput. Compared with other benchmarks, the proposed algorithm can achieve higher throughput by the benefits from UAV trajectory optimization and resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of micro gas chromatography (μGC) is aimed at rapid and in situ analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for environmental protection, industrial monitoring, and toxicology. However, due to the lack of appropriate microcolumns and associated stationary phases, current μGC is unable to separate highly volatile chemicals such as methane, methanol, and formaldehyde, which are of great interest for their high toxicity and carcinogenicity. This inability has significantly limited μGC field applicability. To address this deficiency, this paper reports the development and characterization of a microfabricated porous layer open tubular (μPLOT) column with a divinylbenzene-based stationary phase. The separation capabilities of the μPLOT column are demonstrated by three distinct analyses of light alkanes, formaldehyde solution, and organic solvents, exhibiting its general utility for a wide range of highly volatile compounds. Further characterization shows the robust performance of the μPLOT column in the presence of high moisture and at high temperatures (up to 300 °C). The small footprint and the ability to separate highly volatile chemicals make the μPLOT column highly suitable for integration into μGC systems, thus significantly broadening μGC's applicability to rapid, field analysis of VOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, seismic time series has been used to construct complex network models in order to describe the seismic complexity. The effect of the factor focal depth has been elided in some of these models. In this paper, we aim to construct a new complex network model for seismicity by considering depth factor from the earthquake catalog and investigate the statistical properties of the network. Since the networks have been proved to be scale-free and small-world properties, the new network models should be studied whether the properties have changed. The results show that the new network model by considering depth factor is still scale-free and small-world. However, it is found that its average degree is smaller than the original network. The clustering coefficient increases at the year including mainshocks. The assortativity coefficient, which demonstrates preferential attachment of nodes, is positive and shows consistent pattern when main shocks occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most severe form of acute lung injury, responsible for high mortality and long-term morbidity. As a dynamic syndrome with multiple etiologies, its timely diagnosis is difficult as is tracking the course of the syndrome. Therefore, there is a significant need for early, rapid detection and diagnosis as well as clinical trajectory monitoring of ARDS. Here, we report our work on using human breath to differentiate ARDS and non-ARDS causes of respiratory failure. A fully automated portable 2-dimensional gas chromatography device with high peak capacity (> 200 at the resolution of 1), high sensitivity (sub-ppb), and rapid analysis capability (~ 30 min) was designed and made in-house for on-site analysis of patients' breath. A total of 85 breath samples from 48 ARDS patients and controls were collected. Ninety-seven elution peaks were separated and detected in 13 min. An algorithm based on machine learning, principal component analysis (PCA), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was developed. As compared to the adjudications done by physicians based on the Berlin criteria, our device and algorithm achieved an overall accuracy of 87.1% with 94.1% positive predictive value and 82.4% negative predictive value. The high overall accuracy and high positive predicative value suggest that the breath analysis method can accurately diagnose ARDS. The ability to continuously and non-invasively monitor exhaled breath for early diagnosis, disease trajectory tracking, and outcome prediction monitoring of ARDS may have a significant impact on changing practice and improving patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-parameter single objective optimization has been studied for decades. In recent, a new setting is applied in this field based on the consideration that solving difficulty scales exponentially with the increase in dimensionality. Under the new setting, differential evolution (DE) still outstands in performance as before. Meanwhile, a new type of population-based metaheuristic—gaining–sharing knowledge-based algorithm, becomes a dark horse. Furthermore, ensemble of the above two types of algorithm is proposed in the literature. Although such ensemble shows good performance, provided that a more reasonable scheme is used for the communication between the constituent algorithms, better ensemble can be obtained. We believe that the new scheme should be with adaptiveness. In this paper, we propose an adaptive scheme for the communication. According to the scheme, individuals chosen based on fitness and lifetime are exchanged. In fact, in the field of DE, it is rare to consider lifetime of individual. However, lifetime is no less important than fitness in our scheme. In our experiment, our ensemble is compared with seven state-of-the-art algorithms. According to experimental results, our ensemble is comparable to one of the peers and better than the other ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging deep-ultraviolet (DUV) light communication with attractive features fulfills the increasing demand for novel wireless communication without electromagnetic interference or solar noise influence. Here, we propose, manufacture, and characterize a solar-blind full-duplex light communication system using 275-nm DUV light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Four DUV LEDs connected in series form a unit, and the transmitter consists of an array of three independent units, which can be synchronously controlled using a main processing unit to modulate the emitted light. A solar-blind filter is inserted in front of the receiver due to the lack of an ultraviolet photodetector. Both the transmitter and receiver are encapsulated together to manufacture a full-duplex DUV light communication system, which can independently transmit and receive data with a maximal communication distance of 7 m at the same time. All users within a 46 m2 area of the system have access to the DUV communication network through an integrated wireless module. Real-time video is demonstrated and different types of files could be shared. Based on Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), the system is finally performed in sunlight with a transmission rate of 10 Mbps and a packet loss rate of 1.28%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a prevalent hematological malignancy that poses significant challenges for treatment. Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism has been linked to tumorigenesis, disease progression, and therapy resistance. However, the correlation between cholesterol metabolism-related genes (CMGs) and the prognosis of MM remains unclear. Univariate Cox regression analysis and LASSO Cox regression analysis were applied to construct an overall survival-related signature based on the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The signature was validated using three external datasets. Enrichment analysis and immune analysis were performed between two risk groups. Furthermore, an optimal nomogram was established for clinical application, and its performance was assessed by the calibration curve and C-index. A total of 6 CMGs were selected to establish the prognostic signature, including ANXA2, CHKA, NSDHL, PMVK, SCAP and SQLE. The prognostic signature demonstrated good prognostic performance and correlated with several important clinical parameters, including number of transplants, International Staging System, albumin, beta2-Microglobulin and lactate dehydrogenase levels. The function analysis and immune analysis revealed that the metabolic pathways and immunologic status were associated with risk score. The nomogram incorporating the signature along with other clinical characteristics was constructed and the discrimination was verified by the calibration curve and C-index. Our findings indicated the potential prognostic connotation of cholesterol metabolism in MM. The development and validation of the prognostic signature is expected to aid in predicting prognosis and guiding precision treatment for MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While it is challenging for a traditional propulsor to achieve a wide range of force profile manipulation and propulsion efficiency, nature provides a solution for a flapping foil such as that found in birds and turtles. In this paper, we introduce a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithm with great potential for solving nonlinear systems during the simulation to achieve a self-learning posture adjustment for a flapping foil to effectively improve its thrust performance. With DRL, a brute-force search is first carried out to provide intuition about the optimal trajectories of the foil and also a database for the following case studies. We implement an episodic training strategy for intelligent agent learning using the DRL algorithm. To address a slow data generation issue in the computational fluid dynamics simulation, we introduce a multi-environment technique to accelerate data exchange between the environment and the agent. This method is capable of adaptively and automatically performing an optimal foil path planning to generate the maximum thrust under various scenarios and can even outperform the optimal cases designed by users. Numerical results demonstrate how the proposed DRL is powerful to achieve optimization and has great potential to solve a more complex problem in the field of fluid mechanics beyond human predictability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A breakthrough in the technology for virtualizing satellite-borne networks and computing and storage resources can significantly increase the processing capacity and resource utilization efficiency of satellite-borne base stations in response to the development trend in multi-star and multi-system converged satellite internet iterative systems. The protocol processing function of traditional satellite communication systems is generally placed in the ground station system for processing, with poor flexibility and low efficiency. As a result, a reconfigurable digital satellite-borne base station architecture design is suggested, allowing for separation of the hardware and software of the satellite-borne base station and flexible programming and dynamic loading of the satellite-borne base station's functions by software. Meanwhile, a fast adaptive migration algorithm based on multi-dimensional environment awareness is proposed on top of the reconfigurable digital base station, and migration precomputation and real-time computation are added in order to realize rapid deployment of the digital base station system network. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in enhancing system stability and decreasing real-time calculation costs associated with system network migration under conditions of high dynamic changes for each network element in a star-loaded environment. In conclusion, a digital satellite-borne base station system that effectively addresses the issues of low flexibility and high dynamic changes of nodes in the resource-constrained satellite environment can be created by combining the adaptive migration algorithm and the reconfigurable digitized satellite-borne base station architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]