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Photovoltaic solar array (PVSA) systems are the most widely used method for spacecraft power generation. However, in many satellite missions, the optimum orientation of the PVSA system is not always compatible with that of the payload orientation. Many methods, have been examined in the past to overcome this problem. Up to date, the most widely used active method for large costly satellites is the Solar Array Drive Mechanism (SADM). The SADM serves as the interface between the satellite body and the PVSA subsystem, enabling the decoupling of their spatial orientation. Nonetheless, there exists a research and development gap for such systems regarding low cost micro-satellites. During the literature study of this paper, individual orbital parameters of various micro-satellites have been extracted and compared to the rotational freedom of the corresponding SADMs used. The findings demonstrated that the implemented SADMs are over designed. It is therefore concluded that these components are not tailored made for each spacecraft mission individually, but rather, exhibit a generic design to full fill a majority of mission profiles and requirements. Motivated by the above analysis, the cardinal objective of the current research is to develop a low cost mechanism that will be precisely tailored for the use of a low Earth orbit (LEO) micro-satellite platform orbiting in altitudes of 500 − 1000 km . The design of the mechanism may vary from the existing miniaturized SADMs. For example, the preliminary analysis of the current research suggests, that the conventional use of the slip ring system as the electronic transfer unit can be replaced by a seMI Orientation Unit (MIOU). Systems engineering tools for concept generation and selection have been used. In addition, simulation and mathematical modelling have been implemented on component and system level, to accurately predict the behaviour of the system under various modes of operation. The production and system testing of the prototype has taken place and it has verified that the development of such a system, will aid the power generation of the solar arrays, while having a positive impact on the cost reduction of such satellites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we reported a food-grade Pickering emulsions with pH switchable properties based on soy peptides functionalized calcium phosphate particles (CaP). The nanometer crystalline CaP were synthesized according to the well-established wet chemical precipitation process followed by microfluidization treatment, and functionalized in situ with a pepsin released peptides of soy β -conglycinin. These peptides characterized with a large amount of carboxyl amino acid (Glu and Asp) residues, exhibit high affinity to CaP particles. The decoration of CaP particles with soy peptides enhanced their hydrophobic wettability and electrodynamics properties simultaneously. Hence, the surface modified CaP particles facilitate to construct interfacial crystal architecture and resulting stable Pickering emulsions and gels. The pH triggered switchable properties of the emulsion were established based on the pH-dependent dissolution-recrystallization transition of CaP. Stimuli-responsive Pickering emulsification will not only offer opportunity to create a sustainable way to improve oil and catalyst recovery, but also find interesting applications in food industry for phase release of the functional elements by on-demand strategies. The food grade status of both soy peptides and calcium phosphate might extend their applications for food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-stage deep eutectic solvents (DESs) treatment was shown to be an effective method for improving the utilization of certain DESs, and the specific order of pretreatment, such as malic acid/proline (MP) or choline chloride/oxalic acid (CO) during the first stage and choline chloride/urea (CU) during the second stage, resulted in better performance for enhancing the sugar yield due to the synergistic effect of the two DESs on biomass fractionation. Moreover, the presence of water during these processes could balance the loss of components by tuning the pretreatment severity, thus ensuring higher sugar yields. By eliminating the washing step after the first stage treatment, enhanced cellulose recovery and glucose yield were achieved for the CO-CU pretreatment in the presence of 5% water, and a simpler process was established with a glucose yield of 90.2% after a 3-h treatment at 100 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular interventional surgery has been become a specialized surgical technique because it can minimize the trauma and shorten the recovery time, but it needs more accurate operation and image to guide the surgery. In the meantime, it needs that the doctor has a great deal of experience. Moreover, it needs to train the novice because of the lack of experienced neurosurgeons. In order to solve aforementioned problems, the training system for vascular interventional surgery was proposed. A novel VR-based robot-assisted catheterization training system is designed to solve these problems. This system is composed of the virtual environment and the haptic device. The virtual environment included a catheter model and a vascular model to realize the synchronous movement with the haptic device. In order to imitate soft tissue deformation, mass-spring model has been proposed in physical modeling. In this paper we established a dynamics equation of the moving catheter. We analyzed the elasticity distribution of the wall of vascular according to the previous research. The haptic interaction device based on magneto-rheological fluid as the master manipulator was applied to control the movement of the catheter model in the virtual environment and realize haptic feedback. At the same time, a force feedback calculation model for the novel master manipulator has been proposed. Ten times experiments both in axial movement direction and in radial movement respectively, are carried out, there was within 0.74 mm error in axial movement direction and 3.5° error in radial movement direction. When the moving speed of the catheter is 5 mm/s, the force error between the virtual environment and the feedback force of the damper is within 0.3 mN. The error is in the range which is permitted during VIS. The proposed method improved accurate operability and traceability in this novel VR robotic catheter training system. It offers users better visualization and control. The experimental results indicate that the performance of the synchronous movement and the force feedback can meet our design requirement. The developed training system can be used to train novice for VIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space missions have traditionally been controlled by operators from a mission control center. Given the increasing number of satellites for some space missions, generating a command list for multiple satellites can be time-consuming and inefficient. Developing multi-satellite, onboard mission scheduling & planning techniques is, therefore, a key research field for future space mission operations. In this paper, an improved Genetic Algorithm (GA) using a new mutation strategy is proposed as a mission scheduling algorithm. This new mutation strategy, called Hybrid Dynamic Mutation (HDM), combines the advantages of both dynamic mutation strategy and adaptive mutation strategy, overcoming weaknesses such as early convergence and long computing time, which helps standard GA to be more efficient and accurate in dealing with complex missions. HDM-GA shows excellent performance in solving both unconstrained and constrained test functions. The experiments of using HDM-GA to simulate a multi-satellite, mission scheduling problem demonstrates that both the computation time and success rate mission requirements can be met. The results of a comparative test between HDM-GA and three other mutation strategies also show that HDM has outstanding performance in terms of speed and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the probe response of a cavity optomechanical system with periodic modulation of the optomechanical coupling is investigated. The modulation arises from the beat effect between two external coherent driving lights, with the beat frequency matching the modulation frequency. The transmission coefficient is derived for the probe field and significant amplification, rather than absorption in the conventional optomechanically induced transparency schemes, is observed near the transparent point when the modulation is introduced. In addition, the coupling modulation can also enhance the slow light effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By slotting an inlet at the head of the aerodisk, a channel through the spike, and the lateral jet outlet at the middle of the spike, the blunt body with spike-aerodisk can further reduce its aeroheating and drag. In this paper, the numerical simulation method was used to analyze the flow field structure of this spike-aerodisk-channel, the effects of the spike length, the aerodisk diameter, and the channel diameter on the drag and aeroheating performance of this spike-aerodisk-channel configuration were studied. In general, the lateral jet introduced by the channel from the stagnation region of the aerodisk leads to the shear layer separation in advance, pushes the separation shock away from the spike, enlarges the recirculation zone near the blunt body, avoids the interaction between the separation shock and the reattachment shock, increases the distance from the reattachment shock to the surface of the blunt body. The reattachment shock strength of the blunt body is weakened. With increased spike length and channel diameter, drag and aeroheating reduction are improved. With the increase of the diameter of the aerodisk, the aeroheating performance is improved, but the drag reduction performance continues to decline. Compared with the plain spike-aerodisk, the spike-aerodisk-channel is generally conducive to further drag and aeroheating reduction. In the range of research parameters, considering the effect of drag and aeroheating reduction and the structural feasibility, the spike-aerodisk-channel has the best drag and aeroheating reduction performance when the spike length is twice the blunt-body diameter, the ratio of the aerodisk diameter to the blunt-body diameter is 0.3, and the ratio of the channel diameter to the blunt-body diameter is 0.075. Compared with the plain spike-aerodisk of the same size, the aeroheating reduction efficiency is increased by 37.9%, and the drag reduction efficiency is increased by 16.0%. • Drag and aeroheating reduction mechanism of the spike-aerodisk and channel concept under hypersonic conditions was investigated by the numerical simulation. • Three influence factors were analyzed and compared comprehensively. • Combined spike-aerodisk and channel concept is a promising drag and aeroheating reduction technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human hydatid disease typically occurs in organs such as the liver and kidney. Primary solitary intramuscular hydatid disease, however, is rare. Case Presentation: We report a case of a giant muscle hydatid in the lower extremity, with neurological symptoms as the first manifestation. The symptoms specifically manifested as intermittent pain in the right lower extremity and numbness in the sole of the right foot. However, there were no obvious abnormalities detected in electromyography and lumbar MRI. Subsequent ultrasonography and calf MRI showed that the patient had cystic lesions in the calf. The patient was initially diagnosed with a muscle hydatid cyst. Treatment involved complete surgical excision of the lesion, and the diagnosis of a hydatid cyst was confirmed through macroscopic and microscopic histopathological examination after the mass was excised. The patient was given oral albendazole, and no recurrence was observed during the 12 months of follow-up. Conclusions: This case underscores the need to consider hydatid disease when diagnosing soft tissue masses in muscles, particularly in endemic areas. Patients may initially present with atypical symptoms like peripheral nerve issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anoikis is a unique form of apoptosis associated with vascularization and distant metastasis in cancer. Eliminating anoikis resistance in tumor cells could be a promising target for improving the prognosis of terminal cancer patients. However, current studies have not elaborated on the prognosis effect of anoikis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cutaneous melanoma. Pre-processed data, including RNA sequences and clinical information, were retrieved from TCGA and GTEx databases. After a series of statistical analyses, anoikis-related lncRNAs with prognostic significance were identified, and a unique risk signature was constructed. Risk scores were further analyzed in relation to the tumor microenvironment, tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion, immune checkpoint genes, and RNA methylation genes. The indicators were also used to predict the potentially sensitive anti-cancer drugs. An anoikis-related lncRNAs risk signature consisting of LINC01711, POLH-AS1, MIR205HG, and LINC02416 was successfully established in cutaneous melanoma. Overall survival and progression-free survival of patients were strongly linked with the risk score, independently of other clinical factors. The low-risk group exhibited a more beneficial immunological profile, was less affected by RNA methylation, and was more sensitive to the majority of anti-cancer drugs, all of which indicated a better prognostic outcome. The 4 hub lncRNAs may be fundamental to studying the mechanism of anoikis in cutaneous melanoma and provide personalized therapy for salvaging drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, to achieve ultra-wideband radar cross section (RCS) reduction, a coding phase gradient metasurface (CPGM) is proposed by using Pancharatnam-Berry (P-B) phase. The CPGM is composed of eight types of CPGM elements, and a series of phase gradients with different directions or starting-values will be introduced in these types of CPGM elements under the same EM-wave incidence, so it can not only achieve anomalous reflection to reduce its specular RCS but also reduce the maximum bi-static RCS due to phase cancelation. The simulation results demonstrate that the CPGM has an excellent performance in RCS reduction, compared with a pure metallic plate with the same size, its specular RCS under normal incidence with arbitrary polarization can be reduced more than 10 dB in the ultra-wide frequency band of 8.8–34.8 GHz with a relative bandwidth of 119.3%, and its maximum bi-static RCS can also be reduced effectively in the ultra-wide frequency band; moreover, when the incident angle is increased to 45°, the RCS reduction can still be achieved in an ultra-wide frequency band. Finally, an effective experimental verification is carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the effect of addition of citrus fiber (CF; 5% and 10%, which consists mainly of soluble pectin and insoluble cellulose) on physical properties and microstructure of meat analogs based on soy protein isolate and wheat gluten using high‐moisture extrusion. Layered structure or microstructure of meat analogs was observed by scanning electron microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope. Compared to the control (without CF), meat analogs with CF addition showed disorder layered microstructure, which was interconnected with smaller fibers. Rheological measurements (strain sweep and frequency sweep) show that the incorporation of CF resulted in meat analogs with softer texture. The moisture content of meat analogs increased significantly upon the addition of CF, which was also correlated with juiciness. Sensory evaluation and dynamic salt release results confirm that the saltiness of meat analogs with CF addition was enhanced due to the structural changes of phase‐separated structures, achieving salt reduction by 20% and showing a saltiness similar to the control sample. This research provides a novel approach to modulate the saltiness perception of meat analogs by modifying the phase separation of protein/polysaccharides. Practical Application: Citrus fiber is added to the plant protein matrix to prepare meat analogs with high moisture content and enhanced saltiness perception via modifying the phase separation of protein/polysaccharides. This work provided a potential target for the meat industry to produce the meat analogs with less salt intake. Further research can be conducted using modified fibrous or inner structure of meat analogs to improve its quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing has flourished as an advanced technique to process metals and alloys. However, this strategy usually introduces undesired defects that deteriorates the mechanical performance of structural materials. Herein laser shock peening (LSP) is proposed as an efficient strengthening approach to reshape the surface morphology of a prototypical dual-phase AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) after additive manufacturing, in which remarkable strengthening is achieved. Combined electron back scatter diffraction and transmission electron microscope characterizations reveal that the mechanical enhancement is attributed to the grain refinement and accumulation of dislocations at the impact surface. In extreme condition of LSP, the grain refinement is not accommodated by the conventional dynamic recrystallization anymore, but a novel mechanism of parental columnar grain rotation which can be rationalized by a continuum-level theory from a geometrical perspective. The new mechanism is verified by large-scale atomistic simulations which further recognizes the critical role of multiple unstable dislocation slip and amorphization in formation of smaller grains under shock. Our strategy offers a promising pathway toward polishing morphology of HEAs and thus, prohibiting the potential intrinsic defected induced-mechanical degradation of the additively manufactured metals and alloys via novel microscopic mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TC insertion and LTR are the main variants in yellow-fleshed peaches. • LTR identified in Prunus ferganensis leads to yellow-fleshed fruits. • LTR identified in Prunus ferganensis anticipate than LTR in Prunus persica. Yellow/white-fleshed color, one of the most important traits of peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.), is closely related to the mutation of the PpCCD4. Although three mutations have been identified in the PpCCD4 gene leading to yellow flesh peaches, it is still intriguing whether a new mutation mechanism exists. Here, we genotyped 335 haplotypes of the yellow-fleshed peach (Y) locus from around the world and found that a transposable element (TE) insertion in Prunus ferganensis (Kost. & Riab) Kov.& Kost, resulted in nonsense mutation in PfCCD4. We performed transient overexpression experiments on ripening fruit and confirmed that the LTR2 in the PfCCD4 exon produced a phenotype different from that of PfCCD4. By Illumina and Nanopore sequencing, we obtained genomic information of the homozygous insertion on the cultivar 'Xinjiang Huangrou', got the sequence and position of the variant, and further confirmed that the insertion is an LTR-type(Long terminal repeats) transposon (named LTR2), which is more ancient than the previously reported insertion, indicating that Prunus ferganensis may be one of the sources of the yellow flesh peach variation. The discovery of a new yellow-fleshed variant in Prunus ferganensis provides insight into utilizing the local germplasm resource for yellow-fleshed peach cross-breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Differential expressed noncoding RNAs among the healthy controls and the patients with AAA before and after underwent EVAR were detected. • 164 differentially expressed miRNAs, 179 co-differentially expressed lncRNAs, and 440 co-differentially expressed circRNAs were obtained. • lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network included 15 lncRNAs, 63 miRNAs and 57 mRNAs. • CircRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network included 79 circRNAs, 21 miRNAs, and 49 mRNAs. • AAA patients might be benefit from EVAR based on various pathways and some molecules related with shear stress. The aim of the study was to explore the potential molecular mechanism associated with shear stress on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression. This study performed RNA sequencing on AAA patients (SQ), AAA patients after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR, SH), and normal controls (NC). Furthermore, we identified the differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNA (cirRNAs) and constructed competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. Finally, 164 differentially expressed miRNAs, 179 co-differentially expressed lncRNAs, and 440 co-differentially expressed circRNAs among the three groups were obtained. The differentially expressed miRNAs mainly enriched in 325 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Target genes associated with co-differentially expressed genes among the group of SH, SQ, and NC mainly enriched in 66 KEGG pathways. LncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions, including 15 lncRNAs, 63 miRNAs and 57 mRNAs, was constructed. CircRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network included 79 circRNAs, 21 miRNAs, and 49 mRNAs. Among them, KLRC2 and CSTF1, targeted by miR-125b, participated in cell-mediated immunity regulation. MiR-320-related circRNAs and SATB1-AS1 serving as the sponge of miRNAs, such as has-circ-0129245, has-circ-0138746, and has-circ-0139786, were hub genes in ceRNA network. In conclusion, AAA patients might be benefit from EVAR based on various pathways and some molecules, such as miR-125b and SATB1-AS1, related with shear stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tyrosol is one of the main polyphenol compounds in white wine and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), which plays an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the possible anti-inflammatory mechanism of tyrosol in Escherichia coli (ETEC)-induced diarrhea in mice. ICR mice were randomly divided into control group, ETEC group, and ETEC + Tyrosol group with 10 mice in each group. In addition to the control group, a bacterial diarrhea model was induced in mice by continuous administration of 0.2 ml × 109 CFU/ml ETEC. After 7 days, the ETEC + Tyrosol group was given tyrosol (20 mg/kg) once a day by gavage, during which the body weight of mice and the degree of diarrhea were measured daily. On the 15th day, all animals in this experiment were sacrificed, colon tissue was collected, and colon length was recorded. Our results indicate that tyrosol significantly attenuated the extent of ETEC-induced diarrhea, including inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine, repair of the intestinal epithelial mechanical barrier, and significant inhibition of NF-κB activation. This finding is helpful for the development and further application of tyrosol in the treatment of diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have shown that both the nanotwinned structure and the graphene reinforcing phase can improve the mechanical properties of aluminum, but the synergistic effect of the two on the strengthening and toughening mechanisms of aluminum matrix composites has rarely been reported. In this work, the mechanical properties and microscopic deformation mechanisms of graphene/nanotwinned aluminum matrix composites under uniaxial tensile load are studied by molecular dynamics simulations. The effects of the distribution patterns of graphene and twin boundaries (TBs), their angles and the number of graphene layers on the mechanical behaviors of graphene/nanotwinned aluminum matrix composites are analyzed. It is found that the synergistic effect of TBs and graphene results in secondary reinforcement of aluminum matrix composites in the plastic stage, resulting in enhanced strength and toughness. Moreover, the elastic modulus, strength and toughness of graphene/nanotwinned aluminum matrix composites increase linearly with the number of graphene layers. By analyzing the microscopic deformation and dislocation evolution of aluminum matrix composites, the mechanisms of dislocation derivation and propagation induced by graphene and TBs are explored. In addition, it is found that there is a competition between graphene and TBs for the dislocation evolution, and the graphene can weaken the dislocation blocking effect of TBs. Finally, it is proved that the angle between graphene and TBs will weaken the mechanical properties of the composites. The effect of the TB angle on the mechanical properties of graphene/nanotwinned aluminum matrix composites is discussed in three cases, depending on the stress-strain curve and the microstructure deformation mechanism. • The effect of graphene and TBs on mechanical properties of Al-matrix is studied. • The influence of distribution patterns and layer number of graphene is analyzed. • The effect of the inclination angle of TBs and graphene is considered. • The mechanisms of dislocation derivation and propagation is explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The viabilities of grain molds are notably inhibited by cold plasma. • DON and OTA toxins are significantly reduced by cold plasma treatment in rice grain. • Cold plasma has minimal effects on major nutrition and seed viability. • The types of FFAs increase over cold plasma treatment time. Few reports are on the application of cold plasma (CP) for mold and mycotoxin control in grain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the viability of CP for mycotoxin and mold control in rice grain. Rice grains artificially contaminated with molds or mycotoxins were subjected to CP treatment. The microbial activities of Aspergillus niger , Rhizopus oryzae , Penicillium verrucosum and Fusarium graminearum were significantly inhibited by CP treatment. The maximal reduction of DON and OTA were 61.25 % and 55.64 %, respectively. The electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde content in rice grain increased at most by 30.14 % and 103.27 %, respectively. The seed germination reduced significantly when treatment time reached 8 min. The major nutrients of rice grain were not affected except for prolamine, which was generally consistent with the results of electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared analysis. Cold plasma is a promising method for mold and mycotoxin control in rice grain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While researchers have proposed a reciprocal and bidirectional relationship among students' perceptions of their learning environment, engagement, and learning outcomes in college learning, scant research has effectively tested this assertion using longitudinal data. The present study examined this relationship with the use of an auto-/cross-lagged longitudinal structural equation modelling across a lag of 2.5 years. University students' (N = 966) perceptions of the learning environment, engagement, generic skills, and GPA were surveyed and collected at sophomore and senior years. In addition to significant auto-lagged effects, the cross-lagged results showed unidirectional predicting paths from prior perceptions to subsequent engagement, and reciprocal and bidirectional relationship between engagement and generic skills. The results provided partial support for the reciprocity of these variables, and confirmed the important role of engagement in the process of college student learning, which extends previous cross-sectional findings in theoretical meaningful ways. •Longitudinally test the reciprocity of perceptions, engagement, and outcomes. •The auto-lagged effects were much stronger than the cross-lagged effects. •Significant reciprocal relation between engagement and generic skills was found. •Important role of engagement in the process of college learning was confirmed. •Academic achievement and other variables were developmentally independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Image-based computational models are widely used to determine atherosclerotic plaque stress/strain conditions and investigate their association with plaque progression and rupture. However, patient-specific vessel material properties are in general lacking in those models, limiting the accuracy of their stress/strain measurements. A noninvasive approach of combining in vivo 3D multi-contrast and Cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computational modeling was introduced to quantify patient-specific carotid plaque material properties for potential plaque model improvements. Vessel material property variation in patients, along vessel segment, and between baseline and follow up were investigated. Methods: In vivo 3D multi-contrast and Cine MRI carotid plaque data were acquired from 8 patients with follow-up (18 months) with written informed consent obtained. 3D thin-layer models and an established iterative procedure were used to determine parameter values of the Mooney-Rivlin models for the 81slices from 16 plaque samples. Effective Young’s Modulus (YM) values were calculated for comparison and analysis. Results: Average Effective Young’s Modulus (YM) and circumferential shrinkage rate (C-Shrink) value of the 81 slices was 411kPa and 5.62%, respectively. Slice YM value varied from 70 kPa (softest) to 1284 kPa (stiffest), a 1734% difference. Average slice YM values by vessel varied from 109 kPa (softest) to 922 kPa (stiffest), a 746% difference. Location-wise, the maximum slice YM variation rate within a vessel was 311% (149 kPa vs. 613 kPa). The average slice YM variation rate for the 16 vessels was 134%. The average variation of YM values for all patients from baseline to follow up was 61.0%. The range of the variation of YM values was [-28.4%, 215%]. For plaque progression study, YM at follow-up showed negative correlation with plaque progression measured by wall thickness increase (WTI) (r = -0.7764, p = 0.0235). Wall thickness at baseline correlated with WTI negatively, with r = -0.5253 (p = 0.1813). Plaque burden at baseline correlated with YM change between baseline and follow-up, with r = 0.5939 (p = 0.1205). Conclusion: In vivo carotid vessel material properties have large variations from patient to patient, along the diseased segment within a patient, and with time. The use of patient-specific, location specific and time-specific material properties in plaque models could potentially improve the accuracy of model stress/strain calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ prepared hydrophobic CuO nanoparticles, about 84.3 nm in mean diameter, was synthesized and used to catalyze heavy oil low-temperature oxidation (LTO) reaction. Experimental results showed the average oxygen consumption rate with CuO nanoparticles addition increased by 1.4 times, and the residue oxygen content in tail gas in autoclave was decreased from 8.76% to 3.9% compared to the blank experiment (without CuO nanoparticles). In addition, the CuO nanoparticles could facilitate the cleavage reaction during LTO. This study can provide guidelines to improve effectively the safety of air flooding technology in the heavy oil. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Hong Kong is an international metropolis with a highly dense population. As a result, it faces enormous challenges in terms of land supply. As part of the Hong Kong Government's initiative to increase land supply, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) proposed minor relaxation of the maximum plot ratio/building height restrictions for 21 target sites in Kai Tak Development Area (KTDA). Although CEDD has explored the feasibility of increasing development intensity by assessing environmental impacts, infrastructure capacity and public consultation, these reviews and assessments were conducted based on the 2D GIS. Since the spatial distribution of land unit in the real world is three-dimensional, 3D GIS can help us look into the world in true perspective and make informed decisions. This study aims to investigate the viability of minor relaxation of maximum plot ratio/building height restrictions of 21 sites in KTDA through 3D modeling and 3D spatial analyses, including skyline, visual impact, shadow and solar exposure. Regarding to the 21 target sites, four scenarios with different plot ratios and building heights were built and compared. The results indicate that minor relaxation of maximum plot ratio and building height leads to (i) minor effect on skyline (ii) minor effect on visual impact and (iii) slight changes in shadow and solar exposure both in winter and summer. Therefore, in light of the findings from this study, scenario 4 is the recommended reasonable scale to relax the maximum plot ratio/building height restriction for the target sites in KTDA. Besides, this study can also be applied in the urban renewal studies and other new development areas in Hong Kong, or even in other densely populated cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air-assisted steam flooding is a new promoting technique for enhanced oil recovery compared to the other traditional thermal recovery methods. In this study, five experiments, including one steam flooding experiment, three combined steam–air flooding experiments, and one combined steam–N2flooding experiment were studied, under the conditions of 180 °C and back-pressure valve of 8 MPa, with sand-packed model. The volume fraction of mixed gas in these four combined steam–air (or N2) flooding experiments were 80% steam+20% air, 60% steam+40% air, 40% steam+60% air, and 60% steam+40% N2, respectively. The experimental results showed that air-assisted steam flooding could enhance the oil displacement efficiency when the volume fraction of air and steam was in a certain number, and the optimal condition is 60% steam+40% air. Furthermore, water cut curves and saturate, aromatic, resin, and asphaltene (SARA) analysis results also demonstrate that the low-temperature oxidation reaction in air-assisted steam flooding process advantageous to profile control of generating high viscosity “PLUG” to seal high-permeability channel in reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aureobasidium pullulans is an increasingly attractive host for bio-production of pullulan, heavy oil, polymalic acid, and a large spectrum of extracellular enzymes. To date, genetic manipulation of A. pullulans mainly relies on time-consuming conventional restriction enzyme digestion and ligation methods. In this study, we present a one-step homologous recombination-based method for rapid genetic manipulation in A. pullulans . Overlaps measuring >40 bp length and 10 μg DNA segments for homologous recombination provided maximum benefits to transformation of A. pullulans . This optimized method was successfully applied to PKSIII gene (encodes polyketide synthase) knock-out and gltP gene (encodes glycolipid transfer protein) knock-in. After disruption of PKSIII gene, secretion of melanin decreased slightly. The melanin purified from disruptant showed lower reducing capacity compared with that of the parent strain, leading to a decrease in exopolysaccharide production. Knock-in of gltP gene resulted in at least 4.68-fold increase in heavy oil production depending on the carbon source used, indicating that gltP can regulate heavy oil synthesis in A. pullulans . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel nitronyl nitroxide NIT-thien-3-Py (2-(3-(m-pyridyl)-2-thienyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide) and its Mn(II) complex [Mn(hfac)2(NIT-thien-3-Py)]2 (hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) have been obtained. X-ray analysis indicates that the Mn(II) complex possesses a cyclic dimer structure in which two radical ligands link two Mn(II) ions through their NO groups and pyridine rings. The study of the magnetic data indicates that the manganese(II) ion strongly and antiferromagnetically interacts with the directly bonding NO group and there is weak ferromagnetic coupling between two Mn–NO pairs through the thiophene and pyridine rings of the radical ligand in agreement with a spin polarization mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new type of amphibious spherical robots. The robot includes four drive units. Each drive unit consists of two servo motors, a water-jet propeller, a DC motor and a wheel. The robot can constitute three movement structure ways according to the environment. When the robot enters water, it adopts water jet propulsion. According to different land conditions, there are two movement patterns to switch. One is a quadruped movement pattern which is available to climb over obstacles; the other is a driving wheel movement pattern which is used to speed up the movement of robot under the flat terrain. Characteristic evaluation experiments on land for a novel amphibious spherical robot were conducted. Underwater motions of the robot mainly rely on the four water-jet propellers, it is necessary to measure relationship between actuating force of the water-jet propeller and the duty ratio. Gambit software is employed to establish and mesh the water-jet propulsion model. Simulation analysis of the models is implemented by FLUENT software. Localization control of the robot and wireless control of the robot were conducted. Finally, experiment results indicated that the developed novel amphibious spherical robot is feasible to develop marine resources and implement marine missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioethanol fermentation of pretreated corncob was investigated using Spathaspora passalidarum U1-58, which simultaneously utilizes glucose and xylose for high-efficiency ethanol production. Two approaches, namely, separate hydrolysis and co-fermentation (SHCF) and simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF), were optimized to test the ethanol fermentation potential of U1-58. The highest ethanol titer of 42.46 g/L and yield of 72.12% were acquired in SHCF, whereas 53.24 g/L ethanol and yield of 75.35% were obtained in SSCF at solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:5 (w/v). Approximately 86.20% of cellulose and 82.99% of hemicellulose were consumed in SSCF after 96 h, and at least 10.49 g/L ethanol was produced from hemicellulose, which corresponded to 37.59% of the theoretical yield. Compared with the published cellulosic ethanol fermentation cases, the present work presented high ethanol titer and yield, and cellulose and hemicellulose could be efficiently utilized for ethanol production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin, ASA) is a famous drug for cardiovascular diseases in recent years. Effects of ASA dosage on the metabolic profile have not been fully understood. The purpose of our study is to establish a rapid and reliable method to quantify ASA metabolites in biological matrices, especially for glucuronide metabolites whose standards are not commercially available. Then we applied this method to evaluate the effects of ASA dosage on the metabolic and excretion profile of ASA metabolites in rat urine. Salicylic acid (SA), gentisic acid (GA) and salicyluric acid (SUA) were determined directly by UHPLC–MS/MS, while salicyl phenolic glucuronide (SAPG) and salicyluric acid phenolic glucuronide (SUAPG) were quantified indirectly by measuring the released SA and SUA from SAPG and SUAPG after β-glucuronidase digestion. SUA and SUAPG were the major metabolites of ASA in rat urine 24 h after ASA administration, which accounted for 50% (SUA) and 26% (SUAPG). When ASA dosage was increased, the contributions dropped to 32% and 18%, respectively. The excretion of other three metabolites (GA, SA and SAPG) however showed remarkable increases by 16%, 6% and 4%, respectively. In addition, SUA and SUAPG were mainly excreted in the time period of 12–24 h, while GA was excreted in the earlier time periods (0–4 h and 4–8 h). SA was mainly excreted in the time period of 0–4 h and 12–24 h. And the excretion of SAPG was equally distributed in the four time periods. We went further to show that the excretion of five metabolites in rat urine was delayed when ASA dosage was increased. In conclusion, we have developed a rapid and sensitive method to determine the five ASA metabolites (SA, GA, SUA, SAPG and SUAPG) in rat urine. We showed that ASA dosage could significantly influence the metabolic and excretion profile of ASA metabolites in rat urine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of des-γ-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in those infected hepatitis B virus (HBV) from cross-sectional or case-control studies is contradictory. OBJECTIVE: To resolve this contradiction using a prospective study. METHODS: Three hundred male individuals persistently infected with HBV were recruited from the Chinese cohort and followed up once per year from 2012 to 2015. Each subject was screened for HCC by measurements of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), lectin-bound α-fetoprotein (AFP-L3), DCP concentrations and ultrasonographic examinations. RESULTS: Nineteen HCC cases were identified. The area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) at first, second and third visit for AFP, AFP-L3 and DCP ranges from 0.710-0.897, 0.566-0.637 and 0.520-0.595, respectively. The rate of elevated DCP is not significantly different between the HCC cases and controls (52.6% vs. 47.4%) (P > 0.05). The incidence of HCC in subjects with elevated DCP is not significantly higher than that of those with normal DCP (9.5% vs. 4.6%) (P >0.05). The AUROC of combinations of these biomarkers was higher than that of AFP alone at the first visit. However, it was reduced at the second visit. At the third visit, the AUROCs of AFP + DCP and AFP + AFP-L3 + DCP, but not that of AFP + AFP-L3, were higher than that of AFP alone. CONCLUSIONS: AFP but DCP or AFP-L3 remains a valuable biomarker for HCC in those chronically infected with HBV. The combination with AFP-L3 and DCP may not increase the accuracy of AFP in differentiating HCC cases from controls, among those infected with HBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With respect to spacecraft attitude control, reaction spheres are promising alternatives to conventional momentum exchange devices for the benefits brought by their 4 π rotation. Many design concepts of reaction spheres have been proposed in the past decades, however, developments of the driving unit and the bearing, as well as their combination remain great challenges. To facilitate research and push developments in this field, this paper provides a comprehensive review of reaction spheres. To some extent, an in-depth survey of multi-DOF (degree of freedom) spherical motors and possible bearings is provided, along with their advantages and weaknesses addressed. Some multi-DOF actuators for different applications, such as robotic joints, are investigated since they share many similar challenges and techniques with reaction spheres. The experimental performances of realized reaction spheres are listed and compared. Limits of current designs are identified and their causes are analyzed and discussed. Compared with existing summaries on multi-DOF actuators and some surveys done for specific reaction spheres' design, this paper provides the first thorough review on reaction spheres, considering approaches to excite and support the free 4 π rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slit homolog 2 (Slit2) is distributed in various tissues and participates in numerous cellular processes; however, the role of Slit2 in the regulation of angiogenesis remains controversial, since it has previously been reported to exert proangiogenic and antiangiogenic activities. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Slit2 on vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migration in vitro, and to reveal the possible underlying signaling pathway. Aortic endothelial cells were isolated from Sprague Dawley rats and cultured. Cell proliferation assay, cell migration assay, immunocytochemistry and small interfering RNA transfection were subsequently performed. The results demonstrated that exogenous Slit2 administration markedly suppressed TNF-α-induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration in vitro. In addition, TNF-α application upregulated the protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Notch in RAECs, whereas Slit2 administration downregulated VEGF and Notch expression in RAECs cultured in TNF-α conditioned medium. Further studies indicated that knockdown of VEGF suppressed the effects of TNF-α on the induction of RAEC proliferation and migration. VEGF knockdown-induced inhibition of RAEC proliferation and migration in TNF-α conditioned medium was also achieved without Slit2 administration. Furthermore, VEGF knockdown markedly decreased Notch1 and Notch2 expression. These results indicated that Slit2 suppresses TNF-α-induced vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migration in vitro by inhibiting the VEGF-Notch signaling pathway. Therefore, Slit2 may inhibit the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells during vascular development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micromonas is a unicellular marine green alga that thrives from tropical to polar ecosystems. We investigated the growth and cellular characteristics of acclimated mid-exponential phase Micromonas commoda RCC299 over multiple light levels and over the diel cycle (14:10 hour light:dark). We also exposed the light:dark acclimated M. commoda to experimental shifts from moderate to high light (HL), and to HL plus ultraviolet radiation (HL+UV), 4.5 hours into the light period. Cellular responses of this prasinophyte were quantified by flow cytometry and changes in gene expression by qPCR and RNA-seq. While proxies for chlorophyll a content and cell size exhibited similar diel variations in HL and controls, with progressive increases during day and decreases at night, both parameters sharply decreased after the HL+UV shift. Two distinct transcriptional responses were observed among chloroplast genes in the light shift experiments: i) expression of transcription and translation-related genes decreased over the time course, and this transition occurred earlier in treatments than controls; ii) expression of several photosystem I and II genes increased in HL relative to controls, as did the growth rate within the same diel period. However, expression of these genes decreased in HL+UV, likely as a photoprotective mechanism. RNA-seq also revealed two genes in the chloroplast genome, ycf2-like and ycf1-like, that had not previously been reported. The latter encodes the second largest chloroplast protein in Micromonas and has weak homology to plant Ycf1, an essential component of the plant protein translocon. Analysis of several nuclear genes showed that the expression of LHCSR2, which is involved in non-photochemical quenching, and five light-harvesting-like genes, increased 30 to >50-fold in HL+UV, but was largely unchanged in HL and controls. Under HL alone, a gene encoding a novel nitrite reductase fusion protein (NIRFU) increased, possibly reflecting enhanced N-assimilation under the 625 μmol photons m-2 s-1 supplied in the HL treatment. NIRFU’s domain structure suggests it may have more efficient electron transfer than plant NIR proteins. Our analyses indicate that Micromonas can readily respond to abrupt environmental changes, such that strong photoinhibition was provoked by combined exposure to HL and UV, but a ca. 6-fold increase in light was stimulatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This article presents an inline waveguide to suspended stripline (SSL) transition. The transition adopts unilateral finline to transform the input waveguide TE10 mode to SSL Quasi-TEM mode. The module of the transition is split into two halves along the center of the waveguide E-plane. The substrate is flip mounted on the grooves of the lower half of the module. The finline is extended to the mounting groove and bonded to the waveguide channel. The waveguide feed direction is inline with the SSL wave transmission direction, and DC/IF return path is also provided by the finline. A G-band prototype is designed and fabricated. The measured results show that the insertion loss is 1.3 to 2 dB at frequencies from 140 to 213 GHz, with return loss more than 10 dB. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 59:729-732, 2017 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tethered-net is a promising method for space debris capturing. However, its deployment dynamics is complex because of the flexibility, and its dependency of the deployment parameters is insufficiently understood. To investigate the deployment dynamics of tethered-net, four critical deployment parameters, namely maximum net area, deployment time, traveling distance and effective period are identified in this paper, and the influence of initial deployment conditions on these four parameters is investigated. Besides, a comprehensive study on a model for the tethered-net based on absolute nodal coordinates formulation (ANCF) is provided. Simulations show that the results based on the ANCF modeling method present a good agreement with that based on the conventional mass–spring modeling method. Moreover, ANCF model is capable of describing the flexibility between two nodes on the net. However, it is more computationally expensive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed aging during storage is one of the main factors that influence the quality of wheat seed. Current detection methods based on NIR spectra were mostly for group seeds, they had poor stability for single seed detection because of sample uniformity. In this study, the characteristic changes of single wheat seed during storage procedure were measured through hyperspectral imaging technology. Firstly, hyperspectral imaging data of wheat grain including six years from 2007 to 2012 had been collected. The original spectra showed clear difference in the band of 1400-1600 nm, which may be caused by the decreasing of moisture and protein content during storage; principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to analyze the spectral data of wheat grain including six years, the clustering chart of the principal components indicated that the grain between same or similar year have an clustering characteristic, and the characteristic difference would become obviously with the increasing of storage time; soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) was applied to classify the grain of different years, results showed that the classification accuracy of the dichotomy between adjacent years could reach 97.05%, and the accuracy of the mixed classification of six years could also reach 82.5%. These results indicated that hyperspectral imaging technology could be used to differentiate the quality change of wheat seed during different storage time, which could provide support for the intelligent monitoring of stored wheat seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show by this study that a decrease in HRR1 in IPAH patients is associated with severe limitation of exercise capacity. HRR1 < 16 beats and CI just after completion of a CPET could be an indicator of poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of predecessors’ research results, this paper first tries to design evaluation indexes system including economic, social and environmental technological. Then, the index increment and temporal entropy-weighting are used to improve the traditional static TOPSIS method in order to evaluate regional low carbon economy competitiveness and analysis its space difference. the research results show that, the competitiveness strength of every regional low economy development level differs a lot, and the space distribution has the characteristics of the highest provincial hospital, the middle region lower, and the west region lowest. Last, this paper gives propose for every region to promote its low carbon economy development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Plasma-activated water (PAW) is a promising nonthermal technology in food preservation and food safety. The inactivation efficacy of PAW was investigated against Saccharomyces cerevisiae CICC 1374 inoculated on grape berries. PAW30 and PAW60 were obtained by activating water with plasma for 30 and 60 min, respectively. Grapes were directly treated with PAW, and a 0.38- to 0.53-log CFU/ml reduction of S. cerevisiae was achieved in a time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The oxidation-reduction potential and pH values of PAW30 and PAW60 were also in a time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Grape quality assessment demonstrated no significant change in surface color and total anthocyanin content after 30 min of PAW60 treatment (P > 0.05). Although grape quality was unaffected by PAW in this study, this technology should be optimized to enhance inactivation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We specify a general model of the dynamic abatement technology adoption process and show how the accumulated experience among them can alter the adoption timing. Learning-by-doing (LBD) effect is considered to describe the reduction of the costly price to the adoption. Moreover, spillovers effect which reflects how accumulated experience can be shared among different technologies, is integrated into the learning process. To ensure the specification convincing, some reasonable assumptions are considered such as one abatement technology must conduct its own experience in order to realize the spillover. Besides, to investigate how the abatement process is influenced by the technology allocation under the spillovers effect, an endogenous emission path is considered to necessitate a meaningful optimization problem. Finally, apart from obtaining some basic properties of the model, we implement an empirical study to verify the effectiveness of the model. Data from the iron industry in China is used to specify the process, which can highlight the spillovers effect among different technologies from a sector angle. In the results, we find that intrinsic mechanism in the model results in the interplay among abatement coefficient, spillover factor and the growing rate of the emission etc. Collaborative relationships between variables are discussed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel terminal guidance system with a pulse-width-pulse-frequency (PWPF) modulator based on variable dead zone is designed for exo-atmospheric kill vehicle (EKV). At first, a three dimensional (3D) missile-target engagement kinematics is established on the line-of-sight (LOS) coordinate system, the guidance law is compensated by estimated maneuvering acceleration of target from nonlinear disturbance observer (DO). Secondly, a 3D terminal sliding mode guidance law with gradually increasing robustness is proposed for EKV, and the finite time stability of closed system is strictly proven. A PWPF modulator with variable dead zone is proposed to resist the sensitivity of LOS angle with relative distance decreasing, and the stability of modulator is proven by describing function technique. Finally, the guidance performances are assessed through a numerical simulation, the proposed guidance law is better attack precision than traditional guidance law, and the PWPF modulator with variable dead zone is more reasonable in fuel allocation and smaller on miss distance than traditional PWPF modulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a non-invasive method of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD), which can also predict the risk of its future onset. It is based on measuring salivary levels of amyloid-β protein terminating at position 42 (Aβ42). Brain deposits of this peptide are characteristic of AD. Biomarker studies indicate that such brain deposits commence a decade or more prior to clinical onset of the disease. We report here that Aβ42 is produced in all peripheral organs tested, thus establishing the generality of its production. We used this information to develop simple and sensitive tests to determine salivary Aβ42 levels. The levels were first stabilized by adding thioflavin S as an anti-aggregation agent and sodium azide as an anti-bacterial agent. We then quantitated the Aβ42 in a series of samples with ELISA type tests. Control cases showed almost identical levels of salivary Aβ42 regardless of sex or age. All AD cases secreted levels of Aβ42 more than double those of controls. Individuals at elevated risk of developing AD secreted levels comparable to the AD cases. The results establish that salivary Aβ42 levels can be used to diagnose AD as well as to predict the risk of its future onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As CO 2 emissions are quantified by allowances and traded in markets, wise trading strategies will bring emitting companies higher profits or lower costs. Based on the big data of Community Independent Transaction Log (CITL), this article hereby presents a micro study on the emitting companies' efforts in increasing profits and saving costs during the allowances trading in the first two phases of the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS). The efforts are measured by an after-action factor of trading performance, which is built on a series of behaviour and monetary variables. By comparison, demanders of the emitting companies are more inclined to reach a higher trading performance, while that inclination is heterogeneous among the suppliers. In addition, emitting companies with lower emission levels had a better trading performance. With a higher proportion of low-emitting companies, the manufacturing sector had a better trading performance than the energy sector. The effect of the trading requirement on trading performance are investigated via a quantile regression mode. Results suggest that: (1) the selling requirement of suppliers has a positive effect on their trading performance, while the effect becomes weaker when the selling requirement increases; (2) the buying requirement has a positive effect on the demanders' trading performance only when the requirement is high, and the effect becomes stronger as the requirement increases; and (3) when the buying requirement is at a lower level, demanders' trading performance becomes worse as the requirement grows. The conclusion is that the emission level, industrial sector and trading requirement do have influences on the trading performance of emitting companies in emission trading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of sputtering due to cluster impacting which has been widely studied is an important but unsolved problem. In present research, we discuss the effect of the landing point on the sputtering with the method of molecular dynamics. The results show that the landing points play significant roles on sputter yield when the temperature of target is low. Specific landing points can cause particular sputtering patterns which lead to different sputtering yield and moving directions of sputtered atoms. The mechanism of this phenomenon is that specific landing keeps symmetries and anisotropies of target lattice, which influence the sputtering yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. ETX0914 is a novel bacterial topoisomerase inhibitor that has a novel mode-of-inhibition and is in clinical development for the treatment of infections caused byNeisseria gonorrhoeae. 2. Thein vitrobiotransformation studies of ETX0914 using mouse, rat, dog and human hepatocytes showed moderate intrinsic clearance in mouse and rat and low intrinsic clearance in dog and human. 3. Following intravenous administration of [14C]-ETX0914 in rats, the mean recovery of administered dose in urine, bile and feces was approximately 15%, 55% and 24%, respectively. Unchanged ETX0914 recovered in urine and bile was less than 5% of the dose, indicating that ETX0914 underwent extensive metabolism in rats. Metabolites M1, M2, M4, M6 and M12 detected in both rat and mouse urine samples were not detected in mouse urine when predosed with 1-aminobenzotriazole, indicating that these metabolites were cytochrome P450 mediated products. The major fecal metabolites observed in rats were not formed when ETX0914 was incubated with fresh feces from germ free rats under sterile condition or in incubations with rat intestinal microsome and cytosol, suggesting that most likely ETX0914 was directly excreted into gut lumen where metabolites were formed as intestinal microflora-mediated products. The major sites of metabolism by CYP enzymes were in the morpholine and oxazolidinone rings while it was benzisoxazole reduction with the gut microflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Saving warm ischemia time (WIT) in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) is important. We have designed a new device, a remotely activated bulldog clamp, to facilitate LPN. In present study, the effectiveness, convenience, and safety of the new design device were compared with that of standard bulldog vascular clamp in a pig model. Materials and Methods: Fifteen cases of LPN were bilaterally operated on upper or lower pole of kidneys in five pigs. As the test group, eight cases involved the remotely activated bulldog clamp, whereas the remaining seven cases, as the control group, involved the common standard vascular bulldog clamp. The mean operative time, blood lost, and mean WIT were compared between the two groups. Results: The mean operative time and blood lost were not significantly different between the groups ( p < 0.05). Continuous artery clamping was used in the two groups. With on-demand clamping, the mean WIT in the test group was 19.0 ± 3.42 minutes, which was significantly less compared with the control group (31.54 ± 5.23 minutes, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The newly designed device can remotely control the renal artery, which made clamping and unclamping much easier. It is effective and safe in LPN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Risk coupling analysis of hazmat road transportation considering maritime environment. • A novel risk coupling model (AHP– N-K) is constructed. • Proposed model can simultaneously present the risk coupling degree and correlation mechanism. • Impact of the coupling risk on the accident is determined through a case. The complicated maritime environment and multiple risk coupling pose significant challenges to hazardous material transportation safety in coastal areas. This paper studies the risk coupling problems by analyzing 362 hazardous materials accidents. Firstly, the transportation risks are divided into 6 categories and 22 risk factors are identified. Then, the definition and types of risk coupling are determined. Finally, a novel risk coupling model is constructed by using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and N-K model. AHP–N-K model is used to calculate the coupling degree of risk factors. Furthermore, the correlation mechanism between the risk values and the risk components in complicated maritime environment is analyzed. The results show that the risk of hazardous materials transportation has a gradually increasing trend with the increase of risk coupling factors. Owing to the risk coupling of driver factors and road environmental factors, the probability of accidents is high. The coupling risk of subjective and objective risk factors is more likely to cause accidents than subjective risk factors. The coupling effect of rainy days and curves with other risk factors is very strong. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meconopsis integrifolia (Maxim.) Franch. is a representative species of the genus found in the East Himalaya-Hengduan Mountain. As a species of medical and horticultural significance, M. integrifolia is threatened by over-exploitation and habitat fragmentation. In this study, the genetic diversity and structure of M. integrifolia , represented by 183 individuals from 10 populations, were studied using 6 pairs of fluorescent Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms primers. Our results showed a relatively high genetic variation at the species level ( PPB = 82.0%, H E = 0.2356 and I = 0.3695). In contrast, population diversity was extremely low, as measured by Nei's genetic diversity index and Shannon's diversity index ( H E = 0.0317, I = 0.0480). Analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that among and within populations, the genetic variation accounted for 88.9% and 11.1% of the total genetic variation, respectively. In addition, Nei's coefficient of differentiation ( G ST ) was found to be high (0.8636), confirming the significant high level of genetic differentiation as well as low gene flow among populations of this species. The results of Neighbor-joining cluster, PCoA, and Bayesian assignment revealed similar genetic differentiation patterns, suggesting three main genetic groups that are concordant with their geographical distribution. Three main barriers—the Mekong River, the Yalong River, and a branch of the Yalong River—were detected using BARRIER software. The possible mechanisms and implications of these findings for conservation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

miRNAs Regulate hERG Background The human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) is the major molecular component of the rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ current (Ikr). Impairment of hERG function is believed to be a mechanism causing long-QT syndromes (LQTS). Growing evidences have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in functional modulation of the hERG pathway. The purpose of this study was to screen and validate miRNAs that regulate the hERG pathway. The miRNAs identified in this study will provide new tools to assess the mechanism of LQTS. Methods Six miRNAs were selected by algorithm predictions based on potential interaction with hERG. The effects of each miRNA on hERG were assessed by use of the Dual-Luciferase Reporter assay system, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to validate the effect of miR-103a-1 on the electrophysiological characteristic of the Ikr of the hERG protein channel. Results miR-134, miR-103a-1, miR-143, and miR-3619 significantly downregulated luciferase activity (P < 0.05) in a reporter test system. These 4 miRNAs significantly suppressed expression of hERG mRNA and protein in U2OS cells (P < 0.05).Corresponding AMOs rescued expression of hERG mRNA and protein. Confocal microscopy showed that all 4 miRNAs reduced the expression of both immature and mature hERG protein. miR-103a-1 decreased the maximum current and tail current amplitudes of hERG channel. Conclusions Expression and functions of hERG are regulated by specific miRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we have developed a simple, sensitive and paper-based colorimetric sensor for the selective detection of Chromium (Ⅵ) ions (Cr (VI)). Silanization-titanium dioxide modified filter paper (STCP) was used to trap bovine serum albumin capped gold nanoparticles (BSA-Au NPs), leading to the fabrication of BSA-Au NPs decorated membrane (BSA-Au NPs/STCP). The BSA-Au NPs/STCP operated on the principle that BSA-Au NPs anchored on the STCP were gradually etched by Cr (VI) as the leaching process of gold in the presence of hydrobromic acid (HBr) and hence induced a visible color change. Under optimum conditions, the paper-based colorimetric sensor showed clear color change after reaction with Cr (VI) as well as with favorable selectivity to a variety of possible interfering counterparts. The amount-dependent colorimetric response was linearly correlated with the Cr (VI) concentrations ranging from 0.5 µM to 50.0 µM with a detection limit down to 280 nM. Moreover, the developed cost-effective colorimetric sensor has been successfully applied to real environmental samples which demonstrated the potential for field applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]