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We systematically compare the temporal and spectral properties of 53 supernova (SN)-associated and 15 kilonova (KN)-associated gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We find that the spectral parameters of both types of GRBs are identically and lognormally distributed, consistent with those normal GRBs. The bolometric luminosities of SN/GRBs and KN/GRBs have a triple form, with the corresponding break luminosities of SN/GRBs are roughly two orders of magnitude larger than those of KN/GRBs. We build the power-law relations between the spectral lag and the luminosity of prompt γ-rays with indices of −1.43 ± 0.33 for SN/GRBs and −2.17 ± 0.57 for KN/GRBs in the laboratory frame, which are respectively coincident with the rest-frame values. We verify that both SN/GRBs and KN/GRBs comply with their own Amati relations that match those of long and short GRBs, respectively. Analysing X-ray afterglows with good plateau segments, we build the power-law relations between the X-ray luminosity and the plateau time with an index of −1.12 ± 0.17 for KN/GRBs and −1.08 ± 0.22 for SN/GRBs, which can be well explained by the relativistic shock driven by an energy injection. The plots of luminosity-lag, Amati relation, and luminosity-time show heavy overlap between the two types of GRBs, implying that they might share the same radiation mechanism despite originating from different progenitors or central engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The γ/γ' microstructure is a key factor for the mechanical performance of nickel-based single crystal superalloys. Experimental results have shown that the size and shape of the γ' precipitates are not uniform and follow certain probability distributions. In order to study the effect of the microstructure on the mechanical behavior of the superalloys, a method is proposed to reproduce its initial microstructure with the distribution function of its γ′ particle size. The effect of different microstructures on the creep behavior at different locations of a real blade is predicted to demonstrate the application of the method. It can be found from the simulation results that the mechanical behavior of the blade is related to not only the thickness of the blade wall but also the position in the blade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is frequently associated with malnutrition, inflammation and a deficiency of vitamin D (VD) with the relationships between these symptoms being poorly defined. VD is a modulator of the immune system and is associated with the onset of CD and disease activity. The level of serum VD may have potential in the assessment of CD activity. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between VD, nutritional status and inflammation, and to identify more accurate VD thresholds. Methods: The study included 76 outpatients with CD diagnosed between October 2018 and October 2020 and 76 healthy volunteers. Levels of serum 25(OH)D and nutritional indicators, as well as biochemical and disease activity assessments, were conducted. Results: Patients with CD and healthy participants were found to differ significantly in their 25(OH)D levels as well in levels of nutritional and inflammatory indicators. The optimal VD cut‐off value was found to be 46.81 nmol/L for CD development and 35.32 nmol/L for disease activity. Levels of 25(OH)D were correlated with both nutritional status and inflammation. Conclusions: The VD level is likely to be a useful additional tool in the evaluation of CD patients and predicting the disease activity and clinical response. The VD level may relate both to the nutritional status and levels of inflammation in CD patients, and disease progression. Highlights: 1.This study included the NRS‐2002 and PG‐SGA scores to provide a comprehensive picture of the nutritional status with Crohn's disease (CD).2.We found serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with both nutritional status and inflammation.3.Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine the optimal vitamin D cut‐off values for predicting CD development and assessing disease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced building control methods such as model predictive control (MPC) offer significant benefits to both consumers and grid operators, but high computational requirements have acted as barriers to more widespread adoption. Local control computation requires installation of expensive computational hardware, while cloud computing introduces data security and privacy concerns. In this paper, we drastically reduce the local computational requirements of advanced building control through a reinforcement learning (RL)-based approach called Behavioral Cloning, which represents the MPC policy as a neural network that can be locally implemented and quickly computed on a low-cost programmable logic controller. While previous RL and approximate MPC methods must be specifically trained for each building, our key improvement is that the proposed controller can generalize to many buildings, electricity rates, and thermostat setpoint schedules without additional, effort-intensive retraining. To provide this versatility, we have adapted the traditional Behavioral Cloning approach through two innovations: (1) a constraint-informed parameter grouping (CIPG) method that provides a more efficient representation of the training data and (2) a new deep learning model-structure called reverse-time recurrent neural networks (RT-RNN) that allows future information to flow backward in time to more effectively interpret the temporal information in disturbance predictions. The result is an easy-to-deploy, generalized behavioral clone of MPC that can be implemented on a programmable logic controller and requires little building-specific controller tuning, reducing the effort and costs associated with implementing smart residential heat pump control. • Behavioral Cloning reduces model predictive control (MPC) computational requirements. • One Behavioral Cloning agent generalizes to new buildings without further training. • Constraint-informed parameter groupings provide efficient state representations. • Reverse-Time Recurrent Neural Networks incorporate future disturbance predictions. • Simulations show Behavioral Cloning offers energy efficient control similar to MPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A more detailed list of all the models suitable for SCO 2 cooled nuclear reactor, and implant of all the models into FROBA. • Verification of the four models with other codes and experimental data. • The calculation results of the program FROBA- SCO 2 provide a reference for reactor core design. To simulate the thermal–mechanical performance of a Supercritical CO 2 -cooled reactor fuel during the long-term normal operation, material models and new thermal and mechanical models are implemented in FROBA code to develop FROBA-SCO 2. By calculation results comparison of the new models and ABAQUS, KAIST code and FRAPCON code, the reliability of new models were validated. The results show that with the effects of densification and burnup, the size and the temperature drop of the gas gap firstly increase and then decrease. The stress and the train of the cladding are affected by the pressure drop from both sides and change slightly. The fission gas release fraction is at a low level and the gas pressure increases slightly. The cladding corrosion behavior increases with the increment of temperature. The result indicated that the fuel element was safe enough during most time of the normal operation. The models established in this article calculates the fuel rod behaviors efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A more detailed sub channel program SACOS-SCO2 is developed. • Some typical accidents in the reactor are analyzed to ensure the safety of the reactor. • The calculation results of the program SACOS-SCO2 provide a reference for reactor core design Most of the researches on supercritical CO 2 -cooled reactors focus on the design of core performance parameters world widely, but few on the detailed thermal hydraulic analysis. To supplement the lack of research in this area, in this study, the supercritical CO 2 -cooled reactor designed by the Nuclear Institute of China is taken as the resect. A complete solution method based on the thermal hydraulic model is established. And the sub-channel code SACOS-SCO 2 is developed. The results of SACOS-SCO2 are compared with experimental results of SCUOL and code results of KAIST, and the good agreement fully illustrates the calculation ability of SACOS-SCO 2. Based on the above models and codes, the thermal hydraulic characteristics of supercritical CO 2 -cooled reactor designed by the Nuclear Institute of China are analyzed under the conditions of reactivity introduction accident and the loss of flow accident. Through theoretical modeling and self-developed codes, the sub-channel thermal hydraulic characteristics of supercritical CO 2 -cooled reactor are studied, which can provide a powerful reference for the design and safety analysis of supercritical CO 2 -cooled reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By means of 4 years of Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) zonal wind observations and a Thermosphere‐Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model simulation, longitudinal and seasonal variations of thermospheric superrotation at magnetic equator are investigated first. The superrotation shows four‐ and three‐peaked longitudinal patterns in March and September equinoxes, and a two‐peaked variation during solstices. The superrotation is stronger in December than in June solstice, and stronger in March than in September equinox. The mean correlation between the zonal variation of superrotation and nighttime eastward wind is about 0.8, while it is 0.6 with daytime westward zonal wind. The interaction between the neutral wind and geomagnetic field plays a more important role in the superrotation, rather than the F‐region electron density. The lower atmospheric tides tend to suppress the superrotation, but contribute to the longitudinal patterns of the superrotation. The viscous force is also important for the longitudinal modulation of the superrotation. Plain Language Summary: The low altitude atmosphere rotates together with the Earth, resulting from the friction with the surface. Owing to the high viscosity, most parts of the atmosphere at different altitudes also rotate at the same rate as the Earth. Above 200 km, however, the low‐latitude atmosphere is found to rotate 10%–20% faster than the Earth. This phenomenon is more prominent on Venus, where the atmospheric circulation speed can reach 60 times of the rotation. Although this unexpected superrotation phenomenon was discovered in the 1960s in connection with satellite orbit evaluations, its physical mechanism has not been fully elucidated to date. This study reveals for the first time that the geomagnetic field configuration and the lower atmospheric tides have important effects on the superrotation of the upper atmosphere. Both can account for the longitudinal variation in the superrotation. This theoretical study is helpful for better understanding the generation mechanism of the superrotation on Earth and other planets. Key Points: Superrotation of the thermosphere exhibits large longitudinal and seasonal variationsGeomagnetic field geometry and lower atmospheric tides are vital for the longitudinal patterns of superrotationViscous force also partly contributes to the longitudinal variation in superrotation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of self-organized surface patterns on Si due to noble gas ion irradiation has been studied extensively in the past. In particular, Ar ions are commonly used and the pattern formation was analyzed as function of ion incidence angle, ion fluence, and ion energies between 250 eV and 140 keV. Very few results exist for the energy regime between 1.5 keV and 10keV and it appears that pattern formation is completely absent for these ion energies. In this work, we present experimental data on pattern formation for Ar ion irradiation between 1 keV and 10 keV and ion incidence angles between 50° and 75°. We confirm the absence of patterns at least for ion fluences up to 1018 ions/cm². Using the crater function formalism and Monte Carlo simulations, we calculate curvature coefficients of linear continuum models of pattern formation, taking into account contribution due to ion erosion and recoil redistribution. The calculations consider the recently introduced curvature dependence of the erosion crater function as well as the dynamic behavior of the thickness of the ion irradiated layer. Only when taking into account these additional contributions to the linear theory, our simulations clearly show that that pattern formation is strongly suppressed between about 1.5 keV and 10 keV, most pronounced at 3 keV. Furthermore, our simulations are now able to predict whether or not parallel oriented ripple patterns are formed, and in case of ripple formation the corresponding critical angles for the whole experimentally studied energies range between 250eV and 140keV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) on NiO–TiO2 sols, xerogels and films have been studied. Xerogels and films with Ni concentration of 80mol% have been prepared using sols containing 3, 6, 9wt% of SDS added to nickel acetate tetrahydrate (Ni(CH3COO)2·4H2O) and tetra-n-butyl titanate (TNBT) as precursors in a mixture of ethanol and n-butanol. The thermal analysis of dried xerogels has been measured by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) in air up to 500°C. The structural properties of xerogels sintered at 300°C have been determined by XRD and the xerogels consist predominantly of bunsenite nanoparticles embedded in an amorphous TiO2 phase. Single layers have been deposited by dip coating on FTO (fluorine doped tin oxide, SnO2:F) coated glasses and sintered at 300°C. Their thickness is found to increase with the SDS amount while the roughness of the surface is reduced. The electrochromic properties of films deposited on FTO coated glasses have been studied in 1M KOH aqueous electrolyte via cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and visible light transmission. The anodic and cathodic peaks in CV cycles and the charge intercalated during CA cycles increase with the SDS content. The transmission in the bleached and colored states as well as the change in optical density remain stable for the film prepared with 9wt% SDS up to almost 18,000 CA cycles, a great improvement compared to films prepared without surfactant. The coloration efficiency of the film prepared with 9wt% SDS is about 30cm2/C, a value comparable to that obtained for pure NiO film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the ripple pattern formation on Si surfaces at room temperature during normal incidence ion beam erosion under simultaneous deposition of different metallic co-deposited surfactant atoms. The co-deposition of small amounts of metallic atoms, in particular Fe and Mo, is known to have a tremendous impact on the evolution of nanoscale surface patterns on Si. In previous work on ion erosion of Si during co-deposition of Fe atoms, we proposed that chemical interactions between Fe and Si atoms of the steady-state mixed FeSi surface layer formed during ion beam erosion is a dominant driving force for self-organized pattern formation. In particular, we provided experimental evidence for the formation of amorphous iron disilicide. To confirm and generalize such chemical effects on the pattern formation, in particular the tendency for phase separation, we have now irradiated Si surfaces with normal incidence 5 keV Xe ions under simultaneous gracing incidence co-deposition of Fe, Ni, Cu, Mo, W, Pt, and Au surfactant atoms. The selected metals in the two groups (Fe, Ni, Cu) and (W, Pt, Au) are very similar regarding their collision cascade behavior, but strongly differ regarding their tendency to silicide formation. We find pronounced ripple pattern formation only for those co deposited metals (Fe, Mo, Ni, W, and Pt), which are prone to the formation of mono and disilicides. In contrast, for Cu and Au co-deposition the surface remains very flat, even after irradiation at high ion fluence. Because of the very different behavior of Cu compared to Fe, Ni and Au compared to W, Pt, phase separation toward amorphous metal silicide phases is seen as the relevant process for the pattern formation on Si in the case of Fe, Mo, Ni, W, and Pt co-deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an observational reconstruction of the radial water vapor content near the surface of the TW Hya transitional protoplanetary disk, and report the first localization of the snow line during this phase of disk evolution. The observations are comprised of Spitzer-IRS, Herschel-PACS, and Herschel-HIFI archival spectra. The abundance structure is retrieved by fitting a two-dimensional disk model to the available star + disk photometry and all observed H2O lines, using a simple step-function parameterization of the water vapor content near the disk surface. We find that water vapor is abundant (∼10-4per H2) in a narrow ring, located at the disk transition radius some 4 AU from the central star, but drops rapidly by several orders of magnitude beyond 4.2 AU over a scale length of no more than 0.5 AU. The inner disk (0.5-4 AU) is also dry, with an upper limit on the vertically averaged water abundance of 10-6 per H2. The water vapor peak occurs at a radius significantly more distant than that expected for a passive continuous disk around a 0.6 M☉star, representing a volatile distribution in the TW Hya disk that bears strong similarities to that of the solar system. This is observational evidence for a snow line that moves outward with time in passive disks, with a dry inner disk that results either from gas giant formation or gas dissipation and a significant ice reservoir at large radii. The amount of water present near the snow line is sufficient to potentially catalyze the (further) formation of planetesimals and planets at distances beyond a few AU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy reveals the presence of a two-dimensional electron gas at the surface of In2O3(111). Quantized subband States arise within a confining potential well associated with surface electron accumulation. Coupled Poisson-Schrödinger calculations suggest that downward band bending for the conduction band must be much bigger than band bending in the valence band. Surface oxygen vacancies acting as doubly ionized shallow donors are shown to provide the free electrons within this accumulation layer. Identification of the origin of electron accumulation in transparent conducting oxides has significant implications in the realization of devices based on these compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains from different geographic areas have different genetic backgrounds, suggesting independent clonal evolutions. To better understand the virulence of MRSA strains and the relationship to their clonal and geographic origins, we undertook an analysis of epidemiologic, molecular, and virulence characteristics of a large number of MRSA isolates from geographically diverse origins, in a Caenorhabditis elegans infection model. A total of 99 MRSA isolates collected between 1993 and 2010 at the Geneva University Hospitals from diverse global origins were characterized with Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST), accessory gene regulator ( agr) group, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCC mec), S. aureus protein A ( spa), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing. Epidemiologic data were provided from clinical records. The bacterial virulence was tested in a C. elegans host model. The inter-relationships of epidemiological/molecular characteristics in association with nematocidal activities were analyzed with univariate and two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA). Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains were more virulent than hospital-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA), with higher nematocidal activities in CA-MRSA strains (0.776 vs. 0.506, p = 0.0005). All molecular characteristics (PVL, TSST, spa, SCC mec, MLST, and PFGE types) showed a significant association with nematocidal activities on univariate analysis ( p < 0.005). PVL was not a significant predictor after adjusting for genomic backgrounds using spa, MLST, or PFGE typing. The dominant CA-MRSA strains in North America showed higher nematocidal activities than strains from other regions ( p < 0.0001). Strains with global origins containing distinct genetic backgrounds have different virulence in the C. elegans model. Nematocidal activities were most highly correlated with SCC mec, spa, MLST, and PFGE typing, suggesting that genomic background rather than a single exotoxin characteristic was the most discriminating predictor of virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper describes a selective control of the flow direction in microfluidic chips using a laser induced thermal bubble. The bubble is generated inside the microchannel by focusing a continuous-wave laser onto the tear-drop shaped metal pad underneath the microchannel. Experiments demonstrate that the unidirectionally growing bubble acts as an in-channel directional micro-pump and can drive the flow to a freely chosen direction at a T-junction by pumping at different locations. In addition, the pumping flow rate could be adjusted in the real time and this technology is applicable to many types of common liquids. These advantages make it useful for flexible microfluidic manipulation in lab-on-a-chip systems and microchannel networks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the paper, we investigate the controllability of crystallization processes by reachability analysis. Crystallization processes are governed by hyperbolic partial differential equations. Given a desired crystal size distribution, we study its reachability by the temperature control from the initial condition without seeding. When the desired crystal size distribution is reachable, we construct an admissible control steering the state to the desired distribution. Our construction is developed based on the discretized model. To ensure that the desired distribution be reached facing model uncertainty, we propose an output feedback control law to correct errors resulted from disturbed parameters of the model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents the development and evaluation of an environmental turbulent reacting flow model, the Comprehensive Turbulent Aerosol Dynamics and Gas Chemistry (CTAG) model. CTAG is designed to simulate transport and transformation of multiple air pollutants, e.g., from emission sources to ambient background. For the on-road and near-road applications, CTAG explicitly couples the major turbulent mixing processes, i.e., vehicle-induced turbulence (VIT), road-induced turbulence (RIT) and atmospheric boundary layer turbulence with gas-phase chemistry and aerosol dynamics. CTAG''s transport model is referred to as CFD-VIT-RIT. This paper presents the evaluation of the CTAG model in simulating the dynamics of individual plumes in the “tailpipe-to-road” stage, i.e., VIT behind a moving van and aerosol dynamics in the wake of a diesel car by comparing the modeling results against the respective field measurements. Combined with sensitivity studies, we analyze the relative roles of VIT, sulfuric acid induced nucleation, condensation of organic compounds and presence of soot-mode particles in capturing the dynamics of exhaust plumes as well as their implications in vehicle emission controls. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, the analogue of electromagnetically induced transparency is achieved in a magnetic metamaterial consisting of coupled “radiative” square closed loop (SCL) and “dark” square spiral resonator (SSR). Full-wave numerical simulations are carried out to validate the EIT-like effect of the magnetic metamaterial. Transmission spectrums and surface current distributions for the metamaterial are presented. It is shown that placing the SSR close to the SCL causes the electromagnetic field energy to be coupled back and forth between them. This leads to destructive interference and the transparency window in the transmission stop-band of the metamaterial. In addition, it is numerically demonstrated that the magnetic metamaterial can be employed as a refractive-index based sensor with a sensitivity of 41.3 mm/RIU, which means that the resonance wavelength of the sensor shifts 41.3 mm per unit change of refractive-index of the surrounding medium. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

SUMMARY The involvement of S100A4 in modulating invasiveness of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines was explored. It was shown that S100A4 expression is positively correlated with the degree of invasiveness in human ESCC cells. The S100A4-rich EC-1 cells displayed higher migratory and invasive cell behavior while ET-1 cells with low S100A4 expression levels displayed lower migratory and invasive cell behavior. S100A4 silencing by small interfering (siRNA) in EC-1 cells induced E-cadherin expression, and overexpression of S100A4 in a lowly invasive TE-1 cells suppressed E-cadherin expression. It is suggested that S100A4 silencing inhibit invasion via E-cadherin upregulation, and overexpression of S100A4 promote invasion via E-cadherin downregulation in ESCC cells. Compared with the vector-transfected cells, S100A4 silencing in EC-1 cells showed reduced ability of migration and invasiveness, and overexpression of S100A4 in TE-1 cells showed increased ability of migration and invasiveness via wound-healing and Transwell assay, and pseudometastatic model assay. Furthermore, re-expression of S100A4 could increase the invasive phenotypes in S100A4 siRNA transfected EC-1 cells, and S100A4 silencing could decrease the invasive phenotypes in S100A4 circular DNA (cDNA) transfected TE-1 cells. It was found that Slug is downregulated in S100A4 siRNA transfected EC-1 cells, and Slug is upregulated in S100A4 cDNA transfected TE-1 cells. It was also discovered S100A4 cDNA induced protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation at Serine-473(phospho-AKT [p-AKT]) levels, followed by the Slug upregulation, and S100A4 siRNA decreases the phospho-AKT levels, followed by the Slug downregulation. The data suggested that S100A4 could regulate migratory and invasive behavior of human ESCC cells through modulating AKT/Slug pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Notch pathway is an evolutionary conserved signaling cascade that has an essential role in melanoblast and melanocyte stem cell homeostasis. Notch signaling is emerging as a key player in melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. In melanoma, Notch1 is inappropriately reactivated and contributes to melanoma tumorigenicity. Here, we propose a novel mechanism by which Notch1 promotes the disease. We found that Notch1 directly regulates the transcription of neuregulin1 (NRG1) by binding to its promoter region. NRG1 is the ligand for ERBB3 and 4, members of the epidermal growth factor family of receptors that are involved in the genesis and progression of a number of cancers. Notch1 and NRG1 expression are associated in melanoma and inhibition of NRG1 signaling leads to melanoma cell growth inhibition and tumor growth delay. Mechanistically, these effects are associated with the inhibition of the PI3Kinase/Akt signaling pathway and with the accumulation of p27Kip1. On the other end, addition of recombinant NRG1 can partially restore melanoma cell growth that is inhibited by Notch1 ablation. Taken together, our findings underline a new, previously undescribed autocrine signaling loop between Notch1 and NRG1 that controls melanoma growth and provide experimental evidence that the targeting of Notch and ERBB signaling may represent a novel potential therapeutic approach in melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin (IL)-24, a promising therapeutic gene, has been widely used for Cancer Targeting Gene-Viro-Therapy (CTGVT). In this study, IL-24 was inserted into an oncolytic adenovirus in which the E1A gene is driven by an enhanced, short α-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter and the E1B gene is completely deleted to form Ad.enAFP-E1A-ΔE1B-IL-24. This construct has a potent antitumor effect on liver cancer cell lines in vitro, but little or no effect on normal cell lines, such as L-02 and QSG-7701. In vivo, the complete elimination of Huh-7 liver cancer in nude mice with Ad.enAFP-E1A-ΔE1B-IL-24 intratumor injection was observed. The design of Ad.enAFP-E1A-ΔE1B-IL-24 and its potent antitumor effect on liver cancer have not been published previously. The mechanism of the potent antitumor effect of Ad.enAFP-E1A-ΔE1B-IL-24 is due to the upregulation of GADD34 and intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We generalize the fundamental principle of the radio-occultation method for studying the atmospheres and ionospheres of planets and the Earth. The criterion containing the necessary and sufficient condition under which the tangential point, at which the refractive-index gradient is normal to the ray trajectory coincides with the radio-ray perigee, is obtained. The method for determining the location and parameters of ionospheric and ionospheric layers, which is based on the relationship between the amplitudes and phases of the analytic functions determined from variations in the phase path (eikonal) and intensity of the radio-occultation signal, is proposed. This method yields qualitative and quantitative estimations of the value of the spatial displacement of the ionospheric or ionospheric layer with respect to the radio-ray perigee and allows one to determine the altitude and inclination of the ionospheric layer. The developed method is, in particular, required for determining the location and inclination of the wind-shear region and the direction of propagation of internal waves in the ionosphere and the atmosphere. This method is simpler and more accurate than the back-propagation, radio-holographic method which was previously used for determining the location of the ionospheric irregularities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The damaging effect of hyperlipidaemia on testicular structure was determined, and the influence of melatonin was evaluated in testicular damage related to hyperlipidaemia. Hyperlipidaemia was induced in ApoE-knockout C57BL/6J male mice fed with high-fat diet alone (group A), or with high-fat diet and melatonin (group B). Six ApoE wild-type C57BL/6J male mice were fed with normal diet, served as controls. At the end of the experimental period, ultrastructural observations showed dramatically histopathological alterations in testicular tissues of group A. The basement membranes of seminiferous tubules were partially thickened and wavy-like in testes of mice with hyperlipidaemia, and vacuolar degeneration of mitochondria and dilation of endoplasmic reticulum were identified as well as the number of mitochondria and lipid droplets decreased significantly in Leydig cells and Sertoli cells. Electrondense deposits were observed in cytoplasms of germ cells. The testicular histostructure in group B treated with melatonin was similar to that of control. Apoptosis was determined by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling. Apoptotic germ cells were significantly more numerous in group A than in group B and controls. The results suggest that melatonin may be potential to attenuate testicular damage by improving histopathological changes and reducing germ cell apoptosis in hyperlipidaemic mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been shown to exert synergistic anti-tumor effects in various tumors. In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), several clinical trials of radiotherapy combined with ICIs are undergoing or have been finished. However, the efficacy and action mechanisms of radiotherapy combined with ICIs is still not clear in ESCC. Our study aimed to investigate whether radiotherapy improved the anti-cancer effect of PD-L1 antibody and the effect of this combination therapy on tumor-immune microenvironment. The mouse esophageal cancer cell line mEC25 was implanted into the armpits of female C57 mice. When the tumor volume grew to 150-250 mm3, the mice were randomly divided into different groups including control group (administration of IgG antibody), radiotherapy group (12 Gy at 4 Gy per fraction), PD-L1 antibody group (200 mg/kg i.p. for three times) and combination group (fractionated radiation combined with PD-L1 antibody was delivered on day 1, day 4 and day 7, the day when fractionated radiation began was recorded as day 1).The mice were sacrificed on the 1st, 3rd and 7th day after the treatment was ended. The tumor, spleen and draining lymph nodes of the mice were collected and analyzed using flow cytometry (FCM), and the tumor volume and survival time of mice were calculated. Compared with radiotherapy or PD-L1 antibody alone, the combination therapy significantly prolonged the survival time of mice and decreased the growth rate of xenograft tumors FCM analysis showed that the combination therapy significantly increased the infiltration and cytotoxicity of effector T cells and reduced the proportion of M2 macrophages in tumor, spleen and lymph nodes. In addition, in tumor and spleen, the proportion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) decreased in the group of combination therapy. In tumor, spleen, and lymph nodes, the proportion of central memory T cell (TCM) was increased in the group of combination therapy. The anti-tumor effect of radiotherapy combined with PD-L1 antibody is superior to single treatment in the mouse model of esophageal cancer. Radiotherapy can shape tumor-immune microenvironment, allowing the infiltration of effector T cells and exclusion of immune-suppressive cells such as M2 macrophages and Tregs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Low temperature magneto-transport properties and electron dephasing mechanisms of phosphorus-doped ZnO thin films grown on (111) Si substrates with Lu2O3 buffer layers using pulsed laser deposition were investigated in detail by quantum interference and weak localization theories under magnetic fields up to 10T. The dephasing length follows the temperature dependence with an index p≈1.6 at higher temperatures indicating electron–electron interaction, yet becomes saturated at lower temperatures. Consistent with photoluminescence measurements and the multi-band simulation of the electron concentration, such behavior was associated with the dislocation densities obtained from x-ray diffraction and mobility fittings, where charged edge dislocations acting as inelastic Coulomb scattering centers were affirmed responsible for electron dephasing. Owing to the temperature independence of the dislocation density, the phosphorus-doped ZnO film maintained a Hall mobility of 4.5cm2 V−1 s−1 at 4K. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As one of the worst invasive alien plant species in China, Ageratina adenophora has caused serious economic losses and reduced the diversity of native species, possibly due to allelopathic interactions. However, we have little knowledge of its effects on ferns. In Petri dish bioassays, the effects of the aqueous leachates from roots, stems and leaves of A. adenophora on spore germination and gametophyte development of Neocheiropteris palmatopedata were investigated. All leachates inhibited spore germination and rhizoid growth of N. palmatopedata. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects increased with increasing leachate concentrations, and root leachates exhibited the greatest inhibition. Possible inhibitory causes are discussed in the present study. Additionally, the gametophytes of N. palmatopedata treated with the leachates of A. adenophora did not show morphological differences compared with the control. This result differs from previous studies investigating morphological changes in other fern species when associated with A. adenophora. Varying sensitivity of different fern species to the same allelochemicals of A. adenophora may partly be responsible for this difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we aim to develop a numerical scheme to price American options on a zero-coupon bond based on a power penalty approach. This pricing problem is formulated as a variational inequality problem (VI) or a complementarity problem (CP). We apply a fitted finite volume discretization in space along with an implicit scheme in time, to the variational inequality problem, and obtain a discretized linear complementarity problem (LCP). We then develop a power penalty approach to solve the LCP by solving a system of nonlinear equations. The unique solvability and convergence of the penalized problem are established. Finally, we carry out numerical experiments to examine the convergence of the power penalty method and to testify the efficiency and effectiveness of our numerical scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although normal cruciate ligaments and those in patients with osteoarthritic (OA) knees contain mechanoreceptors, it is unclear whether they are present after functioning in a cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Questions/purposes: We therefore determined if the areas occupied by mechanoreceptors in the human posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are similar in patients with osteoarthritis and in patients who have had TKA with retention of the PCL.Methods: We identified five cruciate-retaining TKA specimens from a retrieval program and obtained five PCLs during cruciate-sacrificing TKA from patients with OA; the retrieved specimens had been in place 5 to 12 years. The whole en bloc PCL specimens were harvested for the study. These specimens were then sectioned to a thickness of 8 μm and mounted on microscope slides. Two transverse cross-sections from the distal third from each specimen 100 μm apart were then subjected to immunohistochemistry with neurofilament protein (NFP) and S-100 protein.Results: All five PCL specimens in each group revealed multiple areas of positive stained elements with both S-100 protein and NFP immunohistochemical staining. Morphologically, these elements appear to correspond to Pacinilike, Golgilike, and fusiform types of mechanoreceptors. We observed no difference in positive staining mechanoreceptor elements as a percentage of area in the osteoarthritis and TKA groups.Conclusion: Mechanoreceptors appear to occupy similar areas before and after implantation of a TKA.Clinical Relevance: If mechanoreceptors continue to function after cruciate-retaining TKA, then it may continue to participate in proprioception of the knee after TKA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Nasal polyposis ( NP) is a Th2-skewed inflammatory disorder, but it is unclear what role regulatory T cells ( T-reg) play in disease pathology. We investigated the expression profiles of T-reg and T-helper-cell-associated genes and their response to glucocorticosteroid ( GC) treatment in Chinese patients with NP. Methods Biopsies were obtained from 29 non-treated NP patients for comparison with inferior turbinates collected from healthy controls. In 13 patients, NP samples were collected both before and after short-term oral GC treatment. Levels of mRNA for T-cell markers were determined by microarray and quantitative PCR. Cellular infiltrates were assessed by histo- and immunohistochemistry. Results FOXP3+ T-reg were increased in GC-naïve NP, and numbers were negatively correlated with eosinophil infiltration. Helios staining was not detected, suggesting that FOXP3+ cells in NP are not thymus-derived T-reg. Compared with controls, mRNA levels corresponding to T-reg genes were significantly increased in NP ( FOXP3, TGFB1, IL10, SMAD3, IL2 RA, and JAK3), but transcription factors associated with Th2 ( GATA3) or Th17 responses ( RORc) were significantly reduced. FOXP3 mRNA levels positively correlated with other T-reg cell markers. Microarray analysis showed that most Th2-related markers (e.g., Eotaxin-1, CCL13, and CCL18) were upregulated in GC-naïve NP vs controls. GC therapy significantly suppressed eosinophilic inflammation in NP, but did not significantly alter the expression levels of T-reg/Th2-associated genes. Conclusions Upregulation of FOXP3+-inducible T-reg cells and downregulation of Th2 and Th17 markers in NP indicate a regulatory response occurring at a site of persistent mucosal inflammation. However, immune regulation fails to control the underlying tissue pathology. Expression of T-reg/Th2 markers after GC treatment was unaltered, suggesting that T-cell-driving NP inflammatory mediators are GC resistant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operated under high magnetic field (>11 T), the toroidal field (TF) system consists of complex conductors using \ Nb3{\ {Sn}} as superconducting material. According to the strand requirements for the ITER TF conductor, bronze processed \ Nb3{\ {Sn}} strands with high superconducting performance have been manufactured using high tin content bronze at WST. The studies on filament diameter, diffusion barrier, sample heat treatment and annealing temperature have been carried out to enhance \ Nb3{\ {Sn}} strand properties. The results of these investigations have been presented. The result indicates that the different filament diameter has a weak influence on the critical current (Ic) value for the different reaction degree. In the manufacturing process the annealing temperature should be kept below 500 ^\circC to realize a high n value. The continuous \ Nb3{\ {Sn}} layer formation on the internal surface of the barrier causes a considerable increase of hysteresis loss when single Nb barrier is used. There is almost no difference of Ic, hysteresis loss and grain morphology for two heat treatments: ITER heat treatment cycle B and WST heat treatment cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Several fibroblast growth factors (FGF) mediate folliculogenesis and oogenesis in cattle but it is unclear whether FGFs are required during the final stages of oocyte maturation. The objectives of this work were to determine whether blocking FGF receptor (FGFR) activity during in vitro maturation (IVM) affects oocyte fertilization and embryo development; examine changes in FGFR transcript profiles in cumulus cells and oocytes during IVM; and evaluate whether gonadotropins modulate FGFR transcript abundance during IVM. In the first set of studies, bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in the presence of one of two FGFR kinase inhibitors (SU5402 or PD173074). After maturation, COCs were washed and cultured without inhibitors. Inhibitors did not affect cleavage rates but the percentage of ≥ 8-cell embryos at d 3 and blastocysts at d 7 and d 8 postfertilization were decreased when COCs were matured with either inhibitor. Profiles of FGFR mRNA variants were examined in cumulus cells and oocytes separated either immediately before (0 h) or at 6 or 21 h after beginning IVM. In cumulus cells, increases in R1b, R2b, and R2c abundance were detected when cultured in the absence of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Supplementing FSH (1 or 25 μM) increased the abundance of R1b, R1c, R2b, and R2c. In oocytes, no time- or FSH-dependent changes in FGFR transcript abundance were detected. These observations implicate FGFs as crucial components of bovine oocyte competency and indicate that FSH augments FGFR mRNA abundance in cumulus cells during the final stages of oocyte maturation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Elongation of CuZr metallic amorphous nanorods at a low strain rate has been examined by molecular dynamics methods. Results indicate that nanoscale metallic glasses (NMGs) show non-brittle fracture and plastic heterogeneity. In addition, the size effect has been carefully investigated via the NMG samples with different diameters. Meanwhile, the fluctuation of the stress and structure during the elongation provides reliable evidences to explain why plastic heterogeneity exists in the NMGs. Our results suggest that the mechanical properties of NMGs would be closely related to the size effect and heterogeneity in NMG samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Resistive switching (RS) phenomenon in the HfO2 dielectric has been indirectly observed at device level in previous studies using metal-insulator-metal structures, but its origin remains unclear. In this work, using the enhanced conductive atomic force microscope (ECAFM), we have been able to obtain in situ direct observation of RS with nanometric resolution. The ECAFM measurements reveal that the conductive filaments exhibiting the RS are primarily formed at the grain boundaries, which were shown exhibiting especially low breakdown voltage due to their intrinsic high density of the oxygen vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The feasibility of estimating the static force coefficients of a median span box-section bridge deck from the acceleration response of a structure under the wind load action is studied. The fluctuating wind field is simulated with the Auto-Regressive (AR) model including the spatial coherence of the independent Gaussian stochastic processes with uncertainties in the fluctuating components of wind velocities. The proposed method is illustrated with a three-span continuous concrete box-girder bridge deck located in open terrain. The static force coefficients are identified from a few noisy acceleration measurements with different combinations of sensors. The effects of model error in the structure and uncertainties in the fluctuating components of wind velocities are studied. The proposed method may be possibly generalized in future into an alternative to conventional wind tunnel test including all the on-site conditions in the analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to characterize the toxicity potential of melamine (MEL), cyanuric acid (CYA), and a combination of MEL and CYA in broilers. A total of 720 commercial 1-day-old COBB 500 male broilers were randomly allotted into 6 groups with 6 replicates each and 20 broilers in each replicate. The dietary treatments were as follows: group I was the control group, group II included 10 mg/kg MEL and 3.3 mg/kg CYA, group III included 30 mg/kg MEL and 10 mg/kg CYA, group IV included 100 mg/kg MEL and 33.3 mg/kg CYA, group V included 100 mg/kg MEL, and group VI included 33.3 mg/kg CYA. The trial lasted for 42 days. CYA alone and the combination of MEL and CYA had adverse effects on the performance, but MEL alone had no effects on the performance. On day 21, the uric acid (UA) content of group IV was increased in serum (p < 0.05); on day 42, the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and the level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-8 increased in group IV (p < 0.05); 100 mg/kg MEL alone increased the level of TNF-α and the rate of renal apoptosis (p < 0.05); and 33.3 mg/kg CYA alone increased the level of IL-8 and the rate of renal apoptosis (p < 0.05). The livers contained MEL concentrations of 17–125 μg/kg wet weight and CYA concentrations of 28–73 μg/kg, and the muscle contained MEL concentrations of 14–105 μg/kg wet weight. It was indicated that MEL alone, CYA alone, and a combination of MEL and CYA inhibit the growth and damage the kidney and liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy was usedto growthin films of In2O3on α-Al2O3(0001) over a range of substrate temperatures between300 and 750 °C. The crystal structures and morphologies wereexamined by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, andatomic force microscopy. In all cases, the thermodynamically stablebody-centered cubic phase bcc-In2O3predominates in the films, with an epitaxial relationshipIn2O3(111)∥Al2O3(0001) and In2O3[11̅10]∥Al2O3[101̅0] determined by matching betweenthe sublattice oxygen atoms in Al2O3(0001) andthe In atoms in In2O3(111): this involves a30° rotation of the epilayer unit cell relative to that of thesubstrate and a 3:2 coincidence structure. A minority fraction ofmetastable rhombohedral rh-In2O3(0001) can be stabilized for substrate temperatures below 550 °Cdue to the similarity in the bonding symmetries between rh-In2O3and α-Al2O3. Despite the large mismatches between In2O3and Al2O3for the two epitaxial systems discussedabove (−13.2% for bcc-In2O3and .1% for rh-In2O3), we show that the epitaxy can be maintained in both cases by matchingsmall but different integral multiples of lattice planes of the In2O3and the substrate at the interface between thetwo. Thus, the strain is effectively released by dislocations localizedat the interface. This so-called domain matching epitaxial growthmode may open up a new route to fabrication of high-quality crystallinethin films of oxides on highly mismatched substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One pot facile synthesis of ordered mesoporous alumina-supported zirconia with high thermal stability and large pore sizes by evaporation-induced method was systematically investigated. The strategy based on a sol-gel process associated with nonionic triblock copolymers PPO-PEO-PPO as templates in ethanolic solution. Small-angle XRD, TEM, and nitrogen adsorption and de-sorption results showed that these composites possessed an ordered 2D hexagonal mesostructure, resisted to high temperature up to 1000 °C, and had large surface areas and narrow pore-size distributions. Loaded with palladium, the mesoporous alumina-zirconia composite exhibited high catalytic activity in Suzuki coupling of 2-bromotoluene with phenylboronic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some fundamental structural characteristics of large-scale power systems are analyzed in the paper. Firstly, the large-scale power system is decomposed into various hierarchical levels: the main system, subsystems, sub-subsystems, down to its basic components. The proposed decomposition method is suitable for arbitrary system topology, and the relations among various decomposed hierarchical levels are explicitly expressed by introducing the interface concept. Then, the structural models of various hierarchical levels are constructed in a bottom-up manner. The constructed hierarchical model can reveal the self-similarity characteristic of large-scale power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Poisson ratio ν of In2O3 has been determined by measurement of the covariation of in-plane and out-of- plane lattice parameters of strained thin films grown epitaxially on (111) and (001) oriented cubic Y-stabilized ZrO2 substrates. The experimental results are in good agreement with values for ν calculated using atomistic simulation procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: Warm ischemia (WI)-induced airway complications are common in clinical lung transplantation. However, the acceptable WI time of tracheal grafts from non–heart-beating donors (NHBDs) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the acceptable WI time by observing tracheal epithelial regeneration among NHBD. Method: Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into four groups (each with 12 rats): WI-0 minutes (group A), WI-30 minutes (group B), WI-45 minutes (group C), and WI-60 minutes (group D). In each group, the tracheas from 6 rats were imbedded in the greater omentum of 6 other rats. Fourteen days later, the transplanted trachea was obtained from the recipient to evaluate epithelial thickness and regeneration. Six tracheas were obtained from living donors as a control group. Results: There were no significant differences in tracheal transplantation time (mean, 17.66 ± 1.21 minutes). There were no significant differences in epithelial thickness and regeneration between the controls and groups A, B, and C (P < .05). Group D showed no normal epithelial structure of the trachea only with monolayer cells. Conclusions: The time limits of tolerance to WI of tracheal grafts from NHBDs may be 45 minutes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The identification of fossil conifer stomata was conducted from a lake sedimentary sequence on the Liupan Mountains, southwestern Loess Plateau, in order to reconstruct detailed forest history and assess the potential of using stomata as a supplement to pollen analysis to determine the local presence of conifers over the last 3200 years. The pollen has already been analyzed in our previous study. Reference conifer stomata were prepared for the fossil stomata identification and demonstrate that the conifer stomata could be identified to at least genus level. Our stomata and pollen results reveal three clear stages of the forest recession during the late Holocene: mixed conifer-deciduous forest, steppe-forest and steppe. Combined stomata and pollen results confirm the local presence of conifer trees (Abies and Pinus) in the vicinity of the Tianchi Lake. Abundant Abies trees existed during 3200–2200 cal yr BP. Then it decreased and finally demised at ca.210 cal yr BP. Pinus trees have been continuously present with very low abundance throughout the late Holocene. Application of comprehensive studies comprising both stomata and pollen analyses allowed a detailed determination of the stages of conifer trees presence in the vicinity of the Tianchi Lake. Our study suggests that the analysis of fossil stomata is a valuable methodological tool for the provision of unambiguous evidence of the past local presence of the coniferous taxa in this region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this article, a novel quenching–partitioning–tempering (Q–P–T) process was applied to a Fe–0.25C–1.5Mn–1.2Si–1.5Ni–0.05Nb (wt%) hot-rolled steel, and its optimized parameters were obtained by a Gleeble-3500 thermal simulator and salt baths, respectively. Mechanical property results of the as-treated Q–P–T samples show that the Nb-microalloyed low-carbon steels subjected to Q–P–T processes cover a wide spectrum of strength (1200–1500MPa) and elongation (14–18%), and exhibit excellent product of strength and elongation (21,000–22,000MPa%). Microstructural characterization indicates that high strength results from dislocation-type martensite laths and dispersively distributed fcc NbC or hcp ɛ-carbides in martensite matrix and good ductility is attributed to transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) effect from plenty of retained austenite flakes between martensite laths. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study which compares global positioning satellite (GPS) radio occultation (RO) retrieved temperature profiles from the Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) and FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC with radiosonde data in Australia. It offers information on CHAMP and FORMOSAT which reportedly provides global coverage RO atmospheric profiles. It discusses the study's results which revealed a good agreement between the two data sets.

A type of near-perfect magnetic cloak with radical and tangential diagonal components of the permittivity and permeability tensors as constants is proposed. Only z-component of the constitutive tensor is spatial variant, and all the diagonal components of the permittivity and permeability tensors are nonsingular, which make it possible to construct this kind of cloak with 2-D metamaterials. The effects of loss and perturbations of parameters on the performance of the cloak are also investigated. This study provides a feasible way for 2-D cloak design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wnt10b ( wingless-related mouse mammary tumour virus integration site 10b) plays various roles in a wide range of biological actions, including hair-follicle development. To assess the roles that Wnt10b plays in postnatal hair-follicle growth. Adenovirus vectors AdWnt10b, AdGFP, AdGFP plus AdRFP, AdWnt10b plus AdFrzB, and AdWnt10b plus AdSimBC were co-cultured separately with vibrissae. In situ protein expression of Wnt10b, β-catenin and Lef1 was determined by immunohistochemistry, and the proliferation status of the hair follicle was detected by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labelling. The presence of Wnt signalling molecules in the three stages of hair-follicle growth was detected by PCR-based microarray. AdWnt10b-infected cells were able to secrete bioactive Wnt10b, and when this was added into the basal medium, the vibrissae grew faster than in control medium or in medium containing canonical Wnt signalling antagonists. The in situ protein expression of Wnt10b was consistent with that of β-catenin and Lef1. The expression locus of Wnt10b was almost the same as the proliferating cells labelled by BrdU in the anagen hair follicle. Wnt10b may promote hair-follicle growth by inducing the switch from telogen to anagen via a canonical Wnt signalling pathway to promote the proliferation of matrix cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil loss from unpaved rural roads contributes largely to watershed sediment yield. A road erosion model is therefore urgently needed to evaluate road erosion production. Field flow simulation experiments were conducted on unpaved loess roads under five flow rates and three slope gradients in order to quantify road surface hydraulics and develop soil detachment prediction models. The results showed that flow velocity was highly related to flow rate but generally independent of slope gradient. The hydraulic roughness of the road surface was much less titan that of cropland and was influenced significantly by relatively intensive erosion on steep slopes. Easily obtainable parameters such as flow rate and slope gradient could be used to estimate soil detachment accurately. Furthermore, power functions of chosen hydraulic parameters, (i.e., shear stress, stream power, and unit stream power) could be used to predict detachment rates. Among these parameters, flow shear stress was the best predictor. A detachment prediction model similar to that used in the WEPP model was proposed. Corresponding to the excess shear stress model in WEPP, loess road surface soil erodibility is 0.0066 s m-1 and critical shear stress is 3.25 Pa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of canthaxanthin supplied via a maternal route on the production of both breeder hens and chickens, 270 Chinese Three-Yellow breeder hens were randomly divided into 2 groups consisting of 135 birds each (5 replicates of 27) for study. The breeder hens were fed either a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 6 mg of canthaxanthin/kg for 24 wk. At the end of the 24-wk breeder experiment, all hatching eggs laid in 5 consecutive days of each group were collected and incubated. For each breeder group, 100 newly hatched chicks (5 replicates of 20) were reared under environmentally controlled conditions for 21 d. Canthaxanthin supplementation resulted in the following outcomes: an enhancement of the serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of breeder hens (P = 0.029), a significant increase in the yolk colorimetric score of Roche Yolk Color Fan (RYCF; P < 0.001), and a significant improvement of the antioxidant status of the egg yolk (P < 0.05). The chicks that hatched from eggs laid by breeder hens fed the canthaxanthin supplementation diet demonstrated a higher pigmentation colorimetric score of RYCF for their shank skin (P < 0.05), and the antioxidant capacity of the newly hatched chicks was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Both of these positive effects on shank skin pigmentation colorimetric score of RYCF and antioxidant capacity were observed for at least 7 d posthatching, and the chicks that hatched from canthaxanthin-enriched eggs showed a lower mortality (0 vs. 4%) during the first 21 d posthatching. These findings support the hypothesis that canthaxanthin supplementation of the maternal diet enhances the protective capacity of tissues against oxidative stress in vivo, which might be beneficial for poultry producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Thick YSZ ceramic coatings were prepared by thermal pressure and filtration of sol–gel paint (TPFSP), a modified sol–gel composite coating technique. SEM results show that the coatings were dense and crack-free by using paints of high mass ratios of YSZ powder to Zr–Y oxide in sol and high pressures. And the cross-sectional detail of coatings exhibited that the microstructure was consisted of micro/nano-size ceramic particles and micro-pores. The thermal insulation tests indicated that mass ratio of YSZ powder to Zr–Y oxide in sol was in inversely linear relationship with temperature drop per micron thickness. The coating showed good adherence with alloy substrate and maintained structural integrity when exposed at 1050°C for 200h. The cyclic oxidation test also indicated that both of oxidation resistance and spallation resistance for YSZ coated specimens were greatly improved. The TPFSP process could be a promising method to prepare TBCs for wide applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The atomic structures that develop as a function of coverage during deposition of Bi on Ag(111) have been studied using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, and ab initio calculations. The growth process involves two sequential stages. At low coverage, Bi atoms are incorporated into the topmost layer of Ag(111), resulting in the formation of an Ag2Bi alloy confined to the surface and ordered (√3×√3)R30° Ag2Bi islands supported on Ag(111). This mode of accommodation of Bi was found to be energetically favorable based on ab initio total-energy calculations. At coverage above a critical value of 0.55 monolayers, the Ag2Bi alloy phase gradually converts into an ordered Bi (p×√3) overlayer structure supported on Ag(111). We postulate that the dealloying transition is likely driven by compressive strain induced by incorporation of large-size Bi atoms into Ag at a high coverage and the subsequent lack of miscibility of Ag and Bi bulk phases. After completion of the dealloying process, Bi(110) thin films can be grown epitaxially on top of Ag(111) with a chemically abrupt interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of Wolbachia infection on mtDNA variation in spider mites by sequencing a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I ( COI) gene from 198 individuals of known infection status. Four Wolbachia strains were described in the current study, namely wUrtOri1, wUrtOri2, wUrtOri3 and wUrtCon1. As predicted, the haplotype and nucleotide diversity were lower in infected individuals than in uninfected individuals. However, these mtDNA haplotype data are not entirely concordant with the surface protein of wolbachia ( wsp) sequence data and both infected and uninfected individuals were found of the same haplotype. Although values of Tajima's D and Fu & Li's F were consistently less than zero for most infected groups, McDonald-Kreitman tests suggested that the patterns of variation were different from those expected under neutrality in only the uninfected group. Thus, the neutrality tests do not show a clear effect of Wolbachia infection on patterns of mtDNA variation and substitution in spider mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the effects of leaf colour on gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence, two genotypes of Begonia semperflorens with green leaves or red leaves were compared. The red leaves showed a high accumulation of anthocyanins and high absorbance at 282 and 537 nm while the green leaves exhibited a higher net photosynthetic rate and lower thermal dissipation of light energy. It seems likely that anthocyanins in the vacuoles restricted the absorption of green light to the chloroplasts, leading to a decrease in the efficiency of excitation capture by open PS 2 centres, photochemical quenching and CO assimilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]