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Due to the increasing penetration of wind power into the distribution network, preserving system security and reliability becomes a significant challenge for the system operator. In the smart grid environment, the demand side is required to take more responsibilities to accommodate the uncertainty of wind power generations, known as demand response (DR). To enable this feature in the utility grid, system-wide costs, which include metering, communication and load control system upgrade cost and incentive cost for customers, should be considered in assessing cost-effectiveness. This paper proposes a novel optimization model for demand response facility (DRF) investment to determine the DR sizing and siting. Robust optimization is adopted to maintain overall economic benefit and distribution network operation security. The problem is formulated as a bi-level mixed-integer program. A column-and-constraint generation algorithm (C&CG) combined with outer-approximation (OA) linearization method is employed to solve this problem. Numerical tests on a modified IEEE 33-bus distribution network illustrate the effectiveness and validation of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dynamic headspace sampling with on-line monitoring of CH 4 and NMHC reflects quasi-realtime release behavior of volatile compounds. • Profiles of VOCs and their released rates described by NMHC were closely related to microalgae's state of health or the life stages. • NMHC and methane were estimated from 0.02 to 0.59 μgC/(h g) and 0.05–3.96 μgC/(h g), respectively. The spectrum of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released by the microalgae-water phase of Taihu Lake in China was examined, then release behaviors were studied using non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC, including a few polar organics) to describe the total amount of the released VOCs. Coupled dynamic headspace sampling with on-line monitoring of methane and NMHC was used to reflect the quasi-realtime release behavior of methane and NMHC by the microalgae-water phase. Alkanes, alkenes, oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) and volatile sulfide chemicals (VOSCs) were detected. Their relative contents over time varied markedly from the stationary to the apoptosis phase, with their release rates as described by NMHC estimated from 0.02 to 0.59 μgC/(h g). Methane was investigated simultaneously, and its release rate was found to be 0.05–3.96 μgC/(h g). The release rates of both NMHC and methane were found to relate to the culture phase of the microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work develops robust diffusion recursive least-squares algorithms to mitigate the performance degradation often experienced in networks of agents in the presence of impulsive noise. The first algorithm minimizes an exponentially weighted least-squares cost function subject to a time-dependent constraint on the squared norm of the intermediate update at each node. A recursive strategy for computing the constraint is proposed using side information from the neighboring nodes to further improve the robustness. We also analyze the mean-square convergence behavior of the proposed algorithm. The second proposed algorithm is a modification of the first one based on the dichotomous coordinate descent iterations. It has a performance similar to that of the former, however, its complexity is significantly lower especially when input regressors of agents have a shift structure and it is well suited to practical implementation. Simulations show the superiority of the proposed algorithms over previously reported techniques in various impulsive noise scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two zinc clusters Zn4(H3L)4(NO3)4⋅5H2O (Zn4, H4L=(1,2‐bis(1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐yl)ethane‐1,2‐diol) and [Zn5(H2L′)6](NO3)4]⋅8H2O⋅2CH3OH (Zn5, H3L′=(1,2‐bis(benzo[d] imidazol‐2‐yl)‐ethenol) have been obtained by the reaction of Zn(NO3)2⋅6H2O with H4L at 80 °C or 140 °C under solvothermal condition. Powder X‐ray Diffraction (PXRD) of precipitate and Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI‐MS) of reaction solution revealed the existence of transformation behavior from Zn4 to Zn5 by increasing the temperature from 80 °C to 140 °C, or directly heating Zn4 at 140 °C via solvothermal reaction. Here we proposed a possible mechanism involves split process of Zn4 and reassembly to form Zn5. ESI‐MS for single crystals revealed [Zn4(H3L)4−3H]+ splits to [Zn(H3L)]+ via [Zn2(H3L)2−H]+. Time dependent ESI‐MS of reaction solution revealed the [Zn(H2L′)]+→[Zn2(H2L′)2−H]+→[Zn5(H2L′)6−H]3+ stepwise assembly. It also has been captured the in situ reaction mainly occurs in the step of [Zn(H3L)]+ to [Zn(H2L′)]+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under metal catalyst-free and exogenous-oxidant-free conditions, a series of C-3 aminated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines were synthesized by electrochemical intermolecular oxidative C–H/N–H cross-coupling. Furthermore, by using a catalytic amount of ferrocene as the mediator, electrochemical intramolecular oxidative C–H/N–H cross-coupling for the synthesis of 10H-benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]indole derivatives has also been accomplished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Surgery is the first-line therapy for glioblastoma. There is evidence that extent of resection is significantly associated with patient survival. Unfortunately, optimal surgical resection is usually limited because of the difficulty in discriminating tumor-infiltrated region and normal brain tissue. This study aimed to develop a tool to distinguish between infiltration zone and normal tissue in real time during glioma surgery. Methods In an in vivo study, C6 glioma cells were implanted into the left cerebral hemispheres of 6 rats to mimic tumorigenesis. A newly designed optical fiber-embedded needle probe was used to measure the autofluorescence of both cerebral hemispheres at various depths 5 days after the implantation. These rats were then sacrificed, and both cerebral hemispheres were removed for histopathologic analysis. Results Comparative analyses of corresponding areas by histopathology and autofluorescence revealed highly significant (P < 0.001) differences among the normal tissue, infiltration zone, tumors, and the contralateral cerebral hemispheres. The area of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.978, and the sensitivity and specificity of tumor delineation were 93.9% and 94.4%, respectively. Conclusions The newly designed in vivo fiber-optic probe can distinguish tumor-infiltration zones from normal brain tissue in this in vivo study. Therefore, it may help neurosurgeons to increase extent of resection without damaging normal brain tissue and thus potentially improve the patients' survival and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face sketch synthesis is a crucial issue in digital entertainment and law enforcement. It can bridge the considerable texture discrepancy between face photos and sketches. Most of the current face sketch synthesis approaches directly to learn the relationship between the photos and sketches, and it is very difficult for them to generate the individual specific features, which we call rare characteristics. In this paper, we propose a novel face sketch synthesis approach through residual learning. In contrast to traditional approaches, which aim to reconstruct a sketch image directly (i.e., learn the mapping relationship between the photo and sketch), we aim to predict the residual image by learning the mapping relationship between the photo and residual, i.e., the difference between the photo and sketch, given an observed photo. This technique will render optimizing the residual mapping easier than optimizing the original mapping and deriving rare characteristic information. We also introduce a joint dictionary learning algorithm by preserving the local geometry structure of a data space. Through the learned joint dictionary, we transform the face sketch synthesis from an image space to a new and compact space; the new and compact space is spanned by learned dictionary atoms, where the manifold assumption can be further guaranteed. Results show that the proposed method demonstrates an impressive performance in the face sketch synthesis task on three public face sketch datasets and various real-world photos. These results are derived by comparing the proposed method with several state-of-the-art techniques, including certain recently proposed deep learning-based approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Training‐induced neuroplasticity has been described in athletes' population. However, it remains largely unknown how regular training and sports proficiency modifies neuronal circuits in the human brain. In this study, we used voxel‐based morphometry and stepwise functional connectivity (SFC) analyses to uncover connectivity changes in the functional stream architecture in student‐athletes at early stages of sensorimotor skill training. Thirty‐two second‐year student‐athletes whose major was little‐ball sports and thirty‐four nonathlete controls were recruited for the study. We found that athletes showed greater gray matter volume in the right sensorimotor area, the limbic lobe, and the anterior lobe of the cerebellum. Furthermore, SFC analysis demonstrated that athletes displayed significantly smaller optimal connectivity distance from those seed regions to the dorsal attention network (DAN) and larger optimal connectivity distance to the default mode network (DMN) compared to controls. The Attention Network Test showed that the reaction time of the orienting attention subnetwork was positively correlated with SFC between the seeds and the DAN, while negatively correlated with SFC between the seeds and the DMN. Our findings suggest that neuroplastic adaptations on functional connectivity streams after motor skill training may enable novel information flow from specific areas of the cortex toward distributed networks such as the DAN and the DMN. This could potentially regulate the focus of external and internal attention synchronously in athletes, and consequently accelerate the reaction time of orienting attention in athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this work, the solubility of 4-methylphthalic anhydride in eight organic solvents (methyl acetate, acetone, acetonitrile, toluene, butyl acetate, carbon tetrachloride, cyclohexane, n -heptane) was studied experimentally by the isothermal saturation method at temperatures from (278.15 to 318.15) K under atmosphere pressure. Results show that the solubility of 4-methylphthalic anhydride in selected organic solvents increases with rising of temperature. Molecular simulation between solute and solvent was applied to reveal the solubility behavior based on density functional theory (DFT). The experimental data were correlated by five thermodynamic models including Van't Hoff equation, modified Apelblat equation, λh equation, NRTL and Wilson model. All the models give acceptable results in regression analysis of the solubility data. The modified Apelblat equation provides a better correlation in this study. The mixing thermodynamic properties including Gibbs energy, enthalpy and entropy of 4-methylphthalic anhydride in selected solvents were also obtained. Outcome shows that the dissolution of 4-methylphthalic anhydride in selected solvents is spontaneous and entropy-driven. This study can provide fundamental data for the separating of 4-methylphthalic anhydride. Highlights • Solubility data for 4-methylphthalic anhydride in eight organic solvents were measured. • Molecular simulation was performed to reveal the solubility behavior. • Experimental solubility data were correlated by five thermodynamic models. • Mixing thermodynamic properties of 4-methylphthalic anhydride were calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the incidence of fibular fractures as an associated injury in tibial plateau fractures according to CT scan. We also attempt to introduce a new morphological sub‐classification on this associated injury and to analyze the correlation between this classification and tibial plateau fractures. Methods: We selected cases with fibular fractures from all the tibial plateau fracture patients. The cases were further divided into 2 groups: unicondylar group and bicondylar group. On the basis of our new classification system of fibular fracture, all the included cases were divided into 5 subgroups. Results: Finally, a total of 150 cases associated with fibular fractures in 502 tibial plateau fracture cases were identified from our institution database. The incidence of fibular head fracture in tibial plateau fractures was 29.88% (150/502). Seventy‐one cases (47.3%) were involved one condyle, and 79 cases (52.7%) involved both. It shows significant difference in the subgroup of avulsion fracture with horizontal fracture line (Type A) which is ratio of 16.9% in unicondylar group and 1.27% in bicondylar group. Conclusion: A new classification of this associated injury describing the morphology of the fracture fragments may improve operative planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two laser crystals of Er3+:KLu(WO4)2 and Er3+/Pr3+:KLu(WO4)2 were successfully grown using the top-seeded solution growth technique with K2W2O7 as flux. Segregation coefficients of Er3+ ions in Er3+:KLu(WO4)2 and Er3+/Pr3+:KLu(WO4)2 crystals were 0.664 and 0.9, respectively. The density of the Pr3+ ions in the Er3+/Pr3+:KLu(WO4)2 crystal was 1.19 × 1019 cm−3, and the segregation coefficient was 0.18. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of the two crystals with Y-oriented polarization (parallel to the b axis) light were recorded. Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory was adapted to analyze the main parameters and they were crucial for evaluating the potential of laser crystals with output wavelength of 2.7 µm. Results showed that the Er3+/Pr3+:KLu(WO4)2 crystal had good J-O intensity parameter Ωt (t = 2, 4, 6) and relatively large emission cross section at 2.7 µm. The lifetimes of the 4I11/2 state in the Er3+:KLu(WO4)2 and Er3+/Pr3+:KLu(WO4)2 crystals were fitted to be 87.13 ms and 79.36 ms, respectively. The lifetime of 4I13/2 state decreased sharply from 5.59 s in Er3+:KLu(WO4)2 to 53.19 ms with co-doping of Er3+ ions and Pr3+ ions. Laser oscillation was accomplished at 2.7 µm wavelength using a b-cut Er3+/Pr3+:KLu(WO4)2 crystal sample with size of 4 × 4 × 10 mm3. Finally, a continuous-wave (CW) laser was realized with the highest slope of 15.94%. The center wavelength of the laser output was 2740 nm, and its FWHM was approximately 1.8 nm. Therefore, the Er3+/Pr3+:KLu(WO4)2 crystal has remarkable potential for generating 2.7 µm lasers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The transport and thermoelectric properties of the LaO 1 − x F x BiPbS 3 compounds are studied. On the transport part, fluorine doping effectively reduces the electrical resistivity, and transforms the transport behavior from semiconducting-like to metallic-like. An evident enhancement of thermoelectric performance (power factor) is achieved in LaO 0.6 F 0.4 BiPbS 3 , with an obviously larger absolute value of Seebeck coefficient (| S |) compared to the parent compound. Hall coefficient measurements reveal the depression of effective carrier density for all the doped samples at high temperatures. The present results suggest that electron carriers alone can not explain the improvement of thermoelectric properties by fluorine doping, the conduction of ionic carriers should be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In clinical data analysis, both treatment effect estimation and consistency assessment are important for a better understanding of the drug efficacy for the benefit of subjects in individual subgroups. The linear mixed-effects model has been used for subgroup analysis to describe treatment differences among subgroups with great flexibility. The hierarchical Bayes approach has been applied to linear mixed-effects model to derive the posterior distributions of overall and subgroup treatment effects. In this article, we discuss the prior selection for variance components in hierarchical Bayes, estimation and decision making of the overall treatment effect, as well as consistency assessment of the treatment effects across the subgroups based on the posterior predictive p-value. Decision procedures are suggested using either the posterior probability or the Bayes factor. These decision procedures and their properties are illustrated using a simulated example with normally distributed response and repeated measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Porcine 2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthetase-like protein is an essential antiviral protein induced by interferons; however, its bioinformatics, genetic characteristics and immunological characteristics related to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus are still unknown. In this study, porcine 2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthetase-like protein was cloned, and various attributes were predicted by bioinformatics analysis. Through RNAi depletion and overexpression methods, it was determined that porcine OASL not only inhibits porcine reproductive and respiratory virus replication but also activates interferon-beta production and the interferon-beta promoter, promoting the expression of interferon-beta mRNA. Through the depletion of different amino acids at the N and C termini, the antiviral activity and promoting the activity of interferon beta were evaluated. The results demonstrated that 31–60 amino acids at the N terminus were critical for virus replication. This study laid a theoretical foundation for exploring the characteristics of the porcine 2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthetase-like protein and suggested a new strategy for the prevention and control of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and investigation of the therapeutic mechanism of this protein. Highlights • Porcine OASL was cloned and identified the antiviral effect on PRRSV, confirming that porcine OASL can inhibit PRRSV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The associations between meteorological factors and mortality have been well documented worldwide, but limited evidence is available for the non-fatal health impacts of ambient temperature, particularly there are few population-based investigations on the impacts of emergency ambulance dispatches in Asia. In this study, based on 809,906 ambulance emergency call-outs (AECOs) for the total population from 2010–2016 in the subtropical city of Shenzhen, China, a Poisson regression combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to simultaneously assess the nonlinear and lag effects of daily mean temperature on AECOs. Stratified analyses by age and sex were performed to identify vulnerable subpopulations. A U-shaped relationship was found between temperature and AECOs. Cold effects were delayed and persisted for 3–4 weeks, with a cumulative relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.23 (1.10–1.38) and 1.25 (1.16–1.35) over lag 0–28 when comparing the 1st and 5th percentile of the temperature distribution to the optimal (i.e. minimum AECOs) temperature, respectively. Hot effects were immediate and diminished quickly in 5 days, with an increase of 19% (RR = 1.19, 95%CI: 1.14–1.23) and 21% (RR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.16–1.26) in AECOs over lag 0–5 when comparing the 95th and 99th percentile of temperature to the optimal temperature. Children and the elderly were more vulnerable to cold effects. The youth and middle-aged people suffered more from high temperature. The effects of temperature were similar between males and females. In summary, significant increases were observed in the frequency of AECOs during cold and hot days, and the weather-associated increases in AECOs are different among age groups. This information has valuable implications in ambulance demand prediction and service provision planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of T-cell activation marker soluble CD27 (sCD27) are associated with subsequent disease activity after a first attack of suspected MS in adults. The predictive value for disease course in children with acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS) is unknown. Objectives: To assess the predictive value of sCD27 levels for clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS) diagnosis in childhood ADS. Methods: Children <18 years with a first demyelinating event were prospectively included and followed. Soluble CD27 was determined in CSF using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cox regression analyses were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for CDMS. Results: A total of 94 ADS children were included (ADS with encephalopathy (ADS+) n = 33 and ADS without encephalopathy (ADS–) n = 61). Of the 61 ADS– children, 21 (48%) were diagnosed with CDMS during follow-up. At baseline, sCD27 levels were higher in patients with a future CDMS diagnosis (n = 29) than in monophasic ADS+ (n = 30), monophasic ADS– (n = 28) and relapsing non-MS patients (n = 7; p < 0.001). In ADS– patients, sCD27 was associated with CDMS (HR = 1.8 per 100 U/mL increase in sCD27 levels, p = 0.031), after adjustments for age, oligoclonal bands and the presence of dissemination in space on baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Conclusion: CSF sCD27 levels at first attack of demyelination were associated with CDMS diagnosis in children. This makes sCD27 a potential clinically relevant quantitative marker when performing routine CSF diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Some patients still complain of residual dizziness after successful canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Previous study found that compared to the low-dose betahistine, the high-dose betahistine could yield better efficacy in treating residual dizziness. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess whether the addition of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) could make low-dose betahistine produce similar results to high-dose betahistine in treating residual dizziness. Methods: The recruited patients were randomly assigned to receive either low-dose betahistine (6 mg/time, three times/day) or high-dose betahistine (12 mg/time, three times/day). Patients in the low-dose group also received CBT (twice a week, 1 hour per time). The treatment was continued for 4 weeks. The duration of residual dizziness, 25-item Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were recorded and analyzed. The duration of residual dizziness and DHI score were the primary outcomes, and the HARS and HDRS scores were the secondary outcomes. Results: Each group had 50 patients. After treatment, the average DHI scores, HDRS scores, and HARS scores were significantly decreased in both groups. The duration of residual dizziness and average DHI score were nonsignificantly different (P=0.08; P=0.06) between the two groups, although they were lower in the low-dose group. Compared to the high-dose group, the low-dose group had the significantly lower average HDRS score (P=0.007) and HARS score (P=0.02). Meanwhile, four patients in the high-dose group experienced intolerable stomach upset. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that the addition of CBT could make low-dose betahistine produce similar results to high-dose betahistine in treating residual dizziness. Moreover, the low-dose betahistine plus CBT showed some advantages over high-dose betahistine in relieving depressive and anxiety symptoms and should be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative care is an important factor affecting the outcome of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The aim of this study was to test the effect of mometasone furoate (MF)‐soaked biodegradable nasal dressings (BNDs) on endoscopic appearance in CRS patients with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) after ESS. Methods: This study was a prospective, randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study. A total of 64 CRSwNP patients with bilateral ESS were enrolled and randomly given 4 mL or 8 mL of MF‐soaked BNDs (NasoPore) in 1 nasal cavity and the same amount of normal saline‐soaked BNDs in the contralateral side. The BNDs were removed on the 7th or 14th postoperative day. Perioperative sinus endoscopy (POSE) and Lund‐Kennedy scores were collected, on the 7th or 14th postoperative days and at 1, 2, and 3 postoperative months. Results: The POSE and Lund‐Kennedy scores showed that in the 4‐mL, 1‐week group, no significant differences between the sides treated with MF‐soaked BNDs and the normal saline‐soaked control were observed at any postoperative visits. In the 4‐mL, 2‐week group, significant differences were found at the 2‐week and 1‐month postoperative visits but not at the 2‐month and 3‐month visits. In the 8‐mL, 1‐week group, significant differences were found at the 1‐week, 1‐month, and 2‐month postoperative visits but not at the 3‐month visit. In the 8‐mL, 2‐week group, significant differences were found at all postoperative visits. Conclusion: This study reveals that MF‐impregnated BNDs improve the endoscopic appearance in the healing process of CRSwNP after ESS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laser with 60 mm-aperture composite ceramic disk pumped by laser diode arrays was developed. By optimizing waveguide and imaging lens, a pump power peak power of 75 kW, density of 318 W/cm 2 is achieved with a pump uniformity of 96% by using a hexagonal waveguide. The temperature distribution and axial deformation of the cooler were optimized, and the axisymmetric micro-channel cooler was designed. Up to 2.3 kW average output power with an optical-optical efficiency of 37% is obtained in the stable resonator when pumping with a long-pulse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Masquelet induced-membrane technique for the treatment of segmental bone defects includes a two-stage surgical procedure, and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plays a major role in the treatment. However, the PMMA spacer must be surgically removed. Here, we investigated the potential of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofibers, a biodegradable material to replace the PMMA spacer, allowing the bioactive membrane to be induced and the spacer to degrade without the additional surgery on a rabbit femoral segmental bone defect model. PLGA nanofibers were shown to degrade completely six weeks after implantation in the investigated animals, and a thick membrane was found to circumferentially fold around the segmental bone defects. Results from image studies demonstrated that, in the group without the bone graft, all studied femurs exhibited either nonunion or considerable malunion. In contrast, the femurs in the bone graft group had a high union rate without considerable deformities. Histological examinations suggested that the membranous tissue in this group was rich in small blood vessels and the expression of BMP2 and VEGF increased. Our results demonstrate that the biodegradable PLGA nanofibers may be useful for replacing the PMMA spacer as the bioactive-membrane inducer, facilitating the process of healing and removing the need for repeated surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and environmentally benign electrochemical oxidative radical C–H sulfonylation of arenes/heteroarenes was developed in this work. A series of significant diarylsulfones were prepared under mild catalyst- and exogenous-oxidant-free reaction conditions, which efficiently avoid the issues of desulfonylation or over-reduction of sulfonyl groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Specifically blocking more than one oncogenic pathway simultaneously in a cancer cell with a combination of different drugs is the mainstay of the majority of cancer treatments. Being able to do this via two targeted pathways without inducing side effects through a general mechanism, such as chemotherapy, could bring benefit to patients. In this work we describe a new dual inhibitor of the JAK-STAT and HDAC pathways through designing and developing two types of molecule based on the JAK2 selective inhibitor XL019 and the pan-HDAC inhibitor, vorinostat. Both series of compounds had examples with low nanomolar JAK2 and HDAC1/6 inhibition. In some cases good HDAC1 selectivity was achieved while retaining HDAC6 activity. The observed potency is explained through molecular docking studies of all three enzymes. One example, 69c had 16–25 fold selectivity against the three other JAK-family proteins JAK1, JAK3 and TYK2. A number of compounds had sub-micromolar potencies against a panel of 4 solid tumor cell lines and 4 hematological cell lines with the most potent compound, 45h , having a cellular IC 50 of 70 nM against the multiple myeloma cell line KMS-12-BM. Evidence of both JAK and HDAC pathway inhibition is presented in Hela cells showing that both pathways are modulated. Evidence of apoptosis with two compounds in 4 sold tumor cell lines is also presented. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Two designs of new agents with a dual mode of action targeting both JAK2 kinase and HDACs are reported. • Structure-activity relationships revealed potent inhibition of JAK2, HDAC6 and HDAC1. • Compound 69c had 16–25 fold selectivity against three other JAK-family proteins JAK1, JAK3 and TYK2. • Compound 45h has a cellular IC 50 of 70 nM against the multiple myeloma cell line KMS-12-BM. • Both JAK and HDAC pathway inhibition is shown in Hela cells; mechanism of cell death is via apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupuncture has been used in China for more than 2000 years; its curative effect is acknowledged wildly in the world, but the underlying mechanisms are not revealed. The study focuses on mechanical effect of manual acupuncture. In this paper, a mathematical model based on viscoelastic theory and quasilinear viscoelastic theory of soft tissue is constructed; a hybrid method was used to study the tissue displacement and energy dissipation induced by needle rotation. It shows that (1) needle rotation will induce the extracellular matrix deformation and generate a mechanical stress field in the interstitium, (2) the deformation depends on rotation frequency and is mainly restrained in the vicinity of the needle, and (3) energy dissipation is affected by rotation frequency and very sensitive at low frequency. These results are consistent with experimental observations, and may help to explain some acupuncture theories and phenomena. Furthermore, this work not only contributes to reveal the mechanical effect of acupuncture (needle rotation) by modern scientific methods but also provides a hybrid method to study the strain and stress deriving from mechanical stimuli of connective tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its merit of rapid start-up, lower pollution and high energy conversion efficiency, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system has been considered as one of the most promising propulsion system for electric vehicles. Although the development of PEMFC system has been experienced rapid growth for several decades, many challenges still need to be overcome for promoting commercialize fuel cell technology. In order to understand the design concept of PEMFC system and update the development status of fuel cell system for electric vehicle, as well as help fuel cell system developers or electric vehicle manufacturers to improve the performance and durability of fuel cell electric vehicles, the up-to-date technical targets such as power density, operation temperature, dynamic response and lifetime for PEMFC systems in different countries have been summarized and compared in this review. Furthermore, from the aspects of hydrogen management and air management and major degradation mechanisms under various operation conditions, the design status of the system configuration in fuel cell has also been analyzed in detail. Finally, according to the design and intended operation the mitigation strategies have also been proposed to promote the development of PEMFC system for electric vehicle applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article demonstrates the design of a road piezoelectric transducer (PZT) through a laboratory load test, to utilize the load mechanical energy in road. PZT-5H was selected as the piezoelectric vibrator material. With the combination of the action property of low-frequency forced vibration of the pavement vehicle wheel load, a simple supported disk lap piling piezoelectric vibrator was used as the core component of the road piezoelectricity generating set. The tracking wheel-pressure test of a beam piece was used to determine the piezoelectricity generating capacity of road pavement. The maximum voltage that could be reached is 65.2 V. The primary wheel rolling impact could produce an electric energy of 0.23 mJ. The electric capacity of 0.8 kW/h could be produced per day, which can meet the demand of signal lights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: To investigate and compare the cytotoxicity of indocyanine green (ICG), brilliant blue G (BBG) and trypan blue (TB) using ARPE‐19 cells that have been pre‐treated/post‐treated with balanced salt solution (BSS) or foetal bovine serum (FBS). Methods: The cultured human retina pigment epithelium ARPE‐19 cells were pre‐treated/post‐treated with BSS or FBS (represent the autologous serum in clinic) in parallel with cells being soaked with various concentrations of ICG, BBG and TB. The cells were then assessed for viability, growth rate, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ) and mitochondrial mass as cytotoxic indices. For the FBS pre‐treated cells, only ROS was examined. Results: Using the MTT assay, cytotoxicity seemed to appear when the dye concentration was above 2.5 mg/mL for ICG but no cytotoxicity for BBG and TB at the concentrations used. Cell growth was arrested at a concentration 1 mg/mL when ICG or BBG were present but no arrest at any of the tested concentrations was found for TB with the cell‐growth curve was slowest for ICG. Cellular ROS levels increased at all concentrations of all dyes, but the increasing slopes were decreased after FBS post‐treatment washout. Conclusions: As a rinse buffer FBS performs much better than BSS in terms of cell rescue, which agrees with a clinical report when autologous whole blood was applied to macular hole surgery. However, FBS pre‐treatment seems to be much better than FBS use as washout buffer in post‐treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A kinetic approach is used to examine the structure of the approximations that lead to the Flory–Huggins expression for the free energy of mixing of a polymer solution. The kinetic model that we study can be solved exactly in one dimension, and also on an infinite-dimensional lattice, in which case it reduces to the Flory–Huggins formula. An approximate solution that interpolates between these limits gives results for a three-dimensional lattice that differ rather little from those of the original Flory–Huggins theory. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which developed a kinetic model to examine the phase separation process that occurs when a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal (PDLC) diffraction grafting is produced by a process of photopolymerization. Information on PDLC device; Methodology of the study; Results and discussion.

Although gelatin has good characteristics in preparing soft capsules, its noticeable shortcomings force researchers to further develop substitutes for gelatin soft capsules. In this paper, sodium alginate (SA), carboxymethyl starch (CMS) and κ -carrageenan (κ -C) were used as matrix materials, and the formula of the co-blended solutions was screened through rheological method. In addition, films of the different blends were characterized by thermogravimetry analysis, SEM, FTIR, X-ray, water contact angle and mechanical properties. The results showed that κ -C had strong interaction with CMS and SA, and the mechanical properties of capsule shell were greatly improved by the addition of κ -C. When the ratio of CMS/SA/ κ -C was 2:0.5:1.5, the microstructure of the films was more dense and uniform. In addition, this formula had the best mechanical properties and adhesion properties, and was more suitable for the production of soft capsules. Finally, a novel plant soft capsule was successfully prepared by dropping method, and its appearance and rupture properties met the requirements of enteric soft capsules. In simulated intestinal fluid, the soft capsules were almost completely degraded within 15 min, and they were superior to the gelatin soft capsules. Therefore, this study provides an alternative formula for preparing enteric soft capsules. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The eNRA properties of FeCoNiCuZn HEA were identified by DFT calculations. • FeCoNiCuZn has the lowest overpotential of 0.22 V with the barrier of 0.954 eV. • Origin of the electrocatalytic activity is closely associated with d -band center. The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia (eNRA) is a promising solution for addressing nitrate pollution while also enabling efficient ammonia synthesis and resource utilization. In this study, we employ a combination of first-principle density functional theory (DFT) calculation and Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the feasibility of eNRA on different crystal planes of FeCoNiCuZn high-entropy alloy (HEA). Our computational results demonstrate that the (1 0 0) crystal plane of FeCoNiCuZn HEA exhibits excellent catalytic activity for eNRA, characterized by an ultra-low overpotential of 0.22 V and a kinetical barrier of 0.954 eV. Moreover, the HEA also demonstrates exceptional selectivity (99.9 %), which suppresses secondary reactions (HER). Through a thorough analysis of the electronic structure, we identify that the electrocatalytic activity of HEA is primarily attributed to the position of the d -band center. This work not only presents a high-performance electrocatalyst candidate for eNRA but also expands the research scope of HEAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TC-HT rescues the cognitive performances in Y-maze and NOR tests better than HT. • TC-HT reduces Aβ and BACE1 levels better than conventional HT. • The expressions of insulin degrading enzyme are increased significantly via TC-HT. • The expression levels of antioxidative SOD2 protein are greatly enhanced via TC-HT. • TC-HT ameliorates neuroinflammation better than conventional HT. Despite continuation of some controversies, Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia nowadays, has been widely believed to derive mainly from excessive β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation, that would increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induce neuroinflammation, leading to neuron loss and cognitive impairment. Existing drugs on Aβ have been ineffective or offer only temporary relief at best, due to blood–brain barrier or severe side effects. The study employed thermal cycling-hyperthermia (TC-HT) to ease the Aβ-induced cognitive impairments and compared its effect with continuous hyperthermia (HT) in vivo. It established an AD mice model via intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of Aβ 25-35 , proving that TC-HT is much more effective in alleviating its performance decline in Y-maze and novel object recognition (NOR) tests, in comparison with HT. In addition, TC-HT also exhibits a better performance in decreasing the hippocampal Aβ and β-secretase (BACE1) expressions as well as the neuroinflammation markers–ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels. Furthermore, the study finds that TC-HT can elevate more protein expressions of insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) and antioxidative enzyme superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) than HT. In sum, the study proves the potential of TC-HT in AD treatment, which can be put into application with the use of focused ultrasound (FUS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Radiometric calibration model is established for high dynamic range imaging system. • Calibration algorithm considering integration time and transmittance is proposed. • Calibration accuracy of the proposed calibration method is significantly improved. • This work benefits to high dynamic range infrared radiometry or thermometry. The infrared imaging system with high dynamic range is one of the most prime candidates in the area of quantitative infrared radiometry and thermometry applications. As the foundation of the measurement processes, radiometric calibration is the inception procedure which will be studied emphatically in this paper. Conventional radiometric calibration algorithm is not suitable for high dynamic range infrared imaging systems that requires the flexibility of adjusting the integration time and transmittance according to characteristics of the detected target. Unfortunately, fixed calibration coefficients will inevitably arouse the deterioration of the calibration accuracy in the case of variable integration time or the transmittance. For the purpose of solving above issues, effects of integration time and transmittance on calibration are analyzed in detail. A modified calibration algorithm considering the integration time and transmittance is proposed to compensate the calibration error caused by the change of these two factors. Experiments confirm that the accuracy of the proposed calibration algorithm can reach about 1 % under the conditions of varying integration time and transmittance, which is effectively applicable to high dynamic range infrared imaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango (Mangifera indica) is a widely enjoyed tropical fruit that is rich in numerous nutrients, but it is also a common allergenic fruit that can induce anaphylactic shock in some mango-sensitized individuals. To protect allergic consumers, a TaqMan real-time PCR is developed herein by targeting the major mango allergen GAPDH gene to identify mango in foods. To prevent interference by other ingredients in the foods, an internal amplification control (IAC) is established and incorporated into the developed qPCR. Under the optimized assay conditions, the developed assay can detect mango genomic DNA down to 10 pg/μL and effectively differentiate mango from 21 other fruits and vegetables. In the incurred assay, the developed qPCR has a limit of detection (LOD) of 10 μg/g and 330 μg/g of mango powder in juice and cookie, respectively. The assay exhibits a board spectrum, successfully detecting six mango cultivars, and has good accuracy and precision as calculated intra- and inter-assay CV values < 10%. Forty commercial processed foods were simultaneously analyzed using the developed method and a qPCR method that is officially recognized by the Taiwan FDA. The sensitivity and specificity of this assay were estimated to be 85% and 100%, respectively, based on the ingredient labeling of these products. Hence, this developed qPCR is an effective method for screening mango in processed foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jiangxititan ganzhouensis gen. et sp. nov. is a new titanosaurian sauropod recovered from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Nanxiong Formation of Jiangxi Province, southern China. It is characterised by: (1) posterior cervical and anterior dorsal centra strongly compressed dorsoventrally; (2) accessory horizontal laminae present within the anterior dorsal pleurocoels; (3) posterior cervical and anterior dorsal neural arches low; (4) posterior cervical and anterior dorsal neural spines deeply bifurcated and widely separated; (5) inverted ‘V’ lamina formed by the left and right medial spinoprezygapophyseal laminae present at the anterior margin of the bifid point in posteriormost cervical and anteriormost dorsal neural spines; (6) triangular fossa formed by the metapophysis, medial and lateral spinoprezygapophyseal laminae present at the anterior margins of the posteriormost cervical and anteriormost dorsal neural spines; (7) postzygapophyses in the posterior cervical vertebrae fan-shaped; (8) medial and lateral spinopostzygapophyseal laminae present in the anterior dorsal vertebrae; and (9) anterior dorsal rib short and gracil. Our phylogenetic analysis places Jiangxititan within the deeply-nested titanosauriform clade Lognkosauria and the sympatric Gannansaurus in a much earlier-diverging lineage. This new discovery thus demonstrates the presence of both early-diverging and late-diverging titanosauriform sauropods in the Late Cretaceous Ganzhou dinosaur fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The I Sonchus i genus in the family Compositae comprises 50 species, spread over Europe, Africa, and Asia [[1]]. As one part of our work on bioactive metabolites from the plant kingdom [[9]], the chemical constituents of I S. brachyotus i were studied and 17 compounds were isolated and characterized. The structures of the isolated compounds were identified on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including SP 1 sp H and SP 13 sp C NMR spectroscopy. Compounds B 2 b , B 4 b - B 10 b , and B 12 b - B 16 b were first separated from I Sonchus i genus, and all of the compounds were isolated from I S. brachyotus i for the first time. [Extracted from the article]

Black soybeans are commonly consumed as health foods and used in traditional Chinese medicine, but they are rarely cultivated as edible sprouts. During germination, the composition of seeds undergoes distinct changes that cause variations in bioactivities. In this study, the water-soluble black soybean polysaccharide (BSPS) was isolated from sprouts harvested at two-day intervals during the first week of seedling growth. The chromatographic profiles of the BSPS in ungerminated seeds showed fraction 1 (F1, about 64 kDa) and fraction 2 (F2, <1 kDa) that degraded during germination. The polysaccharide in F1 fraction of ungerminated seeds was covalently associated with the protein and mainly contained arabinose, galactose, glucose, and galacturonic acid at various levels during germination. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging activities and the reducing power of F1 were highest on the seventh day of germination. The phenolic and flavonoid content significantly increased after the fifth day of germination, suggesting that these ingredients also contributed to the antioxidant activities. During long-term germination, the polysaccharide-protein conjugate in the F1 fraction with enhanced antioxidant activities is regarded as a potential natural antioxidant for the development of functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia is a serious stress state. The nervous system is less tolerant to hypoxia, and cell death due to hypoxia is irreversible. With the incidence of cardiovascular disease gradually increasing, the sudden cardiac death rate is additionally increasing. Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important development, recovery is frequently poor. In a successful recovery population, ~40% of the population was in a vegetative state or subsequently succumbed to their condition, and ~20% had brain damage. Therefore, the recovery of the brain is of particular importance in CPR. Immune disorders are one of the major mechanisms of cerebral resuscitation following CPR. Studies have demonstrated that induced pluripotent stem cell‑derived mesenchymal stem cells (IPSC‑MSCs) have a strong immune regulatory effect during tissue repair and anti‑inflammatory effects. IPSC‑MSCs may inhibit the inflammatory response by means of the inflammatory reaction network to improve brain function following CPR, although the cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Macrophages are a bridge between innate immune and specific immune responses in the body; therefore, it was hypothesized that macrophages may be the important effector cell of the role of IPSC‑MSCs in improving brain function following recovery of spontaneous respiration and circulation subsequent to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In the present study, IPSC‑MSCs were applied to the oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) model. It was observed that intervention with IPSC‑MSCs was able to alter the polarization direction of macrophages. The difference in the proportions of M1 and M2 macrophages was statistically significant at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h (P=0.037, P<0.05) in the OGD + IPSC‑MSCs group (M1, 33.48±5.6%; M2, 50.84±6.9%) and in the OGD group (M1, 83.55±7.3%; M2, 11.41±3.2%), and over time this trend was more obvious. The polarization direction of macrophages is associated with the neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 1 (Notch‑1) signaling pathway. In conclusion, it was observed that IPSC‑MSCs may be associated with altered macrophage polarization, which may be accomplished by inhibiting the Notch‑1 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Fatigue and physical impairments are a major concern in children with multiple sclerosis (MS) and after acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (post-ADEM). We here aimed to evaluate the interaction between fatigue, exercise capacity, motor performance, neurological status, and quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data of 38 children (MS n = 22, post-ADEM n = 16), aged 4–17 years attending our national pediatric MS center, were studied. Fatigue was measured with the Pediatric Quality of Life Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, exercise capacity with the Bruce Protocol, motor performance with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children second edition, HRQoL with the Pediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire, and extent of disability with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Results: Children with MS and post-ADEM experienced more fatigue (p < 0.001), reduced exercise capacity (p < 0.001), and impaired motor performance (p < 0.001), despite low scores on the EDSS. Fatigue, but not the other parameters, was significantly correlated with HRQoL. Fatigue was not correlated with exercise capacity. Conclusion: We confirm the major impact of fatigue on quality of life in children with MS and post-ADEM. Fatigue was not explained by reduced exercise capacity or impaired motor performance. An important finding for clinical practice is that the low EDSS score did not reflect the poor physical functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Instead of extensive dissection of soft tissue around the fracture site, percutaneous techniques have unique advantages in managing displaced fragments, including preservation of soft tissues, less blood loss, lower risk of complications, and earlier functional rehabilitation. However, there are few systematic reviews on the effects of percutaneous reduction and internal fixation (PRIF) for tibial plateau fractures. A systematic search of Cochrane, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases was performed for all publicly available data in March 2017 regarding the use of PRIF in treating monocondylar tibial plateau fractures. Basic information of included articles, surgical information, clinical outcomes, and concomitant soft tissue injuries were collected for analysis. Finally, a total of 20 articles including 561 patients were retrieved. Traffic accident was the most common cause of injury. Percutaneous techniques using bone tamp reduction were described in all studies. The majority (≥85%) of patients were classified as excellent or good according to clinical and radiological Rasmussen scores. The overall complication rate was 6.6%, with loss of reduction the most frequent complication with an incidence of 2.4%. This systematic review indicated that PRIF was an optimal alternative that physicians should consider for the treatment of monocondylar tibial plateau fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel dual adaptive regularized online sequential extreme learning machine (DA‐ROS‐ELM) is proposed to detect network intrusion. The ridge regression factor based on Tikhonov regularization is introduced to solve the over‐fitting and ill‐posed problems. According to the arrived data in each updating phase and all currently available data, dual adaptive mechanism is designed to respectively select the suitable updating mode of output weight β and regularized parameter C. The performance of our algorithm is assessed by NSL‐KDD dataset, and the results show that the DA‐ROS‐ELM can obtain faster training speed, higher accuracy, lower rate of false positive and false negative, and greater generalization performance than other network intrusion detection algorithms. Besides, the adaptive mechanism makes this algorithm can meet the real‐time requirement of the network intrusion system. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a common vestibular disorder. This study was conducted to assess whether the addition of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) could significantly improve the efficacy and acceptability of sertraline in treating PPPD. Methods. PPPD patients were recruited and randomly assigned to control and experiment groups. Patients in both groups received sertraline 50–200 mg/day, and only patients in the experiment group received CBT (twice a week, one hour per time). The treatment was continued for eight weeks. At baseline, week 2, week 4, and week 8, the 25-item Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were used to assess the self-perceived handicapping effects caused by PPPD, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, respectively. The dose of sertraline used and the adverse events in both groups were recorded and analyzed. Results. In total, 91 PPPD patients were randomly assigned to the control group n=45 and experiment group n=46. After eight weeks of treatment, the average DHI scores, HDRS scores, and HARS scores were significantly decreased in both groups. But compared to the control group, the experiment group had significantly lower average DHI score, HDRS score, and HARS score at weeks 4 and 8. Moreover, the dose of sertraline used in the experiment group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and adverse events occurred more frequently in the control group than in the experiment group (48.9% versus 26.1%, p=0.025). Conclusion. These results demonstrated that the addition of CBT could significantly improve the efficacy and acceptability of sertraline in treating PPPD and reduce the dose of sertraline used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved incremental normalized least mean square (INLMS) algorithm is developed by minimizing the Huber cost function, which is robust against impulsive noises, over distributed networks. To significantly suppress impulsive noises, a recursive scheme based on the incremental cooperation strategy is designed for updating the cutoff parameter in the Huber function. Since the proposed algorithm can be interpreted as a variable step size INLMS algorithm, it has faster convergence rate and lower steady-state error than some existing incremental distributed algorithms in both impulsive and non-impulsive noise environments. In addition, to track a sudden change of the unknown system, a modified method of resetting the cutoff parameter is developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two arctangent-based normalized subband adaptive filter (Arc-NSAF) algorithms are proposed, which are derived from two different forms of arctangent cost function and their difference is the order of the arctangent computation and the summation operation of the normalized subband error signal. Benefiting from the excellent property of the arctangent function for suppressing impulsive interferences, the proposed Arc-NSAF algorithms not only possess good robustness against impulsive interferences, but also obtain faster convergence rate for the colored input signals. To further improve the convergence performance of the Arc-NSAFs when identifying sparse system, the proportionate versions of the Arc-NSAF algorithms are also proposed. Simulation results have demonstrated the superiority of the proposed algorithms in impulsive interferences environments as compared to their respective competitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of renewables is fast-growing, in light of smart grid technology development. As a result, the uncertain nature of renewables and load demand poses significant technical challenges to distribution network (DN) daily operation. To alleviate such issues, price-sensitive demand response and distributed generators can be coordinated to accommodate the renewable energy. However, the investment cost for demand response facilities, i.e., load control switch and advanced metering infrastructure, cannot be ignored, especially when the responsive demand is large. In this paper, an optimal coordinated investment for distributed generator and demand response facilities is proposed, based on a linearized, price-elastic demand response model. To hedge against the uncertainties of renewables and load demand, a two-stage robust investment scheme is proposed, where the investment decisions are optimized in the first stage, and the demand response participation with the coordination of distributed generators is adjusted in the second stage. Simulations on the modified IEEE 33-node and 123-node DN demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrate based CO 2 separation process is affected by many factors which mainly includes additive concentration, gas-liquid volume ratio and operating conditions. The most of the investigations on the CO 2 hydrate-based separation in the previous work were carried out around the kinetics and thermodynamics of the hydrate formation along with the CO 2 separation efficiency. However, few studies focus on the morphology of hydrate though the difference of the morphologies directly leads to the difference of the CO 2 separation efficiency. In this work, the morphology along with the kinetics of the hydrate-based CO 2 separation from CO 2 /H 2 (40%/60%) is carried out in the presence of tetra- n -butyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) of 0.29 mol%. The results indicate, firstly, TBAB hydrate formation and TBAB/gas mixture hydrate formation were two independent processes. Secondly, the different operating conditions resulted in different hydrate morphologies. Thirdly, the consumption of CO 2 in low pressure (<2.5 MPa) was controlled by the driving force, while that was controlled by the formed hydrate layer in the gas-liquid interface in the relatively high pressure especially for the initial pressure ≥4.5 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dispatching of hydro-thermal system is a nonlinear programming problem with multiple constraints and high dimensions and the solution techniques of the model have been a hotspot in research. Based on the advantage of that the artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC) can efficiently solve the high-dimensional problem, an improved artificial bee colony algorithm has been proposed to solve DHTS problem in this paper. The improvements of the proposed algorithm include two aspects. On one hand, local search can be guided in efficiency by the information of the global optimal solution and its gradient in each generation. The global optimal solution improves the search efficiency of the algorithm but loses diversity, while the gradient can weaken the loss of diversity caused by the global optimal solution. On the other hand, inspired by genetic algorithm, the nectar resource which has not been updated in limit generation is transformed to a new one by using selection, crossover and mutation, which can ensure individual diversity and make full use of prior information for improving the global search ability of the algorithm. The two improvements of ABC algorithm are proved to be effective via a classical numeral example at last. Among which the genetic operator for the promotion of the ABC algorithm’s performance is significant. The results are also compared with those of other state-of-the-art algorithms, the enhanced ABC algorithm has general advantages in minimum cost, average cost and maximum cost which shows its usability and effectiveness. The achievements in this paper provide a new method for solving the DHTS problems, and also offer a novel reference for the improvement of mechanism and the application of algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Difluoroamino compounds have attracted attention in many fields especially as high energy density materials (HEDMs). This paper review a series of reagents leading to difluoramino compounds, such as difluoroamine, difluorosulfamic acid, difluorosulfamate salts, difluoroaminotriphenylmethane, fluorine, trifluoramine oxide, hypofluorites, tetrafluorohydrazine, Selectfluor™ and nitrogen trifluoride. These reagents are not disorganized but have a certain connection. This review emphasizes the relationship between these reagents and predicts some reactions through this relationship. This paper divides these reagents into four types according to the functional groups of the target reactants, and illustrates the reaction mechanism and source of each reagent in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wave energy converter must be designed to survive and function efficiently, often in highly energetic ocean environments. This represents a challenging engineering problem, comprising systematic failure mode analysis, environmental characterization, modeling, experimental testing, fatigue and extreme response analysis. While, when compared with other ocean systems such as ships and offshore platforms, there is relatively little experience in wave energy converter design, a great deal of recent work has been done within these various areas. This paper summarizes the general stages and workflow for wave energy converter design, relying on supporting articles to provide insight. By surveying published work on wave energy converter survival and design response analyses, this paper seeks to provide the reader with an understanding of the different components of this process and the range of methodologies that can be brought to bear. In this way, the reader is provided with a large set of tools to perform design response analyses on wave energy converters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing work of XML keyword search focus on how to find relevant and meaningful data fragments for a query, assuming each keyword is intended as part of it. However, in XML keyword search, user queries usually contain irrelevant or mismatched terms, typos etc, which may easily lead to empty or meaningless results. In this paper, we introduce the problem of content-aware XML keyword query refinement, where the search engine should judiciously decide whether a user query Q needs to be refined during the processing of Q, and find a list of promising refined query candidates which guarantee to have meaningful matching results over the XML data, without any user interaction or a second try. To achieve this goal, we build a novel content-aware XML keyword query refinement framework consisting of two core parts: (1) we build a query ranking model to evaluate the quality of a refined query RQ, which captures the morphological/semantical similarity between Q and RQ and the dependency of keywords of RQ over the XML data; (2) we integrate the exploration of RQ candidates and the generation of their matching results as a single problem, which is fulfilled within a one-time scan of the related keyword inverted lists optimally. Finally, an extensive empirical study verifies the efficiency and effectiveness of our framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühnis increasingly threatening rice production in China. DNA fingerprints of 220 R. solani strains isolated in 11 provinces of China were established by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR. Cluster analysis of strains isolated from the same region showed high similarity, indicating that the genetic diversity of R. solani strains is significantly related to geographical origin. We assessed potential bio-control abilities of bio-control agents (BCAs) by values according to inhibition zones against R. solani , extracellular hydrolytic enzymes activity and siderophores production in vitro. Fourteen strains with diverse expected bio-control potential were tested for their bio-control efficacy against rice sheath blight caused by 11 pathogenic exemplars and for growth promoting ability, separately. Bio-control efficacy of single bacterium against various R. solani strains differed significantly (−36.23% ∼ 88.24%), while Pseudomonas fluorescens 4aYN11 achieved a relatively stable control efficacy of 32.26%–78.79% and growth promotion of 18.43%. Pearson correlation coefficient between bio-control efficacy of each BCAs and their assessment is 0.717. In the present study, we established an improved strategy for screening stable bio-control agents based on an assessment system, their growth promotion potential and phylogenetic diversity of pathogen R. solani , and the result provides us not only one promising bio-control strain 4aYN11 with an average bio-control efficacy of 56.50%, but also a practical way for future screen of novel BCAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]