Search

The mechanical properties of negative stiffness (NS) metamaterial could be customized and tuned in a wide range for various requirements, achieving programmable performances by the design from the aspect of structure and material. This work investigates the viscoelastic NS metamaterial based on double curved beams using a combined approach of experiments, simulations, and analytical modeling with an emphasis on multistage loading bearing and programmable energy absorption ability. Numerical simulations are first implemented based on the finite element models of three types of metamaterial cells, which provide comparisons of load bearing and energy absorption properties. Further, the effects of geometric parameters of multistage metamaterial element and the mechanisms are analyzed. An analytical discrete model is then innovatively developed to provide straightforward understandings of the geometric effects and reveal the role of viscoelasticity by examining the instantaneous loading responses and rate-dependent behaviors. Experimentally, we fabricate the metamaterial samples using 3D-printing technique and perform compression tests to validate the properties based on different boundary conditions, loading rates and cyclic loading and unloading. Results of this work show the potential of wide programmable room for mechanical properties through structure and functional material design, such as multistage load bearing capacity and energy absorption ability.

In this article, we investigate the Euler-α\alpha equations in a three-dimensional bounded domain. On the one hand, we prove in the Euler setting that the equations are locally well-posed with initial data in Hs(s≥3){H}^{s}\left(s\ge 3). On the other hand, the relationship between the Hs{H}^{s}-norm of the velocity field and the parameter α\alpha is clarified.

Abstract Background Given the characteristics of the rehabilitation therapy specialty and the drawback of the traditional didactic teaching approach, we developed the innovative teaching approach from the students’ perspective using the person–environment–occupation (PEO) model. The new model was developed from the original PEO model to be applied in pedagogical contexts and tailored to the characteristics of an application-oriented specialty, such as rehabilitation therapy. The present study aimed to examine the perceived effectiveness of the PEO innovative teaching model applied to rehabilitation therapy students. Methods A pre–post descriptive study was conducted to compare the perceived effectiveness of the PEO innovative teaching model for two consecutive student cohorts. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit students from two cohorts of junior medical students majoring in rehabilitation therapy in the spring semesters of 2020 and 2021. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of the PEO innovative teaching model. SPSS version 26.0 was used to perform data analysis. Results A total of 112 students were included in the study and completed both pre- and post-tests. Of 112 received questionnaires, 101 were considered as valid questionnaires after the quality check (effective rate 90.18%). In the 2020 and 2021 cohorts, students rated the PEO innovative teaching model significantly higher than the didactic teaching approach in the following aspects: the teaching content is highly professional and valuable; the course is extensively expounded; the clinical reasoning is strengthened; problem-solving ability is developed; communication skills are improved; and teamwork skills are developed. Conclusion The PEO innovative teaching model was perceived to be an effective teaching strategy to enhance students’ academic performance. In addition, three core skills including clinical reasoning, problem-solving ability, and communication skills were improved by the PEO innovative teaching model.

Triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures with excellent properties of stable energy absorption, light weight, and high specific strength could potentially spark immense interest for novel and programmable functions by combining smart materials, e.g. shape memory polymers (SMPs). This work proposes TPMS lattices with hybrid configurations and materials that are composed of viscoelastic and shape-memory materials with the aim to bring temperature-dependent mechanical properties and additional dissipation mechanisms. Different configurations and diverse materials of polylactic acid (PLA), fiber-reinforced PLA, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are induced, generating five types of TPMS lattices, including (Schoen’s I-WP) IWP uniform lattice, IWP lattice with density gradient, hybrid configurations, hybrid materials, and filled PDMS, which are fabricated by 3D printing. The fracture morphologies and the distribution of carbon fibers are demonstrated via scanning electron microscopy with a focus on the influence of carbon fiber on shape-memory and mechanical properties. Shape recovery tests are conducted, which proves good shape memory properties and reusable capability of TPMS lattice. The combined methods of experiments and numerical simulation are adopted to evaluate mechanical properties, which presents multi-stage energy absorption ability and tunable vibration isolation performances associated with temperature and hybridization designs. This work can promote extensive research and provide substantial opportunities for TPMS lattices in the development of functional applications.

MgLi alloys are one of the lightest structural materials, but suffer from severe corrosion due to the hyperactivity of Mg and Li. In this work, an electrically conductive and corrosion-resistant chemical conversion coating was fabricated on a duplex MgLi alloy LA103Z by two different routes: the first route using a conventional immersion treatment (Im-PCCs); and the second route using a brushing conversion treatment (Br-PCCs). Results demonstrate that chemical composition of conversion coatings remained, but surface morphology was altered. The Im-PCC depicts many lamellar CaHPO4 when the immersion time was longer than 60 s. The Br-PCC shows no lamellas on surface till a treatment time of 120 s. These lamellar crystals are detrimental to the electrical contact resistance (ECR), and the ECR for the Br-PCC was one order of magnitude lower than that for the Im-PCCs. Corrosion resistance for Br-PCCs, however, was slightly lower than Im-PCCs.

Abstract To develop a simple scoring system based on baseline inflammatory and nutritional markers to predict the long-term prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 1024 newly diagnosed non-metastatic NPC patients. A total of 15 pre-treatment inflammatory and nutritional markers were collected as candidate variables. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the optimal cutoff points for each parameter. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis. Besides, the Inflammation Nutrition Risk Score (INRS) was calculated for each patient by assigning each independent prognostic factor a score of 1. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that serum albumin (ALB), systemic immune-inflammation index, and monocyte count (M) were independent prognostic factors for OS (P

Abstract Backgrounds Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is a common pathogen causing respiratory diseases in children. This study aimed to characterize epidemiological and disease severity shifts of M. pneumoniae: infections in Guangzhou, China during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods Throat swab samples were obtained from 5405 hospitalized patients with symptoms of acute respiratory infections to detect M. pneumoniae. Differences in epidemiological and clinical characteristics of M. pneumoniae: infections were investigated during 2020–2022 and after COVID-19 pandemic (2023). Results M. pneumoniae were detected in 849 (15.6%, 849/5405) patients. The highest annual positive rate was 29.4% (754/2570) in 2023, followed by 5.3% (72/1367) in 2022, 1.2% (12/1015) in 2021, and 2.0% (11/553) in 2020, with significantly increasing annual prevalence from 2020 to 2023. M. pneumoniae incidence peaked between July and December post-COVID-19 pandemic in 2023, with the highest monthly positive rate (56.4%, 165/293). Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with M. pneumoniae did not vary between periods during and after COVID-19 pandemic except that patients with M. pneumoniae post-COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to develop fever. Patients with severe M. pneumoniae pneumonia (SMPP) were more likely to develop respiratory complications, myocardial damage, and gastrointestinal dysfunction than those with non-SMPP. Patients with SMPP had lower lymphocytes, CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, and higher IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 levels than those with non-SMPP. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid specimens from infected patients were obtained to identify macrolide resistance mutations. Macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae (MRMP) proportion in 2023 was 91.1% (215/236). Conclusion Outbreaks of M. pneumoniae: occurred in Guangzhou, China in 2023 upon Non-pharmaceutical interventions easing. Despite the increasing incidence of M. pneumoniae, the disease severity remained similar during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Re-irradiation with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) remains the primary treatment modality for inoperable locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the rate of radiation-related late adverse effects is often substantially high. Therefore, we aimed to explore failure patterns and individualized treatment plans of re-irradiation for inoperable locally recurrent NPC. Ninety-seven patients who underwent IMRT were retrospectively analyzed. Sixty-two patients had clinical target volume of recurrence (rCTV) delineated, and thirty-five patients had only gross tumor volume of recurrence (rGTV) delineated. Twenty-nine patients developed second local failures after re-irradiation with IMRT (28 cases available). Among those patients, 64.3% (18/28) of patients and 35.7% (10/28) developed in-field or out-field, respectively. No statistical correlation was observed between target volume (rGTV or rCTV) and the local recurrence rate, local failure patterns, grade ≥ 3 toxicity, and survival. Multivariate analysis showed that recurrent T (rT) stage (HR 2.62, P = 0.019) and rGTV volume (HR 1.73, P = 0.037) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). Risk stratification based on rT stage and rGTV volume revealed that low risk group had a longer 3-year OS rate (66.7% vs. 23.4%), lower total grade ≥ 3 toxicity (P = 0.004), and lower re-radiation associated mortality rates (HR 0.45, P = 0.03) than high risk group. This study demonstrates that the delineation of rCTV may not be beneficial for re-irradiation using IMRT in locally recurrent NPC. Patients with low risk were most suitable for re-irradiation, with maximizing local salvage and minimizing radiation-related toxicities. More precise and individualized plans of re-irradiation are warranted.

Abstract Dihydroxyacetone is the most desired product in glycerol oxidation reaction because of its highest added value and large market demand among all possible oxidation products. However, selectively oxidative secondary hydroxyl groups of glycerol for highly efficient dihydroxyacetone production still poses a challenge. In this study, we engineer the surface of BiVO4 by introducing bismuth-rich domains and oxygen vacancies (Bi-rich BiVO4-x) to systematically modulate the surface adsorption of secondary hydroxyl groups and enhance photo-induced charge separation for photoelectrochemical glycerol oxidation into dihydroxyacetone conversion. As a result, the Bi-rich BiVO4-x increases the glycerol oxidation photocurrent density of BiVO4 from 1.42 to 4.26 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode under AM 1.5 G illumination, as well as the dihydroxyacetone selectivity from 54.0% to 80.3%, finally achieving a dihydroxyacetone production rate of 361.9 mmol m−2 h−1 that outperforms all reported values. The surface atom customization opens a way to regulate the solar-driven organic transformation pathway toward a carbon chain-balanced product.

Abstract Objective To develop a prognostic risk model for Bladder Cancer (BLCA) based on mitochondrial-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Methods Transcriptome and clinical data of BLCA patients were retrieved from the TCGA database. Mitochondrial-related lncRNAs with independent prognostic significance were screened to develop a prognostic risk model. Patients were categorized into high- and low-risk groups using the model. Various methods including Kaplan–Meier (KM) analysis, ROC curve analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), immune analysis, and chemotherapy drug analysis were used to verify and evaluate the model. Results A mitochondrial-associated lncRNA prognostic risk model with independent prognostic significance was developed. High-risk group (HRG) patients exhibited significantly shorter survival periods compared to low-risk group (LRG) patients (P

ObjectiveChanges in serum thyroid hormone levels may affect cognitive functioning in euthyroid individuals. This study used representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to comprehensively examine the association of thyroid hormones with different tests of cognitive functioning among US elderly people aged ≥60 years.MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional preliminary study with a total of 734 participants from the NHANES 2011-2012 survey. Thyroid function was measured using competitive binding immune-enzymatic assays, while cognitive functioning was measured using a series of assessments, including the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease-Word Learning (CERAD W-L), Animal Fluency Test, and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Weighted multiple linear regression models and binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between thyroid hormone levels and cognitive functioning. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20.0, and R software.ResultsWeighted multivariable linear regression showed that FT3 was negatively associated with the Animal Fluency Test and DSST (β=-0.113, 95% CI: -3.279, -0.803, P=0.001; β=-0.062, 95% CI: -6.565, -0.470, P=0.024, respectively) after adjustment for potential covariates. subgroup analysis stratified by sex revealed a negative association between FT3 levels and the Animal Fluency Test in men (β=-0.163, 95% CI: -4.643, -1.153, P=0.001). For female participants, FT3 was negatively associated with not only the Animal Fluency Test but also DSST (β=-0.099, 95% CI: -3.543, -0.093, P=0.039; β=-0.093, 95% CI: -10.288, -1.326, P=0.011). Binary logistic regression showed that the significantly increased adjusted odds ratios (aORs) (95% CI) between the risk of impaired cognitive functioning and FT3 across Q3 and Q4 compared with Q1 were 2.025 (1.092, 3.753) and 2.365 (1.261, 4.433), respectively, for DSST in overall participants. Furthermore, there were significant differences between participants with and without impaired cognitive functioning for serum FT3 levels in overall participants based on DSST score (P=0.020).ConclusionsThere was a significant inverse relationship between FT3 levels within the normal range and cognitive functioning after adjusting for potential covariates. Future longitudinal cohort studies should be conducted to determine the causal relationship between thyroid hormone levels and cognitive functioning.

Background: Locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) presents significant treatment challenges, particularly as patient age may influence disease progression and treatment response. Understanding the differences in progression patterns and treatment outcomes between older patient (OP) and non-older patient (NOP) is essential for tailoring effective management strategies. Objectives: We aimed to explore the differences of progression pattern, postoperative treatment, and survival outcome between OP and NOP groups in LARC. Design/Methods: The random survival forest model was used to determine the probability of time-to-event occurrence every 3 months. Patients in the NOP and OP group were both categorized into three risk groups based on progression-free survival nomogram scores. We employed inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to verify our findings. Results: Our results revealed that Groups 1, 2, and 3 experienced peaks in progression within the first 24 months in NOP group. As for OP group, Group 4 reached a progression peak at the 18th month, Group 5 at the 12th month, and Group 6 at the 9th month. In NOP group, high-risk patients who underwent postoperative chemotherapy had significantly improved overall survival compared to those who did not. Additionally, postoperative chemotherapy did not significantly improve prognosis for patients in low-, moderate-, or high-risk groups of OP group. Finally, the validation results of IPTW analysis and SEER database showed compliance with our findings. Conclusion: For NOP group, we recommended close follow-up during the first 2 years. As for OP group, it was suggested to conduct close follow-up at the 18th, 12th, and 9th month for low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups, respectively. Furthermore, postoperative chemotherapy can provide survival benefits for patients in high-risk group of NOP group. However, OP group patients should be informed that the potential benefits of postoperative chemotherapy may be minimal.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to observe the relationship between objectively measured levels of physical activity and cognitive impairment (CI) in the presence or absence of diabetes in middle-aged and elderly hemodialysis patients.MethodsIn this multicenter cross-sectional study, 339 clinically stable hemodialysis patients (210 males; mean age: 67.38 ± 8.07 years) aged ≥55 years were included from 7 dialysis units in Shanghai, China. The Chinese version of the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess the CI. The duration of physical activity at different intensities, including moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as well as light physical activity (LPA), was measured using a triaxial accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+, Pensacola, FL, USA). Logistic regression and multiple linear regression were used for analyses.ResultsThe prevalence of CI was higher in hemodialysis patients with comorbid diabetes (24.3%). In diabetic patients, MVPA (increase per 10 min/day) was negatively associated with CI after adjusting for covariates [(OR = 0.89, 95%CI = 0.79–0.99), p = 0.042]. However, no significant association between physical activity and CI was found in non-diabetic hemodialysis patients. Further analyses revealed that MVPA was positively associated with temporal orientation, attention and calculation and recall in diabetic hemodialysis patients.ConclusionPhysical activity was associated with CI in diabetic hemodialysis patients rather than the non-diabetes group. This study is important for early differential diagnosis of CI and improvement of cognitive status in hemodialysis patients.

Abstract Background Mindfulness-based interventions have been tested to be the effective approach for preventing/reducing burnout in medical students. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the scientific evidence and quantify the pooled effect of MBIs on the burnout syndrome in medical students. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the databases, including PubMed, Embase, ERIC, PsycINFO, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), China National knowledge Information Database (CNKI) and WanFang Database from database inception to February 2023 using the terms of “mindfulness”, “burnout” and “medical students”. Two reviewers independently reviewed the studies, and extracted the data of the eligible studies, as well as assessed the risk of bias. A random-effects model was employed to calculate the standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of overall burnout and its sub-domains of burnout (i.e., emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and academic efficacy). Results Of 316 records in total, nine studies (with 810 medical students) were ultimately included. The four RCT studies demonstrated an overall judgment of some concerns risk of bias, and the overall risk of biases of the five qRCT studies were judged as serious. In term of the SORT, the RCT and qRCT studies were evaluated as level 2 evidence, and the overall strength of recommendation was classified as B (limited-quality patient-oriented evidence). The pooled analysis showed that MBIs were associated with significant small to moderate improvements for medical students’ overall burnout (SMD=-0.64; 95% CI [-1.12, -0.16]; P = 0.009) in the included four RCTs, emotional exhaustion (SMD=-0.27; 95% CI [-0.50, -0.03]; P = 0.03) and academic efficacy (SMD = 0.43; 95% CI [0.20, 0.66]; P

Abstract Background To compare the clinical characteristics and prognoses of patients with isolated regional lymph node recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (irrNPC) who underwent surgery or re-irradiation treatment. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 124 irrNPC patients who underwent initial radiotherapy between January 2010 and December 2020. The staging of regional lymph node recurrence was as follows: 75.8% for rN1, 14.5% for rN2, and 9.7% for rN3. Fifty-five patients underwent regional lymph node surgery (Surgery group), and sixty-nine patients received salvage radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy (Re-irradiation group). The survival rate was compared using Kaplan‒Meier analysis and evaluated by the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze prognostic factors. Results The median follow-up time was 70 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 74%, and the median survival time was 60.8 months. There were no significant differences in 5-year OS (75.6% vs. 72.4%, P = 0.973), regional recurrence-free survival (RRFS, 62.7% vs. 71.1%, P = 0.330) or distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, 4.2% vs.78.7%, P = 0.677) between the Surgery group and Re-irradiation group. Multivariate analysis revealed age at recurrence, radiologic extra-nodal extension (rENE) status, and recurrent lymph node (rN) classification as independent prognostic factors for OS. The rENE status was an independent prognostic factor for DMFS. Subgroup analysis of the Surgery group revealed that the rN3 classification was an adverse prognostic factor for OS. Age at recurrence ≥ 50 years, GTV-N dose, and induction chemotherapy were found to be independent prognostic factors for OS, RRFS, and DMFS, respectively, in the Re-irradiation group. Conclusions For NPC patients with isolated regional lymph node recurrence after initial radiotherapy, those who underwent surgery had survival prognosis similar to those who underwent re-radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. A prospective study is needed to validate these findings.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), as extracellular membrane particles, play a crucial role in intercellular signaling. Research suggests that EVs may be used as biomarkers for specific organs (such as the inner ear) or as drug delivery systems. The molecules released by EVs under stress and healthy conditions are different, and these active molecules can recognize the body's disease state. Research has shown that EVs can be used to deliver drugs to structurally complex organs, such as cochlear sensory hair cells and the brain, as they can cross the blood-labyrinth and blood-brain barrier. In this review, we summarize the biological composition and biogenesis of EVs, separation techniques, characterization methods, potential therapeutic applications as drug delivery carriers, drug loading methods, and potential applications in the treatment of the inner ear within the auditory system.

Abstract Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encoded microRNA BART8-3p (miR-BART8-3p) was significantly associated with the metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). To explore the clinical values of plasma miR-BART8-3p in patients with early NPC. We retrospectively analyzed 126 patients with stage I and II NPC. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to examine the diagnostic performance. Kaplan‒Meier analysis was applied to determine survival differences. Cox regression was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Compared to healthy subjects, plasma EBV miR-BART8-3p was highly expressed in early NPC patients. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve value of plasma miR-BART8-3p combined with plasma EBV DNA was up to 88.9%, 94.4%, and 0.931. Compared to patients with low expression of miR-BART8-3p, patients with high expression of miR-BART8-3p had poorer 5-year overall survival (OS) (98.9% vs. 91.1%, P = 0.025), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS) (100% vs. 83.9%, P

Highlights Research progress of advanced optical fiber sensors in traction batteries and energy storage batteries is summarized. The embedded application mechanisms of different optical fiber sensors in batteries are discussed. Advanced optical fiber sensors adapting to batteries with diverse materials are reviewed. Advanced optical fiber sensors driving the development of future smart batteries are prospected.

Abstract Background Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is prevalent in southern China. EBV DNA is the most useful biomarker in NPC. However, the value of EBV DNA in posttreatment NPC patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains unclear. Methods Sixty-four eligible NPC patients were enrolled between December 2022 and February 2023. Patients who met the following criteria were included: had non-metastatic NPC, completed radical treatment, were first firstly infected with SARS-CoV-2 and their EBV DNA changed from undetectable to detectable. Results At the end of follow-up, 81.25% (52/64) of patients were confirmed not to relapse with undetectable EBV DNA (no-relapse). In addition, 18.75% (12/64) of patients experienced relapse with consistent detection of EBV DNA (yes-relapse). For all 64 patients, the average time from diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to detection of detectable EBV DNA was 35.41 days (2 to 139 days). For 52 no-relapse patients, the average time from EBV DNA changing from detectable to undetectable was 63.12 days (6 to 147 days). The levels of EBV DNA were greater in yes-relapse patients than that in no-relapse patients, and the average of EBV DNA levels were 1216 copies/ml and 53.18 copies/ml, respectively. Using 62.3 copies/mL as the threshold, the area under the curve for EBV DNA was 0.88 for distinguishing yes-relapse patients from no-relapse patients. The sensitivity and specificity were 81.97% (95% CI 0.71–0.95) and 86.67% (95% CI 0.70–0.95), respectively. Conclusion For NPC patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, EBV DNA alone is insufficient for monitoring relapse after radical therapy. Long-term follow-up and underlying mechanistic investigations of EBV DNA changes are urgently needed.

Abstract Propelled by the structure of water oxidation co-catalysts in natural photosynthesis, molecular co-catalysts have long been believed to possess the developable potential in artificial photosynthesis. However, the interfacial complexity between light absorber and molecular co-catalyst limits its structural stability and charge transfer efficiency. To overcome the challenge, a supramolecular scaffold with the [FeCl4] catalytic units is reported, which undergo a water-nucleophilic attack of the water oxidation reaction, while the supramolecular matrix can be in-situ grown on the surface of photoelectrode through a simple chemical polymerization to be a strongly coupled interface. A well-defined BiVO4 photoanode hybridized with [FeCl4] units in polythiophene reaches 4.72 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE, which also exhibits great stability for photoelectrochemical seawater splitting due to the restraint on chlorine evolution reaction by [FeCl4] units and polythiophene. This work provides a novel solution to the challenge of the interface charge transfer of molecular co-catalyst hybridized photoelectrode.

Microstructure induced duplex Hall-Petch effect and its strengthening/toughening mechanisms in SiC@TC4 composites prepared by spark plasma sintering were systematically investigated in the current study. The microstructure characterization demonstrated that SiC additions significantly tailored the microstructure of SiC@TC4 composites. The SiC additions distinctly refined the grain size of SiC@TC4 composites. Increasing SiC addition also changed the microstructure of SiC@TC4 composites from the Widmanstätten type to the duplex type. Large SiC addition almost inhibited the formation of continuous αGB phase in SiC@TC4 composites. The growth of α phase was promoted due to the energy storage effect inside the TC4 alloy powders during the sintering process. SiC addition distinctly improved the tensile strength while seriously deteriorating the plasticity of SiC@TC4 composites compared to that of TC4 alloy. However, SiC@TC4 composites with various SiC additions exhibited the similar plasticity. SiC additions also resulted in different tribological properties of SiC@TC4 composites. The TC4-0.1SiC exhibited the worse tribological properties than that of TC4 alloy due to the softened matrix and low SiC addition. TC4-0.3SiC and TC4-0.5SiC composites exhibited the more excellent tribological properties due to the more SiC addition. A duplex Hall-Petch model was proposed to evaluate the multiple strengthening and toughening mechanisms in the SiC@TC4 composites.

A solution method for the determination of seismic passive earth pressures in narrow cohesive backfill behind gravity walls has been developed using the stress characteristics method. The stress characteristics method is combined with the pseudo-static method in the analysis to consider the effects of seismic forces. The failure mechanisms of backfill are complex when the backfill reaches its passive limit state. The stress characteristics method does not require pre-assumptions about the sliding surface and the plastic region of the backfill. This method automatically calculates the position of the sliding surface. The reliability and reasonableness of the proposed method are verified by comparing the sliding surface and seismic passive earth pressure calculated in this paper with the finite element calculation results, the existing experimental research results and the existing theoretical solution results. The effect of different parameters on seismic passive earth pressure is investigated by internal stress clouds of the backfill and the distribution of passive earth pressure on the retaining wall.

Abstract To develop a prognostic nomogram for individualized strategies on locoregional radiation therapy (LRRT) in patients with de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (dmNPC) treated with chemoimmunotherapy. Ninety patients with dmNPC treated with chemoimmunotherapy and diagnosed between 2019 and 2022 were included in our study. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) to establish a nomogram. With a median follow-up of 17.5 months, the median PFS and OS were 24.9 months and 29.4 months, respectively. Sixty-nine patients and twenty-one patients were included in the LRRT group and without LRRT group, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that younger age, lower EBV DNA copy number before treatment, a single metastatic site, more cycles of chemotherapy and immunotherapy were significantly associated with better OS. A prognostic nomogram was constructed incorporating the above 5 independent factors, with a C-index of 0.894. Patients were divided into low- and high-risk cohorts based on nomogram scores. A significant improvement in OS was revealed in the LRRT group compared with the without-LRRT group for patients in the high-risk cohort (HR = 2.46, 95% CI 1.01–6.00, P = 0.049), while the OS was comparable between the two groups in the low-risk cohort. Our study indicates that LRRT may be associated with better prognosis in high-risk patients with dmNPC in the era of immunotherapy.

Overmodulation method is an effective way to improve the voltage utilization for the PMSM drives, thus achieving higher efficiency and power capacity. However, the voltage jump between the output voltage vectors (OVVs) causes the deterioration of both phase voltage and current performance in the high overmodulation region. In order to eliminate the voltage jump, a novel variable-weight superposition theory (VWST) is proposed. Different from other methods, the phase angle of the reference voltage vectors (RVVs) is introduced to construct the variable-weight factor. This elaborate weight factor is assigned to the jump component with the variation of the phase angle. Eventually, the voltage jump is eliminated, and the total harmonic distortion (THD) of both phase voltage and current is decreased, which means smaller current ripple and torque jitter. In addition, the linearity of the modulation index is guaranteed by a convert block based on the Fourier analysis. With the help of the proposed method, the voltage jump can be eliminated, and better performance of phase voltage and current can be achieved. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by PMSM bench experiments.

Abstract Radial spokes (RS) transmit mechanochemical signals between the central pair (CP) and axonemal dynein arms to coordinate ciliary motility. Atomic-resolution structures of metazoan RS and structures of axonemal complexes in ependymal cilia, whose rhythmic beating drives the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, however, remain obscure. Here, we present near-atomic resolution cryo-EM structures of mouse RS head-neck complex in both monomer and dimer forms and reveal the intrinsic flexibility of the dimer. We also map the genetic mutations related to primary ciliary dyskinesia and asthenospermia on the head-neck complex. Moreover, we present the cryo-ET and sub-tomogram averaging map of mouse ependymal cilia and build the models for RS1-3, IDAs, and N-DRC. Contrary to the conserved RS structure, our cryo-ET map reveals the lack of IDA-b/c/e and the absence of Tektin filaments within the A-tubule of doublet microtubules in ependymal cilia compared with mammalian respiratory cilia and sperm flagella, further exemplifying the structural diversity of mammalian motile cilia. Our findings shed light on the stepwise mammalian RS assembly mechanism, the coordinated rigid and elastic RS-CP interaction modes beneficial for the regulation of asymmetric ciliary beating, and also facilitate understanding on the etiology of ciliary dyskinesia-related ciliopathies and on the ependymal cilia in the development of hydrocephalus.

Abstract To explore the influence of wind speed on the quality of tobacco in this study, we employed a heat pump-powered intensive curing barn and a three-stage curing process. By evaluating the influence of fan parameters on the quality of tobacco leaves at different curing stages, the optimal wind speed was determined. After adopting the optimized wind speed process, the degradation of macromolecular substances was faster, the accumulation of aroma substances was delayed to 55 °C, and the accumulation was more complete. Among them, the contents of reducing sugar and total sugar in flue-cured tobacco leaves were 22.25% and 29.2%, respectively, which were lower than those in the control group. The sugar was converted into more aroma substances, and the total amount of neutral aroma substances was 48.82% higher than that of the control group. The content of related aroma substances increased significantly. The content of petroleum ether extract related to aroma substances increased by 0.93% compared with the control group. The macromolecular substances were degraded more fully than the control group, such as the starch content decreased to 1.56%. The results of metabolomics showed that the contents of aldehydes, heterocyclic compounds, alcohols, ketones and esters increased significantly in different degrees after this process. These results show that the optimization of wind speed parameters can significantly improve the baking quality of tobacco leaves. This study provides a reference for the optimization of the flue-cured tobacco baking process.

INTRODUCTION: To solve the problems of low quality and weak global optimization of the DWA algorithm, especially the problems of unreasonable path planning and the inability to give consideration to speed and driving safety in the process of vehicles passing through dense obstacles, this paper proposed an improved DWA algorithm based on ant colony algorithm. OBJECTIVES: The traffic capacity and computing efficiency of Self-driving Vehicles in complex dense obstacles can be greatly improved. METHODS: Through the obstacle density and distance information obtained by high-precision sensors on the vehicle, the speed objective function is updating in real time by using ant colony algorithm. And the maneuverability and safety performance of vehicles passing through are considering by the way. RESULTS: The experimental results show that this method can obviously improve the vehicle's traveling ability and uneven path planning in the case of dense obstacles, and the number of iterations of the algorithm is reduced by more than 16%. CONCLUSION: The improved DWA algorithm integrated with the ant colony algorithm can effectively improve the operating efficiency of the algorithm, reduce the distance the car must go around outside the obstacles, and improve Car driving safety. The effectiveness and universality of the improved DWA algorithm were verified through experiments.

ObjectiveAlthough several studies have examined the relationship between thyroid function and muscle strength, their population primarily derived from Asian areas, and their results were controversial. Thus, this study aimed to explore the association between thyroid function and handgrip strength (HGS) in the U.S. population.MethodsA total of 1,067 participants from NHANES were categorized into three different age groups including young (

Pure Ti and binary Ti–6Al alloy have been employed as the investigated targets of our research. The strengthening effects of Al element on strength and impact toughness in titanium alloy were systematically investigated. The experimental results indicated that the addition of Al element significantly improved the tensile strength while deteriorating the plasticity and impact toughness. Analysis of deformation mechanisms indicated that addition of Al element strongly inhibited the dislocation movement and deformation twinning in titanium alloy. The theoretical results demonstrated that the dissolution of Al atoms reset the atomic bond configurations and electronic structures of the α-Ti lattice. Therefore, the lattice resistance to dislocation nucleation and dislocation gliding was significantly improved which led to the strong strengthening effect of Al element in α-Ti. The lattice resistance to the shearing atomic motion of deformation twinning was also improved due to the dissolution of Al atoms. Moreover, the strengthening of Al element was revealed at the electronic level by employing the empirical electron theory (EET) of solids and molecules. The strengthening effects of Al element in titanium was also quantitatively evaluated according to the valence electron structure (VES) parameters. A prediction model for the tensile strength of α-type Ti-xAl alloys was proposed based on the quantitative strengthening of Al element. The high accuracy of the prediction model for strength of Ti-xAl alloy was verified by the average error (3.58%) between the computational strength and experimental results.

Few cases of patients with Cheng’s type III portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) have been reported to achieve radical cure without recurrence over time. In this study, we reported on a 55-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of stage IIIa China liver cancer staging (CNLC), PVTT Cheng’s type III, mild cirrhosis, and chronic viral hepatitis B. TACE combined with radioactive iodine-125 ( 125 I) particle implantation was applied to achieve radical treatment with sequential oral anlotinib hydrochloride capsules. This case might serve as a reference for the treatment of this disease.

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most severe malignancies with increasing incidence and limited treatment options. Typically, HCC develops during a multistep process involving chronic liver inflammation and liver fibrosis. The latter is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix produced by Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSCs). This process involves cell cycle re-entry and proliferation of normally quiescent HSCs in an ordered sequence that is highly regulated by cyclins and associated cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) such as the Cyclin E1 (CCNE1)/CDK2 kinase complex. In the present study, we examined the role of Cyclin E1 (Ccne1) and Cdk2 genes in HSCs for liver fibrogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis. To this end, we generated conditional knockout mice lacking Ccne1 or Cdk2 specifically in HSCs (Ccne1 ∆HSC or Cdk2 ∆HSC). Ccne1 ∆HSC mice showed significantly reduced liver fibrosis formation and attenuated HSC activation in the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) model. In a combined model of fibrosis-driven hepatocarcinogenesis, Ccne1 ∆HSC mice revealed decreased HSC activation even after long-term observation and substantially reduced tumor load in the liver when compared to wild-type controls. Importantly, the deletion of Cdk2 in HSCs also resulted in attenuated liver fibrosis after chronic CCl4 treatment. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that only a small fraction of HSCs expressed Ccne1/Cdk2 at a distinct time point after CCl4 treatment. In summary, we provide evidence that Ccne1 expression in a small population of HSCs is sufficient to trigger extensive liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis in a Cdk2-dependent manner. Thus, HSC-specific targeting of Ccne1 or Cdk2 in patients with liver fibrosis and high risk for HCC development could be therapeutically beneficial.

Objective To analyze the levels of serum procalcitonin (PCT) , heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) and mean platelet volume to platelet count ratio (MPV/PLT) in patients with urosepsis and their prognostic value. Methods A total of 140 patients with urosepsis admitted to Zhangjiakou First Hospital from March 2020 to March 2022 were selected. The patients were divided into survival group (105 patients) and death group (35 patients) according to whether they were survived 28 d after hospitalization. A total of 30 healthy subjects matched with gender and age of patients with urosepsis were selected as the control group. Levels of PCT, H-FABP and MPV/PLT were compared among the three groups, and the value of each index alone and in combination for predicting the outcome of urosepsis was evaluated. Results The levels of PCT, H-FABP and MPV/PLT decreased in the order of death group, survival group, and control group (P＜0.05) . Logistic regression analysis showed that low SBP and PaO2/FiO2, high PCT, H-FABP and MPV/PLT levels were independent risk factors for poor outcome in urosepsis (P＜0.05) . The areas under the ROC curve of PCT, H-FABP and MPV/PLT alone in predicting the poor outcome of urosepsis were 0.692, 0.860 and 0.674, respectively, and the area under the ROC curre for combined prediction were 0.862. Conclusion Compared with healthy subjects, the levels of PCT, H-FABP and MPV/PLT are abnormally increased in patients with urosepsis, which may be valuable for prognostic evaluation.

Glutathione transferase P1 (GSTP1) is a multi-functional protein that protects cells from electrophiles by catalyzing their conjugation with glutathione, and contributes to the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and signalling. GSTP1, usually described as a cytosolic enzyme, can localize to other cell compartments and we have reported its strong association with the plasma membrane. In the current study, the hypothesis that GSTP1 is palmitoylated and this modification facilitates its dynamic localization and function was investigated. Palmitoylation is the reversible post-translational addition of a 16-C saturated fatty acid to proteins, most commonly on Cys residues through a thioester bond. GSTP1 in MCF7 cells was modified by palmitate, however, GSTP1 Cys to Ser mutants (individual and Cys-less) retained palmitoylation. Treatment of palmitoylated GSTP1 with 0.1 N NaOH, which cleaves ester bonds, did not remove palmitate. Purified GSTP1 was spontaneously palmitoylated in vitro and peptide sequencing revealed that Cys48 and Cys102 undergo S-palmitoylation, while Lys103 undergoes the rare N-palmitoylation. N-palmitoylation occurs via a stable NaOH-resistant amide bond. Analysis of subcellular fractions of MCF7-GSTP1 cells and a modified proximity ligation assay revealed that palmitoylated GSTP1 was present not only in the membrane fraction but also in the cytosol. GSTP1 isolated from E. coli, and MCF7 cells (grown under fatty acid free or regular conditions), associated with plasma membrane-enriched fractions and this association was not altered by palmitoyl CoA. Overall, GSTP1 is modified by palmitate, at multiple sites, including at least one non-Cys residue. These modifications could contribute to regulating the diverse functions of GSTP1.

Several incidents of electric vehicle combustion across various regions in China have brought the safety concerns associated with new energy vehicles into sharp focus within public discourse. Addressing these concerns, this paper explores maintenance decision-making for new energy vehicles through the application of decision trees and machine learning techniques. Initially, the study analyzes how decision trees and machine learning are employed in crafting maintenance decisions for these vehicles. It involves collecting data through internet searches, followed by statistical analyses and preprocessing to set the groundwork for further inquiry. Furthermore, the research advances by developing and refining decision tree models, which facilitate the integration of fault diagnosis and maintenance decision-making processes for new energy vehicles. This effort culminates in the establishment of a robust decision tree model specifically designed for the maintenance of new energy vehicles, which is subsequently evaluated through a detailed case study. The results are presented: the approximation degree of new energy vehicle fault diagnosis based on the decision tree model is 90.58%, 90.67%, 88.09%, 91.28%, and 90.19% at the significant level of α taking the value of 0.01, 0.05, 0.100, respectively. This study provides theoretical guidance on the application of decision trees for the diagnosis and repair of faults in new energy vehicles so that the development of new energy vehicles in China can be ensured.

The flexible wear-resistant coating on Ti6Al4V substrate was successfully fabricated by plasma powder cladding with Al–Si powder. The microstructure, element distribution and phase component of the flexible wear-resistant coating were characterized by the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and the X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The micro-hardness of coating was measured by micro-hardness tester. The wear-resistance of Al–Si coating was evaluated by sliding friction experiment. The prepared coatings have no cracks and a good metallurgical bonding (MB) with the substrate. The wear-resistance of the coating surface is about twice as much as that of Ti6Al4V substrate. Furthermore, the in-between MB zone has the more excellent wear-resistance (about 7 times). The oxygen free zone can be formed in the MB zone, providing a good toughness for the flexible wear-resistant coating. The wear mode is adhesive wear for the flexible wear-resistant Al–Si coatings. Based on the self-consistent bond length difference (SCBLD) method, the competition among atoms in MB zone as well as the formation mechanism of flexible oxygen free zone is investigated.

This paper presented a comprehensive coordinated control strategy of centralized condenser in high-voltage DC converter station which participated in automatic voltage control (AVC) to perform the reactive power optimization in high proportion new energy areas of Northwest Power Grid. Firstly, the general control idea of AVC was analyzed, and the three-level voltage control mode based on “soft partition” was given. According to the actual situation of Northwest power grid and Qinghai power grid, the coordinated control variables between them were established. Combined with the optimal power flow model, the comprehensive coordinated control strategy of Qaidam condenser participating in AVC was formed. The good applicability of the control strategy was demonstrated by the example of power grid large disturbance encountered during the AVC joint commissioning test of Qaidam condenser. The presented strategy enhances the condenser’s reactive power source effect in the case of steady-state operation. Meanwhile, it ensures instantaneous strong reactive power support capability in the case of power grid fault. As a result, the strategy gives full play to the performance of the condenser, and improves the level of reactive power and voltage regulation of power grid.

Abstract Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are the most common cancers in the head and neck. Therapeutic response-related genes (TRRGs) are closely associated with carcinogenesis and prognosis in HNSCC. However, the clinical value and prognostic significance of TRRGs are still unclear. We aimed to construct a prognostic risk model to predict therapy response and prognosis in TRRGs-defined subgroups of HNSCC. Methods The multiomics data and clinical information of HNSCC patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The profile data GSE65858 and GSE67614 chip was downloaded from public functional genomics data Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Based on TCGA-HNSC database, patients were divided into a remission group and a non-remission group according to therapy response, and differentially expressed TRRGs between those two groups were screened. Using Cox regression analysis and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis, candidate TRRGs that can predict the prognosis of HNSCC were identified and used to construct a TRRGs-based signature and a prognostic nomogram. Result A total of 1896 differentially expressed TRRGs were screened, including 1530 upregulated genes and 366 downregulated genes. Then, 206 differently expressed TRRGs that was significantly associated with the survival were chosen using univariate Cox regression analysis. Finally, a total of 20 candidate TRRGs genes were identified by LASSO analysis to establish a signature for risk prediction, and the risk score of each patient was calculated. Patients were divided into a high-risk group (Risk-H) and a low-risk group (Risk-L) based on the risk score. Results showed that the Risk-L patients had better overall survival (OS) than Risk-H patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed great predictive performance for 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS in TCGA-HNSC and GEO databases. Moreover, for patients treated with post-operative radiotherapy, Risk-L patients had longer OS and lower recurrence than Risk-H patients. The nomogram involves risk score and other clinical factors had good performance in predicting survival probability. Conclusions The proposed risk prognostic signature and Nomogram based on TRRGs are novel promising tools for predicting therapy response and overall survival in HNSCC patients.

Background & Aims: Cholestatic liver injury is associated with c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) activation in distinct cell types. Its hepatocyte-specific function during cholestasis, however, has not yet been established. Therefore, in our present study, we investigated the role of JNK1/2 during cholestasis and dissected its hepatocyte-specific function. Methods: A cohort of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (n = 29) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 37) was examined. Wild-type, hepatocyte-specific knockout mice for Jnk2 (Jnk2Δhepa) or Jnk1 and Jnk2 (Jnk1Δhepa/2Δhepa) were generated. Mice were subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treatment. Finally, Apelin signalling was blocked using a specific inhibitor. As an interventional approach, Jnk1/2 were silenced in wild-type mice using lipid nanoparticles for small interfering RNA delivery. Results: JNK activation was increased in liver specimens from patients with chronic cholestasis (primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis) and in livers of Mdr2-/- and BDL-treated animals. In Jnk1Δhepa/2Δhepa animals, serum transaminases increased after BDL, and liver histology demonstrated enhanced cell death, compensatory proliferation, hepatic fibrogenesis, and inflammation. Furthermore, microarray analysis revealed that hepatocytic Jnk1/2 ablation induces JNK-target genes involved in oxidative stress and Apelin signalling after BDL. Consequently, blocking Apelin signalling attenuated BDL-induced liver injury and fibrosis in Jnk1Δhepa/2Δhepa mice. Finally, we established an interventional small interfering RNA approach of selective Jnk1/2 targeting in hepatocytes in vivo, further demonstrating the essential protective role of Jnk1/2 during cholestasis. Conclusions: Jnk1 and Jnk2 work together to protect hepatocytes from cholestatic liver disease by controlling Apelin signalling. Dual modification of JNK signalling in hepatocytes is feasible, and enhancing its expression might be an attractive therapeutic approach for cholestatic liver disease. Impact and Implications: The cell-specific function of Jnk genes during cholestasis has not been explicitly explored. In this study, we showed that combined Jnk1/2, but not Jnk2 deficiency, in hepatocytes exacerbates liver damage and fibrosis by enhancing Apelin signalling, which contributes to cholestasis progression. Combined cell-specific Jnk targeting may be a new molecular strategy for treating cholestatic liver disease.

Introduction Organ preservation is now considered an acceptable alternative option in distal rectal cancer patients with clinical complete response (cCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT). But the cCR rate is low and about one-third of tumour will regrow, which requires more effective local treatment. CRT combined with intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) might be a promising approach. Additionally, total neoadjuvant therapy using FOLFIRINOX induction chemotherapy improved survival while consolidation chemotherapy improved organ preservation. We assess whether IAC plus CRT and FOLFIRINOX consolidation chemotherapy can improve the chance of organ preservation and survival in distal rectal cancer.Methods and analysis This prospective, monocentric, open-label, single-arm phase II study will include 32 patients with cT3-4NanyM0 distal rectal adenocarcinoma. All patients will receive one cycle of IAC (irinotecan, raltitrexed and oxaliplatin), followed by CRT (50 Gy/25 fractions with concomitant capecitabine) and then with six cycles of FOLFIRINOX (leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and irinotecan). After final evaluation, patients with cCR will receive non-operative management or surgery at their own discretion and others are mandatorily referred to surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy with six cycles of mFOLFOX6 (leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin) will be used for patients with adverse pathological features. The primary endpoint is the rate of complete response (CR; pathological CR or sustained cCR≥2 years). The main secondary endpoints are toxicity, compliance, short-term and long-term oncological outcomes, surgical morbidity and quality of life. This protocol has been designed in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials 2013 guidelines.Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Academic and Ethics Committee of The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities in March 2023. Trial results will be published in peer-reviewed international journals and on the ChiCTR website.Protocol version Registered on 18 April 2023; version #1.Trial registration number ChiCTR2300070620.

Accurate estimation of state of charge (SOC), battery state of health (SOH) and prediction of battery remaining useful life (RUL) of lithium-ion battery are important contents of battery management. It is of great significance to prolong battery life and ensure the reliability of battery system. Researchers all over the world have done a lot of research on battery state evaluation and RUL prediction methods, and proposed a variety of methods. This paper first introduced the definition of SOC and SOH and the existing estimation methods and compared them. Then, the definition of RUL was introduced and the main methods were classified and compared. Finally, the challenges of lithium-ion battery state estimation and RUL prediction were summarized, and the future development direction was proposed.

Taking a dual-motor planetary two-gear transmission drive system as the research object, this paper analyzes the gear shift process as well as the factors influencing gear shift process and major performance indexes, with emphasis on the effects of torque unloading and loading processes on vehicle impact during gear shift stage. In view of the collaborative operation of main motor, auxiliary motor and gear shift actuator of transmission, this paper proposed a control method and strategy process featuring multiple collaborative gear-shift torque. Then, a simulation platform was built for the vehicle and power system to simulate torque unloading and torque recovery under specified acceleration conditions. Compared with non-collaborative torque controls, the vehicle impact under the multiple collaborative control was reduced by 60% in torque unloading stage and decreased by 80% in torque recovery stage. Furthermore, prototype transmission control units and powertrain systems were developed, and installed on the entire vehicle for validation test. The test results further demonstrated that multiple collaborative gear-shift torque control could effectively reduce the vehicle impact during unloading and loading processes, with gear shift time shortened and gear shift comfort improved.

Rice noodle is traditional food in China, with a soft, flexible and smooth texture, which is loved by the general public. However, there is a wide variety of rice noodles and has a strong regional character. At present, in the rice noodle quality evaluation indicators and the selection of raw material for rice noodles, there is no unified national standards for rice noodles class. Therefore, this paper reviewed the classification of rice noodles based on the existing relevant studies, and discussed the quality evaluation indexes of rice noodles from three aspects: sensory evaluation, physicochemical characteristics and texture characteristics of rice noodle. We also analyzed and compared the indicators and suitable range of rice suitable for rice noodle production, and discussed the influence of the production process of rice noodle on the quality of rice noodle from five aspects: fermentation, milling, pasting, aging and drying. Finally, the main points of controlling the risk of microbial contamination during the production of rice noodle were discussed, order to provide reference for establishing unified evaluation standard for rice noodles and principles of rice noodles selection, optimizing rice noodles process technology, and minimizing the risk of microbial contamination during the production of rice noodles.

In wind power generation system, studying the correlation characteristics between wind speed and power fluctuation can provide a good theoretical basis for wind power prediction, and has important reference value for enhancing the security and stability of power system. Aiming at the problem that power does not fluctuate linearly in real time with wind speed fluctuation, this paper has divided the wind speed and power fluctuation process by K-means clustering algorithm and fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm respectively, and obtained five different fluctuation processes. Then, the correlation characteristics of wind speed and power fluctuation under different fluctuation processes are analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis method and grey correlation analysis method. The results show that the maximum correlation coefficient is 0.492 5 and the minimum correlation coefficient is 0.331 8 in K-means clustering. In fuzzy C-means clustering, the maximum correlation coefficient is 0.486 8 and the minimum correlation coefficient is 0.329 3. Under all fluctuation processes, the grey correlation degree is around 0.5, indicating that the trend of power fluctuation is similar to that of wind speed fluctuation.

In this article, we explored the effects of ultrafine particle (UFP) peak exposure on inflammatory biomarkers and blood lipids using two novel metrics—the intensity of peaks and the frequency of peaks. We used data previously collected by the Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure and Health project from participants in the Greater Boston Area. The UFP exposure data were time-activity-adjusted hourly average concentration, estimated using land use regression models based on mobile-monitored ambient concentrations. The outcome data included C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 2 (TNF-RII), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides and total cholesterol. For each health indicator, multivariate regression models were used to assess their associations with UFP peaks (N = 364–411). After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status and education level, an increase in UFP peak exposure was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with an increase in TNF-RII and a decrease in HDL and triglycerides. Increases in UFP peaks were also significantly associated with increased IL-6 and decreased total cholesterol, while the same associations were not significant when annual average exposure was used. Our work suggests that analysis using peak exposure metrics could reveal more details about the effect of environmental exposures than the annual average metric.

Metamaterials have exotic physical properties that rely on the construction of their underlying architecture. However, the physical properties of conventional mechanical metamaterials are permanently programmed into their periodic interconnect configurations, resulting in their lack of modularity, scalable fabrication, and programmability. Mechanical metamaterials typically exhibit a single extraordinary mechanical property or multiple extraordinary properties coupled together, making it difficult to realize multiple independent extraordinary mechanical properties. Here, the pixel mechanics metamaterials (PMMs) with multifunctional and reprogrammable properties are developed by arraying uncoupled constrained individual modular mechanics pixels (MPs). The MPs enable controlled conversion between two extraordinary mechanical properties (multistability and compression-torsion coupling deformation). Each MP exhibits 32 independent and reversible room temperature programming configurations. In addition, the programmability of metamaterials is further enhanced by shape memory polymer (SMP) and 4D printing, greatly enriching the design freedom. For the PMM consisting of m × n MPs, it has 32 ^( ^m ^ × ^n ^) independent room temperature programming configurations. The application prospects of metamaterials in the vibration isolation device and energy absorption device with programmable performance have been demonstrated. The vibration isolation frequencies of the MP before and after programming were [0 Hz–5.86 Hz], [0 Hz–13.67 Hz and 306.64 Hz–365.23 Hz]. The total energy absorption of the developed PMM can be adjusted controllably in the range of 1.01 J–3.91 J. Six standard digital logic gates that do not require sustained external force are designed by controlling the closure between the modules. This design paradigm will facilitate the further development of multifunctional and reprogrammable metamaterials.

The conflict between strength and toughness of plastic/rubber blends is still a great challenge in the world, especially for incompatible plastic/rubber blends. Here, we prepared carboxylated styrene-butadiene rubber latex (XSBR) and polyacrylamide (PAM) composites by a solution mixing method. FTIR and XPS results show a weak hydrogen bond between carboxyl groups of XSBR and amino groups of PAM, which is not enough to enhance the miscibility of XSBR and PAM. As a result, large parts of PAM precipitate to construct a macro continuous phase. A small part of PAM evolves from nanowires to a three-dimension nano network owing to the hydrogen bond inductive effect. Consequently, a leaf vein bionic nano-micro structure is proposed to interpret the great reinforcement effect in Young's modulus (112 times), tensile strength (almost 6 times) as compared to 5XSBR/5PAM with pure XSBR, which is almost equal to the mechanical properties of pure PAM. Meanwhile, the elongation at break and toughness of 5XSBR/5PAM is almost 1567% and 3370% of pure PAM, respectively. This may provide a new road to solve the conflict between strength and toughness.

Background The retrospective study was conducted to compare the efficacy of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) for localized ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) by evaluating clinical and radiologic outcomes. Methods We reviewed 151 patients to assess the effects of treatment for one or two levels localized OPLL. Perioperative parameters, such as blood loss, operation time and complications, were recorded. Radiologic outcomes, such as the occupying ratio (OR), fusion status, cervical lordosis angle, segmental angle, disc space height, T1 slope, and C2–C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), were assessed. Clinical indices, such as the JOA scores and VAS scores, were investigated to compare the two surgical options. Results There were no significant differences in the JOA scores or VAS scores between the two groups ( p > 0.05). The operation time, volume of blood loss and incidence of dysphagia were significantly less in the ACDF group than in the ACCF group ( p < 0.05). In addition, cervical lordosis, segmental angle and disc space height were significantly different from their preoperative evaluations. No adjacent segment degenerated in the ACDF group. The subsidence rates of implants were 5.2% in the ACDF group and 28.4% in the ACCF group. The degeneration of the ACCF group was 4.1%. The incidence of CSF leaks was 7.8% in the ACDF group and 13.5% in the ACCF group. All the patients ultimately achieved successful fusion. Conclusion Although both options achieved satisfactory primary clinical and radiographic efficacies, ACDF was associated with a shorter surgical procedure, less intraoperative blood loss, better radiologic outcomes, and lower incidence of dysphagia than ACCF.

Abstract Background Accumulated evidence suggests that RING finger proteins (RNFs) are involved in the carcinogenesis of cancers. However, RNF38, a member of the RNF protein family, has not been studied in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods RNF38 expression was analyzed by RT-PCR, Western blotting and Immunohistochemistry. Biological functions of RNF38 were evaluated by cell growth, colony formation, apoptosis, migration and invasion assays in vitro. Xenograft growth and lung metastasis models were conducted to investigate the effect of RNF38 in vivo. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation, and CHX assay were implemented to detect the interaction among RNF38 and ACTN4. Results RNF38 was significantly downregulated in NPC cells and tissues. Immunohistochemistry implied that loss of RNF38 was an independent prognostic factor for poor outcomes of NPC patients. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments showed that RNF38 inhibited proliferation and metastasis in NPC in vitro and in vivo. Upregulation of RNF38 promoted apoptosis of NPC cells to etoposide but not cisplatin. ACTN4 was upregulated in NPC and negatively correlated with RNF38. Mechanistic investigations suggested that RNF38 inactivates the NF-𝛋B and ERK1/2 signaling pathways by inducing ubiquitination and degradation of ACTN4. RNF38 suppress the development of NPC by interacting with ACTN4. Conclusions RNF38 plays a potential cancer suppressor gene role in NPC tumorigenesis and is a prognostic biomarker in NPC.

Abstract Objective There is an urgent need to identify novel biomarkers of LN to reflect renal histological changes. This study aims to investigate urinary G3BP levels in LN patients and their association with renal disease activity both clinically and pathologically. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 119 lupus nephritis patients were recruited. Thirty patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD) and 27 healthy volunteers were also recruited as controls. Urinary G3BP was tested by ELISA. Renal histopathology was reviewed by an experienced renal pathologist. Other clinical variables were collected through chart review. Results The levels of uG3BP were significantly increased in active LN patients compared to those in inactive LN (p 3.0 g/24h, uG3BP levels were higher in proliferative LN than in membranous LN (p=0.04). They could discriminate the two pathogenic types of LN (AUC=0.72), and they also positively correlated with AI (ρ=0.389, p=0.008) and scores of hyaline deposits (ρ=0.418, p=0.006). While in patients with 24-h urine protein ≤ 3.0 g/24h, uG3BP levels were not significantly different between proliferative and membranous LN, and there was no apparent relationship between uG3BP levels with AI or with scores of hyaline deposits, but they correlated positively with scores of cellular/fibrocellular crescents (ρ=0.328, p=0.04). Conclusion uG3BP is a non-invasive biomarker for clinically and histologically reflecting disease activity. It is associated with active histological changes and can be used as a surrogate biomarker when the renal biopsy is impractical.