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Purpose: Patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) can be classified into various molecular subtypes and benefit from some precise therapy. Nevertheless, the interaction between metabolic and immune subtypes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unknown. We hope to identify molecular subtypes related to metabolism and immunity in pancreatic cancer Methods: Unsupervised consensus clustering and ssGSEA analysis were utilized to construct molecular subtypes related to metabolism and immunity. Diverse metabolic and immune subtypes were characterized by distinct prognoses and TME. Afterward, we filtrated the overlapped genes based on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the metabolic and immune subtypes by lasso regression and Cox regression, and used them to build risk score signature which led to PC patients was categorized into high- and low-risk groups. Nomogram were built to predict the survival rates of each PC patient. RT-PCR, in vitro cell proliferation assay, PC organoid, immunohistochemistry staining were used to identify key oncogenes related to PC Results: High-risk patients have a better response for various chemotherapeutic drugs in the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database. We built a nomogram with the risk group, age, and the number of positive lymph nodes to predict the survival rates of each PC patient with average 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year areas under the curve (AUCs) equal to 0.792, 0.752, and 0.751. FAM83A, KLF5, LIPH, MYEOV were up-regulated in the PC cell line and PC tissues. Knockdown of FAM83A, KLF5, LIPH, MYEOV could reduce the proliferation in the PC cell line and PC organoids Conclusion: The risk score signature based on the metabolism and immune molecular subtypes can accurately predict the prognosis and guide treatments of PC, meanwhile, the metabolism-immune biomarkers may provide novel target therapy for PC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The preparation mechanism of P-SiNPs/Ag@C was discussed in detail. • Anode materials derived from deposited silicon waste toward LiBs. • Electrochemical performance of P-SiNPs/Ag@C anode was investigated. Owing to the rapid advancement of the photovoltaic industry, a lot of photovoltaic (PV) silicon waste will be generated. Thus, the recycling and reuse of waste silicon have become particularly important, both for environmental remediation and economic benefits. In this work, a special structure of porous Si nanoparticles embedded nano-Ag and coated carbon layer (P-SiNPs/Ag@C) was produced by silver-assisted chemical etching (Ag-ACE) the deposited silicon waste. The special porous structure and carbon layer coating can effectively address the volume expansion issues during charge/discharge. The intercalated Ag nanoparticles greatly reduced the transfer impedance and enhanced the electrical conductivity of the anode material. As a result, the novel-designed P-SiNPs/Ag@C anode can maintain a prominent reversible capacity (1521 mAh·g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 after 50 cycles) and outstanding rate performance (1099 mAh·g−1 at 2 A g−1). When the current density at 1 A g−1, the specific capacity still maintains at 706 mAh·g−1 over 300 cycles. The superiority of the prepared P-SiNPs/Ag@C structures was further confirmed by Comsol Multiphysics software. Impressively, the synthesis route provides a novel avenue for value-added utilization of residual silicon waste resources from EB refining silicon and the preparation of high-performance lithium battery silicon-based anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reduce the influence of abnormal data on load forecasting effects and further improve the training efficiency of forecasting models when adding new samples to historical data set, an ultra-short-term load dynamic forecasting method considering abnormal data reconstruction based on model incremental training is proposed in this paper. Firstly, aiming at the abnormal data in ultra-short-term load forecasting, a load abnormal data processing method based on isolation forests and conditional adversarial generative network (IF-CGAN) is proposed. The isolation forest algorithm is used to accurately eliminate the abnormal data points, and a conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN) is constructed to interpolate the abnormal points. The load-influencing factors are taken as the condition constraints of the CGAN, and the weighted loss function is introduced to improve the reconstruction accuracy of abnormal data. Secondly, aiming at the problem of low model training efficiency caused by the new samples in the historical data set, a model incremental training method based on a bidirectional long short-term memory network (Bi-LSTM) is proposed. The historical data are used to train the Bi-LSTM, and the transfer learning is introduced to process the incremental data set to realize the adaptive and rapid adjustment of the model weight and improve the model training efficiency. Finally, the real power grid load data of a region in eastern China are used for simulation analysis. The calculation results show that the proposed method can reconstruct the abnormal data more accurately and improve the accuracy and efficiency of ultra-short-term load forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing complexity of the power grid, the precision of the thermal power units' execution of automatic generation control (AGC) commands is gradually increasing the impact on the online regulation of the power grid. The deviation between the actual output of thermal power units and the AGC command of the grid will not only affect the consumption of new energy output, but also endanger the safe operation of the grid. This paper introduces "deep learning" technology to solve the problem. Firstly, an AGC command execution effect identification and confidence evaluation algorithm (ACEEI-CEA) is proposed. The algorithm builds a neural network model to accurately predict the unit output and the confidence evaluation of the prediction results. Next, a high-dimensional input preprocessing strategy based on variational autoencoder (VAE) is proposed to reduce the dimensionality of the model input attributes, improving the convergence and accuracy of the model. Finally, an AGC optimal command fast inversion solution method (AOCFISM) is designed. This method transforms the unit output deviation problem into an objective optimisation problem. And improve the efficiency of solving the optimal AGC command value by constraining the unit command value. The calculation results show that the error of the prediction results of the model proposed in this paper is 5% lower than that of the traditional neural network. The difference between the output value of the optimal AGC command and the expected output value obtained is less than 0.5 MV, which can support AGC online decision-making.© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. • An AGC command execution effect identification and confidence evaluation algorithm (ACEEI-CEA) is proposed. • Results show the ACEEI-CEA performs well in command prediction compared to the state-of-the-art methods. • ACEEI-CEA achieves confidence assessment of predicted values. • The pre-processing strategy based on variational autoencoder shortens the training time of the model. • The AGC optimal command fast inversion solution method (AOCFISM) can obtain the AGC optimal command value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To make a propensity-score matching analysis on the clinical application of gastric-jejunum pouch anastomosis (GJPA) and continuous jejunal pouch and residual stomach anastomosis combined with jejunal lateral anastomosis (Contin-L). The clinic data of 287 patients who received distal gastrectomy from January 2015 to January 2019 were collected retrospectively. The enrolled patients were divided into the GJPA group and the Contin-L group according to the reconstruction method used. Clinical data and operation complications were analyzed. Compared with Contin-L group, the duration of digestive tract reconstruction in the GJPA group was shorter, and the overall cost in the GJPA group was lower. No obvious intergroup differences were found in other intraoperative data, early surgical outcomes, incidence rates of reflux gastritis, anastomotic ulcer, postoperative nutritional and hematological indicators. The postoperative subjective feelings in the GJPA group were similar with those in the Contin-L groups. Addition of jejunal lateral anastomosis is not necessary for GJPA following distal gastrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the repair level and spare parts stocking decision problems, generally METRIC type methods and level of repair analysis (LORA) are used separately. In practical engineering, the repair level of large-scale systems is usually judged according to the failure modes. The method of judging the repair level by the maintenance success rate is no longer applicable. In the case of multiple failure modes of a large-scale system, considering the requirements of system availability, we build a spare parts stocking decision and service logistics cost optimization model of a two-echelon service logistics system. Aiming at the spare parts stocking allocation problem caused by multiple failure modes, we improve the iterative greedy heuristic algorithm to find the global optimal stocking allocation strategies. Finally, through the analysis of typical examples, the correctness and effectiveness of the model and algorithm are verified. The impact of multifailure mode spare parts stocking allocation strategies on availability and service logistics cost is analyzed. The research results are helpful to simplify the support engineering design process of system engineers and have certain theoretical and application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roles of Ca/Fe phases on selenium (Se) enrichment behavior in fly ash during coal combustion were investigated by examining the Ca/Fe mineralogy of various ash samples, exploring the binding forms of Se in fly ashes, and performing bench-scale adsorption experiments (150–1000 ℃). The results indicated that Se capture by fly ash is a function of flue gas temperature, particle size, and more importantly, the contents and form of Ca/Fe in combustion ash. Physical condensation/adsorption was mainly determined by temperature and particle size, contributing to less than 25% of total Se in fly ash. The remaining Se in fly ash was captured by chemical reactions of Se with ash components. Calcium in ash mostly was present as Ca-aluminosilicates, Ca-silicates, gypsum, or complex Ca-Al-Si-Fe-O mixed phases. Iron mainly occurred as Fe-silicates and some crystalline minerals including hematite, magnetite, and maghemite. Although adsorption experiments found that only CaO was able to capture SeO 2 (g) at high temperature (> 900 ℃), the roles of lime as well as Fe2+-/Fe3+-silicates (conclusion from previous literature) can be excluded, as inferred from the small amount of CaO in ash and the lack of correlation between Fe-silicate and Se. Sequential extraction experiments and electron microscopy analysis revealed that Fe-bound Se was dominant and iron oxides might be the critical phase for Se retention. Simulated adsorption experiments demonstrated that magnetite had the best Se capture ability among the iron minerals. The extraction of Fe-bound Se from coal fly ash required more stringent conditions than that of physiosorbed-Se and Ca-bound Se. Therefore, pretreatment methods including magnetic separation, flotation, size segregation, etc. were suggested to be used prior to acid leaching. This study can provide scientific basis for developing high-efficiency Se recovery methods or Se emission control techniques for high-Se coal utilization in thermal power stations. [Display omitted] • Selenium partitioned into solid particles primarily by surface chemical reaction with Fe-/Ca-bearing minerals (78.1–90.9%). • Calcium and iron mostly occurred as amorphous phases in ash having limited roles in Se enrichment. • Grain-scale distribution of Se revealed the large Fe-rich domains extremely enriching in Se (0.1–0.36 wt%). • Combustion process can greatly enrich Se in fly ash, particularly concentrated in ash containing Zn-containing Fe-oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorophylls (Chls) are essential cofactors for photosynthesis. One of the least understood steps of Chl biosynthesis is formation of the fifth (E) ring, where the red substrate, magnesium protoporphyrin IX monomethyl ester, is converted to the green product, 3,8-divinyl protochlorophyllide a. In oxygenic phototrophs, this reaction is catalyzed by an oxygen-dependent cyclase, consisting of a catalytic subunit (AcsF/CycI) and an auxiliary protein, Ycf54. Deletion of Ycf54 impairs cyclase activity and results in severe Chl deficiency, but its exact role is not clear. Here, we used a Δycf54 mutant of the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to generate suppressor mutations that restore normal levels of Chl. Sequencing Δycf54 revertants identified a single D219G amino acid substitution in CycI and frameshifts in slr1916, which encodes a putative esterase. Introduction of these mutations to the original Δycf54 mutant validated the suppressor effect, especially in combination. However, comprehensive analysis of the Δycf54 suppressor strains revealed that the D219G-substituted CycI is only partially active and its accumulation is misregulated, suggesting that Ycf54 controls both the level and activity of CycI. We also show that Slr1916 has Chl dephytylase activity in vitro and its inactivation up-regulates the entire Chl biosynthetic pathway, resulting in improved cyclase activity. Finally, large-scale bioinformatic analysis indicates that our laboratory evolution of Ycf54-independent CycI mimics natural evolution of AcsF in low-light-adapted ecotypes of the oceanic cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus, which lack Ycf54, providing insight into the evolutionary history of the cyclase enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM) with a scanning laser (SL) to independently control melt pool shape has the potential to achieve part building with high geometric accuracy and complexity. An innovative dynamic convection boundary (DCB) method is proposed to develop a reduced-order finite element (FE) model to accelerate the thermal analysis of a SL process for AM. The DCB method approximates the thermal conduction of the adjacent material around the bead region by using a convection boundary condition that can be dynamically adjusted during the numerical solution. Thereby, a smaller problem domain and fewer elements are involved in the reduced-order FE modelling. A non-oscillating equivalent bar-shaped heat source was also introduced as a simplified substitution for a high oscillation frequency SL heat source. The DCB-based reduced-order thermal model achieved over 99 % accuracy compared to the full-scale model but reduced the element amount by 73 % and the computational time by 58 %. The use of the bar-shaped equivalent heat source can further enhance computational efficiency without compromising the prediction accuracy of a high oscillation frequency SL process. The DCB-based reduced-order thermal modelling method and equivalent heat source could be adopted to boost extensive parametric analysis and optimisation for novel AM processes. Study on large structures AM could also be facilitated by simplifying the computation at critical regions. This study can also enable efficient thermal analyses of different manufacturing processes, such as welding, cladding, and marking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the correlation between right posteroinferior bile duct (RPBD) angulation and the occurrence of bile duct stones in patients with hepatolithiasis. Methods: Patients presenting with hepatolithiasis in our hospital from January 2011 to July 2016 were divided into two groups according to whether their RPBD was affected by stones. A statistical analysis for the relevant factors associated with bile duct stone formation in the RPBD was performed. Results: The binary logistic regression results showed that stenosis of the right hepatic duct [odds ratio (OR): 7.313; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.131–12.945)] and the angle of the RPBD (OR 0.896; 95%CI 0.877–0.916) were risk factors associated with the formation of RPBD stones. Further, the receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that, when the angle of the RPBD was less than 44.58°, stones were able to form more easily in the RPBD. Conclusion: The occurrence of bile duct stones is well correlated with sharp bile duct angulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a modified mosaic approach method (MMAM), which considers the subgrid‐scale effect of topographical height on atmospheric forcing, is introduced. Two experiments are designed to study the effects of MMAM on surface meteorological variables in Western China within the weather research and forecasting (WRF) modelling framework during June to August 2010. Results show that MMAM has obvious effects on surface 2 m temperature improvement. Simulations of the surface 2 m temperature with MMAM are closer to the observed values over a wide range of areas, particularly around the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau and the Tianshan Mountains. However, MMAM does not show obvious improvements on 2 m relative humidity and on 10 m wind velocity. By investigations of two selected grid cells, we find that MMAM always shows a consistent deviation (positive or negative) on 2 m temperatures compared with the control experiment throughout the study period, which is related to the fact that the difference in topographical height within the model grid does not vary with time; the differences of surface energy illustrate that MMAM directly affects the upward longwave radiation due to a revision of the forcing temperature, resulting in a redistribution of surface energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique isocyclic E ring of chlorophylls contributes to their role as light-absorbing pigments in photosynthesis. The formation of the E ring is catalyzed by the Mg-protoporphyrin IX monomethyl ester cyclase, and the O2-dependent cyclase in prokaryotes consists of a diiron protein AcsF, augmented in cyanobacteria by an auxiliary subunit Ycf54. Here, we establish the composition of plant and algal cyclases, by demonstrating the in vivo heterologous activity of O2-dependent cyclases from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana in the anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus and in the non-photosynthetic bacterium Escherichia coli. In each case, an AcsF homolog is the core catalytic subunit, but there is an absolute requirement for an algal/plant counterpart of Ycf54, so the necessity for an auxiliary subunit is ubiquitous among oxygenic phototrophs. A C-terminal ~40 aa extension, which is present specifically in green algal and plant Ycf54 proteins, may play an important role in the normal function of the protein as a cyclase subunit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic pain has been associated with alterations in brain structure and function that appear dependent on pain phenotype. Functional connectivity (FC) data on chronic back pain (CBP) is limited and based on heterogeneous pain populations. We hypothesize that failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) patients being considered for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy have altered resting state (RS) FC cross-network patterns that 1) specifically involve emotion and reward/aversion functions and 2) are related to pain scores. Methods: RS functional MRI (fMRI) scans were obtained for 10 FBSS patients who are being considered for but who have not yet undergone implantation of a permanent SCS device and 12 healthy age-matched controls. Seven RS networks were analyzed including the striatum (STM). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test evaluated differences in cross-network FC strength (FCS). Differences in periaqueductal grey (PAG) FC were assessed with seed-based analysis. Results: Cross-network FCS was decreased (p<0.05) between the STM and all other networks in these FBSS patients. There was a negative linear relationship (R2 = 0.76, p<0.0022) between STMFCS index and pain scores. The PAG showed decreased FC with network elements and amygdala but increased FC with the sensorimotor cortex and cingulate gyrus. Conclusions: Decreased FC between STM and other RS networks in FBSS has not been previously reported. This STMFCS index may represent a more objective measure of chronic pain specific to FBSS which may help guide patient selection for SCS and subsequent management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—Defects in the grouting layer are hidden problems of underground engineering quality, while it plays an important role in the stability of the overall structure of the tunnel segment, the earth pressure transmission and impermeability. There is no accurate means for the detection of the grouting layer so far. As a non-destructive testing method with single detection surface, the impact-echo method is widely used in the detection of cracks, delamination, voids, etc. in concrete structures. In this paper, the impact-echo method was used to detect the grouting defect in grouting-segment structure. Combined with the finite element and the test structure, the signal was analyzed in the time-frequency domain. The results show that the finite element results are in good agreement with the experimental results and the accuracy of frequency distribution characteristics results meets the engineering needs. The time-frequency analysis can provide a foundation for the qualitative judgment of defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Si/SiOx@ZnO@C anode with excellent cycling stability is synthesized from waste silicon. • The fabrication process of Si/SiOx@ZnO@C is discussed in detail. • The addition of zinc oxide and carbon improves the structure stability and transport of Li+ of the electrode. • Excellent electrochemical performance of Si/SiOx@ZnO@C anode is investigated. Silicon anode is deemed to be one of the most promising anode materials and has attracted wide attention from all walks of life. However, its commercial application is severely limited owing to the high cost, serious volume expansion, and poor electrical conductivity. Herein, Si/SiOx nanoparticles were successfully prepared by sand milling the low-cost volatile deposited silicon waste from electron beam refining polycrystalline silicon. Furthermore, the atomic layer deposited (ALD) zine oxide on Si/SiOx nanoparticles enhances the integrity of the electrode structure and provides a steady solid electrolyte layer (SEI). The outer layer is wrapped by a uniform carbon shell to restrict the volume expansion and boost the conductivity of the electrode during lithiation/delithiation. Impressively, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) employing the Si/SiOx@ZnO@C anodes display excellent rate performance (up to 844.48 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1) and cycle stability (912.7 mAh g−1 at 1A g−1 over 50 cycles). Moreover, the Si/SiOx@ZnO@C electrode exhibits high initial coulombic efficiency (76.8 %) and the reversible specific capacity maintains at 846 mAh g−1 over 200 cycles with a current density at 0.5 A g−1. The improvement is ascribed to the synergistic effect of triple-protected layer that effectively enhances the stability of SEI and the conductivity of the electrode. This work not only opens a novel and economic strategy for the manufacture of high-performance silicon-based anode but also furnishes an original approach for recycling and resource utilization of silicon waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of inexpensive and high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of crucial significance for rechargeable metal-air batteries, but remains challenging. Herein, we report an ingenious bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst integrating ZIF-derived carbon-anchored Fe/Ni single atoms, FeNi alloy nanoparticles, and graphene support (denoted as Fe/Ni-NC||FeNi@G). Synergizing highly active Fe single atoms for the ORR and highly efficient FeNi alloy nanoparticles for the OER, the as-constructed Fe/Ni-NC||FeNi@G catalyst exhibits outstanding bifunctionality; the potential gap between the OER potential at 10 mA cm–2 and the ORR half-wave potential is only 0.618 V, outperforming the benchmark Pt/C + Ir/C catalyst and most transition metal-based bifunctional catalysts reported in the literature. More importantly, the Fe/Ni-NC||FeNi@G-driven zinc-air battery (ZAB) delivers a maximum power density of ∼200 mW cm–2, a specific capacity of 876 mAh g–1, and excellent cycling stability with negligible voltage decay up to 500 hours (3000 cycles). This work provides an effective approach to designing highly efficient non-noble metal multifunctional catalysts for practical applications in rechargeable metal-air batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic pain affects 50% of adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). Although central sensitization is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of this chronic pain, no studies have examined differences in functional connectivity of the brain between patients with SCD with and without chronic pain. We performed an observational cohort study using resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) of the brain on adults with SCD with and without chronic pain. We tested the hypothesis that, compared to those without chronic pain, those with chronic pain would have differences in functional connectivity between the periaqueductal grey (PAG) and other regions of the brain. Twenty-two adults with SCD, 15 with chronic pain and 7 without chronic pain, as well as 10 African-American controls, underwent rsfMRI of the brain. When SCD patients with chronic pain were compared to those without chronic pain, significant differences in connectivity were noted between the PAG and 9 regions of the brain, including several in the default mode network, a network involved in introspection that has been implicated in other chronic pain syndromes. Changes in functional connectivity between patients with SCD with and without chronic pain suggest a mechanism for chronic pain that involves neuro-plastic changes to the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The segment-grout structure with defects was simulated experimentally. • STFT and WT were carried out to analyze the signals. • Energies of wavelet packet were calculated. Abstract In shield tunneling construction, grout of precast concrete segments is widely applied to various geological conditions. However, the connection performance between the grout and segments after the grout cannot be determined by destructive means, such as coring. The impact-echo method is used extensively in nondestructive testing of civil engineering structures. Nevertheless, there are inadequate researches on determining defects in segment-grout structure. In this paper, the segment-grout structure was simulated experimentally and artificial defects were introduced in the grout. The Short-time Fourier Transform (STFT) and Wavelet Transform (WT) of signals obtained by the impact-echo method were carried out to analyze the time-frequency domain features of the impact-echo signals with and without defects in the grout. On this basis, defects in the grout layer were determined. Finally, energies of wavelet packet were calculated and characteristic relative energy indexes of wavelet packet at different positions were detained. It’s found that the values at positions without defects are relatively low. It’s demonstrated that the signal analysis of impact-echo method has to combine time-frequency domain information and energy distribution for detection of defects in the grout layer. Wavelet transform and energy analysis methods are effective means to detect defects in the grout layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor usually resistant to chemotherapy. MicroRNAs play important roles in modulation of carcinogenesis and chemoresistance, which miR-16 has been reported to mediate chemoresistance in many types of cancers. However, the role of miR-16 in HCC remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether miR-16 is participated in chemoresistance in HCC and shed light on the underlying molecular mechanisms. The findings of the current study discover that miR-16 is down-regulated in HCC tissue and cell lines. The results demonstrate that the inhibition of miR-16 renders resistance to paclitaxel in vitro and in vivo by targeting IKBKB via NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting that miR-16 may be a meaningful therapeutic potential to overcome drug resistance in HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's energy conservation has received extensive attention. As the most important sector of the economy, the manufacturing industry plays a vital role in China's energy issues. Conserving energy in China's manufacturing industry (CMI) is of great significance for both China and the world. In this paper, the co-integration method is applied to test the long-term equilibrium relationship among energy consumption and three explanatory variables during the period 1980–2013. Furthermore, we use scenarios analysis method to forecast the energy demand of CMI. The results show that if the government does not properly manage the economy, the energy demand of CMI will reach 2558.97 Mtce in 2020 and 2594.18 Mtce in 2030. On the contrary, if the government attaches importance to energy conservation and takes necessary actions, energy demand in the industry will reduce to 1113.79 Mtce by 2030, which implies a large energy conservation potential for CMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of the chlorophyll biosynthesis in Escherichia coli, demonstrating the cyclase activity. It demonstrates the conversion of endogenous protoporphyrin IX into chlorophyll by the expression of 12 genes which turned E. coli cells green, establishing a platform for engineering photosynthesis using a heterotrophic organizm as a model.

The biosynthesis of (bacterio)chlorophyll pigments is among the most productive biological pathways on Earth. Photosynthesis relies on these modified tetrapyrroles for the capture of solar radiation and its conversion to chemical energy. (Bacterio)chlorophylls have an isocyclic fifth ring, the formation of which has remained enigmatic for more than 60 y. This reaction is catalyzed by two unrelated cyclase enzymes using different chemistries. The majority of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria use BchE, an O2-sensitive [4Fe-4S] cluster protein, whereas plants, cyanobacteria, and some phototrophic bacteria possess an O2-dependent enzyme, the major catalytic component of which is a diiron protein, AcsF. Plant and cyanobacterial mutants in ycf54 display impaired function of the O2-dependent enzyme, accumulating the reaction substrate. Swapping cyclases between cyanobacteria and purple phototrophic bacteria reveals three classes of the O2-dependent enzyme. AcsF from the purple betaproteobacterium Rubrivivax (Rvi.) gelatinosus rescues the loss not only of its cyanobacterial ortholog, cycI, in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, but also of ycf54; conversely, coexpression of cyanobacterial cycI and ycf54 is required to complement the loss of acsF in Rvi. gelatinosus. These results indicate that Ycf54 is a cyclase subunit in oxygenic phototrophs, and that different classes of the enzyme exist based on their requirement for an additional subunit. AcsF is the cyclase in Rvi. gelatinosus, whereas alphaproteobacterial cyclases require a newly discovered protein that we term BciE, encoded by a gene conserved in these organisms. These data delineate three classes of O2-dependent cyclase in chlorophototrophic organisms from higher plants to bacteria, and their evolution is discussed herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify shield grouting quality based on impact echo method, an impact echo test of segment-grouting (SG) test piece was carried out to explore effect of acoustic impedance of grouting layers and grouting defects on impact echo law. A finite element numerical simulation on the impact echo process was implemented. Test results and simulation results were compared. Results demonstrated that, under some working conditions, finite element simulation results and test results both agree with theoretical values. The acoustic impedance ratio of SG material influenced the echo characteristics significantly. But thickness frequency could not be detected under some working conditions because the reflected energy is weak. Frequency feature under grouting defects was more complicated than that under no grouting defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a small amount of MgO dopant can help to improve the performance of Na-β″-Al 2 O 3 electrolyte by enhancing the relative density, promoting the formation of homogeneous and compact microstructure, and increasing the content of β″-Al 2 O 3 phase. In this work, the effects of the amount of MgO dopant and the sintering temperature on the relative density, β″ phase content, and performance of the Na-β″-Al 2 O 3 electrolyte were studied in detail, respectively. The samples were characterized in respects of relative density, closed-cell porosity, XRD, SEM, bending strength, and AC Impedance. The results demonstrated that the addition of MgO dopant significantly improved the densification rate of Na-β″-Al 2 O 3 ceramics. The crucial temperature phase for pore elimination was 1500–1550 °C. Samples doped with 0.2–2.0 wt% MgO formed homogeneous microstructures associated with grain size refinement of the final compact at 1550 °C. Macro defects appeared when sintering temperature reached to 1580 °C. The total conductivity showed a linear dependence on the temperature (200–700 °C), which fitted well with the Arrhenius equation. Na-β″-Al 2 O 3 ceramics doped with 0.4 wt% MgO showed the best bending strength (283 MPa) and preferable ionic conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristic green color associated with chlorophyll pigments results from the formation of an isocyclic fifth ring on the tetrapyrrole macrocycle during the biosynthesis of these important molecules. This reaction is catalyzed by two unrelated cyclase enzymes employing different chemistries. Oxygenic phototrophs such as plants and cyanobacteria utilize an oxygen-dependent enzyme, the major component of which is a diiron protein named AcsF, while BchE, an oxygen-sensitive [4Fe-4S] cluster protein, dominates in phototrophs inhabiting anoxic environments, such as the purple phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides. We identify a potential acsF in this organism and assay for activity of the encoded protein in a strain lacking bchE under various aeration regimes. Initially, cells lacking bchE did not demonstrate AcsF activity under any condition tested. However, on removal of a gene encoding a subunit of the cbb3-type respiratory terminal oxidase, cells cultured under regimes ranging from oxic to micro-oxic exhibited cyclase activity, confirming the activity of the oxygen-dependent enzyme in this model organism. Potential reasons for the utilization of an oxygen-dependent enzyme in anoxygenic phototrophs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doping a small amount of TiO 2 can promote the relative density, increase the content of β″-Al 2 O 3 phase and improve the microstructure of β″-Al 2 O 3 electrolyte. In this work, the influence of microstructure, relative density, content of β″ phase and performance of β″-Al 2 O 3 electrolyte were studied by adjusting the doping amount of TiO 2 and the sintering temperature. Samples were characterized with respect of density, closed-cell porosity, XRD, SEM, bending strength, AC Impedance Spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the addition of TiO 2 can significantly improve the densification rate of β″-Al 2 O 3 ceramics. 1500–1550 °C is the key temperature section of eliminating pore process. At 1550 °C, the sample of 0.1–0.8 wt.% TiO 2 formed homogeneous microstructure associated with a refinement in the grain size of the final compact. Macro defects appeared when the sintering temperature reached to 1580 °C or the content of TiO 2 was 1.6–2.0 wt.%. The total conductivity linearly depended on the temperature and fitted well with the Arrhenius equation. β″-Al 2 O 3 ceramics showed the best bending strength and ionic conductivity at 1550 °C when the doping amount of TiO 2 is 0.4 wt.% and 0.8 wt.%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major photopigment of the cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina is chlorophyll d, while its direct biosynthetic precursor, chlorophyll a, is also present in the cell. These pigments, along with the majority of chlorophylls utilized by oxygenic phototrophs, carry an ethyl group at the C-8 position of the molecule, having undergone reduction of a vinyl group during biosynthesis. Two unrelated classes of 8-vinyl reductase involved in the biosynthesis of chlorophylls are known to exist, BciA and BciB. The genome of Acaryochloris marina contains open reading frames (ORFs) encoding proteins displaying high sequence similarity to BciA or BciB, although they are annotated as genes involved in transcriptional control (nmrA) and methanogenesis (frhB), respectively. These genes were introduced into an 8-vinyl chlorophyll a-producing ΔbciB strain of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, and both were shown to restore synthesis of the pigment with an ethyl group at C-8, demonstrating their activities as 8-vinyl reductases. We propose that nmrA and frhB be reassigned as bciA and bciB, respectively; transcript and proteomic analysis of Acaryochloris marina reveal that both bciA and bciB are expressed and their encoded proteins are present in the cell, possibly in order to ensure that all synthesized chlorophyll pigment carries an ethyl group at C-8. Potential reasons for the presence of two 8-vinyl reductases in this strain, which is unique for cyanobacteria, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-energy source (MES) method featuring a high-power scanning laser (SL) was used to achieve independent control of layer width and height in a wire-based directed energy deposition (w-DED) process. In the MES system, a plasma transferred arc (PTA) was employed to create an initial melt pool and melt the wire, and a SL was used to reshape the melt pool and precisely control the bead width. The distance between the SL and the PTA and different laser scanning strategies were investigated. Images of the melt pool with varying scanning widths were captured. A bead shape control strategy was demonstrated by using the wire feed speed to control layer height and the laser scanning width to control the layer width independent of each other. The advancing speed was adjusted in proportion to the scanning width to keep the same specific process energy of the SL. The experimental results demonstrated that the MES approach provides independent control of layer width and height. Some single-pass walls were built using the MES to show that MES can be used for w-DED additive manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Recycling environmentally hazardous SPW into industry raw material. • Removing the oxide layer of SPW by economically-attractive vacuum sintering. • Na 3 AlF 6 -enhanced slag refining exhibited a larger reaction interface. • A smoother remove pathway of BO 3 3 - was created. • The removal rate of impurity boron has increased by 40.92%. Recycling of environmentally hazardous silicon powder waste (SPW) is conducive to achieving "carbon neutrality". However, the high-cost and low-efficiency impurity removal limit the industrial recovery of SPW. Herein, a combination strategy of vacuum sintering and Na 3 AlF 6 -enhanced slag refining is demonstrated to upgrade the traditional recycling process. The cost-effective vacuum sintering can remove 89.44% of oxygen in silicon waste, indicating that the oxide layer of SPW is removed effectively. In the Na 3 AlF 6 -enhanced CaO–SiO 2 slag, the optimal Na 3 AlF 6 content and CaO/SiO 2 mass ratio are set to 20 wt% and 1.6 based on thermodynamic simulation. Na 3 AlF 6 reduces the liquidus temperature and increases the interfacial tension of the slag system. Moreover, in Na 3 AlF 6 -containing slag, the diffusion pathway of BO 3 3 - is dredged. As a result, the silicon-slag interface is adjusted from a half-spherical to a cylindrical surface, and the interface area has increased by 14.69%. The boron removal rate by Na 3 AlF 6 -strengthened slag refining is 40.92% faster than that of traditional slag. This work improves the removal efficiency of key impurity boron, reducing the cost of SPW recovery. Based on economic evaluation, this strategy offers a commercially available way to achieve the high-value recycling of silicon waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface oxide layer (SiO 2 layer) is still one of the main limitations of the recovery and purification of silicon kerf waste (SKW). Herein, to recycle SKW as the low-boron silicon ingot, an effective combination strategy that digests the surface oxide layer by pretreatment and then removes impurity boron by slag treatment is proposed. In the pretreatment part, the surface oxide layer of SKW was successfully digested into a liquid phase after mixing 10.5 wt% cryolite and sintering at 1400 °C, and the obtained SKW-ceramic has a dense structure. Moreover, when holding at 1400 °C for 2 h, the boron concentration in SKW-ceramic was decreased to 5.75 ppmw, and the removal rate reaches 14.18%. In the slag treatment part, CaO and SiO 2 are selected as slag agents. The CaO/SiO 2 mass ratio and reaction temperature were determined to be 2 and 1600 °C based on thermodynamic simulation. Besides, Na 2 O formed due to the dissociation of cryolite, which can enhance the oxygen ion activity and boron-absorbing capacity of the slag. The experimental result exhibited that the boron removal efficiency reached 86.56%. The simplicity and scalability of this strategy provide a better alternative for the recovery of SKW. [Display omitted] • Hazardous silicon kerf waste is recycled into a useful low-boron silicon ingot. • Mixing cryolite to digest SiO 2 surface layer of silicon kerf waste. • SKW-ceramic sintering can remove impurity boron to a certain extent. • The formed Na 2 O enhanced the boron-absorbing and boron-holding of the slag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A design method of a phononic crystal structure with a local effect is introduced, and the mechanism and influencing factors (elastic modulus, density, local layer thickness) of the bandgap are analyzed. The finite element method is used to calculate the eigenfrequency. The first bandgap width accounts for more than 98% of the frequency below 20 000 Hz. Two kinds of materials with different wave velocities are arranged periodically to form a two-dimensional local effect structure. Due to the influence of the local effect, when the elastic wave propagates in the local layer, the wave propagation will be restrained, and the eigenfrequency spectrum presents a series of discrete energy levels. The material parameters and structural parameters of the transmission layer have a great influence on the bandgap. The first bandgap is an ultra-wide low frequency bandgap, and the bandgap frequency ranges from 238 to 18857 Hz. This periodic structure with the local effect has great potential application value in noise and vibration suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starshaped PbWO4crystals have been synthesized in large scale by a hydrothermal route. The influence of reaction time and temperature is studied. It is observed that the luminescence intensity of the same sample increases dramatically with decreasing the temperature, the Luminescence intensity of the different PbWO4particles increases with prolonging the reaction time. The luminescence intensity of the particles is affected by the reaction time and temperature. © 2009 WILEYVCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mixing sintering aids to digest SiO 2 surface-layer of silicon kerf waste. • The addition range of sintering aids was designed by thermodynamic simulation. • The emerged liquid slag phase has a positive effect on the separation of B. • After a few sintering aids mixed, the removal efficiency of B reached 45.32%. • The mechanism of removing B in silicon kerf waste was discussed in detail. Removing the SiO 2 surface-layer and impurity boron in diamond wire saw silicon powder waste (DWSSP) are two difficulties in the field of photovoltaic waste recycling. Aiming at the two difficulties, this paper proposes a method of mixing sintering aids to digest the SiO 2 layer and remove impurity boron. Firstly, sintering aids Al 2 O 3 and CaO were mixed into DWSSP, and DWSSP-ceramics were prepared by pressure-less sintering. The mixed sintering aids reacted with the SiO 2 surface-layer of DWSSP, and the formed liquid slag phase plays a role in promoting the densification of DWSSP-ceramics (the relative density reached 85.97% when sintered at 1300 °C). Secondly, to obtain low-boron silicon, the slag phase was separated from DWSSP-ceramics by smelting treatment. The results showed that an optimal boron removal effect of 45.32% was reached after only 10.11 wt% sintering aids were mixed into DWSSP. The mechanism that the liquid slag phase gathered impurity boron during the sintering process, and then promoted boron to remove from silicon was reasonably deduced. The method of mixing sintering aids to remove the SiO 2 surface-layer and impurity boron provides a novel insight into purification and recovery of DWSSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In this study, we compared the expression levels of CXCR3 and Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) on CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of healthy donors and patients with CRC. In addition, we analyzed the expression of CXCR3 and PD-1 on CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes in tumor and para-cancerous tissues from patients with CRC. • Further analysis of the relationship between CXCR3 and PD-1 expression and the clinicopathological features of patients with CRC found that patients with lymph node metastases had increased percentages of CXCR3+ PD-1+ CD8+ and CXCR3+ PD-1+ CD4+ T cells in tumor tissues. • In addition, we found that the expressions of CXCR3+ PD-1+ on CD8+ and CD4+ T cells were lowest in the right-side colon cancer. • Although no correlation between CXCR3 and microsatellite status has been found in this study, it may provide new ideas for the pathogenesis and immunotherapy of CRC. • Our study provides a theoretical basis for understanding how CXCR3 and PD-1 are involved in the process of CRC development and identifying new targets for tumor therapy. Clinical application of immunotherapy represented by Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody has changed the treatment paradigm for colorectal cancer (CRC), and tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes are critical for anti-PD-1 therapy in CRC. However, there are few studies on the relationship between the expression CXCR3 on T lymphocytes and the clinical aspects of CRC. In this study, we analyzed the expression levels of CXCR3 and PD-1 in CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes in healthy donors (HDs) and patients with CRC. We detected the expressions of CXCR3 and PD-1 on T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of healthy donors as well as peripheral blood, tumor tissue and para -cancerous tissues of patients with CRC using flow cytometry. We also analyzed the relationship between the expressions of CXCR3 and PD-1 on T lymphocytes and the pathological characteristics of CRC using t test. Expression of CXCR3 on tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes was lower, whereas the expression of PD-1 was higher than that on para -cancerous tissues and PB in patients with CRC. In patients with lymph node metastasis of CRC, the expressions levels of CXCR3+ PD-1+ on tumor-infiltrating CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes were higher than those in patients without lymph node metastasis. The levels of CXCR3+ PD-1+ expressions differed depending on the primary tumor site. Expressions of CXCR3 and PD-1 on tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes are related to the development of CRC and metastasis, providing clues for exploring the pathogenesis of CRC and developing new strategies for tumor immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal CO 2 hydrogenation into value-added chemicals driven by abundant solar energy is a promising and sustainable approach for achieving carbon neutralization. Herein, we demonstrate the photo-induced interaction between Ni nanoparticles and TiO 2 support (Ni@TiO 2) for maneuvering the selectivity of photothermal CO 2 hydrogenation. According to experimental characterizations and theoretical simulations, the formed strong metal-support interaction between Ni and TiO 2 can significantly enhance the adsorption of key intermediate *CO for further hydrogenation, thus tuning the CO 2 hydrogenation pathway toward CH 4. Consequently, the Ni@TiO 2 catalyst exhibits a CH 4 production rate of 286.5 mmol g cat −1 h−1 with an 81.8% selectivity under full-spectrum solar light irradiation. Moreover, in situ experimental characterizations and theoretical calculations suggest that photothermal CO 2 hydrogenation over Ni@TiO 2 undergoes a stepwise hydrogenation pathway to methane. This work offers insights into a simple approach for designing efficient nonprecious metal-based CO 2 methanation catalysts. [Display omitted] • A photo-induced approach to construct strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) between Ni and TiO 2 (Ni@TiO 2) is developed. • The selectivity of photothermal CO 2 hydrogenation is rationally maneuvered toward CH 4 production. • The SMSI between Ni and TiO 2 can notably enhance the adsorption of key intermediate *CO for further hydrogenation toward CH 4. • The adsorbed CO and *CHO species are proposed to be the essential intermediates for CO 2 methanation over Ni@TiO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A strategy for the Si recovery and Al removal from DWSSP was proposed. • The main impurity Al in DWSSP was derived from perlite filter aid. • The introduction of Na 2 CO 3 can create impurity-trapped LPS-layer on DWSSP. • The elimination mechanism of impurity Al from DWSSP-ceramic was studied. • The strategy has the potential for DWSSP utilization in the PV industry. Recycling diamond wire sawing silicon powders (DWSSP) from photovoltaic (PV) silicon wafers production has become an urgent problem. The challenge of recovery is the surface oxidation and contamination of the ultra-fine powder with impurities during the sawing and collection process. In this study, a clean recovery strategy of Na 2 CO 3 -assisted sintering and acid leaching was proposed. Due to the Al contamination from the perlite filter aid, the introduced Na 2 CO 3 sintering aid can react with the SiO 2 shell of DWSSP to form a slag phase with accumulated impurity Al during the pressure-less sintering process. Meanwhile, the evaporation of CO 2 contributed to the formation of ring-like pores surrounded by a slag phase, which can be easily removed by acid leaching. When 15 % Na 2 CO 3 was added, the content of impurity Al in DWSSP could be reduced to 0.07 ppm with a removal rate of 99.9 % after acid leaching. The mechanism suggested that the addition of Na 2 CO 3 can trigger the liquid phase sintering (LPS) process of the powders, and the cohesive force and liquid pressures difference generated during the process facilitated the transportation of impurity Al from the SiO 2 shell of DWSSP to the formed liquid slag phase. The efficient silicon recovery and impurity removal of this strategy demonstrated its potential for solid waste resource utilization in the PV industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A 3D steady-state FE model was developed for thermal analysis of hybrid plasma arc-laser additive manufacturing. • Artificial conductivity in three orthogonal directions was applied in the melt pool to compensate for the melt pool convection effect. • This model has advantages over the commonly used volumetric heat source models. • The melt pool geometry at different process conditions was analysed. • The full-field distributions of the cooling rate and thermal gradient were obtained. Hybrid plasma transferred arc (PTA)-laser additive manufacturing (AM) has the potential to build large-scale metal components with high deposition rate and near-net shape. However, the process is complex with many parameters adjustable for process control, which determine the thermal behaviour and thus the final structure and properties of the deposited components. In this study, a three-dimensional steady-state finite element model with two independent circular surface heat sources was developed, validated, and used to analyse the thermal behaviour in hybrid PTA-laser AM of Ti-6Al-4V. Artificial conductivity in three orthogonal directions was applied in the melt pool to compensate for the melt pool convection effect. The predicted melt pool geometry, heat-affected zone and thermal cycles had good agreement with the corresponding experimental data. This model has advantages over the widely used volumetric heat source model, since it is more representative of the energy sources used, giving accurate thermal prediction for a wide range of process parameters. As the heat source parameters in this model are directly linked to the actual arc/laser size, it enables to capture heat source size effect on the hybrid process. In addition, it is easier to calibrate compared to the model with volumetric heat sources due to the fewer empirical parameters involved. It was found that in the investigated ranges of all the parameters, the melt pool geometry is more sensitive to laser power and travel speed compared to arc-laser separation distance and laser beam size. The full-field distributions of the cooling rate and temperature gradient in the hybrid process were obtained and the roles that different process parameters played on them were also studied, which provided useful thermal information for metallurgical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Recoil pressure is the key factor for spattering and expansion of molten pool. • Intensity of vortex generated at groove bottom is greater than that at the side. • More recast layer and redeposition of melt result in a poor surface roughness of groove. • Surface roughness of groove gradually decreased with increasing laser moving speed. Laser surface texturing is considered as a novelty and feasible technology to fabricate some micro-feature due to the non-contact, high precision and processing efficiency. However, it is difficult to deeply understand the material removal mechanism and predict the surface topography due to a confined heat-affected zone and extremely short time in the laser machining process. In this research, based on the mixed phase theory and level-set method, a modified heat-mass transfer and hydrodynamic model was proposed for deeply analyzing the influence of various physical factors such as recoil pressure, buoyancy, surface tension, gravity and thermal-mass transport on the material removal and micro-texture topography evolution at a mesoscale level. The analysis of hydrodynamic behaviors and temperature fields of the molten pool indicated that the melts sputtering and molten pool expansion caused by the recoil pressure was the dominant factor responsible for micro-texture formation during laser action. The reflux induced by the surface tension and gravity as well as the residual effect of the melts flowing upward were the main factors of the occurrence of a vortex during the molten pool cooling. Finally, the effects of laser parameters on the micro-feature topography were discussed based on the experiments and simulation model. The diameter and depth of the hole as well as the width and depth of the groove gradually increased with increasing frequency and pulse duration. The laser moving speed had less effect on the width of the groove, but it had great effect on the surface roughness of the groove. This work can be beneficial to understand the material removal mechanism and provide a guide for the parameters optimization of laser processing at a mesoscale level. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The secondary prevention trials of Alzheimer's disease (AD) require an enrichment strategy to recruit individuals with imminent cognitive decline at the preclinical stage. Previously, we demonstrated a variant neural correlates of episodic memory (EM) function in apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carriers. Herein, we investigated whether this variation was associated with longitudinal EM performance. This 3-year longitudinal study included 88 normal elderly subjects with EM assessment and resting-state functional MRI data at baseline; 48 subjects (27 ε3 homozygotes and 21 ε4 carriers) underwent follow-up EM assessment. In the identified EM neural correlates, multivariable regression models examined the association between hippocampal functional connectivity (HFC) and longitudinal EM change. Independent validation was performed using the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset. At baseline, the EM neural correlates were characterized in the Papez circuit regions in the ε3 homozygotes, but in the sensorimotor cortex and cuneus in the ε4 carriers. Longitudinally, the ε4 carriers exhibited a negative association of the baseline HFC strength in the EM neural correlates with annual rate of EM change (R2 = 0.25, p = 0.05). This association also showed a trend in the ADNI dataset (R2 = 0.42, p = 0.06). These results indicate that hippocampal hyperconnectivity in the variant EM neural correlates is associated with imminent EM decline in ε4 carriers, which may serve as a promising enrichment strategy for secondary prevention trials of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and construction of Ag2S heterostructures capable of significantly separating photocarriers is a significant challenge in photocatalysis. In this study, CdS/Ag2S heterojunction composite photocatalyst is fabricated through a simple one‐step hydrothermal method. The composite structure is characterized by X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV‐visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy. Under visible light irradiation, the photocatalytic activity of the sample is evaluated by degradation of methyl orange. The photoelectric chemical performance of the CdS nanoparticles modified by Ag2S is closely related to the ratio of Cd/Ag cation. The experimental results show that the sample ACS‐2 (CdS‐Ag2S = 1:1) composite has higher charge transfer/separation efficiency and longer carrier life. The degradation efficiency reaches 74.4% within 30 min, and the degradation rate constant is 0.047 min−1. After four cycles, the degradation efficiency of the catalyst only decreases slightly, indicating that the CdS/Ag2S catalyst has good stability and repeatability. Meanwhile, the study of the photocatalytic mechanism shows that •O1− is the primary active substance in the catalytic process, and h+ and •OH play a secondary role. This work provides a great significance for constructing efficient Ag2S‐based heterojunction photocatalyst systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bandgap (BG) of a phononic crystal (PnC) can suppress the propagation of elastic waves and has great potential in suppressing vibration. In this paper, a new type of multi-BG PnC is studied, which has many BGs in the low frequency. The eigenfrequency and displacement vector field distribution of the structure are calculated using the finite element method, and the influence of geometric parameters and material parameters on the first BG is analyzed. In addition, the BG ratio is defined to describe the coverage ability of multiple BGs in the reference frequency range. The results show that there are many flat bands in the dispersion curve of the structure. The BG covers almost all frequencies below 4000 Hz. In the range of 0–4000 Hz, the BG width accounts for more than 95% coverage, which can effectively suppress the propagation of elastic waves in the low frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manning's roughness coefficient(n) is considered a key parameter in a one-dimensional (1D) hydrodynamic model. However, it is highly variable and time- and site- dependent. Further, identifying proper n values is not easy, especially in plain looped river network areas. Therefore, a more systematic approach is needed. This study proposes a coupled optimization-simulation model to systematically estimate the spatial distribution of n values. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and InfoWorks Integrated Catchment Modelling (ICM) software were integrated to solve the objective function and hydraulic process, respectively. Crisscrossing rivers were partitioned into river reaches that were each assumed to have a uniform and constant Manning's roughness coefficient according to their network topology and cross-section variation. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was implemented to determine the weights of measured data from different gauging stations, and a large difference in the spatial distribution of the sensitivity index illustrated the importance of identifying the weights of multiple stations. Then, a systematic approach was applied to estimate the n values in the Changshu Grand Polder Area (CGPA), which is crisscrossed by 150 rivers, under the water diversion stage. The calculation statistics and efficiency indicated that the proposed method performs well for model calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing power and energy consumption related issues early in the system design flow ensures good design and minimizes iterations for faster turnaround time. In particular, optimizations at software level, e.g., those supported by compilers, are very important for minimizing energy consumption of embedded applications. Recent research demonstrates that voltage islands provide the flexibility to reduce power by selectively shutting down the different regions of the chip and/or running the select parts of the chip at different voltage/frequency levels. As against most of the prior work on voltage islands that mainly focused on the architecture design and IP placement related issues, this paper studies the necessary software compiler support for voltage islands. Specifically, we focus on an embedded multiprocessor architecture that supports both voltage islands and control domains within these islands, and determine how an optimizing compiler can automatically map an embedded application onto this architecture. Such an automated support is critical since it is unrealistic to expect an application programmer to reach a good mapping correlating multiple factors such as performance and energy at the same time. Our experiments with the proposed compiler support show that our approach is very effective in reducing energy consumption. The experiments also show that the energy savings we achieve are consistent across a wide range of values of our major simulation parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exogenous gene delivery may activate the immune system to generate the corresponding antibody; however, it is unknown whether all of the exogenous genes can induce such immune responses at the same level, and the result of simultaneous delivery of two or more genes is also unknown. To address the question, ELISA was used to determine antibody titers in serum against the most frequent gene doping such as growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor α (IGF-α), and mechano growth factor (MGF), which were delivered into mice by naked vectors. There was no antibody against GH when saline, pCI-neo, or the pCI-GH plasmid alone was injected, but significant antibody was induced when the pCI-GH plasmid was injected in combination with either pCI-MGF or pCI-IGF-I plasmid (p < 0.05). Therefore, not all of exogenous genes can induce such immune response or the induced intensity is different, and multi-gene delivery was more likely than single gene to stimulate the immune system, which may be a potential method to detect gene doping. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive human malignancies. Cell-cycle-related and expression-elevated protein in tumor (CREPT) plays an important role in the phosphorylation of RNA Pol II, and has been implicated in the development of several types of cancer. As yet, however, there have been no reports on its role in PDAC. Here, we aimed to explore the value of CREPT as a prognostic biomarker in PDAC. Methods: CREPT expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on a tissue microarray containing samples from 375 PDAC patients. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to explore the independent prognostic value of CREPT expression for the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of PDAC patients. A Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay was used to determine the growth rates and gemcitabine sensitivities of PDAC cells, while a Transwell assay was used to determine the migration and invasion abilities of PDAC cells. Subcutaneous xenografts were used to explore the effect of CREPT expression on tumor growth in vivo. Results: We found that CREPT is highly expressed in tumor tissues and may serve as an independent prognostic biomarker for DFS and OS of PDAC patients. In vitro assays revealed that CREPT expression promotes the proliferation, migration, invasion and gemcitabine resistance of PDAC cells, and in vivo assays showed that CREPT expression knockdown led to inhibition of PDAC tumor growth. Conclusions: We conclude that high CREPT expression enhances the proliferation, migration, invasion and gemcitabine resistance of PDAC cells. In addition, we conclude that CREPT may serve as an independent prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for PDAC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the ability of the CFSv2 model to forecast the polar vortex displacements in the stratosphere of the Northern hemisphere is evaluated. We use the ERA-I reanalysis daily data of the potential vortex (pv) and the horizontal wind; vertical wind in the 430, 475, 530, and 600 K in the potential temperature field; and the temperature in the geopotential height at 50 hPa. And the 1–850 hPa isobaric surface temperature and u, v wind field daily data from the 9-month business forecast data of the Climate Forecast System Version 2 (CFSv2). The two polar vortex displacement events shift to Eurasia that occurred in Feb 2008 and Jan 2012. The results show that the polar vortex displacement events in February 2008 and January 2012 shifted toward the European region. During the polar vortex displacements, the westerly wind at 60°N latitude decreases, the temperature gradient reverses at the north polar and 60°N latitudes at 50 hPa, and a weaker stratospheric warming occurs in this process. For two of the polar vortex displacement events, the CFSv2 predictions of the start, largest, and end times of the polar vortex displacement are accurate at forecast lead times of 0 and 5 days, and the prediction results for the westerly winds and temperature gradients are also excellent. However, the CFSv2 prediction ability at forecast lead times exceeding 20 days is poor. For the polar vortex displacement event in February 2008, the CFSv2 predictions are good for the start and largest times but are not consistent with the actual situation for the end time at a forecast lead time of 10 days. The CFSv2 predictions are good for the end time but are not accurate for the start and largest times at a forecast lead time of 15 days. For the polar vortex displacement event in January 2012, the CFSv2 predictions are poor for the start, largest and end times and for the zonal wind, but are good for the temperature gradient during the displacement at forecast lead times of 10 days. The change in the polar vortex boundary and zonal wind and temperature gradients cannot be predicted at forecast lead times of 15 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attributable to its late diagnosis, early metastasis, and poor prognosis, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal diseases worldwide. Unlike other solid tumors, pancreatic cancer harbors ample stromal cells and abundant extracellular matrix but lacks vascularization, resulting in persistent and severe hypoxia within the tumor. Hypoxic microenvironment has extensive effects on biological behaviors or malignant phenotypes of pancreatic cancer, including metabolic reprogramming, cancer stemness, invasion and metastasis, and pathological angiogenesis, which synergistically contribute to development and therapeutic resistance of pancreatic cancer. Through various mechanisms including but not confined to maintenance of redox homeostasis, activation of autophagy, epigenetic regulation, and those induced by hypoxia-inducible factors, intratumoral hypoxia drives the above biological processes in pancreatic cancer. Recognizing the pivotal roles of hypoxia in pancreatic cancer progression and therapies, hypoxia-based antitumoral strategies have been continuously developed over the recent years, some of which have been applied in clinical trials to evaluate their efficacy and safety in combinatory therapies for patients with pancreatic cancer. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia-induced aggressive and therapeutically resistant phenotypes in both pancreatic cancerous and stromal cells. Additionally, we focus more on innovative therapies targeting the tumor hypoxic microenvironment itself, which hold great potential to overcome the resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and to enhance antitumor efficacy and reduce toxicity to normal tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: The preferred treatment for Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients is surgery. Approximately, 35% of patients can undergo surgical resection in clinic. Biomarkers for CCA need to be identified for diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis prediction of this disease. Y-box binding protein-1 (YBOX-1) is highly correlated with tumor progression and poor overall survival in many malignancies. The prognostic value of YBOX-1 overexpression in CCA remains unclear. We examined the expression of YBOX-1 in resected tissue in CCA patients and studied the effect of YBOX-1 in CCA migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Expression of YBOX-1 in the tissue of 91 CCA patients was investigated by immunohistochemistry. The effects of YBOX-1 on migration, invasion, and proliferation in CCA cell lines were assessed by short hairpin RNA lentivirus or overexpression plasmid transfection. Results: A total of 55 (60.4%) of CCA cancerous tissues showed strongly positive YBOX-1 cytoplasmic staining. The strongly positive expression of YBOX-1 was close to early recurrence and poor overall survival by Kaplan–Meier analyses. Knockdown of YBOX-1 reduced migration and invasion in CCA cells and proliferation of tumor in xenotransplantation nude mice. Overexpression of YBOX-1 promoted migration and invasion in CCA cells and proliferation of tumor in xenotransplantation nude mice. Conclusion: YBOX-1 is correlated with early recurrence and poor overall survival in CCA. YBOX-1 may be a factor of predicting poor prognosis and overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its excellent ionic conductivity and electronic insulation, β/β″-alumina is widely used as a solid electrolyte in molten salt electrochemical cell and alkali metal thermoelectric convertor (AMTEC). In this article, nano-3mol% Yttrium partial stabilized zirconia (3YSZ) toughened β″-alumina solid electrolytes (BASEs) were fabricated by surface modification of β/β"-alumina precursor particles with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) - Zirconium (IV)/Yttrium (III) complex. The performance of BASEs with 0-10 wt% amount of nano-3YSZ addition (Zr-BASE) was systematically investigated on their phase composition, density, microstructure, bending strength, and conductivity. It was found that nano-3YSZ grains were intergranular and uniformly distributed in BASE matrix even at as low as 3 wt% amount of addition, which resulted in higher density, more homogeneous microstructure, higher Weibull modulus, higher characteristic strength and increased grain boundary resistance of Zr-BASE than those of BASE without 3YSZ addition. Zr-BASE with 5 wt% amount of nano-3YSZ addition demonstrated good conductivity (0.071 S•cm−1 at 300 °C, 0.33 S cm−1 at 600 °C) and higher characteristic strength (283 MPa). The obtained results indicated that surface modification by EDTA-Zr(IV)/Y(III) complex advantaged in the preparation of better performance BASEs with a small amount of nano-3YSZ addition. Image 1 • EDTA complex surface modification was used to uniformly adding nano-3YSZ to BASE. • Zr-BASE was obtained with higher mechanical strength and medium ion conductivity. • BASE with 5 wt% 3YSZ addition showed better ion conductivity and mechanical strength. • EDTA complex was good at preparing better performance BASE with low 3YSZ addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]