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This brief proposes an innovational method to design a broadband high‐efficiency transistor‐based rectifier with high rectification efficiency. The theory of the class‐F−1 rectifier with the input second harmonic component is explored. Moreover, the mathematical variations of rectification efficiency and load/source impedances versus several crucial design parameters are established. The variation relationships indicate that the rectification efficiency can roughly maintain constant across a large input second harmonic range, resulting in more available design impedances. Thus, this provides the possibility to design wideband rectifiers. For validation, a broadband high‐efficiency class‐F−1 rectifier (operating in 1.6–2.6 GHz) using a GaN transistor is designed, assembled, and measured. Measurements indicate a rectification efficiency of between 72.1% and 82.4% under the condition of Rdc = 67 Ω and Pin = 40 dBm. The realized rectifier exhibits the largest relative bandwidth compared with transistor‐based rectifiers reported before. The methodology presented in this brief provides a promising approach for broadband high‐efficiency GaN HEMT‐based rectifiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With more and more people adopting wearable fitness devices to help them carry out physical activities more regularly, the market analysis reports a relatively high abandonment rate after six months of usage. This article aims to contribute to consumer study in fitness wearable technology by understanding the underlying determinants of consumer's continuance intention to use wearable fitness devices (e.g., fitness trackers), and proposing a few suggestions to fitness wearable companies and designers for further product development. This research article consists of two empirical studies. In the first study, we propose a research model that is based on the expectation-confirmation model and integrates two extra factors, which are 'technology innovativeness' and 'eHealth literacy'. The data collection is done via online surveys. The second study is intended to design upon the findings from the first study, during which we did arrange an offline education intervention for student participants and conduct a 2 × 2 experimental study. For both studies, we use quantitative methods to analyse data and draw conclusions. From the first study, we found that users' technology innovativeness and eHealth literacy will indirectly influence their continuous intention to use wearable fitness devices. The second study reveals that male consumers tend to increase their continuance intention to use wearable fitness devices when their eHealth literacy has been enhanced by training. To sum up, the value of this article lies in two aspects. First, it is the first study in the field of fitness wearable technology (FWT) to learn how consumer behaviour will be influenced by a person's eHealth literacy. Second, our study goes further to investigate to what extent the improvement of eHealth literacy will influence consumer's continuous intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporotic bone defects, a severe complication of osteoporosis, are distinguished by a delayed bone healing process and poor repair quality. While bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) are the primary origin of bone‐forming osteoblasts, their mitochondrial function is impaired, leading to inadequate bone regeneration in osteoporotic patients. Melatonin is well‐known for its antioxidant properties and regulation on bone metabolism. The present study postulated that melatonin has the potential to enhance the repair of osteoporotic bone defects by restoring the mitochondrial function of BMMSCs. In vitro administration of melatonin at varying concentrations (0.01, 1, and 100 μM) demonstrated a significant dose‐dependent improvement in the mitochondrial function of BMMSCs obtained from ovariectomized rats (OVX‐BMMSCs), as indicated by an elevation in mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine triphosphate synthesis and expression of mitochondrial respiratory chain factors. Melatonin reduced the level of mitochondrial superoxide by activating the silent information regulator type 1 (SIRT1) and its downstream antioxidant enzymes, particularly superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2). The protective effects of melatonin were found to be nullified upon silencing of Sirt1 or Sod2, underscoring the crucial role of the SIRT1‐SOD2 axis in the melatonin‐induced enhancement of mitochondrial energy metabolism in OVX‐BMMSCs. To achieve a sustained and localized release of melatonin, silk fibroin scaffolds loaded with melatonin (SF@MT) were fabricated. The study involved the surgical creation of bilateral femur defects in OVX rats, followed by the implantation of SF@MT scaffolds. The results indicated that the application of melatonin partially restored the mitochondrial energy metabolism and osteogenic differentiation of OVX‐BMMSCs by reinstating mitochondrial redox homeostasis. These findings suggest that the localized administration of melatonin through bone implants holds potential as a therapeutic approach for addressing osteoporotic bone defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemo‐dynamic therapy (CDT) based on the Fenton or Fenton‐like reaction has emerged as a promising approach for cancer treatment. However, autophagy‐mediated self‐protection mechanisms of cancer cells pose a significant challenge to the efficacy of CDT. Herein, we developed metal‐DNA nanocomplexes (DACs‐Mn) to enhance CDT via DNAzyme inhibition of autophagy. Specifically, Mn‐based catalyst in DACs‐Mn was used to generate highly hydroxyl radicals (⋅OH) that kill cancer cells, while the ATG5 DNAzyme incorporated into DACs‐Mn inhibited the expression of autophagy‐associated proteins, thereby improving the efficacy of CDT. By disrupting the self‐protective pathway of cells under severe oxidative stress, this novel approach of DACs‐Mn was found to synergistically enhance CDT in both in vitro and in vivo models, effectively amplifying tumor‐specific oxidative damage. Notably, the Metal‐DNA nanocomplexes can also induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), thereby inhibiting tumor metastasis. Specifically, in a bilateral tumor model in mice, the combined approach of CDT and autophagy inhibition followed by immune checkpoint blockade therapy shown significant potential as a novel and effective treatment modality for primary and metastatic tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemo‐dynamic therapy (CDT) based on the Fenton or Fenton‐like reaction has emerged as a promising approach for cancer treatment. However, autophagy‐mediated self‐protection mechanisms of cancer cells pose a significant challenge to the efficacy of CDT. Herein, we developed metal‐DNA nanocomplexes (DACs‐Mn) to enhance CDT via DNAzyme inhibition of autophagy. Specifically, Mn‐based catalyst in DACs‐Mn was used to generate highly hydroxyl radicals (⋅OH) that kill cancer cells, while the ATG5 DNAzyme incorporated into DACs‐Mn inhibited the expression of autophagy‐associated proteins, thereby improving the efficacy of CDT. By disrupting the self‐protective pathway of cells under severe oxidative stress, this novel approach of DACs‐Mn was found to synergistically enhance CDT in both in vitro and in vivo models, effectively amplifying tumor‐specific oxidative damage. Notably, the Metal‐DNA nanocomplexes can also induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), thereby inhibiting tumor metastasis. Specifically, in a bilateral tumor model in mice, the combined approach of CDT and autophagy inhibition followed by immune checkpoint blockade therapy shown significant potential as a novel and effective treatment modality for primary and metastatic tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a novel sequential change point detection method in linear models. Our method uses a given historical data set to determine the prechange model. Significant features are selected using the ranking procedure, which is an innovative approach aimed at revealing the rank of all features in terms of their effects on the model. We establish the asymptotic properties of the test statistic under the null and alternative hypotheses. Simulations are conducted to illustrate the performance of the proposed method. We conclude with a real data application to illustrate the detection procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity (HTS) was a momentous event. This article explores the social and institutional history of HTS research in China between 1987 and 2008. Desire for a Nobel Prize shaped the Chinese state's initial push to establish the National Superconductivity Research Program. Yet, after the enthusiasm for HTS research cooled, and even after a Nobel Prize for HTS was awarded to non-Chinese scientists, financial and institutional support for the research continued. This process fostered the 'to live' ethos of science, which has replaced the Nobel Prize dream as a central mechanism of interaction between the state and science in China. Indeed, Chinese HTS research not only survived, but also produced an abundance of 'normal science' discoveries. This pattern continued after 2008, when Japanese scientists made the groundbreaking innovation of iron-based superconductivity and Chinese scientists quickly turned their attention to this sub-field. They published many papers pushing the field forward slightly, rather than making the largest scientific advances. The mutual interaction between the state and scientists underpinned this phenomenon: On the one hand, the productivity of normal science has helped to maintain state legitimacy. On the other hand, the evaluation and incentive systems, as well as deep-rooted cultural features such as officialism, utilitarianism, and the foregrounding of politics lead scientists to opportunistically pursue normal science. The state and scientists have co-produced a regime of normal science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a semi-structural approach to verify the nonblockingness of a Petri net. We construct a structure, called minimal-maximal basis reachability graph (min-max-BRG): it provides an abstract description of the reachability set of a net while preserving all information needed to test if the net is blocking. We prove that a bounded deadlock-free Petri net is nonblocking if and only if its min-max-BRG is unobstructed, which can be verified by solving a set of integer constraints and then examining the min-max-BRG. For Petri nets that are not deadlock-free, one needs to determine the set of dead markings. This can be done with an approach based on the computation of maximal implicit firing sequences enabled by the markings in the min-max-BRG. The approach we developed does not require the construction of the reachability graph and has wide applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In terms of the teaching process of matte painting, it is essential for students to develop a sound understanding of the relationship between virtual and physical environments. In this study, first-person view (FPV) drones are applied to matte painting courses to evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching, and to propose more effective design suggestions for FPV drones that are more suitable for teaching. This provides students with a better learning environment using a digital education system. The results of the study indicate that the flow experience, learning interest, and continuous learning intention of students who use FPV drones in matte painting are significantly greater than those of students who only utilize traditional teaching methods. Furthermore, the technology incentive model (TIM) was developed in this study after being verified by the structural equation model. The results demonstrate that the second-order construct 'technology incentive' comprising perceived interactivity, perceived vividness, and novel experience positively influence students' learning interest and continuous learning intentions under the mediation of flow experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Percutaneous compression plate (PCCP) provides superior anti-rotational abilities and mechanical strength in femoral neck fractures (FNFs). The first series reporting its utilization of FNFs was promising. Since the long-term outcome regarding the implant has not been reported, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term functional outcomes and complications after fixation using PCCP in FNFs. Materials and methods: From 2010 to 2019, 51 patients aged from 18 to 87 years were evaluated; 11 patients were excluded from this study. Demographic data, fracture classification, and complications were analyzed. Besides plain radiographs and CT, uptake ratios using bone scintigraphy and/or SPECT were also collected and analyzed. Results: At a mean follow-up of 4.4 ± 2.0 years (range, 2–10 years), the mean Harris hip score was 88, with 44 patients (86.3%) achieving excellent or good outcomes. The rate of complication was 13.7% (7/51), with five cases of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (OFNH). Hip replacements were performed in four (7.8%) cases. After confirmation of normal transfusion status, 11 patients underwent elective removal of the implant without further complications. Conclusion: Closed reduction and internal fixation using PCCP in FNFs resulted in satisfactory outcomes with low complication rates. Longer follow-up (3–5 years) and sequential bone scintigraphy or SPECT after surgery are recommended after internal fixation using PCCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing EEG complexity may help to elucidate complex brain dynamics in individuals with psychiatric disorders and provide insight into neural connectivity and its relationship with deficits such as emotion-related impulsivity. EEG complexity was calculated through multiscale entropy and compared between a heterogeneous psychiatric patient group and a healthy control group during the emotion conflict resolution task. Twenty-eight healthy adults and ten psychiatric patients were recruited and compared on the multiscale entropy of EEG acquired in the task. Our results revealed a lower multiscale entropy in the psychiatric patient group compared to the healthy group during the task. This decrease in multiscale entropy suggests reduced long-range interaction between the left frontal region and other brain regions during the emotion conflict resolution task among psychiatric patients. Notably, a positive correlation was observed between multiscale entropy and impulsivity measures in the psychiatric patient group, where the higher the EEG complexity during the emotion regulation task, the higher the level of self-reported impulsivity in the psychiatric patients. Such impulsivity was evident in both healthy individuals and psychiatric patients, with healthy individuals showing shorter reaction times on incongruent conditions compared to congruent conditions and psychiatric patients displaying similar reaction times in both conditions, This study highlights the significance of investigating EEG complexity and its potential applications in the transdiagnostic exploration of impulsivity in psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven undescribed polyoxygenated ursane-type triterpenoids (vitnegundins A−G), three undescribed triterpenoid saponins (vitnegundins H−J), and 17 known ones were isolated from an EtOH extract of the aerial parts of Vitex negundo L. The structures of the undescribed compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of vitnegundins A, B, and E were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Vitnegundins B−D are pentacyclic triterpenoids possessing rare cis -fused C/D rings and vitnegundins C–H represent undescribed ursane-type triterpenoids with 12,19-epoxy moiety. In the biological activity assay, vitnegundin A, vitnegundin E, and swinhoeic acid displayed inhibitory effects against LPS-induced NO release in BV-2 microglial cells, with IC 50 values of 11.8, 44.2, and 19.6 μM, respectively. [Display omitted] • Ten undescribed triterpenoids or triterpenoid saponins were isolated from Vitex negundo. • The absolute configurations of some undescribed triterpenoids were determined by X-ray data. • Three compounds inhibited NO release in LPS-induced BV-2 microglial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the verification and enforcement of deadlock-freeness and liveness in partially controllable Petri nets. First, we introduce a particular type of basis reachability graphs called conflict-free-control-explicit basis reachability graphs (CFCE-BRGs), in which the firings of all structurally conflicting transitions and all controllable ones are explicitly encoded. We propose two sufficient and necessary conditions for verifying deadlock-freeness and liveness of a Petri net; both can be verified by inspecting a CFCE-BRG using graph theory. Moreover, we develop two maximally permissive deadlock-freeness and liveness enforcing supervisors based on the trimming of CFCE-BRGs. The developed approaches are applicable to arbitrary bounded Petri nets, without an exhaustive reachability space enumeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two slender CFST double-column piers are tested under cyclic loading. • The prefabricated connections guarantee the performance of the novel pier system. • FE modeling is carried out to assess seismic performance of pier systems. • The novel pier systems have application potential in bridges of mountain areas. This paper investigates the seismic behavior of a prefabricated thin-walled concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) pier system composed of circular thin-walled CFST double-column, I-shaped steel beam, and precast reinforced concrete (RC) cap beam. Hysteretic tests were conducted on two slender double-column pier systems: one with prefabricated connections (prefabricated pier system), and the other one with traditional embedded connections (traditional pier system). The test results indicated that, compared with the traditional pier system, the pier system with prefabricated connections demonstrating an 18 % increase in lateral resistance and a 5 % higher ductility coefficient, despite the weld of the steel beam cracked prematurely. Finite-element numerical models were established based on the OpenSees platform and validated by the cyclic loading tests. A comprehensive investigation involving a total of 12 cases, encompassing both CFST piers and RC piers, was conducted to evaluate their seismic performance and economic efficiency. The analysis results revealed that the proposed prefabricated pier system offers notable advantages in seismic performance for both tall and low piers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We aimed to observe the efficacy of Dihuang Yizhi formula in post-stroke cognitive impairment non-dementia(PSCIND) in kidney essence deficiency patients. Methods A total of 116 patients with PSCIND admitted to Longhua hospital between July 2019 and January 2021 were randomized into the experimental group(n =58) and the control group(n = 58). In the experimental group, Dihuang Yizhi formula was used; in the control group, piracetam tablets were used for a course of 6 months. All patients were assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment( MoCA) scale, the Zarit Burden Inventory(ZBI), the Ability to perform Daily Living(ADL) scale, and the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome score before, at 3 months, and at 6 months of treatment. Results During the treatment, five cases fell off in the experimental group and four cases in the control group. Finally, 53 cases in the experimental group and 54 cases in the control group completed this study. Compared with before treatment, patients in both groups had elevated MMSE and MoCA scores after 6 months of treatment(P<0. 05), with the increase in MMSE and MoCA scores being correlated with time(P <0. 01). The ZBI scores of the patients in the experimental group decreased after 3 months of treatment(P<0. 01), and after 6 months of treatment, only the ZBI scores of the patients in the experimental group decreased(P<0. 01). The decrease in ZBI was associated with time and group x time interactions(P<0. 01). In the MoCA sub-items, after 6 months of treatment, increases in scores of naming( P<0. 05), memory and calculation(P<0. 01), and language and abstraction(P<0. 01) were related to time, whereas increases in scores of delayed recall were related to group x time interactions(P< 0. 01). After 6 months of treatment, ADL scores decreased in the experimental group(P<0. 01), and the decrease in ADL scores was associated with time(P<0. 01) and group x time interactions(P<0. 05). After 3 months of treatment, the TCM syndrome scores of patients in the experimental group decreased(P< 0. 01), while after 6 months of treatment, the TCM syndrome scores of patients in both groups decreased (P<0. 01). The decrease in TCM syndrome scores was correlated with time and group x time interactions (P<0. 01). Safety indicators were normal in all patients before and after treatment. Conclusion Based on the theory of "tonifying the kidney and supplementing the essence," Dihuang Yizhi formula can improve the cognitive function of PSCIND patients, improve their quality of life, and reduce the burden on their families, exhibiting certain advantages over piracetam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abnormal glycosylation of proteins has been identified in almost all types of cancers and is closely related to the cancer progression, metastasis, and survival of cancer patients. This study was to explore the values of serum tumor abnormal protein (TAP), an abnormal glycochain protein, in the diagnosis and prognosis of gastric cancer (GC). Methods: A total of 335 GC patients were included as the study group, and another 335 subjects served as the control group. Tumor abnormal protein expression was compared between the 2 groups. Correlation analysis was used to assess the correlations of TAP with clinicopathological factors. Gastric cancer patients were divided into training set and test set at a ratio of 2:1. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses in training set were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of TAP in GC patients and explore the independent risk factors for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) to establish a prognostic model, followed by testing of the model. According to the median of TAP, 335 GC patients were divided into 2 groups to plot the survival curves of OS and DFS. Results: Tumor abnormal protein expression in the study group was significantly higher than in the control group. Taking the best cut-off value of TAP (110.128 μm2) as the diagnostic criteria for GC, the sensitivity and specificity of TAP were 83.58% and 97.61%, respectively, and the area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was 0.935, which was not inferior to computed tomography (CT). Tumor abnormal protein expression was an independent risk factor for OS and DFS. The prognostic predictive value of TAP was better than that of pathological stage in GC patients. The model with TAP was effective in predicting prognosis. Conclusion: Tumor abnormal protein is an effective indicator for early screening and prognostic evaluation of GC and can also assist the clinical diagnosis and treatment of GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of the takeaway industry, the demand for disposable cutlery is increasing, posing a heavy burden on the environment. Helping reusable tableware increase market share is important because it helps preserve the natural environment while making commercial gains. Given the additional cost to consumers of using reusable tableware in many settings, this article examines the impact of incorporating environmental propaganda into packaging design on consumer behaviour. The results show that the new packaging with high environmental propaganda satisfaction improves consumers' brand loyalty, purchase intention and continuance intention. The packaging of low environmental propaganda satisfaction may have negative effects and should be used with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss the teaching effects of augmented reality (AR) technology in German instruction. We conducted one prestudy and three formal studies on German learners in China's mainland and Taiwan region. In the formal studies, a total of 120 students participated in the survey, allowing us to compare the differences in interest in learning between AR picture books and traditional picture books. A total of 114 students took part in the survey, which enabled us to compare the contribution of AR picture books to teaching when students' satisfaction and German proficiency were different. To improve satisfaction, 514 students participated in the survey regarding the influence of the interactive narrative design effect and peer learning on satisfaction with using AR picture books. The results suggest that when learning German with AR picture books, satisfaction is the key construct that determines students' learning states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to profoundly investigate the seismic performance and application prospect of the typical continuous beam bridge with the novel prefabricated concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) piers, with advantages in simple on-site assembly, convenient transportation of prefabricated components, good seismic performance, and low construction cost. According to two prototype continuous beam bridges respectively equipped with low and tall typical reinforced concrete (RC) piers, 7 bridge cases with prefabricated CFST piers featuring various configurations of the tie beams are designed. Three-dimensional numerical models of these bridge cases are established and verified with the previous experimental studies, and numerical simulations of all the bridge cases are conducted to assess and compare the seismic responses and fragility curves. The results show that the bridges with prefabricated CFST piers exhibit a reduction in top pier transversal displacement and maximum curvature along the pier height, which are 43 % and 138 % lower than those of the prototype RC piers, respectively. Besides, the bridges with prefabricated CFST piers generally present lower probabilities of being damaged compared to those of the prototype bridges with RC piers. • Assess the seismic behavior of the bridges with CFST piers by numerical method. • Design the bridges with CFST piers based on the prototype bridges. • The bridges with CFST piers exhibit a reduction in seismic responses. • Damage probabilities of CFST piers are lower than those of RC piers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout history, gender inequality has persisted in most parts of the world. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, substantial progress has been made towards gender equality in China. Today, a large number of Chinese women scientists are making significant contributions to advance science. However, are they facing gender discrimination in hiring and promotion? Do they have access to the same opportunities as their male colleagues? What are the potential approaches to further promote gender equality in China's scientific community given myriad unfavorable social factors? Recently, NSR invited five Chinese female scientists and two gender experts to discuss these issues. Here are their observations and suggestions. Bing Liu Professor at the Department of the History of Science, Tsinghua University Jun Lu Senior Engineer at Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telecommunications Technology, and Deputy Chief Designer of BeiDou Grounded Test and Validation System Chih-chen Wang Professor at the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Hongyang Wang President of the China Women's Association for Science and Technology (CWAST), Director of the National Center for Science in Liver Cancer Xiaoyun Wang C. N. Yang Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study, Tsinghua University Yan Zheng Chair Professor at the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology Wenpei Tang (Chair) Professor at the School of Health Humanities, Peking University [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tackling original and leading problems of science and technology (TOLPST) is the key to strengthening national strategic scientific and technological forces and achieving scientific and technological self-reliance of China. The national superconductivity research which began in 1987 is a typical TOLPST. It has helped China's high-temperature superconductivity research leap from backwardness, follow-up phase to parallel running state or even leading position, but it did not produce original innovation. The historical experience of national superconductivity research has important implications for TOLPST: (1) Basic research should be categorized and accurately implemented, especially the original innovation should be distinguished from the application-oriented research or that breaks bottlenecks. (2) China should speed up the cultivation of strategic scientists and give full play to their pivotal role that connects the government and the scientific community. (3) China should strengthen the construction of the national innovation platform, and transform part of the concentrated TOLPST into long-term support for strategic scientific and technological forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metastable nature of metal chalcogenide nanomaterials (MCNs) provides us with fresh perspectives and plentiful grounds in the search of new strategies for physicochemical tuning. In the past decade, numerous efforts have been devoted to synthesizing and modifying diverse emerging MCNs based on their "soft chemistry", that is, gently regulating the composition, structure, phase, and interface while not entirely disrupting the original features. This tutorial review focuses on design principles based on the metastability of MCNs, such as ion mobility and vacancy, thermal and structural instability, chemical reactivity, and phase transition, together with corresponding soft chemical approaches, including ion-exchange, catalytic growth, segregation or coupling, template grafting or transformation, and crystal-phase engineering, and summarizes recent advances in their preparation and modification. Finally, prospects for the future development of soft chemistry-directed synthetic guidelines and metastable metal chalcogenide-derived nanomaterials are proposed and highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Although its pathogenesis remains unclear, a number of studies indicate that microglia‐mediated neuroinflammation makes a great contribution to the pathogenesis of PD. Melatonin receptor 1 (MT1) is widely expressed in glia cells and neurons in substantia nigra (SN). Neuronal MT1 is a neuroprotective factor, but it remains largely unknown whether dysfunction of microglial MT1 is involved in the PD pathogenesis. Here, we found that MT1 was reduced in microglia of SN in 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐induced PD mouse model. Microglial MT1 activation dramatically inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced neuroinflammation, whereas loss of microglial MT1 aggravated it. Metabolic reprogramming of microglia was found to contribute to the anti‐inflammatory effects of MT1 activation. LPS‐induced excessive aerobic glycolysis and impaired oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) could be reversed by microglial MT1 activation. MT1 positively regulated pyruvate dehydrogenase alpha 1 (PDHA1) expression to enhance OXPHOS and suppress aerobic glycolysis. Furthermore, in LPS‐treated microglia, MT1 activation decreased the toxicity of conditioned media to the dopaminergic (DA) cell line MES23.5. Most importantly, the anti‐inflammatory effects of MT1 activation were observed in LPS‐stimulated mouse model. In general, our study demonstrates that MT1 activation inhibits LPS‐induced microglial activation through regulating its metabolic reprogramming, which provides a mechanistic insight for microglial MT1 in anti‐inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TS‐1, an effective anticancer drug that consists of tegafur, gimeracil and oteracil, has been increasingly used for the treatment of many types of cancer. However, few studies investigate its cutaneous adverse reactions. Here, we report a female patient with gastric cancer treated with TS‐1 after a gastrectomy, who then developed Stevens–Johnson syndrome, a cutaneous and potentially life‐threatening adverse reaction. This is the first case report about a Grade IV toxic reaction associated with TS‐1. The patient presented with systemic symptoms of erythematous macules, vesicle formation, erosions, binocular ptosis and oedema of the lower eyelid conjunctiva. After 3 weeks of hospitalization with drug treatment and discontinuation of TS‐1, her symptoms were fully relieved and did not recur because the chemotherapy regimen was adjusted to modified FOLFOX6. According to the comprehensive analysis and the score of both the Naranjo assessment scale and algorithm of drug causality for epidermal necrolysis, we have drawn the preliminary conclusion that this is TS‐1‐induced Stevens–Johnson syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies show that the filter method has good numerical performance for nonlinear complementary problems (NCPs). Their approach is to reformulate an NCP as a constrained optimization solved by filter algorithms. However, they can only prove that the iterative sequence converges to the KKT point of the constrained optimization. In this paper, we investigate the relation between the KKT point of the constrained optimization and the solution of the NCP. First, we give several sufficient conditions under which the KKT point of the constrained optimization is the solution of the NCP; second, we define regular conditions and regular point which include and generalize the previous results; third, we prove that the level sets of the objective function of the constrained optimization are bounded for a strongly monotone function or a uniform P-function; finally, we present some examples to verify the previous results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cover image is based on the Original Article Melatonin rescues the mitochondrial function of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells and improves the repair of osteoporotic bone defect in ovariectomized rats by Chao Gu et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/jpi.12924..By Chao Gu; Quan Zhou; Xiayu Hu; Xiaoyang Ge; Mingzhuang Hou; Wenhao Wang; Hao Liu; Qin Shi; Yong Xu; Xuesong Zhu; Huilin Yang; Xi Chen; Tao Liu and Fan HeReported by Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

The Data Availability link for this paper is incorrect. The correct link is: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361344644%5fdata%5ffor%5fthe%5freusable%5ftableware%5fpackagingBy Chao Gu; Jiangjie Chen; Wei Wei; Jie Sun; Chun Yang; Liao Jiang; Jingyue Hu; Baiwan Lv; Shuyuan Lin and Qianling JiangReported by Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

This article presents a stack of metal/dielectric lamination absorber shaped as a doubly periodic array of truncated prism. We show how the EM absorption characteristics can be modified through simple changes to the geometric structure of the unit cell. The resultant absorber can be designed to exhibit broadband performance, i.e. 10 dB return loss from 8.2 to 14.2 GHz. We then discuss the angular TE, TM incidence absorption characteristics of a doubly periodic arrangement of square truncated prism array. Through EM simulation, we demonstrate the possibility for optical imaging through the absorber by introducing perforations into it. Finally, we show how to use a waveguide simulator method to experimentally verify the absorption performance of the basic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most prevalent and severe diseases worldwide with high societal and health care costs. The pathogenesis of COPD is very complicated, and no curative treatment is available. Cellular senescence promotes the development of COPD. Type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECII) play a momentous role in lung tissue repair and maintenance of alveolar homeostasis. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), an antiaging molecule involved in the response to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, regulates many pathophysiological changes including stress resistance, apoptosis, inflammation, and cellular senescence. This study aimed to investigate whether the pharmacological SIRT1 activator SRT2104 protects against AECII senescence in rats with emphysema. Our findings confirmed that SRT2104 administration reduced the pathological characteristics of emphysema and improved lung function parameters, including pulmonary resistance, pulmonary dynamic compliance, and peak expiratory flow. Moreover, SRT2104 treatment upregulated the expression of surfactant proteins A and C, SIRT1, and forkhead box O 3a (FoxO3a), decreased senescence-associated-β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity, increased SIRT1 deacetylase activity, and downregulated the levels of p53 and p21. Therefore, SRT2104 administration protected against AECII senescence in rats with emphysema via SIRT1/FoxO3a and SIRT1/p53 signaling pathways and may provide a novel potential therapeutic strategy for COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that long non-coding (lnc) RNA is aberrantly expressed in numerous types of cancer. Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy; however, the role and mechanism underlying the influence of lncRNA-colon cancer associated transcript 1 (CCAT1) in colorectal cancer is yet to be elucidated. The present study revealed that CCAT1 is highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissues. Bioinformatics analysis and a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay indicated that CCAT1 and microRNA (miR)-218 had complementary binding sites. Furthermore, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR revealed that miR-218 was downregulated in colorectal cancer tissues compared with paired adjacent healthy tissues. To investigate the biological effects of CCAT1 on colorectal cancer cells, MTT and Transwell assays were performed. The results revealed that when compared with the control group, CCAT1-short hairpin (sh)RNA significantly inhibited colorectal cancer cell (SW480) viability and decreased migration and invasiveness. In addition, CCAT1-shRNA significantly reduced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in SW480 cells; however, these effects were partially rescued by an miR-218 inhibitor. Furthermore, it was revealed that the CCAT1-plasmid significantly promoted the viability of SW480 cells, increased cell migration and invasiveness, and significantly increased VEGF expression. However, these effects were also partially rescued by with a miR-218 mimic. Taken together, the present results identified that the CCAT1/miR-218 axis serves a key role in the regulation of colorectal cancer progression, which may be used as potential therapeutic target for the treatment of colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As inclusions are inevitable from the material-producing processes, an engineering concept regarding multiple features of them is needed for material design. In this study, a unique approach integrating physical-meaningful microstructure-sensitive models with the machine-learning-based data-driven model is proposed to reveal the complex relationship between the fatigue life of materials with intrinsic features of inclusions including size, stiffness, thermal properties, and extrinsic stress amplitudes. This high-fidelity presentation of the relation of these variables enables a detailed and systematic analysis of the effects of inclusions on fatigue life. The data-based phase map provides a designing envelope of inclusion features for fatigue-resistant steels. [Display omitted] • Machine-learning-based approach is integrated with microstructure-sensitive modeling for fatigue life prediction. • The integrated approach shows great predictive capability in the effect of multiple inclusions features on fatigue. • These features include size, Young's modulus, and thermal expansion coefficient of inclusions and applied stresses. • High-fidelity big data is generated by the machine-learning-based model within seconds. • The data-driven phase map provides an instant prediction of fatigue life and a guide for inclusion engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Amorphous SiOC films were synthesized by magnetron sputtering at room temperature with/without radio frequency (RF) bias and further improved in terms of mechanical properties by ion irradiation. As-deposited SiOC films without RF bias exhibit catastrophic failure at a low stress and strain, which is ascribed to microstructural heterogeneities associated with the formation of voids during deposition, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy. Ion irradiation unifies microstructure accompanied with eliminating the voids, resulting in a simultaneously increase in strength and plasticity (ultimate strength of 5–7 GPa and the strain to shear instability of over 20%). Homogeneous microstructures are demonstrated to ensure high strength and plasticity of amorphous SiOC, as observed in SiOC that are deposited with RF-bias. Thus, microstructural homogeneous amorphous SiOC exhibits intrinsically high strength and plasticity, making them promising as structural engineering materials. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Mechanical properties of amorphous SiOC were investigated by in-situ SEM compression. • Irradiation increases both strength and plasticity by improving film quality. • Microstructural homogeneous amorphous SiOC are intrinsically strong and deformable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the investigation of fatigue properties of metals, the microstructure-based modelling has shown its powerful applicability in predicting the microcrack initiation as well as the fatigue life. However, proper treatment of the inclusions, which are the major fatigue crack trigger especially for the very high cycle fatigue regime, is still missing. It is emphasised that in addition to the geometrical representation and the basic mechanical properties assignment of the inclusions, the residual stresses developed between the steel matrix and inclusions during the cooling processes due to their distinct thermal expansion coefficients play a non-negligible role in determining the fatigue properties. Therefore, it is aimed, in this study, to propose a microstructure-based modelling approach to account for the effects of residual stresses induced by the rapid cooling process on the fatigue crack initiation behaviour of a martensitic steel, for which the majority of the fatigue crack is formed around the calcium aluminate inclusions in experiments. The entire approach is decomposed into two processes: i) simulation of the cooling process to obtain the residual stress profile around the inclusion and ii) fatigue simulation using a crystal plasticity model including the mapped residual stress profile from the previous step. It is shown that the proposed approach accurately predicts the fatigue crack initiation sites around the inclusions corresponding to the experimental findings, while the modelling approach without the residual stresses fails to predict the correct locations of the crack initiation, revealing the necessity to consider the residual stresses for the future fatigue modelling and assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • GELP genes were associated with fruit ripening. • Genes related to auxin-responsive protein were identified involved in fruit ripening. • The SAUR genes may regulated fruit ripening by integrating auxin signal into ethylene signal. • Ripening is a kind of stress to fruit in a sense and evokes several genes belonging to stress/defense up-regulated. • Photosynthesis should be diminished during fruit ripening in peach. Abstract Fruit ripening is determined by the coordinated action of multi-faceted biological processes. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of fruit ripening in peach. To explore the genes involved into fruit ripening, in this study, transcriptome sequencing was conducted in the peach fruits at the stone hardening, the second rapid growth, and ripening stages. By comparing the expression levels of whole genes between the ripening (LYE) and developing fruits (LYD and LYC), 1 615 and 1 938 genes were up- and down-regulated in the ripening fruits. In these differential expressed genes, the PG , PL8 , and XTH33 genes related to cell wall degradation were up-regulated in ripening fruits, in contrast, two GDSL genes against the xyloglucan oligosaccharides were down regulated. The CABs, photosystem I/II , and OEE genes involved in photosynthesis were detected having the lowest expression levels in the ripening fruits. The genes associated with ethylene response, biosynthesis, and auxin-responsive were remarkably increased in expression levels in ripening fruits. The stress related genes UP3 , EDR2L , PR1 , PR4 and programmed cell death gene ACD11 also displayed an up-regulation trends during fruit ripening. Few ripening-related transcription factors, such as NAC , MADS-box , and MYB , were also detected from the differential expressed genes. Moreover, expression patterns of the selected genes were tested by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), and the qRT-PCR results were consistent with transcriptome data. This study provides important candidate genes for exploring the complex metabolic process involved in ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Phylogenetic and expression analyses of all the 70 homeobox genes in peach fruits. • A homeobox gene, PpHB.G7, mediates ethylene biosynthesis during fruit ripening. • The PpHB.G7 could interact with the promoters of ethylene biosynthesis genes. • Seven HD-ZIP homeobox genes are differentially expressed in the developmental fruits. Abstract Homeobox transcription factors belong to a superfamily that has been widely studied in plant growth and development, but little is known regarding their role in fruit development and ripening. Using a genome-wide expression analysis of homeobox (HB) genes and quantitative real-time PCR, a HD-ZIP II member, PpHB.G7 , which presented higher levels of expression in ripening fruits than in developing fruits in all of the tested cultivars, was isolated from peach. Transient transformations showed that PpHB.G7 affects ethylene production and the expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes (PpACS1 and PpACO1). Both dual-luciferase and yeast one-hybrid assays confirmed that PpHB.G7 interacts with the promoters of PpACS1 and PpACO1. Thus, PpHB.G7 mediates ethylene biosynthesis by stimulating PpACS1 and PpACO1 activities. Furthermore, we also found that the other eight HB genes were differentially expressed in the developing fruits, with seven of these genes belonging to the HD-ZIP family. These results suggest that the HB genes in the HD-ZIP family play important roles in fruit development and ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong deoxidation and weak deoxidation are two kinds of deoxidation methods frequently applied in steelmaking. In the present study, high‐carbon chromium bearing steels are smelted with a strong deoxidizer and a weak deoxidizer, respectively in industrial trials. The generation mechanism of inclusions is analyzed, and the inclusion stability diagrams of the Fe–Si–Al–Mg–Mn–O system at 1873 and 1843 K are calculated. The very high cycle fatigue life of bearing steels deoxidized with different deoxidizers is also experimentally compared. The results showed that the evolution routes of inclusion in high‐carbon chromium bearing steels deoxidized by Si and Al are CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 → CaO–Al2O3–SiO2–MgO and Al2O3 → CaO–Al2O3–SiO2–MgO, respectively. The Al content in steel is controlled by different methods when different deoxidizers are applied. The effect of the oxide inclusions generated during Si deoxidization on the fatigue life is lower than that during Al deoxidization, even if the total oxygen content is slightly higher. This effect suggests that it is not accurate to evaluate the fatigue life of steels with the total oxygen content, and it is also desirable to produce bearing steels with the Si deoxidation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional inexact SQP algorithm can only solve equality constrained optimization (Byrd et al. Math. Program. 122, 273-299 2010). In this paper, we propose a new inexact SQP algorithm with affine scaling technique for nonlinear systems of mixed equalities and inequalities, which arise in complementarity and variational inequalities. The nonlinear systems are transformed into a special nonlinear optimization with equality and bound constraints, and then we give a new inexact SQP algorithm for solving it. The new algorithm equipped with affine scaling technique does not require a quadratic programming subproblem with inequality constraints. The search direction is computed by solving one linear system approximately using iterative linear algebra techniques. Under mild assumptions, we discuss the global convergence. The preliminary numerical results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suppression of HIV replication by antiretroviral therapy (ART) or host immunity can prevent AIDS but not other HIV-associated conditions including neurocognitive impairment (HIV-NCI). Pathogenesis in HIV-suppressed individuals has been attributed to reservoirs of latent-inducible virus in resting CD4+ T cells. Macrophages are persistently infected with HIV but their role as HIV reservoirs in vivo has not been fully explored. Here we show that infection of conventional mice with chimeric HIV, EcoHIV, reproduces physiological conditions for development of disease in people on ART including immunocompetence, stable suppression of HIV replication, persistence of integrated, replication-competent HIV in T cells and macrophages, and manifestation of learning and memory deficits in behavioral tests, termed here murine HIV-NCI. EcoHIV established latent reservoirs in CD4+ T lymphocytes in chronically-infected mice but could be induced by epigenetic modulators ex vivo and in mice. In contrast, macrophages expressed EcoHIV constitutively in mice for up to 16 months; murine leukemia virus (MLV), the donor of gp80 envelope in EcoHIV, did not infect macrophages. Both EcoHIV and MLV were found in brain tissue of infected mice but only EcoHIV induced NCI. Murine HIV-NCI was prevented by antiretroviral prophylaxis but once established neither persistent EcoHIV infection in mice nor NCI could be reversed by long-acting antiretroviral therapy. EcoHIV-infected, athymic mice were more permissive to virus replication in macrophages than were wild-type mice, suffered cognitive dysfunction, as well as increased numbers of monocytes and macrophages infiltrating the brain. Our results suggest an important role of HIV expressing macrophages in HIV neuropathogenesis in hosts with suppressed HIV replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ultrathin nanostructures are attractive for diverse applications owing to their unique properties compared to their bulk materials. Transition‐metal chalcogenides are promising electrocatalysts, yet it remains difficult to make ultrathin structures (sub‐2 nm), and the realization of their chemical doping is even more challenging. Herein we describe a soft‐template mediated colloidal synthesis of Fe‐doped NiSe2 ultrathin nanowires (UNWs) with diameter down to 1.7 nm. The synergistic interplay between oleylamine and 1‐dodecanethiol is crucial to yield these UNWs. The in situ formed amorphous hydroxide layers that is confined to the surface of the ultrathin scaffolds enable efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalysis. The UNWs exhibit a very low overpotential of 268 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in 0.1  m KOH, as well as remarkable long‐term stability, representing one of the most efficient noble‐metal‐free catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ultrathin nanostructures are attractive for diverse applications owing to their unique properties compared to their bulk materials. Transition‐metal chalcogenides are promising electrocatalysts, yet it remains difficult to make ultrathin structures (sub‐2 nm), and the realization of their chemical doping is even more challenging. Herein we describe a soft‐template mediated colloidal synthesis of Fe‐doped NiSe2 ultrathin nanowires (UNWs) with diameter down to 1.7 nm. The synergistic interplay between oleylamine and 1‐dodecanethiol is crucial to yield these UNWs. The in situ formed amorphous hydroxide layers that is confined to the surface of the ultrathin scaffolds enable efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalysis. The UNWs exhibit a very low overpotential of 268 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in 0.1  m KOH, as well as remarkable long‐term stability, representing one of the most efficient noble‐metal‐free catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying and rewetting events of soil represents a common physiological stress for soil microbial communities. We investigated the effect of alternate drying-rewetting cycles on N 2 O emissions and soil microbial communities in jar experiments with soil samples. The results showed that instant flooding and air-drying moments are two important steps of soil drying and rewetting periods influencing soil microbial communities and N 2 O emissions. N 2 O fluxes in the air dry (AD) steps were always higher than those in the instant flooding (IF) steps, especially in the early stages of AD and IF. The soil treated with long-term organic matter and chemical fertilizer promoted N 2 O emissions but inhibited the N 2 O release from newly applied urea when soil went through drying and rewetting events. Soil moisture content(s) also significantly affected the growth of ammonia oxidiser and denitrifier communities, with the functional gene abundance increasing with increasing soil moisture content. While comparing first and second cycles, N 2 O fluxes were six times higher in the first cycle than in the second cycle. It is concluded that sudden changes in moisture condition influenced the N 2 O flux, and nitrifier and denitrifier functional genes by affecting the growth of ammonia oxidiser and denitrifier communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, soil samples from the typical rice-wheat cropping system in Jiangsu Province, China, subjected to different fertilizer application treatments-no carbon (CK), urea (UR), straw (SR), pig manure (PM), starch (ST), and glucose (GL)-were used to determine potential anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) rate and its association with bacterial abundance, diversity, and activity by using DNA stable isotope probing combined with N isotope tracing and molecular techniques. The effects of different organic carbon sources on anammox were significant, in the following order: GL > ST, SR > UR > PM; anammox activity differed significantly across treatments; however, the C active anammox bacteria were only closely related to Ca. Brocadia. The anammox hydrazine synthase β subunit functional gene sequences were highly associated with the Candidatus genus Brocadia in PM and CK treatments. The different organic carbon sources had different inhibitory effects with anammox rate, which dropped from 3.19 to 1.04 nmol dinitrogen gas g dry soil h among treatments. About 4.2-22.3% of dinitrogen gas emissions were attributed to anammox and indicated that a specific population of anammox bacteria was present and varied with the addition of exogenous organic compounds in paddy soils, although a small part of dinitrogen gas was emitted from the soil via anammox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is an important process in many marine and paddy ecosystems. However, few studies have reported on the contribution to the nitrogen cycle of anammox and its dynamics in rice–wheat cropping systems with different fertilization regimes. Here, isotope tracing and molecular techniques were used to determine the potential rates of anammox and their association with bacterial abundance, diversity, and activity. Rice–wheat cropping systems at two sites in Jiangsu Province, China were selected and the treatments at each site were: 1) no fertilization (CK), 2) 100% chemical fertilization (CF), 3) pig manure compost plus 50% chemical fertilization (PMCF), and 4) straw plus 100% chemical fertilization (SRCF). The results revealed that anammox bacteria with high abundance were detected in both the wheat and rice seasons. The abundance of anammox in PMCF treatment was higher than that in SRCF treatment in both Changshu and Jintan. Moreover, the abundance of anammox bacteria in CF treatment was significantly higher than that in CK in Changshu. Analysis of anammox hydrazine synthase β subunit ( hzs-β ) gene sequences showed that in the rice season, the anammox bacteria Ca. Brocadia, Ca. Scalindua, and Ca. Jettenia were present. In contrast, all of the anammox hydrazine oxidase ( hzo ) genes were affiliated with Ca. Brocadia, suggesting that hzs genes are more representative of anammox biological diversity compared to hzo . Sequences from the PMCF treatment where affiliated with both Ca. Jettenia and Ca. Brocadia, and showed the highest diversity. Anammox activity was detected in both the wheat and rice seasons, but there were significant differences between seasons. The anammox rates were in the range 0.34 to 1.04 nmol dinitrogen gas ∙ g − 1 dry soil ∙ h − 1 , and 3.15 to 9.62% of dinitrogen gas emissions were attributed to anammox. However, no significant difference among the fertilizer treatments for anammox activity was found in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design of a smart antenna that can achieve 3-D beam-scanning coverage. The antenna consists of a novel planar feed array and a cylindrical active frequency-selective surface (AFSS). First, an array fed metallic reflector is studied as a reference antenna to validate the beam-scanning characteristics in the elevation plane. Then, the AFSS is assessed through simulation and measurement results. Finally, the complete structure containing the planar collinear array and the AFSS is analyzed. A prototype at S-band has been designed, manufactured, and measured. The resulting antenna is shown to be able to operate at the 2.4–2.5 GHz frequency band and switch beams in both the azimuth and elevation planes. In the azimuth plane, the proposed antenna is capable of sweeping beams toward different directions to cover a full range of 360°. In the elevation plane, it can achieve beam steering within an angle range of +16°/ − 15°. The measured maximum gain of the antenna is 9.2 dBi. This is the first report of a low-cost 3-D coverage beam-scanning antenna based on AFSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For an automated manufacturing system (AMS), it is a computationally intractable problem to find a maximally permissive deadlock avoidance policy (DAP) in a general case, since the decision on the safety of a reachable state is NP-hard. This paper focuses on the deadlock avoidance problem for systems of simple sequential processes with resources (S3PR) by using Petri nets structural analysis theory. Inspired by the one-step look-ahead DAP that is an established result, which is of polynomial complexity, for an S3PR without one-unit-capacity resources shared by two or more resource-transition circuits (in the Petri net model) that do not include each other, this research explores a multiple-step look-ahead deadlock avoidance policy for a system modeled with an S3PR that contains a shared one-unit-capacity resource in resource-transition circuits. It is shown that the development of an optimal DAP for the considered class of Petri nets is also of polynomial complexity. It is indicated that the steps needed to look ahead in a DAP depend on the structure of the net model. A number of examples are used to illustrate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel antenna with both frequency and pattern reconfigurability is presented. The reconfigurability is achieved by integrating an active frequency selective surface (AFSS) with feed antenna. The smart FSS comprises a printed slot array loaded by varactors. A novel dc biasing arrangement is proposed to feed the slots vertically so that the unwanted effects caused by bias lines are minimized. A monopole antenna is designed to illuminate the AFSS. The resulting structure can operate in a frequency tuning range of 30%. By reconfiguring the different sections of active FSS cylinder into a transparent or reflector mode, the omnidirectional pattern of the source antenna can be converted to a directive beam. As an illustration, half of the AFSS cylinder is successively biased, enabling the beam switching to cover the entire horizontal plane over a range of frequencies. An antenna prototype was fabricated and measured. Experimental results demonstrate the capability of providing useful gain levels and good impedance matching from 1.7 to 2.3 GHz. The antenna offers a low-cost, low-power solution for wireless systems that require frequency and beam reconfigurable antennas. The proposed design consumes about 1000 times less dc power than the equivalent narrowband beam-switching antenna design using p-i-n diode-loaded AFSS. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective. Elevated red cell distribution (RDW) has been reported to be associated with mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis and cholecystitis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). However, evidence for the relationship between RDW and paralytic intestinal obstruction is lacking. Therefore, the article aims to investigate the relationship between RDW and 28-day mortality of the patients with paralytic intestinal obstruction. Patients and Methods. This is a single-center retrospective study. Based on a particular screening criterion, 773 patients with paralytic intestinal obstruction were selected from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database. Indicators of the first 24 h into the ICU were used to analyze the relationship between RDW and 28-day death from paralytic intestinal obstruction by Kaplan−Meier (K-M) analysis, logistic regression analysis, and stratification analysis. Results. The curve fitting exhibited a nonlinear relationship. The K-M curve showed that groups with higher RDW values had lower survival rates. The logistic regression analysis revealed that RDW increased with 28-day mortality in patients with paralytic intestinal obstruction in the fully adjusted model. In the fully adjusted model, OR value and 95% CI from the second to the third quantiles compared to the first quartile (reference group) were 1.89 (1.04, 3.44) and 3.29 (1.82, 5.93), respectively. The results of stratified analysis of each layer had the same trend as those of regression analysis, and the interaction results were not significant. Conclusion. Elevated RDW was associated with increased 28-day mortality from paralytic intestinal obstruction in the ICU. This study can help to further explore the relationship between RDW and death in patients with paralytic intestinal obstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential ( cVEMP) is a common and simple test of vestibulospinal reflex patency. In the clinic, cVEMPs are measured in response to loud sounds from the sternocleidomastoid ( SCM) on the ventral neck, as subjects maintain an uncomfortable head posture needed to recruit SCM. Here we characterize the cVEMP in a dorsal neck turner (splenius capitis; SPL), and compare it with the SCM cVEMP. cVEMPs were recorded simultaneously via surface electromyography from SCM and SPL from 17 healthy subjects in a variety of postures, including head-turned postures adopted while either seated or standing, and the clinical posture. Like the SCM cVEMP recorded ipsilateral to the side of sound stimulation, the cVEMP on the contralateral SPL (synergistic with ipsilateral SCM) was characterized by a biphasic wave of muscle activity that began at ~ 13 ms. cVEMP reliability was higher on SPL vs. SCM in standing postures (chi-squared; P < 0.05), and equivalent results were obtained from SPL in a standing or seated posture. In 9 of the 17 subjects, we also obtained bilateral intramuscular (IM) recordings from SPL at the same time as the surface recordings. In these subjects, the initial surface response in SPL was associated with a consistent decrease in multi-unit IM SPL activity. Overall, these results demonstrate that SPL recordings offer a complimentary target for cVEMP assessments. The expression of SPL cVEMPs in simple head-turned postures may also improve the utility of cVEMP testing for vestibular assessment in children, the elderly, or non-compliant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]