Search

ABSTRACT: Colorimetric qualitative and sensitive quantitative detection of Salmonella Typhimurium holds significant importance for ensuring food safety and preventing foodborne illnesses. In this study, an ultra-high catalytic activity and biocompatible nickel-platinum nanoparticle (NiPt NP) nanozyme is successful synthesized to prepare a nanozyme-linked immunosorbent assay (NLISA) strategy for the detection of Salmonella Typhimurium. The synthesized NiPt NP exhibit high oxidase-like catalytic efficiency, with a Michaelis-Menten constant of 0.493 mM, similar to that of natural horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The maximal reaction velocity was determined to be 1.97 × 10−7 M·s−1, 1.97-fold higher than that of the HRP (1.0 × 10−7 M·s−1). Meanwhile, the antibody employed in this NiPt NP-based NLISA exhibits exceptional capture efficacy, generating a stable immune complex with Salmonella Typhimurium. The NiPt NP-based NLISA demonstrates sensitivity, specificity, convenience, and cost-efficiency for the detection of Salmonella Typhimurium. Under optimal conditions, this NiPt NP-based NLISA demonstrates a quantitative range of 103∼106 cfu/mL with a detection limit as low as 103 cfu/mL. A single-blind experimental testing detects different concentrations of Salmonella Typhimurium-spiked skim milk, indicating the application potential of the proposed NLISA in real samples. In all, this research provides novel insights into the synthesis of nanozymes with excellent catalytic activity and their applications in Salmonella Typhimurium biosensing.

Abstract Growing evidence indicates that extreme heat and rain may occur in succession within short time periods and cause greater impacts than individual events separated in time and space. Therefore, many studies have examined the impacts of compound hazard events on the social-ecological system at various scales. The definition of compound events is fundamental for such research. However, there are no existing studies that support the determination of time interval between individual events of a compound rainstorm and heatwave (CRH) event, which consists of two or more potentially qualifying component heatwave and rainstorm events. To address the deficiency in defining what individual events can constitute a CRH event, this study proposed a novel method to determine the maximum time interval for CRH events through the change in CRH event frequency with increasing time interval between individual events, using southern China as a case study. The results show that the threshold identified by the proposed method is reasonable. For more than 90% of the meteorological stations, the frequency of CRH events has reached a maximum when the time interval is less than or equal to the threshold. This study can aid in time interval selection, which is an important step for subsequent study of CRH events.

BackgroundThe coordinated development of ethnic medicine is a basic necessity for steady construction of a healthy China. This process includes closely following domestic and foreign policies, including changes, through the optimization of policies; shaping the new direction of the development of national medicine; and achieving comprehensive technological and industrial upgrades. As such, ensuring the all-round development of national medicine in China remains a great challenge.MethodsThis paper takes the relevant policies of national and local ethnic medicine issued by the government as the research object, and, through the full interpretation of the policy-issuing body, policy content, and policy effectiveness, deeply analyzes the current situation of the policy’s role in ethnic medicine and explores the distribution of policy types, subject-cooperation modes, and scoring levels in various dimensions.ResultsThis study found that, in the new era of pharmaceutical reform, the State lacks a variety of special policies on ethnomedicine, and there is also an imbalance in the use of policy tools at both the central and local levels as well as synergies in the implementation of policies that need to be further strengthened.DiscussionThere remains a need to continue to improve the policy-evaluation system, optimize the structure for the use of policy tools, and improve the rates of application and implementation of the national medicine policy by strengthening cross-provincial and multisectoral cooperation to promote the revitalization of the national medicine industry in China.

Steel slag, as an industrial byproduct obtained from the steel manufacturing industry, may cause land occupation, resource waste, and environmental pollution. The application of steel slag as a material for soil reinforcement in road engineering is very popular due to its potential hydration activity. The unconfined compression strength, microstructure, and transport properties of loess soil with cement, lime and steel slag were investigated. The results show that the loess soil can be reinforced by cement, lime, and steel slag to varying degrees. The reinforcement mechanism of cement for loess soil is realized by pore filling by cement hydration products such as CH, C-S-H and AFt, and their unconfined compression strength is improved by reducing the porosity. The reinforcement mechanism of lime for loess soil is achieved by pore filling by hydration products such as CH and CaCO3, and their strength is improved by a refined pore structure where the porosity has not been significantly reduced. The reinforcement mechanism of steel slag for loess soil is a combined mechanism of cement and lime, including pore filling and refined pores. The pore structure of reinforced soil can be studied at different scales by the MIP, LF NMR, and X-CT test methods. The transport properties including diffusivity and permeability of reinforcing soil can be well explored by Avizo software based on the microstructure obtained from X-CT.

In China, steel slag as a solid waste caused land occupation and environmental pollution, and its utilization ratio is relatively low. To increase the utilization field and ratio of steel slag, hydration behavior and cementitious properties of three types of steel slag were investigated and compared based on test results from an early age to a long-term via multiple techniques. Experimental results suggested that steel slag showed a strong latent hydraulic activity at a later age, and the mechanical strength of steel slag paste specimens (w/b=0.3) could reach 15 MPa at 360 days. Cementitious properties of steel slag were primally depended on the hydration of calcium silicate (C3S and C2S), calcium aluminate (ferrite), glassy phase in steel slag, especially for calcium silicate. The sum amount of calcium silicate in used steel slag was approximately from 21% to 28%, and the amount of C2S was significantly greater than that of C3S. The hydration of C2S and glassy phase resulted in the continuous increase in bound water content of steel slag, and a certain content of C2S still existed in pastes at 360 days. The mechanical strength of steel slag pastes markedly increased at a later age due to more hydrates formed in the microstructure.

BackgroundThe triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a simple surrogate marker of insulin resistance, is significantly associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there is limited research on the longitudinal trajectory of TyG index over time and its relationship with CKD.ObjectiveTo analyse the characteristics of the longitudinal trajectory of the TyG index over time and its association with the development of CKD in a health check-up population.MethodsParticipants who underwent at least three annual health check-ups at the Health Management Center of Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital from 2015 to 2022 were included in this retrospective cohort study. The TyG index was calculated as ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. The latent class mixed model (LCMM) was used to identify the TyG index trajectory of the study population. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the CKD incidence risk in different quartile groups and the association of changes in the TyG index trajectory with the development of CKD.ResultsA total of 4,921 participants were included in this study, and they were divided into four groups according to the quartiles of the baseline TyG index: Q1 (5.43-6.66), Q2 (6.67-7.04), Q3 (7.05-7.43), and Q4 (7.43-9.97). There was no difference in the risk of CKD occurrence among the TyG groups. Three different TyG index trajectories were identified in this study: a high-level group, middle-level stable group and low-level stable group, respectively. The incidence rate of CKD in the high-level TyG index trajectory group was 2.399 times greater than that in the low-level stable trajectory group (HR=2.399, 95% CI 1.167-4.935).ConclusionIndividuals with long-term exposure to high TyG index levels had a significantly greater risk of CKD. Routine monitoring of the TyG index and its longitudinal trend will aid in the risk stratification of CKD in the general population and will be helpful for CKD prevention and targeted management.

A phase-locked loop (PLL) of a phase-shifting power supply for the power system is designed in this paper. Taking the industrial frequency current as the reference signal, the input and output characteristics of the phase-frequency detector with charge pump are analyzed. In addition, the transfer function of the PLL system is analyzed by combining the passive second-order low-pass filter and the voltage-controlled oscillator. As a result, the influence of parameters such as charge pump current, phase margin, and loop bandwidth on the performance of the PLL is investigated, and the optimal parameters of each section are obtained. The results show that the optimized PLL has a locking time of 0.75 s, a pull-out range of 63.16 Hz, and a locking range of 43.82 Hz, with high stability and noise immunity.

Abstract Background N7-methylguanosine (m7G) is one of the most conserved modifications in nucleosides impacting mRNA export, splicing, and translation. However, the precise function and molecular mechanism of internal mRNA m7G methylation in adult hippocampal neurogenesis and neurogenesis-related Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remain unknown. Results We profiled the dynamic Mettl1/Wdr4 expressions and m7G modification during neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro and in vivo. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis and its molecular mechanisms were examined by morphology, biochemical methods and biological sequencing. The translation efficiency of mRNA was detected by polysome profiling. The stability of Sptbn2 mRNA was constructed by RNA stability assay. APPswe/PS1ΔE9 (APP/PS1) double transgenic mice were used as model of AD. Morris water maze was used to detect the cognitive function. Methods We found that m7G methyltransferase complex Mettl1/Wdr4 as well as m7G was significantly elevated in neurons. Functionally, silencing Mettl1 in neural stem cells (NSCs) markedly decreased m7G modification, neuronal genesis and proliferation in addition to increasing gliogenesis, while forced expression of Mettl1 facilitated neuronal differentiation and proliferation. Mechanistically, the m7G modification of Sptbn2 mRNA by Mettl1 enhanced its stability and translation, which promoted neurogenesis. Importantly, genetic defciency of Mettl1 reduced hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial memory in the adult mice. Furthermore, Mettl1 overexpression in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice rescued neurogenesis and behavioral defects. Conclusion Our findings unravel the pivotal role of internal mRNA m7G modification in Sptbn2-mediated neurogenesis, and highlight Mettl3 regulation of neurogenesis as a novel therapeutic target in AD treatment.

Flexible temperature sensors have diverse applications and a great potential in the field of temperature monitoring, including healthcare, smart homes and the automotive industry. However, the current flexible temperature sensor preparation generally suffers from process complexity, which limits its development and application. In this paper, a nickel oxide (NiO) flexible temperature sensor based on a low-temperature sintering technology is introduced. The prepared NiO flexible temperature sensor has a high-resolution temperature measurement performance and good stability, including temperature detection over a wide temperature range of (25 to 70 °C) and a high sensitivity performance (of a maximum TCR of −5.194%°C−1 and a thermal constant of 3938 K). The rapid response time of this temperature sensor was measured to be 2 s at 27–50 °C, which ensures the accuracy and reliability of the measurement. The NiO flexible temperature sensor prepared by electrohydrodynamic direct writing has a stable performance and good flexibility in complex environments. The temperature sensor can be used to monitor the temperature status of the equipment and prevent failure or damage caused by overheating.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) communication is a promising technology that provides swift and flexible on-demand wireless connectivity for devices without infrastructure support. With recent developments in UAVs, spectrum and energy efficient green UAV communication has become crucial. To deal with this issue, Spectrum Sharing Policy (SSP) is introduced to support green UAV communication. Spectrum sensing in SSP must be carefully formulated to control interference to the primary users and ground communications. In this paper, we propose spectrum sensing for opportunistic spectrum access in green UAV communication to improve the spectrum utilization efficiency. Different from most existing works, we focus on the problem of spectrum sensing of randomly arriving primary signals in the presence of non-Gaussian noise/interference. We propose a novel and improved p-norm-based spectrum sensing scheme to improve the spectrum utilization efficiency in green UAV communication. Firstly, we construct the p-norm decision statistic based on the assumption that the random arrivals of signals follow a Poisson process. Then, we analyze and derive the approximate analytical expressions of the false-alarm and detection probabilities by utilizing the central limit theorem. Simulation results illustrate the validity and superiority of the proposed scheme when the primary signals are corrupted by additive non-Gaussian noise and arrive randomly during spectrum sensing in the green UAV communication.

ObjectiveThe available evidence regarding the association of immune nutrition status with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is limited. Thus, the present study examined whether immunonutrition indices were associated with renal function and mortality among CKD individuals.Research design and methodsThis study enrolled 6,099 U.S. adults with CKD from the NHANES 2005–2018 database. Participants were matched with National Death Index records until 31 December 2019 to determine mortality outcomes. The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic was utilized to identify the most effective index among the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), system inflammation score (SIS), Naples prognostic score (NPS), and controlling nutritional status (CONUT) for predicting mortality. Cox regression models were employed to evaluate the associations of immunonutrition indices with mortality in participants with CKD.ResultsThe PNI exhibited the strongest predictive power among the four indices evaluated and the restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a cutoff value of 51 for the PNI in predicting mortality. During a median follow-up of 72 months (39–115 months), a total of 1,762 (weighted 24.26%) CKD participants died from all causes. The Kaplan–Meier curve demonstrated a reduced risk of death for the subjects with a higher PNI compared to those in the lower group. Besides, after adjusting for multiple potential confounders, a higher PNI remained an independent predictor for lower risks of all-cause mortality (HR 0.80, 95%CI: 0.71–0.91, p

Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between resting energy expenditure (REE) based on equation estimation and renal outcomes in patients with diabetes kidney disease (DKD).Methods A total of 124 patients were enrolled from a retrospective cohort of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with biopsy-proven DKD. Renal outcome defined as End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). To compare the predictive ability of different REE estimation equations on ESRD. Patients’ REE was assessed according to the estimating equation with the best predictive power, and then the relationship between REE and ESRD risk was fitted using a restricted cubic spline curve (RCS) plot and REE cutoff values were obtained. Grouping using cutoff values, and ultimately evaluate the relationship between REE and the risk of ESRD using a Multivariate Cox regression model.Results The strongest predictive validity for renal outcomes was the NDCKD-equation. The patients were divided into the higher-REE group (n = 78) and the lower-REE group (n = 46), based on the cutoff value. During the follow-up, 30 of 124 patients (24.2%) proceeded to ESRD. Multivariate Cox regression models showed that the risk of ESRD in patients with lower REE was 6.08 times increased compared with that in those with higher REE (HR = 6.08; 95% CI, 1.28–28.80, p = 0.023).Conclusion These findings suggested that the lower REE was an independent risk factor for unfavorable renal outcomes in patients with DKD.

AbstractAims Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The identification of risk factors involved in the progression of DKD to ESKD is expected to result in early detection and appropriate intervention and improve prognosis. This study aimed to explore whether plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was associated with kidney outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and biopsy-proven DKD.Methods Patients with biopsy-proven DKD who were followed up at West China Hospital over 12 months were enrolled. The kidney outcome was defined as progression to ESKD. The cutoff value of plasma NT-proBNP concentration was calculated by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The influence of NT-proBNP levels on kidney outcome in patients with DKD was assessed using Cox regression analysis.Results A total of 30 (24.5%) patients reached ESKD during a median follow-up of 24.1 months. The baseline serum NT-proBNP level had a significant correlation with baseline proteinuria, kidney function, glomerular lesions, interstitial fibrosis tubular atrophy (IFTA), and arteriolar hyalinosis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that increased NT-proBNP level was significantly associated with a higher risk of progression to ESKD (HR 6.43; 95% CI (1.65–25.10, p = 0.007), and each 1 SD increase in LG (NT-proBNP) was also associated with a higher risk (HR 2.43; 95% CI 1.94–5.29, p = 0.047) of an adverse kidney outcome after adjusting for confounding factors.Conclusions A higher level of plasma NT-proBNP predicts kidney prognosis in patients with biopsy-proven DKD. This warrants further investigation into the potential mechanisms.

Two novel energetic compounds, 3-nitroxymethyl-5-(4-nitro-furazan-3-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole (4) and 3-nitroxymethyl-5-(4-azido-furazan-3-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole (5), were synthesized. Both of them were fully characterized, and the structure of 4 was further confirmed by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The thermal behaviors, detonation performances and the sensitivities of 4 and 5 were also investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), EXPLO5 program and BAM standard techniques. In addition, the electrostatic potential energy surface (ESP) was studied by Multiwfn program and density functional theory at B3LPY/6-31G (d, p). Both compounds have low melt-point, good energetic performance and mechanical sensitivity, which endow them with promising properties as plasticizing ingredients in propellant formulations.

Aims Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Identification of risk factors involved in the progression of DKD to ESRD is expected to result in early detection and appropriate intervention and improve prognosis. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a risk prediction model for ESRD resulting from DKD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods Between January 2008 and July 2019, a total of 390 Chinese patients with T2DM and DKD confirmed by percutaneous renal biopsy were enrolled and followed up for at least 1 year. Four machine learning algorithms (gradient boosting machine, support vector machine, logistic regression, and random forest (RF)) were used to identify the critical clinical and pathological features and to build a risk prediction model for ESRD.Results There were 158 renal outcome events (ESRD) (40.51%) during the 3-year median follow up. The RF algorithm showed the best performance at predicting progression to ESRD, showing the highest AUC (0.90) and ACC (82.65%). The RF algorithm identified five major factors: Cystatin-C, serum albumin (sAlb), hemoglobin (Hb), 24-hour urine urinary total protein, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. A nomogram according to the aforementioned five predictive factors was constructed to predict the incidence of ESRD.Conclusion Machine learning algorithms can efficiently predict the incident ESRD in DKD participants. Compared with the previous models, the importance of sAlb and Hb were highlighted in the current model.HighlightsWhat is already known? Identification of risk factors for the progression of DKD to ESRD is expected to improve the prognosis by early detection and appropriate intervention.What this study has found? Machine learning algorithms were used to construct a risk prediction model of ESRD in patients with T2DM and DKD. The major predictive factors were found to be CysC, sAlb, Hb, eGFR, and UTP.What are the implications of the study? In contrast with the treatment of participants with early-phase T2DM with or without mild kidney damage, major emphasis should be placed on indicators of kidney function, nutrition, anemia, and proteinuria for participants with T2DM and advanced DKD to delay ESRD, rather than age, sex, and control of hypertension and glycemia.

Reliable identification of spatial parameters for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, such as the number of transmit antennas (NTA) and the direction of arrival (DOA), is a prerequisite for MIMO signal separation and detection. Most existing parameter estimation methods for MIMO systems only consider a single parameter in Gaussian noise. This paper develops a reliable identification scheme based on generalized multi-antenna time-frequency distribution (GMTFD) for MIMO systems with non-Gaussian interference and Gaussian noise. First, a new generalized correlation matrix is introduced to construct a generalized MTFD matrix. Then, the covariance matrix based on time-frequency distribution (CM-TF) is characterized by using the diagonal entries from the auto-source signal components and the non-diagonal entries from the cross-source signal components in the generalized MTFD matrix. Finally, by making use of the CM-TF, the Gerschgorin disk criterion is modified to estimate NTA, and the multiple signal classification (MUSIC) is exploited to estimate DOA for MIMO system. Simulation results indicate that the proposed scheme based on GMTFD has good robustness to non-Gaussian interference without prior information and that it can achieve high estimation accuracy and resolution at low and medium signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs).

Background: Disturbance of circadian rhythm leads to abnormalities in bile acid (BA) and lipid metabolism, and it is of great significance to explore the relationship between them. This study explored the effects of circadian dysregulation on the rhythms of intestinal BA metabolism. Method: Period circadian clock 1/period circadian clock 2 (Per1/Per2) double gene knockout (DKO) and wild-type (WT) male C57BL/6 mice were fed with a control or high-fat diet for 16 weeks. We measure plasma parameters of mice. Pathological changes including those in liver and intestine were detected by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and oil O staining. Western blot was used to detect the intestinal core rhythm protein clock circadian regulator (CLOCK), nuclear receptor subfamily 1, group D, member 1 (REV-ERBα), Farnesoid X receptor (FXR), Small heterodimer partner (SHP), and Fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15) expressions. We analyzed the bile acid and intestinal flora profile in the mice intestine tissues by BA-targeted metabolomics detection and high-throughput sequencing. Results: Rhythmic chaos affected lipid metabolism and lipid accumulation in mice liver and intestine, and diurnal fluctuations of plasma triglycerides (TGs) were absent in normal-feeding DKO mice. The normal circadian fluctuations of the CLOCK and REV-ERBα observed in wild mice disappeared (normal diet) or were reversed (high-fat diet) in DKO mice. In WT mice intestine, total BA and conjugated BA were affected by circadian rhythm under both normal and high-fat diets, while these circadian fluctuations disappeared in DKO mice. Unconjugated BA seemed to be affected exclusively by diet (significantly increased in the high-fat group) without obvious fluctuations associated with circadian rhythm. Correlation analysis showed that the ratio of conjugated/unconjugated BA was positively correlated with the presence of Bacteroidetes and displayed a circadian rhythm. The expression levels of BA receptor pathway protein FXR, SHP, and FGF15 were affected by the ratio of conjugated/unconjugated BA. Conclusion: Bacteroidetes-related diurnal changes to intestinal ratios of conjugated/unconjugated BA have the potential to regulate diurnal fluctuations in liver BA synthesis via FXR-FGF15. The inverted intestinal circadian rhythm observed in DKO mice fed with a high-fat diet may be an important reason for their abnormal circadian plasma TG rhythms and their susceptibility to lipid metabolism disorders.

Energetic material is a very essential company of compounds, widely used in various fields, primarily in the military industry and space technologies. These compounds are unique in that they are capable of instantly decomposing to release enormous energy. The chemical diversity of energetic organic compounds is constantly increasing through the combination of various high-nitrogen frameworks and explosophoric groups, which follows the overall trend of increasing interest in their chemistry and applications. The scientific community is constantly looking for more powerful and less sensitive to external impulses energetic compounds for both military and civilian use. Herein, a detailed overview regarding classic and novel explosophoric groups and various frameworks, as well as a description of the selected synthesis for the target compounds, has been given for the time period since 2010. The physical properties and performances of benchmark and prospective compounds are also collected.

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a disease that severely affects the physical health of children. Thus, we aimed to identify biomarkers associated with AML prognosis in children. Using transcriptomics on an mRNA dataset from 27 children with non-M3 AML, we selected genes from among those with the top 5000 median absolute deviation (MAD) values for subsequent analysis which showed that two modules were associated with AML risk groups. Thus, enrichment analysis was performed using genes from these modules. A one-way Cox analysis was performed on a dataset of 149 non-M3 AML patients downloaded from the TCGA. This identified four genes as significant: FTH1, RCC2, ABHD17B, and IRAK1. Through survival analysis, FTH1 was identified as a key gene associated with AML prognosis. We verified the proliferative and regulatory effects of ferroptosis on MOLM-13 and THP-1 cells using Liproxstatin-1 and Erastin respectively by CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays. Furthermore, we assayed expression levels of FTH1 in MOLM-13 and THP-1 cells after induction and inhibition of ferroptosis by real-time quantitative PCR, which showed that upregulated FTH1 expression promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis in leukemia cells. In conclusion, high expression of FTH1 promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of leukemic cells through the ferroptosis pathway and is thus a potential risk factor that affects the prognosis of non-M3 AML in children.

Based on Zhonghua Road Bridge in Liaocheng city, a single tower hybrid cable-stayed bridge, the stress of the steelconcrete joint of the girder is studied using the finite element method with the software MIDAS and ANSYS. The beam element model of the whole bridge is established in MIDAS CIVIL, from which the internal forces of the critical sections of the steel–concrete joint under six adverse conditions are obtained. Then, the results are applied in the refined solid-shell finite element model established in ANSYS. With the stress analysis, it is found that when the steel–concrete joint is used in the girder of the single tower cable-stayed bridge, both the compressive strength of concrete and the tensile strength of steel can be fully used, and the structural stiffness can be smoothly transferred through the two different materials in the joint, which makes the structural behavior more reasonable. The detailed stress analysis also shows that it is prone to generate considerable stress concentration at the corners and the connection between the steel lattice chamber and the pressure bearing plate, and the concentration can be avoided by local stiffening and smoothing of the chamfers. The sensitivity analysis of the web thickness in the joints and bearing plates showed that increasing the thickness of the intermediate web would lead to a moderate reduction in the stress of the web itself, while the stress in the steel member remained relatively constant. However, when the thickness of the bearing plate is increased from 60 to 80 mm, the stress of each part of the steel plate in the steel grid will be significantly reduced, and the maximum reduction can reach 48%. The improvement of concrete strength has little effect on the stress of the steel cell, and the C50 concrete strength grade used in the design is more reasonable.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious and frequently observed disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) is a research method that converts the relationship between tens of thousands of genes and phenotypes into the association between several gene sets and phenotypes. We screened potential target genes related to AKI through WGCNA to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of AKI. Key biomolecules of AKI were investigated based on transcriptome analysis. RNA sequencing data from 39 kidney biopsy specimens of AKI patients and 9 normal subjects were downloaded from the GEO database. By WGCNA, the top 20% of mRNAs with the largest variance in the data matrix were used to construct a gene co-expression network with a p-value < 0.01 as a screening condition, showing that the blue module was most closely associated with AKI. Thirty-two candidate biomarker genes were screened according to the threshold values of |MM|≥0.86 and |GS|≥0.4, and PPI and enrichment analyses were performed. The top three genes with the most connected nodes, alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase 2(AGXT2), serine hydroxymethyltransferase 1(SHMT1) and aconitase 2(ACO2), were selected as the central genes based on the PPI network. A rat AKI model was constructed, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of the central genes in the model and control groups were verified by PCR and immunohistochemistry experiments. The results showed that the relative mRNA expression and protein levels of AGXT2, SHMT1 and ACO2 showed a decrease in the model group. In conclusion, we inferred that there is a close association between AGXT2, SHMT1 and ACO2 genes and the development of AKI, and the down-regulation of their expression levels may induce AKI.

Abstract Background Plant secondary growth depends on the activity of the vascular cambium, which produces xylem and phloem. Wood derived from xylem is the most abundant form of biomass globally and has played key socio-economic and subsistence roles throughout human history. However, despite intensive study of vascular development, the full diversity of cell types and the gene networks engaged are still poorly understood. Results Here, we have applied an optimized protoplast isolation protocol and RNA sequencing to characterize the high-resolution single-cell transcriptional landscape of highly lignified poplar stems. We identify 20 putative cell clusters with a series of novel cluster-specific marker genes and find that these cells are highly heterogeneous based on the transcriptome. Analysis of these marker genes’ expression dynamics enables reconstruction of the cell differentiation trajectories involved in phloem and xylem development. We find that different cell clusters exhibit distinct patterns of phytohormone responses and emphasize the use of our data to predict potential gene redundancy and identify candidate genes related to vascular development in trees. Conclusions These findings establish the transcriptional landscape of major cell types of poplar stems at single-cell resolution and provide a valuable resource for investigating basic principles of vascular cell specification and differentiation in trees.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) level and renal outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods: A total of 393 Chinese patients with T2DM and biopsy-proven DN and followed at least 1 year were enrolled in this study. Patients were stra tified by the quartiles of baseline level of SUA: Q1 group: 286.02 ± 46.66 μmol/L (n = 98); Q2 group: 358.23 ± 14.03 μmol/L (n = 99); Q3 group: 405.50 ± 14.59 μmol/L (n = 98) and Q4 group: 499.14 ± 56.97μmol/L (n = 98). Renal outcome was defined by progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were used to analyze the association between SUA quartiles and the renal outcomes. Results: During the median 3-year follow-up period, there were 173 ESRD outcome events (44.02%). No significant difference between SUA level and the risk of progression of DN (P = 0.747) was shown in the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. In mul tivariable-adjusted model, hazard ratios for developing ESRD were 1.364 (0 .621–2.992; P = 0.439), 1.518 (0.768–3.002; P = 0.230) and 1.411 (0.706–2.821; P = 0.330) for the Q2, Q3 and Q4, respectively, in comparison with the Q1 (P = 0.652). Conclusions: No significant association between SUA level and renal outcome o f ESRD in Chinese patients with T2DM and DN was found in our study. Besides, the role of uric acid-lowering therapy in delaying DN progression and improving ESRD outcome had not yet been proven. Further study was needed to clarify the renal bene fit of the uric acid-lowering therapy in the treatment of DN.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of intravitreal (IVT) VEGFi on long-term renal outcomes in patients with biopsy-proven diabetic kidney disease (DKD).Patients and methods: Patients prescribed IVT VEGFi (VEGFi group) were enrolled from a retrospective cohort with biopsy-proven DKD, and those not prescribed VEGFi (non-VEGFi group) were enrolled by 1:3 propensity score matching, adjusted for clinical and pathological baseline indicators. The primary endpoint is defined as end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and the secondary endpoint is defined as all-cause mortality.Results: Compared with patients in non-VEGFi group, patients with VEGFi had a higher proportion of diabetic retinopathy (DR) (50.9% vs 100%, p < 0.001) before matching. Standardized mean difference (SMD) of age, DR, duration of diabetes, the proportion of hypertension, eGFR, initial proteinuria, serum albumin, hemoglobin, the proportion of RAAS inhibitor and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) were >10%. After matching, there was no significant difference in clinical pathology between the two groups. Except for the proportion of hypertension, the SMD of other indicators was

AimsAbnormalities of glucolipid metabolism are critical mechanisms involved in the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Bile acids have an essential role in regulating glucolipid metabolism. This study investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of DKD patients with different bile acid levels and explored the relationship between bile acids and renal outcomes of DKD patients.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed and evaluated the histopathological features and clinical features of our cohort of 184 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and biopsy-proven DKD. Patients were divided into the lower bile acids group (≤2.8 mmol/L) and higher bile acids group (>2.8 mmol/L) based on the cutoff value of bile acids obtained using the time-dependent receiver-operating characteristic curve. Renal outcomes were defined as end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The influence of bile acids on renal outcomes and correlations between bile acids and clinicopathological indicators were evaluated.ResultsBile acids were positively correlated with age (r = 0.152; P = 0.040) and serum albumin (r = 0.148; P = 0.045) and negatively correlated with total cholesterol (r = -0.151; P = 0.041) and glomerular class (r = -0.164; P =0.027). During follow-up, 64 of 184 patients (34.78%) experienced progression to ESRD. Lower levels of proteinuria, serum albumin, and bile acids were independently associated with an increased risk of ESRD (hazard ratio, R=5.319; 95% confidence interval, 1.208–23.425).ConclusionsBile acids are an independent risk factor for adverse renal outcomes of DKD patients. The serum level of bile acids should be maintained at more than 2.8 mmol/L in DKD patients. Bile acid analogs or their downstream signaling pathway agonists may offer a promising strategy for treating DKD.

The additional carbon centers in 1,3-diazinane and 1,3-oxazinane enable them to covalently bonded geminal-explosophoric groups, leading to unique energetic properties when compared with their homologous energetic structure like RDX. In this paper, a concise synthesis and comparative studies towards 1,3,5-(trinitro1,3-diazinane-5-yl) methyl nitrate and (3,5-dinitro-1,3-oxazinan-5-yl) methyl nitrate (TNOP), two energetic 1,3-diazinane/1,3-oxazinane based promising explosive molecules, are reported. The new germinal nitro/nitroxy explosophoric moieties in the 1,3-diazinane and 1,3-oxazinane frameworks lead to novel structural and energetic properties, which have been investigated through both experimental and computational methods. Densities of the obtained compounds are 1.83 g·cm−3 and 1.72 g·cm−3, respectively, along with the detonation velocities of 8714 m·s−1 and 8112 m·s−1. The energetic properties of TNNP are comparable to those of RDX. Meanwhile, the low melting point (105 °C) and excellent insensitivity (IS﹥60 J, FS﹥360 N) of TNOP make it an ideal material for the preparation of melt-cast explosives.

The introduction of highly oxidative explosophoric groups is an efficient strategy to enhance the detonation properties of energetic materials due to its improvement effect of oxygen balances. Chlorodinitromethyl and fluorodinitromethyl groups are widely applied as oxygen-rich building blocks for the construction of energetic materials and their combinations with FOX-7 derived 1,3,5-tetrahydrogentriazine backbone provide perfect structures for a systematic and comparative thermal study of these two similar explosophoric groups. Decomposition behaviors of the obtained insensitive energetic materials were investigated through DSC-TG approaches and chlorodinitromethyl based one exhibited sharper exothermic peak shape and higher heat release rate. Non-isothermal kinetics of the thermal decomposition was achieved based on DSC experiments under different heating rates, showing an observable melting process which could only be observed from the chlorodinitromethyl group based energetic structure under high the heating rates. Possible mechanism of the thermal decomposition was proposed by exploring the intermediates during the heating process through the combination of in-situ FTIR spectroscopy technology with calculation methods, which proved that the decompositions were triggered by the cleavage of nitro groups in chlorodinitromethyl and fluorodinitromethyl moieties. Despite their effectiveness to improve the energy density levels, this study showed the chlorodinitromethyl and fluorodinitromethyl explosophoric groups can also interact with the backbones under high temperatures, especially with the ones with active N-H moieties, and result in low decomposition temperatures which may greatly limit their applications.

Abstract Few histological prognostic indicators for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have been validated in diabetic patients. This biopsy-based study aimed to identify nephropathological risk factors for ESRD in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. Histological features of 322 Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with biopsy-confirmed diabetic nephropathy (DN) were retrospectively analysed. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for ESRD. Single glomerular proteomics and immunohistochemistry were used to identify differentially expressed proteins and enriched pathways in glomeruli. During the median follow-up period of 24 months, 144 (45%) patients progressed to ESRD. In multivariable models, the Renal Pathology Society classification failed to predict ESRD, although the solidified glomerulosclerosis (score 1: HR 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–2.60; score 2: HR 2.48, 95% CI 1.40–4.37) and extracapillary hypercellularity (HR 2.68, 95% CI 1.55–4.62) were identified as independent risk factors. Additionally, single glomerular proteomics, combined with immunohistochemistry, revealed that complement C9 and apolipoprotein E were highly expressed in solidified glomerulosclerosis. Therefore, solidified glomerulosclerosis and extracapillary hypercellularity predict diabetic ESRD in Chinese patients. Single glomerular proteomics identified solidified glomerulosclerosis as a unique pathological change that may be associated with complement overactivation and abnormal lipid metabolism.

Aims Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus increase atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) risk. However, the association between renal outcome of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and ASCVD risk is unclear. Methods This retrospective study enrolled 218 type 2 diabetic patients with biopsy-proven DKD, and without known cardiovascular diseases. Baseline characteristics were obtained and the 10-year ASCVD risk score was calculated using the Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE). Renal outcome was defined as progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The association between ASCVD risk and renal function and outcome was analyzed with logistic regression and Cox analysis. Results Among all patients, the median 10-year ASCVD risk score was 14.1%. The median of ASCVD risk score in CKD stage 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 10.9%, 12.3%, 16.5%, and 14.8%, respectively (p = 0.268). Compared with patients with lower ASCVD risk (＜14.1%), those with higher ASCVD risk had lower eGFR, higher systolic blood pressure, and more severe renal interstitial inflammation. High ASCVD risk (>14.1%) was an independent indicator of renal dysfunction in multivariable-adjusted logistic analysis (OR, 3.997; 95%CI, 1.385–11.530; p = 0.010), though failed to be an independent risk factor for ESRD in patients with DKD in univariate and multivariate Cox analysis. Conclusions DKD patients even in CKD stage 1 had comparable ASCVD risk score to patients in CKD stage 2, 3, and 4. Higher ASCVD risk indicated severe renal insufficiency, while no prognostic value of ASVCD risk for renal outcome was observed, which implied macroangiopathy and microangiopathy in patients with DKD were related, but relatively independent.

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of resveratrol for nephrotic syndrome using various online network pharmacology databases. Methods: Genes related to resveratrol and nephrotic syndrome were downloaded from TCMSP, PubChem, and SwissTargetPrediction databases, and Venny2.1.0 was used to obtain the intersected genes. The protein interaction (PPI) network of the intersected genes was generated using the STRING database. The R package clusterprofiler was used to perform GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the intersected genes. Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to construct compound-target-pathway-disease network models. The effect of resveratrol on HIF-1α protein expression in hypoxic 24 h mpc5 cells was detected by Western blot. Results: The intersection of resveratrol and nephrotic syndrome-related genes yielded Seventeen genes. The PPI network indicated that the intersected genes were correlated. Functional enrichment analysis yielded 371 biological processes, 69 molecular functions, 9 cellular components, and 112 related pathways, among which the HIF-1 pathway was the most significantly enriched. Western blot showed that resveratrol significantly reduced HIF-1α protein expression in mpc5 cells after 24 h of hypoxia. Conclusion Resveratrol may act as a therapeutic agent for nephrotic syndrome via the HIF-1 signaling pathway mediated by targeting HIF-1α.

Abstract Organic inner salt structures are ideal backbones for heat-resistant energetic materials and systematic studies towards the thermal properties of energetic organic inner salt structures are crucial to their applications. Herein, we report a comparative thermal research of two energetic organic inner salts with different tetraazapentalene backbones. Detailed thermal decomposition behaviors and kinetics were investigated through differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis (DSC-TG) methods, showing that the thermal stability of the inner salts is higher than most of the traditional heat-resistant energetic materials. Further studies towards the thermal decomposition mechanism were carried out through condensed-phase thermolysis/Fourier-transform infrared (in-situ FTIR) spectroscopy and the combination of differential scanning calorimetry-thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (DSC-TG-MS-FTIR) techniques. The experiment and calculation results prove that the arrangement of the inner salt backbones has great influence on the thermal decompositions of the corresponding energetic materials. The weak N4-N5 bond in “y-” pattern tetraazapentalene backbone lead to early decomposition process and the “z-” pattern tetraazapentalene backbone exhibits more concentrated decomposition behaviors.

The structural units of amino-/cyano-substituted furazans and furoxans played significant roles in the synthesis of nitrogen-rich energetic compounds. This account focused on the synthetic strategies toward nitrogen-rich energetic compounds through the transformations based on cyanofurazan/furoxan structures, including 3-amino-4-cyanofurazan, 4-amino-3-cyano furoxan, 3,4-dicyanofurazan, and 3,4-dicyanofuroxan. The synthetic strategies toward seven kinds of nitrogen-rich energetic compounds, such as azo (azoxy)-bridged, ether-bridged, methylene-bridged, hybrid furazan/furoxan-tetrazole–based, tandem furoxan–based, hybrid furazan-isofurazan–based, hybrid furoxan-isoxazole–based and fused framework–based energetic compounds were fully reviewed, with the corresponding reaction mechanisms toward the nitrogen-rich aromatic frameworks and examples of using the frameworks to create high energetic substances highlighted and discussed. The energetic properties of typical nitrogen-rich energetic compounds had also been compared and summarized.

With the justification of a comprehensive matching function approach, this study analyzes the ride-sourcing market with heterogeneous users. A single origin-destination (O-D) ride-sourcing market model is first developed. The model fills the major research gap to extend general user heterogeneity modeling from the transit market to the two-sided ride-sourcing market. Sufficient conditions that guarantee a unique market equilibrium are given. Equilibrium market operation with a profit-maximizing platform is explored. Equilibrium transitions with respect to the changes in different exogenous market variables are investigated. Nonequilibrium modeling to understand the transition path is also analyzed, revealing how the detailed transition evolves. Extensions of the single O-D market model to aggregate and disaggregate markets and incorporation of travel time reliability are briefly discussed. Numerical experiments, which are based on real-world data in the city of Ningbo, China, and cover an aggregate/single O-D base case, sensitivity analysis, equilibrium transitions, and disaggregate market equilibrium, are presented to illustrate the theoretical model. The larger network of Sioux Falls is also tested as a demonstration of the disaggregate market equilibrium. Discussions are made regarding operation and policy implications.

BackgroundTo investigate the association between sex differences and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in patients with biopsy-confirmed diabetic kidney disease (DKD).MethodWe performed a retrospective cohort study. A total of 336 patients with biopsy-confirmed DKD who were followed up for at least 12 months were enrolled. Baseline clinical and pathological data at the time of biopsy were collected. ESKD was defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 0.05). Univariate [male: hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval (CI)], 1.005, (0.702–1.439)] and multivariable ([male: HR (95%CI), 1.164, (0.675–2.007)]. Cox regression further showed that sex difference was not significantly associated with ESKD.ConclusionFemale patients had the higher systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL-C, compared with male patients. However, there was no significant association observed between sex difference and ESKD in our study.

In this paper, the low-performance problem of two-dimensional (2-D) direction of arrival (DOA) estimation with non-Gaussian noise in low signal-to-noise ratio is addressed. For echo signals of the multiple satellites' passive radar, a robust 2-D DOA estimation method based on improved zero-order statistics fractional low-order cyclic correlation (IZOS-FLOCC) under the alpha-stable distribution noise environment is proposed. First, we employ a uniform plane array to establish the model of received signals. Then, the IZOS-FLOCC of the echo signals is constructed based on the cyclostationarity. Finally, the IZOS-FLOCC of signals subspace is obtained by the optimization method. Moreover, we derive the Cramer-Rao low bound of the 2-D DOA estimation of echo signals based on multiple satellites' passive radar in the presence of alpha-stable distribution noise. The simulation results show that the proposed method can effectively estimate the 2-D DOA of echo signals based on multi-satellite radiation sources in the alpha-stable distribution noise environment and achieve better performance than the existing methods.

As the single-signal carrier frequency estimation method is unsuitable for the time-frequency overlapped signals in an underlay cognitive radio network (CRN), in this paper, we propose a novel carrier frequency estimation method for the time-frequency overlapped multi-level amplitude-shift keying (MASK) signals in the underlay CRN. In this method, the diagonal slice spectrum of cyclic bispectrum for the time-frequency overlapped MASK signals is first estimated, and then, the carrier frequency of component MASK signals is estimated by extracting the position information of the diagonal slice spectrum line based on the norm theory and the adaptive threshold. In addition, the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) of the carrier frequency estimation for the time-frequency overlapped MASK signals is also derived. The simulation results show that the proposed method can estimate the carrier frequency of the time-frequency overlapped MASK signals effectively, especially in low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regions.

Due to the introduction of oxygen atoms, N-oxide energetic compounds have a unique oxygen balance, excellent detonation properties, and a high energy density, attracting the extensive attention of researchers all over the world. N-oxides are classified into two categories based on the structural characteristics of their skeletons: azine N-oxides and azole N-oxides, whose N→O coordination bonds are formed during cyclization. There are six kinds of azine N-oxides, namely 1,2,3,4-tetrazine-1,3-dioxide, 1,2,3,5-tetrazine-2-oxide, 1,2,3-triazine-3-oxide, 1,2,3-triazine-2-oxide, pyridazine-1,2-dioxide, and pyrazine-1-oxide. Azole N-oxides include 1,2,5-oxadiazole-2-oxide, pyrazole-1-oxide, and triazole-1-oxide. Synthetic strategies towards these two categories of N-oxides are fully reviewed. Corresponding reaction mechanisms towards the aromatic N-oxide frameworks and examples that use the frameworks to create high-energy substances are discussed. Moreover, the energetic properties of N-oxide energetic compounds are compared and summarized.

In intelligent manufacturing processes, the dependence of the weld quality on the welder’s skills in manual welding should be minimized. To better control the welding quality, a machine–human cooperative control system was designed in this study, and a skills learning experiment was conducted to correlate the relationship between welding speed and welding current. The obtained skills were then transferred to the control system to control the human welder to achieve the desired welding speed. In addition, to adjust the welding current to control the welding power, the desired full penetration welds were finally obtained. In the present study, full penetration welds with different welding speeds were obtained in a 304 stainless steel pipe having a wall thickness of 2.03 mm and an outside diameter of 113.5 mm using the machine–human cooperative welding process. The back fusion width was 2.3 to 5.5 mm, which met the quality requirements of the weld. This study provides a research direction for effectively solving the problem of the shortage of welders and for helping unskilled welders to produce quality welds, and lays the foundation for developing the next generation of machine–human cooperative intelligent welding system.

Molecular perovskites are promising practicable energetic materials with easy access and outstanding performances. Herein, we reported the first comparative thermal research on energetic molecular perovskite structures of (C6H14N2)[NH4(ClO4)3], (C6H14N2)[Na(ClO4)3], and (C6H14ON2)[NH4(ClO4)3] through both calculation and experimental methods with different heating rates such as 2, 5, 10, and 20 °C/min. The peak temperature of thermal decompositions of (C6H14ON2)[NH4(ClO4)3] and (C6H14N2) [Na(ClO4)3] were 384 and 354 °C at the heating rate of 10 °C/min, which are lower than that of (C6H14N2)[NH4(ClO4)3] (401 °C). The choice of organic component with larger molecular volume, as well as the replacement of ammonium cation by alkali cation weakened the cubic cage skeletons; meanwhile, corresponding kinetic parameters were calculated with thermokinetics software. The synergistic catalysis thermal decomposition mechanisms of the molecular perovskites were also investigated based on condensed-phase thermolysis/Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy method and DSC-TG-FTIR-MS quadruple technology at different temperatures.

Background: Red cell distribution width (RDW) has been reported to be involved in metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular events. Patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) are often found to be with high level of RDW. The aim of this study was to explore whether RDW was associated with DN severity and progression in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A total of 175 T2DM patients with biopsy-proven DN were enrolled. The baseline clinical and pathologic data of these patients was extracted from the medical records. The patients then were divided into two groups based on the median (13.6%) of RDW level; group 1:

Background: The patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are prone to develop diabetic nephropathy (DN). In this study, we aimed to clarify the relationship between DR and the progression of DN in patients with T2DM. Methods: In the cross-section study, 250 patients with T2DM and biopsy-proven DN were divided into two groups: 130 in the DN without DR group (DN group) and 120 in the DN + DR group. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for DR. Of the above 250 patients, 141 were recruited in the cohort study who received follow-up for at least 1 year and the influence of DR on renal outcome was assessed using Cox regression. Renal outcome was defined as the progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Results: In the cross-section study, the severity of glomerular lesions (class IIb + III) and DM history >10 years were significantly associated with the odds of DR when adjusting for baseline proteinuria, hematuria, e-GFR, and interstitial inflammation. In the cohort study, a multivariate COX analysis demonstrated that the DR remained an independent risk factor for progression to ESRD when adjusting for important clinical variables and pathological findings (p

In view of the issue that the single-signal symbol rate estimation methods are unsuitable for time–frequency overlapped signals in underlay cognitive radio network (CRN), a novel symbol rate estimation method for time–frequency overlapped multiple phase shift keying (MPSK) signals in underlay CRN is proposed under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. In this method, the magnitude spectrum of teager energy operator (TEO) for the time–frequency overlapped MPSK signals is estimated first, and then, the nonlinear filter is employed to improve the spectral resolution of the TEO magnitude spectrum. Finally, the symbol rates of component MPSK signals are estimated by extracting the position information of the spectrum line, respectively. The modified Cramer-Rao bound of symbol rate estimation for the time–frequency overlapped MPSK signals is also derived in this paper. Simulation results are provided to confirm that the proposed method could estimate the symbol rate of the time–frequency overlapped MPSK signals effectively in low SNR regions.

Dinitropyrazole is an important structure for the design and synthesis of energetic materials. In this work, we reported the first comparative thermal studies of two representative dinitropyrazole-based energetic materials, 4-amino-3,5-dinitropyrazole (LLM-116) and its novel trimer derivative (LLM-226). Both the experimental and theoretical results proved the active aromatic N-H moiety would cause incredible variations in the physicochemical characteristics of the obtained energetic materials. Thermal behaviors and kinetic studies of the two related dinitropyrazole-based energetic structures showed that impressive thermal stabilization could be achieved after the trimerization, but also would result in a less concentrated heat-release process. Detailed analysis of condensed-phase systems and the gaseous products during the thermal decomposition processes, and simulation studies based on ReaxFF force field, indicated that the ring opening of LLM-116 was triggered by hydrogen transfer of the active aromatic N-H moiety. In contrast, the initial decomposition of LLM-226 was caused by the rupture of carbon-nitrogen bonds at the diazo moiety.

Abstract Determining the location of earthquake emergency shelters and the allocation of affected population to them are key issues that face shelter planning and emergency management. To solve this emergency shelter location–allocation problem, evacuation time and the construction cost of shelters—both influenced by the evacuation population size and its spatial distribution—are two important considerations. In this article, a mathematical model with two objectives—to minimize total weighted evacuation time (TWET) and total shelter area (TSA)—is allied with a modified particle swarm optimization algorithm to address the problem. The relationships between evacuation population size, evacuation time, and total shelter area are examined using Jinzhan Town in Chaoyang District of Beijing, China, as a case study. The results show that TWET has a power function relationship with TSA under different population size scenarios, and a linear function applies between evacuation population and TWET under different TSAs. The joint relationships of TSA, TWET, and population size show that TWET increases with population increase and TSA decrease, and compared with TSA, population influences TWET more strongly. Given a reliable projection of population change and spatial planning of a study area, this method can be useful for government decision making on the location of earthquake emergency shelters and on the allocation of evacuees to those shelters.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the risk factors for a rapid decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes and biopsy-proven diabetic kidney disease (DKD).Method: This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients with biopsy-proven DKD who had been followed-up for at least 1 year were enrolled. Baseline clinicopathological data and serum creatinine levels that had been measured at least three times during follow-up in our hospital were collected. Patients were allocated to two groups of rapid decliners and slow decliners according to the median eGFR slope. The associations between potential risk factors and rapid eGFR decline were analyzed using logistic regression.Results: A total of 128 eligible patients were enrolled and they had a mean age of 51.5 ± 10.7 years. During a median follow-up of 2 years, the median eGFR slope was −8.1 ± 14.4 mL/min/1.73 m2/year. The eGFR decline was significantly faster in patients with a family history of diabetes in first-degree relatives, nephrotic-range proteinuria, higher grades of glomerular pathology, and interstitial inflammation. No differences in the rate of the eGFR decline were observed in subgroups created according to sex, age, hypertension, glycosylated hemoglobin, diabetic retinopathy, interstitial fibrosis, and tubular atrophy. Logistic regression indicated that a family history of diabetes was independently associated with a rapid decline in eGFR, even after adjustment for factors including baseline eGFR and proteinuria.Conclusion: A family history of diabetes in first-degree relatives is independently associated with a rapid decline in eGFR in the current relatively young studied patients. Our findings suggested that early diagnosis and treatment is important for these patients.

Objective. Although hypoalbuminemia is frequently found in most patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN), its relationship to the severity and progression of DN remains largely unknown. Our aim was to investigate the association between the serum albumin levels and clinicopathological features and renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and biopsy-proven DN. Materials and Methods. A total of 188 patients with T2DM and biopsy-proven DN followed up for at least one year were enrolled. The patients were divided into four groups based on the albumin levels: normal group: ≥35 g/L (n=87); mild group: 30-35 g/L (n=34); moderate group: 25-30 g/L (n=36); and severe group:

Floods that cause yearly economic losses and casualties have increased in frequency with global warming. Assessing the mortality risks of populations due to flooding is important and necessary for risk management and disaster reduction. Thus, this paper develops a method for assessing global mortality risks due to river flooding. Global historical annual death tolls are first estimated during the historical period 1986–2005 (T _0 ) by using available mortality vulnerability functions of river flooding. Then, the best vulnerability function is selected according to lower root mean square errors (RMSE) and the differences in the multi-year mean (DMYM) values. Next, the adjustment coefficient K _c for each country (region) is calculated to use in the revision of the selected vulnerability function. Finally, the mortality risks are estimated based on an adjusted vulnerability function. As a case, the paper assessed and analysed the global mortality risks due to river flooding during 2016–2035 (2030s) and 2046–2065 (2050s) for the combined scenario of the Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 (RCP4.5) and the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 2 (SSP2), and the RCP8.5-SSP5 scenario. The results show that the estimation errors of the death tolls in most countries (regions) decrease after adjusting the vulnerability function. Under the current defense capacity and vulnerability level, the average annual death tolls of RCP4.5-SSP2 and RCP8.5-SSP5 in the 2030s will increase by 1.05 times and 0.93 times compared with the historical period. They will increase 1.89 and 2.20 times, respectively for the two scenarios during 2050s. High-risk areas are distributed in the south-eastern Eurasia.