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Endowing magnesium alloys with both durable antibacterial ability and reliable corrosion resistance is an urgent task for the development of magnesium-based implants. In this work, Mg–Mn layered double hydroxide (LDH) intercalated with organic salicylic acid (SA) anion was synthesized on a PEO-coated Mg–Ag–Mn alloy via the combination of co-precipitation and hydrothermal treatments. The PEO layer endows Mg–Ag–Mn alloy with a moderate corrosion barrier and the Mg–Mn LDH layer not only seals the PEO defects, but also acts as a reservoir for antibacterial agents (namely SA). The PEO/Mg–Mn LDH composite coating on Mg–Ag–Mn alloy dramatically increases its corrosion resistance by up to 3 orders of magnitudes, which also tailors the ionic release kinetics for a desired antibacterial potential to prevent bacterial infection. • Mg–Mn LDH intercalated with organic salicylic acid anion was successfully prepared by co-precipitation method. • PEO/Mg–Mn LDH composite coating exhibits outstanding corrosion resistance. • Ionic release kinetics were successfully tailored by LDH layer for a desired antibacterial potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimony (Sb) is a toxic and carcinogenic element that often enters soil in the form of antimony trioxide (Sb 2 O 3) and coexists with manganese (Mn) in weakly alkaline conditions. Mn oxides such as birnessite have been found to promote the oxidative dissolution of Sb 2 O 3 , but few researches concerned the co-transformations of Sb 2 O 3 and Mn(II) in environment. This study investigated the mutual effect of abiotic oxidation of Mn(II) and the coupled oxidative dissolution of Sb 2 O 3. The influencing factors, such as Mn(II) concentrations, pH and oxygen were also discussed. Furthermore, their co-transformed mechanism was also explored based on the analysis of Mn(II) oxidation products with or without Sb 2 O 3 using XRD, SEM and XPS. The results showed that the oxidative dissolution of Sb 2 O 3 was enhanced under higher pH and higher Mn(II) loadings. With a lower Mn(II) concentration such as 0.01 mmol/L Mn(II) at pH 9.0, the improved dissolution of Sb 2 O 3 was attributed to the generation of dissolved intermediate Mn(III) species with strong oxidation capacity. However, under higher Mn(II) concentrations, both amorphous Mn(III) oxides and intermediate Mn(III) species were responsible for promoting the oxidative dissolution of Sb 2 O 3. Most released Sb (∼72%) was immobilized by Mn oxides and Sb(V) was dominant in the adsorbed and dissolved total Sb. Meanwhile, the presence of Sb 2 O 3 not only inhibited the removal of Mn(II) by reducing Mn(III) to Mn(II) but also affected the final products of Mn oxides. For example, amorphous Mn oxides were formed instead of crystalline Mn(III) oxides, such as MnOOH. Furthermore, rhodochrosite (MnCO 3) was formed with the high Mn(II)/Sb 2 O 3 ratio , but without being observed in the low Mn(II)/Sb 2 O 3 ratio. The results of study could help provide more understanding about the fate of Sb in the environment and the redox transformation of Mn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the classic branching process, the Galton-Watson process has obtained intensive attentions in the past decades. However, this model has two idealized assumptions–discrete states and time-homogeneity. In the present paper, we consider a branching process with continuous states, and for any given n ∈ N , the branching law of every particle in generation n is determined by the population size of generation n. We consider the case that the process is extinct with Probability 1 since in this case the process will be substantially different from the size-dependent branching process with discrete states. We give the extinction rate in the sense of L 2 and almost surely by the form of harmonic moments, that is to say, we show how fast { Z n − 1 } grows under a group of sufficient conditions. From the result of the present paper, we observe that the extinction rate will be determined by an asymptotic behavior of the mean of the branching law. The results obtained in this paper have the more superiority than the counterpart from the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Germanium (Ge) metastructure with switching features from broadband plasmon‐induced transparency (PIT) and electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) is presented, which forms a broadband PIT through the near‐field coupling between the localized plasmon resonance and the Mie resonance employing four gold cut wires as bright plasmon resonators and four C‐shaped dielectric rings as dark plasmon resonators. A wide transparent window above 0.9 is achieved covering from 0.622 to 0.823 THz with a relative bandwidth of 27.8%. In addition, through phase modulation, a magnetic dipole is generated by the constructive interference of the near‐field coupling of the three resonators to realize the PIT to EIA conversion. In addition, a grid‐like metastructure is introduced to realize the PIT to EIA conversion by phase modulation. To enhance the EIA bandwidth, another layer of C‐shaped reflection plate resonator is introduced to increase the dark mode loss, and a layer of frequency selective surface composed of cross‐shaped resonators is also used. Thus under the dual effect, a wide absorption window above 0.75 is achieved covering from 0.647 to 0.756 THz with a relative bandwidth of 15.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ångström method is a promising thermal diffusivity measurement method for microfibers. Based on the heat-loss Ångström method and micro-Ångström method, the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) Ångström method can be used to shorten the testing time and enhance the testing robustness of thermal conductivity. The FFT Ångström uses multi-frequency superimposed input signals and then uses the FFT for frequency division analysis. Since different frequencies are input at the same time, the measuring time is greatly reduced. Moreover, because different frequencies are input in the same environment, the random and environmental perturbations of the frequencies are the same, enhancing the fitting robustness. In contrast, the single feeding strategy is relatively time-consuming, and its measurement homogeneity for different frequencies cannot be guaranteed. By comparing the measurement results from a multi-frequency input and separated single-frequency input, the FFT shows good feasibility and robustness. It may also have great potential in other types of thermal wave measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a small and efficient model for predicting NOx emissions from coal-fired boilers. The raw data collected are processed by the min–max scale method and converted into a multivariate time series. The overall model's architecture is mainly based on building blocks consisting of separable convolutional neural networks and efficient channel attention (ECA) modules. The experimental results show that the model can learn good representations from sufficient data covering different operation conditions. These results also suggest that ECA modules can improve the model's performance. The comparative study shows our model's strong performance compared to other NOx prediction models. Then, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the model proposed in this paper in terms of predicting NOx emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Internet of Things scenarios, the problem of restricted energy and limited computation capability of user node usually exists. To address the problem, a multiple‐input‐multiple‐output full‐duplex multi‐hop relay simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) mobile‐edge computing (MEC) system is proposed in this paper, where energy harvesting model is non‐linear. With the aid of MEC and SWIPT, user node equipped with power splitting receiver can locally execute computation tasks or offload partial or all of it to access point associated with an MEC server by using its battery energy, and harvest energy to replenish its battery while downloading the computation results. In addition, the system introduces full‐duplex multi‐hop relay and non‐linear energy model to improve network coverage and model practical energy harvesting circuit. Aiming at minimising the system energy consumption, an energy efficient optimisation problem is formulated while satisfying the latency and energy constraints. Since the original problem is non‐linear and non‐convex, it is converted into two subproblems and successive convex approximation‐based algorithm and geometric programming‐based algorithm based alternating optimisation technique are adopted to solve them. Numerical results verify the superiority of the proposed optimisation scheme compared with other benchmark schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Internet of Things scenarios, the problem of restricted energy and limited computation capability of user node usually exists. To address the problem, a multiple‐input‐multiple‐output full‐duplex multi‐hop relay simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) mobile‐edge computing (MEC) system is proposed in this paper, where energy harvesting model is non‐linear. With the aid of MEC and SWIPT, user node equipped with power splitting receiver can locally execute computation tasks or offload partial or all of it to access point associated with an MEC server by using its battery energy, and harvest energy to replenish its battery while downloading the computation results. In addition, the system introduces full‐duplex multi‐hop relay and non‐linear energy model to improve network coverage and model practical energy harvesting circuit. Aiming at minimising the system energy consumption, an energy efficient optimisation problem is formulated while satisfying the latency and energy constraints. Since the original problem is non‐linear and non‐convex, it is converted into two subproblems and successive convex approximation‐based algorithm and geometric programming‐based algorithm based alternating optimisation technique are adopted to solve them. Numerical results verify the superiority of the proposed optimisation scheme compared with other benchmark schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The lesions besides lateral ventricle and motor recovery following rehabilitation have hardly been studied. OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the size, location of infarction beside the lateral ventricle and motor recovery following rehabilitation. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 55 patients submitted to a Rehabilitation Medical Center between January 2015 and June 2019 who suffered a single cerebral infarction beside the lateral ventricle were included in the study. The size and distance between the posterior margin and the frontal-middle line (FML) of the lesion were measured. Follow-up was conducted until the recovery was no longer progressing. Barthel index and Brunstrom stages were used to evaluate the outcome (full recovery, partial recovery and poor recovery). Variance analysis and nonparametric test were used for the comparison between groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen the factors affecting the outcomes. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to compare the volume of infarction, behind the FML and the outcomes. RESULTS: Among the 55 patients, the outcome was full recovery (n = 28), partial recovery (n = 13) and poor recovery (n = 14). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that volume and location of the infarction were significantly correlated with the outcome (p = 0.039, 0.050). The lesion volume in the full recovery patients was significantly smaller than that in the poor recovery patients (p < 0.01). The posterior edge of the lesion in the full recovery patients behind the FML was statistically significant compared with that in the poor recovery patients (p < 0.01). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the motor recovery was negative correlation to lesion volume (r = –0.508, P < 0.01) and location (r = –0.450, P < 0.01) of the infarction. CONCLUSION: The motor recovery of patients with cerebral infarction beside lateral ventricle is related to the volume and location of the lesion. The larger the volume of the lesion, and the farther the posterior margin of the lesion to the FML, the worse the motor recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Potassium (K+) channels have been demonstrated to play a prominent involvement in nociceptive processing. Kir7.1, the newest members of the Kir channel family, has not been extensively studied in the CNS, and its function remains largely unknown. The present study investigated the role of spinal Kir7.1 in the development of pathological pain. Methods and Results: Neuropathic pain was induced by spared nerve injury (SNI). The mechanical sensitivity was assessed by von Frey test. Immunofluorescence staining assay revealed that Kir7.1 was predominantly expressed in spinal neurons but not astrocytes or microglia in normal rats. Western blot results showed that SNI markedly decreased the total and membrane expression of Kir7.1 in the spinal dorsal horn accompanied by mechanical hypersensitivity. Blocking Kir7.1 with the specific antagonist ML418 or knockdown kir7.1 by siRNA led to mechanical allodynia. Co‐IP results showed that the spinal kir7.1 channels were decorated by SUMO‐1 but not SUMO‐2/3, and Kir7.1 SUMOylation was upregulated following SNI. Moreover, inhibited SUMOylation by GA (E1 inhibitor) or 2‐D08 (UBC9 inhibitor) can increase the spinal surface Kir7.1 expression. Conclusion: SUMOylation of the Kir7.1 in the spinal cord might contribute to the development of SNI‐induced mechanical allodynia by decreasing the Kir7.1 surface expression in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway functions as a central hub for transmitting signals from more than 50 cytokines, playing a pivotal role in maintaining hematopoiesis, immune balance, and tissue homeostasis. Dysregulation of this pathway has been implicated in various diseases, including immunodeficiency, autoimmune conditions, hematological disorders, and certain cancers. Proteins within this pathway have emerged as effective therapeutic targets for managing these conditions, with various approaches developed to modulate key nodes in the signaling process, spanning from receptor engagement to transcription factor activation. Following the success of JAK inhibitors such as tofacitinib for RA treatment and ruxolitinib for managing primary myelofibrosis, the pharmaceutical industry has obtained approvals for over 10 small molecule drugs targeting the JAK-STAT pathway and many more are at various stages of clinical trials. In this review, we consolidate key strategies employed in drug discovery efforts targeting this pathway, with the aim of contributing to the collective understanding of small molecule interventions in the context of JAK-STAT signaling. We aspire that our endeavors will contribute to advancing the development of innovative and efficacious treatments for a range of diseases linked to this pathway dysregulation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many living phenomena, the behavior of social animals (such as ants, fish stocks, and birds) has attracted great attention, and many theories and models have emerged to simulate the behavior of biological communities. These studies are important in theory and practice and have wide application potential in optimization methods and product design, which leads to the so-called cluster intelligence. Development of the 3D animation system can be closely combined with cluster intelligence, and the full application of cluster intelligence is conducive to continuously improve the stability of animation system design, for animation system design to bring continuous design inspiration. The purpose of the development platform is to promote the development of enterprise projects, record each stage of the animation process in 3D, form a complete industrial chain, ensure the traceability and resilience of the whole process, and provide a comprehensive and effective solution for 3D animation production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal composites are widely used in thermal management. Usually, they consist of polymers and fillers. In pursuit of higher thermal conductivity, the fillers are mostly spherical particles for higher packing density. In previous work, the relationship between particle size distribution (PSD) and packing density was studied, especially the parameters such as polydispersity δ and the skewness S are defined to characterize the PSD. However, in our observation, for sieving process, which is very helpful in manipulating PSD and thus tuning thermal conductivity, δ and S are not good enough to explain most of the compositing results. Here, we suggest a new set of indices (bias-normal indices) to evaluate the sieving efficacy. Three kinds of ceramic powders (MgO, Al 2 O 3 , and AlN) and their single- and triple-order composites materials were prepared. The results show that the explanations based on bias-normal ratio index agree well with all the experiments. Thus, this new indicator is competent in guiding the recipe design of the thermal composite materials, and when well-designed recipes are employed, sieving is proven an efficient and simple way to promote the thermal performance, which is of great practical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant fluctuations and strong nonlinearity in integrated energy system data pose challenges to the precision of multi-energy load forecasting. To address this issue, the present study proposes a residual network (ResNet) - long short-term memory (LSTM) with an attention neural network model founded on a dual signal processing architecture. Initially, the dual signal processing framework was introduced to overcome the limitations of classical signal decomposition, particularly its inability to effectively mitigate high-frequency noise. This approach moderates the nonstationary attributes of the initial data and furnishes comprehensive information for the subsequent predictive model. Subsequently, the study employs the ResNet model for spatial feature extraction and the LSTM model for temporal feature extraction to augment the efficiency and precision in identifying multi-energy load characteristics. An attention mechanism is further integrated to allocate weights to diverse load features, thereby optimizing data transfer processing. The experimental results confirm that the proposed model offers superior adaptability to the integrated energy systems environment and substantially minimizes prediction errors in comparison to alternative models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The influence of laser current intensity on surface integrity of laser surface melted 20CrMnTi steel gear has been discussed. • The distribution mechanism of lubricating oil film on the surface of discrete laser surface melted tooth has been analyzed. • The fatigue performance of gears have been significantly improved by discrete laser surface melting treatment. Bionics research has revealed the remarkable fatigue resistance exhibited by intertidal zone shellfish, attributed to their radial ribs and multi-layered microstructure. Leveraging the analogous stress and working conditions shared by shellfish and gears, we adopted the discrete laser surface melting (DLSM) technology to create discrete laser surface melted (DLSMed) units on gear tooth surfaces. This paper aimed to scrutinize the influence of discrete laser surface melting on the fatigue performance of 20CrMnTi steel gears. In terms of laser selection, we opted for the Nd: YAG pulsed laser. Across various laser parameters, the proportion of DLSMed units on gear tooth surfaces varied. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) facilitated the observation of microstructures and fatigue morphology of the DLSMed gear. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) measurements gauged residual stress along both the surface and cross section of the DLSMed unit, unveiling the residual stress distribution. Microhardness and surface roughness were assessed through a microhardness tester and a surface profilometer, respectively. Fatigue tests were conducted using both the Forschungsstelle für Zahnräder und Getriebebau (FZG) testing machine and a high-frequency fatigue testing machine. Experimental findings disclosed that the DLSMed unit comprised a melting zone and a heat-affected zone. The depth of the residual compressive stress layer increased alongside current intensity, albeit with the unexpected emergence of residual tensile stress. Enhanced current intensity corresponded to a noticeable elevation in the DLSMed gear's hardness value. Differing fatigue behaviors were evident between the as-received gear and the DLSMed gear. The DLSMed gear exhibited reduced fatigue damage compared to the as-received gear. The DLSMed units effectively curbed crack initiation and propagation, markedly enhancing gear fatigue performance. A direct relationship between the DLSMed unit's area proportion on the gear surface and gear fatigue strength was established. Finally, we delved into the anti-fatigue mechanism underlying the DLSMed gear's performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• As the defocusing amount increases, the size of the discrete laser surface melted unit had decreased. • After the discrete laser surface melting treatment, the microstructure of the melting zone was refined. • The distribution of the discrete laser surface melted unit had changed the gear wear behavior. Gears are critical components that ensure the stable operation of a gearbox. In the era of mechanical equipment advancing towards higher speeds and heavier loads, more stringent requirements have been set for the wear performance of existing gears. Drawing inspiration from observations of natural organisms, particularly scallops, which have developed unique microstructure and excellent wear properties through long-term evolution, this paper focuses on the application of discrete laser surface melting (DLSM for short) technology to prepare units on the surface of SUS420 steel gears, simulating the radial rib structures found on scallop surfaces. The laser processing was carried out with varying defocusing amount and distribution types of discrete laser surface melted (DLSMed for short) units. The study encompassed microstructure observations, microhardness and residual stress testing, and bench wear experiments on DLSMed gears. The experimental findings reveal that a crack-free and porous-free hardened layer has formed on the tooth surface. The hardened layer consisted of the melting zone, heat-affected zone, and substrate, resulting in a surface structure characterized by alternating soft and hard phases. Comparing the wear behavior of as-received gear to DLSMed gears, it is evident that the wear damage on DLSMed gears is less pronounced. The DLSM treatment had altered the wear mechanism of the gears. During the wear test, the quantity of wear debris and iron (Fe) concentration in DLSMed gears consistently remained lower than that of as-received gears, indicating superior wear resistance in DLSMed gears. Furthermore, an increase in the defocus amount led to a deterioration in the wear performance of DLSMed gears. Notably, transverse units exhibited better efficacy in enhancing the wear resistance of gears compared to longitudinal units. There exists a positive correlation between the percentage of DLSMed unit area on the gear surface and the wear behavior of the gear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis results from an imbalance in a highly balanced physiological process called bone remodeling, in which osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and osteoblast-mediated bone formation play important roles. Osteoimmunology is a newly discovered interdisciplinary research field that focuses on the relationship between bone and the immune system. Specifically, bone and the immune system interact through cytokines, immune cells secrete cytokines, and cytokines finely regulate bone metabolism by mediating the differentiation and activity of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Therefore, understanding the influence of cytokines on bone metabolism is conducive for the development of novel targeted drugs against immune-related bone diseases. This review summarizes the pathophysiological functions of various common cytokines in bone and discusses the potential clinical value of multiple cytokines in immune-mediated bone diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastructure analogs of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) show great potential in telecommunications, light storage, and slow light, owing to the unremitting research of our predecessors. Research on electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) has also been accelerating in recent years. However, few researchers have studied the switch between the EIT and EIA. This paper proposes a tunable conversion of EIT to EIA in the terahertz (THz) band, by employing vanadium dioxide (VO 2), a phase change material. With the incidence of the electromagnetic wave, the split-ring resonator is coupled with a double U-shaped resonator when VO 2 is set in the dielectric state, and destructive interference appears, resulting in EIT. The cross-shaped resonator works when VO 2 functions in the metallic state, which allows coherence enhancement, and the EIA phenomenon can be observed. Moreover, the value of the maximum transmission coefficient reaches 0.837 at 0.570 THz with maximum group delay reaching up to 4.45 ps through calculation, proving the slow light effect of EIT. In the metallic state of VO 2 , the maximum absorption value arrives at 0.826 at 0.571 THz. The consistency of the simulation results is further confirmed by verifying the dual spring vibration model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is creatively introduced as a novel method to fabricate multi-layered nanospheres. Titanium (Ti) was oxidized in a phosphate-based electrolyte containing ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), which results in the formation of nanospheres on the ceramic coating. The as-fabricated nanosphere is amorphous with a three-layered architecture. The inner layer of the nanosphere contains Zn, Ca and P whereas Cu and P were detected in the medium layer with the outer layer enriched in Cu, O and Ti, which is promising in the field of bio-medical implanted devices. Herein, a novel one-pot synthesis strategy is proposed to fabricate multi-layered nanospheres, which could enlighten the preparation of hierarchical structures in various fields. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-medical materials with sufficient antibacterial performance and osteogenic activity are desirable for orthopaedic implantable devices. In the present work, titanium (Ti) surface was modified through micro-arc oxidation in an electrolyte containing Ag nanoparticles (NPs) and disodium zinc ethylenediaminetetraacetate tetrahydrate (Na 2 Zn-EDTA) to fabricate Ag, Zn co-doped titania coating, with the influence of Na 2 Zn-EDTA content on its microstructure, corrosion behaviour and biological performances investigated systematically. By increasing the amount of Na 2 Zn-EDTA from 5 g/L to 50 g/L, the coating exhibits a significantly reduced average pore size along with a decreased coating thickness. Further, unlike micro-sized dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD) crystals and Ag NP clusters for the coating produced by 5 g/L Na 2 Zn-EDTA, both Ag NPs of a reduced amount and nano-sized amorphous Ca and P-rich components were observed on the coating surface when the electrolyte containing 50 g/L Na 2 Zn-EDTA was used. The microstructural variation inevitably leads to the modification of its performances. The high amount of Na 2 Zn-EDTA results in a bio-ceramic characterized by higher corrosion resistance, enhanced antibacterial capability and improved osteogenic activity relative to that fabricated with the addition of a low amount of Na 2 Zn-EDTA. Therefore, this work provides a new strategy for the fabrication of bio-ceramics on Ti-based implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ag-doped TiO 2 coatings were successfully fabricated on Ti using plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) in the electrolytes containing Ag or Ag 2 O nanoparticles (NPs). The results showed that the different Ag sources resulted in significant variations of morphology, composition and chemical state. The thermal decomposition of Ag 2 O during PEO process contributed to the formation of Ag NPs, which might reactively incorporate into TiO 2 , leading to the presence of a Ca, P-rich amorphous layer between entrapped Ag NPs and the peripheral TiO 2. By contrast, Ag specie tends to be present as micro-sized clusters consisting of metallic Ag NPs in the PEO coating fabricated via Ag NPs addition. The different microstructures inevitably affected the Ag ionic release behaviour and thus antibacterial capabilities and cytocompatibilities. It is indicated that the application of Ag 2 O NPs as Ag source is promising to fabricate Ag-doped PEO coating with both long-term antibacterial activity and acceptable cytocompatibility. [Display omitted] • Different Ag sources lead to significant variations of microstructure and biological performance. • Ag 2 O nanoparticles could result in both inert and reactive incorporations of Ag into TiO 2. • Silver ionic releases from Ag-doped TiO 2 coatings significantly affect their antibacterial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, biodegradable Mg-based implants used in clinical practice barely degrade after more than ten months of use. To achieve controlled degradation, we prepare a novel surface system on a Mg Mn Ag alloy composed of a ceramic layer produced by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) and a polypyrrole (PPy)-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) composite coating. The surface system exhibits superior corrosion resistance to prevent premature failure of the Mg alloy. After near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, the photothermal conversion effect of PPy promotes the transformation of PCL from a rubbery state to a viscous state, thereby facilitating the infiltration of external electrolytes for a dramatically increased degradation rate. As a result, the reduction of i corr and | Z | 0.01Hz by 4 orders of magnitude after NIR irradiation could be achieved. Hence, this work provides a new strategy for remotely regulating the degradation rate of Mg-based implants. [Display omitted] • A novel surface layer composed of a PEO ceramic layer and a PCL-PPy composite coating was fabricated on Mg Ag Mn alloy. • PEO/PCL-PPy layer exhibits desired corrosion resistance. • NIR irradiation dramatically decreases the corrosion resistance of the surface layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve antibacterial capability and cell biocompatibility of titanium (Ti), Ag nanoparticles (NPs) and a novel Zn source Na 2 Zn-EDTA (disodium zinc ethylenediaminetetraacetate tetrahydrate) were added in the electrolyte to fabricate Ag, Zn co-incorporated titania through micro-arc oxidation (MAO) method on metallic Ti substrate. Microstructural characterization reveals that the presence of both Ag NP clusters and micro-sized dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD) flakes on the surface of Ag, Zn co-incorporated TiO 2 coating. Ag species are mainly present as metallic Ag whereas Zn species tend to exist as Zn2+ within titania. Further, corrosion resistance, antibacterial property and cell biocompatibility of the resultant coatings were assessed. It is revealed that the Ag, Zn co-incorporated TiO 2 coating possesses favourable corrosion resistance, desirable in vitro antibacterial capability and cell biocompatibility without cytotoxicity, which is a promising candidate as a bio-ceramics for Ti-based implant. • Ag, Zn co-incorporated TiO 2 coating has been successfully produced using micro-arc oxidation method with Na 2 Zn-EDTA and Ag nanoparticles as Zn and Ag sources. • During the oxidation, dicalcium phosphate dehydrate flakes of micrometre scales were formed on the surface of Ag, Zn co-incorporated TiO 2 coating. • Ag, Zn co-incorporated TiO 2 coating exhibits excellent antibacterial capability and desirable bone formability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of low-cost, high-performance electronic applications with solution-processible organic semiconductors drives the development of efficient methods to pattern organic semiconductor single crystals (OSSCs). However, fluid instabilities and a complex evaporation process have limited patterning of OSSCs with high resolution. Here, we present a solvent-free patterning approach, capillary force-driven molecule flow (CFDMF), to achieve highly aligned 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) single crystal patterns with sub-micron resolution and high fidelity. The position as well as pattern shape and resolution of the C8-BTBT single crystal arrays can be predetermined through photolithography. Using this method, we have demonstrated a high-integration circuit comprising over 169 organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) with a high resolution of 310 dpi. The resultant OFETs show good field-effect properties with an average mobility of 4.44 cm2 V−1 s−1. This patterning technique constitutes a major step toward the use of the high-mobility OSSCs for integrated device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multiple endothermic peaks without observable recrystallization phenomenon of isomorphous poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(HB-co-HV)] with the middle HV content of 19.4 mol% and 28.7 mol% were confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the evolutions of crystal structure and lamellar morphology in the heating and melting process were tracked by in situ synchrotron wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. The emergence of asymmetric features of both the diffraction peaks and scattering curves indicates the coexistence of different lamellar crystals with varied unit cell parameters. Based on the in situ WAXD and SAXS measurements, we calculated the evolutions of the unit cell parameters a and b as well as the long period and lamellar thickness upon heating. The comparative analysis of WAXD and SAXS data confirms that the multiple endothermic peaks of P(HB-co-19.4%HV) and P(HB-co-28.7%HV) result from the melting of different lamellae rather than the melting/recrystallization. The thinner, unstable uniform lamellae with HV counits total inclusion melt first and the thicker, stable sandwich lamellae with HV counits partial inclusion melt last. In addition, the large second melting peak in P(HB-co-19.4%HV), differing from that of samples with HV content of 28.7 mol% and 36.2 mol%, is due to the unique state of HV content leading to a transition of sandwich lamellae to uniform lamellae. The present study establishes the relationship between the different lamellae structure and multiple melting behaviors of isomorphous copolymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hall thrusters must be frequently ignited and extinguished during operation in orbit. The thruster is typically extinguished by terminating the anode voltage. However, the equilibrium state of the plasma in the discharge channel is lost when the external electric field disappears. This consequently changes the state of the plasma, causing rotating spokes to appear. However, spoke rotation ceases after nine rotations. Therefore, in this study, a high-speed camera was used to study the instantaneous spoke rotations of a Hall thruster during the extinguishing process. Additionally, the characteristics of the azimuthal rotating spoke during this process were studied. It was found that, because the anode voltage does not instantaneously decrease to 0 V during the extinguishing process, the spoke mode changes from multi-mode to single-mode. Furthermore, as the voltage dropped from 250 to 0 V, a single-mode spoke appeared, and the spoke speed linearly decreased. • Spokes in Hall thruster channel found during extinguishing process. • The channel discharge image during extinguishing process of HET is studied. • The comparison between the voltage and the speed of the spokes is given. • Spoke speed is linearly attenuated during extinguishing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the influence of Ag 2 O content on the microstructural feature, bio-corrosion behaviour and biological property of the resultant Ag-incorporated TiO 2 micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coating is investigated. It is revealed that, with the addition of an increased amount of Ag 2 O nanoparticles (NPs) in the MAO electrolyte, a less defective Ag-incorporated TiO 2 coating with pores of decreased dimensions could be produced, which also exhibits a higher anatase-to-rutile ratio along with a lower Ag 2 O-to-Ag ratio. Further, both antibacterial capability and bone formability of Ag-incorporated TiO 2 coatings were investigated. The results show that the addition of an increased amount of Ag 2 O NPs enhances antibacterial capability of the resultant coating, which also exhibits desirable biocompatibility. This work offers a promising fabrication method for dual functional Ag-incorporated TiO 2 coating with Ag 2 O NPs as Ag source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We here reported the dual melting behaviors with a large temperature difference more than 50 °C without discernible recrystallization endothermic peak in isomorphous poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (P(HB‐co‐HV)) with a high HV content of 36.2 mol %, and the structure evolution upon heating was monitored by in situ synchrotron wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction/small‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXD/SAXS) to unveil the essence of such double endothermic phenomena. It illustrated that the thinner lamellae with the larger unit cell and the thicker crystals having the smaller unit cell were melted around the first low and second high melting ranges, respectively. By analyzing in situ WAXD/SAXS data, and then coupling the features of melting behavior, the evolution of the parameters of both crystal unit cell and lamellar crystals, we proposed that the thinner unstable lamellae possess a uniform structure with HV units total inclusion, and the thicker stable lamellae reflect the sandwich structure with HV units partial inclusion. It further affirmed that the thicker sandwich and thinner uniform lamellae formed during the cooling and subsequent isothermal crystallization processes, respectively. These findings fully verify that it is the change of structure of lamellae rather than the melting/recrystallization that is responsible for double melting peaks of isomorphous P(HB‐co‐36.2%HV), and enhance our understanding upon multiple endothermic behaviors of polymers. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1453–1461 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic activity of γ-Al2O3 catalyst modified with Ti (Ti-Al2O3) for hydrogen cyanide (HCN) removal was studied, and the TiO2 and γ-Al2O3 were tested as comparisons. It was found that Ti-Al2O3 showed a remarkable composite effect with superior HCN removal activity compared to TiO2 and γ-Al2O3, especially at low temperature range. HCN conversion efficiency improved with the increase of Ti content. Characterization results show that there is a strong interaction between TiO2 and Al2O3, and TiO2-anatase is well dispersed on γ-Al2O3, which gives more active site for HCN. The high catalytic activity was attributed to the combined action of high pore volumes and surface area, as well as abundant hydroxyl groups of composite catalyst (Ti-Al2O3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The depth of melting zone and heat affected zone of the discrete laser surface melted units was measured. • The microstructure, phase composition and element distribution of the discrete laser surface melted units were observed. • The microhardness, residual stress and surface roughness of the discrete laser surface melted units prepared by different laser scanning speeds were characterized. • Based on the gear bench test results, the improvement of the wear resistance of 20CrMnTi steel gear by discrete laser surface melting was investigated. The experimental results show that the discrete laser surface melted gear with larger cross-sectional area and volume will has better wear resistance. This paper studied the effect of discrete laser surface melting on the wear resistance of gears. The radial ribs on the surface of intertidal shellfish had the function of anti-abrasion. The discrete laser surface melted (DLSMed) units were processed on the gear surface, and they looked like radial ribs.The microstructure and wear morphology of the DLSMed unit were observed under a scanning electron microscope. The phase composition and residual stress of the DLSMed unit were analyzed through a X-ray diffractometer. The hardness of the DLSMed unit was measured with a microhardness tester. The roughness of the DLSMed unit was measured with a surface topography meter. The wear test of gear was carried out with a Forschungsstelle für Zahnräder und Getriebebau (FZG) testing machine. The lubricating oil analysis technology was used as the evaluation basis of gear wear performance. The experimental results showed that discrete laser surface melting could refine the grain on the gear surface, improve the hardness of the gear, and form residual compressive stress on the gear surface. The cross-sectional area of the DLSMed unit gradually decreased as the laser scanning speed increased. As the cross-sectional area of the DLSMed unit decreased, the wear resistance of the gear also deteriorated. Finally, the wear mechanism of the DLSMed gear was discussed from many aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructure and corrosion behaviour associated with intermetallic particles (IMPs) in 2A97 Al-Cu-Li alloys of different thermomechanical conditions are characterized by a wide range of electron microscopy techniques in the present work. Three distinctive corrosion phenomena associated with IMPs are observed, including trenching, de-alloying and Cu re-distribution. Micro-galvanic interaction between IMPs and the peripheral matrix results in trenching, which may develop unevenly depending on stored energy distribution. Selective dissolution of more active elements also occurs to IMPs, which may result in de-alloyed bands related to stacking faults. The de-alloyed remnants further promote the re-distribution of Cu, which not only benefits the propagation of trenching, but may also contribute to the initiation of stable localized corrosion. • Trenching develops unevenly depending on stored energy distribution. • De-alloyed bands in intermetallic particles are associated with stacking faults. • Intermetallic-related corrosion may promote stable localized corrosion initiation via Cu re-distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing metasurface (MS), the transition between dual-peak electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and dual-peak electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) in four states has been proposed in the terahertz (THz) band with the incidence of a circularly polarized (CP) wave. Additionally, the phase-change material vanadium dioxide (VO 2) and photosensitive material silicon (Si) have been adopted. The four state transitions can be achieved by adjusting the pump light and the temperature which is not affected by incident CP waves. With the incidence of the pump light, Si can transform from the insulating state to the metallic state. Similarly, when the temperature exceeds 68 °C, VO 2 enters the metallic state. Two different dual-peak EIT (State 1 and State 2) accompanied by slow light effect can be observed by modulating the state of VO 2 without the action of Si. However, once Si is in metallic state, two different states of dual-peak EIA (State 3 and State 4) are achieved by changing the state of VO 2. Notably, the MS has the property of polarization insensitivity. The theoretical oscillator model and equivalent RLC-circuit model verify the feasibility of dual-peak EIT and EIA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The efficacy of myo-inositol supplementation to prevent gestational diabetes onset remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the influence of myo-inositol supplementation on the incidence of gestational diabetes.Methods: We search PubMed, Embase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library databases through November 2017 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of myo-inositol supplementation on gestational diabetes onset. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model.Results: Five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are included in the meta-analysis. Compared with control group in pregnant women, myo-inositol supplementation is associated with significantly reduced incidence of gestational diabetes (risk ratio (RR) = 0.43; 95%CI = 0.21-0.89; p = .02), and preterm delivery (RR = 0.36; 95%CI = 0.17-0.73; p = .005), but has no substantial impact on 2-h glucose oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (mean difference (MD) = -6.90; 95%CI = -15.07 to 1.27; p = .10), gestational age at birth (MD = 0.74; 95%CI = -1.06 to 2.54; p = .42), birth weight (MD = -5.50; 95%CI = -116.99 to 105.99; p = .92), and macrosomia (RR = 0.65; 95%CI = 0.20-2.11; p = .47).Conclusions: Myo-inositol supplementation has some ability to reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes and preterm delivery in pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Micro-Resistive WELL (μ RWELL) detector is a novel spark-protected Micro-Pattern Gaseous Detector (MPGD) with a single well-type amplification stage. By integrating a well-type amplification structure with a resistive electrode on a readout board (μ RWELL PCB), the μ RWELL detector is only composed of a cathode PCB and a μ RWELL PCB, resulting in a very simple assembling process without any gluing, stretching, tensioning or other complicated operation commonly practiced in assemblies of other MPGDs. A critical component of the μ RWELL detector is the resistive electrode that is responsible for spark suppression, and hence maintains stable operation of the detector. In this paper, we present a 10 cm × 10 cm μ RWELL detector with two layers readout strips perpendicular to each other. Its resistive electrode is made of a thin coating of Diamond-Like Carbon by magnetron sputtering technique. The gain performance and rate capability of this μ RWELL detector were systematically studied with X-rays, and its detection efficiency and spatial resolution were measured with a test beam. The detector can achieve a spatial resolution better than 70 μ m in both dimensions while the detection efficiency is higher than 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose Gastric cancer is a common malignancy worldwide, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Cordycepin is a 3′-deoxyadenosine drug with significant anti-cancer effects. The aim of this study was to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying cordycepin action on gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration. Methods The human gastric cancer cell lines MGC-803 and HGC-27 were treated with different concentrations of cordycepin (25 μM, 50 μM, 100 μM and 5 μM, 25 μM and 50 μM) for 48 h. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT and colony formation assays, and in vitro migration by the wound healing and transwell assays. In addition, Flow Cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle and apoptosis. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to evaluate the expression levels of key factors. Results Cordycepin significantly inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent manner, in addition to inducing apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle at the G2 phase. Mechanistically, cordycepin targeted the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by significantly altering the expression levels/activation of several key mediators, and upregulated the anti-metastatic factor CLEC2. Conclusion Cordycepin inhibited the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells by upregulating CLEC2 via the Akt signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple endothermic peaks of isomorphous P(HB-co-HV) with low HV content were investigated by DSC, in-situ WAXD and SAXS measurements. The multiple endothermic peaks are confirmed to be caused by two different kinds of crystal structures of P(HB-co-HV), namely uniform lamellae with HV units complete exclusion and sandwich lamellae with HV units partial inclusion. With the increase of the temperature, the thinner uniform lamellae melt at the lower melting peak and the thicker sandwich lamellae melt at the higher melting peak. Comparing with P(HB-co-4.9%HV), P(HB-co-9.4%HV) has the larger value of unit cell parameters and the higher distribution and fusion enthalpy of higher melting peak, which confirm that P(HB-co-HV) with higher HV content contains more sandwich lamellae and more HV units included in crystals for P(HB-co-HV) with HV content lower than 10 mol%. Image 1 • Multiple endothermal peaks of isomorphous P(HB-co-HV) caused by two crystal structures. • The thinner uniform lamellae with HV units exclusion melt at lower temperature. • The thicker sandwich lamellae with HV partial inclusion melt at higher temperature. • P(HB-co-HV) contains more sandwich lamellae with HV content increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Steady and dynamic ORP models are developed using LSSVM and WFGD operating data. • Input parameters are analyzed to develop the steady ORP model. • Time delays of input parameters are optimized to develop the dynamic ORP model. • Sensitivity analysis was made to analyze influence of parameters and time delays. • Models can be extended to conduct optimization of WFGDs to mitigate Hg re-emission. Abstract The oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) is highly related to Hg re-emission in wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) systems in coal-fired power plants. Developing an accurate model that describes the ORP characteristics is beneficial to achieve the operation optimization of the WFGD system and Hg re-emission reduction. In this paper, steady and dynamic ORP models were reported based on the least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) technique and using operating data acquired from a coal-fired power plant. For the steady model, input parameters consisted of flue gas flow, flue gas temperature, inlet SO 2 concentration, oxidation air flow, recycle pump currents, and slurry feed flow. For the dynamic model, in addition to the parameters listed above, time delays of these parameters were also considered in the modeling scheme. Both models achieved high accurate predictions. Model sensitivity analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of the input parameters and time delays on ORP. Results show that the parameters are adequate to describe the characteristics of the ORP. In addition, parametric time delays play an important role to represent the dynamic characteristics of the ORP. These models can be extended to design process control strategy and conduct the ORP operation optimization of the WFGD system in power plants to mitigate Hg re-emission from the scrubber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Easily oxidized group of traditional phenolic resin (PF) results in poor oxidation resistance at high temperature, which is unable to satisfy the requirements of advanced aerospace vehicles for high-performance application, especially ablation resistance. In order to improve the oxidation resistance of PF, a SiO 2 /RGO binary hybrid nanomaterial assisted anti-oxidation for PF was designed. Here, we reported a simple sol-gel process and high temperature reduction for synthesis of dispersed SiO 2 nanoparticles on graphene (G-S). The designed structure of G-S was confirmed by FTIR, XRD, SEM and TEM. Introduction of G-S into PF (P-G-S) was beneficial to enhancement of oxidation resistance in whole temperature range (0–1000 °C). P-G-S-3 (3 wt.% of G-S) exhibits both lower thermal oxidative decomposition rate and higher termination temperature of thermal oxidative decomposition (increase from about 750 °C up to 900 °C) than those of neat PF in air. In addition, P-G-S-3 decomposed by thermal oxidation in air (at 557 °C, weight loss> 30 wt.%) later than neat PF (at 519 °C, weight loss> 20 wt.%). What's more, compared to the collapse of skeleton structure and few residual fragments of neat PF, P-G-S-3 showed greater oxidation resistance which resulted in the retention of a large number of aromatic C-C, methylene and different kinds of ether bond at temperature from 550 °C to 700 °C by FTIR and XPS. The section of P-G-S-3 expresses skin lamination that can act as a barrier to slow down the diffusion of oxygen into resin matrix. And SiO 2 on the surface protected the matrix continually as indicated from the SEM analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic diseases, especially diabetes mellitus, have become global health issues. The etiology of diabetes mellitus can be attributed to genetic and/or environmental factors. Current evidence suggests the association of gut microbiota with metabolic diseases. However, the effects of glucose-lowering agents on gut microbiota are poorly understood. Several studies revealed that these agents affect the composition and diversity of gut microbiota and consequently improve glucose metabolism and energy balance. Possible underlying mechanisms include affecting gene expression, lowering levels of inflammatory cytokines, and regulating the production of short-chain fatty acids. In addition, gut microbiota may alleviate adverse effects caused by glucose-lowering agents, and this can be especially beneficial in diabetic patients who experience severe gastrointestinal side effects and have to discontinue these agents. In conclusion, gut microbiota may provide a novel viewpoint for the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Structural evolution of gel-spun ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers with high concentration solution via hot stretching process was investigated by in situ small-angle X-ray scattering, in situ wide-angle X-ray diffraction measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. With the increase of stretching strain, the long period continuously increases at relative lower stretching temperature, while it first increases and then decreases rapidly at relative higher stretching temperature. The kebab thickness almost keeps constant during the whole hot-stretching process and the kebab diameter continually decreases for all stretching temperatures. Moreover, the length of shish decreases slightly and the shish quantity increases although there is almost no change in the diameter of shish crystals during the hot stretching process. The degree of crystal orientation at different temperatures is as high as above 0.9 during the whole stretching process. These results indicate that the shish-kebab crystals in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers can transform continuously into the micro-fibril structure composed mostly of shish crystals through the hot stretching process. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018, 56, 225-238 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dodecaborides are promising high strength ceramic and refractory materials, due to the excellent physical properties. However, the scarce systematic investigations of physical properties of B 12 M (M=Th, U, Np, Pu) dodecaborides hinder the better applications of these dodecaborides. By means of the first-principles approach, we systemically investigated the phase stability, elastic, anisotropic properties, dynamical stability and thermodynamic properties of B 12 M (M=Th, U, Np, Pu) dodecaborides. The optimized structure constants are consistent with available experimental data. The values of formation enthalpies and V/V 0 under pressure indicate B 12 M have good phase stability. The elastic parameters and modulus indicate that B 12 M dodecaborides are all brittle and superhard materials. The results of anisotropic factors, 3D surface contours and 2D projections of B 12 M indicate that they are all anisotropic, but the extent of anisotropy is relatively small. Anisotropy of acoustic velocities and the 2D planar projections of the minimum thermal conductivity are also calculated and discussed. The lattice dynamic properties indicate that four dodecaborides are all satisfied with the dynamic stability conditions. The relationship between thermodynamic quantity and temperature was calculated and discussed for four dodecaborides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ab initio calculations have been performed to predict the site preference and mechanical behavior of transition-metal elements in B2 DyCu alloy. The formation enthalpy of these ternary alloys indicates that the majority of the transition metal elements tend to replace a Cu site and form Dy 8 Cu 7 M intermetallics. According to the calculated results of mechanical modulus of each compound, Dy 7 Cu 8 V possesses the highest ductility and Dy 7 Cu 8 Hf etc. have the higher shear modulus and Young's modulus. The anisotropic factors, 3D and 2D directional Young's modulus predict DyCuM compounds are all anisotropic materials, but the degree of anisotropy is very small. In addition, the electronic densities of states and electron density difference explain the electron properties of DyCuM compounds and further discuss their structural stability and mechanical behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the optimal reinsurance and investment problem of the insurance company. During the optimization phase, the existence of capital deposit requires that the insurer's wealth should be above the given minimum value. The aim is to minimize the distance between the wealth and the given target at the terminal time. We first convert the value function's domain to a rectangle and then derive the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation via the dynamic programming principle. By solving the explicit solutions for the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation, we obtain the expression of the optimal reinsurance and investment policy. In the last, several examples are presented to illustrate the sensitivity analysis of different parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atlantoaxial disorders are often correlated with hypertension in practice. In order to study the relationship between atlantoaxial disorder and hypertension, we attempted to construct an animal model. In this work, we presented an animal model where their atlantoaxial joints were misaligned. We investigated the changes of blood pressure before and after treatments of the modeled rats. We had the following results. (1) SBP and DBP of each surgery group were significantly higher than those of control and sham groups. (2) After the second operation (the fixture was removed), SBP and DBP of both surgery groups decreased and got closer to the control and sham groups after 7 days. (3) Heart rates got significantly higher in both surgery groups, compared to control and sham groups. (4) The blood Ach levels of the surgery groups were significantly lower than those of control and sham groups. With these results, we concluded that we successfully constructed cervical atlantoaxial disorder models in rats that showed hypertension symptom. However, the underlying mechanism connecting atlantoaxial disorder and hypertension still requires further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim:The aim of this study is to assess the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes between minimally invasive (MIS) and conventional transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in treating one-segment lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Material and methods:One-hundred and six patients treated by MIS-TLIF (50 cases) or conventional TLIF (56 cases) were included. Perioperative results were evaluated. Clinical outcomes were compared preoperatively and postoperatively. Radiologic parameters were based on a comparison of preoperative and three-year postoperative lumbar lordosis, segmental lordosis, sacral slope, the cross-sectional area of the paraspinal muscle and fusion rates. Results:MIS TILF had significantly less blood, shorter operation time, mean return to work time and lower intramuscular pressure compared with the conventional group during the operation. VAS scores for lower back pain and ODI in MIS-TLIF were significantly decreased. The mean cross-sectional area of the paraspinal muscle was significantly decreased after surgery in the conventional TLIF group and no significant intragroup differences were established in the MIS-TLIF group. No significant differences were found in fusion rate, lumbar lordosis, segmental lordosis and sacral slope. Conclusions:Both MIS and conventional TLIF were beneficial for patients with LDH. However, MIS-TLIF manifests a great improvement in perioperative outcomes, low back pain, disability and preventing paraspinal muscle atrophy during the follow-up period observation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, W6Mo5Cr4V2 steel gear tooth flank was firstly melted by laser irradiation, and then treated by microshot peening (MSP) with shot particles of different materials and peening time. The materials of shot particles were high-carbon cast steels and ceramics. The peening time was from 20 s to 100 s. The fatigue behavior of gear was tested using Forschungsstelle für Zahnräder und Getriebebau (FZG) back-to-back spur gear test machine. The experimental results have showed that the microhardness of gears increased, and the surface roughness of gears decreased after microshot peening treatment. In addition, the residual stress state in the near-surface layer of microshot peened gears was changed from tensile stress to compressive stress. The microshot peening treatment has improved the fatigue strength of gears in comparison with gears undergoing the laser surface melted (LSM). The material of microshot particle influenced the fatigue behavior of gears going through laser surface melting and microshot peening (LSMMSP). The fatigue properties of LSMMSP gears did not enhance with an increase in shot peening time. The effects of the relaxation mechanism of the compressive residual stress on the fatigue performance of LSMMSP gears have also been discussed. Retained austenite has played a positive role in improving the fatigue limit of LSMMSP gears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gel-spun ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers were prepared at the industrial production line with different gel solution concentrations of 15 wt%, 18 wt% and 24 wt%. The difference in ultimate structure and mechanical properties of UHMWPE fibers for different gel solution concentrations were analyzed by tensile testing, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). With the increase of gel solution concentration, the ultimate mechanical properties of UHMWPE fibers were decreased and the crystallization and orientation of UHMWPE fibers became inferior. Besides, both the average shish length (< L >) and shish misorientation ( B ) of UHMWPE fibers were decreased with the increase of gel solution concentration. In addition, the appropriate increase of spinning temperature led to the further optimization of the ultimate structure and mechanical properties of UHMWPE fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating fluidized bed (CFB) combustion is a new clean coal technology with advantages of wide fuel flexibility and low pollutant emissions. The bed temperature of CFB boilers is an important factor that influences operating security and pollutant emission generation. An accurate model to describe the dynamic characteristics of bed temperature is beneficial in reducing temperature fluctuations. This study presents a dynamic model for predicting the bed temperature of a 300 MW CFB boiler based on the least squares support vector machine method with real operational data. Coal feed rate and primary air rate are selected as the independent variables. The current values and previous sequences of the variables are considered as the model inputs to describe the dynamic characteristics of bed temperature. In addition, the past values of bed temperature are taken as feedback and then added to the inputs. The particle swarm optimization technique is used to determine optimal delay orders. Several model patterns are also discussed and compared. Comparison results show that the proposed model structure is reasonable and that the model can achieve the accurate prediction of the bed temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A circular-polarization metastructure (MS) with switchable functions connected to the transition from electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) to electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA) is theoretically proposed under the action of circularly polarized (CP) waves in the terahertz (THz) band. Additionally, we use the phase-change material vanadium dioxide (VO 2) to achieve functional transformation. The MS is mainly composed of two metal bright modes and a VO 2 resonator. When the VO 2 is insulating, the EIT with a high and wide transmission window is realized between 0.460 THz and 0.911 THz due to the coupling between two bright modes. Once VO 2 reaches the metal state, the original high transmission window is transformed into the high absorption window and the phenomena from EIT to EIA (vice versa) are successfully achieved from 0.460 THz to 0.911 THz. The group delays and group index of EIT are 161 ps and 1126, respectively. The simulation results of EIT and EIA are verified by fitting the theoretical two-oscillator model. • The proposed MS provides a new idea to manipulate the transition between EIT and EIA. • Multiple parameters can be adjusted to manipulate the transmission amplitude and frequency. • The presented structure is great transparency or absorption for the EM wave. • The thickness of the proposed MS is subwavelength. • The proposed MS can be applied to antenna fields and wave plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multiple endothermic peaks of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (P(HB- co-HV)) in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results, as one representative phenomenon of polymer with unique cocrystallization behavior, were generally considered as the results of melting/recrystallization. In this study, wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments were conducted to analyze the phenomena of multiple endothermic peaks in DSC results. The results of these analyses indicated that the multiple endotherms were mainly caused by different lamellae structures. For P(HB- co-HV) with lower HV content, it was comprised of two structures of HV total exclusion and HV partial inclusion in the crystal lamellae. For P(HB- co-HV) with higher HV content, it was also comprised of two structures of HV total inclusion and HV partial inclusion in the crystal lamellae. However, only structure with HV partial inclusion in the crystal lamellae remained existing after first melting peak for all samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]