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Borrowing the lens of Western gender theories in exploring the development of Western-style Chinese opera that emerged from the historical backbone of Confucianism and patriarchal traditions, this article examines how female roles were portrayed under the assumed gender binary that is a criterion of heteronormativity with unfaded accents of past feudal Chinese traditions. We identified three periods of Western-style Chinese operatic where the early works in the first two periods (early 1920s–late 1940s and early 1950s–late1970s) reveal that male dominance remains largely at the core led by China’s male-primogeniture tradition, and more often, female protagonists were moulded into political tools for communist and collectivist demands. The latter works, written since the mid-1970s, broke through the ancient feudal shadows of the Confucian Four Books of Women with pluralistic sonic and visual gender expressions that established a schism between past and present Chinese feminism. The outcome reveals how Chinese feminism was portrayed and employed as a political tool in these operas, where female roles were enmeshed between Confucianism and female empowerment, in an ambivalent desire to reconstruct the reality and simulacrum of feminism bounded by political allegory, classical Chinese aesthetics, and Western feminism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benefitting from its outstanding advantages, silicon (Si) has been considered as one of the best candidates of anode materials for next‐generation lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Among various influencing factors on the electrochemical performance of Si anodes, binder attracts more and more attention though occupying only a small portion. Well‐designed binders play a critical role in improving cycling performance of Si anodes. Herein, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), poly (acrylic acid) (PAA), sodium alginate (SA), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) are selected as binders, and their effects on the electrochemical performance are investigated. PAA, CMC, and SA form both dynamic hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds with Si while PAN and PVDF form monotonous hydrogen bonds with Si. Defects of PAA and CMC in slurry mixing and subsequent drying process originated from high modulus and poor liquidity are exposed. The binder influence on expansion/contraction behavior of silicon anodes is innovatively investigated in real time. Electrodes with PAA binder exhibit the greatest expansion but the highest reversibility, which contributes to superior electrochemical performance. This article aims to provide useful information for failure mechanism analysis of binders as well as design of advanced binders for high energy LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed photovoltaic power generation will not only help to achieve the strategic targets of peaking carbon emissions and carbon neutrality but also cause a series of impacts on the power grid at the same time. Forecasting the long-term development of regionally distributed photovoltaics can provide a reference for power grid planning and stable operation. In this paper, considering the effect of factors such as subsidies and countywide promotion policy of photovoltaics, a forecasting model for the development tendency of regionally distributed photovoltaics based on system dynamics is established. Then, taking Beijing as an example, an empirical analysis is carried out, and the effect of the proportion of self-consumption and the time when the subsidy is adjusted on distributed photovoltaic penetration is explored through sensitivity analysis. The simulation results show that the installed capacity achieved by the countywide promotion policy will become the main source of the installed capacity growth of distributed photovoltaics in Beijing after 2024. To continuously boost distributed photovoltaic penetration, relevant policymakers should consider the appropriate time when the subsidy is adjusted according to the installation cost of photovoltaic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a result of stabilization of a coupled partial differential equation (PDE) and ordinary differential equation (ODE) system through boundary control. The PDE is the Burgers' equation, which is a widely considered nonlinear PDE, partially due to its low order and partially due to its structure analogous to the Navier–Stokes equation, which describes fluid dynamics. The controller we employ for stabilizing this system was first developed from the boundary control problem of the corresponding linearized system, based on an infinite‐dimensional backstepping transformation. The stabilization result is achieved using only one boundary measurement and one boundary control. Numerical simulations show the boundary control law can be used to stabilize the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the high-accuracy ion mobility coefficient based on the Chapman–Enskog approximation to the solution of the Boltzmann equation for low pressure radio frequency plasma discharges is presented. We employ two-dimensional fluid simulations of the argon filled axisymmetric reactor, where the effect of new ion-kinetics-based fluid closure is compared to theoretical expressions and experimental data. The spatial profiles of plasma composition in the low pressure radio frequency capacitively coupled plasma are presented, which includes the metastable reactions in the simulation. Moreover, inelastic collision integrals terms, due to charge exchange inelastic collisions between ions and neutral species, have been also considered. A Monte Carlo simulation of kinetic ion energy distribution of impinging on the radio frequency powered electrode provides a measure of accuracy of the new transport model. From our simulation, the results that mirror the influence of ion mobility coefficient obtained by the Chapman–Enskog method on plasma physical quantities under different pressures, frequencies, and electrode gaps is in good agreement with experimental measurement results and theoretical expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria are structurally and functionally unique organelles in male gametes. Apparently, as the only organelles remaining in mature sperm, mitochondria not only produce adeno-sine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to support sperm mobility, but also play key roles in regulating reactive oxidation species (ROS) signaling, calcium homeostasis, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and apoptosis. Mitochondrial dysfunction is often associated with the aging process. Age-dependent alterations of the epididymis can cause alterations in sperm mitochondrial functioning. The resultant cellular defects in sperm have been implicated in male infertility. Among these, oxidative stress (OS) due to the overproduction of ROS in mitochondria may represent one of the major causes of these disorders. Excessive ROS can trigger DNA damage, disturb calcium homeostasis, impair OXPHOS, disrupt the integrity of the sperm lipid membrane, and induce apoptosis. Given these facts, scavenging ROS by antioxidants hold great potential in terms of finding promising therapeutic strategies to treat male infertility. Here, we summarize the progress made in understanding mitochondrial dysfunction, aging, and male infertility. The clinical potential of antioxidant interventions was also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A self-consistent method for computation and testing of transport coefficients in low pressure radio frequency plasma discharges is detailed by comparing the experimental fitting formula and previous results gained from the Langevin expression. In this paper, for the first time, we apply the Chapman–Enskog method for calculating transport coefficients of ions to a weakly ionized plasma which is laid in a thermodynamic non-equilibrium and chemical non-equilibrium state. The ion diffusion coefficient is obtained by using the Chapman–Enskog method expanded to the second order approximation. The corresponding ion mobility coefficient is deduced from Einstein's relation. A two-dimensional axisymmetric fluid model of capacitively coupled plasmas is employed to determine the plasma composition. Moreover, the comparison of plasma physical characteristics using ion transport coefficients calculated by the Chapman–Enskog method with those derived from theoretical and experimental methods is also investigated. The results show that the ion transport coefficients obtained by the Chapman–Enskog method and their effect on plasma physical quantities are in good agreement with the experimental measurement and theoretical expression. Furthermore, the results indicate that the set of exponential and Morse potentials is more reasonable for the ion–neutral particles' interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hair follicle is a regenerative organ, and its growth process constantly goes through the cycle of growth, decline and rest period. The cyclic growth of hair follicle determines the growth and loss of fur. Hair follicles are not only regulated by genetic, environmental, and other factors, but also closely related to the content and type of nutrients in the diet, especially the protein content and amino acid composition. Protein is an important substance in the composition of fur animal coat. Sulfur-containing amino acids are the main amino acids that restrict the growth of coat. Sulfur elements exist in the coat in the form of disulfide bonds, which play an important role in maintaining the network space structure of coat fibrin molecules and resisting the erosion of various adverse factors from the outside world. In addition, lysine, tryptophan, tyrosine, glutamic acid, and other non-sulfur-containing amino acids are also involved in the formation of fur animal skin sheets, which play an important role in controlling fur animal skin coat color, promoting coat growth and regulating fur maturation. In this paper, the recent research progress on the effects of protein content and amino acid composition in feed on fur quality of fur animals is reviewed, in order to provide a reference for guiding the genetic selection and production of fur animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our relevant paper [Zhao S X (2021) Chin. Phys. B 30 055201], a delta distribution of negative ions is given by fluid simulation and preliminarily explained by decomposed anions transport equation. In the present work, first, the intrinsic connection between the electropositive plasma transport equation and spring oscillator dynamic equation is established. Inspired by this similarity, reformed "spring oscillator" equation with dispersing instead of restoring force that gives quasi-delta solution is devised according to the math embodied in the anion equation, which is of potential significance to the disciplines of atomic physics and astronomy as well. For solving the "diffusion confusion", the physics that determines the delta profile within the continuity equation is explored on the basis that recombination loss source term plays the role of drift flux, which is applicable for fluid model of low temperature plasma, but not the ordinary fluid dynamics. Besides, the math and physics revealed in this work predict that the ratio of recombination or attachment (for electrons) frequency versus the species diffusion coefficient is a very important parameter in determining the delta distribution, as it acts as the acceleration of object, according to the reformed oscillator equation. With this theory, the analogous delta profile of electrons density in the famous drift and ambi-polar diffusion heating mechanism of electronegative capacitively coupled plasma is interpreted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the novel phenomena of Ar/O2 inductively coupled plasma, the delta negative ions density profile is discovered by the fluid simulation at very low electronegativity. The anions delta is found to be formed by the collaboration of successive plasma transport phases. The plasma transport itself is affected by the delta, exhibiting many new phenomena. A new type of Helmholtz equation is devised to mathematically explain the delta forming mechanism. For revealing the physics behind, a revised spring oscillator dynamic equation has been constructed according to the Helmholtz equation, in a relevant paper [Zhao S X and Li J Z (2021) Chin. Phys. B 30 055202]. The investigation about the anions delta distribution is a nice prediction of new phenomenon in low temperature electronegative plasmas, waiting for the validation of related experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the negative ion behavior in a C4F8 inductively coupled plasma (ICP) is investigated using a hybrid model. The model predicts a non-monotonic variation of the total negative ion density with power at low pressure (10-30 mTorr), and this trend agrees well with experiments that were carried out in many fluorocarbon (fc) ICP sources, like C2F6, CHF3, and C4F8. This behavior is explained by the availability of feedstock C4F8 gas as a source of the negative ions, as well as by the presence of low energy electrons due to vibrational excitation at low power. The maximum of the negative ion density shifts to low power values upon decreasing pressure, because of the more pronounced depletion of C4F8 molecules, and at high pressure (~50 mTorr), the anion density continuously increases with power, which is similar to fc CCP sources. Furthermore, the negative ion composition is identified in this paper. Our work demonstrates that for a clear understanding of the negative ion behavior in radio frequency C4F8 plasma sources, one needs to take into account many factors, like the attachment characteristics, the anion composition, the spatial profiles, and the reactor configuration. Finally, a detailed comparison of our simulation results with experiments is conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid model is used to investigate the fragmentation of C4F8 inductive discharges. Indeed, the resulting reactive species are crucial for the optimization of the Si-based etching process, since they determine the mechanisms of fluorination, polymerization, and sputtering. In this paper, we present the dissociation degree, the density ratio of F vs. CxFy (i.e., fluorocarbon (fc) neutrals), the neutral vs. positive ion density ratio, details on the neutral and ion components, and fractions of various fc neutrals (or ions) in the total fc neutral (or ion) density in a C4F8 inductively coupled plasma source, as well as the effect of pressure and power on these results. To analyze the fragmentation behavior, the electron density and temperature and electron energy probability function (EEPF) are investigated. Moreover, the main electron-impact generation sources for all considered neutrals and ions are determined from the complicated C4F8 reaction set used in the model. The C4F8 plasma fragmentation is explained, taking into account many factors, such as the EEPF characteristics, the dominance of primary and secondary processes, and the thresholds of dissociation and ionization. The simulation results are compared with experiments from literature, and reasonable agreement is obtained. Some discrepancies are observed, which can probably be attributed to the simplified polymer surface kinetics assumed in the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Hemiptarsenus jilinus Tao, sp. nov., is described and illustrated. All the type specimens were reared from Chromatomyia horticola (Goureau) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), a leafminer attacking the plants Ixeris polycephala Cass. and Pterocypsela indica (L.) Shih, in Jilin Province, north-eastern China. A key to Chinese species of the genus is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among eukaryotic transcription factors, the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor is the most widely distributed and the most conserved protein. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the largest forage crop in the world. However, few studies have evaluated the bZIP family in Alfalfa. In this study, bZIP genes in Alfalfa were identified, with 57 MsbZIPs being distributed into 11 sub-families in the phylogenetic tree. Motif and gene structure analysis revealed that the eleven subfamilies had similar motifs and gene structures, 15 cis-acting elements in MsbZIPs, including eight elements in hormones and four in plant stress resistance; 57 MsbZIPs were localized on 8 chromosomes, among which chr3 and chr4 had more collinearities, and MsbZIPs had more collinearity with the soybean. Tissue specific expression revealed that MsbZIPs were highly expressed in leaves and roots. These findings formed a foundation for further studies on functional characteristics, evolution and biological functions of bZIP transcription factors in alfalfa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to compare the utility and accuracy of the Chinese Version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment Basic (MoCA-BC) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Beijing Version (MoCA-BJ) in the identification of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) under different education levels. A sample of individuals with MCI (n = 295), Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 254), and normal controls (NC; n = 259) at 2 Memory Clinics and communities was administered the MoCA-BC, MoCA-BJ, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and other neuropsychological tests. The discriminant validity of the MoCA-BC and MoCA-BJ as diagnostic instruments was ascertained. The overall discriminant validity for detection of MCI from NC (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve [95% confidence interval]) was that the MoCA-BC (0.95 [0.93, 0.97]) had better sensitivity and accuracy than MoCA-BJ (0.87 [0.84, 0.90]). In addition, we provide an easy to use table that enables the conversion of MoCA-BC to the MoCA-BJ scores or to MMSE scores. The MoCA-BC and MoCA-BJ provided good diagnostic accuracy when compared to MMSE. The MoCA-BC, which was proved to be an appropriate tool when screening for MCI among elderly subjects, can now be compared directly with the MoCA-BJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H7N9 virus were detected in late 2016. We examined the drug resistance profile of 30 HPAI H7N9 isolates from Mainland of China (2016–2019). Altogether, 23% (7/30) carried neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) - resistance mutations, and 13% (4/30) displayed reduced susceptibility to NAIs in neuraminidase (NA) inhibition test. An HPAI H7N9 reassortment virus we prepared was passaged with NAIs for 10 passages. Passage with zanamivir induced an E119G substitution in NA, whereas passage with oseltamivir induced R292K and E119V substitutions that simulated that seen in oseltamivir -treated HPAI H7N9 cases, indicating that the high frequency of resistant strains in the HPAI H7N9 isolates is related to NAIs use. In presence of NAIs, R238I, A146E, G151E and G234T substitutions were found in HA1 region of HA. No amino acid mutations were found in the internal genes of the recombinant virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To estimate, prior to finalization of claims, the national monthly numbers of admissions and rates of 30-day readmissions and post-discharge observation-stays for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), or pneumonia.Methods: The centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Integrated Data Repository, including the Medicare beneficiary enrollment database, was accessed in June 2015, February 2017, and February 2018. We evaluated patterns of delay in Medicare claims accrual, and used incomplete, non-final claims data to develop and validate models for real-time estimation of admissions, readmissions, and observation stays.Results: These real-time reporting models accurately estimate, within 2 months from admission, the monthly numbers of admissions, 30-day readmission and observation-stay rates for patients with AMI, HF, or pneumonia.Conclusions: This work will allow CMS to track the impact of policy decisions in real time and enable hospitals to better monitor their performance nationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperlipidemia, characterized by elevated serum lipid concentrations resulting from lipid metabolism dysfunction, represents a prevalent global health concern. Ginsenoside Rb1, compound K (CK), and 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), bioactive constituents derived from Panax ginseng, have shown promise in mitigating lipid metabolism disorders. However, the comparative efficacy and underlying mechanisms of these compounds in hyperlipidemia prevention remain inadequately explored. This study investigates the impact of ginsenoside Rb1, CK, and PPD supplementation on hyperlipidemia in rats induced by a high-fat diet. Our findings demonstrate that ginsenoside Rb1 significantly decreased body weight and body weight gain, ameliorated hepatic steatosis, and improved dyslipidemia in HFD-fed rats, outperforming CK and PPD. Moreover, ginsenoside Rb1, CK, and PPD distinctly modified gut microbiota composition and function. Ginsenoside Rb1 increased the relative abundance of Blautia and Eubacterium, while PPD elevated Akkermansia levels. Both CK and PPD increased Prevotella and Bacteroides, whereas Clostridium-sensu-stricto and Lactobacillus were reduced following treatment with all three compounds. Notably, only ginsenoside Rb1 enhanced lipid metabolism by modulating the PPARγ/ACC/FAS signaling pathway and promoting fatty acid β-oxidation. Additionally, all three ginsenosides markedly improved bile acid enterohepatic circulation via the FXR/CYP7A1 pathway, reducing hepatic and serum total bile acids and modulating bile acid pool composition by decreasing primary/unconjugated bile acids (CA, CDCA, and β-MCA) and increasing conjugated bile acids (TCDCA, GCDCA, GDCA, and TUDCA), correlated with gut microbiota changes. In conclusion, our results suggest that ginsenoside Rb1, CK, and PPD supplementation offer promising prebiotic interventions for managing HFD-induced hyperlipidemia in rats, with ginsenoside Rb1 demonstrating superior efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and proportion of laboratory-confirmed urethral Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections that were asymptomatic among individuals presenting to clinics in Shenzhen and the risk factors related to asymptomatic CT infection. In a cross-sectional study, eligible individuals were invited to participate in the questionnaire, and urine specimens were collected to identify CT and NG infections using a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Considering the differences in the presentation of symptoms between men and women, this study was stratified by gender. Corresponding outcomes were analyzed by Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression. A total of 2,871 participants were asymptomatic and included in our analyses: 1120 (39.0%) men and 1751 (61.0%) women. The prevalence of asymptomatic NG and CT infections was 0.9% and 6.2% in men, and 0.4% and 7.9% in women, respectively. The proportion of asymptomatic urethral CT among men with urethral CT was 28.3%; for women, it was 34.2%. For asymptomatic men with CT, 3 independent risk factors were identified: (1) men under the age of 30 (aOR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.11–3.03); (2) being employed in the commercial service work (2.82; 1.36–5.84); and (3) being recruited through the urological department (2.12; 1.19–3.79). For asymptomatic women with urethral CT, age less than 30 years was a risk factor. In conclusion, a substantial prevalence of asymptomatic CT infections was found among men and women presenting to clinics in Shenzhen. The significant correlation between asymptomatic CT infection and these risk factors could help identify high-risk populations and guide screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-dimensional fluid model was built to study the argon discharge in a capacitively coupled plasma reactor and the full set of Maxwell equations is included in the model to understand the electromagnetic effect in the capacitive discharge. Two electrical sources are applied to the top and bottom electrodes in our simulations and the phase-shift effect is focused on. We distinguish the difference of the phase-shift effect on the plasma uniformity in the traditional radio frequency discharge and in the very high frequency discharge where the standing wave effect dominates. It is found that in the discharges with frequency 13.56 MHz, the control of phase difference can less the influence of the electrostatic edge effect, and it gets the best radial uniformity of plasma density at the phase difference π. But in the very high frequency discharges, the standing wave effect plays an important role. The standing wave effect can be counteracted at the phase difference 0, and be enhanced at the phase difference π. The standing wave effect and the edge effect are balanced at some phase-shift value between 0 and π, which is determined by discharge parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One self-consistent method combined with the electromagnetic theory and fluid model is developed to investigate the E-H mode transition of argon inductively coupled plasma (ICP) by adjusting the external electric parameters of the reactor. ICP dynamic characteristics of radial and axial space are also studied when E and H modes coexist. By regulating the radio-frequency current in the coil and voltage across the powered end of the coil and the ground, the E-H mode transition is observed, accompanied by the substantial variations in the electromagnetic field and plasma parameters (density, temperature, and deposited power). Besides, the evolution characteristics of ICP are examined when the discharge mechanism transforms from an E-mode dominated to an H-mode dominated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing a reliable numerical tool for the prediction of parametric roll and pure loss of stability is a difficult task. It is acknowledged that the occurrence of these two failure modes is mainly attributed to the variation of roll restoring arm, which should be calculated accurately. This work studies exclusively the roll restoring arm variation numerically and experimentally. First, partially restrained experimental tests at different constant heeling angles (up to 30°) are conducted to measure the variation of roll restoring arm in regular waves. Second, a numerical method for the calculation of roll restoring arm in waves taking radiation and diffraction moments into account is adopted. The calculation results are benchmarked against experimental model test data. Third, the characteristics of roll restoring arm variation and the effects of radiation and diffraction moments on roll restoring arm variation (GZRD) in head and following seas are investigated. Finally, the feasibility of GZ calculated by the integral of instantaneously average wetted surface is studied by comparing the results with that calculated by the integral of the fully instantaneously wetted surface. The research show that the GZRD can be ignored in following seas. The GZ in head seas consists of two important harmonic components, and GZRD is the main contribution of the second harmonic component. Therefore, GZRD should be calculated with consideration of the instantaneous heeling angles and Froude number in head seas, especially for the prediction of large amplitude roll motion at high speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve convergence rate and optimization precision of the cuckoo search (CS) algorithm, an improved dynamic self-adaption cuckoo search algorithm based on collaboration between subpopulations (SC-DSCS, where 'SC' represents 'Subpopulation Collaboration,' 'DS' represents 'dynamic self-adaption') is proposed. In SC-DSCS, the population of cuckoos is divided into two subgroups. The nest locations of birds belonging to the first subgroup are updated according to the traditional CS algorithm so as to retain the global search ability, and the second subgroup produces the corresponding nest locations for next generation by flying from the better nest locations to enhance the local search ability of the CS algorithm. Through collaboration between two subgroups, the problem that the local search ability of CS algorithm is not strong can be effectively solved. In order to reduce the probability of the algorithm falling into local optimum and improve the optimization precision, the SC-DSCS algorithm creates a new bird's nest under the comprehensive assessment of the first three best bird's nests. The new nest is added to the optimal bird's nest sequence. In order to improve the adaptability of the SC-DSCS, adaptive step length control is adopted in the bird's nest position updating process. Finally, nine benchmark functions are adopted to carry out the simulation experiments. The proposed algorithm is compared with particle swarm optimization algorithm, artificial colony algorithm and differential evolution algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed SC-DSCS algorithm has better convergence speed and optimization precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Parametric roll is an important stability failure mode in the second generation intact stability criteria, which are currently under development by International Maritime Organization (IMO). The roll restoring arm, which is one of the dominating factors for the prediction of parametric roll, should be calculated preciously. In this paper, firstly, the effects of the radiation and diffraction forces on the roll restoring arm (GZ R&D) under different heeling angles and wave amplitudes are studied based on the body exact method, in which all the hydrodynamic forces are calculated by integrating wave pressure up to the wave surface. Secondly, the effects of radiation and diffraction forces on parametric roll are studied by the direct simulation using a coupled heave-roll-pitch model based on the three dimensional mixed source method. Finally, by taking one passenger ship as an example, the calculation accuracy of the body exact method is compared with the commonly used body linear method. The results show that the effect of radiation and diffraction forces on righting arm variation has nonlinear relationships with heeling angles and wave amplitudes, and the body exact method can provide more accurate prediction results for parametric roll in head waves than the body linear method. Therefore, the nonlinear effects of instantaneous roll angles and wave amplitudes on GZ R&D variation in waves should be considered for the prediction of parametric roll in head waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sulfatides have immunomodulatory functions, and play protective roles in multiple autoimmune diseases. In the present study, we showed that sulfatides ameliorated experimental autoimmune neuritis in Lewis rats induced with bovine peripheral myelin, which was associated with decreased proportions of Th1 and Th17 cells. Furthermore, compared control group, cells from sulfatide-treated rats exhibited lower potential in proliferation and IL-17 secretion in the presence of BPM or ConA in vitro. Moreover, sulfatides also reduced the proportions of NK and NKT cells. In summary, our study indicated that sulfatides might become a new therapeutic agent in Guillain-Barré syndrome in the future. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Sulfatides ameliorated experimental autoimmune neuritis by suppressing Th1/Th17 cells. • Sulfatides reduced the proportions of NK and NKT cells. • Sulfatides inhibited the proliferation and IL-17 secretion of CD4+ T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the modelling and control design of the multi-agent systems in the 3-D space. The communication graph of the agents is a mesh-grid 2-D cylindrical surface. Different from most existing literatures, where the agents are modelled by ordinary differential equations (ODEs), we treat the agents as a continuum in this paper. More specifically, we model the collective dynamics of the agents by two reaction-advection-diffusion 2-D partial differential equations (PDEs). The PDE states represent the agent positions, and the equilibria correspond to possible formation manifolds. These PDEs can be open-loop unstable, and the boundary stabilisation problem of the PDEs on the cylindrical surface is solved using the backstepping method. An all-explicit observer-based output control scheme is constructed, which is distributed in the sense that each agent only needs local information. Closed-loop exponential stability in the L 2, H 1, and H 2 spaces is proved for the controller designs. Numerical simulations illustrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract The reaction of La(NO 3) 3 ·6H 2 O and [(n -Pr) 3 NH](NO 3) or [(n -Bu) 3 NH](NO 3) afforded two ionic co-crystal compounds, namely [(n -Pr) 3 NH] 3 [La(NO 3) 6 ] (1) and [(n -Bu) 3 NH] 3 [La(NO 3) 6 ] (2), respectively. 1 can function as a thermosensitive dielectric material over a wide temperature range, while 2 may act as a bistable dielectric material with a large ε′– T hysteresis loop. The synthetic approach affords an effective strategy to construct switchable dielectric phase transition materials based on large ammonium and lanthanide complex anion. Highlights • The reaction of La(NO 3) 3 and [(n -Pr) 3 NH]+ or [(n -Bu) 3 NH]+ afforded two ionic co-crystal compounds. • Compound 1 has can function as a thermosensitive dielectric material over a wide temperature range. • Compound 2 act as a bistable dielectric material with a large ε′– T hysteresis loop. Abstract The reaction of La(NO 3) 3 ·6H 2 O and [(n -Pr) 3 NH](NO 3) or [(n -Bu) 3 NH](NO 3) afforded two ionic co-crystal compounds, namely [(n -Pr) 3 NH] 3 [La(NO 3) 6 ] and [(n -Bu) 3 NH] 3 [La(NO 3) 6 ], respectively. Both compounds show switchable dielectric behaviors above room temperature, owing to their reversible structural phase transitions confirmed by DSC measurement and variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction. The former compound can function as a thermosensitive dielectric material over a wide temperature range above room temperature, while the latter may act as a bistable dielectric material with a large ε′– T hysteresis loop. The synthetic approach affords an effective strategy to construct switchable dielectric phase transition materials based on large ammonium and lanthanide complex anion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cable elevators, large axial vibrations appear when a cage subject to disturbance is lifted up via a compliant cable. The axial vibration dynamics can be described by a wave partial differential equation (PDE) on a time-varying spatial interval with an unknown boundary disturbance. In this paper, we design an output feedback controller actuating at the boundary anti-collocated with the disturbance to regulate the state on the uncontrolled boundary of the wave PDE based on the backstepping idea and the active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) approach. The control law uses the state and disturbance information recovered from the state observer and the disturbance estimator, respectively, which are constructed via limited boundary measurements. The exponential convergence of the state on the uncontrolled boundary and uniform boundedness of all states in the closed-loop system are proved by Lyapunov analysis. Effective vibration suppression in the cable elevator with the designed controller is verified via numerical simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C53H38Cl2F6N6O14S2, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 12.1975(6) Å, b = 13.9973(7) Å, c = 16.3818(10) Å, α = 69.365(5)°, β = 76.620(5)°, γ = 77.292(4)°, V = 2516.8(3) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0540, wRref(F2) = 0.1413, T = 100.02(10) K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper oxide nanofilms can be fabricated on Cu foam by a simple electrochemical anodization process. However, it is difficult to obtain single-phase nanofilms that consist only of Cu 2 O or CuO. In this work, we present a modified anodization process that includes (NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 ·4H 2 O in the electrolyte solution, and prepare single-phase CuO nanofilms grown directly on Cu foam. The surface morphologies of the CuO nanofilms are greatly dependent on the concentration of (NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 ·4H 2 O included in the electrolyte solution during the anodization process, and accordingly present nanodots, nanoflakes, nanosheets, and/or nanobelts. The synthesis mechanism for CuO nanofilms is discussed in detail. The as-fabricated single-phase CuO nanofilms can be directly employed as electrodes that exhibit good supercapacitive performance, with an areal capacitance greater than 600 mF cm -2  at a current density of 1 mA cm −2 in a 2 M KOH aqueous solution. Moreover, the single-phase CuO nanofilm electrodes also demonstrate excellent long term cycling stability with about 94% retention of the initial areal capacitance after 10,000 charge/discharge cycles. The results demonstrate that the CuO nanofilms prepared on Cu foam by our modified anodization process are promising electrode materials for high-performance flexible supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to assist rheumatologists in differentiating hypophosphatemic osteomalacia (HO) from mimic rheumatology diseases. Clinical data was obtained from 9 patients with acquired HO, initially misdiagnosed as mimic rheumatologic diseases. The data were retrospectively analyzed and a literature review was performed. The etiology of the cases was as follows: Adefovir dipivoxil-induced Fanconi syndrome was present in 6 of the cases, 2 were tumors and 1 case was chronic nephropathy. The chief complaint was thoracic or back pain and arthralgia, followed by progressive muscle weakness and dramatic movement limitation. All patients were transferred to 3-6 hospitals for extended periods due to misdiagnosis with conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, chronic arthritis, lumbar disc disease, osteoporosis and somatoform disorder. Hypophosphatemia was observed in the patients and bone scans revealed diffusely decreased tracer uptake, with multiple hot spots of fractured sites and involved joints. Furthermore, patients' bone density was markedly low compared with the normal range for their age and sex. In the present study, 6 of the patients recovered when adefovir dipivoxil was stopped. In 1 case, hypophosphatemia was ameliorated following tumor resection. The remaining patients, 1 with sub-skull tumor and 1 with chronic kidney disease, had poor prognoses due to incurable diseases. In conclusion, diagnosing HO is challenging for rheumatologists and physicians. Basic examinations of electrolyte balance and bone mineral density should be performed, as should tumor screening and a careful collection of patient medical history and drugs in young patients with unexplained thoracic or back pain and muscle weakness. Removing any secondary etiology, such as drugs may dramatically improve the patients clinical manifestations and result in an improved prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thermal–electrochemical model of lithium-ion batteries is presented and a Luenberger observer is derived for State-of-Charge (SoC) estimation by recovering the lithium concentration in the electrodes. This first-principles based model is a coupled system of partial and ordinary differential equations, which is a reduced version of the Doyle–Fuller–Newman model. More precisely, the subsystem of Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) is the Single Particle Model (SPM) while the Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) is a model for the average temperature in the battery. The observer is designed following the PDE backstepping method. Since some coefficients in the coupled ODE–PDE system are time-varying, this results in the time dependency of some coefficients in the kernel function system of the backstepping transformation and it is non-trivial to show well-posedness of the latter system. Adding thermal dynamics to the SPM serves a two-fold purpose: improving the accuracy of SoC estimation and keeping track of the average temperature which is a critical variable for safety management in lithium-ion batteries. Effectiveness of the estimation scheme is validated via numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the growth of copper oxide nanosheet arrays on copper foil via a simple anodization method. The structures, morphologies, and elemental compositions of the specimens were characterized with an X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, high resolution transmission electron microscope, and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. The copper oxide (Cu 2 O and CuO) nanosheet arrays were comprised of 30-nm-thick nanosheets that stand vertically on the Cu substrate. The anodizing parameters, such as the current density, temperature, and polyethylene glycol concentration, were optimized to obtain the regular nanosheet arrays. The optical absorption properties of the anodized products were evaluated using a diffuse reflectance spectrometer, and broad and strong optical absorption bands arising from the UV to visible region were observed. The photoelectrochemical performance of the nanosheet arrays was measured with chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry on an electrochemical workstation equipped with a Xe lamp (wavelength >400 nm). A negative photocurrent was obtained due to the p-type semiconductor of the copper oxides. The copper oxide nanosheet arrays achieve the highest photocurrent of 0.4 mA/cm 2 at the current density of 1.0 A/dm 2 , temperature of 70 °C, and polyethylene glycol concentration of 0.5 g/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the existing global challenges, water system management is becoming more and more important as the consumption patterns are continually growing. The implication of water system regulation in irrigated agriculture and production of sustainable energy is self-evident nowadays. In the present paper, new perspectives are given on the control of water flowing in an open channel. Mathematically, these physical processes are described by coupled hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs). In view of the recent development in PDE control, backstepping methodology has been proven to be a powerful tool in the sense that it provides a systematic design technique. This paper presents the exponential stabilization results of two shallow wave systems including the shallow waves of two unmixed fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-dimensional particle-in-cell/Monte-Carlo code has been developed to study the electron heating mechanism in radio-frequency microhollow cathode discharge (rf-MHCD) operated in nitrogen at 100 Torr. The influence of secondary electron emission coefficient (C) on the electron density and total ionization rate, the occurrence of a ionization rate and c ionization rate, and the electron heating rate are calculated. The results show that compared with the condition of C=0, the maximum electron density at C=0.1 shows an increase of 60% and the maximum total ionization rate increases by nearly one order of magnitude, which indicates secondary electron heating in rf- MHCD plays an important role. Through the detailed distribution of c ionization rate and a ionization rate by two-electron model, it is found that C ionization rate is about 90% of the total ionization rate and the spatial distribution of C ionization rate presents the same characteristics of the total ionization rate. Therefore, we can further confirm secondary electron heating is the main heating mechanism in rf-MHCD. From the distribution of electron heating rate, it also shows the decisive role of secondary electron heating. With the increase of C coefficient, a ionization rate increases. This means the electrons which are from fast electron group transferred into slow electron group in the plasma are heated again by sheath oscillation and do contribute to the occurrence of a ionization collision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree shrews are small mammals now commonly classified in the order of Scandentia, but have relatively closer affinity to primates than rodents. The species has a high brain-to-body mass ratio and relatively well-differentiated neocortex, and thus has been frequently used in neuroscience research, especially for studies on vision and neurological/psychiatric diseases. The available atlases on tree shrew brain provided only limited information on white matter (WM) anatomy. In this study, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to study the WM anatomy of tree shrew, with the goal to establish an image-based WM atlas. DTI and T-weighted anatomical images were acquired in vivo and from fixed brain samples. Deterministic tractography was used for three-dimensional reconstruction and rendering of major WM tracts. Myelin and neurofilaments staining were used to study the microstructural properties of certain WM tracts. Taking into account prior knowledge on tree shrew neuroanatomy, tractography results, and comparisons to the homologous structures in rodents and primates, an image-based WM atlas of tree shrew brain was constructed, which is available to research community upon request. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the globalization of supply chains, intermodal operations have become a key player in transportation. In real life, the consumer's demands are often uncertain. The recent literature is rich of papers that either emphasizes on uncertain customer demands or intermodal transportation planning. In this paper, we combine these two fields in order to identify new potentials for saving cost and improving the efficiency of intermodal logistics network. A two stage stochastic programming model was proposed to decide the terminal location and transportation routes under uncertain customer demands. And the AP data set is used to test the presented model. The result is compared with the traditional counterparts, which shows superiority in solution quantity under uncertain environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binder-free, high-performance electrode materials play a critical role for supercapacitors. In this paper, through the electrochemical anodization process, ordered CuO/CuO nanosheet arrays (NSAs) were successfully in situ fabricated on copper foil, which could be directly adopted as the current collector. Then, NiOOH was introduced for the further modification of CuO/CuO arrays via a facile hydrothermal deposition treatment using nickel nitrate as precursor. The as-fabricated NiOOH@CuO/CuO composite nanosheet arrays exhibit an excellent areal capacitance of 1206 mF cm at a current density of 1 mA cm in 2 M KOH aqueous solution with an outstanding long-term cycling stability, with 84.6% of initial capacitance after 3000 charge/discharge cycles. The facile, cost-effective, and controllable fabrication route and the robust supercapacitive activity suggest that the NiOOH@CuO/CuO composite nanosheet arrays could be a promising candidate electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mathematical model of electroslag remelting (ESR) process is established based on its technique features and dynamic characteristics. A new multivariable self-tuning PID controller tuned optimally by an improved cuckoo search algorithm is proposed to control the two-input-two output (TITO) ESR process. In order to improve the convergence velocity and optimization accuracy of cuckoo search (CS) algorithm, a new searching mechanism with a learning-evolving searching guider is proposed by combining the learning-evolving thought with Gaussian distribution. Then the new searching mechanism is combined with the Levy Flight searching mechanism according to a selection probability so as to form a new searching mechanism cuckoo search (MCS) algorithm. For solving the problem that the search space size and the scope cannot be decided exactly, a self-tuning dynamic searching space strategy is put forward. The search space is adjusted dynamically by following the best bird's nest location. Finally, the new searching mechanism cuckoo search algorithm with self-tuning dynamic search space (DMCS) is applied to the multivariable self-tuning PID decoupling controller. The simulation results show that the proposed control strategy can overcome dynamic conditions and the coupling problem of the system within a wide range, and it has an excellent control quality, stronger robustness and good working adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many insects use rapid cold-hardening (RCH), a physiological response to sub-lethal exposure to stressors, such as chilling and desiccation, to enhance their cold tolerance within minutes. Recently, drought-induced RCH, triggered by brief, mild desiccation, was described in larvae of the freeze-tolerant gall fly ( Eurosta solidaginis). However, its prevalence and ecological significance in other insects is not known. Consequently, we used a freeze-intolerant model, the flesh fly, Sarcophaga bullata, to investigate the effects and mechanisms of drought-induced RCH. In addition, we investigated how drought- and cold-induced RCH interact by exposing flies to both desiccation and chilling. Desiccation for 3 h increased larval pupariation after cold shock from 28 to 40 %-the first example of drought-induced RCH in both a freeze-intolerant insect and in a non-overwintering life stage. We also found that desiccation and chilling together enhanced the cold hardiness of larvae and adults more than either did separately, suggesting that drought and cold trigger distinct physiological mechanisms that interact to afford greater cold tolerance. These results suggest that drought-induced RCH is a highly conserved response used by insects with diverse life history strategies. Furthermore, the protective interaction between drought- and cold-induced RCH suggests that, in nature, insects use multiple cues and physiological mechanisms to fine-tune their response to changing ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary electron emission materials are reviewed with the aim of providing guidelines for the future development of novel transmission dynodes. Materials with reflection secondary electron yield higher than three and transmission secondary electron yield higher than one are tabulated for easy reference. Generations of transmission dynodes are listed in the order of the invention time with a special focus on the most recent atomic-layer-deposition synthesized transmission dynodes. Based on the knowledge gained from the survey of secondary election emission materials with high secondary electron yield, an outlook of possible improvements upon the state-of-the-art transmission dynodes is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to detect the survivin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and ErbB2 in the saliva, serum and local tumor-exfoliated cells of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients, for providing reliable tumor markers for the early detection of oral malignant cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The saliva, serum, and local tumor-exfoliated cell samples of 26 OSCC patients without chemotherapy and 10 non-cancer patients were collected in Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Peking University. The contents of survivin, CEA and ErbB2 using were detected usingenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The survivin and CEA levels in saliva and local tumor-exfoliated cells of OSCC patients were significantly higher than those in the non-cancer patients (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the content of the above factors in the serum sample between two groups. There was no significant difference in the ErbB2 content in the saliva, serum or local tumor-exfoliated cells between two groups. CONCLUSION: Survivin and CEA levels are significantly increased in the saliva and local tumor-exfoliated cells in OSCC patients, and they can be used as reliable markers for the early detection of oral malignant cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this present work, we report a mild and efficient chemical route in preparing FeO@ZnS bifunctional nanospheres. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicate core-shell structure of the FeO@ZnS nanospheres with the diameter around 400-700 nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) determination reveals high crystallinity of the nanospheres. Magnetic and photoluminesce properties of the nanospheres show that the nanospheres possessed high magnetization saturation value of 58.8524 ∼61.6569 emu/g with strong blue emission under UV irradiation. The optical intensity can be adjusted in our experiments. These properties suggest that the bifunctional magnetic-optical nanospheres promise great potential in the applications of optical imaging and time-resolved fluorescence imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we reported construction of CuO/Cu 2 O@CoO core-shell nanowire arrays by combining a chemical deposition method and post-thermal annealing process on Cu foil without any binders and conductive additives. The nanowire arrays were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques. The determination results indicate that the nanowire arrays are distinct CuO/Cu 2 O nanowire core decorated with branched CoO nanosheet shells. In addition, the as-obtained nanowire arrays demonstrate outstanding areal capacitance of 280 mF cm − 2 at a current density of 1 mA cm − 2 as well as superior cycling stability which remains 90.7% of initial capacitance after 3000 cycles. The facile and cost-effective synthesis integrated with the robust electrochemical performances suggests that the CuO/Cu 2 O@CoO core-shell nanowire arrays are expected to be promising candidate electrodes for high-performance supercapacitor and other energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to compare the ability of certain obesity-related indicators to identify metabolic syndrome (MetS) among normal-weight adults in rural Xinjiang.Methods: A total of 4315 subjects were recruited in rural Xinjiang. The questionnaire, biochemical and anthropometric data were collected from them. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the association between the z-score of each index and MetS. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the diagnostic ability of each index. According to the cut-off value of each index, nomogram models were established and their diagnostic ability were evaluated.Results: After adjusting for confounding factors, each indicator in different genders was correlated with MetS. Triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) showed the strongest association with MetS in both males (OR = 3.749, 95%CI: 3.173-4.429) and females (OR = 3.521,95%CI: 2.990-4.148). Lipid accumulation product (LAP) showed the strongest diagnostic ability in both males (AUC = 0.831, 95%CI: 0.806-0.856) and females (AUC = 0.842, 95%CI: 0.820-0.864), and its optimal cut-off values were 39.700 and 35.065, respectively. The identification ability of the TyG index in different genders (males AUC: 0.817, females AUC: 0.817) was slightly weaker than LAP. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) had the similar AUC (males: 0.717, females: 0.747) to conicity index (CI) (males: 0.734, females: 0.749), whereas the identification ability of a body shape index (ABSI) (males AUC: 0.700, females AUC: 0.717) was relatively weak. Compared with the diagnostic ability of a single indicator, the AUC of the male nomogram model was 0.876 (95%CI: 0.856-0.895) and the AUC of the female model was 0.877 (95%CI: 0.856-0.896). The identification ability had been significantly improved.Conclusion: LAP and TyG index are effective indicators for identifying MetS among normal-weight adults in rural Xinjiang. Nomogram models including age, CI, LAP, and TyG index can significantly improve diagnostic ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, according to various grid-connected demands, the optimization scheduling models of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units are established with three scheduling modes, which are tracking the total generation scheduling mode, tracking steady output scheduling mode and tracking peaking curve scheduling mode. In order to reduce the solution difficulty, based on the principles of modern algebraic integers, linearizing techniques are developed to handle complex nonlinear constrains of the variable conditions, and the optimized operation problem of CHP units is converted into a mixed-integer linear programming problem. Finally, with specific examples, the 96 points day ahead, heat and power supply plans of the systems are optimized. The results show that, the proposed models and methods can develop appropriate coordination heat and power optimization programs according to different grid-connected control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The banded woolly bear caterpillar, Pyrrharctia isabella (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), overwinters in leaf litter and survives freezing under natural conditions. Following 18 weeks of cold acclimation at 5°C, all caterpillars could survive 1 week of continuous freezing at -20°C or seven cycles of freezing-thawing at -20°C, but none survived freezing at -80°C. Field-collected caterpillars had a temperature of crystallization of -7.7±0.5°C that decreased significantly to -9.5±0.6°C after 12 weeks of acclimation at 5°C. Hemolymph levels of free proline, total amino acids and proteins reached a peak during the first 4 weeks of acclimation; concomitantly, hemolymph osmolality increased markedly during this interval (from 364 to 1282 mosmol kg-1). In contrast, hemolymph pH decreased during the first 4 weeks of acclimation before this trend reversed and pH values gradually returned to initial values. However, pH reached its peak value following 1 week at -20°C, but decreased after longer periods of freezing. During cold acclimation, cholesterol levels decreased in the hemolymph and the membrane fraction of fat body but not in other tissues. Lethal freezing at -80°C reduced cell survival in foregut tissue and caused leakage of free proline, total amino acids and proteins from tissues into the hemolymph. The addition of glycerol to the bathing medium reduced freezing injury in fat body cells, as evidenced by reduced leakage of amino acids and proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shell-and-tube condenser is a heat exchanger for cooling steam with high temperature and pressure, which is one of the main kinds of heat exchange equipment in thermal, nuclear, and marine power plant. Based on the lumped parameter modeling method, the dynamic mathematical model of the simplified steam condenser is established. Then, the pressure PI control system of steam condenser based on the Matlab/Simulink simulation platform is designed. In order to obtain better performance, a new metaheuristic intelligent algorithm, grey wolf optimizer (GWO), is used to realize the fine-tuning of PI controller parameters. On the other hand, the Z-N engineering tuning method, genetic algorithm, and particle swarm algorithm are adopted for tuning PI controller parameters and compared with GWO algorithm. Simulation results show that GWO algorithm has better control performance than other four algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To analyze the distribution of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)1A1 gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (E-SCLC), and to evaluate correlations between the UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms and toxicity, and efficacy of irinotecan (CPT-11) based regimen in the patients with E-SCLC. Methods: The study analyzed the distribution of UGT1A1*28/*6 gene polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction amplification and pyrosequencing. The analysis of UGT1A1*28 and UGT1A1*6 gene polymorphisms was performed in 67 patients with E-SCLC admitted to the clinic in the Department of Oncology from June 2011 to January 2013. A total of 67 cases with E-SCLC treated with irinotecan (CPT-11)-based regimen were enrolled to observe the adverse events and efficacy during the chemotherapy, including objective response rate, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The correlation between UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms and severe adverse events was analyzed. The influences of UGT1A1*6/*28 polymorphisms on objective response rate, PFS, and OS were also analyzed. Results: The distribution of UGT1A1 genotypes among 67 patients was as follows: UGT1A1*28 wild-type (WT) genotype TA6/6 (56, 83.6%), heterozygous mutant genotype TA6/7 (11, 16.4%); UGT1A1*6 WT genotype G/G (45, 67.2%), heterozygous mutant genotype G/A (22, 32.8%); no significant difference of PFS and OS was observed between different genotypes. The incidence of grade 3 and 4 delayed diarrhea and neutropenia in the patients carrying UGT1A1*6 G/A mutation was higher than that in the WT genotype (36.4% vs 6.6% P=0.034; 27.2% vs 4.4% P=0.026, respectively). The incidence of grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia in the patients carrying UGT1A1*28 TA6/7 mutation was higher than that in the WT genotype (27.2% vs 1.8% P=0.017). The patients simultaneously carrying UGT1A1*28 TA6/7 and UGT1A1*6 G/A mutations were prone to suffering grade 3 and 4 delayed diarrhea and neutropenia.Conclusion: For irinotecan-based regimens in E-SCLC, the UGT1A1*28 and UGT1A1*6 locus mutations can be regarded as predictors for severe adverse events. We also found that neither clinical response nor prognosis was significantly associated with the UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tuning of electron affinity (EA) by alkali metal (Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs) terminations on clean and oxygenated β-Si 3 N 4 surfaces is studied by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Large negative EA shifts from − 2.9 to − 6.6 eV relative to the clean surfaces are obtained, resulting in negative electron affinity (NEA) from − 2.1 to − 4.4 eV. The general trend for alkali metal terminations on both clean and oxygenated surfaces is that the EA becomes more negative from Li to Cs, whereas the adsorption strength decreases from Li to Cs. In comparison, alkali terminations on oxygenated surfaces exhibit significantly higher stability than on clean surfaces. The strength of the terminations and their corresponding EA shifts are interpreted using the geometric properties and the charge distribution of the surfaces. Li termination on oxygenated surfaces is predicted to be the most promising candidate to induce NEA due to its high thermal stability and large NEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]