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This paper investigates the observer-based adaptive fuzzy quantized control problem for a class of fractional-order nonlinear time-delay systems with unknown control gains based on a modified fractional-order dynamic surface control (FODSC) technique and an indirect Lyapunov method. First, a fractional-order, high-gain state observer is constructed to estimate unavailable state information. Furthermore, the Nussbaum gain technique and a fractional-order filter are adopted to cope with the problem of unknown control gains and to reduce the computational complexity of the conventional recursive procedure, respectively. Moreover, through integration with the compensation mechanism and estimation model, the adaptive fuzzy quantized controllers and adaptive laws are designed to ensure that all the signals of the closed-loop system are bounded. In the end, the proposed controller is applied to a numerical example and a single-machine-infinite bus (SMIB) power system; the simulation results show the validity, superiority, and application potential of the developed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is one of the common chronic diseases in worldwide and increasing among young children. Testing glycated hemoglobin levels as well as blood glucose levels is a method for detecting diabetes. In this article, with multivariate statistical analysis was used to monitor the blood glucose levels by the Fourier Transform Raman spectroscopy. Principal component regression with direct orthogonal signal correction is developed and applied to analyze the glucose concentration with the blood Raman spectroscopy. The root means square error of calibration is 3.0824 mg/dL (0.1712 mmol/L), the root means square error of prediction is 3.2688 mg/dL (0.1816 mmol/L), the correlation coefficients (R2) is.9946 and ratio of performance to deviation is 6.4789 and, respectively. The results show that this method can be used as a strong potential diagnostic tool for diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the disturbance observer-based event-triggered adaptive fuzzy tracking control issue for a class of fractional-order nonlinear systems (FONSs) with quantized signals and unknown disturbances. To improve the disturbance rejection ability, a fractional-order nonlinear disturbance observer (FONDO) is designed to estimate the unknown composite disturbances. Furthermore, by combining an improved fractional-order command-filtered backstepping control technique and an event-triggered control mechanism, an event-triggered adaptive fuzzy quantized control scheme is established, which guarantees the desired tracking performance can be achieved even in the presence of network constraint. Finally, the validity and superiority of the theoretic results are verified by a fractional-order horizontal platform system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial robots are widely used in various industrial fields, such as handling and welding, due to their good repeat positioning accuracy. The motion error determines the absolute accuracy. For robot design, dimensional parameter errors and drive parameter errors, a mathematical model of a kinematic exponential product with error screws was proposed. The influence of different rod lengths and transmission errors on the accuracy of the end motion was analysed. A composite analysis method based on screw theory and vector method is proposed for the spatial deflection error of robot rotating joints with clearance. By using screw theory, a mathematical error model of the axial movement and spatial deflection of the joint gap was established. A mathematical model of joint space radial movement was established by using the three-dimensional vector method. Through numerical simulation, the position distribution law of the random error of the robot terminal in the workspace and the distribution of the plane projection density were obtained. By solving the attitude matrix, the distribution of each Euler angle error was obtained. A simulation test was carried out to verify the model's correctness. The calculation showed that the method is simple and correct, and the obtained error distribution characteristics are of great significance to improving robotic kinematic calibration accuracy and optimising the spatial position error distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation degeneration has become a serious ecological problem for karst regions in the Anthropocene. According to the deficiency of long serial and high-resolution analysis of karst vegetation, this paper reconstructed the variation of vegetation landscape changes from 1987 to 2020 in a typical karst region of China. Using Landsat time series data, the dynamic changes and driving factors of natural karst vegetation were identified at the landscape scale. On the premise of considering the time-lag effect, the main climatic factors that influence vegetation growth were presented at the interannual timescale. Then, the approach of residual analysis was adopted to distinguish the dominant factors affecting vegetation growth. Results of trend analysis revealed that 21.5% of the forestland showed an overall significant decline in vegetation growth, while only 1.5% showed an increase in vegetation growth during the study period. Precipitation and radiation were the dominant meteorological factors influencing vegetation at the interannual timescale, as opposed to temperature. More than 70% of the natural vegetation growth was dominated by climatic factors. The area percentage of negative human impact has increased gradually since 2009 and reached 18.5% in 2020, indicating the currently serious situation of vegetation protection; fortunately, in recent years, human disturbances on vegetation have been mitigated in karst areas with the promotion of ecological conservation and restoration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the development of imaging, the etiology of ocular lesions caused by lung cancer was not found only intraocular. Neuro‐ophthalmological imaging has been found to be useful for the diagnosis of meningeal carcinomatosis, although few studies have previously been published. Our study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine if there was a the relationship between ocular symptoms and lung cancer metastasis. Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis which included patients with ocular lesions and lung cancer on which orbit MRI was performed together with ocular examination during January 2014 to January 2022. Here, we describe the characteristics of intraocular metastasis and optic nerve sheath lesions. Results: A total of 21 lung cancer patients had ocular lesions, of which eight cases had choroidal metastasis; a further eight patients had optic nerve sheath lesions. There was one case (12.5%) of choroidal metastasis with brain or meningeal metastasis, and eight cases (100%) with optic nerve sheath lesions with brain or meningeal metastasis. A total of 75.0% patients with choroidal metastasis did not have any history of known lung cancer, and 25.0% of optic nerve sheath lesions in patients were found before a meningeal metastasis diagnosis. The features of optic nerve sheath lesions included thickening and strengthening of the long segment of the orbital optic nerve sheath with a clear boundary. Conclusions: The pathway of choroidal and optic nerve sheath lesions was different. Optic nerve sheath lesions were associated with brain and meningeal metastasis. When lung cancer‐induced meningeal metastasis is suspected, orbital MRI is recommended to assist in the diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the adaptive finite-time quantized tracking control problem for a class of full state-constrained nonlinear systems with unknown control directions based on a modified fractional-order dynamic surface control (FODSC) technique. First, fractional calculus is introduced to filter design to avoid the issue of the “explosion of complexity” exposed in the traditional backstepping technique. To facilitate the control design, barrier Lyapunov functions and Nussbaum gain technique are utilized to handle full state-constrained problem and the unknown control directions, respectively. In addition, the fuzzy logic systems are employed to approximate the unknown nonlinearity of the system. By integrating with the approximation errors and compensating signals, a composite adaptive quantized controllers is designed to guarantee all the signals of the closed-loop systems are bounded and tracking error converges to an arbitrarily small neighborhood of the zero within a finite time. Finally, a mechanical horizontal platform model and a Brusselator model are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the presented control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which BRD4 play a role in atrial fibrillation (AF). We used a discovery-driven approach to detect BRD4 expression in the atria of patients with AF and in various murine models of atrial fibrosis. We used a BRD4 inhibitor (JQ1) and atrial fibroblast (aFB)-specific BRD4-knockout mice to elucidate the role of BRD4 in AF. We further examined the underlying mechanisms using RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses in vitro, to identify key downstream targets of BRD4. We found that BRD4 expression is significantly increased in patients with AF, with accompanying atrial fibrosis and aFB differentiation. We showed that JQ1 treatment and shRNA-based molecular silencing of BRD4 blocked ANG–II–induced extracellular matrix production and cell-cycle progression in aFBs. BRD4-related RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses in aFBs demonstrated enrichment of a subset of promoters related to the expression of profibrotic and proliferation-related genes. The pharmacological inhibition of BRD4 in vivo or in aFB-specific BRD4-knockout in mice limited ANG–II–induced atrial fibrosis, atrial enlargement, and AF susceptibility. Our findings suggest that BRD4 plays a key role in pathological AF, at least partially by activating aFB proliferation and ECM synthesis. This study provides mechanistic insights into the development of BRD4 inhibitors as targeted antiarrhythmic therapies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent, anionic and ubiquitous contaminant that undergoes long-range transport within the environment. Its behavior has attracted wide-range academic and regulatory attention. In this article, a mass balance model was employed to simulate PFOS concentrations in the mainstream of Haihe River water system, encompassing sluices and artificial rivers. The dynamic simulation of PFOS concentrations in both sediment and freshwater took into account fluctuations in PFOS emissions, water levels and water discharge. Furthermore, the study delved into exploring the impacts of sluices and artificial rivers on the behavior of PFOS. The simulated concentrations of PFOS in steady state agreed with the measured concentrations in surveys carried out in Nov. 2019, July 2020, Oct. 2020, and June 2021. Every year, approximately 24 kg PFOS was discharged into the Bohai Sea with Chaobai New River being the largest contributor for 44 %. Moreover, the transport of PFOS in the original rivers is likely to be restricted by sluices and replaced by artificial rivers. Monte Carlo analysis showed that model predictions of PFOS concentrations in sediment were subject to greater uncertainty than those in freshwater as the former is impacted by more parameters, such as density of sediment. This study provides a scientific basis for the local government to manage and control PFOS. [Display omitted] • The established river model could successfully predict PFOS concentrations. • Behavior of PFOS was simulated in the mainstream with sluices and artificial rivers. • Approximately 23.2 kg of PFOS was discharged into the Bohai Sea. • Sluices restricted the PFOS transport in original rivers while artificial rivers replaced the PFOS transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the adaptive backstepping control problem for a class of fractional-order (FO) nonlinear systems subject to input quantization and unknown control directions by combining with an indirect FO Lyapunov stability method, and a command filter-based FO dynamic surface control (FODSC) technique. First, a modified FODSC method is utilized to reduce the computational complexity existing in the conventional recursive procedure in which an FO command filter is designed to obtain the command signals and their FO derivatives. Furthermore, the Nussbaum function and neuro-fuzzy networks (NFNs) are adopted to deal with the problem of the unknown control directions and unknown nonlinear functions existing in the system. Moreover, by introducing the compensation and prediction mechanism to controller design, the adaptive controllers, and adaptive laws are constructed to ensure that all the signals of the controlled systems are bounded. Finally, two examples are given to show the validity of the developed control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latent intracranial meningeal metastases (IMM) of lung cancer is difficult to determine, yet it is critical to do so given that it impacts the treatment agent. Studies on this disease are rare, thus necessitating further investigation. As a case study, we will explore the application of optic neuroimaging in IMM. A 62‐year‐old female patient was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, which had progressed to osseous metastasis. During the course of chemotherapy, the patient had bilateral vision loss and paralysis of extraocular muscles. Ophthalmologists ruled out disease of the retina and suspected intracranial metastasis; however, brain‐enhanced magnetic resonance angiography and magnetic resonance venography were normal. Given the patient's severe osteoarthropathy and poor physical condition, she refused to undergo a lumbar puncture examination. Optic neuro‐ophthalmology imaging was ultimately used. Utilizing optical coherence tomography, we found that the basement membrane layer in the papilledema was protruding up towards the vitreous cavity. To assist in visualization, the optic nerve sheath was enhanced with optic magnetic resonance imaging. With these methods, the dural metastasis was identified, the treatment agent was changed for the patient, and she had a successful recovery. Thus, optic neuro‐ophthalmology imaging should be recommended for patients who are in the latent course of dural metastasis, and it could also be used to evaluate therapeutic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of seismic demand models in seismic vulnerability analysis of structures or components mainly depends on the seismic intensity measures (IMs) and engineering demand parameters (EDPs). This paper proposes a novel method to obtain the optimal seismic demand model for the seismic vulnerability analysis of bridges. The method obtains the IM-EDP combination by matching all IMs and EDPs within a wide range one by one, considering the contribution of multiple IM parameters to the seismic response of the structure and avoiding the blindness of EDP selection. The IM is determined by calculating Pearson correlation coefficient and partial correlation coefficient, controlling the correlation between EDP and IM (or IMs) to a minimum to reduce the multicollinearity within the vector IMs and avoid ill-conditioned models. The optimal seismic demand model is obtained by inspecting the scatter plot and residual plot of suboptimal seismic demand models determined from all combinations by guaranteeing efficiency and sufficiency. The efficiency of seismic demand models is guaranteed by controlling the root mean square error (RMSE) and the coefficient of determination (R2). The sufficiency of models is guaranteed by controlling the slope of fitted line. A continuous rigid frame bridge with double thin-walled piers is used as a case study and a dynamic time-history analysis is performed to obtain the seismic vulnerability of bridge with the proposed method. The results show that the proposed method is feasible and ideally suited for optimizing seismic demand model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute paraquat poisoning resulting from multiple organ failure usually has a high mortality rate. Liver and kidney, as the key oranges of paraquat detoxification and elimination, their injuries may suppress toxin excretion and enhance the toxicity of paraquat in other organs and worsen the prognosis. Therefore, we intended to explore the prognostic value of liver and kidney function parameters, and further evaluate their correlation with a more stable index urine‐to‐plasma paraquat (urine paraquat concentrations/plasma paraquat concentrations) instead of considering paraquat concentrations in plasma or urine alone. The study included 33 patients with acute paraquat poisoning admitted to four centres in China from January 2018 to December 2019. Seventeen patients (10 male/7 female) survived, whereas 16 patients (7 male/9 female, 48.48%) died from paraquat poisoning. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) represent liver and kidney function parameters, respectively. The ratio of urine‐to‐plasma paraquat is negatively correlated with ALT (r = −0.94, P = 0.02) and BUN (r = −0.82, P = 0.03). For receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, ALT, BUN and urine‐to‐plasma paraquat have an AUC over 0.80. The study shows that the functional indexes of liver and kidney, as well as the ratio of urine‐to‐plasma paraquat, could be considered for evaluating the extent of organ injury and excretion rate of paraquat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the issue of neuro-fuzzy-based adaptive dynamic surface control (DSC) for uncertain fractional-order (FO) nonlinear systems in strict-feedback form where input constraint is considered in the systems. In the recursive steps, the neuro-fuzzy network systems are employed to deal with the unknown nonlinear terms existing in systems. Furthermore, based on a DSC scheme, a modified FO filter is constructed to overcome the problem of explosion of complexity caused by the traditional backstepping design. Moreover, according to the FO Lyapunov stability theory, a neuro-fuzzy-based adaptive controller is designed to guarantee all the signals of FO closed-loop systems tend to be bounded. Finally, the three examples are provided to verify the validity and superiority of the presented control scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A method for rapid and accurate detection of human blood glucose concentration. • The method is based on Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy and machine learning. • We propose a novel ensemble extreme learning machine model. • The proposed model can achieve higher prediction accuracy and stability. • R2 and RMSEP are better than other methods. Raman spectroscopy has gained popularity in analyzing blood glucose levels due to its non-invasive identification and minimal interference from water. However, the challenge lies in how to accurately predict blood glucose concentrations in human blood using Raman spectroscopy. This paper researches a novel integrated machine learning algorithm called Bagging-ABC-ELM. The optimal input weights and biases of extreme learning machine (ELM) model are obtained by artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm. The bagging algorithm is used to obtain a better the stability of the model and higher performance than ELM algorithm. The results show that the mean value of coefficient of determination is 0.9928, and root mean square error is 0.1928. Compared to other regression models, the Bagging-ABC-ELM model exhibited superior prediction accuracy, robustness, and generalization capability. The Bagging-ABC-ELM model presents a promising alternative for analyzing blood glucose levels in clinical and research settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Recently, there has been burgeoning interest in the utilization of fully covered self‐expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) for managing main pancreatic duct strictures (MPDS) in chronic pancreatitis (CP). The primary aim was to investigate stricture resolution and recurrence rates of FCSEMS placement in patients with symptomatic CP complicated with MPDS. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Science and Cochrane Library (up to December 2019) were searched to identify eligible studies. A meta‐analysis of stricture resolution and recurrence rates was carried out using R. The crude rate of adverse events related to stent therapy was also calculated. Results: Ten studies involving 163 patients were included. The weighted pooled rate of MPDS resolution was 93% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 84–99%) with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 63%). Duration of stent placement more than 3 months did not result in a significantly higher resolution rate than that of 3 months or less (93% vs 93%, P = 0.91). The weighted pooled rate of stricture recurrence was 5% (95%CI: 0–12%). The stricture recurrence rate for patients with duration of stent placement more than 3 months (3%; 95%CI: 0–10%) was lower than that in patients with 3 months or less of stent placement (7%; 95%CI: 0–23%), but not significantly (P = 0.45). The overall rate of adverse events related to stent therapy was 34.9%, and spontaneous stent migration occurred in 14.1% of patients. Conclusions: The use of FCSEMSs appears to be effective and safe in the management of MPDS caused by symptomatic CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fractional-order integral fuzzy sliding mode control scheme is proposed for a class of uncertain fractional-order nonlinear systems subject to uncertainties and external disturbances. First, in each step, a neuro-fuzzy network system is developed to approximate the uncertain nonlinear function existing in fractional-subsystem and a fractional sliding mode surface is presented. Second, based on the fractional Lyapunov stability theory and the finite-time stability theory, a fractional adaptive backstepping neuro-fuzzy sliding mode controller is designed to drive the state trajectories of fractional-order systems to the prescribed sliding mode surface. Meanwhile, the finite-time stability of the fractional-order closed-loop system is proved. At last, three numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An hidden Markov model is used to avoid some imperfect hypotheses when handling the synchronization control issue for MJNNs. • The HMM is with partial known detection probabilities, which can remedy the disadvantage of some previous works. • Activation function dividing method is used to get less conservative result for the synchronization control issue for MJNNs. This paper pays attention to the synchronization control issue for Markov jump neural networks with partial information on system modes (or called Markov states), which leads to the case that the system modes cannot be directly accessed. An hidden Markov model (HMM)-based detector with partially known detection probabilities is employed to detect the system modes. With the help of the HMM and an activation function dividing method, a less conservative controller design technique is established. The designed HMM-based controller can be converted to mode-independent/-dependent one by suitably adjusting some design parameters. Finally, the availability of the established HMM-based controller design technique is verified by an illustrative example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiotensin II (Ang-II)-induced fibroblast differentiation plays an important role in the development of atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation (AF). Here, we show that the expression of the histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is increased in atrial muscle and atrial fibroblasts in patients with AF, accompanied by significant atrial fibrosis and atrial fibroblast differentiation. In addition, EZH2 is induced in murine models of atrial fibrosis. Furthermore, either pharmacological GSK126 inhibition or molecular silencing of EZH2 can inhibit the differentiation of atrial fibroblasts and the ability to produce ECM induced by Ang-II. Simultaneously, inhibition of EZH2 can block the Ang-II-induced migration of atrial fibroblasts. We found that EZH2 promotes fibroblast differentiation mainly through the Smad signaling pathway and can form a transcription complex with Smad2 to bind to the promoter region of the ACTA2 gene. Finally, our in vivo experiments demonstrated that the EZH2 inhibitor GSK126 significantly inhibited Ang-II-induced atrial enlargement and fibrosis and reduced AF vulnerability. Our results demonstrate that targeting EZH2 or EZH2-regulated genes might present therapeutic potential in AF. • EZH2 expression was significantly elevated in atrial muscle specimens of patients with atrial fibrillation. • EZH2 regulates the transformation and migration of atrial fibroblasts. • EZH2 regulates fibroblasts transformation mainly through Ang-II-TGF-β-Smads signaling pathway. • EZH2 inhibitor GSK126 significantly inhibits Ang-II-induced atrial enlargement, fibrosis, and reduced AF vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a fractional-order backstepping dynamic surface control (DSC) method is developed to cope with the stabilization problem for fractional-order nonlinear systems with uncertainties and external disturbances. In each step, a neuro-fuzzy network system is employed to approximate the unknown nonlinear function existing in fractional-order subsystem. Furthermore, a modified fractional-order filter is designed to avoid the problem of explosion of complexity caused by the recursive procedure. Then based on the fractional-order Lyapunov stability theory, the corresponding adaptive backstepping DSC controller is proposed to guarantee the stability of the fractional-order closed-loop systems. Finally, three examples are given in simulation part to demonstrate the validity of the proposed control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates an observer-based boundary controller design for interconnected nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE) systems. First, the Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy model is adopted to accurately describe the target systems. Then, boundary measurements are employed to reduce the number of sensors. Next, considering the phenomenon of abnormal interference that may lead to measurement outliers and observer parameters’ uncertainties, an outlier-resistant non-fragile observer expressed by a saturation function is designed to guarantee the desired control objectives. Moreover, the boundary control approach is employed to trade-off the cost of system design and system performance. Furthermore, utilizing the membership function-dependent Lyapunov functions and free-weight matrixes, sufficient conditions ensuring the closed-loop systems’ exponential stability are obtained while decreasing the conservativeness of the system stability analysis. Finally, the proposed method’s feasibility and effectiveness are validated by an example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new type of multi-arch tunnel construction method is proposed. This effort is undertaken due to the many disadvantages of the traditional multi-arch tunnel construction method. Furthermore, this method omits the construction of a middle pilot tunnel, and it has the advantages of safety, high efficiency, and being economical. When using the method of continuous arch tunneling without a middle pilot tunnel, the blasting of the first tunnel and the following tunnel has a greater impact on the surrounding rock damage, as well as on the supporting structure of the same cross-section. Therefore, this study uses LS-DYNA finite element software to construct a three-dimensional numerical model. In addition, the perimeter rock damage law and mechanical response characteristics of the supporting structure in the same cross-section of the first tunnel, as well as the following tunnel after blasting without a middle pilot tunnel, are analyzed. At the same time, the results of the study are based on optimizing the blasting program, and these are then applied to the field. Through the results, it is found that, after blasting a continuous arch tunnel without a medial pilot tunnel, the surrounding rock damage in the arch cross-region of the double-arch tunnel (where the arch top and the arch shoulder are more significant) and the effective stress of the supporting structure exceed the strength design value. In addition, the maximum adequate pressure is distributed in the medial diaphragm wall. With the optimized blasting scheme, the range of the peripheral rock damage is reduced by a maximum of 67%, and the effective stress in the supporting structure is reduced by 25.9–64.8%. The research results are of great significance in terms of improving construction safety, economic efficiency, and project quality, as well as in promoting the research and development of new work methods for double-arch tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), which can lead to severe central nervous system infections in both humans and animals. At present, the medical community does not possess a viable means of addressing VEE, rendering the prevention of the virus a matter of paramount importance. Regarding the prevention and control of VEEV, the implementation of a vaccination program has been recognized as the most efficient strategy. Nevertheless, there are currently no licensed vaccines or drugs available for human use against VEEV. This imperative has led to a surge of interest in vaccine research, with VEEV being a prime focus for researchers in the field. In this paper, we initially present a comprehensive overview of the current taxonomic classification of VEEV and the cellular infection mechanism of the virus. Subsequently, we provide a detailed introduction of the prominent VEEV vaccine types presently available, including inactivated vaccines, live attenuated vaccines, nucleic acid, and virus-like particle vaccines. Moreover, we emphasize the challenges that current VEEV vaccine development faces and suggest urgent measures that must be taken to overcome these obstacles. Notably, based on our latest research, we propose the feasibility of incorporation codon usage bias strategies to create the novel VEEV vaccine. Finally, we prose several areas that future VEEV vaccine development should focus on. Our objective is to encourage collaboration between the medical and veterinary communities, expedite the translation of existing vaccines from laboratory to clinical applications, while also preparing for future outbreaks of new VEEV variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EndMT) was first reported in heart development. Recent studies have shown that EndMT also occurs in the progression of cardiac fibrosis. Herein, we demonstrated a critical role of the Forkhead Box M1 (Foxm1) transcription factor in transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β)‐induced EndMT in endothelial cells (ECs) and a possible underlying molecular mechanism. Foxm1 was induced in ECs following TGF‐β stimulation. Using both pharmacological and molecular approaches to inhibit Foxm1 function can attenuate the TGF‐β‐induced EndMT and cell migration. In contrast, lentivirus‐mediated overexpression of Foxm1 allowed EndMT to proceed despite the absence of TGF‐β in ECs. Moreover, we found that the activation of the Smad2/3 signaling pathway and EndMT‐related transcription factors played important roles in the pathogenesis of Foxm1‐mediated EndMT. Further analysis revealed that Foxm1 bound to and increased the promoter activity of the Snail gene encoding a critical transcriptional regulator of EndMT. In conclusion, our results identify FOXM1 as a driver of TGF‐β‐induced EndMT and underscore the therapeutic potential of targeting FOXM1 for cardiac fibrosis. We found that the activation of the Smad2/3 signaling pathway and endothelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EndMT)‐related transcription factors played important roles in the pathogenesis of Forkhead Box M1 (Foxm1)‐mediated EndMT. Our results identify FOXM1 as a driver of TGF‐β‐induced EndMT and underscore the therapeutic potential of targeting FOXM1 for cardiac fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a copula technique to develop time-variant seismic fragility curves for corroded bridges at the system level and considers the realistic time-varying dependence among component seismic demands. Based on material deterioration mechanisms and incremental dynamic analysis, the time-evolving seismic demands of components were obtained in the form of marginal probability distributions. The time-varying dependences among bridge components were then captured with the best fitting copula function, which was selected from the commonly used copula classes by the empirical distribution based analysis method. The system time-variant fragility curves at different damage states were developed and the effects of time-varying dependences among components on the bridge system fragility were investigated. The results indicate the time-varying dependence among components significantly affects the time-variant fragility of the bridge system. The copula technique captures the nonlinear dependence among component seismic demands accurately and easily by separating the marginal distributions and the dependence among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) plays a pivotal role in the development of organ fibrosis and can be induced by TGF-β. It is characterized by the loss of endothelial cell markers and the acquisition of mesenchymal markers. In this study, we found that methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) was increased in TGF-β-induced EndMT, and silencing of MeCP2 inhibited EndMT induction. Viral overexpression of MeCP2 in vitro promoted EndMT and suppressed the expression of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP7). The methylation of CpG islands in BMP7 promoter was increased in MeCP2-overexpressing endothelial cells and Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed the direct binding of MeCP2 at the BMP7 promoter. In summary, our results suggest that MeCP2 promotes EndMT by epigenetically silencing BMP7 in endothelial cells and MeCP2 may be a target for diseases driven by EndMT. Highlights • MeCP2 may be a target for diseases driven by EndMT. • MeCP2 promotes EndMT by epigenetically silencing BMP7 in endothelial cells. • MeCP2 directly binds to the BMP7 promoter and induces its methylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cardiac fibrosis (CF), a process characterized by potentiated proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts and excessive secretion and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) from the cells, contributes strongly to the pathogenesis of a series of cardiovascular (CV) diseases, including AMI, heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), one of the sources of transformed cardiac fibroblasts, has been reported as a key factor involved in CF. However, the molecular basis of EndMT has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. At the posttranscriptional level, of the three epigenetic regulators, writer and eraser are reported to be involved in EndMT, but the role of reader in the process is still unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), an acetyl-lysine reader protein, in EndMT-induced CF and related mechanisms. We found that BRD4 was upregulated in endothelial cells (ECs) in the pressure-overload mouse heart and that its functional inhibitor JQ1 potently attenuated the TAC-induced CF and preserved cardiac function. In umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAECs), bothJQ1 and shRNA-mediated silencing of BRD4 blocked TGF-β-induced EC migration, EndMT and ECM synthesis and preserved the EC sprouting behavior, possibly through the downregulation of a group of transcription factors specific for EndMT (Snail, Twist and Slug), the Smads pathway and TGF-β receptor I. In the absence of TGF-β stimulation, ectopic expression of BRD4 alone could facilitate EndMT, accelerate migration and increase the synthesis of ECM. In vivo, JQ1 also attenuated TAC-induced EndMT and CF, which was consistent with JQ1's intracellular mechanisms of action. Our results showed that BRD4 plays a critical role in EndMT-induced CF and that targeting BRD4 might be a novel therapeutic option for CF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Strong global demand leads to significant production of fluoropolymers (FP) in China which potentially release large quantities of perfluorooctanoic acid/perfluorooctanoate (collectively called PFOA/PFO) to the environment. Modelling the fate and transport of PFOA/PFO provides an important input for human health risk assessment. Considering the effects of urbanization and existing forms of PFOA/PFO, this study used the modified multispecies Berkeley-Trent-Urban-Rural model to simulate the transfer behavior of PFOA/PFO in the Bohai Rim, China. Spatial distributions of PFOA/PFO emissions during the year 2012 for the study area were illustrated. About two thirds of the total amount of PFOA/PFO was estimated to be released into fresh water, and the total releases to rural areas were 160-fold higher than those to urban areas due to the location of fluorochemical industrial parks. The simulations predicted that hydrosphere was the fate of PFOA/PFO, followed by soil and vegetation, which was consistent with field data. The highest PFOA/PFO concentration was modeled in the Xiaoqing River basin with a value of 32.57 μg/L. The PFOA/PFO concentrations in urban soils were generally higher than those in rural soils except for grids 1, 3 and 46. In addition, it was estimated that the total flux of PFOA/PFO entering into the Bohai Sea was 24.57 ton/year, 100-fold higher than that of perfluorooctane sulfonates (PFOS). Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • More than 67% of the total PFOA/PFO emission was released into fresh water. • Total releases of PFOA/PFO to rural areas were 160-fold higher than urban areas. • PFOA/PFO concentrations in urban soils were generally higher than rural soils. • Except for hydrosphere and soil, vegetation was also an important sink of PFOA/PFO. • The total flux of PFOA/PFO into the Bohai Sea was estimated to be 24.57 ton/year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic reliability of a bridge system is significantly affected by the dependence among typical bridge components. This study demonstrates the process of using a copula technique to describe the nonlinear dependence among component seismic demands isolated from their marginal probability distributions. A suite of 100 bridge-ground motion samples were developed with the Latin hypercube sampling approach and bin approach. Based on the incremental dynamic analysis, the tail dependence among component seismic demands at different intensity levels was analyzed with the best-fitting copula function selected by the minimum distance method. In the longitudinal direction, the dependence increased first and then decreased with the ground motion intensity, while the dependence slightly decreased in the transverse direction. At low-intensity levels, the upper tail dependence among components was strong in both directions. At high-intensity levels, the upper and lower tail dependences were weak in the longitudinal direction, while the upper and lower tail dependences were strong in the transverse direction. Compared to the linear correlation coefficient, the copula technique provides an efficient way to describe the tail dependence among component seismic demands and can be used extensively in the seismic reliability analysis of the bridge system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lymphangiomatosis is a rare, benign, hyperproliferative hamartoma composed of dilated lymphatic vessels. Cystic lymphangioma (CL) in the chest wall in an adult patient is rare, but we focus on this type of patient in our present case study. A 54‐year‐old female patient with a painless mass in her chest wall went without treatment for two years following diagnosis. After consenting to treatment, Doppler color flow imaging (DCFI), chest CT, and MRI revealed a cystic lesion with multiple thin septula in the left chest. Surgical resection was performed, and histopathological examination identified a cystic lymphangioma. The patient did not experience recurrence during the follow‐up period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An Extreme Learning Machine optimized by Differential Evolution and Artificial Bee Colony (SADEABC-ELM) was proposed to Predicting the Concentration of Whole Blood with Fourier Transform Raman Spectroscopy. • The detail principle of SADEABC-ELM model is given. • The results of RMSEC, RMSEP, R2, RPD of SADEABC-ELM is significantly improved. Raman spectroscopy, with its advantages of non-contact nature, rapid detection, and minimum water interference, is promising for non-invasive blood detection or diagnosis in clinic applications. However, there is a critical issue that how to accurately analyze blood composition by Raman spectroscopy. In this study, we apply extreme learning machine (ELM) algorithm and a multivariate calibration regression model to analyze the results from Raman spectroscopy and determine the component's concentrations in blood samples, including glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride. Self-adaption differential evolution artificial bee colony (SADEABC) algorithm was further applied to increase the data's accuracy and robustness. The obtained data for coefficient of determination, root mean square error of calibration, root mean square error of prediction, and relative percent deviation, were 0.9822, 0.3993, 0.3827, and 6.6679 for glucose, 0.9786, 0.2104, 0.2088 and 5.9533 for cholesterol, and 0.9921, 0.2744, 0.3433 and 10.5075 for triglyceride, respectively. Results demonstrated that the model based on SADEABC-ELM show much better prediction data than those models based on the ELM and ABC-ELM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article designs a quantised security controller for partial differential equation (PDE) systems under replay attacks. Initially, the Takagi – Sugeno fuzzy model is utilised to represent the considered nonlinear system and combines pointwise measurement and pointwise control methods to save the whole system’s costs. Moreover, to reduce network transmission pressure and simulate the network, hysteretic quantiser and replay attacks are considered. Furthermore, based on the Lyapunov direct method and the inequality technique, sufficient conditions to assure the stability of the closed-loop system are achieved. Ultimately, the effectiveness and superiority of the submitted control strategy are confirmed through numerical examples and comparative analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new synergistic approach was proposed to reuse waste poplar sawdust. Novel high S-doped amorphous carbon/carbon quantum dots coupled micro-frame (SCMF) were prepared by chemical exfoliation and S/Se-assisted carbonization. Amorphous carbon and carbon quantum dots coexisted at the nanoscale. The CQDs acted as fast electron channels, while amorphous carbon can accommodate more large-size K-ions and mitigate volume expansion, resulting in high-speed and long-lasting potassium storage. Theoretical calculations further demonstrated the important role of S-doped carbon quantum dots for K-ions storage. [Display omitted] Anode materials with excellent rate capability, capacity, and cycle life have been a challenge in obtaining cost-effective K-ion batteries (KIBs). Based on the concept of waste recycling, we prepared the S-doped (21.5%) amorphous carbon/carbon quantum dots coupled micro-frame (SCMF) by combining chemical exfoliation and S/Se-assisted carbonization. SCMF exhibited the advantages of integrating amorphous carbon and carbon quantum dots (CQDs). The CQDs serve as fast electron channels, while amorphous carbon can accommodate more large-size K-ions and mitigate volume expansion. In KIBs, SCMF maintained a high reversible capacity (414.0 mAh g−1, after 100 cycles at 100 mA g−1), a good rate capability (224.0 mAh g−1, 2000 mA g−1), and excellent capacity retention (208.9 mAh g−1, after 2000 cycles at 1000 mA g−1). The molecular dynamic simulation revealed that CQDs provided fast electron transport channels and that C, O and S atoms had suitable interactions with K, facilitating potassium storage. Moreover, the potassium-ion capacitor (PIC) assembled from SCMF and activated carbon exhibited stable electrochemical performance, proving its potential for application. The research provided valuable insights into the reuse of biomass waste in new secondary batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and emissions rates of contaminants are expected to affect distribution and fate of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the environment, however, studies on these combined factors are rare. In this study, Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) is used as an example to assess how those two factors synthetically affect fate and disposition of POPs in the Bohai Rim of China by using the Berkeley-Trent-Urban-Rural (BETR-Urban-Rural) model. We set up three climate change scenarios and four emission scenarios to conduct the simulations. The results show that climate change could have significant effects on the transport and fate of PFOS mainly including advection, inter-compartmental transfer under the “worst case” emission scenario. For most grids, a remarkable decrease in concentrations of PFOS are predicted for fresh water and urban soil in the future, with precipitation and temperature being predominant factors, whilst for coastal water and rural soil, an increasing trend is predicted. Additionally, predicted sum of sources to the Bohai Sea increases greater than removals from the Bohai Sea in the future, adding evidence that concentrations of PFOS in coastal water will increase more in the future. Under scenarios of reduced emissions and climate change, concentrations of PFOS in each compartment decreased more rapidly over time. We suggest that assessment of future climate change impacts on fate of PFOS could take emission reductions into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The redundancy or deficiency of selenium in soils can cause adverse effects on crops and even threaten human health. It was necessary to assess selenium resources with a rigorous scientific appraisal. Previous studies of selenium resource assessment were usually carried out using a single index evaluation. A multi-index evaluation method (analytic hierarchy process) was used in this study to establish a comprehensive assessment system based on consideration of selenium content, soil nutrients and soil environmental quality. The criteria for the comprehensive assessment system were classified by summing critical values in the standards with weights and a Geographical Information System was used to reflect the regional distribution of the assessment results. Boshan, a representative region for developing selenium-rich agriculture, was taken as a case area and classified into Zone I-V, which suggested priority areas for developing selenium-rich agriculture. Most parts of the North and Midlands of Boshan were relatively suitable for development of selenium-rich agriculture. Soils in south fractions were contaminated by Cd, PAHs, HCHs and DDTs, in which it was forbidden to farm. This study was expected to provide the basis for developing selenium-rich agriculture and an example for comprehensive evaluation of relevant resources in a region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A conceptual model for farmland ecosystem resilience (FER) assessment was developed. • Disturbance-response processes and self-regulation mechanism of FER were revealed. • The sustainability of Ethiopia's farmland ecosystems has generally improved. • The antagonism and synergy between the response factors appeared more significant. In the context of global warming, the sustainability of farmland ecosystems is increasingly impacted by multiple disturbances from both natural and human-induced sources. This study constructed a conceptual model and indicator system of farmland ecosystem resilience (FER) based on the disturbance-response processes of farmland ecosystems. FER assessment, supported by 30 specific indicators, was tested in Ethiopia, one of the most food-insecure countries in the world and the factors impending farmland ecosystem sustainability were discussed based on the obstacle degree values (ODVs). The results showed that the FER change rate in Ethiopia was 0.3 %/year during 2003–2018, indicating positive sustainability on the whole. However, in the five years of 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, and 2017, the FER decreased, among which the largest decline was −0.017 in 2017. Natural comprehensive disturbance (ND), human activity disturbance (HD), resilience of farmland supply (RFS), and resilience of social support (RS) were the key constraints of FER, while the ODVs of ND and RFS showed increasing trends. We also found that there were general antagonistic and synergistic effects among the response factors and the synergistic enhancement between disturbance factors was more pronounced than the antagonistic buffering effect. This study provides a fresh perspective for farmland ecosystem managers and stakeholders to examine disturbance risks and assess the sustainability of farmland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the mixed and passive projective synchronization problem for fractional-order (FO) memristor-based neural networks with time delays. Our aim is to design a controller such that, though the unavoidable phenomena of time delay and external disturbances is fully considered, the resulting closed-loop system is stable with a mixed and passive performance level. By combining sliding mode control and adaptive control methods, a novel adaptive sliding mode control strategy is designed for the synchronization of time-delayed FO dynamic networks. Via the application of FO system stability theory, the projective synchronization conditions are addressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Based on the conditions, a desired controller which can guarantee the stability of the closed-loop system and also ensure a mixed and passive performance level is designed. Finally, two simulation examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herba Ephedrae - Radix Aconiti Lateralis , composed of Ephedrae ( Mahuang in Chinese) and Radix Aconiti Lateralis (Fuzi in Chinese), is a classical herbal combination proven to be effective in treating common cold, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis. Alkaloids, bioactive components of the herbal extract, have been associated with many side effects. Nine alkaloids, including norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methylephedrine, hypaconitine, benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine and benzoylhypaconine, were simultaneously quantified within 14.5 min, by a validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method in various rat tissues, urine, and feces after oral administration of Mahuang - Fuzi and single-herb extracts. The results indicated that the alkaloids were widely distributed in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and brain. Lower bioavailability and higher clearance of some alkaloids were observed for the herbal combination, but hypaconitine showed a longer residence time and lower clearance. Elimination kinetics demonstrated that ephedra and aconitum alkaloids were mainly excreted in urine and feces, respectively. The tissue distribution and excretion of ephedra and aconitum alkaloids are comprehensively reported for the first time for the Mahuang - Fuzi combination. Compared with single-herb extracts, lower extraction efficiencies of alkaloids in vitro were observed which may result in their lower intake. However, the combination showed a prolonged residence time and delayed elimination of aconitum alkaloids, which increases the risk of drug accumulation. The study demonstrated potential risks of intoxication with aconitum alkaloids, associated with the use of Fuzi in combination with Mahuang . Mahuang - Fuzi is a classical combination used in clinics, further investigation is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the adaptive projective synchronization of time-delayed fractional-order (FO) T-S fuzzy neural networks is considered. By use of active control and adaptive control method, efficient hybrid control strategies are designed for FO T-S fuzzy neural networks with time-delay and uncertain parameters. Based on the new version of FO Lyapunov stability theory, the projective synchronization conditions are addressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities, which is easy for checking and applying in practical systems. Finally, numerical simulations have shown to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method and the application of the proposed method to secure communications have presented to validate the synchronization method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the chaos synchronization of time-delayed fractional-order (FO) Lorenz chaotic systems and time-delayed FO Chen chaotic systems with different fractional derivative order is considered. First, by use of the fractional calculus techniques, we give the phase trajectories of the time-delayed FO Lorenz and time-delayed FO Chen chaotic systems. Then, combined the active control and adaptive control theory, a novel synchronization scheme, which includes the compensation controller and the optimal controller, is proposed for two time-delayed FO chaotic systems with different structure and different order in presence of parameter uncertainty. Based on the new version of FO Lyapunov stability theory, we design the compensation controllers and optimal controllers, respectively. Finally, numerical simulations have shown to illustrate the effectiveness and validation of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain an improved and more accurate understanding of the relationship between the P-wave velocity and the mechanical properties of damaged sandstone, uniaxial compression tests were performed on sandstone subjected to different high-temperature treatments or freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles. After high-temperature treatment, the tests showed a generally positive relationship between the P-wave velocity and mechanical characteristics, although there were many exceptions. The mechanical properties showed significant differences for a given P-wave velocity. Based on the mechanical tests after the F-T cycles, the mechanical properties and P-wave velocities exhibited different trends. The UCS and Young’s modulus values slightly decreased after 30, 40, and 50 cycles, whereas both an increase and a decrease occurred in the P-wave velocity. The UCS, Young’s modulus, and P-wave velocity represent different macrobehaviors of rock properties. A statistical relationship exists between the P-wave velocity and mechanical properties, such as the UCS and Young’s modulus, but no mechanical relationship exists. Further attention should be given to using the P-wave velocity to estimate and predict the mechanical properties of rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance The Mahuang – Xingren ( MX ) herb pair, the combination of Herba Ephedrae ( Mahuang in Chinese) and Semen Armeniacae Amarum ( Xingren in Chinese), is a core component of traditional Chinese medicine formulations used to treat asthma and bronchitis. Although Xingren is considered to be toxic, MX is widely used in the clinic and has few adverse effects. The mechanism underlying detoxification of Xingren by Mahuang in MX remains unknown and merits investigation. Aim of the study To determine the mechanism underlying detoxification of Xingren by Mahuang in MX . Materials and methods Acute toxic effects were evaluated in mice after oral administration of Mahuang , Xingren , and MX aqueous extracts. Synergism, additivity, and antagonism were quantified by determining the CI (combination index) and DRI (dose-reduction index), which were calculated by the median effect method. High performance liquid chromatography analysis of bioactive compounds (ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and amygdalin) in aqueous extracts and data from previous pharmacokinetic studies in rats were combined to explore the potential mechanism of toxicity antagonism by the components of MX . Moreover, the cytotoxic effects of amygdalin and amygdalin activated by β-glucosidase (including different proportions of l -amygdalin and d -amygdalin) were also investigated. Results Mahuang prevented and antagonized the acute toxicity of Xingren and allowed escalation of the Xingren dose. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the proportion of d -amygdalin was closely correlated with the antagonism of Xingren toxicity. The antagonism of its acute toxicity was primarily attributed to stereoselective metabolism of amygdalin. Interestingly, the process was facilitated by Mahuang , which led to reduced levels of the d -prunasin in vivo and thus reduced toxicity. Furthermore, the mechanism was also evaluated by testing the cytotoxicity of amygdalin. Metabolism of d -amygdalin was a major cause of cytotoxicity and no stereoselective metabolism occurred in culture medium. Conclusions A comprehensive study of Xingren detoxification in the context of the MX combination suggested that stereoselective metabolism of amygdalin facilitated by Mahuang may be the crucial mechanism underlying detoxification of Xingren in the MX combination. Therefore, Mahuang acts to enhance and control the effects of Xingren in the MX combination. These results illustrate the rationale behind the combination of Mahuang and Xingren. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]