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PurposesTo evaluate the feasibility of simultaneous quantification of liver iron concentration (LIC) and fat fraction (FF) using water-fat separation and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).MethodsForty-five patients suspected of liver iron overload (LIO) were included. A volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination sequence for QSM and FF, a fat-saturated gradient echo sequence for R2*, a spin echo sequence for LIC measurements and MRS analyses for FF (FF-MRS) were performed. Magnetic susceptibility and FF were calculated using a water-fat separation method (FF-MRI). Correlation and receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed.ResultsMagnetic susceptibility showed strong correlation with LIC (rs=0.918). The optimal susceptibility cut-off values were 0.34, 0.63, 1.29 and 2.23 ppm corresponding to LIC thresholds of 1.8, 3.2, 7.0 and 15.0 mg/g dry weight. The area under the curve (AUC) were 0.948, 0.970, 1 and 1, respectively. No difference in AUC was found between susceptibility and R2* at all LIC thresholds. Correlation was found between FF-MRI and FF-MRS (R2=0.910).ConclusionsQSM has a high diagnostic performance for LIC quantification, similar to that of R2*. FF-MRI provides simultaneous fat quantification. Findings suggest QSM in combination with water-fat separation has potential value for evaluating LIO, especially in cases with coexisting steatosis.Key points• Magnetic susceptibility showed strong correlation with LIC (r s =0.918). • QSM showed high diagnostic performance for LIC, similar to that of R 2* . • Simultaneously estimated FF-MRI showed strong correlation with MR-Spectroscopy-based FF (R 2 =0.910). • QSM combining water-fat separation has quantitative value for LIO with coexisted steatosis.

In China, the Liaodong Peninsula is an important growing area for blueberries because of the high organic matter content in the soil, the abundance of light, and the large temperature difference between day and night. However, the low temperature and relative humidity of the air during the winter and early spring in the Liaodong Peninsula are the main reasons for the damage to blueberry plants. Here, we documented the transcriptome and proteome dynamics in response to cold stress in three blueberry cultivars ('Northland', 'Bluecrop', and 'Berkeley'). Functional enrichment analysis indicated that many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were mainly involved in the pathways of protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, the glutathione metabolism pathway, and ribosomes. We identified 12,747 transcription factors (TFs) distributed in 20 families. Based on our findings, we speculated that cold tolerance development was caused by the expression of calcium-related genes (CDPKs and CMLs), glutathione proteins, and TFs (NAC, WRKY, and ERF). Our investigation found that three cultivars experienced cold damage when exposed to temperatures between −9 °C and −15 °C in the field. Therefore, the cold resistance of blueberries during overwintering should not only resist the influence of low temperatures but also complex environmental factors such as strong winds and low relative humidity in the air. The order of cold resistance strength in the three blueberry cultivars was 'Berkeley', 'Bluecrop', and 'Northland'. These results provide a comprehensive profile of the response to cold stress, which has the potential to be used as a selection marker for programs to improve cold tolerance in blueberries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to give full play to the lightweight potential of the tread braking unit（ TBU） overhaul tooling support seat and improve the reliability and robustness of the optimization design,an optimization strategy composed of topology optimization and 6σrobustness optimization was proposed. Support seat’s topology structures was extracted based on topology optimization with variable density method. The response surface model was established based on the central composite design method and the finite element numerical simulation technique. The support seat’s 6σ robustness optimization design model was established based on this model. The sequential quadratic programming method was adopted to solve this optimization problem.The reliabilities of the optimization results were obtained with the mean value first order and second moment method,and were transformed into corresponding σlevels. The results show that reliability of the design variables,strength and stiffness are all 1,reaching eight sigma level,the support seat’s weight is reduced by 67. 0% and the lightweight effect is remarkable; compared with the support seat’s traditional deterministic optimization design after topology optimization,this method enhances the strength and stiffness of the support seat,meanwhile,improves the reliability of the optimization design,the robustness of the strength,the robustness of the stiffness and the consistency of the weight. So the proposed optimization strategy is proved to be efficient.

Sodium bromide is used as an additive to modify the sintering and conductive properties of sodium beta alumina solid electrolyte (BASE) through the halogen effect. The present study investigates the effect of NaBr on the sintering behavior, phase composition, ionic conductivity and mechanical strength of BASE. BASE with a high content of NaBr showed a high open porosity, and retarded densification at higher temperature. BASE with a high proportion of NaBr also exhibited a low relative β''-phase content and a large c-lattice parameter. BASE with 1% ratio of Br anions was found to possess the largest proportion of abnormal grains in the microstructure among other BASEs, with the ratio of Br anions ranging from 0 to 2%. BASE with 1% ratio of Br anions also exhibited the highest conductivity and a better bending strength. These results are attributed to the volatilization of NaBr and the possible reaction between the Br anion and the Al–O bond at the particle surface. NaBr could effectively tailor the grain size and ionic transport at the grain boundary in BASE. Due to the less amount of grain-boundary phase and a suitable proportion of abnormal grains, BASE with 1% ratio of Br anions showed an excellent ionic conductivity of 1.01 mS cm−1 at 20 °C and a moderate bending strength of 186 MPa. This study suggests that the ionic conductivity in BASE can be increased by incorporating Br anions, and thus, offers some insights into the effect of anions on the properties of BASE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]