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CuSn8Ni alloy powders were deposited on the low carbon steel plate by laser cladding technology to prepare a CuSn8Ni/ST37-2G steel bimetallic bearing material. Microstructure, microhardness, and interfacial elemental diffusion of the CuSn8Ni laser clad coating were investigated. The optimum process parameters for laser cladding the CuSn8Ni alloy were obtained. The results showed that when the laser power was 1300 W, scanning speed was 8 mm/s and the powder feed speed was 0.5 rpm, the CuSn8Ni laser clad layer had an excellent metallurgical bond with the matrix and had no apparent defects. The laser clad layer had a dendritic microstructure. It mainly consisted of Sn-containing a-Cu solid solution and interdendritic (a+d) eutectoid. Cu and Fe elements had significant element diffusion behaviours, and the diffusion distance was about 1 to 2 µm. The average hardness of the coating was 128.6 HV, twice that of the traditional Cu-Pb bearing material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has been retracted. Please see the Retraction Notice for more detail: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0022476624050287 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations and stoichiometry of soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) have critical implications for nutrient cycling and ecosystem function. While their high sensitivity to atmospheric N deposition is well known, it remains unclear for the soil depth-dependence of such responses to N deposition. Here, we examined the responses of soil C : N : P stoichiometry at three soil depths in the upper humus horizon (0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm) of Haplic Chernozem (Loamic) across a gradient of urea addition rates (0, 2, 10, 20, and 50 g N m–2 year–1) after five years treatments in a hay-harvest meadow steppe of northern China. We found that the effects of increasing N addition rates on the concentrations and stoichiometry of soil C, N and P did not depend on soil depth, though those parameters varied greatly across different soil layers. Across all soil depths, the concentrations of soil C and N increased with increasing N addition rates, but soil P concentration was not affected by N addition. The higher sensitivity of soil N than soil C to N enrichment resulted in decreasing soil C : N ratio across the N addition gradient, especially for the surface soil layer. Soil N : P ratio showed a positive response to the increases of N addition rates. The unbalanced responses of soil C, N, and P concentrations to N enrichment, as indicated by the decreases of soil C : N ratio and the increases of soil N : P ratio across the N addition gradient, highlighted the role of N enrichment in decoupling soil nutrient cycling in the temperate steppe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to regularize a previously known exactly solvable model (Yang and Zhang 2019 Eur. J. Phys. 40 035401), we find yet another exactly solvable toy model. The interesting point is that while the Hamiltonian of the model is parameterized by a function f(x) defined on [0, ∞), its spectrum depends only on the end values of f, i.e., f(0) and f(∞). This model can serve as a good exercise in quantum mechanics at the undergraduate level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new cobalt(II) cluster-based 3D coordination polymers [Co2(MeOip)2(bpa)2(H2O)] (1) and [Co5(MeOip)4(μ3-O)(bpp)2(DMF)(H2O)3]·2H2O (2) (MeOip = 5-methoxyisophthalate, bpp = 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane and bpa = 1,2-bi(4-pyridyl)ethane) are synthesized with 5-methoxyisophthalic acid and bpp/bpa mixed ligands. Furthermore, the prevention activity of the compounds on skin necrosis after fracture and its mechanism is evaluated. Firstly, the content level of MCSF and TNF-α is evaluated with the ELISA detection kit. The relative expression level of MMP2 and TIMP1 is measured with real-time RT-PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the application of a two-component model of proton structure functions in the analysis of deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) data at low Q2 and small x. This model incorporates both vector meson dominance and the correct photo-production limit. The CJ15 parameterization is applied to the QCD component, in order to take into account effects of order 1/Q2 effects, such as target mass corrections and higher twist (HT) contributions. The parameters of the leading twist parton distribution functions (PDFs) and HT coefficient functions are determined by fitting DIS data. The second moments of the PDFs are extracted and compared with other global fits and lattice determinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-domain electromagnetic system can implement great depth detection. As for the electromagnetic system, the receiver utilized an air coil sensor, and the matching mode of the sensor employed the resistance matching method. By using the resistance matching method, the vibration of the coil in the time domain can be effectively controlled. However, the noise of the sensor, especially the noise at the resonance frequency, will be increased as well. In this paper, a novel design of a low noise induction coil sensor is proposed, and the experimental data and noise characteristics are provided. The sensor is designed based on the principle that the amplified voltage will be converted to current under the influence of the feedback resistance of the coil. The feedback loop around the induction coil exerts a magnetic field and sends the negative feedback signal to the sensor. The paper analyses the influence of the closed magnetic feedback loop on both the bandwidth and the noise of the sensor. The signal-to-noise ratio is improved dramatically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the reason that multiple reflection waves are unable to separate, and transfer function and time-delay spectrum are developed, adhesion interface characteristic of the thin layer medium is difficult to detect. Acoustics characteristic of the thin layer is studied with the ultrasonic longitudinal testing method to solve this problem. The results show that the fundamental acoustic parameters of the thin layer, such as sound velocity, reflection coefficient and attenuation coefficient, are obtained based on transfer function and time-delay spectrum. The analytical results show that these parameters mentioned above can characterise adhesion interface quality of the thin layer. The maximum values of the transfer function are unchanged, and its curve is flatter with the increasing of the reflection coefficient. The maximum delayed time increases with the increasing of the reflection coefficient, and the maximum delayed time is more sensitive to the reflection time coefficient variation than the transfer function is. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the electromagnetic contribution to the proton-neutron mass splitting by combining lattice simulations and the modified Cottingham sum rule of Walker-Loud, Carlson, and Miller. This analysis yields an estimate of the isovector nucleón magnetic polarizability as a function of pion mass. The physical value, obtained by chiral extrapolation to the physical pion mass, is ßp-n = (-1.12 °0.40) x 10-4 fm³ which is in agreement with the empirical result, albeit with a somewhat smaller error. As a result, we find σp-nγ = 1.04 ± 0.11 MeV, which represents a significant improvement in precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tensile behavior of two experimental nickel-base single crystal superalloys has been studied from room temperature to 1100 °C. Emphasis is placed on elucidating the effects of ruthenium (Ru) additions on the deformation mechanisms using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the partitioning behavior of the alloy elements between the &#947 and &#947' phases for both experimental alloys has been studied using three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP). Detailed analysis demonstrates that at low and medium temperature ranges, the stacking faults present in the &#947 matrix of the 3Ru alloy but no trace of stacking fault in the &#947 matrix of the 0Ru alloy have been observed; during high temperature range, as a result of Ru additions, the &#947/&#947' interfacial dislocation space of the 3Ru alloy is smaller than that of the 0Ru alloy due to further decreasing the lattice misfit. Apart from that, Ru additions result in more Re partitioning to the &#947' phase, and thus the solution strengthening for the &#947 phase is decreasing. Thus, during tests below and at the temperature corresponding to the peak strength, the yield strength of the 3Ru alloy is lower than that of the 0Ru alloy. At last, in the light of the TEM observations, the changing trends of the stacking fault energy in the &#947 matrix and the transformation points (the temperature related to the stacking faults formation) for the two experimental alloys have been drawn. The temperature range of the stacking faults formation in the &#947 matrix is expanded after Ru additions. The energy conditions of the stacking faults formation of the 0Ru and 3Ru alloys have been analyzed in detail. The changing of lattice misfit with temperature can be considered as one of the principal reasons for the stacking faults formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Band structures of PbTe can be abnormally bended via dual-doping on both the cationic and anionic sites to form camel-back multivalley energy band structures near the band edge. As a result, additional carrier pockets and strong intervalley scattering of carriers are introduced. Boltzmann transport calculations indicate that their contradictory effects yield remarkably enhanced power factor due to the improved thermopower and almost unchanged electrical conductivity in low temperature and high carrier concentration ranges. These findings prove dual-doping-induced band bending as an effective approach to improve the thermoelectric properties of PbTe and other similar materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs), in the 5′-flanking and micro RNA (mi RNA) regulatory regions may result in altered gene expression levels and cause diseases. Alpha-2-macroglobulin ( A2 M) has the function of binding host or foreign peptides and particles, and thereby serves as a defense barrier against pathogens in the plasma and tissues of animals. To investigate the functional markers of the A2 M gene associated with mastitis, the promoter was characterized and SNPs that affect promoter activity or binding affinity with the target mi RNA were identified using the luciferase reporter assay and real-time quantitative PCR method. Results showed that the core promoter of A2 M was found between the bases g.-2641 and g.-2479. Four novel SNPs (g.-724A>G, g.-665G>A, g.-535C>G and g.-520_-519ins A) in the promoter region were completely linked. The activity of the mutant haplotype ( GAGA) increased by 177% compared with that of the wild haplotype ( AGC-). Bta-mi R-2898 was upregulated by 6.25-fold in the mammary gland tissues of mastitis-infected cows compared with that of the healthy cows. One SNP (c.4659_4661del C) located in the 3′-untranslated region of the A2 M gene may affect the binding affinity with the target bta-mi R-2898. Five SNPs exhibited tight linkage. Association analysis showed that the milk somatic cell score for cows with the mutant haplotype ( GAGA-) was lower than that for cows with the wild haplotype. Thus, the mutant type can be used as a potential functional marker for a mastitis resistance breeding program in dairy cows. Our findings provided the molecular basis for A2 M transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulations. A close relationship between regulatory mutations and mastitis susceptibility of cows also was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform a global QCD analysis of high energy scattering data within the JAM Monte Carlo framework, including a coupling to a dark photon that augments the Standard Model (SM) electroweak coupling via kinetic mixing with the hypercharge B boson. We first set limits on the dark photon mass and mixing parameter assuming that the SM is the true theory of Nature, taking into account also the effect on g – 2 of the muon. If instead we entertain the possibility that the dark photon may play a role in deep-inelastic scattering (DIS), we find that the best fit is preferred over the SM at 6.5σ, even after accounting for missing higher order uncertainties. The improvement in χ2 with the dark photon is stable against all the tests we have applied, with the improvements in the theoretical predictions spread across a wide range of x and Q2. The largest improvement corresponds to the fixed target and HERA DIS data, while the best fit yields a value of g – 2 which significantly reduces the disagreement with the latest experimental determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Human papilloma virus (HPV) is implicated in >99% of cervical cancers and ∼40% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We previously targeted E6 oncogene with 188Rhenium-labelled monoclonal antibody (mAb) C1P5 to HPV16 E6 in cervical cancer and HNSCC. Intranuclear E6 can be accessed by mAbs in non-viable cells with leaky membranes. As radioimmunotherapy (RIT) efficacy depends on the availability of target protein-we hypothesised that pretreatment with cisplatin will kill some tumour cells and increase E6 availability for RIT.Methods:Mice with subcutaneous HPV16+ cervical (CasKi) and HNSCC (2A3) tumours were pretreated with 0-7.5 mg kg−1 per day cisplatin for 3 days followed by 188Re-C1P5 and biodistribution was performed 24 h later. For RIT, the animals were treated with: 5 mg kg−1 per day cisplatin for 3 days; or 5 mg kg−1 per day cisplatin for 3 days followed 200 or 400μCi 188Re-C1P5 mAb; or 200 or 400μCi 188Re-C1P5 mAb; or left untreated, and observed for tumour growth for 24 days.Results:Pretreatment with cisplatin increased the uptake of 188Re-C1P5 in the tumours 2.5 to 3.5-fold and caused significant retardation in tumour growth for CasKi and 2A3 tumours in both RIT alone and cisplatin, and RIT groups in comparison with the untreated control and cisplatin alone groups (P<0.05). The combined treatment was more effective than either modality alone (P<0.05).Conclusion:Our study demonstrates that preceding RIT targeting E6 oncogene with chemotherapy is effective in suppressing tumour growth in mouse models of HPV16+ cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA (miRNA) is small noncoding RNA that is extensively expressed in organisms. Different types play important roles in various biological processes, such as growth and development. In this study, we identified 47 miRNA in chicken adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, of which 38 were known chicken miRNA, 4 were known miRNA homologous to other species, and 5 were potentially novel miRNA. The target genes from adipose tissue and skeletal muscle were predicted. The expression assay indicated that the 10 selected miRNA were differentially expressed in different developmental stages. Both miRNA-133a and miR-1a were muscle-related, whereas miR-122 was adipose-related miRNA. Certain identified miRNA may be essential to growth and development of chicken adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Further studies of these miRNA will help to understand their functions in growth and development of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle of poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the effects of low dose thalidomide on the peripheral-blood CD34 + cells counts of primary myelofibrosis( PMF). Methods 37 patients with PMF received thalidomide at doses of 100 mg per day for 24 weeks, peripheral-blood CD34+ cells counts were determined by flow cytometry and bone marrow biopsy before and after treatment. Results 30 patients (81%) were able to continue treatment beyond 24 weeks. Peripheral-blood CD34 + cell level were significantly higher before treatment and lower both in flow cytometry and bone marrow biopsy after treatment. Conclusion Thalidomide may play a role on the peripheral-blood CD34 + cells of primary myelofibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allogeneic pancreatic islet transplantation theoretically represents a cure for type 1 diabetes. However, current immune suppressive therapies are often associated with undesired side effects. Given this problem, and the shortage of human islet donors, the majority of type 1 diabetes patients cannot currently be offered an islet transplant. However, it has been found that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could exert unique immunosuppressive effects both in vitro and in vivo. Herein we transplanted allogeneic 200 islets alone or in combination with MSCs (3 × 106 cells) under the kidney capsules of diabetic C57LB/6 mouse. We found that the ratios of T helper type 1 (Th1) to Th2 and Tc1 to Tc2 were reduced, and the numbers of naive and memory T cells were down-regulated in peripheral blood after transplantation. In addition, the maturation, endocytosis and interleukin-12 secretion of dendritic cell (DCs)-derived bone marrow cells (BMCs) from receptor mice were suppressed. Rejection reaction was alleviated by MSCs which exerted suppressive effects through T lymphocyte subsets and DCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot electron transport in a funnel-guided target is investigated using two-dimensional hybrid simulations. Relativistic electrons generated by a petawatt picosecond short-pulse laser interacting with a gold slab are guided by a funnel to the compressed core region of the fuel. It is shown that as the energetic electrons propagate into the compressed core, the interface magnetic fields in the inner and outer surfaces of the funnel can change sign so that the fast electrons are efficiently guided in the gold funnel to reach the dense core. It is also shown that with funnel guiding, fuel heating is enhanced compared to that without the funnel. The findings here may be useful in the design of more efficient fast-ignition schemes, as well as in other applications involving transport and heating of energetic electrons in targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By employing the notion of exceptional family of elements, we establish some existence results for generalized variational inequality problems in reflexive Banach spaces provided that the mapping is upper sign-continuous. We show that the nonexistence of an exceptional family of elements is a necessary condition for the solvability of the dual variational inequality. For quasimonotone variational inequalities, we present some sufficient conditions for the existence of strong solutions. For the pseudomonotone case, the nonexistence of an exceptional family of elements is proved to be an equivalent characterization of the problem having strong solutions. Furthermore, we establish several equivalent conditions for the solvability for the pseudomonotone case. As a byproduct, a quasimonotone generalized variational inequality is proved to have a strong solution if it is strictly feasible. Moreover, for the pseudomonotone case, the strong solution set is nonempty and bounded if it is strictly feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a dynamic process of disentanglement by considering the time evolution of bound entanglement for a quantum open system, two qutrits coupling to a common environment. Here, the initial quantum correlations of the two qutrits are characterized by the bound entanglement. Both bosonic and spin environments are considered. We found that the bound entanglement displays collapses and revivals, and it can be stable against small temperature and time change. The thermal fluctuation effects on bound entanglement are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

45MnMoB steel was joined by transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding using three two step heating processes. The joining area was first heated up to 1250°C and kept for 5 s, and then cooled down to 1210, 1220 and 1230°C named second holding temperature respectively and kept for 120 s. The interface morphology of the bond made using two step heating process was also compared with that of conventional TLP bond at a constant temperature. The results show that two step heating process can produce a cellular interface at the initial stage, which is different from the planar interfaces associated with conventional TLP bonding. No bond interface can be found in the final joint by two step heating process and the microstructure of joint is similar to that of base metal. With the increase in second holding temperature, oxide scale particles and porosities in the bond region are decreased noticeably both in size and amount, and the bond strength is increased. The bond fails at the base metal and no failure occurs when the joint is tensioned and bent to 180° at 1250 and 1230°C respectively. Therefore, two step heating process can produce a homogenous joint, free of bond interface and identical in composition and properties to that of the base metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of a separator line that connects magnetic nulls and the determination of the dynamics and plasma environment of such a structure can improve our understanding of the three-dimensional (3D) magnetic reconnection process. However, this type of field and particle configuration has not been directly observed in space plasmas. Here we report the identification of a pair of nulls, the null–null line that connects them, and associated fans and spines in the magnetotail of the Earth using data from the four Cluster spacecraft. With di and de designating the ion and electron inertial lengths, respectively, the separation between the nulls is found to be ∼0.7±0.3di and an associated oscillation is identified as a lower-hybrid wave with wavelength ∼de. This in situ evidence of the full 3D reconnection geometry and associated dynamics provides an important step towards establishing an observational framework of 3D reconnection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gonad differentiation in male zebrafish involves a transformation from a ‘juvenile ovary’ to testis. In our study, this phenomenon was analysed using a stable transgenic line ( vas::egfp) created by Krovel & Olsen (Mechanisms of Development, 116: 141–150, 2002). Our data obtained by histological and immunohistochemical methods show that the onset of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression marks the conversion of the bipotential gonad into a ‘juvenile ovary’, and its subsequent decrease in the males indicates transformation into a testis. Furthermore, during the ‘juvenile ovary’ stage, a high level of variation was observed among individuals not only in the starting point and duration of EGFP expression but also in its intensity. The intensity of reporter expression in the males ranged from a high level of expression – similar to that observed in females – to invisible expression and correlated with the number of oocytes, the shape of ‘juvenile ovary’ and its lumen. Therefore, the authors conclude that although all males develop ‘juvenile ovaries’, they differ vastly in the extent of their commitment toward femaleness during this stage before testis differentiation. The differentiating zebrafish testis shows morphological features similar to those of the transforming gonad of protogynous hermaphrodites, and therefore, it could be a good model for the study of the process of female-to-male sex change in adult teleosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic reconnection is one of the most important processes in astrophysical, space and laboratory plasmas. Identifying the structure around the point at which the magnetic field lines break and subsequently reform, known as the magnetic null point, is crucial to improving our understanding of reconnection. But owing to the inherently three-dimensional nature of this process, magnetic nulls are only detectable through measurements obtained simultaneously from at least four points in space. Using data collected by the four spacecraft of the Cluster constellation as they traversed a diffusion region in the Earth's magnetotail on 15 September 2001, we report here the first in situ evidence for the structure of an isolated magnetic null. The results indicate that it has a positive-spiral structure whose spatial extent is of the same order as the local ion inertial length scale, suggesting that the Hall effect could play an important role in 3D reconnection dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the potential impact of three opiine tephritid fruit fly parasitoids:Fopius arisanus(Sonan),Fopius caudatus(Szépligeti) andFopius ceratitivorusWharton, on the non-target native Hawaiian tephritid,Trupanea dubautiae(Bryan), infesting flowerheads of the endemic Asteraceae shrubDubautia raillardioidesHillebrand. The three species are the only known opiine fruit fly parasitoids that attack host eggs (but occasionally attack first instars).F. arisanus, which originated in southeast Asia, is now widely established in Hawaii and elsewhere in the world, while the other two are African species currently in quarantine in Hawaii. In the laboratory, field-collected flowerheads ofD. raillardioidescontainingT. dubautiaeeggs and first instar larvae were exposed to naïve female wasps of each of the threeFopiusspecies in the absence (no-choice test) or presence (choice test) of papaya fruit infested with eggs of the Mediterranean fruit flyCeratitis capitata(Wiedemann), the parasitoids’ normal host. All threeFopiusspecies visited the papaya fruit much more often than the flowerheads, and displayed normal ovipositional responses (probing and stinging) on the fruit in the choice test. None of the three parasitoid species showed ovipositional responses to flowerheads in either choice or no-choice tests. As a result, not a singleT. dubautiaeegg or larva was attacked by any of the three parasitoids, indicating that these parasitoids of pest tephritids are unable to recognize the microhabitats of flowerhead-feeding tephritids. The results suggest minimal risk of non-target impact in these biological control agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative contributions to the valence nuclear European Muon Collaboration (EMC) effect in the deuteron arising from nucleon off-shell effects and Fermi motion are examined in models which include nuclear binding and off-shell effects. Contrary to expectations, the effect of Fermi motion overwhelms the off-shell effects for nucleons in short-range correlations (SRCs), calling into question the hypothesized causal connection between SRCs and the EMC effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical mechanism of the plasmonic skyrmion lattice formation in a magnetic layer deposited on a metallic substrate is studied theoretically. The optical lattice is the essence of the standing interference pattern of the surface plasmon polaritons created through coherent or incoherent laser sources. The nodal points of the interference pattern play the role of lattice sites where skyrmions are confined. The confinement appears as a result of the magnetoelectric effect and the electric field associated with the plasmon waves. The proposed model is applicable to yttrium iron garnet and single-phase multiferroics and combines plasmonics and skyrmionics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense short-petawatt-laser driven relativistic electron beams in a hollow high-Z plasma fiber embedded in low-Z plasmas of different densities are studied. When the plasma is of lower density than the hollow fiber, resistive filamentation of the electron beam is observed. It is found that the electron motion and the magnetic field are highly correlated with tens of terahertz oscillation frequency. Depending on the material property around the hollow fiber and the plasma density, the beam electrons can be focused or defocused as it propagates in the plasma. Relativistic electron transport and target heating are also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Length‐weight relationships (LWRs) were determined for three fish species, Schizothorax lantsangensis (Tsao, 1964), Schizothorax lissolabiatus (Tsao, 1964) and Schizopygopsis anteroventris (Wu & Tsao, 1989), from the Tibet reach of the Lancang River, China (N 29°06′–31°30′, E 96°57′–98°38′). Specimens were collected in April and September 2017. The specimens were caught with drifting gillnets (mesh size 2.5 cm and 7.0 cm). The b values of these three fish species ranged from 2.974 to 3.075. The high r2 values (all > .980) indicate that these relationships will be appropriate for use in fisheries management of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to enhance the electrochemical properties of single NiO, we have sought a simple way to synthesize a NiO and ZnO composite and make the composite a pseudocapacitors electrode material. We used a hydrothermal method to generate the composite on the surface of nickel foam, regarding it as the major subject in this experiment. To study the electrochemical performance of this composite, we adopted measurements including cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. We prepared samples for 2, 4, 6 and 8 h and compared the electrochemical properties of these different samples, respectively. We found that the as-synthesized NiO and ZnO composite was obtained at 8 h, and the maximum capacitance can reach 1.42 F cm−2 (10 mA cm−2). In addition, the composite also showed good cycle stability and displayed a capacitance of 63.9% after 1000 cycles tested in 6.0 M KOH solution. Thus, it was determined that the composite can offer a great potential for obtaining a supercapacitor electrode material with excellent performance. The experiment can, to some extent, provide a way in which the low electrochemical performance of single oxides can be improved by synthesizing double-oxide electrode material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 95-day experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of a visible implant elastomer tag ( VIE) versus a coded wire tag ( CWT) implanted in juvenile Tibet fish Oxygymnocypris stewartii (Lloyd, 1908; total length 5~7 cm) under laboratory conditions. Mortality, tag retention and growth in three groups of juvenile O. stewartii ( VIE-tagged, CWT-tagged and control) in duplicate were determined in six indoor tanks (300-L/tank volume, 100 fish/tank) at 15.6 ± 0.5°C water temperature. Results showed that neither tagging method had a significant difference on the mortality of the experimental fish, but that the growth rate in the VIE group was significantly lower than in the CWT and control groups. Mean tag retention in the VIE group was 95.2%, and 98.9% in the CWT group, with no significant differences in tag retention in the two methods. The study indicates that both VIE and CWT are suitable short-term tagging methods for hatchery O. stewartii juveniles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally activated domain-wall (DW) motion in magnetic insulators has been considered theoretically, with a particular focus on the role of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) and thermomagnonic torques. The thermally assisted DW motion is a consequence of the magnonic spin current due to the applied thermal bias. In addition to the exchange magnonic spin current and the exchange adiabatic and the entropic spin transfer torques, we also consider the DMI-induced magnonic spin current, thermomagnonic DMI fieldlike torque, and the DMI entropic torque. Analytical estimations are supported by numerical calculations. We found that the DMI has a substantial influence on the size and the geometry of DWs, and that the DWs become oriented parallel to the long axis of the nanostrip. Increasing the temperature smoothes the DWs. Moreover, the thermally induced magnonic current generates a torque on the DWs, which is responsible for their motion. From our analysis it follows that for a large enough DMI the influence of DMI-induced fieldlike torque is much stronger than that of the DMI and the exchange entropic torques. By manipulating the strength of the DMI constant, one can control the speed of the DW motion, and the direction of the DW motion can be switched, as well. We also found that DMI not only contributes to the total magnonic current, but also it modifies the exchange magnonic spin current, and this modification depends on the orientation of the steady-state magnetization. The observed phenomenon can be utilized in spin caloritronics devices, for example in the DMI based thermal diodes. By switching the magnetization direction, one can rectify the total magnonic spin current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at proposing a new fatigue life estimation model that is preferably adapted to welded joints subjected to multiaxial loading. First, a mesh-size insensitive structural stress is defined that enables to characterize the stress concentration effect appropriately. Second, the multiaxial stress state and loading path influence are taken into account in the lifetime prediction model by adopting a suitable critical plane method, originally proposed by Carpinteri and co-authors. Experimental verification is conducted for a given welded joint geometry under different loading conditions, including uniaxial, torsional and multiaxial loads. The reliability and effectiveness of the new method are validated through substantive fatigue testing data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Bone grafting is an important surgical procedure to restore missing bone in patients with alveolar cleft lip/palate, aiming to stabilize either sides of the maxillary segments by inducing new bone formation, and in bilateral cleft cases also to stabilize the pre-maxilla. Polyphosphate (PolyP), a physiological polymer composed of orthophosphate units linked together with high-energy phosphate bonds, is a naturally existing compound in platelets which, when complexed with calcium as Ca-polyP microparticles (Ca-polyP MPs), was proven to have osteoinductive properties in preclinical studies.Aim: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and osteoinductivity of Ca-polyP MPs as a bone-inducing graft material in humans.Methods: This prospective non-blinded first-in-man clinical pilot study shall consist of 8 alveolar cleft patients of 13 years or older to evaluate the feasibility and safety of Ca-PolyP MPs as a bone-inducing graft material. Patients will receive Ca-polyP graft material only or Ca-polyP in combination with biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) as a bone substitute carrier. During the trial, the participants will be investigated closely for safety parameters using radiographic imaging, regular blood tests, and physical examinations. After 6 months, a hollow drill will be used to prepare the implantation site to obtain a biopsy. The radiographic imaging will be used for clinical evaluation; the biopsy will be processed for histological/histomorphometric evaluation of bone formation.Discussion: This is the first-in-man study evaluating the safety and feasibility of the polyP as well as the potential regenerative capacity of polyP using an alveolar cleft model.Trial Registration: Indonesian Trial Registry INA-EW74C1N . Registered on 12 June 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new manifold learning algorithm, called kernel uncorrelated neighbourhood discriminative embedding (KUNDE), is presented for radar target recognition. The purpose of KUNDE is to preserve the within-class neighbouring geometry, while maximising the between-class scatter. Optimising an objective function in a kernel feature space, nonlinear features are extracted. In addition, a simple uncorrelated constraint is introduced to get statistically uncorrelated features, which is desirable for many pattern analysis applications. Experimental results on both measured and simulated data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A possible origin of edge-localized-mode (ELM) precursors based on nonlinear ideal peeling-ballooning mode is reported. Via nonlinear variational principle, a nonlinear evolution equation of the radial displacement is derived and solved, analytically. Besides an explosive growth in the initial nonlinear phase, it is found that the local displacement evolves into an oscillating state in the developed nonlinear phase. The nonlinear frequency of the ELM precursors scales as σpre~x1/3ξ2/3Ψ,inn, with x position in radial direction, ξΨ,in strength of initial perturbation, and n toroidal mode number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By considering the linear relationship between work-hardening rate and stress, a new mathematical model was proposed for predicting flow stress up to the critical strain during hot deformation. This model is expressed in terms of critical strain, critical stress, and saturation stress. The model shows the critical strain and thus considers the initiation of dynamic recrystallization (DRX). A new material parameter L, resulting in the model's higher accuracy compared with that of the previous studies. Compared with the measured values, the predicted values show better accuracy, whereas the model of flow stress up to the peak shows lower levels of accuracy. Therefore, compared with the previous model, the mathematical model for predicting flow stress up to the critical strain presents better precision and better reflects the internal mechanism of the changes in the material microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) are the most widely symbiosis in terrestrial ecosystem. Leaf N and P are the most important plant functional traits due to their influence on biogeochemical cycling. However, as the notable nitrogen (N) fixing plants, the variations of leaf N, P and N:P and their relationship among mycorrhizal types had been hardly studied based on functional groups. In this study, we studied the leaf N, P and N:P and their relationship between AM and other mycorrhizal types (others) among different functional groups or climate zones. The results indicated that AM improve significantly leaf N and P, while reduce N:P comparing to others. However, the influences of AM and others on leaf N, P and N:P changed with plant functional groups or climate zone. The relationships between leaf N and P, between N and N:P and between P and N:P also exhibit great variation between AM and Others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Error field penetration processes in magnetic island mode locking with the time-varying and fixed boundary perturbations are investigated numerically by using a two-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic model in slab geometry. The evolution of various poloidal torques on the rational surface in the processes is analyzed in detail. In particular, three different states with the fixed boundary perturbations, viz. below the threshold (nearly locked regime), on the threshold (just locked regime), and above the threshold (strongly locked regime), are discussed and compared with the physical processes of the Rutherford regime. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We here present a new type of kinetic-scale (∼1 ion gyroradius) flux rope (KFR) in the Earth's dayside magnetosheath boundary layer with Magnetospheric Multiscale high temporal cadence data. This structure exhibits a slight twist of magnetic field that is possibly generated by a field-aligned current, which differs from typical dayside flux ropes usually observed within the current sheet where magnetic reconnection can occur. The perpendicular electron fluxes within 19–52 eV are increased ∼10% inside the KFR. Detailed analysis shows that these perpendicular electrons may encounter their mirror point (at the position of the KFR, strong field region) when traveling from the magnetosheath toward the ionosphere and will be reflected to the magnetosheath. A possible scenario is that this KFR is different from previous flux ropes that transfer electron flux to the magnetosphere but could intercept magnetosheath large pitch angle electron flux to the magnetosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legume is notable owing to their symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixing ability. Usually, higher leaf N concentration and N to phosphorus (P) ratio (N:P) in legumes than non-legumes. However, the variations of leaf N, P and N:P and their relationship had been hardly studied based on functional groups. In this study, we studied the leaf N, P and N:P and their relationship among different functional groups. The results showed that the average values of leaf N, P and N:P ratios for all legumes were 27.33 mg g-1, 1.27 mg g-1 and 21.94, respectively. Leaf N (36.96 mg g-1) and P (2.15 mg g-1) of herbaceous legumes are significantly higher than N (24.97 mg g-1) and P (1.18 mg g-1) in woody plants, respectively. Moreover, leaf N, P and N:P of shrub markedly higher than them in tree. Leaf N and P are always higher in deciduous than evergreen legumes. A negative correlation was found between leaf N:P and P in overall and different functional groups of legumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser cladding of the 70Ni60A-10B4C-17(Al-Ti)-3Sb mixed powders on the TC17 titanium alloy substrate formed the hard composites, which increased the microhardness of the substrate surface. The microhardness and elements' distributions of the laser clad composites were analysed by means of an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and a microhardness tester. Ni60A can be used to increase the plastic toughness of such laser clad composites; the Ti-B and TiC ceramics were produced by the in situ reaction in the laser induced molten laser-pool, which increased the microhardness and wear resistance of the composites; Sb-added led the nanocrystals to be produced, also favoured the fine microstructure to be formed. This research provides essential theoretical basis to improve the quality of the laser treated composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The E × B shear flow plays a dual role on peeling-ballooning modes and their subsequently triggered edge localized mode (ELM) crashes. On one hand, the flow shear can stabilize high-n modes and twist the mode in the poloidal direction, constraining the mode's radial extent and reducing the size of the corresponding ELM. On the other hand, the shear flow also introduces the Kelvin-Helmholtz drive, which can destabilize peeling-ballooning modes. The overall effect of equilibrium shear flow on peeling-ballooning modes and ELM crashes depends on the competition between these two effects. When the flow shear is either small or very large, it can reduce ELM size. However, for moderate values of flow shear, the destabilizing effect from the Kelvin-Helmholtz term is dominant and leads to larger ELM crashes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A scheme to reduce the current loss of laser-driven energetic electron beams propagating in solid-density targets is proposed. In the scheme, two intense laser pulses irradiate the solid target consisting of two materials, one enveloping the other. Because of the resistivity and density gradients at the material interface, the first pulse generates tens of megagauss robust interface magnetic fields that can considerably reduce the divergence of the electron beam generated by the second pulse. It is shown that by using a coaxial gold-aluminum target instead of a simple gold target, beam current loss can be lowered by about 30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is upregulated and has an oncogenic role in several types of human cancer. However, the abnormalities of EZH2 and its underlying mechanisms in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remain unknown. In this study, we found that high expression of EZH2 in NPC was associated closely with an aggressive and/or poor prognostic phenotype (P<0.05). In NPC cell lines, knockdown of EZH2 by short hairpin RNA was sufficient to inhibit cell invasiveness/metastasis both in vitro and in vivo, whereas ectopic overexpression of EZH2 supported NPC cell invasive capacity with a decreased expression of E-cadherin. In addition, ablation of endogenous Snail in NPC cells virtually totally prevented the repressive activity of EZH2 to E-cadherin, indicating that Snail might be a predominant mediator of EZH2 to suppress E-cadherin. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation (IP), chromatin IP and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that in NPC cells, (1) EZH2 interacted with HDAC1/HDAC2 and Snail to form a repressive complex; (2) these components interact in a linear fashion, not in a triangular fashion, that is, HDAC1 or HDAC2 bridge the interaction between EZH2 and Snail; and (3) the EZH2/HDAC1/2/Snail complex could closely bind to the E-cadherin promoter by Snail, but not YY1, to repress E-cadherin. The data provided in this report suggest a critical role of EZH2 in the control of cell invasion and/or metastasis by forming a co-repressor complex with HDAC1/HDAC2/Snail to repress E-cadherin, an activity that might be responsible, at least in part, for the development and/or progression of human NPCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Using an improved “analytic K-matrix model”, we reconsider the extraction of the and γγ widths from scatterings data of Crystal Ball and Belle. Our main results are summarized in Tables 3 and 4. The averaged σ “direct width” to γγ is 0.16(3) keV which confirms a previous result of Mennessier et al. (2007, 2008) and which does neither favour a large four-quark/molecule nor a pure components. The “direct width” of the of 0.28(2) keV is much larger than the four-quark expectation but can be compatible with a or a gluonium component. We also found that the rescattering part of each amplitude is relatively large indicating an important contribution of the meson loops in the determinations of the σ and γγ total widths. This is mainly due to the large couplings of the σ and to ππ and/or , which can also be due to a light scalar gluonium with large OZI violating couplings but not necessary to a four-quark or molecule state. Our average results for the total (direct + rescattering) γγ widths: , are comparable with the ones from dispersion relations and PDG values. Using the parameters from QCD spectral sum rules, we complete our analysis by showing that the production rates of unmixed scalar gluonia and agree with the data from , ϕ radiative and semi-leptonic decays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We systematically reconsider, within an improved “analytic K-matrix model”, the extraction of the and masses, widths and hadronic couplings using new data on ππ phase shift below 390 MeV and different sets of scatterings data from 400 MeV to 1.4 GeV. Our results are summarized in Tables 1, 2 and 5. In units of MeV, the complex poles are: and , which are comparable with some recent high-precision determinations and with PDG values. Besides some other results, we find: which confirms a sizeable coupling found earlier, and which disfavours a large ππ molecule or four-quark component of the σ, while its broad ππ width (relative to the one of the ρ-meson) cannot be explained within a scenario. The narrow ππ width of the and the large value: , excludes its pure content. A significant gluonium component eventually mixed with appears to be necessary for evading the previous difficulties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]