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In this work, we establish two interesting partition identities involving the minimal odd excludant, which has attracted great attention in recent years. In particular, we find a strong refinement of Euler's celebrated theorem that the number of partitions of an integer into odd parts equals the number of partitions of that integer into distinct parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ternary polymer solar cells (PSCs) are currently the simplest and most efficient way to further improve the device performance in PSCs. To find high-performance organic photovoltaic materials, the established connection between the material structure and device performance before fabrication is of great significance. Herein, firstly, a database of the photovoltaic performance in 874 experimental PSCs reported in the literature is established, and three different fingerprint expressions of a molecular structure are explored as input features; the results show that long fingerprints of 2D atom pairs can contain more effective information and improve the accuracy of the models. Through supervised learning, five machine learning (ML) models were trained to build a mapping of the photovoltaic performance improvement relationship from binary to ternary PSCs. The GBDT model had the best predictive ability and generalization. Eighteen key structural features from a non-fullerene acceptor and the third components that affect the device's PCE were screened based on this model, including a nitrile group with lone-pair electron, a halogen atom, an oxygen atom, etc. Interestingly, the structural features for the enhanced device's PCE were essentially increased by the Jsc or FF. More importantly, the reliability of the ML model was further verified by preparing the highly efficient PSCs. Taking the PM6:BTP-eC9:PY-IT ternary PSC as an example, the PCE prediction (18.03%) by the model was in good agreement with the experimental results (17.78%), the relative prediction error was 1.41%, and the relative error between all experimental results and predicted results was less than 5%. These results indicate that ML is a useful tool for exploring the photovoltaic performance improvement of PSCs and accelerating the design and application with highly efficient non-fullerene materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though there have been significant advancements in the development of Cr3+‐activated near‐infrared (NIR) phosphors, the challenge still remains to develop highly efficient and thermally stable NIR phosphors. Here, the Ca4‐xZnxHfGe3O12:0.03Cr3+ solid solution phosphors with 834–806 nm NIR emission are constructed by substituting Zn2+ for Ca2+, thereby facilitating the formation of [ZnO6] luminescence site. The coexistence of [HfO6] and [Zn/CaO6] luminescence centers is confirmed through DFT calculation, time‐resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy, and low‐temperature‐photoluminescence (77 K) spectroscopy. The formation of [ZnO6] effectively resolves the issue of lattice mismatch between Cr3+ and Ca2+. Furthermore, the simultaneous enhancement of luminescence intensity and thermal stability is realized through a synergistic combination of lattice distortion and rigidity enhancement. By optimizing the substitution concentration of Cr3+, the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of 92% and an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 29% are finally achieved. Meanwhile, the thermal stability is also enhanced from 59%@400 K (x = 0) to 81%@400 K (x = 0.8). The developed NIR phosphor‐converted light‐emitting diodes (pc‐LEDs) exhibit promising prospects in the fields of security, biomedicine, non‐destructive testing and rapid identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Memristors have recently become powerful competitors toward artificial synapses and neuromorphic computation, arising from their structural and electrical similarity to biological synapses and neurons. From the diversity of materials, numerous organic and inorganic materials have proven to exhibit great potential in the application of memristors. Herein, this work focuses on a class of memristors based on organic frameworks (OFs) materials, and pay attention to the most advanced experimental demonstrations. First, the typical device structures and memristive switching mechanisms are introduced. Second, the latest progress of OFs‐based memristors is comprehensively summarized, including metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and hydrogen‐bonded organic frameworks (HOFs), as well as their applications in data storage, artificial synapses, and neuromorphic devices. Finally, the future challenges and prospects of OFs‐based memristors are deeply discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crowd counting (CC) and density estimation are crucial for ensuring public safety and security in surveillance videos with large audiences. As computer vision-based scene interpretation advances, automatic analysis of crowd situations is becoming increasingly prevalent. However, existing crowd analysis algorithms may not accurately interpret the video footage. To address this challenge, we propose a new approach called SMOHDL-CCA. This approach combines a Slime Mold Optimization algorithm with a Hybrid Deep Learning Enabled CC Approach. Our system uses the SMO algorithm with an optimized neural network search network (NASNet) model as the front-end to take advantage of transfer learning and flexible characteristics. The back-end model employs Dilated Convolutional Neural Networks, and the hyperparameter tuning process is done using the Chicken Swarm Optimization algorithm. Given a crowded video input frame, our SMOHDL-CCA model estimates the density map of the image. Each pixel value indicates the crowd density at the corresponding location in the picture. The final crowd count is obtained by summing all the values in the density map. We evaluated our proposed approach using three standard datasets. Furthermore, the state-of-the-art combining the proposed SMOHDL-CCA model achieves comparable performance such as improved precision is 96.97%, recall is 96.94%, and F1 score is 96.61%, reduced mean squared error of 61.15 values for the NWPU-crowd, UCF_QNRF, and World Expo datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work aims to study the convection and diffusion of metallic fluid and the tritium in a cavity under the external magnetic field. The solver based on the finite volume method and the consistent and conservative scheme is developed to solve the Navier–Stokes equation considering the Lorentz force, concentration, and thermal buoyancy. The coupling effects of the magnetic field, the internal volumetric heat source, and the concentration difference between the left and right walls of the cavity are investigated. It is found that both the rotation direction and strength of the main circulation flow are controlled by the concentration buoyancy and the thermal buoyancy only regulates the global flow in the cavity. A larger concentration difference or a stronger internal heat source can lead to unstable flow. However, the stronger magnetic field suppresses the main circulation flow and small secondary vortices. The power law scaling of the Sherwood number vs the ratio of the Rayleigh number of the concentration to the Hartman number based on the force balance agrees with the numerical simulation. Four types of flow modes (large-amplitude low-frequency, large-amplitude high-frequency, small-amplitude low-frequency, and stable modes) are observed under the coupled multi-physics fields of the magnetic field, concentration difference, and heat source. The correlation function describing the influence of magnetic field and concentration strength on mass transfer is concluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the molecular pharmacology of trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) and its potential role in advancing antipsychotic drug discovery. Schizophrenia, a chronic mental disorder, is characterized by negative symptoms, positive symptoms, and cognitive impairment. Current antipsychotic drugs have limited efficacy and are associated with side effects. TAAR1 has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for psychiatric disorders, and recent studies have provided insights into the molecular mechanisms and activation characteristics of TAAR1. These findings could contribute to the development of new antipsychotic drugs. [Extracted from the article]

Background. Multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) present challenges in CABG. We aimed to compare early outcomes of total arterial revascularization (TAR) versus conventional CABG in this high-risk population. Methods. This was a retrospective cohort study based on a single-center registry of patients who underwent isolated CABG for multivessel CAD and LVD between January 2014 and December 2022. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were early complications, graft patency rate at 3 months, readmission rate within 6 months, and freedom from angina rate within 6 months. Results. A total of 112 cases were included in this study; 52 patients for TAR and 60 patients for conventional CABG. Both groups had comparable baselines and operative profiles. In-hospital mortality was similar between TAR and conventional CABG (2 deaths, 3.85% vs 4 deaths, 6.67%, p = 0.810). TAR had shorter ICU (3.5 vs 5 days, p = 0.016) and hospital stay (10.5 vs 12 days, p = 0.007). Other postoperative complications were similar. At 3 months, TAR had superior graft patency (91.7% vs 83.7%, p = 0.034) and lower 6-month readmission (TAR: 2/50, 4.0% vs. CR: 10/56, 17.9%, p = 0.024). Freedom from angina rate within 6 months was similar between the two groups (TAR: 43/50, 86.0% vs. CR: 42/56, 75.0%, p = 0.240). Conclusion. Our findings suggest that TAR may offer benefits in terms of shorter hospital stays, higher early graft patency, and lower readmission rates for patients with multivessel CAD and LVD. However, further research, particularly large-scale, randomized trials with longer follow-up periods, are needed to fully understand the long-term clinical outcomes and confirm these promising early results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two exotic 6‐cantilever small molecular platforms, characteristic of quite different molecular configurations of propeller and quasi‐plane, are established by extremely two‐dimensional conjugated extension. When applied in small molecular acceptors, the only two cases of CH25 and CH26 that could contain six terminals and such broad conjugated backbones have been afforded thus far, rendering featured absorptions, small reorganization and exciton binding energies. Moreover, their distinctive but completely different molecular geometries result in sharply contrasting nanoscale film morphologies. Finally, CH26 contributes to the best device efficiency of 15.41 % among acceptors with six terminals, demonstrating two pioneered yet highly promising 6‐cantilever molecular innovation platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two exotic 6‐cantilever small molecular platforms, characteristic of quite different molecular configurations of propeller and quasi‐plane, are established by extremely two‐dimensional conjugated extension. When applied in small molecular acceptors, the only two cases of CH25 and CH26 that could contain six terminals and such broad conjugated backbones have been afforded thus far, rendering featured absorptions, small reorganization and exciton binding energies. Moreover, their distinctive but completely different molecular geometries result in sharply contrasting nanoscale film morphologies. Finally, CH26 contributes to the best device efficiency of 15.41 % among acceptors with six terminals, demonstrating two pioneered yet highly promising 6‐cantilever molecular innovation platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism whereby LACC1 regulates the intestinal flora in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: C57BL/6 and Lacc1−/− mice were used to establish a mouse model of IBD induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). The effects of Lacc1 deletion in mice were evaluated. Changes in the body weight and stool blood were recorded daily. After 7 days of successful modeling, the mice were sacrificed, blood was collected from the eyeballs, the entire colon was dissected and separated, and the length of the colon was measured. Results: Compared with the wild-type (WT) DSS model group, the Lacc1−/− DSS model group showed a significantly higher disease activity index score (P < 0.05), significantly faster weight loss (P < 0.05), and a significantly shorter colon (P < 0.05), indicating that the colonic mucosal tissue was seriously damaged in the Lacc1−/− DSS model group (P < 0.05). Serum IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels were significantly higher in the Lacc1−/− DSS model group than the WT DSS model group. Principal coordinate analysis showed that there were significant microbiome differences between the WT, Lacc1−/−, WT DSS model, and Lacc1−/− DSS model groups (P < 0.05). Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis showed that under natural conditions, Lacc1−/− mice had significant changes in their intestinal flora compared with control mice (LDA value > 3 or < 3, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Lacc1 deletion aggravates DSS-induced IBD in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of blockchain technology and the Internet of Things has improved the efficiency and quality of social production, thus accelerating the speed of economic development. The calculation of issue spreads for Tier 2 capital bonds, mainly using a centralized settlement system, ignores the transparency of the data and leads to a high degree of uncertainty in the results of issue spread analysis. The current status of secondary capital bond issuance is analysed and a conceptual definition of blockchain and secondary capital bond is completed as the theoretical support for the subsequent empirical study. Bond issuance data are collected within the wind database as empirical research data, and ordinary bonds are selected as the reference object to put forward three empirical research hypotheses. Utilizing the bond issuance spread research model centered on the blockchain model for empirical analysis, the research results show that the secondary capital bond issuance spread is significantly lower than ordinary bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bibliotherapy is an important part of art therapy and many publications regarding bibliotherapy have been published in the past. However, there has none about the scientometric study to systematically analyze the development and emerging research trends on bibliotherapy. Therefore, we performed a scientometric investigation to describe trends of this theme. All publications related to bibliotherapy published from 1980 to 2020 were identified and selected from Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index, and Arts & Humanities Citation Index of Web of Science Core Collection. VOSviewer was used to create collaborative network plots of countries, institutions, and authors and to perform cluster analysis of keywords. A total of 703 articles were searched, and we retrieved the 100 most cited articles published by 146 institutions from 15 countries in 57 academic journals. The United States occupied a leading position in the field of bibliotherapy and Linköping University was the most productive institution. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology was the most productive journal. Andersson G, Carlbring P, and Cuijpers P may have an important influence on bibliotherapy research. The applications in depression, anxiety, panic disorder, insomnia, and aphasia are the hot themes. This scientometric review provided a comprehensive understanding of the bibliotherapy research using quantitative and qualitative methods, which can provide references for researchers in the bibliotherapy field. As investigators continue to work, we look forward to the development of bibliotherapy efficacy and the implementation form and steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) are an attractive technology for renewable energy conversion and storage. By using green electricity generated from renewable sources like wind or solar, high-purity hydrogen gas can be produced in PEMWE systems, which can be used in fuel cells and other industrial sectors. To date, significant advances have been achieved in improving the efficiency of PEMWEs through the design of stack components; however, challenges remain for their large-scale and long-term application due to high cost and durability issues in acidic conditions. In this review, we examine the latest developments in engineering PEMWE systems and assess the gap that still needs to be filled for their practical applications. We provide a comprehensive summary of the reaction mechanisms, the correlation among structure–composition–performance, manufacturing methods, system design strategies, and operation protocols of advanced PEMWEs. We also highlight the discrepancies between the critical parameters required for practical PEMWEs and those reported in the literature. Finally, we propose the potential solution to bridge the gap and enable the appreciable applications of PEMWEs. This review may provide valuable insights for research communities and industry practitioners working in these fields and facilitate the development of more cost-effective and durable PEMWE systems for a sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how species richness changes along elevational gradients has attracted increasing attention from many researchers. The relationships between species richness and elevations were characterized by monotonic decreases or mid-elevational peaks. The western Sichuan Plateau is an important species diversity hotspot. However, there is little information available about the ant species diversity and distribution patterns of this region. In this study, we hypothesize that ant diversity will show a monotonic decrease from mid-elevation with increasing elevation. Here, the ant species diversity and distribution patterns of this region were investigated by plot surveys. A total of 22,645 ants were collected from eight elevational transects in the central and northern parts of the western Sichuan Plateau, which were identified as belonging to 40 species, 18 genera, and 4 subfamilies. We found a unimodal relationship between elevation and ant species richness, with the highest ant species richness occurring at mid-elevations. The similarity coefficient of ant communities in each elevational transect was at a moderate level of dissimilarity, indicating that the elevation difference and habitat heterogeneity had a great impact on ant communities in the central and northern areas of the western Sichuan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In microscopic vision, the sharpness of edge profile seriously affects the accuracy of measurement. However, various factors in complex environments often blur the edge profile. Herein, a CNN-related deblurring algorithm is proposed to reconstruct the real edge features from the blurred microscopic images. Based on the convolutional neural network, a network called I&R Net is built up, in which both the inception block and the residual channel attention block are integrated. Moreover, the loss functions are constructed with the additional factor of gradient by Sobel operator and Laplacian operator to enhance the inductive bias of I&R Net on real size. The results show that the I&R Net improves both the general image quality and the accuracy. Additionally, the I&R Net presents relatively strong resistance to the influence of feature-rotating. • An integrated deblurring model. • Loss functions with the additional factor of gradient. • Resistance to rotating influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CaCu 3 Ti 4 O 12 (CCTO) particles were produced from a CuO–CaCO 3 –TiO 2 peroxo-hydroxide precursor material in NaCl–KCl and Na 2 SO 4 –K 2 SO 4 salt mixtures via the molten-salt synthesis method at different salt-to-precursor mass ratios. Regular-shaped CCTO particles of cubes, rods, and polyhedrons can be obtained at large salt-to-precursor mass ratios of above 50:1. With the extension of sintering time, the particle shape is more regular and the size is larger. Long micro rods with a length of about 53 μm can be obtained at a mass ratio of 125:1 and a long sintering time of 72 h in sulfate salts. The formation mechanisms are also discussed and the results suggest that a large salt-to-precursor mass ratio may provide a sufficient number of Na − K ions to sufficiently modify the particle shape and form regular-shaped cubes and rod-like particles. At the same time, CCTO ceramics synthesized by Na 2 SO 4 –K 2 SO 4 molten-salt method show good dielectric properties, with a dielectric constant higher than 104 and a loss factor less than 0.45 in the range of 20 Hz to 1 MHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the relationship between genetic variants and phenotypes, association testing is adopted; however, most association studies are conducted by genotype-based testing. Testing methods based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) data without genotype calling demonstrate an advantage over testing methods based on genotypes in the scenarios when genotype estimation is not accurate. Our objective was to develop NGS data-based methods for association studies to fill the gap in the literature. Single-variant testing methods based on NGS data have been proposed, including our previously proposed single-variant NGS data-based testing method, i.e., UNC combo method. The NGS data-based group testing method has been proposed by us using a linear model framework which can handle continuous responses. In this paper, we extend our linear model-based framework to a generalized linear model-based framework so that the methods can handle other types of responses especially binary responses which is a common problem in association studies. To evaluate the performance of various estimators and compare them we performed simulation studies. We found that all methods have Type I errors controlled, and our NGS data-based methods have better performance than genotype-based methods for other types of responses, including binary responses (logistics regression) and count responses (Poisson regression), especially when sequencing depth is low. We have extended our previous linear model (LM) framework to a generalized linear model (GLM) framework and derived NGS data-based methods for a group of genetic variables. Compared with our previously proposed LM-based methods, the new GLM-based methods can handle more complex responses (for example, binary responses and count responses) in addition to continuous responses. Our methods have filled the literature gap and shown advantage over their corresponding genotype-based methods in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops an online inter-turn short-circuit fault (ISF) detection method for inverter-fed permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) systems. A high-frequency (HF) mathematical model of a PMSM with an ISF is established. Based on the presented HF model, the HF responses of the PMSM with various severity of ISF under HF voltage injection are analyzed in detail, where both the short-circuit ratio and the fault resistance are considered to evaluate the fault severity. In the proposed fault diagnosis method, the amplitude of the HF negative-sequence component is used to determine the fault severity, and the initial phase is used to locate the position of the faulty phase. The simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim of the Study. To evaluate differences in left ventricular recovery after transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation and conventional aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic regurgitation and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Methods. All patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction who underwent aortic valve surgery for AR at our institution between January 2015 and November 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare left ventricular recovery and remodeling outcomes between the patient groups. Results. A total of 87 cases were included in this study, 36 patients for TA-TAVI and 51 patients for C-AVR. Transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation was associated with better and faster recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (adjusted β = 0.002, 95% CI: 0.000 to 0.003, and p = 0.046 ; adjusted β = 0.330, 95% CI: 0.185 to 0.474, and p < 0.001 , respectively) within the first 3 months postoperatively compared with left ventricular ejection fraction, with the same improvement in New York Heart Association function class (adjusted β = 0.381, 95% CI: −0.349 to 1.111, and p = 0.306). Conclusions. This study highlights patients who underwent transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation for aortic regurgitation with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. However, future randomized controlled prospective clinical trials with longer follow-up durations are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An innovative instrument for laparoscopy using indocyanine green (ICG) allows easy detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in lateral pelvic lymph nodes (LPLNs). Here, we investigated the safety and efficacy of lateral pelvic SLN biopsy (SLNB) using ICG fluorescence navigation in advanced lower rectal cancer and evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of this technique to predict the status of LPLN. Methods: From April 1, 2017 to December 1, 2020, we conducted lateral pelvic SLNB using ICG fluorescence navigation during laparoscopic total mesorectal excision and lateral pelvic lymph node dissection (LLND) in 23 patients with advanced low rectal cancer who presented with LPLN but without LPLN enlargement. Data regarding clinical characteristics, surgical and pathological outcomes, lymph node findings, and postoperative complications were collected and analyzed. Results: We successfully performed the surgery using fluorescence navigation. One patient underwent bilateral LLND and 22 patients underwent unilateral LLND. The lateral pelvic SLN were clearly fluorescent before dissection in 21 patients. Lateral pelvic SLN metastasis was diagnosed in 3 patients and negative in 18 patients by frozen pathological examination. Among the 21 patients in whom lateral pelvic SLN was detected, the dissected lateral pelvic non-SLNs were all negative. All dissected LPLNs were negative in two patients without fluorescent lateral pelvic SLN. Conclusion: This study indicated that lateral pelvic SLNB using ICG fluorescence navigation shows promise as a safe and feasible procedure for advanced lower rectal cancer with good accuracy, and no false-negative cases were found. No metastasis in SLNB seemed to reflect all negative LPLN metastases, and this technique can replace preventive LLND for advanced lower rectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was to investigate the effect of pig epidemic on stability of pork supply chain in China. A total of 12 listed pig companies were selected as a sample and uses panel Tobit estimation to analyze. The results showed that the overall stability of pork supply chain was on the rise in China. By comparison, the stability of the upstream pork supply chain was stronger than that of the downstream pork supply chain. After the outbreak of the pig epidemic, the prices of piglets and corn were significantly negatively correlated with the upstream stability of pork supply chain, while the level of large-scale pig breeding was significantly positively correlated with the upstream stability of pork supply chain. The prices of piglets and corn were negatively correlated with the downstream stability of pork supply chain, while the prices of chicken and beef were positively correlated with the downstream stability of pork supply chain. The experiment indicates that on premise of effectively controlling pig epidemic, the government and enterprises should take differentiated measures to address different factors affecting the stability of upstream and downstream pork supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of anomalies in multivariate time-series data is becoming increasingly important in the automated and continuous monitoring of complex systems and devices due to the rapid increase in data volume and dimension. To address this challenge, we present a multivariate time-series anomaly detection model based on a dual-channel feature extraction module. The module focuses on the spatial and time features of the multivariate data using spatial short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and a graph attention network, respectively. The two features are then fused to significantly improve the model's anomaly detection performance. In addition, the model incorporates the Huber loss function to enhance its robustness. A comparative study of the proposed model with existing state-of-the-art ones was presented to prove the effectiveness of the proposed model on three public datasets. Furthermore, by using in shield tunneling applications, we verify the effectiveness and practicality of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oriental orchids of the genus Cymbidium are famous for their flower fragrance and have great value in the horticultural market. To investigate the regulatory mechanisms of fragrance biosynthesis in Cymbidium faberi, the promoters of the CfAOC and CfJMT genes in the methyl jasmonate biosynthesis pathway were cloned and analyzed. Notably, the CfAOC promoter was transcriptionally active in all vegetative organs, which was not true for the CfJMT promoter, indicating that the latter is tissue-specific for the flowers of C. faberi. The dual-luciferase assay showed that the fragment between –629 and –1038 nt of the CfAOC promoter, as well as the fragment between –960 and –1121 nt of the CfJMT promoter, displayed specific interaction with the CfbHLH transcription factors. These results provide a theoretical basis for the genetic modification of the flower fragrance of Cymbidium based on specific CfbHLH transcription factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurones in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus (PVNCRF neurones) can promote wakefulness and are activated under anaesthesia. However, whether these neurones contribute to anaesthetic effects is unknown. With a combination of chemogenetic and molecular approaches, we examined the roles of PVNCRF neurones in isoflurane anaesthesia in mice and further explored the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. PVN neurones exhibited increased Fos expression during isoflurane anaesthesia (mean [standard deviation], 218 [69.3] vs 21.3 [7.3]; P <0.001), and ∼75% were PVNCRF neurones. Chemogenetic inhibition of PVNCRF neurones facilitated emergence from isoflurane anaesthesia (11.7 [1.1] vs 13.9 [1.2] min; P =0.001), whereas chemogenetic activation of these neurones delayed emergence from isoflurane anaesthesia (16.9 [1.2] vs 13.9 [1.3] min; P =0.002). Isoflurane exposure increased CRF protein expression in PVN (4.0 [0.1] vs 2.2 [0.3], respectively; P<0.001). Knockdown of CRF in PVNCRF neurones mimicked the effects of chemogenetic inhibition of PVNCRF neurones in facilitating emergence (9.6 [1.1] vs 13.0 [1.4] min; P =0.003) and also abolished the effects of chemogenetic activation of PVNCRF neurones on delaying emergence from isoflurane anaesthesia (10.3 [1.3] vs 16.0 [2.6] min; P <0.001). Acute, but not chronic, stress delayed emergence from isoflurane anaesthesia (15.5 [1.5] vs 13.0 [1.4] min; P =0.004). This effect was reversed by chemogenetic inhibition of PVNCRF neurones (11.7 [1.6] vs 14.7 [1.4] min; P =0.001) or knockdown of CRF in PVNCRF neurones (12.3 [1.5] vs 15.3 [1.6] min; P =0.002). CRF neurones in the PVN of the hypothalamus neurones modulate isoflurane anaesthesia and acute stress effects on anaesthesia through CRF signalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Association testing has been widely used to study the relationship between phenotypes and genetic variants. Most testing methods are based on genotypes. To avoid genotype calling and directly test on next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, sequencing data-based methods have been proposed and shown advantages over genotype-based testing methods in scenarios where genotype calling is inaccurate. Most sequencing data-based testing methods are based on a single genetic marker. The objective of this paper is to extend the methods to allow testing for the association of a continuous response variable with a group of common variants or a group of rare variants without genotype calling. Our proposed methods are derived based on a standard linear model framework. We derive the joint significant test (JS) for a group of common genetic variables and the variable collapse test (VC) for a group of rare genetic variables. We have conducted extensive simulation studies to evaluate the performance of different estimators. According to our results, we found (1) all methods, including our proposed NGS data-based methods and genotype-based methods, can control the Type I error rate probability well; (2) our proposed NGS data-based methods can achieve better performance in terms of statistical power compared with their corresponding genotype-based methods in the literature; (3) when sequencing depth increases, the performance of all methods increases, and the difference between the performance of NGS data-based methods and corresponding genotype-based methods decreases. In conclusion, we have proposed NGS data-based methods that allow testing for the significance of a group of variants using a linear model framework and have shown the advantage of our NGS data-based methods over genotype-based methods in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the definition and calculation method of power grid strength in the environment of high-proportion nonsynchronous-machine sources, focusing on the effect of nonsynchronous-machine sources on voltage support strength and frequency support strength. By dividing the nonsynchronous-machine sources into four types, the equivalent circuits of each type under normal state and fault state are derived, respectively. Based on the Thevenin equivalent impedance of the power grid and the equivalent impedance of the connected device, the definition and calculation method of voltage support strength is given, and the new meaning of single-infeed short-circuit ratio and multi-infeed short-circuit ratio in the context of high proportion nonsynchronous-machine sources is presented. Based on the initial frequency change rate and the steady-state frequency deviation of any node in the power grid under the maximum expected active power disturbance, the equivalent inertia lifting factor and steady-state frequency deviation decreasing factor are defined, respectively, to describe the contribution of nonsynchronous-machine sources to the power grid frequency support strength, and the calculation methods of the equivalent inertia lifting factor and the steady-state frequency deviation decreasing factor are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose estimation methods to conduct logistic regression based on individual-level predictors and aggregate-level responses. We derive the likelihood of logistic models in this situation and proposed estimators with different optimization methods. Simulation studies have been conducted to evaluate and compare the performance of the different estimators. A real data-based study has been conducted to illustrate the use of our estimators and compare the different estimators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ants are the most widely distributed social insects in terrestrial ecosystems with the largest number of species and quantities; their ecological function is very significant and they have certain medicinal value. Because mitochondria have their own DNA (mtDNA) and genetic system, so the complete mitochondrial genome has been used more and more in molecular phylogeny, population genetics, molecular diagnosis, and evolution of insects. In this study, the mitochondrial genome of Cataglyphis aenescens (Nylander, 1849) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) was sequenced and annotated. The results showed that the total length of the mitochondrial genome of C. aenescens (Nylander, 1849) was 17,197 bp; it contained 37 genes, including 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes (tRNAs), 2 rRNA genes (rRNAs) and a non‐coding region. All PCGs of C. aenescens were initiated with ATN codons and terminated with the TAA codon. The overall nucleotide composition of C. aenescens was AT‐biased (81.74%). Cataglyphis and Formica clustered together. C. aenescens is closely related to Formica sinae, Formica. fusca and Formica selysi. This work enhances the genetic data of Formicidae and contributes to our understanding of their phylogenic relationship, evolution, and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the three technical features related to the offshore wind turbine and the offshore transmission channel, eight schemes of offshore wind power transmission and their corresponding key technologies are discussed. The first technical feature describes the grid-forming capability of the offshore wind turbine; two types of wind turbines are discussed, namely, the grid-following wind turbine and the grid-forming wind turbine. The second technical feature describes the frequency characteristics of the output voltage and current of the offshore wind turbine, including DC, low-frequency AC, power-frequency AC and medium-frequency AC. The third technical feature describes the power transmission modes adopted by the offshore high-voltage main transmission channel, which are HVDC, high-voltage low-frequency AC and high-voltage power-frequency AC. Finally, the technical characteristics and maturity of the eight offshore wind power transmission schemes are reviewed, and a technical development direction is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to study the entrapment of Enterococcus faecalis HZNU S1 using a mixture of flaxseed protein isolate (FPI) and sodium alginate (SA) as an encapsulation agent. The characteristics of free and encapsulated cells during storage and under in vitro gastrointestinal conditions were investigated. The survival rate of encapsulated cells did not decline after 2 h exposure to pH 2.5 simulated gastric juice (SGJ), while viable free probiotics treated at the same conditions, were not found. After encapsulated probiotics were exposed to SGJ pH 2.0 for 2.0 h, the viability decreased from 10.01 to 8.01 Log CFU/g. After exposure to 1.0% and 2.0% bile salt solutions for 2 h, the viable amounts of encapsulated probiotics were still higher 8.0 Log CFU/g, whereas, viable free cells were not observed after treatment at the same conditions. Encapsulated probiotics were fully released from the microbeads in simulated intestinal juice (SIJ) in around 4 h. The viable numbers of encapsulated probiotics were only reduced 0.5 Log CFU/g after two weeks of storage (4 °C), and the viable amounts of encapsulated probiotics were reduced to 8.2 Log CFU/g at 25 °C after eight days of storage. However, the viable amounts of free cells were reduced from 10.01 to 8.8 Log CFU/mL (4 °C), and 4.0 Log CFU/mL (25 °C) during the investigated storage period, respectively. Encapsulated E. faecalis HZNU S1 showed enhanced resistance to environmental conditions, allowing the delivery of probiotics that could be used to increase foods added value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More initial clinical node‐positive breast cancer patients achieve axillary pathological complete response (ax‐pCR) after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST). Restaging axillary status and performing de‐escalated surgical procedures to replace routine axillary lymph nodes dissection (ALND) is urgently needed. Targeted axillary lymph node biopsy (TLNB) is a novel de‐escalated surgical strategy marking metastatic axillary nodes before NST and targeted dissection and biopsy intraoperatively to tailor individual axillary management. Methods: This study provided a systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate the feasibility and diagnosis accuracy of TLNB. Prospective and retrospective clinical trials on TLNB were searched from Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane. Identification rate (IFR), false‐negative rate (FNR), negative predictive value (NPV), and rate of ax‐pCR were the outcomes of this meta‐analysis. Results: One thousand nine hundred and twenty patients attempted TLNB, with an overall IFR of 93.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 90.1%–96.2%). IFR of three nodal marking methods, namely iodine seeds, clips, and carbon dye, was 95.6% (95% CI 91.2%–98.7%), 91.7% (95% CI 87.3%–95.4%), and 97.1% (95% CI 89.1%–100.0%), respectively. Of them, 847 patients received ALND, with an overall FNR of 5.5% (95% CI 3.3%–8.0%), and NPV ranged from 90.1% to 96.1%. Regression analysis showed that the overlap of targeted and sentinel biopsied nodes might associate with IFRs and FNRs. Conclusion: TLNB is a novel, less invasive surgical approach to distinguish initial node‐positive breast cancer that achieves negative axillary conversion after NST. It yields an excellent IFR with a low FNR and a high NPV. A combination of preoperative imaging, intraoperative TLNB with SLNB, and postoperative nodal radiotherapy might affect the future treatment paradigm of primary breast cancer with nodal metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors of postoperative hypoxemia in patients after triple-branched stent graft implantation surgery with acute type A aortic dissection by conducting a nomogram.Methods: We evaluated 97 patients with acute type A aortic dissection (2020-2021), who underwent triple-branched stent graft implantation surgery. The independent risk factors were screened using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. We integrated significant factors as well as potential interference factors to build the nomogram model. The accuracy of the nomogram model was determined by using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC), decision curve analyses (DCA), and calibration plots. Internal verification was evaluated using bootstrap validation.Results: Logistic regression analysis illustrated that the postoperative lactic acid, postoperative creatinine, and intraoperative aortic occlusion time were all independent risk factors for hypoxemia. Age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were clinically relevant for predicting postoperative hypoxemia. We established a nomogram based on these six risk factors. The ROC (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.765), DCA, and calibration confirmed good discriminatory applicability and accuracy of the nomogram. Bootstrap validation (AUC = 0.76) verified the applicability of the nomogram.Conclusions: The nomogram model could serve as a tool for the prediction of postoperative hypoxemia in patients after modified triple-branched stent graft implantation surgery with acute type A aortic dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size, distribution, and morphology of TiC particle in Fe–Ti–C system have a great influence on the mechanical properties of TiC/Fe composites. In this work, TiC/Fe composites were fabricated in the Fe–Ti–C system with different carbon source and molar ratio by combustion synthesis and hot-pressing method. Morphology and size of ceramic particles, as well as microstructure, interface bonding and mechanical properties of composites were compared. The results showed that the size of TiC particles decreased with increase of Fe content of Fe–Ti–C systems fabricated by the same carbon source, while the particles change from spherical shapes to cubic shapes which can reduce stress concentration between ceramic particles and matrix. Furthermore, TiC/Fe composites fabricated by 5Fe–Ti-carbon blacks (CBs) system exhibited superior yield strength (1523 MPa) compressive strength (2203 MPa) and microhardness (691.5 HV), caused by the high interface bonding strength and lamellar pearlite matrix which can commendably limit the dislocation slip. By comparison, TiC/Fe composites fabricated by 21Fe–Ti-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) system showed higher fracture strain (25.85%) on account of the ferrite matrix with favorable plastic. This work reveals the influence of carbon source and molar ratio of Fe–Ti–C system on TiC/Fe composites, which is helpful to further improve the properties of TiC/Fe composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lufenuron is one of the main insecticides for controlling lepidopteran pests, and is especially suitable for controlling pests that are resistant to pyrethroids and organophosphorus pesticides. Resistance to lufenuron is a serious obstacle to effective pest control. A major mechanism of lufenuron resistance is due to mutations in chitin synthase, the target of the toxic effects of benzoylurea (BPUs), according to a reported mutational analysis, I1040 (I1042 in Plutella xylostella) in the SfCHSA gene. The mutation of the site can significantly improve the resistance of insect larvae to BPU insecticides. Secondly, the expression level of insecticide targets in insects is also an important factor affecting insect resistance. In this study, we firstly identified the number of chitin synthase genes and their corresponding names in Spodoptera frugiperda, and detected the mutation sites of the SfCHSA gene. The expression level of chitin synthase gene was then analyzed. Our results showed that no mutation was found in the SfCHSA gene in the currently low-resistant field populations in China, and the expression of chitin synthase was affected by lufenuron. The information obtained from this study is valuable for the use of lufenuron in the field. Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), is commonly known as fall armyworm, native to tropical and subtropical regions of America, is an important migratory agricultural pest. It is important to understand the resistance and internal mechanism of action of S. frugiperda against lufenuron in China. Lufenuron is one of the main insecticides recommended for field use in China and has a broad prospect in the future. We conducted a bioassay using the diet-overlay method and found that the current S. frugiperda in China are still at a low level of resistance to lufenuron. Secondly, we examined whether the mutation I1040M (I1042M in Plutella xylostella), associated with lufenuron resistance, was produced in the field. And then we tested the expression of chitin synthase SfCHSA and SfCHSB in different tissues, and the changes of these two genes after lufenuron induction. The results showed that there is still no mutation generation in China and there is a significant change in the expression of SfCHSA under the effect of lufenuron. In conclusion, our study suggests that field S. frugiperda populations in 2019 and 2020 were less resistant to lufenuron. In fall armyworm, chitin synthases included SfCHSA and SfCHSB genes, and after induction treatment with lufenuron, the expression of the SfCHSA gene was significantly increased. In SfCHSA, no mutation has been detected in the site associated with lufenuron resistance. Secondly, in S. frugiperda larvae, the SfCHSA gene was the highest in the head of the larvae, followed by the integument; while the SfCHSB gene was mainly concentrated in the midgut. Therefore, we believe that the SfCHSA gene plays a greater role in the resistance of S. frugiperda to lufenuron than the SfCHSB gene. It is worth noting that understanding the level of resistance to lufenuron in China, the main mechanism of action of lufenuron on larvae, and the mechanism of resistance to lufenuron in S. frugiperda will help in crop protection as well as in extending the life span of this insecticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the security of counter mode encryption with authentication tag (COMET), one of the 32 second-round candidates in National Institute of Standards and Technology's lightweight cryptography standardization process, against differential cryptanalysis. CHAM-64/128 is a block cipher chosen as one of the underlying block ciphers in COMET for hardware-oriented applications, and a differential characteristic with a high probability for CHAM-64/128 is useful for forgery attacks on COMET. However, we find that the optimal |$\mathbf{39}$| -round differential characteristic for CHAM-64/128 proposed by Roh et al. , which is the longest differential characteristic of CHAM-64/128, is invalid. Then, we propose a new method of distinguishing an |$\mathbf{m}$| -bit block cipher from an |$\mathbf{m}$| -bit random permutation using a differential characteristic with a probability not higher than |$\mathbf{2^{-m}}$|⁠. Using our method, we use two |$\mathbf{39}$| -round differential characteristics with a probability of |$\mathbf{2^{-64}}$| for CHAM-64/128 to distinguish |$\mathbf{39}$| -round-reduced CHAM-64/128 from a |$\mathbf{64}$| -bit random permutation, respectively. Furthermore, we refine the probabilities of two differentials with the same input and output differential masks as the two |$\mathbf{39}$| -round differential characteristics, respectively. Finally, we present the first forgery attacks on COMET with the two differentials without using weak keys. Our forgery attacks follow the nonce-misuse scenario. It should be noticed that this attack does not invalidate the security claims of the designers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inter-turn short-circuit fault (ISF) is a typical incipient fault of the PMSM, which could be detected by high frequency (HF) signal injection method with high resolution. However, the performance comparisons and key parameter selections for various signal injection methods remain untouched. In this paper, different HF injection signals, including rotating high frequency voltage (RHFV), pulsating high frequency voltage (PHFV) and rotating high frequency current (RHFC), are put forward and compared by extracting the HF fault features in zero-sequence voltage space. Since the RHFV injection method has the advantages of high resolution and simple control structure, the fault features under the RHFV signal injection with different parameters are studied. In order to obtain ISF detection resolution as high as possible, the frequency of the RHFV signal is suggested to be near half the PWM frequency of the PMSM inverter. Simulations and experiments are carried out and the results verify the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Convective heat transfer with moisture condensation in crossflow of a cylinder. • Investigations in the subcritical re number range for food thawing applications. • Analysis of the vortex generation dynamics. • Characterization of the local heat transfer on the windward and leeward sides. • Development of correlations that capture the effect of Re number and humidity. Forced convection heat transfer has been widely studied but not with the inclusion of condensation phenomenon particularly in crossflow of a cylinder. In this study, the convective heat transfer with moisture condensation of the air that is relevant for food thawing applications with the airflow around a circular cylinder was investigated. Experiments were carried out that represents food air-thawing conditions such as the Re number within a subcritical range, and the relative humidity of air being varied. Heat flux was measured at different angles around the cylinder to characterize the local heat transfer. A three-dimensional CFD modeling was subsequently carried out with the appropriate choice of turbulence model, and the condensation with the presence of non-condensable gasses. The simulation results were well correlated with the experimental data. The heat transfer rate on the leeward side is enhanced with the development of the detached vortex at higher Re number; hence, changing it within a certain range is an effective method to improve the uniformity of convective condensation heat transfer. An increase in the relative humidity was found to enhance the average convective condensation heat transfer. An empirical correlation that predicts the overall heat transfer was developed adopting Nu, Re , and Pr numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal cesium (Cs) vapor, released at an altitude in the upper atmosphere, generates an artificial space plasma cloud with high electron density. It can act as a scatter to realize radio communication across an over-the-horizon distance. A full-life model of radio propagation via an artificial plasma cloud is established based on its space–time evolution in this article. In addition, this model is verified by the sounding data of the rocket release experiment carried out in the United States. The multipath effect of plasma cloud scattering is studied by using ray tracing, and then, the coherent bandwidth is estimated for this spatial channel. Also, the theoretical channel model of artificial plasma cloud is established by using its space–time evolution and atmospheric wind field parameters. Considering common modulation modes and receiver noise levels, the potential communication performance is evaluated by using the proposed channel model, such as the transmission rate, the bit error rate (BER), and the available time for building up and maintaining communication links. It is shown that the maximal communication rate is up to 200 kb/s, BER overall maintains below 10−7, and the available time for a single release is about 30–60 min; for the case of this article, they are release mass of 2–10 kg, communication distances of 400–1200 km, and radio frequencies of 30–70 MHz at the VHF band. This demonstrates that the artificial channel can propagate radio waves at a much higher frequency, wider bandwidth, and higher rate than those of HF communication. Hopefully, it could be a solution to overcome the intolerable shortcoming and adverse effects on HF communication due to ionospheric disturbances especially in cases of maritime, emergency, and minimum communications [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharing in embryology and function between the eye and brain has led to interest in whether assessments of the eye reflect brain changes seen in neurodegeneration. We aimed to examine the associations between measures of retinal layer thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multimodal measures of brain structure and function. Using a convenient sample of twins discordant for type 2 diabetes, we performed cognitive testing, structural brain MRI (tissue volumetry), diffusion tensor imaging (white matter microstructure), and arterial spin labelling (cerebral blood flow). OCT images were recorded and retinal thickness maps generated. We used mixed level modelling to examine the relationship between retinal layer thicknesses and brain measures. We enrolled 35 people (18 pairs, mean age 63.8 years, 63% female). Ganglion cell layer thickness was positively associated with memory, speed, gray matter volume, and altered mean diffusivity. Ganglion cell layer thickness was strongly positively associated with regional cerebral blood flow. We found only a limited number of associations between other retinal layer thickness and measures of brain structure or function. Ganglion cell layer thickness showed consistent associations with a range of brain measures suggesting it may have utility as a marker for future dementia risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 21st century, the worldwide concern about global warming has forced energy to transform in the direction of low-carbon and non-carbon. The utilization of renewable energy is developing rapidly, which makes the non-synchronous generator sources become the main part of the newly added power sources. Based on the fundamentals of AC power grid operation, this paper describes three technical challenges faced by the power system in transition: the inadequacy of the classic synchronization stability concept in representing the new synchronization connotation of AC power systems with large proportion of non-synchronous generator sources; the inapplicability of the electromechanical transient analysis method in analyzing the generalized synchronization stability; and the wideband resonance instability caused by negative resistance of power electronic equipment. The decisive factors for maintaining the generalized synchronization stability, the countermeasure to solve the inapplicability of the electromechanical transient analysis method and a systematic approach to tackle the broadband resonance instability are proposed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharing in embryology and function between the eye and brain has led to interest in whether assessments of the eye reflect brain changes seen in neurodegeneration. We aimed to examine the associations between measures of retinal layer thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multimodal measures of brain structure and function. Using a convenient sample of twins discordant for type 2 diabetes, we performed cognitive testing, structural brain MRI (tissue volumetry), diffusion tensor imaging (white matter microstructure), and arterial spin labelling (cerebral blood flow). OCT images were recorded and retinal thickness maps generated. We used mixed level modelling to examine the relationship between retinal layer thicknesses and brain measures. We enrolled 35 people (18 pairs, mean age 63.8 years, 63% female). Ganglion cell layer thickness was positively associated with memory, speed, gray matter volume, and altered mean diffusivity. Ganglion cell layer thickness was strongly positively associated with regional cerebral blood flow. We found only a limited number of associations between other retinal layer thickness and measures of brain structure or function. Ganglion cell layer thickness showed consistent associations with a range of brain measures suggesting it may have utility as a marker for future dementia risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] In recent decades, haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) to treat severe aplastic anemia (SAA) has achieved remarkable progress. However, long-term results are still lacking. We conducted a multicenter prospective study involving SAA patients who underwent haplo-SCT as salvage therapy. Long-term outcomes were assessed, mainly focusing on survival and quality of life (QoL). Longitudinal QoL was prospectively evaluated during pretransplantation and at 3 and 5 years posttransplantation using the SF-36 scale in adults and the PedsQL 4.0 scale in children. A total of 287 SAA patients were enrolled, and the median follow-up was 4.56 years (range, 3.01–9.05 years) among surviving patients. During the long-term follow-up, 268 of 275 evaluable patients (97.5%) obtained sustained full donor chimerism, and 93.4% had complete hematopoietic recovery. The estimated overall survival and failure-free survival for the whole cohort at 9 years were 85.4% ± 2.1% and 84.0% ± 2.2%, respectively. Age (≥18 years) and a poorer performance status (ECOG >1) were identified as risk factors for survival outcomes. For QoL recovery after haplo-SCT, we found that QoL progressively improved from pretransplantation to the 3-year and 5-year time points with statistical significance. The occurrence of chronic graft versus host disease was a risk factor predicting poorer QoL scores in both the child and adult cohorts. At the last follow-up, 74.0% of children and 72.9% of adults returned to normal school or work. These inspiring long-term outcomes suggest that salvage transplantation with haploidentical donors can be routine practice for SAA patients without human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a subtype of neurofibromatosis, the plexiform neurofibroma is a benign, autosomally inherited disorder and predisposed to tumour formation. However, life-threatening haemorrhage into facial plexiform neurofibroma is extremely rare. In the current study, we showed a facial plexiform neurofibroma case with massive haemorrhage in the cranio-maxillofacial region. An emergent selective angiography of the external carotid artery was performed to identify the offending artery, which was then selectively occluded by the combination of detachable coils and Onyx-34. Thus, the minimally invasive drainage surgery was successfully performed to evacuate the haematoma. We believe the endovascular embolization achieved its purpose by providing an initial salvage strategy for stopping active haemorrhage in plexiform neurofibroma, allowing surgeons to perform open surgery with lower complications rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The breakup mechanism of a conical liquid bridge is reported based on the previously proposed electrostatic liquid loading method. The breakup criterion in terms of interface feature size is derived. Based on the criterion, the breakup mechanism can be categorized as either spontaneous breakup or stretching breakup. The evolution of interface and velocity for two breakup behaviors is subsequently investigated. For the spontaneous breakup, the remnant volume Vd depends primarily on the top radius Rt and is proportional to the square of Rt. For the stretching breakup, the remnant volume depends on the early stage of the stretching, and Vd is proportional to the cube of Rt. In addition, the influence of the stretching velocity U is examined. Results show that U has a weaker effect on the change of remnant volume than the top radius Rt for large capillary numbers. This study is helpful in understanding the liquid bridge breakup mechanism and improving the transfer printing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Freshness is an important quality of squid with respect to determining the market price. The methods of evaluation of freshness fail to be widely used as a result of the lack of rapidity and quantitation. In the present study, a rapid and non‐destructive quantification of squid freshness by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra combined with chemometric techniques was performed. RESULTS: The relatively linear content change of trimethylamine (TMA‐N) and dimethylamine (DMA‐N) of squid during storage at 4 °C indicated their feasibility as a freshness indicator, as also confirmed by sensory evaluation. The spectral changes were mainly caused by the degradation of proteins and the production of amines by two‐dimensional infrared correlation spectroscopy, among which TMA‐N, DMA‐N and putrescine were the main amines. The successive projections algorithm (SPA) was employed to select the sensitive wavenumbers to freshness for modeling prediction including partial least‐squares regression, support vector regression (SVR) and back‐propagation artificial neural network. Generally, the SPA‐SVR model of the selected characteristic wavenumber showed a higher prediction accuracy for DMA‐N (R2P = 0.951; RMSEP = 0.218), whereas both SPA‐SVR (R2P = 0.929; RMSEP = 2.602) and Full‐SVR (R2P = 0.941; RMSEP = 2.492) models had a higher predictive ability of TMA‐N. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study demonstrate that FTIR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate calibration shows significant potential for the prediction of freshness in squid. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber is the key component of a compression packer, which directly affects the success or failure of seals. Presently, the contact stress between the rubber and borehole walls is used as the main evaluation criterion for the sealing ability of the rubber of the compression packer. However, this evaluation criterion is imperfect. This study establishes the sealing performance and reliability evaluation system of a compression packer at 120°C. Considering the influence of time and temperature on the mechanical characteristics of rubber materials, the international advanced test technology was used to complete the uniaxial, planar and biaxial tensile tests and stress relaxation test for hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) of a compression packer under high temperature. Next, the hyperelastic and viscoelastic constitutive models of rubber materials based on high-temperature test data were established. Comprehensive sealing performance and reliability evaluation system for the compression packer rubber with compression rate, linear pressure, surface pressure and sealing performance coefficient were proposed. The evaluation system tested the rubber’s stress relaxation effect on the rubber’s sealing performance. The establishment of the evaluation system improved the shortcomings of the current packer-sealing performance evaluation system and provided a theoretical basis for the design and optimisation of the key structure of the packer-sealing system. Besides, based on the evaluation system, a platform for automatic structure simulation analysis and optimisation design of packer sealing system was developed and successfully applied to the actual design and optimisation process of packer. The system can effectively predict the sealing ability of the packer and guide field applications of the packer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs about Sapium sebiferum, a perennial deciduous tree in the family Euphorbiaceae, has been cultivated and used in China for more than 1000 years. Topics include S. sebiferum is an adaptable to various environment and widely distributed in various areas south of the Yellow River Basin; and Lianjiu No. 1 is a new cultivar of Sapium sebiferum cultivated by Lianyungang Academy of Agricultural Sciences from seedlings.