Search

Abstract Yellow tea (YT), a slightly-fermented tea originated from Ming Dynasty with distinctive “Three yellows,” mild-sweet smell, and mellow taste attributed to the unique yellowing process. Based on current literature and our previous work, we aim to comprehensively illustrate the key processing procedures, characteristic chemical compounds, health benefits and applications, as well as the interlocking relationships among them. Yellowing is the most vital procedure anchored on the organoleptic quality, characteristic chemical components, and bioactivities of YT, which is influenced by temperature, moisture content, duration, and ventilation conditions. Pheophorbides, carotenoids, thearubigins and theabrownins are the major pigments contributing to the “three yellows” appearance. Alcohols, such as terpinol and nerol, are attributed to the refreshing and sweet aroma of bud and small-leaf YT, while heterocyclics and aromatics forming during roasting result in the crispy rice-like large-leaf YT. Hygrothermal effects and enzymatic reactions during yellowing result in the decline of astringent substances. Meanwhile, multiple bioactive compounds such as catechins, ellagitannins, and vitexin, endow YT with antioxidant, anti-metabolic syndrome, anti-cancer, gut microbiota regulation, and organ injury protection effects. Future studies focusing on the standard yellowing process technology, quality evaluation system, and functional factors and mechanisms, possible orientations, and perspectives are guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC), as an advanced version of adaptive cruise control (ACC), automates brake and engine controls based on the information received from wireless V2V communications and remote sensors, enabling smaller vehicle-following time gaps. It can improve the safety of vehicle platooning and increase fuel savings. As an extension of our previous investigation of truck drivers' acceptance of CACC, this case study investigates factors affecting the use of CACC for truck platooning. Nine commercial fleet drivers were recruited to operate two following trucks in a CACC-enabled string on freeways in Northern California. We analyzed the usage of CACC time gaps and its correlation with truck drivers' stated preferences for these time gaps, and we found that the highest preferred Gap 3 (1.2 s) was used the most. Moreover, a Bayesian regression model was built to show that truck drivers are more likely to disengage CACC when driving in low-speed traffic or on downgrades where this CACC could not provide sufficient braking. In high-speed traffic or on upgrades, truck drivers are more likely to engage CACC, particularly at Gap 3. Truck position, however, does not affect truck drivers' time gap selection. The findings encourage the adoption of CACC in the trucking industry through implementing driver-preferred time gaps and responsive braking systems, and operating on routes with minimal interference to truck speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter proposes a parallel-connected 24-pulse rectifier using a hybrid harmonic reduction method at the dc side. The proposed rectifier contains an unconventional interphase reactor (UIPR) with a double-tapped primary winding and secondary winding connected pulsewidth modulation converter. The proposed method is a combination of the passive and active harmonic method. From the viewpoint of total harmonic distortion (THD) of the input line current, ripple load voltage, and kilovoltampere rating of the active auxiliary circuit, the UIPR and active injecting current are optimally designed. An experimental prototype is developed to verify the theoretical analysis. The experimental THD is about 2.87%, which shows good performance of harmonic reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution of agricultural soil is a major global concern, prompting the establishment of maximum allowable limits (MALs) to ensure food safety and protect human health. This study collected and compared MALs for six heavy metals (As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Zn, and Cu) in agricultural soils from representative countries and organizations (EU and WHO/FAO). The research evaluated the critical health risks and efficacy of these MALs under the hypothetical scenario of metals concentrations reaching the maximum allowable level. Safe thresholds for heavy metals were then derived based on maximum acceptable health risk levels. The comparative analysis revealed significant variations in the specific limit values and terms of MALs across countries and organizations, even for the same metal. This suggests that there is no consensus among countries and organizations regarding the level of metal-related health risks. Furthermore, the risk analysis of metal concentrations reaching the maximum level accentuated heightened risks associated with As, suggesting that the current risk of soil As exposure was underestimated, particularly for children. However, soil Cu, Cd, and Zn limits generally resulted in low health risks, implying that the current limits may overestimate their hazard. Overall, the results highlight that the current MALs for soil heavy metals may not fully safeguard human health. There is a critical need to optimize current soil MALs based on localized risks and the actual impact of these metals on human health. It is suggested to appropriately lower the limits of metals (such as As) whose impact on health risks is underestimated, and cautiously increase the limits of metals (such as Cu, Cd, and Zn) that currently pose minor health risks. This approach aims to reduce both over and insufficient protection problems of soil heavy metal MALs, emphasizing the importance of considering the locality in setting these limits. [Display omitted] • A health risk assessment of heavy metals limits for farmland was conducted. • Thresholds for metals in farmland were backward derived by the acceptable risk. • Terms and values of metals limits for farmland exhibited substantial discrepancies. • Most As limits may be unprotective while other metals limits are conservative. • A deeper exploration of soil exposure and metals toxicity helps to update limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impacts of feature selection on driver cognitive distraction (CD) detection and validation in real-world nonautomated and Level 2 automated driving scenarios. Background: Real-time driver state monitoring is critical to promote road user safety. Method: Twenty-four participants were recruited to drive a Tesla Model S in manual and Autopilot modes on the highway while engaging in the N-back task. In each driving mode, CD was classified by the random forest algorithm built on three "hand-crafted" glance features (i.e., percent road center [PRC], the standard deviation of gaze pitch, and yaw angles), or through a large number of features that were transformed from the output of a driver monitoring system (DMS) and other sensing systems. Results: In manual driving, the small set of glance features was as effective as the large set of machine-generated features in terms of classification accuracy. Whereas in Level 2 automated driving, both glance and vehicle features were less sensitive to CD. The glance features also revealed that the misclassified driver state was the result of the dynamic fluctuations and individual differences of cognitive loads under CD. Conclusion: Glance metrics are critical for the detection and validation of CD in on-road driving. Applications: The paper suggests the practical value of human factors domain knowledge in feature selection and ground truth validation for the development of driver monitoring technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The paper aimed to investigate glance behaviors under different levels of distraction in automated driving (AD) and understand the impact of distraction levels on driver takeover performance. Background: Driver distraction detrimentally affects takeover performance. Glance-based distraction measurement could be a promising method to remind drivers to maintain enough attentiveness before the takeover request in partially AD. Method: Thirty-six participants were recruited to drive a Tesla Model S in manual and Autopilot modes on a test track while engaging in secondary tasks, including temperature-control, email-sorting, and music-selection, to impose low and high distractions. During the test drive, participants needed to quickly change the lane as if avoiding an immediate road hazard if they heard an unexpected takeover request (an auditory warning). Driver state and behavior over the test drive were recorded in real time by a driver monitoring system and several other sensors installed in the Tesla vehicle. Results: The distribution of off-road glance duration was heavily skewed (with a long tail) by high distractions, with extreme glance duration more than 30 s. Moreover, being eyes-off-road before takeover could cause more delay in the urgent takeover reaction compared to being hands-off-wheel. Conclusion: The study measured off-road glance duration under different levels of distraction and demonstrated the impacts of being eyes-off-road and hands-off-wheel on the following takeover performance. Application: The findings provide new insights about engagement in Level 2 AD and are useful for the design of driver monitoring technologies for distraction management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper aimed to investigate the robustness of driver cognitive workload detection based on electrocardiogram (ECG) when considering temporal variation and individual differences in cognitive workload. Background: Cognitive workload is a critical component to be monitored for error prevention in human–machine systems. It may fluctuate instantaneously over time even in the same tasks and differ across individuals. Method: A driving simulation study was conducted to classify driver cognitive workload underlying four experimental conditions (baseline, N-back, texting, and N-back + texting distraction) in two repeated 1-hr blocks. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were compared among the experimental conditions and between the blocks. Random forests were built on HR and HRV to classify cognitive workload in different blocks and for different individuals. Results: HR and HRV were significantly different between repeated blocks in the study, demonstrating the time-induced variation in cognitive workload. The performance of cognitive workload classification across blocks and across individuals was significantly improved after normalizing HR and HRV in each block by the corresponding baseline. Conclusion: The temporal variation and individual differences in cognitive workload affects ECG-based cognitive workload detection. But normalization approaches relying on the choice of appropriate baselines help compensate for the effects of temporal variation and individual differences. Application: The findings provide insight into the value and limitations of ECG-based driver cognitive workload monitoring during prolonged driving for individual drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An active balancing circuit based on a buck--boost converter is proposed to deal with unbalanced states of battery packs. The proposed circuit has low-frequency bidirectional switches to control the states of inductors, including the connection, disconnection, and short-circuit states. By controlling the states of inductors, many kinds of buck–boost converters can be constructed between adjacent cells or groups of several adjacent cells. The proposed circuit has multiple balancing modes with flexible equalization paths, and different equalization processes can occur simultaneously to shorten equalization time. To improve the equalization performance of the proposed circuit, theoretical calculations are carried out to explore the relationship among different equalization parameters. A balancing strategy is presented to illustrate the sequence of equalization processes. Experiments are performed with a six-cell lithium iron phosphate battery pack under different operating conditions to verify the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intolerance of uncertainty (IU) model holds that excessive emotional response under uncertain conditions is conducive to the maintenance of anxiety, and individuals with a high anxiety level may exhibit a negative bias and experience anxiety when processing uncertain information. However, the dynamic electrophysiological correlation of this negative bias is not clear. Therefore, we used an adapted study–test paradigm to explore the changes in the electroencephalography (EEG) of subjects when processing uncertain cues and certain cues (certain neutral and certain threatening) and correlated the differences with anxiety level. The behavioral results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the trait anxiety score and β value under the threatening condition, which indicated that individuals with high trait anxiety take a more conservative approach in the face of negative stimuli. The results of EEG showed that during the test stage, the components N1 and P2, which are related to early perception, had significant conditional main effects. Meanwhile, under uncertain conditions, the N1 peak was positively correlated with the state anxiety score. In the study stage, we found that the N400 component was significantly larger in the early study stage than in the late study stage under uncertain conditions. In sum, individuals with high anxiety levels had a negative bias in the early cue processing of the test stage, and anxiety did not affect the study stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comparative analysis of two different interphase reactors (IPRs) applied in a 36‐pulse diode rectifier. One is traditional triple‐tapped IPR; the other is unconventional IPR (UIPR) composed of the primary winding and secondary winding. The primary winding is double‐tapped conventionally and the secondary winding is connected with a single‐phase full‐wave rectifier. The operation modes and optimal parameters of both IPRs are analysed. The effect of different operation modes on output currents of the two three‐phase diode‐bridge rectifiers, input currents and load voltages is also analysed. Under the optimal parameters, both rectifiers operate as 36‐pulse diode rectifiers and reduce the total harmonic distortion of input line currents to be 5%. Especially, the proposed rectifier using UIPR is easy and simple to implement. Some experiments are provided to validate the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth, development and interaction with the environment involve the action of transcription factor. bHLH proteins play an essential and often conserved role in the plant kingdom. However, bHLH proteins that participate in the cell division process are less well known. Here, we report that the bHLH transcription factor gene AtUPB1 is involved in mediating cell cycle progression and root development. In yeast cells, AtUPB1 inhibits cells proliferation and the cells had increased numbers of nuclei. UPB1 overexpression decreased the expression of the cell division marker CYCB1-1 , and CDKA1 expression could overcome the defect of UPB1 overexpression. Moreover, UPB1 could directly bind to the promoter region of the SIM and SMR1 genes to regulate cell cycle. These results support a new role for AtUPB1 regulating root meristem development by mediating the expression of SIM/SMR1 genes. • AtUPB1 affect the cell division in yeast cell. • SIM and SMR1 genes are direct target of UPB1. • UPB1 change the cell cycle progress in G2-M phase to regulate root growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal accumulation in agriculture soils is of particular concern in China, while the status and probabilistic health risks of metal contamination in Chinese agriculture soils have been rarely studied at the national scale. In this study, we compiled a database of heavy metal concentrations in Chinese agriculture soils and selected six heavy metals for pollution assessment and risk screening: arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn). Monte Carlo simulation was employed to assess the probabilistic health risks, the associated uncertainties, as well as variations in toxicity parameters, ingestion rate and body weight. Results indicated that the concentrations of Cd were elevated above their reference standard and Cd had the highest mean geo-accumulation index (I geo) of 1.79. Moreover, the mean hazard index (HI) through exposure to six heavy metals was 1.85E−01 and 2.87E−02 for children and adults, respectively, with 2.2% of non-cancer risks for children that exceeded the guideline value of 1. In contrast, 95.0% and 90.0% of the total cancer risks (TCR) through exposure to six heavy metals for children and adults, respectively, exceeded the guideline value of 1E−06. Six metals were ranked based on their percent of risk outputs exceeding the guideline values. Arsenic had the high exceedance of both cancer and non-cancer risks, while both Cr and Cd were metals with high concern that had high exceedance of cancer risk. Sensitivity analyses indicated that metal concentrations and ingestion rate of soil were the predominant contributors to total risk variance. Overall, the adverse health risks induced by exposure to heavy metals contaminated farmland were elevated. Results from this study may provide valuable implications for public health professionals and policy-makers to design effective strategy to manage nation-wide farmland and reduce heavy metal exposure. Unlabelled Image • Pollution status and probabilistic health risk of heavy metal in agriculture soils across China was determined. • Chinese population face severe cancer risks of heavy metal exposure as their risk value exceeded the benchmark. • The spatial distribution of high-risk areas and that of cancer villages were correlated. • Priority metals and critical exposure factors for further risk control were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and robust 24-pulse diode rectifier for low-voltage and high-current applications is proposed in this paper. The proposed 24-pulse diode rectifier consists of a conventional four-star 12-pulse diode rectifier and an auxiliary single-phase full-wave rectifier (ASFR) installed at dc side. The low-power (3.4%Po) ASFR extracts two rectangular currents from the modified second-stage interphase transformer and injects a square current into the output of the rectifier system. This modification extends the conventional four-star 12-pulse operation to 24-pulse operation. The proposed 24-pulse rectifier draws near sinusoidal input line currents with the absence of 5th, 7th, 11th, 13th, 17th, and 19th harmonics. The average value of current through the ASFR has only 1.7% of load current, which means the current rating and conduction losses of ASFR are very small. The proposed scheme has low-diode conduction losses, and it is more suitable for low-voltage and large-current applications. Since only an additional ASFR is needed, the proposed scheme is low cost and simple to implement. The detailed analysis for the proposed rectifier is presented, and experimental results are provided to verify the proposed concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to measure the linear energy transfer (LET) spectra of therapeutic carbon ion beams with a new 2D 6 mm thick ripple filter (RiFi) by using a CR-39 detector. A water phantom was irradiated by three different single energy carbon beams (86.2 MeV/u, 276.5 MeV/u, and 430.0 MeV/u) at Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center (SPHIC), CR-39 detectors were used to measure the LET spectra with and without the RiFi. The Monte Carlo toolkit Geant4 was employed to perform the simulations. The dose-averaged LET (LET d) was calculated according to the LET spectra. The results showed that the 2D RiFi broadens the Bragg peak width and LET d distribution. The simulation LET spectra of primary carbon ions were in good agreement with the experimental results. The LET d can be well estimated by using the measured LET spectra. This result indicated that the RiFi affects the depth-dose distribution and the shape of LET spectra for mono-energetic carbon beams. The CR-39 detector is suitable for LET spectra measurement. It is hoped that this work could provide a new reference method for the cross-validation of basic data in carbon ion clinical quality assurance and benefit clinical treatment. • CR-39 detectors were irradiated by three single-energy therapeutic carbon ion beams. • LET spectrum distribution was measured. • The effect of a 6 mm 2D ripple filter on LET spectra was investigated. • LET spectra and LET d distribution were compared between experiment and Geant4 simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The study examined driver's broader peripheral vision (≤70°) in highway driving using Tesla Autopilot. • A generalized Bayesian regression model was trained to predict the detection probability of eccentric LEDs as surrogate of peripheral vision. • Driver's near-peripheral vision was good and stable (within 20°-30°) but their useful field was narrower in highway driving. • Reduced speed, cognitive load, and older age degraded mid-peripheral vison (20°–50°), while Autopilot had little effect. The study aims to model driver perception across the visual field in dynamic, real-world highway driving. Peripheral vision acquires information across the visual field and guides a driver's information search. Studies in naturalistic settings are lacking however, with most research having been conducted in controlled simulation environments with limited eccentricities and driving dynamics. We analyzed data from 24 participants who drove a Tesla Model S with Autopilot on the highway. While driving, participants completed the peripheral detection task (PDT) using LEDs and the N-back task to generate cognitive load. The I-DT (identification by dispersion threshold) algorithm sampled naturalistic gaze fixations during PDTs to cover a broader and continuous spectrum of eccentricity. A generalized Bayesian regression model predicted LED detection probability during the PDT—as a surrogate for peripheral vision—in relation to eccentricity, vehicle speed, driving mode, cognitive load, and age. The model predicted that LED detection probability was high and stable through near-peripheral vision but it declined rapidly beyond 20°-30° eccentricity, showing a narrower useful field over a broader visual field (maximum 70°) during highway driving. Reduced speed (while following another vehicle), cognitive load, and older age were the main factors that degraded the mid-peripheral vision (20°-50°), while using Autopilot had little effect. Drivers can reliably detect objects through near-peripheral vision, but their peripheral detection degrades gradually due to further eccentricity, foveal demand during low-speed vehicle following, cognitive load, and age. The findings encourage the development of further multivariate computational models to estimate peripheral vision and assess driver situation awareness for crash prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the performance and encapsulation mechanisms of novel biochar-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI-BC) used for the remediation of soil co-contaminated with arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) via incubation and column experiments. Compared with the control, 0.50% of nZVI-BC significantly decreased the leakage of As, Cd, and Pb by 97.94–98.45%, 42.86–81.12%, and 82.14–92.49%, respectively. In addition, 0.50% of nZVI-BC could transform the fraction of unstable heavy metals into a stable form, which substantially decreased the availability, leachability, and bioaccessibility of the heavy metals and hence greatly reduced the human health exposure risk. Column experiments showed that 0.50% of nZVI-BC effectively restrained the leaching of As, Cd, and Pb by 95.60–99.84%, 70.82–84.18%, and 91.68–99.81%, respectively. The predominant encapsulation mechanisms of nZVI-BC included complexation, precipitation/co-precipitation, reduction, and the formation of ternary surface complexes. Based on these insights, we can devise new strategies for the remediation of soil co-contaminated with As, Cd, and Pb. [Display omitted] • nZVI-BC exhibited high applicability and time stability for soil remediation. • Leaching toxicity of soil As, Cd and Pb were suppressed by nZVI-BC. • nZVI-BC decreased bioaccessibility and human exposure risk of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting system offers a solution to the power supply challenge for low-power sensors. However, In practical engineering, structural parameter uncertainties arise from manufacturing errors, environmental temperature fluctuations, and changes in material properties. Besides, due to inherent flaws in the structure and materials, asymmetry may occur in the potential well, which leads to the complexity of the dynamic behavior exhibited in energy harvesting system. In this paper, in order to investigate the dynamics of the asymmetric monostable piezoelectric energy harvesting system under an uncertain parameter, the orthogonal polynomial approximation method is applied to transform the stochastic system into an equivalent deterministic system. Then, the responses of the equivalent deterministic system are used to reveal the stochastic behavior of the uncertainty system. The results indicate that, when the uncertainty intensity of the cubic nonlinear coefficient is 0, an increase in the asymmetry level of the potential well leads to an increase in the output voltage. Increasing the other parameters, the output voltage is reduced. In addition, as the uncertainty intensity increases, the parameter intervals of chaotic response become wider and the energy harvesting efficiency decreases. Moreover, as the potential well asymmetry increases, the sensitivity of energy harvesting system to uncertain parameter increases. • The dynamic behaviors of stochastic asymmetric monostable energy harvester are studied. • The Chebyshev polynomial approximation is applied to transform the stochastic system into a high-dimensional equivalent deterministic system. • The influences of the uncertain parameter on system responses are revealed. • The results show that the uncertainty of parameter can make the output voltage unstable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution control policies (PCP) have been implemented in some e-waste dismantling areas in China to curb metal contamination since 2012. We investigated the effects of policy intervention on the concentrations, sources and health risks of heavy metals in soils. Post-implementation, among Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, Pb levels declined while the Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn concentrations in soils were not impacted. Changes in their pollution indices and health risks were also similar. After the PCP, the contribution of traffic emission significantly decreased, while natural and industrial contribution increased due to the heighten background input and relocation of small e-waste dismantling workshops. Risk assessment showed that total cancer risk of five metals also slightly increased. Thus, policy intervention might be effective in controlling the release of some metals from e-waste dismantling. However, the performance of control measures varied depending on both source emission and geochemical properties of the metals. This study reveal the ongoing need of stricter supervision, targeted emission reduction and more-effective soil remediation actions to alleviate soil contamination from e-waste dismantling. Unlabelled Image • Policy was assessed to gain insight on source, concentration and risk of heavy metals. • Regulation lowered level and health risk of Pb, with little impacts on other metals. • Policy effect varied with geographic characteristic & source emission of metals. • Targeted emission reduction and soil remediation needed to reduce metal pollution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Acceptance for automated technology increases following on-road experience. • Engagement is lower for partially automated driving than manual driving. • The design of automated vehicle interfaces can cause driver confusion between modes. • Drivers use strategies to counter hands-on steering wheel sensors. • Complacent behaviours and attitudes threaten the safe use of automated vehicles. Contextual investigations of automated vehicle technology have so far been rare, however they are crucial to uncover the challenges that exist around its acceptance and safe use. Twenty-one drivers used a partially automated vehicle on a public highway in unaltered traffic conditions, while their behaviour was observed. Subjective measures of technology acceptance were taken before and after the drive, as well as post-drive ratings of engagement, workload, and perceived safety for manual versus automated driving. Post-drive interviews were conducted to better understand participants' attitudes and their behaviours that were observed. Technology acceptance was higher following the drive as indicated by increased trust and perceived safety. Engagement was lower for automated driving, while no differences were reported for workload or safety between the driving modes. Perceptions of level-2 technology were highly positive, though complacent attitudes and behaviours were apparent. There was dissatisfaction with the hands-on steering wheel sensor, and observed behaviours indicate that it fails to adequately measure driver engagement. Many unintentional automation disengagements occurred due to problems interacting with the physical controls. Concerningly, this sometimes led to situations where the participant incorrectly thought they were still in automated mode, but were in fact responsible for primary driving tasks. Insufficient cues to inform the driver of mode changes and the current automation status contributed to the mode confusion observed. These findings can help inform the design of automated vehicle technology as well as policies and regulations, to ensure the inherent risks in partial driving automation can be managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An intergraded source-exposure risk approach was developed. • Interrelationships among source, sink and human health were assessed. • Parent material and agrochemical application caused the highest non-cancer risk. • Industrial activities caused the highest total cancer risk. • Reducing industrial discharge and agrochemical use is key for alleviating human health risk. Conducting integrated analysis of the source, exposure and health risk of heavy metals is critical for developing mitigation strategies of soil contamination. Taking the former electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling center in China as an example this study quantitatively apportioned source contribution of soil heavy metals in this area by statistical analysis and positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. Furthermore, the human health risk of identified sources were quantified by combining source profiles and exposure risk assessment. The seven heavy metals investigated were arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn). Results indicated that agricultural soils were mainly contaminated with Cd and Cu. Parent material and pesticide, fertilizer application, industrial discharge, and vehicle emission accounted for 46.6, 22.2, and 31.2%, respectively, of the accumulation of metals in the soil. Moreover, these sources contributed 52.9, 19.0, and 28.1%, respectively of the total non-cancer risk. For the total cancer risk, the contribution of these three sources was 39.2, 45.3, and 15.5%, respectively. Despite that industrial discharge contributed the least to the accumulation of metals (22.2%), it contributed the most to the total cancer risk (45.3%). Reducing industrial emission was crucial for minimizing the heavy metal input to agricultural soils and preventing potential health hazard. These findings could provide support for environmental protection authority to improve the management and risk prevention of contaminated farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmland contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has drawn increasing attention across China with enhanced regulations and environmental policies proposed by government to protect soil environment safety. As the informal electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling activities were forbidden under recent environmental regulation, this study compared levels, compositions, spatial distributions, human health risks of PAHs in paddy soil within the vicinity of an e-waste recycling area in southeastern China, with 129 and 150 soil samples collected in 2011 and 2016, respectively. The soil contamination was dominated with high molecular weight PAHs. The mean concentration of EPA 16 PAHs decreased from 590.4 ± 337.2 μg kg−1 in 2011 to 407.3 ± 232.2 μg kg−1 in 2016. Distribution maps of soil PAHs concentration displayed the temporal change in spatial. Principal component analysis together with diagnostic ratios revealed the combustion of biomass and coal in industrial and unregulated e-waste dismantling were the main sources of PAHs in the study area. Both deterministic and probabilistic assessments demonstrated reduced exposure risk for farmers from 2011 to 2016. Sensitivity analysis revealed that exposure frequency (EF) is the most influential parameter for the total variance in the risk assessment model. This study implied that the more stringent environmental policy and regulation can lead reductions in soil contamination with PAHs. Unlabelled Image • Temporal changes related to the levels, sources and risks of PAHs were elucidated. • Strengthened regulations were effective in reducing PAHs level in the soil. • Both deterministic and probabilistic risk assessments showed reduced exposure risks of farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi-directional cell-to-cell balancing circuits can well prevent voltage imbalance of batteries that are connected in series. However, it is a challenge to achieve high equalization speed and equalization efficiency with low complex circuit structure. In order to overcome this challenge, it is proposed that a direct bi-directional cell-to-cell active equalization method that works in continuous current mode (CCM) is used. The proposed balancing circuit allows energy to transfer directly from the source cell to the target cell in one step, which guarantees high balancing speed and efficiency. The experiments in which six-20 Ah lithium-ion batteries are connected in series have been carried out, and the results show that the balancing circuit achieves a good comprehensive performance of equalization in efficiency, speed, and circuit complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a simple 36-pulse diode rectifier with an unconventional interphase reactor (IPR) and single-phase full-wave rectifier (SFR). The primary winding of the unconventional IPR is double tapped and the secondary winding is connected with SFR. The operation mode of the unconventional IPR is analyzed, and the optimal tap ratio and turn ratio of the unconventional IPR are designed from both viewpoints of input line current and load voltage. With the optimal parameters of the unconventional IPR, the proposed rectifier extends the conventional 24-pulse rectifier operation to 36-pulse operation and draws near sinusoidal input line currents, the total harmonic distortion (THD) of which is about 5.035%. The kVA rating of the unconventional IPR is about 2.6% of the output power. Compared with the conventional 36-pulse rectifier with triple-tapped IPR, the proposed 36-pulse rectifier is easy and simple to implement instead of using control circuits. Experiment results are provided to verify the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of various factors on neutron spectrum unfolding, including track parameters (major axis, minor axis and depth), polyethylene (PE) thickness, and etching time. The Monte Carlo code Geant4 and proton track parameter calculation program TRACK_P were applied to simulate the response matrix and track parameters spectrum. Four test spectra—252Cf spectrum, Gaussian broadened deuterium–deuterium fusion neutron spectrum, 241Am–Be spectrum, and Gaussian broadened deuterium–tritium fusion neutron spectrum—were studied using the maximum-likelihood expectation maximization algorithm for neutron spectrum unfolding. The unfolded spectra were in good agreement with the reference spectra. Results showed that the major and minor axes were more suitable than the track depth for neutron spectrum unfolding. For high-energy neutrons, a thick PE layer is required. Moreover, etching time does not significantly affect the unfolded spectra. This study explores the factors influencing the unfolding of fast neutron spectrum based on simulation calculations and preliminary experiments that can be useful for applying CR-39 to neutron spectrum measurements. • The response matrices of track parameters are calculated using Monte Carlo simulation and the TRACK_P program. • The track parameter spectrum and maximum likelihood expectation maximization are used for neutron spectrum unfolding. • The impact factors of track parameters, polyethylene thickness and etching time on neutron spectrum unfolding are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are essential macronutrients necessary for plant growth and development. OsPT4 is a high-affinity phosphate (Pi) transporter that has a positive impact on nutrient uptake and seed development. In this study, the expression patterns of different Pi transporter genes in germinating seeds were determined, and the relative expression of OsPT4 was induced in Pi-deficient seeds and gradually increased with the passage of germination time. The analysis of P, N, Pi, and amino acid concentrations in germinating seeds of OsPT4 mutants showed that the OsPT4 mutation caused P and N retention and a continuous reduction in multiple amino acid concentrations in germinating seeds. Transcriptome analysis and qRT-PCR results also indicated that the OsPT4 mutation inhibits the expression of genes related to P and N transportation and amino acid synthesis in germinating seeds. In addition, the paraffin section and TUNEL assay of OsPT4 mutant germinating seeds suggests that OsPT4 mutation causes programmed cell death (PCD) delayed in the aleurone layer and inhibition of leaf outgrowth. Moreover, we also found that OsPT4 was ubiquitinated by OsAIRP2, which is a C3HC4-type RING E3 Ub ligase. Our studies illustrate that OsPT4 plays a crucial role in P and N collaborative translocation and consumption in germinating seeds. It also provides a theoretical basis for the molecules and physiological mechanisms of P and N cross-talk under suppressed Pi uptake conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After sternal tumor resection, reconstruction of chest wall defects is still a challenging part of thoracic surgery. Three‐dimensional (3D)‐printed titanium alloy prosthesis implants provide an effective solution. The bionic bone trabecular micropore structure, which is beneficial to the human body, increases stability and robustness of the prosthesis. Here, we report a successful case of a customized prosthesis using a 3D‐printed titanium alloy to repair and reconstruct bone defects in a patient with sternal osteosarcoma who underwent radical resection of the whole sternum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids are the essential components of the cell intracellular and plasma membranes. Sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) is a glycolipid; glycolipids can replace phospholipids in maintaining phosphate (Pi) homeostasis in plants which are undergoing Pi starvation. Sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol synthase 1 (OsSQD1) is a critical enzyme in the first step of catalyzation in the formation of SQDG in rice. In this study, the expression pattern of different zones in roots of OsSQD1 in response to different Pi conditions is examined, and it is found that OsSQD1 is highly expressed in lateral roots under Pi-sufficient and -deficient conditions. The root phenotype observation of different OsSQD1 transgenic lines suggests that the knockout/down of OsSQD1 inhibits the formation and growth of lateral roots under different Pi conditions. Additionally, the lipid concentrations in OsSQD1 transgenic line roots indicate that OsSQD1 knockout/down decreases the concentration of phospholipids and glycolipids in Pi-starved roots. The OsSQD1 mutation also changes the composition of different lipid species with different acyl chain lengths, mainly under Pi-deprived conditions. The relative transcript expression of genes relating to glycolipid synthesis and phospholipid degradation is estimated to help study the mechanism by which OsSQD1 exerts an influence on the alteration of lipid composition and concentration in Pi-starved roots. Moreover, in Pi-starved roots, the knockout of OsSQD1 decreases the unsaturated fatty acid content of phospholipids and glycolipids. To summarize, the present study demonstrates that OsSQD1 plays a key role in the maintenance of phospholipid and glycolipid composition in Pi-deprived rice roots, which may influence root growth and development under Pi-deprived conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, uncertainty has been extensively studied as a core factor in anxiety models. However, it remains unclear whether there is a stable brain circuitry to cope with uncertainty. Addressing this yet open question, we first distinguish uncertainty into three different states: risky, ambiguity, and threat anticipation. Then, we performed three meta-analyses of fMRI studies to identify those regions that are commonly activated by the three domains using activation likelihood estimation (ALE). The overlapping analyses of the three ALE maps revealed major conjunctions of the risk decision making, ambiguity decision making, and the threat anticipation in specifically the right insula. Contrast analysis further confirmed this finding. In addition, different uncertainty states also have different brain networks involved. Specifically, a large number of brain regions in the frontal-parietal cortex were recruited under ambiguity state, while subcortical gray matter regions were recruited under risk decision making, and the bilateral insula were closely associated with threat anticipation. Additionally, we assessed the co-activation pattern of identified regions using meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM) to investigate the potential network underlying the relationship of three domains. The MACM analysis further confirmed that different uncertain states have specific brain network basis. We concluded that the right insula serves as a convergent brain region for brain regions recruited for different uncertain states, and its co-activation pattern also corresponds to the brain network of the three uncertain states. This study is a preliminary attempt to further uncover the brain circuitry of anxiety models with uncertainty at their core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compact design in receiver and misalignment tolerance are two basic considerations for practical applications of wireless power transfer (WPT) in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). To balance these two requirements, a novel magnetic design with the composite interval-acted parallel- & vertical-flux throw, orthogonal two-dimensional flux pick-up, and power-flow summed output is proposed in this letter. The resulting magnetic structure includes a target-shaped transmitter and two quadrature receivers, and the transmitter consists of four annular-type coils which are magnetized in a bipolar mode, making it possible to form a magnetic field with a parallel- and vertical-flux complementary distribution. Moreover, by integrating two orthogonal receiving coils into one receiver, a stable summed output current can supply the UAV onboard load with only a small size receiver. A UAV WPT prototype is established based on the proposal. The results show that the prototype can deliver 325 W with a system efficiency of 86%, and especially the variation of the output current is within ±0.76 A for different landing positions and directions. The overall system efficiency is from 87.3% down to 83.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The delta-connected autotransformer with $\pi/6$ phase-shift angle is widely used in the multipulse rectifier when the output voltage of the autotransformer is approximately equal to its input voltage. If its output voltage is slightly greater than its input voltage, the equivalent kilovoltampere (kVA) rating of the autotransformer increases rapidly, and each core limb of the autotransformer has five windings. The increase in winding number will increase the asymmetry and manufacture difficulty of the autotransformer. Therefore, the autotransformer with $\pi/6$ phase-shift angle is not suitable in the boost voltage application. This paper analyzes the effect of phase-shift angle of the autotransformer with three windings in each core limb on the input line current, output voltage, and equivalent kVA rating and proposes a new phase-shift angle. The equivalent kVA rating of the delta-connected autotransformer with the new phase-shift angle is slightly greater than that of the autotransformer with $\pi/6$ phase-shift angle under the same turn ratio, but the autotransformer with the new phase-shift angle has three windings in each core limb and is propitious to design and manufacture. Some simulation and experiment are carried out to verify the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents the effect of voltage transformation ratio on the kilovoltampere rating of delta-connected autotransformer for 12-pulse rectifier system and gives an optimal configuration of the autotransformer with minimal kilovoltampere rating and the least windings. According to the phasor diagrams and the relation between the output voltage and input voltage of the autotransformer under different connection ways, the effect of voltage transformation ratio on current through windings is analyzed, and corresponding expressions and waveforms of the currents are also obtained. Consequently, a relation between the position parameter and output power is established, and based on the relation, the effect of winding configuration on the kilovoltampere rating of the autotransformer is analyzed, which can be used to obtain the optimal configuration. From the theoretical analysis, an autotransformer with optimal configuration and minimal equivalent kilovoltampere rating is designed. Some simulated and experimental results show the correctness of the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Phosphate Transporter OsPT4, Ubiquitinated by E3 Ligase OsAIRP2, Plays a Crucial Role in Phosphorus and Nitrogen Translocation and Consumption in Germinating Seed" published in the journal Rice. The correction addresses an error in the acknowledgements section of the original article and provides the correct information. The correction notice also includes a statement from the publisher, Springer Nature, emphasizing their neutrality regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. The authors of the article are listed at the end of the correction notice. [Extracted from the article]

Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is a key mobile node in the ocean observation network. However, the limited endurance capacity and limited cruising range have become the bottlenecks in the wide application of the AUVs. In order to extend cruising range, this article develops a uniform power inductive power transfer (IPT) system for AUVs. A novel magnetic coupler with a low output fluctuation, low weight of receiver and a low space occupation of the AUV is proposed in this article. The proposed magnetic structure employing a quadruple-coil transmitter and a crossed dipole receiver utilizes uniform horizontal magnetic flux to establish stable coupling against rotational and axial misalignment. An IPT circuit topology is designed and analyzed in detail, meanwhile, the phase difference of the excitation currents is optimized to achieve the power and efficiency stability versus misalignments. The proposal is analyzed, established, and tested in this article. The magnetic receiver weighs only 414 g. The results show that the prototype can deliver 964.7 W with a dc–dc efficiency of 90.9%. In the process of rolling dislocation from –20° to 20° and axial dislocation from –30 mm to 30 mm, the maximum fluctuation of output power is 12.1% and 20.2%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yi-Qi-Jian-Pi formula (YQJPF) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound used to treat acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) in China, but its specific mechanism of action has not been fully clarified. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of YQJPF on liver injury and hepatocyte pyroptosis in rats and further explore its molecular mechanism of action. This study established carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and D-galactose (D-Gal)-induced in vivo models of ACLF in rats and in vitro LPS-induced hepatocyte injury models. Animal experiments were divided into the following groups: control, ACLF model, groups with different doses of YQJPF (5.4, 10.8, and 21.6 g/kg), and western medicine (methylprednisolone). There were 7 rats in the control group and 11 in the other groups. Serological, immunohistochemical, and pathological analyses were used to observe the effect of YQJPF on the liver of ACLF rats. The protective effect of YQJPF on hepatocytes was further verified by RT-qPCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and other methods. YQJPF significantly improved liver injury in vivo and in vitro, which depended on the regulation of hepatocyte NLRP3/GSDMD-induced pyroptosis. In addition, we found that mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production decreased after LPS treatment of hepatocytes, which suggested that YQJPF may improve mitochondrial energy metabolism disorders in hepatocytes. We administered a hepatocyte mitochondrial uncoupling agent, FCCP, to determine whether mitochondrial metabolic disorders affected cell pyroptosis. The results showed that the expression of IL-18, IL-1β, and NLRP3 proteins increased significantly, indicating that the effect of this drug on hepatocyte pyroptosis may be related to mitochondrial metabolism disorders. We found that YQJPF significantly restored the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle rate-limiting enzyme activity and affected the content of TCA metabolites. Furthermore, we revealed that the IDH2 gene, which plays a unique role in ACLF, is a key factor in the regulation of the mitochondrial TCA cycle and can be upregulated under the action of YQJPF. YQJPF can inhibit classical pyroptosis in hepatocytes by regulating TCA cycle metabolism, thus alleviating liver injury, and IDH2 may be a potential upstream regulatory target of YQJPF. YQJPF inhibits hepatocyte pyroptosis and plays a protective role in hepatocytes, possibly by improving IDH2-dependent tricarboxylic acid metabolism. [Display omitted] • Yi-Qi-Jian-Pi formula (YQJPF) attenuates liver injury by inhibiting hepatocyte pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro. • YQJPF improves hepatocyte pyroptosis by inhibiting NLRP3/GSDMD signaling pathway. • Mitochondrial energy metabolism can regulate hepatocyte death signals in acute-on-chronic liver failure disease. • YQJPF inhibited hepatocyte pyroptosis by upregulating IDH2 expression, driving the mitochondrial TCA cycle, and improving mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and robust harmonics reduction scheme for 12-pulse diode rectifier using two auxiliary single-phase full-wave rectifiers (ASFRs) is proposed in this letter. The two ASFRs are installed at the dc side of the rectifier. One ASFR is connected in series with the load to directly modulate the output current of double star rectifiers (DSRs), whereas another ASFR is connected in parallel with the load to indirectly shape the output current of DSRs. The coadjutant modulation of the two ASFRs increases the output current states of DSRs first, thereby increasing the number of steps in the input line currents. This modification extends the conventional 12-step input line current to a 36-step input line current. The proposed rectifier draws near sinusoidal input line currents with the absence of 11th, 13th, 23rd, and 25th harmonics. Since only two ASFRs are sufficient, the proposed rectifier is completely passive and has the least number of component count, making it robust and simple to implement. Analytical results are experimentally verified on 1.8-kW experimental rectifiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this paper, a novel full‐wave 12‐pulse rectifier with simple circuit configuration is proposed. The proposed full‐wave 12‐pulse rectifier consists of a conventional six‐pulse full‐wave rectifier and an auxiliary single‐phase full‐bridge rectifier (ASFR). The ASFR extracts a rectangular current from the DC side of the rectifier to increase the output states of two three‐phase half‐wave rectifiers, then the conventional six‐pulse full‐wave rectifier is upgraded to a 12‐pulse full‐wave rectifier in accordance with the current relationship between AC and DC sides and the relationship between DC‐side voltages. Since only a low‐capacity ASFR (6.3% Pd) is needed, the proposed 12‐pulse rectifier has the least number of components count, making it robust and simple to implement. The average output current of ASFR is only 6.7% of the load current, which makes it more suitable for low‐voltage and high‐current applications. A prototype with a power of 1 kW is built to verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter develops a wireless charging system based on a novel orthogonal magnetic structure and primary-side power control to simplify the structure and reduce the weight of on-board pick-up for recharging the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The novel magnetic structure has a polarized transmitter with a flat U-type core and a perpendicular air-cored receiving coil, guaranteeing the magnetic flux operation space away from a UAV body by coil structure itself and also reducing the weight of a magnetic receiver. The power flow to the battery is controlled by the primary side based on charging current and voltage feedback by pick-up. Simulations based on ANSYS Maxwell and experiments are carried out to validate the proposal. The weight of a magnetic receiver is 130 g. And the system can deliver 500 W with a dc-to-battery efficiency of 90.8%, meanwhile 10 A constant current/50 V constant voltage charging for 12S lithium-ion battery is achieved by the closed-loop system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drowsiness detection has a significant importance in aviation industry. Electroencephalogram (EEG) has been extensively studied to characterize drowsiness; nevertheless, its behavior with respect to accurately annotated drowsy periods remains to be investigated. At present, Karolinska Sleepiness Scale and psychomotor vigilance task are widely used references for subjective drowsiness analysis. However, their practical application in real-time monitoring of alertness is limited. To address this limitation, we combined Seeing Machines driver monitoring system and electrooculogram (EOG) for localization of microsleep (MS) events and studied EEG spectral behavior during MS events. EEG, EOG, and facial behavior data were recorded simultaneously from 16 commercially rated pilots during simulated flight. Relative spectral power in delta (0.5–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–13 Hz), and beta (13–30 Hz) in frontal, central, temporal, parietal, and occipital brain regions was analyzed. Compared to baseline, delta power reduced during MS (p [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metal foil furnace is an instrument that provides a high-temperature sample environment for neutron scattering experiments. The temperature distribution is of great significance to the accuracy and reliability of experiments. This research aims to investigate the relationship between the structure of a radiant heating element and its internal temperature uniformity and maximum temperature using an experimental and numerical study. In this work, an experimental platform is built, and the temperature distribution of the heating element is obtained through experiments. A simplified mathematical model is established to simulate the thermal field of the furnace. The comparison of simulated and experimental results validates that the model can accurately predict the temperature distribution of the radiant heating element. Based on the model, we change the structure of the radiant heating element, which includes length, diameter, thickness, etc., to study the relationship between heating element structure and its temperature field and therefore obtain the structure of radiant heating element with better temperature uniformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nemopteridae are a charismatic family of lacewings distinguished by specialization of morphology in both larvae and adults as well as in their biology and behaviour. The evolutionary history of Nemopteridae is largely unknown due to the scarcity of fossil records. Here we report a new genus and species of Nemopteridae (Cretocroce xiaigen. et sp.n.) based on an exquisitely preserved adult specimen in mid‐Cretaceous Burmese amber. We place the new genus in the subfamily Crocinae, which is characterized by filamentous hindwings with a sensory function as an adaptation to their cavernicolous habitats. The new genus represents the first nemopterid in amber and the oldest crocine known to date. The new fossil crocine is nearly morphologically unchanged over 99 Ma compared with its modern counterparts. Moreover, it is estimated to be closely related to some extant crocines endemic to South America based on morphological phylogenetic analysis. The new finding provides direct evidence to demonstrate the antiquity of Crocinae morphological innovation and related biology, such as pollenophagous habits, and further corroborates Gondwanan origin of the subfamily. The published work has been registered on ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3D29DE48‐DBD8‐4614‐8387‐D9FCF90B0640. A new genus and species of Nemopteridae are described from the Burmese amber.The new species represents the oldest fossil of Crocinae (the thread‐winged lacewings).The new fossil highlights the antiquity of major morphological innovations in Crocinae, and the evolution of pollenophagous habit in Nemopteridae predates the Cenomanian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver malignancy is one of serious sicknesses which undermine human life and wellbeing. Concentrates on the treatment of liver malignancy have attracted widespread consideration. Utilization of drug delivery system cannot just enhance particular medication conveyance to liver tissue and enhance the bioavailability of medication, yet additionally can lessen the reactions of medications when it is uniquely changed in the regards of structure adjustment or particular target particles improvement. Docetaxel (Dxtl) remains the favored decision of enhancing the survival of patients with hormone stubborn liver malignancy, however numerous patients experience the ill effects of humble medication reaction and huge lethality. In the present examination, we researched the productivity of novel Dtxl stacked gold doped apatite (Dtxl-GHANPs) and increase insights into the molecular mechanism of the apoptosis initiated by these novels Dxtl- stacked nanoparticles. In vitro anticancer tests demonstrated that Dtxl-GHANPs had a higher cytotoxicity against human liver cancer cells (HepG2). The dual staining and Hoechst measure uncovered the dynamic idea of Dtxl-GHANPs in the cell core of the HepG2 cells. The potential mitochondrial break by apoptosis in HepG2 cells enormously expanded cell passing. Our discoveries demonstrated that nanoparticles, more than basic medication carriers, may assume a dynamic part in intervening the organic impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key event in the pathogenesis of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is the imbalance in the systemic immune response; immunosuppression in patients with ACLF contributes to poor prognosis. The Yi-Qi-Jian-Pi formula (YQJPF) may improve T lymphocyte immune function in patients with ACLF. To investigate the immune mechanism of YQJPF in vivo and in vitro. An ACLF rat model was established by injection of CCl 4 , lipopolysaccharide, and D-galactosamine. We examined the effect of different doses of YQJPF (6.43, 12.87, 25.74 g/kg) on liver injury and immune function in the ACLF rat model. Magnetic-activated cell sorting was used to sort the CD8+ T lymphocytes in the spleen for lymphocyte function detection. In primary CD8+ T lymphocytes and Jurkat cell lines, the expression of mitochondrial function and biogenesis and autophagy related markers were detected using molecular biological methods and flow cytometry analysis. YQJPF improved the peripheral blood lymphocyte count and proportion of CD8+ T lymphocytes in ACLF rats, increased pro-inflammatory factors (IL-2, IFN-λ, and TNF-α), and reduced anti-inflammatory factors (IL-10 and TGF β1). YQJPF also improved metabolism and mitochondrial homeostasis in CD8+ T lymphocytes, alleviated lymphocyte immune dysfunction by promoting autophagy, upregulated mitochondrial biogenesis by promoting PGC-1α, NRF-1, and TFAM expression, and regulated the relationship between autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis via PGC-1α. Our results suggest that YQJPF could improve immune function in a rat model of ACLF, possibly via affecting the homeostasis of lymphatic mitochondria in CD8+ T lymphocytes. YQJPF may enhance lymphocyte mitochondrial biosynthesis and promote lymphocyte autophagy. PGC-1α is a possible upstream regulatory target of YQJPF. YQJPF may play a role in improving lymphocyte immunosuppression by enhancing lymphocyte mitochondrial biogenesis and promoting lymphocyte autophagy. PGC-1α is a possible upstream regulatory target of YQJPF. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a framework for analyzing the speeds and efficiencies of different battery pack balancing circuits. The article is motivated by the growing need for fast and efficient charge balancing in lithium-ion battery packs. There is an excellent literature on the design of different balancing circuits, including both single- and multi-layer active and passive topologies. However, this literature lacks a formal framework for representing different balancing circuits in a compact manner conducive to quantitative analysis. We address this challenge by representing the balancing pathways between different cells in a battery pack using a directed graph. This makes it possible to systematically analyze: (i) the “completeness” of a balancing circuit (the ability to address the imbalance between any two cells directly, even if they are not adjacent); (ii) the shortest path for balancing any two given cells; and (iii) the average efficiency of a balancing circuit for a statistical distribution of imbalance scenarios. The proposed framework is flexible: it can represent both single-layer and multi-layer balancing circuits, including circuits with multiple distinct types of converters. We demonstrate the capabilities of this framework through an example study involving the comparison of multiple balancing circuits for a 16-cell lithium-ion battery pack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the power density of large current rectifier, this study designs optimally a star‐connected autotransformer which is used in large current rectifier. From the viewpoint of minimising the kVA rating of phase‐shift transformer and conduction loss of rectification devices, it is concluded that the ideal large current rectifier is a combination of dual three‐phase half‐wave rectifiers and a star‐connected autotransformer which is used to be the phase‐shift transformer. To design optimally the star‐connected autotransformer, the winding configurations of the star‐connected autotransformer are analysed, and the corresponding expressions and waveforms of current through windings at different winding configurations are also obtained. Consequently, the kVA rating expressions of the autotransformer under different winding configurations are calculated, which describe the relationship between the winding configuration and load power. From the expressions, the optimal winding configuration, which has the least kVA rating and winding numbers, is obtained. Some simulations and experiments are carried out to verify the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CR-39 is a solid nuclear track detector that is commonly used for long-term passive radon monitoring. For a specific incident particle, etching condition and type of CR-39, the morphology of the nuclear tracks in CR-39 varies with the energy and angle of incident particles. This study systematically compares the performance of six different passive radon monitors from the perspective of nuclear track morphology using both theoretical calculations and experiments. Based on different shapes of exposure chambers for these monitors, different strategies for dealing with incident α particles can be observed, especially for those emitted from deposited progeny on the inner wall. These characteristics contribute to the strengths and weaknesses of each monitor in terms of efficiency, uncertainty, robustness in measurement, and consistency of track morphology. The results of this study revealed that the optimisation of the radon monitor should be multidirectional and situation-oriented. It was expected to be helpful to improve radon measurement using these monitors. • Comparison of track morphological characteristics among passive radon monitors is conducted theoretically and experimentally. • Shape of the diffusion chamber influences monitor efficiency and the morphological characteristics of the tracks. • The selection and design of radon monitors should be multi-directional and situation-oriented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to identify the best practices and future research directions for driver lane-change intention (DLCI) prediction using eye-tracking technologies based on a systematic literature review. We searched five academic literature databases and then conducted an in-depth review, structured coding, and analysis of 40 relevant articles. The literature on DLCI prediction is summarized in terms of input features, feature extraction and prediction time windows, labeling methods, and machine learning algorithms. The results show that eye tracking data features along with other data sources can be useful inputs for the prediction of DLCI. Major challenges in this line of research include determining the optimal time window for feature extraction and developing and evaluating the appropriate machine learning algorithm. Suggestions for future research and practice for DLCI prediction in intelligent vehicles are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]