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• Non-linear responses of microeukaryotes to increasing antibiotic pollution were detected. • Significant tipping points provided early warnings for regime shift. • Microeukaryotic bioindicators quantitatively and accurately predicted local antibiotic concentrations. Antibiotic pollution imposes urgent threats to public health and microbial-mediated ecological processes. Existing studies have primarily focused on bacterial responses to antibiotic pollution, but they ignored the microeukaryotic counterpart, though microeukaryotes are functionally important (e.g., predators and saprophytes) in microbial ecology. Herein, we explored how the assembly of sediment microeukaryotes was affected by increasing antibiotic pollution at the inlet (control) and across the outlet sites along a shrimp wastewater discharge channel. The structures of sediment microeukaryotic community were substantially altered by the increasing nutrient and antibiotic pollutions, which were primarily controlled by the direct effects of phosphate and ammonium (−0.645 and 0.507, respectively). In addition, tetracyclines exerted a large effect (0.209), including direct effect (0.326) and indirect effect (−0.117), on the microeukaryotic assembly. On the contrary, the fungal subcommunity was relatively resistant to antibiotic pollution. Segmented analysis depicted nonlinear responses of microeukaryotic genera to the antibiotic pollution gradient, as supported by the significant tipping points. We screened 30 antibiotic concentration-discriminatory taxa of microeukaryotes, which can quantitatively and accurately predict (98.7% accuracy) the in-situ antibiotic concentration. Sediment microeukaryotic (except fungal) community is sensitive to antibiotic pollution, and the identified bioindicators could be used for antibiotic pollution diagnosis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nematodes occupy different niches in soil and play important roles in plant growth. However, the dynamic responses of nematode community to fertilization at the aggregate scale and the relationships between key nematode indices and crop production are still unclear. A long-term field experiment with different fertilization regimes (CK, no fertilizer; NPK, synthetic fertilizers alone; BCNPK, biochar + synthetic fertilizers; OMNPK, pig manure + synthetic fertilizers; RSDNPK, crop straw + synthetic fertilizers) was conducted to link nematode and crop production. Higher total nematode abundance, biodiversity, and nematode metabolic footprint (NMF) were observed in the wheat season, while increased maturity index (MI), plant parasite index (PPI), and structure index (SI) were found in the maize season. The nematode community in the wheat season was more enriched and mature, especially in large macroaggregates. The composition of the nematode community was shifted by RSDNPK in both crop seasons, as indicated by the principal coordinates analysis (PCoA). Additionally, the 1.5-fold higher enrichment index (EI) under RSDNPK in comparison with other treatments in the wheat season also indicated a significantly differentiated nematode community. Compared with NPK, the wheat yield of RSDNPK (2265 kg ha−1) was 26 % lower, while the maize yield of this treatment (5776 kg ha−1) was >13 % higher. The PPI and SI in the seedling period of winter wheat and the PPI in the silking period as well as the variation of the nematode community in the maize season were key nematode indices that strongly correlated with the yields of corresponding crops. Crucial nematodes also exhibited notable positive or negative relationships with crop yields (P < 0.05). Overall, the combined application of synthetic fertilizers and crop straw can improve soil health through its positive effects on nematode community, which has the potential to propel crop production. • Nematode indices increased by fertilization diversified in wheat and maize seasons. • The soil food web was more enriched and mature in wheat season. • The composition of soil nematode communities was shifted by RSDNPK in both seasons. • Nematode indices were strongly correlated with crop yields. • Specific nematode genera showed strong impacts on crop yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Soil microaggregates accommodate co-occurrence network with more edges. • Specific taxa correlate with soil N supply are important to wheat yield. • Most taxa affecting soil N and yield differ from those impacting network topology. • Nematodes and/or protists are found among these vital taxa across aggregate classes. Crop production is strongly impacted by soil nitrogen supply, which is regulated by soil micro-food webs consisting of nematodes, protists, fungi and bacteria. However, responses of soil micro-food webs to fertilization at the aggregate scale and their relationships with soil nitrogen supply and crop yield remain unclear. To address these knowledge gaps, we investigated soils subjected to typical fertilization treatments in a long-term field experiment, which included: no fertilizer control (CK); synthetic fertilizers (NPK); partial synthetic nitrogen replacement with pig slurry (OMNPK) or crop straw (RSDNPK) and incorporating biochar with synthetic fertilizers (BCNPK). The composition of different biological groups was changed significantly by fertilization, with bacteria under RSDNPK being more responsive than other groups. The co-occurrence network of the soil micro-food web had more edges in microaggregates than those in large and small macroaggregates due to the significantly higher nodal degree of bacteria and fungi. On average, 76 % of the topologically important (TI) taxa in the networks were bacteria. In modules where nematodes and protists were present, 8 %-100 % of them were attributed to TI taxa while the ratio for bacteria was 3 %-7 %. Specific assemblages of functionally important (FI) taxa covering all tested biological groups at the aggregate scale were positively associated with soil labile nitrogen, related enzymes and crop yield. Random forest regression further indicates the high importance of these FI taxa to crop yield. However, less than 20 % of them were attributed to TI taxa of the networks. In summary, distinct assemblages of taxa covering multiple trophic levels regulate network topology and soil nitrogen supply + crop yield, which provides insights for targeted manipulation of soil micro-food webs through knowledge-based fertilization to harness the biological potential of cropland soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) levels via improved fertilization strategies can promote soil health and support sustainable crop production. While bacteria and fungi play a key role in SOC accumulation, the effects of soil micro-food webs that include organisms from higher trophic levels remain uncertain. We sought to narrow this knowledge gap by clarifying the associations between SOC accumulation and soil micro-food webs at the aggregate scale under long-term (18 years) fertilization treatments, which included a no-fertilizer control (Ctrl), synthetic fertilizers (NPK), and partial synthetic nitrogen replacement with pig slurry (OMNPK) or crop straw (RSDNPK). The concentration of SOC was significantly increased by fertilization following the order RSDNPK (13.1 g kg−1) > OMNPK (11.4 g kg−1) > NPK (9.1 g kg−1) > Ctrl (6.4 g kg−1). Nematodes and protists accounted for approximately 20% of all nodes in the multitrophic networks. Fertilization increased network complexity at the aggregate scale by 1–4 times across different sampling dates (P < 0.05). In all aggregate classes, the functionally important (FI) nematodes, protists, and bacterial taxa involved in soil carbon cycle had higher relative abundances under the fertilization treatments than under the Ctrl (P < 0.05). Structural equation modeling further indicated that besides soil microbes, network complexity, FI nematodes and protists were important to SOC accumulation. Compared with NPK, the key moments during which these soil biological attributes strongly regulated SOC under OMNPK and RSDNPK were delayed to late growth stages of maize. In conclusion, the increased network complexity and relative abundance of functionally important organisms from higher trophic levels of the soil micro-food webs at certain periods are vital contributors to effective SOC accumulation under fertilization regimes that include organic amendments. [Display omitted] • Nematodes and protists make up 20% of soil micro-food web taxa. • Fertilization is an effective measure to increase multitrophic network complexity. • Functionally important (FI) taxa linked to carbon cycle respond to fertilization. • Multitrophic network complexity and high trophic FI taxa aid SOC accumulation. • Organic amendments delay the key moments that soil organisms affect SOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed a three-core fiber Bragg grating (FBG) probe for sub-millinewton contact force measurement of a micromanipulator system. The probe comprises a bundle of three single-core FBGs assembled under the effect of capillary self-assembly. Theoretical relationships between Bragg wavelength and force are calculated based on the assumption of material mechanics. The experimental results show that the probe has a good linear relationship for the measurement of the radial two degrees of freedom contact force, and it is suitable for measuring the radial contact force of 0.1–1 mN. The proposed three-core FBG probe has the characteristics of simple structure, low cost, and better forming stability and sensitivity compared with the four-core structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a dynamic numerical model for the bonded-type ultrasonic motor considering the load transfer in the adhesive interlayer between the piezoceramics and the host structure. The finite element method and an extended shear-lag theory are used to derive the dynamic equation. The effectiveness of this model is validated by comparing the dynamic response of the stator in frequency and time domains between simulation and experimental results, with a maximum relative error of less than 4%. The dynamic load transfer in the adhesive interlayer is analyzed when the stator is excited electrically, and the results show that the interfacial load transfer is concentrated near the bonding edges. The effects of partially bonded piezoceramics on the dynamic characteristics of the motor are investigated, where two partially bonded conditions including edge and inner debonded cases are considered. The results indicate that both the inner and edge debonded conditions could reduce the vibration amplitude of the stator and then reduce the output performance of the motor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new species of the genus Bifurcia are described: B. kangding sp. nov. (♂♀), B. labahe sp. nov. (♂), B. luding sp. nov. (♂♀), B. shuangqiao sp. nov. (♂♀), and B. xiaojin sp. nov. (♂♀) from western Sichuan, China. A distribution map of the species and illustrations of genital characters are provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a wear model is established for a V-shaped linear ultrasonic motor. The influence of the change in the dynamic friction coefficient and the roughness parameters of the contact surface of the stator/slider on the output performance of the motor is considered in this model. The wear mechanism of the motor and the variation rules of the morphology of the contact surface during the operation of the motor are studied, as well as the relation of the wear height of the driving tip with the preload force and the relation of the preload force with the resonance frequency of the stator. The accuracy of the model is verified by numerical simulation and experimental methods. A test platform for friction and wear experiments is constructed, and the wear characteristics and the output performance of the motor are tested. The obtained results indicated that the model can accurately predict the dynamic changes during the wear process and the service life and output performance of the motor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV) is a major biothreat agent that naturally causes outbreaks in humans and horses particularly in tropical areas of the western hemisphere, for which no antiviral therapy is currently available. The host response to VEEV and the cellular factors this alphavirus hijacks to support its effective replication or evade cellular immune responses are largely uncharacterized. We have previously demonstrated tremendous cell-to-cell heterogeneity in viral RNA (vRNA) and cellular transcript levels during flaviviral infection using a novel virus-inclusive single-cell RNA-Seq approach. Here, we used this unbiased, genome-wide approach to simultaneously profile the host transcriptome and vRNA in thousands of single cells during infection of human astrocytes with the live-attenuated vaccine strain of VEEV (TC-83). Host transcription was profoundly suppressed, yet "superproducer cells" with extremely high vRNA abundance emerged during the first viral life cycle and demonstrated an altered transcriptome relative to both uninfected cells and cells with high vRNA abundance harvested at later time points. Additionally, cells with increased structural-to-nonstructural transcript ratio exhibited upregulation of intracellular membrane trafficking genes at later time points. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments confirmed pro- and antiviral activities in both vaccine and virulent VEEV infections among the products of transcripts that positively or negatively correlated with vRNA abundance, respectively. Lastly, comparison with single cell transcriptomic data from other viruses highlighted common and unique pathways perturbed by infection across evolutionary scales. This study provides a high-resolution characterization of the VEEV (TC-83)-host interplay, identifies candidate targets for antivirals, and establishes a comparative single-cell approach to study the evolution of virus-host interactions. Author summary: Little is known about the host response to Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV) and the cellular factors this alphavirus hijacks to support effective replication or evade cellular immune responses. Monitoring dynamics of host and viral RNA (vRNA) during viral infection at a single-cell level can provide insight into the virus-host interplay at a high resolution. Here, a single-cell RNA sequencing technology that detects host and viral RNA was used to investigate the interactions between TC-83, the vaccine strain of VEEV, with the human host during the course of infection of U-87 MG cells (human astrocytoma). Virus abundance and host transcriptome were heterogeneous across cells from the same culture. Subsets of differentially expressed genes, positively or negatively correlating with vRNA abundance, were identified and subsequently in vitro validated as candidate proviral and antiviral factors, respectively, in TC-83 and/or virulent VEEV infections. In the first replication cycle, "superproducer" cells exhibited rapid increase in vRNA abundance and unique gene expression patterns. At later time points, cells with increased structural-to-nonstructural transcript ratio demonstrated upregulation of intracellular membrane trafficking genes. Lastly, comparing the VEEV dataset with published datasets on other RNA viruses revealed unique and overlapping responses across viral clades. Overall, this study improves the understanding of VEEV-host interactions, reveals candidate targets for antiviral approaches, and establishes a comparative single-cell approach to study the evolution of virus-host interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous work, we have proposed a sub-grid model of active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback by taking into account the state-of-the-art AGN physics, and used that model to study the effect of AGN feedback on the evolution of an isolated elliptical galaxy by performing 2D high-resolution (i.e. the Bondi radius is well resolved) simulations. In that work, typical values of model parameters were adopted. In this work, we extend that study by exploring the effects of uncertainties of parameter values. Such a study is also useful for us to understand the respective roles of various components of the model. These parameters include the mass flux and velocity of AGN wind and radiative efficiency in both the hot and cold feedback modes, and the initial black hole (BH) mass. We find that the velocity of AGN wind in the hot mode is the most important quantity to control the typical accretion rate and luminosity of AGN, and the mass growth of the BH. The effect of the wind on star formation is less sensitive. Within the limited parameter range explored in this work, a stronger AGN wind suppresses star formation within ∼100 pc but enhances star formation beyond this radius, while the star formation integrated over the evolution time and the whole galaxy roughly remain unchanged. AGN radiation suppresses the BH accretion in a mild way, but dust is not considered here. Finally, a smaller initial BH mass results in a more violent evolution of the BH accretion rate. The corresponding AGN spends more time in the high-luminosity state and the percentage of BH mass growth is higher. Our results indicate the robustness of AGN feedback in keeping the galaxy quenched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact slider for linear ultrasonic motors (LUMs) to improve the ability of LUMs for precision positioning is proposed in this article. The compact slider can avoid the effect of variable stiffness of the traditional slider on ultra-precision positioning, which consists of two pieces of ceramic with little lubricating oil on the sliding interface. Based on contact theory and lubrication theory, the contact mechanism and the lubricating state between the slider and the support plate are analyzed. Subsequently, a dynamic model for LUMs considering the lubricating state and the ultrasonic vibration condition is obtained. Furthermore, the output speed and output force of the motor are analyzed under the influence of film lubrication. Moreover, some experiments are designed to test the feasibility and effectiveness of the compact slider for precision positioning. The results indicate that the compact slider is more effective in inhibiting the fluctuation of the output speed compared to the traditional slider, and it can improve the displacement resolution of LUMs up to 7 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For achieving high speed and large thrust, Langevin-type ultrasonic motors (LTUM) are generally operated under high voltage. However, high voltage causes the current harmonics of piezoelectric material nonlinear phenomena, which will decrease the efficiency, the output force, and the accuracy of LTUMs. In this study, the nonlinearity of current harmonics of LTUM are described and analyzed by a novel nonlinear equivalent circuit model using Lagrange equations. Thereafter, based on a nonlinear tuning method, a specific driver circuit is suggested to suppress the current harmonics. Experimental results validate that the time response of the current is consistent with that of the model and furtherly demonstrate that the total harmonic current distortion decreases by 68% utilizing the proposed nonlinear tuning method under 500 Vpp. • A nonlinear dynamic model and simple identification method of a Langevin-type ultrasonic motor are proposed to describe the current harmonics. • A nonlinear tuning method and drive circuit are developed to suppress current harmonics under high voltage. • Experiment results demonstrate that the time response of the current was consistent with that of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NGC 3115 is known as the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus that hosts the nearest (z ∼ 0.002) billion-solar-mass supermassive black hole (∼1.5 × 109 M⊙). Its Bondi radius r B (∼3.6 arcsec) can be readily resolved with Chandra , which provides an excellent opportunity to investigate the accretion flow on to a supermassive black hole. In this paper, we perform two-dimensional hydrodynamical numerical simulations, tailored for NGC 3115, on the mass flow across the Bondi radius. Our best fittings for the density and temperature agree well with the observations of the hot interstellar medium in the centre of NGC 3115. We find that the flow properties are determined solely by the local galaxy properties in the galaxy centre: (1) stellar winds (including supernova ejecta) supply the mass and energy sources for the accreting gas; (2) similar to in the one-dimensional calculations, a stagnation radius r st ∼ 0.1  r B is also found in the two-dimensional simulations, which divides the mass flow into an inflow–outflow structure; (3) the radiatively inefficient accretion flow theory applies well inside the stagnation radius, where the gravity is dominated by the supermassive black hole and the gas is supported by rotation; (4) beyond the stagnation radius, the stellar gravity dominates the spherical-like fluid dynamics and causes the transition from a steep density profile outside to a flat density profile inside the Bondi radius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core Ideas Carbon associated with microaggregate and silt + clay is protected from decomposition. Core Ideas Green manure increased the concentration of protected C in three aggregate classes. Core Ideas The SOC of different aggregates was closely related to the protected C. Core Ideas Green manure increased bulk soil SOC mainly via the increase of the protected C. Core Ideas Green manure propels sustainable agriculture by increasing the stability of SOC. --> Evaluating the impacts of growing leguminous green manure (LGM) on soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization is crucial to evaluate the sustainability of this management practice. To clarify this, we measured organic carbon (OC) fractions and used protected C to estimate the stability of SOC. The field study was a split‐plot design with four main treatments: summer fallow–winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (FW) as control and growing LGM to replace Huai bean (Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc)–winter wheat (HW), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–winter wheat, and mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]–winter wheat. The subtreatments were four synthetic N rates applied before sowing winter wheat. Physical fractionation was used to isolate different OC fractions. Among them, the intra‐microaggregate fine particulate OC and mineral‐associated OC are protected C. The mean weight diameter at the 0‐ to 10‐cm soil of HW was significantly increased compared with FW. The SOC content of the bulk soil for the LGM treatments was increased by 0.93 to 1.18 g kg−1 and 0.33 to 1.04 g kg−1 at depths of 0 to 10 cm and 10 to 20 cm, respectively, compared with FW. The protected C accounted for 69 to 86% of the total SOC increase. Moreover, only the protected C was significantly and positively correlated with the SOC increase. In conclusion, growing LGM to replace summer fallow can increase the quantity and stability of SOC by increasing the content of protected C, suggesting that the proposed management practice could promote sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Leguminous green manure increased SOC and TN stocks compared with summer fallow. • Coupling RothC and the correlation of SOC and TN can assess their future stocks. • Leguminous green manure will increase SOC and TN stocks by 107% and 158%. Estimating the dynamics and future sequestration potential of soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) and total nitrogen stocks (TNS) is useful to determine whether cropping systems can promote sustainable production in terms of improving soil fertility. The Rothamsted Carbon (RothC) model and the correlations between SOCS and TNS were used to estimate the future SOCS and TNS of green manure-based wheat production systems on the Loess Plateau of China. The field study was a split-plot design with 4 main treatments (Huai bean, soybean and mung bean grown as green manure in summer, with a fallow treatment as the control) and 4 subtreatments (synthetic N rates of 0, 108, 135 and 162 kg ha−1 applied at wheat sowing). Leguminous green manure (LGM) treatments increased the amount of carbon and nitrogen returned to the field by 67–91% and 74–125%, respectively, compared with the fallow treatment (P < 0.05). These treatments also increased SOCS by 15–23% and TNS by 12–22% (P < 0.05) after 8 years in comparison with the fallow treatment. Coupling of the RothC model and the correlations between SOCS and TNS of the 3 LGM treatments generated acceptable simulations for the dynamics of SOCS and TNS. The projected SOCS for LGM and fallow treatments at the new equilibrium are 37.67–47.29 and 13.97–17.58 Mg ha−1, respectively. The corresponding TNS for LGM treatments are 5.42–6.79 Mg ha−1. The projection also indicates that under the LGM treatments, the SOCS and TNS at the new equilibrium will be 107% and 158% higher, respectively, than the values prior to the experiment. In conclusion, growing LGM to replace summer fallow would be a useful alternative to improve soil fertility and promote sustainable crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Combined CNN-LSTM and GRU running parallel for long and short-term prediction balance. • Improved sparrow search algorithm is effective and avoids falling into local optimum. • Adaptive weighting module improves prediction accuracy and immunity to interference. • Comparison with other models shows the model has better predictivity and adaptability. Accurate prediction of river runoff is of great significance for water resources management, flood prevention and mitigation. The causes of runoff are complex and the mechanisms behind them are difficult to grasp. Building a data-driven deep learning model for runoff prediction is an effective solution. To achieve the fusion of multi-source information, prediction accuracy and wide applicability, a hybrid model based on CNN-LSTM & GRU-ISSA is proposed in this study. In this paper, meteorological data, hydrological data and runoff data are selected and the maximum information coefficient (MIC) is used to calculate the relationship between each variable and runoff in order to reduce the dimensionality of the data. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is used to extract features of the long time series of runoff and a long short-term memory network (LSTM) is used for the prediction of the long time series of runoff. A gated recurrent unit (GRU) is also used for the short time series prediction of runoff. In order to extract the advantages of both prediction models, an adaptive weighting module (AWM) is proposed to dynamically learn the outputs of both models and combine them into the final prediction results. To be able to solve the selection of model hyperparameters, we use the improved sparrow search algorithm (ISSA). This algorithm introduces two improvement points, Lévy Flight and Sine Cosine Algorithm, based on the Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA), to achieve fast convergence of the algorithm with better global optimal solutions. The proposed model was validated using watersheds with different runoff ranges, e.g., in the Bailong River watershed, the NSE value was 0.90 and the RMSE value was 2.17. The results showed that the proposed model significantly outperformed the other baseline models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding safe and high-quality child care is critical to working parents. However, research suggests that formal child care—both family child care and center-based child care—is in short supply in the U.S. We hypothesize that compared to urban neighborhoods, child care access will be lower in outlying suburban neighborhoods with newer and less developed social infrastructure. Applying the 2SFCA method, we predict variation in the supply of child care relative to demand—a measure of child care access—across California neighborhoods that vary by geography as well as sociodemographic and employment characteristics. Similar to prior research, we find that percent Latinx of a neighborhood is associated with lower child care access. In terms of neighborhood type, as we predict, we find that child care access is lower in newly developed suburban areas compared to most other neighborhood types. This finding suggests the importance of incentives to create formal child care facilities in new suburbs, neighborhoods that house a quarter of all young children in the state. • A 2SFCA method was applied to measure child care access in California. • Child care access by neighborhoods types is analyzed. • Child care access is lower in newly developed suburban areas compared to most other neighborhood types. • Percent Latinx of a neighborhood is associated with lower child care access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing a passenger-centric railway service is of great importance for railway companies to attract more passengers and increase their revenue. Focusing on the passenger-centric operational plans, this paper considers the problem of integrated periodic train timetabling and train stop planning in high speed railway networks. In view of the immediate dependency of passengers' routes on the train timetable and stop plan, simultaneous passenger routing is included to directly shape the train stops and timetable in a passenger-friendly way. Besides travel time, ticket price is also considered in passenger utility to better depict passengers' route choices in the railway network. A railway network-based time–space network with train stop-skip technique, periodic properties and detailed consideration of different train headways is designed, based on which a multi-commodity network flow model is developed. With a novel linearization technique of train capacity penalty term, the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is used to relax and decompose the track and train capacity constraints. Further, time deviation of regular train services is achieved by a new shortest path algorithm to design more flexible timetables, however its application is still limited to small instances due to computational efforts required. The algorithm is finally tested on the Shandong high-speed railway network in China, and demonstrates its capability of providing tighter lower bounds than Lagrangian relaxation method and generating good feasible solutions. Besides, the impacts of different cycle times on service quality and train cost are evaluated. • A periodic time–space network model for train timetabling with stop planning. • An ADMM decomposition and new linearization approach. • A case study on China's large Shandong high-speed railway network. • Impact of different cycle times on service quality is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric films have good elasticity and microstructure stability, which are the basis of the piezoelectric nanogenerator to adapt to various application scenarios and run stably for a long time. In this paper, Polyurethane (PU) is introduced into PVDF nanofibers to obtain blend nanofiber film with elasticity and microstructure stability. The tensile and compression moduli of the nanofiber films are effectively controlled by changing the mass ratio of PU to PVDF. By the impact of a 5.6 g ball falling freely from a height of 16 cm, the piezoelectric output of nanofiber film with an optimized mass ratio of 35/65 is 3.58 V. The maximum peak current and power surface densities are 0.286 μA and 0.18 μW cm−2, respectively. The piezoelectric response of the nanofiber film remained stable before and after 9 cycles of 10 % compressive strain. A simulated vehicle tire pressure fluctuation energy collection device is fabricated by using the blend nanofiber film. The peak-to-peak piezoelectric response is about 0.32 V. This unique property opens up another way to harvest mechanical energy from gas pressure fluctuation. The development of PU/PVDF blend nanofiber film show inestimable application potential as a mechanical energy harvesting device for gas or liquid pressure fluctuation. [Display omitted] • The piezoelectric properties of PU/PVDF composite nanofiber film were investigated. • PU enhances the strain toughness of PU/PVDF composite nanofiber film. • The PU/PVDF composite nanofiber nanogenerator has good stability. • A mechanical energy harvesting device for gas pressure fluctuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroautophagy (hereafter autophagy) is a well-conserved cellular process through which cytoplasmic components are delivered to the vacuole/lysosome for degradation and recycling. Studies have revealed the molecular mechanism of transcriptional regulation of autophagy-related (ATG) genes upon nutrient deprivation. However, little is known about their translational regulation. Here, we found that Dhh1, a DExD/H-box RNA helicase, is required for efficient translation of Atg1 and Atg13, two proteins essential for autophagy induction. Dhh1 directly associates with ATG1 and ATG13 mRNAs under nitrogen-starvation conditions. The structured regions shortly after the start codons of the two ATG mRNAs are necessary for their translational regulation by Dhh1. Both the RNA-binding ability and helicase activity of Dhh1 are indispensable to promote Atg1 translation and autophagy. Moreover, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (EIF4E)-associated protein 1 (Eap1), a target of rapamycin (TOR)-regulated EIF4E binding protein, physically interacts with Dhh1 after nitrogen starvation and facilitates the translation of Atg1 and Atg13. These results suggest a model for how some ATG genes bypass the general translational suppression that occurs during nitrogen starvation to maintain a proper level of autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroautophagy (hereafter autophagy) is a well-conserved cellular process through which cytoplasmic components are delivered to the vacuole/lysosome for degradation and recycling. Studies have revealed the molecular mechanism of transcriptional regulation of autophagy-related (ATG) genes upon nutrient deprivation. However, little is known about their translational regulation. Here, we found that Dhh1, a DExD/H-box RNA helicase, is required for efficient translation of Atg1 and Atg13, two proteins essential for autophagy induction. Dhh1 directly associates with ATG1 and ATG13 mRNAs under nitrogen-starvation conditions. The structured regions shortly after the start codons of the two ATG mRNAs are necessary for their translational regulation by Dhh1. Both the RNA-binding ability and helicase activity of Dhh1 are indispensable to promote Atg1 translation and autophagy. Moreover, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (EIF4E)-associated protein 1 (Eap1), a target of rapamycin (TOR)-regulated EIF4E binding protein, physically interacts with Dhh1 after nitrogen starvation and facilitates the translation of Atg1 and Atg13. These results suggest a model for how some ATG genes bypass the general translational suppression that occurs during nitrogen starvation to maintain a proper level of autophagy. The precise regulation of autophagy is critical to maintaining proper cell physiology. This study shows that translational regulation involving the RNA helicase Dhh1 plays an important role in controlling the level of the Atg1 kinase, a key factor in autophagy induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A general purpose method to model the complete dynamic response of the linear ultrasonic motors is presented. • The whole-machine model is solved at a low computational cost so that can be run on an average computer. • A linear ultrasonic motor with V-shaped stator is systematically investigated as an example. • An optimization method of electrical input parameters are designed by using this model. Graphical abstract Abstract A general purpose dynamic modeling method of linear ultrasonic motors (LUMs) is presented in this paper. The proposed model considers all the LUMs elements, including the stator, the mover and the contact between stator and mover. For the stator, a model in modal space was derived based on finite element method. The mover was analytically modeled with considering the complex contact between the stator and mover. The stator-mover intermittent contact problem was mathematically described by the normal and tangential contact model. Interpenetration-dependent penalty and continuous functions approximating to Coulomb friction were used to tangential contact and normal contact, respectively. A hybrid overall dynamic model was built by assembling all these models and solved at a low computational cost. The model enables us to understand the dynamic behavior of LUMs, including the vibration of stator, the contact process, the output performance of the mover and the interactive coupling between each element. The effectiveness of the developed model was validated in a LUM with V-shaped stator by comparing with available measurement results. Furthermore, this model was combined with the particle swarm algorithm to find the optimal electrical input parameters. It is believed that the proposed modeling method is useful for the performance evaluation and input parameters' optimization of LUMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While urban structures have been delineated at the regional level, few works have explored the impact of urban structures on commuting at this same level. This article studies how urban structures affect commuting from 2000 to 2010. It applies a spatial statistical tool, standard deviation ellipses, to capture spatial patterns of jobs and residential workers for metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). Two urban structure indexes are constructed to illustrate different decentralization levels of employment with reference to the distribution of residential workers; one illustrates the spatial decentralization of high job density nodes, while the other shows the spatial decentralization of moderate job density nodes. Commuting times of two modes by private cars and public transit are analyzed along with the number of commuters. The results highlight three findings: (1) MSAs become more compact in terms of employment distribution, (2) more decentralized high-density nodes lead to less total commuting times, and on the other hand, more decentralized moderate job density nodes contribute to longer commuting times, and (3) the decentralization of high job density nodes is associated with less commuting time of private cars, while they have insignificant effect on commuting time of public transit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to meet the demand of a linear ultrasonic motor with large thrust in narrow space, a novel Π-type linear ultrasonic motor with double driving feet is proposed. In this paper, the structure of a stator is designed. The working mode and structure size are determined by finite element simulation. To amplify the amplitude of driving foot, an optimization design for the stator is performed. After that, a novel pre-load device that separates from the stator is put forward, which can not only improve the output but also help to improve the operation stability and prolong the life of motor. Additionally, a prototype of the proposed motor with the novel pre-load device was fabricated and the performance tests were implemented. The experimental results show that the suggested motor has structural stability and high dynamic performance, such as a no-load speed of 273 mm/s and 238 mm/s in two directions, corresponding to a maximal thrust of 80 N and 110 N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrate that originates from agriculture is linked to a series of deleterious environmental consequences that are closely related to human health. Therefore, it is vital to design cropping systems that can produce acceptable crop yields while minimizing the impact of surplus soil nitrate. To develop quantitative estimations, data from 2008 to 2016 were evaluated using multiple regression models. A split-plot field experiment was conducted, with the main treatments of growing Huai bean, soybean and mung bean in summer as leguminous green manure (LGM) while fallow as the control. Four synthetic N rates (0, 108, 135 and 162 kg ha −1 ) were applied as sub-treatments at wheat seeding. The N accumulation for LGMs ranged from 61 to 90 kg ha −1 , and that of Huai bean was 46% higher than the average value of soybean and mung bean ( P < 0.05). The threshold of total N for wheat to produce the highest yields was 141 kg ha −1 . For the LGM treatments, residual nitrate accumulated below the root-zone soil was not significantly increased even when their total N inputs were higher than that of fallow with 162 kg ha −1 of synthetic N. The estimated nitrate-holding capacity of the root-zone soil for the LGM treatments ranged from 104 to 117 kg ha −1 , and the corresponding synthetic N limits were 97–130 kg ha −1 . Considering the target of producing high wheat yields while keeping the residual nitrate in the root-zone soil, the optimal synthetic N rates for LGM treatments were 52–80 kg ha −1 . In conclusion, growing LGMs can maintain high crop yield and mitigate the environmental impact of residual nitrate by substantially replacing the synthetic N to avoid nitrate leaching to deeper soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four morphologically similar species of the Pholcus yichengicus species group, occurring in geographic proximity of China's Qinling Mountains, were recognised, based on morphology and four methods of molecular species delimitation. They comprise two new species, namely Pholcus ankang sp. nov. and P. baoji sp. nov. and two previously described species: P. ovatus Yao & Li, 2012 and P. taibaiensis Wang & Zhu, 1992. Their DNA barcodes were obtained to estimate p-distances and K2P distances. In addition, an identification key for the four closely-related species is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric transducers are widely used for generating an elliptical motion in vibration-assisted machining and in a piezoelectric actuator. In this study, an analytical model of a V-shaped piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer with a flexible joint is proposed. The analytical model is used to optimize the structure, predict the performance, and design the controller and drive circuit. The longitudinal-bending mode is utilized for generating an elliptical motion at a drive foot. A vibration model of the V-shaped transducer is proposed. The vibration resonance frequency and mode shape are obtained by solving a set of differential equations of the balance force and continuous displacement. The energy method is then used to derive the displacement response based on Hamilton-Lagrange equations. Finally, three prototypes are fabricated to validate the model effectiveness. The resonance frequency, displacement response, and electric response of the analytical model are consistent with the experimental results. The results show that the vibration amplitude in the tangential direction X at the drive foot increases with the increase of the phase difference φ , and the amplitude in the normal direction Y decreases with the decrease of the phase difference φ. As the coupling angle θ increases, the amplitude in the tangential direction X increases and the amplitude in the normal direction Y decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A challenge for dryland crop production in China is closing the yield gap while propelling the sustainable development of agriculture when the natural resources are limited. A 4-year fixed field experiment was conducted to analyse the effect of introducing leguminous green manure (LGM) to different cropping systems on soil water, residual nitrate, soil quality and economic benefits to compare their sustainability using a comprehensive scoring system. The main treatments of the experiment were different cropping systems, leguminous green manure-winter wheat (LGM-WW) and leguminous green manure-spring maize-winter wheat (LGM-SM-WW) with summer fallow-winter wheat (SF-WW) as control. LGM late incorporation, early mulch and early incorporation were sub-treatments for LGM-WW while stalk mulch, incorporation and move-away were the sub-treatments for LGM-SM-WW to study the effects of different LGM managements. Compared with SF-WW, LGM-WW decreased average soil water storage before wheat seeding by 11% and increased residual nitrate storage after wheat harvest by 77% while they were not significantly changed for LGM-SM-WW. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content of LGM-WW and LGM-SM-WW in the 0–20-cm layer significantly increased when using legume as mulch. The economic benefits of LGM-SM-WW were 2 times greater than those of the other 2 cropping systems. The scoring system indicates that the total score of LGM-WW ranged from 11.85 to 12.78, which was even lower than that of SF-WW (13.07). On the contrary, the total score of LGM-SM-WW ranged from 16.46 to 18.49. In conclusion, the scoring system determined that the optimum cropping system for sustainable dryland agriculture is leguminous green manure-spring maize-winter wheat with legume stalk mulch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the carbon footprint (CF) of crop production is an efficient way to mitigate climate change. Growing legume green manure (LGM) instead of summer fallow may achieve this goal by lowering synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer needs and replenishing the depleted soil carbon (C) pool. The Rothamsted Carbon (RothC) model was incorporated into the Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the present and projected CFs of green manure-based wheat production systems in dryland agriculture on the Loess Plateau of China. The field study included four main treatments ( Huai bean, soybean and mung bean grown as green manure in summer and fallow as control) and four synthetic N rates (0, 108, 135 and 162 kg N ha − 1 ) applied at wheat sowing. Soybean as LGM increased averaged wheat yield over 4 synthetic N rates by 8% compared with fallow ( P < 0.05), and synthetic N requirement was reduced by 33% without compromising the wheat yield for all the main treatments. Although LGM treatments had higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural inputs, the greater amount of C inputs elevated the corresponding SOC stocks (SOCS) by 14–24% after 8 years, thus significantly reducing the CF by 25–51% compared with fallow. The modelled SOCS equilibrium indicates that the CF for cropping systems with LGM will be 53–62% lower than fallow and 23–37% lower compared with their current level. In conclusion, introducing legume green manure instead of summer fallow is a highly efficient measure for persistent CF reduction, and coupling the RothC model and LCA is an alternative method to predict the long-term impact of different cropping systems on GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of surface roughness are not considered in the traditional motor model which fails to reflect the actual contact mechanism between the stator and slider. An analytical model for calculating the tangential force of linear ultrasonic motor is proposed in this article. The presented model differs from the previous spring contact model, the asperities in contact between stator and slider are considered. The influences of preload and exciting voltage on tangential force in moving direction are analyzed. An experiment is performed to verify the feasibility of this proposed model by comparing the simulation results with the measured data. Moreover, the proposed model and spring model are compared. The results reveal that the proposed model is more accurate than spring model. The discussion is helpful for designing and modeling of linear ultrasonic motors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thanks to their compactness and suitability for vacuum applications, linear ultrasonic motors are considered as substitutes for classical electromagnetic motors as driving elements in absolute gravimeters. Still, their application is prevented by relatively low power output. To overcome this limitation and provide better stability, a V-type linear ultrasonic motor with a new clamping method is proposed for a gravimeter. In this paper, a mechanical model of stators with flexible clamping components is suggested, according to a design criterion for clamps of linear ultrasonic motors. After that, an effect of tangential and normal rigidity of the clamping components on mechanical output is studied. It is followed by discussion of a new clamping method with sufficient tangential rigidity and a capability to facilitate pre-load. Additionally, a prototype of the motor with the proposed clamping method was fabricated and the performance tests in vertical direction were implemented. Experimental results show that the suggested motor has structural stability and high dynamic performance, such as no-load speed of 1.4 m/s and maximal thrust of 43 N, meeting the requirements for absolute gravimeters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an integrated model is developed to analyze the fundamental characteristics of a modal-independent linear ultrasonic motor with double piezoelectric vibrators. The energy method is used to model the dynamics of the two piezoelectric vibrators. The interface forces are coupled into the dynamic equations of the two vibrators and the moving platform, forming a whole machine model of the motor. The behavior of the force transmission of the motor is analyzed via the resulting model to understand the drive mechanism. In particular, the relative contact length is proposed to describe the intermittent contact characteristic between the stator and the mover, and its role in evaluating motor performance is discussed. The relations between the output speed and various inputs to the motor and the start-stop transients of the motor are analyzed by numerical simulations, which are validated by experiments. Furthermore, the dead-zone behavior is predicted and clarified analytically using the proposed model, which is also observed in experiments. These results are useful for designing servo control scheme for the motor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonic motor (USM) is an electromechanical coupling system with ultrasonic vibration, which is driven by the frictional contact force between the stator (vibrating body) and the rotor/slider (driven body). Stick-slip motion can occur at the contact interface when USM is operating, which may affect the performance of the motor. This paper develops a physically-based model to investigate the complex stick-slip-separation dynamics in a bimodal standing wave ultrasonic motor. The model includes both friction nonlinearity and intermittent separation nonlinearity of the system. Utilizing Hamilton׳s principle and assumed mode method, the dynamic equations of the stator are deduced. Based on the dynamics of the stator and the slider, sticking force during the stick phase is derived, which is used to examine the stick-to-slip transition. Furthermore, the stick-slip-separation kinematics is analyzed by establishing analytical criteria that predict the transition between stick, slip and separation of the interface. Stick-slip-separation motion is observed in the resulting model, and numerical simulations are performed to study the influence of parameters on the range of possible motions. Results show that stick-slip motion can occur with greater preload and smaller voltage amplitude. Furthermore, a dimensionless parameter is proposed to predict the occurrence of stick-slip versus slip-separation motions, and its role in designing ultrasonic motors is discussed. It is shown that slip-separation motion is favorable for the slider velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An analytical model for predicting the wear and performance of a linear piezoelectric ultrasonic motor is presented. • The effects of temperature and surface roughness on wear are considered in the proposed model. • A test platform is conducted and the simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data. Ultrasonic motor relies on interface friction to drive the slider movement. During continuous operation, the contact surfaces between the stator and slider are worn, which will affect the performance and service life of the motor. A novel wear evaluation model considering temperature effect is established to estimate the remaining life and performance for a linear piezoelectric ultrasonic motor. The interactions of temperature with resonance frequency and material parameters are considered. The relationship between wear volume and preload as well as the variations of surface roughness parameters are taken into account. An experimental platform is built to identify the critical parameters and verify the accuracy of this model. The results show that the developed model can not only predict the temperature and service life, but also evaluate the performance of the motor, which can provide valuable guidance for motor design and optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving a balanced jobs-housing relationship has been treated as a solution to relieve traffic congestion and air pollution. Jobs-housing ratio and employment self-containment (ESC) are applied to quantify different levels of jobs-housing balance. Though appropriated methods have been analyzed to explore jobs-housing relationship at multiple fixed scales, scale dependency problem remains unsolved and resulted in discord about jobs-housing relationship. Furthermore, the differences of the jobs-housing balance and ESC by various income groups received little attention. This paper proposed a K-medoids clustering method to explore the aggregate multi-scale patterns of jobs-housing ratio and ESC by higher, medium, and lower-income groups using 2016 longitudinal employment household dynamics (LEHD) data. To alleviate the scale effect, individual workers and jobs were simulated by Monte Carlo approach according to LEHD data provided within each block. Afterwards, we analyzed the jobs-housing relationship within multi-scale units by different aggregated groups. We found jobs-housing balance had a positive effect on ESC, while the effect varied by different income groups. Jobs-housing balance affects ESC more for lower-income group when the searching radius is <4 km, while beyond 4 km, jobs-housing balance has more effect on ESC of higher-income group. ESC of medium-income group is least affected. Employing the K-medoids clustering method, we classified the four patterns of jobs-housing and the two patterns of ESC for each income group. We further identified jobs-housing matched and mismatched areas through eight joint patterns of jobs-housing balance and ESC. Our work contributes to understanding of jobs-housing balance and commuting by scale variations and income. • This paper analyzed the jobs-housing balance and ESC across variable multiscale buffers (1 km – 10 km). • This paper investigated the aggregated patterns considering jobs-housing balance and ESC at each scale proposed (search radius) through K-medoids clustering method. • This paper explored the aggregated patterns of jobs-housing balance and ESC and their joint patterns in terms of higher, medium, and low-income group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Protein engineering has contributed to successes in the field of T cell-based immunotherapy, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. CAR T cell therapy has become a pillar of cancer immunotherapy, demonstrating clinical effectiveness against B cell malignancies by targeting the B cell antigen CD19. Current gene editing techniques have limited safety controls over CAR T cell activity, which presents a hurdle for control of CAR T cells in patients. Alternatively, CAR T cell activity can be controlled by engineering CARs to bind soluble adapter molecules that direct the interaction between the CAR T cell and target cell. The flexibility in this adapter-mediated approach overcomes the rigid specificity of traditional CAR T cells to allow targeting of multiple cell types. Here we describe adapter CAR T technologies and how these methods emphasize the growing role of protein engineering in the design of programmable tools for T cell therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric ultrasonic motor is an electromechanical coupling system, which is driven by the interface friction between the stator and the rotor/slider. A novel friction model is developed to study the stick–slip motion in a linear piezoelectric ultrasonic motor using longitudinal and bending modes. In this model, the influence of the ultrasonic oscillation on the dynamic friction coefficient is taken into account, which is described by a friction law related to the vibration amplitude at the interface. In addition, the friction contact model involves intermittent separation non-linearity induced by the variable normal force, which can result in complex stick–slip–separation motion at the contact interface. Analytical transition criteria between stick and slip are established by using the switch model. Based on the developed model, numerical simulations are performed to analyze the force transmission between the stator and the slider involving stick–slip motion. A transformed phase plane is proposed to study various states of the contact interface (stick, slip and separation), on which slip–separation, stick–slip, stick–slip–separation, and pure stick motions are intuitively characterized. The influence of some input parameters on the stick–slip motion is analyzed. Furthermore, the low-voltage dead-zone behavior is clarified by stick motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five organic fertilizers (vermicompost, pig manure, chicken manure, peat and oil residue) were applied to agricultural soils to study their effects on the survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 ( E. coli O157:H7). Results showed that E. coli O157:H7 survival changed greatly after organic fertilizers application, with shorter t d values (survival time needed to reach the detection limit of 100 CFU g −1 ) (12.57 ± 6.57 days) in soils amended with chicken manure and the longest (25.65 ± 7.12 days) in soils amended with pig manure. Soil pH, EC and free Fe/Al (hydro) oxides were significant explanatory factors for E. coli O157:H7 survival in the original soils. Soil constituents (minerals and organic matter) and changes in their surface charges with pH increased the effect of soil pH on E. coli O157:H7 survival. However, electrical conductivity played a more important role in regulating E. coli O157:H7 survival in fertilizer-amended soils. This study highlighted the importance of choosing appropriate organic fertilizers in the preharvest environment to reduce food-borne bacterial contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vibro-impact system is proposed to investigate the normal motion and impact of the driving foot of the linear ultrasonic motors based on longitudinal and bending modes. Using coefficient of restitution (CoR) method a dynamical model is developed to simulate the normal impacts between the stator and mover taking into account the preload and vibration of barycenter of the stator. Furthermore, the sticking motions that can occur are simulated when the stator impacts the mover via a Lagrange multiplier. It is shown that the sticking motions occurring in the system are affected by some factors like CoR, preload and stiffness of the preload spring in clamping parts. Results indicate that a friction material with a higher hardness, modest preload and stiffness of the preload spring can weaken sticking motion in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroautophagy (hereafter autophagy), literally defined as a type of self-eating, is a dynamic cellular process in which cytoplasm is sequestered within a unique compartment termed the phagophore. Upon completion, the phagophore matures into a double-membrane autophagosome that fuses with the lysosome or vacuole, allowing degradation of the cargo. Nonselective autophagy is primarily a cytoprotective response to various types of stress; however, the process can also be highly selective. Autophagy is involved in various aspects of cell physiology, and its dysregulation is associated with a range of diseases. The regulation of autophagy is complex, and the process must be properly modulated to maintain cellular homeostasis. In this review, we focus on the current state of knowledge concerning transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational regulation of autophagy in yeast and mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background Intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are associated with poor clinical and economic outcomes. Data regarding ICU-acquired pneumonia and VAP are not readily available from developing countries, including China. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the incidence, mortality rate, length of stay, and pathogens associated with ICU-acquired pneumonia in China. Methods A meta-analysis and systematic review of 334 publications published between January 2007 and May 2012 and retrieved from the Chinese BioMedical database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Chinese Science and Technique Journals database, Wanfang database, and PubMed was conducted. Results The incidences of ICU-acquired pneumonia and VAP were 16.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.8–20.4%) and 33.7% (95% CI 31.4–36.1%), respectively; mortality rates were 37.4% (95% CI 24.6–52.2%) and 34.5% (95% CI 29.2–40.1%), respectively. The durations of stay in the ICU and hospital were 12.4 (95% CI 9.6–15.3) and 17.7 (95% CI 15.6–19.7) days and 18.0 (95% CI 16.5–19.6) and 30.5 (95% CI 26.4–34.7) days for ICU-acquired pneumonia and VAP, respectively. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.9%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (13.9%) were the most frequently isolated pathogens, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (11.9%) and Staphylococcus aureus (10.4%); 82.9% of S. aureus isolates were reported to be methicillin-resistant. Conclusions ICU-acquired pneumonia/VAP remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients in the ICU in China. Data on organisms causing disease in this population could help guide appropriate prevention strategies and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customer relationship management is a central part of Business Intelligence, and sales campaigns are often used for improving customer relationships. This paper uses advanced analytics to explore customer behavior during sales campaigns. We provide a visual, data-driven and efficient framework for customer-segmentation and campaign-response modeling. First, the customers are grouped by purchasing behavior characteristics using a self-organizing map. To this behavioral segmentation model, we link segment-migration patterns using feature plane representations. This enables visual monitoring of the customer base and tracking customer behavior before and during sales campaigns. In addition to the general segment-migration patterns, this method provides the capability to drill down into each segment to visually explore the dynamics. The framework is applied to a department store chain with more than 1 million customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper extends the use of recently introduced Self-Organizing Time Map (SOTM) by pairing it with classical cluster analysis. The SOTM is an adaptation of the Self-Organizing Map for visualizing dynamics in cluster structures. While enabling visual dynamic clustering of temporal and cross-sectional patterns, the stand-alone SOTM lacks means for objectively representing temporal changes in cluster structures. This paper combines the SOTM with clustering and illustrates the usefulness of second-level clustering for representing changes in cluster structures in an easily interpretable format. This provides means for identification of changing, emerging and disappearing clusters over time. Experiments are performed on two toy datasets and two real-world datasets. The first real-world application explores evolution dynamics of European banks before and during the global financial crisis. Not surprisingly, the results indicate a build-up of risks and vulnerabilities throughout the European banking sector prior to the start of the crisis. The second application identifies the cyclicality of currency crises through changes in the most vulnerable clusters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Using LGM is an effective practice to enhance soil organic nitrogen (SON) pool. • The N content of physically protected iPOM is directly linked to SON. • Unprotected cPOM is responsive to LGM and it controls the N content of iPOM. • Higher N content of cPOM under LGM increases SON via both direct/ indirect paths. • The responses of N in cPOM to management practices could be crucial to predict SON. The nitrogen (N) content of soil organic matter (OM) fractions is a vital indicator of soil health as it limits crop yield and regulates the loss of N from soil to the environment. We studied the impacts of introducing leguminous green manure (LGM) to replace summer fallow on N distribution in coarse particulate OM (cPOM), fine POM (fPOM), intra-microaggregate POM (iPOM) and mineral associated OM (MAOM). Random forest regression and structural equation modelling were coupled to identify the important OM fractions and reveal how they affect soil organic N pool. The field experiment followed a split-plot design with summer fallow – winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (FW) (control) and LGM – winter wheat as the main treatments. The latter included Huai bean (Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc) – winter wheat (HW), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) – winter wheat (SW) and mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) – winter wheat (MW). The sub-treatments included applying 0 or 135 kg ha−1 of synthetic N fertilizer to winter wheat. Both LGM and synthetic N had limited effects on the mass ratio of OM fractions. Compared with FW, HW and MW increased the N content of unprotected OM fractions (cPOM + fPOM) by 38–58% and all LGM treatments increased the N content of protected OM fractions (iPOM + MAOM) by 9–16%. The main driving factors for enhancing the soil organic N pool were the N in cPOM and iPOM. The indirect paths through the cPOM mediated by the iPOM in large and small macroaggregates were the key pathways that regulated the soil organic N pool. In conclusion, LGM expands the soil organic N pool mainly by regulating the N content of cPOM and iPOM, suggesting this practice can propel sustainable crop production via enhanced short- and long-term soil N supplying capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The surface layer effects on transport in epitaxial La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 thin films are studied. It was found that the two-probe resistance is nonlinear which is enhanced with decreasing temperature. Similar to the resistance of intrinsic La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 thin films reported in the literature, the apparent dynamic contact resistance behaves semiconducting at high temperatures, passes through a peak, and displays a metallic behavior. At lowest temperatures, the curve of the contact resistance versus temperature shows a little upturn. The temperature dependent work function difference between the surface layer and the thin film underneath, together with the tunneling process across either the resulting charge depleted layer or the semiconducting surface layer is used to explain our observations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A thermal-mechanical-electric coupling dynamic model is developed for a V-shaped linear ultrasonic motor. • The influence of surface roughness on the temperature rise of the motor is taken into account in the model. • The model can be used to predict the output characteristics of the motor. In this paper, a thermal-mechanical-electric coupling dynamic model is developed for a V-shape linear ultrasonic motor. The impact of surface roughness of stator/slider on the motor temperature rise as well as the temperature dependence of the stator material parameters are considered in this model. The relationship between the resonant frequency of the stator and the temperature is investigated, and the variation relation of motor parameters with regard to the temperature is discussed. The validity of the model is verified by numerical simulation and experimental results. Based on the proposed model, the influences of surface roughness of stator/slider, driving voltage, driving frequency and pre-pressure on motor temperature and velocity are studied and analyzed, and the comparison between the measuring data and the previous reported model with constant parameters are conducted. The results denote that the established model under different input parameters can be more accurately to predict the dynamic changes of temperature and velocity of the motor, which will be a valuable guide for the improvement of precise control and long-term stable operation of the motor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, eight new species are described from the subtropical parts of Yunnan Province in southwestern China: Belisana honghe Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. jiuxiang Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. lincang Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. luxi Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. tengchong Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. tongi Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. yongsheng Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂), and B. yunnan Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀). They add up to a total of 31 Belisana species from Yunnan in an updated list provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]