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AbstractThe study aimed to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the cervical spine and determine the effect of the material properties of the cervical spinal components on it. A finite element model of the head-cervical spine was developed based on CT scan data, and the first six orders of modes (e.g. flexion-extension, lateral bending, and vertical, etc.) were verified by experimental and simulation studies. The material sensitivity study was conducted by varying elasticity modulus of cervical hard tissues (cortical bone, cancellous bone, endplates, and posterior elements) and soft tissues (intervertebral disc and ligaments). The results showed that increasing the elastic modulus of ligaments by 4 times increased the natural frequency by 77%, while increasing that of cancellous bone by 4 times only increased the natural frequency by 6%. In the axial mode, the cervical spine had not only axial deformation but also anterior-posterior deformation, with the largest deformation located at the intervertebral disc C6-C7. Decreasing the elastic modulus of a component in soft tissues by 80% increased modal displacement by up to 62%. The material properties of the intervertebral discs and ligaments had opposite effects on the modal displacement and deformation of the cervical spine. Low cervical discs were more susceptible to injury in a vertical vibration environment. Cervical spine dynamics were more sensitive to soft tissue material properties than to hard tissue material properties. Disc degeneration could reduce the range of vibratory motion of the cervical spine, thereby reducing the ability of the cervical spine to cushion head impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspect markers (AMs), temporal adverbs (TAs) and temporal nouns (TNs) are used by young Mandarin-speaking children to express time. However, the factors that affect the relative acquisition trajectories of these categories remains unclear. Accordingly, this study adoptsWeist's time-concept model to examine the patterns of acquisition between and within the above three categories of temporal markers in the Mandarin system of time. Specifically, temporal markers were extracted from language samples obtained from 82 Mandarin-speaking children aged 2 to 5years, who were divided into three groups by age. The results indicated that the token counts and the type counts of temporal markers were significantly higher among the older children, who were also more capable of using more categories of temporal markers, and were more likely to use multiple markers in single utterances. Of the three categories of temporal marker, AMs emerged earliest, and the participants' repertoires of AMs stopped expanding sooner than their TA and TN repertoires did. As measured by token use, AMs were mastered earliest. Within each of the three categories, the acquisition of temporal-marker subgroups also varied according to two semantic features: temporal remoteness and specificity. The findings were consistent with Weist's principles, and suggest that languagegeneral time concepts (content) and language-specific syntactic properties (form) interact to shape the acquisition of temporal markers by Mandarin-speaking children, with the additional role being played by the semantic features of temporal remoteness and specificity within each category. Theoretical and clinical implications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of breast cancer has exhibited an annually increasing trend, and the disease has become the most common malignant tumour worldwide. Currently, the primary treatment for breast cancer is surgical resection. However, metastatic recurrence is the main cause of cancer-related death in this patient population. Various factors are associated with breast cancer prognosis, and anaesthesia-induced changes in the tumour microenvironment have attracted increasing attention. To date, however, it remains unclear whether anaesthetic drugs have a positive or negative impact on cancer outcomes after surgery. The present article reviews the effects of different anaesthetics on the postoperative prognosis of breast cancer surgery to guide the choice of anaesthetic technique(s) and agents for such patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solidago canadensis, considered one of the most destructive invasive species of the 21st century, has inflicted severe ecological damage globally. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms through which nitrogen deposition impacts the metabolism of soil microorganisms across various vegetation communities remain largely unexplored. Consequently, this study sought to elucidate patterns of change in microbial metabolic constraints and carbon use efficiency across six distinct vegetation communities, aiming to uncover the carbon cycling process within soil ecosystems. Our findings reveal that multi-vegetation communities exhibit greater resilience to the incursion of Solidago canadensis than their single-vegetation counterparts, demonstrating weaker microbial carbon constraints and higher carbon use efficiency. Furthermore, a positive correlation was determined between microbial carbon use efficiency and carbon constraints. Driven by soil nutrients, nitrogen deposition synergistically interacts with Solidago canadensis, thereby influencing soil microbial carbon use efficiency. Thus, our experiment provides an initial perspective on the variations in metabolic limitations and carbon use efficiency amongst soil microbes across different vegetation communities. Such insights hold potential implications for future research focused on the feedback and responses of carbon cycles within varied vegetation community ecosystems to invasions in the context of increasing nitrogen deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines China's path to joining the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), a private international organization founded in Paris in 1920, of which China was a member from 1931–1949 and from 1994 onwards. The article charts the actors and debates behind two meaningful encounters. The first took place while the Nanjing government was raising funds for economic reconstruction, and the ICC aimed to mediate China's fundraising efforts through private multilateral channels. The second was in the 1980s, when the People's Republic was seeking to enter the world trade system. ICC members acted as educators and facilitators of world trade practicalities for the People's Republic, which eventually rejoined the ICC in 1994. The article draws on Chinese, European, and American source material collected from governments, chambers of commerce, and private businessmen to make a twofold contribution. First, it adds nuance to the narrative of China's economic internationalization by identifying an important non-governmental diplomatic channel. Second, it questions the ICC's self-proclaimed identity as a non-political economic organization by showing how the political was indissociable from the economic when it came to China's membership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's 13th Five-Year Plan elevated the national mandate for environmental sustainability. Chinese fisheries are characterized by full retention of high diversity catch harvested using unselective gears, creating ecological risks. Therefore, China launched pilot projects in management by Total Allowable Catch (TAC) in five coastal provinces in 2017 and 2018 to build experience with output controls. Fujian province launched an important pilot in its swimming crab fishery, the first to adopt a multispecies approach. To guide Fujian and other provinces in multispecies management, a workshop in April 2018 shared international experience. The workshop considered 13 case studies spanning a wide range of underlying scientific models and types of harvest controls. Multispecies harvest controls based on simple survey- or index-based models that aggregate trends for many species are typically operationally easier for managers and fishers. However, inadequate management can cause declines of individual species, sometimes leading to adoption of species-specific models and then species-specific harvest controls. This transition often incurs economic costs through scientific and management demands, and constraints on harvest of co-occurring species. The lessons revealed by the case studies suggest multispecies TACs might be effective in the Fujian swimming crab fishery given the modest number of species with similar and productive life history traits, and the market demand for all species. Continued experimentation with different management approaches through pilot projects can enable China to maintain progress toward sustainable fisheries goals under the 14th Five-Year Plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone-resorbing osteoclasts mobilize proteolytic enzymes belonging to the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family to directly degrade type I collagen, the dominant extracellular matrix component of skeletal tissues. While searching for additional MMP substrates critical to bone resorption, Mmp9/Mmp14 double-knockout (DKO) osteoclasts--as well as MMP-inhibited human osteoclasts--unexpectedly display major changes in transcriptional programs in tandem with compromised RhoA activation, sealing zone formation and bone resorption. Further study revealed that osteoclast function is dependent on the ability of Mmp9 and Mmp14 to cooperatively proteolyze the β-galactoside-binding lectin, galectin-3, on the cell surface. Mass spectrometry identified the galectin-3 receptor as low-density lipoprotein-related protein-1 (Lrp1), whose targeting in DKO osteoclasts fully rescues RhoA activation, sealing zone formation and bone resorption. Together, these findings identify a previously unrecognized galectin-3/Lrp1 axis whose proteolytic regulation controls both the transcriptional programs and the intracellular signaling cascades critical to mouse as well as human osteoclast function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Octylphenol polyethoxylates (OPEO n) are composed of a hydrophobic octylphenol (OP) group and a hydrophilic polyethylene oxide (EO) chain and are widely used in commercial products. Shorter EO chains and OPEO n biometabolites have been identified as endocrine-disrupting contaminants and can threaten biotic factors in the ecosystem. In this study, OPEO n at three EO lengths (TX-45, TX-114, and TX-165) were selected in monomer (MN) or micelle (MC) state for batch experiments under aerobic conditions, with results showing biodegradation rates of 90 % within 35–70 h. The pseudo -first-order constant (k) of OPEO n biodegradation was observed in the order TX-45 (0.1414 h−1) > TX-114 (0.0556 h−1) > TX-165 (0.0485 h−1), with biomineralisation reaching at least 80 % for all OPEO n. The selective biodegradation of EO chains was also measured, with initial accumulation of OPEO 3 observed along with the depletion of longer EO chains for TX-45 and TX-114 in both the MN and MC states. A similar trend was observed for the MN state of TX-165, with OPEO 3 -OPEO 9 observed to accumulate and reduced after 70 h. MC biodegradation was accomplished via the initial accumulation of OPEO 3 -OPEO 9. The amounts of OPEO 3 increased and others reduced; however, OPEO 3 remained high at the end of biodegradation for TX-165. Bacterial community analysis indicated that the genera Sphingobium spp., Pseudomonas spp., Flavobacterium spp., Comamonas spp., and Sphingopyxis spp. dominate OPEO n biodegradation, and they have their roles during biodegradation, and the community-level physiological profile (CLPP) was also changed by biodegradation in both the MN and MC states. [Display omitted] • Selective biodegradation: short OPEO n accumulation and long OPEO n depletion. • OPEO n length and structures influence biodegradation. • Pseudomonas , Sphingobium and Flavobacterium spp. were dominant during degradation. • Bacterial physiological traits changed before and after biodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutting is a practical technique to understand the rock-tool interactions in drag-bit-type geothermal drilling operations. This paper introduces a rotary cutting method to determine specific cutting energy (SCE) and compares it with the conventional linear cutting method. In this work, granite is selected to represent hard rock formations in geothermal drilling. Cutting tests are conducted on a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine with a realistic cutting speed of 12.7 m/min and several chip loads ranging from 0.08 to 0.25 mm. The cutting force is measured using a dynamometer and then converted to specific cutting energy (SCE). The results show that the rotary method produces an inverse relationship between SCE and chip load, whereas the linear method shows the opposite. As a result, the produced SCE by the rotary method tends to be lower than that of the linear method at a higher chip load at and over 0.16 mm. The difference may be attributed to the cutting configuration and associated force components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] This study was conducted to develop a bergamot yam soymilk yogurt. [Methods]With bergamot yam and soybeans as the main raw materials, the nutritious bergamot yam soymilk yogurt was finally obtained through soymilk deodorization, strain acclimation and process optimization. [Results] Soybeans were soaked in a LI mixture of 0.2% sodium chloride and 0.2% sodium bicarbonate for 10 h, and then added with water for grinding, and the obtained slurry was filtered. The filtrate was heated at 100°C for 20 min on a low fire and mixed with skim milk in a ratio of 6M, and the obtained soymilk achieved the best deodorizing effect. Strains adapted to the soybean milk fermentation system were obtained by gradually increasing the ratio of soybean milk in the acclimation medium and performing passage. The curding time before the product acclimation was 6.5 h, and that after acclimation was 5.8 h, which meant that the time was shortened by 0.7 h, and the acidity increased significantly. Finally, an orthogonal experiment was carried out, determining that the optimal fermentation process was soybean-to-water ratio L5, sucrose 8%, bergamot yam 8%, and fermentation time 6 h. [Conclusions] This study provides a reference for the deep processing of bergamot yam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel nanoparticles was supported on sawdust carbon via a hydrothermal method followed by calcination and used as a catalyst for heavy crude oil upgrading experiment. The performance of catalyst on catalytic pyrolysis of heavy crude oil was studied by laboratory experiments. The experimental results showed that under the reaction conditions of 350 °C, 30 min and 0.1 wt% catalyst, the viscosity reduction ratio of heavy crude oil was 74.50%, the viscosity can be reduced from 16,000 mPa·s (50 °C) to 4080 mPa·s, and the net efficiency of catalyst was 14.37%. Analysis results suggested that the viscosity reduction of heavy crude oil was caused by the destruction of structure of resin in the process of the catalytic pyrolysis reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy mitochondria are critical for reproduction. During aging, both reproductive fitness and mitochondrial homeostasis decline. Mitochondrial metabolism and dynamics are key factors in supporting mitochondrial homeostasis. However, how they are coupled to control reproductive health remains unclear. We report that mitochondrial GTP (mtGTP) metabolism acts through mitochondrial dynamics factors to regulate reproductive aging. We discovered that germline-only inactivation of GTP- but not ATP-specific succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS) promotes reproductive longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. We further identified an age-associated increase in mitochondrial clustering surrounding oocyte nuclei, which is attenuated by GTP-specific SCS inactivation. Germline-only induction of mitochondrial fission factors sufficiently promotes mitochondrial dispersion and reproductive longevity. Moreover, we discovered that bacterial inputs affect mtGTP levels and dynamics factors to modulate reproductive aging. These results demonstrate the significance of mtGTP metabolism in regulating oocyte mitochondrial homeostasis and reproductive longevity and identify mitochondrial fission induction as an effective strategy to improve reproductive health. [Display omitted] • Mitochondrial GTP-specific succinyl-CoA synthetase regulates reproductive longevity • Oocyte mitochondrial positioning influences reproductive health during aging • Mitochondrial fission in the oocyte promotes reproductive longevity • Bacterial vitamin B12 modulates reproductive aging via GTP succinyl-CoA synthetase Lee et al. identify a signaling nexus between mitochondrial GTP metabolism and mitochondrial dynamics in regulating C. elegans reproductive aging. They further demonstrate that bacterial metabolites act through this signaling mechanism to modulate the host's reproductive health during aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transition metal oxide catalyst of copper oxide nanoparticles was synthesized by a conventional non-hydrothermal method. It was studied as a catalyst in thermocatalytic upgrading and viscosity reduction of heavy oil in the laboratory. The experimental results showed that the viscosity of heavy oil may be reduced by 85.75% with 0.2 wt% catalyst at 350 °C for 40 min. With determinations of analyzation, it was found that under the thermocatalytic action of copper oxide nanoparticles, the presence of hydrogen-donor in the reaction could further improve the chemical constitution of resin and asphaltene in heavy oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the fundamental questions in bone biology is where osteoblasts originate and how osteoblast differentiation is regulated. The mechanism underlying which factors regulate chondrocyte to osteoblast lineage commitment remains unknown. Our data showed that Runt-related transcription factor 1 (Runx1) is expressed at different stages of both chondrocyte and osteoblast differentiation. Runx1 chondrocyte-specific knockout (Runx1f/fCol2a1-cre) mice exhibited impaired cartilage formation, decreased bone density, and an osteoporotic phenotype. The expressions of chondrocyte differentiation regulation genes, including Sox9, Ihh, CyclinD1, PTH1R, and hypertrophic chondrocyte marker genes including Col2a1, Runx2, MMP13, Col10a1 in the growth plate were significantly decreased in Runx1f/fCol2a1-cre mice chondrocytes. Importantly, the expression of osteoblast differentiation regulation genes including Osx, Runx2, ATF4, and osteoblast marker genes including osteocalcin (OCN) and osteopontin (OPN) were significantly decreased in the osteoblasts of Runx1f/fCol2a1-cre mice. Notably, our data showed that osteoblast differentiation regulation genes and marker genes are also expressed in chondrocytes and the expressions of these marker genes were significantly decreased in the chondrocytes of Runx1f/fCol2a1-cre mice. Our data showed that chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and promoter mapping analysis revealed that Runx1 directly binds to the Indian hedgehog homolog (Ihh) promoter to regulate its expression, indicating that Runx1 directly regulates the transcriptional expression of chondrocyte genes. Collectively, we revealed that Runx1 signals chondrocyte to osteoblast lineage commitment and promotes endochondral bone formation through enhancing both chondrogenesis and osteogenesis genes expressions, indicating Runx1 may be a therapeutic target to enhance endochondral bone formation and prevent osteoporosis fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mist distribution is a critical factor in through-tool minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) drilling since a small amount of lubricant is used. However, it has rarely been discussed because of the difficulty in measuring the mist flow experimentally. In this paper, an optical approach is developed to approximate the mist distribution by using high-speed images from multiple angles. Drill bits with two through-tool channel shapes (circle and triangle) and three helix angles (0 deg, 30 deg, and 45 deg) are 3D printed for mist distribution analysis. Furthermore, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is conducted to investigate the underlying physics behind mist flow variations. The results show that, in the circular channel, the mist is concentrated near the periphery; the low concentration region shifts away from the chisel point as the helix angle increases. For the triangular channel, the mist is concentrated near three vertices but is less affected by the helix angle. Furthermore, based on the CFD solution, high mist concentration tends to be in low-velocity regions and vice versa. This study confirms a noticeable difference of mist flow distribution in different through-tool channel designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study thermal annealing effects on the size and composition variations of indium-aggregated clusters in two InGaN thin films with photoluminescence (PL) in the yellow and red ranges. The methods of investigation include optical measurement, nanoscale material analysis, and theoretical calculation. Such a study is important for determining the relation between the band gap and the average indium content of InGaN. In one of the samples, the major part of the PL spectrum is shifted from the yellow band into the blue range upon thermal annealing. In the other sample, after thermal annealing, a broad spectrum covering the whole visible range is observed. To obtain a basic physics picture behind the spectral blue shift upon thermal annealing in the yellow emission sample, we theoretically study the quantum-confinement effects of InGaN clusters based on a quantum box model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2D Janus transition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and alloyed TMDs are a widely studied emerging class of 2D materials that have been extensively used in electronic devices because of their excellent electronic, optical, and mechanical properties. The properties and behaviors of 2D‐materials‐based devices, such as the electrical breakdown caused by structural failure, are significant issues that have drawn considerable attention. In this study, the electrical behavior of polymorphic molybdenum sulfide selenide (MoSSe) devices is studied via in situ biasing experiments and recorded using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at the atomic scale. The selenization temperature is a key factor in the phase transition of the material, which further affects the electrical and mechanical properties of MoSSe. The effects of electron‐beam irradiation and bias voltage are also discussed through a combination of experiments and theory. Quantifying the defect coverage and defect size also helps us to understand the behavior of material degradation. Furthermore, Cs‐corrected scanning TEM is utilized to identify the evolution of the morphology. The fracture morphology of the synthesized structure also varies with the application of high voltage. The cracks and defects caused by Joule heating are studied in terms of fracture type and size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reductions in system inertia due to increasing penetration levels of wind power may result in frequency stability issues. Thus, it is necessary to provide a comprehensive method to estimate the maximum level of wind power that can maintain a system's frequency within allowable security limits following a major disturbance. Here, a fast method to estimate maximum wind power penetration level (WPPL) that considers frequency cumulative effect is proposed. The method first establishes an average system frequency response (ASFR) model of integrated wind power and then calculates the corresponding frequency response trajectory characteristics. Subsequently, a new transient frequency security index (TFSI) based on the frequency cumulative effect is expressed. The physical basis for the TFSI is that it can objectively reflect the dynamic security state of the system frequency. The quantitative functional relationship between the WPPL and the TFSI can be obtained by combining the frequency response characteristics and the TFSI definition. A numerical expression for the maximum WPPL integrated into the grid can be obtained, and the maximum WPPL of the integrated wind power system can be instantaneously and quantitatively estimated. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed analytical method is demonstrated on a 10-machine 39-bus system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A 3D printable composite, 3DPIC, is introduced for mimicking the cortical bone in surgery. • 3DPIC has a tunable elastic modulus and strength based on the composition. • 3DPIC has a comparable modulus to the cortical bone but a much lower strength. • 3DPIC has similar force and temperature responses to the cortical bone in drilling. Abstract Synthetic bones made of polyurethane (PU) foams or glass-fiber reinforced epoxy are often used in surgical training, planning, and tool analysis, but these materials cannot be 3D printed for a patient-specific design. This paper introduces a new type of bone-mimicking material made by the binder jetting technology and a post-strengthening process with epoxy, namely 3D polymer-infiltrated composite (3DPIC). 3DPIC has been previously evaluated by surgeons as a proper alternative to commercial synthetic bones, but no quantitative testing data is available. Therefore, a series of experiments are conducted in this study to verify the use of 3DPIC. The first part of experiments includes the measurement of mechanical properties using the four-point bending and the measurement of thermal properties. The second part of experiments is to test drilling haptic and thermal responses of 3DPIC as compared to the cortical bone. The results show that 3DPIC has a comparable elastic modulus but a lower strength than the cortical bone. 3DPIC can produce realistic drilling force and torque as well as representative temperature change in drilling operations, but the bone debris tends to be more ductile and continuous than that of the cortical bone. Applications and limitations of 3DPIC are discussed based on these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of herbal teas has become popular in recent years due to their attractive flavors and outstanding antioxidant properties. The Five-Golden-Flowers tea is a herbal tea consisting of five famous edible flowers. The effects of microwave-assisted extraction parameters on the antioxidant activity of Five-Golden-Flowers tea were studied by single-factor experiments, and further investigated using response surface methodology. Under the optimal parameters (53.04 mL/g of solvent/material ratio, 65.52 °C, 30.89 min, and 500 W), the ferric-reducing antioxidant power, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic content of the herbal tea were 862.90 ± 2.44 µmol Fe2+/g dry weight (DW), 474.37 ± 1.92 µmol Trolox/g DW, and 65.50 ± 1.26 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g DW, respectively. The in vivo antioxidant activity of the herbal tea was evaluated on alcohol-induced acute liver injury in mice. The herbal tea significantly decreased the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and malonaldehyde at different doses (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg); improved the levels of liver index, serum triacylglycerol, and catalase at dose of 800 mg/kg. These results indicated its role in alleviating hepatic oxidative injury. Besides, rutin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, gallic acid, and p-coumaric acid were identified and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which could contribute to the antioxidant activity of the herbal tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, results of plate load tests performed on saturated and unsaturated silty sand samples are presented. Very little is known about how to interpret the plate load test when performed on unsaturated soils comprising silt-sand mixtures because the few published studies have been limited to either unsaturated clean sands or clays. The new plate load test results are interpreted using a bearing capacity equation, applicable when nonuniform χs profiles prevail in the soil, where χs is the contribution of suction to the effective stress. The interrelation between χs, strength, and bearing capacity is shown. There is good agreement between measured and computed bearing capacities. Assuming χs remains constant during a plate load test, compared to assumptions of constant suction or constant moisture content, simplifies interpretation without significant loss of accuracy. For a particular soil density, the bearing capacity for an unsaturated condition is found to be much larger than that for a fully saturated condition. It is also shown that the effect of suction on the bearing capacity is dependent on the initial location of the hydraulic state on the soil-water characteristic curve. Failing to account for suction and the hydraulic loading history may lead to incorrect interpretations. It is also demonstrated how plate load tests may be used to infer the value of χs at the soil surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and prompt transient stability prediction is one of the effective ways to reduce the risk of blackout or cascading failures. In an effort to achieve improvements in time efficiency and prediction accuracy, a new transient stability prediction method combining trajectory fitting (TF) and extreme learning machine (ELM) based on two-stage process, named hybrid method, is proposed here. ELM-based method is implemented in central station to ensure the time efficiency, while TFbased method is adopted in local station to guarantee the accuracy. Furthermore, data corruption is taken into consideration to assure the robustness of the proposed algorithm. The hybrid method is validated with the New England 39-bus test system and the simulation results indicate its effectiveness and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental study on low-velocity impact response of bi-material structures (BMS). BMS is a structural composite consisting of a 3D-printed lattice structure filled with a reinforcement material. In this study, BMS is made of polylactide (PLA) lattice structure and polyurethane (PU) foam for an enhanced impact resistance. Three different PU foams, including one rigid foam and two flexible foams, are selected for BMS. The impact tests are conducted to compare the impact attenuation, stiffness, toughness, and strength using the measured rate of change of acceleration (known as “jerk”), displacement, energy absorption, and the maximum acceleration, respectively. The results show that flexible foams have more positive effects on the impact properties than the rigid foam. The maximum reduction of jerk is about 9% compared to the baseline structure without foam reinforcement. The maximum displacement is increased by 17%; the maximum energy absorption is increased by 23%. The maximum acceleration remains similar for all samples. In conclusion, a proper selection of foam filling can significantly improve the impact properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the channel hopping (CH) method for the rendezvous process of secondary users in multi-channel CRAHNs is overviewed. With the evolution of the Internet of Things, design criteria of CH sequences targeting these applications are discussed. While channel collision among CH sequences is inherent in realistic CRAHNs, most prior works focused on sequence designs without addressing the channel collision problem. Hence, the concept of contention resolution in CRAHNs is introduced in this article, and a "multi-round" contention resolution mechanism is studied. To quantify the performance, the RS rate of the mechanism is presented and validated with computer simulation. Finally, the rendezvous time savings, which, in turn, can enhance data throughput, of the multi-round mechanism over a single-round one are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the recent development of the National Cultural Information Resources Sharing Project in China. This is a national scale project that was initiated by the Chinese central government and has stimulated immense academic attention. Specifically, this paper attempts to understand people's expectations and requirements on the project. Moreover, this paper aims to articulate and provide specific and useful suggestions for relevant politicians and project operators so that public expectations and requirements can be carefully met. A survey was used to sample a very large and widely distributed population in China, with a questionnaire designed and disseminated through an online survey service platform. A total of 1,076 usable responses were returned and 29 invalid response cases were discarded, yielding an effective response rate of 97.3 percent. An evident public expectation has emerged from the data collected which shows that the Chinese public primarily expects a comprehensive, convenient and unified one stop online access portal to all types of Chinese digital cultural heritage. This paper is of interest to Chinese government officials as well as professionals working at libraries, museums, archives and other cultural institutions in China. Furthermore, although the context of this study is China, the research findings, insights and experiences gained in this study can be shared across international borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consolidation of soils is important to geotechnical engineering practice, such as when assessing the rate of settlement of shallow foundations, embankments, and landfills. In this paper, numerical analyses are performed to study the consolidation of unsaturated soils. The variations of excess pore-air and pore-water pressures and settlement with time are established by solving the governing equations. The flow and deformation of the different constituents of an unsaturated soil are fully coupled in the governing equations. The dependency of soil parameters, including the coefficients of permeability for air and water phases and the constitutive coefficients, is allowed to vary as changes to soil volume and suction occur. The effect of hydraulic hysteresis is investigated by considering different initial locations of the hydraulic states on the soil-water characteristic curve. It is shown that the different initial locations of hydraulic states result in different normalized instantaneous settlements and different initial excess pore pressures. The influence of the degree of saturation is also studied. It is shown that for the lowest degree of saturation, the most significant instantaneous settlement occurs and the total consolidation time is longest. The results of this study provide new insights into unsaturated soil consolidation. This is important because the hydraulic loading history and degree of saturation of the soil should be considered when assessing the rate and magnitude of consolidation settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inherent variability and randomness of large-scale wind power integration have brought great challenges to power flow control and dispatch. The distributed power flow controller (DPFC) has the higher flexibility and capacity in power flow control in the system with wind generation. This paper proposes a multi-time scale coordinated scheduling model with DPFC to minimize wind power spillage. Configuration of DPFCs is initially determined by stochastic method. Afterward, two sequential procedures containing day-head and real-time scales are applied for determining maximum schedulable wind sources, optimal outputs of generating units and operation setting of DPFCs. The generating plan is obtained initially in day-ahead scheduling stage and modified in real-time scheduling model, while considering the uncertainty of wind power and fast operation of DPFC. Numerical simulation results in IEEE-RTS79 system illustrate that wind power is maximum scheduled with the optimal deployment and operation of DPFC, which confirms the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing penetration of wind power into the power system, wind power participation in frequency regulation is regarded as a beneficial strategy to improve the dynamic frequency response characteristics of power systems. The traditional power system frequency response (SFR) model, which only includes synchronous generators, is no longer suitable for power systems with high penetrated wind power. An extended SFR model, based on the reduced-order model of wind turbine generator (WTG) and the traditional SFR model, is presented in this paper. In the extended SFR model, the reduced-order model of WTG with combined frequency control is deduced by employing small signal analysis theory. Afterwards, the stability analysis of a closed-loop control system for the extended SFR model is carried out. Time-domain simulations using a test system are performed to validate the effectiveness of the extended SFR model; this model can provide a simpler, clearer and faster way to analyze the dynamic frequency response characteristic for a high-wind integrated power systems. The impact of additional frequency control parameters and wind speed disturbances on the system dynamic frequency response characteristics are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers of thiolated gold nanoparticles mixed with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/sodium dodecyl sulfate (DPPC/SDS) were investigated by combining the X-ray reflectivity, grazing-incident scattering, and TEM analyses to reveal the in-depth and in-plane organization and the 2D morphology of such mixed monolayers. It was found that the addition of a charged single-tail surfactant to the thiolated Au nanoparticle monolayer helps to stabilize the Au nanoparticle monolayer and to strengthen the mechanical property of the mixed monolayer film. For mixing with lipids, it was found that the thiolated gold nanoparticles could be pushed on top of the lipid monolayer when the mixed monolayer is compressed. At a typical comparable total surface area ratio of gold nanoparticle to lipid, the thiolated gold nanoparticles could form a uniform domain on top of the DPPC monolayer. When there are more thiolated gold nanoparticles than that could be supported by the lipid monolayer, domain overlapping could occur to form bilayer gold nanoparticle domains at some regions. At low total surface area ratio of thiolated gold nanoparticle to lipid, the thiolated gold nanoparticles tend to form a connected threadlike aggregation structure. Evidently, the morphology of the thiolated gold nanoparticle monolayer is highly depending on the total surface area ratio of the thiolated gold nanoparticle to lipid. SDS is found to have a dispersion power capable of dispersing the originally uniform Au-8C nanoparticle domain of the mixed Au-8C/DPPC monolayer into a foamlike structure for the mixed Au-8C/SDS/DPPC monolayer. It is evident that not only the concentration ratio but also the size and shape of the template formed by the amphiphilic molecules and their interaction with the thiolated gold nanoparticles can all have great effects on the organizational structure as well as morphology of the thiolated gold nanoparticle monolayer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequency prediction after a disturbance has received increasing research attention given its substantial value in providing a decision-making foundation in power system emergency control. With the advancing development of machine learning, analysis power systems with machine-learning methods has become completely different from traditional approaches. In this paper, an ensemble algorithm using cross-entropy as a combination strategy is presented to address the trade-off between prediction accuracy and calculation speed. The prediction difficulty caused by inadequate numbers of severe disturbance samples is also overcome by the ensemble model. In the proposed ensemble algorithm, base learners are selected following the principle of diversity, which guarantees the ensemble algorithm's accuracy. Cross-entropy is applied to evaluate the fitting performance of the base learners and to set the weight coefficient in the ensemble algorithm. Subsequently, an online prediction model based on the algorithm is established that integrates training, prediction and updating. In theWestern System Coordinating Council 9-bus (WSCC 9) system and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 39-bus (IEEE 39) system, the algorithm is shown to significantly improve the prediction accuracy in both sample-rich and sample-poor situations, verifying the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed ensemble algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This meta-analysis aims to illustrate the efficacy and safety of intrathecal morphine (ITM) versus femoral nerve block (FNB) for pain control after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: In April 2017, a systematic computer-based search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cami Info. Inc., Casalini databases, EBSCO databases, Verlag database and Google database. Data on patients prepared for TKA surgery in studies that compared ITM versus FNB for pain control after TKA were collected. The main outcomes were the visual analogue scale (VAS) at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 and total morphine consumption at 12, 24 and 48 h. The secondary outcomes were complications that included postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and itching. Stata 12.0 was used for pooling the data. Results: Five clinical studies with a total of 225 patients (ITM group = 114, FNB group = 111) were ultimately included in the meta-analysis. The results revealed that the ITM group was associated with a reduction of VAS at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h and total morphine consumption at 12, 24 and 48 h. There was no significant difference between the occurrences of PONV. However, the ITM group was associated with an increased occurrence of itching after TKA. Conclusions: Some immediate analgesic efficacy and opioid-sparing effects were obtained with the administration of ITM when compared with FNB. The complications of itching in the ITM group were greater than in the FNB group. The sample size and the quality of the included studies were limited. A multi-centre RCT is needed to identify the optimal method for reaching maximum pain control after TKA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional antimonene has attracted much attention because of its excellent stability and remarkable physical properties. Understanding the growth mechanism of antimonene by investigating processing parameters and structural properties is necessary for developing reliable fabrication methods. In this study, NaCl-assisted van der Waals epitaxy, one of the methods for scale-up fabrication, is employed to achieve atomic layer antimonene with high coverage rate. Furthermore, high-resolution images of atomic structure are presented with the powerful transmission electron microscopy, helping us confirm the exact configuration of antimonene. Meanwhile, we studied the effect of electron beam irradiation on antimonene; it was found that the stacking structure of antimonene would change under electron beam irradiation, and the moiré patterns of twisted few-layered antimonene were also observed. These results provide comprehensive study of growth mechanisms and in-depth knowledge of antimonene nanostructure, which are expected to facilitate the development of controllable fabrication for future device applications. The different reaction pathways induced by electron beam irradiation with the in situ TEM imaging of the evolution of the microstructure of antimonene: knock-on effects and formation of Moiré patterns. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe sepsis and septic shock are often lethal syndromes, in which the autonomic nervous system may fail to maintain adequate blood pressure. Heart rate variability has been associated with outcomes in sepsis. Whether systolic blood pressure (SBP) variability is associated with clinical outcomes in septic patients is unknown. The propose of this study is to determine whether variability in SBP correlates with vasopressor independence and mortality among septic patients. Methods: We prospectively studied patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with an arterial catheter. We analyzed SBP variability on the first 5-min window immediately following ICU admission. We performed principal component analysis of multidimensional complexity, and used the first principal component (PC1) as input for Firth logistic regression, controlling for mean systolic pressure (SBP) in the primary analyses, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score or NEE dose in the ancillary analyses. Prespecified outcomes were vasopressor independence at 24 h (primary), and 28-day mortality (secondary). Results: We studied 51 patients, 51% of whom achieved vasopressor independence at 24 h. Ten percent died at 28 days. PC1 represented 26% of the variance in complexity measures. PC1 was not associated with vasopressor independence on Firth logistic regression (OR 1.04; 95% CI: 0.93-1.16; p = 0.54), but was associated with 28-day mortality (OR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01-1.35, p = 0.040). Conclusions: Early SBP variability appears to be associated with 28-day mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilateral contract transaction among generation companies and large consumers is attracting much attention in the electricity market. A large consumer can purchase energy from generation companies directly under a bilateral contract, which can guarantee the economic interests of both sides. However, in pursuit of more profit, the competitions in the transaction exist not only between the company side and the consumer side, but also among generation companies. In order to maximize its profit, each company needs to optimize bidding price to attract large consumers. In this paper, a master–slave game is proposed to describe the competitions among generation companies and large consumers. Furthermore, a Bayesian game approach is formulated to describe the competitions among generation companies considering the incomplete information. In the model, the goal of each company is to determine the optimal bidding price with Bayesian game; and based on the bidding price provided by companies and the predicted spot price, large consumers decide their personnel purchase strategy to minimize their cost. Simulation results show that each participant in the transaction can benefit from the proposed game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most shallow foundations are built in unsaturated soils above the groundwater table. Being able to evaluate the bearing capacity of these foundations is important in foundation design because the conventional bearing-capacity equations, which were developed for soils in saturated or dry states, are not directly applicable. This paper presents an effective stress-based finite-element formulation and shows how it can be used to compute the bearing capacities of shallow foundations in unsaturated soils. The mechanical behavior of unsaturated soil is described using the elastic-perfectly plastic Mohr-Coulomb model. It is shown that suction and hydraulic hysteresis directly impact the bearing capacity of unsaturated soil foundations. The effects of three different drainage conditions are also investigated, namely, a constant suction, a constant moisture content, and a constant contribution of suction to the effective stress and strength condition (also referred to as a constant χs condition). It is shown that the constant χs condition provides a good approximation to the other two and may simplify calculation of bearing capacity. When foundation loading occurs quickly, meaning a condition of constant moisture content prevails, a constant χs condition can be assumed without loss of significant accuracy. The χs magnitude can be taken as being equal to the initial in situ value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a competitive electricity market with substantial involvement of renewable electricity, maximizing profits by optimizing bidding strategies is crucial to different power producers including conventional power plants and renewable ones. This paper proposes a game-theoretic bidding optimization method based on bi-level programming, where power producers are at the upper level and utility companies are at the lower level. The competition among the multiple power producers is formulated as a non-cooperative game in which bidding curves are their strategies, while uniform clearing pricing is considered for utility companies represented by an independent system operator. Consequently, based on the formulated game model, the bidding strategies for power producers are optimized for the day-ahead market and the intraday market with considering the properties of renewable energy; and the clearing pricing for the utility companies, with respect to the power quantity from different power producers, is optimized simultaneously. Furthermore, a distributed algorithm is provided to search the solution of the generalized Nash equilibrium. Finally, simulation results were performed and discussed to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed non-cooperative game-based bi-level optimization approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand response (DR) is counted as an effective method when there is a large-capacity power shortage in the power system, which may lead to peak loads or a rapid ramp. This paper proposes a bi-level coordinated optimization strategy by quantitating the DR potential (DRP) of smart appliances to descend the steep ramp and balance the power energy. Based on dynamic characteristics of the smart appliances, the mathematic models of online DRP are presented. In the upper layer, a multi-agent coordinated distribution method is proposed to allocate the demand limit to each agent from the dispatching center considering the online DRP. In the lower layer, an optimal smart appliances-controlling strategy is presented to guarantee the total household power consumption of each agent below its demand limit considering the consumers' comfort and response times. Simulation results indicate the feasibility of the proposed strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the loading-unloading behaviors of a three-dimensional (3D)-printing built bimaterial structure consisting of an open-cellular plaster frame filled with silicone. The combination of the plaster (ceramic phase) and silicone (elastomer phase) is hypothesized to possess a nonlinearly elastic property and a better ductility. Four-point bending tests with programmed cycles of preceding deformations were conducted. The results show that there exists a linear-nonlinear transition when the bending deflection is around 2 mm in the first cycle bending. As the cycle proceeds, this linear-nonlinear transition is found at the maximum deflection of the previous cycle; meanwhile, the bending stiffness degrades. It is believed that the occurrence of microcracks inside the plaster frame is the mechanism behind the phenomenon. The silicone provides a strong network suppressing the abrupt crack propagation in a brittle material. The effects of the frame structure and plaster-silicone ratio were also compared. A high plaster content and large cell size tend to have a higher stiffness and obvious linear to nonlinear transition while it also has more significant stiffness degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of wind power generation (WPG) as a source for black starts will significantly enhance the resiliency of power systems and shorten their recovery time from blackouts. Given that frequency stability is the most serious issue during the initial recovery period, virtual inertia control can enable wind turbines to provide frequency support to an external system. In this study, a general procedure of WPG participating in black starts is presented, and the key issues are discussed. The adaptability of existing virtual inertia control strategies is analyzed, and improvement work is performed. A new coordinated frequency control strategy is proposed based on the presented improvement work. A local power network with a permanent-magnet synchronous generator (PMSG)-based wind farm is modeled and used to verify the effectiveness of the strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To analyze the gene mutation and mental disorder of a Chinese ketosis-prone diabetes (KPD) family, and to make a precise diagnosis and give a treatment for them. Methods: We studied a Chinese family with a clinical diagnosis of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). The clinical data and the blood samples were collected. The promotor and coding regions inclusive intron exon boundaries of the HNF1A, HNF4A were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. The missense mutation was also analyzed by bioinformatics. Genetic counseling was performed twice a month to relieve the mental disorder of the persons. Results: The missense mutation c.779 C>T (p.T260M) in exon4 of HNF1A gene was detected, and the symptom heterogenicity among persons in this family were found. All the members were retreated with Gliclazide and stopped to use other medicine, the blood glucose of them were well controlled. We also performed an active genetic counseling to them and the mental disorder of the proband's sister was relieved. Conclusions: A missense mutation of HNF1A gene was first found in Chinese ketosis-prone MODY family with manifestations heterogenicity among the persons. Sulphonylureas medicine and genetic counseling are efficiency ways to treat MODY 3 and its' mental disorder respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fasting is the most widely prescribed and self-imposed strategy for treating excessive weight gain and obesity, and has been shown to exert a number of beneficial effects. The aim of the present study was to determine the exact role of fasting and subsequent refeeding on fat distribution in mice. Methods: C57/BL6 mice fasted for 24 to 72 h and were then subjected to refeeding for 72 h. At 24, 48 and 72 h of fasting, and 12, 24, 48 and 72 h of refeeding, the mice were sacrificed, and serum and various adipose tissues were collected. Serum biochemical parameters, adipose tissue masses and histomorphological analysis of different depots were detected. MRNA was isolated from various adipose tissues, and the expressions of thermogenesis, visceral signature and lipid metabolism-related genes were examined. The phenotypes of adipose tissues between juvenile and adult mice subjected to fasting and refeeding were also compared. Results: Fasting preferentially consumed mesenteric fat mass and decreased the cell size of mesenteric depots; however, refeeding recovered the mass and morphology of inguinal adipose tissues preferentially compared with visceral depots. Thermogenesis-related gene expression in the inguinal WAT and interscapular BAT were suppressed. Mitochondrial biogenesis was affected by fasting in a depot-specific manner. Furthermore, a short period of fasting led to an increase in visceral signature genes (Wt1, Tcf21) in subcutaneous adipose tissue, while the expression of these genes decreased sharply as the fasting time increased. Additionally, lipogenesis-related markers were enhanced to a greater extent greater in subcutaneous depots compared with those in visceral adipose tissues by refeeding. Although similar phenotypic changes in adipose tissue were observed between juvenile mice and adult mice subjected to fasting and refeeding, the alterations appeared earlier and more sensitively in juvenile mice. Conclusions: Fasting preferentially consumes lipids in visceral adipose tissues, whereas refeeding recovers lipids predominantly in subcutaneous adipose tissues, which indicated the significance of plasticity of adipose organs for fat distribution when subject to food deprivation or refeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of artificial, sand-binding communities has not yet fully studied. A similarity index was developed to evaluate the stability of artificial communities in shifting and semi-fixed sand dunes. This similarity index consisted of 8 indicators (i.e., vegetation cover, Shannon-Wiener Index, biomass, organic matter, Total N, available P and K, and sand particle ratio). The relative weight of these indicators was obtained using an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. Stability was compared on Artemisia halodendron Turczaninow ex Besser, Bull communities in shifting and semifixed sand dunes, and of Caragana microphylla Lam. communities with different planting ages. The similarity indexes of the A. halodendron communities were 0.24 and 0.54 in shifting and semi-fixed sand dunes, respectively. The peak stability of C. microphylla communities was 0.55, and it was reached when these communities were 20-year-old. It is suggested that A. halodendron communities should be planted preferentially in semi-fixed to moving sand dunes. Furthermore, the planting age of artificial communities should be included in planting programs. This study improved the understanding of some mechanisms contributing to maintain community stability, and is critical for guiding the artificial planting in sand dunes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin promotes bone formation via a well-studied canonical signaling pathway. An adapter in this pathway, insulin-receptor substrate (IRS)-1, has been implicated in the diabetic osteopathy provoked by impaired insulin signaling. To further investigate IRS-1's role in the bone metabolism, we generated Irs-1-deficient Irs-1smla/smla mice. These null mice developed a spontaneous mutation that led to an increase in trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) in 12-mo-old, but not in 2-mo-old mice. Analyses of the bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from these mice revealed their differential expression of osteogenesis-related genes and miRNAs. The expression of miR-342, predicted and then proven to target the gene encoding collagen type Iα2 (COL1A2), was reduced in BMSCs derived from Irs-1-null mice. COL1A2 expression was then shown to be age dependent in osteoblasts and BMSCs derived from Irs-1smla/smla mice. After the induction of osteogenesis in BMSCs, miR-342 expression correlated inversely with that of Col1a2. Further, Col1a2-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) reduced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and inhibited BMSC differentiation into osteocyte-like cells, both in wild-type (WT) and Irs-1smla/smla mice. Conversely, in Irs-1smla/smla osteocytes overexpressing COL1A2, ALP-positive staining was stronger than in WT osteocytes. In summary, we uncovered a temporal regulation of BMSC differentiation/bone formation, controlled via Irs-1/miR-342 mediated regulation of Col1a2 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel open-circuit fault diagnosis method for 3-phase 4-wire 3-level active power filters based on voltage error correlation is proposed in this paper. This method is based on observing the output pole voltage error of the active power filter through two kinds of algorithms. One algorithm is a voltage error analytical algorithm, which derives four output voltage error analytic expressions through the pulse state, current value and dc bus voltage, respectively, assuming that all of the IGBTs of a certain phase come to an OC fault. The other algorithm is a current circuit equation algorithm, which calculates the real-time output voltage error through basic circuit theory. A correlation is introduced to measure the similarity of the output voltage errors between the two algorithms, and OC faults are located by the maximum of the correlations. A FPGA has been chosen to implement the proposed method due to its fast prototyping. Simulation and experimental results are presented to show the performance of the proposed OC fault diagnosis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), commonly used as a flame retardants for industrial and commercial products, have a strong tendency to accumulate in the interface of water/soil/sediments and are difficult to biodegrade. An effective biological treatment for PBDE removal is needed. In this study, we investigated the use of 3 organic compost materials (BM-2, BM-6, and BP-2) to remove 20 mg kg −1 decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) from contaminated sediment in anaerobic microcosms for 120 days and detected the bacterial community in samples. Organic substance of compost had sorption and biodegradation ability. BM-6 showed the highest sorption of BDE-209, at 38.95%, and BM-3 the highest biological activity, at 34.90%. Methylophilus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Clostridium spp., and Dehalococcoides sp. were identified in anaerobic microcosms with PBDE biodegradation. The pathway of anaerobic DBDE biodegradation from higher to lower brominated PBDE was identified by the appearance of PBDE biometabolites and functional genes related to reductive debromination. We have identified an effective approach for bioremediating PBDE-contaminated sediment by using organic compost; this approach is highly recommended for practical engineering for off-site remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vascular cognitive impairment, no dementia (VCIND) refers to cognitive deficits associated with underlying vascular causes that fall short of a dementia diagnosis. There is currently no treatment for VCIND. Computerized cognitive training, which has significantly improved cognitive function in healthy older adults and patients with cognitive impairment has not yet been applied to VCIND.Methods/design: The proposed study is a three-center, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial that will include 60 patients with VCIND. The patients will be randomized to either a training or a control group. The intervention is internet-based cognitive training performed for 30 min over 35 sessions. Neuropsychological assessment and functional and structural MRI will be performed before and after 7 weeks training. Primary outcomes are global cognitive function and executive function. Secondary outcome measures are neuroplasticity changes measured by functional and structural MRI.Discussion: Applying an internet-based, multi-domain, adaptive program, this study aims to assess whether cognitive training improves cognitive abilities and neural plasticity in patients with subcortical VCIND. In addition to the comprehensive assessment of the participants by neuropsychological tests, cerebrovascular risk factors and apolipoprotein E genotyping, neuroplasticity will be used as an evaluation outcome in this study for, to our knowledge, the first time. The combination of functional and structural MRI and neuropsychological tests will have strong sensitivity in evaluating the effects of cognitive training and will also reveal the underlying mechanisms at work.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02640716 . Retrospectively registered on 21 December 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]