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Various disorders are accompanied by histamine‐independent itching, which is often resistant to the currently available therapies. Here, it is reported that the pharmacological activation of Slack (Kcnt1, KNa1.1), a potassium channel highly expressed in itch‐sensitive sensory neurons, has therapeutic potential for the treatment of itching. Based on the Slack‐activating antipsychotic drug, loxapine, a series of new derivatives with improved pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles is designed that enables to validate Slack as a pharmacological target in vivo. One of these new Slack activators, compound 6, exhibits negligible dopamine D2 and D3 receptor binding, unlike loxapine. Notably, compound 6 displays potent on‐target antipruritic activity in multiple mouse models of acute histamine‐independent and chronic itch without motor side effects. These properties make compound 6 a lead molecule for the development of new antipruritic therapies targeting Slack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pauson-Khand reaction has in the past 50 years become one of the most common cycloaddition reactions in chemistry. Coupling two unsaturated bonds with carbon monoxide, the transformation remains limited to CO as a C1 building block. Herein we report analogous cycloaddition reactions with nitrenes as an N1 unit. The reaction of a nonconjugated diene with a nitrene precursor produces bicyclic bioisosteres of common saturated heterocycles such as piperidine, morpholine, and piperazine. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies support relaying of the diradical nature of triplet nitrene into the p-system. We showcase the reactionÕs utility in late-stage functionalization of drug compounds and discovery of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our work, we analyse 5 × 104 single pulses from the recycled pulsar PSR J2222−0137 in one of its scintillation maxima observed by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). PSR J2222−0137 is one of the nearest and best studies of binary pulsars and a unique laboratory for testing gravitational theories. We report single pulses' energy distribution and polarization from the pulsar's main-pulse region. The single-pulse energy follows the lognormal distribution. We resolve a steep polarization swing, but at the current time resolution (⁠|$64\ \mu {\rm s}$|⁠), we find no evidence for the orthogonal jump in the main-pulse region, as has been suspected. We find a potential sub-pulse drifting period of |$P_{3} \sim 3.5 P$|⁠. We analyse the jitter noise from different integrated numbers of pulses and find that its σj is |$270\pm {9}\ {\rm ns}$| for 1-h integration at 1.25 GHz. This result is useful for optimizing future timing campaigns with FAST or other radio telescopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper proposes an optimized Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM+) model for predicting cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Germany, the UK, Italy, and Japan. The LSTM+ model incorporates two key optimizations: (1) fine-adjustment of parameters and (2) a ‘re-prediction’ process that utilizes the latest prediction results from the previous iteration. The performance of the LSTM+ model is evaluated and compared with that of Backpropagation (BP) and traditional LSTM models. The results demonstrate that the LSTM+ model significantly outperforms both BP and LSTM models, achieving a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of less than 0.6%. Additionally, two illustrative examples employing the LSTM+ model further validate its general applicability and practical performance for predicting cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The onset of shear thinning and the transition from Newtonian to non-Newtonian behavior in the viscous flow of select chalcogenide and oxide network glass-forming liquids in the deeply supercooled regime and its temperature dependence are studied using parallel plate rheometry. In all cases, the onset occurs at a shear rate γ ̇ c that is several orders of magnitude lower than the shear relaxation rate τ 0 − 1 and the former increases with increasing temperature. These results are in good qualitative agreement with the predictions of the existing models of shear relaxation and shear thinning based on the nonlinear Langevin equation theory, random first order transition theory, and the free volume model. However, in contrast to the theoretical predictions, the reduced shear rate W0 (= τ 0 γ ̇ c ) at the onset is found to range between 10−3 and 10−5 and decrease with increasing temperature. This temperature dependence becomes stronger with increasing fragility of the liquid. These results likely indicate that the shear thinning mechanism in network liquids could be fundamentally different from those in molecular, metallic, or polymeric glass-formers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The viscoelastic behavior of supercooled glass-forming liquids along the binary join As4S3–GeS2 with As4S3 contents varying from 81.25 to 9 mol. % and correspondingly with structures varying from predominantly molecular to a three-dimensional tetrahedral network is studied by small-amplitude oscillatory shear parallel plate rheometry. The storage shear modulus G′ shows a scaling behavior of G′(ω) ∼ ωn in the terminal (low-frequency) regime, where n varies between 1 and 2 and shows an increasingly anomalous departure from the expected value of 2 (Maxwell scaling) with increasing molecule content. A concomitant departure from the Maxwell scaling is also observed for the loss modulus G″ at frequencies above the G′–G″ crossover. On the other hand, the variation in the phase angle δ with the complex modulus indicates that the molecular liquid does not display a purely viscous response even at the lowest frequencies. These results, combined with an analysis of the relaxation spectra of these liquids, suggest that the anomalous behavior of molecular liquids may be linked to their rather broad relaxation spectrum and the presence of slow relaxation processes associated with molecular clusters. Additionally, these liquids are also characterized by a wide high-frequency plateau in the relaxation spectral density that can be linked to the rotational dynamics of the constituent molecules. Such fundamental differences between the rheological behavior of molecular and network liquids may explain the significantly higher fragility of the former. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the phase-connected timing ephemeris, polarization pulse profiles, Faraday rotation measurements, and Rotating-Vector-Model (RVM) fitting results of 12 millisecond pulsars (MSPs) discovered with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) in the Commensal Radio Astronomy FAST survey (CRAFTS). The timing campaigns were carried out with FAST and Arecibo over 3 yr. 11 of the 12 pulsars are in neutron star–white dwarf binary systems, with orbital periods between 2.4 and 100 d. 10 of them have spin periods, companion masses, and orbital eccentricities that are consistent with the theoretical expectations for MSP–Helium white dwarf (He WD) systems. The last binary pulsar (PSR J1912−0952) has a significantly smaller spin frequency and a smaller companion mass, the latter could be caused by a low orbital inclination for the system. Its orbital period of 29 d is well within the range of orbital periods where some MSP–He WD systems have shown anomalous eccentricities, however, the eccentricity of PSR J1912−0952 is typical of what one finds for the remaining MSP–He WD systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel oxadiazolone‐based method for the synthesis of 3‐aminobenzisoxazoles by N−O bond formation and of 2‐aminobenzoxazoles through a Tiemann‐type rearrangement has been developed. The synthesis of these two pharmaceutically relevant heterocycles was realized by an unexplored retrosynthetic disconnection using a cyclic nitrenoid precursor‐based strategy. The selective formation of the two isomers was significantly influenced by steric and electronic effects of substituents. However, tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBACl) efficiently promoted the Tiemann‐type rearrangement over N−O bond formation. Control experiments indicate that deprotonation of the phenol induces both rearrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In-plane vibration is significant to a structure and has been accurately solved by many numerical methods; however, there are still not enough studies on its experimental measurement. Objective: This work aims to propose a non-contact and fast way to measure dense full-field in-plane vibration of a plate structure, which has high frequencies and low response magnitudes. Methods: A novel three-dimensional (3D) continuously scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (CSLDV) system that contains three CSLDVs is developed to conduct full-field scanning of a plate with free boundary conditions under sinusoidal excitation to measure its 3D vibrations. Calibration among the three CSLDVs in the 3D CSLDV system based on the geometrical model of its scan mirrors is conducted to adjust their rotational angles to ensure that three laser spots can continuously and synchronously move along the same two-dimensional scan trajectory on the plate. The demodulation method is used to process the measured response to obtain in-plane operating deflection shapes (ODSs) of the plate. Results: Four in-plane ODSs are obtained in the frequency range of 0–5000 Hz. Modal assurance criterion (MAC) values between in-plane ODSs from 3D CSLDV and step-wise scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (SLDV) measurements are larger than 95%. MAC values between ODSs from 3D CSLDV measurements and corresponding mode shapes from the finite element model of the plate are larger than 91%. Conclusions: Results from 3D CSLDV measurements have good accuracy compared to those from SLDV measurements and numerical calculation, and the 3D CSLDV system can scan much more measurement points in much less time than the SLDV system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dual-cable parallel winding hoisting system (DCPWHS) is a feasible system for ultra-deep vertical shaft hoists. In this system, two hoisting cables are winded on two separate drums, and their lower ends are connected to a conveyance. Two guiding cables are installed in the shaft to provide guidance for the conveyance; thereby, transverse vibrations of the cables and the conveyance interact with each other. A mathematical model of the DCPWHS with flexible guides that constitute two guiding cables is presented to analyze its coupled vibrations in out-of-plane transverse and torsional directions. Lagrange's equations with constraints in combination with the continuous vibration theory are used to derive equations of motion of the system, and coupling relations among hoisting cables, guiding cables, and the conveyance are described by geometric matching conditions. Numerical simulation results are in good agreement with those calculated by MSC.ADAMS. Natural frequencies (NFs) of the stationary system at different positions of the conveyance are also obtained, and a graphic approach is presented to distinguish and extract hoisting cable transverse NFs and guiding cable NFs from system NFs. Numerical results show that transverse vibrations of hoisting cables cause the conveyance to vibrate in both transverse and torsional directions. However, due to restrictions of guiding cables, the rotation of the conveyance is small and negligible. The influence of the guiding cable tension on the dynamic response of the system is also investigated, which can be used for selection of the guiding cable tension in the design of the DCPWHS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steady and oscillatory shear rate dependence of viscosity of a supercooled chalcogenide liquid of composition As10Se90 is measured at Newtonian viscosities ranging between 10³ and 107 Pa s using capillary and parallel plate rheometry. The liquid displays strong violation of the Cox-Merz rule in the non-Newtonian regime where the viscosity under steady shear is nearly an order of magnitude lower than that under oscillatory shear. This behavior is argued to be related to the emergence of unusually large (6-8 nm) cooperatively rearranging regions with long relaxation times in the liquid that result from significant structural rearrangements under steady shear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruangan Xiaoji decoction is a traditional Chinese medicine formula used clinically to treat liver fibrosis. However, due to the complex composition of Ruangan Xiaoji decoction, its potential anti-liver fibrosis and the combination mechanism remain unclear. The present work was to further investigate the active mechanism of Ruangan Xiaoji decoction against liver fibrosis using an integrated strategy of network pharmacology. In this study, network pharmacology analysis was performed to identify the active compounds and target genes, which might be responsible for the effect of Ruangan Xiaoji decoction. Meanwhile, the combined effect of Ruangan Xiaoji decoction on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis rats and changes of biochemical and histopathology was detected. The results of the network pharmacology analysis showed 160 compounds and 337 potential target genes related to the treatment of Ruangan Xiaoji decoction with liver fibrosis. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the potential mechanism was mainly associated with the Hepatitis B and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway. In addition, the carbon tetrachlorideinduced liver fibrosis rat was used to study the mechanism of Ruangan Xiaoji decoction against liver fibrosis. Compared with the model group, Ruangan Xiaoji decoction can alleviate the pathological damage and fibrosis of rat liver tissue, significantly reduce rat serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase levels and significantly affect liver superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde levels, and can significantly inhibit tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta and interleukin 11 level. Western blot analysis showed that Ruangan Xiaoji decoction can down-regulate the expression of phosphorylated-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase and phosphorylated protein kinase B protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are often subjected to heat stress during growth and development, resulting in loss of yield and quality. In order to adapt to this stress environment, plants have developed different mechanisms to endure the heat conditions. Heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) are an important gene family, which could mediate the activation of heat-induced genes in the heat resistance. In potato, Hsfs have been identified through bioinformatics recently. However, their functions are not well understood. In this study, an Hsf gene SpHsfA4c isolated from a wild potato Solanum pinnatisectum Dun was analyzed for its function, and the results showed that SpHsfA4c gene encodes a protein with 417 amino acids, which contained DBD, OD, NES, NLS and CTD domains that are conserved characteristics of class HsfAs. SpHsfA4c gene was expressed in all tissues with higher expression levels in leaves and flowers, and the expression was induced by heat stress. To further explore the function of SpHsfA4c in heat stress, three lines A2, A7 and A11 overexpressing SpHsfA4c (OE) were constructed and identified. Under heat stress, the heat damage index of the OE lines was significantly lower than that of the control. Analysis of heat-related physiological and biochemical indices showed that SpHsfA4c over-expression improved potato's cell membrane stability, increased antioxidant capacity and osmotic adjustment ability which were consistent with phenotypic observations. All these results suggested that SpHsfA4c gene positively regulates potato heat tolerance and can be used as a candidate gene in potato breeding by genetic engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let b Fn be the smooth empirical estimator obtained by integrating a kernel type density estimator based on a random sample of size n from continuous distribution function F. The almost sure deviation between smooth empirical and smooth quantile processes is investigated under ϕ-mixing and strong mixing conditions. We derive a pointwise as well as a uniform Bahadur-Kieffer type representation for smooth quantiles under cases of ϕ-mixing and strong mixing. These results extend those of Babu and Singh [J. Multivariate Anal., 8 (1978), pp. 532-549] and Ralescu [J. Statist. Plann. Inference, 32 (1992), pp. 243-258]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Constructing a strain with high yield of O‐succinyl‐l‐homoserine (OSH) and improving the titre through multilevel fermentation optimization. Methods and results: OSH high‐yielding strain was first constructed by deleting the thrB gene to block the threonine biosynthesis. Single‐factor experiment was carried out, where a Plackett–Burman design was used to screen out three factors (glucose, yeast and threonine) from the original 11 factors that affected the titre of OSH. The Box–Behnken response surface method was used to optimize the fermentation conditions. Through gene editing and medium optimization, the titre of OSH increased from 7·20 to 8·70 g l−1 in 500 ml flask. Furthermore, the fermentation process and fed‐batch fermentation conditions including pH, temperature, feeding strategy and feeding medium were investigated and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the titre of OSH reached 102·5 g l−1, which is 5·6 times higher than before (15·6 g l−1). Conclusions: O‐succinyl‐l‐homoserine fermentation process was established and the combination of response surface methodology and metabolic pathway analysis effectively improved the titre of OSH. Significance and Impact of the Study: In this study, the titre of OSH reached the needs for industrial production and the metabolic pathway of OSH was demonstrated for further optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 120nm [FeCo/FeCo-SiO2]n multilayer thin films with different FeCo layer thicknesses (T=10-40 nm) and fixed FeCo-SiO2 layer thickness (20 nm) were deposited on flexible substrate (Mylar) by controlling the sputtering time under applied magnetic field. The magnetic properties of the multilayer thin films were investigated. The experimental results showed that the multilayer thin films had obvious in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, which can be adjusted in a broad range by changing the thickness of FeCo layer. In addition, good soft magnetic performance was obtained. The coercivity in the easy axis Hce of the multilayer films with the T=10nm, 20 nm, 30 nm, and 40nm was 5 Oe, 25Oe, 10 Oe, and 8Oe, respectively. In frequency-dependent permeability spectra measurement, two resonance peaks of complex permeability spectrum were observed, especially for T=20 nm, which can be attributed to the complicated magnetic structure of FeCo and FeCo-SiO2 layer. By introducing multilayers with different effect anisotropy field, one can broaden the absorption peak while maintaining the high permeability, which would open the way for their potential applications as wide-band microwave absorber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present an atomic-scale investigation of L10-FePt particles that are partly or fully embedded in a single-crystalline MgO matrix. Hundreds of particles in different orientations, of different sizes, and with different side contact facets are statistically and quantitatively analyzed. It is found that the presence of side contact facets does not introduce any misorientation in particles with the c axis out-of-plane (OP), even in those of small sizes. In addition, a markedly higher proportion of in-plane (IP) variants is found in smaller particles of sizes less than 10 nm, and most IP variants and the IP part in multi-variants have a large area of side contact facets or are even fully embedded. Those results can be explained by the fact that the transformation strain and interface strain jointly affect the particle orientation, and the competition between total strain energy in the film plane and in lateral planes plays a key role in determining particle orientation. Thus, a suggestion on the L10-FePt nanoparticle film production can be proposed that a moderate area of side contact facets may help keep a perfect OP orientation in the OP particles without increasing the proportion of IP variants. Additionally, our work can provide reference information on the variant orientation preference during a post-annealing process in nanoparticle films on a rough substrate or embedded in a matrix as well as in core–shell material systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work explores the response of a cantilever plate attached to a cylinder in a wind tunnel under an impact excitation. A detailed computer-aided design (CAD) model and the finite element analysis (FEA) modal simulation of the experimental setup are introduced. Two experimental techniques are thoroughly discussed: an accelerometer-based experimental modal analysis (EMA) method, and a non-contact, full-field, high-speed digital image correlation (DIC)-based operational deflection shape (ODS) analysis method. The experimental and FEA results of the first seven natural frequencies, mode shapes, and ODSs of the cantilever plate are presented and compared. The percent differences between the EMA and FEA natural frequency results are less than 4.8%, and the modal assurance criterion (MAC) values between the EMA and FEA mode shapes are at least 0.845. The percent differences between the ODS analysis and FEA natural frequency results are less than 3.4%, while the MAC values between the ODS analysis ODSs and FEA mode shapes are at least 0.728. The percent differences between the EMA and ODS analysis natural frequency results are less than 3.5%, and the MAC values between the EMA mode shapes and ODS analysis ODSs are at least 0.505. There are two sets of two different mode shapes and ODSs with relatively high correlation. One set is a set of two closely spaced modes and ODSs approximately 20 Hz apart with obvious similarities in shape. The other set is a set of two modes and ODSs approximately 100 Hz apart that share less obvious similarities in shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary hypothyroidism can lead to delayed growth and pseudoprecocious puberty in juvenile patients, which was known as Van Wyk–Grumbach's syndrome (VWGS). There have been very few clinical case reports of primary juvenile hypothyroidism presenting with concurrent huge bilateral cystic ovaries. Here, we report the case of a 14-year-old female patient suffering from primary hypothyroidism in combination with bilateral cystic ovaries. Remarkable improvement of symptoms was observed after one month of hormone replacement therapy and an unnecessary surgical treatment was avoided. A comprehensive literature review of VWGS is summarised here to illustrate the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of VWGS in pediatric patients. The present study aims to improve the current clinical knowledge of VWGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutions of elastic modulus and fracture toughness are the key factors affecting the failure mechanism and durability of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). Combined the high temperature three-point bending with the digital image correlation (DIC) method, the variations of high temperature elastic modulus and fracture toughness of air plasma sprayed TBCs with temperature are determined. The surface and interfacial cracking information can be monitored real-time by DIC system. The results show that when the temperature rises from 30 °C to 800 °C, the elastic modulus and fracture toughness of TC decrease from 20.3 GPa to 13.1 GPa and from 1.31 MPa m1/2 to 1.16 MPa m1/2, respectively. And the interfacial fracture toughness increases from 83.7 J/m2 to 156.3 J/m2. These results are consistent with the available values determined in literatures, which ensures the validity of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliability of quasi integrable and non-resonant Hamiltonian system under fractional Gaussian noise (fGn) excitation is studied. Noting rather flat fGn power spectral density (PSD) in most part of frequency band, the fGn is innovatively regarded as a wide-band process. Then, the stochastic averaging method for quasi integrable Hamiltonian systems under wide-band noise excitation is applied to reduce 2n-dimensional original system into n-dimensional averaged Itô stochastic differential equations (SDEs). Reliability function and mean first passage time are obtained by solving the associated backward Kolmogorov equation and Pontryagin equation. The validity of the proposed procedure is tested by applying it to an example and comparing the numerical results with those from Monte Carlo simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, conduction mechanisms of Al/anodic Al oxide/ Al structure, which exhibits resistive switching behavior, have been investigated. The low-resistance state shows ohmic conduction with a metal-like behavior similar to that of pure aluminum. The situation can be explained by the existence of the metallic filament formed by the excess Al in the Al oxide. On the other hand, the high-resistance state (HRS) shows two distinct regimes: ohmic conduction at low fields with a semiconductor-like behavior; and a non-ohmic conduction at high fields. The ohmic conduction of HRS at low fields is attributed to the electron hopping between the states in the oxide with the activation energy of ∼0.23 eV. It is suggested that the conduction of HRS at high fields (the maximum voltage is lower than the set voltage) is due to the field-enhanced thermal excitation of the electrons trapped in the states of the metallic Al nano-phase into the conduction band of the Al oxide or the electron emission from the potential well of the metallic Al nano-phase to the conduction band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium-magnesium-alumina-silicate (CMAS) corrosion has been regarded as the most important factor that leads to the degradation of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). The failure mechanism of TBCs attacked by CMAS corrosion in the actual service conditions is still not clear due to the lack of an environmental simulator and nondestructive testing techniques. To solve the above problems, a real-time acoustic emission method combined with infrared thermography are developed to investigate the failure mechanism of TBCs attacked by CMAS corrosion. The results show that the acoustic emission signal spectrum only depends on the failure mode of the TBCs, and five failure modes are identified: surface vertical cracks, sliding interfacial cracks, opening interfacial cracks, substrate deformation and noise. The lifetime of TBCs attacked by CMAS corrosion is 40 thermal shock cycles, which is nearly six times lower than that of TBCs without CMAS corrosion (350 cycles). Conclusions: The failure mechanism of the former is interlaminar cracking and delamination in the ceramic coating; while that for the latter is interfacial delamination in the vicinity of thermal growth oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the volume, axial length and cost, a radial three-pole five-degree-of-freedom (5-DOF) integrated hybrid magnetic bearing (HMB) is studied, which the rotor can be levitated stably in one unit. Firstly, the configuration and suspension principle are introduced. The mathematical models of suspension forces are deduced by the magnetic circuit analysis. Then, according to radial and axial bearing capacity, the design method of main parameters is given. Finally, the magnetic circuit, suspension mechanism, air gap flux density, force-current relationships are calculated and analyzed by three-dimensional finite element method. The research results have shown that the structure of the 5-DOF integrated HMB is reasonable, and the suspension mechanism, mathematical model and design method are correct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new active ease-off topography modification approach is proposed to improve the meshing performance of hypoid gears based on a fourth-order predesigned transmission error (PTE) model and a modified error sensitivity analysis method. Ease-off topography modifications that describe local deviations of pinion tooth surfaces can be conducted by converting the fourth-order PTE into equivalent deviations of pinion tooth surfaces. The modified error sensitivity analysis method is developed to investigate the effects of misalignments on the moving velocity of a contact point of a hypoid gear pair. The moving velocity of the contact point can describe transmission error (TE) curve shapes of ease-off tooth surfaces. The ease-off topography modification approach can achieve TE precontrol and modification curvature adjustment of the pinion for stable meshing performance of the hypoid gear pair. Moreover, pinion ease-off tooth surfaces are finished by a five-axis computer numerical control swarf-cutting machine tool. Swarf-cutting tests and TE measurement tests are conducted on hypoid gear pair specimens to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) composite thick films consisting of two different sized CoFe2O4 particles were deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrate by a hybridized sol-gel processing and spin coating technique. X-ray diffraction analysis showed a pure spinel phase of CoFe2O4, which was also confirmed by micro-Raman spectra. Scanning electronic microscope indicated a dense microstructure with a thickness above 8 μm. The detailed electrical investigations were conducted in the frequency range of 100 Hz–1 MHz and temperature range between 25 and 200 °C. Real and imaginary parts of impedance (Z′ and Z″) in the above frequency and temperature domain suggested the coexistence of two relaxation regimes: one was induced by electrode polarization; while the other was attributed to the coeffect of grains and grain boundaries, which was totally different from its counterpart of bulks and also not reported in other ferrites. Electrical modulus (M′ and M″) further showed the crossover from grains effect to grain boundaries effect with increasing measured temperature under the suppression of electrode polarization. A non-Debye relaxation behavior and two segments of frequency independent conductivity were observed in dielectric spectra, which was also consistent with the results of ac conductivity spectra. In the conductivity spectra, double power law and single power law were separately applied to the coeffect from grains and grain boundaries and electrode polarization effect. Moreover, the dc conductivity from both effects well obeyed the Arrhenius law and their activation energies were matching to the ones calculated from imaginary impedance peaks, the detailed physical mechanisms on them were finally discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure was fabricated by partially anodizing aluminum film followed by deposition of another aluminum film. Unipolar resistive switching between a high-resistance state and a low-resistance state with a high resistance ratio (>∼104) was observed from the structure. The switching occurred without the requirement of a forming process, which was attributed to the pre-existing conductive filaments in the Al-rich AlxOy layer formed by the anodization. Each resistance state exhibited Ohmic behavior which could be explained by the metallic conduction and electron hopping from one isolated state to the next in the Al-rich AlxOy layer. The MIM structure showed good memory characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle deposition can cause significant damage to thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) and it is critical to understand the deposition characteristics and the stress distribution on the turbine blade. In this paper, the CMAS deposition characteristics is obtained by the critical velocity model. The temperature and stress distributions of TBCs and the blade is investigated by a thermal-fluid-solid coupling method. The particles with smaller diameters (<10 μm) are deposited on the pressure surface of the blade. The particles with larger diameters (>10 μm) are deposited on the suction surface of the blade. The most deposited amount is SiO 2 particle, followed by CMAS particle and Al 2 O 3 particle. The greater the wall roughness is, the more particle deposition. CMAS deposition reduces significantly the thermal insulation performance of the 8YSZ coating and increases the surface temperature of the blade, leading to the larger stress at the CMAS deposited regions. TBCs in the higher stress regions may eventually delaminate from the substrate under thermal stress and CMAS corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the dynamic behavior of C[sub 28] chemisorption on diamond (001)-(2x1) surface was investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. The many-body Brenner potential was employed to describe the interaction between carbon atoms. With the incident energy ranging from 25 to 40 eV, the single C[sub 28] was found to have more than 50% of the probability to be chemisorbed on a diamond surface and to form two C-C bonds with one dimer of the surface. Then the chemisorption of two C[sub 28] clusters was simulated at the above energy range. The cluster-cluster interaction was found to hinder the next incident cluster to be chemisorbed. Besides, the juxtaposition configuration of two C[sub 28] on the surface was observed when their impact points were along the same dimer row. For multicluster impacting, when two or three clusters formed a nucleation site, the forthcoming cluster was easily to be adsorbed close to it. The growth of the C[sub 28] cluster assembled film is typically a three dimensional island mode. Our study also showed that within the energy range the C[sub 28] clusters retained their cage structure after chemisorption. This is in agreement with experimental results. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the value of radiomics analysis in preoperatively predicting visceral pleural invasion (VPI) of lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) with ≤3 cm maximum diameter and to compare the performance of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) radiomics models. A total of 391 LAC patients were enrolled retrospectively, of whom 142 were VPI (+) and 249 were VPI (–). Radiomics features were extracted from 2D and 3D regions of interest (ROIs) of tumours in CT images. 2D and 3D radiomics models were developed combining the optimal radiomics features by using the logistic regression machine-learning method and radiomics scores (rad-scores) were calculated. Nomograms were constructed by integrating independent risk factors and rad-scores. The performance of each model was evaluated by using the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), clinical impact curve (CIC), and calculating the area under the curve (AUC). There was no difference in the VPI prediction between 2D and 3D radiomics models (training group: 2D AUC=0.835, 3D AUC=0.836, p= 0.896; validation group: 2D AUC=0.803, 3D AUC=0.794, p= 0.567). The 2D and 3D nomograms performed similarly regarding discrimination (training group: 2D AUC=0.867, 3D AUC=0.862, p= 0.409, validation group: 2D AUC=0.835, 3D AUC=0.827, p= 0.558), and outperformed their corresponding radiomics models and the clinical model. DCA and CIC revealed that the 2D nomogram had slightly better clinical utility. The 2D radiomics model has a similar discrimination capability compared with the 3D radiomics model. The 2D nomogram performs slightly better for individual VPI prediction in LAC. • Radiomics analysis could effectively predict the VPI status of LAC. • 2D radiomics model performance was similar to 3D radiomics model in predicting VPI. • 2D nomogram has slightly better performance for VPI prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the use of the sol-gel technology in preparing the ferroelectric (Ba0.67Sr0.33)Ti1.02O3 thin films, while focusing on the characterization of these thin films with the use of the thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction. Performance of the x-ray diffraction measurement; Characterization of the gas sensing properties and the enhanced H2 induced interfacial polarization potential; Preparation of the green films.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant hormones which promote plant growth and development. Their biosynthetic pathway and signal transduction pathway have been well studied in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. However, their pathways in Solanaceae plants, especially in potato are still elusive. For now, only several candidate genes have been reported by transcriptome sequencing or homologous clones, but there is little information on their characteristics and functions in tuberization and heat defense. In this study, we systematically identified a series of putative homologs of BRs synthesis and signaling genes in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv. Désirée through bioinformatic and molecular technologies, named as StCPD, StDWF4, StDWARF, StDET2, StBRI1, StBIN2, StBZR1-2 and StBZR1-4. Exogenous BR treatment decreased the expression of all synthesis genes and signaling genes except the negative signal gene StBIN2 which was increased, demonstrating that there exists a feedback regulation for all these genes. Tissue expression analysis revealed that the majority of these genes were highly expressed in leaves, and only the downstream transcription factor gene StBZR1-2 was highly expressed in stolons and tubers. The expression of these genes after heat treatment showed the opposite results from BRs treatment, suggesting that BRs signaling can be activated by heat stress. Furthermore, we explored the effects of BRs on tuber formation and found that exogenous BRs application increased both the number and the total weight of potato tuber due to the activated light-period signal for tuberization. All these results indicated that BRs play an important role in potato tuberization and heat stress defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative design procedure for the feedback control of quasi non-integrable Hamiltonian systems to target a specified stationary probability density function (SPDF) is proposed based on the averaged Fokker–Planck–Kolmogorov equation. The control force is split into a conservative part and a dissipative part. The conservative part is designed to make the controlled system and the target SPDF having the same Hamiltonian structure. The dissipative part is then determined to make the target SPDF to be the stationary solution of the controlled system. Then, a Lyapunov function method is adopted for proving that the transient solution of the controlled system approaches to the target SPDF as time t → ∞. The simulation result for an example shows the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with hypoparathyroidism are at risk of both hypocalcemic and hypercalcemic crisis. Patients report that health professionals do not always respond adequately in an acute situation. The extent and handling of severe hypo- and hypercalcemia in hypoparathyroidism is unknown.Aims: To outline the need for a medical emergency card for primary hypoparathyroidism.Method: Postal survey amongst Norwegian and Swedish patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism of all causes. Altogether 455 invitations were sent (333 from Norway and 122 from Sweden).Results: Three hundred and thirty-six of 455 (74%) patients responded (253 from Norway and 83 from Sweden). The majority were women (79%), and the main cause was postsurgical hypoparathyroidism (66%). Overall 44% and 16% had been hospitalized at least once for hypo- or hypercalcemia, respectively. Eighty-seven per cent felt that an emergency card would be highly needed or useful. Amongst those hospitalized for hypocalcemia, 95% felt a card was needed compared to 90% amongst those hospitalized for hypercalcemia. Five per cent believed that a card would not be useful.Conclusions: The majority answered that an acute card is highly needed or useful. Hospitalization for acute hypocalcemia was more common (44%) than for acute hypercalcemia (16%). As a result of this survey, an emergency card will be distributed in three European countries to test its utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A spin-1=2 lattice Heisenberg Kagome antiferromagnet (KAFM) is a prototypical frustrated quantum magnet, which exhibits exotic quantum spin liquids that evade long-range magnetic order due to the interplay between quantum fluctuation and geometric frustration. So far, the main focus has remained on the ground-state properties; however, the theoretical consensus regarding the magnetic excitations is limited. Here, we study the dynamic spin structure factor (DSSF) of the KAFM by means of the density matrix renormalization group. By comparison with the well-defined magnetically ordered state and the chiral spin liquid sitting nearby in the phase diagram, the KAFM with nearest neighbor interactions shows distinct dynamical responses. The DSSF displays important spectral intensity predominantly in the low-frequency region around the Q =M point in momentum space and shows a broad spectral distribution in the high-frequency region for momenta along the boundary of the extended Brillouin zone. The excitation continuum identified from momentum- and energy-resolved DSSF signals emergent spinons carrying fractional quantum numbers. These results capture the main observations in the inelastic neutron scattering measurements of herbertsmithite and indicate the spin liquid nature of the ground state. By tracking the DSSF across quantum-phase transition between the chiral spin liquid and the magnetically ordered phase, we identify the condensation of two-spinon bound state driving the quantum-phase transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the tremendous impact of temperature on development and fecundity of Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), this paper aimed to evaluate effects of warm-temperature treatments on the physiological metabolism of B. cucurbitae. The physiological metabolism of B. cucurbitae, specifically hydroxyproline, malondialdehyde, acetylcholinesterase, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidation capacity, and peroxidase were analyzed with six indices through 25°C-1 hour treatment, 37°C-1 hour treatment and 45°C-1 hour treatment. Results indicated that superoxide dismutase, acetylcholinesterase, malondialdehyde, and hydroxyproline activity increased significantly with temperature. The indices reached maximum values after the 45°C 1-hour treatment, respectively, 465.7 (u/gf·wt), 0.4 (µmol/min/g f·wt), 14.8 (µmol/g f·wt), and 0.5 (µg/ml). Total antioxidation capacity and peroxidase maintained stability and activity, respectively, 55.3 (FRAR Ag f·wt) and 31.2 (U/mg protein) after the 45°C 1-hour treatment. Results of the study will help in further studying reproduction and regulatory networks at warm temperatures and increase lethal effect under hot temperature. Short-term, warm conditions have become more frequent because of climate change. The specific influence of short-term, extremely warm temperatures on insect pests should receive more research attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical communication plays an important role in reproductive and social behaviour of small mammals. The chemical constituents of urine were the main signal resources that can encode sex and social status. The purpose of the present study was to test volatile chemical substances in urine of the kinship and non-kinship Tupaia belangeri, volatile chemicals in urine were performed by the gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which is speculated that volatile chemicals in urine may had key role in its kin recognition of T. belangeri. The results showed that the components of volatile chemicals in urine were similar between the kinship and non-kinship T. belangeri, which the main components were Alcohols, Alkanes, Esters and Ketones, but the types of each materials were discrepant. “Formic acid, octyl ester” were absence or existence regularly, and “α-Farnesene” and “2,4-Dithiapentane” were found in kinship and non-kinship T. belangeri, which may be signaling substances in the urine. All of the results suggested that volatile chemical substances in urine were different in kinship and non-kinship T. belangeri, indicating that chemical communication based on signals in urine plays an important role in its kin recognition of T. belangeri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symmetries play a fundamental role in modern theories of gravity. The strong equivalence principle (SEP) constitutes a collection of gravitational symmetries which are all implemented by general relativity. Alternative theories, however, are generally expected to violate some aspects of SEP. We test three aspects of SEP using observed change rates in the orbital period and eccentricity of binary pulsar J1713+0747: (1) the gravitational constant's constancy as part of locational invariance of gravitation; (2) the universality of free fall (UFF) for strongly self-gravitating bodies; (3) the post-Newtonian parameter |$\hat{\alpha }_3$| in gravitational Lorentz invariance. Based on the pulsar timing result of the combined data set from the North American Nanohertz Gravitational Observatory and the European Pulsar Timing Array, we find |$\dot{G}/G = (-0.1 \pm 0.9) \times 10^{-12}\, {\rm yr}^{-1}$|⁠, which is weaker than Solar system limits, but applies for strongly self-gravitating objects. Furthermore, we obtain an improved test for a UFF violation by a strongly self-gravitating mass falling in the gravitational field of our Galaxy, with a limit of |Δ| < 0.002 (95 per cent C.L.). Finally, we derive an improved limit on the self-acceleration of a gravitationally bound rotating body, to a preferred reference frame in the Universe, with |$-3\times 10^{-20} \lt \hat{\alpha }_3 \lt 4\times 10^{-20}$| (95 per cent C.L.). These results are based on direct UFF and |$\hat{\alpha }_3$| tests using pulsar binaries, and they overcome various limitations of previous tests of this kind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Characterization of the evolution of pores in thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) under volcanic ash (VA) corrosion is essential for assessing coating premature failure. As a nondestructive three-dimensional visualization method, X-ray computed tomography (CT) is used to quantitative investigate the pore structure in ceramic layer. An image morphological method combining Top-Hat and region growing method is applied to separate the pores and background. The change of porosity, pore size and shape resulting from VA corrosion were obtained, which is consistent with the results of mercury infiltration porosimetry (MIP) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The image morphological method has a greater advantage in extracting pore features. • The reconstructed images show a predominantly globular porosity. • The porosity decreases with the increase of corrosion temperature and VA coated amount. • The VA coated amount has a more obvious effect on porosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: By integrating the multilevel biological evidence and bioinformatics analyses, the present study represents a systemic endeavor to identify BMD-associated genes and their roles in skeletal metabolism.Introduction: Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have already identified about 100 loci associated with bone mineral density (BMD), but these loci only explain a small proportion of heritability to osteoporosis risk. In the present study, we performed a gene-based analysis of the largest GWASs in the bone field to identify additional BMD-associated genes.Methods: BMD-associated genes were identified by combining the summary statistic P values of SNPs across individual genes in the two consecutive meta-analyses of GWASs from the Genetic Factors for Osteoporosis (GEFOS) studies. The potential functionality of these genes to bone was partially assessed by differential gene expression analysis. Additionally, the consistency of the identification of potential bone mineral density (BMD)-associated variants were evaluated by estimating the correlation of the P values of the same single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)/genes between the two consecutive Genetic Factors for Osteoporosis Studies (GEFOS) with largely overlapping samples.Results: Compared to the SNP-based analysis, the gene-based strategy identified additional BMD-associated genes with genome-wide significance and increased their mutual replication between the two GEFOS datasets. Among these BMD-associated genes, three novel genes (UBTF, AAAS, and C11orf58) were partially validated at the gene expression level. The correlation analysis presented a moderately high between-study consistency of potential BMD-associated variants.Conclusions: Gene-based analysis as a supplementary strategy to SNP-based genome-wide association studies, when applied here, is shown that it helped identify some novel BMD-associated genes. In addition to its empirically increased statistical power, gene-based analysis also provides a higher testing stability for identification of BMD genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athetis lepigone (Möschler) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a new outbreak pest in China. Consequently, it is unclear whether the emergence and spread of the outbreak of this pest are triggered by rapid in situ population size increases in each outbreak area, or by immigrants from a potential source area in China. In order to explore the outbreak process of this pest through a population genetics approach, we developed ten novel polymorphic expressed sequence tags (EST)-derived microsatellites. These new microsatellites had moderately high levels of polymorphism in the tested population. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 19, with an average of 8.6, and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.269 to 0.783. A preliminary population genetic analysis using these new microsatellites revealed a lack of population genetic structure in natural populations of A. lepigone. The estimates of recent migration rate revealed strong gene flow among populations. In conclusion, our study developed the first set of EST-microsatellite markers and shed a new light on the population genetic structure of this pest in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of recent studies in the literature have reported the existence of unusual temperature dependence of the shear viscosity for a variety of glass-forming liquids that cannot be described with a single fragility index. Rather, these liquids display an apparent fragile-to-strong transition (FST) with lowering of temperature that was suggested to be indicative of a structural transition. In the present work we critique the accuracy of the high-temperature oscillation viscometry technique that was used almost exclusively for viscosity measurements of these liquids above their liquidus temperature. Viscosity measurements are carried out on binary Ge-Se chalcogenide liquids in their supercooled and stable states using conventional capillary and parallel-plate rheometry techniques and are compared with the oscillation viscometry data in the literature. Such comparisons conclusively demonstrate that the latter measurement technique often underestimates the viscosity by nearly an order of magnitude, especially at high temperatures. These results, when taken together, indicate that the observation of FST in glass-forming liquids is likely an artifact of the inaccuracy of the oscillation viscometry technique. Moreover, these results cast serious doubt on the reliability of the high-temperature oscillation viscometry data for metals and alloys that are prevalent in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of artefacts during preparation and observation of human sperm for ultrastructural morphology and analyse the possible reasons of causing these artefacts. Under the scanning electron microscopy, damaged sperm heads (crack or/and rupture), necks (head‐neck or head‐midpiece separation) and midpiece (disassembled and denuded axoneme ultrastructures, bent midpiece) were analysed to be the consequence of exogenous effects. Thirty infertile men with teratozoospermia revealed more spermatozoa with damage to head, neck and midpiece than did thirty fertile males (p < .01). After the samples from fertile males underwent five repeated observations, most sperm heads and necks in the samples were destroyed when compared with the single observation (p < .01). Destroyed sperm heads were full of cracks and peelings, even sperm tails were broken and fragmented, and separations of the sperm head‐neck or head‐midpiece became common. Spermatozoa from fertile males with centrifugation of 600 g for washing sperm exhibited more damage to the midpiece than those with the 300 g (p < .01). These results demonstrate that preparation and observation methods can damage sperm ultrastructures, leading to producing artefacts of ultrastructural morphology. The artefacts of sperm ultrastructural morphology may be associated with sperm structural fragility, preparation conditions and electron beam damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major challenge in designing a perfect invisibility cloak for elastic waves is that the mass density and elasticity tensor need to be independent functions of its radius with a linear transformation medium. The traditional cloak for out-of-plane shear waves in elastic membranes exhibits material properties with inhomogeneous and anisotropic shear moduli and densities, which yields a poor or even negative cloaking efficiency. This paper presents the design of a cylindrical cloak for elastic shear waves based on a nonlinear transformation. This excellent broadband nonlinear cloak only requires variation of its shear modulus, while the density in the cloak region remains unchanged. A nonlinear ray trajectory equation for out-of-plane shear waves is derived and a parameter to adjust the efficiency of the cylindrical cloak is introduced. Qualities of the nonlinear invisibility cloak are discussed by comparison with those of a cloak with the linear transformation. Numerical examples show that the nonlinear cloak is more effective for shielding out-of-plane elastic shear waves from outside the cloak than the linear cloak and illustrate that the nonlinear cloak for shear waves remains highly efficient in a broad frequency range. The proposed nonlinear transformation in conjunction with the ray trajectory equation can also be used to design nonlinear cloaks for other elastic waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that examined the effects of noble gases on diamond deposition from methane-hydrogen microwave plasmas. Background on diamond thin films; Assessment of the influence of the degree of excitation of reactant molecules; Results and discussion.

Presents a study which examined the structural and dielectric properties of ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate/(lead, lanthanum)(zirconium(1-x)titanium(1-x)O[sub3] thin films deposited by metallo-organic decomposition technology. Experimental procedure; Results of x-ray diffraction measurements; Discussion of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results.

Examines the synthesis and field emission characteristics of diamond samples with varying densities using chemical vapor deposition. Value of the Raman spectrum of the defective diamond; Structural properties which govern the electron field emission process from undoped and p-type-doped diamonds; Correlation between the threshold emission field and the full width at half maximum of the diamond Raman peak.

Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) is a promising technology for converting wet biomass and waste into renewable energy. While the fundamental mechanism involved in SCWG of biomass is not completely understood, especially hydrogen (H 2 ) production produced from the interaction among key intermediates. In the present study, formaldehyde mixed with formic acid as model intermediates were tested in a batch reactor at 400 °C and 25 MPa for 30 min. The gas and liquid phases were collected and analyzed to determine a possible mechanism for H 2 production. Results clearly showed that both gasification efficiency (GE) and hydrogen efficiency (HE) increased with addition of formic acid, and the maximum H 2 yield reached 17.92 mol/kg with a relative formic acid content of 66.67% in the mixtures. The total organic carbon removal rate and formaldehyde conversion rate also increased to 67.33% and 89.81% respectively. The reaction pathways for H 2 formation form mixtures was proposed and evaluated, formic acid promoted self-decomposition of formaldehyde to generate H 2 , and induced a radical reaction of generated methanol to produce more H 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]