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In the new era of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), big data collection and analysis for intelligent sports are of great importance in monitoring human health. Herein, naturally, biodegradable triboelectric nanogenerators (NB‐TENGs) are developed based on low‐cost, recyclable, and environmentally friendly corn bracts, which are further applied in neck motion recognition. Three NB‐TENGs are integrated into an elastic collar to create a neck‐condition monitoring triboelectric sensor (NCM‐TS). An intelligent behavioral monitoring system is achieved by combining NCM‐TS with a deep learning model, which allows the recognition of four types of neck motion with an average accuracy of 94%. The developed neck motion monitoring sensor has broad potential applications in sports health monitoring, rehabilitation training, and healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhibai Dihuang pill (ZD), a traditional Chinese medicine nourishes Yin and reduces internal heat, is believed to have therapeutic effects on urinary tract infections (UTIs). To explore the effects and mechanism of modified ZD (MZD) on UTI induced by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBLs) Escherichia coli. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, model (0.5 mL 1.5 × 108 CFU/mL ESBLs E. coli), MZD (20 g/kg MZD), LVFX (0.025 g/kg LVFX), and MZD + LVFX groups (20 g/kg MZD + 0.025 g/kg LVFX), n = 6. After 14 days of treatment, serum biochemical indicators, renal function indicators, bladder and renal histopathology, and urine bacterial counts in rats were determined. Additionally, the effects of MZD on ESBLs E. coli biofilm formation and related gene expression were analyzed. MZD significantly decreased the count of white blood cells (from 13.12 to 9.13), the proportion of neutrophils (from 43.53 to 23.18), C-reactive protein (from 13.21 to 9.71), serum creatinine (from 35.78 to 30.15), and urea nitrogen (from 12.56 to 10.15), relieved the inflammation and fibrosis of bladder and kidney tissues, and reduced the number of bacteria in urine (from 2174 to 559). In addition, MZD inhibited the formation of ESBLs E. coli biofilms (2.04-fold) and decreased the gene expressions of luxS, pfS and ompA (1.41–1.62-fold). MZD treated ESBLs E. coli-induced UTI inhibited biofilm formation, providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of MZD. Further study on the clinical effect of MZD may provide a novel therapy option for UTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a comprehensive study of the dichotomous search iterative parabolic discrete time Fourier transform (Ds-IpDTFT) estimator, a novel approach for fine frequency estimation in noisy exponential signals. The proposed estimator leverages a dichotomous search process before iterative interpolation estimation, which significantly reduces computational complexity while maintaining high estimation accuracy. An in-depth exploration of the relationship between the optimal parameter p and the unknown parameter δ forms the backbone of the methodology. Through extensive simulations and real-world experiments, the Ds-IpDTFT estimator exhibits superior performance relative to other established estimators, demonstrating robustness in noisy conditions and stability across varying frequencies. This efficient and accurate estimation method is a significant contribution to the field of signal processing and offers promising potential for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an optimal planning strategy is proposed for EV charging stations by considering travel demand based on non‐cooperative game theory. In the proposed methodology, a realistic and stochastic charging demand distribution was obtained with the travel chain of an EV and the associated probability density function. Based on the charging demand of EV owners and a multi‐operator scenario, a two‐stage effective and practical charging station planning model was established. The first stage of the planning model optimized the location of charging stations to decrease the total deadhead mileage of the EVs with the cooperation of the charging station operators. In the second stage, the operators were committed to increasing their economic benefits by developing a charging station capacity strategy in the framework of the non‐cooperative game. Furthermore, the combination of an adaptive mutation particle swarm optimization algorithm (AMPSO) and approximate Nash equilibrium had a better effect in reducing the difficulty of solving the game model and obtaining an optimal planning strategy. Finally, the results of the case study demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed methodology for improving the charging experience of the EV owners and achieving a balance of benefits among multiple charging station operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antioxidant activity of protein-derived peptides was one of the first to be revealed among the more than 50 known peptide bioactivities to date. The exploitation value associated with food-derived antioxidant peptides is mainly attributed to their natural properties and effectiveness as food preservatives and in disease prevention, management, and treatment. An increasing number of antioxidant active peptides have been identified from a variety of renewable sources, including terrestrial and aquatic organisms and their processing by-products. This has important implications for alleviating population pressure, avoiding environmental problems, and promoting a sustainable shift in consumption. To identify such opportunities, we conducted a systematic literature review of recent research advances in food-derived antioxidant peptides, with particular reference to their biological effects, mechanisms, digestive stability, and bioaccessibility. In this review, 515 potentially relevant papers were identified from a preliminary search of the academic databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. After removing non-thematic articles, articles without full text, and other quality-related factors, 52 review articles and 122 full research papers remained for analysis and reference. The findings highlighted chemical and biological evidence for a wide range of edible species as a source of precursor proteins for antioxidant-active peptides. Food-derived antioxidant peptides reduce the production of reactive oxygen species, besides activating endogenous antioxidant defense systems in cellular and animal models. The intestinal absorption and metabolism of such peptides were elucidated by using cellular models. Protein hydrolysates (peptides) are promising ingredients with enhanced nutritional, functional, and organoleptic properties of foods, not only as a natural alternative to synthetic antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progress in science and technology drives the continuous innovation of energy collection and utilization. In the field of sports, the information collection and analysis based on Internet of things have attracted particular attention. Moreover, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has promising applications in the field of sports. Here, we introduce the working principle of the TENG then the progress of the TENG as a wearable energy sensor is examined in the two fields of basic human activities and sports, especially competitive sports. On this basis, it is considered that the stability of devices, the universality of materials, and the scientificity of application of the TENG in the future need to be improved. We provide a direction for further upgrading energy collection technology to promote the high-quality development of human mechanical energy sensing in the field of sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesion mimic mutants resembling the hypersensitive response without pathogen attack are an ideal material to understand programmed cell death, the defence response, and the cross‐talk between defence response and development in plants. In this study, mic, a lesion mimic mutant from cultivar Yunyin treated with ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS), was screened. By map‐based cloning, a short‐chain alcohol dehydrogenase/reductase with an atypical active site HxxxK was isolated and designated as SDR7‐6. It functions as a homomultimer in rice and is localized at the endoplasmic reticulum. The lesion mimic phenotype of the mutant is light‐dependent. The mutant displayed an increased resistance response to bacterial blight, but reduced resistance to rice blast disease. The mutant and knockout lines showed increased reactive oxygen species, jasmonic acid content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and expression of pathogenicity‐related genes, while chlorophyll content was significantly reduced. The knockout lines showed significant reduction in grain size, seed setting rate, 1000‐grain weight, grain weight per plant, panicle length, and plant height. SDR7‐6 is a new lesion mimic gene that encodes a short‐chain alcohol dehydrogenase with atypical catalytic site. Disruption of SDR7‐6 led to cell death and had adverse effects on multiple agricultural characters. SDR7‐6 may act at the interface of the two defence pathways of bacterial blight and rice blast disease in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3D equivalent continuum coupling analysis of the slope of the Zhouning pumped storage power station was proposed in this study. Firstly, the hydraulic properties of rock mass, groundwater, and deformation mechanism under high-frequency fluctuations of the water level are analyzed. Secondly, the three-dimensional Digital Terrain Model (DTM) with surface image information was established by digital photogrammetry technology for cataloging field fracture information. Third, stress-seepage coupling simulation using a hybrid grid approach and the FLAC3D equivalent continuum model was implemented. The results show that the permeability of rock mass is stress-dependent and anisotropic, and the direction of maximum principal permeability of both bank slopes is approximately parallel to the river. Slope deformations induced by impoundment during the operation period are the superposition results of two mechanisms, referred to as "mattress effect" and "swelling effect." Attention should be paid to the tensile strength of the rock mass during operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The regional risk assessment is achieved through a prediction perspective. • Unsupervised clustering methods and deep learning based predictive models are combined to detect possible collision hazards. • A realistic distribution of the vessels' collision risks at specific moments is shown. A method based on the predictable Transformer network associated with a clustering method is introduced to build a framework for the regional collision risk assessment, which is an alternative to the traditional methods that have two problems: 1) The indicators are calculated based on the current navigation status of ships, not considering the dynamic characteristics and the variability of the ship's trajectory, which makes the calculated indicators inaccurate not allowing an accurate risk assessment. 2) Many deep learning–based algorithms used in ship trajectory prediction are not easy to be trained, as the model structure makes the features unable to be processed in parallel. First, the ships with potential collision risk are clustered by the Density–Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm to divide the hotspots. Then, the possible locations of ships in the near future are calculated by a multi–step prediction model, i.e., the designed Transformer network. Finally, the ship pairs' collision risk and the regional collision risk are evaluated based on the predicted results. Based on the AIS data from the Yangtze River, the effectiveness of the proposed framework is verified through regional risk assessment for 41 moments and specific interpretation for three moments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug relapse among addicts often occurs due to the learned association between drug-paired cues and the rewarding effects of these drugs, such as morphine. Contextual memory associated with morphine has a central role in maintenance and relapse. We showed that morphine-conditioned place preference (CPP) activates extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The main enzymes that mediate ERK dephosphorylation are members of the dual-specificity phosphatase (DUSP) superfamily. It is unclear which members regulate the morphine CPP-induced activation of ERK. After screening, DUSP15 was found to be decreased during both morphine CPP expression and the reinstatement period. Intra-NAc infusions of AAV-DUSP15 (overexpression) not only prevented the expression of morphine-induced CPP but also facilitated extinction, inhibited reinstatement, and abolished ERK activation. However, after repeated morphine exposure and withdrawal in mice, there was no change in the expression of p-ERK and DUSP15, and the overexpression of DUSP15 in the NAc did not improve the impaired spatial memory or anxiety-like behaviour induced by morphine. Together, these findings indicate that DUSP15 not only prevents the expression of drug-paired contextual memory but also promotes the extinction of existing addiction memories, thus providing a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of drug addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heroin dependence is a complex disease with multiple phenotypes. Classification of heroin users into more homogeneous subgroups on the basis of these phenotypes could help to identify the involved genetic factors and precise treatments. This study aimed to identify the association between genetic polymorphisms of DA synthesis and metabolism genes, including tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), DOPA decarboxylase (DDC), solute carrier family 6 member 3 (SLC6A3) and DA beta-hydroxylase (DBH), with six important phenotypes of heroin dependence. Methods: A total of 801 heroin dependent patients were recruited and fourteen potential functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped by SNaPshot. Associations between SNPs with six phenotypes were mainly assessed by binary logistic regression. Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction was used to analyze the gene-by-gene and gene-by-environment interactions. Results: We found that DBH rs1611114 TT genotype had a protective effect on memory impairment after heroin dependence (P = 0.002, OR = 0.610). We also found that the income-rs12666409-rs129915-rs1611114 interaction yielded the highest testing balance accuracy and cross-validation consistency for memory change after heroin dependence. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the memory change after heroin dependence was a result of a combination of genetics and environment. This finding could lead to a better understanding of heroin dependence and further improve personalized treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the pressures of energy and environment problems, the dynamic economic emission dispatch (DEED), which is more in line with actual dispatching requirements, has become an important research issue in recent years. In this paper, the highly dimensional, strongly coupled, nonlinear and nonconvex multiobjective DEED model is established considering both the fuel costs and pollution emissions objectives. Furthermore, an improved multiobjective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition with constraints handling (IMOEA/D‐CH) is proposed to obtain the optimal dispatching schemes. The IMOEA/D‐CH method first decomposes the DEED problem into a number of scalar optimization subproblems and then evolves them simultaneously using the neighborhood information. The real‐time heuristic constraints adjustment and modification methods and the adaptive threshold punishment mechanism are adopted in allusion to the complex constraints of the dispatching model. An evolutionary control strategy is also utilized to avoid excessive evolution of the algorithm toward a certain objective. In addition, the fuzzy decision‐making strategy is used to provide the decision maker with the optimal compromise solutions. To validate the effectiveness of the IMOEA/D‐CH method, the IEEE 30‐bus 6‐generator system and 10‐generator system and 118‐bus 14‐generator system are studied as test cases. The simulation results indicate the validity and superiority of the proposed method compared with the other reported methods. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A robust FOD detection method for rocket tank final assembly based on acoustic signal is proposed. • The FOD energy variation-driven adaptive WF is studied for signal denoising. • The FOD state probability of the front and rear frames is considered to improve GMM for FOD detection. • Long-time frames and abnormal percentage-related index is used to enhance the robustness of FOD detection. • The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified on a rocket tank experimental platform. The presence of Foreign Object Debris (FOD) during the assembly of rocket tanks poses a significant risk to the success of rocket launches. The current manual listening method which relies on the human ear for detecting FOD in rocket tanks is limited by its low level of automation and poor robustness. To overcome these limitations, this study presents a Robust Foreign Object Debris Detection (RFODD) method that utilizes an Adaptive Wiener Filter (EDAWF) based on energy variation and an Adaptive Forgetting Factor Gaussian Mixture Model (AFFGMM). EDAWF improves the input signal quality, while AFFGMM addresses the challenge of updating parameters under time-varying signals. FOD detection is then performed through a multi-segment counting method and a criterion based on the anomaly percentage index. The proposed RFODD method was evaluated through an experimental study on a rocket tank and was found to offer a more robust and automated solution for FOD detection with engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bearing stiffness exhibits non-linear characteristic when the bearing is subjected to a certain external load, which will inevitably cause changes in the spindle stiffness, since bearing stiffness has a decisive impact on the spindle stiffness. In this paper, the axial stiffness softening and hardening characteristics of machine tool spindle were studied. A novel spindle axial load automatic applying device and the spindle stiffness test bench were proposed. Meantime, an axial stiffness model for the experimental spindle was established based on the bearing load-displacement model and mechanical analysis of spindle. Then, the axial stiffness of fixed position preload spindle under different preload was measured experimentally and the evolution mechanism was analyzed. The results show that when bearing preload reaches a certain relatively large threshold, a "sag" shape occurs in the axial stiffness curve, indicating the "stiffness hardening" characteristic of the spindle. On the other hand, for a small preload, no "sag" shape occurs in spindle stiffness curve, indicating the "stiffness softening" characteristic of the spindle. This phenomenon is of great significance for the acquisition of the excellent spindle stiffness properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-inorganic perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) have attracted tremendous attention due to their extraordinary optical properties, especially CsPbBr3 QDs with their high stability and photoluminescence efficiency. However, studies investigating the biosensing capabilities of PQDs are still limited. In this work, we designed a visible -light-triggered photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor based on CsPbBr3 QDs for the first time. The immobilized three-dimensional (3D) ZnO inverse opal photonic crystals (IOPCs) were applied to dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) sensing. It was found that the CsPbBr3 QDs, as a photoactive material in a PEC sensor, can expand the photocurrent response of the PEC sensor to the visible region, as well as boost its conductivity. This PEC sensor based on a ZnO/CsPbBr3 electrode demonstrates sensitive detection of NADH in phosphate buffer saline solution and serum, with a good linear range from 0.1 μM to 250 μM and a low detection limit of 0.010 μM. Our strategy offers a new approach to perovskite QD-based PEC sensing, which could be more sensitive and convenient for clinical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycosylinositol phosphorylceramides (GIPCs) are the major sphingolipids in the plant plasma membrane. In Arabidopsis , mutations of genes involved in the synthesis of GIPCs affect many physiological aspects of plants, including growth, pollen fertility, defense, and stress signaling. Loss of function of the GIPC MANNOSYL-TRANSFERASE1 (AtGMT1) results in GIPC misglycosylation and induces plant immune responses accompanied by a severely dwarfed phenotype, thus indicating that GIPCs play important roles in plant immunity. Here, we investigated the enzymatic activity and phenotypes of transgenic lines of OsGMT1 , the ortholog of AtGMT1. Sphingolipidomic analysis indicated that OsGMT1 retained the enzymatic activity of GIPC hexose (Hex) glycosylation, but the knockout lines did not accumulate H 2 O 2. In contrast, the OsGMT1 overexpression lines showed significant down-regulation of several defense-associated or cell wall synthesis-associated genes, and enhanced sensitivity to rice blast. Furthermore, we first demonstrated the sensitivity of rice cells to MoNLP1 protein through calcein AM release assays using rice protoplasts, thus legitimizing the presence of MoNLPs in rice blast fungus. In addition, yeast two-hybrid screens using OsGMT1 as bait revealed that OsGMT1 may regulate heading time through the OsHAP5C signaling pathway. Together, our findings suggested clear physiological functional differentiation of GMT1 orthologs between rice and Arabidopsis. • Loss of function of OsGMT1 , the ortholog of AtGMT1 , did not result in accumulation of peroxidase and H 2 O 2 in homozygous knockout transgenic rice plants, thus indicating functional differentiation of GMT1 orthologs between rice and Arabidopsis. • Sphingolipidomic analysis of OsGMT1 overexpression lines indicated that OsGMT1 retained GIPC Hex glycosylation enzymatic activity. • The sensitivity of monocot rice cells to MoNLP1 toxin secreted by Magnaporthe grisea was demonstrated through calcein AM release assays using rice protoplasts. • OsGMT1 may regulate heading time through the OsHAP5C signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assumption that the defects extend axially throughout rollers or raceways was widely adopted in previous studies, however, this is hardly the situation in natural defects. A contact model that considered the geometric feature of natural defect was developed to analyze effects of defect on roller-raceway contact. The contact stiffness expression for defected roller-raceway was derived by numerical fitting. The contact stiffness expression was introduced into the quasi-static model of roller bearing to model defected roller bearing. The contact load distribution and stiffness of roller bearing were simulated under different defect sizes and operating conditions. Results demonstrate that roller bearing was insensitive to natural defects and the prevailing fatigue criteria is not applicable to roller bearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins are naturally active substances. In this study, anthocyanins from black rice were obtained by membrane filtration and column chromatography separation. Five anthocyanin monomers in black rice extract were identified by HPLC-MS/MS, and the major anthocyanin monomer (cyanidin-3-glucoside, C3G) was purified by preparative HPLC (Pre-HPLC). The proliferative effects of the anthocyanins on Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus were investigated by determining the media pH, bacterial populations and metabolic products. After anaerobic incubation at 37 °C for 48 h, not only the pH of the media containing C3G was lower than that of the extract of black rice anthocyanin (BRAE), but the numbers of both Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus were also significantly increased. Furthermore, hydroxyphenylpropionic, hydroxyphenylacetic, and hydroxybenzoic acids and other metabolites were detected by GC-MS in vitro. Our results revealed that the anthocyanins and anthocyanin monomers from black rice had prebiotic activity and they were metabolized into several small molecules by Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modification of upconversion luminescence (UCL) in In 2 O 3 :Yb 3+ , Er 3+ inverse opal photonic crystals (IOPCs) was investigated. The spontaneous decay rate (SDR) of 4 S 3/2 - 4 I 15/2 in IOPCs was suppressed as high as 2.6 times in contrast to the reference (REF) sample due to the modification of effective refractive index. It is significant to observe that the temperature quenching and concentration quenching in the In 2 O 3 :Yb 3+ , Er 3+ IOPCs was greatly suppressed due to the thin layer structure and connected air cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inverse opal photonic crystals (IOPCs) of β-NaYF 4 : Yb 3+ , Tm 3+ with various photonic band gap (PBG) are prepared by the sol-gel method with polystyrene (PS) template technique. The modification of upconversion emissions is observed in IOPCs, where the near ultraviolet and blue emissions of Tm 3+ ions are simultaneously suppressed and enhanced corresponding to the center and edge of PBG. Also they are alternately suppressed or enhanced resulting from the location change of the PBG. This is mainly attributed to the depression or enhancement effects occurring at the center or the edges of PBG, respectively. Moreover, the branch ratios and the excitation state processes involving suppressed transitions are modified by the increasing population on initial levels of suppressed transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulation of the immune system is a cardinal feature of opioid addiction. Here, we characterize the landscape of peripheral immune cells from patients with opioid use disorder and from healthy controls. Opioid-associated blood exhibited an abnormal distribution of immune cells characterized by a significant expansion of fragile-like regulatory T cells (Tregs), which was positively correlated with the withdrawal score. Analogously, opioid-treated mice also showed enhanced Treg-derived interferon-γ (IFN-γ) expression. IFN-γ signaling reshaped synaptic morphology in nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons, modulating subsequent withdrawal symptoms. We demonstrate that opioids increase the expression of neuron-derived C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (Ccl2) and disrupted blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity through the downregulation of astrocyte-derived fatty-acid-binding protein 7 (Fabp7), which both triggered peripheral Treg infiltration into NAc. Our study demonstrates that opioids drive the expansion of fragile-like Tregs and favor peripheral Treg diapedesis across the BBB, which leads to IFN-γ-mediated synaptic instability and subsequent withdrawal symptoms. [Display omitted] • An expansion of fragile-like Tregs is identified in heroin-associated blood • Opioid-induced global hypoxia triggers Treg fragility • Fabp7 protects BBB integrity from opioid-induced hyperpermeability • IFN-γ regulates opioid-induced NAc synaptic remodeling and withdrawal signs Opioids drive the peripheral expansion of fragile-like regulatory T cells that cross the blood-brain barrier and, through IFN-γ, mediate synaptic instability and subsequent withdrawal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A long-sequence multi-step prediction method based on multivariate Gaussian hypothesis and Gaussian process is proposed. • The reference trajectory prediction model is developed, and the uncertainty intervals are predicted. • The two parts are fused for a more accurate prediction to calculate the dynamic collision probability. • The Gaussian process and a Laplacian Eigenmaps-Self-Organizing Maps model are adopted for fast batch processing. • The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model can achieve a more accurate dynamic risk assessment. A long-sequence multi-step prediction method based on multivariate Gaussian hypothesis and Gaussian process is proposed to model the uncertainty in the future ship path. This is a necessary step to predict the area where the ship is likely to be located at each future moment and to perform a dynamic risk assessment. Through data fusion, the uncertainty of the prediction is reduced, and more accurate support can be achieved for risk assessment. Firstly, from the current trajectory, the initial uncertainty intervals for the future trajectory are predicted based on the Gaussian process. Then, from the historical data, a reference trajectory set suitable for predicting the future path is generated based on a feature extracting process, named the reference trajectory prediction model in this paper, and the uncertainty intervals are also predicted. After that, the two parts are fused for a more accurate prediction to calculate the dynamic collision probability. The Gaussian process and a Laplacian Eigenmaps-Self-Organizing Maps model are adopted for fast batch processing. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model can combine the advantages of both and achieve a more accurate dynamic risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upconversion (UC) nanomaterials with the ability to convert incident infrared photons to visible or ultraviolet emissions have attracted remarkable interest and hold great promising applications ranging from bioimaging to display devices. However, their low UCL efficiency does not satisfy the requirement of various practical applications. In this work, we successfully prepared Dy 2 O 3 /Au and Sm 2 O 3 /Au nanocomposites by a simple co-precipitation method. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy were used to characterize the samples. The UC broadband enhancements illuminating with various power density of 980 nm are systemically investigated. The maximum UCL enhancement is 35-fold and 48-fold for Dy 2 O 3 /Au and Sm 2 O 3 /Au nanocomposites under 980 nm excitation. The UC population processes and enhancement mechanism are carefully studied. The luminescence enhancement in the composites is mainly attributed to the enhanced thermal effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2) is a gene associated with autism and mental retardation. Recent studies have suggested an association of the AUTS2 gene with heroin dependence, and reduced AUTS2 gene expression may confer increased susceptibility to heroin dependence. However, the functional role of the AUTS2 protein in regulating enduring neuroadaptations in response to heroin exposure has not been established. Here, we investigated the effects of acute and chronic heroin exposure on AUTS2 mRNA and protein expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and caudate-putamen (CPu) to determine whether changes in AUTS2 expression are associated with heroin-induced locomotor sensitization in mice. Moreover, we explored whether AUST2 knockdown affects heroin-induced locomotor sensitization. AUTS2 mRNA and protein expression in the NAc, but not the CPu, was decreased after chronic heroin (1 mg/kg) administration. In the NAc, the expression of heroin-induced locomotor sensitization was enhanced through the lentiviral-AUTS2-shRNA-mediated knockdown of AUTS2, while the overexpression of AUTS2 attenuated the locomotor-stimulant effects of heroin. Together, these results indicate that AUTS2 in the NAc, but not the CPu, suppresses the initiation and expression of heroin-induced behavioral sensitization, suggesting that AUST2 may be a potential target for the treatment of heroin dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Game theory solves the problem of new energy power generation equipment capacity planning. • Electric vehicles connect to hybrid power generation systems as auxiliary equipment to replace energy storage batteries. • Establish a representative days selection model based on mixed integer multi-objective linear programming (MIMLP). • Consider the uncertainty of electric vehicle traffic attributes. In recent years, hybrid power systems (HPSs) with renewable energy sources, such as wind power and photovoltaic (PV) power, have been used as one of the most effective methods to address resource shortages and environmental pollution. In this paper, a model based non-cooperative game theory is developed to optimize the capacity configuration problem with wind power, PV power, and electric vehicles (EVs). The model is integrated with economic factors, such as electricity sales income, investments, and power supply reliability costs. An iterative search algorithm is used to solve the proposed game model, and the particle swarm optimization algorithm was used to optimize the income of each player. Mixed integer multi-objective linear programming (MIMLP) is used to establish the representative days selection model of resources and load demands. To verify the rationality of the model, the grid-connected hybrid power generation system with different game participants and line transmission capacities was studied. Furthermore, the representative days results of the daily load rate and peak valley ratio generated by MIMLP are compared with those obtained using k -means clustering and a scenario reduction method. The results reveal that the proposed model and related strategies can realize a reasonable allocation of resources and effectively improve the operation economy of power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of nephrostomy tubing with balloon on postoperative hemorrhage after percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Methods: A total of 284 patients with upper urinary calculi were enrolled for blocked randomization with 71 blocks and block length of 4. The experimental group consisted of 143 patients receiving 14-Fr silicone tubing with balloon, and the control group consisted of 141 patients receiving 14-Fr silicone tubing without balloon. One patient in the control group developed intraoperative bleeding as a result of calyceal laceration, and was reassigned to the experimental group receiving nephrostomy tubing with balloon. Results: Postoperative drop in hemoglobin level at 3 days was significantly less in the experimental group (3.31 ± 2.85 g/L) compared with the control group (5.14 ± 3.43 g/L) (P < 0.001). The duration of gross hematuria, defined by urine with visible light or bright red color (2.73 ± 1.59 days vs 3.55 ± 2.09 days, P < 0.001), and the incidence of postoperative extravasation (22/143 vs 38/141, P < 0.05) for patients in the experimental group (implanted with 14-Fr silicone tubing with balloon) were significantly lower compared with the control group. Conclusion: Use of indwelling nephrostomy tubes with balloon after percutaneous nephrolithotomy can reduce blood loss. Further consideration for more widespread adoption of this type of tubing to limit perioperative bleeding complications is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel bacteriocin Lactocin C-M2 produced by Lactobacillus panis C-M2, combined with dielectric barrier discharged cold plasma (DBD-CP), was used to evaluate the antibacterial effect on aquatic foods. After the purification procedures of ethyl acetate extraction, cation exchange chromatography and semi-preparative liquid phase, the stability of Lactocin C-M2 under DBD-CP environment was determined, and the preservation effect of these two joint treatments was investigated on fresh white fish samples. As revealed by LC-MS/MS and BLAST analysis, Lactocin C-M2 is a new type of class II bacteriocin, with a molecular weight of 863.52 Da and the N -terminal sequence MVKKTSAV. Application of Lactocin C-M2 showed significantly stronger inhibitory effect on bacteria than on yeasts and mold. All the tested 10 Gram positive bacteria and 3 Gram-negative bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri, Bacillus spp, Lactobacillus spp, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and so on, were inhibited. Lactocin C-M2 also presented stable antibacterial activity after exposure to DBD-CP, with the 95% residual activity against Staphylococcus aureus under the 40∼80 kV voltage for 30∼180 s, indicating the possibility of synergistic application. Combined with addition of 0.9 mg/g Lactocin C-M2, the treatment of DBD-CP with voltage at 60 kV for 90 s on fresh white fish (Culter alburnus) could significantly inhibit the microbial growth, the accumulation of volatile nitrogen and histamine during the storage. Therefore, the Lactocin C-M2, used together with the DBD-CP, is effective in food preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to present the theoretical and experimental investigation of the temperature of high speed and heavy haul tilting pad journal bearing. Design/methodology/approach – The bearing is 152.15 mm in diameter with three slenderness ratios (L/D) and three clearance ratios. The equations that govern the flow and energy transport are solved by the finite difference method, and the experimental tests are conducted in a test rig of high speed and heavy haul tilting pad journal bearing. The shaft speed ranges from 3,000 to 16,500 r/min (the highest linear-velocity equals 131.4 m/s), and the three static loads are 10, 20 and 30 KN. Findings – The comparisons between numerical results and experimental results show better correlations. It is shown in the theoretical and experimental results that the temperature increases with static load and shaft speed and decreases with clearance ratio and L/D. Originality/value – The theoretical models presented in this paper can be used to predict the temperature of tilting pad journal bearing when the shaft’s linear velocity is up to 130 m/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (mpg-CN) was loaded with WS2 via an impregnation–sulfidation approach. [•] WS2/mpg-CN showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution. [•] WS2 played an important role in catalyzing H2 production. [•] The reaction mechanism of photocatalytic H2 production over WS2/mpg-CN was proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The control method of an opposed hydraulic free piston engine was proposed. [•] Grey model prediction can provide better performance in piston position control. [•] The piston motion on one side influences that of the other side. [•] A satisfactory synchronization of the compression stroke can be achieved. [•] Better real-time control performance was obtained in the hardware-in-the-loop test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural distribution of industrial data is imbalanced, which deteriorates the performance of intelligent fault diagnostic models. Although cost-sensitive learning is an effective method for solving the data imbalance problem, it suffers from the difficulty of setting optimal costs. Therefore, this paper proposes a strategy that considers the number distribution of samples, the convergence trend of classes, and the convergence trend of samples to calculate sample costs adaptively. Using costs to weigh the sample losses and applying them to different models and different loss functions, the diagnostic results under different sample sets show that the weighted losses can significantly improve the model's performance when using imbalanced data. By further analysing the training loss of the modified model, the angles between deep features, and the angles between deep features and classification weight vectors, it can be found that the dominance of majority classes in imbalanced data is suppressed in training, which is attributed to the loss of each class being coordinated by the proposed strategy. The comparison with various imbalanced learning methods demonstrates the advantages of the proposed method under conditions of large imbalance ratios and complex tasks. • A novel cost-adaptive calculation method is proposed. • The cost varies adaptively with the sample distribution, the sample convergence trend, and the category convergence trend. • By applying the sample cost to the loss function, the losses of each class are coordinated. • Results with different models, different loss functions, and different datasets show the flexibility of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Asteroid deflection techniques are essential in order to protect the Earth from catastrophic impacts by hazardous asteroids. Rapid design and optimization of low-thrust rendezvous/interception trajectories is considered as one of the key technologies to successfully deflect potentially hazardous asteroids. In this paper, we address a general framework for the rapid design and optimization of low-thrust rendezvous/interception trajectories for future asteroid deflection missions. The design and optimization process includes three closely associated steps. Firstly, shape-based approaches and genetic algorithm (GA) are adopted to perform preliminary design, which provides a reasonable initial guess for subsequent accurate optimization. Secondly, Radau pseudospectral method is utilized to transcribe the low-thrust trajectory optimization problem into a discrete nonlinear programming (NLP) problem. Finally, sequential quadratic programming (SQP) is used to efficiently solve the nonlinear programming problem and obtain the optimal low-thrust rendezvous/interception trajectories. The rapid design and optimization algorithms developed in this paper are validated by three simulation cases with different performance indexes and boundary constraints. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, Lu2O3:Eu3+ inverse-opal-photonic crystals (IOPCs) with controllable lattice constants were fabricated using a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) template. The modification effect of PC on the 5D0–7FJ and 5D1–7FJ (J = 1–6) transitions were systemically studied by emission spectra, luminescent dynamics and the temperature-dependence. It is significant to observe that the increase of 5D0–7FJ radiative lifetime for Eu3+ ions (30%) in contrast to the reference sample was mainly due to modulation of the effective refractive index, rather than the density of optical states. The spontaneous decay rate in 5D1 increased linearly with the decreasing lattice constants, which was due to the change in 5D1–5D0 nonradiative relaxation of the IOPC samples. The temperature quenching of Eu3+ ions in the IOPCs could be suppressed considerably more than the reference. On this basis, dual functional refractive index detection with infiltrated solutions was realized by monitoring the variation in the photonic stop band (PSB) and the lifetime of 5D0–7F2 transition of the Lu2O3:Eu3+ IOPCs. This work shows that the Lu2O3:Eu3+ IOPCs present highly modified photoluminescence properties and are promising candidates for dual-functional refractive index sensing application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The contact status of the contact surfaces of the joint are always localized slip under all external load cases. [•] The areas on the contact surfaces that either the largest or lowest contact pressure takes place are easier to be sticking. [•] The nut rotation still takes place under localized slip status of the joint surfaces at each single load point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pubescence of the leaf blade surface is an important agronomic characteristic for rice morphology and significantly influences rice growth as well as physiological characteristics. This characteristic was analyzed in F and F plants derived by crossing cultivar 75-1-127 with the indica cultivar Minghui 63, as well as the glabrous cultivar Lemont and indica cultivar 9311. Results indicated that the pubescence of the leaf blade surface was a dominant trait and controlled by a single gene. The GL6 gene was primarily mapped on rice chromosome 6 with recessive F2 population derived from 75-1-127/Minghui 63 by combining bulked segregation analysis and recessive class analysis using the Mapmaker3.0/MapDraw software. The genetic distances between the simple sequence repeat markers RM20491 and RM20547 were 7.2 and 2.2 cM, respectively. The GL6 gene was fine mapped in the interval between InDel-106 and InDel-115 at genetic distances of 0.3 and 0.1 cM, respectively. The large, recessive F population was derived from 75-1-127/Minghui 63. A high-resolution genetic and physical map of GL6 was constructed. Derived from the map-based sequences published by the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project, the GL6 gene was localized at an interval of 79 ( japonica) and 116.82 kb (9311) bracketed by InDel-106 and InDel-115 within the BAC accession numbers AP008403 and AP005760. Seven annotated genes ( japonica) and eight annotated genes (9311) were present. The basis was further set for GL6 cloning and function analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glutamate receptor, N-methyl D-aspartate 2A (GRIN2A) gene that encodes the 2A subunit of the N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor was recently shown to be involved in the development of opiate addiction. Genetic polymorphisms in GRIN2A have a plausible role in modulating the risk of heroin addiction. An association of GRIN2A single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with heroin addiction was found earlier in African Americans. To identify markers that contribute to the genetic susceptibility to heroin addiction, we examined the potential association between heroin addiction and forty polymorphisms of the GRIN2A gene using the MassARRAY system and GeneScan in this study. The frequency of the (GT)26 repeats (rs3219790) in the heroin addiction group was significantly higher than that in the control group (χ2 = 5.360, P = 0.021). The allele frequencies of three polymorphisms (rs1102972, rs1650420, and rs3104703 in intron 3) were strongly associated with heroin addiction (P<0.001, 0.0002, and <0.001, after Bonferroni correction). Three additional SNPs from the same intron (rs1071502, rs6497730, and rs1070487) had nominally significant P values for association (P<0.05), but did not pass the threshold value. Haplotype analysis revealed that the G-C-T-C-C-T-A (block 6) and T-T (block 10) haplotypes of the GRIN2A gene displayed a protective effect (P = <0.001 and 0.003). These findings point to a role for GRIN2A polymorphisms in heroin addiction among the Han Chinese from Shaanxi province, and may be informative for future genetic or neurobiological studies on heroin addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent stretchable wearable hybrid nano-generators present great opportunities in motion sensing, motion monitoring, and human-computer interaction. Herein, we report a piezoelectric-triboelectric sport sensor (PTSS) which is composed of TENG, PENG, and a flexible transparent stretchable self-healing hydrogel electrode. The piezoelectric effect and the triboelectric effect are coupled by a contact separation mode. According to this effect, the PTSS shows a wide monitoring range. It can be used to monitor human multi-dimensional motions such as bend, twist, and rotate motions, including the screw pull motion of table tennis and the 301C skill of diving. In addition, the flexible transparent stretchable self-healing hydrogel is used as the electrode, which can meet most of the motion and sensing requirements and presents the characteristics of high flexibility, high transparency, high stretchability, and self-healing behavior. The whole sensing system can transmit signals through Bluetooth devices. The flexible, transparent, and stretchable wearable hybrid nanogenerator can be used as a wearable motion monitoring sensor, which provides a new strategy for the sports field, motion monitoring, and human-computer interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because the fault characteristic frequencies of a rolling bearing are submerged in strong noise when it fails early, the fault feature in the original signal is relatively weak to allow the diagnosis of the bearing. Consequently, the method to extract a weak fault feature is becoming a challenging research topic in fault diagnosis. Traditional diagnostic networks are typically trained by the time series or the frequency spectrum of the acquired discrete signal fragment, whereas the connection of the local fragments (quasi-periodicity) is neglected, resulting in low diagnostic accuracy for the bearing under strong noise conditions. To solve this problem, a novel weak fault feature extraction and diagnosis method, composed of two parts, is proposed in this paper. The first part is a multi-channel continuous wavelet transform (MCCWT), by which the original temporal signals can be more easily transformed into a new representation with several channels and fewer network parameter requirements than those required by the traditional methods. The second part is a convolution-feature-based recurrent neural network (CFRNN) that is based on a traditional recurrent neural network (RNN). In the latter, a recurrent unit combining several residual blocks and a long short term memory (LSTM) block is proposed to mine the temporal features and the local vibration characteristics simultaneously. The efficiency of the proposed diagnosis method is validated respectively by the datasets collected by simulating fault bearings with strong noise and using real fault bearings containing faults at an early stage. • The quasi-periodicity is considered in the proposed weak fault diagnosis method. • A multi-channel representation method is proposed to keep the details in signal. • Residual blocks were used to interpret the local time–frequency characteristics. • The efficiency was validated by simulated fault bearings and real fault bearings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of particles on the wear of cylinder liner in internal combustion (IC) engine under some typical weather conditions. Design/methodology/approach – Experiments were conducted under some typical dust weather which was simulated by the self-built test-bed with an actual diesel engine. Three-dimensional surface morphology was applied to produce a comprehensive characterization of cylinder liner's wear. Ferrography and oil spectrum analysis were employed for further understanding of the abrasion of the cylinder liner caused by particles. Findings – The presence of particles destroyed the lubricating condition of piston-cylinder liner, speeded up the wear of liner, especially on the thrust side, and aggravated the local wear. Wear curves showed that greater wear volume occurred near bottom dead center on the thrust side under the dust condition. However, on the anti-thrust side, wear volume of top dead center was greater than that of bottom dead center, similar to the wear pattern under the normal condition. Wear rate under dust condition was three to five times of that under normal condition. Research limitations/implications – The paper is restricted to the experimental findings based on single cylinder engine and theoretical researches are needed in the next step. Practical implications – The results help to understand the wear of the cylinder liner from the presence of particles from outside the engine. Originality/value – The paper concentrates on the effect of dust particles on the wear of cylinder liner under some dusty weather conditions simulated by a self-built test-bed, employing an actual IC engine. The results may bring about better understanding of the wear of cylinder liners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we present strong modification of photonic crystals on the spontaneous emissions of Eu3+ ions in YVO4:Eu3+ inverse opal. It is interesting that due to the effect of local field, the 5D0-7FJ radiative lifetimes of Eu3+ ions in the PCs are all prolonged ∼2.5 times in contrast to the grinded reference (REF) in air, consistent with the empty cavity model. The photonic stop band and the radiative lifetime are both highly sensitive to the refractive index of the infiltrated solutions, in accordance with the real cavity model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A self-powered portable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is used to collect biomechanical energy and monitor the human motion, which is the new development trend in portable devices. We have developed a self-powered portable triboelectric nanogenerator, which is used in human motion energy collection and monitoring mobile gait and stability capability. The materials involved are common PTFE and aluminum foil, acting as a frictional layer, which can output electrical signals based on the triboelectric effect. Moreover, 3D printing technology is used to build the optimized structure of the nanogenerator, which has significantly improved its performance. TENG is conveniently integrated with commercial sport shoes, monitoring the gait and stability of multiple human motions, being strategically placed at the immediate point of motion during the respective process. The presented equipment uses a low-frequency stabilized voltage output system to provide power for the wearable miniature electronic device, while stabilizing the voltage output, in order to effectively prevent voltage overload. The interdisciplinary research has provided more application prospects for nanogenerators regarding self-powered module device integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To calculate the upper limit for the Poisson observable at given confidence level with inclusion of systematic uncertainties in background expectation and signal efficiency, formulations have been established along the line of Bayesian approach. A FORTRAN program, BPULE, has been developed to implement the upper limit calculation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: The Sec14 protein (Sec14p) and its homologs are involved in the transfer of phosphatidylinositol/phosphatidylcholine phospholipids in eukaryotic cells. In the completely sequenced genome of Arabidopsis thaliana, multiple genes encoding putative Sec14p homologs have been predicted based on bioinformatic analysis. Here we report the identification of two yeast Sec14-like genes (designated as AtSFH3 and AtSFH12, respectively) that are predominately transcribed in Arabidopsis flowers. The deduced amino acid sequences of AtSfh3p and AtSfh12p exhibited high similarity to that of Sec14p. Ectopic expression of AtSfh3p or AtSfh12p corrected the high temperature sensitive phenotype caused by Sec14p functional deficiency in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, indicating that the two plant homologs are functional in the intracellular environment. AtSFH3 transcripts were detected in flowers, stems and immature siliques but not roots and leaves, with a relatively higher transcript level in the flowers. In contrast, AtSFH12 transcripts were only detectable in the flowers. Based on histochemical staining of β-glucuronidase (GUS) activities in the transgenic Arabidopsis plants harboring promoter∷GUS constructs, AtSFH3 transcription was first detected in the stigma papillae of the flowers at stage 11, and then in the pollen grains before and after fertilization. On the other hand, AtSFH12 transcription was only found in the mature and germinating pollen grains. The information from this study may provide useful clue for further analysis of the function of plant Sec14p homologs in the development of the male gametic cells and/or the fertilization process in higher plants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: MAGIC (MAG-netic Intelligent Compound) is a solidified magnetic ferrofluid (MF) containing both magnetic particles (MPs) and abrasive particles (APs, nonmagnetic) of micron size. The distribution of APs in MAGIC can be controlled by applying a magnetic field during cooling process of MAGIC fluid. In this paper, the influences of magnetic field, size and concentration of particles on the final structures of MPs and the distributions of APs in MAGIC fluid are preliminarily investigated using Stokesian dynamic (SD) simulation method. Simulation results show that MPs prefer to form strip-like structures in MAGIC fluid, the reason for this phenomenon is mainly attributed to the strong dipolar interactions between them. It is also found that MPs prefer to form big agglomerations in weak magnetic field while chains and strip-like structures in strong magnetic field; no long chains or strip-like structures of MPs are observed in low-concentration MAGIC fluid; and for big-size MPs, pure wall-like structures are formed. Evaluation on the distribution of APs with uniformity coefficient shows that strong magnetic field, high concentration and small-size particles can induce more uniform distribution of APs in MAGIC fluid, the uniformity of APs in MAGIC is about 10% higher than that in normal grinding tools. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Asymmetric somatic hybrid plants were produced between cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wild species [O. meyeriana (Zoll. etMor, exSteud.)] with high resistance to rice bacterial blight. X-ray-irradiated protoplasts of the wild species were used as donor and chemically fused with iodoacetamide-inactivated protoplasts of rice cv. 02428 to produce hybrids. Seventy-two plants were regenerated from 623 calli based on metabolic complementation. The morphological characters of the plants closely resembled that of the rice. Simple sequence repeats were employed to identify their hybridity. Cytological analysis of root-tips revealed that their chromosome number varied in the range of 27–38. The somatic hybrids were inoculated with strains of Xanthamonas oryzae pv. oryzae at adult growth stage and demonstrated the resistance to bacterial blight introgression from the O. meyeriana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problems of a complex structure or poor controllability of the existing bearing preload control devices, a method of self-regulation via a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) spacer is proposed. Firstly, the principle of preload automatic adjustment at the bearing operation was introduced and the NPRs with three types of cell structures were analyzed. Furthermore, a thermo-mechanical coupling analysis model of the NPR spacer was established and the deformation and force output characteristics of the NPR spacer were studied and experimentally verified. It is found that the concave hexagonal cell structure has the optimal deformation characteristics for bearing preload adjustment. When the temperature is considered, the absolute value of Poisson's ratio of the NPR spacer decreases as the speed increases and the elongation of the NPR spacer and the output forces are much larger than those without temperature consideration. With the increase in temperature or rotating speed, the axial elongation and output forces of the NPR spacer increases while the effect of temperature is relatively larger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whiskers have been extensively used in ceramics as excellent reinforcing phases during the past decades. Despite in-depth investigation of whisker-reinforced ceramics (WRC), however, the time-consuming, environmentally unfriendly, content design blindness of experimental method as well as pathogenicity of whiskers force people to explore quick and green research approaches. Therefore, this work aims at developing a modeling approach of WRC and predicting the mechanical properties of WRC, thereby compensating for the disadvantages of traditional experimental method. Initially, a modeling approach of WRC based on Voronoi tessellation was presented. Then, taking β-Si 3 N 4w and Si 3 N 4 as research objects, the prediction models of mechanical properties of 0–6 wt% β-Si 3 N 4w -reinforced Si 3 N 4 ceramics (SWRSC) were established. Finally, the effect of β-Si 3 N 4w content on mechanical properties of Si 3 N 4 -based ceramics was discussed, and the enhancement mechanism of β-Si 3 N 4w was revealed. Results indicated that the flexural strength of SWRSC was significantly advanced with increasing β-Si 3 N 4w content. Crack deflection and intergranular fracture induced by β-Si 3 N 4w as well as load-bearing effect of β-Si 3 N 4w were the mainly responsible for the reinforcement of Si 3 N 4 -based ceramics. The enhancement mechanisms, previously observed experimentally, were effectively simulated. The fracture toughness reached a maximum of 6.17 MPa m1/2 when β-Si 3 N 4w amount was 1 wt%, which was approximately 36.50% higher than monolithic Si 3 N 4 ceramic. The predicted value of β-Si 3 N 4w optimal content was consistent with relevant experimental conclusions. When β-Si 3 N 4w content was 3 wt%, the hardness of Si 3 N 4 -based ceramics reached the maximum value of 23.21 GPa. The effectiveness of prediction results and the presented modeling method were confirmed by comparing with related test values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trial-and-error method used in ceramics research has certain limitations such as the high blindness of material component design. Moreover, calculations of the toughness of ceramics using the extended finite element method, which is the most broadly applied technique, are complicated. To overcome these issues, in this study, multilayer graphene (MLG)/Si 3 N 4 whisker (Si 3 N 4w)-reinforced Si 3 N 4 ceramics (MWSCs) were used as the model material, and the modeling of MWSCs was conducted using Voronoi tessellation. Additionally, a more concise novel approach was applied for the prediction of the fracture toughness of MWSCs. Furthermore, the optimal MLG and Si 3 N 4w contents were predicted, and then they were verified by fabricating MWSCs using spark plasma sintering (SPS). Simulation results indicated that the optimum MLG and Si 3 N 4w contents to enable the toughness and hardness to reach the maximum values (9.87 MPa·m1/2 and 23.19 GPa) were 1 wt% and 3 wt%, which were consistent with the experimental results. Consequently, the effectiveness of the proposed method was verified. Moreover, the experimental values of the maximum fracture toughness and hardness were 11.04 MPa·m1/2 and 20.29 GPa, which were 47.20% and 12.10% higher than those of Si 3 N 4 ceramics reinforced with 1 wt% MLG, respectively. The synergistic toughening effects of MLG and Si 3 N 4w were significantly reflected. The load-bearing effect, bridging, and crack deflection induced by MLG and Si 3 N 4w were the key reasons for the improvement in the mechanical properties of MWSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imbalance is a typical characteristic of data in the field of intelligent fault diagnosis. As a data augmentation method that both balances data and extends information, the generative adversarial network has aroused widespread concern in the data imbalance problem. However, it still suffers from high difficulty in model training and poor quality of generated samples. To address this issue, this paper proposes a progressive generative adversarial network, which is a strategy able to gradually generate complex signals from low-frequency signals to wide-frequency signals. In the developed network, on the one hand, decomposing signals into different frequency bands explicitly reduces the difficulty of directly generating high-dimensional and wide-frequency signals. On the other hand, different generative models can focus on different frequency bands, avoiding the interference of high-energy signals on the fault feature frequencies. In order to achieve good generative performance, the generators and training method for the progressive generative adversarial network are elaborately designed. The correlation shortcut avoids information suppression due to the poor selection of noise amplitudes, and the focusing shortcut forces the body of the generator to focus on key feature bands. Ultimately, the superiority of the progressive generative network is verified by evaluating the quality of the generated samples on three datasets and applying the generated samples to solve the data imbalance problem. • A progressive generation framework is proposed to improve the quality of the generated signal. • The proposed generator retains the correlation between low and high frequencies. • The proposed generator can focus on specific frequency bands. • Model at each level is trained independently to avoid the accumulation of errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]