Sensitive Components Research Articles

Study of the Load Forecasting of a Wet Mill Based on the CEEMDAN-Refined Composite Multiscale Dispersion Entropy and LSTM Nerve Net

To address the problem of wet ball milling in a strong noise environment, it is difficult to accurately detect the internal load parameters of the cylinder during grinding. In this paper, a mill load parameter prediction method is proposed based on complementary ensemble empirical mode decomposition (CEEMDAN)-refined composite multiscale dispersion entropy (RCMDE) and-long and short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks. Using this method, the vibration signals of the mill barrel under strong noise were decomposed using the CEEMDAN algorithm, sensitive modal components with strong correlation with the original signal were selected for reconstruction using the correlation coefficient method, and features of the reconstructed signals under different load parameters were extracted through RCMDE. The load characteristic vector of an RCMDE mill was used as the input of LSTM neural networks, and the filling rate, material and ball ratio, and grinding concentration were used as the output to establish the internal load prediction model of wet mill. Experiment results show that the prediction method has a high accuracy, with average absolute percentage errors of the filling rate, feed-to-ball ratio, and grinding concentration of 6.08%, 3.50%, and 3.47%, and average absolute errors were of 0.0167, 0.0146, and 0.0146, respectively.

Mapping agricultural vulnerability to impacts of climate events of Punjab, Pakistan

Pakistan has an agriculture-dependent economy vulnerable to climate impacts. Within Pakistan, Punjab province is a leading regional producer of food and cash crops, and an exporter of agricultural commodities of significance in South Asia. Punjab agriculture provides livelihoods for agriculture-dependent communities living in one of the most populous countries of the world and these will be disrupted under incremental climate changes (e.g. rising temperatures) and the impacts of extreme climate events (such as droughts and floods). Climate impact assessments and mapping are widely accepted initial approaches to address climate change as they have the potential to facilitate bottom-up adaptation. However, to date, policy responses in Pakistan have tended to be top-down, driven by national adaptation planning processes. This paper assesses agricultural vulnerability to impacts of climate events at the district scale for Punjab province by developing maps of the individual components of vulnerability, i.e. exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. An indicator-based approach using a composite index method was adopted for the assessment. The mapping separated and categorised districts in Punjab based on their vulnerability to climate change and revealed spatial patterns and factors influencing district-level vulnerability. These geospatial variations in vulnerability illustrate the need for a nuanced policy on adaptation that recognises the importance of local biophysical and socio-economic context to build adaptive capacity for vulnerable regions rather than the current concentration on broad-scale top-down action embedded in National Adaptation Plans.

Epithelial Sodium Channels in Monocyte‐Macrophage Migration and Regulation by Pro‐inflammatory Cytokines TNFα and IFNγ

Migration of monocytes‐macrophages play an important role in phagocytosis of pathogens and cellular debris in a variety of pathophysiological conditions. While Epithelial Na+ Channels (ENaC) are required for normal migratory responses in glial, trophoblast, and vascular smooth muscle cells, their role in monocyte‐macrophage migration signaling is unknown. The Human Protein Atlas data base (www.proteinatlas.org) shows ENaC message in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and tissue resident macrophages in human populations. We used an in vitro model to determine the importance of ENaC in chemotactic migration of monocytes‐macrophages using a standard Boyden chamber assay. Cells were suspended in 0.4% FBS ± amiloride (0.1‐10 µM) or benzamil (0.01‐1 µM) to inhibit ENaC channels, then migrated for 4 hr towards a 10% FBS gradient. In mouse RAW cells, migration responses were inhibited by amiloride (65±6 – 46±4% of control at 0.1 and 10 µM, p=0.0001) and benzamil (55±6 – 55±5% of control at 0.01 and 1.0 µM, p<0.0001). In human THP‐1 cells, migration responses were similarly inhibited by amiloride (73±5 ‐ 40±6% of control at 0.1 and 10 µM, p<0.0001) and benzamil (68±7 – 53±4% of control at 0.01 and 1.0 µM, p<0.0001). Since benzamil and amiloride are selective for ENaC at sub and low micromolar concentrations, respectively, our findings indicate ENaC signaling is required for migration of unstimulated monocyte‐macrophage cells. To determine if pro‐inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interferon gamma (INFγ), regulate ENaC expression and function, we used TaqMan quantitative PCR, western blotting and chemotactic migration. Cells were exposed to a standard protocol to activate macrophages: INFγ for 48 hr plus TNFα (10 ng/mL each) during the last 24 hr. Expression of α and βENaC and GAPDH was calculated as fold change using the delta delta CT method (2‐∆∆CT). INFγ48hr + TNFα24hr increased α and βENaC message (9±2 and 5±1, n=4‐6, p=0.01). γENaC was undetectable. Despite increased message, whole cell αENaC protein expression was inhibited 50% by western blotting. The mechanism underlying message stimulation and protein inhibition remains to be determined. A similar effect on message upregulation and migration inhibition also occurred with 18 hr INFγ or TNFα alone (0‐10 ng/mL). Activation with INFγ/TNFα inhibited migration up to 70% and abolished the amiloride (1 µM) sensitive component. In unstimulated cells, amiloride (1 µM) coculture induced a rebound increase in migration following withdrawal, which was abolished by INFγ/TNFα treatment. This finding suggests cytokine induced ENaC loss mediates the migration inhibition. In summary, ENaC mediates monocyte migration, however, monocyte activation by INFγ/TNFα inhibits migration by inhibiting ENaC. Since pro‐inflammatory cytokines initiate monocyte differentiation and polarization to the phagocytic M1 phenotype, future studies will determine if ENaC is required for the phenotypic switch.

Waveform of free, hinged and clamped axonemes isolated from C. reinhardtii: influence of calcium

The beating of cilia and flagella is essential to perform many important biological functions, including generating fluid flows on the cell surface or propulsion of micro-organisms. In this work, we analyze the motion of isolated and demembranated flagella from green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which act as ATP-driven micro-swimmers. The beating flagella of Chlamydomonas exhibit an asymmetric waveform that is known to involve the superposition of a static component, corresponding to a fixed, intrinsic curvature, and a dynamic wave component traveling from base-to-tip at the fundamental beat frequency, plus higher harmonics. Here, we analyse free, hinged and clamped axonemes using principal component analysis. The axonemal motion is described with a high degree of accuracy, taking into account only the first four dominant eigenmodes. Our analysis suggests that the wave motion can be alternatively described with Fourier modes, with a wavelength λ, larger than the length of the filament L (λ/L ≈ 1.3). Within this representation, we demonstrate that the main base-to-tip traveling wave component coexists with standing waves. Finally, we report the effect of calcium on the constituting wave components and find that the static mode is the most sensitive component to the calcium ion concentration.

Dapagliflozin Attenuates Sympathetic and Pressor Responses to Stress in Young Prehypertensive Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) is a class of anti‐diabetic medications approved for lowering blood glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and reducing cardiovascular risks in heart failure patients with or without T2DM. SGLT2i is also known to reduce blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients with T2DM. Mechanisms underlying these benefits of SGLT2i are unclear, but sympathetic overactivation is known to play a major role in the pathogenesis and progression of hypertension and heart failure. Whether SGLT2i reduces sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and BP in a non‐diabetic prehypertension model is undetermined. Therefore, we conducted studies to determine effects of a SGLT2i, dapagliflozin (DAPA), on conscious BP as well as SNA in prehypertensive spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) during physical stress. Accordingly, we randomly assigned 4‐week‐old non‐diabetic SHRs to either a normal powdered food treated (control) group or a normal powdered food containing DAPA treated (0.5mg/kg/day) group. After 4 weeks on the diet, we measured conscious BP in both groups of rats using radiotelemetry. We also assessed changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and renal SNA (RSNA) in response to hindlimb muscle contraction (ie, activation of the exercise pressor reflex, EPR), passive muscle stretch (ie, activation of the mechanically sensitive component of the EPR, known as the mechanoreflex), and intra‐arterial capsaicin injection (ie, activation of the metabolically sensitive component of the EPR, known as the metaboreflex) in a separate group of decerebrate control and DAPA SHRs. We found that fasting blood glucose levels were not significantly different between DAPA and control groups (65±27 vs. 78±20 mg/dL). Heart weight and heart weight‐to‐tibial length was significantly (all P<0.01) decreased by 19% and 16%, respectively in DAPA rats compared to control rats. We also found that daytime/nighttime MAP were markedly lower in DAPA SHRs than control SHRs (daytime: 120±5 vs. 130±6 mmHg, nighttime: 123±6 vs. 132±6 mmHg, P<0.05). A significant reduction in HR in DAPA rats was also observed compared to control rats (daytime: 299±15 vs. 337±20 bpm, nighttime: 320±12 vs. 357±12 bpm, P<0.01). Similarly, the rises in MAP and RSNA during EPR activation were significantly attenuated in DAPA SHRs compared to control SHRs (ΔMAP: 10±5 vs. 29±15 mmHg, ΔRSNA: 43±17 vs. 96±48 %, P<0.05). The pressor and sympathetic responses to mechanoreflex stimulation were also markedly lower in DAPA than control (ΔMAP: 10±7 vs. 25±14 mmHg, ΔRSNA: 31±17 vs. 68±39 %, P<0.05). There was a tendency for MAP and RSNA responses to metaboreflex activation to be lower in the DAPA group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (ΔMAP: 38±18 vs. 58±24 mmHg, P=0.07, ΔRSNA: 58±29 vs. 95±45 %, P=0.08). In conclusion, our data demonstrate a novel role for SGLT2i in reducing resting BP as well as the activity of skeletal muscle reflexes, independent of blood glucose. Our study may have important clinical implications for preventing hypertension and related cardiovascular damage in young prehypertensive individuals.

Reaction to fire of polymethylmethacrylate and polyvinylchloride under reduced oxygen concentrations in a controlled-atmospherecone calorimeter

Electrical cable sheaths are the most abundant fire load in nuclear power plants, mainly in rooms that are kept in under slight pressure. This configuration leads fires to grow in under-ventilated and vitiated conditions. Assessing fire threat involves characterizing the heat released, responsible for fire growth, and the smoke evolved, which may interact with sensitive components in the area. For that purpose, a revisited controlled-atmosphere cone calorimeter has been designed, set up, and coupled to a Fourier transformed infrared spectrometer and an electrical low-pressure impactor to measure simultaneously the evolved gases and aerosols, respectively. This bench-scale apparatus has been first qualified with polymethylmethacrylate. It has second been used to characterize polyvinylchloride cable sheath representative material reaction to fire in under-ventilated and vitiated conditions. It appeared that vitiation in under-ventilated fires lowers the heat release rate and the fuel mass loss rate.

Feature extraction of mixed faults of intershaft bearing based on homologous information and Hjorth parameters

To make correct judgment on the mixed faults of intershaft bearing of aeroplane engine, the paper has proposed a feature option method. This method works by decomposing cross-correlation function (CCF) of homogeneous information from casing with intrinsic time scale decomposition (ITD) for the separation and blending of signals. Furthermore, option of proper rotation components (PRCs) for fault identification is made by abandoning the PRC related with the least Complexity parameter in Hjorth parameters. Moreover, signal is reconstructed based on the autocorrelation function (AF) of residual PRCs. Finally, according to the frequency spectrum of signal reconstructed, fault features corresponding to intershaft bearing are extracted and fault types estimated. The result indicates that the Complexity parameter in Hjorth parameter can be used as an evaluation index to implement the selecting of sensitive fault components. Furthermore, the mixed fault types which come from intershaft bearing of aeroplane engine could be judged correctly.

Development and commissioning of a compact Cosmic Ray Muon imaging prototype

Due to the muon tomography’s capability of imaging high Z materials, some potential applications have been reported on inspecting smuggled nuclear materials in customs. A compact Cosmic Ray Muons (CRM) imaging prototype, Lanzhou University Muon Imaging System (LUMIS), is comprehensively introduced in this paper including the structure design, assembly, data acquisition and analysis, detector performance test, and material imaging commissioning etc. Cast triangular prism plastic scintillators (PS) were coupled with Si-PMs for sensitive detector components in system. LUMIS’s experimental results show that the detection efficiency of an individual detector layer is about 98%, the position resolution for vertical incident muons is 2.5 mm and the angle resolution is 8.73 mrad given a separation distance of 40.5 cm. Moreover, the image reconstruction software was developed based on the Point of Closest Approach (PoCA) to detect lead bricks as our target. The reconstructed images indicate that the profile of the lead bricks in the image is highly consistent with the target. Subsequently, the capability of LUMIS to distinguish different materials, such as Pb, Cu, Fe, and Al, was investigated as well. The lower limit of response time for rapidly alarming high-Z materials is also given and discussed. The successful development and commissioning of the LUMIS prototype have provided a new solution option in technology and craftsmanship for developing compact CRM imaging systems that can be used in many applications.

Spray-dried composite microparticles of polyetherimide and LaNi5 as a versatile material for hydrogen storage applications

Despite promising results for the encapsulation of sensitive components, spray drying hasn't been properly explored to produce energy storage powders. This study produced polyetherimide/LaNi5 (40/60 wt%) microparticles by spray drying for hydrogen storage and comprehensively characterize their morphological, thermal, and hydrogen sorption properties. First, the effects of spray drying parameters on microparticle size and morphology were evaluated by a 23 full factorial design. Samples were collected from the collector flask and the cyclone wall, differing particularly in the LaNi5 weight fraction. The microparticles had a wrinkled surface, but the polyetherimide matrix successfully encapsulated the LaNi5 particles. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) and the onset of polyetherimide thermal degradation are inversely related to the LaNi5 fraction. The microparticles absorbed hydrogen without incubation time, reaching maximum capacity of 0.4 wt% and 0.3 wt% for the samples from the cyclone and the collector. The H2 capacity reduced after the first cycle. Spray drying effectively produced elastic microparticles where the polymer phase anchors the LaNi5 particles through the H2 absorption cycles, maintaining a constant morphology and thus an improved dimensional stability.

Fair Valuation of a Renewable Energy Company in Indonesia

Not only governments like Indonesia, but also many companies are eager to participate in the renewable energy sector to achieve their carbon neutral target due to the rise of environmental awareness. Mergers and acquisitions of the renewable company are opted by many companies to enter this new market. However, the buyer and the seller often experience disagreeable transaction value of the company, especially the value of the renewable company which does not have a long historical track record since renewable business is relatively new. DCF valuation method is applied to find the fair value of Alpha Co., a renewable energy company that could represent the new upcoming attractive market in Indonesia, renewable energy market. This study revealed that the fair value of Alpha Co. is USD 12.47 million with 10.74% and 10.76% of WACC in 2021 and after 2021 respectively. In addition, the sensitivity analysis proves the hypothesis about the significant influence made by the assumptions on which the most sensitive component could result in a 66.88% deviation from the original calculated firm value in this study.

Investigating the effects of maltodextrin, gum arabic, and whey protein concentrate on the microencapsulation efficiency and oxidation stability of hemp seed oil

Freeze-drying led to the microencapsulation optimization of hemp seed oil (HSO) rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Maltodextrin, gum arabic, and whey protein concentrate were used as wall materials and independent variables. The dependent variables were determined by encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and peroxide value (PV, meq peroxide/kg oil). Based on the results of response surface methodology (RSM), the microencapsulated powder with 20% maltodextrin, 13.42% gum arabic, and 0% whey protein concentrate were found as the optimum points based on the highest EE (99.31%) and the lowest PV (0.03 meq peroxide/kg oil). According to oxidative stability, during 20 days, PV of free HSO reached 2.41 meq O2/kg oil, while the highest PV of optimum microcapsule was 1.15 meq O2/kg oil. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) diagrams demonstrated that the HSO was physically entrapped, no new chemical bonds were formed, and dented porous particles were observed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Novelty impact statement The necessity of edible oils rich in PUFAs has increased due to cardiovascular diseases. Especially oils with an appropriate ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 (3:1) have shown clinical impacts. However, such oils are prone to oxidation due to having various unsaturated bonds in their fatty acids. Hemp seed oil is one of the richest PUFA sources (about 75%), and its daily usage has been shown to ensure human health. To have more chemical stable oils, microencapsulation has been attended to high prosperity in the protection of such oils. In this regard, freeze-drying has shown preservation effects on the encapsulation of sensitive bioactive components such as HSO.

Comparative evaluation of growth, yield and yield attributing traits in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) under different soil moisture regimes

A field experiment was conducted during spring season of 2014–15 and 2015–16 at CCS HAU, RRS, Karnal to evaluate the response of four sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) varieties differing in their maturity i.e. CoS 767 (Mid late), CoH128 (Mid late), CoJ 64 (Early) and Co 0238 (Early) to deficit irrigation. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with three replications. Based on available soil moisture (ASM), three treatments i.e. irrigation at 50% ASM (control), 40% ASM (mild stress) and 30% ASM (severe stress) were imposed in main plot and sugarcane varieties in sub-plot. Under deficit irrigation, leaf area, leaf area index (LAI), crop grown rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR), significantly, reduced at 30–60 and 60–90 DAP in all the varieties and the varieties Co 0238 and CoS 767 showed least reduction. The yield parameters, viz. number of millable canes, cane length, internodal length and single cane weight reduced significantly under water limited conditions and proved to be the most sensitive yield components responsible for decrease in cane and sugar yield. Cane yield and sugar yield reduced by 36.18% and 40.47%, and 27.5% and 31.09% at 30% and 40% ASM level, respectively. Co 0238 produced highest average cane yield and sugar yield (83.05 and 10.17 t/ha) followed by CoS 767 (68.23 and 8.28 t/ ha). Moreover, after stress revival Co 0238 and CoS 767 were able to recover faster which qualified these varieties to face short periods of drought without major losses in the initial phase of development.

Executive Functions and Reinforcement Sensitivity in Women with Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms.

Objective: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is associated with cognitive and motivational deficits caused by abnormal activities in certain neural circuits. This study sets out to determine the contribution of each component of executive function and reinforcement sensitivity in prediction of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Method : In this cross-sectional study, the study population consisted of all adult women living in Sabzevar city (Iran). Using cluster sampling, 365 women were selected as the study sample. Participants completed the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire - Revised and Clarified (SPSRQ-RC) as well as Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Data analysis was conducted using correlation and regression tests. Results: The results of stepwise regression analysis showed that inhibition, shift and initiation variables as well as sensitivity to punishment and reward were best predictors of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (adjusted R square = 0.34, F = 38.93, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: It seems that impaired executive functions in cognition and sensitivity to reinforcement in motivation contribute to the emergence or sustainability of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Comparison of Knudsen Diffusion and the Dusty Gas Approach for the Modeling of the Freeze-Drying Process of Bulk Food Products

Freeze-drying is generally used to achieve high quality products and preserve thermal sensitive components; however, it is also considered as a high energy and costly process. Modeling of the process can help to optimize the process to reduce these drawbacks. In this work, a mathematical model is presented to predict the heat and mass transfer behavior for freeze-drying of porous frozen food particles during freeze-drying to optimize the process. For the mass transfer, a comparison between Knudsen diffusion and the more complex dusty-gas approach is performed. Simulation results of a single particle are validated by experiments of single-layer drying to extend the usage of this model from a single particle to a particle bed. For the moisture transfer, adaption parameters are introduced and evaluated. A comparison shows a good agreement of the model with experimental results. The results furthermore suggest a strong correlation of the drying kinetics with pore size and particle porosity. An increase in the pore diameter strongly improves the overall mass transfer rates and hence is a suitable parameter for an effective increase of the drying rates in freeze-drying.

PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway alters sensitivity of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia to l-asparaginase

Childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) still remains a therapeutic challenge due to relapses which are resistant to further treatment. l-asparaginase (ASNase) is a key therapy component in pediatric T-ALL and lower sensitivity of leukemia cells to this drug negatively influences overall treatment efficacy and outcome. PTEN protein deletion and/or activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway leading to altered cell growth and metabolism are emerging as a common feature in T-ALL. We herein investigated the relationship amongst PTEN deletion, ASNase sensitivity and glucose metabolism in T-ALL cells. First, we found significant differences in the sensitivity to ASNase amongst T-ALL cell lines. While cell lines more sensitive to ASNase were PTEN wild type (WT) and had no detectable level of phosphorylated Akt (P-Akt), cell lines less sensitive to ASNase were PTEN-null with high P-Akt levels. Pharmacological inhibition of Akt in the PTEN-null cells rendered them more sensitive to ASNase and lowered their glycolytic function which then resembled PTEN WT cells. In primary T-ALL cells, although P-Akt level was not dependent exclusively on PTEN expression, their sensitivity to ASNase could also be increased by pharmacological inhibition of Akt. In summary, we highlight a promising therapeutic option for T-ALL patients with aberrant PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling.

Stochastic modeling and availability optimization of condenser used in steam turbine power plants using GA and PSO

AbstractThe prominent objective of the present study is to optimize the availability of condenser units in steam turbine power plants. For this purpose, a novel stochastic model is proposed by considering a condenser as a system consisting of seven subsystems. All the time‐dependent random variables associated with failure rates followed exponential distribution while repair rates are arbitrarily distributed. Furthermore, to attain the optimum value of system availability nature‐inspired algorithm has been applied. Predicting the future phenomena is very difficult and most of the existing algorithms have some limitations like stuck at local minima, and slow convergence rate, and so forth. So, in this study proposed model has been optimized using a genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO)The expressions for steady‐state availability of the system have been assessed using Chapman‐Kolmogorov differential‐difference equations developed by applying the Markov birth‐death process. The supplementary variable technique has been adopted to solve differential‐difference equationsFor a comparative analysis, the steady‐state values, GA, and PSO results are compared. It is revealed that the GA gives the maximum value of availability as 0.9886 corresponding to crossover probability 0.65, population size 50, evaluation 300, and mutation probability 0.5. While using PSO optimum availability value is 0.998152 at 27 iterations, population 55, inertia weight 1, damping ratio 0.85, personal best 1.5, and global best 2. So, PSO results outperform the steady‐state and GA results. It is revealed that mixed bed filter and ejector are the most sensitive components of the condenser those influences most the system effectiveness.

Association of Neuropathic Pain Symptoms with Sensitization Related Symptomatology in Women with Fibromyalgia.

We aimed to analyze potential correlations between S-LANSS and PainDETECT with proxies for pain sensitization, e.g., the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) and pressure pain hyperalgesia (construct validity), pain-related or psychological variables (concurrent validity) in women with fibromyalgia (FMS). One-hundred-and-twenty-six females with FMS completed demographic, pain-related variables, psychological, and sensitization outcomes as well as the S-LANSS and the PainDETECT questionnaires. S-LANSS was positively associated with BMI (r = 0.206), pain intensity (r = 0.206 to 0.298) and CSI score (r = 0.336) and negatively associated with all PPTs (r = −0.180 to −0.336). PainDETECT was negatively associated with age (r = −0.272) and all PPTs (r = −0.226 to −0.378) and positively correlated with pain intensity (r = 0.258 to 0.439), CSI (r = 0.538), anxiety (r = 0.246) and depression (r = 0.258). 51.4% of the S-LANSS was explained by PainDETECT (45.3%), posterior iliac PPT (0.2%) and mastoid PPT (5.9%), whereas the 56.4% of PainDETECT was explained by S-LANSS (43.4%), CSI (10.4%), and pain intensity (2.6%). This study found good convergent association between S-LANSS and PainDETECT in women with FMS. Additionally, S-LANSS was associated with PPTs whereas PainDETECT was associated with pain intensity and CSI, suggesting that both questionnaires assess different spectrums of the neuropathic and pain sensitization components of a condition and hence provide synergistic information.

A frequency-weighted energy operator and swarm decomposition for bearing fault diagnosis

The weak fault characteristics of rolling bearings are difficult to identify due to strong background noise. To address this issue, a bearing fault detection scheme combining swarm decomposition (SWD) and frequency-weighted energy operator (FWEO) is presented. First, SWD is applied to decompose the bearing fault signal into single mode components. Then, a new evaluation index termed LEP is constructed by combining the advantages of envelope entropy, Pearson correlation coefficient and L-kurtosis, and it is utilized to choose the sensitive component containing the richest bearing fault characteristics. Finally, FWEO is employed for extracting the bearing fault features from the sensitive component. Simulation and experimental analyses indicate that the LEP index has better performance than the L-kurtosis index in determining the sensitive component. The method has the effect of suppressing noise and enhancing impulse characteristics, which is superior to the SWD-based envelope demodulation method.

River flooding response to ENSO-related monsoon precipitation: Evidence from late Holocene core sediments in the Jianghan Plain

In the Jianghan Plain, known as the province of thousands of lakes, monsoon precipitation-induced floods carrying large amounts of sediments can shape the depositional landscape, particularly after frequent river flooding. Therefore, the sediments document abundant information on climate change and its interaction with the fluviolacustrine system and paleoflooding. To date, late Holocene paleoflood records are limited, as continuous paleoflood archives are scarce. Here, using grain size end-members and sensitive components in combination with element records from the JH001 sediment core in the Jianghan Plain, nine continuous paleoflood regimes were identified during 3400–3000, 2750–2550, 2050–1820, 1800–1650, 1550–1500, 1350–1100, 1050–1000, 800–750, and 620–600 cal yr BP, respectively. Exploration of the climatic driving factors on flood regimes indicated a good agreement among paleoflood regimes and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-related hydrological records in the Middle Yangtze Valley (MYV) and reconstructed ENSO records. This suggests that ENSO is the dominant influence on flood occurrence in the Jianghan Plain. Strong ENSO activity exerted a southward shift in the subtropical high in the western Pacific and produced a long-lasting rainbelt in the mid-lower Yangtze Valley, which induced the occurrence of floods in the Jianghan Plain. The evolution pattern of sedimentary environment demonstrated that the floods led to river overflow and overbank expansion, even causing the rivers to divert and bifurcate. The overflow channels carried and deposited silt sediments in the floodplain, which shaped the specific alluvial-lacustrine landscape of the Jianghan Plain. Our results indicate that the grain size of core sediments is sensitive to the occurrence of paleofloods, and that ENSO-related paleofloods significantly influenced the fluviolacustrine sedimentary evolution. These findings are highly useful for regional flood planning and environmental protection in the eastern Jianghan Plain in the context of global warming.

Carbonization characteristics of ethylene tar narrow fractions

In this study, the feasibility of using ethylene tar (ET) as raw material for needle coke production was investigated. The basic properties, structural compositions, and thermal stability of ethylene tar and its narrow fractions were studied by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), the coke induction period, and simulation of thermal stability of coking feed. The properties of the products were analyzed by a polarized light microscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the content of asphaltenes was up to 22.04% in ET, and the thermal stability was poor due to the high content of olefin and other thermally sensitive components. Thus, the coke induction period of ET was only 34 min. After distillation, narrow fractions had no asphaltenes and a low quantity of heat-sensitive components, resulting in improved fraction thermal stability with coke induction period of more than 55 min. Due to its narrow molecular distribution and low content of heat-sensitive components of narrow fractions, the semi-cokes formed from narrow fractions possessed better anisotropic and microcrystalline structures than those formed from the ET. Compared with one-stage carbonization, the two-stage carbonization was more conducive to the coalescence, development, and orientation of mesophase, leading to the formation of a fibrous wide-area streamline structure. The needle coke prepared from the fraction of ET-C had a lower thermal expansion coefficient (CTE), as low as 2.49×10−6 °C−1, meeting the CTE requirement of needle coke.