Quantifying the pathway and predicting spontaneous emulsification during material exchange in a two phase liquid system

Kinetic restriction of a thermodynamically favourable equilibrium is a common theme in materials processing. The interfacial instability in systems where rate of material exchange is far greater than the mass transfer through respective bulk phases is of specific interest when tracking the transient interfacial area, a parameter integral to short processing times for productivity streamlining in all manufacturing where interfacial reaction occurs. This is even more pertinent in high-temperature systems for energy and cost savings. Here the quantified physical pathway of interfacial area change due to material exchange in liquid metal-molten oxide systems is presented. In addition the predicted growth regime and emulsification behaviour in relation to interfacial tension as modelled using phase-field methodology is shown. The observed in-situ emulsification behaviour links quantitatively the geometry of perturbations as a validation method for the development of simulating the phenomena. Thus a method is presented to both predict and engineer the formation of micro emulsions to a desired specification

Figures for "Simultaneous Observation of Nuclear and Electronic Dynamics by Ultrafast Electron Diffraction"

This is the data underlying figures for the manuscript "Simultaneous Observation of Nuclear and Electronic Dynamics by Ultrafast Electron Diffraction". Data is kept in MATLAB .mat format.</p

Table1_Exploring correlation between social determinants and overweight/obesity in children and youths with epilepsy.docx

AimThis study aimed to explore the correlation between social determinants and overweight and obesity in children and youths with epilepsy.MethodsThe study data were derived from the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) 2016–2017 and 2018–2019, a cross-sectional sample of young people aged 10–17. Three groups participated by weight: 423 in body mass index (BMI) 5th–84th group (normal weight), 108 in BMI 85th–94th group (overweight), and 124 in BMI ≥ 95th group (obesity). Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses were conducted. The three subgroups were divided to explore the correlation between social determinants and overweight and obesity.ResultsA total of 655 children were included. After adjusting for sex, age, race, use of cigarets, cigars, or pipe tobacco inside, afterschool activity, and physical activity, children in poor physical condition reported by their parents [OR = 1.573 (95% CI, 1.164–2.125)] were associated with overweight/obesity. There were negative correlations between parents with higher education and overweight/obesity, especially in children and youths with previous or current epilepsy groups. Also, overweight/obesity was correlated with the 200%–400% family poverty level (FPL) [the adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.156 (95% CI, 0.028–0.876)] and above 400% FPL [the adjusted OR = 0.121 (95% CI, 0.023–0.641)] in children and youths with mild symptoms of epilepsy, and above 400% FPL [the adjusted OR = 0.103 (95% CI, 0.023–0.460)] in children with moderate to severe epilepsy.ConclusionPoor physical conditions were correlated with obesity in childhood epilepsy. Parents with higher education and FPLs were negatively correlated to childhood obesity. Therefore, this study was intended to advocate for a greater emphasis on BMI for children and youths with epilepsy in families with lower-educated and low-income groups.</p

BiFlowAMOEBA for the identification of arbitrarily shaped clusters in bivariate flow data

A bivariate flow cluster is a group of two types of spatial flows, where both types of flows have high (or low) values or one type of flow has a high value while the other has a low value. Identifying bivariate flow clusters aids in understanding the complex interactions between different flow patterns. Detecting such clusters remains challenging because statistics for quantitatively assessing bivariate flow clusters are lacking and the shapes and sizes of clusters are usually varied. This study developed a novel bivariate flow clustering method (BiFlowAMOEBA) by improving a multidirectional optimum ecotope-based algorithm (AMOEBA) which embeds local Getis-Ord statistic in an iterative procedure to detect irregular-shaped clusters.  We defined a bivariate local Getis-Ord statistic for quantitatively assessing bivariate flow clusters, used a hierarchical clustering strategy to construct clusters, and evaluated the statistical significance of clusters using a Monte Carlo simulation. Experimental results of simulated datasets established that BiFlowAMOEBA can identify bivariate flow clusters of different shapes more accurately and completely, compared with two state-of-the-art methods. Two case studies showed that BiFlowAMOEBA not only helps to unveil the interactions between public transport and taxi services, but also helps to identify competition patterns between taxis and ride-hailing services. </p

Sparsity enhanced MRF algorithm for automatic object detection in GPR imagery

This study addressed the problem of automated object detection from ground penetrating radar imaging (GPR), using the concept of sparse representation. The detection task is first formulated as a Markov random field (MRF) process. Then, we propose a novel detection algorithm by introducing the sparsity constraint to the standard MRF model. Specifically, the traditional approach finds it difficult to determine the central target due to the influence of different neighbors from the imaging area. As such, we introduce a domain search algorithm to overcome this issue and increase the accuracy of target detection. Additionally, in the standard MRF model, the Gibbs parameters are empirically predetermined and fixed during the detection process, yet those hyperparameters may have a significant effect on the performance of the detection. Accordingly, in this paper, Gibbs parameters are self-adaptive and fine-tuned using an iterative updating strategy followed the concept of sparse representation. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm has then been proven to have a strong convergence property theoretically. Finally, we verify the proposed method using a real-world dataset, with a set of ground penetrating radar antennas in three different transmitted frequencies ( 50 MHz, 200 MHz and 300 MHz). Experimental evaluations demonstrate the advantages of utilizing the proposed algorithm to detect objects in ground penetrating radar imagery, in comparison with four traditional detection algorithms

Video1_Bioluminescent Sensors for Ca++ Flux Imaging and the Introduction of a New Intensity-Based Ca++ Sensor.mov

Sensitive detection of biological events is a goal for the design and characterization of sensors that can be used in vitro and in vivo. One important second messenger is Ca++ which has been a focus of using genetically encoded Ca++ indicators (GECIs) within living cells or intact organisms in vivo. An ideal GECI would exhibit high signal intensity, excellent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), rapid kinetics, a large dynamic range within relevant physiological conditions, and red-shifted emission. Most available GECIs are based on fluorescence, but bioluminescent GECIs have potential advantages in terms of avoiding tissue autofluorescence, phototoxicity, photobleaching, and spectral overlap, as well as enhancing SNR. Here, we summarize current progress in the development of bioluminescent GECIs and introduce a new and previously unpublished biosensor. Because these biosensors require a substrate, we also describe the pros and cons of various substrates used with these sensors. The novel GECI that is introduced here is called CalBiT, and it is a Ca++ indicator based on the functional complementation of NanoBiT which shows a high dynamic change in response to Ca++ fluxes. Here, we use CalBiT for the detection of Ca++ fluctuations in cultured cells, including its ability for real-time imaging in living cells.</p

Upregulation of IL-10 expression inhibits the proliferation of human periodontal ligament stem cells

Abstract: The abnormal increase in proliferation rate of human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, a disease in which the IL-10-mediated anti-inflammatory pathway plays a critical role. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of microRNA-466l in periodontitis and to explore the possible interaction between IL-10 and microRNA-466l. PDLSCs were obtained from periodontitis-affected teeth and healthy control teeth. The expression of microRNA-466l and IL-10 mRNA was measured in PDLSCs using RT-qPCR. The proliferation ability of PDLSCs was analyzed using CCK-8 assays. Overexpression of microRNA-466l in a PDLSC cell line was established using two different types of PDLSCs, and the effect of microRNA-466l overexpression on IL-10 expression and cell proliferation were detected by western blot and CCK-8 assays, respectively. We found that expression levels of microRNA-466l and IL-10 mRNA were significantly lower (P </div

Outperformance Portfolio Optimization via the Equivalence of Pure and Randomized Hypothesis Testing

We study the portfolio optimization problem of maximizing the outperformance probability over a random benchmark through dynamic trading with a xed initial capital. Under a general incomplete market framework, this stochastic control problem can be formulated as a composite pure hypothesis testing problem. We analyze the connection between this pure testing problem and its randomized counterpart, and from latter we derive a dual representation for the maximal outperformance probability. Moreover, in a complete market setting, we provide a closed-form solution to the problem of beating a leveraged exchange traded fund. For a general benchmark under an incomplete stochastic factor model, we provide the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman PDE characterization for the maximal outperformance probability

Table_1_The association between meeting physical activity guidelines and academic performance among junior high school adolescents in China-evidence from the China education tracking survey.DOCX

PurposeTo examine how well Chinese adolescents meet the physical exercise time and screen time recommendations in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2021), and the relationship between adolescents’ physical exercise time, screen time and their academic performance.MethodDaily physical exercise time, screen time and academic performance were collected from Grade 8 adolescents (n = 9,449). Academic performance included standardized scores on Chinese, Math and English tests and responses to the School Life Experience Scale.ResultsMeeting the physical activity time and screen time in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese Residents was associated with adolescents’ academic performance. Specifically, having at least 60 min of physical exercise per day was associated with adolescents’ school life experiences compared to adolescents who did not meet the physical exercise time and screen time in the Chinese Residents’ Physical Activity Guidelines. Less than 2  h of cumulative screen time per day was associated with adolescent mathematics test scores, English test scores and school life experiences. Meeting both physical exercise time and screen time to be recommended had more significant effects on adolescents’ mathematics, Chinese, English and school life experiences. Meeting both the physical exercise time and screen time recommendations in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese Residents was more significantly associated with boys’ mathematics test scores, Chinese test scores and School life experience. Meeting both the physical exercise time and screen time requirements in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese Residents had a more significant effect on School life experience for girls.ConclusionPhysical exercise participation of at least 60 min per day and/or less than 2  h of cumulative screen time per day were both associated with adolescent academic performance. Stakeholders should actively promote adolescents to follow the Physical Activity Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2021).</p