A high-performance speech neuroprosthesis

Speech brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have the potential to restore rapid communication to people with paralysis by decoding neural activity evoked by attempted speech into tex

Residence Time Distribution of Particles in a Screw Feeder: Experimental and Modelling Study

Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of screw speed and screw feeder inclination on the residence time distribution (RTD) of particles in a screw feeder via a pulse stimulus response technique. Two models based on Markov chains were developed to simulate particle flows within and between pitches. In upward and horizontal screw feeder inclination cases, a three-parameter two-dimensional Markov chain model consisting of parallel active and stagnant zones fitted well with the experimental RTD data, with correlation coefficients (R-2) higher than 0.98, and gave a clear physical meaning for the parameters introduced. In these cases, a high screw speed or a horizontal inclination induced a high probability of forward movement from a pitch to the next pitch (f) during each rotation period of the screw, and a low ratio of stagnant zone to active zone (r) in a pitch. The upward screw feeder inclination yielded a higher diffusion probability from stagnant zone to active zone (d). In the downward screw feeder inclination case, a one-dimensional Markov chain model without a stagnant zone was in agreement with the corresponding experimental data. The analysis showed that during each rotation period of the screw, the particles in a pitch could be transferred not only to the next pitch but also to the following two pitches.</p

Characterization of transverse mixing in a screw mixer by image analysis

Transverse mixing of particles in a screw mixer is investigated by a digitized image analysis method coupled with a solidification technique. The effects of screw rotation speed, filling level, and particle size on the transverse mixing index and mixing rate constant are investigated experimentally. The results show that a decrease in screw rotation speed and filling level results in an increase in the mixing rate. Faster mixing is observed with large particles, and the mixing rate constant of coarse particles is 1.5-2 times higher than that of fine particles. The particle size difference of materials puts the particles at a risk of segregation

Bone Microenvironment and Osteosarcoma Metastasis

The bone microenvironment is an ideal fertile soil for both primary and secondary tumors to seed. The occurrence and development of osteosarcoma, as a primary bone tumor, is closely related to the bone microenvironment. Especially, the metastasis of osteosarcoma is the remaining challenge of therapy and poor prognosis. Increasing evidence focuses on the relationship between the bone microenvironment and osteosarcoma metastasis. Many elements exist in the bone microenvironment, such as acids, hypoxia, and chemokines, which have been verified to affect the progression and malignance of osteosarcoma through various signaling pathways. We thoroughly summarized all these regulators in the bone microenvironment and the transmission cascades, accordingly, attempting to furnish hints for inhibiting osteosarcoma metastasis via the amelioration of the bone microenvironment. In addition, analysis of the cross-talk between the bone microenvironment and osteosarcoma will help us to deeply understand the development of osteosarcoma. The cellular and molecular protagonists presented in the bone microenvironment promoting osteosarcoma metastasis will accelerate the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies towards osteosarcoma

Monitoring of Wheat Powdery Mildew under Different Nitrogen Input Levels Using Hyperspectral Remote Sensing

Both wheat powdery mildew severities and nitrogen input levels can lead to changes in spectral reflectance, but they have been rarely studied simultaneously for their effect on spectral reflectance. To determine the effects and influences of different nitrogen input levels on monitoring wheat powdery mildew and estimating yield by near-ground hyperspectral remote sensing, Canopy hyperspectral reflectance data acquired at Feekes growth stage (GS) 10.5.3, 10.5.4, and 11.1 were used to monitor wheat powdery mildew and estimate grain yield under different nitrogen input levels during the 2016–2017, 2017–2018, 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 seasons. The relationships of powdery mildew and grain yield with vegetation indices (VIs) derived from spectral reflectance data across the visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) regions of the spectrum were studied. The relationships of canopy spectral reflectance or first derivative spectral reflectance with powdery mildew did not differ under different nitrogen input levels. However, the dynamics of VIs differed in their sensitivities to nitrogen input levels, disease severity, grain yield, The area of the red edge peak (Σdr680–760 nm) was a better overall predictor for both disease severity and grain yield through linear regression models. The slope parameter estimates did not differ between the two nitrogen input levels at each GSs. Hyperspectral indices can be used to monitor wheat powdery mildew and estimate grain yield under different nitrogen input levels, but such models are dependent on GS and year, further research is needed to consider how to incorporate the growth stage and year-to-year variation into future applications

Prognostic and Predictive Values of Subcellular Localisation of RET in Renal Clear-Cell Carcinoma

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) presents a poor prognosis and an unpredictable course. To date, no validated biomarkers can predict the outcome of RCC. Ongoing efforts are conducted to identify the molecular markers of RCC progression, as well as the targets for novel therapeutic approaches. RET is a tyrosine kinase receptor which has been investigated as a possible target in other cancers because it is involved in oncogenic activation. To evaluate the predictive and prognostic functions of RET in ccRCC, a tissue microarray study was conducted on 273 ccRCC patients. Results showed that both RET cytoplasmic and nuclear expression were independently associated with PFS and OS, and the combined RET cytoplasmic and nuclear statuses demonstrated that the ratio of high nuclear RET and cytoplasmic RET was the strongest predictor of both PFS and OS. The high cytoplasmic RET expression retained its independent poor prognostic value in targeted drug treated patients. The RET nuclear expression was associated with distant metastasis. Moreover, the RET nuclear expression was an independent predictor of ccRCC postoperative metastasis. In conclusion, RET may be useful in prognostication and can be used at initial diagnosis to identify patients with high potential to develop metastasis