Completion of the Ablowitz-Kaup-Newell-Segur integrable coupling

Integrable couplings are associated with non-semisimple Lie algebras. In this paper, we propose a new method to generate new integrable systems through making perturbation in matrix spectral problems for integrable couplings, which is called the `completion process of integrable couplings'. As an example, the idea of construction is applied to the Ablowitz-Kaup-Newell-Segur integrable coupling. Each equation in the resulting hierarchy has a bi-Hamiltonian structure furnished by the component-trace identity

Visualizing the hotspots and emerging trends of 3D printing through scientometrics

Purpose - 3D printing is believed to be driving the third industrial revolution. A comprehensive understanding of the hotspots and trends of 3D printing may promote the theory development of 3D printing, help researchers to determine the research direction, and provide a reference for enterprises and government to plan the development of 3D printing industry. However, a scientometric visualizing of 3D printing research and an exploration its hotspots and emerging trends are lacking. Therefore, it was necessary to carry out this relevant research. Design/methodology/approach – Based on the theory of scientometrics, 2769 literatures on the 3D printing theme were found in the Web of Science Core Collection’ SCI indexes between 1995-2016. These were analyzed to explore the research hotspots and emerging trends of 3D printing with the software CiteSpaceIII. Findings – (1) hotspots appeared first in 1993, grow rapidly from 2005, and peaked in 2013; (2) hotspots in the "medical field" appeared earliest and have remained extremely active; (3) hotspots have evolved from “drug”, "printer", "rapid prototyping" and "3D printing" in the 1990s, through "laser-induced consolidation", "scaffolds", "sintering" and "metal matrix composites" in the 2000s, to the current hotspots of "stereolithography", "laser additive manufacturing", "medical images", etc.; (4) "3D bioprinting",“titanium”, “stem cell” and "chemical reaction" were the emerging hotspots in recent years; (5) "commercial operation" and "fusion with emerging technology such as big data" may create future hotspots. Research limitations/implications - It is hard to avoid the possibility of missing important research results on 3D printing. The relevant records could be missing if the query phrases for topic search do not appear in records. Besides, in order to improve the quality of data, this study selected articles and reviews as the research objects, which may also omit some records. Originality/value - First, this is the first paper visualizing the hotspots and emerging trends of 3D printing using scientometric tools. Second, not only "burst reference" and "burst keywords", but also "cluster" and "landmark article" are also selected as the evaluation factors to judge the hotspots and trends of a domain comprehensively. Third, overall perspective of hotspots and trends of 3D printing is put forward for the first time

Who buys new energy vehicles in china? Assessing social-psychological predictors of purchasing awareness, intention, and policy

This paper investigates the salience of social-psychological factors in explaining why drivers purchase (or fail to purchase) New Energy Vehicles (NEVs)—including hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles—in China. A questionnaire measuring six dimensions (including attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, personal norms, low-carbon awareness and policy) was distributed in Tianjin, where aggressive policy incentives for NEVs exist yet adoption rates remain low. Correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple regression analyses are applied data collected through 811 valid questionnaires. We present three main findings. First, there is an “awareness-behavior gap” whereby low-carbon awareness has a moderating effect on purchasing behavior via psychological factors. Second, subjective norms has a stronger influence on intention to purchase New Energy Vehicles than other social-psychological factors. Third, acceptability of government policies has positive significant impact on adoption of New Energy Vehicles, which can provide reference potential template for other countries whose market for New Energy Vehicles is also in an early stage

Calorie restriction and endurance exercise share potent anti-inflammatory function in adipose tissues in ameliorating diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Calorie restriction (CR) and endurance exercise are known to attenuate obesity and improve the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to directly compare the effects of CR and endurance exercise in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Adult male C57BL/6N mice were randomly assigned and subjected to one of the six interventions for 8 weeks: low-fat diet (LC, 10% fat), low-fat diet with 30% calorie restriction (LR), high-fat diet (HC, 60% fat), high-fat diet with 30% calorie restriction (HR), high-fat diet with voluntary running exercise (HE), and high-fat diet with a combination of 30% calorie restriction and exercise (HRE). The impacts of the interventions were assessed by comprehensive metabolic analyses and pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Endurance exercise significantly attenuated high-fat diet-induced obesity. CR dramatically prevented high-fat diet-induced metabolic abnormalities. A combination of CR and endurance exercise further reduced obesity and insulin resistance under the condition of high-fat diet. CR and endurance exercise each potently suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines in white adipose tissues with additive effects when combined, but the effects of diet and exercise interventions in the liver were moderate to minimal.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>CR and endurance exercise share a potent anti-inflammatory function in adipose tissues in ameliorating diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.</p

Selenium status in diet affects acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity via interruption of redox environment

Aims: Drug-induced liver injury, especially acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury, is a leading cause of liver failure worldwide. Mouse models were used to evaluate the effect of microelement selenium levels on the cellular redox environment and consequent hepatotoxicity of APAP. Results: APAP treatment affected mouse liver selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity and glutathione (GSH) level in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Decrease of mouse liver TrxR activity and glutathione level was an early event, and occurred concurrently with liver damage. The decreases in the GSH/glutathione disulfide form (GSSG) ratio and TrxR activity, and the increase of protein S-glutathionylation were correlated with the APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Moreover, in APAP-treated mice both mild deprivation and excess supplementation with selenium increased the severity of liver injury compared with those observed in mice with normal dietary selenium levels. An increase in the oxidation state of the TrxR-mediated system, including cytosolic thioredoxin1 (Trx1) and peroxiredoxin1/2 (Prx1/2), and mitochondrial Trx2 and Prx3, was found in the livers from mice reared on selenium-deficient and excess selenium-supplemented diets upon APAP treatment. Innovation: This work demonstrates that both Trx and GSH systems are susceptible to APAP toxicity in vivo, and that the thiol-dependent redox environment is a key factor in determining the extent of APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Dietary selenium and selenoproteins play critical roles in protecting mice against APAP overdose. Conclusion: APAP treatment in mice interrupts the function of the Trx and GSH systems, which are the main enzymatic antioxidant systems, in both the cytosol and mitochondria. Dietary selenium deficiency and excess supplementation both increase the risk of APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.</p

The prognostic role of the change in albumin-derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer

The prognosis of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has improved with the adoption of a multidisciplinary treatment approach combining neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and total mesorectal excision (TME). Developing real-time, sensitive biomarkers to monitor systemic changes during nCRT is of paramount importance. Although the association between albumin-derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (Alb-dNLR) and prognosis in various cancers is established, its prognostic value in LARC patients undergoing nCRT is not well-studied. This study enrolled a cohort of 618 LARC patients, stratifying them into two groups according to their change in Alb-dNLR (∆Alb-dNLR) values, using an optimal cut-off point: a low ∆Alb-dNLR group (≤ 0.90) and a high ∆Alb-dNLR group (> 0.90). The prognostic significance of ∆Alb-dNLR was evaluated using a Cox proportional hazards model. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 75.2% in the low ∆Alb-dNLR group (≤ 0.90) and 85.9% in the high ∆Alb-dNLR group (>0.90) (P < 0.001). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 71.2% and 80.6%, respectively (P = 0.016). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that both ∆Alb-dNLR and pre-Alb-dNLR were independent prognostic factors for OS (P ≤ 0.001), while ∆Alb-dNLR was demonstrated as an independent prognostic factor for DFS (P = 0.016). A predictive nomogram, incorporating the ∆Alb-dNLR subgroup, demonstrated enhanced performance (concordance index [C-index] of 0.720 for OS and 0.690 for DFS) compared to the pre-treatment Alb-dNLR subgroup (C-index of 0.700 for OS and of 0.680 for DFS). Therefore, ∆Alb-dNLR shows significant potential as a usable and prognostic biomarker for predicting OS and DFS in LARC patients undergoing nCRT