Long lead-time radar rainfall nowcasting method incorporating atmospheric conditions using long short-term memory networks

High-resolution radar rainfall data have great potential for rainfall predictions up to 6 h ahead (nowcasting); however, conventional extrapolation approaches based on in-built physical assumptions yield poor performance at longer lead times (3–6 h), which limits their operational utility. Moreover, atmospheric factors in radar estimate errors are often ignored. This study proposed a radar rainfall nowcasting method that attempts to achieve accurate nowcasting of 6 h using long short-term memory (LSTM) networks. Atmospheric conditions were considered to reduce radar estimate errors. To build radar nowcasting models based on LSTM networks (LSTM-RN), approximately 11 years of radar, gauge rainfall, and atmospheric data from the UK were obtained. Compared with the models built on optical flow (OF-RN) and random forest (RF-RN), LSTM-RN had the lowest root-mean-square errors (RMSE), highest correlation coefficients (COR), and mean bias errors closest to 0. Furthermore, LSTM-RN showed a growing advantage at longer lead times, with the RMSE decreasing by 17.99% and 7.17% compared with that of OF-RN and RF-RN, respectively. The results also revealed a strong relationship between LSTM-RN performance and weather conditions. This study provides an effective solution for nowcasting radar rainfall at long lead times, which enhances the forecast value and supports practical utility

A method of chained recommendation for charging piles in internet of vehicles

With the popularization of new energy electric vehicles (EVs), the recommendation algorithm is widely used in the relatively new field of charge piles. At the same time, the construction of charging infrastructure is facing increasing demand and more severe challenges. With the ubiquity of Internet of vehicles (IoVs), inter-vehicle communication can share information about the charging experience and traffic condition to help achieving better charging recommendation and higher energy efficiency. The recommendation of charging piles is of great value. However, the existing methods related to such recommendation consider inadequate reference factors and most of them are generalized for all users, rather than personalized for specific populations. In this paper, we propose a recommendation method based on dynamic charging area mechanism, which recommends the appropriate initial charging area according to the user's warning level, and dynamically changes the charging area according to the real-time state of EVs and charging piles. The recommendation method based on a classification chain provides more personalized services for users according to different charging needs and improves the utilization ratio of charging piles. This satisfies users' multilevel charging demands and realizes a more effective charging planning, which is beneficial to overall balance. The chained recommendation method mainly consists of three modules: intention detection, warning levels classification, and chained recommendation. The dynamic charging area mechanism reduces the occurrence of recommendation conflict and provides more personalized service for users according to different charging needs. Simulations and computations validate the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method.This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1636215, 61871140, 61872100), the National Key research and Development Plan (2018YFB0803504); the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation (No. 4172006), the Guangdong Province Key Research and Development Plan (2019B010137004), and the Guangdong Province Universities and Colleges Pearl River Scholar Funded Scheme (2019)

Whole genome sequence-based characterization of virulence and antimicrobial resistance gene profiles of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from food poisoning incidents in eastern China

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen occasionally isolated from diarrhea patients. In recent years, increasing studies have reported the detection of S. aureus in food poisoning incidents due to food contamination in the North and South of China. However, the epidemiology and genetic characteristics of S. aureus from food poisoning incidents in Eastern China remain unknown. The present study examined the genetic characteristics, antimicrobial resistance, and virulent factors of multidrug-resistant S. aureus isolated from 22 food poisoning incidents reported by the hospitals and health centers in Eastern China from 2011 to 2021. A total of 117 resistant and enterotoxigenic S. aureus isolates were collected and sequenced, among which 20 isolates were identified as methicillin resistant. Genetic analysis revealed 19 distinct CC/ST types, with CC6, CC22, CC59, CC88, and CC398 being the most frequent variants in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). A considerable shift in CC types from CC1 to CC398 between 2011 and 2021 was observed in this study, indicating that CC398 may be the main epidemic strain circulating in the current food poisoning incidents. Additionally, genes for enterotoxins were detected in 55 isolates, with a prevalence of 27.8% (27/97) for methicillin-sensitive variants and 35.0% (7/20) for MRSA. The scn gene was detected in 59.0% of the isolates, demonstrating diverse contaminations of S. aureus among livestock-to-human transmission. Of the 117 isolates, only ten isolates displayed multi-drug resistance (MDR) to penicillin, tetracycline, and macrolides. None of the 117 foodborne S. aureus isolates tested positive for vanA in this study. Together, the present study provided phylogenetic characteristics of S. aureus from food poisoning incidents that emerged in Eastern China from 2011 to 2021. Our results suggested that these diarrhea episodes were hypotonic and merely transient low-MDR infections, however, further research for continued surveillance given the detection of virulence and antimicrobial resistance determinants is required to elucidate the genomic characteristics of pathogenic S. aureus in food poisoning incidents in the context of public health

van der Waals Magnets: Material Family, Detection and Modulation of Magnetism, and Perspective in Spintronics

Abstract van der Waals (vdW) materials exhibit great potential in spintronics, arising from their excellent spin transportation, large spin–orbit coupling, and high‐quality interfaces. The recent discovery of intrinsic vdW antiferromagnets and ferromagnets has laid the foundation for the construction of all‐vdW spintronic devices, and enables the study of low‐dimensional magnetism, which is of both technical and scientific significance. In this review, several representative families of vdW magnets are introduced, followed by a comprehensive summary of the methods utilized in reading out the magnetic states of vdW magnets. Thereafter, it is shown that various electrical, mechanical, and chemical approaches are employed to modulate the magnetism of vdW magnets. Finally, the perspective of vdW magnets in spintronics is discussed and an outlook of future development direction in this field is also proposed

Preparation and Characterization of Heat-Treated Douglas Fir Wood with Core–Shell Structure

Wood heat treatment has been generally accepted as an effective wood modification technology as it improves the dimensional stability and biological durability of wood. However, the property improvements are obtained at the cost of reduced mechanical properties. In this study, heat-treated Douglas fir wood with thermally modified shell and unchanged inner core was prepared by surface heating to make possible the broader applications of heat-treated wood. Colour comparison, dynamic vapor sorption and dynamic mechanical analysis were performed to characterize the physico-mechanical performance of the shell and core of the treated wood. The results reveal a darkened, hydrophobic and rigid shell and a barely changed inner core. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows pronounced degradation of polysaccharides in the surface layer. In contrast, the relative contents of different carbon components in the core layer are similar to that of the untreated wood, indicating the reason for the performance difference between the shell and the core of the treated wood. The initial wood moisture content plays an important role in controlling the temperature gap between the core and the shell during treatment and can be used as a key parameter to adjust the structure and performance of the heat-treated wood

Dendritic Cell-Based Vaccines Against Cancer: Challenges, Advances and Future Opportunities

As the most potent professional antigen presenting cells, dendritic cells (DCs) have the ability to activate both naive CD4 and CD8 T cells. Recognized for their exceptional ability to cross-present exogenous antigens to prime naive antigen-specific CD8 T cells, DCs play a critical role in generating CD8 T cell immunity, as well as mediating CD8 T cell tolerance to tumor antigens. Despite the ability to potentiate host CD8 T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity, current DC-based cancer vaccines have not yet achieved the promised success clinically with the exception of FDA-approved Provenge. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that type 1 conventional DCs (cDC1s) play a critical role in cross-priming tumor-specific CD8 T cells and determining the anti-tumor efficacy of cancer immunotherapies including immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Together with promising clinical results in neoantigen-based cancer vaccines, there is a great need for DC-based vaccines to be further developed and refined either as monotherapies or in combination with other immunotherapies. In this review, we will present a brief review of DC development and function, discuss recent progress, and provide a perspective on future directions to realize the promising potential of DC-based cancer vaccines

Correlation of sLOX-1 Levels and MR Characteristics of Culprit Plaques in Intracranial Arteries with Stroke Recurrence

(1) Background: Symptomatic intracranial artery atherosclerosis (sICAS) is an important cause of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and is associated with a high risk of stroke recurrence. High-resolution magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (HR-MR-VWI) is an effective method for evaluating atherosclerotic plaque characteristics. Soluble lectin-like oxidised low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) is closely associated with plaque formation and rupture. We aim to explore the correlation between sLOX-1 levels and culprit plaque characteristics, based on HR-MR-VWI, with stroke recurrence in patients with sICAS. (2) Methods: A total of 199 patients with sICAS underwent HR-MR-VWI between June 2020 and June 2021 in our hospital. The culprit vessel and plaque characteristics were assessed according to HR-MR-VWI, and sLOX-1 levels were measured by ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). Outpatient follow-up was performed 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after discharge. (3) Results: sLOX-1 levels were significantly higher in the recurrence group than in the non-recurrence group (p p = 0.003, p = 0.014 and p = 0.010, respectively). The incidence of hyperintensity on T1WI, positive remodelling and significant enhancement (p p = 0.003 and p = 0.027, respectively) was higher in the recurrence group than in the non-recurrence group. Kaplan–Meier curves showed that patients with sLOX-1 levels > 912.19 pg/mL and hyperintensity on T1WI in the culprit plaque had a higher risk of stroke recurrence (both p 912.19 pg/mL (HR = 2.583, 95%CI 1.142, 5.846, p = 0.023) and hyperintensity on T1WI in the culprit plaque (HR = 2.632, 95% CI 1.197, 5.790, p = 0.016) were independent risk factors for stroke recurrence. sLOX-1 levels were significantly associated with the culprit plaque thickness (r = 0.162, p = 0.022), degree of stenosis (r = 0.217, p = 0.002), plaque burden (r = 0.183, p = 0.010), hyperintensity on T1WI (F = 14.501, p p p < 0.001) (4) Conclusions: sLOX-1 levels were associated with vulnerability of the culprit plaque and can be used as a supplement to HR-MR-VWI to predict stroke recurrence

Study on permeability law of water-based polymer drilling fluid containing CaCl2 in wellbore formation

The use of microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology to improve the cementation quality of oil and gas well cementing has attracted more and more attention in recent years. At present, cementing slurry technology containing ore-forming microorganisms has been realized for shallow oil and gas wells of 3, 000 meters. In order to make the ore-forming microorganisms in the cement slurry filtrate effectively play the role of MICP at the two interfaces to improve the quality of the two-interface cementation, it is necessary to use the drilling fluid to carry the CaCl2 in the drilling process to pre-inject a certain amount of CaCl2 into the wellbore formation. Therefore, it is necessary to study the penetration law of CaCl2-containing drilling fluid in the wellbore formation, so as to reasonably control the CaCl2 injection volume and drilling cost. Based on this, this paper takes the commonly used environmentally friendly water-based polymer drilling fluid as the basic carrier, comprehensively considers the dynamic formation mechanism of mud cake at the well wall, the variation law of physical properties of the surrounding formation and the water-based polymer drilling with CaCl2. The factors such as liquid rheology and the combination of theoretical calculation and simulation experiment were used to establish a quantitative prediction model for the permeation and permeation distance of the drilling fluid containing CaCl2 water-based polymer in the wellbore formation. The calculation results of the prediction model are consistent with the simulation test results, and have good reliability, which helps to provide the oretical support for drilling production enterprises to rationally optimize drilling fluid and cement slurry construction technology