Entropy-Based Complexity Metrics for Coal Resource Consolidation System Engineering

AbstractBased on the basic principle of management entropy theory, this paper constructs a metric scale and entropy-based quantization model for evaluating the complexity of resource consolidation system engineering. Under the transformed structure of coal resource consolidation system of Shanxi Province and the constructed relation mode, the proposed model is put in practice to analyze and evaluate the complexity of Shanxi coal resources consolidation system. The results show that by importing material, energy and information, the complex system evolves to the direction of order and dynamic balance

Methyl 2-{[(3-methyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl­idene)(thio­phen-2-yl)meth­yl]amino}-3-phenyl­propionate

In the title compound, C25H23N3O3S, an intra­molecular N—H⋯O inter­action generates an S(6) ring, which stabilizes the enamine–keto form of the compound. This S(6) ring and the pyrazole ring are essentially coplanar, making a dihedral angle of 1.49 (6)°. The bond lengths within the S(6) ring of the mol­ecule lie between classical single- and double-bond lengths, indicating extensive conjugation. The structure exhibits a thienyl-ring flip disorder, with occupancy factors in the ratio 64.7 (3):35.3 (3)

The Effects of Casting and Blending on Properties of Ionomer and the Electromechanical Responses of Ionic Polymer Metal Composite Actuators

As one typical kind of ionic electroactive polymers (iEAPs), ionic polymer metal composites (IPMC) consist of an ionomer and two thin layers of metallic electrode on its both sides. The micro-properties of the ionomer, usually Nafion as the most used ionomer, exert strongly effects on the responses of IPMC actuator. Our works revealed the effects of casting process with different additives (ethylene glycol (EG), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N, N′-dimethyl formamide (DMF) and N-methyl formamide (NMF)), and blending with sulfonated multi-walled carbon nanotube (sMWCNT) on properties of ionomer and the electromechanical responses of IPMC actuators. Some important properties of casting membrane and sMWCNT/Nafion blending membrane, such as surface morphology, water uptake and ionic exchange capacity, etc., were measured and evaluated. Among the casting membrane-based IPMC actuators, EG based IPMC actuator has larger deformation at 2 V DC voltage. And a trace amount of sMWCNT can improve the performances of IPMCs significantly for realistic applications

Bis[4-(1-imino­eth­yl)-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-olato-κ2 O,N 4]copper(II)

In the title complex, [Cu(C12H12N3O)2], the CuII ion is tetra­coordinated by two N atoms and two O atoms from two bis-chelating 4-(1-imino­eth­yl)-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-olate ligands in a square-planar geometry. The two N atoms and two O atoms around the CuII atom are trans to each other, as the CuII atom lies on an inversion centre. The six-membered ring composed of the Cu, an O, an N and three C atoms of the ligand and the pyrazole ring is nearly planar, the largest deviation being 0.037 (4) Å for an N atom. In the crystal, weak inter­molecular C—H⋯N hydrogen-bonding inter­actions link the mol­ecules into chains along the c axis

Active Tube-Shaped Actuator with Embedded Square Rod-Shaped Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites for Robotic-Assisted Manipulation

This paper reports a new technique involving the design, fabrication, and characterization of an ionic polymer-metal composite- (IPMC-) embedded active tube, which can achieve multidegree-of-freedom (MODF) bending motions desirable in many applications, such as a manipulator and an active catheter. However, traditional strip-type IPMC actuators are limited in only being able to generate 1-dimensional bending motion. So, in this paper, we try to develop an approach which involves molding or integrating rod-shaped IPMC actuators into a soft silicone rubber structure to create an active tube. We modified the Nafion solution casting method and developed a complete sequence of a fabrication process for rod-shaped IPMCs with square cross sections and four insulated electrodes on the surface. The silicone gel was cured at a suitable temperature to form a flexible tube using molds fabricated by 3D printing technology. By applying differential voltages to the four electrodes of each IPMC rod-shaped actuator, MDOF bending motions of the active tube can be generated. Experimental results show that such IPMC-embedded tube designs can be used for developing robotic-assisted manipulation

Correlation of APE1 with VEGFA and CD163+ macrophage infiltration in bladder cancer and their prognostic significance

The present study sought to estimate the applicability of apurinic/apyrimidinic endodeoxyribonuclease 1 (APE1), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression and CD163+ tumor‑associated macrophage (TAM) ratio as prognostic factors in bladder cancer (BCa). A total of 127 patients with bladder urothelial cancer who underwent radical cystectomy at Daping Hospital were recruited between January 2013 and January 2017, including 45 cases of non‑muscle invasive BCa (NMIBC) and 82 of MIBC. Immunohistochemical detection of APE1, VEGFA and CD163, as well as multiple immunofluorescence staining for APE1, VEGFA, CD163 and CD34, were performed on tissue samples. For APE1 and VEGFA, the staining was graded based on intensity (0‑3), while CD163 was graded (0‑3) based on the percentage of positively stained cells. The prognostic value of APE1, VEGF and CD163 was assessed using Kaplan‑Meier and Cox regression analysis. The results suggested that in BCa, high APE1 expression was associated with high VEGFA expression and more infiltration of CD163+ TAM. Furthermore, high expression of APE1 was associated with lymphovascular invasion of BCa, as well as reduced survival time. This indicates that APE1 may be associated with CD163+ TAM infiltration in BCa, with VEGFA as a possible influencing factor

Distinct gut bacterial composition in Anoplophora glabripennis reared on two host plants

Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) is an invasive wood borer pest that has caused considerable damage to forests. Gut bacteria are of great importance in the biology and ecology of herbivores, especially in growth and adaptation; however, change in the gut bacterial community of this pest feeding on different hosts is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the gut bacterial communities of A. glabripennis larvae fed on different preferred hosts, Salix matsudana and Ulmus pumila, using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology. A total of 15 phyla, 25 classes, 65 orders, 114 families, 188 genera, and 170 species were annotated in the gut of A. glabripennis larvae fed on S. matsudana or U. pumila using a 97% similarity cutoff level. The dominant phyla were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and the core dominant genera were Enterococcus, Gibbsiella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella. There was significantly higher alpha diversity in the U. pumila group than in the S. matsudana group, and principal co-ordinate analysis showed significant differences in gut bacterial communities between the two groups. The genera with significant abundance differences between the two groups were Gibbsiella, Enterobacter, Leuconostoc, Rhodobacter, TM7a, norank, Rhodobacter, and Aurantisolimonas, indicating that the abundance of larval gut bacteria was affected by feeding on different hosts. Further network diagrams showed that the complexity of the network structure and the modularity were higher in the U. pumila group than in the S. matsudana group, suggesting more diverse gut bacteria in the U. pumila group. The dominant role of most gut microbiota was related to fermentation and chemoheterotrophy, and specific OTUs positively correlated with different functions were reported. Our study provides an essential resource for the gut bacteria functional study of A. glabripennis associated with host diet

Methyl 2-{1-[(Z)-3-methyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl­idene]ethyl­amino}-3-phenyl­propanoate

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C22H23N3O3, exists in the enamine–keto form. A strong intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond occurs, generating an S(6) ring. The dihedral angle between the heterocycle and the adjacent phenyl ring is 3.75 (15)°