Quench behavior of high temperature superconductor (RE)Ba2Cu3Ox CORC cable

High temperature superconductor (HTS) (RE)Ba2Cu3Ox (REBCO) conductor on round core cable (CORC) shows great advantages on high current capacity and power density. In REBCO CORC cables, current is redistributed among tapes through terminal contact resistances (TCR) when a local quench occurs. Therefore, its quench behaviour is different from single tape situation. To better understand the underlying physical process of local quenches in CORC cables, a new 3D multi-physics modelling tool for CORC cables is developed and presented in this paper. In this model, the REBCO tape is treated as a thin shell without thickness, and four models are coupled: T-formulation model, A-formulation model, a heat transfer model and an equivalent circuit model. The T-formulation is applied to the conductor shell only to calculate current distribution, which will be input into A-formulation model; the A-formulation is applied to the whole 3D domain to calculate magnetic field, which is then fed back to the T-formulation model. The hot spot induced quenches of CORC cables are analysed. The results show that the thermal stability of CORC cable can be considerably improved by reducing TCR. The minimum quench energy (MQE) increases rapidly with the reduction of TCR when the resistance is in a middle range, which is about 5 μΩ ≤ Rt ≤ 200 μΩ in this study. When TCR is too low (Rt 50 μΩ), the MQE shows no obvious variation with TRC. With low TCR, a hot spot in one tape may induce an over-current quench on other tapes. This will not happen in a cable with high TCR. In this case, the tape with hot spot will quench and burn out before inducing a quench on other tapes. The modelling tool developed can be used to design CORC cables with improved thermal stability

Multiple Human Papillomavirus Infections among Chinese Women with and without Cervical Abnormalities: A Population-Based Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Despite an increase in the number of studies conducted in recent years on human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer epidemiology, the profile of multiple HPV infections remain obscure, particularly among Chinese women. During 2004–2005, a series of population-based HPV prevalence surveys were performed by Cancer Institute and Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CIHCAMS) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Based on these surveys, we evaluated the prevalence and risk factors of multiple HPV infections, and explored its association with cervical abnormalities among Chinese women. Methods: A total of 2374 women from three study centers underwent gynecological examinations with valid cytology and their HPV results were included in the analysis. Forty-four HPV types were detected using the GP5+/6+ PCR-based enzyme immunoassay. An unconditional logistic regression model was used to evaluate the effect of multiple HPV infections on cervical lesions and its risk factors adjusting for confounders. The between-groups difference was evaluated by a heterogeneity test based on the Q test. Results: One hundred and eleven women of multiple HPV infections was found among 2374 Chinese women with a prevalence of 5.28% (95% CI = 3.86–5.60%), which attributed to 28.98% (95% CI = 24.49–33.81%) of all of the 383 HPV-positive women. A significantly increased risk of multiple HPV infections was found in the older women (≥45 years; adjusted OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.02–2.27) and those having more than three sexual partners (adjusted OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.05–4.17) after adjustment for age-group, study area, and number of sexual partner. We also found that the risk of high-grade lesions was significantly higher than that of low-grade lesions with the multiple HPV infections (Pheterogeneity = 0.044), but not as significantly with the single HPV infection (Pheterogeneity = 0.108). Conclusion: Multiple HPV Infections, especially with high-risk HPV types, may be a substantial indicator either for public cervical cancer prevention or clinical implications

Production of X

We investigate the production of Xb in the process Υ(5S,6S)→γXb, where Xb is assumed to be the counterpart of X(3872) in the bottomonium sector as BB¯⁎ molecular state. We use the effective Lagrangian based on the heavy quark symmetry to explore the rescattering mechanism and calculate their production ratios. Our results have shown that the production ratios for Υ(5S,6S)→γXb are orders of 10-5 with reasonable cutoff parameter range α≃2~3. The sizeable production ratios may be accessible at the future experiments like forthcoming BelleII, which will provide important clues to the inner structures of the exotic state Xb

Digital twin brain: a bridge between biological intelligence and artificial intelligence

In recent years, advances in neuroscience and artificial intelligence have paved the way for unprecedented opportunities for understanding the complexity of the brain and its emulation by computational systems. Cutting-edge advancements in neuroscience research have revealed the intricate relationship between brain structure and function, while the success of artificial neural networks highlights the importance of network architecture. Now is the time to bring them together to better unravel how intelligence emerges from the brain's multiscale repositories. In this review, we propose the Digital Twin Brain (DTB) as a transformative platform that bridges the gap between biological and artificial intelligence. It consists of three core elements: the brain structure that is fundamental to the twinning process, bottom-layer models to generate brain functions, and its wide spectrum of applications. Crucially, brain atlases provide a vital constraint, preserving the brain's network organization within the DTB. Furthermore, we highlight open questions that invite joint efforts from interdisciplinary fields and emphasize the far-reaching implications of the DTB. The DTB can offer unprecedented insights into the emergence of intelligence and neurological disorders, which holds tremendous promise for advancing our understanding of both biological and artificial intelligence, and ultimately propelling the development of artificial general intelligence and facilitating precision mental healthcare

Integrated microfluidic systems with sample preparation and nucleic acid amplification

Rapid, efficient and accurate nucleic acid molecule detection is important in the screening of diseases and pathogens, yet remains a limiting factor at point of care (POC) treatment. Microfluidic systems are characterized by fast, integrated, miniaturized features which provide an effective platform for qualitative and quantitative detection of nucleic acid molecules. The nucleic acid detection process mainly includes sample preparation and target molecule amplification. Given the advancements in theoretical research and technological innovations to date, nucleic acid extraction and amplification integrated with microfluidic systems has advanced rapidly. The primary goal of this review is to outline current approaches used for nucleic acid detection in the context of microfluidic systems. The secondary goal is to identify new approaches that will help shape future trends at the intersection of nucleic acid detection and microfluidics, particularly with regard to increasing disease and pathogen detection for improved diagnosis and treatment

Identification of Predictive Pathways for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Prognosis

Despite decades of intensive research, NHL (non-Hodgkin lymphoma) still remains poorly understood and is largely incurable. Recent molecular studies suggest that genomic variants measured with SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in genes may have additional predictive power for NHL prognosis beyond clinical risk factors. We analyzed a genetic association study. The prognostic cohort consisted of 346 patients, among whom 138 had DLBCL (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) and 101 had FL ( follicular lymphoma). For DLBCL, we analyzed 1229 SNPs which represented 122 KEGG pathways. For FL, we analyzed 1228 SNPs which represented 122 KEGG pathways. Unlike in existing studies, we targeted at identifying pathways with significant additional predictive power beyond clinical factors. In addition, we accounted for the joint effects of multiple SNPs within pathways, whereas some existing studies drew pathway-level conclusions based on separate analysis of individual SNPs. For DLBCL, we identified four pathways, which, combined with the clinical factors, had medians of the prediction logrank statistics as 2.535, 2.220, 2.094, 2.453, and 2.512, respectively. As a comparison, the clinical factors had a median of the prediction logrank statistics around 0.552. For FL, we identified two pathways, which, combined with the clinical factors, had medians of the prediction logrank statistics as 4.320 and 3.532, respectively. As a comparison, the clinical factors had a median of the prediction logrank statistics around 1.212. For NHL overall, we identified three pathways, which, combined with the clinical factors, had medians of the prediction logrank statistics as 5.722, 5.314, and 5.441, respective. As a comparison, the clinical factors had a median of the prediction logrank statistics around 4.411. The identified pathways have sound biological bases. In addition, they are different from those identified using existing approaches. They may provide further insights into the biological mechanisms underlying the prognosis of NHL

Detection of Pine Nut Allergen in Three Kinds of Food by Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established for the detection of pine nut allergen Pin k 2 in food matrices. Pine nuts were ground, degreased, and enzymatically extracted and the hydrolysate was separated and analyzed by using an Easy-nLC 1000-QExecutive high-resolution mass spectrometer, and the mass spectral data obtained were processed using Protein Pilot TM software and the Uniprot protein database. The specificity was verified by Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST), and three pine nut-specific peptides were selected finally. The developed method exhibited a good linear relationship in the concentration range of 0.001–50 mg/mL, and the limit of quantification was 1 mg/kg. The average recoveries for blank biscuit, chocolate and beverage were 88.50%–107.57%, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) not exceeding 6.08%, and the matrix effect was 89.77%–96.13%. This method has the advantages of high sensitivity and good specificity, and can be applied to the detection of pine nut allergens in food samples such as biscuits, chocolate, and beverages, which provides technical support for the authentication of food labels and the detection of latent allergens in foods

Exploring the mechanisms under Zuogui Pill’s treatment of ischemic stroke through network pharmacology and in vitro experimental verification

Due to its high mortality, incidence and disability rates, ischemic stroke poses heavy economic burdens to families and society. Zuogui Pill (ZGP) is a classic Chinese medicine for tonifying the kidney, which is effective for the recovery of neurological function after ischemic stroke. However, Zuogui Pill has not been evaluated for its potential effects on ischemic strokes. Using network pharmacology, the research aimed to explore the mechanisms of Zuogui Pill on ischemic stroke, which were further validated in SH-SY5Y cells injured by oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R). Network analysis of Zuogui Pill identified 86 active ingredients and 107 compound-related targets correlated with ischemic stroke. Additionally, 11 core active compounds were obtained, such as Quercetin, beta sitosterol, and stigmasterol. Most of the compounds have been proven to have pharmacological activities. Based on pathway enrichment studies, Zuogui Pill may exert neuroprotection through MAPK signaling, PI3K-Akt signaling and apoptosis, as well as enhance neurite outgrowth and axonal regeneration effect via mTOR signaling, p53 signaling and Wnt signaling pathways. In vitro experiment, the viability of ischemic neuron treated with Zuogui Pill was increased, and the ability of neurite outgrowth was significantly improved. Western blot assays shown that the pro-neurite outgrowth effect of Zuogui Pill on ischemic stroke may be relate to PTEN/mTOR signal pathway. The results of the study provided new insights into Zuogui Pill’s molecular mechanism in treatment of ischemic stroke, as well as clinical references for its use