In order to solve the problem of measuring the distance and position between the flanges of two pipelines on the seabed, a measuring device for pulling rope in seawater was designed. Aiming at the sealing problem of the key equipment that is the rotating shaft of the rope winch, this paper used the principle of the magnetic coupling to transfer the driving moment, and adopted the method of converting the dynamic seal into the static seal structure to realize the reliable sealing of the motor. Through the experiment of measuring two pipelines with underwater rope pulling device, it was verified that the measuring accuracy of the device meets the design requirements, and the feasibility of the application of magnetic coupling technology in winch is also verified.

In order to further clarify the growth-promoting effect of non-core Metarhizium spp. M. marquandii on plants, M. marquandii SGSF043, which was obtained from the pre-screening in the laboratory, was selected as a test strain, and the effects of the fungus fermentation broth during the stabilization period of the growth of this strain on the growth and growth of maize seeds were investigated by using fermentation broth as a submerged seed. germination, seedling growth, and inter-root soil enzyme activity of seedlings. The results are as follows: In the seed germination test, M. marquandii SGSF043 fermentation liquid had a certain inhibitory effect on the germination of maize seeds, and the 10-times dilution of the fermentation liquid significantly promoted the seed germination, and the effect was the best; After the germination test, the growth of maize germ was promoted by the treatment groups of 10 times and 1,000 times diluent; In the field plot experiment, the 100-fold dilution had the best growth promotion effect, which could promote the growth of cabbage seedlings and increase the seedling biomass. The results show that M. marquandii SGSF043 has the potential to promote the growth of maize and improve the soil environment, which provides a theoretical basis for the research and application of M. marquandii in farmland.

This paper investigates a distributed, coordinated motion control network based on multiple direct-drive, linear switched reluctance machines (LSRMs). A hierarchical, two-level synchronization control strategy is proposed for the four LSRMs based motion control network. The high-level, reference signals agreement algorithm is first employed to correct the asynchronous behaviors of the position commands. Then, the low-level tracking synchronization method is applied for the collaborative position control of the four LSRMs. The proposed two-level, fault-tolerant control strategy eliminates the asynchrony of the reference signals and it also guarantees the coordinated tracking control performance of the four LSRMs. Experimental results demonstrate that effective coordinated tracking control can be ensured, based on successful agreement of reference signals and an absolute tracking error falling within 2 mm can be achieved.

Background: Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) comprise antioxidant factors that are widely found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Abnormal expression of Prxs is closely related to tumorigenesis. Methods: This study examined the prognostic value and expression of Prxs in lung cancer by Human Protein Atlas (HPA), Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), UALCAN, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, cBioPortal and Functional Enrichment Analysis Tool (FunRich) databases. Results: We found that Prx1/2/3/4/5 were overexpressed in both lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) relative to normal lung cells. However, the expression level of Prx6 was lower in LUAD and higher in LUSC than normal lung cells. The level of Prx3 and Prx6 were associated with pathological stage. Prognostic analysis showed that elevated Prx1 and Prx2 expression were correlated with low Overall Survival (OS), whereas high Prx5 and Prx6 expression level predicted high OS. Conclusions: Our results effectively revealed the level of Prxs in lung cancer and its influence on the prognosis of lung carcinoma, contributing to the study of the role of Prxs in tumorigenesis.

This paper discusses about control of the linear switched reluctance machines (LSRMs) network for the zero phase-difference tracking to a sinusoidal reference. The dynamics of each LSRM is derived by online system identification and modeled as a second-order linear system. Accordingly, based on the coupled harmonic oscillators synchronization manner, a distributed control is proposed to synchronize each LSRM state to a virtual LSRM node representing the external sinusoidal reference for tracking it with zero phase-difference. Subsequently, a simulation scenario and an experimental platform with the identical parameter setup are designed to investigate the tracking performance of the LSRMs network constructed by the proposed distributed control. Finally, the simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed LSRMs network controller, and also prove that the coupled harmonic oscillators synchronization method can improve the synchronization tracking performance and precision.

Neonicotinoids (NEOs) have become the most widely used insecticides in the world since the mid-1990s. According to Chinese dietary habits, rice and water are usually heated before being consumed, but the information about the alteration through the heat treatment process is very limited. In this study, the parents of NEOs (p-NEOs) accounted for >99% of the total NEOs mass (∑NEOs) in both uncooked (median: 66.8 ng/g) and cooked (median: 41.4 ng/g) rice samples from Guangdong Province, China, while the metabolites of NEOs (m-NEOs) involved in this study accounted for less than 1%. We aimed to reveal the concentration changes of NEOs through heat treatment process, thus, several groups of rice and water samples from Guangdong were cooked and boiled, respectively. Significant (p < 0.05) reductions in acetamiprid, imidacloprid (IMI), thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam (THM) have been observed after the heat treatment of the rice samples. In water samples, the concentrations of THM and dinotefuran decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after the heat treatment. These results indicate the degradation of p-NEOs and m-NEOs during the heat treatment process. However, the concentrations of IMI increased significantly in tap water samples (p < 0.05) after heat treatment process, which might be caused by the potential IMI precursors in those industrial pesticide products. The concentrations of NEOs in rice and water can be shifted by the heat treatment process, so this process should be considered in relevant human exposure studies.

Mycophenolate mofetil was reported to have broad in vitro activity against different viruses and had been tried in combination with IFN-β in treating MERS infection. We tested the pharmacological activity of mycophenolate mofetil using SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero cells. The half-maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) of mycophenolate mofetil against SARS-CoV-2 was 0.47 μM while that of remdesivir was 0.77 μM. Molecular docking results of mycophenolate mofetil to potential target proteins of COVID-19 suggested that mycophenolate mofetil might inhibit SARS-CoV-2 mainly by interacting with DHODH and IMPDH2. Furthermore, mycophenolate mofetil as an immunosuppressant may be a good therapeutic option for the management of hyperinflammation in patients with severe COVID-19. Based on its high potency against SARS-CoV-2 in Vero E6 cells, its good pharmacokinetics and clinical safety profile, mycophenolate mofetil deserves further exploration as potential treatment for COVID-19.

Primulina serrulata is a valuable ornamental herb with rosette leaves and vibrant flowers. Some leaves exhibit a bright and distinct white color along the upper veins, enhancing their ornamental value, while others are less white or entirely green. This variation is observed among adult leaves in natural habitats and among young leaves from seedlings grown in the laboratory. TMT-labeled proteomic technology was employed to study the protein-level biogenesis of white-veined (WV) leaves of P. serrulata. The chlorophyll (Chl) content was significantly lower in the WV group than in the control group. A total of 6,261 proteins were identified, revealing 69 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with 44 down-regulated and 25 up-regulated in WV plants. Some DEPs associated with chloroplasts and Chl biosynthesis were down-regulated, leading to the absence of green coloration. Concurrently, gene ontology enrichment analysis further underscored an insufficiency of magnesium , the key element in Chl biosynthesis. Many DEPs associated with abiotic or biotic stresses were down-regulated, suggesting an overall weakening of stress resistance with certain compensatory mechanisms in place. Similarly, many DEPs related to biomacromolecule modification were down-regulated, possibly influenced by the decrease in proteins involved in photosynthesis and stress resistance. Some DEPs containing iron were up-regulated, indicating that iron was mainly used to synthesize heme and ferritin instead of Chl. Additionally, several DEPs related to sulfur or sulfate were up-regulated, implying strengthened respiration. Expansin-A4 and pectinesterase displayed up-regulation, coinciding with the emergence of a rough and bright surface in the white area, indicative of the elongation and gelation processes in cell walls. These findings provide new insights that could be utilized by future studies to explore the mechanism of color formation in WV leaves.

Outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been recorded in different countries across the globe. The virus is highly contagious, hence early detection, isolation, and quarantine of infected patients will play an important role in containing the viral spread. Diagnosis in a mobile lab can aid to find infected patients in time. Here, we develop a field-deployable diagnostic workflow that can reliably detect COVID-19. Instruments used in this workflow could easily fit in a mobile cabin hospital and also be installed in the community. Different steps from sample inactivation to detection were optimized to find the fastest steps and portable instruments in detection of COVID-19. Each step was compared to that of the normal laboratory diagnosis set-up. From the results, our proposed workflow (80 min) was two times faster compared to that of the normal laboratory workflow (183 min) and a maximum of 32 samples could be detected at each run. Additionally, we showed that using 1% Rewocid WK-30 could inactivate the novel coronavirus directly without affecting the overall detection results. Comparison of our workflow using an in-house assay to that of a commercially acquired assay produced highly reliable results. From the 250 hospital samples tested, there was a high concordance 247/250 (98.8%) between the two assays. The in-house assay sensitivity and specificity were 116/116 (100%) and 131/134 (97.8%) compared to that of the commercial assay. Based on these results, we believe that our workflow is fast, reliable, adaptable and most importantly, field deployable.

The loose and porous structure and abundant pores of biochar provide conditions for being a suitable fertilizer carrier. Biochar loaded with beneficial microorganisms will greatly promote plant growth and soil improvement. In this work, an environmentally friendly Paenibacillus mucilaginosus loaded biochar-based fertilizer (B@PM) with high nutrient content, good slow-release effect and increased biological activity was prepared. The released mechanism of P-K-Ca from B@PM and the synergistic effect on the soil nutrients and plant growth were also analyzed. The experimental results showed that the release behavior of P, K and Ca from B@PM was diffusive and dissolved, which conforms to the Power function and Parabolic diffusion models, respectively. The potting experiment showed that the root length (30.77%), leaf width (71.67%), and plant height (81.08%) of Chinese cabbage were enhanced after the application of B@PM, and the organic matter, available phosphorus, available potassium, and total calcium in the soil were also substantially enhanced. In addition, the abundance of the Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes in the in the rhizosphere soil was increased, as well as the activities of catalase (82.84%) and alkaline phosphatase (39.64%). The results of RDA analyses showed that B@PM increased the content of the environmental factors, such as OM, URE, EC, TCa, AK, CAT, AP and ALP, thus improving soil quality and plant length.

Tungsten carbide (WC) was well known as a wear-resistant material. Iron-based pow-der was suitable for remanufacturing of cast iron engine parts. To improve the wear resistance of the remanufactured iron-based cast iron engine parts, WC-Co was intro-duced into iron-based powders to prepare composite coatings for cast iron engine components. In this work, FeAlC-x(WC-Co) composite coatings were prepared by plasma transfer arc on compacted graphite cast iron. The influences of WC-Co con-tents in the Fe-AlC-x(WC-Co) composite coatings on the microstructure and properties of the composite coatings were investigated. The composite coatings contained γ-Fe, α-Fe, WC and Fe3W3C mainly. The microhardness of FeAlC-x(WC-Co) composite coatings had the highest hardness of 814 HV0.2, the-lowest coefficient of 0.5 and the lest wear mass loss of 1.3mg when the weight content of WC-Co in the composite coating was 20wt%. As compared with the FeAlC coating, FeAlC-x(WC-Co) composite coating achieved the effect of reducing friction and wear resistance simultaneously, which resulted from the self-lubricating effect of graphite and high wear-resistance of carbides in the claddings.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new viral respiratory disease and whether pregnant women are at increased risk of infection is unknown. Viral pneumonia is an important indirect cause of maternal death. Little is known about the effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during pregnancy. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in pregnancy and their newborn infant, and we sought to explored whether the SARS-CoV-2 can be intrauterine vertically transmitted. Study Design: The study was a case series study conducted in the obstetric ward of Tongji Hospital affiliated to Huazhong University of science and technology, Wuhan, China. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and radiological profiles of the SARS-CoV-2 infection case series. A systematic testing procedure for SARS-CoV-2 infection using oropharyngeal swab, placenta tissue, vaginal mucus, and breast milk of mothers. and oropharyngeal swab, umbilical cord blood, and serum of newborns was conducted. Results: We have conducted the most thorough virological assessment to date, and we include a longer clinical observation in mother-infant dyads during hospitalization. The clinical course and outcomes of three pregnant women who acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection late pregnancy are described in mother-infant dyads. Two had caesarean delivery in their third trimester. All patients showed an uneventful perinatal course, and a successful outcome. No infants became infected by vertical transmission or during delivery. Conclusion: No evidence to suggest the potential risk of intrauterine vertical transmission in the case series and further in-depth study is needed. Both the pregnancy woman and infant showed fewer adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

CoCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy coatings were prepared on compacted graphite iron（CGI） through plasma cladding to strength the CGI substrate. The effects of heat treatment temperatures and times on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the CoCrFeNiMn coatings were investigated. After heat treatment, a single FCC phase was remained in the coating as compared to the deposited one, with smaller dendrites, larger dendritic spacing and more Cr-rich compounds precipitated between dendrites. The coatings’ microhardness was increased after heat treatment. After heat treated at 660°C for 90 minutes, the coating had the highest microhardness of 563±6.9 HV0.2, the lowest frictional coefficient of 0.71 and the smallest wear mass loss of 1.12 mg, and it had the best wear resistance.