Simulation and optimisation of magnetic and experimental study of magnetic field coupling constructed wetland.

This study developed a novel constructed wetland (CW) coupled with a magnetic field for treating domestic wastewater, and the magnetic field distribution was solved and optimised by the finite element method. Herein, we investigated the effects of optimising magnetic field optimisation and studied its impact on CW treatment performance and the responses of a microbial community. The optimisation results showed that the average magnetic field strength of the CW unit increases from 3 to 8 mT, and the proportion of areas with magnetic field strength greater than 5 mT also increases from 30% to 74%.

The Response of Rocky Desertification to the Development of Road Networks in Karst Ecologically Fragile Areas.

Frequent cross-regional communication makes road networks increasingly dense and has generated prominent human interference, thus resulting in the destruction of the landscape's integrity and leading to changes in the functional processes of the habitat. In order to discuss the impacts of intense human activity brought by the road networks on the rocky desertification landscape and habitat quality in karst ecologically fragile areas, taking the road networks as the humans activity intensity factor, a quantitative analysis was conducted to analyze the impacts of road networks on the spatial evolution of the rocky desertification landscape and changes in regional habitat quality characteristics under different development modes in the study area based on a landscape pattern gradient method, spatial analysis, and INVEST model. The results showed that: (1) in the study area, due to the destruction of landscape integrity caused by the development of the road networks over the past 17 years, the landscape pattern of rocky desertification tended to be fragmented and complex, first showing an inclination for rapid fragmentation and then gradual recovery later.

Residual Life Prediction of XLPE Distribution Cables Based on Time-Temperature Superposition Principle by Non-Destructive BIS Measuring on Site.

Crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) distribution cables are prone to segmented thermal aging after long-term operation owing to the large spatial spans and complex operating environments, and accurate residual life prediction of each aging cable segment could provide a theoretical basis and reference for performance monitoring, maintenance and the replacement of cables. Existing studies mainly focus on the residual life prediction methods for uniform aging cables, which are not suitable for segmented-aging cables. In this paper, a residual life prediction method for segmented-aging XLPE distribution cables based on the time-temperature superposition principle (TTSP) by non-destructive BIS measuring on site was proposed.

Ecological Quality Evolution and Its Driving Factors in Yunnan Karst Rocky Desertification Areas.

Rocky desertification is a key element affecting regional ecological quality. Rocky desertification in Southwest China directly affects the ecological security of the Yangtze River and Pearl River basins and also restricts regional economic and social development. In order to clarify the evolution laws and key influencing factors of ecological quality in Yunnan karst rocky desertification areas, a quantitative analysis based on the remote sensing-based ecological index (RSEI) model was conducted to explore the overall evolution characteristics and change laws of ecological quality in Yunnan karst rocky desertification areas in the past 30 years.

High-Voltage FDS of Thermally Aged XLPE Cable and Its Correlation with Physicochemical Properties.

This paper aims to investigate the influence of thermal aging on a crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) cable, and the relationships between the macroscopical high-voltage dielectric and the microscopical physicochemical properties are also elucidated. To better simulate thermal aging under working condition, the medium-voltage-level cable is subjected to accelerated inner thermal aging for different aging times. Then, high-voltage frequency domain spectroscopy (FDS) (cable sample) and analyses of microscopic physical and chemical properties (sampling from the cable), including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and elongation at the break (EAB), are conducted at different cable aging stages.

Airport noise disturbs foraging behavior of Japanese pipistrelle bats.

The expansion of anthropogenic noise poses an emerging threat to the survival and reproductive success of various organisms. Previous investigations have focused on the detrimental effects of anthropogenic noise on the foraging behavior in some terrestrial and aquatic animals. Nevertheless, the role of airport noise in impairing foraging activities of most wild animals has been neglected.

Function of miR-24 and miR-27 in Pediatric Patients With Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome.

We investigated the pathogenesis of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) by measuring the effects two specific miRNAs on Th2 cells in children with this disease. After informed consent, we enrolled 20 children with active INS before steroid initiation, 20 children with INS in remission after steroid therapy, and 20 age-matched healthy controls. Flow cytometry was used to measure the levels of Th2 cells and a cytometric bead array was used to measure the levels of IgE, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-13.

Up-regulation of miR-27a promotes monocyte-mediated inflammatory responses in Kawasaki disease by inhibiting function of B10 cells.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis and activation of monocytes plays a central role in the pathogenesis of it. B10 cells, a B cell subset with negative regulatory properties, are functionally identified by their ability to express cytoplasmic IL-10 after ex vivo stimulation. Here, we aimed to explore the functional role of B10 cells during monocyte-mediated inflammatory responses in KD, as well as elucidate the underlying microRNA (miRNA)-mediated regulatory mechanisms.

Research on Creeping Flashover Characteristics of Nanofluid-Impregnated Pressboard Modified Based on Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles under Lightning Impulse Voltages.

Creeping flashover of mineral-oil-impregnated pressboard under impulse stress is a common insulating failure in oil-immersed transformers, arousing increasing attention. Recent studies have shown that the breakdown strength of transformer oil under positive lightning impulse voltage can be significantly improved through nanoparticles-based modification, and Fe₃O₄ has shown the best improvement in breakdown strength compared to other nanoparticles that have been used. This paper presents the creeping flashover characteristics of pure oil-impregnated pressboard (OIP) and nanofluid-impregnated pressboard (NIP) based on Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles under positive and negative lightning impulse voltages, respectively.

Polarization and Trap Characteristics Modification of Oil-Impregnated Paper Insulation by TiO₂ Nanoparticles.

Polarization and traps determine the electrical property of oil-paper insulation, but most attention has been paid to the modification of insulating oil with nanoparticles, so there are is little research about oil-impregnated paper, and the origin for performance variation is not understood yet. In this paper, spherical nanoscale titanium dioxide was prepared by the hydrolysis method and nanofluid-impregnated paper (NP) was fabricated through oil-impregnation. The frequency domain spectrum was measured for polarization analysis, and both thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) and isothermal surface potential decay (ISPD) methods were used to reveal trap parameters.

Targeted next-generation sequencing for genetic diagnosis of 160 patients with primary immunodeficiency in south China.

Background: Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) is a group of heterogeneous diseases mainly characterized by severe and recurrent infections and an increased susceptibility to lymphoproliferative, atopic, and autoimmune conditions. The clinical diagnosis should preferably be complemented by a genetic diagnosis. To date, PID-related reports from China seldom attempt to make a genetic test for their patients.

Identification of a novel de novo gain-of-function mutation of PIK3CD in a patient with activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ syndrome.

Activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ) syndrome is a newly defined and relatively common primary immunodeficiency, which is caused by heterozygous gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in PIK3CD or PIK3R1. Here, we report a novel de novo GOF mutation (c.1570 T > A, p.

Effect of Nanoparticle Morphology on Pre-Breakdown and Breakdown Properties of Insulating Oil-Based Nanofluids.

Nanoparticles currently in use are challenged in further improving the dielectric strength of insulating oil. There is a great need for a new type of nanoparticle to promote the application of insulating oil-based nanofluids in electric industries. This paper experimentally investigates the effect of nanoparticle morphology on pre-breakdown and breakdown properties of insulating oil-based nanofluids.

[Clinical features and mutational analysis of a case with Sensenbrenner syndrome].

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of a patient with Sensenbrenner syndrome (also called cranioectodermal dysplasia type 3) caused by mutation of intraflagellar transport (IFT) 43 gene.

Methods: The clinical data of the patient was retrospectively analyzed. The target genes was the patient were captured and subjected to next generation sequencing.

A Fiber Bragg Grating-Based Dynamic Tension Detection System for Overhead Transmission Line Galloping.

Galloping of overhead transmission lines (OHTLs) may induce conductor breakage and tower collapse, and there is no effective method for long distance distribution on-line galloping monitoring. To overcome the drawbacks of the conventional galloping monitoring systems, such as sensitivity to electromagnetic interference, the need for onsite power, and short lifetimes, a novel optical remote passive measuring system is proposed in the paper. Firstly, to solve the hysteresis and eccentric load problem in tension sensing, and to extent the dynamic response range, an 'S' type elastic element structure with flanges was proposed.

Tracing Acetylene Dissolved in Transformer Oil by Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectrum.

Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) is widely used in monitoring and diagnosing of power transformer, since the insulation material in the power transformer decomposes gases under abnormal operation condition. Among the gases, acetylene, as a symbol of low energy spark discharge and high energy electrical faults (arc discharge) of power transformer, is an important monitoring parameter. The current gas detection method used by the online DGA equipment suffers from problems such as cross sensitivity, electromagnetic compatibility and reliability.

A new diterpenoid from the leaves of Platycladus orientalis.

A new diterpenoid, 17-methyl-8, 13-labdadien-15, 16-olid-19-oic acid methyl ester (1), along with two known compounds 2 and 3, were isolated from the leaves of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco. The structures were confirmed based on the analysis of HR-MS, 1D-NMR, and 2D-NMR spectra and the configuration of 1 was confirmed by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

[Application of lung ultrasound examination in severe high altitude pulmonary edema].

Objective: To investigate the application value of lung ultrasonic on severe high altitude pulmonary edema.

Methods: A prospective, single-blind, case-control study was conducted. Sixty patients with severe high altitude pulmonary edema admitted to Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital from February 2015 to May 2017 were enrolled.

Expression of FcRs on monocytes among Kawasaki disease patients with coronary artery lesions.

Objective: To study expression of Fc gamma receptors (FcRs) on monocytes in Kawasaki disease (KD) patients with coronary artery lesions (CAL).

Methods: 160 newly diagnosed KD patients and 80 health children were enrolled in this study. All patients were scheduled to receive both aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

Effect of Dispersion Method on Stability and Dielectric Strength of Transformer Oil-Based TiO Nanofluids.

Dispersion stability of nanoparticles in the liquid media is of great importance to the utilization in practice. This study aims to investigate the effects of mechanical dispersion method on the dispersibility of functionalized TiO nanoparticles in the transformer oil. Dispersion methods, including stirring, ultrasonic bath, and probe processes, were systematically tested to verify their versatility for preparing stable nanofluid.

Research on High Sensitive D-Shaped FBG Hydrogen Sensors in Power Transformer Oil.

Dissolved hydrogen is a symbol gas decomposed by power transformer oil for electrical faults such as overheat or partial discharges. A novel D-shaped fiber Bragg grating (D-FBG) sensor is herein proposed and was fabricated with magnetron sputtering to measure the dissolved hydrogen concentration in power transformer oil in this paper. Different from the RI (refractive index)-based effect, D-FBG in this case is sensitive to curvature caused by stress from sensing coating, leading to Bragg wavelength shifts accordingly.

Calculating osmotic pressure of glucose solutions according to ASOG model and measuring it with air humidity osmometry.

The osmotic pressure of glucose solution at a wide concentration range was calculated using ASOG model and experimentally determined by our newly reported air humidity osmometry. The measurements from air humidity osmometry were compared with the well-established freezing point osmometry and ASOG model calculations at low concentrations and with only ASOG model calculations at high concentrations where no standard experimental method could serve as a reference for comparison. Results indicate that air humidity osmometry measurements are comparable to ASOG model calculations at a wide concentration range, while at low concentrations freezing point osmometry measurements provide better comparability with ASOG model calculations.

Differences in frequency and regulation of T follicular helper cells between newly diagnosed and chronic pediatric immune thrombocytopenia.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the role of T follicular helper (TFH) cells in the immunopathogenesis of pediatric immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), as well as differences in TFH expansion and its regulation between newly diagnosed ITP (nITP) and chronic pediatric ITP (cITP).

Methods: Eighty-five children with ITP and 20 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled into this study. TFH cell frequencies and TFH cell-associated regulatory factors before and after treatment were analyzed by flow cytometry, RT-PCR and ELISA.