An Improved Hybrid Field Model for Calculating On-Load Performance of Interior Permanent-Magnet Motors

In this article, we developed an improved hybrid field model (IHFM) to predict the on-load performance of the interior permanent-magnet (IPM) motors considering both iron saturation and slotting effect. It combines the airgap analytical model based on the modified conformal mapping with the reluctance mesh method for stator and rotor. The reluctance mesh method can accurately predict the rotor saturation and tooth-tip saturation even their field distribution is complicated due to the armature reaction. Besides, IHFM will significantly accelerate computation speed using the analytical model for airgap region while keeping high accuracy. The finite-element analysis and experimental results of the flat-type and V-type IPM motors are demonstrated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model

Auto MC-Reward: Automated Dense Reward Design with Large Language Models for Minecraft

Many reinforcement learning environments (e.g., Minecraft) provide only sparse rewards that indicate task completion or failure with binary values. The challenge in exploration efficiency in such environments makes it difficult for reinforcement-learning-based agents to learn complex tasks. To address this, this paper introduces an advanced learning system, named Auto MC-Reward, that leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) to automatically design dense reward functions, thereby enhancing the learning efficiency. Auto MC-Reward consists of three important components: Reward Designer, Reward Critic, and Trajectory Analyzer. Given the environment information and task descriptions, the Reward Designer first design the reward function by coding an executable Python function with predefined observation inputs. Then, our Reward Critic will be responsible for verifying the code, checking whether the code is self-consistent and free of syntax and semantic errors. Further, the Trajectory Analyzer summarizes possible failure causes and provides refinement suggestions according to collected trajectories. In the next round, Reward Designer will further refine and iterate the dense reward function based on feedback. Experiments demonstrate a significant improvement in the success rate and learning efficiency of our agents in complex tasks in Minecraft, such as obtaining diamond with the efficient ability to avoid lava, and efficiently explore trees and animals that are sparse in the plains biome.Comment: Accepted by CVPR202

Asian dust input in the western Philippine Sea: Evidence from radiogenic Sr and Nd isotopes

The radiogenic strontium (Sr) and neodymium (Nd) isotope compositions of the detrital fraction of surface and subsurface sediments have been determined to trace sediment provenance and contributions from Asian dust off the east coast of Luzon Islands in the western Philippine Sea. The Sr and Nd isotope compositions have been very homogenous near the east coast of the Luzon Islands during the latest Quaternary yielding relatively least radiogenic Sr (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70453 to 0.70491) and more radiogenic Nd isotope compositions (εNd(0) = +5.3 to +5.5). These isotope compositions are similar to Luzon rocks and show that these sediments were mainly derived from the Luzon Islands. In contrast, the Sr and Nd isotope compositions of sediments on the Benham Rise and in the Philippine Basin are markedly different in that they are characterized by overall more variable and more radiogenic Sr isotope compositions (87Sr/86Sr = 0.70452 to 0.70723) and less radiogenic Nd isotope compositions (εNd(0) = −5.3 to +2.4). The Sr isotope composition in the Huatung Basin is intermediate between those of the east coast of Luzon and Benham Rise, but shows the least radiogenic Nd isotope compositions. The data are consistent with a two end-member mixing relationship between Luzon volcanic rocks and eolian dust from the Asian continent, which is characterized by highly radiogenic Sr and unradiogenic Nd isotope compositions. The results show that Asian continental dust contributes about 10–50% of the detrital fraction of the sediments on Benham Rise in the western Philippine Sea, which offers the potentials to reconstruct the climatic evolution of eastern Asia from these sediments and compare this information to the records from the central and northern Pacific

Effect of retrograde intrarenal surgery on the inflammatory reaction, renal function indicators and clinical efficacy in male patients with kidney stones

To investigate the effect of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) and percutaneous nephrolithotripsy on the inflammatory reaction, renal function indicators and clinical efficacy in male patients with kidney stones. 122 male patients with kidney stones were separated into the study group (n = 61) and the control group (n = 61) in terms of distinct clinical treatment regimens. The study group was treated with retrograde intrarenal surgery, while the control group was treated with percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. Inflammatory reaction indicators (Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)), renal function indicators (blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), blood uric acid (BUA), serum β2 microglobulin (BMG)) and other clinical indicators (operative time, hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss, Visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, complications) were observed and compared. Upon the treatment, significantly lowered inflammatory factors including IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and renal function indicators including BUN, Scr, BUA, BMG were shown in study group. Notably shortened operative time and hospital stay were presented in study group with lowered intraoperative blood loss and pain score. The total incidence of complications in study group was 3.28%, significantly lower than 14.75% in control group. Compared with percutaneous nephrolithotripsy, retrograde intrarenal surgery for the treatment of male kidney stones with a diameter of less than 3 cm can improve the inflammatory reaction of male patients, maximize the preservation of renal function indicators, and eminently promote the clinical comprehensive efficacy

Association between triglyceride glucose-body mass index and heart failure in subjects with diabetes mellitus or prediabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) is a surrogate indicator of insulin resistance. However, the association of TyG-BMI with heart failure (HF) in individuals with diabetes mellitus or prediabetes mellitus is unknown.MethodsThis study included 7,472 participants aged 20–80 years old with prediabetes or diabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2018). The TyG-BMI was calculated as Ln [triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)/2] × BMI, and individuals were categorized into tertiles based on TyG-BMI levels. The relationship of TyG-BMI with HF was analyzed using multiple logistic regression models. Subgroup analyses were stratified by gender, age, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus status.ResultsThis cross-sectional study had 7,472 participants (weighted n = 111,808,357), including 329 HF participants. Participants with a high TyG-BMI were prone to HF. The highest tertile group with a fully adjusted model was more likely to have HF compared to the lowest tertile group (odds ratio [OR], 2.645; 95% CI, 1.529–4.576). Restricted cubic spline analysis showed a significant dose-response relationship between TyG-BMI and HF (P < 0.001). In subgroup analyses, similar results were seen in terms of age (≥50 years old), gender, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus status.ConclusionA high TyG-BMI is significantly associated with HF risk in participants with diabetes mellitus or prediabetes mellitus

Study on Electrolytic Reduction of Uranium Dioxide in Molten Lithium Chloride Molten Salt

The electrolytic reduction of uranium oxide is recognized as playing a pivotal role in the current mixed oxide fuel (MOX) spent fuel pyroprocessing. This technology is crucial for the entire reprocessing process, as it directly influences the efficiency and effectiveness of the process. In this paper, the reduction potential of uranium dioxide in lithium chloride molten salt was investigated with rigorous methods such as thermodynamic calculations and cyclic voltammetry. During the experimental study, an electrochemical setup was designed. A metal basket loaded with a ten-gram uranium dioxide pellet was utilized as the working electrode, while another metal basket loaded with lithium metal as the counter electrode, and nickel-nickel oxide as the reference electrode. By meticulously controlling either the potential or the current, the intricate effects of various parameters on the electrolytic reduction of uranium dioxide were systematically investigated. These parameters include molten salt impurities, reduction potential, charge ratio, cathode-anode distance, and cathode-anode area ratio. Following preliminary determinations of the optimal process parameters through extensive experimentation, uranium dioxide reduction experiments involving a substantial amount of material, up to 100 g, were conducted. The cathode products and molten salts obtained from these experiments underwent rigorous analysis using advanced techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction, acid-base titration, and metal ion analysis. The experimental results reveal that the reduction products are predominantly composed of uranium metal and uranium carbide, with the characteristic peak area of uranium dioxide accounting for only 6.9%, indicating a high degree of reduction is achieved. Furthermore, the analysis results of the reduced particles show that they contain approximately 11.4% lithium chloride, 5.83% lithium oxide, and 0.11% lithium metal. This work not only validates the feasibility of uranium dioxide reduction but also sheds light on the key influencing factors of the reduction process. The findings obtained provide foundation for subsequent large-scale reduction experiments in the field of MOX spent fuel pyroprocessing

Characterization of cancer-related fibroblasts in bladder cancer and construction of CAFs-based bladder cancer classification: insights from single-cell and multi-omics analysis

BackgroundBladder cancer (BLCA) continues to be a significant cause of cancer mortality in the urinary tract, with therapeutic resistance representing a major barrier to improving patient outcomes. Within the tumor microenvironment (TME), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are pivotal drivers of BLCA progression, contributing to immune evasion and therapy resistance. This study leverages single-cell analysis to delineate CAF subclusters and explore the immune characteristics of CAFs-based BLCA classification.Materials and methodsSignal-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets were used to identify CAF subpopulations in BLCA, and bulk RNA-seq datasets were used to construct CAFs-based BLCA classification. Next, we comprehensively explored the distinct heterogeneity and characteristics for four CAFs-based BLCA subtypes. Moreover, machine learning algorithms were applied to identify novel potential targets for each subtype, and experimentally validate their effects.ResultsThis study identified CAFs closely associated with BLCA development based on scRNA-seq datasets. Through further systematic clustering and functional analysis of CAFs, we successfully identified 10 distinct CAF sub-clusters, including PSCA+ Pericyte, ISG15+ Pericyte, ACTA2+ Smooth muscle cell (SMC), ACTG2+ SMC, CCL21+ inflammatory Pericyte, CD74+ apCAF, STMN1+ pCAF, CXCL14+ mCAF, APOD+ iCAF, CFD+ iCAF. The study identified four pCAFs-based BLCA distinct subtypes with different molecular, functional, and immunologic characteristics. C3 exhibited an immune-rich subtype accompanied by poor clinical prognosis, cell death pathway enrichment, higher expression of MHC molecules and co-stimulatory/co-inhibitory molecules. Conversely, C4 subtype has a smaller number of patients and an optimal prognosis, associated with lower levels of cell death pathway enrichment, lower frequency of tumor mutations, and an “immune desert” TME. C1 is mainly enriched in metabolism-related pathways, and C2 is mainly enriched in the activation of genome instability pathways, accompanied by more frequent mutations and higher Atezolizumab response. Furthermore, this study identified potential target genes or prognostic markers for each subtype.ConclusionVarious heterogeneous CAF subgroups exist in BLCA, which is closely associated with the development of BLCA. This study identified a promising platform for understanding heterogeneity of CAFs-based BLCA subtypes, providing novel insights into the intricate molecular mechanisms of BLCA. Potential target genes for each subtype provide a basis for diagnosis and screening of BLCA patients

CAR-T therapy for endocrine neoplasms: novel targets and combination of therapies

Endocrine malignancies constitute a heterogeneous tumour group with diverse biological characteristics. While typically indolent, they encompass aggressive types and presence of any metastatic sign indicates a high probability of recurrence and a diminished response to conventional therapies. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell immunotherapy has constituted a revolutionary advance in cancer treatment and exhibited significant potential for application in endocrine cancer. However, limited effectiveness was displayed in clinical application, which necessitates the exploration of novel modalities. Identification of specific and safe targets for endocrine cancer is the initial stage towards establishing a successful CAR-T treatment. Various therapies under investigation offer potential enhancements to CAR T cell efficacy through diverse mechanisms. Herein, we summarize recent advances in identifying targets of endocrine cancer for CAR therapy and provide an overview of combinatorial approaches

雷公藤红素通过靶向核受体Nur77促进损伤线粒体自噬而抑制炎症反应

文章简介线粒体在细胞死亡、自噬、免疫和炎症中起着不可或缺的作用。前期研究发现,孤儿核受体Nur77通过靶向线粒体诱导细胞凋亡。本文报道了Nur77作为具有抗炎作用的雷公藤红素的直接靶点,介导雷公藤红素通过自噬清除损伤线粒体,抑制炎症反应而达到治疗炎症疾病包括肥胖症的功能。研究人员发现,雷公藤红素的结合

Efficient generation of human primordial germ cell-like cells from pluripotent stem cells in a methylcellulose-based 3D system at large scale

Background The mechanisms underlying human germ cell development and infertility remain largely unknown due to bioethical issues and the shortage of experimental materials. Therefore, an effective in vitro induction system of human primordial germ-like cells (hPGCLCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) is in high demand. The current strategies used for the generation of hPGCLCs are not only costly but also difficult to perform at a large scale, thereby posing barriers to further research. In this study, we attempted to solve these problems by providing a new 3D culture system for hPGCLC differentiation. Methods The efficiency and relative yield of a methylcellulose (MC)-based 3D hPGCLC induction system were first compared with that of a conventional U96 system. Then, we examined the gene expression of germ cell marker genes and the key epigenetic modifications of the EpCAM-/INTEGRINα6-high cells from the 3D MC induction system and the U96 system via quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence. Finally, the reliability of the MC-based 3D hPGCLC induction system was evaluated via the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from the testicular cells of one patient with obstructive azoospermia (OA) and followed by the subsequent differentiation of iPSCs into the germ cell lineage. Results In the present study, we demonstrated that the 3D MC induction system combined with low-cell attachment plates facilitated the generation of hPGCLCs at a large scale. We found that the hPGCLCs generated via the MC system shared similar characteristics to that via the U96 system in terms of the gene expression profiles, germ cell-specific markers, epigenetic modification states and cellular states. In addition, hPGCLCs from iPSCs derived from one OA patient were generated with high efficiency via the present 3D MC induction system. Discussion The in vitro induction of hPGCLCs from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)/human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) has significant implications in exploring the underlying mechanisms of the origin and specification of hPGCs and the epigenetic programming of the human germ line as well as treating male infertility. Here, we developed a simple and efficient 3D induction system to generate hPGCLCs from hESCs/hiPSCs at a large scale, which facilitated the study of human germ cell development and stem cell-based reproductive medicine