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This paper is concerned with the estimation of correlated noise and packet dropout for information fusion in distributed sensing networks. By studying the problem of the correlation of correlated noise in sensor network information fusion, a matrix weight fusion method with a feedback structure is proposed to deal with the interrelationship between multi-sensor measurement noise and estimation noise, and the method can achieve optimal estimation in the sense of linear minimum variance. Based on this, a method is proposed using a predictor with a feedback structure to compensate for the current state quantity to deal with packet dropout that occurs during multi-sensor information fusion, which can reduce the covariance of the fusion results. Simulation results show that the algorithm can solve the problem of information fusion noise correlation and packet dropout in sensor networks, and effectively reduce the fusion covariance with feedback.

In this paper, an optimal-damage-effectiveness cooperative-control strategy based on a damage-efficiency model and a virtual-force method is proposed to solve the pursuit–evasion problem with multiple guided missiles. Firstly, different from the overly ideal assumption in the traditional pursuit–evasion problem, an optimization problem that maximizes the damage efficiency is established and solved, making the optimal-damage-effectiveness strategy more meaningful for practical applications. Secondly, a modified virtual-force method is proposed to obtain this optimal-damage-effectiveness control strategy, which solves the numerical solution challenges brought by the high-complexity damage function. Thirdly, adaptive gain is designed in this strategy based on guidance-integrated fuze technology to achieve robust maximum damage efficiency in unpredictable interception conditions. Finally, the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed strategy are verified by numerical simulations.

Compared with single stem ginseng (G1), there is a significant gap in the research on the morphology and quality formation of multi stem ginseng (MG). This study measured the ginsenoside content in the roots, stems, and leaves of 3-year-old single stem ginseng, double stem ginseng (G2), and triple stem ginseng (G3), as well as the endogenous hormone content in the rhizomes. At the same time, the physicochemical properties and enzyme activity of the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil were measured, and the differences and connections between each indicator were analyzed. ResultsThe content of ginsenosides in the roots of MG was significantly higher than that in G1, with the total ginsenoside content in G2 and G3 being 1.30 and 1.24 times higher than that in G1. There was a significant difference in the content of salicylic acid and brassinolide between G1 and MG. Differential analysis showed that aluminum bound phosphorus, aggregates with a particle size of 2-3 mm, and praseodymium were characteristic abiotic factors that contributed to differences in soil properties, fluorescein diacetate, peroxidase and invertase were characteristic enzymes that differed in different soils. A regulatory network of \"soil abiotic factor-ginsenosides-soil enzymes\" was constructed based on the results of correlation analysis. ConclusionsThe interaction between soil enzymes (fluorescein diacetate, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase) and abiotic factors (praseodymium, neodymium, yttrium) were the main influencing factors of ginsenoside accumulation in MG. The results had improved our understanding and helped to better guide the planting of MG.

An increasing number of clinical and animal model studies indicate that activation of the innate immune system and inflammatory mechanisms are important in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2 (NOD2), a member of the NOD-like receptor family, plays an important role in innate immune response. Here we explore the contribution of NOD2 to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy and found that it was upregulated in kidney biopsies from diabetic patients and high-fat diet/streptozotocin–induced diabetic mice. Further, NOD2 deficiency ameliorated renal injury in diabetic mice. In vitro, NOD2 induced proinflammatory response and impaired insulin signaling and insulin-induced glucose uptake in podocytes. Moreover, podocytes treated with high glucose, advanced glycation end-products, tumor necrosis factor-α, or transforming growth factor-β (common detrimental factors in diabetic nephropathy) significantly increased NOD2 expression. NOD2 knockout diabetic mice were protected from the hyperglycemia-induced reduction in nephrin expression. Further, knockdown of NOD2 expression attenuated high glucose–induced nephrin downregulation in vitro, supporting an essential role of NOD2 in mediating hyperglycemia-induced podocyte dysfunction. Thus, NOD2 is one of the critical components of a signal transduction pathway that links renal injury to inflammation and podocyte insulin resistance in diabetic nephropathy.

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) connectors offer advantages such as high strength, energy efficiency, and durability. With increasing demands for energy conservation in buildings, the need for thicker external wall insulation layers and longer connectors has led to higher requirements for the forces that FRP connectors must withstand. This study develops a set of loading test equipment for local concrete composite wall panels with FRP connectors, capable of applying tensile, shear, and combined tensile-shear forces at different ratios. Additionally, an experimental method based on this equipment is proposed. By conducting loading tests on local composite wall panels with a single cross-sectional FRP connector under varying ratios of tensile, shear, and combined tensile-shear forces, the failure curve of FRP connectors under combined forces is studied. The results indicate that when the tension T shear V ratio exceeds or falls below the ratio of pure tensile strength to pure shear strength, the failure modes tend to be pull-out failure or shear failure, respectively. The failure patterns of FRP connectors under combined forces are summarized, and a calculation method for the bearing capacity of FRP connectors based on experimental results is proposed.

The Weng'an Biota, found in the Doushantuo Formation in Guizhou Province, South China, is a remarkable fossil assemblage known for its well-preserved ancient life forms. These include small organisms called acritarchs, algae, and even embryo-like fossils. Among these, acritarchs, shaped like spiny spheres, have been essential for understanding the age and relationships of rocks from the Ediacaran Period. Previous studies mainly focused on larger spiny acritarchs, overlooking the smaller ones. In our study, we carefully examined over 500 thin sections and discovered a wealth of well-preserved small and medium-sized acritarchs. These tiny fossils, with diameters ranging 20–150 µm, help us understand the ancient ecosystems and how life evolved during this critical time in Earth's history. We identified several different species of small spiny acritarchs, e.g., Tanarium conoideum, Tanarium elegans, Mengeosphaera membranifera, Mengeosphaera minima, and Variomargosphaeridium gracile. Additionally, we found medium-sized acritarchs, e.g., Tanarium tuberosum and Weissiella cf. W. grandistella. These new findings provide important clues for correlating the rocks of the Doushantuo Formation in the Weng'an area with those in the Yangtze Gorges region. They also help us understand the evolution of acritarchs in different parts of the world, including Australia, Siberia, and the East European Platform. The Weng'an Biota from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation in Guizhou Province, southwestern China, is known for its three-dimensionally phosphatized acritarchs, multicellular algae, and embryo-like animal fossils. Among these diverse microfossils, acanthomorphic acritarchs have played a significant role in the biostratigraphic subdivision and correlation of the lower-middle Ediacaran System. However, most previous studies on the biostratigraphy of the Doushantuo Formation in the Weng'an area have focused on large acanthomorphic acritarchs (LAAs, vesicle diameter >200 µm), whereas the smaller acanthomorphic acritarchs (SAAs, vesicle diameter <100 µm) from the Weng'an Biota have been largely overlooked. In this study, we examined >500 thin sections and discovered a large number of well-preserved, small (<100 µm) and medium-sized acanthomorphic acritarchs (MAAs, vesicle diameter ranging 100–200 µm). In total, we have identified SAAs in four genera and six species (Tanarium conoideumKolosova, 1991, emend. Moczydłowska et al., 1993; Tanarium elegansLiu et al., 2014; Mengeosphaera membraniferaShang, Liu, and Moczydłowska, 2019; Mengeosphaera minimaLiu et al., 2014; Estrella rectaLiu and Moczydłowska, 2019; Variomargosphaeridium gracileXiao et al., 2014), as well as two types of MAAs (Tanarium tuberosumMoczydłowska, Vidal, and Rudavskaya, 1993, emend. Moczydłowska, 2015;Weissiella cf. W. grandistellaVorob'eva, Sergeev, and Knoll, 2009, emend. Liu and Moczydłowska, 2019). This updated acritarch assemblage of the Weng'an Biota is valuable for correlating the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation between the Weng'an and Yangtze Gorges areas. It also serves as a tool to test the proposed acritarch biozones in Ediacaran formations of South China and other localities, including Australia, Siberia, and the East European Platform.

The importance of the role of iron regulatory proteins (IRPs) in mitochondrial iron homeostasis and function has been raised. To understand how an IRP affects mitochondrial function, we used globally Irp2-depleted mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and found that Irp2 ablation significantly induced the expression of both hypoxia-inducible factor subunits, Hif1α and Hif2α. The increase of Hif1α up-regulated its targeted genes, enhancing glycolysis, and the increase of Hif2α down-regulated the expression of iron–sulfur cluster (Fe–S) biogenesis-related and electron transport chain (ETC)-related genes, weakening mitochondrial respiration. Inhibition of Hif1α by genetic knockdown or a specific inhibitor prevented Hif1α-targeted gene expression, leading to decreased aerobic glycolysis. Inhibition of Hif2α by genetic knockdown or selective disruption of the heterodimerization of Hif2α and Hif1β restored the mitochondrial ETC and coupled oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) by enhancing Fe–S biogenesis and increasing ETC-related gene expression. Our results indicate that Irp2 modulates the metabolic switch from aerobic glycolysis to OXPHOS that is mediated by Hif1α and Hif2α in MEFs.

Image intensity in magnetic resonance (MR) images in the presence of noise obeys Rician distribution. The signal-dependent Rician noise makes accurate image segmentation a challenging task. Although existing fuzzy c-means (FCM) variants with local filters improve the segmentation performance, they are less effective for reducing the negative effect from Rician noise, and the repeatedly applied filter increases their computational intensiveness. To address this issue, we propose a novel image segmentation method which dynamically incorporates wavelet-based noise detector and filter in the FCM membership function. The modified algorithm is designed to exploit both frequency and spatial information in the images and minimizes clustering errors caused by Rician noise. Furthermore, efficiency of the proposed method can be enhanced by the strategy of applying filter only when noise is detected. The experimental results of segmentation on synthetic and brain MR images, demonstrate the computational efficiency and noiseinsensitivity of the proposed method.

Image intensity in magnetic resonance (MR) images in the presence of noise obeys Rician distribution. The signal-dependent Rician noise makes accurate image segmentation a challenging task. Although existing fuzzy c-means (FCM) variants with local filters improve the segmentation performance, they are less effective for reducing the negative effect from Rician noise, and the repeatedly applied filter increases their computational intensiveness. To address this issue, we propose a novel image segmentation method which dynamically incorporates wavelet-based noise detector and filter in the FCM membership function. The modified algorithm is designed to exploit both frequency and spatial information in the images and minimizes clustering errors caused by Rician noise. Furthermore, efficiency of the proposed method can be enhanced by the strategy of applying filter only when noise is detected. The experimental results of segmentation on synthetic and brain MR images, demonstrate the computational efficiency and noise-insensitivity of the proposed method.