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When rolling bearing failure occurs, vibration signals generally contain different signal components, such as impulsive fault feature signals, background noise and harmonic interference signals. One of the most challenging aspects of rolling bearing fault diagnosis is how to inhibit noise and harmonic interference signals, while enhancing impulsive fault feature signals. This paper presents a novel bearing fault diagnosis method, namely an improved Hilbert time–time (IHTT) transform, by combining a Hilbert time–time (HTT) transform with principal component analysis (PCA). Firstly, the HTT transform was performed on vibration signals to derive a HTT transform matrix. Then, PCA was employed to de-noise the HTT transform matrix in order to improve the robustness of the HTT transform. Finally, the diagonal time series of the de-noised HTT transform matrix was extracted as the enhanced impulsive fault feature signal and the contained fault characteristic information was identified through further analyses of amplitude and envelope spectrums. Both simulated and experimental analyses validated the superiority of the presented method for detecting bearing failures.

Soot particles, acting as ice nucleating particles (INPs), can contribute to cirrus cloud formation, which has an important influence on climate. Aviation activities emitting soot particles into the upper troposphere can potentially impact ice nucleation (IN) in cirrus clouds. Pore condensation and freezing (PCF) is an important ice formation pathway for soot particles in the cirrus regime, which requires the soot INP to have specific morphological properties, i.e., mesopore structures. In this study, the morphology and pore size distribution of two kinds of soot samples were modified by a physical agitation method without any chemical modification by which more compacted soot sample aggregates could be produced compared to the unmodified sample. The IN activities of both fresh and compacted soot particles with different sizes, 60, 100, 200 and 400 nm, were systematically tested by the Horizontal Ice Nucleation Chamber (HINC) under mixed-phase and cirrus-cloud-relevant temperatures (T). Our results show that soot particles are unable to form ice crystals at T>235 K (homogeneous nucleation temperature, HNT), but IN is observed for compacted and larger-sized soot aggregates (>200 nm) well below the homogeneous freezing relative humidity (RHhom) for T< HNT, demonstrating PCF as the dominating mechanism for soot IN. We also observed that mechanically compacted soot particles can reach a higher particle activation fraction (AF) value for the same T and RH condition compared to the same aggregate size fresh soot particles. The results also reveal a clear size dependence for the IN activity of soot particles with the same degree of compaction, showing that compacted soot particles with large sizes (200 and 400 nm) are more active INPs and can convey the single importance of soot aggregate morphology for the IN ability. In order to understand the role of soot aggregate morphology for its IN activity, both fresh and compacted soot samples were characterized systematically using particle mass and size measurements, comparisons from TEM (transmission electron microscopy) images, soot porosity characteristics from argon (Ar) and nitrogen (N2) physisorption measurements, as well as soot–water interaction results from DVS (dynamic vapor sorption) measurements. Considering the soot particle physical properties along with its IN activities, the enhanced IN abilities of compacted soot particles are attributed to decreasing mesopore width and increasing mesopore occurrence probability due to the compaction process.

Soot particles are potential candidates for ice-nucleating particles in cirrus cloud formation, which is known to exert a net-warming effect on climate. Bare soot particles, generally hydrophobic and fractal ones, mainly exist near emission sources. Coated or internally mixed soot particles are more abundant in the atmosphere and have a higher probability of impacting cloud formation and climate. However, the ice nucleation ability of coated soot particles is not as well understood as that of freshly produced soot particles. In this laboratory study, two samples, a propane flame soot and a commercial carbon black, were used as atmospheric soot surrogates and coated with varying wt % of sulfuric acid (H2SO4). The ratio of coating material mass to the mass of bare soot particles was controlled and progressively increased from less than 5 wt % to over 100 wt %. Both bare and coated soot particle ice nucleation activities were investigated with a continuous-flow diffusion chamber operated at mixed-phase and cirrus cloud conditions. The mobility diameter and mass distribution of size-selected soot particles with/without H2SO4 coating were measured by a scanning mobility particle sizer and a centrifugal particle mass analyser running in parallel. The mixing state and morphology of soot particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the evidence of the presence of H2SO4 on a coated soot particle surface is shown by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Our study demonstrates that H2SO4 coatings suppress the ice nucleation activity of soot particles to varying degrees depending on the coating thickness, but in a non-linear fashion. Thin coatings causing pore filling in the soot aggregate inhibits pore condensation and freezing. Thick coatings promote particle ice activation via droplet homogeneous freezing. Overall, our findings reveal that H2SO4 coatings will suppress soot particle ice nucleation abilities in the cirrus cloud regime, having implications for the fate of soot particles with respect to cloud formation in the upper troposphere.

Based on the experiment, the effects of elevated temperature (25 ℃, 200 ℃, 300 ℃, 400 ℃, 500 ℃) and fiber types (SC, CFC, BFC, PPFC, SFC) on the pore structure and dynamic mechanical properties of concrete materials were investigated. The test results show that: (1) Compared with the porosity of specimens at 25 ℃, the porosity of plain concrete at 200 ℃, 300 ℃, 400 ℃ and 500 ℃ increases by 14.53%, 26.59%, 45.36% and 81.23%, respectively. Elevated temperature increases the porosity of the specimen, and the addition of fiber can reduce the porosity and porosity complexity of the specimen. (2) At 25 ℃, the peak stress of CFC, BFC, PPFC and SFC specimens is 1.44, 1.37, 1.13 and 1.17 times that of plain concrete, and the toughness increase of CFC, BFC, PPFC and SFC specimens is 127.78%, 96.30%, 83.33% and 59.26%, respectively. The addition of fiber can significantly improve the strength and toughness of concrete. (3) Fiber incorporation reduces the energy dissipation effect of concrete specimens, and elevated temperature enhances the energy dissipation effect of concrete specimens. The effect of elevated temperature makes the concrete material deteriorate, and its plastic deformation and damage degree are higher under the impact load. (4) The five kinds of fiber reinforced concrete show the coexistence mode of tensile failure and compressive failure under impact load. The addition of fiber reduces the damage degree of concrete specimens to different degrees, and CF has the best effect on the impact resistance of concrete materials. The research results can provide experimental basis for elevated temperature resistance and dynamic load resistance of different fiber concrete buildings.

Background: This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of serplulimab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in treating advanced/metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) within the Chinese health care system. Methods: A partitioned survival model based on ASTRUM-007 trial patient characteristics was developed. Efficacy, safety, and medical/economic data were obtained from the trial and real-world clinical practice. Costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALY), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for both treatment strategies. Sensitivity, subgroup, and scenario analyses were performed to assess the uncertainty impact. Results: Serplulimab combined with chemotherapy yielded an ICER of US$ 53,538.27/QALY. Deterministic sensitivity analysis identified patient survival and serplulimab price as influential parameters. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed a 47.33% probability of cost-effectiveness at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of US$ 53,541/QALY and 0.05% at three times China’s GDP per capita. Subgroup analysis revealed that patients with a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression combined positive score (CPS) ⩾10 had a lower hazard ratio (0.59) and ICER (US$ 29,935.23/QALY), with a 95.36% probability of cost-effectiveness. Scenario analysis demonstrated that the drug donation discount policy significantly increased the likelihood of cost-effective serplulimab-chemotherapy combinations in Jiangsu, Fujian, and Guangdong at 99.99%, 99.90%, and 94.16%, respectively. Conclusion: Compared to chemotherapy alone, serplulimab combined with chemotherapy is currently not a cost-effective first-line treatment for advanced/metastatic ESCC in China. However, as serplulimab plus chemotherapy regimens evolve and price competition among programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors intensifies, this combination may become a cost-effective treatment option. Plain language summary Assessing Serplulimab’s Value in Treating Advanced Esophageal Cancer in China In China, esophageal cancer patients often need chemotherapy due to late diagnosis. Serplulimab, an expensive new treatment, is not cost-effective when combined with chemotherapy for most patients. However, for specific patient groups with a PD-L1 expression CPS ⩾ 10, it is both effective and affordable. This finding helps health care leaders create better pricing strategies.

In this multicenter, single-arm phase 2 trial (ChiCTR1900024428), patients with locally advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancers receive one cycle of sintilimab (anti-PD1) and chemotherapy (S-1 and nab-paclitaxel), followed by 5 weeks of concurrent chemoradiotherapy and sintilimab, and another cycle of sintilimab and chemotherapy thereafter. Surgery is preferably scheduled within one to three weeks, and three cycles of adjuvant sintilimab and chemotherapy are administrated. The primary endpoint is the pathological complete response. Our results meet the pre-specified primary endpoint. Thirteen of 34 (38.2%) enrolled patients achieve pathological complete response (95% CI: 22.2-56.4). The secondary objectives include disease-free survival (DFS), major pathological response, R0 resection rate, overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), and safety profile. The median DFS and EFS were 17.0 (95%CI: 11.1-20.9) and 21.1 (95%CI: 14.7-26.1) months, respectively, while the median OS was not reached, and the 1-year OS rate was 92.6% (95%CI: 50.1-99.5%). Seventeen patients (50.0%) have grade ≥3 adverse events during preoperative therapy. In prespecified exploratory biomarker analysis, CD3 + T cells, CD56 + NK cells, and the M1/M1 + M2-like macrophage infiltration at baseline are associated with pathological complete response. Here, we show the promising efficacy and manageable safety profile of sintilimab in combination with concurrent chemoradiotherapy for the perioperative treatment of locally advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by gastrectomy is considered standard of care for locally advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancers. Here the authors report the results of a phase 2 trial of neoadjuvant sintilimab (anti-PD1) plus chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced G/GEJ tumors.

Background To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have explored the relationship between visceral obesity and malnutrition. Therefore, this study has aimed to investigate the association between them in patients with rectal cancer. Methods Patients with rectal cancer who underwent proctectomy were included. Malnutrition was defined according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM). Visceral obesity was measured using computed tomography (CT). The patients were classified into four groups according to the presence of malnutrition or visceral obesity. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors for postoperative complications. Univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors for overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank tests were performed for the four groups. Results This study enrolled 624 patients. 204 (32.7%) patients were included in the well-nourished non-visceral obesity (WN) group, 264 (42.3%) patients were included in the well-nourished visceral obesity (WO) group, 114 (18.3%) patients were included in the malnourished non-visceral obesity (MN) group, and 42 (6.7%) patients were included in the malnourished visceral obesity (MO) group. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), MN, and MO were associated with postoperative complications. In the multivariate cox regression analysis, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, tumor differentiation, tumor node metastasis (TNM), and MO were associated with worsened OS and CSS. Conclusions This study demonstrated that the combination of visceral obesity and malnutrition resulted in higher postoperative complication and mortality rates and was a good indicator of poor prognosis in patients with rectal cancer.

The permanent magnetic synchronous motor (PMSM) is of significant use for the centrifugal hydrogen compressor (CHC) in the hydrogen fuel cell system. In order to satisfy the demand for improving the CHC’s performance, including higher accuracy, higher response speed, and wider speed range, this paper proposes a novel adaptive super-twisting sliding mode observer (ASTSMO)-based position sensorless control strategy for the highspeed PMSM. Firstly, the super-twisting algorithm (STA) is introduced to the sliding mode observer (SMO) to reduce chattering and improve the accuracy of position estimation. Secondly, to increase the convergence speed, the ASTSMO is extended with a linear correction term, where an extra proportionality coefficient is used to adjust the stator current error under dynamic operation. Finally, a novel adaptive law is designed to solve the PMSM’s problems of wide speed change, wide current variation, and inevitable parameters fluctuation, which are caused by the CHC’s complex working environment like frequent load changes and significant temperature variations. In the experimental verification, the position accuracy and dynamic performance of the PMSM are both improved. It is also proved that the proposed strategy can guarantee the stable operation and fast response of the CHC, so as to maintain the reliability and the hydrogen utilization of the hydrogen fuel cell system.

To evaluate the prognostic effects of combining serum circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) levels on patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy. Ninety-nine patients with locally advanced cervical cancer ([FIGO] stage IIB-IVA) undergoing radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) were identified. The association between serum CTC level and clinicopathological parameters was examined. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed by using Cox's proportional hazards regression model. Elevated CTC and SCC-Ag levels were significantly associated with poor disease-free survival (DFS). Multivariate analysis suggest that serum CTC level, FIGO stage and serum SCC-Ag level were independent prognostic factors for two-year DFS. When CTC and SCC-Ag levels were combined into a new risk model to predict disease progression of cervical cancer patients, it performed a significantly better predictive efficiency compared with either biomarker alone. Serum CTC and SCC-Ag levels are potentially useful biomarkers for prediction of prognosis in locally advanced cervical cancer patients and their combination significantly improves predictive ability for survival in locally advanced cervical cancer patients.

Our work aims to investigate long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification and its role in infantile hemangioma (IH). The mRNA and protein expression levels were assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot and immunohistochemistry. Me-RIP assay was performed to evaluate lncRNA NEAT1 m6A levels. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were evaluated using cell counting kit-8 assay, transwell migration and invasion assay, respectively. Photo-activatable ribonucleoside-enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation assay was conducted to verify the binding relationship between lncRNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) and ALKBH5 (an RNA demethylase). The binding relationship between lncRNA NEAT1, microRNA (miR)-378b and FOS-like antigen 1 (FOSL1) was verified using dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and/or RNA immunoprecipitation assay. ALKBH5, lncRNA NEAT1 and FOLS1 expression was elevated in IH tissues, while miR-378b was downregulated. ALKBH5 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion of IH cells, while promoting cell apoptosis. ALKBH5 promoted lncRNA NEAT1 expression by reducing the m6A modification of lncRNA NEAT1. In addition, miR‐378b was the target of lncRNA NEAT1, and its overexpression reversed the promotion effect of lncRNA NEAT1 overexpression on IH cell tumor-like behaviors. Moreover, FOLS1 was the target of miR-378b, and its overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-378b overexpression on IH cell tumor-like behaviors in vitro. ALKBH5 might have great potential as therapeutic target for IH, since ALKBH5 silencing suppressed IH progression by regulation of the NEAT1/miR-378b/FOSL1 axis.