Influence of Oligopeptide Length and Distribution on Polyisoprene Properties

The tuning of binding modes of polar groups is the key step to mimicking the structure and properties of natural rubber through the molecular design of synthetic polyisoprenes. Herein, the ordering and binding distances of oligopeptides could be altered systematically by changing their lengths and distribution along the polyisoprene chain, which impose huge impacts on the mechanical properties and chain dynamics of green rubber. In detail, a series of peptide-functionalized polyisoprenes with terminal blocks (B-2A-PIP, B-3A-PIP) or random sequences (R-2A-PIP, R-3A-PIP) are fabricated by using dipeptides (2A) or tripeptides (3A) as crosslinkers to explore the mechanism of terminal interaction on mechanism properties and chain dynamics. B-4A-PIP and R-4A-PIP served as control samples. It is found that the increased oligopeptide length and the block distribution improves the mechanical properties and confine the chain movement by elevate the contents of ordered and compact microstructures, which is indicated by XRD, broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and consistent with the result of molecular dynamics simulation. New relaxation signals belonging to oligopeptide aggregates are found which showed elevated dielectric strengths upon temperatures increase. Additionally, it also reveals that the binding modes of oligopeptide do not significantly influence the entanglements of polyisoprene.

A Suspicious Multi-Object Detection and Recognition Method for Millimeter Wave SAR Security Inspection Images Based on Multi-Path Extraction Network

There are several major challenges in detecting and recognizing multiple hidden objects from millimeter wave SAR security inspection images: inconsistent clarity of objects, similar objects, and complex background interference. To address these problems, a suspicious multi-object detection and recognition method based on the Multi-Path Extraction Network (MPEN) is proposed. In MPEN, You Only Look Once (YOLO) v3 is used as the base network, and then the Multi-Path Feature Pyramid (MPFP) module and modified residual block distribution are proposed. MPFP is designed to output the deep network feature layers separately. Then, to distinguish similar objects more easily, the residual block distribution is modified to improve the ability of the shallow network to capture details. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, the millimeter wave SAR images from the laboratory’s self-developed security inspection system are utilized in conducting research on multi-object detection and recognition. The detection rate (probability of detecting a target) and average false alarm (probability of error detection) rate of our method on the target are 94.6% and 14.6%, respectively. The mean Average Precision (mAP) of recognizing multi-object is 82.39%. Compared with YOLOv3, our method shows a better performance in detecting and recognizing similar targets.

Supraclavicular vs. Infraclavicular Brachial Plexus Nerve Blocks: Clinical, Pharmacological, and Anatomical Considerations

: Peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) have become standard of care for enhanced recovery pathways after surgery. For brachial plexus delivery of anesthesia, both supraclavicular (SC) and infraclavicular (IC) approaches have been shown to require less supplemental anesthesia, are performed more rapidly, have quicker onset time, and have lower rates of complications than other approaches (axillary, interscalene, etc.). Ultrasound-guidance is commonly utilized to improve outcomes, limit the need for deep sedation or general anesthesia, and reduce procedural complications. Given the SC and IC approaches are the most common approaches for brachial plexus blocks, the differences between the two have been critically evaluated in the present manuscript. Various studies have demonstrated slight favorability towards the IC approach from the standpoint of complications and safety. Two prospective RCTs found a higher incidence of complications in the SC approach – particularly Horner syndrome. The IC method appears to support a greater block distribution as well. Overall, both SC and IC brachial plexus nerve block approaches are the most effective and safe approaches, particularly under ultrasound-guidance. Given the success of the supraclavicular and infraclavicular blocks, these techniques are an important skill set for the anesthesiologist for intraoperative anesthesia and postoperative analgesia.

Bacterial Foraging Optimization Building Block Distribution Algorithm Based Dynamic Allocation in Multiple Robotic System

Robots are effectively utilized in various applications by using ambient assisted living techniquesfor improving people lifestyle. Especially, in healthcare centers, robots are played a vital role instead of using supporting staff. The healthcare application needs to process multiple tasksat one time, for that reason, multiple robots’ systems are designed to handle the tasks. The task must be dynamically allocated for each robot dynamically allocated for each robot for improving the performance of the robots. For achieving this goal, this paper introduces the bacterial Foraging Optimization building block distribution algorithm is used to allocate the work to robots heterogeneously. This algorithm allocates the resources and tasks to the robot for performing their process with a specific time and minimum computation complexity. Then the efficiency of the system is evaluated using experimental analysis and results are compared with existing methods.

The MINC proximity function for fractured reservoirs flow modeling with non-uniform block distribution

Reservoir simulation is a powerful technique to predict the amount of produced hydrocarbon. After a solid representation of the natural fracture geometry, an accurate simulation model and a physical reservoir model that account for different flow regimes should be developed. Many models based on dual-continuum approaches presented in the literature rely on the Pseudo-Steady-State (PSS) assumption to model the inter-porosity flow. Due to the low permeability in such reservoirs, the transient period could reach several years. Thus, the PSS assumption becomes unjustified. The numerical solution adopted by the Multiple INteracting Continua (MINC) method was able to simulate the transient effects previously overlooked by dual-continuum approaches. However, its accuracy drops with increasing fracture network complexity. A special treatment of the MINC method, i.e., the MINC Proximity Function (MINC–PF) was introduced to address the latter problem. And yet, the MINC–PF suffers a limitation that arises from the existence of several grid-blocks within a studied cell. In this work, this limitation is discussed and two possible solutions (transmissibility recalculation/adjusting the Proximity Function by accounting for nearby fractures) are put forward. Both proposed methods have demonstrated their applicability and effectiveness once compared to a reference solution.

Mechanism of action of the erector spinae plane block: distribution of dye in a porcine model

This study aimed to describe the anatomical distribution of dye injected in the erector spinae plane (ESP) in a porcine living model, which could aid to reveal factors potentially relevant to the unexplained clinical effects of the ESP block. Six pigs received 0.6 mL/kg of 0.25% new methylene blue at the level of the sixth thoracic vertebra through either a cranial-to-caudal or a caudal-to-cranial in-plane ultrasound-guided bilateral ESP injection 20 min before euthanasia.Spread of dye evaluated through transverse cryosections (four injections) extended from T5 to T10 and from T5 to T8 when a cranial-to-caudal direction of injection was used, and from T5 to T9 and from T5 to T8 when the opposite direction of injection was used. A median of 4.5 medial and lateral branches of the dorsal rami was observed stained through anatomical dissection (eight injections), regardless of the direction of injection. No evidence of dye was found in the thoracic paravertebral or epidural spaces, where the dorsal root ganglia, ventral rami and rami communicantes are located. In all the cases, dye solution was found in the prevertebral thoracic lymph nodes.In this study, ESP injection resulted in a median spread over five spinal segments (12 injections), staining the lateral and medial branches of the dorsal rami of the spinal nerves, regardless of the direction of the needle used.

SPECIES SPECIFICITY OF HETEROCHROMATIN BLOCK DISTRIBUTION AND rDNA LOCALIZATION IN MITOTIC CHROMOSOMES OF MOSQUITOES SPECIES AEDES EXCRUCIANS, AE. BEHNINGI AND AE. PUNCTOR

A karyotypic analysis of three mosquito species Aedes excrucians, Ae. behningi and Ae. punctor (Diptera: Culicidae). Differences in the lengths of chromosomes, the distribution of C- and DAPI blocks of heterochromatin, and the localization of rDNA genes on chromosomes were revealed. Aedes excrucians has the largest chromosome length among the three species represented. Ae. punctor differs in the localization of rDNA on the second chromosome, while in Aedes excrucians and Ae. behningi, rDNA genes are located on chromosome 1. All three species have different C-banding and species-specific localization of heterochromatin DAPI blocks. Consequently, chromosome analysis can serve as an additional mechanism for species identification of mosquitoes of the genus Aedes.

Characteristics of Spatial Connection Based on Intercity Passenger Traffic Flow in Harbin-Changchun Urban Agglomeration, China

With the continuous improvement of transportation facilities and information networks, the obstruction of distance in geographic space has gradually weakened, and the hotspots of urban geography research have gradually changed from the previous city hierarchy to the characteristics of urban connections and networks. As the main carrier and manifestation of elements, mobility such as people and material, traf ic flow is of great significance for understanding the characteristics of spatial connection. In this paper, Harbin-Changchun agglomeration proposed by China's New Urbanization Plan (2014-2020) is taken as a research object. With the data of intercity passenger traf ic flow including highway and railway passenger trips between 73 county-level spatial units in the research area, a traf ic flow model is constructed to measure the intensity of spatial connection. Using social network analysis method, the characteristics of spatial connection of Harbin-Changchun urban agglomeration are analyzed, and the results are visualized with ArcGIS technique. The results show that the spatial connection of the Harbin-Changchun urban agglomeration based on traf ic flow presents a distance attenuation ef ect that weakens in the directions of "Harbin-Daqing-Qiqihar-Mudanjiang" and "Changchun-Jilin-Tumen", and the connection strength of Harbin or Changchun districts and other spatial units is the strongest, follow by Daqing, Qiqihar or Jilin districts and other spatial units; the network is highly centralized, the core city has the dominant role on the whole network, and the connection between network nodes is not balanced; the connection nodes present a dual- core-edge hierarchical distribution; the network based on railway shift of Harbin-Changchun urban agglomeration can be divided into four subgroups,showing block distribution characteristic in Harbin-Changchun urban agglomeration. The research can provide support for the proposal of regionally coordinated sustainable development strategies of Harbin-Changchun urban agglomeration.

Data Balance Algorithm Based on Histogram in MapReduce

MapReduce model is a typical distributed computing model, which is widely used in large-scale data processing, and its performance depends largely on the data distribution status. As the data content is often unbalanced, coupled with the storage of randomness, so MapReduce model prone to data skew problem in the calculation process. In order to solve this problem, this paper establishes a data histogram for the data block and the whole file through the improved parallel histogram parallelization algorithm based on MapReduce. According to the data block distribution, we can judge the data skew degree of each storage nodes and define the file equilibrium deviation value as the measure of data skew, and then the data balance algorithm is used to reduce the file equilibrium deviation value. The improved MapReduce-based data histogram parallel construction algorithm can adapt to various types of data application scenarios. In the process of building the histogram, the Map side only needs to transmit histogram statistics to the Reduce side without transmitting the contents of the file. The data transfer can be almost negligible. The data balance algorithm based on histogram employs greedy strategy, which can obtain a better approximate solution of the optimal solution of equilibrium distribution. After several experiments, compared with the random block distribution algorithm, the improved algorithm reduce about 40% of the file balance deviation value and achieves a better data balance performance.