Different latent variable models have been used to analyze ordinal categorical data which can be conceptualized as manifestations of an unobserved continuous variable. In this paper, we propose a unified framework based on a general latent variable model for the comparison of treatments with ordinal responses. The latent variable model is built upon the location-scale family and is rich enough to include many important existing models for analyzing ordinal categorical variables, including the proportional odds model, the ordered probit-type model, and the proportional hazards model. A flexible estimation procedure is proposed for the identification and estimation of the general latent variable model, which allows for the location and scale parameters to be freely estimated. The framework advances the existing methods by enabling many other popular models for analyzing continuous variables to be used to analyze ordinal categorical data, thus allowing for important statistical inferences such as location and/or dispersion comparisons among treatments to be conveniently drawn. Analysis on real data sets is used to illustrate the proposed methods.

Many studies have investigated the positivity rate of hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) after hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) immunization. However, the antibody level, assessed monthly or at more frequent intervals after each of the three doses, particularly within the first year after birth, has not been previously reported. To elucidate the level of antibody formation at various times after vaccination, the current study used the available detection data of HBsAb in hospitalized children to analyze the HBsAb level after immunization combined with their vaccination history. Both the positivity rate and geometric mean concentration (GMC) increased sequentially with immunization doses, reaching their peaks earlier after the third dose than after the first two doses, and the rate of HBsAb positivity was able to reach 100% between 11 and 90 days after completing the three doses of HepB. Within one year after receiving the three doses, the antibody positivity rate and GMC were maintained above 90% and 100 mIU/mL, respectively, and subsequently steadily declined, reaching the lowest value in the 9th and 10th years. The current findings reveal, in more detail, the level of antibody formation at different times following each dose of HepB in hospitalized children, particularly in the age group up to one year after vaccination. For the subjects of this study, we prefer to believe that the proportion of HBsAb non-response should be less than 5% after full immunization with HepB, provided that the appropriate time for blood collection is chosen.

The objective of this paper is to understand the effects of waves and vaporous cavitation upon the hydrodynamic and hydroelastic responses of a flexible surface-piercing hydrofoil, adding to the subcavitating results presented in Part 1. In general, the presence of a sufficiently large vaporous cavitation bubble facilitated the formation of a ventilated cavity, substantially reducing the angle of attack or speed required to induce fully ventilated flow, relative to subcavitating conditions. A new co-analysis procedure was used to isolate synchronous hydrodynamic modes and structural operating deflection shapes. Significant dynamic load amplification occurred when the resonant frequencies of the first twisting and second bending modes coalesced in both fully wetted and partially cavitating flows. The presence of waves did not diminish the effect of frequency coalescence, but did encourage intermittent lock-in with both leading edge cavity shedding and trailing edge vortex shedding at certain speeds. Partial cavity shedding typically had a negligible impact on the power spectral densities of structural motions because of incoherent cavity shedding. However, lock-in between the cavity shedding frequency and modal coalescence frequency led to shifting of the primary frequency peak, as well as amplified harmonics and interactions between the cavity shedding frequency and vortex shedding frequency. The transition from partially cavitating to fully ventilated flow caused sudden and large drops in the mean hydrodynamic loads and deformations, as well as substantial reductions in the intensity of the fluctuations.

This work describes the effects of waves on the hydroelastic response of a hydrofoil in fully wetted and ventilated flows. In the absence of vaporous cavitation (described in Part 2 of this paper series), shallow long-period non-breaking waves delayed ventilation inception because velocity fluctuations prevent the formation of a stably separated region of flow at the foil's leading edge. Aerated von Kármán vortex shedding occurred from the blunt trailing edge, producing vortex-induced vibration of the hydrofoil at a near-constant Strouhal number. Regular waves led to near sinusoidal oscillations of the load and deformations at the wave encounter frequency, while the mean response and the dynamic response at other frequency peaks corresponding to hydrodynamic and structural modes remained mostly unaffected. Significant dynamic load amplification was observed at a submerged aspect ratio of 2 for cases with low angles of attack because of coalescence between the second and third wetted structural modes; at high angles of attack, the amplitude of the load fluctuations and flow-induced vibrations reduced because energy was diverted away from the coalescence frequencies to the nearby vortex shedding frequency. In both calm water and wave conditions, transition from fully wetted to fully ventilated flow resulted in sudden and significant reduction in the load coefficients, as well as foil deflections. An impulse-like signature was observed in the time-frequency spectra during these transitions. In many of the cases, transition to fully ventilated flow also led to substantially reduced amplitudes in the load and deformation fluctuations.

Carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB) colonization screening was initiated across high-risk departments (PICU, NICU, neonatal wards, and hematology departments) in January 2017, and several CR-GNB cohort and patient-placement strategies were introduced throughout the hospital in January 2018. The colonization and infection rates decreased to varying degrees from 2017 to 2021.

Aldehyde oxidases (AOXs) are a group of metabolic enzymes that play critical roles in the degradation of xenobiotics and chemicals. However, the physiological function of this enzyme in insects remains poorly understood. In this study, three TcAOX genes (TcAOX1, TcAOX2, TcAOX3) were identified and characterized from Tribolium castaneum genome. Spatiotemporal expression profiling showed that TcAOX1 expression was most highly expressed at the early pupal stage and was predominantly expressed in the antennae of adults, indicating that TcAOX1 was involved in the degradation of chemical signals; TcAOX2 expression was most highly expressed at the late pupal stage and was mainly expressed in the fat body, epidermis of larvae and adults, respectively; and TcAOX3 expression was in all stages and was primarily expressed in the head of adults. Moreover, the transcripts of TcAOX2 and TcAOX3 were significantly induced after exposure to plant oil, and RNA interference (RNAi) targeting of each of them enhanced the susceptibility of beetles to this plant toxicant, suggesting that these two genes are associated with plant toxicant detoxification. Intriguingly, knockdown of the TcAOX1 led to reductions in female egg-laying but unchanged the hatchability and the development of genital organs, suggesting that this gene may mediate fecundity by effecting the inactivation of chemical signals in T. castaneum. Overall, these results shed new light on the function of AOX genes in insects, and could facilitate the development of research on pest control management.

Experimental studies of the influence of fluid–structure interaction on cloud cavitation about a stiff stainless steel (SS) and a flexible composite (CF) hydrofoil have been presented in Parts I (Smith et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 896, 2020a, p. A1) and II (Smith et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 897, 2020b, p. A28). This work further analyses the data and complements the measurements with reduced-order model predictions to explain the complex response. A two degrees-of-freedom steady-state model is used to explain why the tip bending and twisting deformations are much higher for the CF hydrofoil, while the hydrodynamic load coefficients are very similar. A one degree-of-freedom dynamic model, which considers the spanwise bending deflection only, is used to capture the dynamic response of both hydrofoils. Peaks in the frequency response spectrum are observed at the re-entrant jet-driven and shock-wave-driven cavity shedding frequencies, system bending frequency and heterodyne frequencies caused by the mixing of the two cavity shedding frequencies. The predictions capture the increase of the mean system bending frequency and wider bandwidth of frequency modulation with decreasing cavitation number. The results show that, in general, the amplitude of the deformation fluctuation is higher, but the amplitude of the load fluctuation is lower for the CF hydrofoil compared with the SS hydrofoil. Significant dynamic load amplification is observed at subharmonic lock-in when the shock-wave-driven cavity shedding frequency matches with the nearest subharmonic of the system bending frequency of the CF hydrofoil. Both measurements and predictions show an absence of dynamic load amplification at primary lock-in because of the low intensity of cavity load fluctuations with high cavitation number.

Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) might be an alternative valuable target in obesity treatment. We aimed to assess whether alternative Mediterranean (aMED) diet and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet were favourably associated with obesity and MHO phenotype in a Chinese multi-ethnic population. We conducted this cross-sectional analysis using the baseline data of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort study that enrolled 99 556 participants from seven diverse ethnic groups. Participants with self-reported cardiometabolic diseases were excluded to eliminate possible reverse causality. Marginal structural logistic models were used to estimate the associations, with confounders determined by directed acyclic graph (DAG). Among 65 699 included participants, 11·2 % were with obesity. MHO phenotype was present in 5·7 % of total population and 52·7 % of population with obesity. Compared with the lowest quintile, the highest quintile of DASH diet score had 23 % decreased odds of obesity (OR = 0·77, 95 % CI 0·71, 0·83, P trend < 0·001) and 27 % increased odds of MHO (OR = 1·27, 95 % CI 1·10, 1·48, P trend = 0·001) in population with obesity. However, aMED diet showed no obvious favourable associations. Further adjusting for BMI did not change the associations between diet scores and MHO. Results were robust to various sensitivity analyses. In conclusion, DASH diet rather than aMED diet is associated with reduced risk of obesity and presents BMI-independent metabolic benefits in this large population-based study. Recommendation for adhering to DASH diet may benefit the prevention of obesity and related metabolic disorders in Chinese population.

Accurate predetermination of the quantum yield ratio (QA/QD) and the extinction coefficient ratio (KA/KD) between acceptor and donor is a prerequisite for quantitative fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging. We here propose a method to measure KA/KD and QA/QD by measuring the excitation–emission spectra (ExEm-spectra) of one dish of cells expressing m (≥3) kinds of FRET constructs. The ExEm-spectra images are unmixed to obtain the weight maps of donor (WD), acceptor (WA), and acceptor sensitization (WS). For each cell, the frequency distribution plots of the WS/WD and WS/WA images are fitted by using a single-Gaussian function to obtain the peak values of WS/WD (SD) and WS/WA (SA). The statistical frequency-SD/SA plots from all cells are fitted by using a multi-Gaussian function to obtain the peak values of both SD and SA, and then the ranges of WS/WD (RSD) and WS/WA (RSA) for each FRET construct are predetermined. Based on the predetermined RSD and RSA values of FRET constructs, our method is capable of automatically classifying cells expressing different FRET constructs. Finally, the WS/WD–WA/WD plot from different kinds of cells is linearly fitted to obtain KA/KD and QA/QD values.

This study investigates how venture capital firms (VCs) choose syndication partners. Exponential random graph models of Chinese VC syndication networks from 2006 to 2013 show that the homophily mechanism does not always determine VCs’ partner selection. In selecting partners, VCs have to strike a balance between reducing uncertainty and mobilizing heterogeneous resources. Therefore, decisions about partners depend on institutional uncertainty and VCs’ investment preferences. While VCs that focus on traditional business in an immature market are more likely to form homogeneous syndications, their peers that prefer to invest in innovative companies and that can rely on a stable market tend to syndicate with heterogeneous partners.

Alligatorweed [Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.] is an invasive semiaquatic weed that poses a serious threat to agricultural production and ecological balance worldwide. However, information about genetic factors associated with the adaptation and invasion mechanisms of this species is limited. Screening for appropriate reference genes is important for gene expression and functional analysis research in A. philoxeroides. In this study, 30 candidate genes that showed stable expression in different A. philoxeroides tissues under various treatments in RNA-seq data were chosen to design quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) primers. After the amplification specificity validation, 25 candidates were selected and further evaluated in a diverse set of A. philoxeroides samples, including leaf, stem, and root tissues under drought, salinity, heat, chilling, five herbicides, and corresponding untreated controls using qRT-PCR. The delta-CT method, geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder algorithms were used to identify stable reference genes from A. philoxeroides samples. Overall, CoA, RFI2, Tubby, SRP19, and V-ATPase were the top five ideal reference genes in all organs and conditions. Tubby and CoA were the most stable reference genes in the leaf/stem; and RFI2, ERprr, and SPR19 were suitable reference genes for the roots. This work provided a foundation for exploring gene expression profiling of A. philoxeroides, especially those adaptation- and invasion-related genes, which may help in management of this invasive weed.

To investigate the cumulative effects of maternal supplementation with nucleotides in the form of uridine (UR) on fatty acid and amino acid constituents of neonatal piglets, fifty-two sows in late gestation were assigned randomly into the control (CON) group (fed a basal diet) or UR group (fed a basal diet with 150 g/t UR). Samples of neonates were collected during farrowing. Results showed that supplementing with UR in sows’ diet significantly decreased the birth mortality of pigs (P = 0·05), and increased serum total cholesterol, HDL and LDL of neonatal piglets (P < 0·05). Moreover, the amino acid profile of serum and liver of neonatal piglets was affected by the addition of UR in sows’ diets (P < 0·05). Furthermore, an up-regulation of mRNA expression of energy metabolism-related genes, including fatty acid elongase 5, fatty acid desaturase 1, hormone-sensitive lipase and cholesterol-7a-hydroxylase, was observed in the liver of neonates from the UR group. Additionally, a decrease in placental gene expression of excitatory amino acid transporters 2, excitatory amino acid transporter 3 and neutral AA transporter 1 in the UR group was concurrently observed (P < 0·05), and higher protein expression of phosphorylated protein kinase B, raptor, PPARα and PPARγ in placenta from the UR group was also observed (P < 0·05). Together, these results showed that maternal UR supplementation could regulate placental nutrient transport, largely in response to an alteration of mTORC1–PPAR signalling, thus regulating the nutrition metabolism of neonatal piglets and improving reproductive performance.

The influence of fluid–structure interaction on cloud cavitation about a hydrofoil is investigated by comparing results from a relatively stiff reference hydrofoil, presented in Part 1, with those obtained on a geometrically identical flexible hydrofoil. Measurements were conducted with a chord-based Reynolds number $Re=0.8\times 10^{6}$ for cavitation numbers, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$, ranging from 0.2 to 1.2 while the hydrofoil was mounted at an incidence, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$, of $6^{\circ }$ to the oncoming flow. Tip deformations and cavitation behaviour were recorded with synchronised force measurements utilising two high-speed cameras. The flexible composite hydrofoil was manufactured as a carbon/glass-epoxy hybrid structure with a lay-up sequence selected principally to consider spanwise bending deformations with no material-induced bend–twist coupling. Hydrodynamic bend–twist coupling is seen to result in nose-up twist deformations causing frequency modulation from the increase in cavity length. The lock-in phenomenon driven by re-entrant jet shedding observed on the stiff hydrofoil is also evident on the flexible hydrofoil at $0.70\leqslant \unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}\leqslant 0.75$, but occurs between different modes. Flexibility is observed to accelerate cavitation regime transition with reducing $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$. This is seen with the rapid growth and influence the shockwave instability has on the forces, deflections and cavitation behaviour on the flexible hydrofoil, suggesting structural behaviour plays a significant role in modifying cavity physics. The reduced stiffness causes secondary lock-in of the flexible hydrofoil’s one-quarter sub-harmonic, $f_{n}/4$, at $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$ = 0.4. This leads to the most severe deflections observed in the conditions tested along with a shift in phase between normal force and tip deflection.

The physics associated with various cavitation regimes about a hydrofoil is investigated in a variable-pressure water tunnel using high-speed photography and synchronised force measurements. Experiments were conducted on a relatively stiff stainless steel hydrofoil at a chord-based Reynolds number, $Re=0.8\times 10^{6}$ for cavitation numbers, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$, ranging from 0.2 to 1.2, with the hydrofoil experiencing sheet, cloud and supercavitation regimes. The NACA0009 model of tapered planform was vertically mounted in a cantilevered configuration to a six-component force balance at an incidence, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}$, of $6^{\circ }$ to the oncoming flow. Tip deformations and cavitation behaviour were recorded with synchronised force measurements utilising two high-speed cameras mounted underneath and to the side of the test section. Break-up and shedding of an attached cavity was found to be due to either interfacial instabilities, re-entrant jet formation, shockwave propagation or a complex coupled mechanism, depending on $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$. Three primary shedding modes are identified. The Type IIa and IIb re-entrant jet-driven oscillations exhibit a non-linear dependence on $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$, decreasing in frequency with decreasing $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$ due to growth in the cavity length, and occur at higher $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$ values (Type IIa: 0.4–1.0; Type IIb: 0.7–0.9). Shockwave-driven Type I shedding occurs for lower $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$ values (0.3–0.6) with the oscillation frequency being practically independent of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70E}$. The Type IIa oscillations locked in to the first sub-harmonic of the hydrofoil’s first bending mode in water which has been modulated due to the reduced added mass of the vapour cavity. Supplementary movies are available with the online version of the paper.

In this study, we designed a localization and obstacle avoidance system for humanoid robots in the Federation of International Robot-soccer Association (FIRA) HuroCup united soccer competition event. The localization is implemented by using grid points, gait, and steps to determine the positions of each robot. To increase the localization accuracy and eliminate the accumulated distance errors resulting from step counting, the localization is augmented with image pattern matching using a system model. The system also enables the robot to determine the ball’s position on the field using a color model of the ball. Moreover, to avoid obstacles, the robots calculate the obstacle distance using data extracted from real-time images and determine a suitable direction for movement. With the integration of this accurate self-localization algorithm, ball identification scheme, and obstacle avoidance system, the robot team is capable of accomplishing the necessary tasks for a FIRA soccer game.

We assessed inheritance of resistance to sugarcane brown rust (Puccinia melanocephala) in selfing F1 populations of wild sugarcane germplasm Erianthus rockii ‘Yundian 95-19’ and E. rockii ‘Yundian 95-20’. We tested parent and selfing F1 individuals for the brown rust resistance gene, Bru1, that has been shown to confer resistance to brown rust in sugarcane. The Bru1 gene was not detected in E. rockii ‘Yundian 95-19’, E. rockii ‘Yundian 95-20’ or their selfing F1 individuals, and we found there was segregation of resistance in the two selfing F1 populations (segregation ratio: 3:1). The results confirmed resistance in E. rockii ‘Yundian 95-19’ and E. rockii ‘Yundian 95-20’ to sugarcane brown rust is controlled by a novel, single dominant gene.