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The head-on collision between two dust-acoustic solitary waves in a non-magnetized, collisionless and strongly coupled dust plasma has been studied. The application scope of the analytical solution of the head-on collision is given in the present paper by using the particle-in-cell simulation method. It is noted that the analytical results are valid if the amplitudes of both of the solitary waves are small enough. The effects of the coupling parameters on both the head-on collision and the waveform are also studied in the present paper.

In recent years, there have been a significant influenza activity and emerging influenza strains in China, resulting in an increasing number of influenza virus infections and leading to public health concerns. The aims of this study were to identify the epidemiological and aetiological characteristics of influenza and establish seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) models for forecasting the percentage of visits for influenza-like illness (ILI%) in urban and rural areas of Shenyang. Influenza surveillance data were obtained for ILI cases and influenza virus positivity from 18 sentinel hospitals. The SARIMA models were constructed to predict ILI% for January–December 2019. During 2010–2018, the influenza activity was higher in urban than in rural areas. The age distribution of ILI cases showed the highest rate in young children aged 0–4 years. Seasonal A/H3N2, influenza B virus and pandemic A/H1N1 continuously co-circulated in winter and spring seasons. In addition, the SARIMA (0, 1, 0) (0, 1, 2)12 model for the urban area and the SARIMA (1, 1, 1) (1, 1, 0)12 model for the rural area were appropriate for predicting influenza incidence. Our findings suggested that there were regional and seasonal distinctions of ILI activity in Shenyang. A co-epidemic pattern of influenza strains was evident in terms of seasonal influenza activity. Young children were more susceptible to influenza virus infection than adults. These results provide a reference for future influenza prevention and control strategies in the study area.

Suppose that $0<|\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}|<1$ and $m\geqslant 2$ is an integer. Let $\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C},m}$ be the self-similar measure defined by $\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C},m}(\cdot )=\frac{1}{m}\sum _{j=0}^{m-1}\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C},m}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}^{-1}(\cdot )-j)$. Assume that $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}=\pm (q/p)^{1/r}$ for some $p,q,r\in \mathbb{N}^{+}$ with $(p,q)=1$ and $(p,m)=1$. We prove that if $(q,m)=1$, then there are at most $m$ mutually orthogonal exponential functions in $L^{2}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C},m})$ and $m$ is the best possible. If $(q,m)>1$, then there are any number of orthogonal exponential functions in $L^{2}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D707}_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C},m})$.

In order to reveal the quantitative relationship between fatigue crack deflection path and cross-sectional grain boundary (GB) arrangement of metallic nanolayered composites (NLCs), a stochastic model was established based on the interface-dominant fatigue damage for the ultrafine-scale NLCs. The model indicates that the crack deflection length decreases with decreasing GB arrangement deviation and grain size of constituent layers. The observation and quantitative analysis of fatigue cracking behavior of the Cu/W multilayers with a layer thickness of 5 and 20 nm was conducted to verify the model.

Fatigue properties of Mo/W multilayers with individual layer thickness (λ) of 5, 20, 50 and 100 nm on flexible polyimide substrates were investigated. The experimental results show that the fatigue resistance increases with decreasing λ from 100 nm to 20 nm, and reaches the maximum at λ=20 nm, and then decreases when further decreasing λ. Fatigue cracks of Mo/W multilayers with different λ were found to propagate along columnar grain boundary in the out-of-plane direction and along the boundary of cluster structures. The enhanced fatigue resistance is attributed to the larger cluster inclination angles and the more tortuous in-plane cracking paths.

Two phases of diabase-sill-forming magmatism are recorded within the Badu anticline where magmas were emplaced into upper Palaeozoic carbonates and clastic rocks of the Youjiang fold-and-thrust belt in the SW South China Block, China. Zircons from these diabase units yield weighted mean U–Pb ages of 249.2±2.0 Ma and 187.1±3.3 Ma, and magmatic oxygen fugacity values from ‒20 to ‒6 (average of ‒12, equating to FMQ +5) and ‒20 to ‒10 (average of ‒15, equating to FMQ +2), respectively. These data indicate that the sills were emplaced during Early Triassic and Early Jurassic times. The discovery of c. 250 Ma mafic magmatism in this area was probably related to post-flood-basalt extension associated with the Emeishan mantle plume or rollback of the subducting Palaeo-Tethys slab. The c. 190 Ma diabase sills indicate that the southwestern South China Block records Early Jurassic mafic magmatism and lithospheric extension that was likely associated with a transition from post-collisional to within-plate tectonic regimes. The emplacement of diabase intrusions at depth may have driven hydrothermal systems, enabling the mobilization of elements from sedimentary rocks and causing the formation of a giant epigenetic metallogenic domain. The results indicate that high-oxygen-fugacity materials within basement rocks caused crustal contamination of the magmas, contributing to the wide range of oxygen fugacity conditions recorded by the Au-bearing Badu diabase. In addition, data from inherited xenocrystic zircons within the Badu diabase and detrital zircons from basement rocks suggest that the Neoproterozoic Jiangshao suture extends to the south of the Badu anticline.

In high power laser facility for inertial confinement fusion research, final optics assembly (FOA) plays a critical role in the frequency conversion, beam focusing, color separation, beam sampling and debris shielding. The design and performance of FOA in SG-II Upgrade laser facility are mainly introduced here. Due to the limited space and short focal length, a coaxial aspheric wedged focus lens is designed and applied in the FOA configuration. Then the ghost image analysis, the focus characteristic analysis, the B integral control design and the optomechanical design are carried out in the FOA design phase. In order to ensure the FOA performance, two key technologies are developed including measurement and adjustment technique of the wedged focus lens and the stray light management technique based on ground glass. Experimental results show that the design specifications including laser fluence, frequency conversion efficiency and perforation efficiency of the focus spot have been achieved, which meet the requirements of physical experiments well.

This study examined the mediating effects of future social expectations and interpersonal distrust on the relationship between individual relative deprivation and intention to rebel. Data were gathered from 807 people from multiple occupational backgrounds in a municipality in southwest China. Structural equation modelling showed that individual relative deprivation predicted intention to rebel directly and also that it predicted intention to rebel indirectly via negative future social expectations, interpersonal distrust, and a chain mediating effect of negative future social expectations and interpersonal distrust. These results highlight the importance of the associations between future social expectations and interpersonal distrust with intention to rebel in people who report relative deprivation. The findings also indicate that prevention and intervention programs related to relative deprivation and intention to rebel in China are worthy of further research.

The Myanmar snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus strykeri was discovered in 2010 on the western slopes of the Gaoligong Mountains in the Irrawaddy River basin in Myanmar and subsequently in the same river basin in China, in 2011. Based on 2 years of surveying the remote and little disturbed forest of the Gaoligong Mountains National Nature Reserve in China, with outline transect sampling and infrared camera monitoring, a breeding group comprising > 70 individuals was found on the eastern slopes of the Gaoligong Mountains in the Salween River Basin. Given the Critically Endangered status of this primate (a total of < 950 individuals are estimated to remain in the wild), efforts to protect the relatively undisturbed habitat of this newly discovered population and to prevent hunting are essential for the long-term survival of this species.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is implicated in the negative regulation of the insulin signalling pathway by dephosphorylating the insulin receptor (IR) and IR substrates. Ganodermalucidum has traditionally been used for the treatment of diabetes in Chinese medicine; however, its anti-diabetic potency and mechanism in vivo is still unclear. Our previously published study reported a novel proteoglycan PTP1B inhibitor, named Fudan-Yueyang-Ganoderma lucidum (FYGL) from G. lucidum, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 5·12 (sem 0·05) μg/ml, a protein:polyglycan ratio of 17:77 and 78 % glucose in polysaccharide, and dominant amino acid residues of aspartic acid, glycine, glutamic acid, alanine, serine and threonine in protein. FYGL is capable of decreasing plasma glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice with a high safety of median lethal dose (LD50) of 6 g/kg. In the present study, C57BL/6 db/db diabetic mice were trialed further using FYGL as well as metformin for comparison. Oral treatment with FYGL in db/db diabetic mice for 4 weeks significantly (P < 0·01 or 0·05) decreased the fasting plasma glucose level, serum insulin concentration and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. FYGL also controlled the biochemistry indices relative to type 2 diabetes-accompanied lipidaemic disorders. Pharmacology research suggests that FYGL decreases the plasma glucose level by the mechanism of inhibiting PTP1B expression and activity, consequently, regulating the tyrosine phosphorylation level of the IR β-subunit and the level of hepatic glycogen, thus resulting in the improvement of insulin sensitivity. Therefore, FYGL is promising as an insulin sensitiser for the therapy of type 2 diabetes and accompanied dyslipidaemia.

A recent report on the “room temperature superplasticity” in the Zr64.13Cu15.75Ni10.12Al10 bulk metallic glass [Y.H. Liu et al., Science315, 1385 (2007)] was ascribed to the distinctive micrometer-sized structural heterogeneity. To verify the microstructure in this alloy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and anomalous small-angle x-ray scattering experiments were conducted. The results show that no micrometer-sized or nanometer-sized structural heterogeneities can be found. The micrometer-sized dark and bright regions that were previously reported as the reason for the plasticity are artifacts caused by TEM specimen preparation, rather than the intrinsic structure feature of this alloy. This finding is important for further studying the unique properties of this alloy.

Radar, aerial netting and ground sampling were used to study the autumn migration of Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) in Jiangsu Province in east central China. Emigration of macropterous adults increased from late August until late September as the main rice crop matured and was harvested. In early and mid September, the resulting windborne migrations carried the planthoppers mainly towards the west, although the migration directions ranged (within the western sector) from south to north. By late September, however, displacements were predominantly to the south-west on the then prevailing north-east monsoon winds: migration was particularly rapid when the north-easterlies were reinforced by typhoons. Although in late September such movements to more southerly latitudes are essential for the survival of the planthoppers' progeny, we found no definite evidence for preferential emigration on winds blowing towards the south. There were, however, indications that when winds towards the north occurred, the duration of migratory flight was curtailed. Irrespective of any possible preference for migration on northerlies, a large proportion of the N. lugens population would normally be carried in an adaptive southwards direction, because the advent of the north-east monsoon occurs at a time when the number of flight-ready planthoppers approaches its peak.

The effect of Li3N additive on the Li-Mg-N-H system was examined with respect to the reversible dehydrogenation performance. Screening study with varying Li3N additions (5, 10, 20, and 30 mol%) demonstrates that all are effective for improving the hydrogen desorption capacity. Optimally, incorporation of 10 mol% Li3N improves the practical capacity from 3.9 wt% to approximately 4.7 wt% hydrogen at 200 °C, which drives the dehydrogenation reaction toward completion. Moreover, the capacity enhancement persists well over 10 de-/rehydrogenation cycles. Systematic x-ray diffraction examinations indicate that Li3N additive transforms into LiNH2 and LiH phases and remains during hydrogen cycling. Combined structure/property investigations suggest that the LiNH2 “seeding” should be responsible for the capacity enhancement, which reduces the kinetic barrier associated with the nucleation of intermediate LiNH2. In addition, the concurrent incorporation of LiH is effective for mitigating the ammonia release.

A combined structure/property investigation is performed to understand the catalytic effect of TiF3 additive on the absorption/desorption reactions of MgH2. It was found that both TiH2 and MgF2 phases identified by x-ray diffraction cannot explain the observed kinetic enhancement in the MgH2–TiF3 system, whether they are incorporated in a direct or an in situ manner. In combination with the comparative investigation on the catalytic activity of TiF3 and its analog TiCl3, as well as the samples milled under inert and reactive atmospheres, we propose that the catalytically active species is a multicomponent metastable phase composed of host Mg, transition metal Ti, and F anion, the catalytic activity of which is dependent on its interaction with the surrounding chemical environment.

ZnO films were grown on (0001) sapphire substrates by atomic layer deposition (ALD) using diethylzinc (DeZn) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in an inductively heated reactor operated at atmospheric pressure. Low-temperature (LT) ZnO buffer layers having various thicknesses were deposited at 400¢J followed by subsequent growth of ZnO films at 600¢J. Some of the ZnO films were then post-annealed at 1000¢J in the N2O flow. Under certain growth conditions, ZnO nanowires were formed on the post-annealed ZnO samples. Room temperature (RT) photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the ZnO nanowires show strong ultraviolet (UV) near band edge emissions at 3.27 eV with a typical full width at half-maximum ( FWHM ) of ~130 meV and quenched defect luminescence at 2.8 eV. 10 K PL spectra of the post-annealed ZnO all exhibit sharp excitonic emissions with the dominant emission being located at 3.36 eV having a FWHM of 4.6 meV.

Singularities of a manipulator have been addressed repeatedly. However, the singularities and the degree(s) of freedom, as a matter of fact, are two different aspects of the mobility of a manipulator. Consequently, this paper dedicates to discussing the mobility properties through mobility space, which synchronously define the type, number and direction characteristics of the independent motions that the manipulator should execute. The mobility space of a manipulator can be obtained with reciprocal screws of the manipulator via singular value decomposition, which instantaneously depicts the singularity and mobility problems of the manipulators. Application example demonstrates that this methodology can investigate the all-sided mobility properties of parallel manipulators.

Piezoelectric properties k33 and d33 of 0.67 Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.33 PbTiO3 single crystals grown by a modified Bridgman method were measured in the temperature range of 20–150 °C. Recoverability of the properties after the samples were heated to 110 °C, above the ferroelectric–ferroelectric (F–F) phase transition temperature of the composition, was found. From 20 to approximately 80 °C, k33 increases slightly, while d33 is almost doubled. Between approximately 90 and 100 °C, k33 decreases sharply to roughly a level of PZT-5 ceramics and d33 decreases to about 700 pC/N. They increase again with further increase of temperature; at 140 °C they attain 0.74 and approximately 1300 pC/N, respectively, and then decrease quickly and approach zero at about 150 °C. When heating to 110 °C followed by cooling to room temperature, the property decay is small. After more than one dozen heating–cooling cycles, k33 and d33 tend to be stable at 0.89 and approximately 1220 pC/N, respectively. The results might be helpful for device design and applications of PMN–PT single crystals.

After examining ternary Al-based quasi-crystalline phase diagrams, we pointed out that the presence of e/a-constant and e/a-variant lines is a common phenomenon. Ternary quasi-crystal compositions are located at the crossing point of these lines in ternary phase diagrams. Such an empirical rule can be used to predict the ternary quasi-crystal compositions from binary ones. We applied this rule to the Al–Fe–Ni system and clarified the decagonal phase composition zone. There are two decagonal phases, D-Al72.5Fe14.5Ni13 and D′-Al705Fe12Ni17.5, that correspond respectively to Al–Fe-based and Al–Ni-based decagonal phases in the same ternary system.

A pair of mutant mice with a first sparse coat appeared spontaneously in the production stock of BALB/c mice with a normal coat. After being sib-mated, they produced three phenotypes in their progeny: mice with normal hair, mice with a first sparse coat and then a fuzzy coat, and uncovered mice. Genetic studies revealed the mutants had inherited an autosomal monogene that was semi-dominant. By using 11 biochemical loci – Idh, Car2, Mup1, Pgm1, Hbb, Es1, Es10, Gdc, Ce2, Mod1 and Es3 – as genetic markers, two-point linkage tests were made. The results showed the gene was assigned to chromosome 11. The result of a three-point test with Es3 and D11Mit8 (microsatellite DNA) as markers showed that the mutation was linked to Es3 with the recombination fraction 7·89±2·19%, and linked to D11Mit8 with the recombination fraction 26·30±3·57%. The recombination fraction between Es3 and D11Mit8 was 32·90±3·81%. It is suggested that the mutation is a new genetic locus that affected the skin and hair structure of the mouse. The mutation was named uncovered, with the symbol Uncv. Further studies showed the mutation affected not only the histology of skin and hair but also the growth and reproductive performance of the mice. The molecular characterization of the Uncv locus needs to be further studied.