Multi-circular formation control with reinforced transient profiles for nonholonomic vehicles:A path-following framework

This article investigates a multi-circular path-following formation control with reinforced transient profiles for nonholonomic vehicles connected by a digraph.A multi-circular formation controller endowed with the feature of spatial-temporal decoupling is devised for a group of vehicles guided by a virtual leader evolving along an implicit path,which allows for a circumnavigation on multiple circles with an anticipant angular spacing.In addition,notice that it typically imposes a stringent time constraint on time-sensitive enclosing scenarios,hence an improved prescribed performance control(IPPC)using novel tighter behavior boundaries is presented to enhance transient capabilities with an ensured appointed-time convergence free from any overshoots.The significant merits are that coordinated circumnavigation along different circles can be realized via executing geometric and dynamic assignments independently with modified transient profiles.Furthermore,all variables existing in the entire system are analyzed to be convergent.Simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the utility of suggested solution.

Radical Hysterectomy in Cervical Cancer: Patients’ Epidemiological and Clinical Profiles and Perioperative Outcome in Two Referral Hospitals in Cameroon

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most frequent cancers and the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer in Low and middle income countries, Cameroon inclusive. Surgery is the primary treatment modality when the disease is diagnosed at early stage. Radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer has not been evaluated in recent years in Cameroon. The purpose of this study is thus to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical features and short term outcomes of patients who underwent surgery. Patients and methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Douala Gynaeco-obstetric and Pediatric Hospital and the Douala General Hospital. Cervical cancer patients who underwent Radical hysterectomy between January 2015 and December 2020 were included. A pre-established data collection tool was used to record socio-demographic, clinical and outcomes information from patients’ files;additional outcome information was obtained from phone calls. Descriptive analysis was done using the SPSS version 26. Bivariate analysis was used to determine associations between disease and patients characteristics and occurrence of adverse postoperative outcome. P value of 0.05 was considered. Results: Sixty one patients were enrolled. Their ages ranged from 33 to 74 years with a mean age of 51.95 ± 10.29 years. Over 85% of women were married, 65.57% were unemployed and 86.88% were multiparous. Only 28% had never done cervical cancer screening. Most patients had stage IB1 to IB2 stage disease (57.1%). Less than 9% underwent radical hysterectomy and 8 of those (13.11%) suffered intraoperative complications. Twenty-five patients (40.98%) presented immediate and short term complications. There was no significant association between the disease or patients’ characteristics and adverse outcomes. Conclusion: Cervical cancer patients are relatively young in our settings and only 9% of them reach the hospital at early stage. Postoperative adverse outcomes rate is higher than that reported in the literature. Sensitization on screening and awareness of early symptoms can reverse the situation.

Metabolic profiles and morphological characteristics of leaf tips among different sweet potato(Ipomoea batatas Lam.)varieties

Sweet potato leaf tips have high nutritional value,and exploring the differences in the metabolic profiles of leaf tips among different sweet potato varieties can provide information to improve their qualities.In this study,a UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS-based untargeted metabolomics method was used to evaluate the metabolites in leaf tips of 32 sweet potato varieties.Three varieties with distinct overall metabolic profiles(A01,A02,and A03),two varieties with distinct profiles of phenolic acids(A20 and A18),and three varieties with distinct profiles of flavonoids(A05,A12,and A16)were identified.In addition,a total of 163 and 29 differentially expressed metabolites correlated with the color and leaf shape of sweet potato leaf tips,respectively,were identified through morphological characterization.Group comparison analysis of the phenotypic traits and a metabolite-phenotypic trait correlation analysis indicated that the color differences of sweet potato leaf tips were markedly associated with flavonoids.Also,the level of polyphenols was correlated with the leaf shape of sweet potato leaf tips,with lobed leaf types having higher levels of polyphenols than the entire leaf types.The findings on the metabolic profiles and differentially expressed metabolites associated with the morphology of sweet potato leaf tips can provide useful information for breeding sweet potato varieties with higher nutritional value.

Profiles of the Headspace Volatile Organic and Essential Oil Compounds from the Tunisian Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. and Its Leaf and Stem Epidermal Micromorphology

In this work, we investigated aroma volatiles emanated by dry roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits of Cardariadraba (L.) Desv. growing wild in Tunisia and its aerial part essential oils (EOs) composition. A total of 37 volatileorganic compounds (96.7%–98.9%) were identified;4 esters, 4 alcohols, 7 hydrocarbons, 12 aldehydes, 5 ketones,1 lactone, 1 organosulfur compound, 2 organonitrogen compounds, and 1 acid. The hydrocarbons form the maingroup, representing 49.5%–84.6% of the total detected volatiles. The main constituent was 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane(44.5%–76.2%) reaching the highest relative percentages. Forty-two compounds were determined in thetwo fractions of EOs, representing 98.8% and 97.2% of the total oil composition, respectively. The principal componentswere hexadecanoic acid (34.6%), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (18.3%), decanal (15.0%), 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (13.2%), and n-pentacosane (13%). Micromorphological details of the leaf and stem epidermisusing light microscopy revealed polygonal cells with sinuous walls in the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces andnearly rectangular and long ones with linear and thick walls for the stem epidermis. The stomata complexes wereanisocytic in the leaf epidermis and mainly anisocytic and rarely paracytic in the stem epidermis. Non-glandulartrichomes were unbranched and long with an acute apex or short with a convex apex. The glandular ones wereidentified for the first time in this species. They were short-stalked with a large secretory head. The highest stomatalindex (17.02%) was recorded in the abaxial leaf surface. The identification of headspace volatiles and essentialoil compounds can be used to characterize this species, and the various epidermis micromorphologicalfeatures are very useful for biosystematics taxonomic studies within Brassicaceae.

Sex dimorphism and metabolic profiles in management of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)refers to the build-up of fat in the liver associated with metabolic dysfunction and has been estimated to affect a quarter of the population worldwide.Although metabolism is highly influenced by the effects of sex hormones,studies of sex differences in the incidence and progression of MAFLD are scarce.Metabolomics represents a powerful approach to studying these differences and identifying potential biomarkers and putative mechanisms.First,metabolomics makes it possible to obtain the molecular phenotype of the individual at a given time.Second,metabolomics may be a helpful tool for classifying patients according to the severity of the disease and obtaining diagnostic biomarkers.Some studies demonstrate associations between circulating metabolites and early and established MAFLD,but little is known about how metabolites relate to and encompass sex differences in disease progression and risk management.In this review,we will discuss the epidemiological metabolomic studies for sex differences in the development and progression of MAFLD,the role of metabolic profiles in understanding mechanisms and identifying sex-dependent biomarkers,and how this evidence may help in the future management of the disease.

Sound speed profiles in high spatiotemporal resolution using multigrid three-dimensional variational method:a coastal experiment off northern Shandong Peninsula

It is essential to ac quire sound speed profiles(SSPs)in high-precision spatiotemporal resolution for undersea acoustic activities.However,conventional observation methods cannot obtain high-resolution SSPs.Besides,S SPs are complex and changeable in time and space,especially in coastal areas.We proposed a new space-time multigrid three-dimensional variational method with weak constraint term(referred to as STC-MG3DVar)to construct high-precision spatiotemporal resolution SSPs in coastal areas,in which sound velocity is defined as the analytical variable,and the Chen-Millero sound velocity empirical formula is introduced as a weak constraint term into the cost function of the STC-MG3DVar.The spatiotemporal correlation of sound velocity observations is taken into account in the STC-MG3DVar method,and the multi-scale information of sound velocity observations from long waves to short waves can be successively extracted.The weak constraint term can optimize sound velocity by the physical relationship between sound velocity and temperature-salinity to obtain more reasonable and accurate SSPs.To verify the accuracy of the STC-MG3DVar,SSPs observations and CTD observations(temperature observations,salinity observations)are obtained from field experiments in the northern coastal area of the Shandong Peninsula.The average root mean square error(RMSE)of the STC-MG3DVar-constructed SSPs is 0.132 m/s,and the STC-MG3DVar method can improve the SSPs construction accuracy over the space-time multigrid 3DVar without weak constraint term(ST-MG3DVar)by 10.14%and over the spatial multigrid 3DVar with weak constraint term(SC-MG3DVar)by 44.19%.With the advantage of the constraint term and the spatiotemporal correlation information,the proposed STC-MG3DVar method works better than the ST-MG3DVar and the SCMG3DVar in constructing high-precision spatiotemporal re solution SSPs.

Effects of high‑grain diet feeding on fatty acid profiles in milk,blood,muscle,and adipose tissue,and transcriptional expression of lipid‑related genes in muscle and adipose tissue of dairy cows

Background High-grain(HG)diets affect lipid metabolism in the liver and mammary tissue of dairy cows,but its effects on muscle and adipose tissue have not been wide evaluated.Thus,the aim of this study is to clarify this issue.Methods Twelve Holstein cows were randomly divided into two groups:conventional diet group(CON,n=6)and the HG diet group(n=6).On day 7 of week 4,rumen fluid was sampled to measure pH,milk was sampled to meas-ure components,and blood was sampled to measure biochemical parameters and fatty acid composition.After the experiment,cows were slaughtered to collect muscle and adipose tissue for fatty acid composition and transcriptome analysis.Results HG feeding decreased the ruminal pH,milk’s fat content and long-chain fatty acid proportion(P<0.05)and increased the proportion of short-and medium-chain fatty acids in the milk(P<0.05)as compared with CON diets.The concentrations of blood cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein,and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the HG cows were lower than those in CON cows(P<0.05).In muscle tissue,HG feeding tended to increase the triacylglycerol(TG)concentration(P<0.10).Transcriptome analysis revealed changes in the biosynthesis of the unsaturated fatty acids pathway,the regulation of lipolysis in the adipocytes pathway,and the PPAR signalling pathway.In adipose tissue,HG feeding increased the concentration of TG and decreased the concentration of C18:1 cis9(P<0.05).At the transcrip-tome level,the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway,linoleic acid metabolism pathway,and PPAR signalling pathway were activated.Conclusion HG feeding leads to subacute rumen acidosis and a decreased milk fat content.The fatty acid profiles in the milk and plasma of dairy cows were changed by HG feeding.In muscle and adipose tissue,HG feeding increased TG concentration and up-regulated the expression of genes related to adipogenesis,while down-regulated the expression of genes related to lipid transport.These results complement our knowledge of the fatty acid composi-tion of muscle and adipose tissue in dairy cows and expand our understanding of the mechanisms by which HG diets affect lipid metabolism in muscle and adipose tissue.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of curved AZ31 magnesium alloy profiles produced by differential velocity sideways extrusion

Lightweight curved profiles are widely utilised in the transportation industry considering the increasing need for improving aerodynamic efficiency,aesthetics and cutting emissions.In this paper,curved AZ31 Mg alloy profiles were manufactured in one operation by a novel process,differential velocity sideways extrusion(DVSE),in which two opposed rams were used.Effects of extrusion temperature and velocity(strain rate) on curvature,microstructure,and mechanical properties of the formed profiles were examined.Profile curvature was found to be more readily controlled by the velocity ratio of the bottom ram v2to the top ram v1,whereas extrusion temperature(T=250,300,350℃)and extrusion velocity(v_(1)=0.1,1 mm/s) slightly affect curvature for a given velocity ratio.A homogeneous microstructure with equiaxed grains(~4.5 μm) resulted from dynamic recrystallisation(DRX),was observed after DVSE(v_(2)/v_(1)=1/2) at 300 ℃ and v_(1)=0.1 mm/s,where the initial billet had an average grain size of ~25 um.Increasing extrusion temperature leads to grain growth(~5 μm) at 350 ℃ and v_(1)=0.1 mm/s.DRX is incomplete at the relatively low temperature of 250℃(v_(1)=0.1 mm/s),and higher strain rate with v1=1mm/s(T=300℃),resulting in inhomogeneous bi-modal necklace pattern grains ranging in size around 1-25 μm for the former and 2-20μm for the latter.Grain refinement is attributed to DRX during the severe plastic deformation(SPD) arising in DVSE,and initiates at the prior boundaries of coarse grains in a necklace-like manner.Compared with the billet,micro-hardness and ultimate tensile strength of the profiles have been enhanced,which is compatible with grain refinement.Also,an obvious increase in tensile ductility was found.However,yield strength slightly decreases except for the complete DRXed case(300℃,v_(1)=0.1 mm/s),where a slightly higher value was found,indicating strengthening by grain refinement is greater than softening caused by texture modification.The initial billet had a strong basal texture wherein the {0002} basal plane is oriented parallel to the extrusion direction(’hard’ orientation),while DVSE results in the profiles having weak basal textures and the {0002} basal plane oriented ~5-10° to the extrusion direction(i.e.towards the orientation for easier slip).This significantly modified texture contributes to the softening of the profiles in the extrusion direction,in which tensile tests were performed,and the related elongation improvement.

Effect of particle shape on packing fraction and velocity profiles at outlet of a silo

Many studies on how the particle shape affects the discharge flow mainly focus on discharge rates and avalanche statistics. In this study, the effect of the particle shape on the packing fraction and velocities of particles in the silo discharge flow are investigated by using the discrete element method. The time-averaged packing fraction and velocity profiles through the aperture are systematically measured for superelliptical particles with different blockinesses. Increasing the particle blockiness is found to increase resistance to flow and reduce the flow rate. At an identical outlet size, larger particle blockiness leads to lower velocity and packing fraction at the outlet. The packing fraction profiles display evidently the self-similar feature that can be appropriately adjusted by fractional power law. The velocity profiles for particles with different shapes obey a uniform self-similar law that is in accord with previous experimental results, which is compatible with the hypothesis of free fall arch. To further investigate the origin of flow behaviors, the packing fraction and velocity field in the region above the orifice are computed. Based on these observations, the flow rate of superelliptical particles is calculated and in agreement with the simulated data.

Seasonal stress on semen quality profiles, seminal biochemical and oxidative stress attributes in endangered Teressa goat of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Objective:To measure seasonal effects on semen quality profiles,seminal biochemical and oxidative stress attributes in fresh and liquid stored semen in monsoon and dry seasons.Methods:A total of 10 Teressa bucks(3-4 years)were selected from breeding farm,ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute,Port Blair,Andaman and Nicobar Islands,India.Semen samples(n=25 per season)were collected through artificial vagina method and preserved at refrigerated temperature(5℃)for 48 h using Tris citrate glucose based extender.We detected semen quality parameters[volume,mass activity,pH,sperm concentration,total motility,viability,total sperm abnormality,and plasma membrane,acrosomal and nuclear integrities],biochemical profiles[aspartate amino transferase(AST),alanine amino transferase(ALT)and total cholesterol],and oxidative stress markers[total antioxidant capacity(TAC)and malondialdehyde(MDA)]during monsoon and dry seasons.Results:Semen quality parameters significantly differed between seasons(P<0.05)and among storage periods(P<0.05).Volume,pH,mass activity,motility,viability,acrosomal,plasma membrane and nuclear integrities,and TAC were significantly higher(P<0.05).Sperm concentration,sperm abnormalities,MDA,AST,ALT and total cholesterol were significantly lower in fresh semen of monsoon than dry season(P<0.05).Motility,viability,acrosomal,plasma membrane and nuclear integrities,and TAC were significantly decreased(P<0.05)while sperm abnormality,AST,ALT,total cholesterol and MDA were significantly increased as liquid semen storage period advanced(P<0.05).Conclusions:Monsoon season has higher beneficial effects on semen quality profiles and liquid stored semen remained usable for upto 48 h.Good quality ejaculates with higher TAC and lower MDA can be cryopreserved and will be used for artificial insemination.

Deep Neural Network for Detecting Fake Profiles in Social Networks

This paper proposes a deep neural network(DNN)approach for detecting fake profiles in social networks.The DNN model is trained on a large dataset of real and fake profiles and is designed to learn complex features and patterns that distinguish between the two types of profiles.In addition,the present research aims to determine the minimum set of profile data required for recognizing fake profiles on Facebook and propose the deep convolutional neural network method for fake accounts detection on social networks,which has been developed using 16 features based on content-based and profilebased features.The results demonstrated that the proposed method could detect fake profiles with an accuracy of 99.4%,equivalent to the achieved findings based on bigger data sets and more extensive profile information.The results were obtained with the minimum available profile data.In addition,in comparison with the other methods that use the same amount and kind of data,the proposed deep neural network gives an increase in accuracy of roughly 14%.The proposed model outperforms existing methods,achieving high accuracy and F1 score in identifying fake profiles.The associated findings indicate that the proposed model attained an average accuracy of 99%while considering two distinct scenarios:one with a single theme and another with a miscellaneous one.The results demonstrate the potential of DNNs in addressing the challenging problem of detecting fake profiles,which has significant implications for maintaining the authenticity and trustworthiness of online social networks.

Basis functions for shallow-water temperature profiles based on the internal-wave eigenmodes

The shallow-water temperature profile is typically parameterized using a few empirical orthogonal function(EOF)coefficients.However,when the experimental area is poorly known or highly variable,the adaptability of the EOFs will be significantly reduced.In this study,a new set of basis functions,generated by combining the internal-wave eigenmodes with the average temperature gradient,is developed for characterizing the temperature perturbations.Temperature profiles recorded by a thermistor chain in the South China Sea in 2015 are processed and analyzed.Compared to the EOFs,the new set of basis functions has higher reconstruction accuracy and adaptability;it is also more stable in ocean regions that have internal waves.

Cold exposure alters proteomic profiles of the hypothalamus and pituitary in female rats

Objective:Studies have shown that both short-term and long-term cold exposures disturb the biological process.The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of intermittent cold exposure on proteomic profiles in the hypothalamus and pituitary of female Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats.Materials and methods:The rats were exposed to-10°C in a cabin for 4 h per day,and the treatment lasted for 14 days.The comparative label-free LC-MS/MS analysis was performed to investigate the changes of proteomic profiles in the hypothalamus and pituitary.ELISA analysis was used to validate the expression of differential proteins.Results:22 differential proteins in the hypothalamus and 75 differential proteins in the pituitary were identified by the label-free proteomic analysis.Gene ontology annotation and enrichment analysis indicated that cold exposure disrupted protein phosphorylation,filopodium assembly,intracellular protein transport,peripheral nervous system neuron axonogenesis,spinal cord development,Golgi organization,positive regulation of pseudopodium assembly,and cell-cell adhesion.Three proteins(Cdc42,Ptprs,and Setd7)were down-regulated in the cold exposure group.Conclusion:The results indicate that intermittent cold exposure alters the proteomic profiles of hypothalamus and pituitary in female rats.

Clinical value of chemiluminescence method for detection of antinuclear antibody profiles

BACKGROUND Antinuclear antibodies(ANAs)are crucial in diagnosing autoimmune diseases,mainly systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).This study aimed to compare the performance of chemiluminescence assay(CLIA)and line immunoassay(LIA)in detecting ANAs in patients with autoimmune diseases,evaluate their diagnostic accuracy for SLE,and develop a novel diagnostic model using CLIA-detected antibodies for SLE.Specimens from patients with autoimmune diseases and physical examination specimens were collected to parallel detect specific antibodies.Individual antibodies'diagnostic performance and a model combining multiple antibodies were assessed.The findings provide valuable insights into improving the diagnosis of SLE through innovative approaches.AIM To compare the performance of CLIA and LIA in detecting ANAs in patients with autoimmune diseases,assess their accuracy for SLE,and develop a novel diagnostic model using CLIA-detected antibodies for SLE.METHODS Specimens have been obtained from 270 patients with clinically diagnosed autoimmune disorders,as well as 130 physical examination specimens.After that,parallel detection of anti-double-stranded DNA(dsDNA)antibody,anti-histone(Histone)antibody,anti-nucleosome(Nuc)antibody,anti-Smith(Sm)antibody,anti-ribosomal P protein(Rib-P)antibody,anti-sicca syndrome A(Ro60)antibody,anti-sicca syndrome A(Ro52)antibody,anti-sicca syndrome(SSB)antibody,anticentromere protein B(Cenp-B)antibody,anti-DNA topoisomerase 1(Scl-70)antibody,anti-histidyl tRNA synthetase(Jo-1)antibody,and anti-mitochondrial M2(AMA-M2)antibody was performed using CLIA and LIA.The detection rates,compliance rates,and diagnostic performance for SLE were compared between the two methodologies,followed by developing a novel diagnostic model for SLE.RESULTS CLIA and LIA exhibited essentially comparable detection rates for anti-dsDNA antibody,anti-Histone antibody,anti-Nuc antibody,anti-Sm antibody,anti-Rib-P antibody,anti-Ro60 antibody,anti-Ro52 antibody,anti-SSB antibody,anti-Cenp-B antibody,anti-DNAScl-70 antibody,anti-Jo-1 antibody and anti-AMA-M2 antibody(P>0.05).The two methods displayed identical results for the detection of anti-dsDNA antibody,anti-Histone antibody,anti-Nuc antibody,anti-Sm antibody,anti-Ro60 antibody,anti-Ro52 antibody,anti-SSB antibody,anti-Cenp-B antibody,anti-Scl-70 antibody,and anti-AMA-M2 antibody(Kappa>0.7,P<0.05),but showed a moderate agreement for the detection of anti-Rib-P antibody and anti-Jo-1 antibody(Kappa=0.671 and 0.665;P<0.05).In addition,the diagnostic performance of these antibodies detected by both methods was similar for SLE.The diagnostic model's area under the curve values,sensitivity,and specificity,including an anti-dsDNA antibody and an anti-Ro60 antibody detected by CLIA,were 0.997,0.962,and 0.978,respectively.These values were higher than the diagnostic performance of individual antibodies.CONCLUSION CLIA and LIA demonstrated excellent overall consistency in detecting ANA profiles.A diagnostic model based on CLIA-detected antibodies can successfully contribute to developing a novel technique for detecting SLE.

LC-MS Phytochemical Profiles of Phenolic Compounds and Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Antiplasmodial Activities of Ethanol Extracts of Pycnostachys erici-rosenii R.E.Fr and Leucas martinicensis (Jack.) R.Br (Lamiaceae)

This study has been conducted to analyze the chemical composition and antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiplasmodial properties of ethanol extracts of Pycnostachys erici-rosenii R.E.Fr and Leucas martinicensis (Jack.) R.Br that are not yet well known. The HPLC-DAD-MS-ESI+ method was used to investigate the chemical profile, the disc diffusion and microdilution method for the antimicrobial activities, the DPPH and FRAP assays for antioxidant property and SYBR Green I-based growth inhibition assay on Pf 3D7 (CQ-sensitive) strain for antiplasmodial properties. The results indicated significant amounts of hydroxybenzoic acid, flavonol and hydroxycinnamic acid in the two species. The total polyphenols analysis gave 209.0 ± 16.1 mg GAE/100g DW for P. erici-rosenii and 175.3 ± 1.6 mg GAE/100g DW for L. martinicensis while for total flavonoids analysis 33.4 ± 1.8 mg TE/100g DW was found for P. erici-rosenii and 39.6 ± 0.6 mg TE/100g DW for L. martinicensis. Moreover, antimicrobial tests revealed 0.125 mg/mL on E. faecalis ATCC25922 for ethanol extracts P. erici-rosenii and L. martinicensis. The antioxidant assays revealed IC50 56.17 μg/mL and 78.43 μg/mL for DPPH assay, and 112.03 μM TE/100mL and 90.46 μM TE/100mL) for FRAP assay for ethanol extracts of P. erici-rosenii and L. martinicensis respectively. Finally, for Antiplasmodial activity, IC50 was 4.07 μg/mL for P. erici-rosenii and 12.29 μg/mL for L. martinicensis. Therefore, the antimicrobial, the antioxidant, and the antiplasmodial results suggest that the ethanolic extracts of the aerial parts of P. erici-rosenii and L. martinicensis contain compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiplasmodial properties, which can be searched in new drug discovery for treatment of infectious diseases.

Use of generated artificial road profiles in road roughness evaluation

In the evaluation of road roughness and its effects on vehicles response in terms of ride quality, loads induced on pavement, drivers＇ comfort, etc., it is very common to generate road profles based on the equation provided by ISO 8608 standard, according to which it is possible to group road surface profiles into eight different classes. However, real profiles are significantly different from the artificial ones because of the non-stationary fea- ture of the first ones and the not full capability of the ISO 8608 equation to correctly describe the frequency content of real road profiles. In this paper, the international roughness index, the frequency-weighted vertical acceleration awz according to ISO 2631, and the dynamic load index are applied both on artificial and real profiles, highlighting the different results obtained. The analysis carried out in this work has highlighted some limitation of the ISO 8608 approach in the description of performance and conditions of real pavement profiles. Furthermore, the different sensitivity of the various indices to the fitted power spectral density parameters is shown, which should be taken into account when performing analysis using artificial profiles.

MPEG-4中的Profiles及适用场合

MPEG 4提供了极其丰富的工具集用于对音 /视频对象编码。在实现MPEG 4标准时 ,可以根据应用领域的不同有选择地使用合适的视频、音频、图形和场景描述工具子集 ,这样可提高编解码器的工作效率。那些面向不同应用的工具子集就称为Profiles(档次 ) ,它们限定了一个解码器必须实现的工具集。描述了MPEG 4标准中的Profiles及适用场合。

基于蓝牙Profiles的互连测试系统的研究和实现

对蓝牙通信软件的互连性测试进行了研究 。

Organochlorine compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediment from Baiyangdian Lake,North China:Concentrations,sources profiles and potential risk

Organochlorine pesticides （OCPs）, polychlorinated biphenyls （PCBs）, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） were determined in nineteen surface sediment samples collected from Baiyangdian Lake and its inflowing river （Fuhe River） in North China. Total concentrations of OCPs, PCBs and PAHs in sediments ranged from 5.4 to 707.6 ng]g, 2.3 to 197.8 ng/g, and 101.3 to 6360.5 ng]g, respectively. The levels of contaminants in Fuhe River were significantly higher than those in Baiyandian Lake. For hexachlorocyclohexane （HCHs） and dichlorodiphenytrich/oroethanes （DDTs）, α-HCH and p,p＇-DDT were predominant isomers; while for PCBs, PCB 28/31, PCB 40/103, PCB 60, PCB 101, and PCB 118 were predominant congeners. Possible sources derived from historical usage for OCPs and incomplete combustion fuel, wood, and coal and exhaustion of boats or cars for PAHs. Risk assessment of sediment indicated that sediments in Fuhe River were likely to pose potential biological adverse impact.

Effects of Malnutrition on Economic Productivity in China As Estimated by PROFILES

Objective To calculate the effects of malnutrition on economic productivity in China. Methods PROFILES was used to quantify the function consequences of malnutrition in term of protein energy malnutrition, iron deficiency and iodine deficiency. Results Productivity gained due to improved iodine nutrition. The reduction in the TGR in 1992 to 2001 increased the net present value of further economic productivity by $142 billion. Reduction of the TGR rate to 5% over next 10 years would result in future productivity gains with value of $40 billion. Productivity gain due to reductions in child stunting would result in future economic productivity gains with the value of $101 billion. Reducing stunting further over the next 10 years would gain $20 billion. Productivity gain due to reduction of iron deficiency anemia reduced by 30% over the next 10 years would gain worth $107 billion and if childhood anemia reduced by 30% over next 10 years would gain $348 billion. Conclusion These interventions have huge economic payoff. That is likely to exceed their costs many times over.