Frequency modulation (FM)-to-amplitude modulation (AM) conversion is an important factor that affects the time–power curve of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) high-power laser facilities. This conversion can impact uniform compression and increase the risk of damage to optics. However, the dispersive grating used in the smoothing by spectral dispersion technology will introduce a temporal delay and can spatially smooth the target. The combined effect of the dispersive grating and the focusing lens is equivalent to a Gaussian low-pass filter, which is equivalent to 8 GHz bandwidth and can reduce the intensity modulation on the target to below 5% with 0.3 nm @ 3 GHz + 20 GHz spectrum phase modulation. The results play an important role in the testing and evaluating of the FM-to-AM on the final optics and the target, which is beneficial for comprehensively evaluating the load capacity of the facility and isentropic compression experiment for ICF.

In this behavioral and electrophysiological study, we compare novel word learning, particularly lexical form acquisition, in an immersive virtual reality (VR) context with a picture-word (PW) association context. We also test whether inhibitory control and age of second language acquisition (L2 AoA) have modulating effects. Chinese speakers of L2 English learned two sets of German words, one set in each of the contexts. Behavioral performance from a subsequent recognition task indicated that responses to VR-learned words were faster than PW-leaned words. ERPs revealed that VR-learned words elicited more negative N100 and N200 waveforms than PW-learned words. Moreover, a significant relationship between L2 AoA and N200 amplitude was observed for VR-learned words. Taken together, the results suggest that the multi-sensory, interactive experience simulated by an immersive VR context has a positive effect on early lexical form acquisition of novel words.

The present study investigated the foreign language effect within an altruistic decision making process. Chinese–English bilinguals made altruistic decisions in their native (L1: Chinese) and second language (L2: English). The decisions were framed in two ways: either as “not to harm” (harm frame) or as “to help” the other person (help frame) at one's economic cost. Behavioral results suggest that bilinguals might behave more altruistically in the harm frame than the help frame (i.e., framing effect) in their native language but not in their foreign language. Electrophysiological results show that the modulation of the framing effect in the native versus foreign language originated in the early ERP components (N1 and N2) and did not present in the late positive potential (LPP). These findings suggest the foreign language effect most likely results from the reduced emotional reaction in a foreign compared to the native language.

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary vitamin D3 supplementation on the growth performance, tissue Ca and P concentrations, antioxidant capacity, immune response and lipid metabolism in Litopenaeus vannamei larvae. A total of 720 shrimp (initial weight 0·50 ± 0·01 g) were randomly distributed into six treatments, each of which had three duplicates of forty shrimp per duplicate. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain graded vitamin D3 (0·18, 0·23, 0·27, 0·48, 0·57 and 0·98 mg/kg of vitamin D3, measured) supplementation levels. The results revealed that L. vannamei fed diet containing 0·48 mg/kg of vitamin D3 achieved the best growth performance. Compared with the control group, supplementing 0·48 mg/kg of vitamin D3 significantly increased (P < 0·05) the activities of catalase, total antioxidative capacity, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase in serum and hepatopancreas. Expression levels of antioxidant and immune-related genes were synchronously increased (P < 0·05). Carapace P and Ca concentrations were increased (P < 0·05) with the increased vitamin D3 supplementation levels. Further analysis of lipid metabolism-related genes expression showed that shrimp fed 0·48 mg of vitamin D3 per kg diet showed the highest value in the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes, while shrimp fed 0·98 mg of vitamin D3 per kg diet showed the highest value in the expression of lipolysis-related genes. In conclusion, the results of present study indicated that dietary supplementation of 0·48 mg/kg of vitamin D3 could increase Ca and P concentrations, improve antioxidant capacity and immune response, and influence lipid metabolism in L. vannamei.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been confirmed as the causative agent for cervical cancer. In this study, a total of 301 880 women were recruited from four different regions of Western China, with 301 880 exfoliated cervical cell samples collected from women for DNA isolation and purification. The HPV genotype was tested by polymerase chain reaction. The overall HPV prevalence rate, high-risk (HR) HPV infection rate, low-risk (LR) HPV infection rate and mixed HPV infection rate was 18.24%, 79.14%, 12.56% and 8.30%, respectively. The four most common HR HPV subtypes were HPV-52, 16, 58 and 53, which accounted for 20.49%, 19.93%, 14.54% and 10.01%, respectively. In LR HPV genotype, HPV-6 ranked the highest (28.17%), followed by HPV-81 (9.09%) and HPV-11 (3.78%). HPV genotype subgroup analysis also showed that single-type infection was the most common (77.26%) among HPV-positive individuals. Among multi-infection genotypes, double infection was the most common with frequencies of 76.04%. The overall prevalence of HPV is high in Western China, whose distribution demonstrates different patterns across different ages and regions. Viral genotypes HPV 53, 6 were frequently detected in this population, which is worth of significant clinical attention.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary Zn level on growth performance, Zn bioaccumulation, antioxidant capacity and innate immunity in juvenile mud crabs (Scylla paramamosain). Six semi-purified diets were formulated to contain dietary Zn levels of 44·5, 56·9, 68·5, 97·3, 155·6 or 254·7 mg/kg. Dietary Zn level significantly influenced percentage weight gain (PWG), with the highest observed in crabs fed the diet containing 97·3 mg/kg Zn. Tissue Zn concentrations significantly increased as dietary Zn levels increased from 44·5 to 254·7 mg/kg. Retention of Zn in hepatopancreas increased with dietary Zn levels up to 68·5 mg/kg and then significantly decreased. Moreover, inadequate dietary Zn (44·5 and 56·9 mg/kg) reduced antioxidation markers including total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Cu/Zn SOD activities and total antioxidant level. Crabs fed the diet with 44·5 mg/kg Zn also showed significantly lower expression of genes involved in antioxidant status, such as Cu/Zn SOD, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and thioredoxin than those fed diets containing 68·5 and 97·3 mg/kg Zn. The highest activities of phenoloxidase and alkaline phosphatase were recorded in crabs fed the diets containing 68·5 and 97·3 mg/kg Zn. Expression levels of prophenoloxidase and toll-like receptor 2 were higher in crabs fed the 97·3 mg/kg Zn diet compared with crabs fed the other diets. Based on PWG alone, the optimal dietary Zn level was estimated to be 82·9 mg/kg, with 68·5 to 97·3 mg/kg recommended for maintaining optimal Zn bioaccumulation, oxidation resistance and innate immune response of juvenile mud crabs.

The aim of the study was to investigate how maternal dietary patterns and maternal/fetal cytokines are associated with birth weight and whether cytokines mediate the association. A total of 469 pregnant women and their children were recruited for this prospective study. Dietary patterns in pregnancy were identified using factor analysis of data from three consecutive 24 h dietary recalls. Maternal and umbilical blood serum cytokines (adiponectin (APN), IL-6 and interferon-γ) were measured via ELISA. Path analysis was used to explore the relationships between maternal diet, cytokines and birth weight. Four dietary patterns were identified: a mainly fruit, dairy products and poultry diet (FDP); a mainly vegetables, beans and pork diet (VBP); a mainly fish, shrimp and soup diet (FS) and a mainly tuber and egg diet (TE). Path analysis showed the order of effects of dietary patterns on birth weight was FS>FDP>TE>VBP (β=0·130, 0·109, –0·094 and 0·046, respectively). Only the TE pattern’s effect was negative. Maternal and fetal APN were positively associated with birth weight (β=0·045 and 0·226, respectively), and they mediated the association between the TE pattern and birth weight (indirect effect was 5·3 %). Maternal IL-6 was negatively associated with birth weight (β=–0·067) and mediated the association between maternal FDP and VBP patterns and birth weight (indirect effects were 10·1 and 100·0 %, respectively). All variables in the path explained 33·6 % of variation. These results suggested that maternal dietary patterns in pregnancy are associated with birth weight and mediated directly and indirectly through some maternal/fetal serum cytokines.

In this paper, we review the status of the multifunctional experimental platform at the National Laboratory of High Power Laser and Physics (NLHPLP). The platform, including the SG-II laser facility, SG-II 9th beam, SG-II upgrade (SG-II UP) facility, and SG-II 5 PW facility, is operational and available for interested scientists studying inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and a broad range of high-energy-density physics. These facilities can provide important experimental capabilities by combining different pulse widths of nanosecond, picosecond, and femtosecond scales. In addition, the SG-II UP facility, consisting of a single petawatt system and an eight-beam nanosecond system, is introduced including several laser technologies that have been developed to ensure the performance of the facility. Recent developments of the SG-II 5 PW facility are also presented.

Soil moisture is a key factor in the ecohydrological cycle in water-limited ecosystems, and it integrates the effects of climate, soil, and vegetation. The water balance and the hydrological cycle are significantly important for vegetation restoration in water-limited regions, and these dynamics are still poorly understood. In this study, the soil moisture and water balance were modelled with the stochastic soil water balance model in the Loess Plateau, China. This model was verified by monitoring soil moisture data of black locust plantations in the Yangjuangou catchment in the Loess Plateau. The influences of a rainfall regime change on soil moisture and water balance were also explored. Three meteorological stations were selected (Yulin, Yan'an, and Luochuan) along the precipitation gradient to detect the effects of rainfall spatial variability on the soil moisture and water balance. The results showed that soil moisture tended to be more frequent at low levels with decreasing precipitation, and the ratio of evapotranspiration under stress in response to rainfall also changed from 74.0% in Yulin to 52.3% in Luochuan. In addition, the effects of a temporal change in rainfall regime on soil moisture and water balance were explored at Yan'an. The soil moisture probability density function moved to high soil moisture in the wet period compared to the dry period of Yan'an, and the evapotranspiration under stress increased from 59.5% to 72% from the wet period to the dry period. The results of this study prove the applicability of the stochastic model in the Loess Plateau and reveal its potential for guiding the vegetation restoration in the next stage.

Previous studies have demonstrated that language switching in bilinguals can be affected by a number of variables, including the processing context. Here, we used a modified language-switching task combined with a Stroop paradigm, which manipulated the context of the task, to examine the impact of processing context on switch costs. The results of both Experiment 1 and Experiment 2 showed that the switch costs and the level of asymmetry in the switch costs are larger in the conflicting context than in the non-conflicting context, suggesting that the processing context affects the switch costs. In addition, the results of Experiment 2 revealed that individual variances in cognitive control capacity also play a role in the overall magnitude of the switch costs. Critically, processing context effects can be modulated by individual variance in cognitive control capacities. The results of this study are discussed within the framework of classic models of bilingual language control (e.g., the inhibitory control model).

Porous carbon nanomaterials with significant capacitive performance were successfully prepared through a simple two-step process of thermal-polymerization and carbonization without an additional template. As a result, the as-prepared porous carbon nanomaterials of sample-A and sample-B exhibited an amorphous phase with low graphitization. And sample-A showed a moderate specific surface area of 476.39 m2/g, larger than that of sample-B (280.94 m2/g). The relatively high mass specific capacitance of 205.1 F/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/s and 211 F/g at a current density of 4 A/g was obtained by sample-A, which are higher than those of sample-B (82.6 F/g at 5 mV/s and 78.6 F/g at 4 A/g). Sample-A also showed excellent conductivity and superior cyclic stability with 94.19% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles, which are also higher than those of sample-B. This work proposed a cost-effective, green, and promising strategy for the large-scale preparation of porous carbon nanomaterial electrodes.

In this article, we report on the preparation of few-layered MoS2/graphene nanocomposite (MoS2/GNS-G) with enlarged interlayer distance as the lithium-ion battery anode via a facile hydrothermal method followed by glucose-assisted thermal annealing. During the synthesis, glucose serving as a small organic molecule can interlay into MoS2 nanosheets, which effectively hinder the aggregation and restacking of MoS2 during the process of heat treatment, retaining a sandwich structure of the composite. The enlarged interlayer distance (approximately 0.98 nm), along with the inserted amorphous carbon, could promote efficient lithium migration into active sites, buffer the volume change and stabilize the electrode structure effectively during the lithium insertion/extraction cycling. Electrochemical tests demonstrate that the MoS2/GNS-G delivers a high discharge capacity of 1583.0 mA h/g in the initial cycle at current density of 100 mA/g. The specific capacity remained at the relative high value of 673.5 mA h/g even at a current density of 1000 mA/g.

A novel two-stage reheating process with new alloy design has been developed to improve the microstructure morphology of semisolid Al–Si casting aluminum alloy for thixoforming. The process consists of first reheating the material to the liquidus temperature, holding for 5 min, and then lowering to the predetermined two-stage reheating temperature between 843–863 K and holding for 10 min. The experimentally-obtained grain diameter, roundness, and the amount of liquid trapped within the solid phase were characterized, along with the microstructure obtained using the traditional feedstock reheating process. The Wilcox test (with α = 0.05) was then applied to statistically analyze the measured differences in the microstructures obtained using the two different processing routes. It was found that a refined near-spherical structure with uniform globule size, higher sphericity, lower coarsening rate constant, and less entrapped liquid was obtained via the new two-stage reheating process in comparison with the microstructure obtained using the traditional feedstock reheating process.

Interoperability of GNSS Open Services is a significant trend in the development of all the satellite navigation systems, and its performance will directly affect the users' security and reliability. Therefore, the monitoring and assessment of GNSS Open Services has become a focus of attention for all providers and users of GNSS. In this paper the elements and methods for the monitoring and assessment of GNSS Open Services are investigated first. Then the schemes designed for an international GNSS Monitoring and Assessment System (iGMAS) are proposed. The schemes are based on omni-directional antennas, multi-beam antennas and a high-gain paraboloid antenna to achieve Quadruple-overlap and Single-overlap coverage and sophisticated analysis respectively. Moreover, the scheme for the deployment of world-wide monitoring stations is also proposed. Finally, some related works that have been conducted to monitor and assess Beidou Open Services are introduced, which verifies the feasibility of the proposed system.

Virtual population analysis (VPA) is often used for assessing freshwater and marine fisheries resources. One important component in VPA is to calibrate abundance estimates with a time series of abundance indices. One of the commonly used calibration processes usually includes simultaneous estimation of cohort sizes across all ages and years. This reduces the flexibility of the model in accounting for age- and year-effects, in particular in the presence of an age-specific curvilinear relationship between abundance index and stock abundance. In this study, we compared this simultaneous method tuning approach with a stepwise approach which calibrates abundance age by age in tuning VPA. The simulation study suggests that the stepwise procedure tends to perform better with no obvious retrospective errors in the estimated stock biomass compared with the simultaneous method which tends to have large positive retrospective errors. In applying the stepwise procedure and simultaneous method to a cod fishery data set, we found large differences in the stock sizes estimated for the most recent year using these two methods, with the current stock size estimated using the stepwise method being substantially smaller than that estimated with the simultaneous method. Considering the likelihood of the presence of curvilinear relationship between abundance index and stock abundance, we conclude that the stepwise method yields more reliable results, and is less risk-prone in using VPA for fisheries stock assessment.

Studies have been carried out on the thickness dependent transition between the amorphous and microcrystalline phases in intrinsic Si:H materials (i-layers) and its effect on p-i-n solar cell performance [1]. P(a-SiC:H)-i(a-Si:H)-n(μcSi:H) cell structures were deposited with the intrinsic Si:H layer thickness and the flow ratio of hydrogen to silane, R=[H2]/[SiH4], guided by an evolutionary phase diagram obtained from real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry. The thickness range over which the fill factors are controlled by the bulk was established and their characteristics investigated with different protocrystalline i-layer materials (i.e., materials prepared near the amorphous to microcrystalline boundary but on the amorphous side). Insights into the properties of these materials and the effects of the transition to the microcrystalline phase were obtained from the systematic changes in the initial fill factors, their light-induced changes, and their degraded steady states for cells with i-layers of different thickness and H2 dilution.

Current-voltage, light I-V and internal quantum efficiency characteristics have been investigated in specular TCO/n+(a-Si:H)/i(a-Si:H)/Nickel Schottky barrier cell structures with protocrystalline intrinsic layers. The studies were carried out on structures with different thickness i layers after a degraded steady state had been reached with AMI.5 illumination at 27°C. These characteristics were modeled using the Analysis of Microelectronic and Photonic Structures(AMPS) and a gap state distribution, which includes charged defects, used in the analysis of results of detailed studies on thin films[1]. Fits are obtained to these characteristics for the different thickness cell structures using the same parameters as those used to fit the results on the corresponding intrinsic thin films. The results obtained from this study offer an approach to more reliable modeling of solar cells at their “end of life”.