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A high-power fiber laser was used to cut AZ31B magnesium alloy. The effects of laser cutting speed, assisted air pressure, and defocus on cutting quality were studied systematically. Scanning electron microscope and ultra-depth-of-field three-dimensional microscope were used to observe the morphology of kerf and the cutting surface. The results show that the kerf width at the straight line and the kerf width at the sharp corner always keep the synchronous change law. The cutting surface can usually be divided into three areas: top area, scour area, and stripe area. The change of the area of the three regions has an important influence on the roughness value of the cutting surface. Studying the variation of roughness by studying the variation of three areas is applicable to laser cutting speed and assisted air pressure, but not to defocus. The slag height decreases from 75.87 to 46.83 μm with the increase of laser cutting speed. The slag height decreases rapidly to 52.88 μm and then increases slowly to 61.74 μm with the change of defocus. The slag height decreases rapidly from 58.37 to 24.81 μm with the increase of assisted air pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the efficiency and accuracy of multitarget detection of soldering defects on surface-mounted components in Printed Circuit Board (PCB) fabrication, we propose a sample generation method using Stable Diffusion Model and ControlNet, as well as a defect detection method based on the Swin Transformer. The method consists of two stages: First, high-definition original images collected in industrial production and the corresponding prompts are input to Stable Diffusion Model and ControlNet for automatic generation of nonindependent samples. Subsequently, we integrate Swin Transformer as the backbone into the Cascade Mask R-CNN to improve the quality of defect features extracted from the samples for accurate detection box localization and segmentation. Instead of segmenting individual components on the PCB, the method inspects all components in the field of view simultaneously over a larger area. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method in scaling up nonindependent sample datasets, thereby enabling the generation of high-quality datasets. The method accurately recognizes targets and detects defect types when performing multitarget inspection on printed circuit boards. The analysis against other models shows that our improved defect detection and segmentation method improves the Average Recall (AR) by 2.8% and the mean Average Precision (mAP) by 1.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examine the wave equation with a nontrivial boundary condition. The main target of this study is to prove the local-in-time existence and the blow-up in finite time of the energy solution. Through the construction of an auxiliary function and the imposition of appropriate conditions on the initial data, we establish the both lower and upper bounds for the blow-up time of the solution. Meanwhile, based on these estimates, we obtain the result of the local-in-time existence and the blow-up of the energy solution. This approach enhances our understanding of the dynamics leading to blow-up in the considered condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface acoustic wave resonators are widely applied in electronics, communication, and other engineering fields. However, the spurious modes generally present in resonators can cause deterioration in device performance. Therefore, this paper proposes a hexagonal weighted structure to suppress them. With the construction of a finite element resonator model, the parameters of the interdigital transducer (IDT) and the area of the dummy finger weighting are determined. The spurious waves are confined within the dummy finger area, whereas the main mode is less affected by this structure. To verify the suppression effect of the simulation, resonators with conventional and hexagonal weighted structures are fabricated using the micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) process. After the S-parameter test of the prepared resonators, the hexagonal weighted resonators achieve a high level of spurious mode suppression. Their properties are superior to those of the conventional structure, with a higher Q value (10,406), a higher minimum return loss (25.7 dB), and a lower ratio of peak sidelobe (19%). This work provides a feasible solution for the design of SAW resonators to suppress spurious modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summer maize constitutes a major food crop in the Yellow River Basin. Optimizing nitrogen (N) application management for this crop not only elevates its yield but also reduces N leaching, thereby ensuring food security and lessening agricultural surface pollution. Utilizing two years of summer maize field experiments, the soil water heat carbon and N simulator (WHCNS) was calibrated and validated against empirical measurements. Subsequent analyses employed the calibrated WHCNS to analyze 56 different N management scenarios. These scenarios varied in terms of N application levels, basal N to topdress application ratios, and chase ratios. The entropy-weighted TOPSIS method was utilized for the optimization, considering agronomic, environmental, and economic aspects. The model's calibration accuracy was validated by root mean square errors, relative root mean square errors, and mean errors for soil volumetric water content and soil nitrate N content. The calibration results demonstrated that the new model was capable of simulating the soil hydraulic characteristics, N cycling, and the growth and development of summer maize during the reproductive phase in the Yellow River Basin. Scenario analyses revealed that increasing the N application initially elevated, then stabilized, summer maize yields, whereas the N agronomic efficiency first increased and then decreased. Moreover, reducing the basal N to topdress application ratios and increasing the chase ratios during the tasseling and flowering stages could minimize the nitrate N leaching and optimize both the yield and N fertilizer agronomic utilization. Specifically, the optimal N management for the current year involved applying 170 kg·ha−1 of N with a basal N to the topdress N application ratio of 1:5 and a chase ratio of 1:1 during the tasseling and flowering stages. This study lays the foundation for developing N fertilizer management strategies for summer maize cultivation in the Yellow River Basin. Furthermore, the methodology established here can be adapted for optimizing the management of diverse crops in different geographical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a malignant tumor originating from the renal tubular epithelium. Although the microRNAs (miRNAs) transcriptome of ccRCC has been extensively studied, the role of miRNAs editing in ccRCC is largely unknown. By analyzing small RNA sequencing profiles of renal tissues of 154 ccRCC patients and 22 normal controls, we identified 1025 miRNA editing sites from 246 pre-miRNAs. There were 122 editing events with significantly different editing levels in ccRCC compared to normal samples, which include two A-to-I editing events in the seed regions of hsa-mir-376a-3p and hsa-mir-376c-3p, respectively, and one C-to-U editing event in the seed region of hsa-mir-29c-3p. After comparing the targets of the original and edited miRNAs, we found that hsa-mir-376a-1_49g, hsa-mir-376c_48g and hsa-mir-29c_59u had many new targets, respectively. Many of these new targets were deregulated in ccRCC, which might be related to the different editing levels of hsa-mir-376a-3p, hsa-mir-376c-3p, hsa-mir-29c-3p in ccRCC compared to normal controls. Our study sheds new light on miRNA editing events and their potential biological functions in ccRCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schatzker IV-C is a high-energy tibial plateau fracture often accompanied by lateral meniscus injuries. While imaging examinations are routine preoperative measurements, the correlation between CT imaging shift parameters of the lateral plateau and lateral meniscal injury in Schatzker IV-C fractures remains uncovered. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled a total of 60 patients with Schatzker IV-C tibial plateau fractures at the First People's Hospital of Hefei. Prior to surgery, CT imaging was used to measure the numerical values of lateral plateau depression (LPD) and lateral plateau widening (LPW). The degree of lateral meniscus injury was confirmed based on intraoperative direct vision, with patients being classified into meniscus injury and non-meniscus injury groups. Dichotomous logistic regression was employed to evaluate the correlation between LPD, LPW, and lateral meniscus injury, while the optimal cut-off points for predicting lateral meniscal injury with LPD and LPW were determined using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: The meniscus injury group exhibited a mean LPD of 15.3 ± 3.5 mm, which was significantly higher than the non-meniscus injury group's mean LPD of 8.4 ± 3.4 mm (P < 0.05). Similarly, the meniscus injury group had a larger mean LPW of 9.4 ± 1.8 mm compared to the non-meniscus injury group's mean LPW of 6.9 ± 0.9 mm (P < 0.05). The optimal cut-off points for predicting lateral meniscal injury were determined to be 8.40 mm for LPD (with a sensitivity of 95%, specificity of 85%, and AUC of 0.898) and 7.90 mm for LPW (with a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 90%, and AUC of 0.897). Conclusions: Patients with Schatzker IV-C tibial plateau fractures are at a significantly higher risk of lateral meniscal injury when the LPD exceeds 8.40 mm and/or the LPW exceeds 7.90 mm. Our results may provide novel reference metrics for the early diagnosis of lateral meniscal injury in Schatzker IV-C tibial plateau fracture patients when the MRI examination is not available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a malignant tumor originating from the renal tubular epithelium. Although the microRNAs (miRNAs) transcriptome of ccRCC has been extensively studied, the role of miRNAs editing in ccRCC is largely unknown. By analyzing small RNA sequencing profiles of renal tissues of 154 ccRCC patients and 22 normal controls, we identified 1025 miRNA editing sites from 246 pre-miRNAs. There were 122 editing events with significantly different editing levels in ccRCC compared to normal samples, which include two A-to-I editing events in the seed regions of hsa-mir-376a-3p and hsa-mir-376c-3p, respectively, and one C-to-U editing event in the seed region of hsa-mir-29c-3p. After comparing the targets of the original and edited miRNAs, we found that hsa-mir-376a-1_49g, hsa-mir-376c_48g and hsa-mir-29c_59u had many new targets, respectively. Many of these new targets were deregulated in ccRCC, which might be related to the different editing levels of hsa-mir-376a-3p, hsa-mir-376c-3p, hsa-mir-29c-3p in ccRCC compared to normal controls. Our study sheds new light on miRNA editing events and their potential biological functions in ccRCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Evaluate the efficacy and safety of triple therapeutic method (Hepatic Aarterial Infusion Chemotherapy—HAIC, lenvatinib and sequential ablation) in the treatment for Advanced Hepatocellular carcinoma (Ad‐HCC). Materials and Methods: From November 2018 to June 2021, data from 150 consecutive Ad‐HCC patients were collected. All patients received HAIC combined with lenvatinib (H‐L group, n = 97) or HAIC combined with lenvatinib and sequential ablation (H‐L‐A group, n = 53). Complications, overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS) and intrahepatic progression‐free survival (IPFS) were compared between both groups. Results: No significant differences of baseline characteristics were found between groups. The time of median follow‐up was 17.8 months (range, 6.8, 37.6 months). In comparison to the H‐L group, the H‐L‐A group patients showed significantly longer median OS (>30 months vs 13.6 months, respectively; p = 0.010), PFS (12.8 vs. 5.6 months, respectively; p < 0.001), and IPFS (14.6 vs. 6.8 months, respectively; p = 0.002). According to the results from uni‐ and multivariable analyses, we considered α‐fetoprotein and treatment modality as two survival independent prognostic factors. No significant change of the complication incidences was observed between H‐L group and H‐L‐A group (12.4% vs. 11.3%, p = 0.890). Conclusion: Compared to HAIC combined with lenvatinib only, HAIC combined with lenvatinib and sequential ablation was safer and more effective, improving survival outcomes of Ad‐HCC patients. A prospective study will be designed validate the retrospective results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of target phosphorus (P) content on the precipitates, microstructure, texture, magnetic properties, and mechanical properties of low-carbon (C) and low-silicon (Si) non-oriented electrical steel (NOES) was investigated and the influence mechanism was clarified. The results indicate that the precipitates in the steels are mainly aluminum (Al)-manganese (Mn)-Si-bearing complex nitrides ((Al,Si,Mn)xNy) and P-bearing complex nitrides ((Al,Si,Mn)xNy-P). Increasing target phosphorus content in the steels decreases (Al,Si,Mn)xNy, and increases (Al,Si,Mn)xNy-P. The number density of the precipitates is the lowest, and the average size of the precipitates and grain size of the finished steel is the largest in the samples with target P content at the 0.14% level (0.14%P-targeted). The average grain size and microstructure homogeneity of the steels are influenced by the addition of phosphorus. The content of the {111}<112> component decreases, and the favorable texture increases after phosphorus is added to the steel. The magnetic induction of the steel is improved. Grain refinement and microstructure inhomogeneity lead to an iron loss increase after target phosphorus content increases in the steel. The best magnetic induction B50 is 1.765 T in the 0.14%P-targeted samples. The tensile strength and yield strength are improved owing to solid solution strengthening and the grain refinement effect of phosphorus added to the steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic glasses (MGs) with a unique atomic structure have been widely used in the catalytic degradation of organic pollutants in the recent years. Fe78Si9B13 MGs exhibited excellent catalytic performance for the degradation of oily wastewater in a Fenton-like system for the first time. The oil removal and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal from the oily wastewater were 72.67% and 70.18% within 60 min, respectively. Quenching experiments were performed to verify the production of active hydroxyl radicals (·OH) by activating hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The formation of ·OH species can significantly contribute to the degradation reaction of oily wastewater. Fe78Si9B13 MG ribbons were highly efficient materials that exhibited superior reactivity towards H2O2 activation in oily wastewater treatment. The study revealed the catalytic capability of metallic glasses, presenting extensive prospects of their applications in oily wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become a promising approach and non-invasive modality for cancer treatment, however the therapeutic effect of PDT is limited in tumor metastasis and local recurrence. Herein, a tumor targeted nanomedicine (designated as PCN@HA) is constructed for enhanced PDT against tumors. By modified with hyaluronic acid (HA), which could target the CD44 receptor that expressed on the cancer cells, the targeting ability of PCN@HA has been enhanced. Under light irradiation, PCN@HA can produce cytotoxic singlet oxygen (1O 2) and kill cancer cells, then eliminate tumors. Furthermore, PCN@HA exhibits fluorescence (FL)/ photoacoustic (PA) effects for multimodal imaging-guided cancer treatment. And PCN@HA-mediated PDT also can induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) and stimulate adaptive immune responses by releasing of tumor antigens. By combining with anti-PD-L1 checkpoint blockade therapy, it can not only effectively suppress the growth of primary tumor, but also inhibit the metastatic tumor growth. • PCN@HA achieved fluorescence/photoacoustic dual-mode imaging guided cancer treatment. • PCN@HA-mediated PDT induced immunogenic cell death. • By combining with anti-PD-L1 checkpoint blockade therapy, both primary tumor and metastatic tumor were suppressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nerve agents pose significant threats to civilian and military populations. The reactivation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is critical in treating acute poisoning, but there is still lacking broad-spectrum reactivators, which presents a big challenge. Therefore, insights gained from the reactivation kinetic analysis and molecular docking are essential for understanding the behavior of reactivators towards intoxicated AChE. In this research, we present a systematic determination of the reactivation kinetics of three V agents-inhibited four human ChEs [(AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)) from either native or recombinant resources, namely, red blood cell (RBC) AChE, rhAChE, hBChE, rhBChE) reactivated by five standard oximes. We unveiled the effect of native and recombinant ChEs on the reactivation kinetics of V agents ex vitro , where the reactivation kinetics characteristic of Vs-inhibited BChE was reported for the first time. In terms of the inhibition type, all of the five oxime reactivators exhibited noncompetitive inhibition. The inhibition potency of these reactivators would not lead to the difference in the reactivation kinetics between native and recombinant ChE. Despite the significant differences between the native and recombinant ChEs observed in the inhibition, aging, and spontaneous reactivation kinetics, the reactivation kinetics of V agent-inhibited ChEs by oximes were less differentiated, which were supported by the ligand docking results. We also found differences in the reactivation efficiency between five reactivators and the phosphorylated enzyme, and molecular dynamic simulations can further explain from the perspectives of conformational stability, hydrogen bonding, binding free energies, and amino acid contributions. By Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) calculations, the total binding free energy trends aligned well with the experimental k r2 values. • First reactivation kinetic analysis between native and recombinant ChEs inhibited by V agents. • Recombinant ChEs may replace native ChEs in the research of reactivation kinetics. • MD simulations provide a supportive understanding of the reactivation differences among five reactivators. • The total binding free energy trends aligned well with the experimental k r2 values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bio-nano composite fluid has environmental protection and excellent ability to enhance oil recovery. • The mechanism of enhanced oil recovery by BNF was revealed through microscopic oil film stripping experiment. • The research of BNF has guiding significance for the development of offshore reservoirs with medium and low permeability. Aiming at the problems of small pores, complex structure, large seepage resistance, and poor recovery effect in the development process of offshore medium and low permeability reservoirs, a green and environmental friendly biological nanocomposite fluid (BNF) was developed to enhanced crude oil recovery (EOR). Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in the laboratory, and citric acid, tannic acid, sodium alginate, and trehalose lipids were used as surface modifiers for NPs and as fluid stabilizers. The nanocomposites were characterized by SEM–EDS, TEM, FTIR, XPS, XRD, and VSM. The EOR mechanism of BNF was studied by laboratory experiments, in which the interfacial tension can be reduced by 80 %. Moreover, 500 ppm BNF could keep oil and water emulsified for more than 3 months. Static separation of oil droplets and dynamic stripping of oil film exhibited obvious effects, and the bioactive substances' dispersant and NPs can jointly drive away residual oil. The experiment on core displacement of crude oil showed that 500 ppm BNF can enhance oil recovery by 15.56 % on the basis of water flooding. The BNF oil displacement agent is economic and environmental friendly, providing a new method for the green and high-quality development of offshore oil fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D materials have been widely applied in flexible electronics but only with limited stretchability, because the metal‐halide bonding is so strong that the materials' electronic properties will be severely influenced upon tensile strain. Here, a strategy is proposed for the fabrication of ultrastretchable MoS2 photoreceptors based on chemical vapor deposition‐grown or manually stacked multilayer MoS2. Strain‐dependent spectroscopic comparisons of multilayer versus monolayer MoS2 indicate that the strain transfer is suppressed from bottom to top layers owing to interlayer sliding, which is consistent with the density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations. Thus, the optoelectronic properties of multilayer MoS2 can withstand larger mechanical strain than monolayer MoS2. Leveraging this mechanical feature, ten‐layer MoS2 photodetector is fabricated on polystyrene‐b‐poly (ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐polystyrene elastomer, withstanding ≈50% tensile strain and presenting 32 times higher photoresponsivity than that of monolayer MoS2 under the same stretching condition. Based on large‐area bilayer MoS2 film, 5 × 5 stretchable photodetector array is demonstrated and is capable of working as artificial photoreceptors to control a robotic hand under 16% tensile strain, showing great potential in applications for 2D material‐based electronic skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ZVI and B-assisted nCP/Fe(III) systems could achieve efficient decontamination. • The dominant active species in the enhanced nCP/Fe(III) systems were identified. • Fe(II) was generated simultaneously by Fe(III) reduction and ZVI corrosion. • B continuously supplied electrons to Fe(III) to ensure fast Fe(II) generation. • Efficient NAP degradation in various water matrixes was achieved. Nano calcium peroxide (nCP) has attracted attention as an alternative for liquid H 2 O 2 -mediated advanced oxidation processes. However, the slow reduction kinetics of Fe(III) still significantly limit its application. Here, zero valent iron (ZVI) and amorphous boron (B) could remarkably promote the Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycle in nCP/Fe(III) system to generate various active species (HO•, O 2 −•, and 1O 2) with HO• acting as the predominant role in naphthalene (NAP) degradation. nCP/Fe(III)/ZVI process could achieve 98.2% NAP degradation and 70.6% TOC removal, compared with 97.5% NAP degradation and 56.3% TOC removal in nCP/Fe(III)/B process. ZVI could donate electrons to Fe(III) to generate Fe(II) and itself could also be corroded to release Fe(II). B was stepwise oxidized (B0 to B(I)/B(II) to B 2 O 3) and continuously supplied electrons to Fe(III) to ensure fast and long-lasting Fe(II) generation. Moreover, B 2 O 3 was dissolved as H 3 BO 3 in aqueous solution, which kept the B surface reactive for the continuous reduction of Fe(III). Although the two co-activators showed different promotion mechanisms in nCP/Fe(III) system, both systems exhibited excellent NAP degradation performance in different experimental conditions and various water matrixes. Overall, this study provided the strategies to overcome the limitation of nCP/Fe(III) system and extended its application potential in contaminants remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immortalized cell lines have long been used as model systems to systematically investigate biological processes under controlled and reproducible conditions, providing insights that have greatly advanced cellular biology and medical sciences. Recently, the widely used monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1, was comprehensively examined to understand mechanistic relationships between the 3D chromatin structure and transcription during the trans-differentiation of monocytes to macrophages. To corroborate these observations in primary cells, we analyze in situ Hi-C and RNA-seq data of human primary monocytes and their differentiated macrophages in comparison to that obtained from the monocytic/macrophagic THP-1 cells. Surprisingly, we find significant differences between the primary cells and the THP-1 cells at all levels of chromatin structure, from loops to topologically associated domains to compartments. Importantly, the compartment-level differences correlate significantly with transcription: those genes that are in A-compartments in the primary cells but are in B-compartments in the THP-1 cells exhibit a higher level of expression in the primary cells than in the THP-1 cells, and vice versa. Overall, the genes in these different compartments are enriched for a wide range of pathways, and, at least in the case of the monocytic cells, their altered expression in certain pathways in the THP-1 cells argues for a less immune cell-like phenotype, suggesting that immortalization or prolonged culturing of THP-1 caused a divergence of these cells from their primary counterparts. It is thus essential to reexamine phenotypic details observed in cell lines with their primary counterparts so as to ensure a proper understanding of functional cell states in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Albumin nanoparticles represent an approved anti-tumor drug delivery system. However, there is only one albumin nanoparticle product (paclitaxel-albumin nanoparticle) on the market. The application of albumin carriers is limited by the lack of universal preparation technology and insufficient targeting effect. Herein, we developed multifunctional albumin sub-microspheres prepared by coaxial-electrospray technology to co-delivery bufalin and nintedanib for tumor-targeted combination therapy. The biguanide and ursodeoxycholic acid dual-modified multifunctional albumin was synthesized to enhance the anti-tumor effect and tumor target efficiency. Coaxial-electrospray technology was utilized in preparing albumin sub-microspheres with a core-shell structure that enables payload efficiency and stability. More importantly, the in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the multifunctional albumin sub-microspheres possessed superior tumor target efficiency. Furthermore, nintedanib and bufalin combined therapy relieved the tumor microenvironment and exerted a synergistic therapeutic effect. Therefore, this work provides a novel method for fabricating an albumin-based drug delivery system and a potential efficient combination therapeutic strategy for tumor treatment. [Display omitted] • Nintedanib/bufalin co-loaded albumin sub-microspheres (BF-ND-BUP-sMPs) were prepared. • Core-shell structural albumin sMPs were fabricated by coaxial-electrospray technology. • BF-ND-BUP-sMPs displayed tumor targeting and synergistic anti-tumor effect. • BF-ND-BUP-sMPs regulated tumor microenvironment and improved the therapeutic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roll stability loss of heavy vehicle is a severe road safety problem and modern intelligent heavy vehicle (IHV) raises new requirement for advanced roll stability control technology. Two novel roll stability control frameworks, namely active steering-active anti-roll (AS-AAR) interactive control and worst-case optimized robust control, which have potential application to guaranteeing roll stability of IHV are proposed and investigated in this paper. The first control framework is implemented based on Nash dynamic game theory in which AS-AAR shared control is investigated as a dynamic difference game so that its two players, namely AS and AAR system, can interact with each other to provide satisfactory control performance. This interactive control scheme can be applied to vehicle automated driving scenario to improve vehicle tracking performance and roll stability. Based on zero-sum game theory, the second worst-case optimized robust control scheme is also developed to guarantee vehicle roll stability. This control method provides a suitable design framework to guarantee roll stability in scenario of vehicle-to-driver handover for IHV in which the steering input from human driver is regarded as uncertain disturbance. Simulation results show that both control frameworks can effectively improve roll stability as well as lateral stability while ensuing satisfied tracking performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary developments across automotive, aerospace, and military industries, there is an ever-growing demand for lightweight and robust polymer composites. In this study, a ductile epoxy resin, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), and silica nanoparticles were used to fabricate nano-fillers/epoxy composites and nano-fillers/silk fibers/epoxy hybrid composites through solution casting and hot pressing. Their mechanical properties and thermal characteristics were analyzed and compared, which show that: these nano-fillers can dramatically enhance the strength and stiffness of the ductile epoxy resin; however, this is achieved at the expense of its toughness and extensibility. CNT/silk fiber/epoxy hybrid composite has the highest tensile strength (81.10 MPa), Young's modulus (3.76 GPa) and impact strength (103.7 kJ/m2), while the CNFs-reinforced one exhibits the highest breaking energy (9.96 MJ/m3). These nano-fillers almost do not affect the thermal stability of the epoxy resin and silk fiber composites. In addition, the fracture modes of their reinforced composites were revealed by macroscopic and microscopic observations. • Reveal how different nano-fillers affect the mechanical behaviors of ductile polymer matrix. • Explore the optimal content of these nano-fillers in the polymer matrix. • Indicate nano-fillers do not affect the thermal stability of their reinforced composites. • Elucidate the composites' fracture modes introduced by silk fibers and different nano-fillers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The mechanisms of FLT degradation by FeS 2 /SPC process were revealed. • HO•, CO 3 –•, O 2 –•, and 1O 2 were participated in FLT degradation. • Three degradation pathways of FLT were proposed. • The effects of various solution matrixes on FLT removal were explored. • The effects of surfactants and organic acids on FLT solubilization from soil were investigated. Sodium percarbonate (SPC) induced advanced oxidation processes have been used for the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination, however, the feasibility studies of SPC and pyrite (FeS 2) process are scarce. In this work, FeS 2 served as a catalyst and reductant to activate SPC for fluoranthene (FLT) removal. 100% FLT removal was obtained at an initial solution pH of 5.90 with FeS 2 and SPC dosages of 0.5 g/L and 0.02 mM, respectively, and the influences of initial aqueous solution pH, dissolved oxygen, and various aqueous solution matrixes on FLT degradation were explored. Based on the results of electron paramagnetic resonance detection and scavenging experiments, it was demonstrated that HO•, 1O 2 , and O 2 −• played dominant roles in the removal of FLT, whereas CO 3 −• could only be involved in the ROS proliferative reaction in FeS 2 /SPC process due to the weak oxidizing capacity. Additionally, three FLT degradation pathways were proposed based on the detected degradation intermediates 1-phenylnaphthalene, indane, and phthalic acid. Finally, the desorption of FLT in soil was investigated by employing surfactants and organic acids, with organic acids being less effective than surfactants. Since the majority of organic acids can be utilized as advanced oxidation process promoters, their practical application is advantageous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• nCP/FeS 2 /CA system could degrade over 90% NAP at a wide pH range of 3–9. • Reductive sulfur species and citric acid played a vital role in Fe(II) regeneration. • nCP/FeS 2 /CA system achieved over 90% of NAP removal in various water matrixes. • Mechanisms of NAP degradation in nCP/FeS 2 /CA system were explored in detail. • NAP degradation intermediates were successfully detoxified. In this research, pyrite was applied in synergy with citric acid for the activation of homemade nano-calcium peroxide to degrade naphthalene in aqueous solution. Results showed that over 90% of naphthalene could be removed within 180 min at a pH range of 3–9 due to the proton-releasing ability of pyrite. Hydroxyl radical, alkyl radical, and singlet oxygen were all detected by electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, with hydroxyl radical playing a dominant role in naphthalene degradation. The nano-calcium peroxide was mainly activated by Fe(II) leached from pyrite in homogeneous ways and the vital role of Fe(III) was also revealed. The superior naphthalene degradation in this system was attributed to the excellent electron-donating capacity of reductive sulfur species in Fe(II)/Fe(III) cycle and the increased concentration of available iron species by the chelating effect of citric acid. Meanwhile, the system showed high tolerance to complex water matrixes and excellent degradation performance for other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated olefins. In addition, the naphthalene degradation pathways and the toxicity of detected intermediates were investigated. This research revealed the mechanism of nano-calcium peroxide activation by pyrite coupled with citric acid and demonstrated the great application potential of this system in the treatment of polluted groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization has led to accelerated traffic congestion, posing a significant obstacle to urban development. Traditional traffic signal scheduling methods are often inefficient and cumbersome, resulting in unnecessary waiting times for vehicles and pedestrians, exacerbating the traffic situation. To address this issue, this article proposes a dynamic traffic signal scheduling system based on an improved greedy algorithm. Unlike conventional approaches, we introduce a reward function and a cost model to ensure fair scheduling plans. A constraint function is also established, and the traffic signal scheduling is iterated through the feasible matrix using the greedy algorithm to simplify the decision-making process and enhance solution efficiency. Moreover, an emergency module is integrated to prioritize special emergency vehicles, reducing their response time during emergencies. To validate the effectiveness of our dynamic traffic signal scheduling system, we conducted simulation experiments using the Simulation of Urban Mobility (SUMO) traffic simulation suite and the SUMO traffic control interface Traci. The results indicate that our system significantly improves intersection throughput and adapts well to various traffic conditions, effectively resolving urban traffic congestion while ensuring fair scheduling plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honeydew from Hemipteran insects serves as carbohydrate source to beneficial insects but also to various microorganisms. Microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) may play diverse roles in herbivore–microbe–natural enemy interactions. However, the functional significance of mVOCs from aphid honeydew remains largely unclear. In this study, a total of seven cultivable bacteria from Sitobion miscanthi honeydew have been isolated and identified based on 16S rRNA technique, which included Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Erwinia aphidicola, E. tasmaniensis, Acinetobacter bereziniae, Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. Similipneumoniae, Staphylococcus capitis and Bacillus safensis subsp. safensis. One bacterial strain, L. fusiformis MH1, was found to be most attractive to Aphidius gifuensis parasitic wasp in Y-tube olfactometer. Two compounds, namely 1-ethyl-2-methylbenzene and 2-butyl-1-octanol, were emitted from L. fusiformis MH1 and were attractive to A. gifuensis and identified by using coupled gas chromatography–electroantennography and coupled gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Application of bacterial and mVOCs formulations in crop field resulted in significant aphid abundance decrease associated with higher parasitism rates compared with control. Our results indicated that some microbes in aphid honeydew could manipulate the herbivore–natural enemy interactions and could be developed as a novel alternative for environmentally friendly biological control of aphids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Novel electrocatalytic membrane (ECM) system was developed for antibiotics removal. • Defect and hierarchical pore of MOF imparted ECM with superior antibiotics removal. • Antibiotics degradation and self-cleaning mechanisms of membrane were proposed. • Application of ECM in reclamation of simulated municipal wastewater was explored. The spread of antibiotics became a serious risk to human health during wastewater reclamation. Herein, a novel electrocatalytic membrane (ECM) was constructed by facile incorporation of titanium metal organic frameworks (Ti-MOFs) with tunable defect and pore structure into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane for antibiotics removal under electro-assistance. The results showed Ti-MOFs with moderate missing-linker defects and hierarchical pores (Ti-MOFs-1) imparted the membrane with much higher water flux (618.6 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1), oxygen evolution potential (2.16 V), electrochemically active surface area (0.0306 cm2), and lower charge-transfer resistance compared to defect-free Ti-MOFs, thereby rendering higher electrocatalytic activity, increasing tetracycline (TC) removal by more than 40% and reducing the toxicities of intermediates. Interestingly, ECM presented a volcano-type trend in TC removal with the gradual increase of defects and pore size in Ti-MOFs due to the synergistic effect of moderately exposed active sites for generation of •OH and •O 2 – and hierarchical pore feature for accelerated mass transfer of antibiotics toward the catalytic sites. In addition, the application of ECM in reclamation of simulated municipal wastewater was evaluated. The efficient antibiotics removal efficiency (100%), electrically-driven self-cleaning ability (flux recovery = 100%) and electrochemical stability with low residence time (50.2 s) and energy consumption (0.533 W•h/m3) verify its potential in antibiotics removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ferrous sulfide (FeS) was introduced to nano calcium peroxide (nCP)/Fe(III) system to facilitate the generation of Fe(II), more than 90% of naphthalene (NAP) could be removed at a wide pH range of 3–9. As a heterogeneous reductant, FeS could mitigate competitive reactions with reactive oxygen species (ROS), which favored the NAP degradation. As evidenced by scavenging experiments, HO• was the major ROS contributing to NAP degradation. The role of sulfur species (S2−, SO 3 2−, and S 2 O 3 2−) in nCP/Fe(III) system was investigated with S 2 O 3 2− showing the preferable reactivity in Fe(III) reduction. In addition, the surface-bound HO• and surface Fe(II) were detected and the role of them on NAP degradation was revealed and concluded that both dissolved and surface Fe(II) contributed to NAP degradation, whereas surface-bound HO• was not superior to solution HO• in degrading NAP. Furthermore, nCP/Fe(III)/FeS system showed high feasibility to different solution matrixes and various types of water as well as the broad-spectrum reactivity to other toxic organic pollutants, exhibiting promise for practical application to remediate complex contaminants. [Display omitted] • FeS played a vital role in accelerating Fe(II)/Fe(III) circulation. • The competitive reactions in nCP/Fe(III)/FeS system could be minimized. • Mechanisms of NAP degradation in nCP/Fe(III)/FeS system were revealed. • NAP degradation performances in various water matrixes were investigated. • Excellent reactivity for other organic contaminants was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Multi-pollutants could be detected through probe PBD with practical application. • Hydrolysis of C N bond in PBD 's is targeted and catalyzed by Fe3+, Al3+ and Cr3+. • PBD could recognize Hg2+ based on chelation assisted fluorescence quenching. • Mesotrione could fracture C N bond of PBD through intermolecular hydrogen bonding. • This detecting approach contributes the environmental pollutants monitoring. In regards to environmental protection, the detection of metal ions and pesticide residues remains meaningful and challenging. Herein, we report a novel multifunctional fluorescent probe based on a pyrene derivative, 4-[(pyren-1-ylimino)methyl]benzene-1,3-diol (PBD), that can recognize Al3+, Cr3+, Fe3+ and mesotrione with quantification of the sample being tested. In addition, the PBD probe can detect Hg2+ in a "turn-off" fluorescent mode. It is worth noting that the hydrolysis of carbon–nitrogen double bonds in the PBD Schiff base structure is targeted and catalyzed by Fe3+, Al3+ and Cr3+ cations, while mesotrione can also promote the hydrolysis of Schiff bases through the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Consequently, the PBD probe with weak fluorescence was converted to 1-aminopyrene in a localized state, showing stronger fluorescence. In addition, chelation may lead to fluorescence quenching of the PBD probe in the presence of Hg2+. The quantitative determination of Fe3+, Al3+, Cr3+ and mesotrione is achieved in which the limit of detection (LOD) is calculated to be 0.52, 0.30, 0.32 and 0.70 μM, respectively. Hg2+ detection is realized with an LOD of 1.93 μM. Moreover, the sensitive PBD probe is utilized to determine the amount mesotrione in actual water samples, demonstrating its potential practical applications. In addition, the multifunctional PBD probe can be employed for intracellular imaging of Fe3+ and Hg2+ based on its low cytotoxicity and certain water solubility. The present work describes a very competitive fluorescent probe for the detection of different types of pollutants, which is relevant to future research regarding environmental contaminant monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast milk, as the most ideal food for infants, contains the main nutrients to meet the growth and development of infants. Lactose is an essential energy source in breast milk, the concentration of which varies based on a variety of circumstances, including maternal diet and lactation stage. Studies demonstrated that lactose content could affect the development of the brain and gut immunity of infants. We integrated the enzyme cascade reaction with colorimetry, and then established a data-prediction model utilizing multi-point absorbance analysis and a back-propagation (BP) neural network. Lactose underwent an enzymatic cascade to generate H 2 O 2, which oxidized the chromatic substrate 3,3′5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Absorbance at several time intervals and wavelengths was measured. Different from the traditional end-point detection methods and their single input data model, the absorbance data were detected at various time points and then fitted by BP neural network in this research. The detection of lactose in breast milk showed an average recovery rate of 99.14%. Meanwhile, our strategy is time-efficient and required no complex sample preparation processes. The robust nonlinear mapping and high fault tolerance of the BP neural network significantly enhances the stability and precision of the colorimetric analysis. Overall, this approach may be used for low-cost, convenient, and accurate lactose quantification in breast milk. [Display omitted] • A convenient, fast and low-cost method for the detection of lactose in breast milk. • Novel combined dynamic detection with multi-input nature of BP neural networks. • This study model had a better predicted performance of lactose concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper proposes a point classification method for PQDs based on DAOM. • Hilbert transform (HT) based local feature attention mechanism (LFAM) is proposed. • The classification model optimized-CAM is realized by squeeze-and-excitation network. • The proposed method can identify the type of each sampling point. The rapid development of the power grid makes power quality disturbances (PQDs) more complex. Accurately classifying PQDs and measuring the duration of each disturbance element are both crucial for studying the causes of PQDs and subsequent countermeasures. To satisfy the requirements, a novel dual-attention optimization model (DAOM) is presented in this paper for points classification. First, the local feature attention mechanism (LFAM) based on Hilbert transform (HT) is proposed in the input layer to enhance the local features of PQDs. Subsequently, on the basis of convolutional neural network (CNN), a channel attention mechanism (CAM) based on squeeze-and-excitation network (SENet) is introduced to each convolutional layer to achieve the purpose of automatically learning the importance of each channel feature. Finally, each sampling point is classified in the form of multiclass-multioutput. The proposed model is built through the Keras framework, and a synthetic database containing 49 types of PQDs is established to test the model. The proposal achieves an average classification accuracy of 98.95% in a 30 dB white noise environment, which is more precise and robust than other deep learning-based models. At the same time, the proposed model consistently performs best when evaluated through imbalanced data classification metrics and nonparametric test results. Unlike traditional methods, the proposal can accurately identify the occurrence and end time of each element in complex PQDs. Moreover, through a hardware experiment based on the AC source, the proposed model achieves an average accuracy of 98.30%, which is ahead of other comparison models as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-step adsorptive purification of methane (CH 4) from the multi-component mixtures containing CO 2 , acetylene (C 2 H 2) and ethane (C 2 H 6) is of great significance but challenging as distinct mechanisms are involved in the uptake of various gas molecules. Herein, a bismuth-based metal-organic framework (SU-100) bearing multi-affinity sites is applied for simultaneously sequestrating these impurities from CH 4. The intrinsic unsaturated Bi (III) sites endow SU-100 with specific recognition of CO 2 and C 2 H 2 via complexation with the open metal sites, while the dense distribution of carboxylate and biphenyl moieties in the nano-channels provides strong affinity for C 2 H 6 as well as additional affinity sites for C 2 H 2. Profiting from the exposed functional sites and suitable pore size, SU-100 exhibits decent ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) selectivity (CO 2 /CH 4 , C 2 H 2 /CH 4 and C 2 H 6 /CH 4) under ambient conditions. Moreover, the adsorption capacity remains unchanged for 10 consecutive cycles. The practical CH 4 purification performance is fully demonstrated by dynamic breakthroughs of various binary, ternary (CO 2 /C 2 H 2 /CH 4), and quaternary (CO 2 /C 2 H 2 /C 2 H 6 /CH 4) mixtures, in which more than 2.44 mol kg−1 of pure CH 4 can be produced from typical quaternary mixtures. Based on theoretical calculation and in-situ infrared analysis, synergistic effect of multiple interactions (π complexation, hydrogen bonding and CH−π interactions) accounts for simultaneous adsorption of multiple gases from CH 4. These results underpin highly selective capture of a range of gas mixtures that are relevant to one-step purification of natural gas. [Display omitted] • SU-100 bears multi-affinity sites in confined channel for gas accommodation. • Well-balanced sequestration of CO 2 , C 2 H 2 and C 2 H 6 from CH 4 was observed. • Pure CH 4 was produced in the breakthroughs of multi-component mixtures. • Co-adsorption of impurities over CH 4 is driven by synergic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic fracturing aimed at building a network of fractures in hot dry rock (HDR) often induces strong seismic risks. However, few studies have focused on seismic risks, and methods for increasing the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) while reducing seismic risks have not been adequately studied. Therefore, based on the full hydro-mechanical coupling, a seismic-fracturing model with a discrete fracture network (DFN) was developed, and the methods for increasing the SRV while reducing the seismic risk of horizontal wells at the FORGE site in Utah were discussed. The results showed that the fluid channeling effect between each segment is the main reason for the uneven fracture growth in the horizontal well. Additionally, the spatiotemporal evolution of fracturing-induced seismicity shows that the two ends (L1 and L3) of the horizontal well tend to form high stress concentrations and induce larger seismic events than the middle (L2). To solve these problems, a novel hydraulic fracturing method with a differentiated-stage, variable-injection volume suitable for the multi-fracturing of horizontal wells in HDR was proposed. With the application of the method, the SRV of the horizontal well was improved effectively, and the average magnitude induced by hydraulic fracturing was also decreased by 15.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Propose adaptive spectral trend based p2p distance indicating adaptive spectrum segmentation. • The improved EWT can accurately monitor the disturbance parameters of MPQDs. • Other enhanced algorithms are compared with the proposal to demonstrate its superiority. The growing penetration of renewable energy sources leads to power quality disturbances (PQDs) being multiple. The real-time monitoring of the parameters of multiple power quality disturbances (MPQDs) can help electricity distributors better control power quality problems. In this paper, an adaptive spectral trend-based optimized empirical wavelet transform (EWT) is proposed to analyze MPQDs. First, the upper and lower envelopes of the signal frequency spectrum are fitted by piecewise cubic Hermite interpolation. Then the sum of the upper and lower envelopes is halved as a spectral trend. These steps are repeated until all peak-to-peak distances are greater than the key threshold, indicating that the spectral trend has already been optimized. Third, main frequency components are calculated based on peaks of the optimal spectral trend, which can be used as a basis for spectrum segmentation. Eventually, the components decomposed by EWT represent different disturbance elements, whose parameters can be further calculated by Hilbert transform (HT). To verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, two databases are applied for analysis: synthetic signals, and recording signals by the experimental platform. At the same time, four advanced algorithms are used for comparison, which are scale-space optimized EWT (SOEWT), improved EWT (IEWT), variational mode decomposition (VMD) and fast Stockwell transform (FST). The results showed that the proposed method can accurately segment the spectrum and prevent the inappropriate segmentation of the original EWT so that it can monitor the disturbance parameters with high precision. In addition, the proposed algorithm has a simple computation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G and V-type nerve agents represent the most toxic chemical warfare agents. Their primary toxicity was the consequence of the covalent inhibition of the pivotal acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which induces overstimulation of cholinergic receptors and overaccumulation of cholines, eventually leading to death by respiratory arrest. The inhibitory and reactivation kinetics of cholinesterase (ChE) are essential for the toxicology and countermeasures of nerve agents. Medical defensive research on V-type nerve agents (V agents) has been mainly reported on VX and VR. Here we demonstrated the first systematical kinetic analysis between the type of ChE [native or recombinant human AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)] and three V agents, including VX, VR, and Vs, another isomer of VX, and highlighted the effects of native and recombinant ChE differences. The spontaneous reactivation and aging kinetics data of Vs-inhibited BChEs were firstly reported here. The results showed that AChE was more easily inhibited by three V agent compared to BChE, regardless of whether it is native or recombinant. The increased inhibitory potency order on AChE was VX, Vs, then VR, and on BChE was VX, then Vs and VR. The difference between native and recombinant ChE could influence the inhibition, aging, and spontaneous reactivation kinetics of three V agents, whether AChE or BChE, which was systematically revealed for the first time. For inhibition kinetics, the k i of three V agents for recombinant AChE was significantly higher than native AChE, and the stronger the inhibitory potency of V agents, the more pronounced difference in k i. In terms of aging and spontaneous reactivation kinetics, recombinant ChE was found to be more prone to spontaneous reactivation, but more resistant to aging compared to native ChE, particularly for AChE. The performed covalent molecular docking results partially explained the effects of differences between native and recombinant ChE on enzyme kinetics from the perspective of binding energy and conformation. • First kinetic analysis and molecular docking between four ChE and VX, Vs, and VR. • Recombinant ChE was more sensitive to V-type nerve agents than native ChE. • Recombinant ChE was prone to spontaneous reactivation but more resistant to aging. • Binding energy and covalent conformation contribute to the partial difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel "turn-on" fluorescent probe for detection of Al3+ based on pyrene fluorophore. [Display omitted] • A novel "turn-on" fluorescent chemosensor for Al3+ detection was developed based on pyrene fluorophore. • The probe exhibited strong anti-interference recognition and low detection limit of 30.7 nM toward Al3+. • The probe exhibited excellent sensitivity and selectivity toward Al3+ based on breakage of the C N bond mechanism. • The probe was suitable for detecting Al3+ ions in test papers. Based on the classical Schiff base reaction, fluorescent probe dimethyl 5-((pyren-1-ylmethylene)amino)isophthalate (PAI) is designed and synthesized through introducing Schiff base structure to pyrene unit for structural modification. The structure of the synthesized probe PAI is determined and characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS. PAI is a type of "turn-on" probe which can specifically recognize Al3+ ion with high selectivity. The limit of detection is calculated to be 3.07 × 10−8 M, which proves the probe's high sensitivity and is lower than that of many efficient reported probes. The probe PAI is intrinsically non-fluorescent due to the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process. However, the addition of Al3+ ion leads to the breakage of the carbon–nitrogen double bond of Schiff base in PAI resulting in the product without PET property, which shows a typical localized state with enhanced fluorescence and blue color. In addition, PAI can recognize Al3+ ion through test papers, which is in favor of the future research regarding to Al3+ ion sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive carbohydrate intake leads to metabolic disorders in fish. However, few literatures have reported the appropriate carbohydrate level for zebrafish, and the metabolic response to dietary carbohydrate remains largely unknown in zebrafish. This study assessed the responses of zebrafish and zebrafish liver cell line (ZFL) to different carbohydrate levels. In vivo results showed that ≥30% dietary dextrin levels significantly increased the plasma glucose content, activated the expression of hepatic glycolysis-related genes, and inhibited the expression of hepatic gluconeogenesis-related genes in zebrafish. Oil red O staining, triglyceride content, and Hematoxylin-Eosin staining results showed that dietary dextrin levels of ≥30% significantly increased lipid accumulation and liver damage, as well as processes related to glycolipid metabolism and inflammation in zebrafish. In ZFL, the transcription factor sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c signal intensity, 4,4-difluoro-1,3,5,7,8-pentamethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY 493/503) signal intensity, and triglyceride content were also significantly increased when incubated in high glucose, along with abnormal glycolipid metabolism and increased inflammation-related genes. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the maximum dietary carbohydrate level in adult zebrafish should be less than 30%. Excess dietary carbohydrates (30%–50%) caused hepatic steatosis and damage to zebrafish, similar to that seen in aquaculture species. Thus, this study assessed responses to different carbohydrate levels in zebrafish and illustrated that zebrafish is an optimal model for investigating glucose metabolism in some aquatic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Effect of ligand substitution on performance of UiO-66 based membrane was revealed. • Electronic effect of substitution governed electrocatalytic activity of membrane. • UiO-66-NO 2 based membrane has high tetracycline removal and self-cleaning ability. Herein, UiO-66-X (X = H, NH 2 , Br, NO 2) were employed to construct the electrocatalytic membranes by blending with conductive graphite and Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for removal of tetracycline under low current density of 0.01 mA/cm2. The physicochemical and electrochemical properties of the fabricated membrane were investigated systematically. Results showed that ligand substitution reduced the molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) and pure water flux of UiO-66-X based membranes in the order of –Br > –NO 2 > –NH 2 due to the size exclusion effect. In addition, compared with UiO-66, UiO-66 functionalized with electron-donating group (–NH 2) endowed the electrocatalytic membrane with superior anti-fouling ability using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as model foulant, and inferior tetracycline removal and self-cleaning property, while the opposite phenomenon occurred for the functionalization of electronic-accepting groups (–Br and –NO 2) owing to the promoted electrocatalytic activity and inhibited oxygen evolution side reaction. Notably, UiO-66-NO 2 /Graphite/PVDF membrane removed 99.5 % of tetracycline and flux of fouled membrane was almost fully recovered by electric field for six cycles under low current density of 0.01 mA/cm2. •OH and •O 2 – radicals played dominant roles in tetracycline removal by electrocatalytic membranes and three degradation pathways of tetracycline were proposed according to the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Electrically-driven self-cleaning mechanism was related to the reduced fouling potential of BSA after oxidation degradation. This work gets new insights into the effect of ligand substitution on the performance of Zr-MOFs based electrocatalytic membrane for antibiotics removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the sequential regulation signals of high-carbohydrate diet (HCD)-induced hepatic lipid deposition in gibel carp (Carassius gibelio). Two isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets, containing 25% (normal carbohydrate diet, NCD) and 45% (HCD) corn starch, were formulated to feed gibel carp (14.82 ± 0.04 g) for 8 weeks. The experimental fish were sampled at 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th week. In HCD group, the hyperlipidemia and significant hepatic lipid deposition (oil red O area and triglyceride content) was found at 4th, 6th, and 8th week, while the significant hyperglycemia was found at 2nd, 4th, and 8th week, compared to NCD group (P < 0.05). HCD induced hepatic lipid deposition via increased hepatic lipogenesis (acc, fasn, and acly) but not decreased hepatic lipolysis (hsl and cpt1a). When compared with NCD group, HCD significantly elevated the hepatic sterol regulatory element binding proteins 1 (SREBP1) signals (positive hepatocytes and fluorescence intensity) at 4th, 6th, and 8th week (P < 0.05). The hepatic SREBP1 signals increased from 2nd to 6th week, but decreased at 8th week due to substantiated insulin resistance (plasma insulin levels, plasma glucose levels, and P-AKTSer473 levels) in HCD group. Importantly, the hepatic carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) signals (positive hepatocytes, fluorescence intensity, and expression levels) were all significantly elevated by HCD-induced glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) accumulation at 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th week (P < 0.05). Compared to 2nd and 4th week, the hepatic ChREBP signals and G6P contents was significantly increased by HCD at 6th and 8th week (P < 0.05). The HCD-induced G6P accumulation was caused by the significantly increased expression of hepatic gck, pklr, and glut2 (P < 0.05) but not 6pfk at 4th, 6th, and 8th week, compared to NCD group. These results suggested that the HCD-induced hepatic lipid deposition was mainly promoted by SREBP1 in earlier stage and by ChREBP in later stage for gibel carp. This study revealed the sequential regulation pathways of the conversion from feed carbohydrate to body lipid in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naphthalene (NAP) has received increasing concern due to frequent detection in groundwater and harm to humans. In this study, FeS 2 was selected as a novel catalyst to activate nano calcium peroxide (nCP) for NAP degradation. Batch experiments were conducted in a 250 mL glass reactor containing 0.1 mM NAP solution to investigate the effect of reagents dosage, pH, air conditions (with or without N 2 purge), and different solution matrixes on NAP degradation. Scavenging tests, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum, and radical probe tests were conducted to identify the main radicals. Results indicated that over 96% NAP was removed in a wide pH range (3.0–9.0) within 180 min at optimal dosage of nCP = 1.0 mM and FeS 2 = 5.0 g L−1 in nCP/FeS 2 system. Aerobic condition was more beneficial to NAP degradation and the system could tolerate complex solution conditions. Moreover, HO• was determined to be responsible for NAP degradation. NAP degradation intermediates were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the possible degradation pathways were revealed. Finally, the efficient degradation of other organic pollutants confirmed the broad-spectrum reactivity of the nCP/FeS 2 system. Overall, these findings strongly demonstrated the potential applicability of nCP/FeS 2 system in remediating organic contaminated groundwater. [Display omitted] • nCP/FeS 2 system could degrade NAP efficiently at a wide pH range of 3.0–9.0. • FeS 2 played a significant role in Fe(II)/Fe(III) cycle. • Mechanisms of NAP degradation in nCP/FeS 2 system were revealed. • Performance of NAP degradation in different solution matrixes was investigated. • Excellent reactivity for other organic pollutants in nCP/FeS 2 system was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch-based urethane polymers hold great potential for adsorptive separation of acetophenone (AP) and 1-phenylethanol (PE), which coexist commonly in the petrochemical by-products. Yet, the overall adsorption performance was restricted due to the poor porosity of adsorbent. We herein applied external crosslinking strategy to fabricate hypercrosslinked aromatic-rich starch urethane polymer (HASUP) with large surface area. The structural evolution, including chemical state, porosity and morphology were observed through various characteristic techniques. The adsorption properties of AP and PE onto HASUP were investigated in both single and binary systems. Compared to its non-porous precursor, HASUP exhibited significantly higher overall adsorption capacity while maintaining the AP selectivity with varying compositions. The further static and dynamic adsorption assessments demonstrated that HASUP showed exceptional performance to separate AP and PE. And HASUP also exhibited excellent anti-interference ability and recyclability for selective adsorption of AP over PE. Furthermore, theoretical results indicated that the multiple interactions including hydrophobic, π-π, and hydrogen bonding interactions account for selective adsorption of AP. In combination with high surface area, this synergistic effect enhanced the adsorption strength, affording a high AP uptake for HASUP. This work may provide an insight for designing novel porous starch-based adsorbents with high performance. [Display omitted] • Porous HASUP was fabricated by external crosslinking strategy. • The enhanced adsorption ability came from high porosity and introduced active sites. • HASUP showed excellent performance for separation of AP and PE. • The adsorption was mainly driven by π-π and hydrogen bonding interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundant geothermal energy in hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal reservoirs is an attractive renewable energy resource with great potential. Cyclic injection in hydraulic fracturing has been proved to be a suitable way for the geothermal energy exploitation. However, the fracture initiation and propagation regimes induced by cyclic injection have been inadequately studied, and the fracturing optimization for HDR is often by experience. For this reason, true tri-axial hydraulic-fracturing tests were conducted to study the initiation and propagation of hydraulic fractures, while the specimens were subjected to the cyclic injection with different cycle time duration and injection rate. The results revealed that the initiation of hydraulic fracture was displayed as three basic patterns, and these fracture-initiation patterns were developed into two fracture geometries: simple fracture with only 2–4 strands and complex fracture network with >4 strands. The main reason for this difference is that the initiation and propagation of hydraulic fracture is controlled by the way of fluid circulation, and the cycle time duration and injection rate each played a different role in hydraulic fracturing. At a low injection rate, the initiation and propagation of hydraulic fractures under the high-frequency cycle (cycle time duration = 10 and 20 s) are mainly controlled by the change of injection pressure. Here, the hydraulic energy mainly acts on the rock near the well. The frequent change of injection pressure promotes the initiation of micro-fractures and forms a complex but short hydraulic fracture network. However, when high injection rate is subjected, too high and too low cycle frequencies (cycle time duration = 5 and 40 s) both tend to form a simple fracture, but the fracture has strong extension ability. With that, the similarity criterion of physical phenomena between the on-site prototype and the experimental model were discussed, and these lab-scale results were translated into the fracturing site of HDR. • The impact of key cyclic hydraulic fracturing parameters (pumping rate and pumping frequency) on hydraulic fracture initiation and propagation regimes was determined. • Three initiation patterns and four typical propagation modes of granite are summarized. • The multi-stage, alternating injection fracturing method for HDR was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensor HNA has been successfully designed and prepared for mesotrione detection with low LODs. This detecting approach presents a new method for acetophenone-type herbicide determination with high sensitivity and easy operation based on the probe with general C=N of Schiff base structure. [Display omitted] • Fluorescent probe HNA is successfully synthesized for mesotrione detection. • HNA shows high accuracy for quantitative mesotrione sensing in real samples. • Competition of intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonds may exist in system. • Strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds promote the C = N double bond cleavage. • This approach presents a novel method for acetophenone-type herbicide detection.. Schiff bases are generally utilized to detect and quantitatively analyze metallic cations and anions. However, pesticide detection based on Schiff base structure has not been reported so far. Mesotrione is a kind of triketone 4-hydroxy-phenyl-pyruvate-dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor whereas excessive use of mesotrione produces residues causing a negative impact on the environment. Herein, we report a Schiff base type probe 6-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-N-n-butyl-naphthalimide (HNA) which can switch on in a fluorescence mode in response to mesotrione efficiently, enabling the quantification of testing sample. It is worth mentioning that the simple and direct cleavage of the targeted carbon–nitrogen double bond of Schiff base in probe is proved to be triggered by acetophenyl unit in mesotrione which may be ascribed from the competition equilibrium between the intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. As a result, the non-fluorescent probe with photo-induced electron transfer process is converted to the precursor of the probe with strong fluorescence. Further results reveal that the strong electronegativity of carbonyl carbon atom in acetophenone group is capable of improving the detection capability of probe. Aided by the switch-on change of fluorescence, the quantitative determination of mesotrione is realized with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.16 μM with potentials of quantitative sensing in real water samples. Moreover, two other probes bearing pyrene and Schiff base structure are synthesized and exhibit the feasibility of mesotrione detection with LODs of 0.43 μM and 3.20 μM, respectively. The present work provides a novel and convenient method for the detection of mesotrione with high sensitivity and easy operation based on the probe with general C = N of Schiff base structure, which greatly benefit for the future research regarding to the acetophenone-type herbicide sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It is easily implementable and achieves higher strong convergence order. • The stability condition of the method and that of the solved SDEs keep uniform. • It performs better in inheriting the stability of the exact solution of SDEs. A new explicit stochastic scheme of order 1 is proposed for solving commutative stochastic differential equations (SDEs) with non-globally Lipschitz continuous coefficients. The proposed method is a semi-tamed version of Milstein scheme to solve SDEs with the drift coefficient consisting of non-Lipschitz continuous term and globally Lipschitz continuous term. It is easily implementable and achieves higher strong convergence order. A stability criterion for this method is derived, which shows that the stability condition of the numerical methods and that of the solved equations keep uniform. Compared with some widely used numerical schemes, the proposed method has better performance in inheriting the mean square stability of the exact solution of SDEs. Numerical experiments are given to illustrate the obtained convergence and stability properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal macrolithotypes control the heterogeneity of coal physical properties in coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs and have a significant effect on the success of hydraulic fracturing stimulation. However, only a few studies have focused on this heterogeneity, and the propagation mechanism of hydraulic fractures related to the coal macrolithotype is not well understood. In this study, we considered the Hancheng area, Ordos Basin, China, as an example to understand macrolithotype differences, establish finite element numerical models of the cohesive zone, and evaluated the hydraulic fracture initiation and vertical propagation behavior of laminated coal reservoirs. We used physical experiments, such as direct shear test and Digital Image Correlation (DIC), along with finite element simulation and a finite element model; the results show that the tensile strength of bright coal is the lowest and that of dull coal is the greatest; the average cohesion and shear strength of the bright-dull coal interface are 0.418 MPa and 1.3778 MPa (σ = 3 MPa), respectively. Notably, behavioral differences are likely to impact the geometric evolution of hydraulic fractures. In the numerical models of hydraulic fracturing for a laminated coal reservoir, the hydraulic fracture propagates predominantly vertically as the interlayer has a lower elastic modulus and higher tensile strength. Because the interfacial shear strength is weak, the fractures can easily penetrate and propagate into the bedded interface between layers, and often, the distance of lateral slip increases into the interlayer interface. Thus, when dull coal is fractured, the geometry of the hydraulic fracture is often characterized as an isolated fracture distribution. The fracture then, rapidly propagates into the interlayer, activating the natural fractures in the bright coal reservoir, thus improving the fracture scale in the interlayers (model 2). However, as bright coal is a productive strata, the geometry of the hydraulic fracture is also dominated by crisscross network structures, and the fractures preferentially propagate along the interface (model 1). • The differences of mechanical properties that linked to the macrolithotype contribution were investigated systematically. •The impact of these sensitivity factors on hydraulic fracture geometry evolution was evaluated. •The influences of coal macrolithotype on hydraulic fracture geometry evolution were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biguanides decorated albumin which has synergistic antitumor effect was synthesized. • The nintedanib loaded modified albumin nanoparticles improved the anti-tumor effect. • The nintedanib loaded nanoparticles regulated the tumor microenvironment. • Draws a novel clue for enhancing the hepatocellular carcinoma therapy. Nintedanib (ND) was known as a triple tyrosine kinase inhibitors, inhibiting angiogenesis and tissue fibrosis. Biguanide group has attracted much attention for its great penetrating ability to the lipid bilayer of cytomembrane and potential anti-cancer efficacy. In this study, a biguanide group (p -biguanidinobenzoic acid, CBH) decorated bovine serum albumin (CBH-AB) was synthesized as a novel functional biomaterial to prepare the ND loaded CBH-AB nanoparticles (ND-CBH-AB NPs). The results of physical and chemical properties showed that ND-CBH-AB NPs possessed high encapsulation efficiency and drug loading efficiency. In vitro cell study indicated that CBH modification on ND-CBH-AB NPs enhanced the cyctotoxicities to HepG2 cells. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic study showed that ND-CBH-AB NPs had good stability in circulation. Finally, pharmacodynamic studies were conducted, the results indicated that ND-CBH-AB NPs exhibited excellent anti-tumor effect and tumor microenvironment regulation effect. Thereby, this work provides a potential function albumin delivery system for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A high-efficiency blue emitter is obtained based on pyrene[4,5- d ]imidazole and pyrene. • The nondoped blue OLED shows the maximum EQE of 9.13% with maximum exciton utilization efficiency of 65%. • Extremely small efficiency roll-offs of 0.9% and 6.9% are realized at high brightness of 10,000 and 50000 cd m−2. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been explored and utilized in many fields of flat-panel displays nowadays because of their plentiful advantages such as lightweight, high flexibility, high picture quality, etc., and are hopeful to be the next-generation displays. However, improvements to the efficiency of blue OLEDs are still vital to OLEDs as replacements for liquid crystal display technology. A blue light-emitting material is one of the key components in the preparation of OLED displays. Designing molecule based on donor–acceptor (D-A) structure with a hybridized local and charge transfer (HLCT) excited state is a appealing strategy for providing an efficient OLED with high external quantum efficiency through efficacious exciton utilization. Herein, a highly efficient blue emitter, PyI-Py, is constructed combining pyrene[4,5- d ]imidazole (weak donor) and pyrene (weak acceptor). The non-doped blue OLED exhibits excellent performance with a maximum current efficiency of 15.74 cd A−1, a maximum external quantum efficiency (η ext) of 9.13% and a maximum brightness of as high as 91097 cd m−2 which is rarely obtained for a non-doped blue OLED. Moreover, the η ext can reach 9.05% at very high brightness of 10000 cd m−2, displaying extremely low efficiency roll-off of 0.9% which displays great superiorities in contrast with most thermally activated delayed fluorescent materials. The device characteristics lie among the highest values in non-doped blue OLEDs based on HLCT emitter and correspond to the best performance achieved for non-doped pyrene-based blue OLEDs to date. A maximum exciton utilization efficiency of 65% is harvested. The superior performance is attributed to the proper donor–acceptor design strategy which results in a HLCT excited state with the generation of a high proportion of singlet excitons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuronal studies have shown that selectively attending to a common object in one sensory modality results in facilitated processing of that object's representations in the ignored sensory modality. Thus, the audiovisual (AV) integration of common objects can be observed under modality-specific selective attention. However, little is known about whether this AV integration can also occur under increased attentional load conditions. Additionally, whether semantic associations between multisensory features of common objects modulate the influence of increased attentional loads on this cross-modal integration remains unknown. In the present study, participants completed an AV integration task (ignored auditory stimuli) under various attentional load conditions: no load, low load, and high load. The semantic associations between AV stimuli were composed of animal pictures presented concurrently with semantically congruent, semantically incongruent, or semantically unrelated auditory stimuli. Our results demonstrated that attentional loads did not disrupt the integration of semantically congruent AV stimuli but suppressed the potential alertness effects induced by incongruent or unrelated auditory stimuli under the condition of modality-specific selective attention. These findings highlight the critical role of semantic association between AV stimuli in modulating the effect of attentional loads on the AV integration of modality-specific selective attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorptive separation is an energy‐efficient technology for the separation of C2 hydrocarbons. However, it remains a critical problem to directly produce high‐purity C2H4 from ternary C2H2/C2H4/C2H6 mixtures by simultaneously trapping C2H2 and C2H6. Herein, we report the one‐step C2H4 purification from the ternary mixture by a metal–organic framework Zn(ad)(int) (ad=adeninate; int=isonicotinate). The material combines dense heterocyclic rings and accessible uncoordinated O atoms as strong binding sites for C2H6 and C2H2. Its spindle‐like cage exhibits an interesting shape matching with the targeted molecules, affording Zn(ad)(int) not only high separation selectivity for C2H6/C2H4 and C2H2/C2H4, but also excellent gas capacity. Breakthrough experiments show that polymer‐grade C2H4 can be separated from the ternary mixtures with a record productivity of 1.43 mmol g−1. In situ powder X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectrum analyses further provide deep insights into the separation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorptive separation is an energy‐efficient technology for the separation of C2 hydrocarbons. However, it remains a critical problem to directly produce high‐purity C2H4 from ternary C2H2/C2H4/C2H6 mixtures by simultaneously trapping C2H2 and C2H6. Herein, we report the one‐step C2H4 purification from the ternary mixture by a metal–organic framework Zn(ad)(int) (ad=adeninate; int=isonicotinate). The material combines dense heterocyclic rings and accessible uncoordinated O atoms as strong binding sites for C2H6 and C2H2. Its spindle‐like cage exhibits an interesting shape matching with the targeted molecules, affording Zn(ad)(int) not only high separation selectivity for C2H6/C2H4 and C2H2/C2H4, but also excellent gas capacity. Breakthrough experiments show that polymer‐grade C2H4 can be separated from the ternary mixtures with a record productivity of 1.43 mmol g−1. In situ powder X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectrum analyses further provide deep insights into the separation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To realize high-energy-density Li metal batteries at low temperatures, a new electrolyte is needed to solve the high-voltage compatibility and fast lithium-ion de-solvation process. A gel polymer electrolyte with a small-molecular-weight polymer is widely investigated by combining the merits of a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) and liquid electrolyte (LE). Herein, we present a new gel polymer electrolyte (P-DOL) by the lithium difluoro(oxalate)borate (LiDFOB)-initiated polymerization process using 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) as a monomer solvent. The P-DOL presents excellent ionic conductivity (1.12 × 10−4 S cm−1) at −20 °C, with an oxidation potential of 4.8 V. The Li‖LiCoO2 cell stably cycled at 4.3 V under room temperature, with a discharge capacity of 130 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C and a capacity retention rate of 86.4% after 50 cycles. Moreover, a high-Ni-content LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cell can steadily run for 120 cycles at −20 °C, with a capacity retention of 88.4%. The underlying mechanism of high-voltage compatibility originates from the dense and robust B- and F-rich cathode interface layer (CEI) formed at the cathode interface. Our report will shed light on the real application of Li metal batteries under all-climate conditions in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]