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In this paper, the effects of compressive pre-deformation and successive pre-artificial aging on the compressive creep aging behavior and microstructure evolution of the Al-Cu-Li alloy have been studied. Severe hot deformation mainly occurs near the grain boundaries during the compressive creep initially, which steadily extends to the grain interior. After that, the T1 phases will obtain a low radius–thickness ratio. The secondary T1 phases in pre-deformed samples usually only nucleate on dislocation loops or Shockley incomplete dislocations induced by movable dislocations during creep, which are especially prevalent in low plastic pre-deformation. For all pre-deformed and pre-aged samples, two precipitation situations exist. When pre-deformation is low (3% and 6%), solute atoms (Cu and Li) can be consumed prematurely during pre-aging at 200 °C, with dispersed coherent Li-rich clusters in the matrix. Then, the pre-aged samples with low pre-deformation no longer have the ability to form secondary T1 phases in large quantities during subsequent creep. When dislocation entangles seriously to some extent, a large quantity of stacking faults, together with a "Suzuki atmosphere" containing Cu and Li, can provide the nucleation sites for the secondary T1 phase, even when pre-aged at 200 °C. The sample, pre-deformed by 9% and pre-aged at 200 °C, displays excellent dimensional stability during compressive creep because of the mutual reinforcement of entangled dislocations and pre-formed secondary T1 phases. In order to decrease the total creep strain, increasing the pre-deformation level is more effective than pre-aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyisocyanate and caprolactone were used to chemically functionalize nanocellulose (CNF). Composites of CNF, caprolactone-modified nanocellulose (CNF–CL) and polyisocyanate-modified nanocellulose (CNF–JQ)/MC nylon were fabricated by anionic ring-opening polymerization. The effects of the crystal structure, crystal morphology and crystallization process of MC nylon composites have been characterized by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), polarized optical microscopy(POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Isothermal crystallization kinetics were analyzed using the Avrami equation, and the crystallization rate, half-time, and Avrami exponent were calculated. The results show that the nucleation effects of CNF–JQ/MC nylon composites is increased with the CNF–JQ increase, and it is best compared with MC nylon, CNF/MC nylon and CNF–CL/MC nylon composites, so CNF–JQ can play the role of effective nucleating agent in MC nylon. We also discussed the non-isothermal crystallization of the composites. Analysis of the Jeziorny and Mo model demonstrates that the Zc values of CNF, CNF–CL, CNF–JQ/MC nylon composites increase, and the F(T) values decrease in order. This indicates that CNF–JQ can better promote the crystallization rate of non-isothermal crystallization of MC nylon. The results of this work demonstrate that CNF–JQ can be an effective nucleation agent and increase the crystallization rate of MC nylon compared with CNF–CL. The activation energy of the composites was studied using the kissing method, and the results showed that CNF–CL decreased the activation energy of MC nylon, and CNF and CNF–JQ increased the activation energy of MC nylon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate simulation of the hydration process and microstructural evolution of cement paste is essential to predict the diffusion and mechanical properties of cementitious materials. This study developed a continuous hydration model integrated with X-ray computed tomography (XCT) image-based cement particles, for the first time, to simulate the hydration process and the resultant microstructural evolution of cement paste. In this model, real cement particles are characterized analytically by spherical harmonic (SH) functions, followed by their SH coefficients to derive the hydration kinetics and rate controlling equation of hydration product. Then the hydration process is realized by merging and embedding of hydration products between multi-sized particles. After validation, the hydration model is applied to investigate the microstructural development of cement pastes with various water-cement ratios at different curing temperatures, showing the strong simulation capabilities of the developed hydration model. • Propose a continuous hydration model integrated with XCT image-based cement particles to simulate the hydration process and microstructural evolution of cement paste; • Derive the hydration kinetics of cement particles via their irregular shapes, based on spherical harmonic functions; • XCT image-based cement particles are used to generate the pre-hydrated cement paste RVEs, on basis of which the hydration process and microstructural development were simulated realistically; • Combined with other modelling methods, such as ion diffusion and fracture, the proposed model has the potential to allow researchers to numerically study and predict many microstructure-related properties of cementitious materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the influence of the regression re‐aging (RRA) process on the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of 7075. In the RRA heat treatment, the material properties are markedly affected by the variation of parameters in the regression stage. When the regression temperature and the regression duration increase, the mechanical properties of the material decrease. There was no intergranular corrosion in the samples treated by RRA, while obvious intergranular corrosion occurred in the T6 sample. Compared with the T6 sample, the RRA‐190‐0.5 sample with optimized parameters has a higher density of the precipitated phase and narrower precipitate‐free zone, and the precipitated phase along the grain boundary is discontinuous, isolated, and short. Compared with the single‐stage peak aging treatment, the RRA treatment can considerably improve the corrosion resistance and stress corrosion resistance but slightly reduce the strength. The best heat treatment process condition is 120°C/24 h + 190°C/0.5 h + 120°C/24 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrathin‐barrier (UTB) AlGaN/GaN heterostructure exhibits great promise as a technology for manufacturing high‐performance normally OFF GaN metal–insulator–semiconductor high‐electron‐mobility transistors (MIS–HEMTs) due to its unique gate recess‐free feature. However, a critical challenge in UTB MIS–HEMTs is the recovery of the 2D electron gas in the access region, particularly with regard to achieving low ON resistance. In this study, a new approach is proposed to address this issue by utilizing a low‐thermal‐budget Al2O3 film grown through atomic layer deposition (ALD). By analyzing the capacitance–voltage characteristic and correlating it with the threshold voltage shift versus dielectric thicknesses for SiNx and Al2O3, high density of positive fixed charges (≈2.382 × 1013 cm−2) is confirmed to be induced at the interface between ALD–Al2O3 and GaN (cap), which is also in good agreement with 1D Poisson simulations of energy band diagrams. The positive charges are probably originated from the interface AlAl bonds revealed by X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A silicon nitride (SiNx) film deposited at 500 °C by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) is employed as the gate dielectric for GaN-based metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistors (MIS-HEMTs). An interface enhancement technology featuring in situ low-damage NH3/N2 remote plasma pretreatments (RPPs) is developed prior to the SiNx gate dielectric deposition, which contributes to an improved surface morphology while remarkably suppressed interface oxides. It is revealed by constant-capacitance deep-level transient spectroscopy that both shallow and deep states at the PEALD-SiNx/III-nitride interface are reduced by about one order of magnitude by the RPP. The in situ RPP and PEALD-SiNx gate dielectric process are implemented into fabrication of enhancement-mode MIS-HEMTs on an ultrathin-barrier AlGaN/GaN heterostructure technology platform. The fabricated MIS-HEMTs deliver an improved threshold stability and maximum output current as compared with devices without the RPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Near-infrared InGaN alloys were grown on a strain-relaxed high-In-composition InGaN buffer layer based on GaN/sapphire substrate by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The In compositions of the InGaN light emitting layer and buffer layer determined by X-ray diffraction analysis are 56.7 and 61.1%, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy result shows that no dislocations newly generated at the interface of the InGaN structure layer and the underlying InGaN buffer layer can be observed obviously. The cathodoluminescence spectra exhibit two strong emission peaks at the near-infrared wavelengths of 1090 and 1200 nm, which can be attributed to intrinsic transition and recombination processes of the fabricated InGaN alloys according to the calculation using the energy versus composition equation with a reasonable bowing parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmonically induced reflection (PIR) is numerically achieved based on bright-dark coupling mechanism in plasmonic waveguide resonator system. The system consists of a rectangle cavity side-coupled to a metal-dielectric-mental (MIM) waveguide coupled with a ring. The transmission properties of the system are simulated by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and theoretically explained by the three-level atomic system theory. The results show that the PIR window can be tuned vertically and horizontally, respectively. In addition, double PIR windows appear in the original broadband absorption window by adding another side-coupled rectangle cavity, and the physical origin is presented. Obviously, our structures have potential application for optical switching, filter and spectral splitter in highly integrated optical circuit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of nanomedicine delivery systems (NDSs), drug nanocrystals exhibited an excellent anticancer effect. Recently, differences of internalization mechanisms and subcellular localization of both drug nanocrystals and small molecular free drug have drawn much attention. In this paper, paclitaxel (PTX) as a model anticancer drug was directly labeled with 4-chloro-7-nitro-1, 2, 3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-Cl) (a drug-fluorophore conjugate Ma et al. (2016) and Wang et al. (2016) [1,2] (PTX-NBD)). PTX-NBD was synthesized by nucleophilic substitution reaction of PTX with NBD-Cl in high yield and characterized by fluorescence, XRD, ESI–MS, and FT-IR analysis. Subsequently, the cube-shaped PTX-NBD nanocrystals were prepared with an antisolvent method followed by surface functionalization of SPC and MPEG-DSPE. The obtained specific shaped PTX-NBD@PC-PEG NCs had a hydrodynamic particle size of ∼50 nm, excellent colloidal stability, and a high drug-loading content of ∼64%. Moreover, in comparison with free PTX-NBD and the sphere-shaped PTX-NBD nanocrystals with surface functionalization of SPC and MPEG-DSPE (PTX-NBD@PC-PEG NSs), PTX-NBD@PC-PEG NCs remarkably reduced burst release and improved cellular uptake efficiency and in vitro cancer cell killing ability. In a word, the work highlights the potential of theranostic prodrug nanocrystals based on the drug-fluorophore conjugates for cell imaging and chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon materials have shown excellent low temperature denitrification characteristic in the flue gas. To improve the denitrification efficiency, metallurgical coke, biomass char and semi-coke were modified by steam or acid. Taguchi experimental design was used to determine the influence of carbon material type, modified time and process temperature etc. on the denitrification rates. Three carbon materials before and after modification were characterized by SEM, BET and FTIR. The results showed that a large amount of specific surface area and smaller pore size were beneficial for NO x removal with NH 3 , but the surface acidic functional groups were crucial for denitrification. For steam modification, the optimal promotion of denitrification rate was semi-coke, modified by steam at 973 K for 140 min and the nitrogen oxides removal rate was 16.0%. For acid modification, the optimal combination was biomass char, with the deashing acid treatment before oxidation acid treatment at 353 K and the nitrogen oxides removal rate was 24.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We systematically synthesized CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 crystals using solvothermal process, and the reaction conditions such as concentration of the precursor, temperature, time, and lead source have been comprehensively investigated to obtain shape-controlled CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 crystals. The results showed that the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 crystals exhibit tetragonal phase and the crystals change from nanoparticles to hopper-faced cuboids. Photoluminescence spectra of the crystals obtained with different lead sources show a blue shift due to the presence of defects in the crystals, and the peak intensity is very sensitive to the lead sources. Moreover, impurities (undesirable byproducts and excess components like HI or CH 3 NH 2 ) presented during crystal growth can result in hopper growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the Ti 3 C 2 T x /CuO nanocomposites were successfully prepared by an environment-friendly and simple hydrothermal method. The synthetics are evaluated using a series of characterization techniques, such as XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FTIR, UV–vis, and BET techniques. The results show that Ti 3 C 2 T x /CuO nanocomposites are mesoporous and have a higher specific surface area than Ti 3 C 2 T x , confirming the presence of more gas adsorption/diffusion regions. Furthermore, the Ti 3 C 2 T x with the introduction of CuO has rich oxygen vacancies and adsorbed oxygen. In particular, the response of Ti 3 C 2 T x /CuO sensor (56.99%) is 5 times higher than that of Ti 3 C 2 T x (11.17%) sensor to 50 ppm NO 2 at room temperature (RT). Especially, the Ti 3 C 2 T x /CuO sensor exhibits ultra-fast response/recovery time (16.6/31.3 s to 20 ppm NO 2), great reversibility, outstanding selectivity to NO 2 , and desirable long-term stability (over 40 days). The enhanced gas sensing performance may be attributed to the formation of hybrid heterojunctions between CuO and Ti 3 C 2 T x that provide carrier migration channels to hasten the redox reaction. At the same time, Ti 3 C 2 T x /CuO possesses more oxygen vacancies and adsorbed oxygen than Ti 3 C 2 T x , which will reduce the required energy for gas adsorption to further enhance the gas sensing performance. Hopefully, the above improved gas sensing performance indicators modified with CuO are expected to become the advantage of constructing Ti 3 C 2 T x -based sensor, which will be put into commercial NO 2 detection in the future. • The gas sensing materials of mesoporous Ti 3 C 2 T x /CuO were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal strategy. • The sensor possessed high response and ultra-fast response/recovery speed at room temperature. • The sensor performed high selectivity and long-term stability to trace NO 2 gas at room temperature. • The novel detection mechanism of the Ti 3 C 2 T x /CuO sensor towards NO 2 gas was discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The friction stir welding joints of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy were prepared, then their stress corrosion evolution during slow strain rate tensile testing was studied by in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Slow stress corrosion process can be divided into three stages according to the corrosion trend, the corresponding charge-transfer resistance also shows three evolutionary patterns. Grain boundary precipitates in thermal machine affected zone (TMAZ) of the pre-weld RRA treatment are more discrete and coarser, and have a higher Cu content than those of pre-weld double-stage aging treatment TMAZ, which reducing the potential difference with the surrounding substrate and exhibiting higher stress corrosion resistance. [Display omitted] • TMAZ is the weak region of SCC throughout the FSW joint. • TMAZ SCC process can be divided into three stages corresponding to fast - slow – fast. • TMAZ GBPs of RRA pre-weld treatment jonts is discrete and coarse, and exhibit high Cu content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatase is an important functional nanomaterial in a wide variety of applications. Despite a breadth of research on novel synthesis methods, there is a lack of studies geared towards developing scalable processes for nanoscale anatase crystalline materials. In this study, anatase secondary nanoparticles are produced in a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) through forced hydrolysis of pre-diluted aqueous TiCl 4 solution by controlling pH. The steady-state supersaturation regime of the CSTR process is shown to be inducive to the formation of phase-pure nanocrystalline anatase aggregates in the order of ∼500–1000 nm possessing a very high surface area ∼200–250 m 2 /g. The aggregates made of ∼6 nm individual primary nanocrystallites are mesoporous – a highly desirable property in building photocatalytic and thin film electrode (Li-ion and solar) devices with enhanced interfacial functionalities. The new process was tested at a range of conditions, 70–90 °C, 0.1–0.5 M TiCl 4 , pH 2–5, and 30–60 min. pH control was vital in stabilizing the metastable anatase nanocrystallites and promoting their aggregation that facilitates their handling and application. The process achieves >98% steady-state conversion of TiCl 4(aq) to nanoanatase without the use of toxic organic chemicals constituting a cost-effective and green alternative to commonly used sol–gel or hydrothermal technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, novel mesoporous heterostructure of CdS/CuO/rGO composites was synthesized by a green and ultra-low-cost hydrothermal method. More importantly, the sensor shows significantly higher response of 12.46, which is about 5.3 times and 1.5 times of the CdS (2.36) and CdS/CuO (8.22) sensors, respectively. Besides, the fabricated sensors have ultra-low limit of detection (LOD) of 50 ppb, ensuring the ppb-level detection to NO 2 gas in practical applications. Besides, the CdS/CuO/rGO sensor has excellent reversibility, good selectivity to NO 2 gas against other gases (such as NH 3 , H 2 , CO and SO 2), and reliable stability. The improvement of the gas sensing properties for CdS/CuO/rGO sensor is mainly ascribed to the existence of numerous active sites, which are able to enhance the adsorption capacity of target gas, improving the affinity for gas molecules. Furthermore, the heterojunction formed between CdS/CuO/rGO composites can provide conductive channel to accelerate carrier transfer to further improve the performance of the sensor. It is no doubt that our work will provide potential applications for improving gas sensing performance of a room-temperature NO 2 sensor. • The gas sensing materials of mesoporous CdS/CuO/rGO were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal strategy. • The sensor possessed ultra-fast response/recovery times and ppb-level detection limit at room temperature. • The sensor performed high response and selectivity, as well as long-term stability to trace NO 2 gas at room temperature. • The novel detection mechanism of the CdS/CuO/rGO sensor towards NO 2 gas was discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead sulfide (PbS) with multi-morphologies were synthesized via solvothermal route under the assistance of l -cysteine. Reaction conditions such as concentration of l -cysteine, reacting temperature, reacting time and solvents have been systemically investigated in order to obtain shape-controlled PbS micro-crystals. A series of morphologies, such as cubic, Dendritic Hierarchical, Octagonal Hierarchical flowerlike and Vertebration shapes were obtained successfully. Self-assembly and a hypothesis based on Boltzmann distribution were introduced for illustration of morphology evolution obtained under different reacting temperatures, and the effect of the solvents and the role of l -cysteine were also discussed in detail. To testify the effects of different morphologies on the optical properties of PbS, the absorption spectra of some samples were measured. These results demonstrated that our work offers an effective way to develop the tunable synthesis of multi-shaped PbS for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective recovery of copper, cobalt, and nickel from acidic chloride media was investigated with solvent impregnated resins (SIRs) containing acidic organophosphorus extractants. The adsorption of each metal with the SIR proceeds via a cation exchange mechanism. An SIR containing 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC-88A) has high selectivity for Cu2+, and the order of selectivity is Cu2+ > Co2+ > Ni2+. Effective adsorption-elution can be achieved by chromatographic operation for the selective recovery of Cu2+ from a ternary metal solution. High selectivity for Co2+ was observed using a SIR comprising bis-2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) and can be effectively separated from a Co and Ni binary metal solution by column adsorption. A simple and effective process flow sheet is proposed for selective recovery of Cu2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ from aqueous chloride media using the two SIRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to study the clinical features and genetics of a large Chinese family with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. A genome-wide linkage scan using Applied Biosystems v. 2.5 411 short tandem repeat (STR) markers was performed in this family. Mutation screening was conducted on connexin 32 (Cx32). Prediction of impact of the mutation and sequence alignments of Cx32 in 10 vertebrates were performed using Polyphen and Clustal W, respectively. Twelve family members were diagnosed as CMT type 1. An X-chromosome locus (DXS991) was linked to the phenotype of this family by the genome-wide linkage analysis. An H100Y mutation found in Cx32 was predicted to be possibly damaging to the function of Cx32, with a PSIC score difference of 1.758. The H100 of Cx32 is highly conserved among the 10 vertebrates. A large Chinese family had CMTX1 linked to Xq13.1 caused by an H100Y mutation in the Cx32 gene. Muscle Nerve, 2010 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mesoporous YF3 nanoflowers were successfully prepared via solvent extraction route. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations indicated that these nanoflowers with uneven porous architectures had a spherical shape and were consisted of many YF3 nanosheets with a thickness of about 15nm. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis was used to check the chemical composition and purity of the products. YF3 nanoflowers had bimodal mesoporous distribution and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of 116m2/g. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: NdF3 and TbF3 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a solvent extraction route using Cynex923 (R3P diffraction (XRD) study showed that pure hexagonal phase NdF3 and pure orthorhombic phase TbF3 could be obtained under the current synthetic conditions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations indicated that as-obtained NdF3 nanoplates have a diameter of 50–80nm and thickness of 10–20nm and TbF3 products have sphere morphologies with diameter from 70 to 170nm. The driving force for the growth of NdF3 nanoplates could be attributed to the hexagonal crystal structure. The luminescence properties of NdF3 and TbF3 nanoparticles were investigated, which indicated that NdF3 nanoparticles showed typical emission at 888, 1064, and 1328nm and TbF3 nanoparticles showed characteristic emission of Tb3+ (f–f). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Considering the application of cryogenic treatment in aerospace manufacturing field, the hot rolled 7055 Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy thick plate was selected in order to solve its mechanical anisotropy. Several cryogenic-aging processes were applied by introducing deep cryogenic treatment, pre-deformation and natural aging as pre-treatments and two-stage artificial aging as final treatment. An optimized artificial aging parameter in this paper is 110 °C/6 h + 130 °C/16 h, for a best preformance (R m-max = 668 Mpa, R p0.2-max = 635 Mpa, A 25mm-max = 8.52%) in transverse direction. Nearly all the samples pre-treated by various cryogenic processes obtain stable plastic deformation capacity. Generally, there exist geometric recrystallization, continuous recrystallizaion and discontinuous recrystallization, to some extent in different period of cryogenic-aging process. The final morphology is the result of a mutual compromise between pinning effect originated from cryogenic or natural aging precipitates and recrystallization driving force originating from the energy stored in cryogenic or pre-tensile deformed microstructure. For the thick plate of hot-rolled AA7055, the pair of original rolling Brass components can be enhanced by cryogenic treatment or compressive deformation along transverse direction. But the final texture and the morphology of Σ3n GBs are affected mainly in artificial stage due to various abilities of recovery and discontinuous recrystallization in different directions. Tensile plastic deformation and cycled cryogenic treatment can destroy the Brass components, together with continuous straight geometrically necessary boundaries, more effectively. Since precipitation is probablely accelerated through pre-treatments, a modification of artificial aging time has promising prospect to achieve more excellent mechanical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Anisotropic hardness evolution appears during artificial aging when changing the loading axis of samples. • Due to fiber texture and inhomogeneous distribution of T 1 (Al 2 CuLi) variants, different amounts of face-on/inclined T 1 will be encountered in different loading directions. • The face-on/inclined T 1 has a higher resistance ability to hardness loading compared to edge-on T 1. • The pre-stretching prior to aging can effectively facilitate the isotropy of hardness evolution. Anisotropy of mechanical properties has limited the further application of Al–Cu–Li alloys. Previous research efforts were mostly focused on the anisotropic tensile properties. In the present study, significant hardness anisotropy evolution, measured during artificial aging, was also established when loading in different directions. It was found that different amounts of inclined/face-on would be encountered when loading along different directions, resulting from the fiber texture and inhomogeneous distribution of T 1 (Al 2 CuLi) variants along different directions for the samples without pre-stretching. The resistance to hardness loading is different between the face-on/inclined T 1 and edge-on T 1 due to its high aspect ratio, so the measured anisotropic hardness is obtained. Moreover, the characteristics of precipitates also play an important role in the anisotropic hardness evolution, the strong anisotropy of hardness only appears in the alloys that contained large diameters and a low density of T 1 phase or θ' (Al 2 Cu) phase. After applying pre-stretching, the predominant T 1 phase precipitates with small diameters and a high density, which helps to facilitate the isotropic hardness evolution during artificial aging. These findings provide a necessary supplement for the hardness evaluation where a high aspect ratio of precipitate is involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The formation of reversed micelles and the roles of extractant and extracted complexes were investigated in the Cyanex923/n-heptane/H2SO4 system. Interfacial tension (γ), electrical conductivity (κ), and water content measurements showed that Cyanex923 had a tendency to self-assemble, forming reversed micelles. The changes in electrical conductivity with concentration of H2SO4 in the organic phase () exhibited an S-type curve: a correlation was found between the change in electrical conductivity and the water content as a function of . The changes of electrical conductivity were mainly induced by the components and microstructure in the organic phase, while the conversion of extracted complex also resulted in the changes of components and microstructure in the organic phase. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to characterize the organic phases and sizes of the reversed micelles, respectively. The extractant and extracted complexes, such as Cyanex923⋅H2SO4, were involved in the formation of reversed micelles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, a new process is proposed to recover rare earths from nitric acid leaching of apatite without interfering with the normal route for fertilizer production using solvent extraction with dimethyl heptyl methyl phosphonate CH3P(O)(OC8H17)2 (P350, B). In the present work, the leaching conditions are studied. In selected condition, apatite was dissolved in 20% (v/v) nitric acid solution at 60–70°C while agitating. The most suitable acidity for extraction is 0.4M HNO3. More than 98% of rare earths in apatite can be recovered using countercurrent extraction process with six stages when phase ratio=0.5, and defluorination is unnecessary. The influences of phase ratio, stage number, acidity and salting-out agent on extractabilities of P350 are studied. The results show that rare earths can be separated with P350 from Ca, P, Fe and other impurities. Mixed rare earth oxides (REO) of which purity is more than 95% with yield over 98% can be obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The mechanism of carbonation of steel slag was explored. • Process simultaneously carbon sequestration, CO 2 capture and waste heat recovery. • Directly use the lime kiln gas as the gas source without purification. • Average treatment cost of 0.68 MWh for 1 t of steel slag for the process. The iron and steel-making industries have garnered significant attention in research related to low-carbon transitions and the reuse of steel slag. This industry is known for its high carbon emissions and the substantial amount of steel slag it generates. To address these challenges, a waste heat recovery process route has been developed for molten steel slag, which integrates CO 2 capture and fixation as well as efficient utilization of steel slag. This process involves the use of lime kiln flue gas from the steel plant as the gas quenching agent, thereby mitigating carbon emissions and facilitating carbonation conversion of steel slag while simultaneously recovering waste heat. The established carbonation model of steel slag reveals that the insufficient diffusion of CO 2 gas molecules within the product layer is the underlying mechanism hindering the carbonation performance of steel slag. This finding forms the basis for enhancing the carbonation performance of steel slag. The results of Aspen Plus simulation indicate that 1 t of steel slag (with a carbonation conversion rate of 15.169 %) can fix 55.19 kg of CO 2 , process 6.08 kmol of flue gas (with a carbon capture rate of 92.733 %), and recover 2.04 GJ of heat, 0.43 GJ of exergy, and 0.68 MWh of operating cost. These findings contribute to the development of sustainable and efficient solutions for steel slag management, with potential applications in the steel production industry and other relevant fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel plasmonic waveguide structure consisting of a rectangular resonator side coupled with a split ring resonator (SRR) and a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide with metal baffle was proposed. The transmission characteristics of the present structure were simulated by a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The results show that the structure can realize three typical plasmonically-induced reflection (PIR) windows. Meantime, the PIR window can be tuned vertically and horizontally, respectively, and multiple PIR windows with different wavelength intervals can also be obtained by changing the split position. In addition, the sensitivity of the proposed structure can reach up to 1,075 nm/RIU. Furthermore, a rectangular resonator was added to the other side of the plasmonic waveguide structure for realizing the dual-channel PIR window. Another SRR was added to form a symmetrical structure, which further improved the sensitivity and transmittance. Undoubtedly, the proposed structure will have potential applications in sensor and optical switches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The microstructures of homogenized alloy are greatly affected by the cooling rates. • The air-cooled sample is dominated by T phase and δ′/β′ phase. • In the furnace cooling, numerous large size T 1 phases and some θ′ liked phases are precipitated. The microstructure of homogenized Al–Cu–Li alloy is greatly affected by cooling rates. The air-cooled sample is dominated by high temperature precipitated T (Al 20 Cu 2 Mn 3) phase and β′ (Al 3 Zr) phase, accompanied by naturally aged δ′ (Al 3 Li) phase. But for the furnace cooled sample, except for the T phase and δ′/β′ phase, the predominant phases are numerous micrometer-scale T 1 (Al 2 CuLi) phase and some of θ′ (Al 2 Cu) liked phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we prepared micro-nano hierarchical structure superhydrophobic 7055 aluminum alloy surface via electrolytic polishing and 0.7-g/L MgCl 2 aqueous solution etching followed by Perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane modification. The C–F groups with a low surface energy on the surface have great significance to the eventual formation of the superhydrophobic surface, and the dense micron petal-shaped structures can avoid the generation of chloride ion channels, greatly enhancing the corrosion resistance. [Display omitted] • A superhydrophobic surface with a 167.3° contact angle was fabricated via electrolytic polishing and 0.7-g/L MgCl 2 solution etching followed by Perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane modification, featuring a typical nanosheets-composed petal-like morphology. • The corrosion current density of the superhydrophobic surface decreased by more than 2 orders, and corrosion inhibition efficiency is 99.67%. • The superhydrophobic surface is hardly attacked by chloride ions and avoids the generation of chloride ion channels. In this study, we prepared a micro-nano hierarchical structure superhydrophobic 7055 aluminum alloy surface. The preparation mechanism, the surface topographies, the wettability, and the chemical compositions were characterized and discussed in detail. Results show that electrolytic polishing (EP) and etching can effectively inhibit the continuous growth of corrosion products and take grains as a unit, which has micron petal-shaped structures with the grain boundary as the boundary. The surface has a great lasting quality and the corrosive ions and liquids can hardly infiltrate the aluminum substrate and avoid the generation of chloride ion channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solvent extraction route is proposed to synthesize CaF2hollow spheres, which are formed by reversed micelles in a solvent extraction system templating the self-assembly of CaF2nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solvent extraction route is proposed to synthesize CaF2hollow spheres, which are formed by reversed micelles in a solvent extraction system templating the self-assembly of CaF2nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed-phase nanoTiO2 materials attract a lot of attention as advanced photocatalysts for water decontamination due to their intrinsic structure that allows better photo-excited e−cb-h+vb charge separation, hence improved photocatalytic efficiency. Currently, the best-known mixed-phase TiO2 photocatalyst is P25 with approximate composition 80% Anatase/20% Rutile (A/r). Apart from Anatase (A) and Rutile (R) phases, there is Brookite (B) which has been evaluated less as photocatalyst in mixed-phase nanoTiO2 systems. In this work we present a sustainable solution process to synthesize tunable composition mixed-phase nanotitania photocatalysts in a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) by modulating conditions like pH, CTiCl4 and time. In particular three mixed-phase TiO2 nanomaterials were produced, namely one predominantly anatase with brookite as minor component (A/b), one predominantly brookite with minor component rutile (B/r), and one predominantly rutile with minor component brookite (R/b) and evaluated as photocatalysts in the degradation of methyl orange. The three semiconducting nanomaterials were characterized by XRD and Raman spectroscopy to quantify the phase ratios and subjected to nano-morphological characterization by FE-SEM and TEM/HR-TEM. The new mixed-phase nanoTiO2 materials are shown to be endowed with large specific surface area, ranging from 90–125 m2 g−1, double of that of P25, to be mesoporous and be surface-rich in Ti–OH molecular groups varying from 12%–20% versus 4% for P25. These properties though impact the adsorptive capacity with R/b and B/r removing > 50% of MO but not photocatalytic activity. The latter depends on nanograined mixed-phase structure and not mere assembly of different phase nanoparticles. First-order rate constants reveal essentially equivalent photocatalytic activity for anatase nanocrystals with either rutile (P25) or brookite (this work) domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes four kinds of hybrid source–grid–storage systems consisting of photovoltaic and wind energy, and a power grid including different batteries and hydrogen storage systems for Sanjiao town. HOMER-PRO was applied for the optimal design and techno-economic analysis of each case, aiming to explore reproducible energy supply solutions for China's industrial clusters. The results show that the proposed system is a fully feasible and reliable solution for industry-based towns, like Sanjiao, in their pursuit of carbon neutrality. In addition, the source-side price sensitivity analysis found that the hydrogen storage solution was cost-competitive only when the capital costs on the storage and source sides were reduced by about 70%. However, the hydrogen storage system had the lowest carbon emissions, about 14% lower than the battery ones. It was also found that power generation cost reduction had a more prominent effect on the whole system's NPC and LCOE reduction. This suggests that policy support needs to continue to push for generation-side innovation and scaling up, while research on different energy storage types should be encouraged to serve the needs of different source–grid–load–storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

III-nitride heterostructure-based metal–insulator–semiconductor high-electron-mobility transistors (MIS-HEMTs), compared with Schottky and p-GaN gate HEMTs, have demonstrated significant potential in the next-generation high-power electronic devices due to their exceptional gate reliability. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of threshold voltage (VTH) instability in III-nitride heterostructure-based MIS-HEMTs, with a specific emphasis on the interfaces of the multi-heterostructures. Two widely studied amorphous materials, namely, Al2O3 and SiNx, have been extensively examined as primary gate insulators in GaN-based MIS-HEMTs. To efficiently remove native oxides from the (Al)GaN surface, a novel in situ high-temperature remote plasma pretreatment (RPP) technique has been developed. This technique involves sequential application of NH3/N2 plasmas on the (Al)GaN surface before depositing the gate insulators using plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. The remarkable RPP process has proven to be a highly effective method for revealing atomic steps on the GaN surface, irrespective of whether the surface has undergone oxidation or etching processes. To further enhance the interface quality and potentially reduce bulk traps in the gate insulator, optimization of deposition temperature and post-deposition annealing conditions have been explored. Additionally, an electron-blocking layer, such as SiON, is incorporated into the MIS-HEMTs to prevent electron injection into bulk traps within the insulator. Novel characterization techniques including constant-capacitance and isothermal-mode deep-level transient spectroscopy have also been developed to explore the failure mechanisms in MIS-HEMTs. These techniques allow for the differentiation between bulk traps in the GaN epitaxy and those present within the gate insulators. This in-depth physical understanding provides valuable insights into the sources of failure in GaN-based MIS-HEMTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidation of arsenic(III) to arsenic(V) is very important in arsenic removal and immobilization operations. Limited studies on arsenic(III) oxidation at pH below 1.5 as is the case of acid plant and leaching process effluents have been reported. In this work, the kinetics of As(III) oxidation with SO 2 /O 2 gas mixture at low pH (0.3–1.0) sulfuric acid solutions was investigated in the presence of different iron sources as catalyst: (i) Fe(III); (ii) Fe(II); and (iii) FeOOH residue. In the absence of Fe(III) the initial rate of As(III) oxidation at 90 °C is 0.6 mmol/L·min increasing to 1.1 mmol/L·min with Fe(III)/As(III) molar ratio = 0.1. Higher additions of Fe(III) bring only modest increase in rate. In the presence of Fe(II) the oxidation of As(III) is delayed initially due to competing oxidation of Fe(II) subsequently accelerating with the build-up of Fe(III), which acts as catalyst. Use of FeOOH (industrial goethite residue) provides a cost-effective source of Fe(III) catalytic species while simultaneously acts as neutralizing agent. A complex kinetic behavior is followed. Oxidation is reaction-controlled over the temperature range 25–50 °C shifting to mixed regime control from 70 to 80 °C becoming finally fully mass-transfer controlled at 90 °C. The catalytic role of Fe(III) is rationalized on the basis of a radical chain mechanism. Unlabelled Image • Kinetics of As(III) oxidation with SO 2 /O 2 gas mixture at low pH (0.3–1.0). • Different iron sources of Fe(III), Fe(II), and goethite residue as catalyst. • Kinetics are controlled by the intrinsic chemical reaction and mass transfer at low and elevated temperature, respectively. • Fe(III)-catalyzed oxidation of As(III) with SO 2 /O 2 follows a radical chain reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Krüppel‐like factor 13 (KLF13), a zinc finger transcription factor, is considered as a potential regulator of cardiomyocyte differentiation and proliferation during heart morphogenesis. However, its precise role in the dedifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during atherosclerosis and neointimal formation after injury remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the relationship between KLF13 and SM22α expression in normal and atherosclerotic plaques by bioanalysis, and observed a significant increase in KLF13 levels in the atherosclerotic plaques of both human patients and ApoE−/− mice. Knockdown of KLF13 was found to ameliorate intimal hyperplasia following carotid artery injury. Furthermore, we discovered that KLF13 directly binds to the SM22α promoter, leading to the phenotypic dedifferentiation of VSMCs. Remarkably, we observed a significant inhibition of platelet‐derived growth factor BB‐induced VSMCs dedifferentiation, proliferation, and migration when knocked down KLF13 in VSMCs. This inhibitory effect of KLF13 knockdown on VCMC function was, at least in part, mediated by the inactivation of p‐AKT signaling in VSMCs. Overall, our findings shed light on a potential therapeutic target for treating atherosclerotic lesions and restenosis after vascular injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the impact of combining aluminum sulfate with straw and irrigation water to enhance soil quality in soda saline–alkali soil, in this study a field experiment was conducted in Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. With beet IM1162 as the indicator crop, four levels of aluminum sulfate dosage (30, 60, 90, 120 g m−2) and four levels of drip irrigation water quota (225, 270, 315, 360 m3 ha−1) were set. The study examined the impact of varying levels of aluminum sulfate and irrigation water on soil water salt and crop yield. Next, using a comprehensive evaluation method, the optimal quantities of aluminum sulfate and irrigation water needed for effective soil improvement were determined. The research findings indicate that the most effective treatment (W2S3) involved an aluminum sulfate dosage of 90 g m−2 and an irrigation quota of 270 m3 ha−1. This treatment resulted in significant improvements compared to the control (CK) group. Specifically, in the 0–50 cm soil layer, the following improvements were observed: the water storage capacity (SWS) increased by 51.7%; evapotranspiration (ET) increased by 16.2%; water use efficiency (WUE) increased by 55.0%; and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) increased by 98.1% (p < 0.05). These results emphasize the importance of optimizing the combination of aluminum sulfate dosage and irrigation water quota to improve soil conditions and crop performance. It is worth nothing that this study highlights the potential for enhancing water use efficiency and crop yield in agricultural practices, which can contribute to sustainable and efficient farming practices. The study results revealed significant improvements in soil quality and crop yield when compared to the control group (CK). Specifically, in the 0–50 cm soil layer: the soil salt content decreased by 19.8%, soil pH increased by 8.7%, and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) decreased by 34.0%. Moreover, the crop yield in the treatment group increased significantly, by 32.1%. These findings indicate the positive impact of the intervention on soil health and agricultural productivity. The study employed the game theory combination weighting method to comprehensively evaluate soil water, salt, and various yield indicators. The results showed that the sustainability weight for crop yield reached 0.116, emphasizing the aim of soil improvement: the sustainable enhancement of crop yield. This approach underscores the importance of balanced soil management practices to ensure long-term agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. The comprehensive evaluation results of grey relation analysis and the TOPSIS coupling model showed that the soil improvement effect score was the highest when the dosage of aluminum sulfate was 61.7–120.0 g m−2, and the irrigation quota was 250.4–319.4 m3 ha−1, which was the recommended range for the local area. The research findings discussed in the provided sources contribute to the theoretical basis for soil improvement in soda–saline–alkali land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy exhibits a significant decrease in performance after undergoing thermal shock. In order to improve the resistance of this type of alloy to thermal shocks, the influence of deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) on the high temperature mechanical properties and microstructure of thermal shocked Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy is investigated in this paper. It was found that the mechanical properties of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys decrease significantly with the increase of electric heating temperature. The deep cryogenic treatment reduced the grain size of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy, increased the density of the precipitates, and also inhibited the coarsening of the precipitates. Therefore, the deep cryogenic treatment can slow down the weakening effect of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy at high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we develop ultrafast detection and reversible H 2 S gas sensor at room temperature (RT, 23 ℃). The optimized MoO 3 /MnO 2 (MM-10) sensor exhibits remarkable sensitivity to H 2 S with a response of 32.51–100 ppm H 2 S at RT, which is approximately 21.82 times higher than that of the MoO 3 sensor. Further, the MM-10 sensor demonstrates a fast response of 5.71–1000 ppb H 2 S with response/recovery times of 40/42 s at RT. More surprisingly, the theoretical limit of the MM-10 sensor for detecting H 2 S gas is as low as 4.58 ppb at RT, which addresses the limitation of binary heterojunction-based sensors in detecting ppb-level H 2 S gas at RT. After 49 days, the MM-10 sensor still demonstrates reliable stability, ensuring the long-term detection to ppb-level H 2 S at RT in practical applications. Notably, as the relative humidity increases from 30 % to 90 %, the response only decreases by about 17 %, indicating an excellent shielding ability against water molecules. Additionally, it is found that 1 % relative humidity change has a comparable effect on MM-10 sensor as approximately 5.58 ppb H 2 S gas. The significant enhancement mechanism on the sensing surface in the context of H 2 S/MoO 3 /MnO 2 interaction is also thoroughly discussed. [Display omitted] • An ultralow detection limit and room temperature H 2 S gas sensor is demonstrated. • The MM-10 sensor possesses swift response/recovery speed and high response at RT. • The MM-10 sensor has an excellent shielding ability against water molecules. • The sensing procedure of H 2 S/MoO 3 /MnO 2 interaction is deeply discussed under experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unrecoverable degradation of gate leakage is observed in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) under high OFF‐state drain bias stress up to 200 V. Current‐mode deep‐level transient spectroscopy is developed for in situ observation of evolution of traps in the HEMTs before and after stress. It is revealed that two discrete traps, with activation energy of 0.54 and 0.69 eV, have converted into a deeper and broader trap (0.86 eV) after the stress, along with an increased apparent capture cross section (from 1.71 × 10−17–1.11 × 10−15 cm2 to 9.05 × 10−15 cm2). The conversion lowers down the tunneling barrier between metal and the AlGaN barrier, which facilitates trap‐assisted gate leakage in reversed biased AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. Engineering of deep traps in the AlGaN/GaN epilayers is essential for promoting and upgrading of power capability of GaN‐based RF HEMTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Synergistic extraction and recovery of Cerium(IV) (Ce(IV)) and Fluorin (F) from sulfuric solutions using mixture of Cyanex 923 and di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) in n-heptane have been carried out. In order to investigate the synergistic extraction of Cyanex 923+D2EHPA, extraction Ce(IV), F, Ce(III) and Ce–F mixture solution using D2EHPA or Cyanex 923 as extractant alone were studied firstly, and then Synergistic extraction of Ce(IV), F and Ce(IV)–F mixture solution with D2EHPA+Cyanex 923 were carried out. The largest synergistic coefficient of Ce(IV) is obtained at the mole fraction X Cyanex 923 =0.8. The synergistic enhancement coefficients (R max) obtained for Ce(IV) are 23.12 in Ce(IV) solution, and in Ce–F mixed solution R max for Ce(IV) and F are 2.24 and 3.25 respectively. Furthermore, the beta values at X Cyanex 923 =0.8 were Ce(IV)/Ce(III)=1321.18, CeF2 2+/Ce(III)=36.35, which means that Ce(IV), CeF2 2+ can be effectively separated from Ce(III). Ce(IV) and CeF2 2+ would form the new complexes as Ce(HSO4)2A21.5B and CeF2(HSO4)A2B in the mixture system, respectively. However Ce(III) could not be extracted by the mixture system at the experimental conditions. The potential application of the mixture system to separate Ce(IV) and F from bastnasite has also been discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The physical mechanism of threshold voltage (VTH) instability in AlGaN/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor high electron mobility transistors (MIS-HEMTs) was identified via capacitance-mode deep-level transient spectroscopy characterization. MIS-HEMTs with low-pressure chemical vapor deposited (LPCVD) SiNx as the gate insulator feature two distinctive trap-emission transients. The initial transient corresponds to emission of states at the SiNx/AlGaN interface, and the extracted density of state exhibits an exponential decay distribution. The subsequent transient is revealed due to hybrid emission of the interface and bulk states from the LPCVD-SiNx gate insulator, which features an activation energy higher than 1.1 eV and a capture cross section that ranges between 1 × 10−11 and 1 × 10−10 cm2. The bulk states in the LPCVD-SiNx gate insulator become charged under high gate voltage overdrive, leading to severe VTH instability in GaN-based MIS-HEMTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid-thermal-chemical-vapor-deposition (RT-CVD) SiNx gate dielectric was utilized for the fabrication of enhancement-mode GaN-based metal–insulator–semiconductor high electron mobility transistors (MIS-HEMTs) on ultrathin-barrier AlGaN/GaN heterostructure. A plasma-enhanced-atomic-layer-deposited (PEALD) SiNx interfacial layer was adopted to mitigate the high-temperature RTCVD process-induced degradation of the dielectric/III-nitride interface. Based on the dc- and pulsed transfer measurement results, the device with the PEALD-SiNx interfacial layer exhibits low ${V}_{\text {TH}}$ -hysteresis (0.1 V at ${V}_{\text {GS}} = 1, 10$ V) and low interface trap density. Constant-capacitance deep-level transient spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were also conducted to confirm the improvement of the interface quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using detection markers in serum has the advantages of simplicity, repeatability and the capability. This study combined the use of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S100B protein (S100B) with imaging tools to confirm the role of serum biomarkers in evaluating the cerebral vessel reactivity after carotid artery stenting (CAS). After CAS, the serum concentrations of GFAP and S100B increased to the peak at 24 h after operation, and then gradually decreased. The mean flow velocity (MFV) (pre-operation, post-operation, 30 days follow-up: 47.65 ± 17.24 cm/s, 62.37 ± 18.25 cm/s, 70.29 ± 16.89 cm/s; P < 0.05) and pulsatility index (PI) (pre-operation, post-operation, 30 days follow-up: 0.78 ± 0.21, 0.98 ± 0.19, 1.02 ± 0.20; P < 0.05) increased significantly in the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery after CAS. At the 30-day follow-up, the cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) (post-operation, 30 days follow-up: 27.47 ± 12.13 cm/s, 31.92 ± 10.94 cm/s; P < 0.05) improved significantly. In patients with different degrees of stenosis, the more severe the stenosis in the carotid artery, the more obvious the improvement of CVR at the 30 days of follow-up (CVR changes: 11.08 ± 7.95 cm/s, Kendall's tau-b = 0.645, P < 0.001). And the serum concentrations of GFAP (r = − 0.629, P < 0.0001) and S100B (r = − 0.604, P < 0.0001) correlated negatively with CVR at 30 days after CAS. Therefore, we recommend using the biomarkers GFAP and S100B associated with imaging tools such as transcranial Doppler (TCD) and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate the cerebral vessel reactivity following CAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A plasmonic refractive index nanosensor based on Fano resonance was designed, the excellent performance of the structure was numerically achieved. The system consists of a metal–insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide with two silver baffles and a coupled split ring resonator (SRR), and the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method was utilized to study the transmission characteristics of the structure. The results show that the designed structure can excite the triple Fano resonance phenomenon. For a positive SRR structure, the transmission peak can be tuned vertically and horizontally by adjusting the structural parameters. Furthermore, the sensitivity of nanosensors can reach 1034 nm/RIU, and the maximum figure of merit (FOM) is 7.01 × 104. Interestingly, the improved symmetrical SRR structure demonstrated that the sensitivity is as high as 1053 nm/RIU, and the maximum FOM value was 1.82 × 105. High performance and good controllability can provide a new possibility for the design and optimization of nanosensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) waveguide structures consists of cross-shaped cavity and baffle was proposed. The simulation results show that the tunable Fano resonance existed in cross-shaped cavity structures by adjusting the length parameters of horizontal and vertical cavities. Further, the position and alignment of the resonant peak wavelength can be easily changed. The sensitivity of the structure is up to 1075 nm/RIU and the figure of merit (FOM) is 9.95 × 104 by changing the parameters of structure. However, for improved double cross-shaped cavity structure, a linear refractive index sensitivity of 1100 nm/RIU with a figure of merit of about 1.08 × 105 can be obtained. The results clarified that the developed structure could have a great potential in nanosensor and spectral splitter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a surface plasmon optical waveguide filter with half-ring resonator (HRR) based on the metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure was designed and numerically simulated. The results show that the transmission characteristics of the structure tuned dynamically by altering the geometrical parameters. In addition, by tuning the refractive index of the filling material in the resonator, the designed waveguide structure realized a nanoscale refractive index sensor (753nm/RIU of sensitivity). Moreover, double plasmonic induced reflection (PIR) window was also achieved by adding another rectangular resonator. The as-designed structure also offers a potential method for optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inner Mongolia cashmere goats, as an important part of animal husbandry production, play an important role in animal fiber industry. In recent years, scientific research has made a lot of explorations on the molecular regulation mechanism of hair follicle cycle growth, but few studies have been reported on the development of cashmere hair in fetal period. This study was based on the completion of 21 skin samples of mRNA and miRNA sequencing in 7 fetal periods (45 days, 55 days,65 days,75 days,95 days,115 days and 135 days) of the Inner Mongolia Cashmere goat. The target genes of miRNA associated with the development of secondary hair follicles in the cashmere goats were selected through the combination analysis of mRNA and miRNA data. Then the overexpression vector was constructed and the interaction between the miRNA and the target gene was identified by Dual-Luciferase Reporter Gene System. The function and interaction relationship of chi-miR-199a-5p and TGF-β2 were verified by RT-qPCR and western blot at the level of the fibroblasts in Inner Mongolia Cashmere goat. It provides a theoretical basis for further study of miRNA and its target genes regulating the occurrence and development of skin hair follicles. As the result shows, the expression trends of 7 genes (BAMBI, SMAD1, LTBP1, PPP2R1B, ID4, BMP8B and PITX2) and 7 miRNA (chi-miR-17-5p, chi-miR-125b-3p, chi-miR-21-5p, chi-miR-143-5p and chi-miR-106b-5p) in the skin samples for the seven stages of the fetus were shown to be consistent with the sequencing results. the results of sequencing are reliable. The correlation coefficient of TGF-β2 and chi-miR-199a-5p in fetal 45d-135d expression is −0.84, showing a strong negative correlation, The target relationship was preliminarily judged. The results of double luciferase vector report showed that chi-miR-199a-5p significantly decreased the expression of luciferase in TGF-β2 3′UTR, It is determined that there is a reciprocal relationship between them at a specific time. We transfected chi-miR199a-5p-FAM mimics into fibroblasts cultured in vitro from Inner Mongolia cashmere goats. After transfection, the cells were harvested to extract total RNA and protein. The mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF-β2 in fibroblasts were detected by RT-qPCR and western blot. It was verified that chi-miR-199a-5p inhibited TGF-β2 expression at both mRNA and protein translation levels in fibroblasts. At the same time, it was again proved that the TGF-β2 gene is a target gene of chi-miR199a-5p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the current condition of mortality‐specific comorbidity among hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke. Methods: Five‐year data of inpatients with ischemic stroke (IS) were extracted from the hospital medical database. A retrospective review of eighteen mortality‐specific comorbidities in extensively validated Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was carried out for each patient. In addition, the distribution of the CCI‐based prognostic score was calculated. Results: A total of 10 331 (male 57.6%) cases with IS were recruited in the present study. The most prevalent mortality‐specific comorbidities from high to low were as follows: peripheral vascular disease (35.1%), diabetes uncomplicated (25.2%),mild liver disease (18.3%), chronic pulmonary disease (14.7%), congestive heart failure (10.8%), atrial fibrillation or flutter (10.3%), diabetes complicated (9.1%), moderate or severe renal disease (7.5%), and dementia (7.1%). High prevalence of comorbidities in the elderly was also noted (31.1% patients with score ≥3). Spearman correlation analysis with a rho of 0.25 (P < 0.001) showed a mild correlation between the age‐ and the CCI‐based prognostic score. Conclusion: High prevalence of peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, liver disease, chronic pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, or flutter as major contributors to mortality was presented in in‐hospital patients with IS in our area. One‐third of old patients with IS expose high mortality risk with the CCI score ≥3. Early prevention and management of the potential comorbidities are necessary to reduce the mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The endovascular treatment strategy for acute tandem occlusion stroke is challenging, and controversy exists regarding which lesion should be treated first. This study addresses the uncertainty regarding the priority choice for thrombectomy in acute anterior circulation tandem occlusion stroke. Methods We analysed the clinical and angiographic data of tandem stroke patients who underwent interventional therapy from the endovAsCular Treatment of acUte Anterior circuLation ischaemic stroke (ACTUAL) registry. Recanalisation was assessed according to the modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score. Clinical outcome was evaluated at 90 days using the modified Rankin scale score. Results Sixty tandem occlusion stroke patients were enrolled. Thirty-one (51.7%) patients received anterograde therapy, while 29 (48.3%) patients underwent the retrograde approach. Successful recanalisation (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score 2b–3) occurred in 78.3% (47/60) of patients, and 50.0% (30/60) of patients achieved a modified Rankin scale score of 0–2 at 90 days. Patients undergoing the retrograde approach spent less time in distal occlusion recanalisation (125 (86–167) vs. 95 (74–122) minutes; P = 0.04) and achieved better functional outcomes at 90 days (69.0% (20/29) vs. 32.3% (10/31); P = 0.004) than patients who received anterograde therapy. The retrograde approach was associated with favourable clinical outcomes (odds ratio 0.21; 95% confidence interval 0.07–0.64; P = 0.006). Conclusion For acute tandem occlusion stroke, favourable outcomes were better in patients undergoing retrograde therapy than in patients who received the anterograde approach. Future randomised trials are warranted to determine the optimal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aims Atherosclerosis is more prevalent in Asian population. This distinct etiology of stroke might disadvantage Asian patients when applying. mechanical thrombectomy (MT). The purpose of this research was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MT in a cohort of Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke. due to large artery atherosclerosis (LAA). Methods and results A total of 649 patients treated with MT were included. Patients were classified according to etiology of stroke as LAA and cardioembolism ones. Successful revascularization was defined as modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) grade ≥ 2b. Favorable outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤ 2 at 90 days. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors for functional outcomes. The patients with stroke of LAA etiology had significantly higher rate of favorable functional outcome (50.2% vs 36.5%, p <.001) and good collateral (grade of ASITN/SIRI: 2–3) (58.8% versus 43.2%, p <.001), and lower median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS) (15.6 versus 18.2, p <.001), compared to patients with stroke of cardioembolism etiology. There was no significant difference in the rate of successful postprocedural mTICI between groups (84.5% versus 83.2%, p =.671). Rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (20.0% versus 11.7%, p =.004) and mortality (31.8% versus 18.8%, p <.001) within 3 months were notably higher in the cardioembolism group than that in the LAA group. Conclusion Mechanical thrombectomy may be more efficacious in treating acute ischemic stroke of LAA etiology than that of cardioembolism etiology. Highlights • Effects of mechanical thrombectomy(MT) were studied in patients with LAA stroke. • High rate of successful postprocedural mTICI and good collateral were achieved. • Low rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and mortality were observed. • High rate of favorable functional outcome at 3 months was obtained. • MT is efficacious in treating acute ischemic stroke of LAA etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]