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Multi-label image classification (MLIC) is a highly practical and challenging task in computer vision. Compared to traditional single-label image classification, MLIC not only focuses on the dependencies between images and labels but also places significant emphasis on the spatial relationships within images and the internal dependencies of labels. In this paper, we propose the Dual-Stream Classification Network (DSCN) for multi-label image classification. In one branch, we capture more spatial information by segmenting the image. A feature reconstruction layer based on self-attention mechanism is used to recover the boundary information lost after segmentation, while the dependency between the image and label is captured by a transformer encoder. The other branch enhances the label’s semantics using multimodal features by employing templates to extend categories into prompts, thus improving the reliability of the features. The CLIP model provides multimodal association features between images and prompts. The final labels of the images are generated by a weighted fusion of the results from the two branches. We tested our model on three popular datasets: MSCOCO2014, VOC2007 and NUS-WIDE. DSCN outperformed state-of-the-art methods, demonstrating the effectiveness of our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expansive soils are characterized by significant swelling and shrinkage due to changes in water content, which could threaten the safety of buildings. In this study, an electrochemical treatment method was used to modify bentonite, with subsequent analysis focused on evaluating the alterations in its physical and chemical properties. The electrical resistance between the soil and the electrodes was significantly reduced by injecting a CaCl2 solution, leading to a substantial decrease in voltage loss at the anode. The thickness of the electrical double layer decreased as the Na+ cations adsorbed by smectite particles were exchanged by Ca2+ ions, which significantly decreased the water adsorption and free swelling ratio. The electrochemical treatment method removed more pore water from soil samples than the electroosmotic consolidation method. Furthermore, the results indicated that the injection of a CaCl2 solution could be effective in restraining the swelling potential of bentonite. The most suitable concentration for CaCl2 solution to modify bentonite by electrochemical treatment method might be 1 mol/L, and the injection volume could be 125 mL/L of soil. The results indicated that the electrochemical treatment method could be a promising in situ technique for modifying expansive soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro-osmotic consolidation is a promising method to remove pore water from soft soils. Numerical models have been widely used to simulate the underlying flow-mechanical–electrical processes and predict the consolidation behavior of soft soils subjected to electro-osmotic treatment. In the present study, we proposed a method to convert a 3D electro-osmotic consolidation model to an equivalent 2D model to alleviate the notorious computational burden associated with high-fidelity numerical simulations. The accuracy of the equivalent 2D model was verified by comparing with the original 3D model in terms of surface settlement and degree of consolidation. The behavior of the equivalent 2D model was highly depended on electrode configurations. The prediction accuracy of the 2D model increased with the decrease of the spacing between electrodes with same polarity. For the cases we analyzed, the 2D model showed accurate predictions with the final relative error of surface settlement in the range of ± 6%. The equivalent method was then applied to a field test to further validate its feasibility in real-world problems. The simulated surface settlement from the 2D model coincided well with field measurements, indicating that the equivalent 2D model was able to analyze realistic scenarios with complex electrode configurations and boundary conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) is a low‐cost approach for cervical cancer screening used in most low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) but, similar to other visual tests, is subjective and requires sustained training and quality assurance. We developed, trained, and validated an artificial‐intelligence‐based "Automated Visual Evaluation" (AVE) tool that can be adapted to run on smartphones to assess smartphone‐captured images of the cervix and identify precancerous lesions, helping augment VIA performance. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Eight public health facilities in Zambia. Participants: A total of 8204 women aged 25–55. Interventions: Cervical images captured on commonly used low‐cost smartphone models were matched with key clinical information including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) status, plus histopathology analysis (where applicable), to develop and train an AVE algorithm and evaluate its performance for use as a primary screen and triage test for women who are HPV positive. Main Outcome Measures: Area under the receiver operating curve (AUC); sensitivity; specificity. Results: As a general population screening tool for cervical precancerous lesions, AVE identified cases of cervical precancerous and cancerous (CIN2+) lesions with high performance (AUC = 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89–0.93), which translates to a sensitivity of 85% (95% CI = 81%–90%) and specificity of 86% (95% CI = 84%–88%) based on maximizing the Youden's index. This represents a considerable improvement over naked eye VIA, which as per a meta‐analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) has a sensitivity of 66% and specificity of 87%. For women living with HIV, the AUC of AVE was 0.91 (95% CI = 0.88–0.93), and among those testing positive for high‐risk HPV types, the AUC was 0.87 (95% CI = 0.83–0.91). Conclusions: These results demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing AVE on images captured using a commonly available smartphone by nurses in a screening program, and support our ongoing efforts for moving to more broadly evaluate AVE for its clinical sensitivity, specificity, feasibility, and acceptability across a wider range of settings. Limitations of this study include potential inflation of performance estimates due to verification bias (as biopsies were only obtained from participants with visible aceto‐white cervical lesions) and due to this being an internal validation (the test data, while independent from that used to develop the algorithm was drawn from the same study). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A 2D facility is developed for simulating groundwater remediation by ozone MNBs. • MNBs can migrate over long distances with high dispersion. • Organics-contaminated groundwater can be effectively remediated by ozone MNBs. Ozone micro-nano-bubbles (MNBs) enhanced oxidation is a promising in-situ remediation technology for organics-contaminated groundwater. The transport behavior of MNBs and contaminant removal effect in actual groundwater scene is not yet comprehensively understood, although one-dimensional column experiments and batch tests were conducted to investigate the migration of MNBs and contaminant degradation in previous studies. Here, a novel two-dimensional (2D) physical modeling facility was developed, which can characterize the tempo-spatial distribution of MNBs and contaminant in groundwater. The facility was used to explore the migration of MNBs under different hydraulic gradients and the removal of methyl orange, a representative organic pollutant, using ozone MNBs. The experimental results show that groundwater flow velocity has a significant influence on the migration behavior of MNBs. A model including groundwater flow, MNBs transport, and dissolved gas transport can well capture the migration and distribution of MNBs under different hydraulic gradients. The longitudinal and transverse dispersivities of the MNBs were calculated to be 1.14 cm and 0.18 cm, respectively. MNBs are able to migrate with groundwater flow to long distances and exhibit strong dispersion in the lateral and longitudinal directions. The increase in hydraulic gradient greatly enhances the transport of MNBs in groundwater and relieves the deposited MNBs on the surface of porous media. At a hydraulic gradient increasing from 0.033 to 0.1, the range of influence of MNBs increased from about 80 cm × 40 cm to 140 cm × 39 cm after 36 h of injection of oxygen MNBs water. The methyl orange in groundwater is effectively removed by ozone MNBs enhanced oxidation, showing the remarkable remediation ability of ozone MNBs. The area of influence and pollutant removal of the ozone MNBs expanded with injection, and the area of influence was approximately 48 cm × 30 cm after 48 h of treatment. We also discuss the effect of groundwater matrix on ozone MNB migration and degradation of contaminants. The 2D model tests illustrate the mechanism of MNB migration and indicate that ozone MNBs enhanced oxidation technology has great potential in the remediation of organics-contaminated groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) are mainly responsible for binding and transporting hydrophobic pheromone molecules across the aqueous sensilla lymph to the receptor proteins. The preference of each PBP is believed to be different for each pheromone component within a single species. Significantly higher expression level of PBP1 and PBP2 in the male antennae of Spodoptera frugiperda suggesting that Sfru PBP1 and Sfru PBP2 might play important roles in pheromone perception. However, the preference of these two PBP to the three main pheromone components Z9-14: Ac, Z7-12: Ac and Z11-16: Ac have not been determined. In this study, a fluorescence competitive binding assay revealed that the binding intensities of Sfru PBP1 and Sfru PBP2 to Z9-14: Ac or Z7-12: Ac was comparable. We then used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to individually or simultaneously knock out PBP1 and PBP2 in S.frugiperda. The result of courtship behavior indicated that Sfru PBP1 and Sfru PBP2 were indispensable and played equal roles in perceiving the pheromones Z9-14: Ac and Z7-12: Ac for orientation, wing vibration, and hair-pencil display. Compared with Z9-14:Ac and Z7-12: Ac, Z11-16: Ac showed higher or medium binding intensities with Sfru PBP1 and Sfru PBP2 but played a minor role in inducing the wing vibration behavior. The results of this study are valuable for elucidating the mechanisms involved in sex pheromone perception and may facilitate the development of PBP-targeted pest control techniques. [Display omitted] • Sfru PBP1 and Sfru PBP2 reveals different binding affinity with three sex pheromones. • Sfru PBP1 and Sfru PBP2 play equal role for completing the courtship behavior. • Z11-16:Ac could elicit the wing vibration behavior through Sfru PBP1 and Sfru PBP2. • Z11-16:Ac could not induce the orientation and hair-pencil displaying behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript aims at raising the attention of the scientific community to the need for better characterised bioreceptors for fast development of point-of-care diagnostic devices able to support mass frequency testing. Particularly, we present the difficulties encountered in finding suitable antibodies for the development of a lateral flow assay for detecting the nucleoprotein of SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naphthalene, as one of the representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, widely exists in contaminated sites and is a potential threat to human health due to its high mobility in soil. The interaction between naphthalene and clay minerals is of great significance to the environmental behavior of naphthalene and the design of remediation technology. In this study, montmorillonite and kaolinite were selected as representative clay minerals. Naphthalene adsorption behavior on mineral surfaces and water-wet kaolinite surfaces was investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The interaction energy was calculated to represent the interaction between naphthalene and soil fractions, and the relative concentration and density distribution of naphthalene was analyzed to describe the distribution of naphthalene on the clay surfaces. The self-diffusion coefficient of naphthalene was obtained to represent its mobility under different water content. The electron density calculation was performed to reveal the different adsorption behavior of naphthalene on different surfaces of kaolinite. The simulation results show that montmorillonite had a stronger interaction with naphthalene due to larger electrostatic interaction energy compared to kaolinite, and naphthalene distributed more intensively on the montmorillonite surface. With regards to kaolinite, naphthalene tended to be absorbed on the alumina octahedral surface rather than the silicon tetrahedral surface due to the weak hydron bond interaction. The results indicate that water impeded the adsorption of naphthalene, and the optimal initial thickness of water film, which was 10 Å, was put forward for the application of thermal remediation technology. Furthermore, the average interaction energies between water and mineral surfaces largely depended on the water content, and the competitive adsorption between water and naphthalene only occurred under absorbed and bound water conditions. Overall, the knowledge of naphthalene–soil fractions interaction gained in this study is critical to the understanding of the environmental behavior of naphthalene and the reference for remediation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro-osmotic consolidation combined with vacuum preloading is a potential technology to dewater the soft soils and slurry. The anode condition has a significant effect on dewatering efficiency during operation, which is not adequately addressed. In this study, laboratory tests were conducted to study the effect of different boundary conditions of anode on the soil-improvement result using the combination of electro-osmotic consolidation and vacuum preloading, then to obtain the best combination mode. During the physical modeling tests, the soil mass was treated by vacuum preloading first and then further processed by the combined method. Three model tests were conducted to study the effect of different vacuum conditions on electrode, while CaCl2 solutions were injected at the anode in another two tests to study the effect of the electro-osmotic chemical treatment. The discharge of water and electrical current were measured during the tests, and the soil strength were measured after the implementation of the tests. The results indicated that the combined method was more effective to remove pore water from the soil mass compared with the traditional vacuum preloading. Although the vacuum preloading and electro-osmosis drove the water flow in the opposite direction near the anode, the vacuum pressure applied on the anode prevented the soil cracks, which increased electrical current obviously and removed 15% more pore water. The injection of CaCl2 solution at the anode showed slight effect on dewatering process, however, the bearing capacity was increased significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nitrogen sorption isotherm is conventionally used to deduce the specific surface area of porous materials. However, it often exhibits a sharp drop around 0.5 relative pressure. A theory explicitly accounting for intermolecular-scale pressure, instead of classical theories of constant disjoining pressure in condensed liquid, is constructed and used to determine cavitation during desorption. Intermolecular-scale liquid pressure distribution is quantified using a recently developed soil sorptive potential framework, showing compressive liquid nitrogen pressure decaying nonlinearly with increasing distance to the particle surface. A range of cavitation pressure is predicted by classical nucleation theory and the van der Waals equation of state. Cavitation is shown to be triggered when nitrogen's global minimum liquid pressure falls within the cavitation threshold. It is shown that this criterion is valid for all tested soils. Computed minimum liquid pressure always occurs at 0.5 relative pressure, which is in accordance with experimental isotherm data and further indicates the validity of the cavitation onset criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vapor sorption isotherm (VSI) of soil serves as a basic tool in geotechnical engineering, widely employed for characterizing the structural parameters of soil. Micropores are commonly found in soil, significantly altering the VSI and impacting the characterization of structural parameters. Nonetheless, these micropores are often overlooked in relevant analyses. Moreover, the characterization process relies on the utilization of theoretical models to fit the VSI. However, the commonly used models are not designed for VSI, raising concerns about their reliability. To investigate the influence of micropores on VSI and assess the reliability of various characterization models, this study used molecular simulation techniques to generate VSIs for kaolinite samples with different pore sizes. The simulation results reveal the effects of pore size on VSI shape, shed light on the influence of soil surfaces on pore water density and orientation, and highlight the important role of hydrogen bonds in water retention within the kaolinite pores. Furthermore, the reliability of three structural parameter characterization models, namely BET, DR, and a s plot, was evaluated with the aid of the explicit geometric dimensions in molecular models, and the mechanisms responsible for their reliability were elucidated. This study deepens the understanding of VSI and provides crucial references for the characterization of soil structural parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is the most important ingredient of life. Water fecal pollution threatens water quality worldwide and has direct detrimental effects on human health and the global economy. Nowadays, assessment of water fecal pollution relies on time-consuming techniques that often require well-trained personnel and highly-equipped laboratories. Therefore, faster, cheaper, and easily-used systems are needed to in situ monitor water fecal pollution. Herein, we have developed colorimetric lateral flow strips (LFS) able to detect and quantify Escherichia coli species in tap, river, and sewage water samples as an indicator of fecal pollution. The combination of LFS with a simple water filtration unit and a commercially available colorimetric reader enhanced the assay sensitivity and enabled more accurate quantification of bacteria concentration down to 104 CFU mL−1 in 10 minutes, yielding recovery percentages between 80% and 90% for all water samples analyzed. Overall, this system allows for monitoring and assessing water quality based on E. coli species as a standard microbiological indicator of fecal pollution. Furthermore, we have developed a novel bioluminescent, bacteria-based method to quickly characterize the performance of a great variety of LFS materials. This new method allows evaluating the flow rate of big analytes such as bacteria through the LFS materials, as a suggestive means for selecting the appropriate materials for fabricating LFS targeting big analytes (≈2 μm). As a whole, the proposed approach can accelerate and reduce the costs of water quality monitoring and pave the way for further improvement of fecal pollution detection systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracranial aneurysm (IA) is a complex disease caused by genetic and environmental factors. Evidence indicates that inflammation plays an important role in IA occurrence. We aimed to explore the associations between inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms and IA in a Chinese population. This study enrolled 768 participants of Han ethnicity, including 384 patients with IA and 384 healthy individuals. Sixteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL1, IL6, IL12, and TNF-α genes were genotyped using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the associations. We found IL12B rs3181216 was significantly associated with IA in the recessive and additive models (OR = 0.46 , 95% CI = 0.23–0.89, P = 0.022 ; OR = 0.74 , 95% CI = 0.56–0.98, P = 0.034 , respectively). TNF-α rs1799964 was associated with IA in dominant and additive models (OR = 0.67 , 95% CI = 0.46–0.98, P = 0.041 ; OR = 0.71 , 95% CI = 0.51–0.98, P = 0.034 , respectively). IL1A rs17561 was associated with single IA susceptibility (dominant model: OR = 0.52 , 95% CI = 0.31–0.85, P = 0.040). The IL12B rs3181216 polymorphism was associated with single IA susceptibility in the recessive model (OR = 0.41 , 95% CI = 0.18–0.93, P = 0.033). The IL12B rs2195940 polymorphism was associated with multiple IAs susceptibility (dominant model: OR = 0.28 , 95% CI = 0.09–0.89, P = 0.031 ; additive model: OR = 0.28 , 95% CI = 0.09–0.90, P = 0.032). TNF-α rs1799964 was associated with multiple IAs susceptibility in the dominant model (OR = 0.54 , 95% CI = 0.30–0.97, P = 0.040). No associations were found between other polymorphisms and IA susceptibility. Therefore, IL1A, IL12B, and TNF-α gene polymorphisms are associated with IA susceptibility in a Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene polymorphisms have been shown to be associated with the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR), but the results were inconsistent. The aim of this study was to systematically assess the associations between VEGF gene polymorphisms and different types of DR (nonproliferative DR and proliferative DR). Methods. Electronic databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, and WANFANG DATA were searched for articles on the associations between VEGF gene polymorphisms and different types of DR up to November 6, 2019. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and subgroup analyses were conducted by ethnicity. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the stability of the results. Publication bias was assessed by using the Egger regression asymmetry test and visualization of funnel plots. A systematic review was conducted for polymorphisms with a high degree of heterogeneity ( I 2 > 75 %) or studied in only one study. Results. A total of 13 and 18 studies analyzed the associations between VEGF SNPs and nonproliferative DR (NPDR) as well as proliferative DR (PDR), respectively. There were significant associations between rs2010963 and NPDR in Asian (dominant model: OR = 1.29 , 95 % CI = 1.04 − 1.60); and rs2010963 is associated with PDR in total population (dominant model: OR = 1.20 , 95 % CI = 1.03 − 1.41), either Asian (recessive model: OR = 1.57 , 95 % CI = 1.04 − 2.35) or Caucasian (recessive model: OR = 1.83 , 95 % CI = 1.28 − 2.63). Rs833061 is associated with PDR in Asian (recessive model: OR = 1.58 , 95 % CI = 1.11 − 2.26). Rs699947 is associated with NPDR in the total population (dominant model: OR = 2.04 , 95 % CI = 1.30 − 3.21) and associated with PDR in Asian (dominant model: OR = 1.72 , 95 % CI = 1.05 − 2.84). Conclusions. Rs2010963, rs833061, and rs699947 are associated with NPDR or PDR, which may be involved in the occurrence and development of DR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human papillomavirus vaccination and cervical screening are lacking in most lower resource settings, where approximately 80% of more than 500 000 cancer cases occur annually. Visual inspection of the cervix following acetic acid application is practical but not reproducible or accurate. The objective of this study was to develop a "deep learning"-based visual evaluation algorithm that automatically recognizes cervical precancer/cancer.Methods: A population-based longitudinal cohort of 9406 women ages 18-94 years in Guanacaste, Costa Rica was followed for 7 years (1993-2000), incorporating multiple cervical screening methods and histopathologic confirmation of precancers. Tumor registry linkage identified cancers up to 18 years. Archived, digitized cervical images from screening, taken with a fixed-focus camera ("cervicography"), were used for training/validation of the deep learning-based algorithm. The resultant image prediction score (0-1) could be categorized to balance sensitivity and specificity for detection of precancer/cancer. All statistical tests were two-sided.Results: Automated visual evaluation of enrollment cervigrams identified cumulative precancer/cancer cases with greater accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89 to 0.93) than original cervigram interpretation (AUC = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.63 to 0.74; P < .001) or conventional cytology (AUC = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.65 to 0.77; P < .001). A single visual screening round restricted to women at the prime screening ages of 25-49 years could identify 127 (55.7%) of 228 precancers (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3/adenocarcinoma in situ [AIS]) diagnosed cumulatively in the entire adult population (ages 18-94 years) while referring 11.0% for management.Conclusions: The results support consideration of automated visual evaluation of cervical images from contemporary digital cameras. If achieved, this might permit dissemination of effective point-of-care cervical screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) play important roles in mate recognition and chemical communication. To explore the cues regulating courtship and mating behaviour in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), CHCs were extracted from mature virgin female and male oriental fruit flies using n‐hexane. Nine compounds – i.e., 4‐allyl‐2,6‐dimethoxyphenol (designated 'compound 3') and eight ester compounds – had significantly greater abundance in female samples than in males. Of these nine compounds, six (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8) elicited electrophysiological responses from the antennae of male flies. Compound 3 did not elicit a detectable male antennal response, but in Y‐tube olfactometer bioassays, it exhibited robust attractiveness to conspecific males at close range. We speculate that compound 3 is a close‐range sex pheromone in B. dorsalis. A mating competition experiment revealed that compound 3 significantly increased the competitiveness of males, which implied that compound 3 might be used in control programs of B. dorsalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The effects of soil pH and ionic species on the electro-osmotic consolidation of kaolin are studied. • The addition of sodium ions increased both electro-osmotic flow rate and total volume of the discharged water. • The precipitation of copper at cathode reduced both electrical conductivity and dewatering efficiency. • The initial soil pH showed a remarkable effect on water content distribution. Abstract The application of an electric field on soil mass induces both electro-osmotic flow and electro-migration, which has been used for the dewatering of soft soils and remediation of contaminated soils. The physical and chemical properties of soft soils are influenced by the soil pH as well as ionic species and their concentrations, which subsequently influence the dewatering and remediation efficiency. In the present study, one-dimensional column experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of soil pH and ionic species on the electro-osmotic consolidation process of kaolin. The initial drainage rate, total volume of the discharged water and the voltage loss near the anode increased with the increase in the initial soil pH. After electro-osmosis, the water content was lower near the anode and higher near the cathode for sample with higher initial soil pH. The addition of copper ions reduced the dewatering efficiency while the addition of sodium ions increased the drainage rate and total volume of discharged water. Moreover, the precipitation of copper ions increased the voltage loss near the cathode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Laboratory tests were conducted on kaolinite to investigate the effectiveness of electro-osmotic consolidation combined with vacuum preloading using electrokinetic geosynthetics (EKG). The results showed that the combined method could remove more water and induce larger surface ground settlements compared with the traditional vacuum preloading or electro-osmotic consolidation. Vacuum preloading was quite effective during the first 4 h, though the electro-osmotic consolidation took a main role in dewatering process after 9 h. The combined method could also hinder the development of cracks, induce higher negative pore water pressure and hence increase the efficiency of electro-osmotic consolidation. The results showed that deep electro-osmotic consolidation technique combined with vacuum preloading could result in significant water removal efficiency along with shorter electrode length. Furthermore, both electro-osmotic consolidation and the combined method could consolidate the soil efficiently with low energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Development of hemicyanine boronic acid (HBA) for the rapid, sensitive, and specific fluorescent detection of O-Aminophenol (OAP). • Detection linear in the range of 10 – 100 µM in water-containing system and 0.1 – 10.0 µM in ethanol system with detection limit of 0.4 µM and 0.06 µM, respectively. • Validation of detection precision and accuracy by HPLC. O-Aminophenol (OAP) is widely used in various industries, but it can have severe negative impacts on both the environment and human health. Herein, we reported the development of hemicyanine boronic acid (HBA) for the fluorescent detection of OAP. The reaction of HBA with OAP produced a strong fluorescence emission at 675 nm because of the generation of tricyclic borate ester hemicyanine (TBEH). The detection was very rapid, sensitive and specific. The detection had a linear range 0.1 – 10.0 µM in ethanol with a detection limit of 60 nM in water and ethanol. The accuracy and precision of our results were successfully verified via HPLC analysis. Our study offers a valuable tool for the facile and efficient detection of OAP , with practical applications in environmental and health management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, the effects of surface modification of nZVI and arsenic (As) loading on the mobility of the three types of As-loaded nZVI (As-loaded pristine, chitosan-modified and polyaniline-modified nZVI) in quartz sand-packed columns were investigated. Breakthrough curves and retention profiles for the three types of As-loaded nZVI were analyzed by the Tufenkji-Elimelech equations and the HYDRUS-1D model. The mobility of both types of As-loaded modified nZVI was higher than the As-loaded pristine nZVI at both low and high As loadings. Compared to low As loading, the mobility of the three types of As-loaded nZVI was higher at high As loading. The values of the calculated and the fitted retention parameters of the three As-loaded nZVI were lower when As loading was higher or nZVI was modified, which were in line with the experimental column findings. The mechanisms of As-loaded nZVI transport were probably due to ripening and sedimentation. The As in the effluent was mainly from the As-loaded nZVI particles when nZVI was detected and was from the As release when no nZVI was detectable. It was evident that the mobility of the three types of As-loaded nZVI particles were severely limited (the maximum transport distance was less than 60 cm), regardless of surface modification and As loading. Therefore, the As release from the As-loaded nZVI could cause potentially wide pollution and should be paid more attention regarding to the application of nZVI in As remediation. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Surface modification and high As loading enhanced the mobility of As-loaded nZVI. • The transport mechanisms of the As-loaded nZVI were the ripening and sedimentation. • Arsenic in the effluent was from the As release when nZVI was not detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document discusses the advancements in drug discovery and the application of new technologies, particularly focusing on the integration of artificial intelligence, proteomics, metabolomics, next-generation sequencing, and nanotechnology. It highlights the challenges faced in translating these innovations into clinical success, such as the scarcity of biological data and the complexity of synthetic biology. The Special Issue presents groundbreaking studies showcasing novel methodologies and compounds in drug discovery, with applications ranging from viral infection treatment to cancer therapy, aiming to provide valuable resources for researchers in the field. [Extracted from the article]

Spurred by the advanced technologies, mainly including horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, shale gas exploration has grown significantly over the past few decades. Upon exposure to the aqueous fracturing fluids in the high temperature and high pressure subsurface, the mechanical properties of shales such as elasticity, hardness, and strength usually deteriorate, a phenomenon termed “shale softening”. As a complex, multiphase, and multiscale material, shale is prone to the change in its mechanical properties upon exposure to fracture fluids. It is generally agreed that shale softening has great impact on the design and operation of shale gas exploration and the long-term gas production. This paper provides a critical review of the observed, phenomenological behavior of shale softening, and summarizes the currently recognized potential or hypothesized underlying mechanisms. The former includes: (1) reduction in fracture conductivity and hence the rate of gas production; (2) degradation of mechanical properties and reservoir fracability; (3) creep and long-term damage to the shale formations. The latter consists of clay-fluid interactions, electrical double layer (EDL) repulsion, solid mineral dissolution, short-term unloading, and long-term creep. However, to date, the dominant mechanisms controlling shale softening for a rock with known mineralogical compositions and the chemistry of fracturing fluids still remain unresolved. Our preliminary investigations suggest that the dominant mechanism depend on shale's compositions. Therefore, knowledge of the mineralogy of a shale is proposed as an essential requirement for the development of a framework for probing the mechanisms of shale softening. It is expected that such a newly proposed framework can practically facilitate the design and operation of shale gas exploration and help achieve stable gas production over an extended duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzene poses a severe threat to human health due to its prevalence and carcinogenicity. The adsorption behavior of benzene on clay mineral surfaces is significant to its migration and retention in soils. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanism of benzene adsorption behavior under different environmental conditions. In this study, a series of Grand Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations were performed to obtain benzene isotherms on clay under various temperatures and air humidity. The adsorption mechanisms were investigated via analysis of the distribution of interaction energy, density, and orientation of adsorbed benzene and water. Results show that benzene form multiple layers on mineral surfaces, and surfaces have a great impact on the first layer of adsorbed benzene. The impedance effect of temperature on benzene adsorption is attributed to the temperature-dependent chemical potential of benzene, but not the interaction between benzene and surfaces, which is slightly temperature-reliant. Humidity shows different inhibition effects on benzene adsorption due to different surface hydration behavior and competitive adsorption between water and benzene. Benzene tends to be adsorbed on hollow sites on kaolinite surfaces, which is the same as water. The surface cations on montmorillonite and mica are significant to benzene and water adsorption, and their density distribution causes different competitive adsorption behavior. [Display omitted] • General framework based on GCMC simulation was developed to gain benzene isotherms. • Microscopic information of adsorbed benzene and water was statistically achieved. • Impact of clay surfaces, temperature, and humidity on adsorption was investigated. • Competitive adsorption mechanism was revealed by analyzing molecular density field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different types of soil water, such as bound water and capillary water, have distinct effects on the physicochemical and engineering properties of soils, particularly unsaturated clayey soils. Therefore, it is crucial to develop an accurate and physically meaningful experimental method for identifying and quantifying these components. This study pioneers the use of a multi-step kinetic model to identify and quantify different soil water components across a wide range of relative humidity (RH) using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data. To validate the determined kinetic parameters (i.e., activation energy, preexponential factor, and reaction model) and the identification and quantification results of soil water components, TGA with multiple heating rates, nitrogen adsorption method, cation exchange capacity measurement, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were performed on kaolin samples equilibrated under various RH conditions. These experimental results cross-validate the superior performance of the kinetic model in determining soil water components and predicting the thermal desorption behaviors of soil water. Based on the cross-validation results, the soil water components obtained from the kinetic analysis are further identified as tightly-bound, loosely-bound, and capillary water, which exhibit variations consistent with empirical soil water isotherm models. The T 2 cutoff value between bound and capillary water is determined to be 1.79 ms based on TGA and NMR results. The determined thermal kinetic parameters of different soil water components can exhibit their distinct retention mechanisms. The method and results in this study provide a new perspective on identifying different soil water components, as well as understanding the mechanism of soil-water interactions in unsaturated soils. • A method based on thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis is developed to identify and quantify soil water components. • Kinetic model can detect tightly-bound, loosely-bound, and capillary water in kaolin. • Different soil water components exhibit distinct kinetic triplets. • Bound water content increases with humidity regardless of capillary condensation. • NMR T 2 cutoff value between bound and capillary water is 1.79 ms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although blue light can damage the skin to a certain extent, the pathogenesis of its damage remains still unclear. The available evidence suggests that oxidative stress may be the main cause of its damage. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) has antioxidative effects in a variety of cells. In this paper, we investigated the protective role of LBP and its mechanism of action related to mitophagy in blue‐light‐damaged skin cells. The findings indicated that in HaCaT cells and mouse skin, LBP pretreatment was effective in reducing blue‐light‐induced apoptosis and ameliorating the elevated level of cellular autophagy/mitophagy caused by excessive blue light exposure. The markers reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were used to assess oxidative stress. LBP could effectively inhibit blue‐light‐induced oxidative stress. It was also found that blue light exposure caused mitochondrial dysfunction in HaCaT cells, including increased intracellular calcium ion levels and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. LBP pretreatment significantly relieved mitochondrial dysfunction in HaCaT cells. These findings imply that LBP pretreatment protects skin cells from damage induced by blue light irradiation and that mitophagy may be a significant factor in skin photodamage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospun nanofibrous TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction photocatalysts with different TiO 2 content have been synthesized via a facile electrospinning and subsequent in situ evaporation and calcination process for the first time, which are examined in terms of morphology, component content, optical properties, PL spectra, photocurrent response, EIS measurement, photocatalytic activity and mechanism. SEM images exhibit TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 -4 heterojunction photocatalyst possesses the excellent 1D structure. HRTEM and element mapping images confirm the formation of heterojunction structure. DRS tests identify that TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 -4 heterojunction exhibits the intensitive absorption in both UV and visible light region. The photoelectrochemical tests prove that the recombination between electrons and holes are effectively inhibited. Based on TG analysis and photodegradation experiments, TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 -4 heterojunction photocatalyst with TiO 2 content of 29.30 wt% possesses the best photocatalytic degradation efficiency for the RhB among the g-C 3 N 4 , TiO 2 and their mixture under simulated sunlight irradiation. Moreover, 1D morphology of TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 -4 heterojunction photocatalyst is in favor of separating from solution for reuse and transferring the electrons, and maintains a very high photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 96% even after four recycles experiments, which is beneficial for practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone is widely used for water treatment because of its strong oxidation ability. However, the efficiency of ozone in groundwater remediation is limited because of its relatively low solubility and rapid decomposition in the aqueous phase. Methods for increasing the stability of ozone within the subsurface are drawing increasing attention. Micro-nano-bubbles (MNBs), with diameters ranging from tens of nanometres to tens of micrometres, present rapid mass transfer rates, persist for a relatively long time in water, and transport with groundwater flow, which significantly improve gas concentration and provide a continuous gas supply. Therefore, MNBs show a considerable potential for application in groundwater remediation. In this study, the characteristics of ozone MNBs were examined, including their size distribution, bubble quantity, and zeta potential. The mass transfer rate of ozone MNBs was experimentally investigated. Ozone MNBs were then used to treat organics-contaminated water, and they showed remarkable cleanup efficiency. Column tests were also conducted to study the efficiency of ozone MNBs for organics-contaminated groundwater remediation. Based on the laboratory tests, field monitoring was conducted on a trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated site. The results showed that ozone MNBs can greatly improve remediation efficiency and represent an innovative technology for in situ remediation of organics-contaminated groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro-osmotic consolidation is an effective method for soft ground improvement. A main limitation of previous numerical models on this technique is the ignorance of the non-linear variation of soil parameters. In the present study, a multi-field numerical model is developed with the consideration of the non-linear variation of soil parameters during electro-osmotic consolidation process. The numerical simulations on an axisymmetric model indicated that the non-linear variation of soil parameters showed remarkable impact on the development of the excess pore water pressure and degree of consolidation. A field experiment with complex geometry, boundary conditions, electrode configuration and voltage application was further simulated with the developed numerical model. The comparison between field and numerical data indicated that the numerical model coupling of the non-linear variation of soil parameters gave more reasonable results. The developed numerical model is capable to analyze engineering cases with complex operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mathematical characterization of soil water isotherm (SWI) plays a significant role in modeling various processes in soils and estimating the soil properties, and the Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) and Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) models are most widely used. Each model uses the amount of adsorbed gas in the monolayer on the surface for area estimates. Although these two models are widely used with soils, studies on the applicabilities of the SWIs estimated with the two models and the reliabilities of the derived monolayer contents are noticeably lacking. This work presents detailed evaluations of the two models and the resulting SWIs and determines whether these provide meaningful monolayer contents. The SWIs for four representative soils were generated with Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations, and the data were evaluated along with a wealth of information on the physical states of the adsorbed water molecules. The results showed that the GAB model was much superior to the BET model in terms of fitting the SWIs. A series of analyses validated the soundness of the monolayer contents determined, including analyses of the layer thickness, the area occupied by the water monolayer, and the orientations of the water molecules. The molecular simulation also revealed the very different effects of the surface hydroxyls and cations in adsorption by considering the densities, space locations, and orientations of the adsorbed water. This work provides crucial information for rational application of the BET and GAB models to SWIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 4-((pyrazolo[1,5- a ]pyrimidin-6-yl)-1 H -pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl-3-benzamide derivatives and 4-((imidazo[1,2- b ]pyridazin-3-yl)-1 H -pyrazol-1-yl-)phenyl-3-benzamide derivatives were designed, synthesized as new BCR–ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors by using combinational strategies of scaffold hopping and conformational constraint. These new compounds were screened for BCR–ABL1 kinase inhibitory activity, and most of them appeared good inhibitory activity against BCR–ABL1 kinase. One of the most potent compounds 16a strongly suppressed BCR–ABL1 kinase with IC 50 value of 8.5 nM. The tested compounds 16a and 16i showed strong inhibitory activities against K562 with IC 50 value of less than 2 nM. Molecular docking studies indicated that these compounds fitted well with the active site of BCR–ABL1 protein. The results showed these inhibitors may serve as lead compounds for further developing new drugs targeted BCR–ABL kinase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro-osmosis can be a potential improvement technique for expansive soils. One-dimensional column experiments were conducted to comprehend the impact of electro-osmosis on the consolidation behavior and the geotechnical properties of a sodium bentonite with different electrode materials, including two reactive electrodes (copper and iron) and two inert electrodes (graphite and stainless steel). The change in drainage rate, electric current and voltage loss close to the anode were similar for the four electrodes, with a rapid change stage in the first 2 h followed by a slow change stage in the next 6 to 8 h and finally a stable stage. The rapid voltage loss in the first stage was caused by soil cracking near the anode due to severe volume shrinkage and gas generation. Soil properties, including plasticity, swelling potential, zeta potential, and cation exchange capacity decreased emarkably in the vicinity of the anode. During electro-osmosis, the reactive electrodes caused more significant change in soil properties than the inert ones. Electro-osmosis technique can reduce the swelling potential of the bentonite, however, the zone of influence is restrained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4-(Pyridin-3-yl)-1 H -pyrazol-1-yl-phenyl-3-benzamide derivatives have been proposed as new BCR–ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors by using combinational strategies of scaffold hopping and conformational constraint. In the present study, a series of 4-(pyridin-3-yl)-1 H -pyrazol-1-yl-phenyl-3-benzamide derivatives were synthesized and their activities against BCR–ABL1 kinase in vitro were evaluated by using Kinase-Glo assay. All new compounds showed from moderate to potent activities against wild-type (wt) BCR–ABL1 kinase with an IC 50 range from 14.2 to 326.0 nM. Among them, seven compounds exhibited BCR–ABL1 kinase inhibitory activities with IC 50 values less than 50 nM. Compound 7a displayed the most potent inhibitory activity to BCR–ABL kinase (IC 50 : 14.2 nM). Docking simulation was performed for compounds 7a and 7i into the BCR–ABL kinase structure active site to determine the probable binding model. The preliminary structure–activity relationship was discussed. The interesting activities of these compounds may make them promising candidates as therapeutic agents for chronic myelogenous leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight-based metabolomic approach was developed to study influence of salidroside, an anti-fatigue ingredient from Rhoiola rosea , on urinary metabolic profiling of rats to a single dose of 180 mg/kg per day. Unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) and supervised orthogonal pre-projection to latent structures discriminate analysis (OPLS-DA) on metabolite profiling revealed obvious differentiation between the salidroside treated groups and controls in both positive and negative ion modes. Eleven urinary metabolites contributing to the differentiation were identified as anti-fatigue biomarkers: N-acetylserotonin, 2-Methoxyestrone 3-glucuronide, Taurine, Melatonin, Sorbitol, Geranyl diphosphate, Z-nucleotide, Cortisone, Dihydrocortisol, Sebacic acid, Pregnenolone sulfate. The physiological significance of these biomarkers is discussed. The work showed that metabolomics is a powerful tool in studying the anti-fatigue effects of natural compound salidroside on multiple targets in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro-osmotic stabilization has long been studied as a soft soil improvement technique, while the influence of an applied electrical field on the soil microfabric and minerals is always ignored. In this study, three laboratory experiments were conducted on sodium bentonite using copper, iron and graphite electrodes to investigate the microfabric and chemical composition change before and after electro-osmotic stabilization. The soil samples near the anode were identified using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). The microfabric of the sodium bentonite changed from flocculated fabric to aggregated fabric after electro-osmotic stabilization. Regular calcium sulfate tubes were generated near the copper and iron anodes. EDX tests showed that the content of sodium near the anode decreased, while the copper, iron and calcium presented substantial increase, indicating that the sodium ions were substituted by copper, iron, and calcium ions in copper, iron and graphite experiments respectively. The change of microfabric and the ion exchange reactions between sodium, copper, iron and calcium ions are the main reasons for the significant decrease of the plasticity index and free swelling ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-dimensional model was developed to investigate the transport of organic acids (commonly found in landfill leachate) through a partially saturated composite liner system beneath a landfill. Specific attention was paid to the influence of water content distribution on aqueous-phase diffusion process. Composite liner system was investigated, which was consisted of a geomembrane and a compacted clay liner underlain by three kinds of attenuation layer: sand layer, sandy clay loam layer, and clay layer. Volumetric water content profile in soil layers was obtained by Van Genuchten model, and the Millington and Quirk model was employed to describe the non-linear relationship between volumetric water content and diffusion coefficient. Three cases were analyzed and compared, i.e., totally saturated condition, unsaturated condition without considering unsaturated diffusion model, and unsaturated condition considering unsaturated diffusion model. The numerical results show that the unsaturated sand attenuation layer could serve as excellent diffusion barrier to organic contaminant due to its low water retention capacity. When the dependence of diffusion coefficient on volumetric water content is sufficiently considered, the contaminant flux decreases significantly in all the three kinds of attenuation layer. Unsaturated diffusion model capturing the relationship between water content and diffusion coefficient enables a more reasonable prediction of contaminant transport and distribution in soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel on-line three-dimensional liquid chromatography method was developed to separate four main flavonoids from Rhodiola rosea. Ethyl acetate/0.5 mol/L ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride aqueous solution was selected as the solvent system. In the first-dimension separation, the target flavonoids were entrapped and subsequently desorbed into the second-dimension high-speed countercurrent chromatographic column for separation. In the third-dimension chromatography, the residual ionic liquid in the four separated flavonoids was removed and the used ionic liquid was recovered. As a result, 35.1 mg of compound 1, 20.4 mg of compound 2, 8.5 mg of compound 3, and 10.6 mg of compound 4 were obtained from 1.53 g R. rosea extract. They were identified as rhodiosin, rhodionin, herbacetin, and kaempferol, respectively. The recovery of ionic liquid reached 99.1% of the initial amount. The results showed that this method is a powerful technology for the separation of R. rosea flavonoids and that the ionic-liquid-based solvent system has advantages over traditional solvent systems in renewable and environmentally friendly properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fate and transport of pollutants in the subsurface is usually predicted using numerical simulations. Comparisons of the simulation results with experimental data are required to validate the numerical codes. In this paper, the nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) simulator code was used to numerically simulate two centrifugal light nonaqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) transport experiments. The numerical predictions were compared with the centrifugal test results and the impact of capillary hysteresis was evaluated. It was concluded that the simulation with the nonhysteretic model slightly underestimated the LNAPL volume retained in the vadose zone, and the average error of the predicted LNAPL saturation in the vadose zone and along the plume centerline was approximately 5% to 10%. The application of capillary hysteresis for the numerical simulation of the second centrifuge test has eliminated this error. In addition, accounting for hysteresis in the numerical simulation of the second centrifuge test has considerably improved the predicted results with respect to the size of the lens-shaped plume within the capillary fringe. However, there were inconsistencies between the numerical and experimental results, especially with respect to the time for the LNAPL to reach the groundwater level. This was found to be due to overestimation of the simulated downward infiltration of the LNAPL in the capillary fringe. It was found that the pore-connectivity parameter with a value of 0.66 for the relative permeability-saturation model produced the best comparison with experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro-osmotic consolidation is an effective method to remove water from soft soils with high water content and low permeability. The previous analytical solutions and numerical simulations ignored the change of soil pH during the treatment. In the present study, a multi-field numerical model considering soil pH variation and non-linear soil parameters was developed. The laboratory tests and numerical simulation indicated that electro-osmosis conductivity was affected by soil pH significantly. According to experiment results in this study, the decrease of soil pH near anode induced an 78% reduction in electro-osmosis conductivity, while the increase of soil pH near the cathode induced a 66% increase of electro-osmosis conductivity. The fully coupled model showed a better agreement with the experiment results in the development of the excess pore water pressure. The simulation on the electro-osmotic consolidation combined with vacuum preloading test showed that the model was capable to analyze the problem with complex operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A neural-network model is trained to predict collector contact efficiency of each pore throat (η t). • Influence of pore structure of porous media is described by pore network models, where the η t occurs as a distribution. • Upscaled values of the deposition rate coefficient are provided by PNMs and compared with the prediction of colloid filtration theory. • High velocity region of flow field neglected in colloid filtration theory leads to the difference in the prediction of deposition rate coefficient. Conventional colloid filtration theory (CFT) uses the single collector contact efficiency (η) to describe the mass transfer of colloids to a collector surface. However, this approach neglects the full complexity of the pore structure and flow field of real porous media. In this study, the porous medium geometry, flow field, and colloid mass transfer are quantified using a pore-network model (PNM). A database of pore scale η is established by finite-element method to train a Neural-network model (NNM). The reasonable prediction of η indicates the potential of using the developed NNMs as an alternative to correlation equations, which can free the users from repeated numerical simulation. In contrast to the prediction by conventional CFT, the value of η in the PNM occurs as a distribution, which is dependent upon the geometry parameters of the PNM. The mean value of η increases with the standard deviation of pore radius and decreases with the curvature number, but the dependency on coordination number is more complex. Upscaled values of the deposition rate coefficient (k d) corresponding to the distribution of η are calculated by the breakthrough curves by PNMs. The prediction of k d by PNM is then compared with that by CFT. Results show that k d predicted by PNM shows more significant response to velocity change, and less remarkable response to colloid density change than k d predicted by CFT. The comparison between the flow velocity distribution between PNM and CFT shows that the high-velocity region of the flow field in the porous media has been neglected in CFT, which can lead to insufficient consideration of convection. The results of this work imply that it is necessary to consider the influence of the complex pore structure of porous media on the collection of colloids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbon dots (CD) are luminescent nanomaterial with unique properties that show great potential in many applications. Herein, branched polyethyleneimine-based carbon dots (PCD) are prepared from branched polyethyleneimine by oxidation and a modified hydrothermal reaction. Structure and composition analysis indicate that obtained PCD possesses a 3–4nm in diameter and a graphitic structure with lattice spacing of 0.30nm. The PCD has a quantum yield of 54.3%. The bright photoluminescence shows that it can be used for cell imaging. The PCD exhibits extremely good biocompatibility and can be applied for gene delivery. Because of its specific nanostructure and photoluminescence property, the multifunctional PCD prepared shows potential for applications in bioimaging and gene delivery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Expansive clay sediments are abundant in riverine and estuarine waters and bottom beds, and their particle size distributions (PSD) are important for the analysis of sediment transport. This paper presents an experimental study to evaluate, using a laser particle size analyzer under varying flow conditions, the intrinsic PSD of two expansive clays, a Ca- and a Na-montmorillonite and the influence of biological, chemical, and hydrodynamic factors on their flocculation and PSD. The considered biological factor consists of three extracellular polymeric substances of varying polarity, including xanthan gum, guar gum, and chitosan; the chemical factor is the salinity; and the hydrodynamic factor is the types of flow indicated by the Reynolds number and shear rate. The intrinsic PSD of both clays show a multimodal lognormal distribution with sizes ranging from 0.2 to 50 μm. All three biopolymers, xanthan gum, guar gum, and chitosan, can facilitate flocculation through long-range polymer bridging and short-range ion-dipole interaction, hydrogen bonding, and Coulomb force. The influence of salinity is different for the two clays: the particle size of the Na-montmorillonite increases with salinity, which is caused by flocculation resulting from the suppressed electrical double layer, while that of the Ca-montmorillonite is slightly reduced owing to the decreased basal spacing and cation exchange. For different hydrodynamic conditions, higher shear rate promotes the flocculation of Ca-montmorillonite, but breaks the Na-montmorillonite flocs. The significance of understanding the flocculation and PSD of expansive clays is also discussed in terms of sediment transport under different aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A new method was developed to separate four flavonoids from Rhodiola rosea. [•] The merits of the method were low solvent consumption and no tedious sample pre-treatment. [•] The two of the four flavonoids were separated first time from Rhodiola rosea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Six non-expandable, hydrous 2:1 phyllosilicate minerals with different layer charges, including pyrophyllite and talc from the pyrophyllite-talc group and biotite, two muscovites, and margarite from the mica group, were nanoindented to probe their nanoscale deformation behavior and hardness. Remarkably different deformation responses were obtained, which are highly dependent upon the type and strength of interlayer interactions controlled by Coulomb or van der Waals forces. Concave load–displacement curves were observed on the micas with stronger Coulomb forces as interlayer interaction, while convex curves on the other group with weaker van der Waals attractions as interlayer interaction. The hardness increases with layer charge both within each group and between the two groups, ranging from 3.86GPa for talc to 16.34GPa for margarite, with the highest being four times greater than the lowest. Owing to their layered structure that favors kink band formation and layer delamination, pop-ins of varied extensions occur randomly in the load–displacement curves. An observed apparent indentation size effect is attributed to the pop-in events. The dependence of hardness on interlayer interactions between 2:1 layers instead of the atomic bonds within the 2:1 layer suggests that the interlayer interactions can be used as a hardness or plastic signature for phyllosilicate minerals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Discussion revises the figure that compares different equivalent-diameter equations for prefabricated vertical drains, and the result of another equivalent equation that has been widely used in practice is also added into the figure. In addition, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model is developed to compare with the two-dimensional (2D) numerical model used in the paper. The result indicates that the difference between the 3D and 2D models can be about 5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenylpropanoid glycosides are a class of the major bioactive components fromRhodiola rosea. In this study, an efficient method for isolation and purification of four phenylpropanoid glycosides (PPGS) fromRhodiola roseawas established by High-speed Counter-current Chromatography (HSCCC).Rhodiola roseaextract was pre-separated by HPD-200 macro porous resin and polyamide column adsorption chromatography for the enrichment of PPGS and the removal of flavonoid impurities. The enriched PPGS were prepared for subsequent HSCCC. The efficient preparative HSCCC separation and purification of PPGS was developed at a flow rate of 1.5 mL, using a 2-phase solvent system composed of ethyl acetate–butanol–water (1:0.35:1.35, v/v/v) which was selected according to the measurement of partition coefficient (K). By normal HSCCC separation model, 150 mg of the enriched sample was separated, yielding 27.8 mg of compound A, 34.3 mg of compound B, 3.6 mg of compound C, 54.8 mg of compound D, at a purity of 97.4%, 96.8%, 95.2%, and 98.5%, respectively. The purities of target compounds were tested by HPLC and the structure was identified by ESI-MS,1H NMR, and13C. The results demonstrate that HSCCC is a very efficient method for the simultaneous preparative separation of phenylpropanoid glycosides fromRhodiola rosea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A system of PVDs combined with other preloading methods such as vacuum preloading and surcharge preloading is an effective and economical method which is widely used in the ground treatment. The consolidation theories for drain wells under equal strain condition are often used in the design of ground treatment by PVDs. A radius related strain distribution is proposed to get analytical solutions for the excess pore water pressure and settlement. A linear distributed vacuum pressure along the drain depth and the smear zone as well as well resistance are considered. The numerical results for vacuum loading process are obtained by developed FEM model to compare with the analytical solutions. The results indicate that the influence of the equal strain hypothesis cannot be neglected when n is larger than 10, where n denotes the ratio of diameter of the model to diameter of the drain. The analytical solutions proposed in this paper are more consistent with the numerical results than the analytical results obtained employing the equal strain condition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of novel β-diketo derivatives which combined the virtues of 1,3-diketo, 1,2,3-triazole and polyhydroxylated aromatics moieties, were designed and synthesized as potential HIV-1 integrase (IN) inhibitors and evaluated their inhibition to the strand transfer process of HIV-1 integrase. The result indicates that 3,4,5-trihydroxylated aromatic derivatives exhibit good inhibition to HIV-1 integrase, but dihydroxylated aromatic derivatives and corresponding methoxy aromatic derivatives appear little inhibition to HIV-1 integrase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sheet pile is a potential structural type for an offshore water-intake project for a thermal power plant in China because of its advantages of low cost and easy construction. However, the soil in offshore areas is under-consolidated and has a high water content. Therefore its bearing capacity is low, and the safety of water-intake structures under various loads is of major concern. Consequently the centrifuge modeling technique was used to study the stability of a structure in terms of its deformation, stress distribution, and bearing capacity under ice loading. The results show that the sheet pile structure works well under certain ice loads, and the earth pressure acting on the passive side contributes most of the bearing capacity. The lateral displacement of the structure increases significantly when the ice load exceeds the critical load. The position of the ice load has an obvious effect on the mechanical behavior of the structure, although increasing the structure’s embedded depth cannot improve the bearing capacity significantly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The mechanical behavior and constitutive modeling of interfaces between two granular materials is one of the significant concerns in design of soil structures such as earth-rock-fill dams. The simple shear tests were conducted to investigate the strength and deformation characteristics for interfaces between core material and filter material in earth core rock-fill dam. Based on the test results, the perfect-plastic model was proposed to describe the interface behavior. The model was incorporated in the finite element software to study the interface behavior, and the non-linear failure process of interfaces was captured by the proposed model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The availability of inorganic and organic forms of selenium (Se) to garlic was studied by supplying selenium twice during the life cycle under field conditions. Most of the organic seleno compounds were more effectively taken up by garlic than sodium selenite. When sprayed with 50 mL 100 ppm O,O-diethyl-(N-selenomorpholinyl)phosphonate, the selenium content of the garlic bulb increased from 0.138 ppm to 1.734 ppm. When sprayed with 3-butyl selenomorpholine hydrochloride and 4-amino benzenesulfonyl selenomorpholine hydrochloride, the selenium content of the garlic leaf increased from 0.240 ppm to 7.32 ppm and 6.03ppm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]