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Background: HBP, a novel biomarker released from neutrophils, may induce inflammatory responses and exacerbate vascular permeability, representing the pathophysiological characteristics of sepsis and septic shock. However, it remains uncertain whether the combination of HBP with other biomarkers yields enhanced diagnostic capacity for sepsis. We hypothesized that measurements included IL-6·IL-8·HBP, IL-6·IL-8·HBP/ALB and HBP/ALB which based on HBP will improve its diagnostic efficacy and even better than the traditional infection biomarkers. Methods: Between July 2021 and June 2022, we carried out a comprehensive, multi-center, observational cohort study spanning six leading tertiary hospitals located in Heilongjiang Province, China. Patients were stratified into three categories based on the severity of infection: non-sepsis, sepsis, and septic shock. We collected clinical and laboratory data, along with infection and inflammation biomarkers, for analysis. Results: A total of 195 patients were enrolled. Among the three groups, patients with septic shock (n = 75, 38.5%) had significantly higher baseline levels of HBP, WBC, Lac, CRP, PCT, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 compared to non-sepsis patients (n = 43, 22.0%) and sepsis patients (n = 77, 39.5%), with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) observed for all parameters. When compared to SOFA score and traditional markers of CRP, PCT, IL-6 and IL-8, the combined indexes of IL-6·IL-8·HBP and IL-6·IL-8·HBP/ALB demonstrated significantly improved diagnostic performance for sepsis and septic shock (AUC 0.911 and 0.902 respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The combined measurements of IL-6·IL-8·HBP and IL-6·IL-8·HBP/ALB can augment the diagnostic capacity of HBP for sepsis, and offer reliable early supplementary indicators to traditional biomarkers for assessing disease severity in patients with infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the understanding of natural gas hydrates as a vast potential resource deepens, their importance as a future clean energy source becomes increasingly evident. However, natural gas hydrates trend towards secondary generation during extraction and transportation, leading to safety issues such as pipeline blockages. Consequently, developing new and efficient natural gas hydrate inhibitors has become a focal point in hydrate research. Kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHIs) offer an effective solution by disrupting the nucleation and growth processes of hydrates without altering their thermodynamic equilibrium conditions. This paper systematically reviews the latest research progress and development trends in KHIs for natural gas hydrates, covering their development history, classification, and inhibition mechanisms. It particularly focuses on the chemical properties, inhibition effects, and mechanisms of polymer inhibitors such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinylcaprolactam (PVCap). Studies indicate that these polymer inhibitors provide an economical and efficient solution due to their low dosage and environmental friendliness. Additionally, this paper explores the environmental impact and biodegradability of these inhibitors, offering guidance for future research, including the development, optimization, and environmental assessment of new inhibitors. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing research, this work aims to provide a theoretical foundation and technical reference for the commercial development of natural gas hydrates, promoting their safe and efficient use as a clean energy resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycarboxylate superplasticizers BMC-L and BMC-S were utilized as modifiers in the formulation of novel cement-based grouting materials. Indoor tests were conducted on 32 groups of cement slurries, varying by water–cement ratio (0.5:1 and 0.6:1) and modifier content (0, 2‰, 4‰, 6‰, 8‰, 10‰, 12‰, and 14‰), to test their density, funnel viscosity, water separation rate, and stone rate. Four groups of slurry modified with BMC-L were selected as the preferred slurry, and the apparent viscosity test, uniaxial, and triaxial compression test of the slurry stone body were conducted. The study investigated the influence of BMC-L on various properties of the slurry, including its apparent viscosity, uniaxial compressive strength, stress–strain relationships, shear strength parameters, and elastic modulus. Ultimately, the pore structure and phase composition of the slurry stone body were detected by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and the impact of BMC-L on slurry performance was examined from a microstructural perspective. Results indicate that the two polycarboxylate superplasticizers exert minimal influence on the density and water separation rate of the slurry. Within the effective incorporation range of the polycarboxylate superplasticizer, increasing the dosage correlates with a decrease in both the stone rate and viscosity of the slurry. BMC-L significantly enhances the mechanical properties of the slurry stone body by promoting more complete cement hydration and reducing porosity. The uniaxial compressive strength of slurry stone body with a 6 ‰ BMC-L dosage reached 29.7 MPa after 7 days and 38.5 MPa after 28 days of curing, representing increases of 118.4% and 64%, respectively, compared to masonry with 0 BMC-L dosage. The shear strength parameters and elastic modulus of the slurry stone body also showed corresponding increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep water areas with soft subsea soils, conventional surface conductor into the mud depth is too deep, long waiting time for resting, prone to surface conductor sinking and submerged wellhead instability. In this paper, based on the basic principles of mechanics and the understanding of the structure of the surface conductor, a mechanical model of the bearing capacity of the surface conductor is established. Three types of expandable surface conductors were designed by changing the distribution of the expansion material, in contrast to conventional surface conductors. The bearing characteristics of different structural surface conductors are also investigated by changing the soil parameters from the strength of the submarine soil. The study has obtained: the load-bearing capacity comparison graph between conventional surface conductor and expandable surface conductor; the load-bearing capacity change of expandable surface conductor under the change of soil parameters and the change of expansion material section; and the load-bearing capacity improvement effect of the three expandable surface conductors designed in the paper compared with conventional surface conductors, using stress as the evaluation criterion. This paper provides technical support for the design of expandable surface conductors and provides a basis for numerical simulation of surface well construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: We have compiled eight promising strategies for enhancing the specificity and selectivity of nanozymes, as depicted in the comprehensive summary above. Enzymes exhibit intricate and sophisticated structures, including substrate channels and active sites, which can inform the design of nanozymes. Replication of these structural features and the application of facet engineering/doping techniques can significantly enhance the catalytic specificity of nanozymes. Alternatively, the use of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) to coat nanozymes represents an effective approach to impart substrate specificity. Furthermore, several straightforward stopgap strategies have been devised to improve nanozyme specificity for analytical applications, such as the integration of biorecognition elements and nanozyme sensor arrays through surface modification. Key Scientists: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore oil development is gradually advancing to deep water, and the complex seabed topography and shallow geological conditions greatly affect the difficulty of subsea well construction and threaten the safety of drilling operations. To reduce the risk during drilling and optimize the drilling plan, the cause mechanism of complex seabed topography and shallow geological conditions is outlined, and the countermeasures taken by China National Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to deal with different seabed topography and shallow geological conditions are collected. The research results are of great significance in guiding the construction of subsea wells in the South China Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Craniofacial anomalies are one of the most frequent birth defects worldwide and are often caused by genetic and environmental factors such as pharmaceuticals and chemical agents. Although identifying adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) is a central issue for evaluating the teratogenicity, the AOP causing craniofacial anomalies has not been identified. Recently, zebrafish has gained interest as an emerging model for predicting teratogenicity because of high throughput, cost-effectiveness and availability of various tools for examining teratogenic mechanisms. Here, we established zebrafish sox10-EGFP reporter lines to visualize cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) and have identified the AOPs for craniofacial anomalies. When we exposed the transgenic embryos to teratogens that were reported to cause craniofacial anomalies in mammals, CNCC migration and subsequent morphogenesis of the first pharyngeal arch were impaired at 24 hours post-fertilization. We also found that cell proliferation and apoptosis of the migratory CNCCs were disturbed, which would be key events of the AOP. From these results, we propose that our sox10-EGFP reporter lines serve as a valuable model for detecting craniofacial skeletal abnormalities, from early to late developmental stages. Given that the developmental process of CNCCs around this stage is highly conserved between zebrafish and mammals, our findings can be extrapolated to mammalian craniofacial development and thus help in predicting craniofacial anomalies in human. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a widely used material in underground engineering, clay-cement slurry grouting is characterized by poor initial anti-seepage and filtration capacity, low strength of the resulting stone body, and a tendency to brittle failure. In this study, a novel type of clay-cement slurry was developed by adding of graphene oxide (GO) as a modifier to ordinary clay-cement slurry. The rheological properties of the improved slurry were studied through laboratory tests, and the effects of varying amounts of GO on the slurry's viscosity, stability, plastic strength, and stone body mechanical properties were analyzed. The results indicated that the viscosity of clay-cement slurry increases by a maximum of 163% with 0.05% GO, resulting in a decrease in the slurry's fluidity. The stability and plastic strength of GO-modified clay-cement slurry were significantly enhanced, with the plastic strength increasing by a 5.62 time with 0.03% GO and a 7.11 time with 0.05% GO at the same curing time. The stone body of the slurry exhibited increased uniaxial compressive strength and shear strength, with maximum increases of 23.94% and 25.27% with 0.05% GO, respectively, indicating a significant optimization effect on the slurry's durability. The micro-mechanism for the effect of GO on the properties of slurry was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a diffraction of X-rays (XRD) test. Moreover, a growth model of the stone body of GO-modified clay-cement slurry was proposed. The results showed that after the GO-modified clay-cement slurry was solidified, a clay-cement agglomerate space skeleton with GO monolayer as the core was formed inside the stone body, and with an increase in GO content from 0.03% to 0.05%, the number of clay particles increased. The clay particles filled the skeleton to form a slurry system architecture, which is the primary reason for the superior performance of GO-modified clay-cement slurry when compared with traditional clay-cement slurry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the 2020 global cancer data released by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) International, gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, with yearly increasing incidence and the second-highest fatality rate in malignancies. Despite the contemporary ambiguous molecular mechanisms in GC pathogenesis, numerous in-depth studies have demonstrated that zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) are essential for the development and progression of GC. ZFPs are a class of transcription factors with finger-like domains that bind to Zn2+ extensively and participate in gene replication, cell differentiation and tumor development. In this review, we briefly outline the roles, molecular mechanisms and the latest advances in ZFPs in GC, including eight principal aspects, such as cell proliferation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion and metastasis, inflammation and immune infiltration, apoptosis, cell cycle, DNA methylation, cancer stem cells (CSCs) and drug resistance. Intriguingly, the myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1) possesses reversely dual roles in GC by promoting tumor proliferation or impeding cancer progression via apoptosis. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanism of ZFPs on GC progression will pave the solid way for screening the potentially effective diagnostic indicators, prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yinyang philosophy encompasses an essential understanding of the mechanism and laws of nature, cosmos, and human society in Chinese culture, and reaches to many other parts of Asia and around the world. The purpose of this article is to explore how yinyang philosophy can serve as a philosophical underpinning of mixed methods research (MMR). In particular, harmony, one of the important features in yinyang philosophy, is applied to interpret the design of mixed methods research. Guided by this philosophy, other beliefs about an integrated approach to using qualitative and quantitative methods fit in with the MMR approach. These underlying precepts are not necessarily held by researchers, and will be shown to indicate harmony and a dynamic equilibrium of yin and yang. This perspective provides a novel window for considering controversial issues that have arisen about the use of different philosophical underpinnings for MMR during its emergence over the past several decades. The implications are for a softer interpretation, for example, when selection of quantitative rules needs to harmonize with certain types of MMR, and validity of self-developed questionnaires needs to consider different levels of criteria for MMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in various biological processes, and they are considered to be closely associated with the pathogenesis of intestinal diseases. However, the role and expression of lncRNAs in intestinal damage during weaning stress remain unknown. Herein, we investigated the expression profiles of jejunal tissue from weaning piglets at 4 and 7 d after weaning (groups W4 and W7, respectively) and from suckling piglets on the same days (groups S4 and S7, respectively). Genome-wide analysis of lncRNAs was also performed using RNA sequencing technology. A total of 1809 annotated lncRNAs and 1612 novel lncRNAs were obtained from the jejunum of piglets. In W4 vs. S4, a total of 331 lncRNAs showed significant differential expression, and a total of 163 significantly differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) was identified in W7 vs. S7. Biological analysis indicated that DElncRNAs were involved in intestinal diseases, inflammation, and immune functions, and were mainly enriched in the Jak-STAT signaling pathway, inflammatory bowel disease, T cell receptor signaling pathway, B cell receptor signaling pathway and intestinal immune network for IgA production. Moreover, we found that lnc_000884 and target gene KLF5 were significantly upregulated in the intestine of weaning piglets. The overexpression of lnc_000884 also significantly promoted the proliferation and depressed apoptosis of IPEC-J2 cells. This result suggested that lnc_000884 may contribute to repairing intestinal damage. Our study identified the characterization and expression profile of lncRNAs in the small intestine of weaning piglets and provided new insights into the molecular regulation of intestinal damage during weaning stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Over the past few decades, despite advances in colon cancer surgery, the pro-gnosis of late colon cancer patients with liver metastasis remains poor. Currently, its incidence ranks second in men and third in women. Fortunately, accumulating evidence has unraveled that zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) will shed light on the treatment of colon cancer. As the largest transcription family in the human genome, ZFPs are a class of transcription factors that can bind Zn2+, self-fold to form "finger" domains and regulate the expression of target genes. In this article, we elucidate the specific molecular mechanisms of ZFPs that are well-suited to orchestrate pathophysiological changes in colon cancer development, which may lay a credible foundation for further precision oncology. According to the global cancer burden data for 2020 issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), colorectal cancer has risen to be the third-most frequent cancer globally after breast and lung cancer. Despite advances in surgical treatment and chemoradiotherapy for colon cancer, individuals with extensive liver metastases still have depressing prognoses. Numerous studies suggest ZFPs are crucial to the development of colon cancer. The ZFP family is encoded by more than 2% of the human genome sequence and is the largest transcriptional family, all with finger-like structural domains that could combine with Zn2+. In this review, we summarize the functions, molecular mechanisms and recent advances of ZFPs in colon cancer. We also discuss how these proteins control the development and progression of colon cancer by regulating cell proliferation, EMT, invasion and metastasis, inflammation, apoptosis, the cell cycle, drug resistance, cancer stem cells and DNA methylation. Additionally, several investigations have demonstrated that Myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1) has dual functions in colon cancer, which may both promote cancer proliferation and inhibit cancer progression through apoptosis. Generally, a comprehensive understanding of the action mechanisms of ZFPs in colon cancer will not only shed light on the discovery of new diagnostic and prognosis indicators but will also facilitate the design of novel targeted therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study aimed to investigate the nutritional intake deficiency on rearing yak calves. We investigated supplemental concentrate feeding effects on the morphological and functional development of the pancreas in early weaned yak calves. In the study, we determined the apparent digestibility of nutrients by digestion trail, the morphological development of the pancreas in yak calves by tissue sectioning, the activity of main digestive enzymes and hormone levels by ELISA kits, and the content of major small molecule metabolites in the pancreas by non-targeted metabolomics techniques. The morphological and functional development of the pancreas and its small molecule metabolites are mainly presented in graphical form, which had positive regulatory effects on the development of the pancreas in early weaned yak calves. In summary, we found that supplemental concentrate feeding was crucial for the high-quality growth and development of early weaned yak calves and had a positive influence on the intrinsic relationship between the overall development level and physiological functions of the pancreas, which could provide an important reference for scientific rearing of early weaned yak calves. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of supplemental concentrate feeding on the pancreatic development of yak calves. Twenty one-month-old yak calves with healthy body condition and similar body weight were selected as experimental animals and randomly divided into two groups, five replicates in each group. The control group yak calves were fed milk replacer and alfalfa hay, the experimental group yak calves were fed milk replacer, alfalfa hay and concentrate. The pre-feeding period of this experiment was thirty days, the trial period was one hundred days. At the end of feeding trail, five yak calves from each group were selected and slaughtered and the pancreas tissues of yak calves were collected and determined. The results showed that: (1) Dry matter and body weight of yak calves in the test group were significantly higher than those of the control group. (2) The apparent nutrient digestibility of crude protein, crude fat, calcium and phosphorus in the test group of yak calves was significantly higher than that of the control group, while the apparent nutrient digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber in the test group was significantly lower than that of the control group. (3) Pancreatic weight, organ index, total ratio of exocrine part area and total ratio of endocrine area of yak calves in the test group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the ratio of exocrine area was significantly lower in the test group than that of the control group. (4) The activities of the main pancreatic digestive enzymes: pancreatic amylase, pancreatic lipase, pancreatic protease and chymotrypsin were significantly higher in the test group than those of the control group, as were the hormonal contents of glucagon, insulin and pancreatic polypeptide. (5) The main differential metabolites of the pancreas in the test group were significantly higher than those of the control group, such as D-proline, hypoxanthine, acetylcysteine, gamma-glutamylcysteine, thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, piperidinic acid, ellagic acid, nicotinamide, tropolone, D-serine, ribulose-5-phosphate, (+/-)5(6)-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid(EET), 2-hydroxycinnamic acid, L-phenylalanine, creatinine, tetrahydrocorticosterone, pyridoxamine, xanthine, 5-oxoproline, asparagine, DL-tryptophan, in-dole-3-acrylic acid, thymine, trehalose, docosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids(FAHFA) (18:1/20:3), fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids(FAHFA) (18:2/20:4), adrenic acid and xanthosine. In conclusion, supplemental concentrate feeding promoted the good development of morphological and functional properties of the pancreas in early weaned yak calves to improve the digestion and absorption of feed nutrients, so as to enhance the growth and development quality of early weaned yak calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are a type of cancer originating in the mucosal epithelium of the mouth, pharynx, and larynx, the sixth most common cancer in the world. However, there is no effective treatment for HNSCCs. More than 90% of HNSCCs overexpress epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs). Although small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies have been developed to target EGFRs, few EGFR-targeted therapeutics are approved for clinical use. Ferroptosis is a new kind of programmed death induced by the iron catalyzed excessive peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. A growing body of evidence suggests that ferroptosis plays a pivotal role in inhibiting the tumor process. However, whether and how ferroptosis-inducers (FINs) play roles in hindering HNSCCs are unclear. In this study, we analyzed the sensitivity of different HNSCCs to ferroptosis-inducers. We found that only tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells, but not nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, actively respond to ferroptosis-inducers. The different sensitivities of HNSCC cells to ferroptosis induction may be attributed to the expression of KRAS and ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) since a high level of FTH1 is associated with the poor prognostic survival of HNSCCs, but knocked down FTH1 can promote HNSCC cell death. Excitingly, the ferroptosis-inducer RSL3 plays a synthetic role with EGFR monoclonal antibody Cetuximab to inhibit the survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2), which are insensitive to both ferroptosis induction and EGFR inhibition due to a high level of FTH1 and a low level of EGFR, respectively. Our findings prove that FTH1 plays a vital role in ferroptosis resistance in HNSCCs and also provide clues to target HNSCCs resistant to ferroptosis induction and/or EGFR inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid electrolytes are being considered as an effective solution to replace liquid ones for building safer batteries, but they suffer either low ionic conductivity or large contact ohmic impedance. Here, a highly conductive and thermomechanically stable quasi‐solid electrolytes (QSE) by self‐polymerization of a commercially available liquid electrolytes (1,3‐dioxolane (DOL), 1,2‐dimethoxyethane (DME), lithium trifluoromethane sulfonimide (LiTFSI) and LiPF6) at room temperature in a porous polyimide nanofiber film are reported. LiPF6 initiates the ring‐opening reaction of DOL and LiTFSI promotes the self‐polymerization to form poly‐DOL (PDOL), while the plasticizer of DME solidifies the PDOL. On the other hand, polyimide has a great affinity with PDOL that facilitates to form stable QSE network. As a result, the QSE film shows a high room‐temperature ionic conductivity of 2.9 × 10−3 S cm−1, a high mechanical strength of 31 MPa, and high heat resistance to 160 °C. The LiFePO4||QSE||Li batteries with a high cathode loading of ≈18.7 mg cm−2 show great cycling performance and stable electrode/electrolyte interfaces at a high current rate of 0.5 C with a capacity retention of 91.8% over 200 cycles at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tenderness is the main quality of meat products. However, the meat tenderness formation is a complex biological process, and pathways and proteins that affect the tenderness of yak meat are unknown. Methods: Label‐free proteomics method was used to explore the effects of differentially expressed proteins on the tenderness of yak skeletal muscle (tenderloin) during post‐mortem storage (0, 3, and 7 days) at 3 ± 1°C. Results: The tenderness of yak skeletal muscle improved significantly during storage. A total of 91 differentially expressed proteins of yak skeletal muscle during post‐mortem storage were identified by the following comparisons: day 3 versus 0, day 7 versus 0, and day 7 versus 3. NDUFS6, CYCS, COX6A2, LDB3, HSPB7, TPM4, TAGLN, COL1A1, LUM, MYH11, ACTC1, and MYOZ1 proteins showed a significant difference during yak skeletal muscle post‐mortem storage. Furthermore, bioinformatics analyses revealed that the identified proteins were related to carbon metabolism, citrate cycle, glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, and RNA degradation. Conclusion: The results of the present study could provide proteomic insights into changes in yak skeletal muscle tenderness during storage and may be a valuable resource for future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tenderness of meat is determined by muscle components, mainly including myofibrillar and connective tissues. In the present study, the microstructures evolution and mechanics behavior of yak postmortem muscle subjected to resonance vibration treatment was investigated by experimental and numerical investigation, in order to illustrate the resonance tenderization mechanism and the mechanical relationship of muscle components. The results show that there are three orders of natural frequencies of the raw yak meat, and the resonance frequency is determined as 26 Hz. By vibration treatment at this frequency, the shear force and MFI of the vibrated meat is 35.70 N and 62, respectively, exhibiting remarkable tenderizing effect compared with the raw sample and other frequencies treated samples. The microstructures and vibration modal simulation have revealed that the stress concentration happens in the junction of muscle fibers and extracellular matrix (collagenous connective tissues), leading to the detachment of endomysium connective tissues from muscle fibers and the disappearance of M-bands in myofibrils, thus resulting the significant tenderization. The resonance also causes the stress-strain behaviors of meat transiting from plastic deformation to elastic deformation. The experimental and numerical results reveal that the physical destruction of the cross-linkings or interactions between muscle fibers and endomysium connective tissues induced by resonance, plays a crucial role in the detachment of muscle components, transformation of stress-strain behavior and the significant tenderization effect. • The tenderness of yak postmortem meat is significantly improved by resonance. • The detachment of collagenous fibrils mainly contributes to the tenderization. • The transition of mechanical characteristics attributes to the structural fracture. • The junctions between myofiber and connective tissue is fractured by resonance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel air-lifting loop reactor combines anoxic, oxic, and settling zones to achieve organic and nutrient removal, as well as solid-liquid separation. To address sludge settling ability and operation stability issues caused by low dissolved oxygen in aerobic zones, this study proposes using modified polypropylene carriers to establish a fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) system. A pilot-scale demonstration of the IFAS-based air-lifting loop reactor is conducted, and the results show successful operation for approximately 300 days. The pilot-scale reactor achieves a maximum aerobic granulation ratio of 16% in the bulk liquid. The IFAS system contributes to efficient removal of organic matter (96%) and nitrogen (94%) by facilitating simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, as well as fast solid-liquid separation with a low sludge volume index of 34 mL/g. Microbial analysis reveals enrichment of functional bacteria involved in nitrification, denitrification, and flocculation throughout the operation process. [Display omitted] • The pilot-scale IFAS-based loop reactor operated stably for about 300 days. • The pilot-scale reactor had a low SVI of 34 mL/g with a max granulation ratio of 16%. • The IFAS system facilitated SNDN with a TNR of 94% without external carbon source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CoCO 3 /CoNiO 2 co-decorated biochar was prepared from recycled waste chaff. • Strong microwave absorption intensity and wide bandwidth achieve at thin thickness. • High antimicrobial rate against E. coli promote its better practicality in bacterial environment. In order to address the recession of absorption properties and service life in electromagnetic absorbers caused by the bacterial propagation, the design of microwave absorbing composite with excellent antimicrobial character is an urgent requirement. Herein, the grain husk-derived carbon is co-decorated with CoNiO 2 and CoCO 3 nanoparticles through a facile hydrothermal-carbonization process. The defect structure and graphitization in biochar, complex interfaces between multi-components, and partial magnetic resonances can be regulated with the calcination temperature. With an appropriate impedance matching from balanceable electromagnetic parameters, the C4 composite treated by 650 °C realizes an optimal electromagnetic absorption of -41.87 dB at 2.5 mm thickness with its efficient absorption bandwidth of 4.45 GHz at 1.49 mm, which is mainly owing to the powerful dielectric dissipation caused by polarization and conduction losses together. Additionally, the composite exhibits a higher antimicrobial rate of 97.75 % against ubiquitous E. coli , indicating this work provides a reference for designing antimicrobial microwave absorption materials with better practicality. Usually, the poor environment such as extreme humidity and warm would assist great reproduction of bacteria in many cases, which may reduce the service life and electromagnetic protection effect of absorbers. Herein, the economical and environmentally friendly biochar from chaff has been co-decorated with biphase CoCO 3 /CoNiO 2 to achieve synergistic microwave absorption with equilibrium of dielectric and magnetic components, also the excellent antimicrobial properties of as-prepared composite would be realized to against the reproductive growth of ubiquitous E. coli. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photostability is one of the most essential properties for evaluating photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting performance on semiconductors. Herein, the oxygen‐deficiency conditions are applied to tune and activate BiVO4 photoanodes with a class of oxygen vacancies across the whole bulk material, and regulate the electronic occupancy of these states upon the charge carrier processes that determine PEC water oxidation activity. Through the experimental results and nonadiabatic molecular dynamics with time‐domain density functional theory calculations, the charge carrier lifetime can be influenced by the oxygen vacancies concentration on BiVO4, and the semiconductor can be flexibly photoactivated under oxygen‐sufficient and deficient atmospheres for enhancing the charge carrier density and photovoltage. The PEC performance of BiVO4 is further boosted by Pt doping, which exhibits a record photocurrent density of 5.45 mA cm–2 at 1.23 VRHE with solar conversion efficiency of 2.1% at 0.65 VRHE. The Pt can prevent the unnecessory charge recombination on the defected BiVO4, which also enhances the majority charge carrier density, resulting in one of the best charge separation efficiencies, close to 100%, among the steady‐state PEC performance for BiVO4. More importantly, the resulting Pt:BiVO4 presents long‐term stability over 50 h at 0.8 VRHE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insensitive energetic materials are still a great challenge for potential applications. In order to study the performance of (3,3′-diamino-4,4′-azoxyfurazan/2,4,6,8,10,12-hexa-nitrohexaazaisowurtzitane, often referred to as CL-20) DAAF/HNIW, DAAF/HNIW, composite crystals with rod-like structure, spheroid-like structure and microsphere shape are prepared by a recrystallization method, self-assembly and microfluidics technology, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques were utilized to characterize the morphology and structure of DAAF/HNIW particles. Results of PXRD and FTIR spectroscopy of microspheres DAAF/HNIW indicated that the structure in the prepared products did not change compared with that of raw DAAF. The impact sensitivity of microspheres DAAF/HNIW could be reduced obviously than that in rod-like and spheroid-like DAAF/HNIW. The microspheres DAAF/HNIW prepared by the microfluidics technology provides an efficient route for the desensitization of energetic explosives and revealed an idea for the fabrication and application of the insensitive energetic explosive DAAF/HNIW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER), FeNi layered double hydroxide (FeNi LDH) exhibits good activity and stability. For the sake of saving freshwater, the use of abundant seawater as an electrolyte poses new requirements for its OER performance. A novel method was designed based on a corrosion reaction to convert commercial Fe foam into a high-performance OER catalyst (FeNiM), which consisted of FeNi LDH layers and NiMoO 4 nanoparticles modified on its surface. FeNiM exhibited excellent OER activity, only requiring an overpotential of 250 mV to achieve a current density of 100 mA cm−2. Experimental results indicated that the heterostructures formed by NiMoO 4 and FeNi LDH was conducive to exposing active sites, promoting the adsorption of active intermediates, and generating highly active oxyhydroxides. In addition, the heterostructure was beneficial to stabilizing the electrode surface structure and inhibiting seawater corrosion. Therefore, FeNiM could maintain high current density activity in both alkaline freshwater and alkaline seawater, which only required low overpotentials of 326 mV and 304 mV to achieve a high current density of 1500 mA cm−2, respectively. This catalyst preparation method has the advantages of economic efficiency, industrial compatibility, and significantly promoting the development of green hydrogen economy and industrial seawater desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In El Niño developing summer, Northern China shows reduced precipitation. The underlying mechanism is investigated through an analysis on the regional moisture and moist static energy budget. It is shown that the thermodynamic effect in relation to water vapour changes increases the regional wetness, but it is much smaller than the dynamic effect in relation to anomalies of atmospheric circulation. The anomalous vertical descent term is particularly pronounced. This anomalous vertical motion is mainly constrained by the horizontal advection of climatological moist enthalpy by anomalous wind, with a deficit of moist static energy in the region. A descent is then produced to compensate the energy lose and leads to dryness. Further investigation shows that an El Niño‐induced anomalous cyclone over Northeast Asia is the main ingredient in controlling the dynamic effect for both water vapour budget and moist static energy budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly efficient design for the formulation of explosives is desired for accelerating the development of energetic materials. These investigations are focused on the preparation of the compounds 3,3′‐diamino‐4,4′‐azoxyfurazan (DAAF) and 1,1‐diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethylene (FOX‐7). DAAF/FOX‐7 microspheres are prepared via the self‐assembly method using different mass ratios of DAAF and FOX‐7. Materials Studio is used to analyze the intermolecular binding energy (Ebind) of the composite system. DAAF/FOX‐7 with a mass ratio of 90:10 shows a higher Ebind (183.24 kJ mol−1) and peak temperature at the heating rate of 0 °C min−1 (266.2 °C) than DAAF/FOX‐7 with a mass ratio of 70:30 and DAAF/FOX‐7 with a mass ratio of 80:20; this indicates that DAAF/FOX‐7 (90:10) shows better thermal stability. EXPLO5 is used to analyze the detonation velocity of the composite system, and the detonation velocity of DAAF/FOX‐7 microspheres increase by 0.5 km s−1 compared to that of DAAF. The characteristic drop height of impact sensitivity is more than 100 cm, and this demonstrates that the microspheres exhibit good safety performance. The morphology, crystal structure, thermal decomposition property, and impact sensitivity of the microspheres are investigated and compared. X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results indicate that the structure of the DAAF/FOX‐7 composite is not changed compared to that of the raw material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese Ministry of Education recently called for improvements in undergraduate teaching. One way to meet this mandate is to codify what Chinese undergraduate students consider to be poor teaching behaviors. Across three phases, this study investigated poor teacher behaviors and compared them to existing data from American students. The categories of poor teaching generated by both sets of students overlapped considerably. However, some characteristics of poor teaching—such as teachers being unfair to students—may be unique to China. The specific behaviors that are representative of poor teaching qualities differed across the two cultures, suggesting the need for a nuanced approach to examining what students perceive to be poor teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The laser collimation technique is widely used in science research and industrial applications. The pointing stability will be affected by the common problem of beam drift. A compact active compensation system is presented in this paper. The angular drift of the diode laser and parallel shift caused by angular drift compensation can be measured and actively compensated through a 4 degree-of-freedom active compensation module. The design of the whole system is compact, which makes it easy to be integrated into a measurement system. Experimental results indicate that the approach proposed can enhance the point stability to 88% for only angular drift compensation and further to 96.1% if both angular drift and parallel shift are compensated. This compensation module for point stability control can be used in any laser applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, at the L-band, we design and verify an ultra-thin easy-realized absorber (LUTA) based on metasurface and magnetic material. The absorptivity achieves over 90% at 1–2.51 GHz (86.04% fractional bandwidth), covering the whole L-band (1–2 GHz) and the partial S-band (2–4 GHz). The total thickness of the LUTA is as low as 3.7 mm, corresponding to 0.012λ0 at the lowest operating frequency, which greatly breaks through the Rozanov limit. The excellent performance is achieved through analyzing the transmission line model of a basic absorber and then designing the metasurface layer with required impedance characteristics to make the impedance of the LUTA match with the air at the designed frequency band. The simulated absorption, power loss density, and the surface current distributions of the LUTA verify the design method, while the measured results demonstrate that the LUTA has the superiority of easy-fabrication, polarization independent, wide angle incidence, and high absorption at the whole L-band. The LUTA has great application potentials in the fields of L-band electromagnetic stealth and radar cross section reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is an essential risk factor for pancreatic cancer (PC). Macrophage-induced inflammation plays a pivotal role in obesity-associated carcinogenesis and disease progression; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we found that fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) overexpressed in serum of obese patients and was associated with poor overall survival. In vivo and in vitro experiments have revealed that FABP4 induces macrophage-related inflammation to promote cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis under obese conditions. Mechanistically, FABP4 participates in transferring saturated fatty acid to induce macrophages pyroptosis in a caspase-1/GSDMD-dependent manner and mediates NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3)/IL-1β axis in macrophages, which further regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition signals to promote the migration, invasion, and metastasis of PC cells. Our results suggest that FABP4 in macrophages is a crucial regulator of the NLRP3/IL-1β axis to promote the progression of PC under obese conditions, which could act as a promising molecular target for treating of PC patients with obesity. • In PC patients, FABP4 overexpressed in serum of obese patients and was associated with poor overall survival (OS). • Palmitic acid induced macrophage-related inflammatory response by releasing IL-1β. • In obese condition, macrophage-related inflammation promotes PC cells EMT and progression via FABP4/NLRP3/IL-1β axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We discuss Chinese students’ assessment of key qualities of excellent teaching based on a study of master teaching using the Teacher Behavior Checklist. Although male and female students agreed on several qualities, we also found several interesting gender differences in students’ perceptions of the qualities that constitute master teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Dodecahedral NaBH 4 -reduced Co 3 O 4 (R-Co 3 O 4) was successfully prepared via a conformal transformation method. Such facile procedure leads to abundance of electrochemically active sites of Co2+ ions. The as-prepared R-Co 3 O 4 affords the material an improved specific capacitance of 329 F/g, which is triply that of the pristine Co 3 O 4. In addition, an enhanced cycling stability is also achieved for the R-Co 3 O 4. Thus, we develop a novel but simple route for large-scale industrial production of electrochemically active materials via NaBH 4 reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life consumption is one of the serious concerns for turbine disk performance and maintenance cost. The low cycle fatigue of turbine disk coming from the creep and their interaction has a direct influence on life and reliability of an aero engine. So, in this paper, the finite element analysis fatigue creep on Nickel base super alloy GH4133 turbine disk at 650 °C is computed based on the material properties, load and performance parameter of the low cycle fatigue as a random factor. The LCF Manson coffin model for cycles to failure (Nf ) and Larson Miller (Nc) are calculated. Damage fraction summation is used to calculate the low cycle fatigue creep life and fitted by two parameter Weibull distribution. Therefore, Monte Carlo simulation is used in random sampling from two parameter Weibull distribution to estimate the reliability assessment of turbine disk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Recent studies suggest that diets supplemented with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)-enriched diacylglycerol (DAG) oil provide potential health benefits in preventing or managing obesity. However, available safety information about reproductive and developmental toxicities of ALA-DAG oil is limited. This study was conducted to clarify the effect, if any, of ALA-DAG oil on embryo-fetal development, following maternal exposure during the critical period of major organogenesis. ALA-DAG oil was administered via gavage to pre-mated female Sprague Dawley rats from gestation day 6 through 19, at dose levels of 0, 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 mL/kg/day (equivalent to 0, 1149, 2325, and 4715 mg/kg/day, respectively), with total volume adjusted to 5 mL/kg/day with rapeseed oil. All females survived to the scheduled necropsy. There were no treatment-related changes in clinical or internal findings, maternal body weights, feed consumption, intrauterine growth, survival, and number of implantations. No ALA-DAG oil-related fetal malformations or developmental variations were noted. A maternal maximum tolerated dose for ALA-DAG oil could not be achieved in this study. Based on these results, a dose level of 5.0 mL/kg (4715 mg/kg/day), the highest dose tested, was considered as the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for both maternal and developmental toxicity. Highlights • This study was conducted to clarify the toxicological effect on embryo-fetal development of ALA-DAG oil. • ALA-DAG oil did not reveal any fetal malformations or developmental variations. • The no-observed-adverse-effect level was 5 mL/kg/day (4715 mg/kg/day). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel air-lifting CFR is established for EBNR of sewage at a pilot scale. • The highest NRE reaches 94% for real sewage (C/N < 4) with no external carbon source. • Non-uniform DO distribution and high sludge concentration are crucial for NR. • The abundance of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria increases. Achieving simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal with sludge-liquid separation in a single reactor offers a solution to land shortages and improves treatment efficiency in municipal wastewater treatment plants of megacities. This study proposes a novel air-lifting continuous-flow reactor configuration with an alternative-aeration strategy that creates multi-functional zones for anoxic, oxic, and settlement processes. The optimal operating conditions for the reactor include a long anoxic hydraulic retention time, low dissolved oxygen (DO) in the oxic zone, and no specific reflux for external nitrifying liquid, which exhibit a high nitrogen removal efficiency of over 90% in treating real sewage with C/N < 4 in the pilot-scale study. Results show that a high sludge concentration and a low DO concentration facilitate simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, and a well mixing of sludge and substrate in different reaction zones promotes mass transfer and microbial activity. The long-term operation enriches functional microbes for carbon storage and nutrient removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horizontal well development of natural gas hydrate (NGH) can greatly improve gas production and make it cost-effective, which is one of the key technologies for the efficient development of NGH in the future. World widely, there is only limited experience in drilling horizontal wells into gas hydrate sediments, which lacks certain reference. In this paper, the practice of drilling horizontal wells into gas hydrate sediments, were analyzed the challenges. The challenges encountered when drilling horizontal wells into hydrate sediments were also analyzed. At least, the application of horizontal wells and complex well structure, which based on horizontal wells are analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of several novel well structure are compared. This paper will contribute to the development of natural gas hydrate of our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A loose coupling method is adopted to study electromagnetic tube bulging, and effect of processing parameters on electromagnetic tube bulging is analyzed. The results show that critical relative length increases with the increasing of coil length, when coil approaches infinite length, critical length approximates 1. With the rise of relative position, radial magnetic pressure acting on the top end of tube increases, when relative position is equal or greater than 30 mm, radial magnetic pressure of tube top end remains unvaried. Relative position of 30-50 mm is optimal position for electromagnetic tube flanging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the help of DFT and TDDFT, a series of functionalized mononuclear iridium (III) complexes were systematically investigated to make clear the effect of auxiliary ligands on their electrionic and photophysical properties. It can be found that introducing electron withdrawing group ( CF 3 ) on benzene moiety can stabilize HOMO level, thus leading to wider HOMO-LUMO gap and blue shift in spectrum. More importantly, introducing CF 3 on benzene moiety can also significantly improve the radiative decay rate ( k r ). On the other hand, the incorporation of electron donating groups (such as –Ph(CH 3 ) 3 ) into pyridine moiety on ligand reduce k r . The complexes 1c-3c and 1d-3d have improved charge balance ability and larger percentage of metal character. The results revealed the nature of the different substituents have a significant effect on the HOMO, LUMO energy levels and k r , resulting in the change of emission color and the quantum efficiency ( Φ p ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 3D nanofibrous TiO 2−x @Li anodes are first reported. • An in-situ polymerized quasi-solid-state electrolytes has been developed. • High performance 63-Ah class quasi-solid-state pouch cells are developed. • Strategies for extending pouch cells' cycle life are discussed in detail. Lithium (Li) metal battery is a promising next generation energy storage system due to its high energy density, but what hinders its commercialization is the safety hazard of Li-anode, especially under high current densities. Here, we report a dual strategy of using electronic conductive black TiO 2−x nanofiber films to construct composite Li-metal anodes with stable 3D networks and applying an in-situ polymerized ionic conductive gel-electrolyte to construct efficient quasi-solid-state Li-batteries (QSSLBs). The 3D nanofibrous Li-anode shows a stable and small nucleation barrier and can run stably (>1600 h) at a high current density of 10 mA/cm2. When matching with high-loading cathodes of LiFePO 4 , the QSSLBs exhibit excellent long-term cycling stability (>500 cycles) and high-rate capability (>1 C). In addition, the in-situ polymerization strategy can be incorporated with the commercial lamination manufacturing to produce 63-Ah pouch cells of LiFePO 4 ||graphite, which deliver a high initial Coloumbic efficiency, a large energy density at 0.3 C, excellent rate capability from 0.25 to 2 C, and long-term cycling performance at 0.3 and 1 C, showing potential commercial prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the best culture conditions for roots growth and accumulation of active components by optimizing the parameters. Glycyrrhiza uralensis adventitious roots metabolites were significantly increased after adding Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Meyerozyma guilliermondii. The highest contents of polysaccharide, glycyrrhizic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, and total flavonoids were obtained in M. guilliermondii group; the content of glycyrrhizic acid was 5.3-fold higher than the control. In control and treatment groups, 12 compounds were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS), among which some new compounds have been detected in elicitor groups including 5,7-dihydroxyflavanone, glycyrrhisoflavanone, licorice saponin J2, uralsaponin B, (3R)-vestitol, and uralenol. Meyerozyma guilliermondii significantly upregulated the expression of the genes such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, geranyl diphosphate synthase, squalene synthase, squalene epoxidase, β-amyrin synthase, and CYP88D6 and CYP72A154. Meanwhile, it increased the biosynthesis of signaling molecules (nitric oxide, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid) in defense mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO catalytic oxidation on the perovskite oxide LaCoO3, which can be ascribed to a decoration of Co3O4 nanoparticles on the surface, was achieved with 90 % conversion rate at 202 °C. The obtained dual-phase catalyst was successfully synthesized through a non-stoichiometric Ce-induced exsolution-like process, after an electrospinning treatment with subsequent annealing. The enhanced activity originates from the surface oxygen of LaCoO3/Co3O4 and Co3+ in the Co3O4 nanoparticles, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis (XANES). The synergic effect of the surfaced Co3O4 and parent LaCoO3 may open a path to unlocking the activity of perovskite oxides for enhanced low-temperature CO oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of an interpretive policy analysis of China’s Ministry of Education Standards (2013) for the professional practice of principals. In addition to revealing the evolution of the evaluation of principals in China and the processes by which this policy is formulated, a comparative analysis was conducted to compare it with the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Standards 2008 (ISLLC 2008). The analysis was conducted on the specific standards and indicators across the two documents. The results indicate the presence of both significant similarities and differences in performance expectations for principals: differences are explained by the cultural and national contexts within which school leaders work in both countries. In February 2013 the Ministry of Education in China issued for the first time the national Professional Standards for Compulsory Education School Principals, which provide the specific expectations of quality school leadership. The unprecedented interest in international benchmarking of student academic performance has led to the belief that there are common elements in education policy and school leadership practices. It is hoped that this research sheds new light onto the current thinking on the expectations and evaluation of principal leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical exposure often results in liver hypertrophy in animal tests, characterized by increased liver weight, hepatocellular hypertrophy, and/or cell proliferation. While most of these changes are considered adaptive responses, there is concern that they may be associated with carcinogenesis. In this study, we have employed a toxicogenomic approach using a logistic ridge regression model to identify genes responsible for liver hypertrophy and hypertrophic hepatocarcinogenesis and to develop a predictive model for assessing hypertrophy-inducing compounds. Logistic regression models have previously been used in the quantification of epidemiological risk factors. DNA microarray data from the Toxicogenomics Project-Genomics Assisted Toxicity Evaluation System were used to identify hypertrophy-related genes that are expressed differently in hypertrophy induced by carcinogens and non-carcinogens. Data were collected for 134 chemicals (72 non-hypertrophy-inducing chemicals, 27 hypertrophy-inducing non-carcinogenic chemicals, and 15 hypertrophy-inducing carcinogenic compounds). After applying logistic ridge regression analysis, 35 genes for liver hypertrophy ( e.g. , Acot1 and Abcc3 ) and 13 genes for hypertrophic hepatocarcinogenesis ( e.g. , Asns and Gpx2 ) were selected. The predictive models built using these genes were 94.8% and 82.7% accurate, respectively. Pathway analysis of the genes indicates that, aside from a xenobiotic metabolism-related pathway as an adaptive response for liver hypertrophy, amino acid biosynthesis and oxidative responses appear to be involved in hypertrophic hepatocarcinogenesis. Early detection and toxicogenomic characterization of liver hypertrophy using our models may be useful for predicting carcinogenesis. In addition, the identified genes provide novel insight into discrimination between adverse hypertrophy associated with carcinogenesis and adaptive hypertrophy in risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we selected three fungi strains ( Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus oryzae ) as elicitors prepared from mycelium or fermentation broth to improve ginsenosides production in adventitious roots culture. The results showed that ginsenosides production (29.90 ± 4.67 mg g −1 ) was significantly enhanced upon elicitation with 200 mg L −1 A. niger elicitor prepared from mycelium, which was 3.52-fold of untreated group. HPLC-ESI–MS n analysis was performed, showing that ginsenoside Rb 3 was present after treatment with the A. niger . Furthermore, we found that A. niger significantly enhanced accumulation of Nitric oxide (NO), salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) involved in plant defense response, and significantly up-regulated the expression of the geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPS), farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS), squalene synthase (SS), squalene epoxidase (SE), dammarenediol synthase (DS), Two cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes (CYP716A47 and CYP716A53v2) and three UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGT) genes (UGTAE2, UGT94Q2 and UGTpg100). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure reliable operations, online reliability assessment based on the system monitoring is essential, especially for the critical machineries or components with high safety requirements. The real-time reliability of the milling cutters in practice is one of the examples that decide the total manufacturing effectiveness and the quality of products. The research on how to best estimate cutters' reliability has gained popularity in recent years due to the need in prognostics and health management. The state space model (SSM), employed to recognize the underlying degradation state as a first order Markov chain, is widely used to model the residual life and reliability evaluation. In this paper, non-linear and non-Gaussian SSM are established based on the tool wear condition. The degrading tendency is predicted by the particle filter algorithm, and then the conditional reliability is calculated based on the degradation state and a pre-set threshold. The effectiveness of this approach was proven by a real case study provided. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since centrifugal compressors have a wide range of applications, the reliability of impellers as the vital components should be ensured. Due to the complicated operating conditions, relevant properties of the impellers under working conditions are hardly monitored while they are indispensable for predicting fatigue lives of the impellers. In this paper, relevant calculating parameters are acquired based on the experimental data and the properties of FV520B. Meanwhile, quantitative relations between local stresses and crack sizes are obtained by finite element analysis of the impeller model with cracks. By the prediction model based on the dislocation theory and the fracture mechanics theory, fatigue lives of the impellers with specific crack can be predicted. Then, the failure criteria of the impeller are determined by the size of the crack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue life assessment of centrifugal compressor impellers has been a critical issue in industrial practice and application. In this paper, both centrifugal load and aerodynamic load have been considered in the analysis of the impeller life using finite element analysis (FEA). The analysis showed the regions of stress concentration and the mean stress of the finite element at the maximum stress point. The S–N curve of the impeller is therefore fitted by a computational model. The model is proved to be reliable by comparing the computed results with the experimental data. Thereby the failure mechanism of the impeller can be expressed analytically and its reliability can be assessed online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure for calculating the pressure and power of a mud pump used in drilling an extendedreach well is described. A method is proposed for determining the hydraulic extension limit length in the drilling process depending on the rated pressure and power of the pump. An example is given of maximum well depth calculation with allowance for the limitations of a specific pump having fixed characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have found that students from different academic disciplines tend to value different qualities in their teachers, and cultural differences play a role in which qualities students appreciate in their professors. The present/current study employed the Teacher Behavior Checklist as an operationalization of teaching qualities in a comparative investigation among psychology, chemical engineering, and education students in China. Chinese college students’ perceptions of excellent teachers’ qualities differed across the three disciplines. We offer some contextual and cultural explanations for the differences and conclude that student evaluations of instruction should always be interpreted within the context of the evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical tenderization technologies for beef have been of particular interest to the meat industry. Here a novel tenderization technology by mechanical resonance vibration was proposed. The fundamental natural frequency (NF f) of the yak longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) was obtained through a hammer impacting on the muscle, and was reported to be 24.89 Hz. The tensile stress and Warner–Bratzler shear force of the yak meat were decreased by using the obtained NF f as the frequency of resonance vibration (RV), and only linear elastic deformation was found in stress-strain behavior of the vibrated meat. The variation of mechanical properties in post-rigor meat is responsible for the disappearance of the M-bands, shortening of the A-bands, and lengthening change in I-bands, rather than of the sarcomere length. The research demonstrated that RV treatment resulted in the M-band disappearance, the extensively detachment of endomysium from the myofibers, and the destruction of the linkages between α-actinin and thin filaments as well as other linkages. • The natural frequency of yak meat was accurately determined by hammer excitation. • The effect of the components of yak meat on mechanical properties was revealed. • The myofibril detached and the collagen fibers decomposed by resonance vibration. • Resonance vibration resulted in the disappearance of M-bands in sarcomeres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propagation characteristics of truncated Airy pulses have been numerically investigated in complex cubic-quintic Ginzburg-Landau equation and some interesting nonlinear phenomena are observed. The results show that the transmission trajectory and amplitude of the Airy pulses can be controlled by changing the gain dispersion. Due to the complex interaction between the side lobes, the double Airy pulses evolve into single soliton, double solitons and triple solitons, respectively. The interaction between linear loss and nonlinear gain has a significant effect on the propagation dynamics of Airy pulses, which can obtain stable bound state solitons or pulsating-like solitons. In addition, the period, structure and number of solitons can be controlled by properly choosing the parameters of the quintic nonlinear correction term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employed the Teacher Behavior Checklist (TBC) to investigate Chinese college students’ perceptions of excellent teachers’ qualities and then compared the results to those from previously collected data from American and Japanese students. Chinese students tended to favor additional structure both in the classroom and in teachers’ roles than either Japanese or American students. Teachers wishing to use the TBC to improve teaching quality should carefully consider subtle cultural differences that influence students’ perceptions of their teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]