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MOFs derived Zn 3 V 2 O 8 exhibits an excellent specific capacity for highly efficient lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. [Display omitted] Transition metal oxides have been extensively studied due to their large theoretical capacities, but their practical application has been hampered by low electrical conductivity and dramatic volume fluctuation during cycling. In this work, we synthesized Zn 3 V 2 O 8 material using Zn-V-MOF (metal–organic framework) as a sacrificial template to improve the electrochemical characteristics of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Unique dodecahedral structure, larger specific surface area and higher ability to mitigate volume changes, improve the electrochemical reaction active site while accelerating ion transport. Zn 3 V 2 O 8 with 2-methylimidazole as a ligand demonstrated a discharge capacity of 1225.9 mAh/g in LIBs and 761.6 mAh/g in SIBs after 300 cycles at 0.2 C. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation illustrates the smaller diffusion barrier energy and higher specific capacity in LIBs that is ascribed to the fact that Li has a smaller size and hence its diffusion is easier. This study may lead to a path for the manufacturing of high-performance LIBs and SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formal aza‐Diels‐Alder reaction of dihydro‐β‐carboline with heterodiene mediated by caesium carbonate has been described. This pathway provided a mild approach to functionalized polycyclic frameworks in 41%–91% yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring and testing the dependency between multiple random functions is often an important task in functional data analysis. In the literature, a model-based method relies on a model which is subject to the risk of model misspecification, while a model-free method only provides a correlation measure which is inadequate to test independence. In this paper, we adopt the Hilbert–Schmidt Independence Criterion (HSIC) to measure the dependency between two random functions. We develop a two-step procedure by first pre-smoothing each function based on its discrete and noisy measurements and then applying the HSIC to recovered functions. To ensure the compatibility between the two steps such that the effect of the pre-smoothing error on the subsequent HSIC is asymptotically negligible when the data are densely measured, we propose a new wavelet thresholding method for pre-smoothing and to use Besov-norm-induced kernels for HSIC. We also provide the corresponding asymptotic analysis. The superior numerical performance of the proposed method over existing ones is demonstrated in a simulation study. Moreover, in a magnetoencephalography (MEG) data application, the functional connectivity patterns identified by the proposed method are more anatomically interpretable than those by existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MOF-derived XMn 2 O 4 (X = Zn, Co, Cu, Ni) nanomaterials achieve superior electrochemical performance for lithium storage. [Display omitted] • Two methods are proposed for the synthesis of XMn 2 O 4 (X = Zn, Co, Cu, Ni). • MOF-derived anodes exhibit excellent electrochemical capabilities compared with the ones obtained by simple coprecipitation. • Lithium storage capacity and rate performance of XMn 2 O 4 is best when X = Zn. • DFT calculations are performed to demonstrate that ZnMn 2 O 4 as an anode material is conducive to the diffusion of Li+. Bimetallic spinel transition metal oxides play a major part in actualizing eco-friendly electrochemical energy storage systems (ESSs). However, structural precariousness and low electrochemical capacitance restrict their actual implementation in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). To address these demerits, the sacrificial template approach has been considered as a prospective way to strengthen electrochemical stability and rate performance. Herein, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived XMn 2 O 4 -BDC (H 2 BDC = 1,4-dicarboxybenzene, X = Zn, Co, Cu, Ni) are prepared by a hydrothermal approach in order to discover the effects of various metal cations on the electrochemical performance. Among them, ZnMn 2 O 4 -BDC displays best electrochemical properties (1321.5 mAh g−1 at the current density of 0.1 A g−1 after 300 cycles) and high efficiency with accelerated Li+ diffusivity. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm the ZnMn 2 O 4 possesses the weakest adsorption energy on Li+ with a minimized value of −0.92 eV. In comparison with other XMn 2 O 4 through traditional fabrication method, MOF-derived XMn 2 O 4 -BDC possesses a higher number of Li+ transport channels and better electric conductivity. This tactic provides a feasible and effective method for preparing bimetallic transition metal oxides and enhances energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual-band electrochromic smart window (ESW), which can independently modulate the visible and NIR transmittance, was significant to the modern building energy consumption. However, the key dual-band electrochromic composite required deliberate architecting. Herein, a facile route of controlling the crystallinity of oxygen-deficient tungsten oxide (WO 3-x) on SnO 2 nanoflake arrays (SnO 2) was designed for advanced dual-band ESW. The crystalline/amorphous WO 3-x on SnO 2 complemented each other, and possessed clear responsibilities. Firstly, the middle monoclinic WO 3-x (m-WO 3-x) was mainly responsible for the "cool" mode by the LSPR modulation, and the "dark" mode was simultaneously modulated by the small polaron absorption of the top amorphous WO 3-x (a-WO 3-x) and the phase change of the middle m-WO 3-x. Secondly, the top a-WO 3-x permitted the infiltration of electrolyte with the middle m-WO 3-x and improved the ion-insertion/extraction rate. Thirdly, the bottom SnO 2 was beneficial to upholding the crystalline/amorphous WO 3-x and accelerating the diffusion rate of Li+. As expected, the assembled ESW with the designed WO 3-x /SnO 2 exhibited three optical modes ("bright, cool, and dark") in the visible and NIR light region, and revealed favorable electrochromic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lead trade associations of the bio-pharma and semiconductor industries have differed systematically in their roles in facilitating the development of innovation networks between Shanghai and Shenzhen, two prominent high-tech metropolises in China. Divergent associational roles stem from variations in the regional state policy regime that has exerted differential shaping influence on the structure of social cleavages and strength of reciprocity norms among member firms and on their willingness to actively and cooperatively engage in association-led networking activities. The bio-pharma and semiconductor associations whose network-building roles have been structured differently through varied state policy regimes have displayed dissimilar abilities to reduce network failures and promote the innovation competences of their member firms between the two metropolises. The empirical findings of the article carry important implications for understanding the causes and consequences of varied associational roles in the process of technology development in China, other emerging markets, and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Due to the complexity of sperm cell reproduction and maturation, the genetic structure of semen traits remains largely unknown. In our study, we used weighted single-step GWAS to detect genetic regions and further candidate genes related to semen traits in Duroc boars. This study provides in-depth understanding of the genetic structure of semen traits and the biological information provided by gene networks, and can be applied to speed up the genetic process of semen traits in boars. The candidate genes CATSPER1, STRA8, ZSWIM7, TEKT3, UBB, PTBP2, EIF2B2, MLH3, and CCDC70 were associated with semen traits in Duroc pigs. Semen traits play a key role in the pig industry because boar semen is widely used in purebred and crossbred pigs. The production of high-quality semen is crucial to ensuring a good result in artificial insemination. With the wide application of artificial insemination in the pig industry, more and more attention has been paid to the improvement of semen traits by genetic selection. The purpose of this study was to identify the genetic regions and candidate genes associated with semen traits of Duroc boars. We used weighted single-step GWAS to identify candidate genes associated with sperm motility, sperm progressive motility, sperm abnormality rate and total sperm count in Duroc pigs. In Duroc pigs, the three most important windows for sperm motility—sperm progressive motility, sperm abnormality rate, and total sperm count—explained 12.45%, 9.77%, 15.80%, and 12.15% of the genetic variance, respectively. Some genes that are reported to be associated with spermatogenesis, testicular function and male fertility in mammals have been detected previously. The candidate genes CATSPER1, STRA8, ZSWIM7, TEKT3, UBB, PTBP2, EIF2B2, MLH3, and CCDC70 were associated with semen traits in Duroc pigs. We found a common candidate gene, STRA8, in sperm motility and sperm progressive motility, and common candidate genes ZSWIM7, TEKT3 and UBB in sperm motility and sperm abnormality rate, which confirms the hypothesis of gene pleiotropy. Gene network enrichment analysis showed that STRA8, UBB and CATSPER1 were enriched in the common biological process and participated in male meiosis and spermatogenesis. The SNPs of candidate genes can be given more weight in genome selection to improve the ability of genome prediction. This study provides further insight into the understanding the genetic structure of semen traits in Duroc boars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Axially chiral heterobiaryl frameworks are privileged structures in many natural products, pharmaceutically active molecules, and chiral ligands. Therefore, a variety of approaches for constructing these skeletons have been developed. Among them, de novo synthesis, due to its highly convergent and superior atom economy, serves as a promising strategy to access these challenging scaffolds including C-N, C-C, and N-N chiral axes. So far, several elegant reviews on the synthesis of axially chiral heterobiaryl skeletons have been disclosed, however, atroposelective construction of the heterobiaryl subunits by de novo synthesis was rarely covered. Herein, we summarized the recent advances in the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of the axially chiral heterobiaryl scaffold via de novo synthetic strategies. The related mechanism, scope, and applications were also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the intestinal lymphatic transport based on Peyer's patches (PPs) is emerging as a promising absorption pathway for natural polysaccharides. Herein, the aim of this study is to investigate the PP-based oral absorption of a pectic polysaccharide from Smilax china L. (SCLP), as well as its uptake and transport mechanisms in related immune cells. Taking advantages of the traceability of fluorescently labeled SCLP, we confirmed that SCLP could be absorbed into PPs and captured by their mononuclear phagocytes (dendritic cells and macrophages) following oral administration. Subsequently, the systematic in vitro study suggested that the endocytic mechanisms of SCLP by model mononuclear phagocytes (BMDCs and RAW264.7 cells) mainly involved caveolae-mediated endocytosis, macropinocytosis and phagocytosis. More importantly, SCLP directly binds and interacts with toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and galectin 3 (Gal-3) receptor, and was taken up by mononuclear phagocytes in receptor-mediated manner. After internalization, SCLP was intracellularly transported primarily through endolysosomal pathway and ultimately localized in lysosomes. In summary, this work reveals novel information and perspectives about the in vivo fate of SCLP, which will contribute to further research and utilization of SCLP and other pectic polysaccharides. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duck enteritis virus (DEV) may lead to vascular injury, gastrointestinal mucosal erosion, lymphoid organ injury, and Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) has an antiviral effect by inducing low levels of interferon. The purpose of this study was to explore the pathogenesis of DEV-induced intestinal injury in ducks and to verify the therapeutic effects of different concentrations of Poly I:C. In this study, duck enteritis model was established by infecting healthy Pekin ducks with DEV. Duck intestinal tissues were extracted from normal control group, model group, and treatment group with different doses of Poly I:C. In vivo, HE and TUNEL staining were used to observe the morphological changes and apoptosis. In vitro, the proliferation and apoptosis of duck intestinal epithelial cells were evaluated by MTT assay, TUNEL staining, and flow cytometry. The results showed that Poly I:C protected ducks from DEV toxicity by improving intestinal morphology and inhibiting apoptosis. In addition, the antiviral effect of Poly I:C on DEV was found in a dose-dependent manner, with a more relatively obvious effect at a high dose of Poly I:C. All in all, these results demonstrated that Poly I:C played a vital role in the apoptosis induced by DEV in ducks and modest dose of Poly I:C treatment worked well and may provide important reference for the development of new antiviral drugs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Accurate dose calculation is a critical step in proton therapy. A novel machine learning‐based approach was proposed to achieve comparable accuracy to that of Monte Carlo simulation while reducing the computational time. Methods: Computed tomography‐based patient phantoms were used and three treatment sites were selected (thorax, head, and abdomen), comprising different beam pathways and beam energies. The training data were generated using Monte Carlo simulations. A discovery cross‐domain generative adversarial network (DiscoGAN) was developed to perform the mapping between two domains: stopping power and dose, with HU values from CT images incorporated as auxiliary features. The accuracy of dose calculation was quantitatively evaluated in terms of mean relative error (MRE) and mean absolute error (MAE). The relationship between the DiscoGAN performance and other factors such as absolute dose, beam energy and location within the beam cross‐section (center and off‐center lines) was examined. Results: The DiscoGAN model is found to be effective in dose calculation. For the abdominal case, the MRE is found to 1.47% (mean), 3.30% (maximum) and 0.67% (minimum). For the thoracic case, the MRE is found to ~2.43% (mean), 4.80% (maximum) and 0.71% (minimum). For the head case, the MRE is found to ~2.83% (mean), 4.84% (maximum) and 1.01% (minimum). Comparable accuracy is found in the independent validation dataset (different CT images), achieving a mean MRE of ~1.65% (thorax), 4.02% (head) and 1.64% (abdomen). For the energy span between 80 and 130 MeV, no strong dependency of accuracy on beam energy is found. The results imply that no systematic deviation, either over‐dose or under‐dose, occurs between the predicted dose and raw dose. Conclusion: The DiscoGAN framework demonstrates great potential as a tool for dose calculation in proton therapy, achieving comparable accuracy yet being more efficient relative to Monte Carlo simulation. Its comparison with the pencil beam algorithm (PBA) will be the next step of our research. If successful, our proposed approach is expected to find its use in more advanced applications such as inverse planning and adaptive proton therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cathode in the magnetron should have good secondary emission property and a certain thermionic property. In this article, ZrH2 was added as an activator to obtain rare earth-doped tungsten matrix impregnated cathode to improve the emission property. Cathodes with ZrH2 (Y15-411-Zr cathode) or without ZrH2 (Y15-411 cathode) were prepared by a spray drying method combined with high-temperature sintering in dry hydrogen atmosphere. The emission properties and emission mechanism have been studied. The results showed that thermionic emission performance and secondary emission performance of Y15-411-Zr cathode are 3.4 times and 1.2 times higher than those of Y15-411 cathode, respectively. With the addition of ZrH2, yttrium was produced during activating process, which contributed to the better emission properties of Y15-411-Zr cathode. Furthermore, the work function of barium and oxygen adsorbed on yttrium oxide and yttrium surface was calculated using the first principle. The results showed that the lowest work function of Ba-O absorbed on Y2O3 and Y is 1.9 and 1.6 eV, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

K2CO3‐mediated [4+1] annulation reactions of N‐acetyl hydrazones with bifunctional amino reagents are described, which provide an environmental‐friendly strategy to construct 1,2,3‐triazoles that does not employ metals, azides, organocatalysis, or oxidants. A series of substituted 1,2,3‐triazole derivatives was prepared with good yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precipitation use efficiency (PUE) is crucial in understanding the coupling between ecosystem carbon and water cycling. In this study, we used a time series (2000–2013) dataset of net primary productivity (NPP) based on the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach (CASA) model together with precipitation to reveal the spatial and temporal patterns of alpine grassland PUE in Northern Tibet. The mean annual PUE values of alpine meadow, alpine meadow steppe, alpine steppe, alpine desert steppe, and alpine desert were 0.48, 0.39, 0.36, 0.29 and 0.23 gc m−2 mm−1, respectively. The spatial patterns of PUE of alpine grassland demonstrated an initial increase in the arid region and a subsequent decrease in the humid region along the precipitation gradient and peaked at approximately 500 mm. To evaluate the temporal patterns, the sensitivity Slope and the Pearson correlation coefficient R xy between the PUE and climatic factors were calculated. The inter-annual variability of PUE exhibited a significant negative correlation with annual precipitation (P < 0.05), which implies that NPP had a lower sensitivity to precipitation in most regions. The relationship between PUE and the mean annual temperature is different for different regions. Our findings have an important role in understanding the impacts of precipitation availability on climate change and in the scientific management of the alpine grassland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article suggests that variations in the dominant pattern of innovation policy coordination can be analysed and understood effectively by dividing innovation and other complementary socio-economic policies into low-complexity and high-complexity tasks. The effective implementation of these two sets of policy tasks that differ in the extent, nature and intractability of collective action problems confronting the coordination process hinges on the strength of two sociopolitical institutions: bureaucratic organizational structures and interactive governing arrangements. While bureaucratic organizational structures are better suited to delivering low-complexity tasks, interactive governing arrangements are more effective in resolving high-complexity policy problems. They interact differently across political economies to structure the management of coordination challenges and thus give rise to divergent patterns of innovation policy-making. The comparative analysis of innovation policy coordination between Hong Kong and Singapore over the past two decades lends strong support to the central theoretical propositions of the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand have faced comparable innovation challenges over the past decades, they have responded to these challenges with divergent policy choices. More specifically, they have varied in the extent to which core technology policy instruments are integrated and state efforts to tackle innovation challenges are coupled with other socio-economic reforms and development strategies. To explain the variation, this article explores the ways in which socio-political institutions have interacted differently to shape the resolution of governance problems inherent in the making of innovation strategies and generate divergent technology policy processes and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The [4+1] cycloaddition reaction of bifunctional amino reagents has been achieved with in situ formed aza‐ortho‐quinone methides. Specifically, N‐(tosyloxy)carbamates were used as an N1 synthon and bifunctional amino reagents for this transformation, which provides a metal‐free, catalyst‐free, and oxidant‐free strategy to form nitrogen‐nitrogen bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data-driven individualized decision making has recently received increasing research interest. However, most existing methods rely on the assumption of no unmeasured confounding, which cannot be ensured in practice especially in observational studies. Motivated by the recently proposed proximal causal inference, we develop several proximal learning methods to estimate optimal individualized treatment regimes (ITRs) in the presence of unmeasured confounding. Explicitly, in terms of two types of proxy variables, we are able to establish several identification results for different classes of ITRs respectively, exhibiting the tradeoff between the risk of making untestable assumptions and the potential improvement of the value function in decision making. Based on these identification results, we propose several classification-based approaches to finding a variety of restricted in-class optimal ITRs and establish their theoretical properties. The appealing numerical performance of our proposed methods is demonstrated via extensive simulation experiments and a real data application. for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) is critically endangered. • Porpoise clustering was observed in a confluence of the Wanhe River Estuary, China. • A hydrodynamic model was created to investigate the driving mechanism of clustering. • We showed a preference for vorticity in the range 0.001 s−1–0.0015 s−1 • This has implications for habitat protection and feeding behavior of freshwater cetaceans. The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) is critically endangered. Finless porpoises rely on small fish as their primary food source. Fish distribution is impacted by topography and vorticity (i.e., water flow patterns), which are markedly more complex in river channel confluences than in other aquatic habitats. Thus, the hydrodynamic conditions imposed by confluences may influence habitat selection by fish and the subsequent behavior and predation strategies of porpoises. However, hydrodynamic effects and driving mechanisms for porpoise occurrence, distribution, and feeding strategies remain unclear. Based on survey data and hydrologic measurements, we created a hydrodynamic model to investigate the driving mechanism of porpoise clustering in a confluence of the Wanhe River Estuary, China. We showed a preference for vorticity in the range 0.001 s−1–0.0015 s−1. Our multivariate logarithmic linear model revealed a fit of R2 = 0.792, indicating consistency between theoretical and actual occurrence values. Certain patch parameter effects suggest that vorticity fragmentation affects porpoise habitat selection and utilization. Our study provides a new perspective on the ecological impact of the Yangtze River wading project and the habitat protection of aquatic animals in rivers and aids future research examining hydrodynamic effects on the feeding behavior of freshwater cetaceans. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cropland ecosystems are environmentally more homogeneous than natural ecosystems due to anthropogenic management. However, it is unclear whether there is similar convergence in soil fauna diversity and community assembly in croplands with different latitudes. Therefore, the study on the latitudinal pattern and community assembly processes of soil microfauna across a transect spanning 3200 km of croplands was conducted. The results indicated that the β diversity of plant parasites, fungivores, and bacterivores showed a decreasing trend and that of omnivores-predators at higher levels followed a unimodal distribution along a latitudinal gradient. The dissimilarity of soil microfauna communities increased with geographical distance, which exhibited a strong distance decay pattern. The β diversity partitioning analysis suggested that species replacement had the greatest influence for all trophic groups, except for omnivores-predators that were driven by a combination of richness differences and species replacement. The stochastic processes shaping the microfauna assembly prevailed over deterministic processes. Ecological drift and homogenizing dispersal of the stochastic processes accounted for 50.4% and 37% of total variations respectively, and heterogeneous selection of the deterministic processes for 10%. Both soil and climatic factors had a direct impact on soil microflora and plant parasites, and indirect impact on bacterivores, fungivores, and omnivores-predators through mediating microflora communities. The partial least squares path modeling and co-occurrence analysis all showed that the soil microfauna assembly was inextricably linked to soil microflora and their network complexity exhibited a significant increasing trend along the latitudinal gradient. Further studies are needed to optimize the molecular database of soil microfauna and construct models for predicting their community distribution patterns. [Display omitted] • Soil microfauna exhibited a strong distance decay latitudinal distribution pattern. • Soil and climate had an indirect impact on microbivores and omnivores-predators. • Microfauna community was driven by cascading effect within soil food web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the better part of the 21st century, opioid abuse and related consequences have beleaguered the United States. Effectively fighting the crisis may require a better understanding of potential differences among the types of opioids available as treating them as one homogeneous group may mask emerging trends and conflate more benign ones with those more troubling. The purpose of our study is to investigate changes in prescribing patterns of four groups of opioids (hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, and other) and how community-level factors explain their variation over time. We use a census tract–level data set with population, concentrated disadvantage, and prescription drug monitoring payment variables to address our goals. Findings show disparate prescribing patterns among the four types of opioids and considerable differences in the community factors that predict their change. Implications for future research and interventions follow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding biological response to stimuli requires identifying mechanisms that coordinate changes across pathways. One of the promises of multi-omics studies is achieving this level of insight by simultaneously identifying different levels of regulation. However, computational approaches to integrate multiple types of data are lacking. An effective systems biology approach would be one that uses statistical methods to detect signatures of relevant network motifs and then builds metabolic circuits from these components to model shifting regulatory dynamics. For example, transcriptome and metabolome data complement one another in terms of their ability to describe shifts in physiology. Here, we extend a previously described linear-modeling based method used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with metabolic changes. We apply this strategy to link changes in sulfur, amino acid and lipid production under heat stress by relating ratios of compounds to potential precursors and regulators. This approach provides integration of multi-omics data to link previously described, discrete units of regulation into functional pathways and identifies novel biology relevant to the heat stress response, in addition to generating hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper studies an eight-antenna multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) array owning a wide bandwidth to cover the 3.6-GHz (3400–3800 MHz) band for modern mobile terminal applications. The developed eight-antenna array consists of two four-antenna sub-arrays having slight different physical dimensions. The antenna elements are all based on the stepped impedance resonator (SIR) structure, which are positioned along the two long borderlines of the ground plane in the mobile terminal. A wider bandwidth can be realized by properly choosing the electrical length ratio and impedance ratio of the SIR structure, and the system performance can be consequently improved. The measured results of the fabricated prototype show that the value of the return loss is larger than 10 dB and the value of the inter-element isolation is more than 11.7 dB within the entire 3.6-GHz band. Furthermore, the envelop correlation coefficient (ECC) between arbitrary two antenna elements is smaller than 0.1 for the developed eight-antenna MIMO array. Design details of the MIMO array as well as the simulated and experimental results will be given and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a core transcriptional factor regulating pluripotency, Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) has gained much attention in the field of stem cells during the past decades. However, few research have focused on the function of KLF4 during human primordial germ cell (PGC) specification. Here, we induced human PGC-like cells (hPGCLCs) from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and the derived hPGCLCs upregulated PGC-related genes, like SOX17, BLIMP1, TFAP2C, NANOS3, and the naïve pluripotency gene KLF4. The KLF4-knockout hESCs formed typical multicellular colonies with clear borders, expressed pluripotency genes, such as NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2, and exhibited no differences in proliferation capacity compared with wild type hESCs. Notably, KLF4 deletion in hESCs did not influence the induction of PGCLCs in vitro. In contrast, overexpression of KLF4 during PGC induction process inhibited the efficiency of PGCLC formation from hESCs in vitro. Overexpression of KLF4 may regenerate the naïve ground state in hESCs and results in repression for PGC specification. Thus, KLF4 could be a downstream target of human PGC program and the upregulation of KLF4 is prepared for late stage of germline development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe additive model is a popular nonparametric regression method due to its ability to retain modeling flexibility while avoiding the curse of dimensionality. The backfitting algorithm is an intuitive and widely used numerical approach for fitting additive models. However, its application to large datasets may incur a high computational cost and is thus infeasible in practice. To address this problem, we propose a novel approach called independence-encouraging subsampling (IES) to select a subsample from big data for training additive models. Inspired by the minimax optimality of an orthogonal array (OA) due to its pairwise independent predictors and uniform coverage for the range of each predictor, the IES approach selects a subsample that approximates an OA to achieve the minimax optimality. Our asymptotic analyses demonstrate that an IES subsample converges to an OA and that the backfitting algorithm over the subsample converges to a unique solution even if the predictors are highly dependent in the full data. The proposed IES method is shown to be numerically appealing via simulations and a real data application. Theoretical proofs, R codes, and supplementary numerical results are accessible online as supplementarymaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An effective and facile method for the synthesis of highly substituted 1,2,3,5‐tetrahydrobenzo[e][1,2,4]‐oxadiazepines is described. A formal [4+3] cycloaddition of N‐(2‐(chloromethyl) phenyl) amides with nitrones afforded benzo[e][1,2,4]‐oxadiazepine derivatives with high atom economy and excellent yields (up to 97%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a compact circularly polarized co-designed filtering annular slot antenna (ASA) is proposed. The antenna comprises a distributed capacitor-loaded annular slot radiator to produce circular polarization (CP) radiation, which is seamlessly integrated with a microstripline bandpass filter (BPF) to enhance out-of-CP-band suppression. Two tightly coupled arc branches protruding into the annular slot are used to provide the required perturbation capacitance. The filter is designed by employing three concentric arc-shaped coupled microstripline resonators. The ground plane is shared by the annular slot radiator and the filter to reduce size occupation. It is found that the proposed antenna can not only yield high frequency selectivity, but also obtain widened CP bandwidth under the assistance of the filtering circuit. An antenna prototype has been fabricated and measured, showing that the antenna achieves a 10 dB return loss impedance bandwidth of around 13.7%, enclosing a 3 dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of more than 10.6%. Details of design considerations and experimental results are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development from bare soil to biological soil crust (BSC) after the establishment of vegetation for sand fixation is an important desertification rehabilitation process in dryland ecosystems. While subsequent changes aboveground have been well documented, few studies focused on how BSC affects soil food webs after vegetation establishment. In this study, we investigated how soil food web channels respond to BSC, and in particular how flow of carbon from microbes to higher trophic levels is affected in Horqin Sandy Land, China. The BSC layer and 0–1 cm depth soil layer without BSC (as the control of BSC) were taken. After that, soil samples of 10 cm depth were collected and then dividing into two equal 5 cm parts for comparing soil microbe and nematode community composition in 2013 and 2014. The results showed that presence of BSC increased the phospholipid fatty acid and biomass carbon of microbes in the top layer of both years. Abundance, biomass carbon, and metabolic footprint of nematode trophic groups, including fungivores and omnivores-predators in the top layer, had higher values under BSC. Positive relationships were found between total organic carbon of BSC and biomass carbon of fungi, and between biomass carbon of fungi and fungivores. BSC enhanced carbon flow from fungi to fungivores, with higher connectance values in the fungal channel than in soil without BSC. The strengthened relationships between total organic carbon of BSC and omnivore-predator, and high connectances of the fungal channel and of the omnivore-predator channel under BSC, suggest a more reticulated channel in soil food web. It can be concluded that colonization of BSC enhances the connenctances in soil microbial food web channels, and could contribute to the resilience of dryland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Singlet oxygen (1O 2) exhibits excellent activity for degradation of refractory pollutants and strong resistance in a wide pH range and harsh environment. The efficient generation of reactive oxygen species is vital for the treatment of wastewater in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system, but how to boost the selectivity of 1O 2 still remains a great challenge. Herein, we developed an ultrahigh efficiency of solid solution Co 0.5 Zn 0.5 O (CZO) nanosheets exposed abundant cobalt active sites for PMS activation. The dual Co-Zn sites residing at the CZO surface selectively adsorbed specific O sites of PMS, therefore promoting the generation of 1O 2 with 100% selectivity. The CZO/PMS system showed great adaptability to inorganic ions and pH value with the exclusive 1O 2 species, and the toxicity of antibiotic contaminants was markedly declined after treatment. The CZO nanosheets were attached to fibrous membrane to apply in continuous degradation of organic pollutants with high removal efficiency (95%) over 10 h. This study provides new insights into the development of highly selective catalysts to 1O 2 generation and highlights their potential applications in water purification. [Display omitted] • The ultrathin solid solution nanosheets CZO was fabricated to PMS activation for organic pollutants degradation. • The introduced cobalt atoms with zinc atoms as dual catalytic sites selectively adsorb terminal oxygen site of PMS. • CZO nanosheets catalyst showed high activity, stability and adaptability. • The combination of membrane technology with catalysis exhibits great stability, activity and reusability. • The mechanism of 1O 2 generation on Co-Zn sites was unveiled base on DFT calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of soil nematode assemblages was assessed in field plots in the San Joaquin Valley of California which have 16-year management system histories. Attributes of the ecosystem functions of the assemblages were determined in laboratory studies. The four agricultural management systems were no tillage (minimum tillage) with cover crops in the intervals between economic crops, standard tillage with cover crops, minimum tillage without cover crops and standard tillage without cover crops. The economic crops were sorghum and garbanzo beans. A soil column system was used in laboratory studies to evaluate the nitrogen mineralization ecosystem service associated with nematode assemblages in soils from the four management systems compared to that in defaunated soil. In an additional comparison, defaunated soil was amended with mineral fertilizer solution for comparison with the mineralization service of the soil fauna. Management systems using cover crops, which created a continuity of both photosynthetic production and roots in the soil, strongly enhanced the nematode assemblages in the field soil. Management systems with cover crops had greater total abundance, measured as numbers, biomass and metabolic footprints, of nematodes, and also of the functional guilds of nematodes considered important in soil fertility and as prey for predators. Leachates from soil columns with intact nematode assemblages had greater total mineral nitrogen and supported greater plant growth than those from defaunated columns. Soil carbon levels in field plots were strongly affected by the management systems. The biomass and diversity-weighted footprint of bacterivore and microbivore (bacterivores plus fungivores) nematodes, in turn, were correlated with levels of soil carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxalic acid (OA), together with its ligand, appears in diverse biotic and abiotic processes in nature. However, the applications of the photochemical property of OA and its complexes in environmental purification are scarce. Herein, we reported a Fe single-atom catalyst with Fe-N 4 configuration supported on g-C 3 N 4 (Fe-CN) to activate OA for ultrahigh-efficiency removal of Cr(VI) under visible light irradiation through dual pathways: the photo-dissociation of [FeⅢ(C 2 O 4)]+ and the reaction between OA and photogenerated holes, achieving the generation of •CO 2 -. The introduction of Fe-N 4 favors the formation of configuration [FeⅢ(C 2 O 4)]+ and fabricates the electron transfer channel from catalyst to OA, further decreases the energy barriers of •CO 2 - generation, and thereafter efficiently facilitates the C-C cleavage for the generate of •CO 2 -. Meanwhile, the strong coordination interaction over Fe single atoms and N atoms could enhance the separation efficiency of photo-carriers and further promote the reduction activity. Under optimal conditions, Fe-CN showed a 5.1-fold increasement in photocatalytic kinetics contrast to pristine CN. The Fe-CN catalyst attached on fibrous membrane for treatment of flowing Cr(VI) wastewater exhibits 90% reduction efficiency over 10 h, which is expected to facilitate the practical application of the catalyst. The mechanism of OA activation with dual-pathway was unveiled by in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectra and theoretical calculations. This work provides an important guidance for the application of OA and its complexes to achieve the attenuation of toxic and harmful heavy metal in water restoration. [Display omitted] • The Fe single-atom catalyst was fabricated to OA activation for Cr(VI) detoxification. • The introduction of Fe-N 4 favors OA activation under visible irradiation through dual pathways. • The photo-dissociation of Fe-OA complex was unveiled based on the in-situ DRIFT and DFT calculations. • The Fe-N 4 active sites enhanced separation and migration of photocarriers, further accelerating the generation of •CO 2 -. • The combination of membrane technology with catalysis exhibits great stability, activity and retention effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The doping of Mn exposes more Co3+ active sites to enhance the ORR/OER activity. • The particle size of Mn-Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles was only about 5.5 nm. • Rechargeable ZAB displays a high-power density and superior cycling stability. High-performance and low-cost bifunctional electrocatalysts for ORR and OER are urgently required for rechargeable Zn-air batteries. Herein, a series of Mn-doped Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles grown on carbon nanotubes (Mn-Co 3 O 4 @CNTs) bifunctional electrocatalysts are designed. Owing to the moderate doped Mn atoms, the Mn-Co 3 O 4 heightens ORR activity via the synergistic effect between Co and Mn atoms, and more Co3+ active sites are exposed on the surface of Mn-Co 3 O 4 to enhance the OER rate. As a result, the 40% Mn-doped Mn-Co 3 O 4 @CNTs electrocatalyst exhibits higher ORR (E 1/2 = 0.84 V) and OER (η 10 = 356 mV at 10 mA cm−2) performance. More significantly, the Mn-Co 3 O 4 @CNTs equipped with rechargeable ZAB displays a high power density of 116 mW cm−2, a low charge-discharge voltage gap of 0.94 V at 10 mA cm−2, and superior cycling stability of over 425 h and 1200 cycles, being much more outperforming than Pt- and Ru-based ZABs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Channel estimation is conceived for optical wireless scattering channels associated with laser diode transmitters and photon-counting/photomultiplier tube receivers. The proposed channel estimation approach consists of two stages, namely, of the estimation of the channel tap second-order moments followed by the estimation of the channel taps based on the estimate of second-order moments. In the first stage, we provide the general framework of the moment estimation complemented by the conception of an estimation approach based on a sparse pilot structure, as well as by the analysis of the estimation error. We also propose a novel sparse pilot design as well as the associated low-complexity channel estimation, and prove the optimality of the proposed channel estimation. In the second stage, we conceive the associated channel tap estimation based on the eigenvalue decomposition of the matrix of estimated second-order moments, and analyze the associated performance. It is shown that as the length of the pilot sequence tends to infinity, the probability of having an estimation distortion above a certain threshold can be reduced arbitrarily small. Simulation results show that the proposed sparse pilot sequence can lead to a smaller estimation error than the pilot design using random 0–1 bits. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Traditional manganese trioxide (Mn 2 O 3) as anode materials can be applied to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), where it possesses excellent electrochemical performance. However, the inherent disadvantages of volume change and poor cycling stability during charge/discharge process hinder the application of transition metal oxide (TMO) in LIBs. Herein, we propose a method to derive Mn 2 O 3 from metal-organic framework in order to mitigate volume change and enhance cycling stability, by virtue of the introduction of oxygen vacancies (O V) and stable template-derived structure for boosted lithium storage properties. Interestingly, M-BTEC (pyromellitic acid based MOF) -derived Mn 2 O 3 represented higher specific capacity of 1227.1 mAh g−1 until 200 cycles with the current density of 0.1 A g−1 while M-IN (isonicotinic acid based MOF) shows 723.4 mAh g−1 with exceptional cycling stability. [Display omitted] • Two different ligands were used to synthesized Mn 2 O 3 and both of which possess cyclic stability and unique structure. • Oxygen vacancies was conducive to boost lithium ion storage performance. • M-BTEC and M-IN displays excellent capacity of 1227.1 mAh g−1while M-IN shows 723.4 mAh g−1 (200 cycles at 0.1 A g−1) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wuchang Lake is a shallow lake located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Historically, it was freely connected with the Yangtze mainstem and dominated by submerged macrophytes. For fishing and flood control, the river–lake connection was blocked by the Wanhe sluice in 1959; this led to large changes in water level and ultimately the overgrowth of the emergent macrophyte Zizania latifolia in Wuchang Lake. In order to devise a way to control the expansion of Z. latifolia , remote sensing and a geographic information system (GIS) were used in this study to analyze the changes in distribution of Z. latifolia . The results showed that the distribution area of Z. latifolia linearly increased from 1981 to 2009, and the annual average growth rate was about 1.8 km 2 /year. In 2009, the plant covered about 53% of the whole lake, and the lake was presenting a serious tendency for terrestrialization. Analyses of the hydrological data indicated that the significantly decreased water level during the plant's germination period (February–March) may be the main cause for the overgrowth of Z. latifolia . By assessing the February–March mean water level before the building of sluice, and the plant's germination threshold for water depth, we recommend increasing the February–March mean water levels from 11.0 m at present to 12.0 m; this would reduce the potential distribution area of Z. latifolia from 56.8% at present to 8.9%. The results of this study should be useful for the control of aquatic macrophytes in other lakes subject to similar water level regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil microbes and nematodes are important components of soil biota that strongly affect agricultural productivity and sustainability. Currently, our knowledge on the response of soil biota to agricultural management is restricted. This study aimed to identify the relationship between microbial and nematode communities and explore the resource path that flows within the soil micro-food web under different fertilization practices in a winter-wheat/summer-maize rotation system. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replicates for each treatment that included unfertilized control; inorganic N, P and K fertilizer (NPK); NPK plus manure; and NPK plus maize straw. Soil samples were taken at a 0–20 cm depth when wheat and maize were harvested. The results showed that organic manure or maize straw combined with NPK fertilizers had positive effects on the soil microbial and nematode communities. For example, the incorporation of straw increased the fungal biomass. Long-term inorganic fertilization might restrain nematode biomass accumulation especially in fungivorous nematodes. The analysis of the metabolic footprints of nematodes suggested that the incorporation of straw could enhance the carbon resource flow into the soil food web by enhancing nematode biomass. Structural equation modeling analysis suggested that the bottom–up control from the microbial community to the nematode community was more obvious in the wheat season in comparison with the maize season. In addition, a relatively stronger predation relationship was found between omnivores–predators and bacterivores rather than fungivores. Our study suggests that organic management combined with NPK fertilization could effectively enhance the association between microbial and nematode communities, while a crop rotation system with maize may have a negative influence on the structure of the soil micro-food web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation restoration plays an important role in controlling desertification. The effects of vegetation restoration on aboveground biodiversity are well known. However, the effects of vegetation restoration on the belowground biotic communities in sand land are still highly important and need to be explored. We examined soil nematode community composition under Caragana microphylla of dominant native vegetation with 0- (the drifting sand dunes), 13-, 18- and 29-year sand-fixation and natural vegetation communities in Horqin Desert, China. The result showed that total nematodes, bacterivores, fungivores and omnivores-predators were all significantly affected by sand-fixation years, with their highest values being in 29-year sand-fixation. The conversion of drifting sand dunes to shrub land resulted in significant changes in r -strategists with cp -2 and K -strategists with cp -4 of soil nematodes. Nematode genera in different sand-fixation years were clearly separated by redundancy analysis and the preference of different nematode genera to habitat was discriminative. The effect of C. microphylla on soil abiotic properties and nematode communities was time-dependent. The significant variation of soil abiotic properties appeared from 18-year sand-fixation, and soil nematodes increased significantly after 13-year sand-fixation. The plantation of C. microphylla improved nematode diversity, with markedly higher values in the later sandy land stabilization stage than the drifting sand dunes. Furthermore, it can be concluded that soil nematode communities as bioindicators reflect the progressive restoration process of the sandy ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation communities in floodplain lakes are adapted to natural water regimes. Construction of sluices or dams between rivers and their floodplain lakes will inevitably lead to great changes in plant communities. In order to evaluate the effects of water level fluctuations (WLFs) on lakeshore vegetation in floodplain lakes of the Yangtze River, a field investigation was conducted in two river-disconnected lakes (Wuchang Lake and Shengjin Lake) and one river-connected lake (Shimen Lake). The results showed that plant species richness was highest in the disconnected Shengjin Lake with intermediate amplitude of WLFs, and lowest in the connected Shimen Lake. Species composition differed among the three lakes and the two disconnected lakes with more similar WLFs exhibiting the greatest similarity. Six plant communities were classified using TWINSPAN. Multivariate analyses showed that the amplitude of WLFs was the most important factor in determining the distribution of lakeshore plants, followed by relative elevation and duration of submergence. Our results provide an eco-hydrological basis for plant restoration in the Yangtze floodplain lakes. We suggest that fluctuating amplitude should be increased in lakes with small WLFs, and small habitats with various hydrological regimes should be created in lakes with large WLFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both varying-coefficient and additive models have been studied extensively in the literature as extensions to linear models. They have also been extended to deal with functional response data. However, existing extensions are still not flexible enough to reflect the functional nature of the responses. In this paper, we extend varying-coefficient and additive models to obtain a much more flexible model and propose a simple algorithm to estimate its nonparametric additive and varying-coefficient components. We establish the asymptotic properties of each component function. We demonstrate the applicability of the new model through analysis of traffic data. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

SYP-1620, a quinone-outside-inhibitor (QoI), is a novel broad-spectrum fungicide. In this study, 108 isolates of Botrytis cinerea from different geographical regions in Jiangsu Province of China were characterized for baseline sensitivity to SYP-1620. The curves of baseline sensitivity were unimodal with a mean EC 50 value of 0.0130 ± 0.0109 μg/mL for mycelial growth, 0.01147 ± 0.0062 μg/mL for spore germination, respectively. The biological characterization of SYP-1620 against B. cinerea was determined in vitro . The results indicated that SYP-1620 has a strong inhibiting effect on spore germination, mycelial growth, and respiration. The protective and curative test of SYP-1620 suggested that protective effect was better than curative either on strawberry leaves or on cucumber leaves in vivo . In addition, the biological characterization of SYP-1620-resistant mutants of B. cinerea was investigated. SYP-1620 has no cross-resistance with other types of fungicide. Compared to the sensitive isolates, the resistant mutants had lower mycelial growth and virulence but not differ in mycelial dry weight. Sequencing indicated that SYP-1620 resistance was associated with a single point mutation (G143A) in the cytochrome b gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main argument to be developed in this article posits that fundamental changes and variations in the financial market structure of East Asian economies have been predicated on the emergence and configuration of the dominant coalitions. The coalitions have been forged by private market agents, economic policymakers and political elites who have developed particular interests in financial market changes as a response to economic and political imperatives both at home and abroad. In East Asia, the dominant coalitions that have borne crucially on regulatory rules and market practices have differed in the policy preferences of key actors in the coalitions and the power structures of these coalitions. It is these differences that have exerted divergent shaping influences on financial market development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Highlights: [•] Long-term hydrological data and coverage data were analyzed in a large river-disconnected lake; the results showed that the altered water level has great negative effects on macrophytes. [•] We revealed the underlying mechanisms of macrophytes recession. [•] We developed water level regulation strategies based on the understanding of WLF requirements of macrophytes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The additive model is an effective dimension-reduction approach that also provides flexibility in modeling the relation between a response variable and key covariates. The literature is largely developed to scalar response and vector covariates. In this article, more complex data are of interest, where both the response and the covariates are functions. We propose a functional additive model together with a new backfitting algorithm to estimate the unknown regression functions, whose components are time-dependent additive functions of the covariates. Such functional data may not be completely observed since measurements may only be collected intermittently at discrete time points. We develop a unified platform and an efficient approach that can cover both dense and sparse functional data and the needed theory for statistical inference. We also establish the oracle properties of the proposed estimators of the component functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]