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Ruddlesden‐Popper‐type oxides exhibit remarkable chemical stability in comparison to perovskite oxides. However, they display lower oxygen permeability. We present an approach to overcome this trade‐off by leveraging the anisotropic properties of Nd2NiO4+δ. Its (a,b)‐plane, having oxygen diffusion coefficient and surface exchange coefficient several orders of magnitude higher than its c‐axis, can be aligned perpendicular to the gradient of oxygen partial pressure by a magnetic field (0.81 T). A stable and high oxygen flux of 1.40 mL min−1 cm−2 was achieved for at least 120 h at 1223 K by a textured asymmetric disk membrane with 1.0 mm thickness under the pure CO2 sweeping. Its excellent operational stability was also verified even at 1023 K in pure CO2. These findings highlight the significant enhancement in oxygen permeation membrane performance achievable by adjusting the grain orientation. Consequently, Nd2NiO4+δ emerges as a promising candidate for industrial applications in air separation, syngas production, and CO2 capture under harsh conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruddlesden‐Popper‐type oxides exhibit remarkable chemical stability in comparison to perovskite oxides. However, they display lower oxygen permeability. We present an approach to overcome this trade‐off by leveraging the anisotropic properties of Nd2NiO4+δ. Its (a,b)‐plane, having oxygen diffusion coefficient and surface exchange coefficient several orders of magnitude higher than its c‐axis, can be aligned perpendicular to the gradient of oxygen partial pressure by a magnetic field (0.81 T). A stable and high oxygen flux of 1.40 mL min−1 cm−2 was achieved for at least 120 h at 1223 K by a textured asymmetric disk membrane with 1.0 mm thickness under the pure CO2 sweeping. Its excellent operational stability was also verified even at 1023 K in pure CO2. These findings highlight the significant enhancement in oxygen permeation membrane performance achievable by adjusting the grain orientation. Consequently, Nd2NiO4+δ emerges as a promising candidate for industrial applications in air separation, syngas production, and CO2 capture under harsh conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cigarette smoke is recognized as a major trigger for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), leading to an amplified inflammatory response. The onset and progression of COPD are affected by multiple environmental and genetic risk factors, such as inflammatory mechanisms, oxidative stress, and an imbalance between proteinase and antiprotease. As a result, conventional drug therapies often have limited effectiveness. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of sodium butyrate (SB) in COPD and explore its molecular mechanism, thereby deepening our understanding of the potential application of SB in the treatment of COPD. In our study, we observed an increase in the mRNA and protein expressions of inflammatory factors interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) and MMP12 in both NR8383 cell and rat models of COPD. However, these expressions were significantly reduced after SB treatment. Meanwhile, SB treatment effectively decreased the phosphorylation levels of nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and inhibited the nuclear translocation of these proteins in the COPD cells, leading to a reduction in the expression of various inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, SB also inhibited the expression level of the Nod-like receptor pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, which consists of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), and Caspase-1 in the cigeratte smoke extract (CSE)-stimulated cells. Our results showed that CSE down-regulated the mRNA levels of G-protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR43) and GPR109A, while SB only up-regulated the expression of GPR43 and had no effect on GPR109A. Moreover, additional analysis demonstrated that the knockdown of GPR43 diminishes the anti-inflammatory effects of SB. It is evident that siRNA-mediated knockdown of GPR43 prevented the reduction in mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MMP9, and MMP12, as well as the expression of phosphorylated proteins NF-κB p65, JNK, and p38 MAPKs with SB treatment. These findings revealed a SB/GPR43 mediated pathway essential for attenuating pulmonary inflammatory responses in COPD, which may offer potential new treatments for COPD. • Sodium butyrate (SB) exerts anti-inflammatory effects by targeting TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MMP9 and MMP12 in COPD models. • SB inhibits NF-κB/MAPKs pathways by blocking the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65, JNK and p38 MAPKs. • The GPR43 receptor is critical for SB to reduce inflammatory response in COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the advancements in understanding the domestication process of rice, particularly through a multidisciplinary study that traces the evolution from wild rice to its domesticated form, highlighting key evidence and methodological innovations in the research conducted around the Yangtze River. It provides new insights into the timeline and mechanisms of rice domestication, underscoring the significance of this development in the context of global agricultural history.

The application of plant dyes in the textile industry has been very limited due to their limited sources, incomplete color space, and narrow color gamut, etc. Therefore, studies of the color properties and color gamut of natural dyes and the corresponding dyeing processes are essential for completing the color space of natural dyes and their application. In this study, water extract from the bark of Phellodendron amurense (P. amurense) was used as a dye. Dyeing properties, color gamut, and color evaluation of dyed cotton fabrics were studied, and optimal dyeing conditions were obtained. The results showed that the optimal dyeing process was pre-mordanting with liquor ratio at 1:50, P. amurense dye concentration at 5.2 g/L, mordant concentration (aluminum potassium sulfate) at 5 g/L, dyeing temperature at 70 °C, dyeing time of 30 min, mordanting time of 15 min, and pH 5. Through the optimization of the dyeing process, a maximum color gamut range was obtained with lightness L* value from 74.33 to 91.23, a* value from −0.89 to 2.96, b* value from 4.62 to 34.08, chroma C* value from 5.49 to 34.09, and hue angle h° value from 57.35° to 91.57°. Colors from light yellow to dark yellow were obtained, among which 12 colors were identified according to the Pantone Matching Systems. The color fastness against soap-washing, rubbing, and sunlight on the dyed cotton fabrics all reached grade 3 level or above, further expanding the applicability of natural dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the largest megacity clusters in China, the Pearl River Delta (PRD) exhibited an obvious increase in the autumn mean maximum daily 8 hr average (MDA8) ozone (O3) concentration from 2014 to 2020, although O3 precursors were effectively controlled. To understand the cause of these elevated surface MDA8 O3 concentrations in the PRD, we explored potential meteorological causes. Based on the relationships between the MDA8 O3 concentrations and the meteorological conditions, the ozone weather index (OWI) was constructed from surface downward shortwave radiation flux (DSWRF), relative humidity (RH), and wind speed (WS) data to represent the variations in the autumn MDA8 O3 concentration in the PRD. Stronger DSWRF, lower RH, and lower WS were linked to larger OWI values and stronger O3 pollution. Discrepancies in DSWRF, RH, and WS were observed on days with OWI > 1 and OWI < −1. Atmospheric stagnation (AS) was also associated with O3 pollution. The average MDA8 O3 concentrations on AS days were 53% (51.0 μg m−3) higher than those on non‐AS days. The O3 exceedance rates on AS days were 36.5%, which is 4.8 times higher than those on non‐AS days (7.6%) in the PRD. In addition to lower WS and less precipitation, AS days were also accompanied by lower total cloud cover and stronger downdraft airflow, which accelerated O3 production. Since the occurrence of AS is projected to increase, efforts to mitigate AS would contribute to decreasing the risk of severe autumn O3 pollution events in the PRD. Key Points: The ozone weather index established for the Pearl River Delta (PRD) can represent the variations in O3 concentrations in autumnAtmospheric stagnation was associated with ozone pollution in the PRD, which was accompanied by lower cloud cover and stronger downdrafts [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional soft sensor models are based on the independent and identical distribution assumption, which are difficult to adapt to changes in data distribution under multiple operating conditions, resulting in model performance deterioration. The domain adaptive transfer learning methods learn knowledge in different domains by means of distribution alignment, which can reduce the impact of data distribution differences, and effectively improve the generalization ability of the model. However, most of the existing models established by domain adaptation methods are static models, which cannot reflect the dynamic characteristics of the system, and have limited prediction accuracy when applied to dynamic system modeling under multiple operating conditions. The dynamic system modeling methods can effectively extract the dynamic characteristics of the data, but they cannot deal with the concept drift problem caused by the change of data distribution. This paper proposes a new dynamic transfer partial least squares method, which maps the high-dimensional process data into the low-dimensional latent variable subspace, establishes the dynamic regression relationship between the latent variables and the labels, and realizes the systematic dynamic modeling, at the same time, the model adds regular terms for distribution alignment and structure preservation, which realizes dynamic alignment of data distribution difference. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated on three publicly available industrial process datasets. [Display omitted] • This paper proposes a novel dynamic transfer partial least squares algorithm (DTPLS). • DTPLS can solve the concept drift problem under the multiple working conditions. • Distribution alignment regularization is designed based on distribution differences. • Structure preservation regularization is designed based on smoothness assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textured La2NiO4+δ membranes were fabricated by pressureless sintering in air using uniaxially pressed powder mixtures consisting of fine-grained equiaxial La2NiO4+δ matrix particles and plate-like La2NiO4+δ template particles in varying mass ratios. The template particles, obtained by molten-flux synthesis, were aligned perpendicular to the pressing direction. Subsequent sintering resulted in ceramic membranes with enhanced texturing along the crystallographic c-axis of La2NiO4+δ. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed a direct relationship: The higher the fraction of template particles in the ceramics, the more pronounced the c-axis texturing. The Lotgering orientation factor, calculated from the X-ray diffraction patterns, also demonstrated that an increasing proportion of the template particles in the ceramic materials led to stronger (00l) reflections. Additionally, the texturing degree in selected membranes was quantified by measuring pole figures. Scanning electron micrographs of the La2NiO4+δ samples with a small amount of template particles showed some individual plate-like grains well integrated into the matrix. Membrane porosity was observed to increase with higher quantities of template particles utilized. This was supported by measuring the membrane density using the Archimedes method: The larger the proportion of template particles in the ceramics, the lower the sample density. Besides, the presence of lanthanum, nickel, and oxygen in the membranes was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Finally, the effect of texturing on the oxygen permeation performance of the La2NiO4+δ membranes, in which the template particles are arranged along their c-axis, parallel to the oxygen flux direction, was investigated. The results indicated a reduction in oxygen flux as the level of c-axis texturing increased.Graphical abstract: Textured La2NiO4+δ membranes were fabricated by pressureless sintering in air using uniaxially pressed powder mixtures consisting of fine-grained equiaxial La2NiO4+δ matrix particles and plate-like La2NiO4+δ template particles in varying mass ratios. The template particles, obtained by molten-flux synthesis, were aligned perpendicular to the pressing direction. Subsequent sintering resulted in ceramic membranes with enhanced texturing along the crystallographic c-axis of La2NiO4+δ. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed a direct relationship: The higher the fraction of template particles in the ceramics, the more pronounced the c-axis texturing. The Lotgering orientation factor, calculated from the X-ray diffraction patterns, also demonstrated that an increasing proportion of the template particles in the ceramic materials led to stronger (00l) reflections. Additionally, the texturing degree in selected membranes was quantified by measuring pole figures. Scanning electron micrographs of the La2NiO4+δ samples with a small amount of template particles showed some individual plate-like grains well integrated into the matrix. Membrane porosity was observed to increase with higher quantities of template particles utilized. This was supported by measuring the membrane density using the Archimedes method: The larger the proportion of template particles in the ceramics, the lower the sample density. Besides, the presence of lanthanum, nickel, and oxygen in the membranes was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Finally, the effect of texturing on the oxygen permeation performance of the La2NiO4+δ membranes, in which the template particles are arranged along their c-axis, parallel to the oxygen flux direction, was investigated. The results indicated a reduction in oxygen flux as the level of c-axis texturing increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defects among the grains of MOF polycrystalline membranes lead to non-selective gas transport, thereby reducing their selectivity in gas separation. In this work, ZIF-62 polycrystalline membranes with a well-intergrown structure were prepared on MXene-modified supports. Subsequent thermal treatment transformed the membranes into glass membranes, effectively eliminating non-selective defects at grain boundaries. Due to the incorporation of the MXene film and the vertical positioning of the support during the solvothermal process, only a minimal portion of the glass melt infiltrated into the porous support. Across the temperature range of 303 K–423 K and pressure range of 1 bar–3 bar, the ZIF-62 glass membranes showcased superior helium separation property and long-term chemical stability (resistant to CO 2 and H 2 O). The helium permeance reached approximately 51 GPU, with selectivities against N 2 and CH 4 being 17.4 and 13.9, respectively, outperforming current MOF membranes. [Display omitted] • Zinc ions are absorbed and intercalated into a thin film of the 2D material MXene. • Well-intergrown ZIF-62 membranes are prepared on MXene modified Al 2 O 3 supports. • ZIF-62 polycrystalline membranes melt to glass membranes upon a thermal treatment. • The infiltration of the glass liquid into supports has been effectively prevented. • ZIF-62 glass membranes exhibit great helium separation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The instability of power systems comprising multiple LCL-filtered grid-connected dc–ac inverters connected in parallel can be caused by any individual inverter due to mutual coupling through the grid impedance. For the stability analysis of a multiparalleled dc–ac inverters system, an effective technique capable to diagnose which particular inverter (i.e., “trouble maker”) causes instability to the overall system has not been developed yet. In this article, a novel autoidentification method is proposed to detect the “trouble maker(s)” of instability in a multiparalleled inverters system, based on the comparison between the root-mean-square value of harmonic voltage at the point of common coupling and the harmonic voltages across the filters capacitors. The theoretical analysis of the proposed identification method is presented in details in this article. Also, simulation and experimental results are provided for the verification of the effectiveness of the proposed technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of charred plant seeds were recovered from the Donghulin site by means of flotation. The site is located in suburban Beijing and dates from 11,000 to 9000 BP. A total of 14 charred grains of foxtail millet have been collected and identified as of the domesticated species (Setaria italica) according to morphological analysis. One grain of broomcorn millet was also identified. These are the earliest domesticated millet grains recovered by flotation, providing crucial archaeological evidence for understanding the timing, locations, and processes of millet domestication. Moreover, the charred seeds of Setaria viridis provide important clues for exploring the wild ancestral plants of foxtail millet and the domestication process. The results of flotation at the Donghulin site are important for understanding the origins of dryland agriculture in North China, which was predominated by millet farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, anthropogenic emissions in the Fenwei Plain (FWP) have decreased; however, haze pollution remains a serious issue. This study explored the possible reasons for this enduring problem in terms of climate and meteorology. Firstly, the contribution of climate and meteorology to haze pollution in the FWP was quantified using a best fit model and differences in key meteorological parameters were analysed over several time periods. Key climate factors were identified using a relative importance test and correlation analysis, and the adjusted optimal subset model (AOSM) was used to predict the number of winter haze days for the entire winter and for individual winter months, respectively. Results showed that the average minimum contribution (CONave) of climate/meteorology to winter haze pollution was 24.3% from 1984 to 2016 and the modulating role of climate and meteorological conditions increased significantly after 2010 (CONave = 55.8%). This was attributed to a significant decrease (increase) in sea level pressure and surface wind speed (500 hPa geopotential height and surface temperature) in the FWP. The explained variance (R2) and mean absolute error (MAE) of the models for the entire winter period were 88% and 3.54 days, respectively. For predictions in November, December, January, and February, the R2 was above 71% and the MAE was below 1.83 days. Furthermore, independent predictions for 2018 showed that the bias in the monthly models was lower by 5 days compared to the entire winter model. The results of a recycling independent test indicated that all the models evaluated had excellent stability, proving that the climate factors chosen by the AOSM do affect haze pollution in the FWP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Multiplying Oxygen Permeability of a Ruddlesden-Popper Oxide by Orientation Control via Magnets" discusses the magnetic anisotropy and oxygen transport anisotropy of the Ruddlesden-Popper oxide Nd2NiO4+δ. The study shows that by aligning the (a,b)-plane of the oxide perpendicular to the gradient of oxygen partial pressure using a magnetic field generated by permanent magnets, the oxygen flux of the membrane can be increased five times compared to a randomly oriented membrane. The research, conducted by Zhijun Zhao, Armin Feldhoff, and their colleagues, provides valuable insights into enhancing the oxygen permeability of oxide membranes. [Extracted from the article]

The article titled "Multiplying Oxygen Permeability of a Ruddlesden–Popper Oxide by Orientation Control via Magnets" discusses the magnetic anisotropy and oxygen transport anisotropy of the Ruddlesden–Popper oxide Nd2NiO4+δ. The study found that by aligning the (a,b)-plane of the oxide perpendicular to the gradient of oxygen partial pressure using a magnetic field generated by permanent magnets, the oxygen flux of the membrane can be increased five times compared to a randomly oriented membrane. This research was conducted by Zhijun Zhao, Armin Feldhoff, and their colleagues. [Extracted from the article]

In order to deal with the unknown data drift problem caused by the change of working conditions in the process of industrial soft sensor modeling, this paper proposes a semi-supervised soft sensor modeling algorithm based on instance transfer learning, named instance transfer partial least squares. Under the framework of nonlinear partial least squares, the algorithm introduces the instance transfer inner model, and realizes the distribution adaptation of the modeling data and the data to be predicted through sample importance weighting. First, a nonlinear partial least squares model is constructed by using labeled samples in the source domain, which consists of a linear outer model and a nonlinear inner model. The linear outer model maps the original data to the hidden variable space, and the nonlinear inner model realizes the nonlinear modeling of hidden variables through kernel ridge regression. Second, a small number of labeled samples from the target domain are used to update the model weights of the nonlinear inner model, enabling adaptation of the latent variable distribution. The effectiveness of the algorithm is verified on a toy dataset, a simulation dataset and a real pulverized coal power plant dataset. • A new instance transfer soft sensor method is proposed to solve data drift problem. • The method aligns the data distribution of latent variable while nonlinear modeling. • The algorithm uses sample importance weighting to achieve distribution alignment. • The algorithm is suitable for multiple working conditions and few-sample scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asteroid landing mechanism is necessary to be anchored to avoid flowing away. At present, the study on the anchoring system is mainly focused on the mechanical design, but there are few researches on the penetrating or anchoring mathematical model, and the researches on combining two models with each other are even more lacking. In the paper, based on the characteristics of Mohr-Coulomb material, a penetrating mathematical model of the anchoring system is established. This penetrating mathematical model can be used to calculate the penetrating depth of the anchor body according to the penetrating speed and the medium properties. Secondly, an anchoring mathematical model is established, which shows the relationships among the anchoring force, medium properties, and penetrating depth. Finally, a penetrating-anchoring mathematical model is built with the penetrating depth as the link. The model establishes a relationship between the anchoring force and the initial penetrating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shu, Q.; Zhao, Z.; Zhao, Y.; Chen, Y., and Zhang, M., 2021. Magnetic properties of late Cenozoic sediments in the Subei Basin: Implications for the Yangtze River run-through time. Journal of Coastal Research, 37(1), 122–131. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The Subei Basin is situated in the lower reaches of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers. In this study, samples were selected from the XH-2 borehole near the subsidence center of the Subei Basin, and modern sediments from the lower reaches of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers. The aim of this study is to decipher the evolution of the regional river system and the formation of the Yangtze River's Three Gorges through the analyses of paleomagnetism, mass susceptibility, and magnetic minerals. The results show that the river system in the Subei Basin experienced several major upheavals. (1) During 4.76–4.2 million years before present (Ma BP), the Yangtze River flowed through the study area in the vicinity of the XH-2 location; (2) During 4.2–2.2 Ma BP, the Yangtze River had migrated from the study area, and the Huai River flowed through the area; (3) During 2.2–0.55 Ma BP, the Yangtze River flowed through the area again; (4) During 0.55–0.12 Ma BP, the Yangtze River and Huai River alternatively influenced the study area; and (5) Since 0.12 Ma BP, the Yangtze River withdrew from the Subei Basin entirely, and the Huai River flows through the XH-2 position again. The Yangtze River sediment in the bottom of the XH-2 borehole indicates that the time of formation of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River is probably greater than or equal to 4.76 Ma BP. This estimated time is earlier than the previous conclusions of an Early Pleistocene run-through time for the Yangtze River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past few years, air pollution in the Fenwei Plain (FWP) region had obviously rebounded. In this study, we used quantitative analysis, difference analysis, and correlation analysis methods to analyze the temporal and spatial distribution and the influence of the meteorological and climatic factors on haze pollution in FWP. The results showed that on the long‐term timescale, the haze pollution had an overall upward trend during the winter of 1984–2017, and the pollution became more serious after 2000. In addition, the differences in meteorological parameters such as relative humidity, sea level pressure, temperature, vertical velocity, and wind fields near the surface between the regional haze days and the regional clean days were remarkable, indicating that the changes in these meteorological parameters had a distinct impact on haze pollution. Among several atmospheric circulations in the Northern Hemisphere mid‐high latitudes, Eurasian (EU) pattern had the most obvious influence on haze pollution via two possible pathways: First, on the interannual timescale, the evolution of EU pattern affected the changes of Siberian high and Aleutian low pressure; second, changes in EU pattern could result in changes in wind speed at 850 hPa, boundary layer height and relative humidity in the lower troposphere. All these findings may provide some help for the government to take prevention measures for haze pollution in FWP. Key Points: On the long‐term timescale, the haze pollution in FWP had an overall upward trend and became more serious after 2000On the interannual timescale, EU pattern had the most obvious influence on haze pollution among several atmospheric circulationsThe impact of EU pattern on visibility through the meteorological conditions mainly caused by two possible pathways [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A novel single-channel GCxGC-qMS system using a solid-state modulator successfully separates target atmospheric VOCs from C2 to C12 without any cryogen use and channel switching activity. • A hybrid primary column composed of a PLOT part and a general mid-polar column exhibits improved separation performance for C2-C4 compounds in the first dimension. • Target and non-target analysis of real atmospheric samples from coal combustion and ambient air from an indutrial area are accomplished using this low-resource GCxGC-qMS system. Abstract A single-channel comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GCxGC-qMS) system was developed using a recently introduced solid-state thermal modulator. By modulation on a special column, extremely light hydrocarbons down to C2 can be successfully modulated without use of any cryogens. Paired with a polar secondary dimension column, a hybrid primary dimension column was developed to provide complete two-dimensional separation of all target volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from C2 to C12. This single-channel GCxGC-qMS system is used to analyze VOC standards containing 57 PAMS and 64 TO-15 gas mixtures, as well as real-world samples. This study demonstrates that a low resource GCxGC-qMS system may serve as a feasible tool for routine VOCs monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landing mechanism is easy to flow away from the surface of the asteroid, as there is nearly no gravity on the asteroid. One of the most problems for the asteroid landing exploration is to anchor the landing mechanism on the asteroid surface. In the paper, an anchoring system employed on the soft asteroid anchoring is designed. It is mainly composed of penetrating unit, advancing unit, winding unit, damping unit, and so on. On the basis of the mechanical design, the resistance characteristic of the anchor body in penetrating process is analyzed, and the shape of the anchor tip is designed with the least resistance as the constraint. Then, the validity of the anchor tip design is tested by comparing penetrating ability of different anchor tips. Finally, the penetrating and the anchoring performances of the anchoring system are tested in a variety of media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRs) function as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in tumor development and progression. The present study reported that miR‑409‑3p was significantly downregulated in human papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR‑409‑3p suppressed cell proliferation and induced cell cycle G0/G1 phase arrest in PTC cells. Further study revealed that the transcriptional regulator cyclin D2 was a target of miR‑409‑3p, as miR‑409‑3p bound directly to its 3'‑untranslated region and the miR‑409‑3p mimic reduced the protein expression levels of cyclin D2. In addition, restoration of cyclin D2 expression reversed the inhibitive effect of miR‑409‑3p on PTC cells. To the best of our knowledge, these findings demonstrate for the first time that miR‑409‑3p functions as a tumor suppressor in PTC and could serve as an efficient agent for therapy of PTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Proper adjustments of metabolic thermogenesis play an important role in thermoregulation in endotherm to cope with cold and/or warm ambient temperatures, however its roles in energy balance and fat accumulation remain uncertain. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of previous cold exposure (10 and 0 °C) on the energy budgets and fat accumulation in the striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis) in response to warm acclimation. The body mass, energy intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and nonshivering thermogenesis (NST), serum thyroid hormone levels (THs: T3 and T4), and the activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT), indicated by cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity and uncoupling protein 1 (ucp1) expression, were measured following exposure to the cold (10 °C and 0 °C) and transition to the warm temperature (30 °C). Results: The hamsters at 10 °C and 0 °C showed significant increases in energy intake, RMR and NST, and a considerable reduction in body fat than their counterparts kept at 21 °C. After being transferred from cold to warm temperature, the hamsters consumed less food, and decreased RMR and NST, but they significantly increased body fat content. Interestingly, the hamsters that were previously exposed to the colder temperature showed significantly more fat accumulation after transition to the warm. Serum T3 levels, BAT COX activity and ucp1 mRNA expression were significantly increased following cold exposure, and were considerably decreased after transition to the warm. Furthermore, body fat content was negatively correlated with serum T3 levels, BAT COX activity and UCP1 expression. Conclusion: The data suggest that the positive energy balance resulting from the decreased RMR and NST in BAT under the transition from the cold to the warm plays important roles in inducing fat accumulation. The extent of fat accumulation in the warm appears to reflect the temperature of the previous cold acclimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expression of the long non‑coding RNA taurine‑upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) is associated with various aggressive tumors. The present study aimed to investigate the biological function of TUG1 in regulating apoptosis, proliferation, invasion and cell cycle distribution in human glioma U251 cells. Lentivirus‑mediated TUG1‑specific microRNA was transfected into U251 cells to abrogate the expression of TUG1. Flow cytometry analysis was used to examine the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis of U251 cells. Cellular proliferation was examined using Cell Counting Kit‑8 (CCK‑8) assays and invasion was examined by Transwell assays. The apoptotic rate of cells in the TUG1‑knockdown group was significantly higher than in the negative control (NC) group (11.58 vs. 9.14%, P<0.01). CCK‑8 assay data demonstrated that the proliferative ability of cells within the TUG1‑knockdown group was lower compared with that of the NC group. A Transwell invasion assay was performed, which revealed that the number of invaded cells from the TUG1‑knockdown group was the less compared with that of the NC group. In addition, the G0/G1 phase population was significantly increased within the treated group (44.85 vs. 38.45%, P<0.01), as measured by flow cytometry. The present study demonstrated that the downregulation of TUG1 may inhibit proliferation and invasion, and promote glioma U251 cell apoptosis. In addition, knockdown of TUG1 may have an effect on cell cycle arrest. The data presented in the current study indicated that TUG1 may be a novel therapeutic target for glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO 2 capture with solvent-based process is known as a promising technology for controlling the global warming. In this work, the constant-volume method was used to investigate CO 2 solubility in DMC, ionic liquid of [Omim][BF 4 ], and their mixtures from 298.15 to 328.15 K under pressures up to about 3 MPa. The COSMO-RS model was used to predict the Henry's constants and the vapor pressures of DMC in the mixtures. The experimental results showed the CO 2 solubility in [Omim][BF 4 ] is higher than DMC at 318.15–328.15 K and adding [Omim][BF 4 ] into DMC can decrease the viscosity compared to the pure [Omim][BF 4 ]. Besides, the COSMO-RS simulation results showed the Henry's constants in the mixtures increases with the decreasing mass ratio of [Omim][BF 4 ] which are consistent with experimental values and the vapor pressures of DMC in the mixtures decreases with the increasing mass ratio of [Omim][BF 4 ]. Moreover, the activation energy ( Ea ) predicted from viscosity showed the higher viscosity mean the larger Ea and the larger Ea indicate the higher CO 2 solubility in these solvents. Finally, the mixtures of DMC and [Omim][BF 4 ] may be used as promising physical solvents to capture CO 2 with high partial pressures, which combine the advantages of organic solvents and ionic liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Central Plains of China is ideal for studying the interplay between agricultural production and social complexity. Focusing on four sites (Wangchenggang, Chengyao, Wadian, and Xinzhai) dating to the Late Longshan (2200–1900 BCE) in the Central Plains, the present study described species identification results of charred crop seeds at each site and then carried out carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses of 55 samples consisting of 456 cereal grains and soybeans. Our results suggest the different landforms were exploited in the Central Plains during the Late Longshan period, with foxtail millet (Setaria italica), common millet (Panicum miliaceum), rice (Oryza sativa), and soybean (Glycine max) being favorably cultivated in lands with different geographic features. We also propose the practice of millet and rice manure in the region. Furthermore, the inhabitants at centralized settlements such as Wadian seemed to have differed in their ability to procure and consume the better-manured millets and rice, an indication that crop foods and social status may be intertwined. While the implications of our isotopic study are constrained by the small sample size, our data are broadly compatible with the hypothesis that the diversified agricultural system contributes to the formation of institutionalized inequality. Further work and research directions are also highlighted. • Agriculture was key to the rise of early states in the Central Plains of China. • We report carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes for four key sites in the region. • We suggest that millet and rice were bettered manured. • The two millets, rice, and soybean were favorably planted in different landforms. • We also notice differential consumption of crops at centralized settlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TNF induces bone loss in common bone diseases by promoting osteoclast formation directly and indirectly, but it also limits osteoclast formation by inducing expression of NF-κB p100. Osteoclast precursors (OCPs) are derived from M1 (inflammatory) and M2 (resident) macrophages. However, it is not known if TNF stimulates or limits osteoclast formation through regulation of M1 or M2 differentiation or if RelB, a partner of p100, is involved. To investigate these questions, we treated bone marrow cells (BMCs) with M-CSF alone or in combination with TNF to enrich for OCPs, which we called M-OCPs and T-OCPs, respectively. We found that TNF switched CD11b+F4/80+ M-OCPs from Ly6C-Gr1- M2 to Ly6C+Gr1-CD11c+ and Ly6C-Gr1-CD11c+ M1 cells. RANKL induced osteoclast formation from both Ly6C+Gr1- and Ly6C-Gr1- T-OCPs, but only from Ly6C+Gr1- M-OCPs, which formed significantly fewer osteoclasts than T-OCPs. Importantly, Ly6C+Gr1- cells from both M- and T-OCPs have increased expression of the M1 marker genes, iNOS, TNF, IL-1β and TGFβ1, compared to Ly6C-Gr1- cells, and Ly6C-Gr1- cells from T-OCPs also have increased expression of iNOS and TGFβ1 compared to cells from M-OCPs. Both RANKL and TNF increased RelB mRNA expression. TNF significantly increased RelB protein levels, but RANKL did not because it also induced RelB proteasomal degradation. TNF inhibited RANKL-induced NFATc1 mRNA expression and osteoclast formation from M-OCPs, but not from T-OCPs, and it did not induce Ly6C+Gr1-CD11c+ or Ly6C-Gr1-CD11c+ M1 macrophages from RelB-/- BMCs. Furthermore, overexpression of RelB in M-OCPs reduced RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and NFATc1 mRNA expression, but it increased TNF-induced OC formation without affecting NFATc1 levels. Thus, TNF induction of RelB directly mediates terminal osteoclast differentiation independent of NFATc1 and limits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting NFATc1 activation. However, the dominant role of TNF is to expand the OCP pool by switching the differentiation of M-CSF-induced M2 to M1 macrophages with enhanced osteoclast forming potential. Strategies to degrade RelB could prevent TNF-induced M2/M1 switching and reduce osteoclast formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced swelling is widely used to investigate cell-mediated and innate immunity across different vertebrate taxa. However, its physiological mechanism is still an open question due to the complexity of the involved immune components. In the present study, we measured the synchronous variations of PHA response, the proportion of different subtypes of leukocytes, as well as serum bactericidal capacity in circulation blood at 6, 12 and 24 h after PHA versus PBS injection in striped hamster, Cricetulus barabensis. First, the results showed that PHA responses reached a peak at 6 h postinjection, then sharply declined at 12 h and 24 h postinjection. Serum bactericidal capacity was higher at 6 h and 12 h than at 24 h. The proportion of different subtypes of leukocytes, as well as the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes did not display significant changes across different time points. Second, PHA response was positively correlated with the proportion of neutrophils and serum bactericidal capacity. The proportion of monocytes was negatively correlated with that of eosinophils and neutrophils. The proportion of basophils was negatively correlated with that of lymphocytes. Our results indicate that earlier enhanced PHA response is important for the striped hamster to cope with changing environmental conditions due to its small body mass, and the increased components of innate immunity in circulation blood may contribute to the enhancement of PHA swelling response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to establish an auxiliary diagnosis model for solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) and evaluate its test efficacy. Methods: Three hundred thirty-two pathologically diagnosed SPN patients (186 malignant, 146 benign) were collected as subjects. The serum levels of 8 types of markers and 9 computed tomography (CT) imaging features of each patient were treated as independent variables. The corresponding pathological classification results (fungal inflammation, tuberculosis and tuberculoma, inflammatory pseudotumor, tumor middle differentiation, cancer) of quantized patients were treated as dependent variables. A 17-to-1 mathematical auxiliary SPN diagnosis model was established using a back propagation (BP) algorithm and a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. A 40-case test set was used to estimate the effect. Results: Two different auxiliary SPN diagnosis models were successfully established. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the BP algorithm diagnosis model were 60%, 68% and 46.7%, respectively, and those of the SVM algorithm model were 80%, 85.7% and 66.7%, respectively. Conclusion: The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the SVM diagnostic model were relatively high, indicating that the model has important reference value for determining the degree of SPN differentiation and is suitable for the auxiliary diagnosis of benign and malignant SPN. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desert hamsters ( Phodopus roborovskii) are the least known species in the genus Phodopus with respect to ecology and physiology, and deserve scientific attention, particularly because of their small body size. Here, the responses of energy metabolism and reproductive function to short photoperiods in desert hamsters were investigated. Male and female desert hamsters were acclimated to either long day (LD) (L:D 16:8 h) or short day (SD) photoperiods (L:D 8:16 h) for three months, and then the females were transferred back to an LD photoperiod for a further five months, while at the end of the SD acclimation the males were killed and measurements were taken for serum leptin as well as molecular markers for thermogenesis. We found that like the other two species from the genus Phodopus, the desert hamsters under SD decreased body mass, increased adaptive thermogenesis as indicated by elevated mitochondrial protein content and uncoupling protein-1 content in brown adipose tissue, and suppressed reproduction compared to those under LD. However, different from the other two species, desert hamsters did not show any differences in energy intake or serum leptin concentration between LD and SD. These data suggest that different species from the same genus respond in different ways to the environmental signals, and the desert adapted species are not as sensitive to change in photoperiod as the other two species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-intergrown ZIF-67 membranes were prepared by the assistance of laminarly stacked MXene films. Several analytic methods have found that the MXene films, despite being as thin as 90 nm, could host a high amount of Co (II) ions. The Co (II)-MXene films acted as buffer layer and provided anchor sites for nucleation. After solvothermal synthesis, well-intergrown ZIF-67 membranes with a thickness about 4 μm were formed on Co (II)-MXene modified α-Al 2 O 3 disks. Single-gas and mixed-gas permeation experiments showed that the ZIF-67 membranes exhibited excellent gas separation performance and long-term chemical (against CO 2 and H 2 O) and thermal stabilities with a He permeance greater than 6.6 × 10−8 mol m–2 s–1 Pa–1 and selectivities above 13 for the gas mixtures He/N 2 and He/CH 4 , superior to the state-of-the-art MOF membranes. [Display omitted] • Cobalt ions are absorbed and intercalated into a 90 nm thick MXene film. • Co (II)-MXene films promote heterogeneous nucleation of ZIF-67. • Well-intergrown ZIF-67 membranes are prepared on MXene covered Al 2 O 3 supports. • MXene assisted ZIF-67 membranes exhibit excellent helium separation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) continues to increase worldwide. Aerobic glycolysis, the prominent feature of glucose metabolism in cancer progression, is associated with TC. We first demonstrated that HIF-1a is highly expressed in TC tissues and is positively correlated with the level of XIST in the serum of patients with TC. Then, we proved that XIST regulates the expression of HIF-1a through the XIST/miR-93/HIF-1a pathway, thereby regulating the level of glycolysis in TC cells. Knockdown of XIST inhibits glycolysis, proliferation, the cell cycle and metastasis of TC cells. Finally, we verified that artemisinin could target the degradation of HIF-1a and inhibit glycolysis in TC cells. Collectively, XIST levels in serum may be used as a tumor marker for TC promoted by HIF-1a, which could be treated using artemisinin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lander is easy to rebound and flow away when landing on an asteroid. To solve this problem, an anchoring system which could anchor the lander to the surface of the asteroid is designed. The related characteristics of the asteroid constraining the design of the anchoring system are analyzed. The anchoring system is designed according to the "cord connecting mode" after analyzing the design alternatives of the anchoring system. It consists of anchoring unit, winding unit, unlocking unit, wire unit and electric/control unit. The penetration depth of the conic anchor tip is also studied. The penetrating/anchoring capability and dragging capability under microgravity of the anchoring system are tested. Experiments show that the anchoring system could penetrate/anchor in the frozen medium and drag the lander to the landing slope under microgravity environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present evidence from ethnography and experimental processing of foxtail millet ( Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) in China that spikelets containing incompletely filled (or immature) grains constitute a significant portion of typical millet harvests and are removed along with other by-products after threshing and winnowing. This study provides a baseline for the identification of immature foxtail grains in archaeobotanical assemblages. Immature millet grains are a frequent component of archaeobotanical assemblages in Neolithic and Bronze Age China, and criteria for their recognition are presented based on our modern experimental result and illustrated with archaeobotanical examples from Shandong and Henan. It is seed morphology rather than size that plays a determinative role in the identification of foxtail millet. It is suggested that those grains with a narrow egg-shaped embryo, which is about 5/6 of the whole grain, and having a round shape can be classed as foxtail millet even though they are small, flat and squashed. While different grades of immaturity in millet grains might be defined, the interpretative potential of these appears to be negligible as all immature grains are concentrated in winnowing waste. This study confirms the suggestion that the ratio of immature to mature millet grains can be employed in archaeobotany in considering whether or not early stage crop processing (threshing and winnowing) contributed to the formation of particular archaeological millet assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Systematical descriptions of phytoliths from rice species in East Asia are scarce. In order to investigate the relationship among diversity of phytolith morphology, taxonomy and genome, comparative research on phytolith morphology of the wild and domesticated rice species is first performed on the basis of statistics and cluster analysis. All morphological parameters were measured at 500× magnification using a Zeiss light microscope. 3-D plots and cluster analysis are performed by SPSS 10.0 software. The leaves and inflorescences of domesticated and wild rice contain a great diversity of phytolith types including long cells, short cells, bulliform cells, hair cells, irregular epidermal cells, mesophyll and vascular tissues. Comparative research on phytolith morphology demonstrates that most overlap occurs among long cells, short cells, bulliform cells, hair cells and vascular tissues at the species level. Rondels, crosses, long cells, hair cells, parallepipedal bulliform cells, tracheid and vascular tissue exhibit no taxonomical value. Complex saddles and irregular epidermal phytoliths might be diagnostic to the rice species that had not been described before. Further comparative research on the morphological features of three phytolith types from the wild and domesticated rice species has confirmed that double-peaked glume cells measurements can separate domesticated Oryza species from wild ones successfully. Hierarchical cluster analysis on all morphological parameters of bilobates, cuneiform bulliform cells and double-peaked glume cells strongly demonstrates that phytolith assemblage appears to be under genetic control and therefore reflect taxonomical significance. The results are significant for plant physiology, rice cultivation and environmental archaeology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Uptake of l-tryptophan in Escherichia coli was carried out by three distinct permeases, Mtr, TnaB, and AroP, respectively. In the present study, the three genes of l-tryptophan uptake system were knocked out from an l-tryptophan-producing strain of E. coli, respectively. The knockout mutants all showed lower l-tryptophan uptake activities and higher l-tryptophan production than their parent. Among the three genes, the knockout of mtr was most critical for both l-tryptophan uptake and l-tryptophan production. The uptake activity of l-tryptophan of the mtr mutant was 1.5nmolmin−1 (mg dry weight)−1, which was decreased by 48% when compared to that of the parent; the production of l-tryptophan of the mtr mutant was 14.7g/l, which was increased by 34% when compared to that of the parent. Furthermore, the physiological and fermentation characteristics caused by gene knockouts were also analyzed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, dual-phase membranes 60 wt % Ce 0.8 M 0.2 O 2– δ (M = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd) - 40 wt % La 0.5 Sr 0.5 Fe 0.8 Cu 0.2 O 3– δ (CMO-LSFCO) were prepared via a combination of EDTA-citric acid complexing sol-gel and mechanical mixture method. Their chemical compatibility, CO 2 tolerance, oxygen permeability, conductivity, and long-term regenerative durability regarding the phase structure and composition were systematically studied. Among the studied CMO-LSCFO dual-phase membranes, CGO-LSFCO shows the highest oxygen permeability under air/He and air/CO 2 gradients, which can be associated with the small particle size and high electronic conductivity of the CGO phase resulting in a good percolation with different transfer paths based on the correlations between membrane material characterization and oxygen permeability. The comprehensive comparative study presented in this work identifies the critical factors influencing the oxygen permeability, which may provide guidelines for designing further high performance dual-phase oxygen transport membranes. [Display omitted] • A fast and efficient approach to determine the chemical stability of the studied membranes reported. • Various factors influencing oxygen permeation were identified and ranked. • The electronic conductivity of the ionic conductor turns out to be the dominating factor affecting the oxygen permeation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transmembrane member 16A (TMEM16A)-encoded Ca2+-activated Cl− channel (CaCC) is expressed in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and involved in the generation of the slow-wave currents of gastrointestinal (GI) smooth muscles. TMEM16A modulators have been shown to positively or negatively regulate the contraction of gastrointestinal smooth muscle. Therefore, targeting the pharmacological modulation of TMEM16A may represent a novel treatment approach for gastrointestinal dysfunctions such as constipation and diarrhoea. In this study, evodiamine and rutecarpine were extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Evodia rutaecarpa and identified as novel TMEM16A inhibitors with comparable inhibitory effects. Their effects on intestinal peristalsis were examined. Whole-cell patch clamp results show that evodiamine and rutecarpine inhibited TMEM16A Cl− currents in CHO cells. The half-maximal inhibition values (IC 50) of evodiamine and rutecarpine on TMEM16A Cl− currents were 11.8 ± 1.3 μΜ and 9.2 ± 0.4 μM, and the maximal effect values (E max) were 95.8 ± 5.1% and 99.1 ± 1.6%, respectively. The Lys384, Thr385, and Met524 in TMEM16A are critical for evodiamine and rutecarpine's inhibitory effects. Further functional studies show that both evodiamine and rutecarpine can significantly suppress the peristalsis in isolated guinea-pig ileum. These findings demonstrate that evodiamine and rutecarpine are new TMEM16A inhibitors and support the regulation effect of TMEM16A modulators on gastrointestinal motility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The first breakdown mechanism of AA7075 was studied by an in situ observation system in which a combination of a magnified image of the surface with the instantaneous polarization curve allowed determination of the corrosion process as a function of potential. In particular, the effect of alloy temper was examined. Underaged samples behaved in a similar fashion as the peak aged samples described previously; they exhibited surface layer dissolution associated with a transient current peak at lower potentials than required for initiation of stable localized corrosion and Zn rich bands were found in the near surface region. Surface layer dissolution and the transient current peak were not observed for samples in the solutionized+quenched condition because no comparable Zn enriched bands were present and the composition of the surface layer was not substantially different than the bulk matrix. Overaged samples also exhibited no layer attack and only one breakdown potential. Zn-rich bands were observed at the nano-grain boundaries for the overaged temper, but the localized attack propagated into the bulk matrix rather than laterally as layer attack. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The first breakdown in AA7075-T6 was studied by an in situ observation system in which a combination of a magnified image of the surface and the instantaneous polarization curve allowed determination of the corrosion process as a function of potential. As-polished (to 1μm) AA7075-T6 clearly exhibited dissolution of a thin surface layer corresponding to a sharp increase of current just above the first breakdown potential. No surface layer dissolution was observed for samples that were either ion milled or chemically etched to remove the effects of polishing. This susceptible surface layer was apparently the result of the mechanical polishing process. The surface microstructure of an as-polished sample was analyzed by TEM and several distinct features were found: (1) a unique thin layer with thickness of 100nm on average; (2) many fewer fine hardening particles in the thin surface layer than in the bulk matrix, which suggests that the fine particles were destroyed and eliminated by polishing; (3) high aspect ratio nano-grains elongated along the final polishing direction; (4) a high concentration of Zn and Mg at the nano-grain boundaries. The attack of the surface layer might initiate at the active nano-grain boundary followed by nano-grain dissolution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Provides information on the paleomagnetic dating of the Jiuquan Gravel in the Hexi Corridor in China. Implication on mid-Pleistocene uplift of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau; Tetonic event of the plateau; Deposits of Jiuquan Gravel.

• Solar-driven CO 2 desorption in mussel-inspired polymer is presented. • CO 2 absorption rate and desorption rate increase with dopamine content. • Light absorbability and CO 2 desorption rate are improved by forming nanoparticles. • Higher average CO 2 regeneration efficiency of 93.4% is shown. Using solar energy instead of traditional steam energy could be a promising strategy for saving the CO 2 capture energy consumption. Here we report solar triggered efficient CO 2 release from a mussel-inspired CO 2 capture solvent. Crosslinking polyethyleneimine and polydopamine by the self-polymerization was applied to capture CO 2 and efficiently release CO 2 by photoirradiation. CO 2 absorption rate was improved by increasing the dopamine content in the crosslinked polymer. Furthermore, CO 2 desorption rate increased with a moderate increase in the dopamine content. Polymer nanoparticles were formed by tailoring the concentration of aqueous ammonia and dopamine, which can be used to enhance the light absorbability and thus the CO 2 desorption rate. A higher average CO 2 regeneration efficiency of 93.4% can be reached via five absorption–desorption cycles, indicating that it is a promising strategy to greatly save the CO 2 capture energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NiFe 2 O 4 oxygen carrier has tremendous potential for application in chemical looping hydrogen production via water splitting. However, it exhibits poor high-temperature cycling stability. The current study investigates the impact of substituting other elements (Cu, Ce, La or K) for Fe in NiFe 2 O 4 on the hydrogen production performance during the chemical looping water splitting process. No crystalline phase of oxides for Fe, La or Ni has been detected in the XRD patterns, indicating that substituting element has been successfully doped into the spinel structure of NiFe 2 O 4. After the substitution with the other elements such as K, La, and Ce, the hydrogen yield of the oxygen carrier has been improved, with the highest hydrogen yield observed for the NiLa 0.02 Fe 1.98 O 4 oxygen carrier. Through optimized experiments, the optimum substitution amount of La is 10%, resulting in the formation of NiLa 0.2 Fe 1.8 O 4. With the substitution of 10% Fe by La, the hydrogen production performance of the fresh oxygen carrier is increased from 170 mL/kg to 297 mL/kg, which can be explained by various characterization results. Lattice distortion and an obvious increase in oxygen vacancy content are observed in NiLa 0.2 Fe 1.8 O 4 , with the reduction peak shifting to the low-temperature region. In addition, compared to NiFe 2 O 4 , NiLa 0.2 Fe 1.8 O 4 exhibits better cycling stability in 30 cycles. Finally, the changes of structure and morphology for NiFe 2 O 4 , NiLa 0.2 Fe 1.8 O 4 before and after 30 cycles have been comparatively analyzed using XRD, XPS, SEM, BET, and H 2 -TPR. • With the substitution of 10% La, the hydrogen yield was increased to 297 mL/kg. • Compared to NiFe 2 O 4 , NiLa 0.2 Fe 1.8 O 4 exhibits better cycling stabilities in 30 cycles. • The structure and morphology changes before and after 30 cycles are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, most of the researches on topology optimization focus on continuum structures, but few on frame structures. This paper presents a methodology for topology optimization of frame structures with stress and stability constraints under a prescribed volume. In order to solve the pseudo buckling mode issues and calculation efficiency caused by low-density elements, new smooth penalty functions of the element elastic stiffness matrix and stress stiffness matrix are constructed, and an effective pseudo buckling mode identification measure is adopted to solve the corresponding problems. Moreover, a comprehensive measure, including the stress relaxation and the constraint aggregation method and the varying constraint limit scheme, to deal with stress and stability constraints is proposed. Furthermore, the Heaviside mapping scheme is introduced to obtain a clear solid/empty beam layout. Then, the sensitivities of stress and stability constraints with respect to design variables are given, and the proposed topology optimization problem is solved by the method of moving asymptotes. Finally, several numerical examples are given to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambient temperature considerably affects the physiology and behavior of mammals. Thermosensory and thermoregulatory abilities play an important role in the response to changing ambient temperature in endotherms. However, the molecular mechanisms of behavioral thermoregulation remain poorly understood. Transient receptor potential vanilloid‐1 (TRPV1) is activated by changes in ambient temperature and is involved in acute thermoregulation. Here, we aimed to determine whether TRPV1 is involved in behavioral thermoregulation in wild rodents by conducting 2 experiments. In the first, 42 adult Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus; 14 per treatment) were randomly assigned to 3 housing temperatures (4, 23, and 36°C) for 4 weeks. In the second, 20 gerbils (10 per treatment) were randomly injected with capsaicin (TRPV1 agonist) or AMG517 (TRPV1 antagonist). The results showed a significant decrease in food intake and non‐shivering thermogenesis in the gerbils housed at 36°C. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the preference of gerbils housed at 4°C to low temperatures. The expression of TRPV1 protein in the brown adipose tissue (BAT) and liver was significantly positively correlated with that of protein kinase A (PKA). The expression of TRPV1 and PKA proteins in the BAT was positively correlated with the temperature preference of the gerbils. The gerbils injected with capsaicin preferred significantly lower temperatures than the control group gerbils. These findings suggest that TRPV1 and PKA are involved in behavioral thermoregulation in Mongolian gerbils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the primary method of identifying high‐ and low‐quality liquors is sensory tasting, which is prone to uncertainty caused by the biases of tasters. To address this problem, this study used color, aroma, taste, and style as four factors affecting the sensory quality of Luzhou‐flavor liquor; determined the weights of each factor; and quantitatively evaluated the sensory quality of five different Luzhou flavor liquor using fuzzy mathematical methods. The volatile aromatic substances in the liquor samples were detected by GC‐MS, and analyzed using principal component analysis. The results obtained from fuzzy mathematics and principal component analysis indicated that the comprehensive evaluation system was scientifically sound and reasonably constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dense, H2- and CO2-resistant, oxygen-permeable 40 wt % Ce0.9Pr0.1O2–δ–60 wt % NdxSr1−xFe0.9Cu0.1O3−δdual-phase membranes were prepared in a one-pot process. These Nd-containing dual-phase membranes have up to 60% lower material costs than many classically used dual-phase materials. The Ce0.9Pr0.1O2−δ–Nd0.5Sr0.5Fe0.9Cu0.1O3−δ sample demonstrates outstanding activity and a regenerative ability in the presence of different atmospheres, especially in a reducing atmosphere and pure CO2 atmosphere in comparison with all investigated samples. The oxygen permeation fluxes across a Ce0.9Pr0.1O2−δ–Nd0.5Sr0.5Fe0.9Cu0.1O3−δ membrane reached up to 1.02 mL min−1 cm−2 and 0.63 mL min−1 cm−2 under an air/He and air/CO2 gradient at T = 1223 K, respectively. In addition, a Ce0.9Pr0.1O2–δ–Nd0.5Sr0.5Fe0.9Cu0.1O3–δ membrane (0.65 mm thickness) shows excellent long-term self-healing stability for 125 h. The repeated membrane fabrication delivered oxygen permeation fluxes had a deviation of less than 5%. These results indicate that this highly renewable dual-phase membrane is a potential candidate for long lifetime, high temperature gas separation applications and coupled reaction–separation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The CO 2 and H 2 S solubility and the selectivity of H 2 S/CO 2 in PC, [Omim][BF 4 ], and their mixtures were investigated. • Adding [Omim][BF 4 ] into PC can increase the CO 2 and H 2 S solubility compared with the pure PC. • Adding [Omim][BF 4 ] into PC can decrease the vapor pressure of PC in their mixtures. • The COSMO-RS-Lei model is in much better agreement than COSMO-RS (ADF) for predicting both CO 2 and H 2 S solubility. Currently, solvent-based absorption is known as an effective technology to capture acid gases, e.g., CO 2 or H 2 S. In this work, the constant-volume method is used to determine CO 2 and H 2 S solubility in propylene carbonate (PC), imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs): 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [Bmim][BF 4 ], 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [Hmim][BF 4 ], and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [Omim][BF 4 ], and their mixtures at temperature from 303.15 to 333.15 K under pressures up to about 1 MPa. Besides, the quantum chemistry-based COSMO-RS models are used to predict the vapor pressure and the solubility in these solvents. The experimental results illustrate that adding [Omim][BF 4 ] into PC can improve the CO 2 and H 2 S solubility and the H 2 S/CO 2 selectivity compared with the pure PC, which increases with the increasing [Omim][BF 4 ] mass fraction in the mixtures. The simulation with COSMO-RS shows the vapor pressures of PC in the mixtures decreases with the increasing [Omim][BF 4 ] mass fraction. Moreover, the prediction results show that COSMO-RS-Lei model is in much better agreement than COSMO-RS (ADF 2005) for predicting both CO 2 and H 2 S solubility and the prediction accuracy of CO 2 is better than that of H 2 S. Finally, the mixtures of PC and [Omim][BF 4 ] may be used as promising physical solvents to capture CO 2 and H 2 S selectively with high partial pressures because they connect the advantages of organic solvents and ILs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Growth of plate-like La 2 NiO 4+ δ crystals with variable sizes and aspect ratios. • Sol-gel based synthesis combined with molten-flux synthesis for large crystals. • The syntheses result in a textured La 2 NiO 4+ δ with expansion in the a,b -plane. • Crystallographic orientation of La 2 NiO 4+ δ crystals is determined and visualized. Molten-flux synthesis was applied to the mixed ionic-electronic conducting oxide La 2 NiO 4+ δ. Melt of NaOH was used to dissolve precursors, which were either coarse mixtures of the oxides La 2 O 3 and NiO from a classical solid-state route or ultrafine mixtures of La 2 CO 5 and NiO from a sol-gel process. To estimate optimum synthesis temperature for the sol-gel process, reaction sequence was monitored by in-situ X-ray diffraction. The molten-flux synthesis in ambient air was conducted at 400 °C for up to 14 h with variation of additional water content and the precursor stoichiometry. Purity and composition of products were investigated by ex-situ X-ray diffraction and wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. A maximum length of plate-like crystals of ca. 30 μm in the a , b -plane was observed at a thickness of ca. 2 μm in the c -axis (i.e. aspect ratio of 15). By varying several parameters of the molten-flux synthesis, both size and aspect ratio of La 2 NiO 4+ δ plate-like crystals could be varied over a wide range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]