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Biochars produced from different feedstocks and at different pyrolysis temperatures may have various chemical and physical properties, affecting their potential use as alternative microbial carrier materials. In this study, biochars were produced from pine wood and oak feedstocks at various temperatures (400°C, 500°C, 600°C, 700°C and 800°C), characterized, and assessed for their potential as carriers for Bradyrhizobium japonicum (CB1809) strain. The biochars were then stored at two different storage temperatures (28°C and 38°C) for up to 90 days. Furthermore, the study also explored the role of potentially ideal carriers as inoculants in the growth of Glycine max L. (soybean) under different moisture levels i.e., 55% water holding capacity (WHC) (D0), 30% WHC (D1) and, 15% WHC (D2) using a mixture of 50% garden soil and 50% sand. The results were compared to a control group (without inoculants) and a peat inoculant. Among all the materials derived from pine wood and oak, pine wood biochar pyrolyzed at 400℃ (P-BC400) exhibited the highest CFU count, with values of 10.34 and 9.74 Log 10 CFU g− 1 after 90 days of storage at 28℃ and 38℃, respectively. This was notably higher compared to other biochars and peat carriers. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in plant properties: shoot and root dry biomass (174% and 367%), shoot and root length (89% and 85%), number of leaves (71%), membrane stability index (27%), relative water content (26%), and total chlorophyll (140%) were observed in plants treated with P-BC400 carrier inoculant compared to the control at D2; however, lower enrichment of δ13C (37%) and δ15N (108%) with highest number of root nodules (8.3 ± 1.26) and nitrogenase activity (0.869 ± 0.04) were observed under D2, as evident through PCA analysis, showing more nitrogen (N) fixation and photosynthetic activity. Overall, this experiment concluded that biochar pyrolyzed at lower temperatures, especially P-BC400, was the most suitable candidate for rhizobial inoculum and promoted soybean growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local functional features in stamped components have been studied in detail due to unique advantages in saving individual parts, reducing maintenance costs, and realizing weight reduction. The present investigation focuses on the plastic forming process of the structure of multi-bosses including non-central symmetrical bosses and tri-bosses, typical local functional features. The technical route draws from a previous study on a central boss by the compression-drawing method and the extension to multi-bosses is built on a hybrid experimental–numerical approach with A1050 aluminum sheet. The results show that for the structure of non-central symmetrical bosses, radial location I of the boss structure is confirmed as a significant factor in boss forming, influencing not only the height but also the cross-section of the boss structure, and the value of I being 8 mm is proven to be the optimum solution for the given boss structure. Under the same deformation conditions, the degree of plastic deformation in the forming process of the tri-bosses structure is much higher than that in non-central symmetrical bosses due to the new cavity of the central boss and the height of the non-central boss in the tri-bosses structure is lower than that in non-central symmetrical bosses as a result of the absorption of the central boss. Moreover, fracture failure around the punch radius will occur when the maximum value of radial tensile stress exceeds the sheet tensile strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing number of underground structures traversing the surface structure, the surface and underground structures interact with each other during earthquakes, thus affecting the seismic response of the interaction system. Based on this idea, the dynamic interaction system of a tunnel-soil-surface structure is designed. The seismic responses such as acceleration, strain, and interlayer displacement angle are analyzed, and the vibration characteristics and laws of the interaction system under different seismic loads are studied through the shaking table test. The results show that the type of seismic wave has a significant impact on the seismic response of the system, in which the dynamic response of the surface structure and soil is more sensitive to the seismic wave with rich low-frequency components. The acceleration response of soil near the tunnel-surface structure area is stronger than that of soil far away from the interaction area. During earthquakes, the maximum strain of the deep tunnel appears in the region of 45° between the two sides of the lining and the vertical symmetry axis, whereas the maximum strain of the shallow tunnel close to the surface structure is different from that of the deep tunnel. For the surface structure, with the input peak acceleration increasing, the weak layer of the surface structure moves down, and the interlayer displacement angle of the middle and lower layers is significantly larger. The research results have certain reference significance for exploring the seismic response law of a tunnel-soil-surface structure interaction system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Optimization of microalgal growth and high-value metabolite production are key steps in microalgal mass culture for the algae industry. An emerging technology is the use of phytohormones, like indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), to promote microalgal growth. This requires an understanding of the biosynthesis of IAA in microalgae-bacteria associations and its function in regulating algal physiology and metabolite production. We review the current advances in understanding of microalgal and bacterial auxin biosynthesis and their implications for algal biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A SF/SPI hydrogel was created by silk fibroin (SF) and soybean protein isolate (SPI). • The quercetin loaded SF/SPI hydrogel, SF/SPI-Q, owned favorable bioactivity. • SF/SPI-Q was biocompatible, biodegradable, antibacterial and antioxidant. • SF/SPI-Q accelerated epidermal regeneration, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis. • SF/SPI-Q reduced inflammation, promising for wound healing. Hydrogel networks composed of naturally derived polymers offer a promising solution for the development of wound dressings due to their biodegradable, biocompatible, and renewable properties. In this study, silk fibroin (SF) and soybean protein isolate (SPI) were used as the main components to create a natural SF/SPI hydrogel. To further enhance its bioactivity, quercetin was loaded into the hydrogel to form a SF/SPI-Q hydrogel. The resulting SF/SPI-Q hybrid hydrogels possessed a unique combination of advantages derived from both the natural polymers (such as excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and promotion of cell migration) and therapeutic drugs (including antibacterial properties and antioxidant capacity). As a result, the hydrogel effectively accelerated wound healing in an infected burn wound model. The SF/SPI-Q hydrogels accelerated epidermal regeneration, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis, facilitating the healing process of burn wounds. Moreover, they also exhibited anti-inflammatory properties, which contributed to a reduction in inflammation. Thus, the SF/SPI-Q hydrogels showed great potential as a highly effective treatment option for wound healing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Studies have found that vitamin D supplementation may improve blood lipids in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, but the results are controversial, so this study will further analyze the effect of vitamin D supplementation on blood lipids in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched up to May 2020, to identify randomized controlled trials of the effect of vitamin D supplementation on blood lipids in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was applied to assess the risk of bias, and RevMan5.3 software was used for statistical analysis. Results. Ten studies were included in this study, including 543 subjects. The results of the meta-analysis showed that, compared with placebo, vitamin D supplementation can significantly reduce total cholesterol level (WMD = –11.32, 95% CI = [–14.51, –8.41], P < 0.00001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (WMD = –4.83, 95% CI = [–7.52, –2.14], P = 0.0004), and triglyceride level (WMD = –8.23, 95% CI = [–13.08, –3.38], P = 0.0009 , but the effect on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level is not statistically significant (WMD = –0.32, 95%CI = [–1.24, 0.60], P = 0.50). Conclusion. Vitamin D supplementation can significantly reduce total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. However, it has no significant effect on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In conventional electromagnetic tube expansion (EMTE), the wall thickness of the tube decreases significantly because the electromagnetic force is mainly in the radial direction. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a new method named electromagnetic tube expansion with axial compression (EMTEAC). Besides the driving coil, we introduce a coil at each end of the tube to generate axial electromagnetic force on the tube. We use the finite element method to analyze the distribution of the magnetic flux density and the electromagnetic force generated by the three coils in series. The simulation results show that the axial electromagnetic force generated by EMTEAC is about 7 times that generated by conventional electromagnetic tube expansion, which enhances material flow when the tube is expanding. The effectiveness of the method is verified by a series of experiments. The experimental results show that EMTEAC reduces the decrease in wall thickness from 27 to 19%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy alloy films have shown excellent mechanical performance, but their hardness and wear resistance are still lower than those of conventional hard films such as TiN and CrN, which cannot meet the requirements of hard film applied under severe wear conditions. In this study, the (CuNiTiNbCr)C x N y high-entropy nanocomposite films were prepared by the double-target co-sputtering method. The effect of carbon content on the film morphology, phase structure, mechanical properties and tribological properties were investigated. With the introduction of carbon atoms in the film, the amorphous/carbonitride/amorphous carbon composite structure is formed. At 21.5 at.% carbon, the film hardness reaches the highest of 18.1 GPa. And at 37.6 at.% carbon, the film shows the highest toughness of 0.96 MPa m1/2 and exhibits the best tribological properties with a low friction coefficient of 0.27 and a wear rate of 1.0 × 10−6 mm3/N·m. The improvement in wear resistance is mainly attributed to the strong toughness of nanocomposite structures and the lubrication effect of amorphous carbon phase. The (CuNiTiNbCr)C x N y high-entropy nanocomposite films show good application prospect in harsh friction environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium thin films are particularly important as electrode layers, barrier layers, or intermediate buffer layers in the semiconductor industry. In order to improve the quality of Ti thin films and the adhesion and diffraction abilities of irregular parts, this paper used high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering (HPPMS/HiPIMS) to prepare titanium thin films. The effects of different trigger voltages (700 V, 800 V, and 900 V) on plasma properties were studied, and the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the films were also studied. The results showed that as the voltage increased, the grain size of the thin films gradually increased. The residual stress of the titanium films changed from compressive stress (−333 MPa) to tensile stress (55 MPa) and then to low compressive stress (−178 MPa). The hardness values were 13 GPa, 9.45 GPa and 6.62 GPa, respectively. The wear resistance of the films gradually decreased, while the toughness gradually increased. The corrosion resistance of the films decreased as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transient heat transfer process due to exponentially increasing heat inputs for turbulent flow of FC-72 was schematically investigated for different combinations of parameters such as flow velocity, inlet liquid temperature and period of exponentially increasing heat inputs. The ranges of Reynolds number, Re d , and Prandtl number, Pr , were 23,400–81,800 and 8.4–10.8, respectively. The test heaters used in this study were circular SUS304 tubes with small inner diameters of 1, 1.8 and 2.8 mm, wall thickness of 0.5 mm, and heated lengths around 30, 40 and 50 mm. The effects of flow velocity, exponential period and tube inner diameter on transient turbulent heat transfer process were discussed in detail. It was clarified that the transient turbulent heat transfer due to exponentially increasing heat inputs could be analyzed by introducing a dimensionless time, Fourier number, Fo . An empirical correlation for transient turbulent heat transfer caused by exponentially increasing heat inputs on small diameter tubes was developed based on the effects of Fo , flow velocity and tube inner diameter. The empirical correlation presents the experimental data within ±25%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Dan’e-fukang soft extract in endometriosis treatment. Method. PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP, SinoMed, and Cochrane Library were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of Dan’e-fukang soft extract and conventional western medicines for endometriosis treatment were included. The data were extracted independently by two people and analyzed using RevMan 5.2.0 software. The relative risk (RR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals were considered as effective outcome indicators. Results. Thirty-nine papers including 5442 patients with endometriosis were included in this study. A meta-analysis revealed that Dan’e-fukang soft extract was more efficient than gestrinone in the treatment of endometriosis (RR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.15, I2 = 71%, REM, 18 trials) and its efficacy was comparable to that of danazol and mifepristone. Dan’e-fukang soft extract was also as effective as gestrinone and mifepristone in terms of relapse rate and relieving dysmenorrhea. The incidence of adverse reactions was lower than that of conventional western medicines. Conclusions. The results of this study showed that Dan’e-fukang soft extract offers certain advantages in endometriosis treatment, but rigorously designed, strictly implemented RCTs are needed to further validate its efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar may be potentially used as a rhizobial carrier due to its specific chemical compositions and surface properties, but the relationship between these properties and rhizobial survival rate is largely unknown. Here, we analysed the physicochemical characteristics and carrier potential of six types of biochars made from various feedstocks at 600 °C using slow pyrolysis method, and results were compared with conventional carrier material peat. Liquid suspension of Bradyrhziobium japonicum CB1809 was used to inoculate all the carrier materials. Shelf life and survival rate was determined via colony forming unit (CFU) method for up to 90 days under two storage temperature conditions (28 °C and 38 °C). The determined physicochemical characteristics of biochars were categorized into major elements, trace elements, relative ratios, surface morphology, functional groups, and key basic properties; and their interaction to shelf life was analysed using hypothesis-oriented structure equation modelling (path analysis). Results revealed that different types of biochars had different capacity to impact on shelf life due to their different physicochemical properties. Among all biochars pine wood BC was the most suitable carrier with the highest counts of 10.11 Log 10 CFU g−1 and 9.76 Log 10 CFU g−1 at the end of 90 days at 28 °C and 38 °C storage, respectively. Path analysis revealed that rhizobial shelf life was largely explained by total carbon (TC), manganese (Mn), specific surface area (SSA), pore size, C O (ketonic carbon), and O–C O (carboxyl carbon) functional groups, and all these indicators exhibited positive direct impact on shelf life. Pinewood BC showed the highest values of Mn, SSA, pore size and functional groups (C O and O–C O), contributing to its highest rhizobial shelf life and survival rate among other biochars and peat tested. [Display omitted] • Six biochars pyrolyzed from different feedstocks were assessed as the alternative rhizobial carrier. • Pine wood BC showed better shelf life than peat and other biochars. • TC, Mn, C O, and O–C O were recognized as key chemical indicators of biochars for rhizobial survival rate. • Specific surface area, pore size and total pore volume found to be governing physical characters for rhizobial survival rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to further optimize the purification process of sea buckthorn seed polyphenols and analyze their biological activity, the extracts were purified, analyzed and identified. In parallel, the antioxidant properties, antibacterial activity and preservation effect of the purified polyphenols were detected and analyzed in vitro. The results showed that HPD826 resin had the best purification effect on free phenol from sea buckthorn seed, while AB-8 resin for bound phenol. And the main structure of purified sea buckthorn seed polyphenols may be prodelphinidins. The scavenging activitys of free phenol on DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl free radicals, superoxide anions and nitrite were close to VC (P > 0.05), and it had strong inhibitory ability against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Compared with the blank control, the optimal composite preservation could significantly inhibit the growth of the bacterial colony, delay spoilage, maintain the water retention and hardness of meat to a certain extent, and prolong the shelf life of chilled meat to the 9th day. The effect of the optimal compound preservation solution is better than a single preservation solution. In conclusion, sea buckthorn polyphenols are potentially valuable as new natural preservatives. • Sea buckthorn seed polyphenols were purified by macroporous resin method. • The main structure of sea buckthorn seed polyphenols was identified. • Sea buckthorn seed polyphenols have good antioxidant activity and antibacterial properties in vitro. • The composite preservative solution containing polyphenols had better preservative effect on chilled meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heat transfer process of turbulent, single-phase forced convection of FC-72 through small diameter tubes with 1 and 1.8 mm inner diameters was experimentally investigated. The influence of Reynolds number ( Re d ), Prandtl number ( Pr ), viscosity ratio ( μ / μ w ) and ratios of heated length to inner diameter ( L / d ) on turbulent heat transfer was studied in detail. The experimental data were also compared with the values calculated by classical correlations for conventional sized channels. The results indicated that the classical heat transfer correlations are not adequate for calculation of the heat transfer coefficient in small diameter tubes. The Nusselt numbers ( Nu d ) for 1 and 1.8 mm depend on Re d in a different manner compared to classical correlations. The deviation from classical heat transfer correlations increased as the Re d increase. The turbulent heat transfer correlation for FC-72 flow in tubes with diameters of 1 and 1.8 mm has been developed based on the experiment data. The differences between experimental and predicted Nu d are within ±15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (GpM) has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of various diseases including cancer. Most previous studies have focused primarily on polar fractions of GpM for anticancer activities. In this study, a nonpolar fraction EA1.3A from GpM showed potent growth inhibitory activities against four cancer cell lines with IC50 ranging from 31.62 μg/mL to 38.02 μg/mL. Furthermore, EA1.3A also inhibited the growth of breast cancer cell MDA-MB-453 time-dependently, as well as its colony formation ability. EA1.3A induced apoptosis on MDA-MB-453 cells both dose-dependently and time-dependently as analyzed by flow cytometry and verified by western blotting analysis of apoptosis marker cleaved nuclear poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (cPARP). Additionally, EA1.3A induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase. Chemical components analysis of EA1.3A by GC-MS revealed that this nonpolar fraction from GpM contains 10 compounds including four alkaloids, three organic esters, two terpenes, and one catechol substance, and all these compounds have not been reported in GpM. In summary, the nonpolar fraction EA1.3A from GpM inhibited cancer cell growth through induction of apoptosis and regulation of cell cycle progression. Our study shed light on new chemical bases for the anticancer activities of GpM and feasibilities to develop new anticancer agents from this widely used medicinal plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present an optimal packet size solution that optimizes the communication energy consumption in the heterogeneous wireless networks. More specifically, we consider a heterogeneous network system composed of a body sensor network (BSN) and a WiFi network. Then, based on the analysis of data communication in the BSN and WiFi (BSN-WiFi) network, we formulate a communication energy consumption optimization model with the constraints of throughput and time delay. Mathematically, we convert this model into a geometric programming problem, which is then numerically solved. The optimal solution can be applied in both BSN and WiFi network to dynamically select packet payload sizes according to real-time packet delivery ratios (PDRs). Since PDRs are time-varying, we tabulate a packet payload size lookup table for online packet size selection using PDRs as indices. Finally, we collect PDRs from a deployed BSN-WiFi network and evaluate the energy optimization model. The performance evaluation results show that, in comparison with fixed packet size solutions, our optimal solutions achieve up to 70 percent energy savings in a BSN(TDMA)-WiFi network and 68 percent in a BSN(CSMA)-WiFi network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The printed circuit heat exchanger (PCHE) is a high-efficiency heat exchanger with high compactness, pressure resistance, and stability. It can also withstand high temperatures and ultra-low temperatures. Therefore, it has attracted a large number of scholarly interests in recent years. In order to improve the thermal and hydraulic performance of traditional printed circuit heat exchangers, a three-dimensional helical twine printed circuit heat exchanger (HTPCHE) is designed and the laminar flow is numerically investigated using water as the working fluid. Taking Colburn factor j, Fanning friction factor f and comprehensive index j/f as parameters, the thermal-hydraulic performance of HTPCHE and zigzag-type PCHE with different inclined angles are compared. It is found that when the inclination angle of HTPCHE is 10–25°, its overall performance is better than that of traditional PCHE. When the inclined angle is 10° and Re in = 828, the overall performance is 37.6% better than that of 15° zigzag channel. In addition, the impact of the pitch of HTPCHE and the thickness of the transition plate on its heat transfer and flow characteristics is explored. It is discovered that when the given fixed inclined angle, the overall performance can be improved by increasing the pitch while the thickness of the transition plate does not have any significant impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moment-resisting connections containing mechanical fasteners play an important role in energy-absorption capability, and therefore resistance against collapse, of timber frames subjected to loading from extreme events such as earthquake. Accurate characterization of moment–rotation response of these connections is an important prerequisite for reliable prediction of timber frame response to seismic loads. Using a previously developed single-fastener finite element model as a basis, a mathematical model was developed to predict the moment–rotation response of timber connection containing multifasteners under reversed cyclic loading. This model generates the response prediction from basic material properties of the fasteners and wood. This paper describes the development of the model and provides test results to validate the accuracy of the model prediction. It is shown that the predicted response of a multinail connection agrees well with experimental data. Once the model is further validated with a broader range of test results, it can be incorporated into frame analysis models for predicting system response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver/polymeric vesicle composite nanoparticles with good antibacterial properties were fabricated in this study. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared in situ on cross‐linked vesicle membranes through the reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) via coordination bonding between the Ag+ ions and the nitrogen atoms on the vesicles. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV‐vis), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses confirmed the formation of AgNPs on the vesicles. The antibacterial test demonstrated good antibacterial activity against both Gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and Gram‐positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) for the produced AgNP‐decorated vesicles. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the AgNP‐decorated vesicles for E. coli and S. aureus were 8.4 and 9.6 μg/mL, respectively. Cell viability analysis on the A549 cells indicated that the toxicity was low when the AgNP concentrations did not exceed the MIC values, and the wound healing test confirmed the good antibacterial properties of the AgNP‐decorated vesicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental and theoretical insights into robust PIL-Br@ZIF-8 hetero-frameworks for the selective conversion of CO 2 into cyclic carbonates under mild conditions. [Display omitted] • A novel strategy is developed for fabricating core–shell PILs@ZIF-8 composites. • PIL-Br@ZIF-8 enables simultaneous adsorption and activation of CO 2 and epoxide. • Low-concentration/low-pressure CO 2 conversion into cyclic carbonates was achieved. • PIL-Br@ZIF-8 is recyclable and exhibits good thermal and structural stability. • Valuable insight into the cycloaddition mechanism is theoretically elucidated. The present study, for the first time, reports the fabrication of core–shell poly(ionic liquids)@ZIF-8 nanocomposites through a facile in-situ polymerization strategy. These composites exhibited exceptional structural characteristics including high specific surface areas and the integration of high-density Lewis acid/base and nucleophilic active sites. The structure–activity relationship, reusability, and versatility of the poly(ionic liquids)@ZIF-8 composites were investigated for the cycloaddition reaction between CO 2 and epoxide. By optimizing the composites structures and their catalytic performance, PIL-Br@ZIF-8(2:1) was identified as an exciting catalyst that exhibits high activity and selectivity in the synthesis of various cyclic carbonates under mild or even atmospheric pressure or simulated flue gas conditions. Moreover, the catalyst demonstrated excellent structural stability while maintaining its catalytic activity throughout multiple usage cycles. By combining DFT calculations, we investigated the transition states and intermediate geometries of the cycloaddition reaction in different coordination microenvironments, thereby proposing a synergistic catalytic mechanism involving multiple active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-encapsulation and release of the anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl) through cell-like transmission functions of polymeric vesicles were studied using cross-linked pH-responsive polymeric vesicles. The vesicles were fabricated for the first time via the redox-initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer dispersion polymerization in ethanol-water mixture, using 2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate and glycidyl methacrylate, and the vesicle membrane was modified post-cross-linking by using ethylenediamine. A phase diagram was constructed for reproducible fabrication of the polymeric vesicles, and well-shaped vesicles were formed when the target degree of polymerization of the hydrophobic polymer chains was equal to or higher than 50 with solid content in the range of 10–30 wt%. The cross-linked vesicle membrane served as a gate enabling "open" and "closed" states in response to pH stimulation. Up to 50% drug loading efficiency and 39% drug loading content could be achieved, and in vitro release of the DOX-loaded vesicles in aqueous buffer solutions showed a much faster DOX release rate at pH 5.0 than at pH 6.5. The polymeric vesicles were of very low cytotoxicity to A549 cells up to the concentration of 2 mg/mL, and the IC50 of DOX-loaded vesicles were higher than that of the free DOX. The intracellular DOX release study indicated higher cellular uptake capability for DOX-loaded vesicles than that of free DOX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Considering the shortage of conventional feeds, such as corn and soybeans, researchers have gradually started to develop and apply unconventional feed resources. As an unconventional feed resource, Amaranthus hypochondriacus is a potential high-quality feed resource. Hence, this study applied different proportions of Amaranthus hypochondriacus stem and leaf powder in experimental diets to assess its nutritional value for broilers. This experiment aimed to study the effects of different proportions of Amaranthus hypochondriacus stem and leaf powder (AHSL) on the growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood biochemical parameters of broilers from day 1 to day 42. The experiment utilized a single-factor experimental design, with a total of 216 one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) randomly assigned to three dietary treatment groups (eight replicate cages of nine birds per cage). The dietary treatments included a control diet, a 3% AHSL diet and a 6% AHSL diet for days 0–21. Then, the 3% and 6% AHSL diets were changed to 5% and 10% AHSL for days 22–42. The results showed that the inclusion levels of AHSL did not affect growth performance, carcass traits, or meat quality on days 21 and 42 (p > 0.05). However, the inclusion levels of AHSL decreased the apparent nutrient digestibility (AND) of dry matter (DM) (p ˂ 0.001) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (p ˂ 0.001) and increased the serum concentration of phosphorus (p ˂ 0.001) on day 21. On day 42, the inclusion levels of AHSL decreased the AND of DM (p = 0.025) and NDF content (p ˂ 0.001), but increased the AND of crude protein (CP) (p = 0.004). In particular, the diet containing 10% AHSL significantly increased the serum enzyme activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p = 0.046) and the serum concentration of total protein (TP) (p ˂ 0.001) on day 42. Overall, AHSL can be used as a new and effective feed ingredient in broiler diets. It can replace part of the corn–soybean meal diet without any adverse effects, which is beneficial for conserving feed resources. Additionally, AHSL can be included at a level of up to 10% during the broiler growth period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The service life of an artificial hip joint is limited to 10–15 years, which is not ideal for young patients. To extend the lifespan of these prostheses, the coefficient of friction and wear resistance of metallic femoral heads must be improved. In this study, a Cu‐doped titanium nitride (TiNX–Cu) film with "autoantifriction" properties is deposited on a CoCrMo alloy via magnetron sputtering. When delivered in a protein‐containing lubricating medium, the Cu in TiNX–Cu quickly and consistently binds to the protein molecules in the microenvironment, resulting in the formation of a stable protein layer. The proteins adsorbed on the TiNX–Cu surface decompose into hydrocarbon fragments owing to the shear stress between the Al2O3/TiNX–Cu tribopair. The synergistic effect of the catalysis of Cu and shear stress between the Al2O3/TiNX–Cu tribopair transforms these fragments into graphite‐like carbon tribofilms with an antifriction property. These tribofilms can simultaneously reduce the friction coefficient of the Al2O3/TiNX–Cu tribopair and enhance the wear resistance of the TiNX–Cu film. Based on these findings, it is believed that the autoantifriction film can drive the generation of antifriction tribofilms for lubricating and increasing the wear resistance of prosthetic devices, thereby prolonging their lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Rapid, low cost and eco-friendly one step achieving of non-fluorinated Allium giganteum -like superhydrophobic aluminum surfaces with ultrahigh corrosion resistance and excellent self-cleaning ability. Highlights • Nonfluorinated SHPB surface is produced through one step electrodeposition method. • The R ct value of ED SHPB surface is 5 orders of magnitudes higher than EP Al surface. • The ED SHPB surface demonstrates a high corrosion inhibition efficiency of 99.999%. • The resultant surface exhibits prominent self-cleaning ability and lasting quality. Abstract Service performance and safety of aluminum materials are restricted by the proneness to marine corrosion. The facile and low cost fabrication of fluorine-free superhydrophobic aluminum surfaces for anticorrosion is still a challenging issue. Herein, we report a handy and versatile fabrication of nonfluorinated Allium giganteum -like superhydrophobic aluminum surfaces via one step electrodeposition approach. The surface topographies, wettability and chemical compositions were detailed characterized and discussed. In addition, we investigated the self-cleaning and low surface adhesion ability of the as-fabricated electrodeposited superhydrophobic surface. The electrochemical impedance spectra was performed to reveal the corrosion resistance and inhibition efficiency of the as-prepared superhydrophobic surface. The air-exposure and 3.5 wt% NaCl immersion tests suggest a good lasting quality of the surface. We believe the facile fabrication of fluorine-free superhydrophobic surface can meliorate many shortcomings of achieving superhydrophobicity and broaden the potential applications of aluminum-based materials towards marine-related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As vaccine adjuvants, polyacrylate materials can induce a specific immune response in the body and have been widely studied in recent years due to their advantages, such as their safety, effectiveness, and low required dosage. In this study, a series of polyacrylates with hydrophobic physical crosslinking and chemical crosslinking were prepared using precipitation polymerization, and their structures were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The optimal reaction conditions were determined according to the effect of reaction time, azodiisobutyronitrile, Span 60, allyl pentaerythritol, and octadecyl methacrylate (OMA) contents on the viscosity of the polyacrylate microgel, combined with the effects of allyl pentaerythritol and OMA contents on the subcutaneous immune safety of the polyacrylate microgel in BALB/c mice. The polyacrylate microgels with different OMA contents showed good biological safety. In addition, in vivo immunity experiments were carried out in mice to analyze the adjuvant properties of ovalbumin as a model antigen. Based on the titer results of the IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies, with 1 wt % OMA content, the polyacrylate microgel vaccine could optimally induce the body to produce an immune response type dominated by Th2‐type humoral immune response and supplemented by Th1‐type cellular immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CircRNAs are newly identified special endogenous RNA molecules that covalently close a loop by back-splicing with pre-mRNA. In the cytoplasm, circRNAs would act as molecular sponges to bind with specific miRNA to promote the expression of target genes. However, knowledge of circRNA functional alternation in skeletal myogenesis is still in its infancy. In this study, we identified a circRNA–miRNA–mRNA interaction network in which the axis may be implicated in the progression of chicken primary myoblasts' (CPMs) myogenesis by multi-omics (i.e., circRNA-seq and ribo-seq). In total, 314 circRNA–miRNA–mRNA regulatory axes containing 66 circRNAs, 70 miRNAs, and 24 mRNAs that may be relevant to myogenesis were collected. With these, the circPLXNA2-gga-miR-12207-5P-MDM4 axis aroused our research interest. The circPLXNA2 is highly differentially expressed during differentiation versus proliferation. It was demonstrated that circPLXNA2 inhibited the process of apoptosis while at the same time stimulating cell proliferation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that circPLXNA2 could inhibit the repression of gga-miR-12207-5p to MDM4 by directing binding to gga-miR-12207-5p, thereby restoring MDM4 expression. In conclusion, circPLXNA2 could function as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to recover the function of MDM4 by directing binding to gga-miR-12207-5p, thereby regulating the myogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Genetic compensation has been proposed to explain phenotypic differences between gene knockouts and knockdowns in several metazoan and plant model systems. With the rapid development of reverse genetic tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 and RNAi in microalgae, it is increasingly important to assess whether genetic compensation affects the phenotype of engineered algal mutants. While exploring triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis pathways in the model alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, it was discovered that knockout of certain genes catalyzing rate‐limiting steps of TAG biosynthesis, type‐2 diacylglycerol acyltransferase genes (DGTTs), triggered genetic compensation under abiotic stress conditions. Genetic compensation of a DGTT1 null mutation by a related PDAT gene was observed regardless of the strain background or mutagenesis approach, for example, CRISPR/Cas 9 or insertional mutagenesis. However, no compensation was found in the PDAT knockout mutant. The effect of PDAT knockout was evaluated in a Δvtc1 mutant, in which PDAT was upregulated under stress, resulting in a 90% increase in TAG content. Knockout of PDAT in the Δvtc1 background induced a 12.8‐fold upregulation of DGTT1 and a 272.3% increase in TAG content in Δvtc1/pdat1 cells, while remaining viable. These data suggest that genetic compensation contributes to the genetic robustness of microalgal TAG biosynthetic pathways, maintaining lipid and redox homeostasis in the knockout mutants under abiotic stress. This work demonstrates examples of genetic compensation in microalgae, implies the physiological relevance of genetic compensation in TAG biosynthesis under stress, and provides guidance for future genetic engineering and mutant characterization efforts. Significance Statement: With the rapid development of reverse genetic tools in microalgae, it is increasingly important to assess whether genetic compensation affects engineered algal mutants. We report that knockout of certain genes catalyzing rate‐limiting steps of triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis triggers upregulation of homologous genes to buffer the effects of those mutations in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under abiotic stress conditions, providing guidance for future genetic engineering and mutant characterization work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaginal microbiota (VMB) is associated with changes in Human papilloma virus (HPV) status, which consequently influences the risk of cervical cancer. This association was often confounded by personal risk factors. This pilot research aimed to explore the relationship between vaginal microbiota, personal risk factors and their interactions with HPV status conversion to identify the vaginal microbiota that was associated with HPV clearance under heterogeneous personal risk factors. A total of 38 women participated by self-collecting a cervicovaginal mucus (CVM) sample that was sent for metagenomics sequencing. Most of the participants also filled in personal risk factors questionnaire through an eHealth platform and authorized the use of their previous HPV genotyping results stored in this eHealth platform. Based on the two HPV results, the participants were grouped into three cohorts, namely HPV negative, HPV persistent infection, and HPV status conversion. The relative abundance of VMB and personal factors were compared among these three cohorts. A correlation investigation was performed between VMB and the significant personal factors to characterize a robustness of the panel for HPV status change using R programming. At baseline, 12 participants were HPV-negative, and 22 were HPV-positive. Within one year, 18 women remained HPV-positive, 12 were HPV-negative and 4 participants showed HPV clearance. The factors in the eHealth questionnaire were systematically evaluated which identified several factors significantly associated with persistent HPV infection, including age, salary, history of reproductive tract infection, and the total number of sexual partners. Concurrent vaginal microbiome samples suggest that a candidate biomarker panel consisting of Lactobacillus gasseri, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Timona prevotella bacteria, which may be associated with HPV clearance. This pilot study indicates a stable HPV status-related vaginal microbe environment. To establish a robust biomarker panel for clinical use, larger cohorts will be recruited into follow-up studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosion behavior of Mg-5Y-1.5Nd alloy was investigated after heat treatment. The microstructure and precipitation were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The weight loss rates of different samples were arranged as T6-24 h>T6-6 h>T6-14 h>as-cast>T4. The open circuit potential (OCP) showed that T4 sample had a more positive potential than that of other samples. The potentiodynamic polarization curves showed that the T6-24 h sample had the highest corrosion current density of 245.362 μA·cm−2, whereas the T4 sample had the lowest at 52.164 μA·cm−2. The EIS results confirmed that the heat treatment reduced the corrosion resistance for Mg-5Y-1.5Nd alloy, because the precipitations acted as the cathode of electrochemical reactions to accelerate the corrosion process. The corrosion rates of different samples were mainly determined by the amount and distribution of the precipitations. The precipitations played dual roles that depended on the amount and distribution. The presence of the phase in the alloys could deteriorate the corrosion performance as it could act as an effective galvanic cathode. Otherwise, a fine and homogeneous phase appeared to be a better anticorrosion barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic subarea division is vital for traffic system management and traffic network analysis in intelligent transportation systems (ITSs). Since existing methods may not be suitable for big traffic data processing, this paper presents a MapReduce-based Parallel Three-Phase K-Means (Par3PKM) algorithm for solving traffic subarea division problem on a widely adopted Hadoop distributed computing platform. Specifically, we first modify the distance metric and initialization strategy of K-Means and then employ a MapReduce paradigm to redesign the optimized K-Means algorithm for parallel clustering of large-scale taxi trajectories. Moreover, we propose a boundary identifying method to connect the borders of clustering results for each cluster. Finally, we divide traffic subarea of Beijing based on real-world trajectory data sets generated by 12,000 taxis in a period of one month using the proposed approach. Experimental evaluation results indicate that when compared with K-Means, Par2PK-Means, and ParCLARA, Par3PKM achieves higher efficiency, more accuracy, and better scalability and can effectively divide traffic subarea with big taxi trajectory data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cathodic protection efficiency and hydrogen permeation behaviour of high-strength steel with barnacle adhesion in the tidal zone were studied using field exposure and laboratory simulation tests for 2 years. Because of the shielding effect, barnacles can lead to an uneven calcareous deposition, a flatter morphology and a higher protection efficiency of steel. By contrast, because of the higher hydrogen permeation current at the edge of the barnacle adhesion area (caused by a higher hydrogen evolution rate), barnacle adhesion can promote hydrogen permeation. A mechanism was proposed to explain the observed phenomenon, and its effect on service safety was analysed. • 2-year field exposure tests were conducted. • Barnacle adhesion can increase the cathodic protection current of steel at the edge of adhesion area. • Barnacle adhesion can increase the hydrogen permeation current density of steel. • High hydrogen permeation current of steel at the edge of adhesion area was confirmed by direct test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar addition is a promising solution to improve soil nitrogen (N) availability and enhance crop productivity. However, a comprehensive understanding of the impact of soil N dynamics on crop productivity under biochar addition remains elusive. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis from 93 peer-reviewed field experiments to synthesize the linkage of crop productivity to soil N dynamics under biochar addition. The results show that biochar addition significantly enhanced crop productivity by 12.8% and plant N uptake (PNU) by 22.6%, and there was a strongly positive relationship between crop productivity and PNU. Biochar addition also significantly increased the contents of soil total N (TN), inorganic N (IN), microbial biomass N (MBN), and biological N2 fixation (BNF) by 3.34–18.7%, but reduced nitrous oxide (N2O) emission by 15.9%. Further analysis with the aggregated boosted tree model indicated that the TN and BNF played the most important roles in biochar-induced change in crop productivity. However, while crop productivity was positively correlated with TN under biochar addition, it showed a negative correlation with BNF. These findings suggest that biochar addition could enhance crop growth and productivity through increasing the soil N resource and N uptake, but this was not true for some N2-fixing crops, probably because they were usually constrained by nutrients other than N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar application can influence soil nitrogen (N) cycle through biological and abiotic processes. However, studies on comprehensive examination of the effects of biochar application on microbially mediated N‐cycling processes (N mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, and fixation) and soil N fate (i.e., plant N uptake, soil N2O emission, and N leaching) are warranted. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of biochar application on soil N transformation, microbial functional gene abundance, enzyme activity, and plant N uptake. To achieve the objective of this study, a meta‐analysis involving 131 peer‐reviewed field experiments was conducted. Results showed that field application of biochar significantly enhanced soil NH4+ and NO3‐ content, N mineralization, nitrification, N2 fixation, and plant N uptake by 5.3%, 3.7%, 15.3%, 48.5%, 14.7%, and 18.3%, respectively, but reduced N2O emissions and N leaching by 14.9% and 10.9%, respectively. Biochar application also increased the abundance of soil denitrifying/nitrifying genes (amoA, narG, nirS/nirK+S, and nosZ), proportion of N2 fixation bacteria, and N‐acetyl‐glucosaminidase activity by 18.6%–87.6%. Soil NO3‐ content was positively correlated with AOA‐amoA abundance, and soil N2O emission was positively correlated with the relative abundance of genes (e.g., amoA, narG, and nirS/nirK) involved in N2O production. Furthermore, long‐term biochar application tended to increase AOB‐amoA and nirK+S abundance, especially soil N2O emission and N leaching. Overall, the findings of this study indicated that biochar application accelerated microbially mediated N‐cycling processes under field conditions, thereby enhancing soil N availability and plant productivity. However, long‐term biochar application may increase N losses. Therefore, future studies should be conducted to examine the effect of long‐term biochar application on the soil N cycle and the underlying microbial mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many unicellular microalgae produce large amounts (∼20 to 50% of cell dry weight) of triacylglycerols (TAGs) under stress (e.g. nutrient starvation and high light), but the synthesis and physiological role of TAG are poorly understood. We present detailed genetic, biochemical, functional, and physiological analyses of phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT) in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii , which catalyzes TAG synthesis via two pathways: transacylation of diacylglycerol (DAG) with acyl groups from phospholipids and galactolipids and DAG : DAG transacylation. We demonstrate that PDAT also possesses acyl hydrolase activities using TAG , phospholipids, galactolipids, and cholesteryl esters as substrates. Artificial microRNA silencing of PDAT in C. reinhardtii alters the membrane lipid composition, reducing the maximum specific growth rate. The data suggest that PDAT -mediated membrane lipid turnover and TAG synthesis is essential for vigorous growth under favorable culture conditions and for membrane lipid degradation with concomitant production of TAG for survival under stress. The strong lipase activity of PDAT with broad substrate specificity suggests that this enzyme could be a potential biocatalyst for industrial lipid hydrolysis and conversion, particularly for biofuel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer‐protein complexing systems have been extensively studied because of their wide application in biomedicine and industry. Here, we studied the aggregation behavior of the hydrophobically associating water‐soluble polymer poly(acrylic acid‐co‐octadecyl methacrylate) [P(AA‐co‐OMA)] prepared with nonionic surfactant as an emulsifier and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in aqueous solution. We identified the optimal composite conditions of P(AA‐co‐OMA) and BSA aqueous solution. We measured the zeta potential, dynamic light‐scattering particle size, and surface tension of P(AA‐co‐OMA) and BSA mixed aqueous solution. The results showed that the aggregation behavior between the polymer and BSA relied mainly on the hydrophobic interactions between the molecules. In addition, the best compounding condition was 8 wt.% of P(AA‐co‐OMA) content. The structure of hydrophobically associating polymer P(AA‐co‐OMA) and its aggregation with BSA were characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The infrared spectroscopy results identified the hydrogen bonding behavior of the amino and carboxyl groups between the polymer and BSA. This behavior was also confirmed using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal decomposition temperature and melting temperature of BSA changed before and after it was combined with the polymer. We measured the morphology of the polymer BSA aggregate with 8 % polymer content by transmission electron microscopy. The binding mechanism was investigated, as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Nannochloropsis species, unicellular industrial oleaginous microalgae, are model organisms for microalgal systems and synthetic biology. To facilitate community‐based annotation and mining of the rapidly accumulating functional genomics resources, we have initiated an international consortium and present a comprehensive multi‐omics resource database named Nannochloropsis Design and Synthesis (NanDeSyn; http://nandesyn.single‐cell.cn). Via the Tripal toolkit, it features user‐friendly interfaces hosting genomic resources with gene annotations and transcriptomic and proteomic data for six Nannochloropsis species, including two updated genomes of Nannochloropsis oceanica IMET1 and Nannochloropsis salina CCMP1776. Toolboxes for search, Blast, synteny view, enrichment analysis, metabolic pathway analysis, a genome browser, etc. are also included. In addition, functional validation of genes is indicated based on phenotypes of mutants and relevant bibliography. Furthermore, epigenomic resources are also incorporated, especially for sequencing of small RNAs including microRNAs and circular RNAs. Such comprehensive and integrated landscapes of Nannochloropsis genomics and epigenomics will promote and accelerate community efforts in systems and synthetic biology of these industrially important microalgae. Significance Statement: Nannochloropsis species have emerged as model organisms for microalgal systems and synthetic biology, but a centralized portal to store, mine and disseminate the rapidly expanding multi‐omics datasets is lacking. Here, we initiate an international consortium and present a comprehensive resource database named Nannochloropsis Design and Synthesis (NanDeSyn; http://nandesyn.single‐cell.cn). NanDeSyn hosts genomic and epigenomic resources such as gene annotation, transcriptome, proteome, small RNA and mutant information, and provides tools for search, Blast, synteny view, enrichment analysis, metabolic pathway analysis and a genome browser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variational principle is established for a moving jet in the electrospinning process to study the vibration property of the jet. A higher accelerated velocity and lower vibration frequency are needed in a multi-needle electrospinning system. This paper introduces an auxiliary electrode to enhance the electric strength, and a numerical analysis is carried out to design an optimal electric field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory investigation was carried out to assess the effect of amino-alcohol-based corrosion inhibitors on concrete durability, and the inhibition mechanism in concrete was analyzed. Both admixed type and surface-applied type corrosion inhibitors were studied by chloride penetration test, saturation test, scanning electron microscope, and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the anti-penetrability, compactness, and hydration of concrete were improved after the two types of corrosion inhibitors were applied. The use of corrosion inhibitors mitigated the penetration of chloride ions and water into concrete, which effectively delayed corrosion of the reinforcing bar. The surface-applied corrosion inhibitor showed better efficiency in the concrete specimens compared to the admixed type. Moreover, there was a better synergy between the two agents and the best performance when the two agents were applied to the concrete simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral flow assays (LFAs) are promising points-of-care tests, playing a vital role in diseases screening, diagnosis and surveillance. However, development of portable, cheap, and smart LFAs platform for sensitive and accurate quantification of disease biomarkers in complex media is challenging. Here, a cheap handheld device was developed to realize on-site detection of disease biomarkers by Nd3+/Yb3+ co-doped near-infrared (NIR)-to-NIR downconversion nanoparticles (DCNPs) based LFA. Its sensitivity is at least 8-fold higher for detecting NIR light signal from Nd3+/Yb3+ co-doped nanoparticles than conventional expensive InGaAs camera based detection platform. Additionally, we enhance NIR quantum yield of Nd3+/Yb3+ co-doped nanoparticles up to 35.5% via simultaneous high dopant of sensitizer ions Nd3+ and emitter ions Yb3+. Combination of NIR-to-NIR handheld detection device and ultra-bright NIR emitting NaNbF 4 :Yb60%@NaLuF 4 nanoparticle probe allows the detection sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 ancestral strain and Omicron variants specific neutralizing antibodies LFA up to the level of commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit. Furthermore, by this robust method, enhanced neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 ancestral strain and Omicron variants are observed in healthy participants with Ad5-nCoV booster on top of two doses of inactivated vaccine. This NIR-to-NIR handheld platform provides a promising strategy for on-site evaluating protective humoral immunity after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination or infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Rapid one step achieving of fluorine-free superhydrophobicity on aluminum substrates with corrosion inhibition efficiency as high as 99.94%. Abstract The potential marine corrosion-resistant and anti-biofouling applications of superhydrophobic materials arouse tremendous attention of researchers and engineers. Herein, we report an ultrafast (∼120 s) and eco-friendly one step electrodeposition strategy to construct fluorine-free superhydrophobic aluminum surface with outstanding water repellency and ultrahigh corrosion resistance to inhibit marine corrosion. As characterized through Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the as-constructed non-fluorinated superhydrophobic surface is composed of manganese palmitate complex featuring with a typical dual-scale hierarchical papillae structures and low surface energy. In addition, the as-fabricated superhydrophobic surfaces possess extremely low surface adhesive force and excellent self-cleaning ability. The results of electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) tests demonstrate a remarkable augment of charge transfer resistance of the corrosion process, suggesting a prominent anticorrosion performance. We believe this rapid, cost-effective and environmental friendly one step approach could find broad prospects in creation and application of metallic superhydrophobic surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A NIR-II FRET platform is established using lanthanide downshifting nanoparticles. • This NIR-II FRET platform exhibits extraordinary anti-interference in whole blood. • This NIR-II FRET platform enables a maximum FRET efficiency as high as 92.2%. • This NIR-II FRET platform can realize highly sensitive detection in whole blood. Förster or fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) enables to probe biomolecular interactions, thus playing a vital role in bioassays. However, conventional FRET platforms suffer from limited sensitivity due to the low FRET efficiency and poor anti-interference of existing FRET pairs. Here we report a NIR-II (1000–1700 nm) FRET platform with extremely high FRET efficiency and exceptional anti-interference capability. This NIR-II FRET platform is established based on a pair of lanthanides downshifting nanoparticles (DSNPs) by employing Nd3+ doped DSNPs as an energy donor and Yb3+ doped DSNPs as an energy acceptor. The maximum FRET efficiency of this well-engineered NIR-II FRET platform reaches up to 92.2%, which is much higher than most commonly used ones. Owing to the all-NIR advantage (λ ex = 808 nm, λ em = 1064 nm), this highly efficient NIR-II FRET platform exhibits extraordinary anti-interference in whole blood, and thus enabling background-free homogeneous detection of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in clinical whole blood sample with high sensitivity (limit of detection = 0.5 μg/mL) and specificity. This work opens up new opportunities for realizing highly sensitive detection of various biomarkers in biological samples with severe background interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgal oils, depending on their degree of unsaturation, can be utilized as either nutritional supplements or fuels; thus, a feedstock with genetically designed and tunable degree of unsaturation is desirable to maximize process efficiency and product versatility. Systematic profiling of ex vivo (in yeast), in vitro , and in vivo activities of type-2 diacylglycerol acyltransferases in Nannochloropsis oceanica (NoDGAT2s or NoDGTTs), via reverse genetics, revealed that NoDGAT2A prefers saturated fatty acids (SFAs), NoDGAT2D prefers monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and NoDGAT2C exhibits the strongest activity toward polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). As NoDGAT2A , 2C , and 2D originated from the green alga, red alga, and eukaryotic host ancestral participants of secondary endosymbiosis, respectively, a mechanistic model of oleaginousness was unveiled, in which the indigenous and adopted NoDGAT2s formulated functional complementarity and specific transcript abundance ratio that underlie a rigid SFA:MUFA:PUFA hierarchy in triacylglycerol (TAG). By rationally modulating the ratio of NoDGAT2A : 2C : 2D transcripts, a bank of N . oceanica strains optimized for nutritional supplement or fuel production with a wide range of degree of unsaturation were created, in which proportion of SFAs, MUFAs, and PUFAs in TAG varied by 1.3-, 3.7-, and 11.2-fold, respectively. This established a novel strategy to simultaneously improve productivity and quality of oils from industrial microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present our findings of superhydrophilic (SHPL)/superhydrophobic (SHPB) Dianthus caryophyllus -like hierarchical structure for corrosion inhibition and biofouling mitigation through a relatively high-speed hard anodisation (HA) technique. The surface morphologies, chemical compositions were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR). The static and dynamic behaviors of water droplets and water stream demonstrate the extremely low contact angle of SHPL surface and the low adhesive force of SHPB surface. Electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution and settlement experiments in Chlorella vulgaris -inoculated culture medium revealed that the SHPL surface cannot efficiently protect the underlying substrates from corrosion and Chlorella vulgaris cell adhesion, whereas the SHPB surface exhibited noticeable corrosion inhibition and biofouling mitigation. In addition, the synthetic SHPB surface presents good self-cleaning ability to contamination and thermal stability to hot water droplets. We believe that our findings of the anodized SHPL/SHPB Dianthus caryophyllus -on-nanowires structure are helpful in understanding the difference between superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity, which is beneficial for designing new bio-inspired interfacial materials with super-wettability for potential marine applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine corrosion and biofouling on metallic materials are sticky problems. Herein, we prepared hierarchical structured superhydrophobic (SHPB) surfaces via a versatile one step electrodeposition approach. The synthetic SHPB surface was employed as an efficient barrier against corrosion and Chlorella vulgaris -induced biofouling. The surface morphology and chemical compositions were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) and Energy-dispersive spectrum (EDS). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization and immersion test in Chlorella vulgaris -inoculated culture medium were carried out to evaluate the anti-corrosion and anti-biofouling performance of the obtained SHPB surface. The results demonstrated that the synthetic SHPB surface exhibits great enhanced corrosion resistance and biofouling mitigation. Moreover, the as-fabricated SHPB surfaces retain superhydrophobicity in wicked environment such as strong acid and alkali conditions, showing good chemical stability. We believe that the SHPB surfaces over metallic substrates provide a potential and worthful strategy for marine corrosion and biofouling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The as-cast, homogenized, and peak-aged AZ63 alloys are investigated via microstructure observation, EDS analysis, hydrogen evolution, and electrochemical tests. The results suggest that the heat treatments exert an influence on the corrosion behavior of AZ63 alloy via the microstructure transformation. The corrosion of homogenized alloy is retarded by protective oxide layer at first, but achieves highest corrosion rate among the three alloys owing to the less protective products film. The micro-galvanic couples endow the as-cast and peak-aged alloys high dissolution activity, but the adhesive products alleviate the corrosion. Two models are proposed to interpret the dissolution mechanism for these alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are highly reduced energy storage molecules ideal for biodiesel production. Microalgal TAG biosynthesis has been studied extensively in recent years, both at the molecular level and systems level through experimental studies and computational modeling. However, discussions of the strategies and products of the experimental and modeling approaches are rarely integrated and summarized together in a way that promotes collaboration among modelers and biologists in this field. In this review, we outline advances toward understanding the cellular and molecular factors regulating TAG biosynthesis in unicellular microalgae with an emphasis on recent studies on rate-limiting steps in fatty acid and TAG synthesis, while also highlighting new insights obtained from the integration of multi-omics datasets with mathematical models. Computational methodologies such as kinetic modeling, metabolic flux analysis, and new variants of flux balance analysis are explained in detail. We discuss how these methods have been used to simulate algae growth and lipid metabolism in response to changing culture conditions and how they have been used in conjunction with experimental validations. Since emerging evidence indicates that TAG synthesis in microalgae operates through coordinated crosstalk between multiple pathways in diverse subcellular destinations including the endoplasmic reticulum and plastids, we discuss new experimental studies and models that incorporate these findings for discovering key regulatory checkpoints. Finally, we describe tools for genetic manipulation of microalgae and their potential for future rational algal strain design. This comprehensive review explores the potential synergistic impact of pathway analysis, computational approaches, and molecular genetic manipulation strategies on improving TAG production in microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diacylglycerol acyltransferases ( DGATs) catalyze a rate-limiting step of triacylglycerol ( TAG) biosynthesis in higher plants and yeast. The genome of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has multiple genes encoding type 2 DGATs ( DGTTs). Here we present detailed functional and biochemical analyses of Chlamydomonas DGTTs. In vitro enzyme analysis using a radiolabel-free assay revealed distinct substrate specificities of three DGTTs: Cr DGTT1 preferred polyunsaturated acyl CoAs, Cr DGTT2 preferred monounsaturated acyl CoAs, and Cr DGTT3 preferred C16 CoAs. When diacylglycerol was used as the substrate, Cr DGTT1 preferred C16 over C18 in the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone, but Cr DGTT2 and Cr DGTT3 preferred C18 over C16. In vivo knockdown of Cr DGTT1, Cr DGTT2 or Cr DGTT3 resulted in 20-35% decreases in TAG content and a reduction of specific TAG fatty acids, in agreement with the findings of the in vitro assay and fatty acid feeding test. These results demonstrate that Cr DGTT1, Cr DGTT2 and Cr DGTT3 possess distinct specificities toward acyl CoAs and diacylglycerols, and may work in concert spatially and temporally to synthesize diverse TAG species in C. reinhardtii. Cr DGTT1 was shown to prefer prokaryotic lipid substrates and probably resides in both the endoplasmic reticulum and chloroplast envelope, indicating its role in prokaryotic and eukaryotic TAG biosynthesis. Based on these findings, we propose a working model for the role of Cr DGTT1 in TAG biosynthesis. This work provides insight into TAG biosynthesis in C. reinhardtii, and paves the way for engineering microalgae for production of biofuels and high-value bioproducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the molecular mechanisms of oleaginousness in microalgae, transcriptomic and lipidomic dynamics of the oleaginous microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica IMET1 under nitrogen-replete (N+) and N-depleted (N-) conditions were simultaneously tracked. At the transcript level, enhanced triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis under N- conditions primarily involved upregulation of seven putative diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) genes and downregulation of six other DGAT genes, with a simultaneous elevation of the other Kennedy pathway genes. Under N- conditions, despite downregulation of most de novo fatty acid synthesis genes, the pathways that shunt carbon precursors from protein and carbohydrate metabolic pathways into glycerolipid synthesis were stimulated at the transcript level. In particular, the genes involved in supplying carbon precursors and energy for de novo fatty acid synthesis, including those encoding components of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC), glycolysis, and PDHC bypass, and suites of specific transporters, were substantially upregulated under N- conditions, resulting in increased overall TAG production. Moreover, genes involved in the citric acid cycle and β-oxidation in mitochondria were greatly enhanced to utilize the carbon skeletons derived from membrane lipids and proteins to produce additional TAG or its precursors. This temporal and spatial regulation model of oil accumulation in microalgae provides a basis for improving our understanding of TAG synthesis in microalgae and will also enable more rational genetic engineering of TAG production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Polyacrylate/nanoemulsion composites were prepared and particle sizes were tested. • Adsorption properties of polymer composites on OVA were tested by ELISA method. • The polyacrylate/nanoemulsion composites' adjuvant activity was tested in BALB/c mice. • OVA-specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a antibody titers showed the best formula. • Study confirmed synergistic adjuvant effect of polyacrylate, nanoemulsion on OVA. A series of polyacrylate/nanoemulsion composites were prepared to form a new kind of nanoemulsion, their particle sizes and polydispersity indices were measured. The particle sizes of the polyacrylate/nanoemulsion composites are consistent with nanoemulsions used in the system. In addition, an ELISA-specific antigen-antibody binding method was used for physical adsorption experiments on ovalbumin. Results showed that the adsorption performance of the polyacrylate/nanoemulsion system is best when the particle size was 55 nm, and the nanoemulsion content was 20 wt%, 30 wt%, or 40 wt%. Meanwhile, in order to select the optimum experimental conditions, in vivo immunity experiments in mice were carried out to analyze the adjuvant properties of ovalbumin as a model antigen. Analysis of ovalbumin-specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a antibody titers showed the best results when the particle size of the polyacrylate/nanoemulsion composites is 55 nm, the polyacrylate content is 0.5 wt%, and the nanoemulsion contents is 20 wt%. Meanwhile, titer analysis also showed that the polyacrylate obviously enhanced the IgG2a titer in mice. Our polyacrylate/nanoemulsion composites can both stimulate humoral and cellular immunity and have an enhanced adjuvant effect on water-soluble protein antigens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]