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Antibiotic residues in water represent an urgent environmental challenge. To efficiently remove these residues, a low‐carbon integrated biochar synthesis method was proposed, and an optimized typha biochar (TBIK) was prepared. Compared with the biochar prepared by a conventional two‐step carbonization and activation method (TBTK), the TBIK preparation process reduced energy consumption by 43849.58 J and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 32.80%. TBIK exhibited a large surface area of 1252.40 m2/g and rapidly achieved an equilibrium removal efficiency of 99.95% within 20 min for simulated antibiotics wastewater. Furthermore, TBIK possessed more number of functional groups than TBTK, especially O‐H and C‐S groups. The adsorption stability and tolerance of TBIK in solutions with different ionic strengths and coexisting anions were examined. Characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) analyses were employed to elucidate the morphology and adsorption mechanism of the adsorbent. The microporous structure and abundance of functional groups are key to the excellent adsorption capabilities of TBIK. Thus, this integrated method for biochar production, optimized for treating antibiotic wastewater, holds significant potential for future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the learning and control problem of sampled‐data systems with only output measurements. A unified approach is presented by integrating the sampled‐data observer and deterministic learning. First, an adaptive radial basis function network (RBFN) learning controller with a sampled‐data observer is designed to track a recurrent reference model. Along the trajectory estimated by the observer, it is proven that the RBFN weights can exponentially converge to their ideal values with the satisfaction of a persistent excitation (PE) condition and the closed‐loop dynamics can be accurately learned during the output‐feedback process. Second, by using the learning results, a knowledge‐based output‐feedback controller is developed to improve the tracking performance. Further research shows that choosing appropriate parameters for the observer and RBFN can guarantee learning and control performance. The significance of the proposed approach is that the closed‐loop dynamics of the output‐feedback process can be accurately learned and further utilized to improve control performance. Simulation studies indicate the effectiveness and advantages of the learning control approach. By combining deterministic learning and sampled‐data observer, an adaptive radial basis function network (RBFN) controller is designed to achieve the tracking of a recurrent reference model, which leads to the satisfaction of the PE condition. During the stable tracking process, closed‐loop dynamics can be accurately identified/learned by the RBFN under the PE condition. Based on the learned dynamics, a new knowledge‐based controller is developed for another output feedback task, which reduces computational complexity and improves tracking performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) exhibits inferior mechanical and durability properties owing to the deterioration of the recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) surface quality. To improve the surface properties of RCA, the reinforcement efficiency of RAC, and the maneuverability of the surface treatment method, this study used magnesium phosphate cement (MPC), a clinker-free low-carbon cement with excellent bonding properties, to precoat RCA under three-day pre-conditioning. Moreover, variable amounts of fly ash (FA) or granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) were utilized to partly substitute MPC to enhance the compressive strength and chloride ion penetration resistance. Subsequently, FA–MPC and GBFS–MPC hybrid slurries with the best comprehensive performance were selected to coat the RCA for optimal reinforcement. The crushing value and water absorption of RCA, as well as the mechanical strengths and durability of RAC, were investigated, and microstructures around interfaces were studied via BSE-EDS and microhardness analysis to reveal the strengthening mechanism. The results indicated that the comprehensive property of strengthening paste was enhanced significantly through substituting MPC with 10% FA or GBFS. Surface coating resulted in a maximum reduction of 8.15% in the crushing value, while the water absorption barely changed. In addition, modified RAC outperformed untreated RAC regarding compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and chloride ion penetration resistance with maximum optimization efficiencies of 31.58%, 49.75%, and 43.11%, respectively. It was also evidenced that the improved MPC paste properties enhanced the performance of modified RAC. Microanalysis revealed that MPC pastes exhibited an excellent bond with RCA or new mortar, and the newly formed interfacial transition zone between MPC and the fresh mortar exhibited a dense microstructure and outstanding micro-mechanical properties supported with an increase in the average microhardness value of 30.2–33.4%. Therefore, MPC pastes incorporating an appropriate mineral admixture have enormous potential to be utilized as effective RCA surface treatment materials and improve the operability of RCA application in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry (Morus alba), a widely distributed economic plant, can withstand long-term flooding stress. However, the regulatory gene network underlying this tolerance is unknown. In the present study, mulberry plants were subjected to submergence stress. Subsequently, mulberry leaves were collected to perform quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and transcriptome analysis. Genes encoding ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase were significantly upregulated after submergence stress, indicating that they could protect the mulberry plant from flood damage by mediating ROS homeostasis. Genes that regulate starch and sucrose metabolism; genes encoding pyruvate kinase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and pyruvate decarboxylase (enzymes involved in glycolysis and ethanol fermentation); and genes encoding malate dehydrogenase and ATPase (enzymes involved in the TCA cycle) were also obviously upregulated. Hence, these genes likely played a key role in mitigating energy shortage during flooding stress. In addition, genes associated with ethylene, cytokinin, abscisic acid, and MAPK signaling; genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis; and transcription factor genes also showed upregulation under flooding stress in mulberry plants. These results provide further insights into the adaptation mechanisms and genetics of submergence tolerance in mulberry plants and could aid in the molecular breeding of these plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feather performs important physiological functions in birds, and it is also one of the economic productions in goose farming. Understanding and modulating feather follicle development during embryogenesis are essential for bird biology and the poultry industry. CHIR-99021 is a potent Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activator associated with feather follicle development. In this study, goose embryos (Anser cygnoides) received an in ovo injection of CHIR-9902, which was conducted at the beginning of feather follicle development (E9). The results showed that feather growth and feather follicle development were promoted. The Wnt signaling pathway was activated by the inhibition of GSK-3β. Transcriptomic analyses showed that the transcription changes were related to translation, metabolism, energy transport, and stress in dorsal tissue of embryos that received CHIR-99021, which might be to adapt and coordinate the promoting effects of CHIR-99021 on feather follicle development. This study suggests that in ovo injection of CHIR-99021 is a potential strategy to improve feather follicle development and feather-related traits for goose farming and provides profiling of the Wnt signaling pathway and transcriptome in dorsal tissue of goose embryos for further understanding of feather follicle development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A starlike heterocyclic molecule containing an electron‐deficient nonaaza‐core structure and three peripheral isoquinolines locked by three tetracoordinate borons, namely isoquinoline‐nona‐starazine (QNSA), is synthesized by using readily available reactants through a rather straightforward approach. This new heteroatom‐rich QNSA possesses a quasi‐planar π‐backbone structure, and bears phenyl substituents on borons which protrude on both sides of the π‐backbones endowing it with good solubility in common organic solvents. Contrasting to its starphene analogue, QNSA shows intense fluorescence with a quantum yield (PLQY) of up to 62 % in dilute solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrowband photodetectors (NBPDs) that response to light with specific wavelength are attractive in imaging fields. Organic materials meet the demand of NBPDs well as active layer due to their tunable and the narrowband‐absorption properties. However, the responsivity is generally low caused by the hard exciton diffusion as well as severe recombination. Herein, a narrowband‐absorption BODIPY dye is synthetized and applied in vertical‐structural NBPDs as sensitizer bonding with the mesoporous titanium dioxide (mp‐TiO2). The close bonding between BODIPY dyes and mp‐TiO2 effectively enhances the dissociation of excitons. Importantly, the NBPDs present high photomultiplication, the first observation in such dye‐sensitized devices, which is due to the electron injection induced by a thin layer of Spiro‐OMeTAD covered on the hump parts of mp‐TiO2. The NBPDs exhibit high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 534% at 510 nm with a full‐width at half‐maximum (FWHM) of 45 nm, a low dark current of 7.0 × 10‐5 mA cm‐2, and a high detectivity (D*) of 1.5 × 1013 cm Hz1/2 W‐1 (Jones) at −3 V. Besides, the devices own response speed within several milliseconds and excellent stability. The work proposes a strategy to fabricate photomultiplication‐type NBPDs by using intrinsic narrowband‐absorption dyes as active layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steady‐state incremental constraints of manipulated variables play a vital role in making given steady‐states satisfy physical limitations and avoiding drastic set‐point changes. Nevertheless, some research reveals that the steady‐state incremental constraints will make the given locally optimal economic steady‐states diverge from the globally optimal economic steady‐states. Therefore, a novel weighted local steady‐state determination approach based on the globally optimal economic steady‐states is presented in this paper. Firstly, the globally and locally optimal economic steady‐states are both evaluated through considering and not considering steady‐state incremental constraints. Then, the angle between them is evaluated and the closest local steady‐state from the globally optimal economic steady‐state is calculated. Subsequently, a new weighted local steady‐state is evaluated by combining the locally optimal economic steady‐state and the closest local steady‐state, in which the weighting coefficient is carefully tuned based on the above‐calculated angle. Finally, several simulations verify that the proposed method could effectively shorten the settling time of controlled systems and improve their economic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some protozoa (Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, etc) are used to treat cancer because they can improve tumour‐induced immunosuppression. This study aims to evaluate the antitumour effect of Eimeria stiedae oocyst soluble protein (ESSP). ESSP was extracted, and mice were injected with 5 × 105 CT26 cells in the right axilla, and then, 50 μg of ESSP was intraperitoneally injected for 5 continuous days. The effect of ESSP on tumour immunity was detected by flow cytometry 25 days after the CT26 inoculation. The results showed that ESSP can inhibit the growth of CT26 subcutaneous tumours; significantly increase the expression of MHC I, MHC II, CD80 and CD86 on the surface of splenic dendritic cells; and enhance the level of IL‐12 secretion. ESSP induced an increase in the number of NK cells in the mouse spleen, and the levels of IFN‐γ and CD107 were upregulated in the NK cells and CD8+ T cells. The number of metastatic nodules in the lung tumours in the mice was significantly reduced, and the number of tubes, area of the loops and total length of the tubes were significantly reduced. ESSP enhances the antitumour immune response and inhibits tumour growth, metastasis and angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]