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The space charge layer and interfacial side reactions between cathode and solid electrolyte seriously limit the electrochemical performances of sulfide electrolyte-based all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLIBs). In addition, the periodic strain of the cathode material during the charging-discharging process causes the cathode particles cracking and detachment from the electrolyte. Surface coating is an effective approach to improve electrochemical performances, and the coating material should have high ion and electron conductivity to ensure ion and electron conduction. Ionic-electronic mixed conductor Li 7.5 La 3 Zr 1.5 Co 0.5 O 12 (LLZCO) is chosen as the coating material, and coated on the surface of LiCoO 2 (LCO) by co-precipitation method. The pristine and coated LCO are assembled into LCO|Li 10 GeP 2 S 12 |InLi ASSLIBs. The buffering layer can reduce the space charge layer and maintain the stability of the cathode particles. The initial discharge specific capacity of the coated sample is 121.0 mAh g−1 (1.9–3.6 V, 0.2C, RT), with a capacity retention rate of 96.0 % after 100 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multi-semantic hypergraph explore higher-order relationships among few samples. • Orthogonalized mapping function helps to obtain rich multi-semantic information. • Multi-semantic distribution information improve the rationality of hypergraphs. • Hypergraph and Multi-Semantic Distribution Information with node-edge message passing. Recently, Graph-based Few-Shot Learning (FSL) methods exhibit good generalization by mining relations among few samples with Graph Neural Networks. However, most Graph-based FSL methods consider only binary relations and ignore the multi-semantic information of the global context knowledge. We propose a framework of Multi-Semantic Hypergraph for FSL (MSH-FSL) to explore complex latent high-order multi-semantic relations among the few samples. By mining the complex relationship structure of multi-node and multi-semantics, more refined feature representation can be learned, which yields better classification robustness. Specifically, we first construct a novel Multi-Semantic Hypergraph by obtaining associated instances with different semantic features via orthogonal mapping. With the constructed hypergraph, we then develop the Hyergraph Neural Network along with a novel multi-generation hypergraph message passing so as to better leverage the complex latent semantic relations among samples. Finally, after a number of generations, the hyper-node representations embedded in the learned hypergraph become more accurate for obtaining few-shot prediction. In the 5-way 1-shot task of ResNet-12 on mini-Imagenet dataset, the multi-semantic hypergraph outperforms single-semantic graph by 3.1%, and with the proposed semantic-distribution message passing, the improvement can further reach 6.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical discretization with a finite-difference scheme is known to introduce frequency dispersion in depth-integrated long-wave models commonly used in tsunami research and hazard mapping. While prior studies on numerical dispersion focused on the linear shallow-water equations, we include the non-hydrostatic pressure and vertical velocity through a Keller box scheme and investigate the properties of the resulting system in relation to a hydrostatic model. Fourier analysis of the discretized governing equations gives rise to a dispersion relation in terms of the water-depth parameter as well as the time step, grid size, and wave direction. The dispersion relation is illustrated by its lead-order approximation derived from Taylor series expansions as well as numerical experiments involving standing and progressive waves with uniform water depth. Interaction between the spatial discretization and non-hydrostatic terms leads to significant reduction of numerical dispersion outside the shallow-water range. Numerical dispersion also decreases for wave propagation oblique to the computational grid due to effective increase in spatial resolution. The time step, which counteracts numerical dispersion from spatial discretization, only has secondary effects within the applicable range of Courant numbers. Since the governing equations of the non-hydrostatic model derived from the Keller box scheme tend to underestimate dispersion in shoaling water, the numerical effects are complementary in producing a solution closer to Airy wave theory. A case study of the 2011 Tohoku tsunami illustrates the grid sensitivity and convergence properties in real-world applications. A properly selected grid size can achieve an accurate description of wave propagation over a wide range of water-depth parameters across the ocean. • The Fourier method is effective in deriving exact numerical dispersion relations for non-hydrostatic models. • Coupling between non-hydrostatic terms and grid size notably reduces numerical dispersion outside the shallow-water range. • Numerical dispersion for wave propagation oblique to a grid principal axis can be evaluated using an effective grid size. • Numerical dispersion can offset underestimation from non-hydrostatic model to accurately describe dispersive tsunami waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sebacic acid, an important chemical intermediate, is usually prepared by fermentation. However, the composition of the fermentation broth is complex, which causes significant difficulties in the purification of the product and is still a key problem in the industry. In this study, the application of ceramic membranes for the separation and purification of simulated fermentation broth was studied. Ceramic microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) membranes with average pore sizes of 100 and 6 nm, respectively, were systematically compared by analyzing their separation effects on different components in the fermentation broth and their permeation flux during filtration. Both ceramic MF and UF membranes can be used to clarify the fermentation broth with turbidity less than 0.01 NTU by the effective removal of emulsified oil and bacteria while allowing sodium sebacate to pass through freely. However, the ceramic UF membrane showed a higher protein rejection of more than 95%, whereas the removal rate of the MF membrane was only approximately 20%. In addition, the fouling process of ceramic UF membrane was analyzed. In the suitable operating conditions when the pH was 9.2, the temperature was 60 ℃, the pressure was 0.1 MPa and the cross-flow velocity was 1.8 m·s−1, the membrane fouling process was dominated by the reversible cake formation. A ceramic UF membrane with a smaller pore size can effectively avoid pollution in pore channels, and thus exhibits a higher permeation flux in the filtration of the fermentation broth. • Ceramic MF and UF membranes were compared for the clarification of fermentation broth. • The turbidity can be reduced below 0.01 NTU by both ceramic MF and UF membranes. • Sebacic acid permeated through the ceramic UF membrane freely in its salt form. • Ceramic UF membrane effectively avoided fouling in pores and exhibited a higher flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, lab-scale physical refining processes were investigated for their effects on the formation of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) esters. The potential precursors, partial acylglycerols and chlorines were determined before each refining step. 3-MCPD esters were not detected in degummed and bleached oil when the crude oils were extracted by solvent. While in the hot squeezed crude oils, 3-MCPD esters were detected with low amounts. 3-MCPD esters were generated with maximum values in 1–1.5 h at a certain deodorizing temperature (220–260 °C). Chlorine seemed to be more effective precursor than partial acylglycerol. By washing bleached oil before deodorization with ethanol solution, the precursors were removed partially and the content of 3-MCPD esters decreased to some extent accordingly. Diacetin was found to reduce 3-MCPD esters effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The zircon-type and scheelite-type CaCrO4 are investigated by first-principles calculations based on density-functional theory. The calculated zircon-type lattice parameters and the oxygen positions are in agreement with the experimental results and those of scheelite-type structure are studied for the first time in this work. The theoretical phase transition pressure of CaCrO4 from zircon phase to scheelite phase is about 5.8GPa, which is consistent with the experimental observation. From the density of states and the electronic band structures, CaCrO4 is an insulator with a direct band gap (2.16eV) for zircon-type structure and an indirect band gap (1.98eV) for scheelite-type structure. The bulk moduli of the two phases are evaluated from the Murnaghan equation fit to the total energies as a function of the unit cell volume. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Large prospective cohort studies suggested an important role of cereal insoluble fiber in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes, which challenge the traditional view that viscosity and solubility are the main driving factors for these beneficial effects of dietary fiber. To evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of insoluble- (BIF) and soluble fibers (BSF) enzymatically isolated from barley, a conventional rat model and a type 2 diabetes rat model were used. Our results showed that 4-week treatment of BIF or BSF effectively reduced FBG in the diabetic condition, with caecal level of propionic acid and minor SCFAs increased by BIF and that of butyric acid and insulin sensitivity improved by BSF, respectively. The two treatments further ameliorated liver function, judged by the recovered serum level of ALT, albumin and total protein levels. BIF and BSF also increased HDL-C and decreased serum MDA. In normal rats, BIF and BSF showed a hypolipidaemic effect in triglycerides and LDL-C, reduced body weight and enhanced the caecal production of minor SCFAs. Furthermore, the two treatments reduced the caecal level of butyric acid while BSF increased that of propionic acid. In conclusion, BIF could exert anti-diabetic effects that might via a different mechanism from BSF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases has increased rapidly in urban China since 2000. There has been limited study of associations between home environmental and lifestyle factors with asthma and symptoms of allergic disease in China. In a cross-sectional analysis of 2214 children in Beijing, we applied a two-step hybrid Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithm to identify environmental and lifestyle-related factors associated with asthma, rhinitis and wheeze from a wide range of candidates. We used group LASSO to select variables, using cross-validation as the criterion. Effect estimates were then calculated using adaptive LASSO. Model performance was assessed using Area Under the Curve (AUC) values. We found a number of environmental and lifestyle-related factors significantly associated with asthma, rhinitis or wheeze, which changed the probability of asthma, rhinitis or wheeze from −5.76% (95%CI: −7.74%, −3.79%) to 27.4% (95%CI: 16.6%, 38.3%). The three factors associated with the largest change in probability of asthma were short birth length, carpeted floor and paternal allergy; for rhinitis they were maternal smoking during pregnancy, paternal allergy and living close to industrial area; and for wheeze they were carpeted floor, short birth length and maternal allergy. Other home environmental risk factors identified were living close to a highway, industrial area or river, sharing bedroom, cooking with gas, furry pets, cockroaches, incense, printer/photocopier, TV, damp, and window condensation in winter. Lifestyle-related risk factors were child caretakers other than parents, and age<3 for the day-care. Other risk factors included use of antibiotics, and mother's occupation. Major protective factors for wheeze were living in a rural/suburban region, air conditioner use, and mother's occupation in healthcare. Our findings suggest that changes in lifestyle and indoor environments associated with the urbanization and industrialization of China are associated with asthma, rhinitis, and wheeze in children. Image 1 • We investigated home environmental and lifestyle factors associated with children's allergy. • We used a global variable procedure (LASSO) to select potential influencing factors. • We assessed associated factors in common for asthma, wheeze and rhinitis. • We calculated the probability change due to each risk factor. • Our model has sufficient statistic power and strong predicting performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Electrochemical method with salt as electrolyte has been studied to disintegrate the graphite matrix from the simulative high temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel elements. Ammonium nitrate was experimentally chosen as the appropriate electrolyte. The volume average diameter of disintegrated graphite fragments is about 100μm and the maximal value is less than 900μm. After disintegration, the weight of graphite is found to increase by about 20% without the release of a large amount of CO2 probably owing to the partial oxidation to graphite in electrochemical process. The present work indicates that the improved electrochemical method has the potential to reduce the secondary nuclear waste and is a promising option to disintegrate graphite matrix from high temperature gas-cooled reactor spent fuel elements in the head-end of reprocessing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Large hospitals in China are overcrowded, while primary care tends to be underutilized, resulting in inefficient allocation of resources. This paper examines the impacts of a policy change in a mandatory public employee health insurance program in China designed to encourage the utilization of primary care by reducing patient cost-sharing. We use a unique administrative insurance claim dataset from the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) scheme between 2013 and 2015. The sample includes 40,024 individuals. We conduct an event-study analysis controlling for individual fixed effects and find that the change in cost-sharing increased primary care utilization, decreased non-primary care utilization, and increased total outpatient utilization without impacting total spending. In addition, the policy change did not affect the likelihood of having avoidable inpatient admissions. Further, patients with hypertension or diabetes increased their primary care utilization even when using additional coverage for patients with chronic diseases, the cost-sharing rates for which did not change during the period of our study, rather than their standard UEBMI benefits. This study provides evidence that changes in cost-sharing can affect healthcare utilization, suggesting that supply-side incentives can play an important role in building a primary care–based integrated healthcare delivery system in China. • A change in cost-sharing for primary care increased primary care utilization. • The policy change also led to a decrease in non-primary care utilization. • Incentives can help build a primary care–based integrated healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To continuously improve air quality, it is necessary to carry out fine management of air pollution prevention and control. However, research into regional transport of PM 2.5 at a smaller spatial scale such as district is limited. In this study, a novel combined method was constructed to simulate and identify the regional transport trajectories and potential sources of PM 2.5 concentrations at district scale, based on a hybrid model that integrates the Bayesian maximum entropy (BME) model, Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) and backward trajectory model. Take Tianjin as an example, an analysis of the transport trajectories showed that the air masses from northwest and southwest were the dominant atmospheric transport pathway in all seasons except summer. The number of transport trajectories from northwest and southwest accounted for 42.41% and 40.75% of the total number of transport trajectories. Despite the dominant wind direction in winter was northwest, it can be beneficial to atmospheric transport. This was because northwest trajectories were the long-range pathways, corresponding to fast-moving air masses that facilitate the dispersion of pollutants. On contrast, it is noteworthy that the southwest trajectories were the short-range pathways, resulting in limited diffusion and unfavorable conditions. The major potential cities that were likely contributors of PM 2.5 (Weighted Concentration-Weighted Trajectory (WCWT) values greater than 40 μg m−3) were situated in the southwest. Furthermore, the inter-district transport results indicated that the primary direction of PM 2.5 transport in Tianjin was also from south to north. It is critical that the current layout of Tianjin is adjusted in a timely manner through relocating or phasing out, as the majority of industrial enterprises with severe air pollution in Tianjin are located in the southern districts. This method of combining BME, WRF and backward trajectory can be used for atmospheric environment planning in other similar city and district-scale around the world. It also provides useful insights to policy makers when they formulate pollutants prevention control policies. [Display omitted] • BME-WRF-WCWT model was constructed to simulate sources of PM 2.5 at district scale. • Main transport direction of PM 2.5 without and within Tianjin was from south to north. • Non-local pollution emission has a more significant impact at small district scale. • The industrial layout is adjusted in a timely manner based on transport results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuffed endotracheal intubation and stent implantation were employed to simulate two types of benign airway stenosis and further to analysis the different features between them from trachecscopic characteristics, gross anatomy to histopathological changes. In addition, our study explored the therapeutic effect of mitomycin C at different concentrations on granulation tissue caused by stent implantation in order to provide a new therapeutic strategy for clinical treatment of benign airway stenosis. Twelve beagle dogs were randomly divided into four groups, with three dogs in each group. Group A: Three beagle dogs were intubated through oral trachea after general anesthesia and cuff pressure maintained at 200 mmHg for 24 h. Group B, Group C and Group D: endotracheal coated self-expanding metal stents were placed after general anesthesia under the guidance of bronchoscope. On the Day7 after stent implantation, Group B, as control group, was injected phosphate buffer solution of 1 ml into granulation tissue at the end of stent; Group C was injected mitomycin C of 1 ml at 0.4 mg/ml and Group D was injected mitomycin C of 1 ml at 0.8 mg/ml into granulation tissue at the end of metal airway stent respectively, the same method as Group B. Bronchoscopy was used to observe tracheal lumen on the seventh day, fourteenth day and twenty-first day after modeling and pathological changes were examined on twenty-first day. Two models of benign airway stenosis can be established by cuffed endotracheal intubation and stent implantation. There was tracheal rupture in the trachea cartiage ring in the cuffed endotracheal intubation group, but was't in stent implantation group. Histopathological characteristics were different between cuffed endotracheal intubation and stent implantation groups. In stent placement groups, we found that the stenosis degree of mitomycin C at 0.4 mg/ml was approximately 19%–32%, mitomycin C at 0.8 mg/ml was approximately 16%–21% and the control group was approximately 36%–47%. The two models of canine benign tracheal stenosis induced by cuffed endotracheal intubation and stent implantation are relatively simple, reliable and reproducible and have different characteristics. Mitomycin C could inhibit proliferation of granulation tissue and attenuate the degree of airway stenosis caused by stent implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction and separation of heavy rare earths is always one of the most challenging unit operations in hydrometallurgy. Research and development of novel efficient extractant is one way to solve this problem. Organophosphinic acid is a good potential extractant. A new method was established for the synthesis of nonsymmetric dialkylphosphinic acid (NSDAPA) (R′R″POOH, R′ ≠ R″), optimized the synthesizing conditions of the key intermediate mono-alkylphosphinic acid and successfully synthesized three novel extractants ( n -octyl)(2,4,4′-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid, ( n -octyl)(cyclohexyl)phosphinic acid and (2,3-dimethylbutyl) (2,4,4′-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid. The extraction ability of the novel extractants was investigated. The structure–property relationship and the separation performance for heavy rare earth couples Er/Y, Y/Ho, Yb/Tm and Lu/Yb were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence suggests that insoluble dietary fiber prevents obesity by regulating gut dysbiosis. However, whether insoluble yeast β-glucan (IYG) has an anti-obesity effect is still unclear. Here, the impact and potential mechanism of long-term IYG supplementation on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity were investigated. After 24 weeks of long-term supplementation, IYG ameliorated weight gain, dyslipidemia, systemic inflammation, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in HFD-fed rats. In addition, HFD-induced gut dysbiosis and changed levels of short-chain fatty acids and lipopolysaccharide were restored by IYG. Meanwhile, HFD-induced downregulations of tight junction proteins and Mucin 2 as well as elevated gut permeability were recovered by IYG. IYG also mitigated HFD-induced colonic inflammation and oxidative stress. Moreover, antibiotic treatment abrogated the protective effect of IYG on obesity, indicating the important role of gut microbiota in IYG's effect. This study demonstrated that IYG, as a potential prebiotic, exhibited a protective effect on HFD-induced obesity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoglobin (Cygb), a member of the hexacoordinate globin superfamily (hxHb), is expressed in fibroblasts from a broad range of tissues. The physiological functions of hxHb are still unclear, but biochemical studies reveal that they can scavenge toxic species, such as nitric oxide, peroxynitrite, and hydrogen peroxide. We demonstrate that the overexpression of Cygb in rat hepatic stellate cells, both in vitro and in vivo, protects against oxidative stress, inhibiting their differentiation into a myofibroblast-like phenotype. Accordingly, the overexpression of Cygb reduces extracellular matrix deposition in both toxic and cholestatic models of liver injury. The overexpression of Cygb also promotes recovery from previously initiated damage-induced fibrogenesis. By inhibiting free radical-induced activation of hepatic stellate cells, Cygb plays an important role in controlling tissue fibrosis. Therefore, the normal upregulation of Cygb during tissue injury has a homeostatic effect, inhibiting free radical-induced fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis.Molecular Therapy (2006) 13, 1093–1100; doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2005.11.027 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is rather necessary to find a simple and rapid way to immobilize complex nuclear waste into stable ceramic matrix. In this work, complicated lattice occupation design was avoided through introducing complex waste into as-prepared host matrix. Two types of simulated TRPO (trialkyl phosphine oxides) wastes were introduced into as-prepared Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 matrix by spark plasma sintering (SPS) in 3 min. It is assumed that the waste composition, especially the contents of oxides with relatively low melting point (MoO 3 , RuO 2 and PdO) and raw material for Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 (ZrO 2), determines the final solubility. Moreover, the obtained compounds exhibit highly densified microtopography. Mo, Ru and Pd show more obvious enrichment with increased dopant while other doped elements show unobservable enrichment to the highest dopant. These results express a rapid and efficient way to immobilize oxides of high melting point into as-prepared host matrix without lattice occupation consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]