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Pt nanoparticles and a CeMnOx composite were loaded on the surface of the natural diatomite material to generate the Pt/CeMnOx/diatomite using the redox precipitation and impregnation methods. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by means of various techniques. The catalytic properties and resistance to H2O and SO2 of the catalysts were measured for the oxidation of typical volatile organic compounds (i.e., toluene and ethyl acetate). Among all of the as-prepared samples, Pt/CeMnOx/diatomite exhibited the highest catalytic activity: the temperatures (T90%) at a toluene or ethyl acetate conversion of 90% were 230 and 210 °C at a space velocity (SV) of 20,000 mL g−1 h−1, respectively, and the turnover frequency (TOFPt) at 220 °C was 1.04 μmol/(gcat s) for ethyl acetate oxidation and 1.56 μmol/(gcat s) for toluene oxidation. In particular, this sample showed a superior catalytic activity for ethyl acetate oxidation at low temperatures, with its T50% being 185 °C at SV = 20,000 mL g−1 h−1. In addition, the Pt/CeMnOx/diatomite sample possessed good sulfur dioxide resistance during the toluene oxidation process. In the presence of SO2, some of the SO2 molecules were adsorbed on diatomite, which protected the active sites from being poisoned by SO2 to a certain extent. The pathways of ethyl acetate and toluene oxidation over Pt/CeMnOx/diatomite or Pt/CeMnOx were as follows: The C–C and C–O bonds in ethyl acetate are first broken to form the CH3CH2O* and CH3CO* species or toluene is first oxidized to benzaldehyde and benzoic acid, and all of these intermediates are then converted to CO2 and H2O. This work can provide a strategy to develop efficient catalysts with high catalytic activity, durability, low cost, and easy availability under actual working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to accurately determine the degradation performance of polyolefin-based degradable plastics, the concept of bioassimilated carbon is proposed for the first time in this paper; the bioactive and hydrophilic organic carbon in plastic degradation products is defined as bioassimilation carbon. A method for the detection of the carbonyl index and bioassimilated carbon conversion rate in polyolefin degradable plastics was developed to quickly identify its degradation performance. The measurement results show that the bioassimilated carbon conversion rate of more than 70% can be used to replace the biodegradation rate index to achieve the purpose of quickly identifying the degradation performance of plastics. The deterioration detection cycle proposed by the current common standards implemented in American Society of Testing Materials: ASTM D6400 "Specification for Composting Plastics" can be shortened from 1 year to 1 month. The standard system for catalytic degradation of plastics provides detection methods for polyolefin-based catalytic degradation materials (microplastics), and solves the problems of long detection cycle and poor detection efficiency. Thus, this method has promise for use as a relevant standard method for accurately providing a reference for the assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neobavaisoflavone is an important isoflavone component isolated from Psoraleae Fructus. It is used extensively worldwide because of its antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and anti-osteoporotic activities. However, there is no systematic and comprehensive research on the metabolism of neobavaisoflavone in vivo and in vitro. The study aimed to analyze the metabolic characteristics and mechanism of neobavaisoflavone for the first time. Firstly, biological samples were pretreated by the solid-phase extraction (SPE) method, methanol precipitation, and acetonitrile precipitation. Secondly, the samples were analyzed on UHPLC-Q-Exactive Plus Orbitrap MS. Thirdly, metabolites were tentatively identified based on retention time, parallel reaction monitoring strategy, diagnostic product ions, and neutral loss fragments. A total of 72 metabolites of neobavaisoflavone were tentatively identified, including 28 in plasma, 43 in urine, 18 in feces, six in the liver, and four in the liver microsome. The results suggested that neobavaisoflavone mainly underwent glucuronidation, sulfation, hydroxylation, methylation, cyclization, hydration, and their composite reactions in vivo and in vitro. In addition, nine active components with high bioavailability and 191 corresponding targets were predicted by the Swiss Drug Design database. The 1806 items of GO and 183 KEGG signaling pathways were enriched. These results showed that metabolites expanded the potential effects of neobavaisoflavone. The present study would provide the scientific basis for the further exploitation and application of neobavaisoflavone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avian astroviruses, including chicken astrovirus (CAstV), avian nephritisvirus (ANV), and goose astrovirus (GoAstV), are ubiquitous enteric RNA viruses associated with enteric disorders in avian species. Recent research has found that infection of these astroviruses usually cause visceral gout in chicken, duckling and gosling. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In the current article, we review recent discoveries of genetic diversity and variation of these astroviruses, as well as pathogenesis after astrovirus infection. In addition, we discuss the relation between avian astrovirus infection and visceral gout in poultry. Our aim is to review recent discoveries about the prevention and control of the consequential visceral gout diseases in poultry, along with the attempt to reveal the possible producing process of visceral gout diseases in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread application of metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs) has prompted great interest in nano-biosafety. Consequently, as more and more MNPs are released into the environment and eventually sink into the soil, plants, as an essential component of the ecosystem, are at greater risk of exposure and response to these MNPs. Therefore, to understand the potential impact of nanoparticles on the environment, their effects should be thoroughly investigated. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana L.) is an ideal model plant for studying the impact of environmental stress on plants' growth and development because the ways in which Arabidopsis adapt to these stresses resemble those of many plants, and therefore, conclusions obtained from these scientific studies have often been used as the universal reference for other plants. This study reviewed the main findings of present-day interactions between MNPs and Arabidopsis thaliana from plant internalization to phytotoxic effects to reveal the mechanisms by which nanomaterials affect plant growth and development. We also analyzed the remaining unsolved problems in this field and provide a perspective for future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the incidence rate of lumbar diseases has been progressively increasing. The conventional lumbar fusion cages used in existing lumbar interbody fusion surgery are not able to take into account the multiple characteristics of cushioning, vibration reduction, support, cell adhesion, and bone tissue growth. Therefore, in this work, based on the CT data of a lumbar intervertebral disc plain scan, a combined symmetric lumbar fusion cage structure was innovatively designed. The core was made of lightweight TC4 medical titanium alloy flexible microporous metal rubber (LTA-FMP MR), and the outer frame was made of cobalt–chromium–molybdenum alloy. Its comprehensive biomechanical performance was comprehensively evaluated through finite element simulation, static and dynamic mechanics, and impact resistance tests. The three-dimensional model of the L3/L4 lumbar segment was established by reverse engineering, and a Mises stress analysis was conducted on the lumbar fusion cage by importing it into Ansys to understand its structural advantages compared to the traditional lumbar fusion cage. Through static experiments, the influence of the internal nucleus of a symmetrical lumbar fusion cage with different material parameters on its static performance was explored. At the same time, to further explore the superior characteristics of this symmetrical structure in complex human environments, a biomechanical test platform was established to analyze its biomechanical performance under sinusoidal excitation of different amplitudes and frequencies, as well as impact loads of different amplitudes and pulse widths. The results show that under different amplitudes and frequencies, the lumbar fusion cage with a symmetrical structure has a small loss factor, a high impact isolation coefficient, and a maximum energy consumption of 422.8 N·mm, with a maximum kinetic energy attenuation rate of 0.43. Compared to existing traditional lumbar fusion cages in clinical practice, it not only has sufficient stiffness, but also has good vibration damping, support, and impact resistance performance, and has a lower probability of postoperative settlement, which has broad application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a digital elevation model (DEM) and GIS technology, we extracted and analyzed stream geomorphic indices—such as the slope, relief degree of the land surface (RDLS), hypsometric integral (HI) and channel steepness index (ksn)—of the Cangshan Piedmont Fault, Fengyi–Dingxiling Fault and Midu Basin Margin Fault in the northern segment of the Red River Fault Zone. This work indicates that all the stream geomorphic indices show higher values, with the highest values along the Cangshan Piedmont Fault, followed by the Fengyi–Dingxiling Fault, and the lowest values along the Midu Basin Margin Fault, forming a decreasing trend from north to south. Based on lithology, climate and tectonics, we infer that neotectonic activity is the main factor controlling the development of the drainage geomorphology. The results show that the northern segment of the Red River Fault Zone is highly active and that the activity level shows a decreasing trend from north to south. The results of this study are consistent with previous conclusions that the overall activity of the Red River Fault Zone weakens from north to south, and the activity in the northern segment has been the most intense since the Late Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, gas–liquid membrane contactors have attracted increasing attention. A membrane contactor is a device that realizes gas–liquid or liquid–liquid mass transfer without being dispersed in another phase. The membrane gas absorption method combines the advantages of chemical absorption and membrane separation, in addition to exhibiting high selectivity, modularity, and compactness. This paper introduces the operating principle and wetting mechanism of hollow membrane contactors, shows the latest research progress of membrane contactors in gas separation, especially for the removal of carbon dioxide from gas mixtures by membrane contactors, and summarizes the main aspects of membrane materials, absorbents, and membrane contactor structures. Furthermore, recommendations are provided for the existing deficiencies or unsolved problems (such as membrane wetting), and the status and progress of membrane contactors are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant grouper fish (Epinephelus lanceolatus), one of the largest and rarest groupers, is a fast-growing economic fish. Grouper sperm is often used for cross-breeding with other fish and therefore sperm cryopreservation is important. However, freezing damage cannot be avoided. Herein, we performed a transcriptome analysis to compare fresh and frozen sperm of the giant grouper with frozen storage times of 0, 23, 49, and 61 months. In total, 1911 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 91 in El-0-vs-El-23 (40 upregulated and 51 downregulated), 251 in El-0-vs-El-49 (152 upregulated and 69 downregulated), and 1569 in El-0-vs-El-61 (984 upregulated and 585 downregulated), were obtained in the giant grouper sperm. DEGs were significantly increased at 61 months of cryopreservation (p < 0.05). GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the DEGs revealed significant enrichment in the pilus assembly, metabolic process, MAPK signaling pathway, apoptosis, and P53 signaling pathway. Time-series expression profiling of the DEGs showed that consistently upregulated modules were also significantly enriched in signaling pathways associated with apoptosis. Four genes, scarb1, odf3, exoc8, and atp5f1d, were associated with mitochondria and flagella in a weighted correlation network analysis. These genes may play an important role in the response to sperm freezing. The experimental results show that long-term cryopreservation results in freezing damage to the giant grouper sperm. This study provides rich data for studies of the mechanism underlying frozen fish sperm damage as well as a technical reference and evaluation index for the long-term cryopreservation of fish sperm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of essential oil (EO) in treating infected wounds is still challenging. A lot of effort has been made to make such an application more convenient. Recently, microneedles (MNDs) have been considered as a smart dermal delivery system to overcome the poor absorption and distribution, low bioavailability, and skin penetration of some drugs. The aim of our study is to evaluate the wound healing activity of juniper-EO-loaded MNDs (EO MNDs) against wounds with bacterial and fungal infection. The Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) MNDs were prepared using the gel-filled mold technique and loaded with juniper EO. In vivo models were created and wounds on rats were infected with two clinically isolated bacterial strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, Candida albicans was used to mimic fungal infection and juniper EO MNDs were tested. The obtained results showed an improvement in wound healing which started from the third day after application of the juniper EO MNDs, and at the sixth day post-infection, the treated wounds were significantly smaller than untreated wounds. A complete healing was shown by the 12th day after infection. Furthermore, our cytotoxicity results showed a cytotoxic effect of juniper EO MNDs on epithelial cells, which explained the faster wound healing in rats. Our study showed that juniper EO MNDs represent a novel strategy in EO delivery with minimal invasion. Juniper EO MNDs demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against both the bacterial strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and against one fungal strain, Candida albicans. Finally, application of juniper EO MNDs exerted promising activity in the treatment and healing of wound infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactobacillus plantarum is a kind of probiotic that benefits the host by regulating the gut microbiota, but it is easily damaged when passing through the gastrointestinal tract, hindering its ability to reach the destination and reducing its utilization value. Encapsulation is a promising strategy for solving this problem. In this study, transglutaminase (TGase)-crosslinked gelatin (GE)/sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) hydrogels were used to encapsulate L. plantarum. The effects of TGase concentration and drying method on the physiochemical properties of the hydrogels were determined. The results showed that at a TGase concentration of 9 U/gGE, the hardness, chewiness, energy storage modulus, and apparent viscosity of the hydrogel encapsulation system were maximized. This concentration produced more high-energy isopeptide bonds, strengthening the interactions between molecules, forming a more stable three-dimensional network structure. The survival rate under the simulated gastrointestinal conditions and storage stability of L. plantarum were improved at this concentration. The thermal stability of the encapsulation system dried via microwave vacuum freeze drying (MFD) was slightly higher than that when dried via freeze drying (FD). The gel structure was more stable, and the activity of L. plantarum decreased more slowly during the storage period when dried using MFD. This research provides a theoretical basis for the development of encapsulation technology of probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grassland is not only an important part of the terrestrial ecosystem with multiple ecological functions, but also an important base for Chinese herdsmen to produce and live. However, the occurrence and spread of rodent infestation reduces the biodiversity and productivity of grassland ecosystems. It also severely threatens human life, health, and biosecurity through disease transmission. In this study, we explored the ability of the nanocomposite sterilant ND-1 to control grassland rodent populations. Semi-closed experimental and control plots were established in the desert area of Alashan, Inner Mongolia, China. In spring 2018, the nanocomposite sterile ND-1 (Nongda-1) was introduced once, and the control effect of ND-1 on the growth of the wild population of midday gerbils was measured for two years. We show that ND-1 significantly reduced the population of midday gerbils in the experimental area, with a negative population growth rate. In addition, in the second year, the ratio of female midday gerbils to sub-adults in the experimental area was significantly lower than that in the control area, which resulted in a significant difference in the sex ratio of midday gerbils. There were significantly fewer females than males, and the population growth of midday gerbils in the experimental area was significantly inhibited. ND-1 had no significant effect on the home range of midday gerbils, and sterile individuals continued to occupy the home range and consume resources. Therefore, ND-1 reduced the number of female midday gerbils during the breeding period and the sex ratio and population density and altered the age structure of the wild population. Additionally, competition between sterile and normal individuals had a significant control effect on the growth of wild populations. Our studies demonstrate the significance of ND-1 in the sustainable control of grassland rodent pests, with the potential for limiting grassland rodent damage in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies of vegetation dynamics in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) predominantly relied on sparse time series or coarse-resolution images, which not only overlooked the rapid and spatially heterogeneous changes, but also limited our understanding of driving mechanisms. Here, employing spatiotemporal data fusion methods, we constructed a novel fused enhanced vegetation index (EVI) dataset with a high spatiotemporal resolution (30-meter and 8-day resolution) for the YRD from 2000 to 2020, and we analyzed the vegetation variations and their driving factors within and outside the YRD Nation Natural Reserve (YRDNRR). The fused EVI effectively captured spatiotemporal vegetation dynamics. Notably, within the YRDNRR core area, the fused EVI showed no significant trend before 2010, while a significant increase emerged post-2010, with an annual growth of 7%, the invasion of Spartina alterniflora explained 78% of this EVI increment. In the YRDNRR experimental area, the fused EVI exhibited a distinct interannual trend, which was characterized by an initial increase (2000–2006, p < 0.01), followed by a subsequent decrease (2006–2011, p < 0.01) and, ultimately, a renewed increase (2011–2020, p > 0.05); the dynamics of the fused EVI were mainly affected by the spring runoff (R2 = 0.71), while in years with lower runoff, it was also affected by the spring precipitation (R2 = 0.70). Outside of the protected area, the fused EVI demonstrated a substantial increase from 2000 to 2010 due to agricultural land expansion and human management practices, followed by stabilization post-2010. These findings enhance our comprehension of intricate vegetation dynamics in the YRD, holding significant relevance in terms of wetland preservation and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of the stream geomorphic index to fault activity is important for assessing the regional seismic hazard. The data used in this paper are 12 m resolution TanDEM-X data. The Fill tool in the Hydrology toolset in ArcGIS 10.5 was used to first process the digital elevation model (DEM), then analyse the flow direction of the DEM after filling and finally extract streams with catchment areas of more than 9 km2. Based on the DEM spatial analysis, the stream geomorphic index of the Lianfeng–Ningnan segment (LNS) of the Lianfeng fault was extracted, including the stream length gradient (SL) and the hypsometric integral (HI). This information, combined with the analysis of typical field geomorphology and terrace profiles, was used to define the fault activity period. To analyse the activity characteristics of the LNS, the LNS was divided into northern (Lianfeng to Jinyang), middle (Jinyang to Duiping town) and southern segments (Duiping town to Ningnan). The stream geomorphic index showed spatial variations, with mean SL and HI values of 384 and 0.45, respectively, in the northern segment; 175 and 0.41, respectively, in the middle segment; and 378 and 0.45, respectively, in the southern segment. These results indicate that the northern and southern segments of the LNS are more active than the middle segment, that there is little difference between the northern and southern segments, and that the activity of the middle segment is relatively weak. By comprehensively analysing the lithology, climate and tectonics in the LNS region, we conclude that tectonics are the main factor controlling the stream geomorphology in the LNS region. Based on this information and the analysis and dating of field geomorphology and terrace profiles, we found that the Lianfeng fault was active in the Holocene, which is consistent with the latest research results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic performance and moisture and sulfur dioxide resistance are important for a catalyst used for the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Supported noble metals are active for VOC oxidation, but they are easily deactivated by water and sulfur dioxide. Hence, it is highly desired to develop a catalyst with high performance and good moisture and sulfur dioxide resistance in the oxidation of VOCs. In this work, we first adopted the hydrothermal method to synthesize a V2O5-TiO2 composite support, and then employed the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-protecting NaBH4 reduction strategy to fabricate xPdPty/V2O5-TiO2 catalysts (x and y are the PdPty loading (0.41, 0.46, and 0.49 wt%) and Pt/Pd molar ratio (2.10, 0.85, and 0.44), respectively; the corresponding catalysts are denoted as 0.46PdPt2.10/V2O5-TiO2, 0.41PdPt0.85/V2O5-TiO2, and 0.49PdPt0.44/V2O5-TiO2). Among all the samples, 0.46PdPt2.10/V2O5-TiO2 exhibited the best catalytic activity for toluene oxidation (T50% = 220 °C and T90% = 245 °C at a space velocity of 40,000 mL/(g h), apparent activation energy (Ea) = 45 kJ/mol), specific reaction rate at 230 °C = 98.6 μmol/(gPt s), and turnover frequency (TOFNoble metal) at 230 °C = 142.2 × 10−3 s−1. The good catalytic performance of 0.46PdPt2.10/V2O5-TiO2 was associated with its well-dispersed PdPt2.10 nanoparticles, high adsorbed oxygen species concentration, good redox ability, large toluene adsorption capacity, and strong interaction between PdPty and V2O5-TiO2. No significant changes in toluene conversion were detected when 5.0 vol% H2O or 50 ppm SO2 was introduced to the reaction system. According to the characterization results, we can realize that vanadium is the main site for SO2 adsorption while PdO is the secondary site for SO2 adsorption, which protects the active Pt site from being poisoned by SO2, thus making the 0.46PdPt2.10/V2O5TiO2 catalyst show good sulfur dioxide resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiotic stresses are one of the significant threats to soybean (Glycine max L.) growth and yields worldwide. Soybean has a crucial role in the global food supply chain and food security and contributes the main protein share compared to other crops. Hence, there is a vast scientific saddle on soybean researchers to develop tolerant genotypes to meet the growing need of food for the huge population. A large portion of cultivated land is damaged by salinity stress, and the situation worsens yearly. In past years, many attempts have increased soybean resilience to salinity stress. Different molecular techniques such as quantitative trait loci mapping (QTL), genetic engineering, transcriptome, transcription factor analysis (TFs), CRISPR/Cas9, as well as other conventional methods are used for the breeding of salt-tolerant cultivars of soybean to safeguard its yield under changing environments. These powerful genetic tools ensure sustainable soybean yields, preserving genetic variability for future use. Only a few reports about a detailed overview of soybean salinity tolerance have been published. Therefore, this review focuses on a detailed overview of several molecular techniques for soybean salinity tolerance and draws a future research direction. Thus, the updated review will provide complete guidelines for researchers working on the genetic mechanism of salinity tolerance in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus. It causes severe symptoms of egg-drop, as well as neurological symptoms and brain damage in ducks. However, the specific molecular mechanisms of DTMUV-induced neurovirulence and host responses in the brain remain obscure. To better understand the host–pathogen and neuro-immune interactions of DTMUV infection, we conducted high-throughput RNA-sequencing to reveal the transcriptome profiles of DTMUV-infected duck brain. Totals of 117, 212, and 150 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at 12, 24, and 48 h post infection (hpi). Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses uncovered genes and pathways related to the nervous system and immune responses in duck brain. Neuro-related genes, including WNT3A, GATA3, and CHRNA6, were found to be significantly downregulated. RIG-I-like receptors (DHX58, IFIH1) and Toll-like receptors (TLR2 and TLR3) were activated, inducing the expression of 22 interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) and antigen-processing and -presenting genes (TAP1 and TAP2) in the brain. Our research provides comprehensive information for the molecular mechanisms of neuro-immune and host–pathogen interactions of DTMUV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the preparation of cross-linking Au nanoparticle (NP) monolayer membranes by the thiol exchange reaction and their enhanced mechanical properties. Dithiol molecules were used as a cross-linking mediator to connect the adjacent nanoparticles by replacing the original alkanethiol ligand in the monolayer. After cross-linking, the membrane integrity was maintained and no significant fracture was observed, which is crucial for the membrane serving as a nanodevice. TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy), UV–Vis absorption spectrum, and GISAXS (grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering) were performed to characterize the nanostructure before and after cross-linking. All results proved that the interparticle distance in the monolayer was controllably changed by using dithiols of different lengths as the cross-linking agent. Moreover, the modulus of the cross-linking monolayer was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the result showed that the membrane with a longer dithiol molecule had a larger modulus, which might derive from the unbroken and intact structure of the cross-linking monolayer due to the selected appropriately lengthed dithiol. This study provides a new way of producing a nanoparticle monolayer membrane with enhanced mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the ultra-high pressure extraction (UHPE) conditions for obtaining the maximum flavonoid yield from Xinjiang jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) leaves (XJL) were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). Box–Behnken design (BBD) was applied to evaluate the effects of four variables (extraction temperature, pressure, time and liquid-to-solid ratio) on flavonoid yield. The results showed that the optimal flavonoid yield (25.45 ± 0.21 mg/g) was derived at 50.0 °C, 342.39 MPa, 11.56 min, and a liquid-to-solid ratio of 43.95 mL/g. Eight compounds were tentatively identified and quantified as kaempferol and quercetin glycosides with UPLC-ESI-MS. Compared to ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), UHPE can obtain higher concentrations of total flavonoids and stronger DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activities in a much shorter time. Therefore, UHPE is an alternative to UAE for obtaining flavonoids from XJL, which may be an optional method for large-scale industrial flavonoid extraction from XJL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely accepted that conventional boost algorithms are of low efficiency and accuracy in dealing with big data collected from wind turbine operations. To address this issue, this paper is devoted to the application of an adaptive LightGBM method for wind turbine fault detections. To this end, the realization of feature selection for fault detection is firstly achieved by utilizing the maximum information coefficient to analyze the correlation among features in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) of wind turbines. After that, a performance evaluation criterion is proposed for the improved LightGBM model to support fault detections. In this scheme, by embedding the confusion matrix as a performance indicator, an improved LightGBM fault detection approach is then developed. Based on the adaptive LightGBM fault detection model, a fault detection strategy for wind turbine gearboxes is investigated. To demonstrate the applications of the proposed algorithms and methods, a case study with a three-year SCADA dataset obtained from a wind farm sited in Southern China is conducted. Results indicate that the proposed approaches established a fault detection framework of wind turbine systems with either lower false alarm rate or lower missing detection rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the smoke and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions; a detailed study concerned with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and diesel injection strategy was conducted on a two-stage series turbocharging diesel engine under transient operating condition. One transient process based on the constant speed of 1650 r/min and load increases linearly from 10% to 100% within 5 s was tested in this study. The effect of the EGR valve control strategy on engine transient performance was examined. The results show that better air-fuel mixing quality can be obtained with the optimized the EGR valve open loop control strategy and the smoke opacity peak decreased more than 64%. Under the EGR valve close loop control strategy; the smoke opacity peak was lower than with open loop control strategy; but higher than without EGR. The effect of fuel injection strategy on engine transient performance was examined with the EGR valve close loop control. The results show that sectional-stage rail pressure (SSRP) strategy (increasing injection pressure from a turning point load to 100% load) and optimizing fuel injection timing can improve the engine emission performance. The satisfactory results can be obtained with lower NOx (382 ppm) emissions and the smoke opacity peak (3.8%), when the turning point load is set to 60% with the injection timing delay 6° CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) is associated with global peste des petits ruminants resulting in severe economic loss. Peste des petits ruminants virus dampens host interferon-based signaling pathways through multiple mechanisms. Previous studies deciphered the role of V and C in abrogating IFN-β production. Moreover, V protein directly interacted with signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT2 resulting in the impairment of host IFN responses. In our present study, PPRV infection inhibited both IFN-β- and IFN-γ-induced activation of IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) and IFN-γ-activated site (GAS) element, respectively. Both N and P proteins, functioning as novel IFN response antagonists, markedly suppressed IFN-β-induced ISRE and IFN-γ-induced GAS promoter activation to impair downstream upregulation of various interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and prevent STAT1 nuclear translocation. Specifically, P protein interacted with STAT1 and subsequently inhibited STAT1 phosphorylation, whereas N protein neither interacted with STAT1 nor inhibited STAT1 phosphorylation as well as dimerization, suggesting that the N and P protein antagonistic effects were different. Though they differed in their relationship to STAT1, both proteins blocked JAK-STAT signaling, severely negating the host antiviral immune response. Our study revealed a new mechanism employed by PPRV to evade host innate immune response, providing a platform to study the interaction of paramyxoviruses and host response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient direct C(sp3)–H oxidation of diarylmethanes has been demonstrated by this study. This method employs environment-friendly O2 as an oxidant and is promoted by commercially available MN(SiMe3)2 [M = K, Na or Li], which provides a facile method for the synthesis of various diaryl ketones in excellent yields. This protocol is metal-free, mild and compatible with a number of functional groups on substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]