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A narrow energy distribution is a prominent characteristic of field-emission cold cathodes. When applied in a vacuum electronic device, the cold cathode is fabricated over a large area and works under a high current and current density. It is interesting to see the energy distribution of the field emitter under such a working situation. In this work, the energy distribution spectra of a single carbon nanotube (CNT) and a CNT film were investigated across a range of currents, spanning from low to high. A consistent result indicated that, at low current emission, the CNT film (area: 0.585 mm2) exhibited a narrow electron energy distribution as small as 0.5 eV, similar to that of a single CNT, while the energy distribution broadened with increased current and voltage, accompanied by a peak position shift. The influencing factors related to the electric field, Joule heating, Coulomb interaction, and emission site over a large area were discussed to elucidate the underlying mechanism. The results provide guidance for the electron source application of nano-materials in cold cathode devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotube (CNT) is an excellent field emission material. However, uniformity and stability are the key issues hampering its device application. In this work, a bimetallic W-Co alloy was adopted as the catalyst of CNT in chemical vapor deposition process. The high melting point and stable crystal structure of W-Co helps to increase the grown CNT diameter uniformity and homogeneous crystal structure. High-crystallinity CNTs were grown on the W-Co bimetallic catalyst. Its field emission characteristics demonstrated a low turn-on field, high current density, stable current stability, and uniform emission distribution. The Fowler–Nordheim (FN) and Seppen–Katamuki (SK) analyses revealed that the CNT grown on the W-Co catalyst has a relatively low work function and high field enhancement factor. The high crystallinity and homogeneous crystal structure of CNT also reduce the body resistance and increase the emission current stability and maximum current. The result provides a way to synthesis a high-quality CNT field emitter, which will accelerate the development of cold cathode vacuum electronic device application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As consumers' green awareness continues to grow, the level of a product's eco-friendliness and the quality of its marketing have become significant factors in shaping consumers' purchasing decisions. The power structures within the supply chain, as well as corresponding government subsidy policies, are also key elements influencing sustainable strategies for the green supply chain. In a green supply chain comprising one manufacturer and one e-commerce platform, two sales models exist within the online e-commerce platforms: reselling and agency selling. This paper establishes and analyzes three distinct Stackelberg game models, namely: manufacturer-led model without subsidy (bm), manufacturer-led model with subsidy (sm), and platform-led model with subsidy (sp). The results are shown as follows, with the rise of consumers' environmental awareness, more consumers opt for green products, inspiring the manufacturer to increase its optimal greenness and platform to enhance its optimal marketing efforts level. Notably, government subsidies provide a significant stimulus. An increase in the green technology cost coefficient leads to a decline in the manufacturer's profits across all three modes. Intriguingly, the manufacturer's profits are always highest in the sp mode. As the marketing efforts cost coefficient increases, the platform's profits decrease in the bm and sm modes. In contrast, in the sp mode, the platform's profits increase rather than a decrease. The choice of mode primarily depends on the platform's marketing efforts cost coefficient. When this coefficient exceeds a threshold, the platform chooses the sp mode. However, due to the relatively low marketing efficiency in this scenario, the manufacturer prefers the sm mode. For the government, the sp mode involves agency selling, serves as an effective mechanism to redistribute subsidies, thereby yielding the maximum social welfare benefits. Management insights are provided for the manufacturer and platform managers to make decisions about the degree of greenness and marketing efforts level, along with insights for governments to optimize subsidy policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Typical treatment of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) emphasizes clinical procedures such as surgery, radiotherapy, and endovascular treatment. However, external factors of adverse psychological emotions in patients with DAVF before treatment have not yet been evaluated in a multicenter study. Objectives: This study aimed to fill the research gap regarding the effects of factors by evaluating the anxiety and depression status among patients with DAVF before and after endovascular treatment and identify factors influencing the development of anxiety and depression before their endovascular treatment. Methods: This retrospective study included 168 DAVF patients treated at two independent neurosurgical medical centers from December 2012 to December 2022. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) were assessed before and after endovascular treatment. Demographic and clinical data were also collected. Statistical tests were performed to calculate the proportion of DAVF patients with anxiety and depression. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify independent risk factors for anxiety and depression in patients with DAVF before endovascular treatment. Results: A significant decrease in the percentage of patients with anxiety and depression was observed in patients after endovascular treatment compared with before treatment. Patients with DAVF who were at a higher risk for anxiety and depression were females had multiple visits, comorbid conditions, and a lower economic status and were presented with symptoms. Conclusion: After endovascular treatment, the anxiety or depression symptoms of DAVF patients significantly improved. Our findings provide additional evidence to support the role of intravascular treatment in improved DAVF patients' psychological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we deal with the blow-up problems for Fujita-type parabolic system involving time-dependent coefficients on graphs. Under appropriate conditions, we prove that the nonnegative solution of the parabolic system blows up in a finite time on finite graphs and locally finite graphs, respectively. The results obtained extend some previous results of [Y. Lin and Y. Wu, Blow-up problems for nonlinear parabolic equations on locally finite graphs, Acta Math. Sci. Ser. B 38(3) (2018) 843–856; Y. Wu, Local existence and blow-up of solutions to Fujita-type equations involving general absorption term on finite graphs, Fractals 30(2) (2022) 2240053]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to the study of the behaviors of the solution to Fujita-type equations on finite graphs. Under certain conditions given by absorption term of the equations, we prove respectively local existence and blow-up results of solutions to Fujita-type equations on finite graphs. Our results contain some previous results as special cases. Finally, we provide some numerical experiments to illustrate the applicability of the obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we establish several results involving the minimum and maximum principles and the comparison principles for elliptic equations and parabolic equations on finite graphs. The results are then used to prove the monotonicity and asymptotic properties of solutions for parabolic equations whose initial values are given by the equation Δ ψ + f (ψ) = 0 with Dirichlet boundary conditions. Finally, an illustration with numerical experiments is provided to demonstrate our main results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 2D laminate films prepared via a hybrid dimensional design of Chiber, MWCNT, and rGO. • The 2D film achieves a high water evaporation rate of 2.10 kg·m−2·h−1 under one sun. • 0.45 V of electricity is generated in the saturated NaCl solution during evaporation. • Lamellar structure and nanopores supply good water transport and thermal management. • Molecular-level elucidation of electricity generation through MD simulation. Emerging water purification technology, known as interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG), has been rapidly developing in recent years. ISSG offers a promising solution to address both freshwater shortage and energy demand by simultaneously producing freshwater and electricity. This is achieved through the combination of microporous films and highly efficient photothermal materials. In this study, we have developed a composite film using a 2D material, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and a combination of 1D materials, chitin fiber@multi-walled carbon nanotube (Chiber@CNT). Through a hybrid dimensional design, these materials' advantages are integrated, resulting in a composite film with a distinct laminar porous structure and excellent broadband absorption. Notably, under 1 kW·m−2 sunlight irradiation, the composite film achieves a water evaporation flux of 2.10 kg·m−2·h−1 with a photothermal conversion efficiency of 75.79%. In addition, by utilizing an energy-harvesting strategy based on natural water evaporation in porous nanomaterials for power generation, the composite film successfully enables the simultaneous production of freshwater and electricity. Its output voltage reaches 0.39 V in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Furthermore, the film's output voltage varies with the concentration of NaCl, increasing from 0.26 V (in deionized water) to 0.45 V (in the saturated NaCl solution). Molecular dynamic simulation results indicate that the enhanced power generation can be attributed to the difference in interatomic interaction strength between ions and hydrophilic functional groups in chitin fiber (Chiber). This finding provides a deep physical mechanism and opens up possibilities for the film's application in highly concentrated salt solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To comprehensively compare the differences between major dietary patterns in improving glycemic control, cardiovascular risk, and weight loss for patients with type 2 diabetes. Method: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the efficacy of Mediterranean, low‐carbohydrate, and/or low‐fat dietary patterns for patients with type 2 diabetes. Studies that compared any one of those diets with regular diet were also included. The risk of bias in eligible RCTs was evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook. The primary outcome was glycemic control. Secondary outcomes included weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors. A network meta‐analysis was performed using R‐3.3.2. Results: Ten RCTs involving five dietary patterns met the eligibility criteria. The findings revealed that compared to low‐fat diet, Mediterranean diet showed beneficial effects in glycemic control (HbA1c [%]: MD = –0.45, 95% CI = –0.55 to –0.34; fasting plasma glucose [mmol/L]: MD = –1.24 95% CI = –1.57 to –0.91, respectively; weight loss [kg]: MD =–1.18, 95% CI = –1.99 to –0.37; waist circumference [cm]: MD = –0.73, 95% CI = –1.26 to –0.19), and cardiovascular risk factors (HDL‐cholesterol [mmol/L]: MD = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.11; total cholesterol [mmol/L]: MD = –0.17, 95% CI = –0.26 to –0.08; triglycerides [mmol/L]: MD = –0.21, 95% CI = –0.27 to –0.16). Network meta‐analysis showed that high‐carbohydrate diet improved HDL‐cholesterol (mmol/l) (MD = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.39 to 1.68) when compared with regular diet. The differences were not statistically significant in other indirect comparison groups for other outcomes. Conclusions: A mediterranean diet showed beneficial improvements in glycemic control, weight loss, and cardiovascular risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we establish a new on-diagonal lower estimate of heat kernels for connected, weighted, locally finite graphs. The result is then used to deal with the nonexistence of global solutions for a semilinear heat equation on locally finite graphs. Our results provide remarkable improvements to the work that was done recently by Lin and Wu (2017) [8,18]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G = ( V , E ) be a simple, finite, connected, weighted graph satisfying curvature condition C D E ′ ( n , 0 ) and polynomial volume growth V ( x , r ) ≤ c 0 r m , Δ η be the normalized Laplacian. In this paper we prove that the semilinear heat equation u t = Δ η u + u 1 + α on G has no non-negative global solutions for any bounded, non-negative and non-trivial initial value in the case of m α = 2 . The obtained result provides a significant complement to the work that was done recently by Lin and Wu (2017) concerning the existence and nonexistence of global solutions for the semilinear heat equation on graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the TiO 2 nanorod arrays (TNAs), TNAs/Cu 2 O-10CYC, and TNAs/Cu 2 O-30CYC composites photo-catalysts for solar water splitting anode was successfully prepared via cyclic impregnation growth method. The structure, surface morphology and element chemical states have been investigated and discussed in detail. The UV–vis and PL results confirm that interaction has been formed between TNAs and Cu 2 O in the composite photo-catalysts and the TNAs/Cu 2 O composites exhibit broad spectrum absorption. Three factors affecting on the enhancement of solar light hydrogen production efficiency, e.g. enhanced UV-light absorption in solar spectrum, massive charge carrier generation and improved surface-interface reaction due to the absorbing visible light by the narrow band gap Cu 2 O and the injecting electrons into TiO 2 conduction band, are proposed based on the experimental results. The TNAs/Cu 2 O-10CYC composite samples exhibit highest enhanced photocatalytic activities in the hydrogen production, which H 2 evolution efficiency is about 4-fold higher than that of pure TNAs. It indicates that the efficient photo generated electron-hole transformation and separation in TNAs/Cu 2 O-10CYC composite sample leads to the improvement of photocatalytic performance. The present study provides a new light to prepare TNAs/Cu 2 O of novel configuration with promising potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We establish a new on-diagonal lower estimate of continuous-time heat kernels for large time on graphs. To achieve the goal, we first introduce an upper estimate of heat kernels in natural graph metric, then use the upper estimate and the volume growth condition to show the validity of the on-diagonal lower estimate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let $$G=(V,E)$$ be a finite or locally finite connected weighted graph, $$\Delta $$ be the usual graph Laplacian. Using heat kernel estimates, we prove the existence and nonexistence of global solutions for the following semilinear heat equation on G We conclude that, for a graph satisfying curvature dimension condition $$\textit{CDE}'(n,0)$$ and $$V(x,r)\simeq r^m$$ , if $$02$$ , then there is a non-negative global solution u provided that the initial value is small enough. In particular, these results apply to the lattice $${\mathbb {Z}}^m$$ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research on the relationship between social relations and new venture's performance remains inconsistent. From the perspective of institutional theory, we introduce legitimacy acquisition and symbolic strategy to develop a theoretical model to explain the disparities in the Chinese transition economy. Based on the survey data of 242 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China's strategic emerging industries (SEIs), this paper (1) investigates the role of legitimacy acquisition as the mediator through which the two sub levels of social relations (political and business) affecting new venture's performance. (2) Explores the moderating role of symbolic strategies to further illustrate the conditional nature of legitimacy acquisition. The results show that legitimacy acquisition plays a complete mediating role in the relationship between social relations and new venture's performance. Symbolic strategy improves the positive effect of political ties on legitimacy acquisition, but weakens the positive effect of business relations on legitimacy acquisition. The findings contribute to the entrepreneurial literature and make significant empirical implications. Plain Language Summary: Social Relations, Legitimacy Acquisition, Symbolic Strategy and Firm Performance Purpose: The study aimed to understand how social relations impact the performance of new ventures in China, emphasizing the roles of legitimacy acquisition and symbolic strategies. Methods: Through a survey of 242 small and medium-sized enterprises in strategic emerging industries in China, the study examined how legitimacy acquisition mediates the effect of social relations on venture performance, and how symbolic strategies moderate this mediation. Conclusions: It was found that legitimacy acquisition significantly mediates the link between social relations and venture performance. Symbolic strategies, however, had a mixed effect: enhancing the positive impact of political relations on legitimacy acquisition, but diminishing the effect of business relations. Implications: The results suggest that new ventures can improve their performance by gaining legitimacy through social relations. However, employing symbolic strategies may have varied effects depending on the nature of the social relations. Limitations: The study is bound to China, limiting generalizability. Other potential mediators or moderators impacting the relationship between social relations and venture performance were not explored. Additionally, the detailed impact of political versus business relations on legitimacy acquisition was not fully examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we address the prototype filter optimization problem in the offset quadrature amplitude modulation-based orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system and propose a series of efficient branch and bound (BB)-based methods to greatly reduce the convergence time of the optimization problem. Specifically, we first propose a constraint judge method to determine whether a subset has the possibility to obtain a feasible solution and remove the subsets that have no feasible solutions. Then, we propose a searching strategy to further decrease the number of iterations. Moreover, we propose an efficient convex relaxation method to reduce the calculation time of each iteration. Simulation results show that the proposed methods can guarantee the same global optimal solution as generated by the conventional α-based BB ( αBB) algorithm, and the BB algorithm combining the three proposed methods achieves much lower convergence time. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have coupled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to assemble a plasmonic sensing platform for colorimetric detection of glucose. In this system, small AuNPs (~ 4 nm) can act as glucose oxidase (GOD) mimic enzyme to catalytically oxidize glucose in the presence of oxygen, producing hydrogen peroxide, which dissolves AgNPs to lead the color changes. Glucose can be detected not only by naked eyes (from yellow to red) but also by spectrophotometer in the concentration range of 5–70 μM, with detection limit of 3 μM. More importantly, we found that l -cysteine added in the system can markedly improve the selectivity for the detection of glucose. The proposed method was used to application for the detection of glucose in human serum with satisfactory results. This system is simple and low cost without using any enzymes and organic chromogenic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing nanoscale photocatalysts to improve photocatalytic efficiency is a popular research topic. However, for wide application and friendly environment, achieving good dispersion and multiple recycling of photocatalysts at the nanoscale remains challenging. Herein, a general bottom-up assembly method is proposed for designing a class of two-dimensional lamellar membranes (2DLMs) for photocatalytic applications. A bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) nanosheet (BN) was used as a demo photocatalyst to construct a 2DLM via self-stacking. The designed BiOCl membrane (BM) exhibited excellent physical properties including flexibility, mechanical strength (tensile strength = 15.75 MPa, fracture strain = 0.056%), and translucence, as well as superior photocatalytic performance with excellent recycling stability and reusability. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of BM was 2.5-fold that of BN particles dispersed in an aqueous solution. Further theoretical calculations revealed that a BM with appropriately sized nanochannels can accelerate water transport, and the main horizontal channel size of the BM (3.13 nm) is very close to the size of the ideal water transport nanochannel. Furthermore, the confined internal space reduces the number of hydrogen bonds for water molecules within the nanochannels, thereby enhancing the interfacial reaction rate and photocatalytic efficiency. This study presents a simple bottom-up assembly method to design photocatalysts with further improved performance. [Display omitted] • A general strategy to design lamellar membrane (LM) for photocatalytic is proposed. • The nanochannels speed up water transport and facilitate photocatalytic reaction. • The hydrogen bonds among water molecules inside nanochannels are weakened. • Photocatalytic H 2 evolution activity of BiOCl LM is 2.5-fold that of its particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The synthesis strategy of GSMs is discussed and analyzed. • The effect of different nanomaterials on the layer spacing of GSMs was expounded. • The removal of pollutants in water by GSMs is reviewed. • The challenges and potential of future GSMs are highlighted. Membrane separation technology has attracted increasing research interest and plays an important role in industrial wastewater treatment, urban sewage purification, oil and water separation, hence the search for perfect separation membrane is being given serious consideration. Graphene and its derivatives have significant potential applications owing to their atomic thickness, adjustable physicochemical properties and unique two-dimensional interlayer channels. It is considered as attractive components for the construction of high-performance separation membranes, which promises to break the trade-off between permeability and selectivity, leading to the ultimate separation. In this review, the current strategies that are promising in the synthesis and fabrication of graphene separation membranes (GSMs) are introduced and extensively discussed. Further the research progresses of imbedding nanoparticles in GSMs in recent years are reviewed, and the strategies of constructing GSMs with different interlayer spacing to improve membrane efficiency are explored. Finally, the application of GSMs in water purification and seawater desalination is demonstrated, highlighting some outstanding challenges associated with future perspectives in this field which would inspire the research design of next-generation GSMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NaYbF4 upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have enhanced optical properties compared to the NaYF4 UCNPs. However, synthesis of monodisperse NaYbF4 with controllable size and optical properties poses challenges, and the mechanism of phase transformation remains to be understood. Here, they report on the effect of Na+/Yb3+ molar ratio on the morphological and optical properties of upconverting NaYbF4: 2% Er3+ nanoparticles. Controllable transformation of cubic phase nanoparticles produced with [Na+]/[Yb3+] = 1 to hexagonal phase is achieved by increasing Na+ content. The hexagonal UCNPs produced with [Na+]/[Yb3+] = 4 have significantly enhanced intensity of optical emission of ≈600 times compared with the pure cubic phase crystal. The work reveals that the increasing dislocation of sodium and ytterbium distribution cause the accumulation of the lattice strain with increasing Na+ content, and triggers the lattice strain‐mediated phase transformation in cubic cell, as confirmed by the Density Function Theory simulations. These results provide new insights into the growth of UCNPs and pave the way for developing controlled synthesis of UCNPs for applications as bio‐probes and for energy harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Premature birth (PTB) remains a major global health concern due to its association with neonatal morbidity and mortality. The unfolded protein response (UPR) within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is tightly regulated by Inositol‐requiring enzyme type 1 (IRE‐1), a pivotal cellular modulator. This study seeks to elucidate the role of the ER stress (ERS)‐related IRE‐1 pathway in PTB. Methods: Human placental trophoblast cells HTR8/Svneo were exposed to the ER‐stress inducer tunicamycin (TM). The expression of IRE‐1 and ERS‐associated proteins ATF6, GRP78, and XBP‐1 was assessed in placental tissues and TM‐treated cells. Cellular viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were evaluated through a series of experimental assays. Additionally, various methods were employed to assess and verify the activation of autophagy, using the autophagy marker, microtubule‐associated protein 1A/1B‐light chain 3 (LC3). Additionally, TUDCA (an ERS inhibitor) was used to assess its potential to counteract the TM‐induced cell effects. Results: Elevated levels of ATF6, GRP78, and XBP‐1 were observed in PTB tissues and cells. TM treatment substantially reduced cell viability, migration, and invasion while promoting apoptosis. Treatment with TUDCA (an ERS inhibitor) counteracted the effects of TM on the cells. Furthermore, we identified an overexpression of IRE‐1 in PTB tissues and cells and its knockdown enhanced cell viability, migration, and invasion while suppressed apoptosis and autophagy under TM stimulation. Notably, IRE‐1 was found to modulate the activity of the IRE‐1/XBP1/CHOP signaling pathway in TM‐treated cells. Conclusion: The upregulation of IRE‐1 in PTB placental tissues is implicated in the pathogenesis of PTB. Importantly, inhibiting the ERS‐associated IRE‐1/XBP1/CHOP pathway may be a good strategy in mitigating PTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) treatment effectively prolongs the overall survival of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Mutations in the oncogene PML::RARA were found in patients with ATO-resistant and relapsed APL. However, some relapsed patients do not have such mutations. Here, we performed microarray analysis of samples from newly diagnosed and relapsed APL, and found different microRNA (miRNA) expression patterns between these two groups. Among the differentially expressed miRNAs, miR-603 was expressed at the lowest level in relapsed patients. The expression of miR-603 and its predicted target tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) were determined by PCR and Western blot. Proliferation was measured using an MTT assay, while apoptosis, cell cycle and CD11b expression were analyzed using flow cytometry. In APL patients, the expression of miR-603 was negatively correlated with that of TrkB. miR-603 directly targeted TrkB and downregulated TrkB expression in the APL cell line NB4. miR-603 increased cell proliferation by promoting the differentiation and inhibiting the apoptosis of NB4 cells. This study shows that the miR-603/ TrkB axis may be a potent therapeutic target for relapsed APL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Comprehensive utilization of solar energy to get hydrogen energy and fresh water was studied. • 2D lamellar membrane based on the semiconductor BiOCl nanosheet was designed. • PHE and PWE were closely related to the light-to-thermal conversion and water state. • The PWE rate of BOC-CNF@CNT lamellar membrane was up to 2.05 kg·m−2·h−1. Solar energy can help solve the energy and water shortage crisis. Developing a single material that can exhibit both photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) and photothermal water evaporation (PWE) represents a new concept to simultaneously realize green energy and fresh water supply. In this study, a series of 2D lamellar membranes (2DLMs) based on a conventional semiconductor BiOCl nanosheet was designed as an ensemble, and its combined application for PHE and PWE was explored, in which cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and a self-assembly of CNF@CNT were also used. The PHE and PWE efficiencies are closely related to the conversion of solar energy and the state of the water molecules. Owing to the high light-to-thermal conversion, enhanced water transfer, and the low evaporation enthalpy of confined water, a composite made of BiOCl and CNF@CNT 2DLM (BOC-CNF@CNT) could rapidly reach a surface temperature of 46.6 °C, with its PWE rate reaching up to 2.05 kg·m−2·h−1. Moreover, owing to the high photogenerated carrier transport, strong photothermal effect, and the action of confined water, the PHE rate of BOC-CNF@CNT is 1.99-fold that of the composite made of BiOCl and CNF 2DLM (BOC-CNF) and 1.42-fold that of the composite made of BiOCl and CNT 2DLM (BOC-CNT). This work provides a new and effective strategy for a comprehensive utilization of solar energy to simultaneously produce clean hydrogen and fresh water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft sensors that can discriminate shear and normal force could help provide machines the fine control desirable for safe and effective physical interactions with people. A capacitive sensor is made for this purpose, composed of patterned elastomer and containing both fixed and sliding pillars that allow the sensor to deform and buckle, much like skin itself. The sensor differentiates between simultaneously applied normal force and shear using summation and differences of signals from four deformable capacitors. Cross talk from shear to normal force is less than 2.5%, and between shear axes is less than 10%. Normal and shear stress sensitivity is 0.49 kPa and 0.31 kPa respectively, with a minimum displacement resolution of 40 μm. In addition, finger proximity is detectable at a range of up to 15 mm. The operation is demonstrated on a simple gripper holding a cup. The combination of features and the straightforward fabrication method make this sensor a candidate for implementation as a sensing skin for humanoid robotics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aimed at the miniaturization of the power-supply system for electromagnetic launch (EML) system, this paper deals with the problem of high rate pulse discharge of lithium batteries in the EML system. In order to reduce the number of batteries on series-parallel to increase the energy density, the factors such as safety, exotherm and life cycle must be taken into consideration, and there is need for optimization in terms of selection and design as well as discharge control of the battery. According to the power requirements of the EML system, the battery safety and discharge ability are important indexes in the aspect of selection and design, which refer to the design principle for selected batteries and the design scheme for raising their discharge ability under the precondition of discharge, and in the aspect of discharge control, the balancing-discharge control strategy is adopted to reduce the duration of high-rate discharge and the heat generation and extend the service life of batteries according to the EML operating conditions. Finally a test platform is established for verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decomposition of aquatic plant residues changes by the invasive algal organic matter in eutrophic lakes, however, the driving mechanisms of these biogeochemistry processes are still far from clear. In this study, a series of microcosms was constructed to simulate the mixed decomposition processes of aquatic plant residues with invasive algae as long as 205 days. Three aquatic plants (Potamogeton malaianus, Nymphoides peltatum, and Phragmites australis) and algae were collected from a typical eutrophic lake. The addition of algae promoted the decomposition of three plant residues based on the mass loss, and the positive co-metabolism effect was produced. The co-metabolism intensity was 8%–25% on the water surface and 19%–45% on the water-sediment interface, respectively. In addition, the response of three aquatic plant residues to the algal organic matter was different with their co-metabolism intensities in the order of P. australis > P. malaianus > N. peltatum on both the water surface and water-sediment interface. The phylum number of bacteria attached to the surface of plant residues increased from 27 to 52. The abundance of Bacteroidetes, which had the function of decomposing refractory organic matter, increased most significantly at the final incubation. At present, shallow lakes are under the double pressure of eutrophication and global warming, and the intensity and duration of algal blooms are increasing. Therefore, the co-metabolism effect of the residue decomposition process described here may change the carbon cycle strength and increase the greenhouse gas emissions of lakes and need to be taken into account in future lake management. [Display omitted] • Decomposition of aquatic plants mediated by algal organic matter was studied. • The invasive algal organic matter was associated with the mass loss of aquatic plant. • The water surface was more favorable for the decomposition of aquatic plant. • Co-metabolism effect was closely related to the bacterial action of Bacteroidetes. • Co-metabolism effect in plant decomposition of eutrophic lakes should not be ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylotrophic bacteria are widely distributed in nature and can be applied in bioconversion because of their ability to use one-carbon source. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism underlying utilization of high methanol content and other carbon sources by Methylorubrum rhodesianum strain MB200 via comparative genomics and analysis of carbon metabolism pathway. The genomic analysis revealed that the strain MB200 had a genome size of 5.7 Mb and two plasmids. Its genome was presented and compared with that of the 25 fully sequenced strains of Methylobacterium genus. Comparative genomics revealed that the Methylorubrum strains had closer collinearity, more shared orthogroups, and more conservative MDH cluster. The transcriptome analysis of the strain MB200 in the presence of various carbon sources revealed that a battery of genes was involved in the methanol metabolism. These genes are involved in the following functions: carbon fixation, electron transfer chain, ATP energy release, and resistance to oxidation. Particularly, the central carbon metabolism pathway of the strain MB200 was reconstructed to reflect the possible reality of the carbon metabolism, including ethanol metabolism. Partial propionate metabolism involved in ethyl malonyl-CoA (EMC) pathway might help to relieve the restriction of the serine cycle. In addition, the glycine cleavage system (GCS) was observed to participate in the central carbon metabolism pathway. The study revealed the coordination of several metabolic pathways, where various carbon sources could induce associated metabolic pathways. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study providing a more comprehensive understanding of the central carbon metabolism in Methylorubrum. This study provided a reference for potential synthetic and industrial applications of this genus and its use as chassis cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-chain fatty acids (SFCAs) exhibit diverse functions from kidneys to human health and diseases, and also could exert their roles in post-translational modifications (PTMs). Nowadays, novel short-chain lysine acylations derived from SFCAs have attracted more attentions, including propionylation, butyrylation, 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation, β-hydroxybutyrylation, malonylation, succinylation, crotonylation, glutarylation, lactylation, etc. These acylations have multiple physiological effects on many diseases, which also contribute to kidney pathophysiology. Here, we summarize the role of the currently novel PTMs in the kidneys for human health and diseases. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing environmental and ecological problems caused by petroleum-based packaging materials, the focus has gradually shifted to natural resources for the preparation of functional food packaging materials. In addition to biodegradable properties, nanocellulose (NC) mechanical properties, and rich surface chemistry are also fascinating and desired to be one of the most probable green packaging materials. In this review, we firstly introduce the recent progress of novel applications of NC in food packaging, including intelligent packaging, nano(bio)sensors, and nano-paper; secondly, we focus on the modification techniques of NC to summarize the properties (antimicrobial, mechanical, hydrophobic, antioxidant, and so on) that are required for food packaging, to expand the new synthetic methods and application areas. After presenting all the latest advances related to material design and sustainable applications, an overview summarizing the safety of NC is presented to promote a continuous and healthy movement of NC toward the field of truly sustainable packaging. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crowding, a fundamental limit in object recognition, is believed to result from excessive integration of nearby items in peripheral vision. To understand its pooling mechanisms, we measured subjects’ internal response distributions in an orientation crowding task. Contrary to the prediction of an averaging model, we observed a pattern suggesting that the perceptual judgement is made based on choosing the largest response across the noise-perturbed items. A model featuring first-stage averaging and second-stage signed-max operation predicts the diverse errors made by human observers under various signal strength levels. These findings suggest that different rules operate to resolve the bottleneck at early and high-level stages of visual processing, implementing a combination of linear and nonlinear pooling strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the unique dynamic behavior of the lithium-ion battery system in the periodic high-rate pulse discharge, a frequency-domain impedance model and a dynamic extraction method of impedance parameters are proposed. Moreover, a 24-kWh lithium battery system is built to carry out the pulse-discharged cycle experiment. The harmonic characteristics in high and low frequency pulse discharge are studied by harmonic analysis method. Besides, the impedance characteristics of the 24-kWh lithium battery system under different state-of-charge and different cycles are analyzed quantitatively. The results show some new characteristics and verify that the proposed frequency-domain impedance model and impedance extraction method are well qualified to analyze the frequency-domain characteristics and dynamic behavior of the periodic pulse-discharged lithium battery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the natural cellulose encapsulated in both lignin and hemicellulose matrices, as well as in plant cell walls with a compact and complex hierarchy, extracting cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from lignocellulosic biomass is challenging. In this study, a sustainable high yield strategy with respect to other CNF preparations was developed. The cellulose was liberated from plant cell walls and fibrillated to a 7–22 nm thickness in one bath treatment with H3PO4 and H2O2 under mild conditions. The cellulose underwent swelling, the lignin underwent oxidative degradation, and the hemicellulose and a small amount of cellulose underwent acid hydrolysis. The CNFs' width was about 12 nm, with high yields (93% and 50% based on cellulose and biomass, respectively), and a 64% crystallinity and good thermal stability were obtained from bagasse. The current work suggests a strategy with simplicity, mild conditions, and cost-effectiveness, which means that this method can contribute to sustainable development for the preparation of CNFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Some previous studies have reported inconsistent results on the association between alcohol intake and diabetic retinopathy (DR) risk. This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of alcohol intake on subsequent DR risk using a meta-analytic approach. Methods: Three electronic databases (PubMed, EmBase, and the Cochrane library) were systematically searched for observational studies from their inception till November 2019. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied for the summary effect estimate using a random-effects model. Results: A total of 15 studies (5 cohort studies, 4 case-control studies, and 6 cross-sectional studies) with 37,290 participants and 12,711 DR cases were selected for the final meta-analysis. The pooled OR indicated no significant association between alcohol intake and DR risk (OR: 0.91; 95%CI: 0.78–1.06; P = 0.225), irrespective of the studies being pooled cohort (OR: 0.95; 95%CI: 0.66–1.36; P = 0.761), case-control (OR: 0.97; 95%CI: 0.77–1.23; P = 0.818), or cross-sectional (OR: 0.86; 95%CI: 0.69–1.08; P = 0.190) ones. However, this association might have been affected by the type of diabetes mellitus and the adjusted status. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the potential impact of alcohol intake on DR risk may differ according to the type of diabetes mellitus and adjusted status. Further large-scale, prospective cohort studies should be conducted to verify the findings of this study and to evaluate DR risk in relation to the dose and type of alcohol intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper has introduced two important indexes, turn-off surge voltage (TSV) on power switch and peak positive pole potential (PPPP) of storage batteries, which can be used to evaluate switching transient process of high-voltage energy storage system. Research on them is of great significance to power switch choice and high-voltage isolation design in engineering applications. Power switch response process at the turning off moment and transient process in freewheel stage have been analyzed by the established small-signal model of single power switch; then, a power switch test platform for hybrid energy storage system was built to verify it. Taking pulsed-power supply charging device with a novel inductor of low resistance and high inductance as a research object, this paper has analyzed dynamic process of the TSV and the PPPP at the turning off moment through establishing state space model of the whole system. Comparison shows that the numerical curves match the simulated curves well. Finally, the exactness of the employed model has been further verified in two pulse capacitor charging experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 2D BiOCl lamellar membrane with CNFs is constructed for photocatalyst. • Hydrogen evolution rate of BiOCl/CNF 2DLM is 4.7-times that of the BiOCl nanosheets. • Experimental and theoretical analyses revealed the effect of CNFs on photocatalysis. • CNFs can regulate hydrogen bonds networks of confined water. • Confined water promotes the release of H+ from H 2 O. Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) is a sustainable alternative for generating green and clean energy. However, it requires the use of nanoscale photocatalysts, whose applicability is limited by their poor reusability and proton release from water molecules. Herein, a porous two-dimensional lamellar membrane (2DLM) photocatalyst was fabricated from bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) nanosheets (BNs) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) via layer-by-layer self-assembly. The hybridization of the CNFs with the BNs improved the PHE rate of the resulting BiOCl/CNFs membrane (BCM). The optimal PHE rate was observed for a CNF content of 3.2 wt% and was 4.7-times that of raw BNs dispersed in an aqueous solution alone and 1.85-times that of the BiOCl membrane (BM). Moreover, the PHE rate remained unchanged even after 10 discontinuous cycles for a total time of 60 h. Comprehensive experimental characterization and molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that the introduction of the CNFs effectively regulated the hydrogen bond network of the confined water molecules, thus improving the efficiency of the conversion of H 2 O into H 2. Meanwhile, the optimization of the nanochannel sizes of the BNs by the hybridized CNFs accelerated water transport within the nanochannels. The 2DLM also showed excellent mechanical strength, flexibility, and translucence. This strategy of fabricating 2DLMs using a nanosheet photocatalyst and CNFs not only results in improved PHE performance but also should also aid the development of stable and reusable photocatalysts for other industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Based on the residual energy recovery in the electromagnetic emission scenario, the 30C pulse charging cycle experiments of LiFePO 4 batteries customized for electromagnetic emission at different charging temperatures were carried out to study the influence of charging temperature on battery aging. By adjusting the ambient temperature, heat dissipation conditions, and rest time, we studied the battery aging process at the average charging temperatures of 16 °C, 21 °C, 26 °C, 30 °C and 35 °C. Experimental results show that increasing charging temperature can significantly delay battery aging and prolong battery cycle life. In addition, when the average charging temperature is lower than 30 °C, the battery shows nonlinear aging; when the average charging temperature is higher than 30 °C, the battery shows linear aging in the early stage of cycling and nonlinear aging at the end of the cycle. The results of differential capacity analysis (DCA) show that the loss of lithium inventory is the primary aging mode of the battery and did not change with charging temperature. The aging mechanism of the battery under high-rate pulse charging was studied through multiscale post-test analysis. Analysis results showed that with the increase of charging temperature, the area of lithium-plating area decreases, and the thickness of SEI film increases. It can be inferred that when the average charging temperature is lower than 30 °C, lithium plating is the primary aging mechanism of the LiFePO 4 battery customized for electromagnetic emission. When the average charging temperature is higher than 30 °C, the growth of SEI film is the primary aging mechanism of the battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out to study the buckling and post-buckling behavior of stiffened composite curved panel under shear and in-plane bending. A test fixture was designed uniquely which was suitable for curved panel subjected to shear or shear and in-plane bending. The results showed that this kind of fixture was feasible. The strain data were recorded by strain gauges. The out-of-plane displacement field was characterized by a 3D digital speckle system. The stability of stiffened composite curved panel subjected to shear and in-plane bending was analyzed by the obtained data. Finite element method (FEM) was used. The influence of transverse frames on the stability of stiffened curved panel was further studied by FEM. Good correlation between experimental and FEM analysis was obtained. The fixture and test method used in this paper provide a reference to the study of curved panel subjected to shear or shear and in-plane bending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the overlapping structure of the offset quadrature amplitude modulation-based orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OQAM-OFDM) signals, the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) in OQAM-OFDM systems cannot be efficiently reduced by existing PAPR reduction methods, which independently consider the PAPR reduction in each data block. In this paper, a novel multiblock tone reservation (MB-TR ) scheme is proposed for the PAPR reduction in OQAM-OFDM systems. The key idea of the MB-TR scheme is to exploit the overlapping structure of the OQAM-OFDM signals and jointly consider the adjacent data blocks to obtain the clipping noise. To effectively eliminate the peaks of the OQAM-OFDM signals, the MB-TR scheme generates the peak-canceling signal by employing the weighted least square algorithm to fit the waveform of the peak-canceling signal to the waveform of clipping noise. Simulation results and analysis show that the MB-TR scheme could offer better PAPR reduction with lower computational complexity than the clipping control tone reservation scheme directly employed in OQAM-OFDM systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Recent studies have shown that the energy release capacity of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/Al with Si, and CuO, respectively, is higher than that of PTFE/Al. PTFE/Al/Si/CuO reactive materials with four proportions of PTFE/Si were designed by the molding–sintering process to study the influence of different PTFE/Si mass ratios on energy release. A drop hammer was selected for igniting the specimens, and the high-speed camera and spectrometer systems were used to record the energy release process and the flame spectrum, respectively. The ignition height of the reactive material was obtained by fitting the relationship between the flame duration and the drop height. It was found that the ignition height of PTFE/Al/Si/CuO containing 20% PTFE/Si is 48.27 cm, which is the lowest compared to the ignition height of other Si/PTFE ratios of PTFE/Al/Si/CuO; the flame temperature was calculated from the flame spectrum. It was found that flame temperature changes little for the same reactive material at different drop heights. Compared with the flame temperature of PTFE/Al/Si/CuO with four mass ratios, it was found that the flame temperature of PTFE/Al/Si/CuO with 20% PTFE/Si is the highest, which is 2589 K. The results show that PTFE/Al/Si/CuO containing 20% PTFE/Si is easier to be ignited and has a stronger temperature destruction effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separating the fibers, deconstructing both the interlamellar structures and the intermicrofibrils structures in the cell wall, and cleaving the amorphous regions of cellulose (all reached in one bath chemical-assisted treatment), then extracting cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from biomass, is both challenging and imperative. A simple, cost-effective and green strategy for extracting CNFs from bamboo using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide (NCHP), to enable fibrillation via a cooperative mechanism, is demonstrated herein. NCHP-CNFs 13.1 ± 2.0 nm wide, with a high aspect ratio, 74% crystallinity, excellent UV resistance and high thermal stability, were successfully extracted by treatment in HNO3 aqueous solution, at a concentration of 3.2 mol/L, and treatment with 60.00 mmol/g H2O2 at 50 °C for 48 h. The yields of NCHP-CNFs reached 73% and 99% based on biomass and cellulose, respectively, due to the high delignification selectivity of OH+ and the mild aqueous conditions during the NCHP treatment. These NCHP-CNFs with excellent UV resistance can potentially be applied in the field of UV-resistant coatings, to replace organic and inorganic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]