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For the drag and heat flux reduction of hypersonic blunt body, a novel combinational spike-aerodisk and channel concept has been proposed. The high pressure air behind the bow shock flows into the channel at the head of the aerodisk, and then sprays out through the lateral jet in the middle of the spike. The Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations coupled with the shear stress transport (SST) k - ω turbulence model have been employed to simulate the flow field. The numerical results reveal that compared with the spike-aerodisk, with the application of the channel, the lateral jet pushes the separated shock wave away from the spike. The range of the recirculation zone between the shear layer and the spike is increased, and the intensity of the reattached shock wave is significantly weakened, so the drag and heat flux reduction properties of the combinational configuration are significantly improved. The influences of the channel convergent half angle and lateral jet location on the flow field, drag and heat flux reduction properties are investigated thoroughly. When the channel convergent half angle is appropriate and the location of the lateral jet is close to the middle of the spike, the drag and heat flux reduction effect becomes better. Besides, with the increase of the Mach number and the decrease of the flying height, the drag and heat flux reduction performance become more significant. In the research range, the combinational configuration in which the convergent half angle is 60° and the lateral jet is located in the middle of the spike has a better overall effect of drag and heat flux reduction, and the effect reaches the best when the Mach number is 6 and the flying height is 20 km. Compared with the spike-aerodisk, the total drag coefficient of the configuration is reduced by 12.95%, and the peak value of Stanton number along the blunt body surface is reduced by 35.19%. • A novel combinational spike-aerodisk and channel concept was numerically investigated. • The combinational concept has better performance in both drag and heat flux reduction. • Effects of channel convergent half angle and lateral jet location on drag and heat flux reduction were studied. • Variation laws of drag and heat flux reduction under different Mach numbers and flight altitudes were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel performance-enhancement strategy for SLGHP geothermal system is proposed. • It relies on arousing inter-layer groundwater crossflow in reservoirs of multi-aquifers. • A numerical model is developed to describe and study the enhanced SLGHP system. • Effects of related parameters are comprehensively studied. The super-long gravity heat pipe (SLGHP) is a novel down-hole heat exchanger (DHE), which is in fast-developing and extremely suitable for deep-earth geothermal energy exploitation. The SLGHP itself has very high heat transfer coefficient, making the poor heat transfer capability of the surrounding geothermal formulations become the bottleneck constraining the overall performance of the SLGHP geothermal system. Inspired by the enhancing effect of the flowing groundwater in the aquifers on the thermal performance of the traditional DHE system, the present work proposes a heat transfer enhancement strategy based on arousing inter-layer crossflow in wellbore-connected multi-aquifers for the SLGHP geothermal system. A detailed numerical study is conducted to examine the effects of key parameters like the permeability and thickness of aquifers, the distance and pressure difference between aquifers. It is found that: i) a larger aquifer permeability leads to larger heat extraction rate of the SLGHP, but the heat extraction rate increment decreases due to the marginal effect when the aquifer permeability is larger than 10−12 m2; ii) a larger pressure difference improves the heat extraction of the SLGHP, the groundwater flow pattern from the deep to the shallow aquifers rather than the reversed pattern is found to be more beneficial due to the geothermal gradient; iii) the distance between aquifers shows a composite impact on the heat extraction performance of the SLGHP. A larger distance not only enlarges the heat transfer area between the SLGHP and the groundwater, but also creates an impeding effect on the heat uptake of SLGHP from the geothermal formation owing to the presentence of temperature-lowered groundwater in the flow path ending-part in the wellbore. In addition, the aquifer's thickness is found to have great impacts on the SLGHP heat extraction rate, and the "cask" effect may be encountered when the thickness difference between the connected aquifers is considerably large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recycled solvent-based green synthesis strategy for 2D/3D zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) has been developed to produce functional nanoporous carbons (NPCs) with tuneable morphology, graphitization, N-doping and high porosity via direct pyrolysis. These tailored NPCs show superior supercapacitance performance over typical NPC derived from MOFs and chemical activation/template-directed methods. [Display omitted] • Two important aspects of green synthesis and improved supercapacitance are reported. • A green synthesis route for ZIF-8 via recycling mother liquors (RMLs) is developed. • Rod-/sheet-/polyhedral-like 2D/3D microstructures are produced with RMLs. • 2D/3D NPCs deliver excellent capacitance values and device-level performance. Carbonized metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)-based nanoporous carbon materials (NPCs) offer attractive activities in electrochemical energy conversion and storage (EECS) applications; however, there is the need for scalable MOFs production under reduced energy/environmental impact. This study reports a green synthesis route for model zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) materials via recycling methanol-based mother liquors (ZIF-RML x) under room temperature stirring and their carbonized materials (CZC-RML x) for high-performance supercapacitors. Series of ZIF-RML x samples produced in four recycles offer rod-/sheet-/polyhedral-like 2D/3D microstructures with tuneable internal and external framework and morphological features. Accordingly, CZC-RML x , obtained by direct pyrolysis, with high microporosity and surface area of 1500 m2 g−1 deliver excellent capacitance values of 200–340 F g−1, compared to typical MOFs-derived or chemically activated/templated NPCs, produced via extended chemical processing. Structure-relevant and comparative performance analysis reveal insights for improved charge storage and carbonization-dependent graphitization, nitrogen-doping and microporosity-controlled capacitance characteristics in the CZC-RML x over typical NPCs in literature. The device-level performance with a long-term durability over 21,000 cycles is demonstrated. The practical potential of CZC-RML x is further evaluated by fabricating solid-state cells and their parallel and series circuit combinations result in overall capacitance and voltage boost to 450 F g−1 and 2.4 V, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of high-speed rotating matter is a crucial research topic in physics due to the emergence of novel phenomena. In this letter, we combined cranking covariant density functional theory (CDFT) with a similarity renormalization group approach to decompose the Hamiltonian from the cranking CDFT into different Hermite components, including the non-relativistic term, the dynamical term, the spin-orbit coupling, and the Darwin term. Especially, we obtained the rotational term, the term relating to Zeeman-like effect, and the spin-rotation coupling due to consideration of rotation and spatial component of vector potential. By exploring these operators, we aim to identify novel phenomena that may occur in rotating nuclei. Signature splitting, Zeeman-like effect, and spin-rotation coupling are among the potential novelties that may arise in rotating nuclei. Additionally, we investigated the observability of these phenomena and their dependence on various factors such as nuclear deformation, rotational angular velocity, and magnetic field-like strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lane-changing control is a crucial task to regulate the traffic flow in the intelligent transportation system efficiently, and manipulating the lane-changing maneuvers for many vehicles optimally and simultaneously in a congested traffic environment is a challenge. This study formulates a lane-changing model where the traffic lanes are discretized into cells, considers both mandatory lane-changing and discretionary lane-changing maneuvers and proposes a novel approach based on a deep Q-network with a request–respond mechanism. The modeled lane-changing system is divided into isolated and symmetry groups, then independent Q-learning and the concept "central agent" are integrated to simplify the training process. In the proposed approach, these groups can be classified into two categories: request group and respond group. The request group and respond group are trained separately during the training process. Specifically, the request group trains agents with only considering the states of the group, while the respond group also evaluates the superimposing actions (i.e., the request message) from the request group besides the states of the group. The execution process is also treated the same decentralized way as the training process. Then, the baselines such as a rule-based method, a game theory-based decomposition algorithm and a simple deep Q-learning method are compared with the proposed approach. Results reveal that the proposed approach performs as well as the game theory-based decomposition algorithm and outperforms the other two in terms of lane-changing efficiency. However, the computational time of the proposed approach in the execution process is far less than the game theory-based decomposition algorithm, especially in a congested traffic environment. • A cellular lane-changing model is constructed mathematically. • A deep Q-learning method with the concept of "central agent" is implemented. • The "virtual agent" concept is introduced to train the group. • A novel deep Q-learning approach with a request and respond mechanism is proposed. • Baselines are compared and the proposed approach shows great potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In drug delivery systems, graphene materials are promising drug carriers. Drug molecules are loaded on graphene through π-π interaction between graphene and benzene ring structure, which is widely found in organic drug molecules. Then the drug molecules are released under different conditions, such as different environmental pH, at lesion site. In the application, the adsorption and desorption between benzene ring structure in drug molecules and graphene play a key role. Herein, an experimental method for measuring the adhesion force between a single phenyl and graphene is proposed, and the adsorption and desorption mechanical properties of a benzene ring structure on graphene surface at different environmental pH are firstly measured. The experimental results show that the adhesion force decreases with the increase of environmental pH. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulations show that the influence of pH on adhesion force is mainly realized by changing the electrostatic potential distribution on graphene surface, and the interaction force between a single benzene and graphene changes from attractive to repulsive with the increase of environmental alkalinity. In addition, a molecular dynamics model for the dynamic adsorption and desorption capacities of benzene molecules on graphene surface at different quantity of ions is established. Benzene molecules can achieve full adsorption on the surface of graphene when there are 10 and 20 hydrogen ions. And benzene molecules can achieve full desorption on the surface of graphene when there are 10 and 20 hydroxide ions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable water in water (W/W) emulsions of guar rich droplets dispersed in an amylopectin rich continuous phase (G/A) and the inverse (A/G) can be achieved by adding gelatin and inducing microphase separation of the latter by cooling. In this research, the effect of gelatin on the emulsion stability was further studied by storing the emulsions at 10, 20 and 25 °C. The visual aspect, the microstructure, and the viscosity of the emulsions were investigated at different times during storage at different temperatures and pH. It was found that depending on the conditions, the gelatin phase wetted the interface or formed small discrete microdomains that adsorbed at the interface and dispersed in the bulk phases. The observed differences in morphology and stability are related to the interplay of the rates of aggregation, phase separation of gelatin, which itself depend on the gelatin concentration, temperature and pH. Emulsions could be prepared in this manner that were stable for at least one week and remained visually homogeneous. We believe that this is a promising method to stabilize W/W emulsions as long as the components of the emulsion are incompatible with aggregated gelatin. • Water in water (W/W) emulsions were stabilized by adding gelatin. • Microphase separation of gelatin in the W/W emulsions was induced by cooling. • Either a gelatin layer or discrete gelatin domains formed at the W/W interface. • The stability is related to the rates of gelatin aggregation and phase separation. • The stability could be tuned by gelatin concentration, temperature and pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SnO 2 has a high specific capacity, low price, and a wide range of sources, but the anode material made from SnO 2 is extremely unstable due to volume expansion. In this work, SnO 2 nanoparticles were prepared using Sn-MOF as the precursor and compounded with sunflower seed shell porous carbon (SSSC) in a solvothermal manner to obtain a high-performance lithium-ion battery anode. The size of SnO 2 nanoparticles prepared using Sn-MOF as the precursor is uniform, only 10–20 nm, which can fully alleviate the volume expansion of SnO 2. On this basis, MOF-SnO 2 is anchored onto the porous carbon of the sunflower seed shell, which can provide more lithium insertion sites and further inhibit the volume expansion of SnO 2. The composite anode in this article has a stable specific capacity of 1050.8 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at a magnification of 0.2C and a stable specific capacity of 512.9 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at a magnification of 2C. [Display omitted] • SnO 2 nanoparticles were prepared by using tin-based metal organic framework as template. • SnO 2 nanoparticles composited with sunflower seed shell porous carbon were used as anode materials. • The composite material maintains 1050.2 mAh g–1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 C for LIB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shock drag and aeroheating are major problems faced by hypersonic vehicles. This study proposes a novel three-dimensional model combining spike-aerodisk with a bleed air channel featuring multiple lateral nozzles for drag and aeroheating reduction. The high-temperature and high-pressure air at the stagnation point of the aerodisk is introduced into the channel and ejected laterally through multiple nozzles to modify the flow field structure and reduce drag and aeroheating. In contrast to previous research employing a two-dimensional axisymmetric assumption, our innovation considers the structure of the exit nozzles and the spacing between nozzles. Due to multiple lateral nozzles, the connection thickness between nozzles can lead to asymmetric flow phenomena. Three-dimensional flow field simulation has been employed with the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations coupled with the shear stress transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model. The effects of the convergence half-angle of the channel inlet, the divergent angle of the nozzle, and the nozzle position on modifying the characteristics of the flow field are studied. Increasing the convergence half-angle of the channel inlet can further push away the reattachment shock, but when it exceeds 60°, the drag reduction performance degrades. Reducing the divergent angle of the nozzle and increasing the number of nozzles can reduce the drag coefficient and the peak value of the Stanton number. However, when the divergent angle is reduced to 10°, the performance of reducing drag and aeroheating is weakened. In the range of research parameters, when the convergence half-angle is 60°, the divergent angle is 15°, and the nozzles are located in the middle of the spike, compared with the plain spike-aerodisk model, the drag coefficient and peak Stanton number of the combined model are further reduced by 17.8 % and 34.8 %, respectively. Our findings confirm that a multi-nozzle can effectively reduce drag and aeroheating while the channel structure is viable in practice. • A new model of lateral jet without gas source is studied by 3-D numerical simulation. • The gas for the lateral jet is coupled with the outside flow. • A distribution form of multiple lateral nozzles is proposed. • A realistic 3-D simulation is conducted, enhancing its practical applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal management of fuel cell vehicles is posing a constant challenge due to the growing installed power of the fuel cell stack and consequent heat-overloaded situations of the radiator. Based on the "time-dependent" idea that considers the fluctuated heat generation and the intermittent heat peak during the journey, a novel thermal management system that employs a heat-peak regulator is proposed in the present work. The heat-peak regulator is a thermal accumulator filled with phase-change material that separately exchanges heat with the fuel cell coolant and the air conditioner refrigerant. It temporarily receives the excess heat that cannot be released out by the radiator when the heat peak occurs; later on, when the heat peak is gone, the heat is transferred to the refrigerant to remove it from the condenser. The system simulations based on the developed thermal models demonstrate that, the thermal runaway of the fuel cell stack can be eliminated or effectively weakened by this novel thermal management system, relying on the amount of the phase-change material filling the heat-peak regulator. In the present study, the 135 s and 250 s thermal runaway durations can be shortened to 0 s and 105 s, respectively, in the standardized New European Driving Cycle and World-wide Harmonized Light Duty Test Cycle under 38 °C summer weather, and the maximum temperature for the latter can be reduced from 89 °C to 83 °C. This work can make a significant contribution towards the solution of thermal management problems of the fuel cell vehicles. • Proposing the "time-dependent" thermal management methodology. • The thermal management system contains a heat-peak regulator. • The heat-overload problem for the radiator of fuel cell stack is properly handled. • The proposed system is analyzed based on a self-developed thermal model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carteolol is a commonly-used topical medication for primary open-angle glaucoma. However, long-term and frequent ocular application of carteolol entails its residuals at low concentration in the aqueous humor for a long duration and may exert latent toxicity in the human corneal endothelial cells (HCEnCs). Here, we treated the HCEnCs in vitro with 0.0117% carteolol for 10 days. Thereafter, we removed the cartelolol and normally cultured the cells for 25 days to investigate the chronical toxicity of carteolol and the underlying mechanism. The results exhibited that 0.0117% carteolol induces senescent features in the HCEnCs, such as increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase positive rates, enlarged relative cell area and upregulated p16INK4A and senescence-associated secretory phenotypes, including IL-1α, TGF-β1, IL-10, TNF-α, CCL-27, IL-6 and IL-8, as well as decreased Lamin B1 expression and cell viability and proliferation. Thereby, further exploration demonstrated that the carteolol activates β-arrestin–ERK–NOX4 pathway to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production that imposes oxidative stress on energetic metabolism causing a vicious cycle between declining ATP and increasing ROS production and downregulation of NAD+ resulting in metabolic disturbance-mediated senescence of the HCEnCs. The excess ROS also impair DNA to activate the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway of ATM–p53–p21WAF1/CIP1 with diminished poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerase (PARP) 1, a NAD+-dependent enzyme for DNA damage repair, resulting in cell cycle arrest and subsequent DDR-mediated senescence. Taken together, carteolol induces excess ROS to trigger HCEnC senescence via metabolic disturbance and DDR pathway. [Display omitted] • 0.0117% carteolol induces senescence of human corneal endothelial cells (HCEnCs). • The carteolol activates β-arrestin–ERK–NOX4 axis to elevate ROS production. • The elevated ROS impair DNA and impose oxidative stress (OS) on energy metabolism. • The DNA damage elicits senescence of the HCEnCs via DNA damage response pathway. • The OS provokes metabolic disturbance resulting in senescence of the HCEnCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In field of drug delivery, graphene is a potential material as drug carrier due to its large specific surface area and excellent chemical stability. Many kinds of drug molecules can be adsorbed on graphene surface through single or multiple benzene ring structures in drug molecules. Graphene loaded with drug molecules needs to be transported to the lesion site through blood. The content of water molecules in blood accounts for 92%. Therefore, the influence of water molecule on adsorption performance cannot be ignored. Here, the influence and mechanism of water molecule on the adsorption properties between benzene molecule and graphene is studied. The adsorption models of benzene molecule on graphene surface in vacuum and water environments are established, respectively. The adhesion energy, adhesion force and stable adsorption position of benzene molecule in two environments are analyzed by molecular dynamics simulation and potential function theory. Moreover, a model of preadsorption of a single water molecule on graphene surface is further presented, which explains the reason of the difference in adsorption performance in vacuum and water environment from the perspective of energy. The preadsorption of water molecule on graphene surface promotes the adsorption of benzene molecule. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Compressive properties of 3D graphene are studied by theory and MD simulations. • The unified constitutive relations of three kinds of 3D graphene are derived. • Compressive deformation mechanisms of three kinds of 3D graphene are discussed. • The configuration-property relationships of 3D graphene are elucidated. • Energy absorption capacities of three kinds of 3D graphene are analyzed. Combining molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and continuum modeling, the uniaxial in-plane compressive properties of honeycomb three-dimensional (h3D), triangle-like 3D (t3D) and non-equilateral hexagon 3D (nh3D) graphene are investigated to elucidate configuration-property relationships, and the constitutive relations of three kinds of 3D graphene are derived to evaluate the compressive mechanical properties. Based on theoretical and MD simulation results, it is found that the compressive stress-strain responses of 3D graphene can be divided into five stages. The compressive mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of each stage are different. When 3D graphene is compressed, graphene sidewalls undergo rotations, bending and buckling deformations, collapses. Because graphene sidewalls of h3D graphene are prone to undergo buckling deformations, there is large locking strain in h3D graphene. For t3D and nh3D graphene, their high plateau stress is attributed to unique configurations. Moreover, we also find that with increasing graphene sidewall width, Young's modulus and plateau stress of 3D graphene gradually decrease. In addition to the above investigations, the energy absorption mechanisms and compression-unloading stress-strain curves of 3D graphene are also studied. It is found that there are extraordinary compression-recovery properties and energy absorption capacities in 3D graphene. Finally, the selection criteria of 3D graphene are proposed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By slotting an inlet at the head of the aerodisk, a channel through the spike, and the lateral jet outlet at the middle of the spike, the blunt body with spike-aerodisk can further reduce its aeroheating and drag. In this paper, the numerical simulation method was used to analyze the flow field structure of this spike-aerodisk-channel, the effects of the spike length, the aerodisk diameter, and the channel diameter on the drag and aeroheating performance of this spike-aerodisk-channel configuration were studied. In general, the lateral jet introduced by the channel from the stagnation region of the aerodisk leads to the shear layer separation in advance, pushes the separation shock away from the spike, enlarges the recirculation zone near the blunt body, avoids the interaction between the separation shock and the reattachment shock, increases the distance from the reattachment shock to the surface of the blunt body. The reattachment shock strength of the blunt body is weakened. With increased spike length and channel diameter, drag and aeroheating reduction are improved. With the increase of the diameter of the aerodisk, the aeroheating performance is improved, but the drag reduction performance continues to decline. Compared with the plain spike-aerodisk, the spike-aerodisk-channel is generally conducive to further drag and aeroheating reduction. In the range of research parameters, considering the effect of drag and aeroheating reduction and the structural feasibility, the spike-aerodisk-channel has the best drag and aeroheating reduction performance when the spike length is twice the blunt-body diameter, the ratio of the aerodisk diameter to the blunt-body diameter is 0.3, and the ratio of the channel diameter to the blunt-body diameter is 0.075. Compared with the plain spike-aerodisk of the same size, the aeroheating reduction efficiency is increased by 37.9%, and the drag reduction efficiency is increased by 16.0%. • Drag and aeroheating reduction mechanism of the spike-aerodisk and channel concept under hypersonic conditions was investigated by the numerical simulation. • Three influence factors were analyzed and compared comprehensively. • Combined spike-aerodisk and channel concept is a promising drag and aeroheating reduction technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Differential expressed noncoding RNAs among the healthy controls and the patients with AAA before and after underwent EVAR were detected. • 164 differentially expressed miRNAs, 179 co-differentially expressed lncRNAs, and 440 co-differentially expressed circRNAs were obtained. • lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network included 15 lncRNAs, 63 miRNAs and 57 mRNAs. • CircRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network included 79 circRNAs, 21 miRNAs, and 49 mRNAs. • AAA patients might be benefit from EVAR based on various pathways and some molecules related with shear stress. The aim of the study was to explore the potential molecular mechanism associated with shear stress on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression. This study performed RNA sequencing on AAA patients (SQ), AAA patients after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR, SH), and normal controls (NC). Furthermore, we identified the differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNA (cirRNAs) and constructed competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. Finally, 164 differentially expressed miRNAs, 179 co-differentially expressed lncRNAs, and 440 co-differentially expressed circRNAs among the three groups were obtained. The differentially expressed miRNAs mainly enriched in 325 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Target genes associated with co-differentially expressed genes among the group of SH, SQ, and NC mainly enriched in 66 KEGG pathways. LncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions, including 15 lncRNAs, 63 miRNAs and 57 mRNAs, was constructed. CircRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network included 79 circRNAs, 21 miRNAs, and 49 mRNAs. Among them, KLRC2 and CSTF1, targeted by miR-125b, participated in cell-mediated immunity regulation. MiR-320-related circRNAs and SATB1-AS1 serving as the sponge of miRNAs, such as has-circ-0129245, has-circ-0138746, and has-circ-0139786, were hub genes in ceRNA network. In conclusion, AAA patients might be benefit from EVAR based on various pathways and some molecules, such as miR-125b and SATB1-AS1, related with shear stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sichuan-Tibet Railway traverses the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China, where giant landslides occur frequently and densely. Accurately assessing the velocity, runout distance, and influenced area of the potential landslides is one of the nonnegligible scientific and technical issues. This study establishes a dynamic model for the landslide runout assessment along the Sichuan-Tibet Railway. The proposed model is based on the shallow water theory and takes into account the mechanism that the friction is weakening with the increase of velocity, the finite difference method is used to solve the governing equations, and the ideal one-dimensional dam break experiment was used to verify the shock-capturing capacity of the numerical methods. The Lagang ancient landslide, only 500 m away from the Jiacha Station of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway, represents the typical environment and development pattern of landslides in this region. Therefore, the proposed model is applied to discuss its effects on the landslide dynamic process and deposit patterns. Besides, 75 sets of numerical experiments were further carried out to explore the sensibility of the three parameters including peak friction coefficient μ p , steady friction coefficient μ s , and critical velocity V c in this model. The results indicate that μ s determine the lower limit of the friction coefficient, which significantly impacts the landslide runout distance; μ p is mainly acting at the initial and final stage and has less influence on the landslide dynamic. By contrast, V c is the most significant. When the V c is small, the landslide can quickly reach the threshold velocity after the initial, and the dynamic process has a small correlation with the μ p ; when the V c is large, the landslide is difficult to reach the threshold, and the mobility will be limited. It should be noted that the materials, lithology, strength, and micro-cracks of landslides mass formed under the special geological, geomorphic, and climatic conditions in this region may affect the input values when using the friction weakening model on landslides risk assessment. • Established a numerical method for landslide risk assessment in the Sichuan-Tibet railway area • The parameters sensitivity of the resistance weakening model was discussed based numerical tests • Provides a calibration basis and range for the parameters required to apply the model [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The pH effect of adhesion force of benzene on graphene is quantitatively studied. • The edge effect of adhesion force is confirmed by experiment. • The potential function method is used to reveal the mechanism of pH effect. • The edge effect is explained by the vdW and electrostatic interaction. Graphene materials, as drug carriers, play an important role in the specific drug delivery system. The drug molecules with aromatic structures can be adsorbed on the surface of graphene in vitro through π-π stacking interaction and released directionally at the lesion under special temperature and pH-value environment. This paper proposes a new experimental method and theoretical model for the purpose to study the effect and mechanism of environmental pH and edge of graphene on the adsorption mechanical properties between graphene and benzene. The experimental results based on atomic force microscope show that the acidic environment is more conducive to the adsorption of benzene on the surface of graphene than the alkaline environment. The adsorption performance of benzene at the center of graphene is better than that at the edge. Moreover, based on experimental results, mechanisms of pH effect and edge effect are revealed by potential function theory. The pH effect is influenced by the change of electrostatic interaction in different pH environments. In addition, edge effect is mainly dominated by van der Waals interaction. This study solves the problem of specific influence mechanism of pH on π-π stacking interaction using mechanical means for the first time, and shows that graphene as a drug carrier has strong pH response characteristics and great application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a typical semiconductor, ZnO is considered as a favorable photocatalyst due to its excellent photoelectrochemical properties. However, low response of visible light and the recombination of photoinduced carriers limits its application in photocatalysis. Herein, a novel, robust and recyclable heterogeneous photocatalyst based on flower-like Co doped ZnO microspheres was presented without changing the hierarchical morphology. The crystal structure, light absorption, and electrochemical performance were systematically investigated, and the response of Co doped ZnO to visible light significantly enhanced with the gap band reduced from 3.20 eV to 2.54 eV. Due to the transformation of Co2+ to Co3+, more oxygen vacancies were produced, with more photoinduced electrons transferring to Co3+ which would greatly inhibit the recombination of photoinduced electrons and holes and improve photocatalytic activity. 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) which is considered as a long half-life intermediate of antibiotic medicine is chosen as a target. As a result, the 7% Co-ZnO photocatalyst exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MBT with the rate constant of 0.1498 min−1 and removing ratio of 97.3% in 50 min. The formation of excess oxygen vacancies and the conversion between Co2+ to Co3+ were further identified by XPS analysis. This work provides new sights for doping transition metal with different chemical valence in semiconductors for producing oxygen vacancy and improving the photocatalytic efficiency. [Display omitted] • A novel and recyclable heterogeneous flower-like Co doped ZnO microspheres is prepared via simple procedure. • Doping of Co species effectively reduces the band gap energy of ZnO with the formation of abundant oxygen vacancies. • Electrons are trapped due to the transformation of Co2+ and Co3+ which hinders the recombination of photo-induced carriers. • The formation of oxygen vacancies and the conversion between Co2+ to Co3+ are further identified by XPS analysis. • The prepared photocatalyst exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity for degradation of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a cellular lane-changing model where the traffic lanes are discretized into cells and formulates the lane-changing process as a multi-player non-zero-sum non-cooperative game in a connected environment where the real-time surrounding traffic data is shared. In a congested traffic scenario where a large quantity of mandatory lane-changing maneuvers are required simultaneously, the size of the game is extended dynamically (i.e., 2–5 players in this case, and it can be extended more if necessary) based on the traffic situation. Discretionary lane-changing maneuvers are also considered in the decision-making process to maximize the use of the capacity of each traffic lane, i.e., distributing the vehicles to each traffic lane as uniform as possible. Moreover, the competing vehicle on the target lane has more flexible actions (i.e., changing to other lanes) except for accelerating and decelerating actions. Thus, its temporary benefit is sometimes sacrificed by taking these actions to pursue the global benefit so that other vehicles could complete mandatory lane-changing maneuvers. It is a known fact that the space complexity expands exponentially as the game size increases, so a novel decomposition algorithm based on game theory is proposed to reduce the complexity and improve computational efficiency. Finally, a rule-based approach, a classic Nash equilibrium approach and the proposed decomposition algorithm are compared by the critical indicators such as the number of lane-changing vehicles, the maximum incoming queues during the process, the mean of computational time per iteration, etc. The performance shows no significant difference in the efficacy of lane-changing maneuvers among these approaches under the uncongested traffic condition. At the same time, the decomposition algorithm is more efficient in computing time than the classic Nash equilibrium approach. As the traffic gets congested, the game theory-based approaches prove more effective in lane-changing behaviours than the rule-based approach. Meanwhile, the decomposition algorithm outperforms the classic Nash equilibrium approach more significantly in terms of computational time. • A lane-changing model is discretized into cells. • The system is formulated as multi-player games in a connected environment. • A novel decomposition algorithm is proposed to reduce the complexity. • The proposed algorithm and other approaches are examined and compared. • The proposed algorithm shows high efficacy with a short computational time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One way to increase the ductility of metallic glasses is to induce heterogeneous microstructures, as for example in nanoglasses and crystal-glass composites. The heterogeneities have important consequences not only on the development of shear bands, but also on the structural relaxations in the glass phase. Experiments using dynamic mechanical spectroscopy (DMS) have been conducted, but an atomic-scale picture is still lacking. Here we apply DMS within molecular dynamics simulations to a classical CuZr metallic glass to study how structural relaxations and mechanical energy dissipation are affected by different microstructures, including nanoglasses, crystal-glass nanolaminates and glasses with spherical crystalline inclusions. We find that in a fully glassy system, not only the fraction but also the spatial homogeneity of "hard" icosahedral environments matter. When hard crystalline particles are introduced, the storage modulus simply results from volumetric averages consistent with the classical Voigt and Reuss bounds. On the other hand, loss moduli are much more complex and can be smaller or larger than in a pure glass depending on the microstructure and loading condition. Atomistic processes leading to these evolutions are discussed and remaining open questions are highlighted. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been proved by recent works that reputation can help to improve the efficiency of blockchain and enhance the fairness of energy trading markets. However, the application of distributed reputation in the energy field has not been fully studied yet. In this paper, we design a distributed reputation system to simulate real-world trust in blockchain-based peer-to-peer energy trading. It is a comprehensive reputation system in the sense that reputation scores are decided by the behavior of participants as consensus nodes, energy buyer, and energy sellers. Its implementation relies on blockchain, especially the smart contract technology, to achieve distributed and automatic reputation management. The distributed reputation system in turn helps to implement a delegated consensus algorithm for blockchain and a reputation-based k -double auction matchmaking scheme for peer-to-peer energy trading. In addition, we define a fairness indicator to capture the reputation-based average benefits and costs when considering reputation as the contribution to the peer-to-peer energy trading market. By simulating the comprehensive system, the numerical results demonstrate the effects of distributed reputation in improving the efficiency of blockchain and balancing fairness indicators between sellers and buyers during peer-to-peer energy trading. As far as we know, this paper is one of the few works to provide a formal method of evaluating the fairness of the peer-to-peer energy trading market. • A distributed reputation system is designed based on the blockchain technology. • Reputation is used to improve blockchain consensus and peer-to-peer energy trading fairness. • A formal definition of fairness of peer-to-peer energy trading is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing production of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) causing animal and human health issues is found in eutrophic water bodies, marine habitats and desert environments. The health threat posed by MC-LR has led to the establishment of World Health Organization's water guideline value of 1 μg/mL. Combating this has increased the search for cost-effective approach to degrade MC-LR. The study aimed to optimize the MC-degrading environmental factors of bacterial community YFMCD4. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to evaluate the influence of varying temperatures, pH and initial MC-LR concentration on the biodegradation efficiency of MC-LR by bacterial community YFMCD4. The optimal MC-LR biodegradation environmental factors were found to be 30 °C, pH 7 and 2 μg/mL initial MC-LR. The biodegradation rate reached 100% after 10 h. YFMCD4 mainly consisted of genera Alacligenes , Sphingobacterium and Pseudomonas using High-throughput pyrosequencing technology. The mlrA gene encoding MlrA enzyme considered most important for MC-LR biodegradation was obtained from YFMCD4. Data demonstrated that the bacterial structure and biodegradation efficiency of YFMCD4 varied with the change of environmental factors including temperature, pH and MC-LR concentrations. RSM is considered a good method to examine the optimal biodegradation environmental conditions for MC-LR. To date, RSM and High-throughput pyrosequencing technology are employed to optimize the biodegradation conditions (30 °C, pH 7 and 2 μg/mL initial MC-LR) and analyze the structure of bacterial community for the first time. • RSM was used to optimize MC-LR biodegradation conditions by YFMCD4 for the first time. • Varying temperatures, pH and MC-LR concentrations influenced MC-LR biodegradation. • Structure of YFMCD4 was analyzed by high-throughput pyrosequencing technology. • mlrA and mlrD homologues genes were amplified from YFMCD4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complex aerodynamic effects, the reentry trajectory optimization problem is highly nonlinear. When using sequential convex programming (SCP) methods to solve it, the iteration solution is difficult to converge. To improve this, we propose a hybrid-order soft trust region-based SCP method. We analyze the penalty effect of typical trust regions. Based on the analysis, we develop a hybrid-order soft trust region combining a small-weight first-order component and a higher-order components. To solve the subproblem reliably and effectively, we equivalently reformulate it as a second-order cone programming (SOCP) form through the relaxation technique. Combined with the line search method, we further design an SCP algorithm with guaranteed convergence under some assumptions. In the numerical simulations, the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method have been verified using a nominal case and 200 Monte Carlo cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The northwest area of the BTSSCP suffered severe dust-affected zones based on the dust flow trajectory. • The ESs in severe dust-affected areas were relatively poor. • ESs and the dust flow trajectory were integrated to identify ecological governance zones. • Governance suggestions were proposed for the ecological management zone combined with the driving forces. Achieving ecological conservation and governance based on ecosystem services (ESs) can balance regional ecological protection and development, which is of great significance for sustainable development. Existing research has mainly focused on the extraction of priority ecological conservation areas, thereby neglecting to consider the classification and management of ecological engineering areas. To improve regional ecological governance, we combine ESs and dust movement trajectory, using the Beijing-Tianjin Sandstorm Source Control Project (BTSSCP) as the research object to generate watersheds' ecological governance zones. Six ESs were assessed to determine ecological zones. Trajectory simulation of dust movement, using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model and potential source contribution function, was used to determined zones affected by dust. By combining these two aspects, five main ecological governance clusters were identified. We found that: (1) the area with low ESs in the northwest of the BTSSCP suffered from severe dust impacts; (2) slight dust-affected zones were mainly distributed in the eastern of the BTSSCP, and in the area, ESs gradually decreased from south to north; (3) ESs in the region was primarily influenced by natural factors and the influencing factors of ESs vary among different zones. These findings will not only contribute to the overall planning and governance of the BTSSCP, but can offer general guidance for the formulation of targeted ecological protection and restoration measures in other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the effects of short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) with different particle sizes on first-ever stroke risk in the middle-aged and elderly Chinese population. Health information was collected from the China National Stroke Screening Survey (CNSSS) from March 1, 2013, to April 10, 2015. Ambient exposures to PM 1 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 were obtained from ChinaHighAirPollutants (CHAP) Grid data. Case-crossover design was used to estimate the increase of first-ever stroke risk per 10 μg/m3 increase in ambient exposures to different size particles. We used distributed lag linear model (DLM) to estimate the hysteresis effects of particle exposures. In addition, in order to assess the effect modification of long-term exposure, we did a stratified analysis using median exposure as the dividing line. We included 1326 first-ever stroke events from 242 communities in the present study. We found that effects on first-ever stroke risk increased with the decrease in particle size. The percent increases of first-ever stroke risk increased by 6.6% (95% CI: 1.4, 12.0), 3.3% (95% CI: 0.5, 6.1), and 0.6% (95% CI: -1.2, 2.6) per 10 g/m3 increases in PM 1 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 exposures in lag 0–2 days, respectively. Furthermore, the cumulative effect of PM on first-ever stroke reached its peak at distinct time points under different layers of long-term PM exposure. In areas with low PM exposure, the cumulative effects of the three kinds of particles on stroke reached their peak in lag1 day, while the cumulative effect peaked in lag3 day in areas with high PM exposure. This study found that smaller particles had a stronger short-term effect on first-ever stroke. We also found that people in areas with long-term exposures to lower levels were more sensitive to short-term exposures. These results have public health significance for stroke prevention and air pollution reduction. [Display omitted] • The effects of PM on first-ever stroke in a large area were evaluated. • The impacts of PM increase with decreasing particle size. • The short-term effects of PM were larger in areas with lower long-term exposure levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) of graphene is studied via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations when epoxy groups are orderly arranged on its surface. When two epoxy groups are located on the same side of the zigzag bridge in a representative cell of graphene, a ripple area appears on the graphene surface. A truss structure model of the ripple is presented to reveal the nature of the NPR phenomenon due to the de-wrinkling effect during stretching. Based on this, the wrinkle region is defined as a periodic distribution unit, and it is evenly distributed along the X- and Y-direction in the 5 nm × 5 nm graphene, then it is found that graphene exhibits a remarkable negative Poisson's ratio phenomenon. In addition, the results show that the oxygen atoms proportion of graphene significantly influence its NPR, and the NPR is the most remarkable when the proportion of oxygen atoms is 4.2 %. [Display omitted] • NPR of graphene caused by epoxy group was studied by theoretical and MD method. • A truss structure model was presented to reveal the nature of NPR phenomenon. • The designed graphene containing epoxy groups exhibits remarkable NPR phenomenon. • NPR of graphene containing epoxy groups depends on the proportion of oxygen atoms. • GO with 4.2 % oxygen atoms has the most remarkable NPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A methodology is proposed for dynamic probability assessment of natural gas pipeline for third-party damage. • Failure factors are identified into two aspects of intentional factors and unintentional factors. • The probabilities of third-party damage failure causations are estimated by Fuzzy set theory and Dempster-Shafer evidence theory. • Fault tree analysis and event sequence diagram are coupled and transformed into dynamic Bayesian network model to eliminate uncertainty. • A real-field case study is used to prove the practicality and advantages of the proposed method. Failure and leakage of natural gas pipelines can lead to serious ecological losses and casualties. Third-party damage has become an important cause of pipeline failure and leakage, which urgently needs an accurate risk assessment method to assess the risk. Conventional qualitative risk analysis methods can only point out the critical events of failure accidents but fails to predict the failure probability. This paper proposes a dynamic risk probability analysis method based on Dynamic Bayesian network (DBN), which is validated by a third-party damage case under uncertainty. First, human factors are taken as the main analysis object in the risk analysis, by which two subcategories of intentional and unintentional factors are classified. A complete risk factor analysis is performed by combining expert recommendations with the fault tree analysis method and developing a coupled model with the event sequence diagram. Second, in order to deal with the uncertainty of risk factors, the coupled model is mapped to a DBN model. The prior probabilities of the input DBN model are obtained by database, fuzzy set theory, and Dempster-Shafer evidence theory. Weibull distribution is applied to construct the probability transfer process between time segments, which better fits the characteristics of third-party disruptive factors in onshore pipelines. Finally, the practicality and advantages of the proposed method are demonstrated by a real case study, which identifies 6 critical events and predicts the probabilistic information in different time slices. Furthermore, the method predicts the probability of failure events and potential consequences by processing the time series information, and it is found that the probability of structural damage and explosion is higher than other consequences. In this way, some risk management countermeasures are proposed in a targeted manner. The results show that compared with the conventional BN model which only performs probabilistic inference once, the DBN model can perform temporal dynamic inference to achieve the prediction of failure probability, and it can effectively achieve the numerical prediction of risk failure probability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The importance of the composition of an energy-restricted diet in the treatment of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is unknown. Objectives In this study we aimed to investigate the benefits of a novel dietary treatment (50% calorie restriction diet composed of yogurt, fruit, and vegetables [CR-YD]) in mice with MetS. Methods Forty 7-wk-old male C57BL/6 J mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 10/group) that were fed for 14 wk ad libitum with a normal diet (ND; 10%:70%:20% energy from fat: carbohydrate: protein) or for 12 wk with a high-fat diet (HFD; 60:20:20) or the HFD followed by 2 wk of feeding with a 50% calorie-restricted HFD (CR-HFD) or YD (CR-YD, 21.2%:65.4%:13.4% energy). Body weight, fat deposition, hepatic steatosis, serum concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers, and glucose homeostasis were assessed. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was used to validate the roles of gut microbiota in MetS. Results The HFD group had 50% greater body weight and 475% greater fat deposition than the ND group (P  < 0.05). Compared with the HFD group, the CR-HFD and CR-YD groups had 22% and 31% lower body weight and 49% and 75% less fat deposition, respectively (P  < 0.05). Compared with the CR-HFD group, the CR-YD group had 11% lower body weight, 96% less fat deposition, 500% less hepatic steatosis, 75% lower glucose, and 450% more hepatic Akkermansia bacteria (P  < 0.05). The CR-YD group also had 50% lower histopathology scores and 1.35-fold higher levels of Claudin4 than the CR-HFD group (P  < 0.05). The HFD + CR-YD fecal group had 10.6% lower body weight, 119% lower steatosis, and 17.9% lower glucose (P  < 0.05) than the HFD + CR-HFD fecal group. Conclusions Compared with CR alone, the CR-YD diet has a better therapeutic effect in mice with HFD-induced MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changed land use patterns are the most direct manifestation of ecological engineering implemented by humans, being among the driving factors for changes in ecosystem services (ESs). However, different ecological engineering governance measures can lead to different changes in land use, resulting in corresponding changes to ESs and ecosystem service value (ESV), yet these changes is the content that needs to be clarified. In this study, four kinds of ESs, namely water yield, soil conservation, carbon storage and water purification, were quantified in part region of the Beijing-Tianjin Sandstorm Source Control Project (BTSSCP). In addition, eight scenarios were simulated according to the land use change caused by engineering management measures, and the ESs and ESV ensuing under these differing scenarios quantified accordingly. The results show that the main land use types in the study area from 2000 to 2020 were cropland and forestland, while during this period land use change mainly consisted of the expansion of grassland (+466.79 km2) and loss of cropland (−2095.27 km2). For different engineering management measures, protective governance will play a greater role in improving ESs than restoration governance. Protecting the existing governance outcomes from degrading can maintain a water yield of 36.85 × 108 m3, soil conservation of 73.72 × 106 t, carbon storage of 89.01 × 106 t, the purified water nitrogen content of 1.21 × 106 t, with the total ESV maintained at 54.237 billion yuan. Moreover, the high-investment counties clearly engage in ecological restoration that provides high ESV. Yet, there are still some counties with high project investment where the gains in ESV are low, such as Luanping county and Pingquan county. Therefore, it should be reasonably distributed based on the existing governance results in the next round of project investment allocation. In the past 20 years, engineering governance measures have significantly improved the ESs in the region. Nevertheless, looking ahead, it remains necessary to strengthen the emphasis on protecting governance outcomes. [Display omitted] • Scenario simulations were run under governance measures for ecological engineering. • Ecosystem service value (ESV) under differing governance measures were simulated. • ESV is higher when ecological protection rather than restoration measures are used. • Project investment vis-à-vis ESV under the different scenarios were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three dimensional (3D) rare cubane-like tetrameric Cu(II)-based MOF 1 having formula [Cu 4 (O)(OH) 3 (bb) 4 (NO 3) 3 0.3 H 2 O·3CH 3 CN] n (bb = 4,4'-bis (imidazolyl) biphenyl) has been synthesized and characterized. The MOF 1 possess 4-fold dia topology and effectively catalyzes the photodegradation of basic green (BG), rhodamine B (RhB), methyl blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes under UV light irradiation. The effects of initial solution pH, concentration of dyes, and photocatalyst dose have been monitored on the photocatalytic performance of 1. The photocatalytic results suggest that MOF 1 exhibits best photocatalytic activity for BG amongst all the four dyes investigated. Under the optimal reaction condition, ∼96.8 % photodegradation of BG has been observed at pH 5, at 40 ppm concentration of BG and 30 mg photocatalyst concentration in 120 min time span. The radical trapping experiments suggest that O 2 ·− and·OH are the main active species that catalyzes the photodecomposition of dyes. The possible mechanism for the BG degradation of 1 is proposed using density of states (DOS) calculations and Hirshfeld surface analysis. [Display omitted] • A new Cu(II) MOF with 4-fold dia topology synthesized using 4,4'-bis (imidazolyl) biphenyl ligand. • The MOF was characterized using different physico-chemical techniques. • The MOF used as photocatalyst for photodegradation of dyes especially basic green. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The improved brute-force search transforms the energy-saving operation problem into optimal turning point solution. • Considering the speed limit, a more reasonable energy-saving turning point is obtained by adding a constant speed section. • The energy-saving effect of improved brute-force search is better than GA and PSO algorithms in Guangzhou Metro Line 7. Rail train operation energy consumption mainly focuses on train traction energy consumption. Reducing train traction energy consumption in rail transit operation is significant to developing a green and low-carbon economy and reducing operation costs. The rail train operation energy-saving optimization framework is developed considering the utilization of regenerative braking energy. Firstly, three objectives of punctual arrival, fixed-point parking and minimum energy consumption are provided by train operation strategy analysis. Secondly, the improved brute-force search is developed to solve train operation energy-saving multi-objective problems. The running time, speed, distance, power, and energy consumption of operation intervals are calculated. Finally, Guangzhou Metro Line 7 is taken as an example to verify the effectiveness of the developed optimization model. The results show that the improved brute-force search method effectively finds a more energy-saving turning point under constant interval operation time and has a better energy-saving effect than two other heuristic algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three dimensional (3D) rare cubane-like tetrameric Cu(II)-based MOF 1 having formula [Cu 4 (O)(OH) 3 (bb) 4 (NO 3) 3 0.3 H 2 O·3CH 3 CN] n (bb = 4,4'-bis (imidazolyl) biphenyl) has been synthesized and characterized. The MOF 1 possess 4-fold dia topology and effectively catalyzes the photodegradation of basic green (BG), rhodamine B (RhB), methyl blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes under UV light irradiation. The effects of initial solution pH, concentration of dyes, and photocatalyst dose have been monitored on the photocatalytic performance of 1. The photocatalytic results suggest that MOF 1 exhibits best photocatalytic activity for BG amongst all the four dyes investigated. Under the optimal reaction condition, ∼96.8 % photodegradation of BG has been observed at pH 5, at 40 ppm concentration of BG and 30 mg photocatalyst concentration in 120 min time span. The radical trapping experiments suggest that O 2 ·− and·OH are the main active species that catalyzes the photodecomposition of dyes. The possible mechanism for the BG degradation of 1 is proposed using density of states (DOS) calculations and Hirshfeld surface analysis. [Display omitted] • A new Cu(II) MOF with 4-fold dia topology synthesized using 4,4'-bis (imidazolyl) biphenyl ligand. • The MOF was characterized using different physico-chemical techniques. • The MOF used as photocatalyst for photodegradation of dyes especially basic green. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free ceramic-based dielectric capacitors with high-performance energy storage properties have become an emerging issue recently as a result of the applications in high-power and/or pulsed-power technologies. However, the trade-off between various parameters, such as maximum polarization P max , remnant polarization P r and dielectric breakdown strength E b , restricts the further improvement of the energy storage properties of dielectric ceramics. Herein, a synergistic optimization strategy via simultaneous enhancement of P max and E b and reduction of P r is adopted to achieve outstanding energy storage properties for Bi 0.9 La 0.1 FeO 3 -Ba 0.7 Sr 0.3 TiO 3 NaNb 0.85 Ta 0.15 O 3 relaxor ferroelectric ceramics, characterized by an ultrahigh recoverable energy density W rec of 15.9 J/cm3 and high efficiency η of 87.7%. The inborn gene of BiFeO 3 -based materials results in high P max and the improved relaxor behavior gives rise to a small P r value. In Particular, a very large value for E b is obtained by tailoring multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors. These results demonstrate the reliability and feasibility of the multiple optimization strategy proposed in this work to develop novel dielectric ceramics for advanced energy storage applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel digital tool for assisting astronaut lunar and planetary geology activities proposed. • Combination of an AR device with an IoT architecture. • Semi-structured interviews with astronauts and experts used to evaluate the AR-IoT tool. • Hands-free operations enhanced by the tool design and architecture. Humans are embarking on a new era of space exploration with the plan of sending crewed spacecraft to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Extravehicular activities (EVAs) will be an essential part of the scientific activities to be carried out in these missions, and they will involve extensive geological fieldwork. These EVAs entail many challenges as real-time support from ground control cannot be provided to astronauts. Hence, new human–machine interfaces are urgently needed to enhance mission autonomy for astronauts and reduce ground communication dependability for real-time operations. This study introduces an Augmented Reality (AR) Internet of Things tool for astronauts to carry out geological activities. It proposes a theoretically-informed user-centred design method supported by expert feedback and an evaluation method. The tool was assessed via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts and geological field activities experts. Content analysis of the interviews revealed that user satisfaction was the first most mentioned (32% of 139 quotes) usability aspect. Key design factors identified were: displaying solely important information in the field of view while adjusting it to the user's visual acuity, easy usage, extensibility, and simplicity. User interaction was the second most mentioned (24% of 139 quotes) usability aspect, with voice seen as the most intuitive input. Finally, this research highlights important factors determining the usability and operational feasibility of an AR tool for analogue training missions and provides a foundation for future design iterations and an eventual integration of AR into the spacesuit's visor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new thermal vibration mechanical shot peening coupling strengthening method is proposed. • Induced residual stress amplitude and its influence depth are increased. • Roughness increases due to thermal softening, while the residual iron oxides are shaken off by vibration. • Dislocation movement promotes grain refinement and activates slip to coordinate plastic deformation. • The macro-micro formation mechanism of the strengthened residual stress is analyzed. Compressive residual stress (CRS) is induced to delay fatigue crack initiation and prolong fatigue life, in which CRS amplitude and influence depth play an important role, but the traditional mechanical shot peening (MSP) treatment can not further increase the strengthening effect. An innovative thermal vibration MSP (TVMSP) coupling method is proposed to improve the distribution of induced residual stress (RS). Firstly, four strengthening treatments are performed in TA19 titanium alloy by coupling different loads. Subsequently, the gradient RS along the depth, surface morphology and roughness and the microstructure along the depth section are measured and characterized. The experimental results show that the maximum CRS (MCRS) amplitude is increased by 25.43 % and its depth is significantly increased by 100 %. The surface roughness increases slightly due to thermal softening, while the residual iron oxides are shaken off by vibration. The electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD) results indicate that grains are refined, and higher kernel average misorientation (KAM) is aggregated near the surface and deeper positions. Finally, based on these results, the macroscopic mechanical mechanism and microstructure evolution mechanism of RS formation and the formation of surface impact dimple are revealed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Trojan horse method was employed to indirectly measure the bare-nucleus reaction cross-section and astrophysical S-factor of the 9Be(p, α)6Li reaction in the low-energy region, utilizing the three-body reaction 2H(9Be, α 6Li)n. Comparing the two-body reaction data extracted from the Trojan horse method with that obtained through direct measurements, compatibility is observed in the energy region above approximately 100 keV. Additionally, the THM data successfully reproduces the expected low-energy resonance peak around 270 keV. The THM extraction of the astrophysical factor yields S(0) = 21.0 ± 0.8 MeV b, which surpasses the extrapolation obtained from direct measurements. The 9Be(p, α)6Li reaction channel exhibits a subthreshold resonance with a width of 25 keV, positioned approximately -23 keV below the threshold. However, the strong electron shielding effect near the zero energy position in direct measurements often masks the influence of the subthreshold resonance on the low-energy region. In contrast, the THM method allows us to neglect the electron shielding effect. The THM experimental data were subjected to fitting using the Breit-Wigner function and subsequently compared with directly measured data. Following a comprehensive comparative analysis, it was discerned that the S(0) value obtained through THM exceeded the extrapolated value derived from direct measurements. This disparity was primarily attributed to the influence of the subthreshold resonance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propolis has a long ethnopharmacological history for oral periodontal diseases treatment. Propolis flavonoids are main active components for anti-inflammation and tissue protection. However, the intractable dissolution properties of propolis flavonoids and complex oral environment pose great challenges for periodontal delivery. In addition, the therapeutic mechanism as well as the therapeutic correlation of inflammation resolution and tissue regeneration remain unclear for propolis flavonoids. In this study, we constructed an in situ thermosensitive depot systems using total flavonoids from propolis-loaded cubic liquid crystals (TFP-CLC) hydrogel for periodontal delivery. TFP-CLC inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration, reactive oxygen species and the expression of inflammatory cytokines of NF-κB and IL-1β. In addition, alveolar bone and collagen were significantly regenerated after TFP-CLC administration according to micro-CT and immunohistochemistry. Mechanism studies suggested that TFP-CLC alleviated inflammation and promoted alveolar bone repair via regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB p65 and RANK/NF-κB signaling pathways, respectively. Correlation analysis further confirmed that the inflammatory resolution produced by TFP-CLC could accelerate periodontal tissue regeneration. In summary, TFP-CLC is a promising multifunctional in situ thermo-sensitive hydrogel depots for periodontitis treatment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spheroidization behavior of γ′ phase and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) mechanisms of a novel HIPed powder metallurgy (P/M) superalloy deformed at high temperatures (1080−1170 ℃) and different strain rates (1–0.001 s−1) are investigated. The results show that the spheroidization behavior of γ' phase and DRX mechanisms are greatly influenced by deformation condition. The coarse γ′ Ⅰ phase promotes the DRX process, while the fine spherical γ' Ⅲ phase results in the formation of sub-grain boundaries. Thus, the grains are refined. During hot deformation, some coarse γ′ Ⅰ and γ′ ⅠⅠ phases transform into the fine spherical γ' Ⅲ phases, while some initial γ' Ⅲ phases gradually diminish. Besides, the spheroidization rates of γ′ Ⅰ , γ′ Ⅱ and γ' Ⅲ phases increase with the increase of strain rate. The low DRX volume fraction and refined grains with the average size of 2.27 µm are obtained at 1110 ℃/1 s−1. It is attributed to the fact that the DRX nucleation is obviously enhanced and the pinning effects of spherical γ′ Ⅲ phases on dislocations accelerate the formation of sub-grains. In addition, the discontinuous DRX is the main DRX mechanism of this novel P/M superalloy. • Spheroidization and DRX mechanisms of a novel HIPed P/M superalloy during hot deformation is studied. • The coarse γ′ Ⅰ phase promotes the DRX by inducing the dislocation accumulation. • The fine spherical γ' Ⅲ phases result in the formation of sub-grain boundaries and the grains are refined. • Some coarse γ′ Ⅰ and γ′ ⅠⅠ phases transform into the fine spherical γ' Ⅲ phases during hot deformation. • The discontinuous DRX is the main DRX mechanism of this novel P/M superalloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial correlation is a critical characteristic of adjacent wind farms, but its importance is always ignored in wind power modeling, further resulting in modeling bias. In order to investigate the necessity of involving spatial correlation and validate whether it has effects on power system, this paper proposes a method to construct the spatial correlation model and applies it into an IEEE test system. Specifically, a 7-dimensional t -copula method is used to capture the spatial dependence by forming a multi-variable distribution function, from which different scenarios are generated. Subsequently, a k -means clustering method is used for scenario reduction. As for the case study, a modified IEEE 39-bus test system with 7 wind farms deriving from the AEMO dataset is utilized to conduct optimal power flow under the circumstance with and without considering spatial dependence. Based on this, the cost of generation, including traditional fuel cost and levelized cost of wind power is obtained. Through comparing the cost results and analyzing the gap, it can be concluded that the spatial correlation has significant effects that when levelized cost of wind power exceeds a particular value, the generation cost can be greatly underestimated if ignoring spatial correlation with a high penetration of wind power. • An extensive comparative study for spatial correlation of renewable is presented. • A high-dimensional spatial correlation model is established. • Spatial correlation of wind is represented by reduced scenarios. • Optimal power flow is reformulated with high renewable and LCOE. • Sensitivity analysis of LCOE is implemented with different wind penetration levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finger vein feature recognition has been widely studied due to its high security and stability. However, the systematic errors caused by false and missing information in low-quality finger vein images are still concerns. Recently, researchers have proposed a finger vein image quality assessment scheme to eliminate low-quality images. The major drawback of this strategy is the dependence on limited domain knowledge as the strategy cannot effectively filter out low-quality images and is only adapted to a certain recognition method or database. In this paper, we design a new finger vein image quality evaluation method driven by improving the recognition performance of the recognition system and based on the possibility of the false rejection of low-quality images. The method uses statistical knowledge to analyse the matching of different samples between fingers so as to automatically determine the image quality and classify it. Then, we further design a lightweight convolutional neural network to train the high-quality and low-quality images obtained by the above evaluation criteria and mine the common attributes between low-quality images so as to ensure that the prediction system can judge the image quality quickly and accurately in practical use. The proposed scheme is validated on multiple public datasets and compared with current recognition algorithms. The experimental results show that the quality evaluation standard proposed in this paper has good universality and can be combined with different types of recognition methods and acquisition equipment to well screen out the existing low-quality images. Furthermore, the prediction method proposed in this paper has achieved excellent prediction performance on three public datasets, showing that the proposed method can effectively improve the performance of the original recognition system. Taking the local binary pattern (LBP) algorithm as an example, after using the prediction algorithm proposed in this paper to eliminate low-quality images, the recognition system improves the original recognition performance on the three datasets by 12.670% (SDUMLA), 11.923% (MMCBNU_6000) and 9.940% (FV-USM). • Novel finger vein image quality assessment system based on CNN. • Novel finger vein image quality evaluation standard. • Novel lightweight CNN to mine hidden difference attributes between low-quality images. • Novel system is not limited to a certain recognition algorithm or data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• (PEA) 2 PbBr 4 with improved properties were obtained via CsBr additive; • Enhanced surface morphology and optical properties of modified (PEA) 2 PbBr 4 ; • Responsivity for 2D perovskite photodetector based on sol-gel method is 0.67 AW−1; • Rise time and decay time are about 0.28 s and 0.21 s; • Spectral wavelength selectivity of (PEA) 2 PbBr 4 based photodetector was accomplished. Wavelength-dependent responsivity and detectivity of cesium halides additive photodetectors based on two-dimensional perovskite: (C 8 H 9 NH 3) 2 PbBr 4 under 10 V bias. [Display omitted] Considering of cost-effective and simple assembly principle of organic-inorganic halide perovskite (OIHP), producing perovskites into polycrystalline thin films from precursor solution has proved to be appealing. In this paper, (C 8 H 9 NH 3) 2 PbBr 4 was fabricated based on C 8 H 9 NH 3 Br (PEABr) and PbBr 2 according to compositions in the vicinity of (PEA) 2 PbI 4 , and the two-dimensionally (2D) perovskite was obtained which entitled with superior photoelectric performance, excellent solution processability and flexible substrates compatibility. And hydrophobic nature of spacer cation of aromatic alkylammonium or a large aliphatic both with the highly consistent orientation of 2D perovskites are beneficial for reducing the grain boundaries density. Meanwhile, optimized (PEA) 2 PbBr 4 were obtained via CsBr additive. Systematic material characterizations manifested enhanced surface morphology, photoluminescence efficiency and carrier lifetime of the CsBr modified (PEA) 2 PbBr 4. Then related (PEA) 2 PbBr 4 based photodetectors exhibited a good responsivity of 0.67 AW−1 when detectivity approached 5.2 × 1011 Jones, and a large on/off ratio about 500 was obtained. Meanwhile, the devices possessed noticeable stability during the optical switch tests with the rise time and decay time about 0.28 s and 0.21 s for CsBr dopped devices illuminated by 385 nm under 10 V bias. More importantly, spectral wavelength selectivity of CsBr based photodetector indicated the potential utilization in ultraviolet detecting when a wide bandgap of 3.018 eV was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for separation and purification applications under harsh conditions has grown strongly in recent years. Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic membranes have broad prospects in this aspect due to their unique characteristics, but its pore size control is a crucial problem. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop simple and feasible methods for precise control of the pore size of SiC membranes to improve membrane selectivity and expand their application range. This review describes the pore formation process in the preparation of SiC membranes, focusing on the selection of SiC particles, sintering temperature, sacrificial template, sintering aids, oxidation process and other factors affecting the pore size and analysis. Finally, the control of SiC membrane pore size is summarized and the outlook is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We developed an ROS-responsive and scavenging bifunctional injectable CC-B-CAPE@CY-NPs hydrogel for periodontitis treatment. • The CC-B-CAPE@CY-NPs hydrogel was capable of scavenging excessive ROS and modulating polarization of M1 macrophages via regulating NF-κB signaling. • The CC-B-CAPE@CY-NPs hydrogel promotes the repair of alveolar bone by accelerating osteogenic transformation. Periodontitis is characterized by local inflammatory response and the resultant alveolar bone resorption. The elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) level not only aggravates local inflammation but also prohibits osteogenesis. Hence, simultaneously scavenging ROS and triggering the activity of osteoblasts may produce synergism in periodontium regeneration. Herein, we developed an injectable hydrogel system, CC-B-CAPE@CY-NPs, for periodontitis treatment, in which caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a naturally-occurring anti-inflammatory ingredient, was caged by aryl borate for ROS-responsive release. Meanwhile, the nanoparticles incorporating Chrysin (CY), another natural product with osteogenetic property, were also coated in the hydrogel. In vitro, the hydrogel was capable of scavenging the excessive ROS and modulating the polarization of M1 macrophages, highlighting its anti-inflammatory potency. In addition, its osteogenetic effect was verified by the increased ALP activity in the hydrogel-treated periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). Our studies revealed the anti-inflammatory stemmed from its ablation of NF-κB signaling, while the activation of Wnt/β-catenin cascade accounted for its osteogenetic potency. In a rat periodontitis model, the capability of reducing ROS levels, modulating macrophage polarization, and promoting osteogenesis was transformed into the recovery of destructed alveolar bone. All above, the hydrogel possesses great potential as a promising remedy for periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex momentum representation method is used to explore the single particle resonances in nuclei. The energies, widths, and wavefunctions are obtained by solving the Dirac equation with a Woods-Saxon potential, in which the parameters are determined from the RMF calculations for 132Sn. The pseudospin symmetry is investigated for the resonant states in comparison with bound states. Approximate degeneracy is shown in the energies, widths, and wavefunctions between the pseudospin doublets including the resonant and bound states. The influence of the potential shape on the pseudospin symmetry is checked. The quality of pseudospin symmetry is shown to be dependent of the parameters, which is explained in terms of the change of potential with these parameters. The energy and width splittings between the pseudospin doublets are sensitive to the potential parameters, which is clarified by the change of the derivative of potential with r. Moreover, the pseudospin splitting in the wavefunctions and its dependence on potential shape are analyzed. The wave function splitting between the pseudospin doublets is quantitatively obtained in the momentum space for the resonant states because they are local and square integrable. Considering that a real nuclear field is similar to a Woods-Saxon potential, the change of the parameters in Woods-Saxon potential can reflect the change of nuclear field from stable nuclei to drop-line nuclei. Therefore, the present researches are helpful to understand the level structure of the weakly bound nuclei and their exotic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The RSDI is suitable for monitoring aeolian desertification. • The areas with significant restoration (34.1%) exceeded those with significant deterioration (6%) in the NSPB. • In the areas with significant restoration, 57.4% of the land was mainly affected by human activities. The northern sand-prevention belt (NSPB) is the key area for sand control in China, and the various ecological projects conducted there are important to the Chinese strategy for ecological security. In this paper, a new remote sensing-based desertification index (RSDI) based on principal component analysis was constructed from four aspects of vegetation greenness, surface moisture, soil grain size, and surface radiation. The overall evaluation accuracy of the index was 89.2%, and the kappa coefficient was 0.80, indicating high sensitivity to different degrees of aeolian desertification and suitability for multiscale research. The coefficient of variation, Mann–Kendall test, Theil–Sen median trend analysis, and residual analysis were used to analyze the spatiotemporal changes and driving forces of the RSDI in the NSPB from 2000 to 2020. The RSDI was used to compare aeolian desertification in different subregions, land use types, and ecological project areas. The important results are as follows: (1) the trend of the average RSDI was downward, but it increased significantly in 2008–2009 and 2013–2014; (2) the RSDI was characterized by relatively high volatility in 28.9% and moderate volatility in 27.1% of the area; (3) the areas with significant restoration (34.1%) greatly exceeded those with significant deterioration (6%), whereas 59.9% of the total area was stable; and (4) within the area with significant restoration, 57.4% was primarily affected by human activities, and 42.4% was primarily affected by climate change; however, most of the area with significant deterioration (71.1%) was affected by human activities. In general, the degree of aeolian desertification in the NSPB has decreased in the past 20 years and its ecological quality has continued to recover. However, unreasonable human activities still need to be reduced, and the ecological management of areas under serious threat of desertification needs to be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptotanshinone (CPT), a bioactive compound derived from the traditional Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza, exhibits promising antidepressant properties. Employing a rat model subjected to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS), behavioral analyses (open field experiment, elevated cross maze experiment, sugar water preference experiment, forced swimming experiment) and inflammatory factor assessments were conducted to assess the efficacy of CPT in alleviating depressive symptoms and inflammatory responses induced by CUMS. Moreover, 16 S rDNA analysis revealed alterations in the gut microbiota of rats exposed to both CUMS and CPT administration. Notably, CPT administration was found to mitigate harmful bacterial shifts associated with depression. Preliminary exploration of the molecular mechanism underlying CPT's antidepressant effects via transcriptomics analysis and molecular docking indicated that CPT might exert its influence by regulating the PI3K-AKT pathway. This study sheds light on the potential therapeutic role of CPT in managing depressive disorders, offering a comprehensive understanding of its impact on behavior, inflammation, gut microbiota, and molecular pathways. [Display omitted] • CPT improves depression symptoms caused by CUMS in rats. • CPT alleviates the inflammatory response induced by CUMS in rats. • CPT can regulate gut microbiota and PI3K-AKT pathway in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A selection strategy for base-period images of spatio-temporal fusion was proposed. • The spatio-temporal inconsistency between field samples and images was reduced. • The estimation accuracy of grassland aboveground biomass was improved. The accurate estimation of the aboveground biomass (AGB) is crucial for the sustainable utilization and management of grassland resources. Spatio-temporal inconsistencies between field samples and satellite images are major source of error in the estimation of grassland AGB. To solve this problem, this study selected the Three Rivers Headwater Region as the study area and proposed a selection strategy for base-period images of spatio-temporal fusion that was suitable for use at a large spatial scale in which cloud-free images are difficult to obtain. The spatial and temporal adaptive reflectance fusion model (STARFM) based on the selection strategy was used to generate a synthetic Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) dataset with high spatial-temporal resolution by using the maximum value composite of GF-1 NDVI and MODIS NDVI to enhance the spatial-temporal quality of the images for field-scale application. Three estimation models for grassland AGB were then constructed by the random forest algorithm using synthetic NDVI, MODIS NDVI, GF-1 NDVI respectively, together with ancillary data. Following this, the estimation model with the highest accuracy was used to generate a 16-m eight-day time-series AGB in the growing season. The results showed: (1) The synthetic NDVI was correlated closely with the observed GF-1 NDVI, with an average R of 0.825 and a RMSE of 0.087. The temporal trend of the synthetic NDVI for each grassland type was highly consistent with that of the MODIS NDVI in the growing season with a correlation higher than 0.9. (2) The synthetic NDVI reduced the spatial difference between field samples and images to 16-fold, and the temporal difference was controlled to within four days under ideal conditions. (3) The synthetic NDVI improved the estimation accuracy of grassland AGB by about 15.9% and 19.7% (R2), and 13.7% and 17.5% (RMSE) relative to MODIS NDVI and GF-1 NDVI, respectively. (4) The time-series AGB revealed accurately the spatial distribution of and seasonal temporal variations in the grassland biomass. The results of this study may serve as scientific guidance for timely monitoring of grassland conditions and precise management of grassland resources in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Third-party damage has become a significant factor leading to pipeline failures and leaks, resulting in severe ecological damage and human casualties. Traditional safety risk analysis methods in the past have focused on severing the causal chain of accidents, while neglecting the unique characteristics of different pipeline segments and environmental factors on their ability to bearing disasters. This paper presents a framework for evaluating the disaster-bearing capacity of natural gas pipeline third-party damage based on probabilistic neural networks. A comprehensive disaster-bearing capacity index system for evaluating third-party damage to natural gas pipelines has been constructed by analyzing the causal factors and potential consequences of third-party damage risk incidents. Next, the cluster analysis and indicator weighting information is used for achieving the comprehensive disaster-bearing capacity assessment. Finally, the data samples are constructed with the index levels and comprehensive disaster-bearing capacity levels of each evaluation unit. An optimization algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), is utilized to improve the parameter selection process of the Probabilistic Neural Network (PNN) model, in order to evaluate the disaster-bearing level of each unit. A typical long-distance natural gas pipeline in Zhejiang Province was selected as the case study, and a total of 200 research units were obtained through pipeline analysis. Furthermore, 14 indicator data were obtained by leveraging multiple sources of data surrounding the pipeline. With the utilization of cluster analysis, it was determined that Gaussian mixed model clustering method ultimately identified a total of 5 different levels of disaster-bearing capacity. The optimal smoothing factor can be accurate from 0.5 to 0.588 by using the PSO-PNN model, and the final accuracy rate is improved from 88% to 98%, which is obviously the introduction of PSO optimization algorithm in the PNN model can improve the accuracy of the model. This represents a significant improvement in accuracy when compared to traditional PNN models. The proposed evaluation method can provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of third-party damage in oil and gas pipelines and pipeline planning. • A third-party damage comprehensive disaster bearing capacity framework for evaluating natural gas pipeline. • Using clustering analysis to eliminate the influence of subjective evaluation. • Evaluation of disaster bearing capacity based on probabilistic neural network. • PSO-PNN optimization model effectively improves the accuracy of evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Solvothermal treatment enhanced the quantity of active groups (OH, NHR and R N C O) and amorphous carbon structure. • The SRHH-180 displayed superior dye adsorption and degradation performance itself. • Up to 93% removal efficiency was reached during entirely reaction system. • Both pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models fitted well with actual adsorption process. In this study, an activated biochar derived from Spartina alterniflora (SRHH) was innovatively synthesized to efficiently remove dye contaminants from aqueous solution. A series of characterizations exhibited that solvothermal process effectively increased the mesopores and functional group structure (OH, NHR, C O, C O and R N C O) of the nanomaterial, which could also acquire amorphous carbon-doped biochar with less energy consumption. Moreover, the results showed that the as-prepared sample in a solvothermal kettle at 180 °C displayed superior dye adsorption and degradation performance, and the removal efficiency entirely could reach up to 93% within 4 h at neutral condition. The adsorption process was both consistent well with the pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models, indicating that diffusion resistance within the particle pore size and chemical action might be predominantly controlled factor. Therefore, the prepared catalyst has enormous potential in the removal of organic pollution as a low-cost and economical in-situ remediation material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the potential link between aberrant mitochondrial energy metabolism mediated by the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway and the etiology of anxiety disorders. The anxiety rat model was established by uncertain empty water bottle（UEWB）stress. Rats were submitted behavioral tests on the seventh, fourteenth, and twenty-first days and had the prefrontal cortex and amygdala removed for biochemical tests. The morphological alterations of the mitochondria in the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala were examined by using a transmission electron microscope. Expression levels of AMPK, SIRT1, PGC-1, NRF-1 and NRF-2 were tested by western-blot analysis. ATP, respiratory chain complex and caspase enzyme expressions were tested by neurochemical and biochemical assays. Rats showed anxiety-like behavior after being exposed to the uncertain empty water bottle (UEWB) stress model. In model rats, mitochondrial structure is damaged, mitochondrial energy metabolism is decreased, and the expression of proteins associated with AMPK/SIRT1 pathway is significantly reduced in the brain. The level of mitochondrial energy metabolism correlates with anxiety-like behavior. The main mechanism of anxiety disorder is a disturbance of mitochondrial energy metabolism, which might be related to AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. • Uncertain empty water bottle stress model induces anxiety-like behavior in animals. • Mitochondrial structures are disrupted in anxious animals. • Disruption of mitochondrial energy metabolic function is associated with anxiety-like behavior. • Inhibition of AMPK/SIRT1 pathway may be a regulatory mechanism for decreased mitochondrial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]