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Remotely located offshore wind farms (OWFs) are usually in unmanned operation, and are severely at risk from accidental or deliberate man-made damages, such as cable faults caused by vessel anchoring. In this work, a proactive alarming and interception method utilising unmanned surface vehicles (USV) is proposed to prevent suspect vessels from intruding OWF areas and damaging the assets. More specifically, the vessel intrusion interception system keeps monitoring the motion of surrounding vessels and assessing their potential intrusive risks. When a suspect intruder is identified, USV will be automatically deployed to proactively intercept the target vessel with an alarming and expelling system. In particular, a risk assessment model based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and entropy weight method (EWM) is established to predict the potential intrusive risk, and an improved fast marching square (FMS) algorithm is designed for USV path planning to guarantee dynamic and reliable vessel interception. In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, case studies have been conducted for the Zhejiang Jiaxing 2 OWF with authentic vessel traffic data. Results indicate that the proposed risk assessment model based on AHP-EMW is able to correctly predict the potential intrusion risk in various scenarios, and the improved FMS path planning algorithm with multi-objective optimisation is capable of providing both efficient and safe trajectories for USV interception. • An intrusive vessel interception system for offshore wind farm asset protection. • An intrusive risk assessment model is established for different types of vessels. • A multi-objective optimisation path planning framework is developed for interception. • Effectiveness of the proposed approach is verified with authentic AIS data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an emerging form of pollution, microplastic contamination of the coastal ecosystems is one of the world's most pressing environmental concerns. Coastal sediments have been polluted to varying degrees by microplastics, and their ubiquitous presence in sediments poses a threat to marine organisms. However, there is currently no ecological risk assessment of microplastics on aquatic biota in sediments. This study, for the first time, established a new procedure to evaluate the toxicity of microplastics on aquatic biota in sediments, based on the probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) concept. The choice of Zhelin Bay as the case study site was based on its severe pollution status. The average content of microplastics in the sediments of Zhelin Bay was 2054.17 items kg−1 dry weight, and these microplastics consisted of 46 different species. Microplastics in sediments exist in five different forms, with the film form being the main composition, and the majority of microplastics have particle sizes ranging from 100 to 500 μm. Correlation analysis (CA) reveals significant negative correlations between microplastic abundance, and Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2. The toxicity of microplastics, based on the PRA concept, suggests that Zhelin Bay surface sediments had a low probability (3.43%) of toxic effects on aquatic biota. [Display omitted] • A new procedure has been established to assess the ecological risks of microplastics. • The new procedure can effectively assess the probability risk and toxicity of sediment microplastics. • The surface sediments of Zhelin Bay had a 3.44% probability of toxic effects on aquatic biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc tin oxide (ZTO) thin films can be deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) with adjustable electrical, optical and structural properties. However, the ternary ALD processes usually suffer from low growth rate and difficulty in controlling film thickness and elemental composition, due to the interaction of ZnO and SnO 2 processes. In this work, ZTO thin films with different Sn levels are prepared by ALD super cycles using diethylzinc, tetrakis(dimethylamido)tin, and water. It is observed that both the film growth rate and atom composition show nonlinear variation versus [Sn]/([Sn]+[Zn]) cycle ratio. The experimental thickness measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry and X-ray reflectivity are much lower than the expected thickness linearly interpolated from pure ZnO and SnO x films. The [Sn]/([Sn]+[Zn]) atom ratios estimated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have higher values than that expected from the cycle ratios. Hence, to characterize the film growth behavior versus cycle ratio, a numerical method is proposed by simulating the effect of reduced density and reactivity of surface hydroxyls and surface etching reactions. The structure, electrical and optical properties of ZTO with different Sn levels are also examined by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscope, Hall measurements and ultraviolet–visible–infrared transmittance spectroscopy. The ZTO turns out to be transparent nanocrystalline or amorphous films with smooth surface. With more Sn contents, the film resistivity gets higher (>1 Ω cm) and the optical bandgap rises from 3.47 to 3.83 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylooligosaccharides riched in xylobiose and xylotriose exhibit various biological activities as prebiotics. However, the prebiotics of xylooligosaccharides for regulating the intestinal microbiota in colitis models has been rarely investigated. In this study, differences in prebiotic ability of xylooligosaccharides samples from paper mulberry branches using different methods, including autohydrolysis (termed as 170AH), sequent purification by polystyrene-divinylbenzene copolymer resin (termed as 170AH-XAD), and enzymatic hydrolysis using endo- β -1,4-xylanase (170AH-XAD-E) were investigated. Results revealed that 170AH-XAD-E possessing higher fractions of xylobiose and xylotriose exhibited the best performance in vitro by promoting the proliferation of Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Lactobacillus acidophilus , with utilization rates of 92.30% and 91.00%, respectively. Additionally, 170AH-XAD-E outperformed the other samples in increasing the species' abundance of in vivo intestinal microbiota in colitis mouse model induced by Escherichia coli. Furthermore, 170AH-XAD-E selectively promoted the growth of Bacteroides , while inhibiting the proliferation of Firmicutes , Proteobacteria , and Actinobacteriota. These abilities of 170AH-XAD-E may be due to its potential to upregulate the population of intestinal microbiota associated with the functional abundance of Cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis and Inorganic ion transport and metabolism. Overall, this work demonstrates that XOS with high contents of xylobiose and xylotriose possesses excellent potential as intestinal microbiota regulators and anti-colitis agents. [Display omitted] • Xylooligosaccharides riched with xylobiose and xylotriose enhance probiotic growth. • Xylooligosaccharides with higher xylobiose and xylotriose increase gut flora. • Xylooligosaccharides with higher xylobiose and xylotriose alleviate colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals (HMs) are routine contaminants due to their extensive use worldwide. Rare earth elements (REEs) are emerging contaminants because of their global exploitation for use in the high-tech sector. Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) are an effective method for measuring the bioavailable component of pollutants. This study represents the first assessment of the mixture toxicity of HMs and REEs in aquatic biota using the DGT technique in sediments. Xincun Lagoon was chosen as the case study site because it has been contaminated by pollutants. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) analysis reveals that a wide variety of pollutants (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, InHg, Co, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb) are primarily impacted by sediment characteristics. Appraisal of single HM-REE toxicity reveals that the risk quotient (RQ) values for Y, Yb and Ce notably exceeded 1, demonstrating that the adverse effects of these single HMs and REEs should not be ignored. The combined toxicity of HM-REE mixtures in terms of probabilistic ecological risk assessment shows that the Xincun surface sediments had a medium probability (31.29%) of toxic effects on aquatic biota. [Display omitted] • Probability risk of sediment HMREEs in a typical coastal lagoon was assessed. • Combined risk of HMREEs was computed based on the addition of probabilities. • The new protocol is an effective tool for assessing HMREE mixture toxicity. • Potential toxicities of both individual HMREEs and HMREE mixtures were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CoO nanowire array on titanium mesh is prepared for nitrate reduction to ammonia. • Such catalyst achieves high Faraday efficiency of 95.1% and a NH 3 yield of 6.8 mg h−1 cm−2 at − 0.6 V. • Material calculations confirm the alternating reaction pathway for this catalyst. Efficient and robust catalysts are significant for electrochemical nitrate reduction to value-added ammonia (NH 3). Here, we propose CoO (1 1 1) nanowire array on titanium mesh (CoO NWA/TM) as a high-efficiency electrocatalyst for NO 3 − conversion to NH 3. This catalyst reaches a remarkable NH 3 yield of 6.8 mg h−1 cm−2 and a high Faradaic efficiency of 95.1%, which also shows excellent electrochemical durability. The catalytic mechanism of CoO NWA/TM is revealed by theoretical calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A self-standing and flexible IrO 2 /CK cathode was reported. • IrO 2 /CK cathode exhibits the improve CO 2 RR/CO 2 ER kinetics. • Cross-linked network structure benefits mass/charge transport and Li 2 CO 3 storage. • The cycling life of Li-CO 2 batteries was greatly enhanced. Rechargeable Li-CO 2 batteries provide a very promising approach to simultaneously solve energy shortage and the greenhouse effect. However, Li-CO 2 batteries are facing several shortcomings, especially the slow CO 2 oxidation and reduction kinetics, which deteriorate the energy efficiency and cycling life. Herein, IrO 2 /carbon fibers derived from kapok (IrO 2 /CK) are prepared via simple one-step carbonization and subsequent hydrothermal reaction. Benefitting from the favorable CO 2 reduction and evolution catalytic activities of the loaded IrO 2 nanoparticles, the enhanced electron transfer and reactants diffusion kinetics derived by the unique cross-linked hierarchical porous structure and the ample space for Li 2 CO 3 deposition, the fabricated Li-CO 2 battery, IrO 2 /CK as the cathode, shows ultra-long operation time more than 4000 h. More importantly, the cathode exhibits excellent mechanical flexibility conferred by the kapok, which can maintain the original structure during bending. The pouch-type flexible Li-CO 2 battery with IrO 2 /CK cathode can steadily operate for 300 h under different bending conditions. This work will advance the development of flexible Li-CO 2 batteries in the field of wearing energy storage devices. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hemicellulose-first strategy of acetic acid pretreatment was applied for the protein-rich paper mulberry biowaste (PMB) to produce amino acid-rich xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS). In addition, the pretreated PMB was further used to produce fermentable monosaccharides by enzymatic hydrolysis. Results showed a yield of 18.2% (based on xylan in raw PMB) was achieved for XOS in hydrolyzate under the optimal pretreatment conditions (168 °C, 68 min, 1% acetic acid). Besides, it's found that the obtained hydrolyzate contains 14.3% (based on amino acids in raw PMB) amino acids degraded from the protein in PMB. Furthermore, an additional enzymatic hydrolysis process with endo-xylanase was used to upgrade the XOS with DP of 2–6 in the hydrolysate, which could increase XOS yield to 29.8%. Amino acid contents were unchanged after post-enzymatic hydrolysis. Besides, a glucose yield of 51.7% (11.5 g/L glucose) could be achieved for the pretreated PMB after enzymatic hydrolysis. This work serves as proof of concept for creating higher-value XOS from biorefinery processes considering protein-enriched low-value biomass feedstocks. [Display omitted] • The concept of the hemicellulose-first strategy was proposed. • XOS with high proportion of xylobiose and xylotriose were produced. • Degradation trends of xylan and protein in paper mulberry biowaste are different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased expression of secreted frizzled related protein 3 (SFRP3) is associated with adverse outcomes of heart failure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of SFRP3 on cardiac remodeling and its mechanism. Cardiac remodeling was induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion in the mice, and in the neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCM) treated with Ang II. The expression decreased in the heart of mice, and NRCM and HL-1 cells with Ang II treatment. Ang II-induced hypertrophy and fibrosis of heart in mice were attenuated by upregulation of SFRP3, and were further deteriorated by downregulation of SFRP3. Ang II-induced hypertrophy of NRCM and HL-1 cells were improved by SFRP3 overexpression, and were further deteriorated by SFRP3 knockdown. The oxidative stress increased in the heart of Ang II-treated mice, and this enhancement was inhibited by overexpressing of SFPR3, and was worsened by downregulation of SFPR3. These outcomes suggested that upregulation of SFPR3 could improve cardiac remodeling via inhibition of oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Absolute threshold ETM and relative case are constructed for control input by using tanh function. • A complex adaptive compensation scheme is developed to estimate the unknown bounds of mismatched uncertainties, disturbances and cyberattacks. • The integral term is introduced in the controller to reduce triggering times caused by data jitters. This paper is concerned with the event-triggered security adaptive control of uncertain multi-area power systems. Adaptive laws are presented to estimate the unknown bounds of uncertainties, disturbances and cyber-attacks. With the help of tanh function, two event-triggered mechanisms are proposed in terms of integral state feedback controllers and adaptive controllers. With the help of Simpson rule and the Lyapunov stability theory, sufficient conditions are built in terms of linear matrix inequalities to ensure the mean-square boundedness of the resultant closed-loop systems. Finally, the validity of proposed schemes is verified by a simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Probability risk was assessed for sediment HMPs in a typical mariculture base. • Combined risk of HMPs was calculated based on the addition of probabilities. • The new protocol is a powerful tool for assessing HMP mixture toxicity. • Potential toxicities of both individual HMPs and HMP mixtures were identified. Heavy metals and pesticides (HMPs) are common contaminants due to their extensive use worldwide. Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) are a good method for measuring the bioavailable concentration of pollutants. This study represents the first evaluation of HMP toxicity in aquatic biota using the DGT technique in sediments. Zhelin Bay was selected as the case study site because it has been contaminated by pollutants. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) analysis reveals that a diverse range of pollutants (V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, InHg, Mo, Cd, Sb, W, Pb, CLP, PYR) are mainly influenced by sediment characteristics. Assessment of single HMP toxicity found that the risk quotient (RQ) values for Mn, Cu, inorganic Hg (InHg), chlorpyrifos (CLP) and diuron (DIU) are significantly higher than 1, indicating that the adverse effects of these single HMPs should not be ignored. The combined toxicity of HMP mixtures based on probabilistic ecotoxicological risk assessment shows that Zhelin Bay surface sediments had a medium probability (54.6%) of toxic effects to aquatic biota. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread health problem globally and vitamin D deficiency/ insufficiency in pregnancy is a risk factor for preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder in human pregnancy. Vitamin D elicits its biological effects through binding to its receptor VDR. In the present study, we determined maternal vascular expression of VDR and hnRNPC1/C2, a native repressor of VDR, in subcutaneous adipose tissue from women with normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. Maternal antenatal and postnatal vitamin D levels were measured. We found that hnRNPC1/C2 expression was markedly increased, while VDR expression was markedly reduced, in maternal vessel endothelium and smooth muscle cells from women with preeclampsia compared to that from normal pregnant controls. Reduced VDR expression was relevant to low maternal antenatal and postnatal vitamin D levels in women with preeclampsia. Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as an endothelial model, we further investigated the role of hnRNPC1/C2-mediated VDR expression in endothelial cells, and tested effect of hnRNPC1/C2 inhibition on endothelial response to bioactive vitamin D, 1,25(OH) 2 D 3. Our results showed that inhibition of hnRNPC1/C2 by hnRNPC1/C2 siRNA resulted in not only an increase in endothelial VDR expression, but further improved endothelial response to 1,25(OH) 2 D 3. These findings indicate that aberrant hnRNPC1/C2 expression may contribute to reduced vascular expression of VDR in women with preeclampsia and suggest that hnRNPC1/C2 could be a target for improving vascular endothelial cell response to vitamin D. • Increased hnNRPC1/C2 expression is associated with reduced VDR expression in maternal vessels in women with preeclampsia. • Low maternal vitamin D levels is associated with reduced VDR expression in maternal vessel endothelium in preeclampsia. • Inhibition of hnNRPC1/C2 expression results in upregulation of VDR expression in endothelial cells. • Inhibition of hnNRPC1/C2 expression promotes endothelial response to vitamin D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LongShengZhi capsule (LSZ), a traditional Chinese medicine, is used for treatment of patients with vascular diseases. LSZ reduced doxorubicin-induced heart failure by reducing production of reactive oxygen species and inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis. This study was to explore whether LSZ could alleviate cardiac remodeling via upregulation of microRNA (miR)-150-5p and the downstream target. Cardiac remodeling was induced by Ang II in vivo and in vitro. LSZ attenuated Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in rats, and in primary cardiomyocytes (CMs) and primary cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). MiR-150-5p was downregulated in Ang II-induced rat heart, CMs and CFs, and these decreases were reserved by LSZ. In vivo overexpression of miR-150-5p by transfection of miR-150-5p agomiR protected Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in rats. Meanwhile, its overexpression also reversed Ang II-induced upregulation of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) in rat hearts and primary CMs, as well as upregulation of collagen I, collagen III and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in rat hearts and primary CFs. Matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14) was validated as the target gene of miR-150-5p, which was overexpressed in Ang II-induced rat heart, rat primary CMs and primary CFs. Notably, overexpression of MMP14 induced cardiac remodeling, and reversed the protective role of miR-150-5p in downregulating Ang II-induced upregulation of hypertrophy and fibrosis markers in vitro. Collectively, LSZ protects Ang II-induced cardiac dysfunction and remodeling via upregulation of miR-150-5p to target MMP14. Administration of LSZ, upregulation of miR-150-5p or targeting of MMP14 may be strategies for cardiac remodeling therapy. [Display omitted] - LongShengZhi (LSZ) improved Ang II-induced cardiac dysfunction and remodeling. - LSZ upregulated microRNA-150-5p to target MMP14. - LSZ administration or upregulation of miR-150-5p may be strategies for cardiac remodeling therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We determined the complete mitogenome of Ovalona pulchella in Chydoridae. • This is the first sequenced species of the family Chydoridae in Cladocera. • Data on O. pulchella are valuable for phylogenetic and evolutionary studies. • Mitochondrial genomes are highly conserved among different Branchiopoda species. Chydoridae are phytophilic-benthic microcrustaceans that make up a significant proportion of species diversity and play an important role in the littoral zone of freshwater ecosystems worldwide. Here, we provide the complete mitochondrial genome of Ovalona pulchella (King, 1853), determined by next-generation sequencing. The entire mitochondrial genome is 15,362 bp in length; this is the first sequenced mitochondrial genome in the family Chydoridae. The base composition and codon usage were typical of Cladocera species. The mitochondrial gene arrangement (37 genes) was not consistent with that of other Branchiopoda. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses supported each suborder and family of Branchiopoda as monophyletic groups. The relationships among the families were as follows: [(Leptestheriidae + Limnadiidae) + (Sididae + (Bosminidae + (Chydoridae + Daphniidae)))] + Triopsidae. The newly sequenced O. pulchella was most closely related to the family Daphniidae. The complete mitochondrial genome of O. pulchella also provides valuable molecular information for further analysis of the phylogeny of the Chydoridae and the taxonomic status of the Branchiopoda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We analyzed allometric responses of V. natans to water exchange rate (WER). • V. natans could use both apparent and real plasticity to acclimate to WER. • Apparent plasticity was more frequently adopted due to low nutrient demand. Hydrological variation is well-known to affect the morphological plasticity of aquatic macrophytes; however, whether these responses are size-dependent ("apparent plasticity") or not ("real plasticity") remains unclear, particularly with respect to the water exchange rate (WER). Here, we used allometric analysis to investigate the morphological plasticity and the carbon, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus stoichiometry of the submerged macrophyte Vallisneria natans cultured for 15, 30, 45, and 65 days under three levels of WER (0, 20, and 40% exchange of total volume day−1). We found that the negative effects of a higher WER on plant growth were primarily attributable to a deficiency in dissolved carbon dioxide, which resulted in shorter and thicker roots, smaller leaves (decreased width and length), higher specific leaf area, and lower below-: above-ground biomass ratios. Allometric analyses showed that the changes in root length reflected real plasticity, whereas other root and leaf adjustments indicated apparent plasticity. Furthermore, stoichiometric calculations indicated that N limited the growth of leaf tissues more than root tissues, thereby restricting the potential for real plasticity in leaf morphology. Therefore, V. natans adapts to WER variation largely through apparent plastic responses that can reduce the demand for plant nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activity recognition based on wearable sensors plays an essential role in promoting many practical applications, such as healthcare, motion monitoring, medical examination, anomaly detection and human-computer interaction. It's worth noting that longer temporal sensory sequences could reflect the characteristics of different daily activities more accurately. However, existing GANs-based time series generation methods could only synthesize uniaxial, multivariate or multidimensional sensor data over a relatively short span of time. These shorter synthetic time series could not effectively represent at least one complete daily activity cycle. To synthesize longer and more realistic multi-axial sensor data, this paper proposes a new customized GANs-based sensory data synthesizing method, which is dedicated to wearable activity recognition tasks, named Conditional SensoryGANs. Firstly, the elaborately designed MultiScale MultiDimensional (MSMD) spatiotemporal function module endows the proposed Conditional SensoryGANs with the capability of synthesizing longer sensory sequences, which could better characterize different behaviors with periodicity. Secondly, benefited from the well-designed Time-Frequency Enhancement (TFE) functional module, Conditional SensoryGANs could more accurately capture each axis's spatiotemporal property and spatial correlation between different axes to improve the fidelity of synthetic sensor data. Thirdly, Conditional SensoryGANs could synthesize verisimilar wearable sensor data of the specified quantity and category under a unified framework with the embedded condition's refined control. Qualitative visual evaluations demonstrate that the proposed method has more excellent capability for synthesizing verisimilar wearable multi-axial sensor data than the state-of-the-art GAN-based sensor data generation methods. Quantitative experiments also prove that it could achieve better results than off-the-shelf GANs-based time series methods for synthesizing wearable multi-axial sensor data. Meanwhile, empirical results demonstrate that synthetic sensor data from Conditional SensoryGANs can achieve comparatively approximate usability in the field of wearable human activity recognition than the real sensor data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-life business processes may change over time in response to new business requirements, market changes, new policies or regulations, etc., which is called concept drift in the data mining area. How to identify and deal with the concept drift problem is a significant challenge in business process mining. Currently, the research mainly focuses on the problems of concept drift detection. However, the proposed approaches do not intuitively explain how the process changes. In this paper, we provide an integrated framework whose core technique is an A utomatic and I ncremental approach for business process M odel r E pair under concept D rift (AIMED). AIMED streamlines the functions of concept drift detection, localization and model repair. More specifically, when concept drift is detected, it updates the process model automatically by precisely localizing the sub-structure of the process model that concept drift affects and updating this sub-structure accordingly. Concept drift is explained intuitively by presenting the repaired model. In particular, AIMED can resist the noise that greatly affects the performance of current concept drift detection and process model repair techniques. The properties of AIMED are theoretically proven. We also conduct extensive experiments on synthetic logs as well as real-life logs. The experiment results show that AIMED outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in both concept drift detection and process model repair and works well even when there is noise in logs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the use of lithium batteries increasing year by year, resulting in a large number of waste lithium-ion batteries generated, bringing pressure to the ecological system while also causing a waste of Co resources. Although Co-based catalysts are also of interest in the Li–CO 2 system, no research has been reported on the preparation of catalysts for value-added utilization of recovered Co. In this paper, Li–CO 2 batteries with Co 3 O 4 /CNT cathodes were prepared by environmentally friendly hydrothermal method employing cobalt oxalate recycled from waste lithium-ion batteries as a Co source in combination with commercial CNT. Unlike traditional noble metal and transition metal-based catalysts, which are expensive and complicated, this work can further reduce the cost of batteries by recycling valuable Co sources from waste lithium-ion batteries. As a result, the battery has the discharge capacity of 2728 mAh g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1. Not only that, but it can reach more than 85 cycles at a limited capacity of 400 mAh g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yarrowia lipolytica , an oleaginous yeast with the GRAS status, has been developed as a platform for the chemical production. Promoter engineering is an important approach to regulating gene expression at the transcriptional level, which is of great significance in constructing microbial cell factories. Although some work on promoter study has been carried out in Y. lipolytica , obtained achievements still need further replenishment and development, compared explicitly with Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Bacillus subtilis , and other microorganisms. For this, we screened 81 endogenous promoters in Y. lipolytica , mainly involved in carbon metabolism and nitrogen metabolism. As a result, we obtained 15 strong promoters, 41 medium strength promoters, and 25 weak promoters, with the strength spanning from 0.06 % to 1.60-fold of P TEF promoter. Moreover, as a proof-of-concept, the identified promoter library was applied for expressing UDP-glycosyltransferase to produce salidroside, resulting in a production of 95.64 mg/l in shake flask, which is 3.92-times that of the parental strain. In general, our study provides a unique and available endogenous promoter library for Y. lipolytica. [Display omitted] • Obtaining a promoter library with the strength spanning from 0.06 % to 160 % of P TEF. • Characterizing 15 strong promoters, 41 medium promoters, and 25 weak promoters. • The strongest promoter is P MnDH2 (YALI0D18964g), 1.60-fold of the strength of P TEF. • The weakest promoter is P PHO89 (YALI0E23859g), 0.06 % of the strength of P TEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • This study provides the first in vivo evidence that plasma level of CST is up-regulated and negatively correlated with the expression of NT-pro BNP in sepsis and exerts protective effects on myocardial injury in sepsis. • Exogenous administration of CST significantly improved survival rate and cardiac function in sepsis by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis of cardiomyocytes. • CST exerted anti-pyroptosis effects by specifically binding to SSTR2, thus activating AMPK and inactivating Drp1 to inhibit mitochondrial fission in cardiomyocytes. Although the pathophysiological mechanism of septic cardiomyopathy has been continuously discovered, it is still a lack of effective treatment method. Cortistatin (CST), a neuroendocrine polypeptide of the somatostatin family, has emerged as a novel cardiovascular-protective peptide, but the specific mechanism has not been elucidated. The aim of our study is to explore the role of CST in cardiomyocytes pyroptosis and myocardial injury in sepsis and whether CST inhibits cardiomyocytes pyroptosis through specific binding with somastatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) and activating AMPK/Drp1 signaling pathway. In this study, plasma CST levels were significantly high and were negatively correlated with N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a biomarker for cardiac dysfunction, in patients with sepsis. Exogenous administration of CST significantly improved survival rate and cardiac function in mouse models of sepsis by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis of cardiomyocytes (decreased cleavage of caspase-1, IL-1β and gasdermin D). Pharmacological inhibition and genetic ablation revealed that CST exerted anti-pyroptosis effects by specifically binding to somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2), thus activating AMPK and inactivating Drp1 to inhibit mitochondrial fission in cardiomyocytes. This study is the first to report that CST attenuates septic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting cardiomyocyte pyroptosis through the SSTR2-AMPK-Drp1-NLRP3 pathway. Importantly, CST specifically binds to SSTR2, which promotes AMPK phosphorylation, inhibits Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission, and reduces ROS levels, thereby inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation-mediated pyroptosis and alleviating sepsis-induced myocardial injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To accelerate the practical application of Li–O 2 batteries. A catalyst with outstanding oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction catalytic activity is required. Here, in-situ growth ZIF-67 within three-dimensional nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (3D-N/rGO) layers was used to investigate a bifunctional catalyst. The inner space is supported by ZIF-67 particles, while 3D-N/rGO extends a suitable three-phase reaction interface and enhances O 2 adsorbability. When assembled battery with normal electrolyte, it delivered a high specific capacity of 12028 mAh g−1, and stabilised for 203 cycles at 200 mA g−1 with a limited capacity of 500 mAh g−1. When LiBr-gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) was used instead of electrolyte the lithium metal anode, the polarisation value of LiBr-GPE in Li/Li batteries was only about 0.0384 V after continuous working for 1600 h. When used as a cathode catalyst in Li–O 2 batteries, the electrode performance was doubled compared with using the normal electrolyte. These findings pave the way for developing of all-encompassing battery materials with high capacity and long cycle life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • High-titer production of DHA was achieved. • Overexpression of diacylglycerol acyltransferase enhanced lipid and DHA titers. • The optimal addition time was 48 h after inoculation. • The maximum DHA titer was 42.23 g/L. Schizochytrium sp. has received much attention for its ability to synthesize and accumulate high-level docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which can reach nearly 40 % of total fatty acids. In this study, the titer of DHA in Schizochytrium sp. was successfully improved by enhancing DHA storage through overexpressing the diacylglycerol acyltransferase (ScDGAT2C) gene, as well as optimizing the supply of precursors and cofactors required for DHA synthesis by response surface methodology. Notably, malic acid, citric acid, and biotin showed synergistic and time-dependent effects on DHA accumulation. The maximum lipid and DHA titers of the engineered Schizochytrium sp. strain reached 84.28 ± 1.02 g/L and 42.23 ± 0.69 g/L, respectively, with the optimal concentration combination (1.62 g/L malic acid + 0.37 g/L citric acid + 8.28 mg/L biotin) were added 48 h after inoculation. This study provides an effective strategy for improving lipid and DHA production in Schizochytrium sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the response of calcareous nannoplankton to the middle-late Eocene transition in the SW Neo-Tethys and compare our data to published results from X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, element content from X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and the abundance of microfossils in the coarse fractions of the sediment. The nannofossil assemblage is mainly composed of Reticulofenestra spp. (avg. 44%), Sphenolithus spp. (avg. 20%), Discoaste r spp. (avg. 18%) and Pontosphaera spp. (avg. 10%). The Relative abundance of Zygrhablithus bijugatus and the Chiasmolithus ratio are used with the visual assessment to evaluate the preservation. The Sphenolithus - Reticulofenestra turnover occurred before the MECO at the Lutetian-Bartonian boundary. Besides the significant influence of an evolutionary gradient caused by the disappearance of numerous species of Sphenoliths, Discoasterids, and Coccolithaceae, and the first appearance of multiple species of reticulofenestrids, paleoenvironmental conditions imposed a significant impact on the calcareous nannofossil assemblages. The abundance of ostracods and the planktic/benthic foraminifera ratio depict relative sea-level changes. The microfossil assemblages and the lithological composition of the sediments track paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes across the Lutetian to Priabonian. Dry conditions marked the middle Lutetian, followed by increased variability in hydrolyzing conditions during the late Lutetian and early Bartonian. An eutrophic and restricted ecosystem with high fine-grained material input is suggested for the Priabonian. • Increased calcareous nannofossil diversity from 42 Ma to 38.2 Ma. • An abrupt change from oligotrophic to mesotrophic conditions at ∼42 Ma. • Sphenolithus - Reticulofenestra turnover at the Lutetian-Bartonian boundary. • The nannofossil assemblage expressed no temperature changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR) offers a carbon-neutral process to fix nitrogen into ammonia, but its feasibility depends on the development of highly efficient electrocatalysts. Herein, we report that Fe ion grafted on MoO 3 nanorods synthesized by an impregnation technique can efficiently enhance the electron harvesting ability and the selectivity of H+ during the NRR process in neutral electrolyte. In 0.1 M Na 2 SO 4 solution, the electrocatalyst exhibited a remarkable NRR activity with an NH 3 yield of 9.66 μg h−1 mg−1 cat and a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 13.1%, far outperforming the ungrafted MnO 3. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the Fe sites are major activation centers along the alternating pathway. The theoretical and experimental research revel Fe(III) ion grafted on MoO 3 nanorods can achieve efficient electrocatalytic N 2 reduction. [Display omitted] • Fe(III) grafted MoO 3 nanorods are successfully synthesized through the impregnation method. • The catalyst shows a remarkable catalytic activity in nitrogen reduction reaction. • DFT calculations reveal that Fe sites are major reactive centers along the alternating pathway during the NRR process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanol is a promising green feedstock for producing fuels and chemicals because it is inexpensive, clean, environmentally friendly, and easily prepared. Thus, many studies have been devoted to engineering non-native methylotrophic platform microorganisms to utilize methanol. This study adopted a series of strategies to develop a synthetic methylotrophic Bacillus subtilis that can use methanol as the carbon source, including the heterologous expression of methanol dehydrogenase (Mdh), enhancement of the expressions of 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase (Hps) and 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase (Phi), regulation of the expressions of key enzymes at both the translational and transcriptional levels, stabilization of the key enzyme expression through a dual-system for expressing the target genes on both the plasmid and genome, and improvement of the catalytic activity of Mdh with a recycling strategy for NAD+. As a result, the methanol consumption of the synthetic methylotrophic B. subtilis reached 4.09 g/L, with the maximum OD 600 showing a 2.21-fold increase compared with the wild-type B. subtilis , which cannot use methanol. We further deleted the phosphoglucose isomerase (Pgi) and added co-substrates to increase the supply of ribulose-5-phosphate (Ru-5-P), and the specific methanol consumption rate increased by an additional 27.54%. Finally, we successfully constructed two strains that cannot grow in M9 medium with xylose or ribose unless methanol is utilized. The strategies used in this study are generally applicable to other studies on synthetic methylotrophy. • A synthetic methylotrophic B. subtilis based on the RuMP pathway was constructed. • The utilization of methanol by synthetic methylotrophic B. subtilis was improved by constructing NAD+ recycling system. • Through metabolic regulation and the addition of co-substrate, the utilization of methanol was further improved. • Two kinds of methanol-dependent B. subtilis were constructed by metabolic regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, obesity was considered a relative contraindication to left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation with less invasive surgery (LIS). The present study aimed to compare the outcomes of obese patients who underwent LVAD implantation through LIS with those who received full sternotomy (FS) implantation. We retrospectively reviewed all patients implanted with HeartMate 3 LVAD in our institution between September 2015 and June 2020. Obese patients (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) were included and dichotomized based on surgical approach into the FS or LIS cohort. Of 231 implanted patients, 107 (46%) were obese and included in the study. FS was performed in 26 (24%) patients and LIS approach in 81 (76%) patients. Preoperative patient characteristics were similar between the cohorts. Postoperatively, patients in LIS cohort had less bleeding (p = 0.029), fewer transfusions (p = 0.042), shorter duration of inotropic support (p = 0.049), and decreased incidence of severe RV failure (11.1% vs 30.8%, p = 0.028). Survival to discharge for the obese population was 87.5% overall and did not differ based on an approach (91.4% LIS vs 76.9% FS, p = 0.079). More LIS patients were discharged home (60.0% vs 82.4%, p = 0.041) rather than to rehabilitation center. Our results showed that the LIS approach in obese patients is associated with fewer postoperative complications and a trend towards better short-term survival. These results suggest that less invasive LVAD implantation is a safe and effective approach for obese patients. Future prospective randomized trials are required to substantiate these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence has shown that aberrant expression of lncRNA-TP53TG1 plays important roles in various malignancies. However, the biological functions of lncRNA-TP53TG1 in hepatocarcinogenesis, as well as the underlying mechanisms, remain largely unknown. Here, we assessed whether lncRNA-TP53TG1 plays a key role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression of lncRNA-TP53TG1 was significantly decreased in HCC tissues and cells. Decreased expression of lncRNA-TP53TG1 was associated with aggressive clinical phenotypes and a poor prognosis. Ectopic expression of lncRNA-TP53TG1 inhibited hepatoma cell proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo, whereas lncRNA-TP53TG1 knockdown exerted the opposite effects. Furthermore, lncRNA-TP53TG1 played an important role in slowing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in HCC. Mechanistically, lncRNA-TP53TG1 physically interacted with PRDX4 and promoted its ubiquitin-mediated degradation, resulting in the inactivation of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway in hepatoma cells. Our findings demonstrate a novel mechanism by which lncRNA-TP53TG1 exerts its tumor-suppressive effects through the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway in a PRDX4-mediated manner in HCC. Based on these results, lncRNA-TP53TG1 potentially represents a prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for patients with HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel sulfides are perfect anode materials for high-capacity and low-cost lithium-ion batteries (LIBs); however, with the shortcoming of polysulfide intermediate dissolution, volume expansion exceeding the limit during cycling also restricts their development. Herein, NiS/C composite materials are successfully anchored on chestnut shell fluff (CSF)-derived biochar by a glucose-auxiliary hydrothermal method along with an annealing treatment. The CSF biochar acts as an effective electron transmission channel for the rapid lithiation/delithiation of NiS and as a fixed sulfur carrier for inhibiting the dissolution of polysulfide. Glucose restrains the accumulation of NiS particles and then transforms into uniform amorphous carbon during annealing, which is more effective in buffering for rapid volume variation. Moreover, the CSF-NiS/C electrode exhibits a remarkable specific capacity of 1522.8 mAh g-1 (0.1 A g-1) and distinguished rate performance with 295 mAh g-1 capacity (3 A g-1), which are better than those of the pure NiS/C anode material displays. Researchers may be inspired by both of these reasonable design and synthesis strategies that are beneficial for the development of high-performance nickel-based sulfide anode materials for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Context: Many risk factors for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) have been reported. However, there are few reports on the relationship between spine sagittal parameters in patients with osteoporosis.Purpose: To explore whether: spinal sagittal imbalance is associated with future vertebral compression fractures in osteoporosis patients; spinal sagittal parameters in patients with osteoporosis can predict the occurrence of vertebral compression fractures.Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.Patient Sample: Patients with osteoporosis.Outcome Measures: Occurrence of OVCFs during the follow-up period.Methods: From January 2017 to October 2019, eligible patients with osteoporosis at the initial visit were enrolled. They were followed up to November 1, 2020. Based on whether OVCFs occurred during the follow-up, the patients were divided into two groups: the experimental group (vertebral compression fracture group) and the control group (no vertebral compression fracture group). Intragroup analysis was performed as follows: Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to calculate the correlation between each parameter. Intergroup analysis was performed as follows. For categorical variables, the chi-square test was used; for normally distributed continuous variables, an independent sample t-test was used; and for non-normally distributed variables, a two-sample nonparametric test was used. Binary logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine independent risk factors and critical values, respectively.Results: A total of 340 patients with osteoporosis were enrolled. The longest and shortest follow-up periods were 44 months and 12 months, respectively, with an average of 25.2±10.2 months. There were significant differences in age, bone mineral density (femur and lumbar), smoking history, medication treatment regularity, Thoracolumbar Kyphosis (TLK), Pelvic Tilt (PT), C7-S1 Sagittal Vertical Axis (C7-S1 SVA), and C2-7 Sagittal Vertical Axis (C2-7 SVA) between the experimental and control groups. There were no significant differences in sex, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption history, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, family history of osteoporosis, physical activity, Thoracic Kyphosis (TK), Lumbar Lordosis (LL), Pelvic Incidence (PI), Sacral Slope (SS), C2-C7 Cobb Angle (CL), T1 slope (T1S) or blood parameters. Through binary logistic regression analysis, we found that BMD, medication treatment regularity and C7-S1 SVA were independent risk factors for future vertebral compression fractures. According to the ROC curve, the prediction accuracy of C7-S1 SVA was the highest. Through the calculation of critical values, we found that when C7-S1 SVA was more than 3.81 cm, future OVCFs were more likely to occur, and for every 1cm increase in C7-S1 SVA, the incidence of future OVCFs would increase by 0.324 times (p<.001, OR=1.324). Through intragroup analysis, we further found that C7-S1 SVA was positively correlated with the percentage of vertebral body wedging.Conclusions: For patients with osteoporosis, a C7-S1 SVA more than 3.81cm is significantly associated with a greater risk for vertebral compression fractures in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bioavailability of two typical shellfish species were performed using in vitro method. • Bioavailability of Zn and Cd in cooked C. rivularis samples both exceeded 82%. • Bioavailability of Zn and Cd in cooked P. undulata samples both exceeded 83%. • The intake of Cd from both shellfish species is safety. Dynamic extraction of edible tissues of Jinjiang oyster (Crassostrea rivularis) and Flower clam (Paphia undulata) was conducted using a fully biomimetic digestion (in vitro) method. The impact of different cooking methods on the bioavailability of Zn and Cd in the edible shellfish tissues was analyzed, and the human health risk of Zn and Cd was evaluated. The results show that the gastric biomimetic extractions of Zn and Cd in unheated samples of C. rivularis and P. undulata were higher than those in the intestinal biomimetic extraction. The extraction patterns of cooked samples were consistent with those of raw samples. The bioavailability of Zn and Cd in cooked samples of C. rivularis was 94.9% and 82.5%, respectively, indicating increased Zn bioavailability but decreased Cd bioavailability compared to the raw samples. The bioavailability of Zn and Cd in cooked samples of P. undulata was 85.1% and 83.0%, respectively, both of which decreased compared to the raw samples. Consumption of C. rivularis can provide 21.0% to 34.2% of the daily required Zn intake, while consumption of P. undulata can provide 3.8% to 6.4%. The intake of Cd from both shellfish species is below the monthly tolerable intake recommended by FAO/WHO. Consuming cooked C. rivularis can increase the intake of Zn and decrease the intake of Cd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bioavailability of two typical shellfish species were performed using in vitro method. • Bioavailability of Zn and Cd in cooked C. rivularis samples both exceeded 82%. • Bioavailability of Zn and Cd in cooked P. undulata samples both exceeded 83%. • The intake of Cd from both shellfish species is safety. Dynamic extraction of edible tissues of Jinjiang oyster (Crassostrea rivularis) and Flower clam (Paphia undulata) was conducted using a fully biomimetic digestion (in vitro) method. The impact of different cooking methods on the bioavailability of Zn and Cd in the edible shellfish tissues was analyzed, and the human health risk of Zn and Cd was evaluated. The results show that the gastric biomimetic extractions of Zn and Cd in unheated samples of C. rivularis and P. undulata were higher than those in the intestinal biomimetic extraction. The extraction patterns of cooked samples were consistent with those of raw samples. The bioavailability of Zn and Cd in cooked samples of C. rivularis was 94.9% and 82.5%, respectively, indicating increased Zn bioavailability but decreased Cd bioavailability compared to the raw samples. The bioavailability of Zn and Cd in cooked samples of P. undulata was 85.1% and 83.0%, respectively, both of which decreased compared to the raw samples. Consumption of C. rivularis can provide 21.0% to 34.2% of the daily required Zn intake, while consumption of P. undulata can provide 3.8% to 6.4%. The intake of Cd from both shellfish species is below the monthly tolerable intake recommended by FAO/WHO. Consuming cooked C. rivularis can increase the intake of Zn and decrease the intake of Cd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The poor utilization of sucrose limits the CM application in Schizochytrium sp. • Overexpression of SH enhanced the utilization of sucrose by 2.57-fold. • The DHA titer of evolved strain from CM was 42.69% higher than from glucose. • Proteomics confirmed that CM enhanced DHA biosynthesis and lipid storage. • 25.26 g/L DHA with 51.45% content were obtained from CM by fed-batch. Cane molasses (CM) is a sugar-rich agro-industrial byproduct. The purpose of this study is to synthesize docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in Schizochytrium sp. by using CM. The single factor analysis showed that sucrose utilization was the main factor limiting the utilization of CM. Therefore, the endogenous sucrose hydrolase (SH) was overexpressed in Schizochytrium sp., which enhanced the sucrose utilization rate 2.57-fold compared to the wild type. Furthermore, adaptive laboratory evolution was used to further improve sucrose utilization from CM. Comparative proteomics and RT-qPCR were used out to analyze the metabolic differences of evolved strain grown on CM and glucose, respectively. Finally, a constant flow rate CM feeding strategy was implemented, whereby the DHA titer and lipid yield of the final strain OSH-end reached 25.26 g/L and 0.229 g/g sugar, respectively. This study demonstrated the CM is a cost-effective carbon source for industrial DHA fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parabens are widely added to food, cosmetics, and medicines as preservatives and are typical contaminants of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). However, their fate and transport in urban watersheds remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the role of road runoff as a critical nonpoint source of parabens and their metabolites in urban rivers based on 73 multimedia (road runoff and dust in different urban land uses, wastewater, stormwater discharge and river water) samples collected from a highly urbanized drainage area. Seven parabens and five metabolites were detected in the road runoff, with mean concentrations of ∑parabens and ∑metabolites equal to 47.5 ng/L and 4710 ng/L, respectively. The concentrations in road runoff were comparable to those in treated wastewater and river water and showed a land use pattern of residential > industrial > commercial. A first flush effect of the contaminants was observed in a heavy rainfall event with an antecedent dry period. In general, the population-based and area-based emission intensities of ∑parabens and ∑metabolites in road runoff were one order of magnitude higher than those in wastewater effluent during the rainfall events. This study provides quantitative evidence that road runoff can be a major pollution source of parabens and their metabolites in rapidly growing cities during the wet season and calls for the integrated management of nonpoint sources to prevent urban river contamination by typical PPCPs. [Display omitted] • The concentration of parabens in road runoff is comparable to that in WWTP effluent. • The areal emission intensity of parabens in road runoff exceeds that in effluent. • Residential areas have a higher level of runoff pollution by parabens than others. • Control of nonpoint sources is relevant to prevention of river pollution by parabens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing complexity of reservoirs, particularly shale reservoirs, demands accurate information on the formation composition, mineralogy, and mechanical parameters for effective exploitation. The development of geochemical and geophysical logging technology allows the investigation of the correlations between the elemental, mineral contents, and the mechanical parameters of shale. Taking the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation shale in the Fenggang block in northeastern Guizhou as an example, 889 data sets of the main elemental (Si, Ca, Fe, S, Ti, Gd, K, Mg, and S) concentrations and minerals (carbonate, pyrite, clay, quartz, feldspar, and mica) from Elemental Capture Spectroscopy logging and rock mechanics parameters (dynamic Young's modulus, dynamic Poisson's ratio, shear modulus, bulk modulus, and brittleness index) determined via Sonic Scanner logging data in the target zone of the study area are collected. We investigated the relationships between the mechanical parameters and the elemental, and mineral concentrations by Spearman rank correlation analysis. The influence of different Si concentrations on the mechanical parameters of the rock (positive/negative, and significance) is discussed based on the mineral contents determined via X-ray diffraction of 24 experimental samples. When 22.1% < DWSi (dry weight fraction of the silicon content as a percent) < 28.40% and 28.40% < DWSi <34.20%, the static Young's modulus, shear modulus, bulk modulus, and brittleness index exhibit a highly positive/negative correlation that is significant with the increase/decrease in DWSi, WCLA (dry weight fraction of clay), and WQFM (dry weight fraction of quartz, feldspar, and mica) contents, respectively. DWSi = 28.4% is suggested as the turning point for the correlation change (positive/negative, significance). Thus, there exists uncertainty in the determination of the mechanical parameters of rock within certain elemental content ranges. More mathematical models and factors need to be considered to adequately characterize the mechanical parameters of rock. • Rock's elemental and mineral and mechanical parameters characterization in the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation shale. • Spearman rank analysis on elements, minerals and mechanical parameters of a rock. • Discuss the degree of Spearman rank correlations regarding elements and minerals on mechanical parameters. • Discuss the possible mineral sources of silicon in different ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]