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Increasing evidence shows that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure may adversely affect human health. However, the links between combined exposure to PAHs and neuropsychiatric manifestations in perimenopausal women remain unclear. To explore these relationships further, we used the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) of the 2005–2012 cycles. After filtering, five hundred forty-seven perimenopausal women aged 45–55 years were included in our analysis. Eight PAHs metabolites were measured to represent PAHs exposure in the body. In our study, depression, sleep disorders, and frequent mental distress (FMD) were used to describe the neuropsychiatric manifestations. Because of the bivariate correlations among PAHs compounds, principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to achieve the dimension reduction process of PAHs compounds. To figure out if there is a relationship between urinary PAH metabolites and outcomes, multiple logistic regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and the Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used. The findings showed that urinary PAHs concentrations in a certain range were related to neuropsychiatric manifestations. In detail, the results of logistic regressions, RCS, and BKMR all indicated that urinary PAHs were positively correlated with depression. In addition, the results of principal components regression and RCS showed associations between urinary PAHs and the risk of FMD or sleep disorders, respectively. Exposure to PAHs was linked to neuropsychiatric manifestations in perimenopausal women, but more pertinent researches are required to understand the connections fully. [Display omitted] • Our study firstly linked perimenopausal women's polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure to neuropsychiatric manifestations. • We evaluated participant's neuropsychiatric symptoms, including depression, sleep disorder, and frequent mental distress. • Specific urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels correlated with neuropsychiatric manifestations in participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We rethink and decompose the uncertainty in facial expression recognition. • We propose a novel method to mine the ambiguity and noise in facial expression recognition datasets. • The tri-regularization module employs different training strategies for the clean, ambiguous, and noisy label expressions. • Our proposed method achieves performance 90.25% on RAF-DB, 62.47% on AffectNet, and 89.86% on FERPlus. Due to the ambiguous expressions and the subjectiveness of annotators, annotation ambiguity is a serious obstacle for facial expression recognition (FER). Ambiguous annotation exists in similar and dissimilar classes, which we call ambiguity and noise. The previous state-of-the-art approaches use uncertainty to generalize the two categories, and adopt uncertainty learning to suppress uncertainty samples. However, ambiguous expressions are confused with noisy label expressions may bias the model toward easy samples and hurt the generalization capability. To solve this problem, we propose a novel approach to m ine a mbiguity and n oise (MAN) in FER datasets. Specifically, we design a co-division module, which divides the datasets into clean, ambiguous and noisy label expressions based on the consistency and inconsistency between the predictions of two networks and the given labels. To effectively learn the clean expressions, improve discriminative ability and avoid memorizing noisy labels, the tri-regularization module employs supervised learning, mutuality learning and unsupervised learning for the three subsets, respectively. Extensive experiments have shown that MAN can effectively mine the real ambiguity and noise, and achieve state-of-the-art performance in both synthetic noisy datasets and popular benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen adsorption and diffusion behaviors on the clean and a series of element doped Zr(0001) surfaces are studied through first-principles calculations. Among the studied doping elements, Cu, Co, Y, and Mg prefer to substitute Zr on the topmost surface layer, Al, Pd, Ir, and Si are favored from topmost layer to several surface layers down, while Mo is not favored. Independent of the substitution energies, Mo, Co, and Ir induce a symmetry-breaking local distortion surface structure. Based on the obtained geometries, it is found that most dopants promote the hydrogen adsorption on their next nearest neighbor sites but hinder it on the nearest neighbor sites. Most of the dopants also promote both the hydrogen diffusion on the surface plane and the hydrogen penetration into the subsurface layers. The results indicate that element doping may facilitate the hydride nucleation in Zr alloys. [Display omitted] • Co, Mo and Ir-doping on Zr(0001) surface induce symmetry-breaking local distortion. • Most dopants promote H adsorption on Zr(0001) in their around area. • Most dopants promote both H diffusion on surface and penetration into subsurface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PES membrane was loosened by doping with PEI-modified silica nanoparticles. • Mesoporous skin layer and thick porous transition layer were structured in the hybrid membrane. • Hybrid membrane achieved 92.0 L m–2h−1 bar−1 water permeance, 98.4 % CR retention, and 100 % salts pass. • Hybrid membrane exhibited excellent high operating pressure tolerance and recyclability. Loose nanofiltration (LNF) is a newly-developing technology for desalting dye-containing saline effluents, but suffers from membrane materials with low permeance and poor dye/salt separation selectivity. Herein, a hybrid polyethersulfone (PES) LNF membrane for dye/salt separation was prepared via a nonsolvent-induced phase inversion method, which was carried out using polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified silica nanoparticles as a dopant. This design not only featured a hybrid PES LNF membrane with high porosity and small mean pore size, but also partially neutralized its charge and enhanced its hydrophilicity. Hybrid PES LNF membrane from a 21-wt% PES solution with 3-wt% PEI-decorated silica nanoparticles addition was demonstrated to achieve high water permeance (92.0 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) and dyes retention ratio (98.4 % for Congo Red, 98.8 % for Nile Blue A, and 95.1 % for Methyl Blue) accompanied with fully-pass for various salts (Na 2 SO 4 , NaCl, MgCl 2 and CaCl 2). In addition, the hybrid membrane exerted excellent resistances to strong acidic, oxidative and hot water (90 °C) environments and exhibited a pH-sensitive permeability. Multicycle test revealed that the hybrid membrane had high permeance recovery ratio (>92.8 %) and maintained its high dye retention and complete salt permeation even after 10 cycles, manifesting its outstanding fouling resistance and recyclability. Besides, the hybrid membrane repelled 92.6 % of dyes from a simulated wastewater consisting of multiple industry-applied direct dyes and salts after 12 h consecutive test, but allow 100 % of mixed salts passing through the membrane, proving its practical applicability to industrial dyeing wastewater. This study provided a simple and economically feasible route to high-performance LNF membrane production for dye/salt separation, thus popularizing LNF process in dyeing wastewater treatment, organic products purification, and resource recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ZnO@NH 2 -MIL-88B has good degradation performance for a variety of organic pollutants. • Simultaneous degradation and removal of multiple organic pollutants by ZMFe-3. • Three degradation pathways of MB were predicted by DFT calculations and LC-MS. • ZnO@NH 2 -MIL-88B forms a fast electron transfer channel. Combining photocatalysts with Fenton technology can improve the catalytic properties of materials and achieve efficient degradation of organic pollutants. However, preparing low-cost catalysts using simple methods remains a challenge. This paper selected a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective semiconductor material, zinc oxide, for the modification of NH 2 -MIL-88B and prepared a new S-scheme heterojunction photo-Fenton catalyst ZnO@NH 2 -MIL-88B (ZMFe-x) by a simple solvothermal method. Moreover, the Zn-O-Fe bonds that were formed between the interfaces enabled a fast channel for the photoelectron transport that was created by photoexcitation from the ZnO conduction band to the NH 2 -MIL-88B valence band. This allowed the ZMFe-x catalysts to have better removal performance for organic pollutants in the photo-Fenton reaction. The dominating role of hydroxyl radicals in the degradation procedure was determined by ESR analysis and free radical trapping experiments, and the degradation mechanisms and pathway of contaminants were predicted by intermediate analysis and DFT calculations. This study provides a stable and effective new strategy for preparing MOFs catalysts for removing various pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Embedded CDs accelerated the cross-wall electron transfer of microbial respiration. • Enhanced microbial respiration promoted microbial advanced oxidation of aniline. • CDs served as the electron transfer bridge to induce oxygen reduction extracellularly. • CDs polarized amide groups in the cell wall and enhanced PCET in cell respiration. Microbial advanced oxidation, a crucial pathway for pollutant decomposition in the natural environment, is typically limited by microbial extracellular respiration. This is because the electro-inert cell walls of common microorganisms, such as Bacillus subtilis , hinder the cross-wall electron transfer necessary for reducing ferric species and inducing Fenton-like reactions. In this study, carbon quantum dots (CDs) were fed to promote the extracellular respiration of B. subtilis to strengthen the microbial advanced oxidation of aniline. The results showed that the CDs were embedded in the cell wall of bacterial cells to improve the extracellular electron transfer, which increased the •OH production (by 60.25%) and the aniline degradation. Meanwhile, the •OH generation mainly increased outside of the cell, which was beneficial for the degradation of pollutants and for relieving the damage of the radical to bacterial cells. The CDs induced the polarization of amide groups in the cell walls to maintain actively proton-coupled electron transfer to increase ATP generation by 39.28%. Feeding CDs provided a potential strategy to strengthen the extracellular respiration of common microorganisms and increase pollutant degradation via microbial advanced oxidation in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Originated from the future trends and requirements for silicone rubber (SR) in harsh work condition of advanced cutting-edge fields (construction, aerospace, marine equipment and automobile, etc), the processing complexity, complex ingredients and unbalanced overall properties of traditional multi-component flame-retarding SR system are limited. The development of mono-component and halogen-free flame retardants with adequate efficiency, durability and strength have been urgently expected for settling the crucial bottleneck issue of SR materials, which can avoid the defects of performance contradictions for long-used multi-component system in previous published work. Under such background, this paper has fabricated a hydrophobic Mn-doped melamine phosphate (H-DTMA@Mn) via facile multi-stage construction strategy that has been confirmed by a series of characterizations. The results have indicated that SR/28 phr H-DTMA@Mn can achieve limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 32.4% and UL-94 V-0 rating. Along with the reduced peak heat release rate, the validity of as-prepared H-DTMA@Mn for raising the flame retardancy of SR has been straightway clarified. Different from the previous work, the prominent flame retardant durability of SR/H-DTMA@Mn in many extreme environment can be maintained via the protection action of hydrophobic structure. The detailed analysis on char residues of SR composites can explain the effective flame retardant mechanism in view of chemical composition and microscopic morphology. Moreover, the mechanical strength and thermal properties of SR composites are ideal and accommodated that are greatly required in the real-life application. To sum up, the desirable balance for comprehensive performance can be realized by introducing the mono-component flame retardants, which can innately open up the innovation for meeting the requirements of SR materials in more fields. • Mono-component and Mn-doped flame retardants were fabricated for SR. • SR/28 phr H-DTMA@Mn can gain 32.4% LOI value and UL‐94 V‐0 rating. • PHRR and THR reduction of SR/28 phr H-DTMA@Mn are 42.3% and 34.7%. • Excellent balance among comprehensive properties of SR composites can be achieved. • Multi-channel synergistic flame retardant mechanism is preliminarily deduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated a rotation-matrix-based finite-time trajectory tracking problem for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in the presence of output constraints, input quantization, and uncertainties. First, a rotation matrix-based attitude representation is introduced, which allow attitude dynamics to be globally and uniquely represented without unwinding. To satisfy the finite-time stability of AUV tracking control and the output constraints imposed by introducing the new attitude error vector, a novel finite-time command-filtered backstepping controller (FTCFBC) is proposed based on the asymmetrical time-varying barrier Lyapunov function (TVBLF). Subsequently, a second-order auxiliary dynamic system (ADS) is proposed to estimate the negative effects that of input quantization errors. Because the quantized control inputs can be switched at an appropriate earlier or later switching timing depending on the output of the ADS, the negative impact of quantization errors on the control accuracy is reduced. Moreover, an adaptive finite-time disturbance observer (AFTDO) is developed to estimate the lumped uncertainties without prior information on the bounds of the uncertainties. Finally, the results of the theoretical analysis verified that the tracking errors can converge within a finite time. Numerical simulations confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. • A second-order auxiliary dynamic system to address quantization errors. • The equilibrium of the virtual errors is always kept within the constraints. • An adaptive finite-time disturbance observer without prior information. • The simplified rotation matrix-based controller avoids the unwinding phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the service life of composite materials, self-healing, and damage detection are essential. Although a lot of research has been done on self-healing and damage-reporting materials, it is still difficult to combine self-healing with in-situ and real-time damage detection in bulk resin and composites. By integrating extrinsic self-healing based on microcapsules and internal self-healing based on coordination interaction, the simultaneous self-healing of matrix and interface damage of fiber-reinforced composites was achieved in this study. Specifically, two-component microcapsules filled with epoxy/mercaptan repair agent were inserted into the matrix and Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) were introduced into the surface of carbon fiber by electroless plating. Upon the rupture of microcapsules, matrix self-healing was used to reach a desirable level of synchronous healing efficiency. In the meantime, the excess sulfhydryl reacted with AgNPs on the fibers to establish a coordination bond for interface self-healing. More intriguingly, the high exothermic action of epoxy resin and mercaptan repair agent in the self-healing process was observed when using infrared thermal imaging technology for in-situ and real-time damage detection. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Smouldering-to-flaming transition in solid wood was observed at 830 °C under airflow. • Fully penetrated vertical char crack or pre-perforated hole promotes the StF transition. • External airflow made solid wood smouldering transition to flaming easier and faster. • StF transition was an autoignition of a pyrolysate-oxygen by hot smouldering surface. • Numerical model reproduces the StF transition of solid wood under external airflow. The shrinkage, deformation and cracking of the wood affect their smouldering and flaming dynamics, but the scientific understanding is still limited. We study the burning behaviours of disc wood samples with a diameter of 60 mm and thicknesses of 5–40 mm under external airflows up to 6 m/s. Results show that the smouldering-to-flaming (StF) transition can be observed at about 830 °C under external airflow, which is caused by the interactions between smouldering-induced crack and environmental airflow. The fully penetrated vertical char crack or pre-perforated hole promotes the StF transition because of (1) enhanced radiation between the two smouldering surfaces and (2) greater air supply under the chimney effect. As the wind velocity increases, both the smouldering surface temperature and crack size increase, so the transition to flaming becomes faster. For a larger wood thickness, a larger airflow is required to generate the crack and cause a StF transition. A numerical model is proposed to investigate the volatile convection and flaming ignition. Numerical analysis reproduces the StF transition, as an autoignition of a pyrolysate-oxygen mixture promoted by hot smouldering surfaces. The numerical model further reveals the effects of smouldering temperature and cross wind on the StF transition. This work deepens the understanding of the StF transition dynamics and provides insights into the wildfire ignition dynamics and fire hazards of timber structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial interaction of water with guanidinium chloride (GdmCl) is crucial to understanding protein solubility and denaturing mechanism. However, molecularly resolved parameters such as polar and dispersive surface energy components of water-GdmCl mixtures remain unknown. Here, we developed a method to determine water-GdmCl mixture surface tension and its components using four different substrates including polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), silicone, polyethylene, and polystyrene. Results show all six combinations, PDMS-silicone, PDMS-polystyrene, PDMS-polyethylene, silicone-polyethylene, silicone-polystyrene, and polyethylene-polystyrene can estimate similar trend of total surface tension, polar and dispersive components with respect to salt concentration changes. Silicone-polyethylene pairs yield the most accurate surface tension compared to others because silicone and polyethylene have large distinctive surface energy differences. Results show that polar components increase from 51 mJ / m 2 to 64 mJ / m 2 when salt concentration increases; dispersive components decrease from 21 mJ / m 2 to 15 mJ / m 2 when salt concentration increases. Total surface tension increases from 72.8 mJ / m 2 to 78.1 mJ / m 2 when GdmCl increases from 0% to 40 wt%. The results of this study can elucidate molecular interaction between water and GdmCl. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial interaction of water with guanidinium chloride (GdmCl) is crucial to understanding protein solubility and denaturing mechanism. However, molecularly resolved parameters such as polar and dispersive surface energy components of water-GdmCl mixtures remain unknown. Here, we developed a method to determine water-GdmCl mixture surface tension and its components using four different substrates including polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), silicone, polyethylene, and polystyrene. Results show all six combinations, PDMS-silicone, PDMS-polystyrene, PDMS-polyethylene, silicone-polyethylene, silicone-polystyrene, and polyethylene-polystyrene can estimate similar trend of total surface tension, polar and dispersive components with respect to salt concentration changes. Silicone-polyethylene pairs yield the most accurate surface tension compared to others because silicone and polyethylene have large distinctive surface energy differences. Results show that polar components increase from 51 mJ / m 2 to 64 mJ / m 2 when salt concentration increases; dispersive components decrease from 21 mJ / m 2 to 15 mJ / m 2 when salt concentration increases. Total surface tension increases from 72.8 mJ / m 2 to 78.1 mJ / m 2 when GdmCl increases from 0% to 40 wt%. The results of this study can elucidate molecular interaction between water and GdmCl. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, a novel brazing interlayer of bicontinuous nanoporous copper (N P–Cu) lamina was produced by chemically dealloying a magnesium-copper (Mg–Cu) binary alloy and applied for brazing a C/C composite and TC4 alloy along with AgCuTi alloy brazing filler. SEM, EDS, XRD, XPS, TEM and SAED were used to characterize the differences in microstructure and phase distribution of the samples and compare with samples without an interlayer. Mechanical testing in the form of shear tests were conducted to evaluate the change in shear strength caused by the interlayer. The large specific area, uniform nano scale porosity and ligaments of the N P-Cu lamina interlayer induced the transformation of Ti–Cu compounds from their bulk agglomerates to dispersed fine particles and formed eutectic phases, which contributed to relieving the residual stress and enhancing the plasticity of the joint seam. This led to a shear strength increase of 185% as compared to samples without an interlayer. • N P-Cu lamina was prepared by chemically dealloying Mg–Cu binary alloy in 0.1 M HCl. • N P-Cu lamina was used for brazing C/C composite-TC4 alloy with Ag–Cu–Ti filler. • Fine Ti 2 Cu particles, instead of TiCu-wrapped Ti 2 Cu agglomerates, formed in the joint seam. • Eutectic phases of Ag (s,s) and Cu(s,s) emerged which enhanced the joint plasticity and relieved the residual stresses. • The N P-Cu interlayer comparatively increased the shear strength of the joint by 185%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we employ a nucleation additive 4-octylbenzoic acid (OBA) with an optimized solvent evaporation method to regulate crystal orientation and grain width of small-molecule organic semiconductors. When 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene (TIPS pentacene) was utilized as a benchmark material to mix with the additive, a self-assembled OBA interfacial layer was formed and promoted uniform deposition of nucleation seeds. As a result, the TIPS pentacene/OBA blend crystalline film exhibited crystal alignment in long range order, attributing to a 11-fold reduction of the crystal misorientation angle and a 4-fold increase of the grain width. We further discussed the important correlation between the effective hole mobility, grain boundaries, grain width and length, and nucleation sites. Organic thin film transistors were fabricated to test charge transport, yielding a hole mobility of up to 0.17 cm2/V. This work provides a new pathway to modulate the nucleation and crystallization events of organic semiconductors, and can potentially be applied to optimize the thin film morphology and electrical performance of organic semiconducting materials in general. Image 1 • We showcase using 4-octylbenzoic acid (OBA) with optimized solvent evaporation to control semiconductor crystallization. • OBA formed a self-assembled interfacial layer and promoted uniform deposition of semiconductor nucleation seeds. • A model was discussed to reveal the correlation between the effective hole mobility, grain width and nucleation sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zirconia-based ceramics have many applications in manufacturing, energy, and biomedical industries due to their excellent properties such as high thermal and oxidation resistance, excellent chemical stability and mechanical strength. Traditional manufacturing processes such as cold pressing, hot pressing, and injection molding have limitations in the fabrication of high-quality zirconia-based ceramics with complex geometries. Additive manufacturing (AM) processes such as binder jetting, photopolymerization, and material extrusion have been recently developed to fabricate complex ceramic parts. However, additive manufacturing of defect-free ceramic parts with superior mechanical properties remains a challenge. To address this issue, a novel extrusion-based AM process was introduced to fabricate yttria-partially-stabilized zirconia ceramics. The mechanical properties such as flexural strength, fracture toughness, compressive strength, hardness, and porosity of the additively manufactured yttria-partially-stabilized zirconia ceramics were characterized. The surface quality and shrinkage of the zirconia parts were also measured. The experimental results have shown that the yttria-partially-stabilized zirconia parts fabricated by the proposed extrusion-based AM process exhibit superior mechanical properties than that of the zirconia parts fabricated by other AM processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokines can be induced by pathogen stimulation for the information exchange between cells, and their expression patterns indicate the response status of cells. In the present study, the expression patterns of ten cytokines (Cg IL17–1, −2, −3, −4, −5, −6, Cg TNF-1/2, Cg TGF-β and Cg IFNLP) in haemocytes were analyzed in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas after Vibrio splendidus stimulation in the indoor and outdoor experiments to compare the induction patterns of different cytokines and evaluate the response status of haemocytes. After the indoor V. splendidus immersion stimulation, the mRNA abundances of six cytokines (Cg IL17–1, −3, −4, −5, Cg TGF-β and Cg IFNLP) in haemocytes were significantly downregulated at 48 h compared with that in the control group, among which Cg IL17–4 was the most down-regulated with 0.009-fold of that in the control group (p < 0.05). The mRNA abundances of Cg IL17–2, Cg IL17–6, Cg TNF-1 and Cg TNF-2 showed no significant change at 48 h compared with that in the control group. The apoptosis rate of haemocytes reached the maximum level of 1.138% at 48 h after the stimulation. In the oysters cultured outdoor from April to September 2021, the mRNA abundances of all ten cytokines in haemocytes were found to decrease in June (0.270-fold on average) and increase in July (5.402-fold on average) compared with those in May. After the in situ V. splendidus immersion stimulation in the outdoor cultured oysters in June and July, seven cytokines (Cg IL17–1, Cg IL17–2, Cg IL17–4, Cg IL17–5, Cg TNF-1, Cg TGF-β and Cg IFNLP) exhibited upregulated mRNA abundance in June, while in July, the mRNA abundances of five cytokines (Cg IL17–1, Cg IL17–3, Cg TNF-2, Cg TGF-β, and Cg IFNLP) remained constant, and four cytokines (Cg IL17–2, Cg IL17–4, Cg IL17–5 and Cg TNF-1) were suppressed after the stimulation. Cg IL17–4 had the highest fold-change in mRNA abundance among all cytokines in June after the stimulation, which was 85.599-fold compared with that in the control group (p < 0.05). The score of haemocyte response status (SH) was evaluated using the mRNA abundance database of all ten cytokines. It decreased to 124.860 at 48 h after the indoor V. splendidus stimulation, and it decreased to 66.793 in June and increased to 451.092 in July in the cultured oysters prior to the stimulation. Collectively, the expression patterns of ten cytokines in haemocytes varied against bacterial stimulation, among which Cg IL17–4 was found to response the most significantly, and SH indicated by the mRNA abundances of cytokines suggested an abnormal response status of haemocytes in the oysters at 48 h after indoor V. splendidus stimulation and the oysters cultured outdoor during June and July. These findings will further our understanding of the cytokine variation and haemocyte response of the Pacific oyster against bacterial stimulation. • Cg IL17-4 exrhibited the most significant response after stimulation in ten cytokines. • A formula was established to evaluate haemocyte response status using cytokine data. • The bacterial stimulation for 48 h resulted in abnormal response status of haemocytes. • Abnormal response status of haemocytes occurred in cultured oysters in June and July. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of coexistence of bulk superconductivity and nontrivial topological bands in the compounds, such as LaO and NbC, with a rocksalt structure, motivates us to study the physical properties of TaO with the same structure. Based on preparing successfully TaO polycrystalline sample, we measured its resistivity, magnetization, and specific heat. It was first found that TaO is a type-II superconductor with the critical temperature T c = 6.20 K and the Ginzburg–Landau parameter κ G L (0) = 16.2. The estimated electron–phonon coupling constant λ e p (0.62) and the specific heat jump Δ C e l / γ n T c (0.56) demonstrate that TaO is a weak-coupling phonon-mediated superconductor. The lack of single crystal sample impedes us to study experimentally its properties related to the electronic band topology, which is the subject of endeavor in the future. • TaO polycrystalline sample were first successfully synthesized. • It was first found that TaO is a type-II superconductor. • TaO is a weak-coupling phonon-mediated conventional superconductor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxic heavy metal antimony (Sb) is ubiquitous in our daily lives. Various models have shown that Sb induces neuronal and reproductive toxicity. However, little is known about the developmental toxicity of Sb exposure during gestation and the underlying mechanisms. To study its effects on growth and development, Drosophila stages from eggs to pupae were exposed to different Sb concentrations (0, 0.3, 0.6 and 1.2 mg/mL Sb); RNA sequencing was used to identify the underlying mechanism. The model revealed that prenatal Sb exposure significantly reduced larval body size and weight, the pupation and eclosion rates, and the number of flies at all stages. With 1.2 mg/mL Sb exposure in 3rd instar larvae, 484 genes were upregulated and 694 downregulated compared to controls. Biological analysis showed that the disrupted transcripts were related to the oxidative stress pathway, as verified by reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger N -acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) intervention experiments. Sb exposure induced oxidative stress imbalance could be rectified by chelation and antioxidant effects of NAC/GSH. The Drosophila Schneider 2 (S2) model further demonstrated that NAC and GSH greatly ameliorated cell death induced by Sb exposure. In conclusion, gestational Sb exposure disrupted oxidative stress homeostasis, thereby impairing growth and development. [Display omitted] • A Drosophila model of gestational Sb exposure was performed to investigate effects on development. • Sb exposure reduced larval body size, larval weight, pupation and eclosion rates. • Sb exposure induced genotoxicity related with oxidative stress pathway. • Sb mediated oxidative stress imbalance was rectified by chelation and antioxidant effects of NAC/GSH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborative filtering has become one of the most widely used methods for providing recommendations in various online environments. Its recommendation accuracy highly relies on the selection of appropriate neighbors for the target user/item. However, existing neighbor selection schemes have some inevitable inadequacies, such as neglecting users’ capability of providing trustworthy recommendations, and ignoring users’ preference changes. Such inadequacies may lead to drop of the recommendation accuracy, especially when recommender systems are facing the data sparseness issue caused by the dramatic increase of users and items. To improve the recommendation accuracy, we propose a novel two-layer neighbor selection scheme that takes users’ capability and trustworthiness into account. In particular, the proposed scheme consists of two modules: (1) capability module that selects the first layer neighbors based on their capability of providing recommendations and (2) a trust module that further identifies the second layer neighbors based on their dynamic trustworthiness on recommendations. The performance of the proposed scheme is validated through experiments on real user datasets. Compared to three existing neighbor selection schemes, the proposed scheme consistently achieves the highest recommendation accuracy across data sets with different degrees of sparseness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the influences of functionalized groups onto the adsorption of tetracycline, we prepared a series of amino and amino–Fe 3 + complex mesoporous silica adsorbents with diverse content of amino and Fe 3 + groups (named N,N-SBA15 and Fe-N,N-SBA15). The resulting mesoporous silica adsorbents were fully characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and N 2 adsorption/desorption isotherms. Furthermore, the effects of functionalized groups on the removal of TC were investigated. The results showed that the periodic ordered structure of SBA-15 was maintained after modification of amino/Fe 3 + groups. The functionalized amino groups decreased the adsorption capacity while the coordinated Fe 3 + increased the adsorption capacity. The adsorption kinetics of TC fitted pseudo-second-order model well and the equilibrium was achieved quickly. The adsorption isotherms fitted the Langmuir model well and with the Fe 3 + content increased from 3.93% to 8.26%, the Q max of the adsorbents increased from 102 to 188 mmol/kg. The solution pH affected the adsorption of TC onto amino complex adsorbents slightly while influenced the adsorption onto Fe-amine complex adsorbents greatly. The adsorption of TC on SBA15 and N,N-SBA15 may be related to the formation of outer-sphere surface complexes, while the adsorption of TC onto Fe-N,N-SBA15 was mainly attributed to the inner-sphere surface complexes. This study could offer potential materials that have excellent adsorption behavior for environmental remediation and suggested useful information for the preparing other adsorbents in environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Park City is a new concept for sustainable urban development. Urban Parks are the core of Park City, where park accessibility is the central index of park services. Previous studies have been conducted primarily from residents' perspective, based on the "O-D" (origin to destination) model to access the park accessibility. However, urban parks should be considered a place supporting the coexistence of tourists and residents. Moreover, tourists' movement patterns differ from those of residents, which are expressed as "no turning back" and traverse circular or nodal routes. Consequently, this paper proposes that the traditional "O-D" model be expanded to be consistent with the movement patterns of tourists. This paper employs Park City Chengdu as an exemplar and proposes a "D-D" (destination to destination) model to facilitate further park accessibility. The calculation process was based on a multiple transportation mode measure with multiple time thresholds, entrances, and exits, supported by Web API. The results reveal the key time nodes and park accessibility rankings for four transportation modes. In particular, the park accessibility presents a "dual-core, several sub-centers and cluster-types" circle structure. Furthermore, the park accessibility in Chengdu was generally balanced, except within 25 min, as well as walking and public transport. This paper provides new hypothetical perspectives and practical experiences for studying urban park accessibility, and novel ideas for parks' sites and distribution while serving as a model for cities worldwide for sustainable urban development. • "D-D" (destination to destination) model based on the travel behaviors of tourists to facilitate park accessibility • Multiple transportation mode, time thresholds and entrances and exits, supported by Web API • Determine the transportations' weights and time thresholds for spatial analysis by data itself • New ideas for urban parks' sites and distributions • "Park Stepping Stones" to form park networks based on "D-D" model results [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals are mircopollutants which are persistent compounds in the environments. Finding effective methods for simultaneous removal of PAHs and heavy metals have attracted increasing concerns due to their sole or combined pollution risks. In this study, an adsorbent (Fe-SBA15) was prepared by incorporating Fe(III) into the framework of mesoporous silica and used in the removal of pyrene and Cu(II) simultaneously from aqueous solutions. The prepared adsorbents were systematically characterized by BET, XRD and TEM. The adsorption behavior was deeply studied by kinetics, isotherms, ionic strength in sole and binary systems. The results showed that the adsorption of pyrene and Cu(II) was fast and the Langmuir model fitted the adsorption better. The increasing ionic strength enhanced the adsorption capacity of pyrene while decreased the Cu(II) adsorption onto the Fe-SBA15. Furthermore, it was found that there are synergistic effects on the adsorption of pyrene and Cu(II) onto Fe-SBA15. Increasing adsorptive capacity of pyrene and Cu(II) could be attributed to the formation of complex pyrene–Cu(II) through cation–π interactions or the stronger affinity for the complex than pyrene or Cu(II) separately. This study shows new guidelines and useful methods for the synergistic removal of PAHs and heavy metals from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotargeting of tumor-specific antigens is a powerful therapeutic strategy. Immunotherapies directed at MHC-I complexes have expanded the scope of antigens and enabled the direct targeting of intracellular oncoproteins at the cell surface. We asked whether covalent drugs that alkylate mutated residues on oncoproteins could act as haptens to generate unique MHC-I-restricted neoantigens. Here, we report that KRAS G12C mutant cells treated with the covalent inhibitor ARS1620 present ARS1620-modified peptides in MHC-I complexes. Using ARS1620-specific antibodies identified by phage display, we show that these haptenated MHC-I complexes can serve as tumor-specific neoantigens and that a bispecific T cell engager construct based on a hapten-specific antibody elicits a cytotoxic T cell response against KRAS G12C cells, including those resistant to direct KRAS G12C inhibition. With multiple K-RAS G12C inhibitors in clinical use or undergoing clinical trials, our results present a strategy to enhance their efficacy and overcome the rapidly arising tumor resistance. [Display omitted] • Covalent K-Ras(G12C) inhibitors give rise to chemically modified cancer neoepitopes • Antibodies against these neoepitopes are identified by phage display • Bispecific antibodies induce T cell-mediated killing of KRAS G12C mutant cells Zhang et al. report that covalent K-Ras(G12C) inhibitors can lead to the presentation of drug-modified neoantigens by class I MHC. A bispecific T cell engager that recognizes these neoantigens elicits a cytotoxic T cell response against KRAS G12C cells, including those resistant to direct KRAS G12C inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical polymers possess in general relatively high thermo-optic coefficients and at the same time low thermal conductivity, both of which make them attractive material candidates for realizing highly efficient thermally tunable devices. Over the years, various thermo-optic components have been demonstrated on polymer platform, covering (1) tunable reflectors and filters as part of a laser cavity, (2) variable optical attenuators (VOAs) as light amplitude regulators in e.g. a coherent receiver, and (3) thermo-optic switches (TOSs) allowing multi-flow control in the photonic integrated circuits (PICs). This work attempts to review the recent progress on the above mentioned three component branches, including linearly and differentially tunable filters, VOAs based on 1×1 multimode interference structure (MMI) and Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI), and 1×2 TOS based on waveguide Y-branch, driven by a pair of sidelong placed heater electrodes. These thermo-optic components can well be integrated into larger PICs: the dual-polarization switchable tunable laser and the colorless optical 90° hybrid are presented in the end as examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) photoanodes has received considerable attention to produce hydrogen and oxygen by the photoelectrochemical (PEC) reaction due to its chemical stability, appropriate band and abundance. Although various sizes and morphologies of α-Fe 2 O 3 had been synthesized to enhance the photoanode performance, their photoactivity is still unsatisfactory for their inefficient charge transfer or light harvesting. In this work, we utilized a facile hydrothermal method to tune the size and morphology of the α-Fe 2 O 3 nanostructures by simply controlling the reaction temperature, and found that the 500 nm 3D nanospheres (NSs) exhibit highest catalytic activity for the PEC water splitting. We systematically studied the morphology and growth mechanism of α-Fe 2 O 3 nanorods (NRs) and NSs, and found the temperature can greatly influence the final morphology. In comparison to 1D NRs, the 3D NSs can make the PEC activity enhanced for five times due to the optimal charge transfer and light harvesting. This report provides a new insight on the relationships between nanostructures and photoanode performances, and can be applied in other PEC water splitting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding effective methods for simultaneous removal of antibiotics and heavy metals has attracted increasing concern since both of them are frequently detected in aquatic environments. In this study, a novel mesoporous silica adsorbent (Fe-N,N-SBA15) contained dual-functional groups was synthesized by first grafting di-amino groups on SBA15, and then coordinating Fe(III) onto the adsorbent. The adsorbent was then used in the synchronous elimination of tetracycline (TC) and Cu(II) from water, which was deeply studied by solution pH, kinetics, equilibriums in sole and binary systems. It was found that the adsorbent had high affinity for both TC and Cu(II) and synergistic effects on the adsorption were found. The solution pH remarkably affected the adsorption due to pH-dependent speciation of TC, Cu(II), TC–Cu(II) complex and the surface properties of the adsorbent. Increasing adsorption amount of TC and Cu(II) on the adsorbent could be attributed to the formation of complex TC–Cu(II) bridging or the stronger affinity of the adsorbent for the TC–Cu(II) complex than that for TC or Cu(II) separately. FT-IR and XPS studies revealed that Fe(III) and amino groups on the adsorbent were complexed with the amide of TC and Cu(II), respectively. The recyclabilities of the adsorbent were also evaluated and the Fe-N,N-SBA15 exhibited good reusability for TC and Cu(II) removal. This study shows guidelines and offers an innovative, effective method for the synergistic removal of antibiotics and heavy metals from aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A transfer learning-based predictive modeling approach is validated by transferring knowledge on stress–strain curves between different types of fiber-reinforced composite materials. • Integrating optimal transport with the transfer learning approach improves knowledge transferability and prediction accuracy. • The transfer learning approach integrated by optimal transport can predict stress-strain curves in the target domain with small training data by leveraging prior knowledge in the source domain. The engineering stress–strain curve of a material allows one to determine mechanical properties such as elastic modulus, strength, and toughness. While machine learning has recently been used to predict stress–strain curves, large volumes of experimental data are required to achieve high prediction accuracy. More importantly, conventional machine learning models are not generalizable from one material to another. To address this issue, a novel transfer learning approach is introduced to predict stress–strain curves across different fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites fabricated via additive manufacturing. Optimal transport (OT) is integrated with the transfer learning approach by mapping the source label space to the target label space, which further improves knowledge transferability across different FRP composites. The stress–strain curves of the additively manufactured FRP composites are generated under flexural loading conditions. Experimental results show that the OT-integrated transfer learning approach can predict the complex stress–strain curves of FRP composites with small training data. The predictive model achieved a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of less than 10%. The extracted modulus and strength from the predicted stress–strain curves achieved MAPEs of less than 5% and 10%, respectively. This work demonstrates that transfer learning has the potential to transform how stress–strain curves are generated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteolysis is a key research field of biochemistry and plays an important role in biomedicine, the food industry, etc. Moreover, because many molecular collective vibration and rotation energy levels containing structural information of proteins, peptides, amino acids, and other molecules are located in the terahertz (THz) band, the THz spectroscopy can perform molecular-level characterization. Here, based on the traditional time-domain spectroscopy system, we propose a reflective polarization characterization method and use the resonance enhancement effect of the flexible chiral metasurface sensor to realize the sensing of bovine serum albumin (BSA) under the proteolysis of papain. Experimental results show that under different amounts of papain proteolysis, the THz polarization characteristic spectra of the BSA solution have significant differences. Its sensitivities of frequency shift, intensity, and polarization angle changes can reach the order of 106 GHz∙mL/mol, 106 dB∙mL/mol, and 106 °∙mL/mol, respectively, and the concentration detection accuracy of papain reaches in the order of nmol/mL. This work demonstrates a new THz label-free, on-chip, wearable, and microfluidic sensing method and device for protein detection. [Display omitted] • A curved flexible chiral metasurface structure is used to improve the sensing sensitivity and practicability. • THz polarization sensing method realizes the quantitative detection of proteolysis of bovine serum albumin solution. • The reflective flexible sensor is attachable and wearable, which is convenient for microfluidic sensing. • The detection accuracy reaches the order of nmol/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs a modified Rapoport apparatus to measure sodium expansion during aluminum electrolysis to elucidate the role of titanium carbide (TiC) in the graphitization of TiB 2 ‑carbon composite cathodes comprising a TiB 2 -rich bottom layer, a functional TiB 2 /C middle layer, and a graphite (carbon base) top layer. The results indicate that TiC crystallites catalyze the graphitization of TiB 2 ‑carbon composite cathodes during aluminum electrolysis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses reveal three types of residual TiC in the TiB 2 ‑carbon composite cathodes after aluminum electrolysis; these TiC particles indicate two distinct catalytic graphitization mechanisms. The regular morphology of TiC is a result of the dissolution-precipitation mechanism, whereas the eroded TiC corresponds to a carbide formation-decomposition mechanism. The voltage drop in the TiB 2 ‑carbon composite cathodes was reduced by approximately 120 mV compared with that observed using simple carbon cathodes. This work provides key insights regarding the mechanism that hinders Na penetration into the carbon/TiB 2 cathodes during aluminum electrolysis. [Display omitted] • TiC acted as a catalyst can accelerate the graphitization of carbon cathodes. • TiB 2 can improve the resistance of carbon cathodes to the melt and sodium. • TiB 2 can reduce the cathode voltage drop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gradual increase of antibiotics in aquatic environments poses a serious threat to human health and ecosystems, and removal technology for antibiotics has attracted great interest in recent years. In this study, to improve the adsorption capacity of mesoporous silica, a new sorbent made by grafting both amino groups and Fe (III) on mesoporous silica SBA15 (named Fe-N,N-SBA15) was prepared and used for the removal of tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) from aqueous solution. The results showed that TCs sorption on Fe-N,N-SBA15 was highly pH-dependent, and the optimal pH was found to be 4.5–5.6 for tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC) and chlortetracycline (CTC). The adsorption kinetics fitted the pseudo-second-order model perfectly and the adsorption rate constant followed the order OTC > TC > CTC. The adsorption isotherms study showed the maximum sorption capacity to be 143.31, 96.91 and 69.15 mmol kg −1 for OTC, TC and CTC, respectively. The differences in the removal trends of the three TCs may be attributed to their different p K a values. A thermodynamic study showed that the adsorption of TCs on Fe N,N-SBA15 is spontaneous (Δ G < 0) and endothermic (Δ H > 0). FTIR and XPS results showed that the high sorption capacity of antibiotics could be mainly attributed to the complexation of Fe (III) and TCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] A carbon steel octene tube has leaked from the fusion zone and caused economic losses. The failure process and mechanism were investigated in this work, by means of scanning electron microscope, electron backscattered diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy. Results showed the failure was attributed to caustic corrosion cracking. The cracking mechanism is anodic dissolution mechanism, including film rupture, intergranular corrosion and repassivation processes. A less corrosion-resistant chemical composition, a larger residual stress after welding and a higher content of hydroxyl ions synthetically resulted in the cracking synthetically. Hydroxyl ions firstly reacted with passive film and caused initiation of intergranular cracks. Residual stress and intergranular corrosion result in an intergranular propagation of SCC cracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of tunable filters based on silicon nitride waveguide Bragg gratings buried in polymer are studied, fabricated and analyzed. The gratings are etched completely through the waveguides to improve the peak reflectivity at short grating lengths. Reflectivity from 1% to 70% can be reached when the third-order grating length varies from 16µm to 160µm. The experimental results are in good agreement with numerical simulations. Due to its compact size and the thermal advantages of polymer, the filter can be tuned very efficiently by a micro heater buried beneath. A tuning range of 34.5nm is demonstrated at a heat power of only 22mW. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recently, graph convolutional networks (GCNs) have been applied to heterogeneous information network (HIN) learning and have shown promising performance. However, the performance of GCNs degrades attributed to the recursive propagation, which leads to an indistinguishable embedding for the distinctly heterogeneous node. Besides, the inherently coupled paradigm of GCNs limits their applications on large-scale graphs. In this paper, we tackle these problems by proposing a disentangled framework named Heterogeneous Information Network to Grid (HIN2Grid) for heterogeneous network learning. We innovatively design an effective and efficient strategy to transform the graph data into semantic-specific grid-like data, which can be effectively processed by convolutional neural networks (CNNs), thus explicitly overcoming the drawbacks of the inherent paradigm of GCNs. Such a CNN-based learning scheme also contributes to extracting more expressive features and consume less time and memory. We further propose dual attention mechanisms to capture the importance of various grid-like data and heterogeneous semantics, thus providing interpretability and robustness for HIN2Grid. We conduct experiments on four datasets and the results show that HIN2Grid significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art methods, gaining a improvement on node classification of about 2% to 10% and a 2 to 5 times promotion on running speed. • We propose a disentangled CNN-based model for fast heterogeneous graph learning. • HIN2Grid avoids suffering complex and recursive neighborhood expansion in GCNs. • HIN2Grid is better than GCN-based models in computation and memory saving. • Dual attention mechanisms improve the accuracy and robustness of HIN2Grid. • Extensive experiments demonstrate the superiority of HIN2Grid in various tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The suitable solvent polarity rendered the optimized emulsifying activity of GNPs. • The decrease of solvent polarity improved the diffusion rate and viscoelastic modulus of GNPs at oil–water interface. • The results suggested that GNPs might be a natural and economical material for low-degree alcohol emulsion food. Gliadin nanoparticles (GNPs) is a promising material for stabilizing Pickering emulsions. The present work aimed to investigate the effect of solvent polarity of ethonal/water binary solvent on the structure and emulsifying property of GNPs and provide reference information for the potential application of GNPs in alcoholic food system. The structural, emulsifying and interfacial rheology properties of GNPs in aqueous phases with different polarity (E N (T):1.00–0.94) were evaluated. The solvent polarity was regulated by changing the ethanol concentration in aqueous phase. Results showed that the emulsifying activity of GNPs significantly improved as the E N (T) decreased from 1.00 to 0.96, and then decreased as the E N (T) further decreased from 0.96 to 0.94 for the rising particle size. Meanwhile, the decrease of solvent polarity improved the diffusion rate, viscoelastic modulus (E) and the interparticle interaction of GNPs. The possible mechanism was investigated by discussing the relationship among the structural, emulsifying and interfacial rheology properties of GNPs. It was found that the decrease of solvent polarity triggered the increase of hydrophobic groups distributed on the particle surface, and then resulted in the decrease of zeta potential and the increase of surface hydrophobicity of GNPs, which benefited the diffusion/adsorption of particles and the formation of viscoelastic protein layers for lower electrostatic repulsion, moderate surface wettability and stronger hydrophobic interaction. The results also suggested that GNPs might be a natural and economical material for low-degree alcohol emulsion food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatially modulated full polarization imaging is the method of modulating the polarization information of a target into a single interferogram, which has a good real-time feature. Since polarization modulation lenses are made of birefringent crystals, they will produce chromatic dispersion. Therefore, the interference fringes on the interferogram will become blurred, affecting the subsequent demodulation processing. It is necessary to determine the bandwidth limit of the incident light. Based on these considerations, this paper analyses the distribution of the polarization information in the frequency domain and proposes a method of determining the bandwidth limit based on the pixel size in the frequency domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wide uses of azo dyes produce a great risk of high residuals of carcinogenic aromatic amines, and hence it is important to rapidly analyze these carcinogenic compounds in the textile products to guarantee product safety. In the present work, a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) method was developed for rapid detection of carcinogenic aromatic amines in textiles. In this method, target aromatic amines are extracted from textiles, and then gold nanoparticles are added to the organic extractant, which assemble into closely packed Au array at liquid interface in situ. Finally, fingerprint SERS signals of the target aromatic amines are detected on the generated Au array on the basis of strong chemical interaction between the aromatic amines and the Au surface. The proposed method provided good reproducibility with a relative standard deviation of 3.5% for ten parallel tests of benzidine. It was applied to analyze 70 textile products. To strengthen the spectroscopic data processing, a cluster analysis model was established with 50 samples to automatically identify the spectra based on the good signal reproducibility. The other 20 samples were used as test sets to validate this model. It was found that all the positive samples were successfully identified with false positive rate of 20%. With the addition of the Artificial Intelligence step, the reliability of the discriminant results can be ensured. [Display omitted] • A new method was developed for the rapid inspection of carcinogenic aromatic amines in textiles. • The detection method was based on reduction reaction, liquid-liquid extraction and liquid interfacial self-assembly. • The assembled Au array with high sensitivity and reproducibility was used as the SERS substrate to obtain the SERS signals. • The artificial intelligence was introduced to establish a cluster analysis model for automatic identifying the sample data. • The discrimination performance of the method was confirmed by analyzing 70 textile products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Increasing evidence suggests that vascular resident endothelial progenitor cells (VR-EPCs) are present in several organs, playing an important role in postnatal neovascularization. Here, we isolated and characterized VR-EPCs from cardiac tissue in vitro, evaluating their regenerative potential in vivo. VR-EPCs showed to be highly clonogenic and expressed several stem and differentiation markers. Under endothelial differentiation conditions, cells form capillary-like structures, in contrast to osteogenic or adipogenic differentiation conditions where no functional changes were observed. After seeding in scaffolds, cells were distributed homogeneously and directly attached to the scaffold. Then, cell seeded scaffolds were used to induce dermal regeneration in a nude mice full skin defect model. The presence of VR-EPCs enhanced dermal vascularization. Histological assays showed increased vessel number (p < 0.05) and cellularization (p < 0.05) in VR-EPCs group. In order to explore possible mechanisms of vascular regeneration, in vitro experiments were performed. Results showed that pro-angiogenic environments increased the migration capacity (p < 0.001) and ability to form capillary-like structures (p < 0.05) of VR-EPC. In addition, VR-EPCs secreted several pro-angiogenic molecules including VEGF and PDGF. These results indicate that a highly clonogenic population of VR-EPCs might be established in vitro, representing a new source for therapeutic vascularization in tissue engineering and regeneration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We build a model to study the sidewall corrugation of fabricated silicon microrings and investigate its impact on the spectral response of the resonator system. From the scanning electron microscope images, the sidewall corrugation can be engineered into certain periodicity and characterized into a group of rectangular gratings, or quasi-gratings, which in turn generate mutual mode coupling between the forward- and backward-propagating modes in the ring and lead to resonance splitting. We find that the reflectivity of the quasi-gratings is proportional to the mutual coupling strength and the resonance splitting only occurs at the resonances where high reflectivity takes place. The model agrees well with the experimental measurements and provides some guideline in applying mutual mode coupling for various functions in the field of optics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Terahertz (THz) waves have the advantages of being noninvasive and nonionizing because of their low radiation energy, so they have potential applications in the biomedical field, but thus far, those have been limited by the strong absorption in water and low detection sensitivity. Herein, we propose a reflective THz time-domain circular dichroism (CD) sensing system and a silicon subwavelength grating as the microstructure sensor to generate and detect the THz chiral polarization states, to realize quantitative detection of living cell numbers and qualitative identification of cell kinds in a liquid environment. Three kinds of hepatoma cell proliferation and inhibition with different concentrations of aspirin were measured by this sensing method, and the experimental results show that the sensitivities for CD resonance intensity and frequency shift can reach 3.44 dB mL/106 cells and 5.88 GHz mL/106 cells, respectively, and the minimum detection concentration is in the order of 104 cells/mL for THz detection in a liquid environment for the first time. This new THz sensing system and sensing method are expected to become a broadband, label-free, noncontact, real-time detection technology that can be used for quantitative detection and qualitative identification of cells or other active biochemical materials. [Display omitted] • THz chiral polarization state is generated and the circular dichroism is used as the sensing characterization. • Artificial dielectric grating is used as the microstructure sensor. • Strong absorption of water is avoided by the reflective THz system. • Realize the concentration sensing of HepG2 cells in a liquid culture environment. • Realize the identification of HepG2, Huh7, and H7402 cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A possible way to improve the separation performance of simulated moving bed (SMB) units is to change the internal and external liquid flow-rates during the switching period. This operation mode, referred to as PowerFeed, is examined in this work through a model analysis. Similar to the Varicol process, which allows for the asynchronous movement of the ports, the PowerFeed process exhibits more degrees of freedom than the classical SMB process and therefore allows more room for optimization. Using an optimization technique based on a genetic algorithm, all three processes have been optimized for a few case studies in order to determine their relative potentials. It is found that PowerFeed and Varicol provide substantially equivalent performances, which are however significantly superior to those of the classical SMB process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The size of the packing material, the total number of columns and the total feed concentration have significant impacts on the economics of a preparative chromatographic separation, through their effects on column pressure drop, column efficiency and thermodynamics. In this work, the role of these parameters on the performances of a simulated moving bed and a Varicol process is investigated on a chiral separation system from literature, using an equilibrium stage model. A multiple objective optimization technique based on a genetic algorithm is adopted, which allows to maximize simultaneously the purity of the extract and productivity of the unit. In this way, it is possible to optimize and compare the performances of both processes in a wide range of parameter values, so as to assess their relative potential under equally optimized conditions. The optimization results, i.e. the so-called Pareto sets, have been discussed in the frame of equilibrium theory and the roles of these three parameters have been clarified. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The development of the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) fishery in British Columbia, Canada, is presented as an example of how a precautionary approach was applied to avert collapse of a developing invertebrate fishery and to rebuild towards a sustainable fishery. We consider four components: (1) identification of the appropriate spatial scales; (2) development of scientifically-supported management strategies; (3) consideration of uncertainties; and (4) collaborations amongst scientists, fishery managers, and stakeholders. The green sea urchin fishery in British Columbia has experienced three periods: a “developing” period during which effort and landings increased, but catch per unit of effort (CPUE) declined; a “crisis” period during which effort and landings peaked and CPUE reached a minimum; and a “rebuilding to sustainable” period during which landings and effort stabilised and CPUE increased. Passive management actions (minimum size limit, seasonal closures) were introduced at the beginning of the fishery, but were unable to limit exploitation. Subsequent to the crisis period, active management measures (large area closures, quotas, and an individual quota system) were implemented based on scientific studies and appear to have stabilised the fishery. The availability of fishing logbook information from the inception of the fishery and the development of positive relationships amongst all participants in the fishery were central elements of this rebuilding process. The long time series of logbook information provided sufficient data contrasts to use two surplus production modelling techniques to develop biological reference points for management regulations. The green sea urchin fishery is now a small but important, and apparently stable, component of the dive fisheries in British Columbia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene and molybdenum disulfide et al. offer significant new prospects for electronics, optics, and biosensing applications due to their unique physical and chemical properties. The controlled manipulation of such materials to create three-dimensional (3D) architectures is an intriguing approach to favorably tuning their properties and creating new types of 3D devices with small form factors. However, 2D materials exhibit extremely low bending stiffnesses compared with traditional functional materials, therefore, it is rather challenging to obtain stable 3D structures under van der Waals (vdW) interaction despite the easier out-of-plane manipulation. The centuries-old paper-shaping techniques named as 'kirigami' and 'origami' may provide a potential solution to this deadlock. The general idea is that through pre-patterning and mechanical deformations, 2D materials can be reshaped and transformed into 3D structures on demand, which extends the application of kirigami/origami from conventional functional films to atomically thin nanosheets. This kind of shaping and structuring strategy not only integrates 2D materials with 3D micro/nano-structures in a controllable manner, but also offers a new paradigm for tailoring the properties of 2D materials, thus enabling more functions beyond the capability of planar geometry. Such 3D micro/nano-architectures containing engineered 2D materials can provide a platform to explore the frontier physics and produce micro/nano-devices with improved performance or unprecedented functionalities. Hence, it is necessary to review the recent progress in this emerging field, which combines the exemplary kirigami/origami strategy with promising 2D materials to increasingly inspire the multidisciplinary applications. This review focuses on 2D materials kirigami/origami, including intrinsic and engineered properties, mechanisms, methods and applications. The research challenges and opportunities are also discussed to promote future theoretical and technological studies in this blooming interdisciplinary field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the inter-layer and cross-layer fracture behavior of 3D printed short CFRP composites using both experimental and numerical methods. First, the orthotropic mechanical response of the 3D printed CFRP samples was characterized by tensile tests. The out-of-plane Young's modulus and yield strength were measured to be about 25% and 32% of the in-plane counterparts, respectively. Second, compact tension fracture tests were performed to characterize the fracture behavior of the CFRP composite samples. The crack resistance curves of inter-layer and cross-layer fracture were independently derived using the elastic-plastic fracture theory. Both cross-layer and inter-layer fracture exhibited stable crack growth with the rising crack resistance curves. Finite element simulations incorporating a cohesive zone method was used to numerically determine the critical cohesive strength and fracture toughness from the experimental results. The experimentally measured and numerically calibrated cross-layer fracture toughness was found to be three-fold of the inter-layer counterparts. In addition, fracture surface morphology and the crack-tip strain field evaluated by the digital image correlation technique revealed three important observations: (1) the cross-layer fracture resulted in a larger fracture process zone ahead of the crack tip compared to the inter-layer fracture, (2) the cross-layer fracture exhibited a fibril-bridging toughening mechanism along with fiber pull-out failure at the micro-scale, and (3) the inter-layer fracture showed a uncracked-ligament toughening mechanism arising from the locally enhanced inter-layer adhesion due to short fiber-bridging. The fracture mechanisms reported in this study provide practical strategies for designing and 3D printing CFRP composites with superior fracture-resistance. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A theoretical model was developed to explain how PRG bolts maintain support force after creep in the anchoring section. • Indoor experiments using Distributed Optical Sensing (DOS) technology revealed the changes in axial force distribution over time for both PR and PGR bolts during service. • The mechanical properties of PR and PGR bolts after long-term loading were evaluated through mechanical testing. As an effective solution for controlling deformation in surrounding rock, prestressed rock bolts have been increasingly adopted in transportation tunnels. However, the potential for prestress loss and anchorage failure due to creep in the anchorage material over extended service life necessitates further investigation. In response, this study investigated the long-term mechanical performance of a prestressed post-grouting resin bolt, focusing on its supporting effect and mechanical behavior after anchorage creep. We began by establishing a model that explained the mechanical mechanism of the grouting segment. This model was then used to analyze the impact of grouting material properties. Additionally, the bearing characteristics of the prestressed post-grouting resin rock bolt during reloading were assessed. Furthermore, a laboratory experiment was conducted using distributed optical fiber strain sensing (DOS) technology to evaluate the long-term behavior and mechanical performance of both prestressed resin anchor bolts (PR bolts) and prestressed post-grouting resin anchor bolts (PGR bolts) under various loading conditions. The results indicated that the PGR bolt significantly reduced prestress loss compared to the PR bolt, with reductions of 13%, 15%, and 16% at pretensions of 50 kN, 80 kN, and 110 kN, respectively. Additionally, PGR bolts can avoid stress concentration on the anchoring interface under long-term loads, reducing the risk of anchoring failure when re loaded. Taken together, the findings of the research indicate that PGR bolts can maintain higher prestress and strength in long-term support, and the theory model helps design the grouting parameters of PGR bolts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anisotropic magnetoresistance in a highly oriented SmCo 5 device was systematically investigated at various temperatures. Currents were applied along the magnetic easy axis and the magnetic hard axis of SmCo 5 , and the corresponding anisotropic magnetoresistances were measublack, respectively. In both these instances, the anisotropic magnetoresistances exponentially decrease as the temperature increases. Notably, the anisotropic magnetoresistance magnitudes for the two instances intersect at 220 K. This intersection may relate to the compensation between the spin and orbital magnetic moments of Sm, which is also considered to be a hint of a ferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic transition in SmCo 5. The results exhibit the capability to monitor magnetic configurations through magnetotransport properties, potentially facilitating the development of spintronic devices based on SmCo 5. • Anisotropic magnetoresistance in SmCo 5 was systematically investigated. • A crossover of the anisotropic magnetoresistances was observed at 220 K. • The crossover may be a hint of ferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic transition of SmCo 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, one water soluble polysaccharide (IOP1–1) with a weight average molecular weight of 6886 Da was obtained from the black crystal region of Inonotus obliquus by hot water extraction, DEAE-52 cellulose extraction and Sephadex-100 column chromatography purification. Structural analysis indicated that IOP1–1 was a glucan with a main chain composed of α-Glc p -(1 → 4)-α-Glc p -(1 → 4)-β-Glc p -(1 → 4)-β-Glc p- (1 → 4)-α-Glc p- (1 → 6)-β-Glc p- (1 → 4)-α-Glc p- (1 → 3)-β-Glc p- (1→. The CCK-8 assay results showed that IOP1–1 inhibited AsPC-1 and SW1990 pancreatic cancer cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that IOP1–1 induced cell cycle arrest in AsPC-1 and SW1990 cells. Hoechst 33342 staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining analysis showed that IOP1–1 could induce apoptosis in AsPC-1 and SW1990 cells. Furthermore, western blot analysis confirmed that IOP1–1 could induce apoptosis in AsPC-1 and SW1990 pancreatic cancer cells through three pathways: the mitochondrial pathway, the death receptor pathway, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. According to these research data, IOP1–1 may be utilized as an adjuvant treatment to anticancer medications, opening up new application prospects and opportunities. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different motor learning methods (explicit or analogy learning) show different effects on motor performance stability, and reinvestment propensity plays an important role in motor performance stability. This study aimed to explore whether reinvestment propensity, that is, movement self-consciousness (MS-C) and conscious motor processing (CMP) as two dimensions, played a moderating role in the relationship between motor learning methods and motor performance stability. A total of 78 participants were randomly assigned to either the explicit or analogy learning group and their reinvestment propensity was measured. We recorded the number of golf putt goals in both the practice phase and the test phases (including a retention test and a stress test). In the moderating analysis, participants' reinvestment propensity was the moderating variable, and the dependent variable was motor performance stability (i.e., the difference between the two test phases). Results showed that motor performance was significantly different between practicing blocks, which indicated that the motor performance of learners was gradually increasing. The significant interaction between learning methods and the test phase on motor performance was detected, suggesting under stress, analogy learning was more likely to maintain the stability of motor performance, while explicit learning impaired the stability of motor performance. The CMP played a significant moderating role in the relationship between motor learning methods and motor performance stability. The result indicated that for learners with low CMP, the motor performance stability of analogy learning was better than explicit learning, while there was no significant difference in the stability of motor performance between the two learning methods for learners with high reinvestment propensity. No significant evidence was found that MS-C played a moderating role in the relationship between motor learning methods and motor performance stability. These findings expand the theoretical framework of motor skill learning and provide theoretical support for motor performance stability. • Analogy learning is more likely to maintain the stability of motor performance under stress. • CMP plays a significant moderating role in the relationship between motor learning methods and motor performance stability. • For people with low CMP, analogy learning is better than explicit learning in maintaining motor performance stability. • For people with high CMP, there is no significant difference in motor performance stability between the two learning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]