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Taking resource allocation into account, flexible job shop problem (FJSP) is a class of complex scheduling problem in manufacturing system. In order to utilize the machine resources rationally, multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) integrating with variable neighborhood search is introduced to address FJSP efficiently. Firstly, the assignment rules (AL) and dispatching rules (DR) are provided to initialize the population. And then special discrete operators are designed to produce new individuals and earliest completion machine (ECM) is adopted in the disturbance operator to escape the optima. Secondly, personal-best archives (cognitive memories) and global-best archive (social memory), which are updated by the predefined non-dominated archive update strategy, are simultaneously designed to preserve non-dominated individuals and select personal-best positions and the global-best position. Finally, three neighborhoods are provided to search the neighborhoods of global-best archive for enhancing local search ability. The proposed algorithm is evaluated by using Kacem instances and Brdata instances, and a comparison with other approaches shows the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for FJSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Emphasize the effect of the non-uniform inflow on the performance of RCPs. • Build the non-uniform inflow structure with LDV measurement. • Illustrate and analyze the velocity distribution and turbulence intensity rate of inflow field. The hydrodynamic fields generated by the steam generator (SG) head at the reactor coolant pump (RCP) inlet are experimentally and numerically investigated in this paper. The velocity profiles and turbulence intensity rate were obtained with a Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) system. The velocity profiles under non-uniform inflow and uniform inflow conditions were obtained and compared. The numerical results on measurement sections were qualitatively and quantitatively validated against LDV data. The results indicated that the numerical method have a good agreement with the experiments. It can be known from the study that hydraulic performance of pump deteriorates with its inflow. In addition, the velocity profile of non-uniform inflow can be divided into three regions. These regions are constant high velocity region, large velocity gradient region and back flow region respectively. Furtherly, from the turbulence intensity rate analysis, it can be concluded that the non-uniform inflow is highly turbulent, which would bring significant performance changes to the pump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a robust, effective, rapid and sustainable bifunctional electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is highly significant to meet the requirement of the increasing energy demand. Herein, we report the successful incorporation of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) onto the hydrothermally grown nanoforest-like nickel selenide (Ni 3 Se 2) grafted on the nickel foam (NF) via a facile dip-coating route. The fabricated Ni 3 Se 2 shows excellent catalytic activity owing to the strong affinity of Ni 3 Se 2 towards the NF substrate. Furthermore, the incorporation of rGO onto the Ni 3 Se 2 /NF can significantly enhance the conductivity and electrocatalytic performance of the rGO/Ni 3 Se 2 /NF electrocatalyst. The as-synthesized rGO/Ni 3 Se 2 /NF electrocatalyst exhibit a low overpotential of 292.61 mV and 251.01 mV to achieve the current density of 10 mA cm−2 (OER) and − 10 mA cm−2 (HER), respectively. The proposed rGO/Ni 3 Se 2 /NF electrocatalyst exhibit enormous active sites which in turn offers the low Tafel slope value (143.00 mV dec−1 and 134.22 mV dec−1) and enhanced electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) towards the OER and HER electrocatalytic activity in 1 M KOH solution. Furthermore, the rGO/Ni 3 Se 2 /NF electrocatalyst shows superior stability for 12 hrs with the retention rate of 99.9% and 99.8%, when operated at 10 mA cm−2 (OER) and − 10 mA cm−2 (HER), respectively. Benefitting from the synergistic action of rGO and Ni 3 Se 2 , the proposed rGO/Ni 3 Se 2 /NF electrocatalyst leads to an excellent OER and HER activity. This work offers a promising strategy for the construction of highly efficient non-precious bifunctional electrocatalyst. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Emphasize the effect of non-uniform inflow on the cavitation performance of RCPs. • Analyze the influence mechanisms of non-uniform inflow on cavitation characteristics. • Illustrate and analyze the evolution of cavitation under non-uniform inflow conditions. This study discusses the effect of non-uniform inflow on the cavitation characteristics of the reactor coolant pump (RCP). Using a combination of experimental study and numerical simulation, these phenomena was analyzed. According to numerical studies, cavitation begins at the leading edge of the suction side of the blade and spreads downstream. As the inflow pressure decreases, cavitation also occurs on the pressure side of the blades. However, the behavior of cavitation in RCP with non-uniform intake is distinct. The distribution of vapor within the impeller has shifted considerably. Analysis reveals that the velocity field fluctuates intricately. On one hand, the velocity direction dictates the value of the angle of attack, which is associated with the inception of cavitation. Alternatively, the velocity magnitude impacts the size of the vapor region. Moreover, the change in head during the cavitation process is dependent on the pressure difference between the impeller blades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Research is being done on the hump phenomena of reactor coolant pump. At the moment, not much is known about the hump region of the reactor coolant pump. • In this paper, the research object is a scale model of a real reactor coolant pump in AP nuclear power plant. The information gathered has a high reference value and can be used to help keep nuclear power plants safe. • Pressure pulsation in the hump region is studied by numerical simulation, and the frequency range of low frequency pulsation can be accurately predicted by simulation. The reactor coolant pump (RCP) is the machinery used in nuclear power facilities to move coolant. So RCP operation must be safe in order for nuclear power plants to operate reliably. It was discovered throughout the experiment that the flow rate of RCP was unsteady between 0.875 Q 0 and 0.85 Q 0 and the pressure pulsation increased dramatically. As the flow drops, the head no longer increases, but instead declines. The condition of pump is in the hump region. This research conducts tests to determine the characteristics of pressure pulsation and uses numerical simulation to investigate the causes of increased pressure pulsation. According to the study, when the pump was working in hump region, the amplitude of low-frequency (< f r) pressure pulsation increase dramatically. The impeller's flow separation created vortices, which propagated downstream and caused stalls in the diffuser. The A_RMS of the low-frequency signal increases as a result of this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Necroptosis has been extensively studied recently, and the receptor-interacting kinase 3 (RIP3 or RIPK3) and its substrate, the pseudokinase mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein, have been discovered to be core components of this process. Classical necroptosis requires RIP1 (or RIPK1) for the activation of RIP3 through the induction of RIP1/RIP3 necrosomes. Increasing evidence from genetic and pharmacological studies has been expanding the view that necroptosis plays important roles in the etiology and/or progression of many human diseases, such as pancreatitis, ischemic injury, and neurodegenerative diseases, among others. Ongoing progress in translational research about necroptosis has highlighted the increasingly important need for the identification of biomarkers for use in disease diagnosis, monitoring, and drug development. This review presents a discussion of the current status of biomarkers that can be used to detect necroptosis both in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process engineering of Mg alloys is nevertheless compromised due to their relatively poor mechanical properties. To address some of these difficulties, metal-matrix composites (MMCs) of Mg-alloys have been investigated for sometime. In the present work, small amounts (up to 1 wt%) of WS 2 nanotubes are mixed with Mg-alloy (AZ31) using melt-stirring process above 700 °C. The new MMC nanocomposites exhibit much superior mechanical properties vis a vis the pristine alloy. Metallographic investigation demonstrates that the average grain size has been reduced in inverse proportion to the added amounts of nanotubes up to 1 wt%. Physical considerations suggest that the main mechanism responsible for the reinforcement effect lies in the mismatch between the thermal expansion coefficients of the metal and the nanotubes. This mismatch induced large density of dislocations in the grain boundaries in the vicinity of the nanotube-matrix interface, which obstruct the crack propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flagella staining is a common method used in microbial research to identify and mark morphological features of bacteria. We improved the Blendon staining method by adding two steps to the usual procedure, viz. "preparation of a pre-atomized microscope slide" and "stretching flagella in situ ". The staining effects were then comparatively studied for this new, improved method on Bacillus subtilis , under four different culture conditions: 1) liquid culture medium, 2) aqueous solution at the bottom of slant medium, 3) solid culture medium adding water for stretching after culture, and 4) semi-solid culture medium adding water for stretching after culture. The results revealed that after the addition of these two steps to the usual procedure, the order of the staining effects for the four culture conditions from best to worst was as follows: semi-solid culture medium > solid culture medium > aqueous solution at the bottom of slant medium > liquid culture medium. Hence, the semi-solid culture medium brought about the best staining effect, with flagella stretching freely and not entangled with each other, while the liquid culture medium had the worst staining, owing to the serious background interference. This improved method is simple, low cost, and worthy of promotion. • Pre-atomized glass slides are conducive to the rapid spread of water and flagella. • With in-situ stretching, the flagella stretch freely and are not entangled. • The semi-solid medium is the most suitable for subsequent silver staining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rose petal derived 3D ZnO microchip was fabricated for CTC capture and release. • 3D rough spherical concave with aptamer synergistically enhance capture efficient. • The 84.4% of captured CTCs could be released under moderated acidic condition. • The 96.8% of released CTCs were alive and could be used for downstream analysis. • The EpCAM-RPD-ZnO-Chips were successfully used for CTC capture in clinical trials. The efficient capture and release of the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are promising for the CTC related cancer diagnosis and subsequent analysis. However, it is a great challenge to isolate and enrich the rare CTCs from the complex peripheral blood sample, which inhibits its broad translating to the clinical applications. Although various papers reported that the nanostructure substrates can improve the capture efficiency of CTCs, few of researches constructed 3D hierarchical micro/nano-structured microdevice to enhance the efficiency of CTC capture and release with a simple manner. Herein, a bio-inspirited 3D epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) aptamer modified rose petal derived ZnO microchip (EpCAM-RPD-ZnO-Chip) was designed to realize efficient capture and release of the CTCs. The 3D rough spherical concave surfaces on the EpCAM-RPD-ZnO-Chip guaranteed the maximum contact with the CTCs, thus improving the capture efficiency. Moreover, simple release of CTCs by dissolving ZnO under moderate acidic condition was achieved. The topographical and target molecular recognition cooperatively contributed to highly efficient capture of CTCs. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) image clearly showed that the filopodias and lamellipodias of CTCs stretched and attached to the ZnO nanomaterials. In sum, the proposed 3D EpCAM-RPD-ZnO-Chip is expected to be a promising tool for capture and release of CTCs in clinical trials, which might lay a foundation for downstream analysis and precise drug susceptibility test for the cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fouling on the heat exchanger surface during food processing has been researched extensively due to its great importance in energy efficiency, product quality and food safety. The nature of heat exchanger surface has an effect on the initial deposition behavior and deposit removal behavior to some degree. Protein adsorption on surface is considered to be the initial stage in fouling. In the current study, protein ‘pre-adsorption’ at room temperature on stainless steel has been investigated as a means to influence the behavior of protein fouling at pasteurization temperatures. Pre-adsorption was carried out with whey protein concentrate (WPC) and ovalbumin (OVA), respectively, which reduced the fouling of OVA (∼20–30% energy saving in the processing time examined). However, the pre-adsorption had little effect on fouling of whey protein concentrate. Contact angles were measured to show the surface change due to protein pre-adsorption. Protein pre-adsorption made the surfaces more hydrophilic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of Fe particle addition on MgZnCa eutectic-composition as-cast alloy was investigated. No difference was observed in the other main crystal phases, except for the Fe particles. Compared with the as-cast Mg 69 Zn 27 Ca 4 ternary system, the alloy with Fe added exhibited higher strength and plasticity. The fracture stress of Mg 69 Zn 27 Ca 4 with 4 vol% Fe reached nearly 700 MPa with 12% plasticity. The porous Fe particles increased the strength and toughness of the alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of trace amounts of Sn on the formation of the LPSO phase and mechanical properties of Mg–RE–Zn alloys is discussed. Results show that trace Sn has no effect on the phase category of the alloy. After annealing, however, Sn-doped alloys show a high density of the lamellar-shaped LPSO phase. After Sn addition, the strength of the alloy is enhanced but its elongation is reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat-induced inactivation of viable cells restricts a wide range of application of spray drying in producing dried lactic acid bacteria (LAB) products. In the present study, an effective method to enhance the stability of LAB under heat stress has been identified. This was done by enhancing the heat stability of skim milk as the carrier. Here, skim milk was supplemented with 10 mM CaCl and heated to 90 °C for 10 min to induce protein aggregation. Using this Ca-aggregated skim milk as carrier, the survival of five LAB strains tested was found two orders of magnitudes higher than that of an untreated milk after the heating at a rising temperature from about 25 to 70 °C within 45 s. Possible mechanisms of the protection were explored by comparing the residual viability, microstructure of the cell-contained milk, and changes of suspension particle sizes caused by heat treatment of the four carriers, i.e., untreated milk, Ca-added milk, heat-treated milk, and Ca-aggregated milk. Ca-aggregated milk induced the highest microbial heat stability among them, providing a thick and compact encapsulation around LAB cells before the heat treatment for inactivation. The viable cells could stay in a comparatively more stable extracellular environment. This work reveals potentially a new option for using milk protein aggregates as a protectant of microorganisms. A series of calcium-enriched probiotic products may be developed based on the described principles of the finding of the Ca-aggregated milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has been widely reported, the relationship between SUA and liver enzymes has rarely been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of SUA levels with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in populations aged 20 years and older in the United States. We analyzed 7165 individuals aged 20 years and older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the United States. Weighted multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the relationship between SUA and ALT and AST. A generalized additive model and a smooth curve fitting were used to observe the linear relationship. SUA was positively correlated with ALT and AST. In addition, the overall increasing trend of ALT and SUA was observed across the SUA quartile groups. In the stratified analysis by sex and race, the SUA levels in male, female, Mexican American, and Non-Hispanic White individuals, and those of another race, were positively correlated with ALT and AST. However, the SUA levels in Non-Hispanic Black individuals had a nonlinear relationship with ALT and AST. In individuals aged 20 years and older in the United States (excluding Non-Hispanic Black individuals), SUA levels were positively associated with ALT and AST. Therefore, with a rise in SUA levels, liver function should be monitored or intervened with in people aged 20 years and older in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma has the characteristics of angiogenesis and neovascularization, which are the main steps in tumor growth and metastasis. The Vessels that encapsulate tumor clusters (VETC) pattern is a unique vascular structure in hepatocellular carcinoma. Microscopically, each tumor cluster is encapsulated by sinusoid-like vessels that form cobweb-like networks. Here, we retrospectively investigated the clinical–pathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with or without the VETC pattern. We found that the VETC pattern is an independent factor of poor prognosis for long-term oncological outcomes. Meanwhile, higher intra-tumoral microvessel density was significantly associated with the VETC pattern. Further studies are needed to validate our findings. The outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are unsatisfactory because of its high recurrence rate. The Vessels that encapsulate tumor clusters (VETC) pattern is a unique vascular structure. In this study, we investigated the clinical–pathological features of HCC patients with the VETC pattern. We retrospectively reviewed patients with HCC who underwent curative hepatectomy at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 2007 and 2013. The form of the VETC pattern was established using an anti-CD31 stain. The results were classified into positive (VETC+) and negative (VETC−) patterns. We investigated and compared demographic data between these two groups. Overall, 174 patients were classified into either the VETC+ or VETC− groups. The median followed-up period was 80.5 months. There were significant differences in the number of hepatitis B carriers, the occurrence of vascular invasion, tumor size, TNM staging, microvessel density, and recurrence (all p < 0.05). Regarding the prediction of disease-free survival, after COX regression multivariate analysis, VETC+ remained independently associated with recurrent episodes (p = 0.003). The intra-tumoral microvessel density, demonstrated by CD-31, was the only clinical–pathological feature independently associated with VETC+. Our study demonstrated that the VETC pattern is an independent factor of poor prognosis for DFS. Higher intra-tumoral microvessel density was significantly associated with the VETC pattern. Further studies are needed to validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the requirements pertaining to the trafficability of off-road vehicles on rough roads, and since their roll stability deteriorates rapidly when turning violently or passing slant roads due to a high center of gravity (CG), an efficient anti-slip control (ASC) method with superior instantaneity and robustness, in conjunction with a rollover prevention algorithm, was proposed in this study. A nonlinear 14 DOF vehicle model was initially constructed in order to explain the dynamic coupling mechanism among the lateral motion, yaw motion and roll motion of vehicles. To acquire physical state changes and friction forces of the tires in real time, corrected LuGre tire models were utilized with the aid of resolvers and inertial sensors, and an adaptive sliding mode controller (ASMC) was designed to suppress each wheel's slip ratio. In addition, a model predictive controller (MPC) was established to forecast rollover risk and roll moment in reaction to the change in the lateral forces as well as the different ground heights of the opposite wheels. During experimentation, the mutations of tire adhesion capacity were quickly discerned and the wheel-hub drive motors (WHDM) and ASC maintained the drive efficiency under different adhesion conditions. Finally, a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) platform made up of the vehicle dynamic model in the dSPACE software, semi-active suspension (SAS), a vehicle control unit (VCU) and driver simulator was constructed, where the prediction and moving optimization of MPC was found to enhance roll stability effectively by reducing the length of roll arm when necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Merian survey is mapping ∼ 850 deg2 of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Strategic Survey Program (HSC-SSP) wide layer with two medium-band filters on the 4-m Victor M. Blanco telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, with the goal of carrying the first high signal-to-noise (S/N) measurements of weak gravitational lensing around dwarf galaxies. This paper presents the design of the Merian filter set: N708 (λ c  = 7080 Å, Δλ = 275 Å) and N540 (λ c  = 5400 Å, Δλ = 210 Å). The central wavelengths and filter widths of N708 and N540 were designed to detect the |$\rm H\alpha$| and |$\rm [OIII]$| emission lines of galaxies in the mass range |$8\lt \rm \log M_*/M_\odot \lt 9$| by comparing Merian fluxes with HSC broad-band fluxes. Our filter design takes into account the weak lensing S/N and photometric redshift performance. Our simulations predict that Merian will yield a sample of ∼ 85 000 star-forming dwarf galaxies with a photometric redshift accuracy of σΔ z /(1 + z) ∼ 0.01 and an outlier fraction of |$\eta =2.8~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$| over the redshift range 0.058 < z < 0.10. With 60 full nights on the Blanco/Dark Energy Camera (DECam), the Merian survey is predicted to measure the average weak lensing profile around dwarf galaxies with lensing S/N ∼32 within r < 0.5 Mpc and lensing S/N ∼90 within r < 1.0 Mpc. This unprecedented sample of star-forming dwarf galaxies will allow for studies of the interplay between dark matter and stellar feedback and their roles in the evolution of dwarf galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose that observations of supermassive galaxies contain cosmological statistical constraining power similar to conventional cluster cosmology, and we provide promising indications that the associated systematic errors are comparably easier to control. We consider a fiducial spectroscopic and stellar mass complete sample of galaxies drawn from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) and forecast how constraints on Ωm–σ8 from this sample will compare with those from number counts of clusters based on richness λ. At fixed number density, we find that massive galaxies offer similar constraints to galaxy clusters. However, a mass-complete galaxy sample from DESI has the potential to probe lower halo masses than standard optical cluster samples (which are typically limited to λ ≳ 20 and M halo ≳ 1013.5 M⊙  h −1); additionally, it is straightforward to cleanly measure projected galaxy clustering w p for such a DESI sample, which we show can substantially improve the constraining power on Ωm. We also compare the constraining power of M *-limited samples to those from larger but mass-incomplete samples [e.g. the DESI Bright Galaxy Survey (BGS) sample]; relative to a lower number density M *-limited samples, we find that a BGS-like sample improves statistical constraints by 60 per cent for Ωm and 40 per cent for σ8, but this uses small-scale information that will be harder to model for BGS. Our initial assessment of the systematics associated with supermassive galaxy cosmology yields promising results. The proposed samples have a ∼10 per cent satellite fraction, but we show that cosmological constraints may be robust to the impact of satellites. These findings motivate future work to realize the potential of supermassive galaxies to probe lower halo masses than richness-based clusters and to potentially avoid persistent systematics associated with optical cluster finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manufacturing technique known as investment casting has found extensive application in producing metal components featuring intricate geometries. The production efficiency of the wax patterns is an essential issue in the investment casting industry, especially for the mass production of wax patterns. A conformal cooling channel (CCC) performs the rapid uniform cooling process for injection molding. However, the significant pressure drop along the cooling channels is a distinct disadvantage of CCC. In this study, an innovative waterfall cooling channel (WCC) was proposed and implemented. The WCC cools the injected products by surface contact, replacing the conventional line contact to cool the injected products. The WCC was optimized using Moldex3D simulation software. Rapid tools with two kinds of cooling channels were designed and implemented. The cooling time of the molded part was investigated using a low-pressure wax injection molding machine. Considering a water cup characterized by a mouth diameter of 70 mm, a height of 60 mm, and a thickness of 2 mm, the experimental results confirmed that the use of WCC can save the cooling time of the product by about 265 s compared with the CCC. This result shows that the WCC can increase cooling efficiency by approximately 17.47% compared with conventional CCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured with high multiplexibility, suspension microarray technology usually involves the conjugation of second-antibody with organic dye based fluorescent proteins, which are inherently unsuitable for multicolor signaling under single wavelength excitation. In addition, application of single QDs-based fluorescent reporter in suspension microarray is dramatically hampered since its preparation often suffers from poor reproducibility and stability. Herein, a novel suspension microarray system based on dual color quantum dots (QDs) nanobead as fluorescence label was developed for simultaneous detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) biomarkers. When both antigens are present in sera sample, free (f)-PSA antibody-conjugated green and complexed (c)-PSA antibody-conjugated red QDs nanobeads would be both specifically absorbed onto the surface of total PSA antibody-conjugated magnetic beads, leading to the formation of magnetic fluorescent hybrid that can be purified from the mixture by an external magnet prior to flow cytometry analysis. The proposed method demonstrates simultaneous detection ability for f- and c- PSA antigen assay with high detection sensitivity that is comparable to clinical approaches including ELISA and chemiluminescence assay. Furthermore, result of clinical application of the proposed method is consistency with clinical data, demonstrating its potential in suspension microarray for accurate prostate cancer diagnosis. [Display omitted] • Dual PSA antigens could be simultaneous detected on a single bead. • Only a single laser channel is required for the duplexing assay. • Detection limit of 22 and 45 pg/mL for f- and c- PSA antigen could be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is rising tremendously but its commercialization is restricted by several microbiological, material, and economic constraints. Hence, a systematic assessment of the research articles published previously focusing on potential upcoming directions in this field is necessary. A detailed multi-perspective analysis of various techniques for enhancing the efficiency of MFC in terms of electric power production is presented in this paper. A brief discussion on the central aspects of different issues are preceded by an extensive analysis of the strategies that can be introduced to optimize power generation and reduce energy losses. Various applications of MFCs in a broad spectrum ranging from biomedical to underwater monitoring rather than electricity production and wastewater treatment are also presented followed by relevant possible case studies. Mathematical modeling is used to understand the concepts that cannot be understood experimentally. These methods relate electrode geometries to microbiological reactions occurring inside the MFC chamber, which explains the system's behavior and can be improved. Finally, directions for future research in the field of MFCs have been suggested. This article can be beneficial for engineers and researchers concerned about the challenges faced in the application of MFC. [Display omitted] • Basic principles and mathematical modeling of MFC technology are discussed. • Limitations in various electrode and membrane materials are outlined. • Mass transfer limitations as well the ways to overcome are provided. • All potential applications of MFC technology are included with case studies. • Need for MFC standardization to indicate power performance is explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium alloys are attractive for the production of lightweight parts in modern automobile and aerospace industries due to their advanced properties. Their mechanical properties are usually enhanced by the incorporation with reinforcement particles. In the current study, reinforced AZ31 magnesium alloy was fabricated through the addition of bulk Al and the incorporation of SiC nanoparticles using a stir casting process to obtain AZ31-SiC nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigations revealed the formation of Mg17Al12 lamellar intermetallic structures and SiC clusters in the nanocomposites. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) detected the uniform distribution of SiC nanoparticles in the AZ31-SiC nanocomposites. Enhancements in hardness and yield strength (YS) were detected in the fabricated nanocomposites. This behavior was referred to a joint strengthening mechanisms which showed matrix-reinforcement coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and elastic modulus mismatches, Orowan strengthening, and load transfer mechanism. The mechanical properties and wear resistance were gradually increased with an increase in SiC content in the nanocomposite. The maximum values were obtained from nanocomposites containing 1 wt% of SiC (AZ31-1SiC). AZ31-1SiC nanocomposite YS and hardness were improved by 27% and 30%, respectively, compared to AZ31 alloy. This nanocomposite also exhibited the highest wear resistance; its wear mass loss and depth of the worn surface decreased by 26% and 15%, respectively, compared to AZ31 alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the pricing and production decision problem in a one-manufacturer-one-retailer dual-channel supply chain under demand and production cost disruptions. It was assumed that the demand in each channel is linear in retail price and direct sale price. The impact of demand and production cost disruptions on the centralized and decentralized dual-channel supply chain's optimal pricing and production decisions was analyzed, respectively. By solving the Kuhn-Tucker conditions of the optimization problem, the dual-channel supply chain's optimal pricing and production decisions were obtained under different demand and production cost disruptions scenarios. It is found that the effects of demand and production cost disruptions interact with each other while the original production plan does not change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Making bread with an addition of Bb12 at the beginning of manufacturing process. [•] Research on the viable counts of Bb12 inside the dough during baking. [•] Properties of bread related to the heat inactivation are measured during baking. [•] “Probiotic bread” possibly can be made base on this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports a microfluidic platform for clogging-free electrical property analysis of single cells. A pneumatically driven membrane-based active valve was integrated in this platform to unblock clogging events of constriction microchannels where pneumatic pressures were used to tune the deformation of a polydimethylsiloxan (PDMS) membrane serving as one wall of the constriction microchannel. The proposed platform was first tested to unblock trapped polystyrene beads at the entrance of constriction microchannels and then the characterization of the cellular electrical properties of lung cancer cells was successfully demonstrated. Results showed that the measured cytoplasm conductivity (0.74±0.20S/m) and specific membrane capacitance (2.17±0.58μF/cm2) of cells were consistent with the results from the previous publications (0.73±0.17S/m, and 2.00±0.60μF/cm2, respectively). Overall, this study has presented a microfluidic platform for single cell analysis with an enhanced function for unblocking cell aggregates at the entrance of microchannels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Point-of-care diagnostics (POCD) for blood coagulation benefit patients on-site, but available POCD devices are too expensive to be affordable in many countries. Optically based methodologies are cheap and reliable, and have been exploited in bench-top coagulometers to monitor coagulation with plasma, but not whole blood, which contains cellular components that cause massive interference. However, the POCD testing of whole blood gives a more accurate picture of physiological conditions than does testing plasma. In this study, a portable device for performing the prothrombin time (PT) test was designed, comprising an optical sensor, an electrical processing and control circuit to monitor the optical changes that occurred during the coagulation process in whole blood. The PT was when the slope of the first-order derivative of the coagulation curve, recorded from real-time light transmittance signals, was maximal. The POCD PT testing of 167 samples revealed that 153 (91.6%) were successfully detected and the results were highly consistent with the results of whole blood international normalized ratio (INR) (r=0.985, p<0.001) by the conventional manual method and those of plasma INR (r=0.948, p<0.001) with the ACL TOP 700 bench-top coagulometer (Beckman Colter). Hematological parameters were further analyzed, revealing that fibrinogen titers (p=0.036), red blood cell numbers (p=0.017) and distribution of red cell width (p=0.015) affected the effectiveness of the current POCD PT determination. Furthermore, a highly positive correlation was revealed between fibrinogen titers and the maximum speed of change in transmittance (v/t) (r=0.805, p<0.001), suggesting that fibrinogen might be evaluated simultaneously in this POCD testing. In conclusion, the proposed portable optical-based device performs the highly sensitive and accurate determination of whole blood PT and has commercial potential because of its small volume and low fabrication cost. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims To assess the impact of a set of comprehensive tobacco control policies implemented in Taiwan in 2009, including extensive smoke-free policy, advertisement ban, pictorial warning and price increase, on adolescent smoking prevalence. Design Five waves of cross-sectional surveys. Setting Taiwan, 2004-11. Participants Nationally representative sample of junior high schools aged 13-15 years, in a biennial survey, total sample size 101 100. Measures Core questionnaire of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, including ever smoking, 30-day smoking and number of cigarettes smoked. The magnitude of prevalence change before and after the 2009 policy implementation was quantified by adjusted odds ratios estimated by piecewise logistic regression models. Findings The 30-day smoking prevalence demonstrated an upward trend [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.06, 95% confidence interval ( CI) = 1.02-1.10] between 2004 and 2008. Significant decline in 30-day smoking prevalence after the 2009 law implementation was observed ( OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.71-0.99). Those living in non-city areas demonstrated a greater magnitude of change. In addition to changes in prevalence, we observed some delay in the age starting smoking, reduction in smokers who smoke fewer than one cigarette per day, and decrease in smokers who did not buy cigarettes. The decline in smoking prevalence was contributed primarily by the reduction in experimenters. Conclusion The comprehensive tobacco control programme introduced in Taiwan in 2009 was associated with a reduction in adolescent smoking, particularly among those in earlier stages of smoking and those who resided in non-city areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effects of Mn substitution for Mg on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior of Mg69−xZn27Ca4Mnx (x=0, 0.5 and 1at.%) alloys were investigated using X-ray diffraction, compressive tests, electrochemical treatments, and immersion tests, respectively. Microstructural observations showed that the Mg69Zn27Ca4 alloy was mainly amorphous. The addition of Mn decreases the glass-forming ability, which results in a decreased strength from 545MPa to 364MPa. However, this strength is still suitable for implant application. Polarization and immersion tests in the simulated body fluid at 37°C revealed that the Mn-doped Mg–Zn–Ca alloys have significantly higher corrosion resistance than traditional ZK60 and pure Mg alloys. Cytotoxicity test showed that cell viabilities of osteoblasts cultured with Mn-doped Mg–Zn–Ca alloys extracts were higher than that of pure Mg. Mg68.5Zn27Ca4Mn0.5 exhibits the highest bio-corrosion resistance, biocompatibility and has desirable mechanical properties, which could suggest to be used as biomedical materials in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study involves the investigation of the mechanical properties of the extruded tube products with reinforced silicon carbide particulates (SiCp). Finite element analyses are firstly conducted to analyze the plastic flow of the magnesium alloy AZ61 within the die and to investigate the effects of initial billet temperatures on the extrusion loads and final product temperatures. AZ61/SiCp composite ingots reinforced with different weight fractions of SiCp are fabricated by a melt stirring technique. A specially designed die set is used in the extrusion experiments to obtain tubes with uniform thickness distribution in the circumferential direction. The extruded tubes are also heat treated to obtain even better mechanical properties. Finally, tensile tests, Vickers microhardness, tests and microstructure observation are performed on the billets and extruded tubes of AZ61 monolithic alloys and AZ61/SiCp composites. A much smaller grain size and higher tensile strength and hardness are achieved for the extruded AZ61/SiCp composite tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the needs generated by the industry, there is an urgent need to investigate the flow vibration response law of the elastic tube bundle of heat exchangers subjected to the coupling effect of shell and tube domain at different inlet flow velocities. In this paper, based on the continuity equation, momentum equation, turbulence model, and dynamic grid technology, the vibration response of the elastic tube bundle under the mutual induction of shell and tube fluids is studied by using pressure-velocity solver and two-way fluid-structure coupling (FSC) method. The results show that the monitoring points on the same connection block have the same vibration frequency, while the vibration amplitude is different. Monitoring point A is the most deformed by the impact of fluid in the shell and tube domain. When the inlet velocity( v shell = v tube = 0.15 , 0.4, 0.5 m/s) of shell and tube is low, the amplitude of tube bundle vibration in the Y direction is greater than that in X and Z direction, and the tube bundle produces periodic vibration in the vertical direction. The vibration equilibrium position of the tube bundle along the shell flow direction gradually moves up with the increase of the inlet velocity. The amplitude in the Y -direction of the elastic bundle decreases with the increase of shell-side and tube-side velocity. The relationship between the vibration amplitude in the Y direction and the entrance velocity is a linear function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In practical application, continuous drive friction welding (CDFW) has low-energy consumption in the welding field. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a high-performance engineering thermoplastic that belongs to the polyaryletherketone family. PEEK is known for its exceptional mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties, making it suitable for a wide range of applications in various industries. However, many pores were found in the weld interface, showing the mechanical properties of PEEK welded samples are limited. To solve this problem, this study proposed an innovative progressively increased welding area (PIWA) method to reduce pores inside the weld interface. The experimental results showed that the bending strength of the PEEK welded samples using optimal process parameters can be increased by approximately 66% compared with the maximum bending strength of 180 MPa using the conventional method with a cone angle of 180°. The proposed PIWA method has industrial applicability and practical value because this technique can enhance the mechanical properties of PEEK welded samples under low environmental pollution and energy consumption. Two distinct welding mechanisms of PEEK biomedical material were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conflict between climate change and growing global energy demand is an immense sustainability challenge that requires noteworthy scientific and technological developments. Recently the importance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) on this issue has seen profound investigation due to its inherent ability of simultaneous wastewater treatment, and power production. However, the challenges of economy-related manufacturing and operation costs should be lowered to achieve positive field-scale demonstration. Also, a variety of different field deployments will lead to improvisation. Hence, this review article discusses the possibility of integration of MFC technology with various technologies of recent times leading to advanced sustainable MFC technology. Technological innovation in the field of nanotechnology, genetic engineering, additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, adaptive control, and few other hybrid systems integrated with MFCs is discussed. This comprehensive and state-of-the-art study elaborates hybrid MFCs integrated with various technology and its working principles, modified electrode material, complex and easy to manufacture reactor designs, and the effects of various operating parameters on system performances. Although integrated systems are promising, much future research work is needed to overcome the challenges and commercialize hybrid MFC technology. [Display omitted] • The impact of COVID-19 on global energy consumption and climate change is reviewed. • A comprehensive overview of microbial fuel cell technology is provided. • Understanding electron transfer with the help of various potentials is focussed. • Several technologies aid in enhancing the MFC power performance are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • In vitro colon models are in high demand. • The complexity of in vitro models depends on the research target. • Microbiota composition, reaction and reactor design are highly important for in vitro colon models. • Solid state fermentation, biofilm and high cell density technologies facilitate the colon model development. The search for life/health quality has driven the search for a better understanding of food components on the overall individual health, which turns to be intrinsically related to the digestive system. In vitro digestion models are considered an alternative for the in vivo studies for a variety of practical reasons, but further research is still needed concerning the colon model establishment. An effective in vitro colon model should consider all unit operations and transport phenomena, together with chemical and biochemical reactions, material handling and reactor design. Due to the different techniques and dependence on the donor microbiota, it is difficult to obtain a standard protocol with results reproductible in time and space. Furthermore, the colon model should be fed with a representative substrate, thus what happens in upper digestion tract and absorption prior to colon is also of crucial importance. Essentially, there are two ways to think about how to achieve a good and useful in vitro colon model: a complex biomimetic system that provides results comparable with the in vivo studies or a simple system, that despite the fact it could not give physiologically relevant data, it is sufficient to understand the fate of some specific components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheum palmatum L ; Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.), is referred to as 'Dahuang, Huangqi' in China. As an important medicinal plant, the rhizome of rhubarb and astragalus is traditionally used in the treatment of kidney diseases associated with renal failure, inflammation and tumors. Aim of the study : This study aimed to investigate the effect of a drug-containing serum of rhubarb-astragalus capsules (composed of rhubarb and astragalus) and to elucidate its mechanism in the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of renal tubular epithelial cells. Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of HK-2 cells was induced by TGF-β1, and rhubarb-astragalus and losartan drug-containing serum from rats, as well as SB203580 (a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK), were used. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis was performed to determine the main components of the drug-containing serum of rhubarb-astragalus from rats. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis were used to determine the levels of protein expression, and real-time quantitative PCR analysis was used to detect the levels of gene expression. The drug-containing serum of rhubarb-astragalus contained emodin (0.36 μg/ml) and danthraquinone (0.96 μg/ml). Rhubarb-astragalus significantly decreased the protein expression levels of α-SMA, FN, vimentin and N-cadherin in HK-2 cells that were increased by TGF-β1, while it significantly increased the E-cadherin protein expression level that was decreased by TGF-β1. Rhubarb-astragalus also significantly decreased the protein expression levels of TGF-β1 and p38 MAPK and the mRNA expression levels of α-SMA, vimentin, TGF-β1, p38 MAPK, Smad2 and Smad3 in HK-2 cells that were increased by TGF-β1. It is worth noting that SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor) had similar effects as rhubarb-astragalus in this study. The drug-containing serum of rhubarb-astragalus can inhibit EMT in HK-2 cells by downregulating the TGF-β1/p38 MAPK/Smad2/3 pathway. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heat resistance of lactic acid bacteria ( LAB) has been extensively investigated due to its highly practical significance. Reconstituted skim milk ( RSM) has been found to be one of the most effective protectant wall materials for microencapsulating microorganisms during convective drying, such as spray drying. In addition to proteins and carbohydrate, RSM is rich in calcium. It is not clear which component is critical in the RSM protection mechanism. This study investigated the independent effect of calcium. Ca2+ was added to lactose solution to examine its influence on the heat resistance of Lactobacillus rhamnosus ZY, Lactobacillus casei Zhang, Lactobacillus plantarum P8 and Streptococcus thermophilus ND03. The results showed that certain Ca2+ concentrations enhanced the heat resistance of the LAB strains to different extents, that is produced higher survival and shorter regrowth lag times of the bacterial cells. In some cases, the improvements were dramatic. More scientifically insightful and more intensive instrumental study of the Ca2+ behavior around and in the cells should be carried out in the near future. In the meantime, this work may lead to the development of more cost-effective wall materials with Ca2+ added as a prime factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Respiratory sensitizers are considered as substances of higher risk, at the same level as carcinogens, mutagens and toxic chemicals for reproduction. Presently, there is no validated assay for identifying the respiratory sensitizers. Based on a fully differentiated and functional in vitro cell model of the human airway epithelium, MucilAir™, we attempt to develop such assay. To this end, we invented a novel method, using Dextran as carrier, for applying the water insoluble chemicals to the apical surface of the airway epithelia. Using the Dextran carrier method, we successfully tested some reference chemical compounds known to cause respiratory sensitisation in human beings, including MDI, TMA and HCPt. Interestingly, these chemical sensitizers differentially up-regulated the releases of certain cytokines and chemokines involved in allergic responses. We believe that based on MucilAir™ an in vitro assay could be developed for identification and characterization of the respiratory sensitizers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Dodecyl sulfate anion (DS−) intercalated magnesium iron layered double hydroxide (DS–Mg–Fe LDH) was firstly prepared by the co-precipitation method, and was characterized by the means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier infrared (FT-IR), Total Organic Carbon analysis (TOC), themogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and surface characteristics analysis (BET-N2). The sorption characteristics and mechanisms of hydrophobic organic contaminants (naphthalene, nitrobenzene, acetophenone) and hydrophilic contaminant (aniline) on DS–Mg–Fe LDH were investigated, and were subsequently compared with that on the inorganic magnesium iron layered double hydroxides (CO3–Mg–Fe LDH and NO3–Mg–Fe LDH). The greater sorption amount of organic contaminants on DS–Mg–Fe LDH than on CO3–Mg–Fe LDH and NO3–Mg–Fe LDH indicated that organic modified LDHs were potential sorbents for the abatement of organic contaminants. Sorption mechanism on DS–Mg–Fe LDH varied with the types of organic contaminants. The uptake curves of naphthalene, nitrobenzene and acetophenone on DS–Mg–Fe LDH were linear, and sorption capacities for three hydrophobic compounds were in the sequence of their hydrophobicity (refers to water solubility or K ow). These results suggested that the sorption mechanism was the partition between water and the organic interlayer phase composed of the alkyl chain of DS−. After eliminating the influence of the hydrophobicity, the polar compounds (nitrobenzene and acetophenone) exhibited higher affinity to DS–Mg–Fe LDH than nonpolar compound (naphthalene), which demonstrated that both the hydrophobicity and polarity benefited the sorption of hydrophobic compounds on organic LDHs. For hydrophilic compound, aniline, its uptake curve was nonlinear. The sorption process of aniline was the cooperation of the adsorption on hydroxide surface through forming the hydrogen bonding and the weak partition to the interlayer organic phase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Mg69Zn27Ca4 with a spot of Fe particle-reinforced alloys was synthesized by Cu-mold injection casting using industrial raw materials. The microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of these Mg-based alloys were studied by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter, compressive testing and electrochemical measurements, respectively. The Mg69Zn27Ca4 alloy can be controlled to become fully amorphous using the industrial raw materials. With Fe particle addition, ductile α-Mg and Mg–Zn dendrites were embedded in the amorphous matrix, which enhanced the compressive strength and fracture strain. The Mg69Zn27Ca4 glassy alloy and Mg69Zn27Ca4/Fe alloy remarkably improved the corrosion resistance in 3.5wt% NaCl solution compared with AZ31 and pure Mg. Therefore, Mg69Zn27Ca4 and Mg69Zn27Ca4/Fe alloys have high potential as engineering materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim of the study: Dietary obesity is usually characterized by leptin resistance and abnormal lipid metabolism. Lithocarpus polystachyus Rehd.(Sweet Tea) leaf is a kind of Chinese folkloric medicine, and it has been widely used for obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in South China. The present study is aimed at investigating the pharmacological mechanism of the anti-hyperleptinaemia effects of Sweet Tea leaves extract in high fat diet-induced obese rats. Materials and methods: We induced high fat diet obesity for 14weeks to test the corrective effects of three ST doses (75, 150 and 300mg/kg per day) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, body weight, fasting blood glucose and serum lipids, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), fasting serum insulin and leptin, C-reactive protein, adiponectin and resistin levels were measured, Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was also calculated. mRNA gene expression of PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ) and C/EBPα(CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α) in epididymal adipose tissue of DIO control and experimental groups were evaluated. Results: Sweet Tea leaves extract could significantly decrease the levels of serum lipids, attenuate body weight gain and lower circulatingleptin and insulin levels, ameliorate the state of oxidative stress, raise serum adiponectin, reduce circulating CRP and resistin levels, and depress the expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα in epididymal adipose tissue of obese rats. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that ST can effectively attenuate the leptin resistance at least through anti-hyperlipidemic activity and thus has the therapeutic potential in treating hyperlipidemia and hyperleptinaemia related to dietary obesity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Numerous taxa show ancient intertropical disjunct distributions. Many can be explained by well-known processes of historical vicariance, such as the breakup of Gondwanaland. Others, such as Asian–Neotropical divergences are not as well understood. To clarify the phylogenetic position and understand biogeographic and temporal origins of the geographically disjunct and morphologically unique genera of hinged-teeth snakes, Scaphiodontophis (n =1) and Sibynophis (n =9; Colubridae), we inferred a time-calibrated phylogeny with additional 107 taxa representing the superfamily Colubroidea using four genes (c-mos, cyt-b, ND2, RAG-1; 3085bp). We used this tree to estimate ancestral areas for the group. The results show that Scaphiodontophis is sister to Sibynophis, both originated in the late Eocene/Oligocene in Asia and likely dispersed through Beringia to the New World, but unlike other snake groups left no extant species in temperate North America. Current recognition of Scaphiodontophiinae renders Colubrinae paraphyletic, and we resurrect the previously named subfamily Sibynophiinae to encompass both genera and use the tribes Sibynophiini (Sibynophis) and Scaphiodontophiini (Scaphiodontophis) to highlight the geographically distinct areas occupied by these taxa. These results suggest that intercontinental dispersal with extinction in intermediate areas can explain puzzling patterns of ancient intertropical disjunct distributions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Taiwan has the highest incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been linked to CKD/ESRD in Taiwan. The specific effects and frequency of CHM on the risk of CKD are unknown. Methods: A hospital-based case‐control study was performed from August 2006 through December 2009. The cases were consecutive nephrology outpatients 20years of age or older, with a first-time diagnosis of CKD, and without cancer or pre-existing renal disease. The controls were randomly selected outpatients that did not have CKD and were matched 1:1 to cases for age, gender and date of outpatient visit. Results: Four hundred and twenty-four patients were recruited. Among 212 cases, 23.6% took non-prescribed CHM, compared to 6.6% among the controls (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that illiteracy [odds ratio (OR) 6.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.4–16.6], hypertension (OR 5.4, 95% CI 2.9–9.8) and occasional use of non-prescribed CHM (OR 6.2, 95% CI 1.8–21.6) were positively associated with CKD, whereas regular exercise was inversely associated with CKD (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3–0.9). Conclusion: Occasional use of non-prescribed CHM was associated with the risk of CKD in Taiwan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thermophilic enzymes are in high demand for various applications due to their prolonged lifetimes and high reaction rates at elevated temperatures. In this work, an open reading frame TM0295, which encodes a putative transaldolase (TAL) from a hyper-thermophilic microorganism, Thermotoga maritima, was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The enzyme activity of transaldolase at high temperatures (e.g., at 80 °C) was reported here for the first time. The recombinant T. maritima transaldolase was extremely thermostable, with a half-life time of 198 and 13.0 h at 60 °C and 80 °C, respectively. The estimated total turn-over number was 1.5 × 10 mol of product per mol of enzyme at 80 °C. This enzyme also exhibited high activities within a broad pH range of 6.0-9.0. This ultra-thermostable TAL with high activity shows great potential for use in such applications as the production of enzymatic biofuels production and the synthesis of high-value carbohydrates by cell-free synthetic pathway biotransformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents the results of tribological investigations conducted on steel 20 with the carbon content of up to 0.2%. The steel was studied in the three conditions: initial (hot-rolled), after heat-treatment (quenching+tempering) and after heat treatment with subsequent severe plastic deformation (SPD) performed by equal channel angular pressing technique (ECAP). It was stated that after various treatments the material acquires various structural conditions and possesses various strength properties and has a considerable difference in oxygen content in the surface layer. This influences the tribological properties during the contact with tool steel. The lowest values of adhesive bond shear strength, friction coefficient and wear rate are demonstrated in the material after martempering with subsequent SPD by ECAP technique. As a result of complex investigations, it has been revealed that severe plastic deformation by equal channel angular pressing technique enhances efficiently the strength of the low-carbon steel due to grain structure refinement observed by the sample of the low-carbon steel. This considerably influences the decrease of the friction coefficient and its adhesive component. The increased oxygen content on the material surface after SPD compared to both initial condition and after heat-treatment contributes to stronger passivation of the surface due to formation of oxide films, which together with strain hardening contributes to decrease of the friction coefficient in the specified temperature range, and increase of wear resistance as well. The surface of the investigated material after SPD treatment by the ECAP technique possesses a highest bearing capacity and requires more time for wearing-in in friction assemblies. Oxygen content increase in the form of metal oxides on the surface of low-carbon steels is accompanied by a decrease of the adhesive component of friction coefficient. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study reports a new microfluidic device for continuous generation of alginate microbeads. The working mechanism is based on the use of a pneumatically driven micro-vibrator to continuously generate tiny alginate microdroplets into a thin oil layer. The temporarily formed alginate microdroplets soon sink into a sterile calcium chloride solution to form jelled microbeads. By regulating the flow rate of the alginate suspension and the pulsing frequency of the micro-vibrator, the size of the alginate microbeads can be controlled. Experimental results showed that alginate microbeads with sizes ranging from 73 to 302μm in diameter can be generated at suspension flow rates and vibration frequency ranges of 1.48–9.35μl/min and 2–16Hz, respectively. For the aforementioned parameter ranges, the alginate microbeads had reasonable size uniformity with coefficients of variation from 3.8% to 7.8%. Moreover, its application for the microencapsulation of chondrocytes in alginate microbeads has also been demonstrated with high cell viability (94±2%). As a whole, the proposed device has opened up a route to generate alginate microbeads or microencapsulation of cells in a simple, continuous, controllable, uniform, and cell-friendly manner with less contamination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although it is generally accepted that massive galaxies form in a two-phased fashion, beginning with a rapid mass buildup through intense starburst activities followed by primarily dry mergers that mainly deposit stellar mass at outskirts, the late time stellar mass growth of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs), the most massive galaxies in the universe, is still not well understood. Several independent measurements have indicated a slower mass growth rate than predictions from theoretical models. We attempt to resolve the discrepancy by measuring the frequency of BCGs with multiple cores, which serve as a proxy of the merger rates in the central region and facilitate a more direct comparison with theoretical predictions. Using 79 BCGs at z = 0.06â€"0.15 with integral field spectroscopic data from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) project, we obtain a multiple-core fraction of 0.11 ± 0.04 at z ≈ 0.1 within an 18 kpc radius from the center, which is comparable to the value of 0.08 ± 0.04 derived from mock observations of 218 simulated BCGs from the cosmological hydrodynamical simulation IllustrisTNG. We find that most cores that appear close to the BCGs from imaging data turn out to be physically associated systems. Anchoring on the similarity in the multiple-core frequency between the MaNGA and IllustrisTNG, we discuss the mass growth rate of BCGs over the past 4.5 Gyr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study reports a new microfluidic-based filter for size-tunable separation of microbeads or cells. The filtration separation mechanism is based on the pneumatically tunable deformation of poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes, which block the fluid channel with a varied degree. This defines the dimensions of the open area of the fluid channel and thus determines the maximum diameter the microbeads or cells which can pass through. The proposed device incorporates pneumatic micropumps for automatic liquid handling. Another unique feature of this filter is an unclogging mechanism using a back-flush operating mode, by which a reverse-directional flow is utilized to flush the clogged filter zone. The separation performance of the proposed device has been experimentally evaluated. Results show that this developed device is able to provide precise size-dependent filtration, with a high passage efficiency (82–89%) for microbeads with sizes smaller than the defined void space in the filter zone. Also, the proposed separation mechanism is also capable of providing a reasonable filtration rate (14.9–3.3μl/min). Furthermore, the separation of chondrocytes from a 30μl suspension of enzymatically digested tissue is successfully demonstrated, showing an excellent cell passage efficiency of 93% and a cell viability of 96%. The proposed device is therefore capable of performing cell separation in situations where either the harvested specimen is limited or the sample cell content is sparse. It also paves a new route to delicately separate or to isolate cells in a simple and controllable manner. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We conducted phylogenetic analyses to identify the closest related living relatives of the Xizang and Sichuan hot-spring snakes (T. baileyi and T. zhaoermii) endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, using mitochondrial DNA sequences (cyt b, ND4) from eight specimens, together with sequences from 95 additional caenophidian and five henophidian genera that were downloaded from GenBank. Phylogenetic trees were obtained using Bayesian Inference and Maximum likelihood methods. Results suggest that hot-spring snakes, which are adapted to high and cold environments, were clustered in the monophyletic Xenodontinae. Xenodontinae is one of the largest subfamilies of colubrid snakes, with about 90 genera and more than 500 species known, and are primarily tropical snakes previously thought to be restricted to the New World. Our data failed to provide any evidence that the New World xenodontines diverged from Thermophis and dispersed into the New World, also failed to suggest a colonization of Asia by New World xenodontines by dispersal from the New World. An alternative plausible scenario may be that Thermophis and the New World xenodontines evolved independently in Asia and America, respectively, after the divergence of their common ancestor. The divergence of the two species in Thermophis was caused by the barrier of the Hengduan Mountains, and the speciation had almost occurred when Tibetan Plateau attained present elevation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]