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With the development of detrital zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope analysis as conventional sedimentological research methods, a large number of studies have been conducted in the Tarim, West Kunlun, Tajik, Pamir and Tianshuihai regions and abundant data have been accumulated. Summarizing these data to characterize sedimentary units and source regions is more important than local studies of specific geological epochs; therefore, we compiled a database of detrital zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope analyses from the Tarim, West Kunlun, Pamir, Tajik and Tianshuihai terranes. The database contains data from 90 papers, including 35,281 individual U–Pb ages and 4,181 Hf isotope analyses. The database records the literature source, petrologic sample information, regional geological information, geographic coordinates and analytical parameters for each data point in as much detail as possible to allow readers to review, process, analyse and use the data. The database relies on the Deep‐time Digital Earth (DDE) platform and uses an open database update system to enable sharing and collaborative building. We encourage other researchers to contribute relevant published data to facilitate wider use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaotic systems have good characteristics, such as sensitivity to initial value and parameter, ergodicity, certainty and so on. Using chaos to generate pseudo-random sequences for encryption has good efficiency and security. However, due to the limitation of computing precision, the chaotic sequence running on the computer will enter a cycle after several times of iterations. In this paper, a control method is proposed to reduce this phenomenon. In this method, one chaotic map is used to adjust the parameters of another chaotic map, which makes the sequence generated by this model has good dynamic characteristics under a low computing precision. To prove the effectiveness of this model, two examples are provided. Furthermore, the dynamical performances of these two chaotic systems have been demonstrated by a series of analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of ATP6AP1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains elusive despite its observed upregulation in pan-cancer. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the clinical significance of ATP6AP1 and its relationship with the immune infiltration in CRC. Transcriptome data of CRC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and analyzed using the combination of R packages and tumor-related databases, including TIMER2, TISIDB, cBioPortal, and MethSurv. The tissue arrays and immunohistochemical staining were performed to verify the expression and clinical characteristics of ATP6AP1. The results revealed that ATP6AP1 expression was significantly elevated in CRC and associated with poor clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrated ATP6AP1 expression was correlated with the infiltration of immune cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts in the microenvironment of CRC. Moreover, ATP6AP1 was found to be linked to various immune checkpoints and chemokines, with enrichment of cytoplasmic vesicle lumen, endopeptidase regulator activity, and endopeptidase inhibitor activity observed in the high ATP6AP1 expressional group. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that ATP6AP1 upregulation may serve as a biomarker for poor diagnosis in CRC and offer a potential target for immunotherapy in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) working fluid with high global warming potential are step out of the stage of history due to the intensifying global greenhouse effect. Supercritical water gasification (SCWG), an effective and clean waste disposal method, may have better potential for the conversion of waste HFCs working fluid. ReaxFF reactive molecular dynamic and density functional theory method are used in this work to investigate the SCWG mechanism of HFC-245fa. The results indicate that the main products of HFC-245fa SCWG are high value-added chemicals and fuels such as CO, CO 2 , H 2 , and HF. During the gasification process, almost 100 % of the F atoms in HFC-245fa have the potential to become HF, which means that the SCWG method has a strong defluorination effect. The generation of H 2 molecules is promoted and the formation of CO molecule is inhibited in the presence of H 2 O molecules. More importantly, hydrogen bonds are formed between HFC-245fa and H 2 O molecules, which results in the dissociation of HFC-245fa is improved by the SCWG environment. This work provides an available and environmentally friendly route for the efficient conversion of waste HFCs to fuels. [Display omitted] • Supercritical water gasification method has a better defluorination effect. • Almost 100 % of the F atoms in HFC-245fa have the potential to become HF. • Hydrogen bonds promote the decomposition of HFC-245fa and H 2 O molecules. • HF, H 2 and CO rich products could be selectively produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, carbon nanotubes have been widely used as supporting materials for semiconductor photocatalysts due to their excellent electron and mass transportation. Herein, we prepared a novel SWCNT-decorated Ti3+-B co-doped TiO 2 /BN (STBN) photocatalyst with the presence of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) during the hybridization of BN and TiB 2. The effects of SWCNTs on the structural and photocatalytic properties were investigated. Adding SWCNTs enables excellent multifunctional photocatalytic performances (N 2 fixation, H 2 production, and MO degradation) compared with the TBN synthesized in the previous study. Introducing SWCNTs reduces the transfer resistance and makes the photogenerated carriers transfer more efficiently, thereby improving photocatalytic activity. More defect sites provide extra adsorption sites for reactants and photogenerated electrons, significantly improving the system's photocatalytic activity. The enhanced photocatalytic mechanism of SWCNT-decorated hybrid catalysts was proposed at last. [Display omitted] • SWCNT@Ti3+-B co-doped TiO 2 /BN (STBN) photocatalyst was synthesized. • The effects of SWCNTs on the structure and photocatalytic activities were investigated. • Adding SWCNTs enables excellent multifunctional photocatalytic performances. • Such enhanced photocatalytic mechanism of SWCNT-decorated hybrid catalysts was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and supercritical CO 2 (sCO 2) Brayton cycle are two key and competition technology routes as the power cycle of Lead–Bismuth micro-reactor (LBMR). However, few studies focus on the comparison of thermodynamic and economic performance between ORCs and sCO 2 cycles in nuclear micro-reactor. The objectives in this study are to perform parameters analysis and techno-economic comparison in ORCs and sCO 2 cycles with various configurations as the power cycle of LBMR, so as to provide the technical support for the selection of power cycle and its operating conditions in different scenarios. Several high/low-temperature working fluids are screened for ORCs in view to achieve high net efficiency (η th) and low electricity production cost (EPC). Multi-objective optimization is performed to solve the trade-off between η th and EPC , and then to compare the comprehensive performance of various cycles from thermodynamic, compact and economic aspects. Results show that, the η th and EPC of ORCs are comparable or superior to that in sCO 2 cycles when the two cycles have similar structures (simple/regenerative). Among the ORCs, the cascade ORC with two-side regeneration using N -Dodecane/Pentane as working fluid pair has the best performance. In all cycles, recompression sCO 2 cycle performs best, but only when the heat source temperature is higher than 460 °C, the performance of the recompression sCO 2 cycle are overall better than the cascade ORC. • Techno-economic comparison of various power cycles for LBR are conducted. • Several high/low-temperature fluids are screened in different configurations of ORC. • N -Dodecane/Pentane is the best working fluid pair for the cascade ORC2. • The η net and EPC of ORCs are slight superior to sCO 2 cycles with similar structures. • The η net and EPC of recompression sCO 2 cycle are both better than ORC when t s > 460 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the importance of components within a multiple-state uncertain random k -out-of- n system, which is called ur-m- k -out-of- n system for short. This system simultaneously contains randomness and uncertainty. The states of components exhibit polymorphism and are defined as uncertain random variables. The component importance analysis is both a prerequisite and a foundation for system reliability optimization. For this reason, the marginal reliability importance (MRI) and joint reliability importance (JRI) are proposed to examine the importance of an individual component or couple components of ur-m- k -out-of- n systems using chance theory. Some theorems are given to calculate MRI and JRI. Moreover, this paper gives several numerical examples to illustrate how to calculate MRI and JRI. • Propose component importance for a multi-state uncertain random k -out-of- n system. • Propose two-component joint importance for the above system. • Provide some formulas to calculate the importance and joint importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental system is built to study the thermal instability of supercritical CO 2 heated in vertical single-tube. The test section is heated uniformly by a DC power (0–6 kW) and the minimum Reynolds number in the test section inlet is about 8000 (it is much larger than 2300) for all cases. Under given working conditions (mass flow rate G = 240–400 kg/(m2·s), operating pressure P = 7.5–9 MPa, inlet temperature t in = 10–15 °C), the experimental results find that the working parameters generate oscillation instability once the heat flux surpasses a critical value. The maximum amplitude of the wall temperature arises in the zone of heat transfer deterioration. The mass flow rate and local wall temperature have large oscillation amplitude with more than ± 10 %. The results show that the maintenance of oscillation instability requires the existence of phase difference between inlet pressure and mass flow rate. The oscillation instability of supercritical CO 2 flowing is induced by the transition flow between turbulence and full re-laminarization, which is driven by the interaction among the expansion acceleration, buoyancy effect, inertia force, and friction force. An onset boundary of flow instability is proposed by connecting the buoyancy effect, friction force, and thermal acceleration based on hydrodynamic characteristics. The analysis results show that the buoyancy effect is the key factor for the occurrence of thermal oscillation for supercritical CO 2 heated in the vertical single-tube. • The maximum amplitude of wall temperature arises in heat transfer deterioration zone. • The thermal oscillation is caused by the change of flow state and heat transfer mode. • A criterion for judging the onset condition of the thermal oscillation is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible electronics have attracted great attention in recent years. However, the matching power sources of these flexible electronics now are mostly rigid, greatly hindering the way of all-flexible electronics. Here, a flexible photocatalytic fuel cell (fPFC) was designed to produce a stable energy output (highest power density of 40.1 mW·cm−2·g−1 in artificial sweat) while purify wasted water simultaneously. The fPFC is consisted of TiO 2 /carbon quantum dots (CQDs) photoanode and Ag cathode. The experimental results show that the combination of TiO 2 and CQDs can broaden the range of light absorption of TiO 2. Thus, the photocurrent density of TiO 2 /CQDs fPFC can reach up to 252.3 mA·cm−2·g−1, while the photocurrent density of pure TiO 2 fPFC is 87.4 mA·cm−2·g−1. The photocurrent density of TiO 2 /CQDs fPFC is 188.7% higher than that of TiO 2 fPFC. The maximum power density of TiO 2 /CQDs fPFC in flatting state is about 40.1 mW·cm−2·g−1. This TiO 2 /CQDs fPFC has better performance than fPFC in other literature. Besides, TiO 2 /CQDs fPFC in the bending state can also achieve a good performance. Four fPFCs can be easily constructed into a bracelet and generate electricity, and there is no significant change in opening voltage under flatting and bending states. This eco-friendly system has great potential in energy conservation and portable electronics, and can be applied in the following aspects: (i) wearable technology that utilizes organic waste for power generation; (ii) flexible configuration of traditional sewage treatment. A flexible photocatalytic fuel cell (fPFC) based on TiO 2 /carbon quantum dots (CQDs) photoanode has been fabricated for treating organic waste and efficiently generating electricity. The bracelet made by four bending fPFCs in series still has a high photocurrent density and power density. [Display omitted] • The prepared TiO 2 /CQDs fPFC has good performance in bending. • TiO 2 /CQDs broadens the light absorption range of pure TiO 2. • TiO 2 /CQDs fPFC can treat organic waste and produce electricity efficiently. • The TiO 2 /CQDs fPFC has high photocurrent density (252.3 mA·cm−2·g−1) and power density (40.1 mW·cm−2·g−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an uncertain random multi-state k -out-of- n system (urm- k -out-of- n system, for short), where both random components and uncertain components coexist. States of the system and components display multiplicity and are defined as uncertain random variables. Since reliability is a crucial index to reflect system performance, this paper proves some formulas to calculate the reliability of urm- k -out-of- n systems in accordance with chance theory, which have two special cases, random systems and uncertain systems. Later, a mixed algorithm for multi-valued decision diagram (MDD) and binary search is designed to assess the reliability index. Compared to the general algorithm, it operates in significantly less time when the system becomes complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the flourishing development of advanced wireless technology, the situation of electromagnetic pollution and interference is becoming increasingly severe. The research and development of efficient electromagnetic wave absorption materials is extraordinary beneficial for solving these disgusting issues. Nitrogen (N)-doped carbons have shown great advantages as absorbents, such as lightweight, high surface area, excellent hydrophilicity, unique electronic properties, etc. Herein, we provide a perspective on state-of-art advances and challenges of N-doped carbons based absorbents. The effect of N-doping on the electromagnetic wave (EWs) response are dissected from the N-configurations and concentrations, which are of significant importance in understanding of electromagnetic response. And then we center the regulation of the N-doped carbon in the EWs responses by combing the eye-catching advances in N-doped carbon based EWs absorbing nano-materials from constituents and nanostructures. Finally, the outlook and challenges of N-doped carbons as absorbents for future research are proposed. This perspective combs the electronic structures of N configurations in N-doped carbons, and their electromagnetic responses are related to the N configurations. [Display omitted] • Effect of N-doping on the electrical and dielectric properties of carbons are dissected. • Regulation of N-doped carbon in the EWs responses is combed from constituents and nanostructures. • Bottlenecks and outlook of N-doped carbons as absorbents are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• N addition had a negative effect on soil microbial biomass. • P addition had a positive effect on soil microbial biomass. • The additive effect dominated the interactive effects on soil microbial biomass. • The responses to interactive effects were largely dependent on changes in soil pH. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are key components in biogeochemical cycling and considerable efforts have been made to understand the effects of their availability on microbial biomass. Nevertheless, the interplay between N and P supply in modulating soil microbes remains unclear. We conducted a comprehensive global analysis of 108 studies spanning boreal to tropical regions to evaluate their interactive impacts on microbial biomass. The findings revealed a significant decrease in microbial biomass with N addition, whereas P supplementation resulted in a notable increase in microbial biomass. Among the observed interactive effects, additive effects were predominant. More importantly, we found that among all of the assessed factors, the impacts of N-P interaction on soil microorganisms are dependent on changes in soil pH. In conclusion, our findings provide valuable insights into the interactive effects of N and P enrichment on microbial biomass. These findings will contribute to the development of global models that predict the impacts of N and P enrichment on soil microbes and ecosystem functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermittent cold stimulation (ICS) enhances broilers' resistance to cold stress. Nonetheless, further research is needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms that enhance cold stress resistance. A total of 160 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into 2 groups (CC and CS5), with the CC group managing temperature according to the standard for broiler growth stages, while the CS5 group were subjected to cold stimulation at a temperature 3℃ lower than the CC group for 5 h, every 2 d from 15 to 35 d. Sampling was conducted at 36 d (36D), 50 d (50D) and after acute cold stress for 24 h (Y24). First, we examined the effects of ICS on broiler growth performance, meat quality, antioxidant capacity, and lipid metabolism. The results demonstrated that ICS enhanced the performance of broilers to a certain degree. Specifically, the average weight gain in the CS5 group was significantly higher than that of the CC group, and the feed conversion ratio significantly decreased compared to CC at 4 W and 6 W (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with the CC group, cold stimulation significantly reduced drip loss, shearing force, and yellowness (a* value) of chicken meat, while significantly increased redness (b* value) (P ≤ 0.05). At Y24, the levels of T-AOC and GSH-PX in the serum of the CS5 group were significantly higher than those of the CC group, while the level of MDA was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05). The content of TG, FFA, and VLDL in the serum of the CS5 group was significantly elevated, whereas the level of TC and HDL was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, we further explored whether AMPK-mTOR pathway is involved in the regulation of changes in lipid metabolism and the possible regulatory mechanisms downstream of the signaling pathway. The results showed that ICS significantly upregulated the expression levels of AMPK mRNA and protein in the liver of the CS5 group at 36D and Y24, while significantly down-regulating mTOR (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with the CC group, ICS significantly down-regulated the mRNA expression levels of lipid synthesis and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes (SREBP1c, FAS, SCD, ACC, GRP78 and PERK) at 36D and Y24, while significantly up-regulating the mRNA expression levels of lipid decomposition and autophagy-related genes (PPAR and LC3) (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, at Y24, the protein expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes (GRP78) in the CS5 group were significantly lower, while autophagy-related genes (LC3 and ATG7) were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05). ICS can affect meat quality and lipid metabolism in broilers, and when broilers are subjected to acute cold stress, broilers trained with cold stimulation have stronger lipid metabolism capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The GBDP magnets were prepared by TbF 3 through screen printing technology. • The application of pressure can reduce diffusion time to develop core–shell structure. • The diffusion behavior and the role of F element in GBDP magnets were explored. The screen printing technology (SPT) was utilized to prepare TbF 3 coatings on Nd-Fe-B magnets. The effect of pressure-assisted grain boundary diffusion on magnetic properties and microstructure of Nd-Fe-B magnet has been intensively investigated. The results indicated that the intrinsic coercivity increment (ΔH ci) enhanced with increasing diffusion temperature and time. Meanwhile, the pressure could promote grain boundary diffusion process and shorten diffusion time obviously. Microstructural and compositional analyses indicated that the appropriate temperature and time were essential to develop the core–shell structure within a certain depth, which played a key role in the coercivity enhancement of magnet. Meanwhile, the thickness and continuity of Tb-rich shells decrease with diffusion depth. Furthermore, the pressure can strengthen the adhesion of TbF 3 coatings to base magnet, promoting the diffusion of Tb element into deeper regions and the formation of Tb-rich shells. The diffusion behavior and role of F element in magnet were also explored. The results confirmed that the diffusion depth of F was close to that of Tb element. However, the F element did not diffuse into 2:14:1 phase but formed NdOF phase distributing at grain boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a new crosslinking (CXL) method, induced by enzymes, on porcine corneas. Corneal strip (10x3 mm) pairs obtained from 60 fresh porcine eyes were harvested and divided into four groups, Groups A-D. Each pair of corneal strips was incised from the central part of the same cornea; one was incubated in transglutaminase (Tgase) solution (microbial Tgase 2 produced by tissue engineering) and the other remained untreated as a control. CXL strips of Groups A-D were incubated with 2, 1, 0.5 and 0.25 U/ml Tgase solution, respectively at 37˚C for 30 min. After that, tensile strain measurements were performed for all strips. One cornea from each group was chosen randomly for hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson staining to identify histological morphology changes. The elastic modulus of treated corneas of Groups A-D were 6.56±2.93, 4.72±1.29, 5.24±2.13 and 3.48±1.60 MPa (mean ± SD), respectively at a strain of 20%, and had a 66, 43, 36 and -6% increase compared with those of their control strips. Compared with the control strips, the elastic modulus of the treated strips significantly increased in Groups A-C. The central corneal thickness of the treated corneas in Groups A-D were 1.54±0.14, 1.41±0.15, 1.47±0.11 and 1.43±0.13 µm, respectively; however, there was not a statistically significant difference compared with the control group. No reduction in corneal transparency was observed, and no obvious abnormalities were found in corneal morphology. CXL mediated by enzymes can lead to a notable enhancement in the biomechanical characteristics of the cornea while maintaining its structural integrity. Enzyme-induced CXL could be a new generation CXL method for strengthening the cornea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Comprehensive analysis of chestnut phenylpropanoids and flavonoids (PFs) biosynthesis. • Forty-four DAMs and 58 DEGs were annotated to PFs biosynthesis pathway. • WGCNA identifies key module involved in PFs biosynthesis. Chinese chestnut is a globally important tree nut crop. The kernels of chestnut form a rich source of phenylpropanoids and flavonoids (PFs), which are important bioactive phytochemicals with potential health and nutritional benefits. To explore the metabolic basis of PFs accumulation in Chinese chestnut kernels, untargeted metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of four kernel developmental stages (HLS1-HLS4) were performed. In total, 455 (in positive ion mode) and 521 (in negative ion mode) differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified. Most components were classified into the categories "organic acids and derivatives", "lipids and lipid-like molecules" and "phenylpropanoids and polyketides", with twenty-five and nineteen DAMs annotated as phenylpropanoids and flavonoids respectively. Furthermore, transcriptomics analysis of the kernels was used to assess transcript expression levels. The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway (ko00940) was significantly enriched in the comparison of HLS1-vs-HLS4, HLS2-vs-HLS3, HLS2-vs-HLS4, HLS3-vs-HLS4. Weighted gene co-expression correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed by integrating metabolomics and transcriptomics data to investigate the association between PFs and their structural genes, which revealed key enzyme genes (PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS, CHI, F3H, F3′H, DFR and LAR) linked to the synthesis of PFs. In addition, key members of transcription factors families (e.g., ERFs) that potentially participate in the regulation of PFs biosynthesis by acting on structural gene promoters were screened with a correlative analysis method according to their specific expression patterns in chestnut kernels. This comprehensive data set lays a foundation for further research into the biosynthesis and metabolism of PFs, which will be valuable for genetically improving and future breeding of high-PFs Chinese chestnut varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wuweiganlu (WGL) is a well-known formulation described in the "Four Medical Scriptures of Tibetan medicine", which is mainly used for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and other chronic ailments prescribed by Tibetan medicine. Nonetheless, the active constituents present in the water extracts of Wuweiganlu (WGLWE) specifically targeting arthritis treatment are largely unknown. The aim of this study is to explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of the active components in WGLWE on RA. We utilized ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q-TOF mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) to identify the main chemical compositions of WGLWE. The polarization effect of WGLWE on bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) was determined. A rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was established by injecting an emulsion of bovine type II collagen mixed with an equal volume of incomplete Freund's adjuvant into the tail, paw and back of rats. A WGLWE-based ointment was topically applied to the legs and paws of the rats for 30 days. The rats' ankles were photographed to measure the degree of swelling. Micro-CT was used to image the knee joint and paw of rats, and the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone volume fraction (BV/TV) of knee joint in rats were analyzed. High-frequency ultrasound imaging of the rat knee joint was performed to observe knee joint effusion. Further, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, and arginine (Arg-1) in CIA rats were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) co-staining were employed to detect the expression levels of inflammatory factors in synovium. A total of 28 main components were identified in WGLWE, and these compounds can directly bind to the inflammatory pathway proteins such as JAK2, NFκB and STAT3. In vitro experiments demonstrated that WGLWE promoted the transformation of M1 macrophages into M2 macrophages and suppressed the release of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. In vivo studies showed that WGLWE effectively reduced ankle swelling, alleviated knee joint effusion, and improved BV/TV while also reducing synovial inflammation levels. Furthermore, WGLWE compounds induced the transition of M1-type macrophages to M2-type macrophages in synovial tissue, resulting in decreased secretion of inflammatory factors TNF-α, WGLWE improved the synovial inflammatory state. Our results indicated that WGLWE alleviated joint inflammation in CIA rats and the underlying mechanism may be related to inducing the transformation of bone marrow-derived M1 macrophages to M2 macrophages, leading to an increase in the secretion of anti-inflammatory factors and a decrease in pro-inflammatory factors. Therefore, WGLWE may be used as a potential herbal preparation for the treatment of RA. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The emergence of deterioration and oscillation relates with the change of flow state. • Oscillation is driven by transition flow between partial and full re-laminarization. • The estimation criteria of HTD and oscillation are given with shearing-stress model. Trans-critical CO 2 Rankine cycle has great potential in converting low-grade heat into electricity, because of its good temperature glide matching between working medium and heat source. However, the drastic variation in thermo-physical properties of CO 2 around the pseudo-critical region causes the abnormal flow and heat transfer behaviors. In this paper, the heat transfer deterioration and thermal oscillation in the heat addition of trans-critical CO 2 cycle are investigated by experiments. The test section is heated uniformly by a DC power (0∼6 kW) and the minimum Reynolds number in the test section inlet is about 8000 (it is much larger than 2300) for the all cases. A shear stress reconstruction model is corrected by introducing the velocity profile of turbulence in the boundary layer to attempt to provide a quantitative criterion for deterioration and oscillation. The role of buoyancy and thermal acceleration in heat transfer deterioration and thermal oscillation is elucidated by connecting the shearing-stress reconstruction model and experimental results. It is found that, the thermal acceleration in the near-wall zone provides the key motivation to drive the heat transfer deterioration. The thermal oscillation is driven by the transition between partial and full re-laminarization flows in the local zone of heat transfer deterioration. When ( Δ τ a / τ w) < 1 & ( Δ τ / τ w) t o t > 1 or 0.1 < ( Δ τ / τ w) t o t < 1 , the turbulence is partially re-laminarized. When ( Δ τ a / τ w) > 1 & ( Δ τ a / τ w) > > ( Δ τ b o / τ w) , the intense thermal acceleration causes the turbulence to be fully re-laminarized in the near-wall zone and it maintains the new laminar boundary. The turbulence is partially re-laminarized in the lower boundary and it is almost full re-laminarization in the upper boundary of the oscillation wall temperatures. The results confirm that the emergence of heat transfer deterioration and oscillation instability in mixed turbulent convective relate with the change of flow states caused by acceleration and buoyancy effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of different pulse frequencies on the microstructure grain size and solid solubility of Al-9Si alloy were systematically investigated using OM, SEM, and EDS. The impact on the mechanical properties of the alloy was analyzed using a micro-Vickers hardness tester and multifunctional friction tester. During solidification, the Al-9Si alloy is exposed to high-frequency electric current pulses with a current density of 300 A/cm2 and frequencies of 0 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz. The experimental results show that the Lorentz force also increases as the high-frequency pulse frequency increases. Intense electromagnetic stirring leads to grain refinement. However, as the pulse frequency continues to grow, the combined effect of Joule heating and Lorentz force results in an enlargement of the melt zone and an increase in grain size. At a pulse frequency of 1000 Hz, the eutectic structure size of the Al-9Si alloy is optimal, with the average size being reduced to 13.87 μm and a dense distribution, effectively eliminating primary Si. The EDS results revealed that the high-frequency pulse led to a more uniform distribution of Si elements within the matrix, and the solid solubility of Si in the α-Al matrix increased to a maximum value of 1.99%, representing a 39.2% increase. At a pulse frequency of 1000 Hz, the sample demonstrates the most favorable mechanical properties, with the friction coefficient reaching a minimum value of 0.302, representing a 37.7% decrease in the average friction coefficient. The results demonstrate that high-frequency pulsing is an effective method for enhancing the mechanical properties of Al-9Si alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Information entropy is first used for Kriging-based system reliability assessment. • The prediction uncertainty of the system state is quantified by information entropy. • A learning function is proposed using the prediction uncertainty of the system state. • Sample with the largest uncertainty get more attention for model reconstruction. Structural reliability assessment is a popular topic in engineering problems, particularly for the larger and more complex systems with implicit performance functions, also called black-box problems. The reliability assessment for a black-box problem must continuously be computed using simulation models, such as the finite element model, a highly time-consuming process with a high computational cost. The adaptive Kriging has gained considerable attention over the past decade. The Kriging-based reliability assessment method reduces the computational cost to a great extent, on the premise of ensuring the accuracy of reliability assessment. However, many of the currently published system reliability assessment methods, construct adaptive Kriging models by reducing the probability of incorrect prediction of the system state, and do not make full use of the uncertainty of the system state prediction information. To this end, a new Kriging-based method for structural system reliability assessment is proposed in this study. First, the probabilities of incorrect or correct system state predictions were understood from the perspective of information entropy. Second, an active learning strategy is proposed based on information entropy theory. Finally, the advantages of the proposed method are demonstrated and highlighted through several numerical examples. The results show that the proposed method achieves a good balance between the accuracy and computational cost, and the numerical magnitude effect does not affect the computational cost. Moreover, this is an effective method for assessing the reliability of complex systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Study on comfort and energy savings through human-centric design. • Probing smart textiles' role in heat transfer management. • Examining radiative, conductive responses in thermoregulating systems. • Assessing pros and cons of advanced thermoregulating materials. • Future research scope in polymer-based thermoregulating apparel. This review addresses the burgeoning field of thermoregulating textiles, highlighting their role in enhancing human thermal comfort and reducing building energy consumption. It delves into the development and application of smart textiles, leveraging novel materials and methods to regulate heat transfer between human skin and the environment. The review systematically explores various thermoregulating strategies, including radiative, conductive and responsive mechanisms in both active/passive and bidirectional textile systems. It provides a critical analysis of the strengths and limitations of these smart textiles and identifies crucial challenges in the field. Furthermore, it offers forward-looking insights into future research trajectories in the rapidly evolving domain of advanced thermoregulating clothing. The roadmap for future development in thermoregulating textiles includes enhancing current materials, innovating new solutions and ultimately establishing global standards for widespread, versatile applications across various industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disulfidptosis, a newly identified mode of programmed cell death, is yet to be comprehensively elucidated with respect to its multi-omics characteristics in tumors, specific pathogenic mechanisms, and antitumor functions in liver cancer. This study included 10,327 tumor and normal tissue samples from 33 cancer types. In-depth analyses using various bioinformatics tools revealed widespread dysregulation of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) in pan-cancer and significant associations with prognosis, genetic variations, tumor stemness, methylation levels, and drug sensitivity. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression and LASSO regression were used to screen and construct prognosis-related hub DRGs and predictive models in the context of liver cancer. Subsequently, single cell analysis was conducted to investigate the subcellular localization of RPN1, a hub DRG, in various solid tumors. Western blotting was performed to validate the expression of RPN1 at both cellular and tissue levels. Additionally, functional experiments, including CCK8, EdU, clone, and transwell assays, indicated that RPN1 knockdown promoted the proliferative and invasive capacities of liver cancer cells. Therefore, this study elucidated the multi-omics characteristics of DRGs in pan-cancer and established a prognostic model for liver cancer. Additionally, this study revealed the molecular functions of RPN1 in liver cancer, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detrital composition of sandstone is the most important data for siliciclastic studies including sandstone classification, provenance analysis, oil and gas exploration. A large amount of detrital composition data has accumulated over the past decades, however, they are scattered in publications without unified standards. Here we constructed a global dataset of detrital components of sandstones from 646 peer‐reviewed publications using Gazzi‐Dickinson method. A total of 19,861 samples from Precambrian to Quaternary are involved in this dataset. For each sample, we present details on reference information, geographic information, geological background, depositional age and the original data. It is a high‐quality dataset for the information on each sandstone sample from different studies which was standardized. The dataset can be used widely, such as for stratigraphic comparison, provenance analysis, exploring the general laws of the source‐to‐sink process and geological engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical and experimental studies have shown that the myocardial inflammatory response during pathological events varies between males and females. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of these sex differences remain elusive. CD73/adenosine axis has been linked to anti-inflammatory responses, but its sex-specific cardioprotective role is unclear. The present study aimed to investigate whether the CD73/adenosine axis elicits sex-dependent cardioprotection during metabolic changes and myocarditis induced by hypobaric hypoxia. Methods: For 7 days, male and female mice received daily injections of the CD73 inhibitor adenosine 5′- (α, β-methylene) diphosphate (APCP) 10 mg/kg/day while they were kept under normobaric normoxic and hypobaric hypoxic conditions. We evaluated the effects of hypobaric hypoxia on the CD73/adenosine axis, myocardial hypertrophy, and cardiac electrical activity and function. In addition, metabolic homeostasis and immunoregulation were investigated to clarify the sex-dependent cardioprotection of the CD73/adenosine axis. Results: Hypobaric hypoxia-induced cardiac dysfunction and adverse remodeling were more pronounced in male mice. Also, male mice had hyperactivity of the CD73/adenosine axis, which aggravated myocarditis and metabolic shift compared to female mice. In addition, CD73 inhibition triggered prostatic acid phosphatase ectonucleotidase enzymatic activity to sustain adenosine overproduction in male mice but not in female mice. Moreover, dual inhibition prostatic acid phosphatase and CD73 enzymatic activities in male mice moderated adenosine content, alleviating glycolytic shift and proinflammatory response. Conclusion: The CD73/adenosine axis confers a sex-dependent cardioprotection. In addition, extracellular adenosine production in the hearts of male mice is influenced by prostatic acid phosphatase and tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Supercritical water gasification mechanism of R410A is studied. • Gasification process of R410A in supercritical water is described. • Hydrogen bonds are formed between R125 and H 2 O, and between R125 and R32 molecules. • Hydrogen bonds promote the decomposition of R32 and inhibit the decomposition of R125. • HF, H 2 and CO rich products could be selectively obtained. Harmless treatment and resource utilization of the waste HFC refrigerants have gradually become the focus of attention. As a clean waste resource utilization technology, supercritical water gasification has good potential in converting waste refrigerant into high value-added chemicals and fuels. In this study, the supercritical water gasification mechanism of R410A, and the interaction mechanism between R125 and R32, and between H 2 O and R410A during the gasification process are investigated by using ReaxFF reactive molecular dynamic simulation and density functional theory calculation study. The results show that the main products obtained from the supercritical water gasification of R410A are HF, H 2 , CO and CO 2. More than 90 % of F atoms in R410A can be mineralized to form HF molecules. H 2 and CO are two important syngas products during the supercritical water gasification process. Hydrogen bonds are generated between R125 and H 2 O molecules and between R125 and R32 molecules, which leads to the decomposition of R125 molecules more easily, and the decomposition of R32 molecules more difficult. This work provides a possible way to convert waste HFC refrigerant mixture into high value-added chemicals and syngas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of intermittent cold stimulation on cardiac energy metabolism and cold resistance of broilers, 288 broilers were divided into 3 groups: control group (CC) and 2 cold stimulation groups (CS3 and CS9). The CS3 and CS9 groups received cold stimulation at temperatures of 3°C and 9°C lower than CC group for 5 h from d 15 to 35. Three groups were subjected to acute cold stress (ACS) of 10°C for 12 and 24 h at 44 d. Performance, cardiac histopathological changes, heat shock proteins (HSPs), and lipid metabolism levels were measured. Results showed that the performance was not different among groups at 22 and 29 d (P > 0.05), but the mRNA levels of Acyl CoA synthase long-chain family member 1 (ACSL1) and acyl-coenzyme oxidase (ACO) in CS group were upregulated compared to CC group (P < 0.05). At 36 d, the performance of the CS3 group was better than the other 2 groups, myocardial structure was normal and other lipid metabolism indexes, except for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) levels, were similar to those of CC group (P > 0.05). The myocardial fiber disorder, Triglyceride (TG), and leptin (LEP) contents were significantly lower in CS9 group than in CC and CS3 groups at 36 d (P < 0.05). The HSP protein levels were significantly higher in CS group than in CC group before ACS (P < 0.05). After 24 h of ACS, the mRNA of lipid metabolism genes, the protein levels of HSP40 and HSP60, and the contents of TG and LEP in the CS3 group were upregulated compared to other groups. The CC and CS9 groups showed myocardial structure was destroyed, with lower TG and LEP levels compared to before ACS (P < 0.05). Therefore, cold stimulation at 3°C lower than the normal feeding temperature for 5 h did not impair performance but can increase the resistance of broilers to ACS by promoting lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of drought stress on plant growth in arid regions is a critical concern, necessitating the exploration of strategies to enhance plant drought resistance, particularly during the early stages of drought stress. This study focuses on the ectomycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum, renowned for its extensive genetic diversity and broad host compatibility, making it a crucial ally for host plants facing external stresses. We utilized Pinus massoniana seedlings inoculated with different ecotypic strains of C. geophilum under drought stress. The results showed that the inoculation of most strains of C. geophilum enhanced the drought resistance of P. massoniana seedlings under the early stages of drought stress, by influencing the water content, photosynthesis, accumulation of osmotic adjustment substances, and antioxidant enzyme activities in both shoots and roots of seedlings. Transcriptome analysis showed that mycorrhizal seedlings mainly regulated energy metabolism and reduction–oxidation reaction to resist early drought stress. Notably, the level of drought resistance observed in mycorrhizal seedlings was irrespective of the level of drought tolerance of C. geophilum strains. This study contributes essential data for understanding the drought response mechanisms of mycorrhizal P. massoniana seedlings inoculated by distinct C. geophilum ecotypes and guidance on selecting candidate species of ectomycorrhizal fungi for mycorrhizal afforestation in drought areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrolysis is one of the potential way for the degradation of hydrofluorocarbons, but it is difficult to make effective use of the complex pyrolysis products. The addition of plastics can provide sufficient hydrogen source for the degradation of hydrofluorocarbons to generate the high value-added chemicals and fuels. Density functional theory calculation and reactive molecular dynamic simulation are employed to investigate the co-pyrolysis mechanism of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and low-density polyethylene in this work. The results show that the H atoms provided by low-density polyethylene promote the defluorination reactions of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane to generate HF and short chain hydrocarbons, and the number of F atoms in HF molecules accounted for nearly 80 % of the whole reaction system, achieving a better defluorination effect. The defluorination rate of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and plastics co-pyrolysis is more than 5 times that of pure 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane pyrolysis. The main co-pyrolysis products of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and low-density polyethylene are H 2 , HF and short chain hydrocarbons, the purpose of hydrofluorocarbons degradation into high value-added chemicals and fuels is realized in this study. This work provides a green, effective way for the conversion waste hydrofluorocarbons and waste plastics into high value-added chemicals and fuels, and achieves the conversion of waste hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants to more economical products. • Co-pyrolysis mechanism of hydrofluorocarbons and plastic is first time studied. • Co-pyrolysis process of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and low-density polyethylene is described. • Plastic as a hydrogen donor promotes the defluorination of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. • HF, H 2 and short chain hydrocarbons rich products could be selectively obtained. • Pyrolysis products of waste hydrofluorocarbons can be enhanced by adding plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Staphylococcal nuclease and Tudor domain containing 1 (SND1) has been identified as an oncoprotein. Our previous study demonstrated that SND1 impedes the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) assembly by hijacking the nascent heavy chain of MHC-I to endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation. Herein, we aimed to identify inhibitors to block SND1-MHC-I binding, to facilitate the MHC-I presentation and tumor immunotherapy. Our findings validated the importance of the K490-containing sites in SND1-MHC-I complex. Through structure-based virtual screening and docking analysis, (−)-Epigallocatechin (EGC) exhibited the highest docking score to prevent the binding of MHC-I to SND1 by altering the spatial conformation of SND1. Additionally, EGC treatment resulted in increased expression levels of membrane-presented MHC-I in tumor cells. The C57BL/6J murine orthotopic melanoma model validated that EGC increases infiltration and activity of CD8+ T cells in both the tumor and spleen. Furthermore, the combination of EGC with programmed death-1 (PD-1) antibody demonstrated a superior antitumor effect. In summary, we identified EGC as a novel inhibitor of SND1-MHC-I interaction, prompting MHC-I presentation to improve CD8+ T cell response within the tumor microenvironment. This discovery presents a promising immunotherapeutic candidate for tumors. • Targeting SND1-MHC-I interaction for tumor immunotherapy prevents immune evasion. • EGC prevents the binding of MHC-I to SND1 in tumor cells. • EGC enhances the CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumor immunity. • EGC works as a potential immunotherapeutic agent to enhance tumor immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• OPCH with hydrophilic micropores was synthesized from microalgae to optimize SSG. • OPCH significantly reduced water's evaporation enthalpy from 2216.06 to 1107.88 J g−1. • OPCH achieved an impressive evaporation rate of 2.44 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun. • Two types of bonded water contributing to enthalpy reduction were identified by DDTG. • Hydrophilic micropores decreased both the number and the lifetime of hydrogen bonds. Solar steam generation (SSG) using hydrogels is emerging as a promising technology for clean water production. Herein, a novel oxygen-doped microporous carbon hydrogel (OPCH), rich in hydrophilic groups and micropores, has been synthesized from microalgae to optimize SSG. OPCH outperforms hydrogels with hydrophobic porous carbon or nonporous hydrophilic biochar, significantly reducing water's evaporation enthalpy from 2216.06 to 1107.88 J g−1 and activating 42.3 g of water per 100 g for evaporation, resulting in an impressive evaporation rate of 2.44 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun. A detailed investigation into the synergistic effects of hydrophilic groups and micropores on evaporation via a second derivative thermogravimetry method revealed two types of bonded water contributing to enthalpy reduction. Molecular dynamics simulations provided further insights, revealing that the hydrophilic micropores considerably decrease both the number and the lifetime of hydrogen bonds among water molecules. This dual effect not only reduces the energy barrier for evaporation but also enhances the kinetic energy needed for the phase transition, significantly boosting the water evaporation process. The sustained high evaporation rates of OPCH, observed across multiple cycles and under varying salinity conditions, underscore its potential as a highly efficient and sustainable solution for SSG applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nitrogen doping optimizes intermediate adsorption on carbon-supported Pd (Pd/N-PC) • Non-electronic Pd-N synergy improves deuterium/hydrogen evolution activity further. • Mass-normalized activity of Pd/N-PC is up to 11 times higher than commercial Pt/C. • Pd/N-PC shows high stability at 100 mA cm−2 in acidic and alkaline electrolytes. • Pd/N-PC achieves unprecedentedly low hydrogen evolution overpotential. In deuterium evolution reaction (DER), the strong D-O bond results in suboptimal performance of traditional Pt-based hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts, a rarely addressed issue. As a potential replacement of Pt, Pd is usually less active in DER/HER. Herein, we demonstrate superior activity and stability of Pd nanoparticles effected by controlled metal-support interaction with nitrogen-doped porous carbon (N-PC). The Pd/N-PC catalyst exhibited ultralow overpotentials of 40.6 mV (4.1 mV) and 42.5 mV (15.5 mV) at 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M NaOD (NaOH) and 0.5 M D 2 SO 4 (H 2 SO 4), respectively, outperforming commercial Pt/C by up to 11 times in terms of mass-normalized activity. Altered strength of H/D adsorption, large active surface area, and optimized synergistic effects between Pd and nitrogen sites were found responsible for the enhanced activity. This work provides guidance on the development of high-performance Pd-based electrocatalysts and serves as a reference for future study on DER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new method was developed to prepare flexible and wearable gas sensors. • A new detection technique for ppb-level C 2 H 4 gas at room temperature (25 °C) was achieved. • The sensing mechanism of PdNPs-SWCNTs@Cu-MOF-74 nanocomposite was studied. • The SPM/AIEFP sensor has been successfully used for monitoring fruit spoilage. A chemiresistive ethylene gas sensor was fabricated for fruit wearable based on SWCNTs/PdNPs/Cu-MOF-74 (SPM) nanocomposite which was attached to a flexible PET substrate (AIEFP) for dynamic monitoring of the freshness of kiwi at room temperature (25 °C). The electrodes are printed on PET substrate by laser direct writing method, which makes the SPM/AIEFP sensor wearable to be attached to the target and achieve accurate in-situ online detection. The sensing mechanism depends on the widely recognized theory of adsorbed oxygen, in which SWCNTs provide a path for charge transfer between materials, PdNPs improve the response by catalyzing the cracking of ethylene double bond and the formation of adsorbed oxygen, and the selective bonding of Cu-MOF-74 and ethylene provides selectivity. The selectivity of the proposed SPM/AIEFP sensor has been proved. Besides, the key parameters of the sensor fabrication were optimized, and the sensing performance was investigated. Finally, the SPM/AIEFP sensor was successfully utilized to determine the ripeness and corruption of kiwifruit in real-time, indicating that the SPM/AIEFP sensor is a good candidate tool for detecting fruit freshness during transportation and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global climate change, it is crucial to design cropping systems with high and stable crop yields. Recent studies have shown that intercropping systems can improve productivity and enhance yield stability. However, the results remain much uncertainty due to variations in cropping system and environment along with other factors. Here, a 5-year study was conducted to investigate the overyielding, temporal yield stability, and underlying mechanisms in cotton-based intercrops (i.e., garlic/cotton, wheat/cotton, and peanut/cotton). Overall, cotton-based intercrops outperformed the monocultures by 17.6% on average, with the overyielding probabilities of 71%. We show for the first time that cotton-based intercropping systems significantly reduced the risk of yield failure (yields below the 10th percentile) by 12.4% and increased the upside potential of yield (yields above the 90th percentile) by 9.3% relative to monoculture systems. Intercropping systems also increased temporal yield stability by 36.8% compared with monocultures. However, overyielding and yield stability varied between the three intercropping combinations, with garlic/cotton and wheat/cotton intercropping showing the greatest improvements. The temporal stability of crop yield slightly increased, while the probabilities of years with major declines in crop yield greatly decreased. Enhanced yield gain from cotton-based intercropping systems compared with monoculture was strongly and positively correlated with the complementarity effect, which suggested that niche partitioning and facilitative effects of two components were main mechanisms driving yield gain. In addition, temporal yield stability was positively correlated with yield and compensatory dynamics. Thus, diversified cropping systems through garlic or wheat/cotton intercropping can be used as a promising way to move toward more sustainable agriculture while maintaining a sufficient level of crop production. • The probability of intercropping systems to outperform monocultures was higher. • Intercropping lowered crop failure risk and increased the upside yield potential. • Enhanced system yield was due to complementary effect of intercropping components. • Improved yield stability would reduce the probability of major yield losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil loss is an environmental concern of global importance. Accurate simulation of soil loss in small watersheds is crucial for protecting the environment and implementing soil and water conservation measures. However, predicting soil loss while meeting the criteria of high precision, efficiency, and generalizability remains a challenge. Therefore, this study first used three machine learning (ML) algorithms, namely, random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and artificial neural network (ANN) to develop soil loss models and predict soil loss rates (SLRs). These soil loss models were constructed using field observation data with an average SLR of 1756.48 t/km2 from rainfall events and small watersheds in the hilly-gully region of the Loess Plateau, China. During training, testing and generalizability stages, the average coefficients of determination from the RF, SVM, and ANN models were 0.903, 0.860, and 0.836, respectively. Similarly, the average Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients of efficiency from the RF, SVM and ANN models were 0.893, 0.791 and 0.814, respectively. These results indicated that MLs have superior predictive performance and generalizability, and broad prospects for predicting SLRs. This study also demonstrated that the RF model outperformed better than the SVM and ANN models. Therefore, the RF model was used to simulate the SLR of each small watershed in the Chabagou watershed. Our results showed the four-year (2017–2020) average annual SLR of the small watersheds ranged from 0.73 to 1.63 × 104 t/(km2∙a) in the Chabagou watershed. Additionally, the results also indicated the SLR of small watersheds under the rainstorm event with a 100-year recurrence interval was 4.4–51.3 times that of other rainfall events.Furthermore, this study confirmed that bare land was the predominant source of soil loss in the Chabagou watershed, followed by cropland land and grassland. This study helps to provide the theoretical basis for deploying soil and water conservation measures to realize the sustainable utilization of soil resources in the future. [Display omitted] • Three machine learning algorithms were first used to build soil loss models. • Random forest demonstrated the most favorable performance for soil loss modeling. • Soil loss caused by rainstorms was 4.4–51.3 times that of other rainfall events. • Bare land was the predominant source of soil loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the potential protective effect of intermittent cold stimulation on lung tissues of broilers exposed to acute cold stress (ACS). A total of 384 one-day-old broilers were assigned to 4 experimental groups with 6 replicates of 16 birds each: control (CON) and ACS groups were reared at normal feeding temperature from d 1 to 42; cold treatment groups (CS3+ACS and CS9+ACS) were reared, respectively, at 3°C or 9°C for 5 h on alternate days below the CON group from d 15 to 35. Animals in CS3+ACS, CS9+ACS, and ACS groups were exposed at 10°C for 24 h on d 43. Subsequently, lung tissues were collected to perform histopathological examination and measurement of relevant indexes. The results showed that lung tissues in CS9+ACS and ACS groups exhibited increased inflammatory cell infiltrates and collagen deposition compared to the CON group, while this pathological phenomenon was less pronounced in the CS3+ACS group. Compared to CON group, H 2 O 2 and MDA contents were increased, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPx, T-AOC) were reduced in CS9+ACS and ACS group (P < 0.05); mRNA and protein levels of inhibitor of NF-κB, Smad7, matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-2, MMP9, and antioxidant-related genes were downregulated, whereas mRNA and protein levels of genes related to NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway-regulated inflammation and TGF-β1/Smad pathway-regulated fibrosis were upregulated in cold-stressed broilers (P < 0.05). mRNA levels of heme oxygenase-1, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1, and MMP9 were increased in CS3+ACS group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the expression of most antioxidant-related genes was increased, and that of inflammation- and fibrosis-related genes was reduced in CS3+ACS group (P < 0.05). Therefore, cold stress caused oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to pulmonary fibrosis in broilers, whereas intermittent mild cold stimulation at 3°C below normal rearing temperature alleviated fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad pathway modulated by the Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway. This study suggests that intermittent mild cold stimulation can be a potential strategy to reduce ACS-induced lung damage in broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]