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We consider a class of finite-dimensional and infinite-dimensional locally coupled systems of periodic Hill-type equations with impacts. First, for finite dimensional systems, with assumptions of superlinearity on the restoring forces and boundedness on the coupling terms, we show the twist properties of the Poincaré maps on the suitably large torus in each sub-phase plane. Then, by a high-dimensional zero point theorem, it is proved the existence of infinitely many symmetric harmonic and subharmonic bouncing solutions. Second, we consider an infinite-dimensional system as a limit case of a sequence of finite-dimensional systems. By a detailed discussions for taking limits, it is proved that a sequence of even and periodic bouncing solutions of some finite-dimensional systems can converge to an even and periodic bouncing solution of the infinite-dimensional system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanoporous TiMnCoCN compound with intriguing self-adjusting capability for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) achieves superior electrocatalytic activity and long-term durability. [Display omitted] • A nanoporous TiMnCoCN compound is fabricated by applying the nanoscale Kirkendall effect. • The unique self-adjusting structure achieves excellent acidic oxygen evolution reaction performance. • Inert TiO 2 and N/C incorporation in reconstructed surface layer build the distinctive structure. Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts in acidic media, except for precious IrO 2 , have difficulty realizing good electrocatalytic activity and high electrochemical stability simultaneously. However, the scarcity of IrO 2 as an acidic OER electrocatalyst impedes its large-scale application in hydrogen generation, organic synthesis, nonferrous metal production and sewage disposal. Herein, we report the design and fabrication of a nanoporous TiMnCoCN compound based on the nanoscale Kirkendall effect, possessing an intriguing self-adjusting capability for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in a 0.5 M H 2 SO 4 solution. The nanoporous TiMnCoCN compound electrode for the acidic OER displays a low overpotential of 143 mV for 10 mA cm−2 and exhibits no increase in potential over 50,000 s, which is ascribed to the self-adjusting ability, Carbon/nitrogen (C/N) incorporation and nanoporous architecture. The concentration of inert TiO 2 on the reconstructed surface of the compound can self-adjust with the change in OER potential via a cobalt-dissolved vacancy approach according to the stabilization requirement. In this work, the self-reconstruction law of surface structure was discovered, providing a novel strategy for designing and fabricating nonnoble OER electrocatalysts with superior catalytic performance and robust stability in acidic media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determine the roots in F q 3 of the polynomial X 2 q ℓ + 1 + X + a for each positive integer ℓ and each a ∈ F q , where q is a power of 2. We introduce a new approach for this type of question, and we obtain results which are more explicit than the previous results in this area. Our results resolve an open problem and a conjecture of Zheng, Kan, Zhang, Peng, and Li. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition metals and PFRs mainly participated in the single-electron pathway via activating PMS to generate a large amount of ROS, while the graphitic N -containing carbon matrix with π-π* shake up and C O groups acted as the electron mediator to favor the two-electron transfer and directly oxidized the BHA through the ternary activated outer-sphere complexes. [Display omitted] • The introducing of carbon source changed the surface electrification. • Both single-electron and two-electron pathway involved in the oxidation process. • PFRs and transition metals could activate PMS to produce abundant ROS. • N -containing carbon with prone to act as electron mediator and sacrifier. In this study, a novel carbon-wrapped-iron hierarchical porous catalyst (Fe/C-Mn 800) was prepared from electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) and sewage sludge (SS), which showed outstanding degradation ability toward benzohydroxamic acid (BHA, nearly 90 % was removed within 60 min) with low metal leaching rate. Mechanism exploration found transition metal ions (Fe and Mn) can serve as electron acceptors and facilitate the generation of persistent free radicals (PFRs). These transition metal ions and PFRs mainly participated in the single-electron pathway via activating PMS to generate a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS). While the electron negative graphitic N and C O groups not only improve the electronegatively of catalyst, but also acted as the electron sacrificers to favor the electron transfer and directly oxidized the absorbed BHA through the ternary activated outer-sphere complexes. Eley–Rideal (E-R) and Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L-H) analysis further demonstrated the crucial role of pre-adsorption during the degradation process. This work provided a deep insight into the degradation mechanism of metal/carbon composite and promising opportunity widened the horizon of the high-value utilization of EMR and SS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) can regulate plant growth and thus modulate the accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, the effect of endogenous IAA on PAHs accumulation and its influencing factors remains unclear. To unravel this, two different IAA expression genotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana , i.e. , IAA-underproducing yucca1D [YUC1] mutant and wild type [WT]) were selected and treated with different fluoranthene (Flu) concentrations (0 mg/L [CK], 5 mg/L [Flu5], and 20 mg/L [Flu20]) to reveal the impact mechanism of endogenous IAA on Flu uptake by plants. The results indicated that under Flu5 treatment, the bioconcentration factors (BCF) and translocation factors (TF) of Flu in WT were 41.4 % and 14.3 % higher than those in YUC1. Similarly, under Flu20 treatment, the BCF and TF of Flu in WT were also 42.2 % and 8.2 % higher than those in YUC1. In addition, the BCF and TF were 72.5 % and 35.8 % higher under Flu5 treatment compared to Flu20 treatment for WT, and 73.4 % and 28.6 % higher respectively for YUC1. Moreover, WT exhibited higher plant growth (biomass, root morphology indicators [root length, root area and number of tips]) and IAA content compared to YUC1 under identical Flu treatments. Plant growth and IAA content declined with the increase of Flu concentration in both YUC1 and WT leaves compared with CK treatment. Conversely, in WT roots, root biomass and morphology indicators promoted followed by a decrease as the concentration of Flu increased. Additionally, the antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, and CAT) of WT were 11.1 %, 16.7 %, and 28.9 % higher than those of YUC1 under Flu5 treatment, and 13.6 %, 12.9 %, and 26.5 % higher under Flu20 treatment. Compared with CK treatment, SOD and POD activities promoted with increasing Flu concentration, whereas CAT activities decreased. Variability separation analysis revealed that level of IAA primarily influenced Flu accumulation in WT or under Flu5 treatments, whereas antioxidant enzyme activity primarily affected Flu accumulation in YUC1 or under Flu20 treatments. Exploring the relationship between the IAA synthesis gene YUCCA and IAA levels, alongside Flu accumulation, could yield novel insights into the regulation of PAH accumulation in plants. [Display omitted] • Bioconcentration factor (BCF) of WT was higher than that of YUC1 under identical Flu treatments. • BCF was higher under Flu5 treatment than under Flu20 treatment in the same genotypes. • Transpiration rate can influence Flu transport in Arabidopsis thaliana. • IAA was the key factor for Flu accumulation in WT or under Flu5 treatment. • Antioxidant enzyme activity was important for Flu accumulation in YUC1 or under Flu20 treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd), which accumulates in tobacco leaves, enters the human body through inhalation of smoke, causing harmful effects on health. Therefore, identifying the pivotal factors that govern the absorption and resistance of Cd in tobacco is crucial for mitigating the harmful impact of Cd. In the present study, four different Cd-sensitive varieties, namely, ZhongChuan208 (ZC) with resistance, ZhongYan100 (ZY), K326 with moderate resistance, and YunYan87 (YY) with sensitivity, were cultivated in hydroponic with different Cd concentrations (20 µM, 40 µM, 60 µM and 80 µM). The results indicated that plant growth was significantly decreased by Cd. Irrespective of the Cd concentration, ZC exhibited the highest biomass, while YY had the lowest biomass; ZY and K326 showed intermediate levels. Enzymatic (APX, CAT, POD) and nonenzymatic antioxidant (Pro, GSH) systems showed notable variations among varieties. The multifactor analysis suggested that the ZC and ZY varieties, with higher levels of Pro and GSH content, contribute to a decrease in the levels of MDA and ROS. Among all the Cd concentrations, ZC exhibited the lowest Cd accumulation, while YY showed the highest. Additionally, there were significant differences observed in Cd distribution and translocation factors among the four different varieties. In terms of Cd distribution, cell wall Cd accounted for the highest proportion of total Cd, and organelles had the lowest proportion. Among the varieties, ZC showed lower Cd levels in the cell wall, soluble fraction, and organelles. Conversely, YY exhibited the highest Cd accumulation in all tissues; K326 and ZY had intermediate levels. Translocation factors (TF) varied among the varieties under Cd stress, with ZC and ZY showing lower TF compared to YY and K326. This phenomenon mainly attributed to regulation of the NtNramp3 and NtNramp5 genes, which are responsible for the absorption and transport of Cd. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the selection and breeding of tobacco varieties that are resistant to or accumulate less Cd. [Display omitted] • At any given cadmium concentration, the cadmium accumulation in highly resistant varieties (ZC) is lower compared to that in sensitive varieties (YY). • High Pro and GSH content in resistant varieties (ZC) mitigated the damage caused by ROS. • NtNramp3 and NtNramp5 genes were the key factors to regulate cadmium accumulation in tobacco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the synergistic role of nanosizing effect and hierarchical structure, NiMn/NiMn-LDH/ppy-C composite delivers superior supercapacitive cycling stability with almost no decay of capacity retention after 40,000 cycles at 5 A g−1. Moreover, the underlying mechanism of phase-transformation from NiMn/ppy-C into NiMn/NiMn-LDH/ppy-C during electro-chemical activation has been comprehensively established by structural and valence probes. [Display omitted] For micron-sized nickel-based hydroxides sheets, the reaction and migration of anions/water molecules in the inner region tends to lag behind those along the edge, which can cause structure mismatch and capacity degradation during cycles. Nanosizing and structure design is a feasible solution to shorten the ion/electron path and improve the reaction homogeneity. Herein, this study reports a novel three-stage strategy (self-assembly of NiMn-LDH/ppy-C — reduction to NiMn/ppy-C — in situ phase transformation into NiMn/NiMn-LDH/ppy-C) to reduce the sheet size of NiMn-LDH to nanometer. Triggered by electrochemical activation, NiMn-LDH nanosheets can hereby easily and orderly grow on the exposed active (1 1 1) crystal plane of Ni to establish NiMn-LDH/NiMn heterostructure around ppy-C. Importantly, nanosizing and hierarchical structure play a synergistic role to maintain structural integrity and to promote the electron/mass transfer kinetics. The NiMn/NiMn-LDH/ppy-C composite delivers superior cycling stability with almost no decay of capacity retention after 40,000 cycles at 5 A g−1. Our hierarchical morphology modulation provides an ingenious, efficient way to boost the performance of Ni-based layered hydroxide materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the absolute values on a field which simultaneously extend absolute values on two subfields. We then apply this result to count points on the fibered product of two curve morphisms C → X and D → X which lie over prescribed points on C and D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane leaves are long and have high flexibility. A machine to pick-up, shred and return sugar cane leaves to the field has been designed. It consists of a roller which picks up leaves and feeds them into a cutting mechanism where they are then shredded. The working width of the cutting mechanism of the machine is less than the feeding width of sugarcane leaves and this can easily cause blockage and wrapping of the cutting mechanism. To address this issue, the blade roller of the machine was improved by adding anti-wrapping pipes and using bent blades. Based on a theoretical analysis of sugarcane leaves in different feeding states, it was shown that the structural parameters of the blade roller, wrapping length of sugarcane leaf and forward speed of machine were the key factors influencing blockage and wrapping. By simulating the cutting process of sugarcane leaves using LS-DYNA in two feeding states, the average displacement of sugarcane leaf elements in contact with the anti-wrapping pipes and bent blades was obtained. The simulation results showed that the average displacements of sugarcane leaf elements under two feeding states were greater when the blade roller had anti-wrapping pipes and bent blades, which indicated that the improved blade roller was more conducive to cutting sugarcane leaves. High-speed photography of the cutting process showed that cutting sugarcane leaves in the transverse feeding state was an improvement and only a small amount of leaves in the longitudinal feeding state were wrapped around, and adhered to the rotary blades and anti-wrapping pipes. However, there was little wrapping of the bent blades. The experiment showed that the average cutting rate and its standard deviation were 91.68% and 1.58% respectively, and the average wrapping rate and its standard deviation were 1.13% and 0.37%, respectively. • Cutting mechanism with bent blades and anti-wrapping pipes developed. • Three feeding states were identified for sugarcane leaves in cutting mechanism. • Bent blade and anti-wrapping pipe reduce blockage and wrapping in cutting mechanism. • Improved cutting mechanism enhance the performance of sugarcane leaf shredder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determine all prime powers q and all positive integers n for which q ≥ n 4 and (X + 1) n + (X − 1) n permutes F q. We also exhibit instances of these polynomials which are closely related to Dickson polynomials, and we give a similar connection between Dickson polynomials and the polynomials (X + 1) n − (X − 1) n. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Magnetic TRGO@Ni hybrid was prepared by hydrothermal and in situ thermal reduction. • Nacre-like layered CNF/TRGO@Ni film was assembled via a facile vacuum filtration. • The film showed excellent conductivity, EMI shielding performance and flexibility. • Impedance mismatch, multireflection and synergetic loss are shielding mechanisms. Flexible and ultrathin electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding films are urgently required to manage increasingly serious radiation pollution. In this work, the EMI shielding performance and flexibility of conductive polymer films were addressed by assembling magnetic graphene-based hybrid and cellulose nanofiber (CNF). Briefly, magnetic graphene hybrid anchored by Ni nanoparticles (TRGO@Ni) was synthesized by in situ thermal reduction. Then, highly flexible and ultrathin CNF/TRGO@Ni film with "brick-mortar" layered structure was assembled via a facile vacuum filtration method. As expected, CNF/TRGO@Ni film with 50 wt% filler loading exhibits an enhanced electrical conductivity (262.7 S/m) and EMI shielding effectiveness (32.2 dB) comparing to CNF/TRGO film. Moreover, the excellent mechanical flexibility of CNF/TRGO@Ni film results in that the electrical conductivity and EMI SE only declines by 7.5% after bending 1000 cycles. The EMI shielding mechanism is attributed to the combination of enhancing impedance mismatch, multireflection in "brick-mortar" lamellar structure and endowing synergetic loss by graphene and Ni nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon-carbon composite is recognized as one of the most promising next-generation anodes for high-energy lithium-ion batteries, especially silicon-graphite composites. Herein, cost-efficient and scalable submicron/micron silicon particles are stabilized in a robust graphite-carbon architecture by solid-phase ball milling and liquid-phase coating methods. The obtained silicon-graphite-carbon composite with a stable encapsulated sandwich-like architecture exhibits impressive lithium storage performance, including high initial Coulombic efficiency of 83.7%, outstanding cycle stability and remarkable rate capability. Even at high loadings of 4 mg cm−2, it still exhibits great reversible capacity with 620 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 C. Furthermore, 8 wt% silicon-graphite-carbon composites as additives are applied into the full cell with a designed capacity of 1000 mA h, and the full cell displays superior cycle stability with high capacity retention of 85% after 100 cycles. In addition, the scalable and low-cost preparation makes it enormous application value and huge commercial prospect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind-disturbance is a potential eco-friendly technique for tackling leggy seedlings. This study uses orthogonal experimental design and seedlings vigour assessment by strong seedling index (SSI) to investigate wind-disturbance on regulating tomato seedlings growth. Changes in endogenous hormone levels and biomechanical properties of tomato seedlings were investigated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and uniaxial tension tests. Results showed that factors influencing significantly SSI , in descending order, are wind disturbance time (T), seedling age at the onset of wind disturbance (SA), wind velocity (V), and interval time (I). The wind-disturbance effect was found to be optimal with SSI = 0.126 for a condition where V , T , I and SA values are 3 m s−1, 1 min, 30 min, and 15 days, respectively. V and T were positively correlated with the ethylene and abscisic acid content in seedling leaves, abscisic acid and auxin content in stems, cytokinin and ethylene content in roots, and the elastic moduli of stems and roots but negatively associated with the cytokinin content in stems and leaves, auxin and abscisic acid content in roots, and leaves' elastic modulus. Wind disturbance mechanism for controlling seedlings growth involved eliciting the accumulation of abscisic acid in stems and leaves and reduction of the auxin content in roots to about the optimal threshold for roots growth thereby reducing seedling stems and leaves development and promoting a better roots growth and a high SSI. This work offers theoretical insights and technical guidance for utilising wind-disturbance as a sustainable seedling cultivation and personalised seedling management approach. • Wind disturbance as a tool for regulating tomato seedlings growth was studied. • Wind disturbance could alter endogenous hormone content and elastic modulus. • The optimal wind disturbance strategy was determined. • Seedling strong index reached 0.126 when wind disturbance was most effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen–vacancy–reinforced perovskite promoting polysulfide conversion for lithium–sulfur batteries is investigated, which assist to guide the effect of defect concentration on the adsorption and catalytic properties of perovskites materials. [Display omitted] Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) are considered to be one of the most promising energy storage systems because of the ultrahigh energy density. However, their shuttle effect and slow redox kinetics seriously hinder the development of LSBs. To solve these issues, the perovskite La 1-x Sr x MnO 3-δ (x = 0–0.5) with different oxygen vacancy concentrations were prepared by a facile liquid–phase synthesis and followed by the thermal annealing. The La 1-x Sr x MnO 3-δ can not only anchor lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), but also catalyze the conversion of LiPSs. The detailed kinetic analysis and density functional theory calculations reveal that the optimal level of oxygen vacancies can effectively increase the binding energy between perovskites and LiPSs, and effectively promote the LiPS conversion kinetics. The S/La 0.6 Sr 0.4 MnO 3-δ cathode with a moderate oxygen vacancy concentration exhibits high rate performance and ultrahigh capacity retention of 93.2% after 150 cycles at 0.1 C, which provides a potential for practical applications of LSBs. This work reveals the application of perovskite materials in the development of advanced LSBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tsiolkovskiy crater presents one of the few mare deposits on the lunar farside, which are significant to understanding the basaltic magmatism of the Moon. In this paper, for the first time, the thermophysical properties of surface deposits in the Tsiolkovskiy crater were assessed with the brightness temperature (TB), normalized TB (nTB), and TB difference (dTB) maps derived from the Chang'E-2 microwave radiometer data combined with the topography, composition, and rock abundance maps. The main results are presented as follows. (1) The nTB is highly influenced by surface topography, particularly at daytime, as observed in high-frequency maps. However, the influence is limited in the nTB maps at low-frequency channels and dTB maps. (2) We postulate that the substrate temperature in the SW portion of the crater floor might be considerably higher than previously understood. (3) Our observations reveal the presence of mare deposits occurring in two distinct episodes within the mare unit. Notably, the younger mare unit is situated in the NE portion of the crater. (4) The centimeter-scale rocks should be widely distributed in the NE portion beyond the Tsiolkovskiy crater. These findings hold significant implications for advancing our comprehension of the Moon's thermal and basaltic evolutionary processes. • The TB is highly influenced by surface topography, whereas the influence is limited at low frequencies and in the dTB maps. • The substrate temperature in the SW sector of crater floor is probably much higher than previously known. • There are two episodes of volcanic deposits in mare unit. • The centimeter-scale rocks are widely distributed in the NE portion beyond Tsiolkovskiy crater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) effluent often contains a significant amount of residual organic pollutants and nutrients, causing disturbance to the coastal effluent receiving areas (ERA). Microbial communities in coastal ERA sediments may benefit from the coexistence of organic pollutants and nutrients, promoting the emergence of versatile taxa that are capable of eliminating these substances simultaneously. However, the identification and exploration of versatile taxa in natural environments under anthropogenic disturbances remain largely uncharted territory. In this study, we specifically focused on the versatile taxa coupled by the degradation of aromatic compounds (ACs) and denitrification, using Hangzhou Bay in China as our study area. We explored how WWTPs effluent disturbance would affect the versatile taxa, and particularly examined the role of disturbance intensity in shaping their composition. Intriguingly, we found that versatile taxa were mainly derived from denitrifiers like Pseudomonas , suggesting the fulfilled potential of denitrifiers regarding ACs degradation. We also discovered that moderate disturbance stimulated the diversity of versatile taxa, resulting in strengthened functional redundancy. Through correlation network analysis, we further demonstrated that moderate disturbance enhanced the community-level cooperation. Thus, moderate disturbance serves as a catalyst for versatile taxa to maintain community function, making them more resilient to effluent disturbances. Additionally, we identified COD and NO 3 −-N concentrations as significant environmental factors influencing the versatile taxa. Overall, our findings reveal the role of effluent disturbances in the promotion of versatile taxa, and highlight moderate disturbance can foster more robust versatile taxa that are better equipped to handle effluent disturbances. [Display omitted] • Versatile taxa were firstly identified in coastal effluent-receiving area. • Denitrifiers contributed nearly all versatile taxa. • Moderate disturbance greatly stimulated versatile taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd), one of the most toxic heavy metals, has been extensively studied by environmental scientists because of its detrimental effects on plants, animals, and humans. Increased industrial activity has led to environmental contamination with Cd. Cadmium can enter the food chain and pose a potential human health risk. Therefore, reducing the accumulation of Cd in plant species and enhancing their detoxification abilities are crucial for remediating heavy metal pollution in contaminated areas. One innovative technique is nano-phytoremediation, which employs nanomaterials ranging from 1 to 100 nm in size to mitigate the accumulation and detrimental effects of Cd on plants. Although extensive research has been conducted on using nanomaterials to mitigate Cd toxicity in plants, it is important to note that the mechanism of action varies depending on factors such as plant species, level of Cd concentration, and type of nanomaterials employed. This review aimed to consolidate and organize existing data, providing a comprehensive overview of the effects and mechanisms of nanomaterials in enhancing plant resistance to Cd. In particular, its deep excavation the mechanisms of detoxification heavy metals of nanomaterials by plants, including regulating Cd uptake and distribution, enhancing antioxidant capacity, regulating gene expression, and regulating physiological metabolism. In addition, this study provides insights into future research directions in this field. • Analyzed the application of nanomaterials to plants. • Pathways for plant uptake of nanomaterials elucidated. • The research progress on enhancing cadmium resistance of plants by nanomaterials was reviewed. • The roles and mechanisms of nanomaterials in reducing cadmium toxicity in plants are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focused on the bioaccumulation and cytotoxicities of Cd2+, CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and CdSe/ZnS QDs in Escherichia coli (E. coli , represents prokaryotic system) and Phanerochaete chrysosporium (P. chrysosporium , represents eukaryotic system), respectively. Two types of QDs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering. The inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer results showed that the bioaccumulation amounts of CdSe QDs by E. coli and P. chrysosporium were larger than those of CdSe/ZnS QDs due to the smaller particle size and less negative surface charges of CdSe QDs. Confocal microscopy and TEM results showed that there was an interaction between QDs and cells, and QDs have entered into the cells eventually, leading to the change of cell morphology. Plasma membrane fluidities and membrane H+-ATPase activities of E. coli and P. chrysosporium decreased gradually with the increasing concentrations of Cd2+, CdSe and CdSe/ZnS QDs. Results of the cell viabilities and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels indicated that the induced cytotoxicities were decreased as follows: CdSe QDs > CdSe/ZnS QDs > Cd2+. These findings suggested that the cytotoxicity of QDs was not only attributed to their heavy metal components, but also related to their nanosize effects which could induce particle-specific toxicity. The above results offer valuable information for exploring the cytotoxicity mechanism of QDs in prokaryote and eukaryote. Image 1 • CdSe QDs were more easily absorbed by cells as compared to CdSe/ZnS QDs. • P. chrysosporium was more sensitive to Cd2+, CdSe and CdSe/ZnS QDs than E. coli. • The intracellular ROS level was dependent on the intracellular concentration of QDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malyl-coenzyme A lyase (MCL) is a carbon–carbon bond lyase that catalyzes the reversible cleavage of coenzyme A (CoA) thioesters in multiple carbon metabolic pathways. This enzyme contains a CitE-like TIM barrel and an additional C-terminal domain that undergoes conformational changes upon substrate binding. However, the structural basis underlying these conformational changes is elusive. Here, we report the crystal structure of MCL from the thermophilic photosynthetic bacterium Roseiflexus castenholzii (Rfx MCL) in the apo- and oxalate-bound forms at resolutions of 2.50 and 2.65 Å, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations and structural comparisons with MCLs from other species reveal the deflection of the C-terminal domain to close the adjacent active site pocket in the trimer and contribute active site residues for CoA coordination. The deflection angles of the C-terminal domain are not only related to the occupation but also the type of bound substrates in the adjacent active site pocket. Our work illustrates that a conformational switch of the C-terminal domain accompanies the substrate-binding of MCLs. The results provide a framework for further investigating the reaction mechanism and multifunctionality of MCLs in different carbon metabolic pathways. • Crystal structures of apo- and oxalate-bound R. castenholzii malyl-coenzyme A lyase were solved. • C-terminal domain of Rfx MCL deflected to close the adjacent substrate occupied active site pocket. • The C-terminal domain motion contributes key active site residues for CoA coordination. • The C-terminal domain conformational switch accompanies the substrate binding of MCLs. • Deflection of the C-terminal domain is also related to the type of bound substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil ecosystems surrounding chromium slag undergo continuous harsh physicochemical conditions due to multiple heavy metals contamination. Previous studies of soil microbial communities mainly focused on surface soil layer, while little was known about the depth-related distributions of the microbial communities in chromium (Cr)-contaminated soil. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of depth-related distributions of microbial communities in Cr-contaminated soil was carried out by Illumina sequencing of 16s rRNA genes. The results revealed that bacterial diversities at 0 cm depth layer were significantly higher than those below 20 cm depths. And there was a remarkable difference in bacterial compositions along with the sampling depths especially for the dominant phyla of Proteobacteria , Actinobacteria , Chloroflexi and Fimicutes (p < 0.05). While the archaea accounted for a relatively low proportion of the microbes and showed stability in the compositions with the predominant phyla of Thaumarchaeota and Euryarchaeota. The linear discriminate analysis (LDA) and effect size (LEfSe) analysis showed that there were thirty-seven kinds of biomarker microbes existing in the five soil layers with LDA threshold of 4.0, and each layer showed distinct microbial divisions, indicating that microbes with different biological functions might survive along with the sampling depths. The environmental variables including total chromium (Cr), Cr(Ⅵ), Mn, Ni, and Zn had considerable influences on microbial community composition in the contaminated soil. A total of 25 Cr(Ⅵ)-reducing strains were further isolated and identified, which were phylogenetically affiliated to Proteobacteria , Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. Among the isolated Cr(Ⅵ)-reducing strains, Bacillus stratosphericus was the first time to be reported with Cr(Ⅵ) reducing capacity. Image 1 • Microbial community in Cr-contaminated soil was studied by 16s rRNA genes amplicon. • Significant differences of diversities and compositions among layers were found. • Proteobacteria was the domiant phylum but relative abundance significantly varied. • Thirty-seven biomarker microbes were found among five soil depth layers. • Twenty-five Cr (Ⅵ)-reducing strains were isolated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an energy-stable scheme for numerically approximating the governing equations for incompressible two-phase flows with different densities and dynamic viscosities for the two fluids. The proposed scheme employs a scalar-valued auxiliary energy variable in its formulation, and it satisfies a discrete energy stability property. More importantly, the scheme is computationally efficient. Within each time step, it computes two copies of the flow variables (velocity, pressure, phase field function) by solving individually a linear algebraic system involving a constant and time-independent coefficient matrix for each of these field variables. The coefficient matrices involved in these linear systems only need to be computed once and can be pre-computed. Additionally, within each time step the scheme requires the solution of a nonlinear algebraic equation about a scalar-valued number using the Newton's method. The cost for this nonlinear solver is very low, accounting for only a few percent of the total computation time per time step, because this nonlinear equation is about a scalar number, not a field function. Extensive numerical experiments have been presented for several two-phase flow problems involving large density ratios and large viscosity ratios. Comparisons with theory show that the proposed method produces physically accurate results. Simulations with large time step sizes demonstrate the stability of computations and verify the robustness of the proposed method. An implication of this work is that energy-stable schemes for two-phase problems can also become computationally efficient and competitive, eliminating the need for expensive re-computations of coefficient matrices, even at large density ratios and viscosity ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We improve the results in the following two aspects by Grébert and Paturel in [28] and prove that a linear Schrödinger equation on R d with harmonic potential | x | 2 and small t -quasiperiodic potential as i u t − Δ u + | x | 2 u + ε V (ω t , x) u = 0 , (t , x) ∈ R × R d reduces to an autonomous system for most values of the frequency vector ω ∈ R n. Firstly, we assume the potential V (θ , ⋅) is only in C β (T n , H s (R d)) with β large enough. Secondly, the condition on s is better than [28]. As a consequence any solution of such a linear PDE is almost periodic in time and remains bounded in some suitable Sobolev norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a set of new energy-stable open boundary conditions for tackling the backflow instability in simulations of outflow/open boundary problems for incompressible flows. These boundary conditions are developed through two steps: (i) devise a general form of boundary conditions that ensure the energy stability by re-formulating the boundary contribution into a quadratic form in terms of a symmetric matrix and computing an associated eigen problem; and (ii) require that, upon imposing the boundary conditions from the previous step, the scale of boundary dissipation should match a physical scale. These open boundary conditions can be re-cast into the form of a traction-type condition, and therefore they can be implemented numerically using the splitting-type algorithm from a previous work. The current boundary conditions can effectively overcome the backflow instability typically encountered at moderate and high Reynolds numbers. In general they give rise to a non-zero traction on the entire open boundary, unlike previous related methods which only take effect in the backflow regions of the boundary. Extensive numerical experiments in two and three dimensions are presented to test the effectiveness and performance of the presented methods, and simulation results are compared with the available experimental data to demonstrate their accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a numerical scheme for approximating the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations based on an auxiliary variable associated with the total system energy. By introducing a dynamic equation for the auxiliary variable and reformulating the Navier-Stokes equations into an equivalent system, the scheme satisfies a discrete energy stability property in terms of a modified energy and it allows for an efficient solution algorithm and implementation. Within each time step, the algorithm involves the computations of two pressure fields and two velocity fields by solving several de-coupled individual linear algebraic systems with constant coefficient matrices, together with the solution of a nonlinear algebraic equation about a scalar number involving a negligible cost. A number of numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and the performance of the presented algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declines in honey bee populations represent a worldwide concern. The widespread use of neonicotinoid insecticides has been one of the factors linked to these declines. Sublethal doses of a neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid, has been reported to cause olfactory learning deficits in honey bees via impairment of the target organ, the brain. In the present study, olfactory learning of honey bees was compared between controls and imidacloprid-treated bees. The brains of imidacloprid-treated and control bees were used for comparative transcriptome analysis by RNA-Seq to elucidate the effects of imidacloprid on honey bee learning capacity. The results showed that the learning performance of imidacloprid-treated bees was significantly impaired in comparison with control bees after chronic oral exposure to imidacloprid (0.02 ng/μl) for 11 days. Gene expression profiles between imidacloprid treatment and the control revealed that 131 genes were differentially expressed, of which 130 were downregulated in imidacloprid-treated bees. Validation of the RNA-Seq data using qRT-PCR showed that the results of qRT-PCR and RNA-Seq exhibited a high level of agreement. Gene ontology annotation indicated that the oxidation-reduction imbalance might exist in the brain of honey bees due to oxidative stress induced by imidacloprid exposure. KEGG and ingenuity pathway analysis revealed that transient receptor potential and Arrestin 2 in the phototransduction pathway were significantly downregulated in imidacloprid-treated bees, and that five downregulated genes have causal effects on behavioral response inhibition in imidacloprid-treated bees. Our results suggest that downregulation of brain genes involved in immune, detoxification and chemosensory responses may result in decreased olfactory learning capabilities in imidacloprid-treated bees. Unlabelled Image • Olfactory learning of bees was significantly impaired after chronic exposure to imidacloprid. • Brain transcriptome revealed that 130 genes were downregulated in imidacloprid-treated bees. • GO annotation showed that oxidation-reduction imbalance may exist in brain of IMD-treated bees. • Five genes that have causal effects on behavioral response inhibition in bees were revealed by IPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through spin-exchange interactions, a precessing Xe nuclear spin (brown) drags Rb spin (grey) to precess around B 0 with identical frequency ω and a phase lag α, at the cost of fast relaxation and decreased precessing frequency. • The Rb spins give back action to the precessing nuclear spins in Rb-Xe comagnetometers. • The nuclear spins relax faster due to the "radiation damping" effect caused by polarized Rb spins. • The precessing frequency of the nuclear spins shifts due to the backaction of polarized Rb spins. We report a new kind of interaction between overlapping Rb-Xe spin ensembles polarized by spin-exchange optical pumping. The Rb acts as both a medium to optically polarize the Xe spins and as a magnetometer to probe the precession of Xe spins. When Xe spins precess, they result in the precession of Rb spins. Like the radiation damping effect caused by the coil in conventional NMR systems, the precessing Rb spins lead to damping and a frequency-shift for the precessing Xe spins. When Xe spins are operated in a free-induction decay mode, the transverse relaxation time and oscillating frequency of Xe spins change due to the "radiation damping" effect of Rb spins. When Xe spins are operated in the self-oscillating mode, its transverse relaxation time and oscillating frequency will also be changed. These effects will influence the accuracy of NMR probes, which are widely used in the search for CPT- and Lorentz-invariance violations, the fifth force, etc. If this problem is solved or compensated for, the limit of the aforementioned search may be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We focus on the numerical approximation of the Cahn–Hilliard type equations, and present a family of second-order unconditionally energy-stable schemes. By reformulating the equation into an equivalent system employing a scalar auxiliary variable, we approximate the system at the time step (n + θ) (n denoting the time step index and θ is a real-valued parameter), and devise a family of corresponding approximations that are second-order accurate and unconditionally energy stable. This family of approximations contains the often-used Crank–Nicolson scheme and the second-order backward differentiation formula as particular cases. We further develop two efficient solution algorithms for the resultant discrete system of equations to overcome the difficulty caused by the unknown scalar auxiliary variable. Within each time step, our method requires only the solution of either four de-coupled individual Helmholtz type equations, or two separate individual systems with each system consisting of two coupled Helmholtz type equations. All the resultant linear algebraic systems involve only constant and time-independent coefficient matrices that can be pre-computed. A number of numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the performance of the family of schemes developed herein. We note that this family of second-order approximations can be readily applied to devise energy-stable schemes for other types of gradient flows when combined with the auxiliary variable approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A compound power-split system model considering the engine ripple torque is built. • The optimal engine cranking speed curve is designed by the dynamic programming. • An optimal engine start-up control strategy is proposed for the best ride comfort. • The proposed control strategy is applied on a compound power-split HEV. Abstract Engine start-up is the key for the control of mode transition from electric drive mode to electronic-Continuously Variable Transmission (e-CVT) mode for a compound power-split hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). With the engine shaft directly connected to the powertrain through a torsional damper spring (TDS), the engine ripple torque (ERT) before ignition is amplified by the powertrain and transmitted to the wheel, which has a significant impact on the vehicle. To improve the ride comfort of the mode transition process, an engine start-up control strategy is proposed. First, the ERT model and the dynamic model of power-split powertrain were built, and the mode transition process was analyzed. Second, an optimal crank track of engine speed was designed based on the dynamic programming aiming at ride comfort. Third, the engine reference acceleration curve was calculated according to the optimal speed track, and an optimal engine start-up control strategy was proposed. Finally, through simulations of the dynamic programming the influence factors for engine start-up were examined, and the experiment results indicate that the proposed engine start-up optimal control can effectively improve the ride comfort during mode transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) equipped with dual clutch transmission (DCT) can benefit from engine auxiliary braking force and driving motor regenerative braking force in braking conditions. This can effectively reduce the workload of hydraulic mechanical braking systems and recovery braking energy, which will improve the fuel economy. In the downshift process, the driving motor is involved to response the change of torque/speed demand, which can further improve the shift quality of DCT without affecting the engine emissions and fuel economy. The combined braking condition of HEVs with DCT allows for the variation of power distribution between the front and rear axle, as well as the electric and hydraulic braking force. In this study, the downshift decision strategy is designed based on the two-parameter shift schedule, while considering the driver’s subjective driving intention. Subsequently, the mathematical model developed to investigate the downshift process of HEVs with dual clutch transmission has been applied to skip downshift process, to analyze the control sequence and implement different control algorithms according to respective control objects. Specifically, the sliding mode variable structure optimization control algorithm is used to allow the engine speed to track the target value in the torque phase. In addition, the linear quadratic tracking controller and the model reference adaptive system are used, based on adjustable parameters, to realize the speed synchronization of the clutch driving and driven plate in the inertial phase. According to the results of electro-hydraulic braking force distribution, the braking forces of an integrated starter generator (ISG) motor and hydraulic brake system are controlled to switch to the demand level. Then, the simulation model established on a Matlab/Simulink platform is used to validate the skip downshift control strategy. Finally, the designed control strategies are verified on the test bench. The test results demonstrate that the established shift control strategy can achieve the target power downshift under braking conditions, and have a good downshift quality, which lays a foundation for subsequent development and real vehicle tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract For any n ≥ 3 and q ≥ 3 , we prove that the Equality function (= n) on n variables over a domain of size q cannot be realized by matchgates under holographic transformations. This is a consequence of our theorem on the structure of blockwise symmetric matchgate signatures. This has the implication that the standard holographic algorithms based on matchgates, a methodology known to be universal for #CSP over the Boolean domain, cannot produce P-time algorithms for planar #CSP over any higher domain q ≥ 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive kidney disease due to glomerular capillary damage in diabetic patients, with inflammation and oxidative stress implicated as crucial pathogenic factors. There is an urgent need to develop effective therapeutic drug. Natural medicines are rich resources for active lead compounds. They would provide new opportunities for the treatment of DN. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effects of Schisandrin B (SchB) on DN and to delineate the underlying mechanism. Oral administration of SchB in the diabetic mouse model significantly alleviated hyperglycemia-induced renal injury, which was accompanied by maintenance of urine creatinine and albumin levels at similar to those of control non-diabetic mice. Histological examination of renal tissue indicated that both development of fibrosis and renal cell apoptosis were dramatically inhibited by SchB. The protective effect of SchB on DN associated with suppression of inflammatory response and oxidative stress. These results strongly suggested that SchB could be a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of DN. Moreover, our findings provided a fuller understanding of the regulatory role of NF-κB and Nrf2 in DN, indicating that they could be important therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Suspended sediment transport and stratification in the entire Changjiang River Estuary were examined using the field data of sea-surface level, currents, salinity, and suspended sediment concentration (SSC). The data were simultaneously observed at one-hour intervals and at six vertical layers at 23 stations covering two spring tidal cycles in May, 2004. The results showed that ebbing tides had a longer tidal duration and stronger tidal currents than flooding tides, due to a fresh water discharge. The tidal range reached about 4 m and the peak tidal current of about 2.9 m/s occurred in the north passage in the observed period. A stratification caused by salinity and suspended sediment appeared and varied with tides indicated by the overall Richardson number. The potential energy anomaly was larger when SSC was factored in to the water density. A stratification ratio (S r), which is the ratio of potential energy required to induce complete mixing to the overall potential energy, was proposed to measure the degree of sediment stratification. S r values indicated that mixing the stratified turbid water took as much as 0.25% of the overall potential energy at a particular field station. A turbidity maximum zone (TMZ) was observed in the north passage, where the salt-fresh-water interface and stratification appeared, due to the advective and tidal transport component. The main components controlling the vertical-averaged net sediment transport were the Eulerian velocity, Stokes drift and tidal pumping. Salinity intrusion creates the stratification in the north passage, which depresses the turbulence and re-suspension of sediment. The stratification is further enhanced by the vertical distribution of suspended sediment, which results in a TMZ and induces sediment deposition/trapping in the channel. Hence, the SSC was essential to be considered in the study of estuarine stratification, particularly in the highly turbid estuaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The regulatory role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in various biological functions has been demonstrated. However, their role in fat deposition and lipid metabolism in pigs remains less understood. To explore the expression profile of lncRNAs in Jinhua and Landrace pigs, we investigated the expression levels of lncRNAs in intramuscular adipose tissues obtained from these pigs. Results showed that the expression levels of lncRNAs in these pig breeds significantly (Fold Change ≥ 2.0, FDR < 0.05) differed. A total of 4910 lncRNAs were identified, and 119 of these lncRNAs were differentially expressed. Of these differentially expressed lncRNAs, 60 and 59 were up- and down-regulated, respectively. The differentially expressed lncRNAs are involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, Ras signaling pathway, PI3k-Akt signaling pathway. We then compared these differentially expressed lncRNAs with mRNAs and found that six of the co-expressed lncRNAs were implicated in pathways related to fat deposition and lipid metabolism. Overall, our results revealed a remarkable difference in fat metabolism in intramuscular adipose tissues of pigs, and provide a basis for subsequent research on fat deposition. Highlights • The regulatory role of lncRNAs in fat deposition remains partially understood. • Investigation of lncRNAs expression level in intramuscular adipose tissues. • lncRNAs were implicated in pathways related to fat deposition and lipid metabolism. • A remarkable difference in fat metabolism in pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Two algorithms (RDPSO and QPSO) are used to solve molecular docking problems. • A fast, exact hybrid algorithm (LRDPSO) specialized for docking highly flexible ligands is proposed. • A thorough experiment result with statistical assessment is presented. • Specific instances are analyzed in detail to compare algorithms. Abstract Molecular docking has emerged as an important tool in drug design and development. Currently, there is a relatively large and ever-increasing number of molecular docking programs. However, despite the great advances in the docking technique over the last decade, most methods cannot be used to dock highly flexible ligands successfully. In this study, based on the Autodock software, a new search algorithm, hybrid algorithm of Random Drift Particle Swarm Optimisation and local search (LRDPSO), that focuses on protein-ligand applications was presented. In our approach, we considered the ligand flexibility and strategies that aimed to improve binding affinity prediction in the context of a docking-based investigation. The experimental results revealed that our approach led to a substantially lower docking energy and higher docking precision in comparison to the LGA, PSO and QPSO algorithms. The LRDPSO algorithm was able to identify the correct binding mode of 83.6% of the complexes. In comparison, the accuracy of QPSO, PSO and LGA is 73.1%, 68.7% and 68.7%, respectively. For LRDPSO docking, satisfactory docking results can be obtained when relatively big ligands with many rotatable bonds are docked against protein binding pockets in which flexibility does play an important role. Thus, the novel LRDPSO algorithm predictions for highly flexible ligands are more reliable, and would increase the predictive power and widen the applications of this important computational tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butylparaben (BuP) is a common antibacterial preservative utilized extensively in food, medical supplies, cosmetics, and personal care products. The current study reports the use of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos to investigate potential developmental toxicity caused by exposure to BuP. The development of Neural crest cells (NCCs) is highly active during gastrulation in Zebrafish embryos. Thus, we utilized 0.5 mg/L, 0.75 mg/L, and 1 mg/L BuP solutions, respectively, in accordance with the international safety standard dosage. We observed severe craniofacial cartilage deformities, periocular edema, cardiac dysplasia, and delayed otolith development in the Zebrafish larvae 5 days after exposure. The oxidative stress response was significantly enhanced. In addition, the biochemical analysis revealed that the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly reduced relative to the control group, whereas the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly elevated. Furthermore, ALP activity, a marker of osteoblast activity, was also reduced. Moreover, the RT-qPCR results indicated that the expression of chondrocyte marker genes sox9a, sox9b, and col2a1a was down-regulated. In addition, the morphology of maxillofacial chondrocytes was altered in Zebrafish larvae, and the proliferation of cranial NCCs was inhibited. Accordingly, our findings indicate that strong oxidative stress induced by BuP inhibits the proliferation of NCCs in larval Zebrafish, leading to craniofacial deformities. • BuP can cause developmental toxicity and craniofacial deformities in zebrafish. • BuP inhibits the proliferation of neural crest cells. • Craniofacial deformities caused by BuP is related to oxidative stress. • BuP injures the craniofacial bone development of non-target species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibroblasts are critical pro-inflammatory regulators in chronic inflammatory and fibrotic skin diseases. However, fibroblast heterogeneity and the absence of a unified cross-disease taxonomy have hindered our understanding of the shared/distinct pathways in non-communicable skin inflammation. By integrating 10× single-cell data from 75 skin samples, we constructed a single-cell atlas across inflammatory and fibrotic skin diseases and identified 9 distinct subsets of skin fibroblasts. We found a shared subset of CCL19+ fibroblasts across these diseases, potentially attracting and educating immune cells. Moreover, COL6A5+ fibroblasts were a distinct subset implicated in the initiation and relapse of psoriasis, which tended to differentiate into CXCL1+ fibroblasts, inducing neutrophil chemotaxis and infiltration; while CXCL1+ fibroblasts exhibited a more heterogeneous response to certain inflammatory conditions. Differentiation trajectory and regulatory factors of these fibroblast subsets were also revealed. Therefore, our study presents a comprehensive atlas of skin fibroblasts and highlights pathogenic fibroblast subsets in skin disorders. • We developed a single-cell atlas of dermal fibroblasts and identified 9 distinct fibroblast subsets across chronic inflammatory (psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, lupus) and fibrotic skin disorders. • A shared subset of CCL19+ fibroblasts was found to mediate skin inflammation in all the diseases examined. • COL6A5+ fibroblasts were a distinct subset in psoriasis that had the ability to differentiate into CXCL1+ fibroblasts. • COL6A5+ fibroblasts were implicated in the recurrence of psoriasis based on the non-lesional and relapsing skin data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feature upsampling is a fundamental operation in modern deep network architectures. Existing upsamplers, however, are prone to cause negative upsampling—performance of an upsampler falls behind naive interpolation. For instance, the recent dynamic upsampler CARAFE is the best performing operator in semantic segmentation, but it turns out to be the worst one in image matting. In this work, we present robuSt bIlatERal featuRe upsAmpler (SIERRA), a simple, task-robust, plug-and-play, and ultra lightweight upsampler. Its key idea is to use an efficient gradient-prior kernel to modulate a (shifted) distance-prior kernel to control which feature points participate in interpolation, which shares a similar spirit to joint bilateral filtering (JBF). Yet, in contrast to JBF that requires high-res guidance, SIERRA generates kernels from the low-res decoder feature alone. Extensive experiments demonstrate the superiority and robustness of SIERRA on five dense prediction tasks. Code will be available online. • We apply the idea of bilateral kernels to feature upsampling. • We present a task-robust, plug-and-play, and ultra lightweight upsampler SIERRA. • We demonstrate the robustness and practicality of SIERRA and its variant on five dense prediction tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove a complexity dichotomy theorem for the eight-vertex model. For every setting of the parameters of the model, we prove that computing the partition function is either solvable in polynomial time or #P-hard. The dichotomy criterion is explicit. For tractability, we find some new classes of problems computable in polynomial time. For #P-hardness, we employ Möbius transformations to prove the success of interpolations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The human brain is a highly dynamic system with non-stationary neural activity and rapidly-changing neural interaction. Resting-state dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) has been widely studied during recent years, and the emerging aberrant dFC patterns have been identified as important features of many mental disorders such as schizophrenia (SZ). However, only focusing on the time-varying patterns in FC is not enough, since the local neural activity itself (in contrast to the inter-connectivity) is also found to be highly fluctuating from research using high-temporal-resolution imaging techniques. Exploring the time-varying patterns in brain activity and their relationships with time-varying brain connectivity is important for advancing our understanding of the co-evolutionary property of brain network and the underlying mechanism of brain dynamics. In this study, we introduced a framework for characterizing time-varying brain activity and exploring its associations with time-varying brain connectivity, and applied this framework to a resting-state fMRI dataset including 151 SZ patients and 163 age- and gender matched healthy controls (HCs). In this framework, 48 brain regions were first identified as intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs) using group independent component analysis (GICA). A sliding window approach was then adopted for the estimation of dynamic amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (dALFF) and dFC, which were used to measure time-varying brain activity and time-varying brain connectivity respectively. The dALFF was further clustered into six reoccurring states by the k-means clustering method and the group difference in occurrences of dALFF states was explored. Lastly, correlation coefficients between dALFF and dFC were calculated and the group difference in these dALFF-dFC correlations was explored. Our results suggested that 1) ALFF of brain regions was highly fluctuating during the resting-state and such dynamic patterns are altered in SZ, 2) dALFF and dFC were correlated in time and their correlations are altered in SZ. The overall results support and expand prior work on abnormalities of brain activity, static FC (sFC) and dFC in SZ, and provide new evidence on aberrant time-varying brain activity and its associations with brain connectivity in SZ, which might underscore the disrupted brain cognitive functions in this mental disorder. Highlights • Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) is dynamic during the resting-state. • Reoccurring dynamic ALFF (dALFF) patterns are altered in SZ. • dALFF and dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) are correlated in time. • SZ patients show significantly different associations between dALFF and dFC. • Associations between dALFF and dFC are correlated with cognitive scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of the electrokinetic remediation process on the removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was evaluated with different influencing factors. With chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and tetracycline (TC) as template chemicals, the removal of both ARB and ARGs was enhanced with the increase of voltage gradient (0.4–1.2 V cm −1 ) and prolonged reaction time (3–14 d). The greatest removal (26.01–31.48% for ARB, 37.93–83.10% for ARGs) was obtained applying a voltage of 1.2 V cm −1 , leading to the highest electrical consumption. The effect of polarity reversal intervals on the inactivation ratio of ARB followed the order of 0 h (66.06–80.00%) > 12 h (17.07–24.75%) > 24 h (10.44–13.93%). Lower pH, higher current density, and more evenly-distributed voltage drop was observed with a polarity reversal interval of 12 h compared with that of 24 h, leading to more efficient electrochemical reactions in soil. Compared with sul genes, tet genes were more vulnerable to be attacked in an electric field. It was mainly attributed to the lower abundance of tet genes (except tet M) and the varied effects of electrokinetic remediation process on different ARGs. Moreover, a relatively less removal ratio of tet C and tet G was obtained mainly due to the mechanism of the efflux pump upregulation. Both tet and sul genes were positively correlated with TC-resistant bacteria. The efflux pump genes like tet G and the cellular protection genes like tet M showed different correlations with ARB. This study enhances the current understanding on the removal strategies of ARB and ARGs, and it provides important parameters for their destruction by the electrokinetic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a set of effective outflow/open boundary conditions and an associated algorithm for simulating the dynamics of multiphase flows consisting of N ( N ⩾ 2 ) immiscible incompressible fluids in domains involving outflows or open boundaries. These boundary conditions are devised based on the properties of energy stability and reduction consistency. The energy stability property ensures that the contributions of these boundary conditions to the energy balance will not cause the total energy of the N-phase system to increase over time. Therefore, these open/outflow boundary conditions are very effective in overcoming the backflow instability in multiphase systems. The reduction consistency property ensures that if some fluid components are absent from the N-phase system then these N-phase boundary conditions will reduce to those corresponding boundary conditions for the equivalent smaller system. Our numerical algorithm for the proposed boundary conditions together with the N-phase governing equations involves only the solution of a set of de-coupled individual Helmholtz-type equations within each time step, and the resultant linear algebraic systems after discretization involve only constant and time-independent coefficient matrices which can be pre-computed. Therefore, the algorithm is computationally very efficient and attractive. We present extensive numerical experiments for flow problems involving multiple fluid components and inflow/outflow boundaries to test the proposed method. In particular, we compare in detail the simulation results of a three-phase capillary wave problem with Prosperetti's exact physical solution and demonstrate that the method developed herein produces physically accurate results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the four-wheel-drive hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) equipped with a dry dual clutch transmission (DCT) is in the mode transition process from pure electrical rear wheel drive to front wheel drive with engine or hybrid drive, the problem of vehicle longitudinal jerk is prominent. A mode transition robust control algorithm which resists external disturbance and model parameter fluctuation has been developed, by taking full advantage of fast and accurate torque (or speed) response of three electrical power sources and getting the clutch of DCT fully involved in the mode transition process. Firstly, models of key components of driveline system have been established, and the model of five-degrees-of-freedom vehicle longitudinal dynamics has been built by using a Uni-Tire model. Next, a multistage optimal control method has been produced to realize the decision of engine torque and clutch-transmitted torque. The sliding-mode control strategy for measurable disturbance has been proposed at the stage of engine speed dragged up. Meanwhile, the double tracking control architecture that integrates the model calculating feedforward control with H ∞ robust feedback control has been presented at the stage of speed synchronization. Finally, the results from Matlab/Simulink software and hardware-in-the-loop test both demonstrate that the proposed control strategy for mode transition can not only coordinate the torque among different power sources and clutch while minimizing vehicle longitudinal jerk, but also provide strong robustness to model uncertainties and external disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove a complexity dichotomy theorem for the six-vertex model. For every setting of the parameters of the model, we prove that computing the partition function is either solvable in polynomial time or #P-hard. The dichotomy criterion is explicit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of microbial communities during the electrokinetic treatment of antibiotic-polluted soil (EKA) was investigated with chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC) and tetracycline (TC) as template antibiotics. The total population of soil microorganisms was less affected during the electrokinetic process, while living anti-CTC, anti-OTC, anti-TC and anti-MIX bacteria were inactivated by 10.48%, 31.37%, 34.76%, and 22.08%, respectively, during the 7-day treatment compared with antibiotic-polluted soil without an electric field (NOE). Accordingly, samples with NOE treatment showed a higher Shannon index than those with EKA treatment, indicating a reduction of the microbial community diversity after electrokinetic processes. The major taxonomic phyla found in the samples of EKA and NOE treatment were Proteobacteria , Bacteroidetes , Firmicutes and Actinobacteria . And the distribution of Actinobacteria , Cyanobacteria , and Chloroflexi was greatly decreased compared with blank soil. In the phylum Proteobacteria , the abundance of Alphaproteobacteria was greatly reduced in the soils supplemented with antibiotics (from 13.40% in blank soil to 6.43–10.16% after treatment); while Betaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria showed a different trend with their abundance increased compared to blank soil, and Gammaproteobacteria remained unchanged for all treatments (2.36–2.78%). The varied trends for different classes indicated that the major bacterial groups changed with the treatments due to their different adaptability to the antibiotics as well as to the electric field. Sul I being an exception, the reduction ratio of the observed antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) including tet C, tet G, tet W, tet M, intI 1, and sul II in the 0–2 cm soil sampled with EKA versus NOE treatment reached 55.17%, 3.59%, 99.26%, 89.51%, 30.40%, and 27.92%, respectively. Finally, correlation analysis was conducted between antibiotic-resistant bacteria, ARGs and taxonomic bacterial classes. It was found that sul II was the most representative of many different bacteria among the seven ARGs studied. This is the first report on the changes in microbial communities before and after EKA, and the present results demonstrated that the application of EKA is a useful and effective approach to suppressing both antibiotic resistant microorganisms and ARGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioresistance (inherent or acquired) remains a major obstacle affecting the clinical outcome of radiotherapy for laryngeal carcinoma. Results from our laboratory and other groups suggest that aberrant glycosylation contributes to cancer acquired radioresistance. However, the role of glycosylation in inherent radioresistance of laryngeal carcinoma has not been fully uncovered. In this study, we investigated the glycan profiling of the inherent radioresistant (Hep-2max) and radiosensitive (Hep-2 min) cell lines using lectin microarray analysis. The results revealed that the radioresistant cell line Hep-2max presented higher core 1-type O-glycans than the sensitive one. Further analysis of the O-glycan regulation by benzyl-α-GalNAc application in Hep-2max cells showed partial inhibition of the O-glycan biosynthesis and increased radiosensitivity. In addition, core 1 β1, 3-galactosyltransferase (C1GALT1) overexpression in Hep-2 min cells enhanced cell migration, invasion, and radioresistance. Conversely, knockdown of C1GALT1 in Hep-2max cells was able to suppress these malignant phenotypes. Moreover, mechanistic investigations showed that C1GALT1 modified the O-glycans on integrin β1 and regulated its activity. The glycosylation-mediated radioresistance was further inhibited by anti-integrin β1 blocking antibody. Importantly, we also observed that core 1-type O-glycans expression was correlated with advanced tumor stage, metastasis, and poor survival of laryngeal carcinoma patients. These findings suggest that altered O-glycosylation can lead to the inherent radioresistance and progression, and therefore may be important for enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy in laryngeal carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kidney is an organ that plays a major role in the excretion of numerous compounds such as drugs and chemicals. However, a great number of pharmacological molecules are nephrotoxic, affecting the efficiency of the treatment and increasing morbidity or mortality. Focusing on glomerular filtration, we propose in this study a simple and reproducible in vitro human model that is able to bring to light a functional podocyte injury, correlated with morphologic/phenotypic changes after drug exposure. This model was used for the evaluation of paracellular permeability of FITC-dextran molecules as well as FITC-BSA after different treatments. Puromycin aminonucleoside and adriamycin, compounds known to induce proteinuria in vivo and that serve here as positive nephrotoxic drug controls, were able to induce an important increase in fluorescent probe passage through the cell monolayer. Different molecules were then evaluated for their potential effect on podocyte filtration. Our results demonstrated that a drug effect could be time dependent, stable or scalable and relatively specific. Immunofluorescence studies indicated that these functional perturbations were due to cytoskeletal perturbations, monolayer disassembly or could be correlated with a decrease in nephrin expression and/or ZO-1 relocation. Taken together, our results demonstrated that this in vitro human model represents an interesting tool for the screening of the renal toxicity of drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that SJL mice are susceptible to Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV)-induced demyelinating disease while C57BL6 (B6) and B10 mice are resistant, and H-2 s on a B10 background (B10.S) contributes modestly to susceptibility. A recent study linked two IRF3 non-conservative mutations in SJL compared to B10.S mice to resistance to TMEV infection of SJL peritoneal-derived macrophages, an observation of practical interest in light of the central role of IRF3 transcription factor in the type I interferon (IFN) response. However, we did not find these non-conservative mutations among SJL, B10.S, B6 and B10 mice in the IRF3 amino acid sequence, and show SJL bone marrow-derived macrophages infected with TMEV exhibit increased virus RNA replication and infectious virus yields as well as greater IL-6 production than C57Bl strain (including B10.S) cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robot joint torque estimation using input and output position measurements is a promising technique, but the result may be affected by the load variation of the joint. In this paper, a torque estimation method with adaptive robustness and optimality adjustment according to load variation is proposed for robot joint with harmonic drive transmission. Based on a harmonic drive model and a redundant adaptive robust Kalman filter (RARKF), the proposed approach can adapt torque estimation filtering optimality and robustness to the load variation by self-tuning the filtering gain and self-switching the filtering mode between optimal and robust. The redundant factor of RARKF is designed as a function of the motor current for tolerating the modeling error and load-dependent filtering mode switching. The proposed joint torque estimation method has been experimentally studied in comparison with a commercial torque sensor and two representative filtering methods. The results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed torque estimation technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Alon–Tarsi number AT (G) of a graph G is the smallest k for which there is an orientation D of G with max indegree k − 1 such that the number of even and odd spanning Eulerian subgraphs contained in D are different. In this paper, we show that the Alon–Tarsi number of toroidal grids T m , n = C m □ C n equals 4 when m , n are both odd and 3 otherwise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of nanotechnology has aroused considerable attentions toward understanding the effects of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) on the propagation of antibiotic resistance. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2) is an extensively used ENM and poses potential risks associated with environmental exposure; nevertheless, the role of MoS 2 toward antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) transfer remains largely unknown. Herein, it was discovered that MoS 2 nanosheets accelerated the horizontal transfer of RP4 plasmid across Escherichia coli in a dose-dependent manner (0.5–10 mg/L), with the maximum transfer frequency 2.07-fold higher than that of the control. Integration of physiological, transcriptomics, and metabolomics analyses demonstrated that SOS response in bacteria was activated by MoS 2 due to the elevation of oxidative damage, accompanied by cell membrane permeabilization. MoS 2 promoted bacterial adhesion and intercellular contact via stimulating the secretion of extracellular polysaccharides. The ATP levels were maximally increased by 305.7 % upon exposure to MoS 2 , and the expression of plasmid transfer genes was up-regulated, contributing to the accelerated plasmid conjugation and increased ARG abundance in soil. Our findings highlight the roles of emerging ENMs (e.g., MoS 2) in ARGs dissemination, which is significant for the safe applications and risk management of ENMs under the development scenarios of nanotechnology. • MoS 2 nanosheets at 0.5–10 mg/L accelerated the horizontal transfer of ARGs in soil. • Bacterial SOS response and membrane permeabilization contributed to conjugation. • Nano-MoS 2 stimulated EPS secretion and cell adhesion, promoting plasmid transfer. • MoS 2 assisted ARGs propagation by up-regulating plasmid transfer genes and ATP. • The modulation effect of MoS 2 on the ARGs transfer in soil was firstly proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]