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Abstract The feasibility of growing algae in concentrated wastewater generated from sludge ozonation for simultaneous nutrients removal and biomass production was studied. The effects of bacteria addition into microalgae on nutrients removal, biomass yield and settleability, the growth rate of algae and concentrations of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and soluble microbial products (SMP) were investigated. The results showed that the growth rate of algae in algal-bacteria system (0.2182) was improved than in algae-only system (0.1852), while both of them are comparable with others reported previously. And the addition of bacteria enhanced COD, NH 4 +-N, TN and TP removal rate by 23.9 ± 3.3%, 27.7 ± 3.6%, 16.6 ± 1.8% and 14.9 ± 2.2%, respectively. And 32.8 ± 0.7% of the TN and 50.3 ± 1.8% of the TP were recycled from ozonated sludge-supernatant (OSS) being absorbed into algal-bacterial biomass. The algal-bacteria system also demonstrated advantages on biomass settleability and heavy metals removal. Finally, the mechanism involving matter exchange and algal-bacteria system on OSS treatment in this study were discussed through evaluation of nutrients, SMP and EPS contents, nitrogen and phosphorus balance. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • The OSS was feasible for simultaneous nutrients removal and biomass production. • The addition of bacteria promoted algal growth and settleability. • The addition of bacteria enhanced nutrients and heavy metals removal. • Nutrients recovery from sewage sludge to biomass were achieved. • 32.8 ± 0.7% of the TN and 50.3 ± 1.8% of the TP were recycled from OSS being absorbed into algal-bacterial biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spacecraft tracking-drive flexible systems (STFS) consist of drive mechanisms and flexible structures, including solar array and a variety of large-scale antennas. The electromechanical interaction inside drive mechanisms makes it quite complicated to directly analyze the dynamic characteristics of an STFS. In this paper, an indirect dynamic characteristic analysis method for operating-state STFS is presented. The proposed method utilizes the structure dynamics approximation of drive mechanisms that converts the electromechanical model of an STFS into a structure dynamic model with elastic boundary conditions. The structure dynamics approximation and the dynamic characteristic analysis method are validated by experimental and analytical results, respectively. The analysis results indicate that the gear transmission ratio and viscous friction coefficient are the primary factors in approximating boundary stiffness and damping. Dynamic characteristics of an STFS with a large gear transmission ratio are close to that of a flexible structure with a cantilever boundary. Otherwise, torsion-mode natural frequencies of the STFS become smaller and corresponding modal damping ratios become larger, as a result of the local stiffness and damping features of drive mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), about 20 faience beads from several cemeteries discovered since 1970 in China were studied chronologically and typologically. Faience beads excavated in China can be classified into two groups, chemically by composition, and by periods and provenance as: soda-enriched made somewhere on the route from Egypt to central China (11–10th century BCE); and potash-enriched made in China (middle Western Zhou to Eastern Zhou). According to the continuous matrix of inter particle glass (IP glass) and inner micro-structure, the difference between soda- and potash-enriched faience beads was identified, even though the IP glass was badly preserved. The faience beads with potash-enriched glaze and high copper content were in a better state of preservation than those with soda-enriched glaze because of their tight inner structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Parathelypteriside (PG), a stilbenoid compound, was extracted from Parathelypteris glanduligera (kze.) ching that exhibits antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of PG against the d-galactose (d-gal)-induced neurotoxicity in mice. It was found that long-term intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of PG (5 or 10mg/(kgday)) for two weeks significantly improved the behavioral performance of d-gal-treated mice in both Morris water maze test and step-down avoidance test. Biochemical examination revealed that PG reduced the increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), and attenuated the decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase in the hippocampus of d-gal-treated mice. Furthermore, the electrophysiological assay showed that PG significantly rescued the long-term potentiation (LTP) impairment in mice hippocampus, and western blotting analysis indicated that the effects of PG on LTP might be attributed to the activation of cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB). Together, these results suggested that the natural product PG represented a potential source of medicine for the treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Here we report a simple, biomolecular-friendly protocol for the fabrication of a hydroxyapatite nanowires array (HANWA) biosensor of spatial positioning, large surface area, and abundant adsorbing sites and its application to cyanide sensing. The fabrication of HANWA is performed by template-assisted electrodeposition. The well-aligned hydroxyapatite nanoarray is composed of vertical nanowires with a diameter of approximately 200nm and an average length of 1μm. The electrochemical biosensor for the determination of cyanide through its inhibitory effect on horseradish peroxidase (HRP) encapsulated by chitosan (CHIT) on the platform of HANWA is demonstrated. The current organic–inorganic hybrid nanostructure provides excellent enzyme–substrate contact with enzyme activity well maintained. The densely distributed HANWA with large surface area and abundant adsorbing sites can provide a favorable electrochemical interface for the construction of electrochemical biosensor. A sensitive detection limit of 0.6ngml−1 was obtained for cyanide. The proposed CHIT–HRP/HANWA biosensor has the advantages of spatial resolution, high sensitivity, rapid regeneration, and fast response associated with individual nanowires. It broadens the possible applications of chemosensors and biosensors, and it offers an alternative method for toxic substance determination. The new device holds great promise for environmental and food industrial monitoring of toxins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Transcription activator like effector nucleases (TALENs) is a promising approach to disrupt intended genomic loci. The assembly of highly effective TALENs is critical for successful genome editing. Recently we reported a convenient and robust platform to construct customized TALENs. The TALENs generated by this platform have been proven to be highly effective for gene disruption in Xenopus tropicalis and zebrafish as well as large genomic deletions in zebrafish. The one-time success rate of targeted gene disruption is about 90% for more than 100 genomic loci tested, with the mutation frequencies often reaching above 50%. Here we describe the validated protocol for TALEN assembly, methods for generating gene knockout animals in X. tropicalis and zebrafish, as well as the protocol for engineering large genomic deletions in zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study is based on the SEM-EDS and LA-ICP-AES analyses of a sample of twenty-nine Tang sancai sherds unearthed from the Liquanfang site, Xi''an city. The results indicate that ceramics with yellowish bodies are calcareous and those with red bodies were made of ferruginous clays. The use of calcareous clay in Tang sancai bodies is otherwise unknown in Chinese history, which suggests that the technique of Tang sancai making at this site might have been influenced by ceramic technology from the Near East or Central Asia. The paper therefore argues that the traditional approach of treating calcareous clay as the main characteristic of pottery made in the ancient Near East or Central Asia is not necessarily accurate. It is likely that some calcareous Tang sancai ceramics were made in the capital city of the Tang dynasty. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As the accumulation of waste tires continues to rise year by year, effectively managing and recycling these discarded materials has become an urgent global challenge. Among various potential solutions, pyrolysis stands out due to its superior environmental compatibility and remarkable efficiency in transforming waste tires into valuable products. Thus, it is considered the most potential method for disposing these tires. In this work, waste tire powder is pyrolyzed at 560 °C to yield pyrolysis carbon black, and meanwhile, the purification effects of base-acid solutions on pyrolysis carbon black are discussed. High-purity few-layer graphene flakes and carbon nanohorns are synthesized by a direct current arc plasma with H 2 and N 2 as buffer gases and high-purity pyrolysis carbon black as raw material. Under an H 2 atmosphere, hydrogen effectively terminates the suspended carbon bonds, preventing the formation of closed structures and facilitating the expansion of graphene sheets. During the preparation of carbon nanohorns, the nitrogen atoms rapidly bond with carbon atoms, forming essential C–N bonds. This nitrogen doping promotes the formation of carbon-based five-membered and seven-membered rings and makes the graphite lamellar change in the direction of towards negative curvature. Consequently, such change facilitates the formation of conical structures, ultimately yielding the coveted carbon nanohorns. This work not only provides an economical raw material for efficient large-scale synthesis of few-layer graphene and carbon nanohorns but also broadens the intrinsic worth of pyrolysis carbon black, which is beneficial to improving the recycling value of waste tires. • 99.6% purity of CBp from waste tire is achieved by using base-acid treatment. • High-purity FLG and CNHs are prepared from CBp by DC arc plasma. • FLG and CNHs prepared from CBp have good economic benefits. • H prevents growth of closed structure, facilitating growth of graphene. • N promotes growth of C5- and C7-membered rings, facilitating growth of CNHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Smalt is a ground blue pigment made of potassium glass whose color comes from a small amount of cobalt oxide added during its preparation. It was very frequently used during the 15th to 19th centuries in Europe, but has by contrast been rarely mentioned or studied by Chinese researchers, despite having been identified in recent years on many Chinese antiques. This paper discusses analytical results from a selection of twenty-one samples of smalt, including wall paintings, architectural polychromy, polychrome sculptures, cave murals and textile paintings, each of which has been subject to a combination of polarized light microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electronic microscopy. This paper discusses the smalt's identification, as well as its historical uses and trade. Highlights • Smalt was used in China mainly in 16th to 18th centuries AD. • European and Chinese sample's have the same cobalt sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]