Search

The current study describes the mechanical properties and translucency of 5 mol% yttria-partially stabilized zirconia (5Y-PSZ) prepared via stereolithography (SLA). A stable 5Y-PSZ ceramic paste with a maximum solid loading of 52 vol% is prepared for the SLA process, and the corresponding rheological model between viscosity and shear rate is analyzed. After sintering, all samples exhibited the same hardness and fracture toughness, approaching 12.65 GPa and 3.20 MPa m1/2, respectively. Also, the density and flexural strength reached their maximum values at 1550 °C, which were 5.95 g/cm3 and 685.6 MPa, respectively, while the contrast ratio (CR) reached its minimum value of 0.43 at 1500 °C. Moreover, failure origin and Weibull analysis are performed to evaluate the structural reliability of the ceramic components. It is observed that the yttrium content in large grains was higher than the small grains, indicating large grains consisted of the cubic phase. Herein, the stronger grain boundaries are caused by the higher segregation of yttrium at grain boundaries, altering fracture mode from the intergranular fracture to the mixed mode of trans - and intergranular fracture at 1550 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenyllactic acid (PLA) has been demonstrated to possess antibacterial activity and capacity to prolong food shelf life. However, studies on the performance of PLA in inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus and its effectiveness when applied to dairy products are largely lacking. Here, antibacterial activity (planktonic and biofilm states) of PLA against S. aureus CICC10145 (S. aureus _45) were investigated. The results showed that PLA inhibited growth of S. aureus _45 and formation of S. aureus _45 biofilm. Next, the antibacterial action target of PLA was uncovered from both physiological and phenotypic perspectives. The results showed that PLA decreased cell metabolic activity and cell viability, damaged cell membrane integrity, triggered leakage of intracellular contents (DNA, proteins, and ATP), and caused oxidative stress damage and morphological deformation of S. aureus _45. In practical application, the antibacterial activity of PLA against S. aureus _45 cells was further confirmed in skim milk and cheese as dairy food models, and the antibacterial effects can be adequately maintained during storage for 21 d, at least at 4°C. These findings suggested that PLA could be a potential candidate for controlling S. aureus outgrowth in dairy foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenyllactic acid (PLA) has been demonstrated to possess antibacterial activity and capacity to prolong food shelf life. However, studies on the performance of PLA in inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus and its effectiveness when applied to dairy products are largely lacking. Here, antibacterial activity (planktonic and biofilm states) of PLA against S. aureus CICC10145 (S. aureus _45) were investigated. The results showed that PLA inhibited growth of S. aureus _45 and formation of S. aureus _45 biofilm. Next, the antibacterial action target of PLA was uncovered from both physiological and phenotypic perspectives. The results showed that PLA decreased cell metabolic activity and cell viability, damaged cell membrane integrity, triggered leakage of intracellular contents (DNA, proteins, and ATP), and caused oxidative stress damage and morphological deformation of S. aureus _45. In practical application, the antibacterial activity of PLA against S. aureus _45 cells was further confirmed in skim milk and cheese as dairy food models, and the antibacterial effects can be adequately maintained during storage for 21 d, at least at 4°C. These findings suggested that PLA could be a potential candidate for controlling S. aureus outgrowth in dairy foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green roofs have emerged as a significant trend in urban architecture worldwide, offering numerous benefits, including enhanced energy performance, improved urban microclimate, and public health. This study proposes a holistic framework for assessing the green roofs' energy-saving potential at the city scale, achieved by scaling up building-scale energy simulations to city-scale energy demands. Firstly, massive building information is collected using Geometric Information System (GIS) technologies. Subsequently, prototype buildings are generated to accurately represent the geometric characteristics of buildings at the city scale. Building performance simulation is further conducted considering three types of plants on roofs. A case study in Xiamen, China, demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed framework to efficiently quantify the city-scale energy-saving potential of green roofs. By implementing green roofs in Xiamen, energy savings of 1.62–1.83% and peak load shaving of 1.10–1.63% can be achieved for the whole city. Overall, the proposed framework has the potential for widespread application in other cities with minor adjustments to accommodate variations in climate and building parameters. • Holistic framework for evaluating city-scale potential of green roofs. • Prototype buildings to capture various building characteristics at city scale. • GIS-informed scaling up of building-scale energy simulation toward city-scale. • Ophiopogon japonicus performing the best on city-scale green roofs in Xiamen. • Up to 1.83% energy saving and 1.63% peak load shaving by green roofs in Xiamen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twinning was regarded as an effective way to modify the precipitation in Mg alloys. Two procedures were designed to illustrate twinning-aging consequence on Mg 17 Al 12 phase evolution. The effect of multiple steps of twinning-precipitation on the morphology and density of the continuous precipitates inside the twins and the matrix were comprehensively analyzed through phase-orientation related observation. The results show the shape of precipitates in twins was similar to that in the matrix as the CPs mostly lay on the basal planes with an asymmetric-lozenges shape. The CPs were remarkably refined and its density became much higher inside twins. Moreover, the aspect ratio of the CP plates in twins was around 45% of that in the matrix, which means the CPs inside twins became more globular. The precipitation behavior of Mg 17 Al 12 phase inside double extension twins was different from the primary twin or the matrix. The Mg 17 Al 12 phases lay on both basal and prismatic planes can be observed in double twins of two-step precipitation. The growth behavior of pre-precipitates in twins is different from those in the matrix. The growth rate along its thickness became higher than that in the matrix, which is probably related to dislocation-assisted diffusion at the basal plane. • Morphology of CPs precipitated in the matrix, primary and double twins is different • Ratio of length and thickness of CPs in twins significantly decreased • CPs lay on basal and prismatic planes are prepared in one twin structure • Dimension of CPs precisely characterized by phase-orientation related observation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Synthesis and characterization of three new N,O-coordinated Al complexes. • Efficient application for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. • The electronic and steric effect of the methyl group on the polymerization of ε-CL. • The obtained PCLs with narrow M w / M n when the polymerization time within 25 min. The easy synthesis and characterization of three new N,O-coordination aluminum complexes (Al1 - Al3) bearing (Z)-N-(pyridin-2-yl)benzimidate ligand are presented, as well as their ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL). The three aluminum complexes were simply synthesized by single-step reactions of unsubstituted and substituted N-(pyridin-2-yl)benzamides (RC 5 H 4 N)NHCOC 6 H 5 (R = H, 1 ; R = 5-Me, 2 ; R = 6-Me, 3) with AlMe 3 ; The reactions involved the tautomerization of the original N-(pyridin-2-yl)amide ligands to (Z)-configurational N-(pyridin-2-yl)imidates which acts as N,O-bidentate ligands. Molecular structures of the three obtained aluminum complexes were determined by NMR spectroscopy, single-crystal X-Ray diffraction and elemental analysis. The aluminum complexes (Al1 - Al3) were found to catalyze the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone with moderate activities. The GPC test showed that the produced polycaprolactones with narrow molecular weight distributions (M w / M n < 1.14) when the polymerization time within 25 min. For the present system, the introduction of electron-donating methyl substituents at the pyridine ring of the ligand resulted in an apparent increase in catalytic activity. Particularly, among the three investigated aluminum complexes, Al3 showed the highest activity up to 99% conversion rate with [CL] 0 /[Al] 0 /[BnOH] 0 = 100/1/1 at 80°C for 25 min. The synthesis and characterization of three new aluminum complexes (Al1 - Al3) bearing N,O-bidentate (Z)-N-(pyridin-2-yl)benzimidate ligand are presented, as well as their electronic and steric effect on the polymerization of ε-CL. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) participates in the regulation of gastrointestinal (GI) motility under normal conditions and might be involved in the regulation of GI dysmotility in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). CaSR antagonist-NPS-2143 was applied in in vivo and ex vivo experiments to study the effect and underlying mechanisms of CaSR inhibition on GI dysmotility in the MPTP-induced PD mouse model. Oral intake of NPS-2143 promoted GI motility in PD mice as shown by the increased gastric emptying rate and shortened whole gut transit time together with improved weight and water content in the feces of PD mice, and the lack of influence on normal mice. Meanwhile, the number of cholinergic neurons, the proportion of serotonergic neurons, as well as the levels of acetylcholine and serotonin increased, but the numbers of nitrergic and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons, and the levels of nitric oxide synthase and dopamine decreased in the myenteric plexus in the gastric antrum and colon of PD mice in response to NPS-2143 treatment. Furthermore, the numbers of c-fos positive neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and cholinergic neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) increased in NPS-2143 treated PD mice, suggesting the involvement of both the enteric (ENS) and central (CNS) nervous systems. However, ex vivo results showed that NPS-2143 directly inhibited the contractility of antral and colonic strips in PD mice via a non-ENS mediated mechanism. Further studies revealed that NPS-2143 directly inhibited the voltage gated Ca2+ channels, which might, at least in part, explain its direct inhibitory effects on the GI muscle strips. CaSR inhibition by its antagonist ameliorated GI dysmotility in PD mice via coordinated neuronal regulation by both ENS and CNS in vivo , although the direct effects of CaSR inhibition on GI muscle strips were suppressive. [Display omitted] • Oral intake of NPS-2143 promoted gastrointestinal motility. • ENS and CNS are involved in the effects of NPS-2143 in vivo. • Direct effects of NPS-2143 on gastrointestinal strips is suppressive via VGCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus and its biofilm have emerged as a significant threat to the safety of dairy products. In recent years, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) bacteriocins have been widely acknowledged as the potential natural antibacterial substance in food biopreservation due to their excellent antibacterial effects. However, few LAB bacteriocins with antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against S. aureus have been reported in dairy products. In the present study, a novel bacteriocin LSX01 of Lactobacillus paracasei LS-6 isolated from a traditional fermented yogurt produced in Yunnan, China, was purified and characterized extensively. The LSX01 possessed a molecular weight of 967.49 Da and an AA sequence of LDQAGISYT. The minimum inhibitory concentration of LSX01 against S. aureus_ 45 was 16.90 μg/mL, which was close to or lower than the previously reported bacteriocins. The LSX01 exhibited an extensive antimicrobial spectrum against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, LSX01 exhibited excellent tolerance to heat and acid-base treatments, and sensitivity to the proteolytic enzymes, such as pepsin and proteinase K. Furthermore, the treatment of S. aureus_ 45 planktonic cells with LSX01 significantly reduced their metabolic activity and disrupted the cell membrane integrity. Scan electron microscopy results demonstrated that LSX01 induced cytoplasmic content leakage and cell deformation. Additionally, biofilm formation of S. aureus_ 45 was also significantly inhibited by LSX01. Overall, the results suggested that the novel LAB bacteriocin LSX01 possessed antibacterial activity and antibiofilm activity against S. aureus and, hence, could have potential for improving safety of dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the significant challenges faced by distribution system operators (DSOs) in competitive electricity markets due to uncertainties arising from electricity markets, electric vehicles (EVs), and conventional loads. To tackle these challenges, this paper proposes a pseudo-local reserve market between the DSO and EVs, which enables the DSO to integrate EV flexibility into the overall market framework while compensating for deviations in the conventional load across the wholesale electricity market. Furthermore, a two-stage framework is developed to facilitate the participation of EVs in electricity markets. In the first stage, the reserve capacity of EVs is integrated into the decision-making process for day-ahead bidding, taking into account uncertainties of the load and electricity. In the second stage, the day-ahead results are coordinated to enable the efficient dispatch of EVs for real-time market participation. To assess the efficacy of the proposed framework, a case study is conducted within a 31-node distribution system situated on a university campus located in Guangdong, China. This paper investigates the economic impact of load deviation constraints on EV reserves, revealing a penalty reduction of 3100 CNY for a daily reservation of 1000 EVs and a net profit increase of 1300 CNY for DSOs utilizing reserves. It further introduces a method for quantifying reserve capacity, enhancing DSO decision-making accuracy. • A pseudo-local reserve market is established considering EV's reserve potential. • Optimal bidding strategy for DSO in China's electricity markets is constructed. • A framework for EV coordinated V2G operation is developed. • The proposed method can limit load deviation cost for more profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concept drift is a prevalent phenomenon in data streams that necessitates detection and in-depth understanding, as it signifies that the statistical properties of a target variable, which the model aims to predict, change over time in unforeseen ways. Existing detection methods predominantly aim to identify the drift start time, which lack comprehensive understanding of data streams, leading to a loss of drift information. In this paper, we present a novel Quadruple-based Approach for Understanding Concept Drift in Data Streams (QuadCDD) framework that not only detects and predicts the concept drift start point but also offers a more detailed analysis of concept drift through the use of quadruples, encompassing drift start, drift end, drift severity, and drift type. Our framework employs quadruples to enable informed decision-making and adopt appropriate actions to handle various concept drifts, effectively maintaining high and stable performance in data streams with concept drift. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of our QuadCDD framework in accurately detecting and understanding concept drifts, as well as in preserving the stability and performance of models in the presence of these drifts. • Introduced a novel framework, QuadCDD, for concept drift Understanding. • The approach enables effective handling of various concept drifts. • Maintains high performance in data streams with drift. • Fosters a detailed understanding of concept drift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete-filled double skin steel tubular columns with large hollow ratios (LHR-CFDST) have been commonly researched in the past few years. The excellent performance of this structure renders it promising as a novel form of wind turbine tower. Increasing the diameter-to-thickness ratio is one efficient way to reduce steel consumption as the size of this engineering structure continues to expand. There is a paucity of research on thin-walled LHR-CFDST. Meanwhile, these structures may be susceptible to local buckling without stiffening measures. Furthermore, the size effect of this type of structure is more complicated. This paper reports the first experimental investigation on super-sized thin-walled LHR-CFDST columns under combined compression-torsion-shear-bending loads. Two LHR-CFDST columns with varying stud spacings are discussed. Investigations are conducted into failure modes, local buckling behaviors, load-strain responses, and a few popular mechanical indices. According to the test results, the specimen with smaller stud spacing has an 8.1% greater ultimate bearing capacity. It is assumed that a more intensive stud arrangement can delay the onset of local buckling, thereby increasing the peak load. Besides, the arrangement of the studs leads to an obvious effect of section confinement, thus improving the overall performance of the specimens. The failure modes and load-displacement relationships simulated by the FE models agree well with the experimental results. Then, a modified method for predicting the ultimate strength of LHR-CFDST based on the previously summarized formulae for CFST under compression-bending-shear-torsion is proposed and utilized for the evaluation of two specimens in this research. Since the tested value of the specimen with narrower stud spacing is higher by 5.6% than the predicted value, it can be concluded that the large-scale thin-walled LHR-CFDST may be evaluated using this method, complemented by appropriate stiffened measures. • Two thin-walled CFDST columns were tested subjected to combined loads. • The stiffened studs greatly postpone the appearance of local buckling. • The studs produces a clear impact of section confinement, which enhances the specimen's overall performance. • This experiment utilizes a novel mutual verification model. • A modified method for CFDST under combined loads is proposed and utilized for the evaluation of two specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete (RUHPC)-encased concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns in composite construction have exceptional fire and corrosion resistance, superior load-bearing capacity, and enhanced ductility compared to standalone RUHPC and CFST columns. However, research on their behavior is limited. This paper presents a 3D finite element (FE) simulation model for accurately predicting the behavior of axially loaded RUHPC-encased CFST short columns. The model accounts for the effects of the concrete confinement provided by the steel reinforcement and circular steel tube. The existing experimental data is used to validate the FE model. The validated model is then utilized to investigate the performance of RUHPC-encased CFST columns with various geometric and material properties. The range analysis technique is applied to an orthogonal design to assess the relative significance of the factors affecting the structural behavior. The findings reveal that RUHPC-encased CFST columns have high ultimate strength and ductility. The range analysis identifies the importance order of parameters as: the compressive strength of UHPC, the steel fiber concentration, tube diameter, stirrup spacing, tube thickness, and confined concrete's compressive strength. Lastly, a simplified design model is developed to estimate the compressive capacity of RUHPC-encased CFST stub columns, providing accurate results that are verified by tests and numerical analysis. • Finite-element simulation model for UHPC-encased CFST stub columns is developed. • The behavior of UHPC-encased CFST stub columns is parametrically studied. • A range analysis is carried out to specify the importance of design key factors. • The proposed finite-element simulation and design models provide accurate predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-situ SiC nanowires were prepared by sol-gel method, followed by the fabrication of C/C-ZrC composites using low-temperature reaction melt infiltration using Zr-Cu alloy. Thermal physical test results verify that the growth of in-situ SiC nanowires can improve thermal conductivity and minimize interlayer thermal expansion of composites. Addition of SiC nanowires can effectively reduce surface temperature and ablation rates. Thermodynamic calculations revealed the ablative process in the Zr, Si and Cu ternary system, yielding SiO 2 and ZrO 2 as oxidation products. The presence of Si promotes the formation of ZrO 2 oxide layer, while Cu evaporates directly in center region. • C/C-UHTCs prepared by mixing method using Zr-Cu alloy can reduce reaction temperature and maintain the material properties. • The introduction of SiC nw can substantially improve the thermophysical properties of composites prepared by RMI. • Through thermal calculation, ablation protection mechanism of doping Cu and in-situ SiC nw is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of SiC on microstructure and properties of plasma sprayed ZrB 2 –ZrC composite coating were investigated. Plasma sprayed ZrB 2 –ZrC and ZrB 2 –ZrC–SiC composite coatings were prepared and compared. The addition of SiC could improve the density of the ZrB 2 –ZrC–SiC coating that lead to better mechanical properties. The reason was that SiC improved the melting state of powder feedstocks during plasma spraying process and refined grains in ZrB 2 –ZrC–SiC composite coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposed work introduces a novel, lightweight feature fusion network model based on the attention mechanism to address the issues of high time consumption and poor effectiveness in wind turbine blade surface defect detection. A bidirectional feature fusion network enhances the YOLOX network. The model employs an attention mechanism module to learn channel and spatial feature information. A classification loss function with an attenuation factor is designed to tackle the unbalanced distribution of learning weights for multiple samples in the blade surface defect detection task. Additionally, to mitigate recognition loss caused by target occlusion or overlap, the Soft-NMS method is utilized to eliminate redundant detection boxes. Sample imbalance is addressed by creating new samples using a geometric transformation-based multi-sample fusion data enhancement method and unsupervised learning MFF-GAN image editing techniques. A feature fusion network comparison test, classification loss function comparison test, and attention mechanism module position ablation test were completed using the blade surface defect dataset. The results indicate that the blade surface defect detection model incorporating the attention mechanism can effectively identify five types of defects with an average detection accuracy of mAP-0.5, achieving approximately 95.03 % and a detection frame rate of about 54.56 frame·s−1. Compared with the YOLOX-s network, YOLOv7-tiny network, and YOLOv8-s network, this model can improve the recognition rate and shorten the detection time, achieving high precision and rapid identification and localization of blade surface defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A nonparametric trend testing method was proposed. • The statistical values of this method have asymptotic normality. • It tests not only overall but also internal trends in precipitation and temperature. Trend testing is essential for time sequence analysis. However, the existing trend testing methods mainly study the trends of the sequence as a whole, while there is a lack of feasible research tools for the internal trends of the sequence. Therefore, a non-parametric method was proposed to study the overall and internal trends of the sequence using the ideas of set pair, Cox-Stuart, Innovative Trend Analysis Methodology, and Mann-Kendall and applied to temperature and precipitation sequences. The applied study indicated that the overall and internal trends for global temperature were significantly increasing at the confidence level of α = 0.05. For precipitation, the trends (both overall and internal) of Laifeng and Leibo were increasing and decreasing, respectively, and some of the internal trends were significant (α = 0.05); however, the overall and internal trends of Pingbian and Sangzhi were not exactly the same, i.e., the trend of high (low) values in Pingbian (Sangzhi) was different from the other trends of the rest. In general, the method successfully tested not only the overall trends in temperature and precipitation, but also their internal (divided into low, middle, and high values) trends. These results agreed with the linear slope, Sen's slope, Mann-Kendall, and its improved. Therefore, the method can be used for trend analysis of the sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A multifunctional composite textile with a soft-rigid unified structure (SRUS) was fabricated in a simple way. • The SRUS textile achieved the highest grade of cut/puncture resistance as defined by the standard. • Particles increased stiffness of resin blocks, enhancing SRUS textiles' cut/puncture resistance. • Resin blocks' hard passivation and gaps' friction self-locking are the anti-puncture mechanisms of SRUS textiles. • The SRUS textile's anti-cutting mechanism is attributed to the reverse cutting of hard particles on the blade. This study presents a soft-rigid unified structure (SRUS) textile composed of an inorganic powder (IP) reinforced epoxy resin block (EIPB) array and a soft textile substrate via a pattern-controllable integrated molding method. The influence of IP content and alumina particle size on the cut and puncture resistance of the resulting SRUS textile was systematically investigated. Furthermore, the anti-puncture and anti-cutting mechanisms of the SRUS textile were comprehensively evaluated based on the analysis of damage morphology and process. The experimental results demonstrated a significant enhancement in the puncture and cut resistance of the SRUS textile upon the incorporation of IP. Moreover, the cut/puncture resistance of the SRUS textile increased with an increase in IP content and the size of Al 2 O 3 , and the optimal cut/puncture resistance was observed at 60 mesh-50 wt.%. Additionally, the anti-puncture mechanism of the SRUS textile was attributed to the presence of hard passivation at the EIPB, as well as friction self-locking at the gaps. The anti-cutting mechanism was ascribed to the reverse cutting action exerted by the hard particles on the blade, preventing further penetration. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms that contribute to its enhanced protective performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel cross-sectional design for concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns termed "concrete-filled double square steel tube" (CFDSST). The CFDSST columns incorporate an inner square steel tube positioned diagonally at 45° relative to the outer square steel tube, which serves as a stiffener for the outer tube. A three-dimensional finite element simulation model is presented to accurately predict the behavior of axially loaded CFDSST short columns. This model considers the influence of concrete confinement by the steel tubes. Experimental data are employed to validate the accuracy of the finite element model. The validated model is then utilized to assess the performance of the proposed columns, considering various geometric and material properties. The results highlight the substantial enhancement in structural performance achieved by the innovative CFDSST column configuration compared to conventional square CFST columns. The integration of the inner CFST components enhances both buckling resistance and the confinement mechanism of the column. This contributes to the increased load-bearing capacity, ductility, and residual strength of the columns. Notably, the steel tube thickness, the yield strength, and the concrete compressive strength greatly affect the performance of the column. Lastly, a simplified design model is formulated to predict the compressive capacity of the CFDSST stub columns, providing accurate outcomes validated by numerical analysis. • A new configuration of CFST columns is introduced. • Finite-element simulation model for CFDSST stub columns is developed. • The behavior of CFDSST stub columns is parametrically studied. • The proposed finite-element simulation and design models provide accurate predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hydrodynamics affect vivianite precipitation and agglomeration processes. • Stirring improved crystal growth over aeration by offering homogeneous mixing. • Higher shear rates in stirring systems yield larger crystals and improved settling. • Particle Imaging Velocimetry characterizes vivianite crystals in turbulent flows. • Hydrodynamic-vivianite correlations inform phosphorus recovery optimization. Hydrodynamic conditions have an essential influence on the precipitation and agglomeration processes of crystals. However, the influence of hydrodynamics under different operating conditions on vivianite crystallization is commonly ignored in the phosphorus recovery process. To this purpose, the effects of hydrodynamics on vivianite properties in stirring and aeration systems were investigated with the aid of particle image velocimetry (PIV). Hydrodynamic parameters of shear rate (G), flow velocity, Kolmogorov microscale (η), turbulent dissipation rate (ε), and turbulent kinetic energy (k) were calculated, and the generated vivianite properties were recorded. The analysis of flow field distribution showed that the mixing state under the stirring system was more homogeneous and formed a smaller hydraulic dead zone, which may be more favorable for the formation and growth of crystals. Compared with the aeration system at the same G , the stirring system has higher hydrodynamic parameters, producing stronger turbulent intensity and higher shear rate. The higher recovery efficiency, as well as larger crystal size in the stirring system, demonstrated that higher shear rates (95–309 s−1) increased the crystallization rate, ultimately improving the crystal size and settling performance. Significant relationships between hydrodynamic parameters and the harvested crystal size showed that the flow velocity, η , ε , and k were suitable hydrodynamic parameters for evaluating the growth of vivianite. This work is expected to provide the theoretical basis and technical support for the design and operation of vivianite recovery reactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the sintering mechanism and property of ZnO–V 2 O 5 –MnCO 3 –Nb 2 O 5 (ZnVMnNbO) varistor ceramic and their evolution by Ce–La dopant. The XRD, SEM, EBSD and TEM results show MnZn 2 Nb 2 O 8 has a similar effect as ZnV 2 O 4 and Zn 3 (VO 4) 2 on contributing to the formation of Vanadium (V)-rich liquid phase and promoting the sintering of ZnVMnNbO ceramic. Oppositely, ZnMn 2 O 4 particle phase can only postpone sintering by pinning the growth of ZnO grains. Adding Ce–La dopant leads to forming Ce(La)VO 4 intergranular particle phase that further hinders the sintering of the ceramic. This conclusion agrees with the result of the following kinetics study that shows the grain-growth exponent and apparent activation energy of ZnVMnNbO ceramic increasing from 2.39 and 186 KJ mol-1 to 2.95 and 263 KJ mol-1 with the addition of Ce–La dopant. Meanwhile, the electrical properties of the Ce–La doped ZnVMnNbO varistor ceramics are generally better than its Rare Earth (RE)-free counterparts. Sintering at 875 °C for 3 h can increase the nonlinear coefficient of Ce–La doped ZnVMnNbO varistor ceramic to its highest value of 48.4, therefore, is proposed as the optimum fabricating procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modified cellulose acetate, modified chitosan, titanium dioxide membrane (MCA-MCS-TiO 2) was prepared for oil-water emulsion separation and Cu(II) adsorption. This membrane shows excellent hydrophilicity and underwater oleophobicity. After being modified, the water contact angles of the membranes attain 13.7°, and the underwater oil contact angles reach 157.24°. The membrane exhibits high oil-water separation efficiency (99.4%) for cyclohexane, at the same time, the adsorption amount of Cu(II) on the membrane was measured. The variables include the ratio of modified cellulose to modified chitosan, the initial concentration of Cu(II), and the pH of Cu(II) solution. When pH = 7, the adsorption capacity of the membrane to Cu(II) reaches 220.67 mg g−1. When the concentration of Cu(II) solution is 1000 mg L−1, the adsorption efficiency is as high as 97.0%. Image 1 • MCS-MCA-TiO 2 membrane is an efficient oil-water emulsion separation material and Cu (II) adsorbent. • The separation efficiency of oil-water emulsion reaches a maximum of 99.4%. • Maximum adsorption capacity of MCS-MCA-TiO 2 membrane for Cu (II) is 220.67 mg. g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Simultaneous oil-in-water emulsion separation and heavy metals/dyes adsorption. • Novel organic-inorganic hybrid gel coatings with mesoporous structure. • Fast oil/water separation and highly efficient water-soluble contaminants removal. • Excellent reusability, anti-fouling property and considerable chemical stability. A novel approach for simultaneously removing oil droplets and water-soluble contaminants from stabilized oil/water emulsion has been developed. Herein, the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/SiO 2 hybrid coatings were fabricated via "one-step" hydrolysis and co-condensation, which possesses unique mesoporous structures (pore diameter ≈ 9.31 nm) and abundant amino groups. Hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes adhered firmly by the hybrid coatings, are endowed with superhydrophilicity/underwater superoleophobicity, excellent antifouling performance, ultrahigh water flux (6343.2 L m−2 h−1 bar−1), highly efficient oil-in-water emulsion separating capability (filtrate flux = 544.26 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) and gravity-driven separation capability. Moreover, copper ion (Cu2+) and methyl blue (MB) can be effectively absorbed from water phase, with considerable adsorption capacities (Q c) of 52.8 mg/g and 41.88 mg/g, respectively. After 5 reusing cycles, the relative removal efficiencies (RE) are still higher than 86.89% and 99.76%, respectively. Moreover, with the outstanding reusability and considerable chemical durability, the as-prepared membranes are promising candidate in practical application for wastewater treatment, bridging the gap between contaminants adsorption and oil/water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-reflective (AR) films have been widely investigated due to their various applications in optoelectronic devices. Among all the investigation, the manufacturing method is the most popular research field which directly determines the performance of anti-reflective films. Herein, Na 2 HPO 4 and AlCl 3 mixed neutral solution were used to etch the surface of K9 glass matrix to obtain the AR structure. The morphology of SEM images indicated that subwavelength structure (SWS) was formed on the glass surface via precisely controlling the solution concentration, treatment time and temperature. Owing to the porous structure, the refractive index mutation of the interface between air and glassss can be effectively weakened. Therefore, the integral transmittance, covering the whole visible light (VIS) to near-infrared (NIR) wavelength (300–2500 nm), of glass matrix was increased remarkably to 95.77%, much higher than 87.72% of blank glass, achieving the effect of ultra-wideband anti-reflection. Particularly, the transmittance at 520 nm and 1990 nm can even reach to 99.14% and 97.86%, respectively. According to the composite analysis and reaction process, Al3+ ions act as both the regulator of the solution pH and part of the new-formed glass skeleton, resulting in the more uniform and regular SWS on the glass surface. Moreover, in virtue of -OH in silanol (Si-OH) on the expanded glass surface attracting more H 2 O molecules or additional silylation modification on glass surface repulsing H 2 O molecules, the surface characteristics of AR glass with SWS films can be easily turned between hydrophilic and hydrophobic in order to meet the requirements of various application environments. These ultra-wideband AR glasses with controllable hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties are expected to be applied in many optoelectronic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An easy-to-implement hybrid microgrid reconstruction scheme is proposed for old residential communities. • The existing transformers and power lines could be reused in the proposed hybrid microgrid architecture. • A significant maximum 297% of EV penetration could be obtained with the proposed architecture and operation strategy. • Real-time voltage regulation, desirable operation efficiency, and improved load ratio are to be implemented. The widespread popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) imposes great challenges for distribution grids, such as feeder congestion, voltage deviation, and so forth. Although building new electrical facilities is feasible to release more capacity for EV integration, this is not a wise scheme to be applied in old residential communities owing to huge costs and limited spaces. In light of this, the paper proposes an easy-to-implement and cost-effective hybrid AC/DC microgrid reconstruction scheme for low-voltage distribution grids of old residential communities. The advanced power electronic device called smart interlinking unit (SIU) is incorporated in prior power distribution rooms of residential communities, featuring integrated structure, dedicated interfaces, and flexible control capability. The SIU-based architecture reuses existing redundant transformers and power lines to form AC/DC subgrids. An outstanding transfer capacity improvement and power loss reduction via the DC renovation are quantified. Considering the varied efficiency characteristics of multiple power converters and transformers, a hierarchical coordinated operation strategy is proposed for this architecture to realize the overall energy-saving operation. The optimal operation point tracking and AC/DC voltage regulation are included in the strategy design. Regarding the target scenario in the case study, the adopted reconstruction scheme would achieve a significant 297% of the maximum EV penetration. The real-time voltage regulation for AC and DC feeders is also realized to avoid possible voltage violations. Additionally, the proposed architecture and operation strategy could obtain about 10% of load ratio improvement and 1.5% of average efficiency promotion compared to the traditional AC architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Based on the principles of SPEI, we develop a GDAI. • The relationship between GDAI and AI is closer. • The correlation between GDAI and SPEI is also better. Climate change has increased the risk of drought in both arid and non-arid regions of the globe. Therefore, in order to monitor and evaluate global drought and aridity, based on the principle of standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), this paper selected precipitation and potential evapotranspiration data and used a frequency calculation method to develop a multi-scale global drought aridity index (GDAI) that concurrently considers spatial and temporal variation characteristics: the spatiotemporal standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index. The index was compared with the aridity index (AI) and SPEI. The results showed that the correlation coefficients between GDAI and AI were greater than 0.8 in most areas, and the relationship was closer and could reveal the global aridity and wetness zoning. In addition, the correlation between GDAI and SPEI was also better, which could capture the temporal change characteristics of drought. Moreover, this study also compared the grades of GDAI and SPEI with the actual drought grades in Yunnan from September 2009 to August 2010, and found that GDAI was better than SPEI, and GDAI was the most accurately evaluated at the 3 month time scale, with an accuracy rate of 86.11%. Therefore, this index is more helpful for the assessment and monitoring of global drought and aridity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An asymmetric integrated structure is provided to solve the problem of PA coating on the nanofiber membrane support. • Photothermal annealing technology is first applied in the construction of asymmetric integrated nanofiber support. • The prepared TFC-FO membranes have excellent structural stability and water permeability. The high surface roughness and large pore size of electrospun nanofibers (ESNF) make it impossible to form good polyamide (PA) layers through interfacial polymerization. Therefore, ESNF cannot be directly used as the supporting layer of nanofiber-supported thin film composite forward osmosis (NTFC-FO) membrane. However, its advantages of high porosity and large pore size are required for forward osmosis (FO) process. In this work, for the first time, an asymmetric integrated ESNF is constructed by introducing photothermal materials PANI into the supporting layer and using in situ photothermal annealing to controllably reduce the surface roughness and pore size of the support membrane, which not only meets the requirements of interface polymerization to form a good PA layer, but also maintains the high porosity, large pore size and structural stability of the ESNF. With this strategy, the FO membrane with highly selective PA layer and low membrane structural parameter (S) were obtained. The results shows that NTFC-FO membrane shows high water flux of 40.2 L·m−2·h−1 and low reverse salt flux of 4.9 g·m−2·h−1, and specific salt flux of J s /J w is only 0.12 with deionized water and 1.0 M NaCl solution as the feed solution and draw solution, respectively, and the FO membrane also exhibit excellent rejection to dye wastewater. It can be considered that the asymmetric integrated ESNF supporting layer constructed by the photothermal annealing strategy provides a simple and feasible method for the preparation of high-performance NTFC-FO membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The porous defective MIL-88B(Fe) with abundant oxygen vacancies and Fe-N sites was fabricated to accomplish nearly zero peroxydisulfate (PDS) consumption for persistent bisphenol A (BPA) degradation via electron-transfer pathway (ETP). Interestingly, the generated sulfates during ETP were oxidized to yield the confined sulfate radicals and to accomplish the peroxydisulfate regeneration in the fine-tuned MIL-88B(Fe), which was verified by series experiments and DFT calculations. Further studies suggested that the optimal De-MIL-88B(Fe)-1.25 catalyst achieved the persistent nonradical reactions for BPA decomposition under visible light irradiation with both low input and low consumption of PDS. It was the first case to achieve nearly zero PDS consumption for emerging pollutants elimination, which provided new strategy to design and tune defective metal-organic frameworks for the purpose of reducing the stoichiometry between PDS and contaminants for nearly zero PDS consumption. [Display omitted] • The defective MIL-88B(Fe) with rich oxygen vacancies and Fe-N sites was fabricated. • The structure was affirmed by various techniques like XAS and DFT calculations. • The relationships between structure and catalytic activity were confirmed by QSARs. • De-MIL-88B(Fe)-1.25 achieved persistent ETP by PDS regeneration for BPA removal. • The PDS regeneration mechanism was verified by experiments and DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The class II cytokine receptor family members are receptors of class 2 helical cytokines in mammals, and are named cytokine receptor family B (CRFB) in fish. In zebrafish, sixteen members, including CRFB1, CRFB2 and CRFB4-17 were reported. With the availability of genome sequence, a total of nineteen CRFBs was identified in the blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala), including CRFB1, CRFB2, CRFB4-17 with the presence of three CRFB9 isoforms, and two CRFB14 isoforms. These CRFB molecules contain well conserved features, such as fibronectin type III (FNIII) domain, transmembrane and intracellular domains as other class II cytokine receptors, and are phylogenetically grouped into thirteen clades with their homologues from other species of fish. The CRFB genes were constitutively expressed in organs/tissues examined in the fish. The finding of more CRFB members in the bream may provide clues to understand possible receptor-ligand interaction and their diversity from an evolutionary point of view. • Sixteen CRFBs, CRFB1, CRFB2, CRFB4-17 were identified in blunt snout bream. • Three CRFB9, i.e. CRFB9a, b, c, and two CRFB14, CRFB14a, b were diversified. • These CRFB members are constitutively expressed in organs/tissues examined. • These CRFBs contain conserved features as their counterparts in other vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In boat navigation, especially in complex sea conditions, the detection performance of the tiny boat is related to the safety of boat sailing. However, due to the tiny boat occupying fewer pixels, the effective features of the tiny boat are difficult to obtain. Current tiny object detection methods focus primarily on dataset size matching, feature fusion, and label assignment, lack of attention to texture and detail information loss, and insufficient semantic utilization. Here, we propose a Triple-hierarchy Feature Enhancement (THFE) method to detect tiny boats. The core idea behind THFE is to enhance the semantic information from different layers to supplement the effective features of tiny boats. It consists of three spaces: the super-resolution enhancement space, the semantic enhancement space, and the hierarchical enhancement space. In THFE, sub-pixel convolution, sparse self-attention mechanism, channel attention mechanism, and spatial attention mechanism are adopted to hierarchically enhance each layer's high-level and low-level semantic features. Finally, each layer's high-level and low-level semantic features are adaptively fused so that each feature map contains richer high-level and low-level semantic information. Experiments show that our proposed THFE method achieves impressive gains in detection performance. For example, in terms of A P 50 t i n y , our method outperforms state-of-the-art methods by 1. 7 % on the TinyBoats dataset, 3. 1 % on the TinyPersons Dataset and 3. 9 % on the Tiny CityPersons Dataset. To further study the detection of tiny boats, we introduce a tiny boat dataset that will be publicly accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Experimental investigation was conducted on shear behavior of SSG in PC decks. • The interface shear force -slip non-linear relations of the specimens were obtained. • The effect of different parameters on behavior of specimens was investigated. • The failure modes, ductility, bearing capacity of test specimens were analyzed. • The existing design formulas may be utilized to calculate shear capacity of SSG. Abstract In order to study the shear behavior of a group of shear studs placed on a composite beam, a total of 16 pushout tests were conducted, including 4 specimens with cast-in-place (CIP) concrete decks and 12 specimens with precast concrete (PC) decks. The primary parameters considered include reserved hole shape, loading path, and deck casting method. Through the experiment, the interface shear force-slip curves and the failure modes of shear stud groups (SSGs) in both CIP and PC decks under monotonic and repetitive loads were obtained. The results show that the shear behavior of the SSGs in square reserved holes is more favorable than that in circular reserved holes, the shear strength of SSGs in PC decks is smaller than that in CIP decks under monotonic loads. The general failure modes for a SSG are the cutoff of stud shanks and the damage of root welds at studs. While the shear strength of a SSGs in PC decks is similar to that in CIP decks under repetitive loads, ensuring the ductile failure mode of stud fracture and the shear capacity not smaller than that stipulated in the design code for reinforced concrete (RC) structures, even without using any rebar in a reserved hole. The peak interface shear force and the trend of interface shear force-slip curves under repetitive loads are also similar to that under monotonic loads, although the interface slip corresponding to peak force under monotonic loads is smaller than that under repetitive loads. The study results indicate that the SSG in a PC deck can be fully utilized and the existing design formulas almost may be utilized to calculate shear capacity of shear stud groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Kerosene flame stabilization in a Mach 2.0 model combustor was studied experimentally by using laser-induced fluorescence and high-speed photography. The interferential fluorescence in OH-PLIF was eliminated by the comparison with kerosene-PLIF. The reaction layers of flame were marked by the sharp gradient regions of fluorescence intensity in OH-PLIF. The results show that the flame is stabilized in the cavity at a lower equivalence ratio. As the equivalence ratio is increased, flame is stabilized in the cavity shear layer and spreads into the mainstream. The oscillations of the flame are quantified and correlated with the pressure fluctuations of the pseudoshock. Low-frequency oscillations are found to be amplified in the upstream propagation. As the inlet stagnation temperature rises, ram-scram transition occurs at a higher equivalence ratio. Kerosene flame is always stabilized in the cavity region without propagating upstream within the range of current inlet stagnation temperature (885–1285 K). Highlights • The PLIF results of kerosene combustion are presented. • The interferential PAH fluorescence in OH-PLIF is eliminated. • The reaction zones of different equivalence ratios are compared. • The flowfield oscillation behaviors are analyzed. • The influence of inlet stagnation temperature is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A home-made apparatus was developed to measure the thermal characteristics of the PCM-contained wallboard. • The "analogous step method" was proposed to determine the enthalpy of the bulk PCM in gypsum. • Three methods of obtaining H(t) curves were compared and analyzed. Abstract Phase change materials (PCM) as a smart, feasible latent heat storage material has been utilized to reduce the energy demand and improve the thermal comfort of the buildings when incorporated into the building materials. Conventionally, the thermal behavior of the PCM mixed with the solid matrix (mortar or gypsum) is different with the bulk PCM. In this study, we designed an experimental apparatus to characterize the thermal performance of PCMs when they were utilized in their implementation state. Firstly, we investigated the effective thermal conductivity (λ) and the apparent specific heat (C p) of the PCM-contained wallboard and the common gypsum wallboard, which were dependent on the temperature variation. Dynamic method was used to determine the phase change temperature, and the phase change process of the PCMs-wallboard was studied. Then, an "analogous step method" was proposed to determine the H(t) curves of the PCMs-wallboard, and the results were compared with the dynamic method. Finally, three methods of obtaining H(t) curves were compared and analyzed. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that when adopting the dynamic method appropriate heating rate (according to real application scenario) is necessary. When selecting the analogous step method, reducing the temperature interval can increase the accuracy of the H(t) even though it takes a lot of time. Anyway, both ways are more suitable for real wallboard test, comparing with the theoretical calculation method. The goal of our work is to investigate an appropriate method to evaluate the conductivities, apparent heat capacities, H(t) curves, and the phase change temperature of PCM-contained wallboards in their real application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Partial composite beams were fabricated and tested statically. • The use of precast concrete (PC) deck enhances the moment capacity and stiffness of the composite beam. • The ductility of steel block shear connector is similar to the shear stud group. • The composite beam with PC deck makes good use of the current design theory and standard. Abstract This study aims to investigate the static behavior of a simply-supported assembled monolithic steel-concrete composite beam (SCCB). A total of ten composite beams were tested considering the parameters of shear connection degree, reserved hole shape, concrete deck width, and deck casting method. Based on the test results, failure mode, stiffness, ductility, and moment capacity were obtained and are discussed in this paper. Compared to the conventional SCCBs with wide flange beams and headed shear connectors, the composite beam considered in this study has favorable flexural performance, while reducing the excessive cost and potential construction challenge due to the use of precast concrete (PC) deck. The flexural behavior of the new assembled monolithic SCCBs was investigated through the one-point bending tests on the ten specimens. The study results indicate that: (1) The assembled monolithic SCCB with shear stud group (SSG) or steel block shear connector (SBSC) has higher moment capacity and ductility, with the ductility factor ranging from 3.4 to 6.8; (2) the higher the degree of shear connection, the greater the moment capacity; (3) the SBSC has higher moment capacity and stiffness and is suggested for practical use for better welding quality and convenient construction; (4) the nonlinear calculation formula specified in GB50017-2017 (Code for Design of Steel Structures) predicts more accurate ultimate moment strength for the composite beams with partial shear connection than Eurocode 4, in comparison with the experimental results; (5) the SCCB with PC deck shows respective 50% and 174% higher elastic stiffness when using SSG and SBSC, compared to the SCCB with cast-in-place concrete (CIPC) deck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Investigated energy absorption mechanics and design optimization of CFRP/aluminium hybrid Tubes under transverse loading. • Found the energy absorption of hybrid tube was affected largely by the number of ply layers (thickness) but marginally by the ply angles. • The SEA of the optimized CF-AL tube design is increased by 42.96% in comparison with the initial baseline structures. Abstract This study aimed to explore bending collapse behavior and energy absorption capacity of net aluminum (Al), net carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and Al/CFRP hybrid tubes, respectively. Based upon the experimental tests, the transverse energy absorption of the Al/CFRP hybrid tubes was found to be even higher than the sum of corresponding net Al tube and net CFRP tube. Specifically, the CF-AL tube (the CFRP tube being placed outside the Al tube) increased the peak force by 6.7% and energy absorption by 20.6%. The AL-CF tube (the CFRP tube being placed inside the Al tube) improved the peak force by 14.1% and energy absorption by 19.1%. The experimental study indicated that overall, the CF-AL tube was of better crashworthiness characteristics. Subsequently, finite element (FE) analyses were carried out by correlating with the experimental results. Based upon this validated FE models, a parametric study and design optimization on the CF-AL tube (with respect to length, thickness and ply angle) were further performed. It was found that the optimization increased specific energy absorption (SEA) by 42.96% and mean crushing force by 37.75%; meanwhile the mass of optimum design decreased by 5.02%, exhibiting significant enhancement of crashworthiness characteristics. Graphical abstract Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal and spatial variations in precipitation, and the relationships between precipitation and elevation/latitude are analyzed. The following results are derived from the analysis: (1) Unimodal and bimodal precipitation regimes are observed for 19 and 11 stations, respectively, of which the Type 1 and Type 2 bimodal precipitation regime is observed for three and eight stations, respectively. The primary flood season of the Type 1 bimodal precipitation regime is around July, except for Gongshan station that is relatively long flood season. The primary flood season of the Type 2 bimodal precipitation regime is around June. The precipitation peaks are negatively correlated with latitude/elevation for each bimodal precipitation regime. (2) Basically similar spatial distributions are observed for the annual and seasonal average precipitation — the southern part of the Hengduan Mountains region experiences relatively high precipitation, whereas the central and northeastern parts experience relatively low precipitation; in addition, the precipitation trends are nonsignificant for most of the stations. A decreasing trend is observed for the annual, summer and drought season precipitation for most of the stations located in the area south of 28°N, whereas an increasing trend is observed for most of the stations located in other areas. Most stations experience an increasing in spring precipitation, and in autumn, the opposite is observed. A decreasing trend is observed for winter precipitation for most of the stations except for the northeastern part of the study area. An increasing trend is observed for precipitation in the rain season for most of the stations except for the northeastern and southern parts of the study area. Significantly negative correlations are observed between the annual and seasonal with relatively high precipitation (summer, autumn and the rain season) average precipitation and elevation/latitude (3) Negative correlations, mostly significant, are evident between the standard deviations of the annual, seasonal and monthly precipitation and elevation/latitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The intermetallic Ag 3 Sn is a strengthening phase in both silver amalgams as well as Sn–Ag lead-free solders, but is also a relatively ductile compound. Experimental reports have suggested that the compound can both readily slip via dislocations as well as deform via twinning. To better understand the deformation mechanisms in Ag 3 Sn, we investigate the energetics of slip via generalized stacking fault (GSF) curves as well as the structure and energetics of the twins using both density functional theory and analytical modeling. Our results suggest that [100](001) slip, which is equivalent to 〈 a 〉 hcp slip on a prism plane in the hcp structure, is favorable due to a very low antiphase boundary energy. Slip on the (010) plane, which is equivalent to the basal plane in hcp metals, can occur in either the [100] or [001] directions via the formation of four superpartials. Our results further suggest that slip in the 〈 102 〉 direction could occur easily on either the { 201 } or { 211 } planes with the former being more likely since it is similar to prism planes in the hcp crystal. The overall values of the GSF curves are quite low, similar to high stacking fault energy metals, resulting in a rather ductile intermetallic. Simulations of the twins in Ag 3 Sn demonstrate that they are structurally similar to twins in hcp metals with similar energy magnitudes. However, the experimentally observed activation of the { 011 } and { 211 } is likely a result of the small shear required to form the twins, and the suppression of other twin types is a likely a result of chemical ordering. Finally, our results point out that twinning is likely a necessary deformation mode to account for a general state of plastic deformation. Highlights • The D0a structure, analogous to hcp, is the lowest energy structure of Ag3Sn. • [100](001) has very low APB energy; it is likely the most favorable slip system. • The (010), (001) & {201} planes are all likely active slip planes. • Twins on {011} & {211} planes are likely needed satisfy general plastic deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, a (3+1)-dimensional nonlinear evolution equation and its reduction is studied by use of the Hirota bilinear method and the test function method. With symbolic computation, diversity of exact solutions is obtained by solving the under-determined nonlinear system of algebraic equations for the associated parameters. Finally, analysis and graphical simulation are given to reveal the propagation and dynamical behavior of the solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental and ecological consequences of nanoplastics (NPs) draw increasing research interests and social concerns. However, the in situ and real‐time detection of NPs from living organisms and transferring media remains as a major technical obstacle for scientific investigation. Herein we report a novel time-gated imaging (TGI) strategy capable of real-time visualizing the intake of NPs by an individual living organism, which is based on the polystyrene NPs labelled with lanthanide up‐conversion luminescence. The limit of detection (LOD) of the TGI apparatus was 600 pg (SNR = 3) in a field of view of 2.4 × 3.8 mm. Taking Daphnia magna as the aquatic model, we investigated the dynamics of uptake and accumulation of NPs (500 μg/L) for 24 h, and the subsequent excretion process (in clean medium) for 48 h, and quantitively analyzed the distribution and the overall mass of NPs deposited in D. magna. The uptake of NPs via filter‐feeding occurred in a few minutes, whereas a longer accumulation was found, in a timescale of several hours. And similar behaviors (bi-phase elimination) were also seen in the excretion, indicating the migration of NPs into the circulatory system. The average mass of NPs accumulated in an individual D. magna was ∼12 ng after 24 h exposure, indicating that D. magna as a filter feeder tends to retain NPs. The observed NPs accumulation in D. magna exemplifies the potential risk of aquatic ecosystem on exposure to NP contamination. [Display omitted] • Time-gated optical method can quantify luminescence‐labelled NPs uptake by plankton with high‐sensitivity real-time imaging. • NPs accumulation by D. magna happened within few minutes and transferred to carapace and body tissue during several hours. • NPs still retained in D. magna after 48 decontaminations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a novel class of higher derivative theories for interacting massless gravitons in Minkowski spacetime. These theories were first discussed by Wald decades ago, and are characterized by scattering amplitudes essentially different from general relativity and many of its modifications. We discuss various aspects of these higher derivative theories, including the Lagrangian construction, violation of asymptotic causality, scattering amplitudes, non-renormalization, and possible implications in emergent gravitons from condensed matter systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematopoiesis is a complicated process involving a series of biological sub-processes that lead to the formation of various blood components. A widely accepted model of early hematopoiesis proceeds from long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) to multipotent progenitors (MPPs) and then to lineage-committed progenitors. However, the molecular mechanisms of early hematopoiesis have not been fully characterized. In this study, we applied a computational strategy to identify the gene expression signatures distinguishing three types of closely related hematopoietic cells collected in recent studies: (1) hematopoietic stem cell/multipotent progenitor cells; (2) LT-HSCs; and (3) hematopoietic progenitor cells. Each cell in these cell types was represented by its gene expression profile among a total number of 20,475 genes. The expression features were analyzed by a Monte-Carlo Feature Selection (MCFS) method, resulting in a feature list. Then, the incremental feature selection (IFS) and a support vector machine (SVM) optimized with a sequential minimum optimization (SMO) algorithm were employed to access the optimal classifier with the highest Matthews correlation coefficient ( MCC ) value of 0.889, in which 6698 features were used to represent cells. In addition, through an updated program of MCFS method, seventeen decision rules can be obtained, which can classify the three cell types with an overall accuracy of 0.812. Using a literature review, both the rules and the top features used for building the optimal classifier were confirmed to be commonly used or potential biological markers for distinguishing the three cell types of HSPCs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Accelerating Precision Medicine through Genetic and Genomic Big Data Analysis edited by Yudong Cai & Tao Huang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The BER could realize sludge degradation, Cr(VI) reduction and electricity generation. • Maximum TCOD removal was obtained at Cr(VI) of 75 mg/L and Cr(VI) reduction at 25 mg/L. • The maximum power density was 9.8 W/m3 when the Cr(VI) concentration was 150 mg/L. • At higher Cr(VI) concentration, more electrons were used for electrogenesis. • Increased Cr(VI) concentration had negative effect on methanogenic functional gene. Abstract To maximize the performance of bioelectrochemical system (BES) for simultaneous sewage sludge degradation, Cr(VI)-laden wastewater treatment and electricity generation, a three-chamber bioelectrochemical reactor (BER) that used sewage sludge as the anodic fuel and Cr(VI) laden-wastewater as the catholyte was constructed, and an in-depth investigation of the electron fluxes, microbial communities and metagenomics genomes was performed to quantify the performance of the BER at different Cr(VI) concentrations. The maximum total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) removal achieved with the BER was obtained using 75 mg/L of Cr(VI) catholyte, and transphilic neutral fractions, fulvic acid-like substances and aromatic hydrophobic acids were mainly removed. The quantification of electron fluxes revealed that more electrons were consumed by electrogenesis than methanogenesis at increased Cr(VI) concentration, and a maximum power density of 9.8 W/m3 was obtained using 150 mg/L Cr(VI). In the sight of metagenomics, increased catholyte Cr(VI) concentration caused an increase in the abundance of exoelectrogens (Geobacter , Comamonas , Desulfovibrio , Desulfobulbus , Aeromonas , and Desulfotomaculum) and a decrease in the major methanogenic groups of gene encoding enzymes. The shift in methanogenic communities induced by the competition change was the main driver that shaped the structures of methanogenic functional genes during the operation of the BER at different Cr(VI) concentrations. The results might provide a solid theoretical basis for the simultaneous treatment of sewage sludge and Cr(VI)-laden wastewater using BERs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lanthanum-doped titanium-zirconium-molybdenum (La-TZM) alloy was prepared by powder metallurgy and rolling process. The processing crack and crack initiation mechanisms of La-TZM alloy after sintering, hot rolling and cold rolling were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the doped La(NO 3 ) 3 , TiH 2 and ZrH 2 have finer secondary phase in the La-TZM alloy plate. The fracture mode of sintering billet is inter-granular, but the fracture surface of hot rolling exhibited transgranular cleavage. However, the cold rolling is quasi-cleavage fracture. The secondary phase particles tend to hinder the movement of dislocations causing dislocations pile-up. The resulting tensile stress can accelerate cracks nucleation and growth, and the crack propagation will be deflected by the secondary phase particles. The crack initiation can be avoided by reducing local stress concentration caused by dislocations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum chemical calculations have been performed to investigate the photolysis mechanism of relatively susceptible sulfonamide moiety of five-membered sulfonamide (SA) antibiotics, such as sulfamethoxazole, sulfisoxazole, sulfamethizole, and sulfathiazole. The results show that the ·OH-mediated indirect photolysis of sulfonamide linkage has two possible multi-step reaction pathways, viz., H-abstraction and electrophilic C1-attack, which is contrast to previously reported one-step cleavage manner. The newly proposed indirect photolysis mechanisms could be applied to six-membered SAs such as sulfadimethoxine. It has been found that the dissociation of S N bond is easier in direct photolysis than ·OH-mediated indirect photolysis. Wiberg bond index and LUMO-HOMO energy gap are investigated to clarify the origin of the discrepant reactivity of sulfonamide moiety of SAs at singlet and triplet states. In comparison with singlet states, the S N bond of SAs is weaker at triplet states of SAs and thus results in higher reactivity of sulfonamide moiety, as also suggested by smaller LUMO-HOMO energy gap. This study could add better understanding to the photolysis mechanisms of SAs, which would be also helpful in utilizing quantum chemistry calculation to investigate the behavior and fate of antibiotics in the aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the mechanical behavior of steel tube confined reinforced concrete (STRC) columns under combined compression-bending-torsion, an experimental investigation was conducted. The load–deformation hysteretic curves and the strain distribution law of steel tubes under pure torsion, bending-torsion and compression-bending-torsion loads were obtained. Results show that a ‘pinch’ effect appeared in the load–deformation hysteretic curves of STRC under pure torsion and bending-torsion loads, however, this was not noticeable for specimens under compression-bending-torsion load. When the axial compression ratio was relatively small, STRC columns under compression-bending-torsion load showed higher bending capacity and torsion capacity than that under bending-torsion load, as well as good energy dissipation capacity. Furthermore, the strain of the steel tube increased linearly with the load, and the corresponding stress was always below the yield strength. Based on the test results, the enhancement of the bending and torsion capacities of reinforced concrete columns caused by steel tubes, and the reduction of the bending capacity of STRC columns caused by torque were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flax/glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites take up a high amount of moisture from humid environment due to hydrophilic nature of flax fibers. Some experimental works have been carried out to investigate the diffusion kinetic of these hybrid composites with different stacking sequences. However, few analytical efforts have been made to effectively describe their moisture diffusion behaviors thus far. In this paper, a sandwich diffusion model is established to predict the moisture absorption behavior of flax/glass hybrid composites with different stacking sequences. To deal with interface concentration problem across flax fiber layers and glass fiber layers, the continuous normalized concentration and mass-conserving condition are employed. Both finite element analysis and moisture absorption experiments are performed to validate the proposed model, and the results shows that good agreements are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmiun sulfide (CdS) is considered as a promising semiconductor photocatalyst for its outstanding light absorbance and photoinduced charge separation, but it suffers from severe photocorrosion, mainly due to the sluggish kinetics of holes transfer. In this work, we introduce the strong local Coulomb attraction, which is demonstrated via the in situ K-edge X-ray absorption near edge (XANES) analysis, to accelerate the migration of holes for long-term photocatalytic activity. As a proof-of-concept sample, the hole-attraction Fe 2 O 3 /CdS nanorods evidence an outstanding stability of at least 6 days without obvious deactivation, and feature with an excellent H 2 evolution rate of 20.7 mmol g −1 h −1 . Moreover, this Coulomb attraction strategy can be leveraged to enhance the photocatalytic performance of Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S, indicating the wide application of the strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid growth of aged population in most countries of our world, researching the thermal perceptions and demands of these people to building thermal environments has become a hot topic. To analyze the variation of the older people’s thermal sensation and neutrality, a comprehensive field study had been conducted in 19 aged-care homes with 1040 subjects aged 70 and above involved from January 2014 to April 2017 in Shanghai, China. During the survey, environmental parameters and thermal perceptions were recorded simultaneously. The variations of thermal sensation and neutrality were analyzed throughout all seasons. The results showed older people’s thermal sensation correlated with operative temperature in a significant level, while age and gender showed no effect with thermal sensation. An adaptive comfort model was proposed based on Griffiths method, with daily neutral temperature varying from 12.4 °C to 29.7 °C for 3.8 °C to 29.3 °C range of outdoor temperature. The EN15251 and ASHRAE adaptive models were identified to be not accurate to predict older people’s neutral temperature. According to comparative studies, the older adults were regarded to have different thermal responses to indoor and outdoor thermal environment from that of Chinese non-older people. This study provides systematical analysis on the dynamic variations of Chinese older persons’ thermal sensation and neutrality across seasons, and the findings can be reliable references for the people who manage or design aged-care homes to create a comfortable thermal environment for older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]