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Membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging water treatment technology that employs a microporous hydrophobic membrane as a physical barrier against liquid feed and utilizes the transmembrane vapor pressure difference as the driving force to propel volatile components transport across the membrane. MD has a great potential in various industrial applications such as desalination, food industry, drug purification, and separation of azeotropic mixtures. Although it has a bright future, the large-scale industrialization of MD is restricted by serious membrane wetting issues. This review illustrates the membrane wetting types, summarizes several wetting detections, discusses the causes of membrane wetting and eventually highlights the development of membrane synthesis for improved anti-wettability. • 5 key novel membranes for improved anti-wettability in MD are critically reviewed. • Dense membranes with hydrophilic dense layer are promising for all-around anti-wetting. • This review offers comprehensive analysis and guidelines for anti-wetting membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the design and fabrication of a new adsorptive nanofibrous membrane incorporating metal-organic framework (MOF) by electrospinning technique for removing ammonia-nitrogen from wastewater via direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) process. Three types of MOF particles (HKUST-1, AlFu, and UiO-66-NH 2) were used as functional nanoadditives and incorporated into the nanofibrous membrane matrix. The ammonia removal performance of these nanocomposite membranes was comprehensively investigated and compared with an activated carbon (AC) incorporated nanofibrous membrane. Various parameters such as ammonia removal efficiency, ammonia separation factor, overall ammonia mass transfer coefficient, ammonia flux, and membrane stability were evaluated. Among the tested MOFs, UiO-66-NH 2 demonstrated excellent performance and was selected for further optimization. The 5.0 wt.% UiO-66-NH 2 incorporated membrane exhibited the best performance for ammonia removal. Additionally, the mechanism of MOF incorporated nanofibrous membranes for ammonia removal from aqueous solution by DCMD was schematically analyzed. In overall, this study confirmed the feasibility of fabricating MOF incorporated electrospun adsorptive nanofibrous membranes with outstanding ammonia removal performance, demonstrating the potential of membrane distillation to remove ammonia-nitrogen from the aquatic environment. • MOF incorporated mixed-matrix membranes were fabricated by electrospinning. • Three types of MOFs with different properties were used as the nanoadditives. • MOF incorporated adsorptive membranes showed enhanced ammonia removal performance. • The MOF incorporated membranes have great potential in DCMD for ammonia removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial infection is the main factor that induces mastitis. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major pathogen associated with mastitis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of diosmetin on S. aureus -induced mastitis. The mice were divided into six groups: control group, S. aureus group, diosmetin (12.5, 25, 50 mg/kg) + S. aureus groups, and diosmetin (50 mg/kg) + S. aureus + EX-527 (10 mg/kg) group. S. aureus was injected into the mammary gland to establish a mouse mastitis model. Diosmetin was administered 1 h before S. aureus treatment. Our results showed that diosmetin significantly alleviated the pathological changes of mammary gland induced by S. aureus. Diosmetin alleviated myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and the release of TNF-α and IL-1β, and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) activation. Moreover, diosmetin inhibited malondialdehyde (MDA) and Fe2+ levels induced by S. aureus. Diosmetin upregulated ATP, glutathione (GSH) production and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression, which were decreased by S. aureus. Furthermore, the expression of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), nuclear factor erythroid2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) was upregulated by diosmetin. In addition, the inhibitory effects of diosmetin on S. aureus -induced inflammation and ferroptosis were prevented by the SIRT1 inhibitor EX-527. In conclusion, the data indicated that diosmetin suppressed S. aureus -induced mastitis by attenuating inflammation and ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The pH of bottom bauxite-ore from alkaline to acidic along the profile upwards. • The δ15N and redox proxies revealed that bauxite formed in the suboxic facies. • The denitrification was the predominant process at nitrogen cycling in bauxites. • The δ15N and salinity proxies revealed that higher saline favor low-oxygen. Over 5 billion tons of karstic bauxites are hosted in the Late Carboniferous Benxi Formation in the North China Craton (NCC). However, the bauxite formation environment in the central NCC remains unknown. The geological, mineralogical, geochemical, nitrogen concentrations, and δ15N isotope evidence of the Huilong and Shangwutou bauxite deposits in the central NCC was conducted, aiming to clarify the formation environments. Typically, bauxites in the central NCC contains three layers from bottom to top: Fe-bearing claystone/clayey ironstone, bauxite ore, and bauxitic claystone. The Fe-bearing claystone/clayey ironstone is composed of kaolinite, goethite, and hematite; the bauxite ore is composed of diaspore, kaolinite, but also minor hematite, ilmenite, and svanbergite; and the bauxitic claystone consists of kaolinite, but also some diaspore and goethite. Diaspores coexisted extensively with hematite, anatase, and svanbergite, forming cryptocrystalline matrix of bauxites, suggesting that they may be formed during early diagenesis. Geochemical discriminant diagrams also indicated that two deposits were primarily affected by the hydrogenous deposition and early diagenesis, and no sedimentary recirculation. The ∑REEs concentrations and fractionation (Pr n /Yb n) features along the profiles mainly concentrated in the bottom bauxite ore, which reflected that the pH values could be alkaline in bottom bauxite ore, and decreased weakly acidic for the central bauxite ore to bauxitic claystone along the profiles upwards. Combining the δ15N data with two geochemical redox proxies, and the widely coexistence of diaspore and hematite, indicated that the two deposits mainly formed under suboxic conditions, and thus denitrification was the predominant process in nitrogen cycling. The δ15N values are positively correlated with paleosalinity proxies, indicating that the higher saline bottom water may lead to a strong vertical density differential and water-column stratification, conducing to forming suboxic restricted pore-water environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, activated carbon (AC) enhanced hydrophobic/hydrophilic dual-layer nanofiber composite membranes were prepared for direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) by incorporating different concentrations (0–3.0 wt%) of AC nanoparticles into the polyvinylidene fluoride- co -hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) hydrophobic active layer. The membranes were composed of two layers, a thin hydrophobic PVDF-HFP/AC electrospun active layer and a thick hydrophilic support layer. Results indicated that the incorporation of AC nanoparticles have greatly increased the membrane properties and performance. The membrane containing 1.5 wt% AC nanoparticles (M3) showed the best flux performance (45.6 L/m2 h) compared to other membranes fabricated in this study and a commercial PTFE benchmark membrane (41.8 L/m2 h) without compromising the salt rejection. A two-dimensional model was developed to investigate the flux profile of the PVDF-HFP/AC membranes. The present study suggests that the incorporation of AC nanoparticles into PVDF-HFP active layer can impart additional functionalities to the composite membranes that would enhance the membranes DCMD performance. The fabricated PVDF-HFP/AC composite membranes present great potential in the application of DCMD desalination. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Dual-layer nanofiber membranes were fabricated by electrospinning for DCMD. • The membranes were composed of PVDF-HFP/AC active layer and Nylon 6,6 substrate. • The incorporation of AC nanoparticles enhanced the flux performance in DCMD process. • M3 composite membrane presented excellent permeability and performance stability. • A two-dimensional model was developed to explain the effect of AC particle on flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitivity amplification strategy by implementing click chemistry in the construction of biosensing interface can efficiently improve the performance of immunosensor. Herein, we developed a sandwich-type amperometric immunosensor for ultrasensitive detection of carbohydrate antigen 24-2 (CA 242) based on pH responsive label-assisted click chemistry triggered sensitivity amplification strategy. The sensitivity of amperometric immunosensor relies on the current response differences (ΔI) caused by per unit concentration target analyte. The pH responsive Cu 2+ -loaded polydopamine (CuPDA) particles conjugated with detection antibodies were employed as labels, which can release Cu(II) ions by regulating pH. In the presence of ascorbic acid (reductant), Cu(II) ions were reduced to Cu(I) ions. Azide-functionalized double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) as signal enhancer was immobilized on the substrate through Cu + -catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition reaction. With the help of the click reaction, the ΔI caused by target was elevated prominently, resulting in sensitivity amplification of the immunosensor. Under optimal condition, the proposed immunosensor exhibited excellent performance with linear range from 0.0001 to 100 U mL −1 and ultralow detection limit of 20.74 μU mL −1 . This work successfully combines click chemistry with pH-responsive labels in sandwich-type amperometric immunosensor, providing a promising sensitivity amplification strategy to construct immunosensing platform for analysis of other tumor marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) with multiple working electrodes and one signal output channel without counter and reference electrodes was designed. The multiple working electrodes can be individually modified for each target of interest. The SPCE contained one signal output channel, making the immuniosensor be realized by common single-channel electrochemical workstation. The counter and reference electrodes were independent of disposable SPCE, reducing costs and eliminating precious metal pollution. Platinum network as counter electrode improved the reproducibility of the SPCE. Moreover, method of generating hydrogel on working electrode was used to enhance the conductivity of SPCE. Based on this, a multiplexed single channel label-free amperometric immuniosensor for four tumor markers, namely, squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA), fragment antigen 21-1 (Cyfra21-1), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), and neuron specific enolase (NSE) was developed, and the corresponding detection limits were 5.5 pg mL −1 , 4.8 pg mL −1 , 0.0054 U mL −1 and 2.3 pg mL −1 , respectively. The sensitivity of this immunosensor was 0.83 µA (lg(ng mL −1 )) −1 for SCCA, 1.92 µA (lg(ng mL −1 )) −1 for Cyfra21-1, 4.75 µA (lg(U mL −1 )) −1 for CA125 and 2.40 µA (lg(ng mL −1 )) −1 for NSE. Among them, the sensitivities of CA125 and NSE were four-fold higher than those of the previous works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respirable sintering dust was an abundant and hazardous waste arrested by electrostatic precipitators from iron and steel industry. In this study, this waste was first found to contain 0.3% Rb, existing in the form of chloride and making it a promising Rb extracting material. Meanwhile, 95.24% of Rb and 93.43% of K in it can be easily recovered by water leaching (S/L = 1:5), resulting in a solution of 740 mg/L Rb and 33.85 g/L K. Then this leachate was extracted with 4-tert-butyl-2-(α-methylbenzyl) phenol (t-BAMBP) in sulphonated kerosene to separate Rb from K after purification. The optimized solvent extraction conditions were 1.0 mol/L t-BAMBP, phase ratio of 3:1, 1.2 mol/L alkalinity in aqueous. Moreover, the organic phase was treated with deionized water (O/A = 5:1) for scrubbing and 1.2 mol/L HCl (O/A = 5:1) for stripping. Under optimal conditions, a single Rb extraction and back-extraction efficiencies were 91.80% and 89.93%, respectively. Finally, a RbCl with 99.5% purity and a total Rb extraction rate of 58.26% were achieved by a multistage continuous countercurrent extraction. These results did not only indicate that respirable sintering dust is a new tremendous potential Rb source but also provide a promising way to utilize Rb from this dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitivity enhancement and proteins adsorption are the common challenges faced in protein immunoassays. In this work, an ultrasensitive and protein-resistant label-free amperometric immunosening platform for carcinoma antigen-125 (CA125) based on redox polyaniline-polythionine hydrogel (PANI-PThi gel) was developed. The as-prepared hydrogel, which was facilely synthesized by electropolymerization, exhibited good conductivity and strong hydrophilicity while the sensitivity and specificity of the immunosensor can be enhanced. Furthermore, the as-prepared AuNPs functionalized PANI-PThi gel exhibited strong current signal and H 2 O 2 electrocatalytic ability, which guaranteed a large current variable range. Based on these, the prepared immunosensor revealed a wide linear range from 0.0001 U mL −1 to 1 kU mL −1 , a limit of detection of 0.00125 U mL −1 and its sensitivity was at least three-fold higher than previous works. More importantly, the prepared immunosensor exhibited excellent specificity, making it capable of assaying CA125 in human serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

>5 billion tons of karstic bauxites were formed during the Late Carboniferous in the North China Craton (NCC). However, the metallogenic mechanism of bauxite is still obscure due to the unclear formation process of the main ore mineral, diaspore. We conducted geological, mineralogical, δ34S pyrite , and in-situ diaspore trace element analyses on the Baode-Xingxian large bauxite deposit in the northern NCC, aiming to clarify the diaspore-forming mechanism and explore the genesis of bauxite. Generally, bauxites in northern NCC contains three layers from bottom to top: Fe-bearing claystone, bauxite ore, and claystone. The bauxite ore is mainly diaspore, kaolinite, and illite; the Fe-bearing claystone is illite and berthierine; and the claystone is primarily kaolinite. The broadly distributed high positive δ34S pyrite values (10‰–40‰) indicate that bauxites in the northern NCC formed in shallow-water environments. Total 216 diaspore grains have similar trace element compositions, and are obviously enriched in Cr, V, Re and U, but not in Mo, indicating that diaspore was formed in the subreduced facies. Diaspore with Fe/Al up to 4 mol% has slightly large cells, indicated that small-scale larger ions, Fe, entered the diaspore lattice to form Fe-diaspore. The favorable temperature and water activity of Fe-diaspore precipitation is similar to that of Al-hematite+ boehmite. We thus propose a probable diaspore formation mechanism: the small scale of Fe for Al substitution in the diaspore lattice and stabilize it to induce Fe-diaspore formation. Fe-diaspore is metastable with respect to diaspore and tends to convert into it during the diagenesis process. [Display omitted] • The high positive δ34S values revealed that bauxites formed in the shallow water. • The elemental proxies revealed that diaspore formed in the subreduced facies. • The Fe3+for Al3+ substitution induced to form Fe-diaspore. • Metastable Fe-diaspore tends to convert into diaspore during diagenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional interfacial polymerization (IP) requires excessive amounts of reactive monomers and solvents due to the dip-coating method. Herein, we report a rod-coating assisted IP process to prepare nanofiltration (NF) membranes. The results demonstrate that a perfect PA layer can be fabricated by using low monomer dosages of PIP (0.08 g/m2) and TMC (0.016 g/m2). This can significantly reduce the consumption of monomers and organic solvents, and effectively avoid the waste of hazardous and expensive chemicals. Thanks to the fewer monomer dosages, the prepared NF membranes were much thinner and looser, which significantly improved the membrane permeability. The highest permeance of the rod-coated membranes reached 204.0 L/(m2 h MPa), which was increased by ∼251% compared to the dip-coated NF membrane. More importantly, the rod-coated membranes possessed excellent Na 2 SO 4 rejections (>99.0%) and ultralow NaCl rejections (<14.4%). And the maximum NaCl/Na 2 SO 4 selective efficiency reached 125.7, which was about 7 folds to that of the dip-coated NF membrane. This study suggests that the rod-coating method is highly feasible for the preparation of polyamide NF membranes with high performance. It is reasonable to expect that this rod-coating assisted IP process offers a new approach to fabricating NF membranes. [Display omitted] • High performance PA-NF membranes fabricated by rod-coated assisted IP process. • The rod-coating method significantly reduce the consumption of the monomers. • The rod-coated membrane possesses an excellent permeate flux of 204.0 L/(m2 h MPa). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel strategy for immunoprobe with triple signal amplification was developed, which bovine serum albumin-stabilized copper nanoclusters (BSA-CuNCs) and the labeled antibody were co-immobilized directly on platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs). The triple current signal amplification of the immunoprobe behaved: (1) BSA-CuNCs, realizing the enrichment of copper, served as redox species with current signal at 0.06 V. (2) PtNPs as carriers were employed to immobilize the labeled antibody and enrich BSA-CuNCs. (3) The current response was further enhanced by BSA-CuNCs to accelerate the catalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) was used as a model analyte to study the performance of the immunoprobe and electrochemical immunosensor. The immunosensor was fabricated as follows: anti-PSA was immobilized directly on gold nanoparticles, which were electrochemically deposited on glass carbon electrode; after immune-adsorbing PSA, the as-prepared immunoprobes were immunoadsorbed. Under the optimal conditions, the proposed immunosensor performed a wide linear range from 0.5 pg mL −1 to 100 ng mL −1 and an ultralow limit of detection with 145.69 fg mL −1 (S/N = 3). In the assay of clinical serum samples, the results of the proposed immunosensor showed good consistent with those of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, indicating the immunosensor is promising in clinical diagnosis. This strategy will be of guiding significance to fabricating new immunoprobes with catalytic activity and signal amplification ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Peridotite dissolution rate was significantly enhanced by green microalgae. • Interaction between peridotite and green microalgae showed two stages with first-order reaction in the early stage. • The growth of green microalgae was promoted by the Mg2+ ion released from peridotite. Enhanced silicate dissolution has been recognized as a potentially promising geoengineering strategy to help remove CO 2 from the atmosphere by applying crushed minerals to aquatic systems. However, it has not yet been fully quantified in the presence of eukaryotic green microalgae. Here, we studied the interaction of peridotite with Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C.R.) and Chlorella pyrenoedosa (C.P.). We found that the peridotite dissolution rate was significantly enhanced by green microalgae. Meanwhile, the interaction between peridotite and green microalgae showed two stages with first-order reaction in the early stage (0–4 or 5 days). The amount of Mg2+ released per algal chlorophyll-a biomass and unit time in the early stage is about an order of magnitude higher than that in the late stage (4 or 5–9 days). The quantified effect of C.P. on the dissolution rate of peridotite is about two times higher than that for C.R. in the early stage. Based on the stoichiometric relation of peridotite dissolution, it is estimated that one milligram chlorophyll-a biomass of C.R. and C.P. can remove 0.44 and 0.24 mg CO 2 from the atmosphere in one day via accelerating dissolution, respectively. Besides, the Mg2+ ion released from peridotite can promote the growth of green microalgae in turn. Thus, green microalgae play a positive role in CO 2 sequestration via the artificial adding peridotite to aquatic systems, but the issue related to the great deceleration of peridotite dissolution rate after a period of time has to be solved to improve the efficiency of CO 2 sequestration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plenty of respirable sintering dust are generated in ironmaking process and part of this hazardous particle easily escaped from electrostatic precipitators, becoming Particulate Matter 10. Previous studies are usually focused on the comprehensive recovery of this dust, however, its wetting, which was an essential procedure in many industrial processes, has long been a challenge due to its strongly hydrophobic property. The current study investigated the origin of its hydrophobicity through wettability tests, dynamic contact angle analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, with the goal of enhancing its wettability. The results revealed for the first time that the hydrophobicity of respirable sintering dust was attributed to a hydrophobic shell consisting of organics with n -alkyl chains and/or aromatic groups and bonding by hydrophilic functional groups. Further, results of response surface methodology with central composite design and dynamic contact angle analysis demonstrated that increasing agitation strength, such as stirring speed and time, can improve the wettability of respirable sintering dust, while the largest wettable ratio of 95.3% was obtained by stirring with 0.2% Triton X-100. Eventually, a possible wetting mechanism was mainly concluded as nonionic surfactants adsorbing with the hydrophobic shell on respirable sintering dust surface via its hydrophobic tail and leaving its hydrophilic head groups exposed to water, achieving sufficiently and efficiently wetting. The adsorption experiments and surface analysis results implied that the adsorption process for Triton X-100 onto respirable sintering dust is favorable and governed by physisorption. This study provides an effective method on the wetting of respirable sintering dust, which is essential for its treatment such as dust control and hydrometallurgy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly porous polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membranes are of great interest for membrane contactor applications such as sea water desalination by membrane distillation in order to enhance the flux of the process. For the first time in this paper, porous hydrophobic PVDF asymmetric hollow fiber membranes with a high outer surface porosity for use in vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) were successfully fabricated by applying a simultaneous co-extrusion spinning process through the non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method. In this approach, five kinds of dual-layer composite membranes were prepared by employing different inner and outer polymer dopes. Single-layer membrane was also fabricated through the conventional dry-jet wet phase inversion method. Results revealed that the introduction of the simultaneous co-extrusion spinning process greatly increased the outer surface porosity of the dual-layer composite membranes. It was also observed that the VMD flux of the dual-layer membranes spun through the simultaneous co-extrusion spinning process was 54% higher than the single-layer membrane fabricated by the conventional dry-jet wet phase inversion method. A VMD flux as high as 61.8 kg/(m 2 h) at 70 °C was obtained for the novel dual-layer composite membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Through comprehensive GO and KEGG pathway analyses of RNA-Seq data, 71 DEGs containing transcription factor and defense response genes were identified in pepper plants after being infected with TZSV. • The RT-qPCR analysis was performed to further validate RNA-Seq data, and the genes BBC_22506, BBC_18917, BBC_30037, and BBC_33017 were speculated to be associated with HR. • The two genes BBC_22506 and BBC_18917 might participate in HR when TZSV infects the PI152225 pepper, and therefore they might inhibit viral infection. Tomato zonate spotvirus (TZSV) often incurs significant losses in many food and ornamental crops in Yunnan province, China, and the surrounding areas. The pepper (Capsicum chinense PI152225)can develop hypersensitive resistance following infection with TZSV, through an as yet unknown mechanism. The transcriptome dataset showed a total of 45.81 GB of clean data were obtained from six libraries, and the average percentage of the reads mapped to the pepper genome was over 90.00 %. A total of 1403 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained after TZSV infection, including 825significantly up-regulated genes and 578 down-regulated genes. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses indicated that most up-regulated DEGs were involved in basal defenses. RT-qPCR, and virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) were used preliminarily to identifyBBC_22506 and BBC_18917, among total of 71 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), that play a key role in mediating the auxin-induced signaling pathway that might take part in hypersensitive response (HR) conferred resistance to viral infection in pepper (PI152225) byTZSV. This is the first study on the mechanism of auxin resistance, involved in defense responses of pepper against viral diseases, which lay the foundation for further study on the pathogenic mechanism of TZSV, as well as the mechanism of resistance to TZSV, in peppers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The SMC-sensitive bands of underlying surfaces containing quartz range from 8.0 to 10.0 μm. • The larger the SMC, the higher the emissivity, particularly evident in the SMC-sensitive bands. • SMC exerts little effect on the emissivity (8.0–13.5 μm) of permeable materials. • SMC exerts a notable effect on the emissivity (8.0–13.5 μm) of surfaces with original lower emissivity. • The sigmoidal model is optimal in characterizing variations of soil emissivity with SMC. As an inherent property of materials, emissivity critically reflects the material composition. Despite evidence on the positive correlation between surface moisture content (SMC) and the emissivity for soil, such correlations for other urban underlying surfaces have not been examined. Accordingly, this paper aimed to investigate the effects of SMC on the emissivity of ten representative urban underlying surfaces (including impervious and permeable ones), through comparisons of their emissivity spectra before and after water-sprinkling. Based on the spectra, the sliding-window algorithm was used to identify SMC-sensitive bands of the surfaces, whose increments of emissivity within the SMC-sensitive and 8.0 – 13.5 μm bands were analyzed. Furthermore, for soil, models characterizing the relationship between its SMC and emissivity were established. The results showed that the emissivity of most underlying surfaces increased with SMC, which was particularly evident in the SMC-sensitive bands (8.0 – 10.0 μm). Additionally, the impacts of SMC on emissivity (8.0 – 13.5 μm) depend on the properties of the surfaces. SMC critically influenced the emissivity (8.0 – 13.5 μm) of the concrete pavement, granite pavement, asphalt road and soil: their increment exceeded 0.02, which could lead to substantial fluctuations in retrieving temperature (0.9, 2.1, 1.0 and 2.3 K, respectively). However, SMC was found to exert little effect on the emissivity (8.0 – 13.5 μm) of the permeable brick pavement, gravel road, red clay brick pavement, grasses and shrubs. Lastly, variations in emissivity of the soil with SMC were optimally characterized by the sigmoidal model, whose correlation was the highest (adjusted-R2 = 0.9848). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sludge thickening from sewage treatment plants is an essential step in reducing the sludge volume and processing cost of the subsequent treatment. Forward osmosis (FO) technology is one of the research endeavors used in the field of membrane separation and feed solution concentration. However, the traditional used single-skinned FO membranes encounter the problems of serious internal concentration polarization (ICP) and fouling phenomenon within porous substrates. A novel double-skinned FO membrane was proposed in this study in order to enhance the anti-fouling performance and mitigate the ICP phenomenon. Single-skinned FO membrane using the same substrate was also fabricated. Results demonstrated that the double-skinned FO membrane significantly reduced ICP and exhibited higher flux when using draw solutions with high concentrations as compared to the single-skinned FO membrane. Furthermore, the double-skinned FO membrane demonstrated reasonably high-water flux (11.6 LMH), whereas zero flux was recorded from the single-skinned FO membrane when using the feed solution that contained 15.0 g/L organic foulants in the fouling tests. At last, the double-skinned FO membrane exhibited superior anti-fouling properties and much higher flux than that of single-skinned FO membrane operated under both modes during the long-term sludge thickening process, indicating the great potential of the double-skinned FO membrane to deal with the high-water-content sewage sludge in the water treatment process. [Display omitted] • Double-skinned FO membranes were fabricated by double sided interfacial polymerization. • The secondary skin was fabricated using lower concentrations of monomers in IP. • The double-skinned membranes showed excellent flux performance and good antifouling property. • Satisfactory results were obtained for the double-skinned membranes in sludge thickening. • The double-skinned membranes have great potential in treating high concentration wastewaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The abnormal local and long-range FCD in MCI compared with HCs. • The reversed FCD was found in MCI after treatments of acupoint-related moxibustion. • After moxibustion treatment, the MoCA scores of MCI were improved. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a general neurodegenerative disease. Moxibustion has been shown to have remarkable effect on cognitive improvement, however, less is known about the effect of moxibustion on MCI and its underlying neural mechanism. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative brain network in MCI after treatments of acupoint-related moxibustion. Resting-state functional MRI were derived from 47 MCI patients and 30 healthy controls (HCs). Patients were randomized as Tiaoshen YiZhi (TSYZ, n = 27) and sham (SHAM, n = 20) acupoint moxibustion groups. Functional connectivity density (FCD) method and repeated-measures two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed to ascertain the interaction effects between groups (TSYZ and SHAM) and time (baseline and post-treatment). Abnormal FCD was examined between baseline and post-treatment in TSYZ and SHAM groups, respectively. Compared with HCs, MCI showed altered FCD in the middle frontal cortex (MFC), inferior frontal cortex, temporal pole, thalamus and middle cingulate cortex. After moxibustion treatment in MCI, 1) a significant time-by-groups interaction was observed in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC); 2) abnormal long-range FCD (lrFCD) in the mPFC and MFC were modulated in TSYZ group; 3) significantly improved clinical symptoms; 4) changed lrFCD in the MFC was significantly negatively correlated with the increased Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores in TSYZ group. These imaging findings suggest that treatments of acupoint-related moxibustion could improve lrFCD in certain regions related to self-related cognitive and decision making. Our study might promote understanding of MCI neural mechanisms and expand the clinical application of moxibustion in MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A composite paper was prepared by combining aramid nanofibers, boron nitride nanotubes, and polyethyleneimine. • Elaborating interfacial hydrogen bonds design can optimize the mechanical properties of composite paper. • The composite paper has high thermal conductivity and unique dielectric performance. Aramid paper is ubiquitous in advanced electronics and high-voltage equipment by virtue of their outstanding dielectric properties, mechanical reliability, and thermal stability. However, their limited thermal conductivity still fails to satisfy the stringent demands for heat dissipation in applications with high power and high energy density. Herein, we report a highly thermally conductive composite paper prepared by synergistically combining one-dimensional (1D) aramid nanofibers (ANFs), 1D edge-hydroxylated boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), and polyethyleneimine (PEI). The resultant composite paper exhibits high thermal conductivity (9.91 Wm−1K−1), low dielectric loss (<0.01), and ultrahigh electrical breakdown strength (∼334 kV/mm) with an exceptional heat resistance performance. Three-dimensional hydrogen bonding networks were constructed between the ANF framework, PEI, and BNNTs, endowing the composite paper with a superior tensile strength (up to 317 MPa) and Young's modulus (∼7.7 GPa), which are significantly higher than those of the commercial Nomex T410 paper. This research provides important insights into the design and fabrication of multifunctional insulating paper for application in modern integrated electronic and power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, random amplified microsatellite polymorphism (RAMP) technique was used to examine the genetic relationships among 46 pomegranate genotypes, which were collected from 7 provinces in China. The results showed that a total of 127 bands were amplified by 14 pairs of high polymorphism primers, among which 113 (88.90%) were polymorphic bands, and that the effective number of alleles (N e), Nei''s gene diversity (H), and Shannon''s information index (I) for pomegranate were 1.3345, 0.2126 and 0.2126, respectively. These results showed that there is the significant genetic diversity among pomegranate germplasm in China. When the genetic similarity coefficients (G s) was 0.75, the 46 pomegranate cultivars were completely clustered into five groups by the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). The cluster results indicated that the molecular classification was not consistent with the morphological/agronomical classification or geographic origin. The obtained genetic information assists toward the effective protection and sustainable utilization of pomegranate resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The microclimate around a building, establishing through the interaction with other buildings or the natural environment, is a significant factor in the building energy consumption. This paper presents a method for the quantitative analysis of building energy performance under any given urban contexts by linking the microclimate model ENVI-met to the building energy simulation (BES) program EnergyPlus. The full microclimatic factors such as solar radiation, long wave radiation, air temperature, air humidity, and wind speed have been considered in the proposed scheme. A case study has been conducted to analyze the effects of different microclimatic factors on the energy balance of an individual building. The method outlined in this paper could be useful for urban planning and building design. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The microbiological, physico-chemical and free fatty acid composition of dry fermented mutton sausages were determined during ripening and storage. Three sausage mixtures (starter culture [SC], SC and black pepper [SC+BP] and SC, BP and cumin [SC+BP+C]) were compared with a control (CO). In general, the lactic acid bacteria populations in the SC+BP increased significantly to 9log CFU/g and were higher than the CO (8log CFU/g) (P <0.05) from fermentation to ripening. The pH values of the SC, SC+BP and SC+BP+C were 4.81, 4.55 and 4.53 respectively, significantly lower (P <0.05) than the CO at the end of fermentation. The water activity (a w) in all sausages decreased significantly to 0.88 at Day 7. The total free fatty acid (TFFA) in the treatments increased significantly (P <0.05) during ripening and storage. The levels of MUFA+PUFA/SFA in SC+BP and SC+BP+C at Day 7 were 2.44 and 2.31 respectively, higher than the control (1.65) (P >0.05). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (PPAT) is an essential enzyme in Coenzyme A biosynthesis. Because bacterial PPAT and mammalian PPAT are dissimilar, this enzyme is an attractive antibacterial target. Based on the structure of the substrate, 4-phosphopantetheine, a dipeptide library was designed, synthesised and tested against Escherichia coli PPAT. The most potent inhibitor PTX040334 was co-crystallised with E. coli PPAT. With this structural information, a rational iterative medicinal chemistry program was initiated, aimed at increasing the number of inhibitor–enzyme interactions. A very potent and specific inhibitor, PTX042695, with an IC50 of 6 nM against E.coli PPAT, but with no activity against porcine PPAT, was obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The sources of karstic bauxite are complex and have not been so far addressed by multi-proxy provenance studies that interrogate bauxite sources. The Carboniferous bauxite in the North China Craton, which is the largest karstic bauxite area in the world, contains considerable quantities of detrital heavy minerals, including zircon, rutile, tourmaline, and moissanite, allowing multi-proxy provenance studies. In this study, geological, mineralogical, geochemical analyses, and detrital heavy mineral analyses were conducted for the Jiagou and Kuancaoping bauxite deposits located in the southern and northern parts of the North China Craton, respectively. Coupled with previously published geological, geochemical, and detrital mineral data, this study aims to thoroughly clarify the provenance of karstic bauxites in the North China Craton. In general, the ore-bearing rock series contains three units: lower iron-bearing claystone consisting of illite, chamosite, and goethite; middle bauxite ore dominated by diaspore, kaolinite, illite, chamosite, and anatase; and upper bauxitic claystone composed of kaolinite, diaspore, and anatase. Immobile trace element ratios and Rare Earth Element patterns of the bauxites throughout the North China Craton revealed that the lower iron-bearing claystone was autochthonous and directly sourced from the underlying limestone. The isotope data of detrital zircon along with chemical compositions and morphological features of detrital rutile, tourmaline, and moissanite in the bauxite ores revealed that the bauxite ore and bauxitic claystone were mainly para-allochthonous and derived from regional multi-sources. The multi-sources origin is also shared by other karst bauxites in the world. The results indicate that the bauxite deposits in the northern and southern parts of the North China Craton have distinct source materials. The provenance of the bauxite in the northern part of the North China Craton is mainly from the northern margin craton orogenic belt and the adjacent intraplate paleo-uplifts, whereas in the southern part, it is dominated by the North Qinling orogenic belt and the nearby paleo-uplifts. Consequently, the Carboniferous karstic bauxites in the North China Craton are characterized by the autochthonous origin of the lower iron-bearing claystone and the para-allochthonous origin of the upper bauxite ore and bauxitic claystone. This clearly illustrates the dependence of provenance information on mineral proxy choice and underlines the preponderance of multiproxy provenance studies to solve the complex source issue of karst bauxites in North China Craton. [Display omitted] • Multiproxy provenance studies of Jiagou and Kuancaoping bauxite deposits in NCC carried out • Lower iron-bearing claystone is autochthonous and directly derived from the underlying limestone. • Bauxite ore and bauxitic claystone are allochthonous and regionally multi-sourced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel forward osmosis membrane with porous hydrogel sublayer. • Formation of double barriers for high rejection of heavy metal ions. • Sublayer promoting the formation of denser and smoother FO membrane active layer. • Enhanced forward osmosis and antifouling performance. In the current research, preparation of a forward osmosis membrane that can effectively reject heavy metals in wastewater treatment would prove to be highly beneficial. Here, an innovative forward osmosis (FO) membrane with a "sandwich" structure (formed via the template method) was achieved for the first time through the fabrication of a porous hydrogel sublayer. A porous hydrogel matrix with excellent water retention capacity was formed through the crosslinking reaction of sodium alginate and calcium chloride in the presence of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, followed by etching to remove the ZnO nanoparticles in the sublayer to produce the porous structure. The water flux of the modified membrane was quintuple compared with the that of the original membrane, with no reduction on the salt rejection performance. The surface polyamide layer and sublayer acted as double barriers and achieved a rejection rate of over 98% for heavy metal ions (Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, Ni2+), when the glucose solution was used as the draw solution. The inclusion of the porous sublayer can provide deeper insights into the fabrication of high-performance FO membranes, and expand their applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CdS nanoflowers were utilized for simultaneous adsorption of As(III) and As(V). • Analytical method development based on nano-adsorbent. • Short analysis time. • The method was successfully applied for the determination of arsenic in food samples. Direct determination of arsenic species in real samples is challenging due to their trace concentration and spectral interferences by coexisting ions. Herein, we proposed an ultrasound-assisted dispersive solid phase microextraction (DSPME) procedure for the analyses of the trace inorganic arsenic. The hydrothermally synthesized cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdS NPs) completely adsorbed both arsenic species within 20 s at the initial arsenic concentration of 100 µg L−1. The detection limit (3 S/m) of the proposed method was found to be 0.5 ± 0.2 and 0.8 ± 0.2 ng L−1 for As(III) and As(V), respectively. The accuracy of the method against the systematic and constant errors was confirmed by the analysis of the Standard Reference Material (SRM) (>95% recovery with <5% RSD). The Student's t -test values were found to be less than the critical Student's t value at a 95% confidence level. The method was successfully employed for the determination of arsenic in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new simultaneous heat and mass transfer theoretical model of the membrane distillation process operating under direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) mode has been developed for the hydrophobic/hydrophilic dual-layer composite membranes. Using the proposed model, a criterion parameter (β) was derived to determine whether the flux will be increased for the prepared hydrophobic/hydrophilic composite membranes. A flux ratio ( γ DL/SL M ) of dual-layer to single-layer membrane was also developed to predict the DCMD flux performance of the composite membranes. To validate the theoretical model, three sets of dual-layer hydrophobic/hydrophilic composite membranes and single-layer hydrophobic membranes with defined total thicknesses (240 μm, 260 μm, and 285 μm) and different thickness ratios (δ / δ o = 3.69, 2.48 and 2.19) were purposefully fabricated using electrospinning technique. Theoretical modelling results were compared with the experimental data in terms of DCMD flux ratio. The experimental data of flux ratios for the three sets of fabricated membranes at 60 °C, γ DL/SL E , are 2.75, 1.97 and 1.80, respectively, which fit well with the model prediction values ( γ DL/SL M = 2.96, 2.18, and 1.97) within high agreement level at a relative standard deviation of 9.6%. Furthermore, the flux ratio of DL2 to SL2 membranes (dual-layer and single-layer membranes with 260 μm total thicknesses and δ / δ o = 2.48 thickness ratio) at different feed inlet temperatures still maintain a high degree of consistency with model values. Overall, the results show the experimental data agree well with the theoretical model prediction for the flux ratio within relative standard deviation of 10.1%, thereby confirming the validity of the proposed model. Additionally, a critical value of the thickness ratio (χ) was calculated χ = 1 + 1 β , this value could provide useful guidance to design a highly efficient hydrophobic/hydrophilic dual-layer composite membrane for DCMD applications in the future work. Image 1 • Dual-layer nanofiber membranes were fabricated by electrospinning for DCMD. • The membrane was composed of PVDF-HFP nanofibers and Nylon 6,6 membrane substrate. • A mathematical model was developed to predict the flux of dual-layer membranes. • The theoretical model was tested and validated by the experimental results. • The experimental data resemble well with the theoretically calculated values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late Carboniferous bauxite is widely developed on the North China Craton (NCC), and is referred to as the "G" layer bauxite. The bauxite ores of the southern NCC are closely related to the tectonic evolution of the NCC and its neighboring North Qinling Belt (NQB) to the south. In this study, based on the geological and mineralogical observations, we used the U–Pb and Hf isotopes of detrital zircons and chemical compositions of detrital rutiles from the Gunziying and Shibanhe bauxite deposits, along the southern margin of the NCC to study the metallogenic process of bauxite ores and their tectonic implications. One and two bauxite ore layers were observed in the Gunziying and Shibanhe bauixte deposits, respectively. The bauxite ore is dominated by diaspore, illite, anatase, kaolinite, pyrite, zircon, and rutile. Analyses of detrital zircons revealed that the largest group (∼432–515 Ma, at a peak age of ∼450 Ma) is spread throughout the Late Carboniferous bauxite deposits, with εHf(t) values of −5.7–21.4, similar to the zircons from the NQB. Similarly, the detrital zircons with peak ages of ∼950 Ma and age clusters at ∼1.1 Ga, ∼1.3 Ga, and ∼1.8 Ga as well as those ranging in age from 635 to 797 Ma, also exhibited εHf(t) values similar to the zircons from the NQB. In addition, the results suggested that 62 (73%) and 75 (88.2%) of detrital rutiles showed metapelitic protoliths and amphibolite/eclogite facies temperatures, respectively, while 23 (27%) and 10 (11.8%) exhibited metamafic protoliths and granulite facies temperatures, respectively. Based on the results above, we propose that the provenance of the bauxite ores on the southern margin of the NCC is primarily from the NQB. The dominant contributors were the Neoproterozoic Kuanping Group and the Meso–Neoproterozoic Qinling Group. The Archean-Proterozoic metamorphic rocks in the paleo-uplifts of the NCC were also likely involved in the bauxite formation. A probable outline of the bauxite-formation process on the southern NCC, former weathered residuals and subsequent deposition, is proposed; and a reasonable interpretation that the NQB was accreted to the NCC in the Late Carboniferous and formed a northward lying slope basin within the NCC, is supported. Image 1 • New constraints on the source of the NCC bauxite ores are proposed. • Mainly material transport from the North Qinling and Kuanping Group. • Bauxitic formation most likely weathered residuals and deposited. • Late Paleozoic Tectonics resulted in the "G" bauxites throughout the NCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed matrix membranes combining the processibility of polymers with the properties of porous nano-additives is an effective method to enhance the performance of membrane distillation (MD) process. In this work, a new type of hydrophobic hybrid PVDF hollow fiber membranes doped with aluminum fumarate metal-organic frameworks (AlFu MOF) was fabricated and their performance in direct contact membrane distillation were studied experimentally and theoretically. The results showed that the addition of MOF particles efficiently enlarged the effective porosity of membrane and increased the water flux as well as the thermal efficiency of MD process. At 1 wt% MOF loading, the effective porosity of membrane was enlarged by 52.4%, which induced 55.9% increment in overall mass transfer coefficient of the hybrid membrane, and the thermal conductivity of the membrane was decreased by 38.6%, which contributed to the reduction of sensible heat loss of MD. Correspondingly, the experimental water flux of the hybrid 1 wt% MOF/PVDF membrane was improved by 50.5% and the thermal efficiency increased by 46.2% (0.58 vs 0.31) at a feed temperature of 40 °C. Moreover, the MOF/PVDF membrane exhibited stable flux and retained high salt rejection (>99.9%) for 3.5 wt% NaCl solution over a 50 h desalination test period. Overall, this study provides an insight into the positive effects of AlFu MOF additives on the enhancement of membrane performance in distillation process. Image 1 • Aluminum fumarate MOF was blended with PVDF to fabricate hollow fiber membranes. • Effects of nanoparticle on membrane structure and performance were investigated. • Hybrid membranes showed 50.5% higher flux and 46.2% higher thermal efficiency. • The mechanism on the enhancement of heat and mass transfer performance were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile industry consumes large quantities of freshwater and discharges large quantities of dye/salt wastewater, causing serious environmental problems. Nanofiltration (NF) has proven to be able to achieve efficient dye/salt separation. However, conventional polyamide (PA) NF membranes are often constrained by the trade-off between selectivity and permeability. Herein, we developed a highly dye/NaCl selective nanofiltration membrane with a rod-coated PVA interlayer. The rod-coating approach allows better control of PVA dosage to create a perfect PVA interlayer. The formation and effect of rod-coated PVA interlayer significantly improved the permeability. With an optimal PVA dosage of approximately 0.32 g/m2, the permeance of the iTFC membrane (>30.0 L/(m2 h bar)) was almost 3 times that of the control membrane. Moreover, the iTFC-PVA membrane had an outstanding Rhodamine B rejection (99.8 %), low sodium chloride (NaCl) rejection, and maximum NaCl/dye selectivity ratio as high as 428. It is anticipated that the iTFC membrane has great potential in the field of dyehouse wastewater treatment. Furthermore, our study proves that the Mayer rod-coating approach is suited to fabricating high-performance PA-NF membranes with PVA interlayers. It is anticipated that organic-containing wastewater can better be treated by the developed membrane to achieve a better water environment and resource recovery. [Display omitted] • Rod-coating approach works well to produce and regulate PVA interlayer. • Optimal PVA dosage for a perfect interlayer is about 0.32 g/m2. • iTFC-PVA membrane possesses an excellent NaCl/dye selectivity ratio of 428. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It is an important part of the permeable pavement of sponge cities. • It can be used as a permeable base. • The gradation is designed using the principle of intermittent grading. • Studying its performance by simulating a cold climate. The internal drainage of roads is one of the most important measures to prevent water accumulation, especially on rainy days. Porous cement stabilized macadam is widely used as a skeleton porous material because of its excellent performance in road bases. So far, many scholars have researched the design and pavement performance of Porous cement stabilized macadam. However, minimal research has focused on the permeability and mechanical properties of Porous cement stabilized macadam materials subjected to freeze - thawing cycles in freezing areas. In this paper, through an indoor equivalent freeze–thawing cycle test, the effect of freezing and thawing cycles on the permeability performance and mechanical properties of two test groups was studied: a wet-frozen freeze–thawing test group and a water-immersion-frozen freeze–thawing test group. The changes in the void ratio, unconfined compressive strength, indirect tension strength, and compressive modulus of the resilience after repeated freeze–thawing cycles were examined. And the effects of the freeze–thawing cycles on permeability performance and mechanical properties under different conditions were evaluated. The experiment identified a minimal freeze–thawing cycle effect on the permeability performance of the porous cement stabilized macadam materials, for which the maximum increase in void ratio did not exceed 1.3%. However, it was bring the greater impact on the mechanical properties of the porous cement stabilized macadam after freeze–thawing cycle test. Unconfined compressive strength and indirect tension strength were reduced by a maximum of 37.94% and 53.49%, respectively, and the freeze–thawing cycle under saturated water conditions exhibited the greatest influence on the properties of the porous cement stabilized macadam as well as the unconfined compressive strength of the sample subjected to the water-immersion-frozen freeze–thawing test groups and wet-frozen freeze–thawing test groups. The unconfined compressive strength of the specimen was reduced by a maximum of 15.09%, whereas the indirect tension strength was relatively decreased by 28.57%. In addition, according to the test data to fit the corresponding function equations, it is proposed targeted improvement measures to provide theoretical guidance for practical engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inferior clay rich in CaO and Fe 2 O 3 is a typical clay with huge reserves in southwest of China, which cannot be used in traditional aluminosilicate system ceramics. To efficiently utilize the inferior clay, a method of preparing novel ceramics containing CaO and Fe 2 O 3 was put forward. In this study, effects of inferior clay proportion on properties, CaO on evolution of crystalline phases and Fe 2 O 3 on densification process were analyzed by XRF, XRD, TG-DTA and SEM-EDS combined with physical properties tests. The results showed that addition of inferior clay (from 20 to 70 wt%) significantly affected sintering temperature (from 1190 to 1130 °C). High activity CaO decomposed by carbonate transformed into anorthite and diopside at low temperature. Fe 2 O 3 promoted generation of low-temperature liquid phase, which facilitated densification process. The fired ceramics (60 wt% inferior clay) sintered at 1130 °C exhibited excellent properties with water absorption of 0.05%, linear shrinkage of 6.8% and flexural strength of 70 MPa. This batch was applied into an industrial experiment and 1160 m 2 qualified ceramics (ISO 10545-4:2004) were fabricated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comfortable thermal environment is extremely important for the enjoyment of outdoor spaces. The relationship among microclimate, thermal sensation, and human behavior is expected to provide guidelines and implications for outdoor space design and planning practice. Given that, this study aimed at a better understanding of outdoor thermal comfort and activities in the residential community in a humid subtropical area of China. This study counted the number of people staying at the outdoor space, recorded physical measurements, and collected questionnaire surveys to determine the thermal comfort and activities of the outdoor space. Analysis results confirmed that the thermal experience and expectation existed and changed people’s perceptions about the outdoor thermal environment in different seasons. The 90% acceptable physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) range affected by the local climate and thermal adaptation was 18.1–31.1 °C. The residents adapted to the outdoor spaces through adjustment of clothing, activity spaces and activity times in different seasons. These findings shed light on the optimal design of outdoor spaces for increasing the utilization rate. Sunny and shady subspaces should be considered to provide residents with more opportunities to interact with the environment for different seasons, thus improving their thermal comfort and the usage rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ctDNA methylation level is abnormally high in cancer patients. • Methylation burden is clearly related to TMB, MSI and PD-L1. • ctDNA methylation is related to the type, frequency and number of mutations. The aim of this paper is to explore the correlation between circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) methylation and mutations and its value in clinical early cancer screening. We performed target region methylation sequencing and genome sequencing on plasma samples. Methylation models to distinguish cancer from healthy individuals have been developed using hypermethylated genes in tumors and validated in training set and prediction set. We found that patients with cancer had higher levels of ctDNA methylation compared to healthy individuals. The level of ctDNA methylation in cell cycle, p53, Notch pathway in pan-cancer was significantly correlated with the number of mutations, and mutation frequency. Methylation burden in some tumors was significantly correlated with tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI) and PD-L1. The ctDNA methylation differences in cancer patients were mainly concentrated in the Herpes simplex virus 1 infection pathway. The area under curve (AUC) of the training and prediction sets of the methylation model distinguishing cancer from healthy individuals were 0.93 and 0.92, respectively. Our study provides a landscape of methylation levels of important pathways in pan-cancer. ctDNA methylation significantly correlates with mutation type, frequency and number, providing a reference for clinical application of ctDNA methylation in early cancer screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hybrid particles are synthesized from boron nitride and barium titanate. • Composite films prepared by incorporating hybrid particles into cyanoethyl cellulose. • The composite exhibits a high dielectric constant of ∼ 44. • High thermal conductivity and breakdown strength are also achieved in the composite. Polymer dielectrics hold a great potential to be used in the field of power equipment and advanced electronics. However, their limited thermal conductivity fails to satisfy the imperative demand for heat dissipation in practical applications. Herein, we report a novel strategy to prepare multifunctional cyanoethyl cellulose matrix composite films by employing a hybrid filler of boron nitride nanosheets and barium titanate nanoparticles. The resultant composite films simultaneously exhibit high thermal conductivity (∼10.54 W/m·K), high dielectric constant (∼44), high electrical breakdown strength (>302 kV/mm), and low dielectric loss (∼0.01). The findings in this work enable broader application of polymer dielectrics in impulse power and energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • SBPHs + CaCl 2 treatment increased bone calcium levels and bone density. • SBPHs +CaCl 2 treatment can change the bone turnover markers level in serum. • SBPHs+CaCl 2 treatment can increase bone biomechanics and improve bone microarchitecture. • SBPHs+CaCl 2 intervention alters the composition of the gut microbiota. • SBPHs+CaCl 2 intervention promotes short-chain fatty acid production. Calcium deficiency is prone to fractures, osteoporosis and other symptoms. In this study, sheep bone protein hydrolysates (SBPHs) were obtained by protease hydrolysis. A low-calcium-diet-induced calcium-deficiency rat model was established to investigate the effects of SBPHs on calcium absorption and intestinal flora composition. The results showed that an SBPHs + CaCl 2 treatment significantly increased the bone calcium content, bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume, and trabecular thickness, and reduced trabecular separation, and changed the level of bone turnover markers (P < 0.05). Supplementation of SBPHs + CaCl 2 can remarkably enhance the bone mechanical strength, and the microstructure of bone was improved, and the trabecular network was more continuous, complete, and thicker. Additionally, SBPHs + CaCl 2 dietary increased the abundance of Firmicutes and reduced the abundance of Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobiota , and promoted the production of short chain fatty acids. This study indicated that SBPHs promoted calcium absorption and could be applied to alleviate osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examined the impact of adding Lactobacillus to the diet on fat distribution and meat quality of Sunit lambs. For 90 days, twenty-four lambs (19.31 ± 0.47 kg) were fed diets that contained 0 (NP), 6 (P1), 12 (P2), or 24 (P3) g of Lactobacillus casei /d. The results suggested that dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus decreased serum triglyceride in Sunit lambs (P < 0.001). The loin muscle area displayed notable increases in the P1 group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, tail and visceral fat deposition of lambs were reduced when Lactobacillus was added to the diet (P < 0.05). Compared with the NP group, the values of shear force and cooking loss of in the P1 group exhibited a significant reduction, and intramuscular fat content increased significantly (P < 0.05). Additionally, the P1 group showed an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids and a decrease in saturated fatty acids in the longissimus thoracis and biceps femoris muscles (P < 0.05). The P1 group showed downregulation of protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 2 (AMPKα2) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B expression in the longissimus thoracis muscle (P < 0.05). However, there was an upregulation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (SREBF1), and fatty acid synthase (FASN) expression (P < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding Sunit lambs 6 g/d of Lactobacillus as a dietary supplement may be a valuable way to improve fat distribution and meat quality. The AMPK/ACC and AMPK/SREBF1/FASN signaling pathways may be involved in this outcome. • Lactobacillus supplementation improved the lipid metabolism in Sunit lamb. • Supplementing with 6 g/d of Lactobacillus increased intramuscular fat accumulation. • Adding 6 g/d of Lactobacillus improved the fatty acid composition of Sunit lamb. • AMPK signaling pathway has a critical role in improved fat deposition in Sunit lamb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Peptidoglycan can adsorb 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenyl-imidazolium [4, 5-B] pyridine. • The major adsorption sites were O H and N H groups. • The peptidoglycan's adsorption capacity was not affected by the strain. The heterocyclic amine 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenyl-imidazolium [4, 5-B] pyridine (PhIP), commonly found in roasted meat products, is considered a potential carcinogen. This study is to explore the underlying mechanisms involved in the adsorption of PhIP by lactic acid bacteria 37X-15 and its peptidoglycan. The scanning electron microscope results suggested that the strain's adsorption on PhIP occurs on the cell wall, primarily composed of peptidoglycan. The fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy results indicated that PhIP adsorption by both lactic acid bacteria 37X-15 and its peptidoglycan primarily involved O H and N H binding groups. Different adsorption conditions affected the adsorption rate of PhIP by peptidoglycan. The optimal values for each adsorption condition were 2 h, 37 °C, and pH 6 when the maximum adsorption rate reached. This study provides a new direction for the application of lactic acid bacteria and its peptidoglycan in food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development in aerospace, automobile, and chemical industry has put forward demands on polymeric materials which are able to maintain their structures and performance at high temperatures. Carborane-siloxane polymers are one of the candidates suitable for applications under harsh environments and have been widely investigated. This review introduces the recent advances, synthesis routes and properties of carborane-siloxane polymers. The origin and future potentials are all presented. The main characteristics and practical applications are also described. [Display omitted] • Review of synthesis of carborane-siloxane polymers; • Review of structure-property relationship of carborane-siloxane polymer; • Review of carborane-siloxane polymers for harsh environments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Class B1 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play important roles in human physiology and disease pathology. Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and X-ray crystallography, the 3D structures of all 15 members of this receptor subfamily have been determined in recent years at the near-atomic level. Although they share many structural commonalities, they show distinct features in terms of ligand recognition and receptor activation. In-depth structural analyses have yielded valuable insights into the N termini of both peptide hormones and cognate receptors, the outward movement of transmembrane helix 6 (TM6), the allosteric modulation sites located in the transmembrane domain (TMD), and the constitutive signaling bias mediated by receptor splice variants. These provide new directions for the design of better therapeutic agents, thereby making these targets more druggable. The N termini of some peptides that regulate signal transduction, for example, GLP-1 and GLP-2, show different orientations when interacting with their respective receptors, and TIP39 adopts a unique loop conformation at its N-terminus upon binding to PTH2R. The extracellular domain (ECD) of some class B1 receptors is directly involved in signaling. For example, the N-terminus of GLP‐1R folds down towards the TMD to cover the ligand-binding pocket when bound by non-peptidic agonists. The ECD N-terminal α-helix of VIP2R inserts to the cleft between PACAP27 and ECL1 to stabilize peptide binding. The outward movement of TM6 upon receptor activation could be significantly affected by small molecules acting as allosteric modulators, including an ago-allosteric modulator (ago-PAM) and several negative allosteric modulators (NAMs). There are two forms of signaling bias – ligand-dependent and constitutive – that are mediated by splice variants of the wild-type receptor, for example, SV1 of GHRHR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Optimal combination of base learners enhanced the machine learning model prediction. • A probability map for elevated concentrations of groundwater As or F − was created. • Populations affected by high As or F − groundwater were estimated. • Contributions of environmental factors on high As and F − groundwater were revealed. Chronic exposure to elevated geogenic arsenic (As) and fluoride (F −) concentrations in groundwater poses a significant global health risk. In regions around the world where regular groundwater quality assessments are limited, the presence of harmful levels of As and F − in shallow groundwater extracted from specific wells remains uncertain. This study utilized an enhanced stacking ensemble learning model to predict the distributions of As and F − in shallow groundwater based on 4,393 available datasets of observed concentrations and forty relevant environmental factors. The enhanced model was obtained by fusing well-suited Extreme Gradient Boosting, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine as the base learners and a structurally simple Linear Discriminant Analysis as the meta-learner. The model precisely captured the patchy distributions of groundwater As and F − with an AUC value of 0.836 and 0.853, respectively. The findings revealed that 9.0% of the study area was characterized by a high As risk in shallow groundwater, while 21.2% was at high F − risk identified as having a high risk of fluoride contamination. About 0.2% of the study area shows elevated levels of both of them. The affected populations are estimated at approximately 7.61 million, 34.1 million, and 0.2 million, respectively. Furthermore, sedimentary environment exerted the greatest influence on distribution of groundwater As, with human activities and climate following closely behind at 29.5%, 28.1%, and 21.9%, respectively. Likewise, sedimentary environment was the primary factor affecting groundwater F − distribution, followed by hydrogeology and soil physicochemical properties, contributing 27.8%, 24.0%, and 23.3%, respectively. This study contributed to the identification of health risks associated with shallow groundwater As and F −, and provided insights into evaluating health risks in regions with limited samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multi-enzyme-mimicking nanozyme-thixotropic anionic hydrogel coating was fabricated. • The coating exhibited antifungal performance and wound healing capacity. • The coating was successfully used for the treatment of fungal keratitis. Fungal keratitis is the primary cause of infectious corneal blindness in China. Currently, early-stage treatment mainly involves the frequent administration of antifungal medications to ensure prolonged corneal contact and maintain effective drug concentration. This approach, however, may lead to harmful side effects and increased antifungal resistance due to the substantial use of antifungal agents. Consequently, the development of advanced antifungal strategies is essential. In the study, we fabricated a multi-enzyme-mimicking nanozyme-thixotropic anionic hydrogel coating (NHC) that incorporated voriconazole and copper-proanthocyanidins (CuPC) nanozyme, by the Schiff base reaction of self-synthesized polyaldehyde oligomer (PAO) with amino functionalized hyaluronic acid (AHA), for the treatment of fungal keratitis. The thixotropic anionic hydrogel significantly boosts the retention time and permeability of voriconazole, allowing a low dose to achieve a high therapeutic concentration. Additionally, the inherent antifungal and peroxidase-like activities of CuPC, coupled with the intrinsic characteristics of anionic hydrogel, further enhance the antifungal efficacy of NHC. Moreover, the NHC assists in corneal wound healing through stimulating cell proliferation by HA derivative as well as scavenging ROS via the catalase-like and superoxide dismutase-like activities of CuPC. The in vitro and in vivo studies have illustrated the safety and effectiveness of NHC, indicating its potential in the treatment of fungal keratitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The typical "ridge-valley" structure of traditional reverse osmosis (RO) membranes ensures good permeability with high risk of inducing membrane fouling. It is a challenge to develop a smooth RO membrane without loss of permeability. In this study, cyclobutane-1,2,3,4-tetracarbohydrazide (CBTH) was designed and synthesized, and a composite RO membrane based on CBTH and cyclobutane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylic acid chloride (BTC) was constructed. The CBTH-BTC membrane exhibits a smooth selective layer with thickness of 45 nm. The desalination performance test results show that the CBTH-BTC membrane has permeability and desalination performance comparable to the traditional RO membrane (the water permeability coefficient reaches 3.0 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1, and the rejection of NaCl reaches 99.2 %). Importantly, the hydrophilic and smooth surface imparts the membrane with good antifouling properties to hydrophilic, hydrophobic and surfactant pollutants. In this study, RO membranes with good permeability and excellent antifouling performance were successfully prepared from the perspective of reaction monomer design, which provides a new idea to regulate the morphology and antifouling properties of RO membranes. [Display omitted] • Polyamide-hydrazide reverse osmosis membranes with smooth surface were prepared with novel monomers. • Reverse osmosis membranes prepared from non-aromatic monomers. • Polyamide-hydrazide reverse osmosis membrane has comparable permeability and salt rejection performance to traditional reverse osmosis membrane. • Polyamide-hydrazide based reverse osmosis membrane exhibits excellent antifouling performance to various types of foulants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proteomic analysis on biceps femoris in Sunit lamb under different feeding regimes. • The flavor index of the PF lamb was better than that of the CF lamb. • Lamb flavor pathways mainly involve the anabolism of amino acids and sugars. In order to explore the molecular mechanism of the effect of feeding regimes on lamb flavor, biceps femoris muscle samples from pasture-fed groups (PF) and concentrate-fed groups (CF) were chosen, and tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling combined with mass spectrometry (MS) was performed to find associations between flavor indicators and proteome profiles. The content and composition of amino acids and volatile flavor substances were better in the PF compared to the CF, with higher levels of some beneficial flavor components such as Arg, Pro Pentanal, Heptanal, Octanal, 1-octen-3-ol and 2,3-Octanedione. About 82 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were identified. The Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated that the pathways that may be associated with lamb flavor are focused on amino acid anabolism. These results provide a basis for further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of proteins in meat flavor regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• HoCRP may play an important role in host innate immune response against pathogens invasion. • HoCRP is first identified and analyzed for its immunological function. • rHoCRP binds various PAMPs and bacteria and causes bacterial agglutination. • rHoCRP recognizes the C1q domain in vitro. • rHoCRP markedly promotes phagocytosis of RAW264.7 in the presence of complement. C-reactive protein (CRP) belongs to the short-chain pentraxin family and functions as a soluble pattern recognition molecule (PRM) aiding in host defense against pathogens. In the present study, a CRP gene, designated HoCRP, was cloned from Hexagrammos otakii for the first time. The full length of the HoCRP cDNA sequence is 821 bp, which contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 675 bp encoding a 224 amino acid protein. The deduced protein is predicted to have a theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of 5.30 and a molecular weight of 25.4 kDa. The recombinant HoCRP protein (rHoCRP) was expressed in E. coli to further characterize the functions of HoCRP. Saccharide binding experiments demonstrated that rHoCRP exhibited a high affinity for various pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Furthermore, bacterial binding and agglutination assays indicated that rHoCRP had the capability to recognize a wide spectrum of microorganisms. These findings suggest that HoCRP functions not only as a PRM for binding PAMPs but also as an immune effector molecule. Considering the role CRP plays in the classical complement pathway, the interaction between rHoCRP and rHoC1q was assessed and proven by a Pull-down and Elisa assay, which implied that rHoCRP may be able to activate complement. In addition, phagocytosis enhancement by rHoCRP in the presence or absence of complement components was analysed by flow cytometry. The results showed that rHoCRP could synergistically enhance the phagocytosis of RAW264.7 cells with complement, providing further evidence of complement activation by rHoCRP through the opsonization of specific complement components. In summary, our findings suggest that rHoCRP may play a crucial role in host antibacterial defense by recognizing pathogens, activating the complement system, and enhancing macrophage function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the learning capability of HAZOP expert systems, a new learning HAZOP expert system called PetroHAZOP has been developed based on the integration of case-based reasoning (CBR) and ontology that can help automate “non-routine” HAZOP analysis. PetroHAZOP consists of four modules including case base module, CBR engine module, knowledge maintenance module and user graphical interface module. Within the case base, HAZOP analysis knowledge is represented as cases which are organized with a hierarchical structure. Similarity-based case retrieval algorithm is also depicted to find the closest-matching cases. In order to enhance the case retrieval, a new set of ontologies for CBR-based HAZOP analysis is created by integration of existing ontologies reported in literature. Finally the application of PetroHAZOP is demonstrated by two case studies of industrial processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The propagation characteristics of TM polarized Gaussian beam, which is the rigorous solution of an eigenfunction problem for a confocal resonator, have been investigated using the nonparaxial vectorial moment theory of light beam propagation. The analytical expressions of the beam propagation factors are given by means of Fourier transform. Both the transversal second-order moment beam widths follow a simple hyperbolic variational law. For nonparaxial case, however, beam has different propagating features in the two transversal directions. As to paraxial case, its propagation approximately reduces to that of scalar Gaussian beam TEM00 mode. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An effective treatment for some disease, such as the model disease acute retinal necrosis (ARN), requires a combination of different drugs which should be administered at a certain interval. The precise sequential and long-term drug release are the critical questions. In this work, the as-prepared chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) coated with hyaluronic acid (HA) were embedded in the aldehyde β-cyclodextrin (ACD)/aminated hyaluronic acid (NHA) hydrogels to synthesize injectable hydrogels loaded with dual drugs named DEX-CS-NPs/GCV-Gel and HA-DEX-CS-NPs/GCV-Gel. In the first 24 h and 48 h, the releases of DEX from DEX-CS-NPs/GCV-Gel were 128.5 % and 82.8 % faster than those from HA-DEX-CS-NPs/GCV-Gel, respectively. There was no DEX released from HA-DEX-CS-NPs/GCV-Gel at the first 7 h, which has never been reported before, although some hydrogel systems loaded with different drugs release different drugs simultaneously at different rate which have been well studied. This is a good start of a precise sequence release. The composite hydrogels possessed appropriate rheology, gel time, degradation performance, and ideal cytocompatibility. The injectable hydrogel loaded with dual drugs presenting a precise sequential and long-term release has great potential in the treatment of diseases requiring combinations of drugs being released sequentially at different treating stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]