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In this paper, we first detect the uneven distribution of regional inequality in rural China with the per capita net income data at county level, and then diagnose the various factors that contribute to this as well as its driving mechanisms using the four-dimension transitional framework. The results suggest that rural inequalities are clustered at the province level, and those most unequal regions tend to be geographically gathered. Stemming from the framework, the study reveals that the spatio-temporal disparity in rural inequality is deeply embedded in the quadruple-transition process of marketization, globalization, decentralization and urbanization. Employing both the pooled OLS and spatial regime models, the study further unfolds that influences of the transition processes are diversified across regions and study periods. We finally argue that human investment rather than economic growth plays the key role in reducing the rural inequality in eastern provinces, and that the formulation of policies in line with regional characteristics would be helpful to address or alleviate rural inequality. • The uneven distribution of regional inequality in rural China is detected. • Major contributors and impetus of the disparities of rural inequality is diagnosed. • Rural inequalities tend to be geographically gathered. • Spatio-temporal disparity in rural inequality is deeply embedded in China's transitional process. • Human investment plays the key role in reducing the inequality in eastern provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rich body of literature is stressing the crucial importance of migration and market evolution on the underutilization of housing in cities. Rural housing is unique given its less mature market structure. Drawing on an empirical case of Sunan, the work reported in this paper addresses underlying mechanisms of housing land underutilization in rural China. Employing a multi-level modeling approach, results suggest that the likelihood of underutilization relates to household and village features, such as family attributes, housing/parcel characteristics, type of villages, and geographical locations. Additionally, underutilization was also closely associated with regional contexts including local economic development levels and migration patterns. Theoretically, we conceptualized rural housing land underutilization as a land use transition with villagers' awareness of policy change possibilities in the context of both rapid urbanization and rural transformation with nested hybrid results. We argue that urban-rural differences do not induce underutilization. Rather, policy-induced overbuilding of new houses and insistence on retaining uninhabited older houses combined with the tendency for villagers' to view investments as a mechanism to retain ties to their rural hometowns drove underutilizaiton. • We propose a multi-scalar analytical framework on the underutilization of rural housing land. • We identify the nested impacts of factors at different levels on the utility of rural housing land. • The dualistically organized regime is argued as the primary driver of housing land underutilization in rural China. • The transition of rural space from productivism to post-productivism matters as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Co-MoS 2 nanocomposite exhibiting NADH oxidase mimic activity. • The mechanism of the NADH oxidase mimics was studied. • Sensitive and selective colorimetric sensor for NADH developed. NADH oxidase (NOX) is an oxidoreductase that catalyzes the oxidation of NADH to NAD+ with the participation of oxygen. NOX can artificially regulate metabolic processes as an important regulatory enzyme for NAD+ regeneration. In this study, cobalt-doped molybdenum sulfide (Co-MoS 2) nanocomposite was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis, which exhibited NOX mimics. The catalytic mechanism of NOX mimics was studied. The NOX-like activity of Co-MoS 2 is optimal at pH 4.5 and in the temperature range of 20–45℃. Further, its catalytic activity maintained almost the same after 5 cycles of repetitive addition of NADH, suggesting that Co-MoS 2 nanozyme possessed significant catalytic persistence. The produced H 2 O 2 catalyzed by Co-MoS 2 can be detected by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine at pH4.5. Thus, interestingly, a colorimetric NADH sensor was proposed on the basis of the enzymatic cascade reaction of NADH oxidase-like conjugated with HRP. This as-established method had wide detection range (0.5–800 μM) with the detection limit of 0.25 μM NADH, capable of detecting NADH in real sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Animal and human studies have revealed reciprocal association between exercise and gut-brain axis. However, the clinical evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT) are still limited to directly assess the effects of aerobic exercise on gut microbiota. To fill this gap, we conducted this 12-week RCT in both groups of adolescents with and without sub-threshold mood symptoms.Methods: A total of 224 adolescents were randomized to the aerobic exercise intervention or psychoeducation-controlled arm. 49 adolescents with subthreshold symptoms and 142 clinically-well adolescents provided the sample for microbiota assessed by metagenomic sequencing. Aerobic exercise of running at the moderate-intensity for 30 min per day, 5 days a week, were conducted for 12 weeks.Results: Adolescents with subthreshold symptoms had significantly lower beta diversity than clinically-well adolescents in both the exercise intervention and psychoeducation-controlled arms (p<0.05). After intervention, no difference in gut microbiota diversity, phylum, genus, species level abundancies or gut microbial functions were found in both of the symptomatic or non-symptomatic groups. Metagenome-wide association study analysis showed no significant difference in metagenomic linkage groups.Limitations: The sample size is relatively small. The exercise intensity we employed may be insufficient to result in observable effects on intestinal microbiota.Conclusion: We conclude that a 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic exercise intervention showed no significant beneficial effect on the gut microbiota in clinically-well adolescents as well as in adolescents with subthreshold symptoms. The beta diversity of gut microbiota in adolescents with subthreshold mood syndromes may be impaired when compared with clinically-well adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recovery of spent hydrogenation catalysts occupies advantages in both alleviating environmental burden and resource shortage. Whereas, the development of conventional hydrometallurgical recovery of molybdenum (Mo) and nickel (Ni) from spent MoNi/Al 2 O 3 catalysts has been limited by the numerous processes and the accompanying generation of waste liquids and residues. Herein, A new recycling route for the preparation of spent hydrogenation catalysts with low thermal expansion coefficients (CTE) was proposed, which has the advantages of short process, green environment and high value utilization. The Li 2 O–Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 –B 2 O 3 (LASB) parent glass containing Mo and Ni were obtained by melting with different contents of the spent catalysts. The thermal expansion coefficient of the glass was minimized to 6.08 × 10−6/°C at an addition of 25 wt% of the spent catalysts. Moreover, according to the crystallization peak in DTA curve, glass-ceramics were prepared by one-step crystallization heat treatment at different crystallization temperatures. The main crystalline phase of the glass-ceramic precipitated by heating at 685 °C is β-quartz (Li 2 Al 2 Si 3 O 10), which gives the glass-ceramics the lowest coefficient of thermal expansion (0.96 × 10−6/°C) of glass-ceramic as well as the maximum density (2.45 g/cm3) and Vickers hardness (705.8 Hv). Furthermore, the activation energy (354.65 ± 17.42) kJ/mol) and Avrami index (5.39) associated with crystallization were extracted from the fitting of different theoretical model, indicating the three-dimensional crystallization of the LASB glass-ceramics. This technology provides a waste-to-material strategy for hazardous waste and a clean production route for the preparation of the functional glass-ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a key to community remediation, villagers' withdrawal from homesteads has long been a core subject of academic inquiry and a major concern of governments in China. Drawing upon the multi-level framework, we examine villagers' willingness to withdraw from rural homesteads in Sunan and explore the influencing mechanisms. The results of binary logistic regression (BLR) models imply that future expectations of villagers matter for their willingness within the twofold context of urbanization and rural revitalization, and that the expectations vary across households and regions. Developed regions and wealthy households with access to opportunities and social security tend to have better expectations and higher odds of withdrawal; villagers in less-favored regions are also inclined to escape the current environment of living, but however bound to homesteads by the disadvantage in coping with future uncertainties. Furthermore, we argue that differences in villagers' willingness well reveals the uneven pattern of homesteads transition towards multifunctionality and can to some extent reify or even amplify inequalities in villages and across regions. • Future expectations of villagers matter for their willingness to withdraw from rural homesteads. • The heterogeneity of expectations across households and regions shapes an uneven pattern of willingness to withdraw. • Differences in villagers' willingness reveals the uneven pattern of homesteads transition towards multifunctionality. • Differences in villagers' willingness may reify or even amplify inequalities in villages and across regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study theoretically the localization and coupling properties of defect modes in octagonal quasi-crystals made of conjugated polymers for the light modulation of organic light-emitting devices (OLED) and organic lasers. Due to the rotational symmetry of quasicrystals and the low refractive-index of organic semiconductors, it is observed that localized modes only occur in the complex defect-cavity structures. Unlike conventional photonic crystals with high-index, some unusual characteristics of defect modes coupling in quasicrystals under the low-index contrast are revealed and analyzed, such as the loss of defect modes, composite resonant cavity, and phase-opposition of modal tails. These results will allow us to better utilize the light control in organic photonic crystal microcavity lasers, especially in the localization region, and further to apply in OLED and VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the quasilinear attraction–repulsion chemotaxis system with logistic source u t = ∇ ⋅ (D (u) ∇ u) − ∇ ⋅ (Φ (u) ∇ v) + ∇ ⋅ (Ψ (u) ∇ w) + f (u) , (x , t) ∈ Ω × (0 , ∞) , 0 = Δ v + α u − β v , (x , t) ∈ Ω × (0 , ∞) , 0 = Δ w + γ u − δ w , (x , t) ∈ Ω × (0 , ∞) under Neumann boundary conditions in a bounded domain Ω ⊂ R N (N ≥ 1) , where D , Φ , Ψ ∈ C 2 [ 0 , ∞) are nonnegative functions with D (s) ≥ (s + 1) p for s ≥ 0 , Φ (s) ≤ χ s q , ξ s r ≤ Ψ (s) ≤ ζ s r for s > 1 , and the smooth function f satisfies f (s) ≤ μ s (1 − s k) for s > 0 , f (0) ≥ 0. Tian et al. (2016) proved that when q = m a x { r , k } and q − p ≥ 2 N , if one of the following assumptions holds: (i) q = r = k , μ > (α χ − γ ξ) (1 − 2 N (q − p) ) / (1 + 2 (q − 1) N (q − p) ) ; (ii) q = r > k , α χ − γ ξ < 0 ; (iii) q = k > r , μ > α χ (1 − 2 N (p − q) ) / (1 + 2 (q − 1) N (p − q) ) , then the solution of the equations is globally bounded. The present work further shows that the same conclusion still holds for the critical cases: (a) q = r = k , μ = (α χ − γ ξ) (1 − 2 N (q − p) ) / (1 + 2 (q − 1) N (q − p) ) ; (b) q = r > k , α χ − γ ξ = 0 with q − p < 1 N m i n { 4 (N + 1) N + 2 , N + 2 } ; (c) q = k > r , μ = α χ (1 − 2 N (p − q) ) / (1 + 2 (q − 1) N (p − q) ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraction of molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) from waste alloy significantly impacts the alleviation of resource shortage and ecological environment. In this study, Mn additive was utilized as a recyclable roasting aid to convert Mo and W for facilitating extraction, by considering thermodynamic calculations. The effect of β-MnO 2 as a roasting additive on the phase evolution of Mo, W, and Mn elements and the optimal process conditions were evaluated by XRD, SEM-EDS, thermal analysis, and alkali leaching experiments. Notably, Mo and W in the alloy waste got oxidized and converted into soluble MnMoO 4 and MnWO 4 , respectively, under the conditions of roasting temperature of 750 °C, β-MnO 2 amount of 75% of waste alloy mass, and time of 1 h. During alkaline leaching, 100.00% Mo and 99.59% W in the roasted product were extracted, which was accompanied with the precipitation of leached residue of α-MnO 2 , Mn 3 O 4 , and Mn 2 O 3 from Mn present in the leach liquor (NaOH concentration 2 mol⋅L−1, solid–liquid ratio 10% (w/v), time 5 h, temperature 90 °C). When the recycled leached residue was employed in the next roasting process, the leaching efficiency of Mo and W was maintained above 98.56%. Moreover, the reaction mechanisms of roasting and leaching were investigated by kinetics study. Roasting with β-MnO 2 fundamentally reduced the production cost with the high extraction efficiency of Mo and W, and the flue gas recovery process was no longer required, which is beneficial to industrial application. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental externalities of industrial agglomeration have generated intense debate, yet few studies have considered their effects and inner influence mechanism based on varied agglomeration types. This study distinguished between industrial density and proximity (spatially) and industrial specialization and diversity, as well as related variety and unrelated variety (organizationally). Using the panel data from China's 285 cities from 2003 to 2013, we examined the different effects of multiple agglomeration types of industrial agglomeration on industrial SO 2 emissions, and their inner influence mechanism from two aspects of industrial structure and technological progress. First, we found that various agglomeration types have different environmental externalities and that industrial density and proximity both have significant reduction effects on SO 2 emissions; diversity and related variety effectively reduce SO 2 discharges, but specialization and unrelated variety are linked to increased emissions. Second, technological progress and industrial structure are the critical channels of industrial agglomeration affecting pollution emissions while technological progress plays a greater role in the reducing emission effect of industrial agglomeration. Our findings reveal the importance of different agglomeration types and technological progress between industrial agglomeration and pollution emission. • We build a theoretical hypothesis to clarify the relationship between industrial agglomerations and environmental pollution. • We match firm-level data and panel data of 285 cities from 2003 to 2013 in China. • We analyze the effect of industrial agglomerations on industrial SO 2 emissions based on multiple types of agglomeration. • With a simultaneous equation model, we explore the inner influence mechanism through industrial structure and technological progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modified colloidal sol–gel process with organic additives was proposed for the fabrication of TiO 2 NF membranes with a MWCO of ~820 Da and a water permeability of ~8 L/(m 2 h bar). The properties of the TiO 2 materials were greatly influenced by the modified route denoted Route B, but little difference was detected in the materials synthesized via the traditional route denoted Route A. For the TiO 2 materials prepared using Route B, the DLS analysis showed that the particle size of the TiO 2 hydrosol decreased as the amount of organics increased; the XRD patterns and TEM images confirmed the role of additives in restraining the TiO 2 grain growth and A→R transformation. This behavior may be explained by the lower packing and ordering of the nanoparticles, which would inhibit rearrangement among the nanoparticles and slow both the grain growth and phase transformation. After comparing the N 2 adsorption–desorption results, the TiO 2 material with 90 dwb% glycerin was optimized for forming NF membranes. Small organics were better for this process than larger ones. Finally, the TiO 2 NF membranes were fabricated using Route B, and the resultant membranes showed better retention properties compared to those of the TiO 2 membranes fabricated via Route A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titania nanofiltration (NF) membranes with a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of ∼1000 Da impregnated with noble metal Pd have been fabricated via the colloidal sol–gel route. The process of calcination under air atmosphere before reduction under hydrogen atmosphere was utilized for complete removal of organics, and the as-prepared Pd-doped TiO 2 materials were denoted as PdO-TiO 2 and Pd-TiO 2 , respectively. XRD patterns and TEM images confirmed that, under the air atmosphere, the Pd doping restrained TiO 2 grain growth and A → R transformation, which may be due to the substitution of Pd 2+ into the TiO 2 lattice, suggesting that the release of deformation energy stabilized the anatase phase. Combining N 2 adsorption–desorption results, the PdO-TiO 2 materials with a Pd concentration of 30 dwb% and a calcination temperature of 400 °C were optimized with a pore size of 1.7 nm. After hydrogen reduction, the inhibitory effect of Pd doping on phase transformation was weakened, with a looser pore structure achieved for the Pd-TiO 2 materials with a pore size of 2.4 nm, indicating the inhibitory effect of PdO, Pd 0 and Pd 2+ , the three chemical states of elemental Pd, on TiO 2 crystal growth and A → R transformation improved in turn. Finally, the Pd-TiO 2 NF membranes were fabricated with a water permeability of ∼10 L/(m 2 h bar), showing high ion retention rates, while the undoped TiO 2 membranes exhibited much lower retention properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wet markets, recently thrust into the limelight during the coronavirus pandemic, play a necessary role in daily life in Asia. Yet, the value of wet markets has not ever been sufficiently explored. While an increasing body of work has studied the implicit value of urban public amenities through the hedonic price model and traditional measurements of accessibility and density, the subjective perceptions of amenities have been neglected, specifically for consumption amenity. This is especially the case with wet markets: traditional approaches are unable to capture their comprehensive effects. By employing data on Beijing housing transactions in 2019 and online review scores of wet markets, we reduce this knowledge gap by exploring both the amenity and dis-amenity effects of wet markets and capturing the objective and subjective perspectives. Our results indicate a nonlinear relationship between wet market accessibility and urban housing prices. Considering the perceived quality of wet markets, this paper further indicates that housing prices near high-scoring wet markets appreciate while housing prices depreciate near low-scoring markets. Interestingly, the negative influence of low-scoring markets is statistically larger than the positive influence of high-scoring wet markets. Taking the housing price as a reflection of an owner's wealth and income level, we argue that high-income dwellers tend to pay more for perceived quality than for convenience. Our findings, therefore, offer new and refined insights for scholars and urban planning decision-makers. • The effect of wet markets for residents is explored through the lens of urban housing prices. • The physical accessibility and the big data of online customer reviews are employed to capture the objective and subjective perceptions of wet markets. • Both amenity and dis-amenity effects of wet market are detected. • A nonlinear relationship between wet market accessibility and urban housing prices is indicated. • High-income dwellers tend to pay more for subjective perception than for convenience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a technical route toward the comprehensive recovery of valuable metals from spent Ni–Mo/γ–Al 2 O 3 hydrofining catalysts, which were employed to remove S, N, and O elements and metal–organic compounds from crude oil and petroleum products. Additionally, the process conditions are optimized, thereby providing good economic and environmental benefits. Sodium carbonate-assisted roasting of the spent catalyst effectively improves the secondary pollution and leaching effect. After Al, Mo, and Ni elements in the spent catalyst were converted into NaAlO 2 , Na 2 MoO 4 , and NiO, more than 99.8% of the metal ions entered the leaching solution, minimizing the loss. A synergistic extraction system using the di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (P204) and tri-n-octylamine (TOA) extractants were employed to extract molybdenum from the clarified acid leaching solution, and more than 97.5% of Mo was separated from Al and Ni. The MoO 3 product was obtained by stripping with ammonia, followed by evaporating, and roasting. Furthermore, by adding ammonia to adjust the pH value of the molybdenum extraction solution to 4, 98.0% of the Al was extracted by P204. Subsequently, a Na 2 S precipitation agent was employed to convert Ni2+ into Ni(OH)S with a precipitation efficiency of 97.9%. Ultimately, the comprehensive recovery efficiencies of Al, Mo and Ni were 97.5%, 95.5%, and 90.9%, respectively, thereby realizing the comprehensive recovery of metals in the spent catalyst. • A process for comprehensive metal recovery from spent catalysts was proposed to recover Al 97.5%, Mo 95.5% and Ni 90.9%. • TOA assisted P204 effectively increased the extraction efficiency of Mo, the coordination mechanism was analyzed. • Extraction and precipitation were employed to recover Al and Ni as Al(OH) 3 and Ni(OH)S products respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu x O nanorods with excellent NADH peroxidase mimics were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The catalytic oxidation of NADH to NAD cofactor strictly follows the enzymatic kinetics with high catalytic rate and strong affinity. The catalytic mechanism of Cu x O NRs was that in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, the catalytic oxidizing NADH to NAD + involving with O 2 .-.anion production, making it realistic to mutually convert between coenzymes. Considering that the mutual transformation of NADH/NAD cofactors plays an important role in biological function, combination of Cu x O NRs with alcohol dehydrogenase, a highly selective method for fluorimetric detection of ethanol was established. The as-proposed sensing platform is capable of dectecting alcohol with the limit of detection of 26.7 μM (S/N = 3) and applied in practical sample with satisfied accuracy and recovery. The as-developed regenerable NADH peroxidase mimics would also cast lights in biocatalysis, synthetic biology and bioenergy. [Display omitted] • Cu x O NRs displaying excellent regenerable NADH peroxidase mimics. • The catalytic oxidation NADH to NAD cofactor strictly follows the enzymatic kinetics with high catalytic rate and strong affinity. • Coupled Cu x O NRs with alcohol dehydrogenase, a sensitive and selective fluorimetric sensor for ethanol was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The inverse projected-fringe technique based on multi projectors is proposed. By an absolute phase measurement on the master object, different inverse fringes are generated, for projectors placed in different directions. During the inspection process, inverse fringes are projected simultaneously. If the test object and the master object are identical, an optimized sine fringe is obtained on the camera. Otherwise, every faulty area of the test object causes distortions of the fringe. The deformations can be evaluated quantitatively by simple Fourier transformation and phase unwrapping. Therefore, we can complete the inspection of complex and discontinuous objects with only one fringe image, and solve the problems of shadow and break to a large extent, and consequently realize the fast on-line inspection. The principle of this technique is expatiated, and we prove the validity of it on the example of a two-projector system. The analysis of error and prerequisites of application are also presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the present study Renyi entropy and L–Z complexity were used to characterize heart rate variability (HRV) of rats that were suffered from brain asphyxia and ischemia. Two groups of rats were studied: (a) rats (n =5) injected with NAALADase inhibitor, 2-PMPA, which has been proven neuroprotective in asphyxia injury and (b) control subjects (n =5) without medication. Renyi entropy and L–Z complexity of the R–R intervals (RRI) at different experiment stages were investigated in the two groups. The results show that both measures indicate less injury and better recovery in the drug injection group. The dynamic change of 90min RRI signal after the asphyxia was investigated. The sudden reduction of the two parameters shows their sensitivity to the asphyxia insult. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, the separation of tungsten and molybdenum by selective precipitation is evaluated, and the addition of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), as complex agent, is developed to reduce Mo loss. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations show that manganese salt has selectivity to precipitate tungsten from molybdenum. Through single factor experiments, the influence of precipitation factors is studied systematically. The results show that CTAB can enhance the separation of molybdenum and tungsten by manganese salts. Under optimal conditions (temperature 50 °C, n(Mo)/n(CTAB) = 2, n(Mo)/n(W) = 10, time 1 h), the loss rate of Mo is 0.73%, the precipitation rate of W is 89.57%, and the separation factor is 2411.67, which is much higher than the separation factor of molybdenum and tungsten without CTAB. The results of XRD and SEM show that the precipitates mainly consist of MnWO 4 and a small amount of MnMoO 4 with the shape of the flower cluster composed of flakes. The complex effect of CTAB is verified by the simulation of Cambridge sequential total energy package (CASTEP). The results of geometric optimization, total energy and density of states together with FTIR spectra reveal the complex mechanism of CTAB with MoO 4 2−. As an inexpensive and green sorbent, CTAB can be used to enhance the effect of manganese salt precipitation method for selective separation of W and Mo ions. • The thermodynamic equilibrium calculation shows that it is feasible to separate Mo and W with Mn2+. • The complex of CTAB and MoO42− can reduce the loss of Mo and improve the separation effect. • The mechanism of CTAB improving the separation effect of W and Mo was calculated by CASTEP simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A fluorimetric test strips-based strategy was developed using Au-Ag nanospheres and metal–organic frameworks of ZIF-8. • Au-Ag nanospheres were fabricated with strong fluorescence by harvesting Au-Ag nanoclusters using a desolvation route. • A vacuum-aided drying route was applied with super-hydrophobic patterns for uniform coating of nano-probes on strips. • Test strips were shelled with ZIF-8 showing further improved fluorescence, environmental robustness, and storage stability. • The fluorimetric test strips can probe Cys in hela cells with high sensitivity and selectivity. A fluorimetric test strips-based strategy has been initially developed for probing trace cysteine (Cys) in hela cells using gold-silver (Au-Ag) nanospheres and metal-organic frameworks of ZIF-8. Bimetallic Au-Ag nanoclusters were first synthesized by the protein-templated biominerization and then harvested by a desolvation route to form Au-Ag nanospheres showing strong fluorescence that could be specifically quenched by Cys. The as-prepared nanospheres were coated onto test strips to be further shelled with ZIF-8 by using a vacuum-aided fast drying route with super-hydrophobic patterns. It was discovered that the so fabricated test strips could not only achieve uniform coatings of fluorescent nano-probes, but also the ZIF-8 shell-enabled improvement of fluorescence, environmental and storage stabilities. In addition to the evaluation of Cys in serum samples, the developed fluorimetric test strips can facilitate the direct detection of Cys in hela cells with the linear concentrations ranging from 0.0032 to 32.0 μM, thus promising for the point-of-care monitoring of low-level Cys for the clinical early diagnosis of some diseases like cancers. Besides, such a proposed protocol forthe fabrication of stable and uniform test strips using MOFs coatings and super-hydrophobic patterns may be tailored for designing various solid-state testing platforms for the extensive analysis applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Encoding both the amplitude and phase of an optical field into a phase-only hologram enables precise control of vortex modes. • Effectively suppressing zero-order diffracted light and rehomogenizes energy to higher orders. • The intensity distribution, spatial position and OAM state of each vortex beam in the array can be modulated. We demonstrate the generation of high-quality optical vortex arrays (OVAs) with multiple states of orbital angular momentum (OAM) by uploading computer-generated holograms that are specially designed onto a liquid crystal spatial light modulator. The method of encoding both the amplitude and phase of an optical field into a phase-only holograms enables precise control of spatial transverse vortex modes. By combining the spiral, checkerboard and blazed-grating phase, the zero-order diffracted light can be efficiently suppressed while energy is redistributed onto higher orders to improve the quality of vortex array. Furthermore, the intensity distribution and spatial position can be flexibly modulated as well as OAM state of each vortex laser beam. It significantly increases the versatility of OAM, broadening its application in high-capacity optical communication and manipulation of multiple particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant U-box (PUB) proteins function as E3 ligases to poly-ubiquitinate the target proteins for their degradation or post-translational modification. PUBs also play important roles in regulation of diverse biological processes, including plant response to environmental stresses. In this study, the functional characterization of a soybean PUB gene, GmPUB6 , was performed. GmPUB6 was mainly localized to peroxisome, and showed E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. The transcript levels of GmPUB6 in soybean leaves and roots were induced by abscisic acid (ABA), high salinity and polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment. Comparing with the wild-type (WT) plants, overexpression of GmPUB6 in Arabidopsis thaliana decreased plant survival rate after drought stress, reduced seed germination rate and root elongation under mannitol (osmotic) stress, and suppressed ABA- or mannitol-mediated stomatal closure. In addition, under dehydration stress, the relative expression levels of seven stress responsive genes, including ABI1 , DREB2A , KIN2 , RAB18 , RD20 , RD29A and RD29B , were lower in GmPUB6 -overexpressed plants than WT. Taken together, these results suggest that GmPUB6 functions as a negative regulator in drought tolerance, and plays an important role in osmotic stress and ABA signaling pathways, which might be the possible mechanism of PUB6 participating in drought stress response. • A soybean U-box gene, GmPUB6 , is induced by abscisic acid and abiotic stresses. • GmPUB6 protein is mainly localized to peroxisome and has E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. • Ectopic overexpression of GmPUB6 negatively regulates plant drought tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nanocomposite nanozyme has been fabricated through mineralizing gold-silver bimetals into Hemin (Hem)-coupled melamine (MA) polymer matrix for visual colorimetric analysis of H 2 O 2 and glucose. Catalytic Hem was cross-linked onto MA scaffold for the mineralization of Au–Ag bimetals yielding the rod-like nanocomposite of MA-Hem/Au–Ag. It was discovered that the resulting nanocomposite could present high aqueous stability and especially improved catalysis, which was more than four-fold higher than that of native Hem. Catalytic kinetics studies indicate that the prepared nanocomposite nanozyme could present much higher affinities to the substrates than those of native Hem or even horseradish peroxidase. Herein, the so mineralized Au–Ag bimetals with the "silver effect" would act as "nanowires" for promoting the electron transferring of nanocomposite nanozyme. Moreover, the Hem-coupled MA polymer matrix with high specific surface area could ensure the high adsorption capacity for the reactant substrates and targeting analytes. The application feasibility of the developed nanocomposite nanozyme was demonstrated subsequently by the colorimetric assays for H 2 O 2 and glucose separately in milk and blood samples, with the linear ranges of 0.010–2.50 mM and 0.0050–2.0 mM, respectively. Such a bimetal mineralization-based fabrication route may open a new door toward the design of diverse nanocomposites nanozymes with improved catalysis and adsorption performances. A nanocomposite nanozyme was fabricated by mineralizing Au–Ag bimetals into Hemin (Hem)-coupled Melamine (MA) polymer matrix for visual colorimetric analysis of H 2 O 2 and glucose. Image 1 • A rod-like nanocomposite nanozyme was fabricated by mineralizing Au–Ag bimetals into Hemin-melamine matrix. • The mineralized Au–Ag bimetals could act as "nanowires" to promote the electron transferring within nanocomposites. • The nanozyme with enhanced peroxidase-like catalysis was coupled with GOD towards a complex enzyme. • High adsorption capacity could be expected for the substrates and targeting analytes. • The catalysis-based colorimetric method can detect glucose with the level down to 1.8 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Conjugation of SN83 of polymer enhanced DOX encapsulation via π-π stacking. • SN38 polymer prodrug enhanced the pharmacokinetics of both SN38 and DOX. • Synergistic action of DOX and SN38 polymer prodrug ensured favorable antitumor effect. • Therapeutic effect of conventional drugs was improved by combination therapy. There are opportunities for improvements to the efficiency and toxicity of widely used cancer chemotherapy agents such as doxorubicin (DOX·HCl) and 7-Ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38). We developed a safe and effective combination therapy by encapsulating DOX into micelles of a zwitterionic polymer prodrug, SN38 conjugate of poly (α-azide caprolactone-co-caprolactone)-b-poly (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine [P(CL/CL-g-SN38)-b-PMPC)] which was described in our previous work. The polymer prodrug micelles displayed a higher loading capacity of DOX due to the π-π stacking effect between DOX and SN38 in comparison with the micelles self-assembled by prodrug's precursor, poly(α-azide caprolactone-co-caprolactone)-b-poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (P(ACL/CL)-b-PMPC). The DOX loaded prodrug micelles decelerated the release of DOX, and also prolonged its circulation. The micelles showed favorable cellular internalization by 4T1 cells. DOX loaded SN38 prodrug micelles displayed good in vitro anticancer effects owing to the synergistic action of doxorubicin and SN38 and were as effective as DOX·HCl, but with lower toxicity than DOX·HCl. Given the synergetic effects of free drug and polymer prodrug, this nanomedicine may offer a safe and effective drug delivery methodology for conventional drug formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severe air pollution across China in the past several years has made the Chinese government recognize its significant impacts on public health and society, and take enormous efforts to improve the air quality all over the country, especially during the Twelfth Five-Year Plan (12th FYP). However, the overall effectiveness of these air pollution control policies remains unclear. In this study, we selected the 31 municipalities and provincial capital cities in mainland China as study settings. We collected the annual average population size, mortality rates (total mortality and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, total cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer) and concentrations of air pollutants (PM 10 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 and NO 2 ) in each capital city from 2010 to 2015 from national or local Statistical Yearbooks. The effect sizes of air pollutants on mortality were obtained from previously published meta analyses or cohort studies. We first estimated the annual mortality rates attributed to the changes in air pollutant concentrations for every city in each year. Then, we further estimated the mortality benefits in the scenarios where the air quality had reached the grade II levels of Chinese Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. In most capital cities, we observed dominant decreases in air pollutant concentrations during the 12th FYP, particularly from 2013 to 2015, which has led to significant mortality benefits for the public. A total of 121,658 deaths (0.441‰) have been prevented due to the decrease of PM 2.5 concentrations from 2013 to 2015 in all included cities. The morality benefits were larger in capital cities located in the key regions (the three main regions and ten city groups) than the other cities. In addition, more mortality benefits could be obtained in the future if the air quality reaches the grade II levels of Chinese Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) or WHO guidelines. We concluded that substantial mortality benefits achieved during the 12th FYP may be attributed to the improvements in China's air quality, which indicated the significant effectiveness of air pollution control policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most existing research examines the spatial patterns of manufacturing and producer services via separate investigations and from provincial and municipal perspectives. This paper, however, analyzes the co-location of manufacturing and producer services and their influencing factors from an intra-urban perspective. This empirical study is based in Nanjing and uses a 2001 basic unit census dataset and a 2008 economic census dataset at the firm level. The results show that the suburbanization process of manufacturing was much faster than that of producer services and indicate the establishment of producer services in the urban core and manufacturing in the periphery. The employment of producer services was highly concentrated in urban centers in the two interval years, but gradually expanded to surrounding new towns such as Jiangning, Pukou, and Luhe. In contrast, the employment in manufacturing was dispersed with substantial distribution in the old city and in suburban development zones. Manufacturing and producer services were largely co-located in the new towns of Jiangning and Pukou and national development zones. The spatial autoregression model indicates that the spatial distribution of manufacturing and producer services was subject to the joint effects of agglomeration economics and urban land price, which led the two sectors to retain a degree of spatial separability, even though their co-location was preferable. The distribution of manufacturing was significantly affected by land prices and constantly re-concentrated from urban centers to development zones and township industrial parks in suburban areas. Comparatively, the distribution of producer services was not significantly affected by land price and gradually occupied city centers with high land prices because the sector had a stronger capacity for bid rent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]