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Sodium dehydroacetate (DHA-Na) is a fungicidal preservative widely used in food and animal feed. DHA-Na can induce coagulation disorders in rats and poultry by inhibiting carboxylation of vitamin K-dependent proteins; it can also impair bone development in zebrafish. However, the effects of DHA-Na on broiler chicken bones remain unknown. Here, we assessed whether DHA-Na impairs bone development in broiler chickens. We administered Suji yellow chickens with 200 to 800 mg/kg DHA-Na, 2 mg/kg vitamin K, or both for 2 mo. Bone metabolite–related serum indicators, tissue micromorphology, and relevant protein expression were monitored during the treatment period. We also assessed primary chicken osteoblast activity, differentiation, and bone metabolite–related proteins after treatment with DHA-Na, vitamin K, or both. The results demonstrated that DHA-Na reduced bone index values and serum and bone osteoblast differentiation marker levels but blocked bone vitamin K cycle. DHA-Na also increased serum osteoclast differentiation marker levels, as well as the bone ratio of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand to osteoprotegerin ratio. Moreover, DHA-Na reduced bone trabecular number, thickness, and area and increased trabecular separation considerably. In general, compared with the control group, the DHA-Na group demonstrated impairments in osteoblast activity and differentiation, as well as in the vitamin K cycle. By contrast, vitamin K supplementation led to considerable attenuation of the DHA-Na-induced decrease in osteogenic marker levels, along with a considerable increase in serum bone absorption marker levels and restoration of DHA-Na-induced bone microstructure damage. Vitamin K also attenuated DHA-Na-induced impairment in osteoclasts. In conclusion, the results indicated that in broiler chickens, DHA-Na supplementation can damage bones by inhibiting osteoblast function and increasing osteoclast activity; this damage can be prevented through vitamin K supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fine scale processes are represented well by high resolution of the RegCM4.3. • Spatial patterns of precipitation were simulated well by RegCM4.3 over the NUIB. • Significant alteration in mean monthly flow was found in the post-monsoon season. • The monsoon precipitation events will occur with high frequency over the NUIB. • The NUIB is expected to be confronting with more floods by the end of 21st century. In the present research, we used bias corrected output of regional climate model (RegCM4.3) to generate streamflow for future climate change projections in the Northwestern Upper Indus Basin (NUIB) under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The average annual runoff was found to be continuously increasing by the end of 21st century. The increase in precipitation as well as the streamflow for summer and winter in the NUIB indicated that RegCM4.3 simulated climate change projections were realistically transferred to HEC-HMS hydrological model. Maximum streamflow peaks, both in frequency and magnitude, were observed in July and August over three streamflow gauges (i.e. Besham, Nowshera and Khairabad) posing possible threats of flood risks during the monsoon season in Pakistan. Significant streamflow changes were projected for winter and spring seasons. The analysis of flow duration curve for three hydrometric stations indicates that the flow occurrence probability could be greater under both scenarios relative to the reference period. The increase in streamflow was projected under high (Q 5) and medium (Q 50) flow, which could possibly be related with the increase in monsoon precipitation events in the NUIB. Overall it is to be expected that the NUIB will confront more floods as a result of projected increase in medium and high flow, which demands better policies and management towards the water resources of the NUIB. This study is expected to contribute considerably to climate change impact assessment studies over the NUIB, Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synergistic inhibition effect of Mikania micrantha extract (MME) with KI mixture on the corrosion of cold rolled steel (CRS) in methanesulfonic acid (MSA) was conducted by weight loss, electrochemical techniques and surface characterizations. The experimental results indicate that either MME or KI performs moderate inhibition with a maximum inhibition efficiency below 74%. However, MME / KI mixture exhibits an efficient performance with a maximum inhibition efficiency of 91%. There is a synergism between MME and KI with a corresponding synergism parameter higher than 1. The alien invasive weed can be developed as a novel inhibitor against metallic corrosion. [Display omitted] • Incorporation MME with KI produces synergism for steel in methanesulfonic acid. • The addition of KI promotes the adsorption of MME on steel surface. • The synergistic inhibited steel surface appears little corrosion from SEM, AFM and CLSM. • XPS confirms the synergistic mixtures of MME/KI can efficiently adsorb on CRS surface. • The synergistic inhibited CRS surface provides a stronger hydrophobicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of organic solar cells is strongly dependent on the morphology of the bulk heterojunction active layer. There has been intense efforts to identify and quantify morphological traits that correlate with various stages of the photo physics. While it is generally accepted that donor domain size affects exciton dissociation efficiency and connectivity affects charge collection, identifying morphology trait(s) that correlate with fill factor and total efficiency have remained elusive. In this work, we utilize correlation analysis on a large set of two dimensional bulk heterojunction morphologies to identify traits that are correlated with fill factor and efficiency. A large dataset of bulk heterojunction morphologies using a phase-field model of phase separation was first created. A comprehensive suite of morphology descriptors were evaluated for each of these morphologies using a recently developed graph based approach. Following this, a morphology aware excitonic-drift-diffusion based device model was used to compute current-voltage curves, fill factors, efficiencies as well as spatial distributions of exciton generation, dissociation, and charge collection for each of the morphologies. We find that (for a given material system with a specified HOMO-LUMO gap, and assuming perfect contact with electrodes) device efficiency primarily depends on the short circuit current, and has almost no dependence on the fill factor. Interestingly, we find that the fill factor is largely insensitive to many of the investigated descriptors. It is only weakly dependent on the contact area mismatch – the difference between the fraction of anode in direct contact with donor and the fraction of cathode in direct contact with acceptor. The fill factor is maximized when this quantity is nearly balanced. Since morphologies with a higher fraction of the electrodes in contact with the desirable material show higher short circuit current, we conclude that designing morphologies for a high short circuit current will necessarily lead to reasonably high fill factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While cutting fluids are widely used in industrial mechanical machining of difficult-to-cut materials, achieving environmentally-friendly dry milling without the usage of cutting fluids by utilizing advanced manufacturing techniques makes significant sense for facilitating cleaner production. In the present work, we demonstrate the feasibility of enhancing dry machinability of TC4 titanium alloy by applying the newly proposed longitudinal-bending hybrid ultrasonic vibration-assisted milling (LBVAM), which is effective in modulating the intermittent cutting behavior between tool and workpiece material. Specifically, the kinematics and the material removal mechanisms of the LBVAM are investigated by analytical investigation, 3D finite element simulations and corresponding experiments. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the utilization of LBVAM enables lowering the surface roughness by 46.7% and reducing the cutting force by 43.2% from conventional milling. And the mostly prominent feature is that the surface roughness can be down to 100 nm by using the proposed LBVAM with rationally selected parameters, which is highly promising for realizing cleaner dry manufacturing of TC4 without using cutting fluids. Current work provides a feasible environmentally-friendly machining method for enhancing the dry machinability of difficult-to-cut materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel LBHVAM tool is proposed for achieving IIE and ICE simultaneously. • Tremendous milling force reduction is achieved in TC4 by the prototype. • Chip segmentation by bending vibration achieves significant burr reduction. • Ultra-precision surface Sa 0.102 μm is formed superior to similar works. A novel piezoelectric ultrasonic milling tool based on a longitudinal-bending hybrid piezoelectric transducer (LBHT) is proposed. The major novelty of the proposed tool is that through longitudinal vibration and bending vibration of the tool the impact ironing effect (IIE) and intermittent cutting effect (ICE) simultaneously, thus achieving high-precision milling. Above all, the structure and operation principle of the longitudinal-bending hybrid vibration-assisted milling (LBHVAM) system is amply depicted. Then, simulations and analyses are carried out to design and analyze the structure size and critical ICE conditions. Ultimately, a prototype is manufactured and the vibration tests and machining experiments have been carried out. The results indicate that the cutting force of LBHVAM of titanium alloy is 39.3% and 27.2% lower than the conventional milling (CM) and longitudinal vibration-assisted milling (LVAM), and the propensity of burr formation is significantly reduced. Furthermore, the surface roughness under LBHVAM reaches Sa 0.102 μm, which is 85.2% and 54.5% lower than CM and LVAM. Above results demonstrate that the proposed LBHVAM tool not only has unique advantages in reducing cutting force and burr formation but also possesses great potential in improving machining accuracy, which is highly desired in ultra-precision machining of difficult to cut materials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Earthquakes can be devastating to built infrastructure and the natural environment, as evidenced by the March 2011, M=9.0 earthquake, and subsequent tsunami, in Japan. As seen in the Japanese event, environmental damage caused by secondary disasters (tsunami, leakage from a nuclear reactor) can equal or exceed the impacts of the primary event. In order to develop an environmental assessment system to examine secondary disasters, a comprehensive environmental impact evaluation was conducted after the Wenchuan earthquake that occurred on 12 May 2008 in the Sichuan Province, China. This evaluation focused on several key environmental elements such as wastewater, drinking water, soil, solid waste, radiation, and ecosystem-level effects. As part of this assessment, an analysis of root causes and potential solutions was conducted for key issues such as population relocation and resettlement in temporary dwellings, recovery of environmental protection functions, industrial development strategies and production recovery. Methods for post-quake environmental assessment were developed, utilizing GIS-based techniques for spatial evaluation of primary and secondary disaster patterns. The goal of this exercise was the development of effective assessment methods that can be rapidly applied in a post-disaster situation to reduce and mitigate damage caused by secondary disasters, and facilitate the recovery of impaired environmental management structure and function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A novel and sensitive immunoassay was developed for detection of triazophos. • Quantification was performed by immobilization of bio-barcodes by biochip modified capture probes. • The method shows a good accuracy and correlated well with ELISA method. • The developed method provides a promising visual detection system for trace detection of pesticide. Herein, a novel visual method for detecting triazophos based on competitive bio-barcode immunoassay was described. The competitive immunoassay was established by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), magnetic microparticle (MMPs) and triazophos, combined with biochip hybridization system to detect the residual of triazophos in water and apple. Because AuNPs carried many bio-barcodes, which hybridized with labeled DNA on the biochip, catalyzed signal amplification using silver staining was detected by grayscale values as well as the naked eye. Notably, the grayscale values decreases with increasing the concentrations of triazophos, and the color change weakened gradually. The detection range was in between 0.05 and 10 ng/mL and the minimum detection limit was set at 0.04 ng/mL. Percent recovery calculated from spiked water and apple samples ranged between 55.4 and 107.8% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 12.4–24.9%. It has therefore been shown that this protocol provides a new insight for rapid detection of small molecule pesticides in various matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the toxicity of triazophos is high and it has been pulled from the market in many countries; it is still widely used and frequently detected in agricultural products. While conventional analyses have been routinely used for the quantification and monitoring of triazophos residues, those for detecting low residual levels are deemed necessary. Therefore, we developed a novel and sensitive fluorometric signal amplification immunoassay employing bio-barcodes for the quantitative analysis of triazophos residues in foodstuffs and surface water. Herein, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) attached to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were coated with DNA oligonucleotides (used as a signal generator), and a complementary fluorogenic RNA was used for signal amplification. The system generated detection signals through DNA-RNA hybridization and subsequent dissociation of fluorophores by Ribonuclease H (RNase H). It has to be noted that RNase H can only disintegrate the RNA in DNA-RNA duplex, but not cleave single or double-stranded DNA. Hence, with iterative cycles of DNA-RNA hybridization, sufficient strong signal was obtained for reliable detection of residues. Furthermore, this method enables quantitative detection of triazophos residues through fluorescence intensity measurements. The competitive immunoassay shows a wide linear range of 0.01–100 ng/mL with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0032 ng/mL. The assay substantially meets the demand for the low residue detection of triazophos residues in agricultural products and water samples. Accuracy (expressed as spiked recovery %) and coefficient of variation (CV) were ranged from 73.4% to 116% and 7.04% to 17.4%, respectively. The proposed bio-barcodes immunoassay has the advantages of being stable, reproducible, and reliable for residue detection. In sum, the present study provides a novel approach for detection of small molecules in various sample matrices. Unlabelled Image • AuNPs labelled with a large amount of ssDNA and mAbs were considered as signal generator, instead of protein • The fluorescence signals were generated through DNA-RNA hybridization and subsequent specific hydrolysis of Ribonuclease H • Characterization of reaction system and quantitative detection of triazophos was investigated • The sensitivity of method was sufficiently improved by iterative cycles of hybridization • The proposed fluorometric competitive immunoassay showed good reproducibility for detecting small molecules in environmental samples [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethane hot melt adhesive was synthesized without any solvent via Diels-Alder (DA) reaction between furan terminated prepolymer and bismaleimide (BMI) and was coded as PU-DA-NS. Firstly the DA reaction was inhibited at higher temperature (110 °C) to reduce the viscosity and benefit the contact of furan terminated prepolymer and BMI. Consequently, PU-DA-NS was obtained via DA reaction at lower temperature (70 °C). The structure of PU-DA-NS was investigated via 1H NMR, DSC and TGA. The results showed that the solvent-free preparation cannot reach the reaction degree of solvent preparation, due to the contact of the reactants cannot be as good as preparation in solvent such as DMF, although the higher temperature decreased the viscosity of the reactant. However the heating and pressing procedure during the adhesive process destroyed the looser structure and increased the adhesive tensile strength to 70 % of PU-DA synthesized via solvent preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pendant cross-linked polyurethane hot melt adhesive was synthesized without any solvents via Diels-Alder reaction (DA reaction) and was coded as DAPU. Firstly, a chain extender containing furan ring was synthesized via Michale addition reaction between hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and furfuryl amine (FA). Secondly, the polyurethane prepolymer with pendant furan rings was synthesized from the reaction between the chain extender and isocyanate-terminated polyurethane prepolymer. Finally, the hot melt adhesive was cross-linked via DA reaction between furan rings and bismaleimide (BMI) without organic solvents due to the viscosity inhibition at higher temperature. DAPU exhibited a higher bonding performance (11.2 MPa) than the commercial reactive polyurethane hot melt adhesive (PUR-Ausbond 3550) and can reach 10.2 MPa after three times break as thermoplastic polyurethane hot melt adhesive (TPU-XJU83), due to the higher cross-linked density and the thermal reversibility of DA adducts. This confirmed that DAPU combined the merits of the two kinds of polyurethane hot melt adhesives successfully without involving solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome is characterized by hepatic damage and hemorrhage impairing animal welfare in birds, which was well-known to be moderately relieved through dietary choline chloride supplementation in laying hens. Chinese herb has been proven to exert a positive role on hepatic health in human and rodents. Here, we investigated the effect of herbaceous mixture (HM), which consists of Andrographis paniculate, Silybum marianum, Azadirachta Indica , and Ocimum basilicum (2:3.5:1:2), on the hepatic lipid metabolism and health status in laying hens. A total of 240 Hy-line Brown hens (389-day-old) were randomly fed the basal diet with 0 mg/kg choline chloride (negative control, NC), 1,000 mg/kg choline chloride (control, Ctrl), or 300 mg/kg HM for 28 d. Birds fed HM diet exhibited lower serum triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level than those received NC and Ctrl diets (P < 0.05). When compared to control and NC group, the diets with HM decreased the contents of total cholesterol and TG in liver, as well as upregulated the mRNA abundance of hepatic hormone-sensitive lipase and lipoprotein lipase. Meanwhile, the hepatic area and diameter of steatosis vacuoles were also decreased by dietary HM administration (P < 0.05), which accompanied by decreased serum alanine aminotransferase activity (P < 0.05). Birds fed HM diets enhanced the hepatic antioxidative capacity than those received NC and Ctrl diet. Dietary HM depressed the mRNA level of inflammatory cytokine as compared to NC but not Ctrl group. Collectively, the diet with 300 mg/kg HM has a favorable effect in decreasing the lipid deposition and protecting liver injury by alleviating hepatic oxidant stress and inflammation in post-peak laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Atmospheric turbulence affects the transmission of laser pulses through the atmosphere. The effects mean that the peak power of the laser pulses is not stable. For laser pulses reflected by a cooperative target, the peak power instability is greater because of the double-pass propagation of the laser pulses through the same atmosphere. The atmospheric turbulence can be monitored by detecting the peak power instability of echo laser pulses. This paper presents a method for monitoring atmospheric turbulence based on a cooperative target. Comparative experiments are carried out based on using a diffuse whiteboard and a corner-cube retroreflector (CCR) as the cooperative target. The distance between the two terminals of the experimental system is 1550m. The size of the diffuse whiteboard is 60×60cm2. The bottom surface of the CCR is a circle with a diameter of 1in. and the three mirrors of the CCR are coated with silver. Experiment results show that the peak power instability of echo laser pulses retroreflected by the CCR is 28.3%. This is much larger than that diffuse reflected by the whiteboard (11.2%). This indicates that the method based on the CCR has higher atmospheric sensitivity. In addition, the peak power of the echo laser pulses retroreflected by the CCR is also much larger. Therefore, the system based on the CCR is more suitable for monitoring of atmospheric turbulence. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The light intensity distribution (LID) reflected by a planar corner-cube retroreflector array with the size of centimeter and above (PCCRA) is calculated based on the Collins formula, coordinate transformation matrixes and vector algebra. The expression can be used for the PCCRAs with different parameters and different complex optical systems described by ABCD matrix. The expression indicates that the LID of a PCCRA is much different from a single corner-cube retroreflector (CCR) with equivalent aperture. Computer simulations are applied to explain the expression clearly. The results show that the LID of the PCCRA is more homogeneous than the single CCR with equivalent aperture under circumstances of both normal incident light and oblique incident light. In addition, the expression is proved by comparing the simulation result of the PCCRA only comprising a single CCR and the previous experimental result. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bovine babesiosis is a tick-transmitted hemoprotozoan disease that is mainly caused by Babesia bovis and/or Babesia bigemina and is characterized by significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. This disease is widespread in most parts of China. However, it is difficult to rapidly discriminate between the B. bovis and B. bigemina species. To detect and distinguish these species, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) platform that targets specific sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genes was developed. Specificity testing revealed that there was no cross-reaction with the other tick-borne parasites B. ovate, B. major, unnamed bovine Babesia, Theileria annulata, Theileria sinensis, Theileria sergenti, and Anaplasma marginale, or with bovine white blood cells. The sensitivity of the LAMP method was 0.1pg DNA for both B. bovis and B. bigemina, which was superior to that of the classical PCR methods. This assay was evaluated for its diagnostic utility using blood samples collected from experimentally and naturally infected cattle in China. These findings indicate that the Babesia species-specific LAMP assay may have potential clinical application in the detection and differentiation of Babesia species, particularly in countries in which babesiosis is endemic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, an esterase, designated EstC23, was isolated from a soil metagenomic library. The protein was amenable to overexpression in Escherichia coli under control of the T7 promoter, resulting in expression of the active, soluble protein that constituted 30% of the total cell protein content. This enzyme showed optimal activity at 40°C and retained about 50% maximal activity at 5–10°C. EstC23 showed remarkable stability in up to 50% (v/v) benzene and alkanes (high log P solvents). When incubated for 7days in the presence of 50% benzene or alkanes, the enzyme maintained its 2–3 fold elevated activity. The purified enzyme also cleaved sterically hindered esters of tertiary alcohols. These results indicate that EstC23 has potential for use in industrial processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Traditional hot melt adhesives are thermoplastic resins with non-covalent hydrogen bonds. In this letter, a polyurethane hot melt adhesive (CDI-PUR-DA) was synthesized via introducing thermally reversible covalent Diels-Alder adducts into the polyurethane main chain. Results from hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis and an assessment of rheological properties demonstrated that CDI-PUR-DA exhibited a much lower viscosity than a traditional hot melt adhesive. The viscosity of the polyurethane decreased to 4 Pa s at 110 °C due to rupture of Diels-Alder adducts. However, the viscosity returned to its initial value on cooling due to the regeneration of the Diels-Alder adducts. This approach provides a new method for preparing hot melt adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]