Search

• The problem of potential changes in propagation paths generated by different prevention strategies is addressed. • A multi-stage coordination model is proposed for reducing cascading failure impacts. • A double-layer optimization framework is proposed for solving the multi-stage coordination dispatch model. Blackout events caused by cascading failures have induced enormous losses in power systems. Good defense strategies are helpful for stopping cascading failures spread, which not only reduces system losses, but also improves the system's ability to cope with the cascading failures. However, the current studies mostly focus on single-stage defense strategy and lack coordination of preventive, emergency and restoration dispatch (CPERD) against cascading failures. This paper proposes a CPERD methodology to counteract cascading failures for resilience enhancement. We first analyze the propagation mechanism and the prediction method for the propagation paths of cascading failures. Second, we explore the necessity and feasibility of whole-process coordinated dispatch under cascading failures and design a CPERD model framework. Based on this framework, we further analyze the impact of whole-process coordinated dispatch on the propagation path of cascading failures. Third, preventive dispatch, emergency dispatch and restoration dispatch sub-models are separately modeled to minimize the dispatch cost. Since the model has the characteristics of multi-stage and multi-objective, a double-layer optimization framework and an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm are introduced to solve the CPERD problem. Finally, the IEEE 39-bus and IEEE 118-bus test systems are taken as examples for simulation analysis. The results show that whole-process coordinated dispatch can effectively reduce the final load loss and overall dispatch cost, and enhance power system resilience against cascading failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposes a multi-stage determination method for excavator working points that considers engine fuel consumption, hydraulic pump efficiency, and load fluctuation, overcoming limitations of traditional methods. • Introduces a comprehensive evaluation model for working point determination that integrates fuel consumption, hydraulic pump efficiency, and load variability, offering a more holistic approach. • Utilizes experimental data to inform the determination of engine working points, ensuring practical relevance and applicability. • Employs weight parameters to adjust the importance of fuel consumption and load fluctuation in the working point optimization process, allowing for tailored engine performance improvement under varying operational needs. In view of the problem that the traditional working point determination method only considers the engine fuel consumption and does not consider the hydraulic pump efficiency and load fluctuation in the process of the working point stability control of an excavator engine, a simple and feasible, experimental data-driven, multi-stage determination method of excavator working point based on the comprehensive evaluation model is proposed. In this paper, the comprehensive evaluation model of working point torque with weight parameters is established at different working stages under the rated speed in a phased way. The results show that this method can determine the working point torque at different working stages, and reduce engine fuel consumption and load fluctuation based on ensuring the efficiency of the hydraulic pump. The lowest engine fuel consumption can be reduced by 7.09%, and the lowest load fluctuation can be reduced by 17.8%. In addition, by modifying the weight parameters, we can emphasize the fuel consumption and load fluctuation of the engine according to their importance, to achieve the determination of working points under different requirements. This approach also provides a new idea for optimizing the working point of construction machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium perfringens is a major foodborne health hazard that can cause acute gastroenteritis in consumers, and is often associated with cooked meat and poultry products. Improper cooling after cooking may allow this pathogen to grow in a product, producing an enterotoxin that causes food poisoning. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of common ingredients, including sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), sodium lactate (NaL), and sodium chloride (NaCl), on the germination and outgrowth of C. perfringens spores in meat products. The growth/no growth test was conducted in Shahidi Ferguson Perfringens agar mixed with STPP (0–2500 ppm), NaL (0–4%), and NaCl (0–4%) in microplates. Turbidity measurements at 600 nm were compared before and after anaerobic incubation at 46 °C to evaluate growth and no growth conditions. The dichotomous responses were analyzed by logistic regression to develop a model for estimating the growth probability of C. perfringens . The probability model was used to define the threshold of growth (probability > 0.1 or 0.2) of C. perfringens and validated using inoculated ground beef under optimum temperature. Inoculated ground beef was mixed with different combinations of STPP, NaL, and NaCl to observe growth or no growth of C. perfringens , and the probability was calculated from the formulation. If the threshold of growth was set to 0.2, the accuracy of the growth and no growth predictions was 95.7%, with 4.3% over-prediction of growth events (fail-safe). The results from this study suggested that proper combinations of STPP, NaL, and NaCl could be used to control the growth of C. perfringens in cooked beef under the optimum temperature. The results may also suggest that proper combinations of STPP, NaL, and NaCl in cooked meat and poultry products could be used to prevent the growth of C. perfringens during cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Listeria monocytogenes is a potentially fatal foodborne pathogen that can be found in ready-to-eat seafood products, such as fresh salmon roe. Once contaminated, salmon roe must be decontaminated prior to human consumption. This study was conducted to determine the thermal inactivation kinetics of L. monocytogenes in raw salmon roe as affected by bacterial strain, temperature, and salt concentration. Three different strains of L. monocytogenes , including serotype 4b (F2365), 1/2b (F4260), and 1/2a (V7), were individually inoculated to salmon roe supplemented with salt (0–4.5%), and heated under different temperatures (57.5–65.0 °C) to evaluate the survival of the bacterium during heating and determine the D-values. Results showed that the thermal resistance (log D) of L. monocytogenes was significantly affected by bacterial strain, temperature, and salt and by their interactive effects, with strain F2365 being the most heat-resistant among all three strains tested. Salt added to salmon roe significantly increased the thermal resistance of the bacteria. For L. monocytogenes F2365, the z value of the bacterium in salmon roe was 5.99 °C, and its heat resistance increased with the level of salt in a linear manner. The results of kinetic analysis and the models obtained in this study may be used by the seafood industry to develop proper thermal processes to eliminate L. monocytogenes in raw salmon roe and to ensure microbial safety and prevent foodborne illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the growth kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes in unsalted and salted (3%) salmon roe. Growth curves, developed using inoculated samples incubated at constant temperatures between 5 and 30 °C, were analyzed by curve-fitting to the Huang and Baranyi models using the USDA IPMP 2013. The experimental results showed that L. monocytogenes in salted samples exhibited approximately 40% longer lag times than the cells in unsalted samples under the same temperature condition, while the rates of bacterial growth were not affected by the addition of salt. The Ratkowsky square-root (RSR) model, Huang square-root (HSR) model, and an Arrhenius-type model were all shown suitable for evaluating the effect of temperature on specific growth rates. The estimated nominal minimum growth temperature in the RSR model was −0.5 °C, whereas the minimum growth temperature in HSR model was 2.57 °C. The HSR models may be more suitable for describing the temperature effect in salted salmon roe. The lag times of L. monocytogenes were found to change log-linearly with the specific growth rates. The mean h 0 in the Baranyi model was 0.742 in unsalted samples and 1.193 in salted samples, and did not appear to change with temperature in a systematic manner. In summary, kinetic models were developed for examining the effect of temperature on growth of L. monocytogenes in unsalted and salted salmon roe samples. The results may be used by the food industry and regulatory agencies to estimate the growth of L. monocytogenes in salmon roe, and to conduct risk assessments of this microorganism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Peanut butter has been implicated in multi-state outbreaks of salmonellosis in recent years. Studies have shown that Salmonella exhibited increased thermal resistance in peanut butter. However, little is known about the effect of product formulation on the kinetics of survival of Salmonella during thermal treatment. Therefore, the objective of this research was to compare the thermal resistance of Salmonella in four commercially available peanut butter and spread products, and evaluate the effect of product formulation on the survival of this pathogen during heating. Four peanut butter and spread samples, including Omega 3 (A), regular fat (B), reduced sugar (C), and reduced fat (D), inoculated with a 6-strain cocktail of Salmonella spp., were heated at 70, 75, 80, 85, and 90 °C. Experimental results showed that the highest thermal resistance of Salmonella was found in the samples with reduced fat, while the least in the samples with Omega 3 formulation. No significant difference in the bacterial thermal resistance was observed in the regular fat and reduced sugar formulations. The Weibull survival model was used to describe the survival curves. Results showed that the average exponent (shape factor) of the model ranged from 0.38 to 0.662, suggesting progressively decreased rate of inactivation during heating. The scale (rate) coefficients of the model increased linearly with temperature. The calculated minimum lethal temperature for Salmonella was 54.8, 59.8, 59.5, and 63.9 °C in samples A, B, C, and D, respectively. No tail effect was observed. The results of this study suggest that proper formulation of peanut butter and spread may enhance thermal inactivation of Salmonella. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: It is well known that impacts of weather, spatial and temporal factors significantly influence traffic operation. The purpose of this research is developing a traffic model which contains effects of related factors and finding out the effects of factors on speed-flow relationship. Data processing and factor selection are crucial preliminary work for this modeling. The methodology and process of model development is shown step by step in the following paragraphs. The impacts of factors can be seen directly from conducted traffic models, which could support traffic management and decision-making. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Estimating the kinematic vorticity numbers from rock fabrics presents many problems. In this paper we use numerical modeling to investigate the reliability of those widely-used vorticity analysis methods using rigid clasts. We use very simple flows (steady state, homogeneous, and having monoclinic symmetry) to represent plane-straining zones and transpressional zones and assume that the rotation of rigid clasts perfectly obeys the theory of . These are assumptions made in current vorticity analysis using rigid clasts. Even with these simple assumptions, our modeling shows that the current methods have intrinsic uncertainties so large that it is pointless to use the estimated vorticity numbers to constrain shear zone boundary conditions and kinematics. It is perfectly consistent with numerical modeling results if the currently reported vorticity numbers estimated from rigid clasts (in the range of 0.50–0.85) are all interpreted as being from natural shear zones with close-to-simple-shearing flows. The large uncertainties arise because the motion of rigid clasts is intrinsically a three dimensional problem. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) metastructures with simple structures exhibit a high low-frequency vibration isolation performance, but the bearing capacity and working regions are limited due to the linear positive stiffness elements. In this study, a novel hyperbolic QZS metastructure coupled with nonlinear stiffness is designed by combining a pair of cosine-shaped beams and arc-shaped beams for low-frequency vibration isolation. Finite element models (FEM) and experimental analysis are utilized to examine the static characteristics of the metastructure, revealing a wide QZS region and significant load-bearing capacity. The metastructure can achieve effective vibration isolation properties through reasonably designing the unit cells. The influence of geometrical parameters on the QZS region is investigated to optimize and realize desirable QZS features. The dynamic equation and response of the vibration isolation system are determined using the harmonic balance method. Moreover, the corresponding displacement transmissibility is confirmed by numerical simulation. The results of the dynamic sweep frequency experiment further verify the validity of the theoretical analysis model. The hyperbolic QZS metastructure system possesses good vibration isolation performance due to the introduction and compensation of a nonlinear positive stiffness arc beam element. The proposed hyperbolic QZS metastructure provides a significant route for the stiffness compensation of metastructures. [Display omitted] • A novel hyperbolic quasi-zero stiffness metastructure is designed by combining cosine-shaped curved and arc-shaped beams. • The metastructure with QZS characteristics can enhance the structural load-bearing capacity and broden the QZS region. • The required positive, quasi-zero, and negative stiffness can be obtained by reasonably designing geometrical parameter. • The dynamic theoretical, numerical simulation, and experimentsal results verified the good vibration isolation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We introduce fused folded concave penalized method to identify Parkinson's markers. • We construct markers from high-dimensional voxel level MRI data with small samples. • Proposed method identifies markers more accurately than other penalized approaches. • Proposed method had better classification accuracy/specificity/sensitivity. Brain MRI is a promising technique for Parkinson's disease (PD) biomarker development. Its analysis, however, is hindered by the high-dimensional nature of the data, particularly when the sample size is relatively small. This study introduces a folded concave penalized machine learning scheme with spatial coupling fused penalty (fused FCP) to build biomarkers for PD directly from whole-brain voxel-wise MRI data. The penalized maximum likelihood estimation problem of the model is solved by local linear approximation. The proposed approach is evaluated on synthetic and Parkinson's Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI) data. It achieves good AUC scores, accuracy in classification, and biomarker identification with a relatively small sample size, and the results are robust for different tuning parameter choices. On the PPMI data, the proposed method discovers over 80 % of large regions of interest (ROIs) identified by the voxel-wise method, as well as potential new ROIs. The fused FCP approach is compared with L1, fused-L1, and FCP method using three popular machine learning algorithms, logistic regression, support vector machine, and linear discriminant analysis, as well as the voxel-wise method, on both synthetic and PPMI datasets. The fused FCP method demonstrated better accuracy in separating PD from controls than L1 and fused-L1 methods, and similar performance when compared with FCP method. In addition, the fused FCP method showed better ROI identification. The fused FCP method can be an effective approach for MRI biomarker discovery in PD and other studies using high dimensionality data/low sample sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A MCTS-based method for online deciding the generator startup sequence is proposed. • A constraint about the robustness of restoration scheme is proposed. • The restoration scheme can be adjusted online according to the unexpected faults. Generator startup is a critical step for the power system restoration following blackouts. Most strategies for the startup sequence of generators are obtained by offline methods, which probably are ineffective in the real situation: some devices unexpectedly fail to be restarted. To deal with the uncertainties, this paper proposed a novel method for online decision-making of the startup sequence of generators. First, the framework of online decision making is presented. The principles of online decision-making of the generator startup sequence are analyzed. Second, an optimization model for determining the generator startup sequence is developed to maximize the generating capacity. Then, the Monte Carlo tree search algorithm (MCTS) is applied to online decide the generator to be restored in the next step according to the real-time situation. To make it more suitable for system restoration, MCTS is modified: the upper confidence bounds for trees, the default policy, backpropagation, and the final decision making are improved. The restoration paths related to the selected generator are obtained by a graphic theoretic algorithm. Except commonly used constraints on generator startup and the path restoration, this paper considers the hot start of generators to propose a constraint about the robustness of the restoration scheme. Finally, the feasible strategy with the maximum generating capacity is selected online for application. Case studies on the IEEE 39-bus test system and an actual power system in Hebei, China, demonstrated the effectiveness of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus is a common foodborne pathogen that is ubiquitous in nature. Consumption of contaminated foods, such as dairy products, can lead to food poisoning caused by heat-stable staphylococcal toxins that are not easily destroyed during pasteurization. The objective of this study was to investigate the growth kinetics of S. aureus and background microorganisms in camel milk stored at different temperatures between 8 and 43°C using one-step kinetic analysis to estimate the kinetic parameters from the observed growth curves. The growth of S. aureus showed apparent lag, exponential, and stationary phases, whereas no or negligible lag phase was observed for background microorganisms. Data analysis showed that the estimated minimum, optimum, and maximum growth temperatures were 5.9, 42.0, and 49.2°C for S. aureus , and 3.0, 38.6, and 49.2°C for the background microorganisms, respectively. The estimated optimum specific growth rate was higher for S. aureus (1.24 h−1) than for background microorganisms (0.995 h−1). This study found that camel milk may inhibit the growth of S. aureus , as it exhibits a lower specific growth rate than that in cow milk or cooked potato. It also has a longer lag phase than that in cow milk at comparable temperature ranges. This unique property is probably related to the presence of some antimicrobial compounds naturally occurring in camel milk. Validation of kinetic parameters and models showed that the root mean square error of prediction was only 0.5 log cfu/mL for S. aureus and background microorganisms, suggesting that the models are reasonably accurate. These models can be used for conducting risk assessments of S. aureus and predicting the general microbiological shelf life of camel milk to prevent foodborne staphylococcal poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Xiaotian-Mozitan fault (XMF) located north of the Dabie orogenic belt separates the North Dabie complex to the south from the Beihuaiyang low-grade metamorphic rocks to the north. It comprises several NW-striking ductile shear zones and brittle faults. The brittle faults obviously overprinted on the ductile shear zones and promoted the development of the volcanic basins in early Cretaceous to the north, which suggests that the brittle faults were normal faults formed in early Cretaceous during doming of the Dabie orogenic belt. The ductile shear zone superposed on the north Dabie gray gneiss, and it is an important channel where the Dabie HP–UHP rocks exhumed. For obtaining new structural constraint on exhumation of the HP–UHP rocks, we present here experimental results on the microstructure, quartz C-axis fabrics and the microprobe analyses of phengite. The ductile shear zone was determined to be formed at a temperature of 600–650°C and pressure of 1.1 GPa by the mineral deformation, microprobe analyses and geobarometry of Si-in-phengite of the mylonite, the results suggest that the mylonite now exposed on the surface experienced an upper amphibolite-facies metamorphism in the lower crust. The mineral stretching lineation varies from horizontal in the east segment to sub-dip in the west. Shear sense indicators from outcrop and thin sections of orientated specimen and quartz C-axis fabrics suggest that the XMF is a sinistral normal fault. The kinematics analysis of the ductile shear zone indicates that the exhumation of Dabie HP–UHP rocks is the results of a SE-directed extrusion and an anticlockwise rotation around its eastern pivot simultaneously. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Based on the abundant and low-cost zinc-based acrylate resins, C/ZnO composites were fabricated via one-step carbonization at 700 °C in a N 2 atmosphere for 2 h. Zinc-based acrylate resins, which were synthesized by free-radical polymerization of butyl acrylate (BA), acrylic acid (AA) and vinyl acetate (VAc) and dehydration condensation of Zn(OH) 2 , provided a common source for carbon and ZnO. These materials demonstrate enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA) behavior with tunable microwave absorption bands at 2–18 GHz, which is related to the molar ratio (mol%) of Zn(OH) 2 to acrylate monomers in zinc-based acrylate resins. Remarkably, the 0.11 mol% C/ZnO composite exhibits outstanding absorption properties: the minimum reflection loss (RL min) at 16.7 wt% loading of −34.66 dB is observed at 3.0 mm and 10.32 GHz, and an RL min of −24.83 dB is observed at a small thickness of 1.5 mm with an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 3.61 GHz. Moreover, the EAB (RL ≤ −10 dB) from the C band to Ku band is achieved by simply adjusting the thickness of the absorbers, which are superior to the other hybrids of organic carbon and ZnO. These results provide a new strategy for the preparation of carbon-based composites containing metal oxides and their application in high-performance microwave absorption. [Display omitted] • Zinc-based acrylate resins were first applied as precursors to prepare C/ZnO composites for electromagnetic absorption. • Effective adsorption of C/ZnO composites could be tuned by adjusting the molar ratio of Zn(OH) 2 to acrylate monomers. • An RL min value at 16.7 wt% loading of -34.66 dB (10.32 GHz) at 3.0 mm and EAB of 3.61 GHz at 1.5 mm were achieved. • The EMWA mechanism of the C/ZnO composites was investigated in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to develop a dynamic model for predicting the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in pasteurized cow milk under fluctuating temperature conditions during storage and temperature abuse. Six dynamic temperature profiles that simulated random fluctuation patterns were designed to change arbitrarily between 4 and 30°C. The growth data collected from 3 independent temperature profiles were used to determine the kinetic parameters and construct a growth model combining the primary and secondary models using a 1-step dynamic analysis method. The results showed that the estimated minimum growth temperature and maximum cell concentration were 0.6 ± 0.2°C and 7.8 ± 0.1 log cfu/mL (mean ± standard error), with the root mean square error (RMSE) only 0.3 log cfu/mL for model development. The model and the associated kinetic parameters were validated using the data collected under both dynamic and isothermal conditions, which were not used for model development, to verify the accuracy of prediction. The RMSE of prediction was approximately 0.3 log cfu/mL for fluctuating temperature profiles, and it was between 0.2 and 1.1 log cfu/mL under certain isothermal temperatures (2–30°C). The resulting model and kinetic parameters were further validated using 3 growth curves at 4, 7, and 10°C arbitrarily selected from ComBase (www.combase.cc). The RMSE of prediction was 0.8, 0.4, and 0.5 log cfu/mL, respectively, for these curves. The validation results indicated the predictive model was reasonably accurate, with relatively small RMSE. The model was then used to simulate the growth of L. monocytogenes under a variety of continuous and square-wave temperature profiles to demonstrate its potential application. The results of this study showed that the model developed in this study can be used to predict the growth of L. monocytogenes in contaminated milk during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Square billet is an important industrial raw material. Due to the large amount of oxidation skin on the surface after continuous casting process, it needs surface grinding treatment. Meanwhile, the billet surface is prone to stress concentrations and cracks in the crystallization zone, so it is easy to break and cause accidents in the subsequent process. However, the poor surface condition of the reground billet, such as the large roughness and fluctuations in the shape, makes it difficult to be tested by traditional methods. In this paper, the relationship between the excitation frequency of alternative current magnetic flux leakage (AC-MFL) and the fluctuation of magnetic field generated by uneven surface is studied, and the high-frequency AC leakage field formation is restated. Furthermore, a flexible probe integrating parallel cables (PC) magnetizer and receiving coils is proposed, which can realize the profiling testing and reduce the influence of the undulating surface. Finally, the wavelet transform is used to reconstruct signals, which increases the average signal-to noise ratio (SNR) from 7.25 dB to 11.89 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel dimeric gadolinium(III) complex, bis(4-Gd-DTPA-aminophenyl)adamantane ( 5 ), was successfully synthesized using bis(4-aminophenyl)adamantane to link two Gd-DTPA units. All the intermediates and bis(4-Gd-DTPA-aminophenyl)adamantane ( 5 ) have been characterized by 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, ES-API-MS, HR-ESI-MS, FT-IR and elemental analysis (EA). The longitudinal relaxivity of bis(4-Gd-DTPA-aminophenyl)adamantane is 8.43 mM −1  Gd −1  s −1 at 0.43 T (32 °C, pH 7.0), and 4.89 mM −1  Gd −1  s −1 at 3.0 T (32 °C, pH 7.4). The T 1 -weighted imaging in vitro showed that bis(4-Gd-DTPA-acetylaminophenyl)adamantane can enhance the contrast of images distinctly. But most of all, the kinetic inertness of bis(4-Gd-DTPA-aminophenyl)adamantane ( 5 ) was comparable to that of [Gd(DTPA)(H 2 O)] 2− (Magnetvist®). Moreover, cytotoxicity tests indicated that the bis(4-Gd-DTPA-acetylaminophenyl)adamantane exhibited low toxicity to healthy liver cells (L-02 cells). These results demonstrate that the Gd(III) complex 5 may be a promising MRI contrast agent candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the growth kinetics of S. aureus and different concentrations of background microbiota in Chinese-style braised beef (CBB). A one-step analysis method was applied to develop predictive model to describe the simultaneous growth and interaction of S. aureus with different concentrations of background microbiota in CBB. The results show that a one-step method successfully models the growth of S. aureus and background microbiota in CBB and the competing interactions between the two. In sterile CBB, the estimated minimum growth temperatures (T min,S) and the maximum growth concentrations (Y max,S) were 8.76 °C and 9.58 log CFU/g for S. aureus. Under competition, the growth of background microbiota was not affected by S. aureus , the estimated T min,B and Y max,B was 4.46 °C and 9.94 log CFU/g. The background microbiota in CBB did not affect the growth rate of S. aureus (α 1 = 1.04), but had an inhibitory effect on the number of S. aureus (α 2 = 0.69) at the later growth stage. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the modeling data was 0.34 log CFU/g, with 85.5% of the residual errors within ±0.5 log CFU/g of experimental observations. The one-step analysis and dynamic temperatures (8 °C–32 °C) verification indicated that the RMSE of prediction was <0.5 log CFU/g for both S. aureus and background microbiota. This study demonstrates that microbial interaction models are a useful and promising tool for predicting and evaluating the spatiotemporal population dynamics of S. aureus and background microbiota in CBB products. • A growth prediction model for S. aureus in sterile CBB was developed. • Interaction models of S. aureus and background microbiota in CBB were developed. • A one-step analysis method was used to estimate kinetic parameters. • The applicability and accuracy of the model were verified under dynamic temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Soil erosion intensity increased from North to South in the Wangdonggou watershed. • The soil erosion intensity varied with land use, vegetation coverage and slope. • Woodland and grassland in the study area caused more than 50% soil erosion. • Converting sloping woodland and grassland to terraces effectively control soil erosion. Soil is an essentially limited natural resource that natural and human-induced processes have both generated and damaged. Soil degradation has become one of the most crucial socio-economic and environmental problems since it produces deterioration in productivity and quality of soil resources. Soil erosion, a natural phenomenon that causes degradation of soil and, curves the soil surface away from natural physical forces. To reveal the main factors influencing the spatial distribution of soil erosion in the small watershed of the Loess Plateau, the present study has investigated the synergistic as well as the independent influence of land use, vegetation coverage, and slope on the spatial distribution characteristics of soil erosion in the Wangdonggou watershed in 2015. Soil samples have been collected and analyzed in the laboratory together with high-resolution satellite imagery and meteorological data and derived data from digital elevation model (DEM). The results have shown that soil erosion in Wangdonggou watershed in 2015 has been characterized by a slight erosion, highlighting a gradually increased intensity from North to South. Among different land-uses, woodland and grassland have caused more than 50% soil erosion in the study area, and the areas with vegetation coverage of ≥ 50% have been the main source of soil erosion, and they have been all affected by slope. Furthermore, the practice of expanding vegetation presence on the lower coverage of woodland and grassland, particularly where the slope is between 15°∼45°, and converting sloping woodland and grassland to the terrace have seemed to be effective strategies for controlling soil erosion in the Wangdonggou watershed. Finally, the current study has revealed that the RUSLE-GIS integrated model could be a useful tool to quantitatively and spatially map soil erosion at the watershed scale in the Loess Plateau, taking into account the provision of landscape services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Evidence has been accumulating for the role of Sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 as the antagonists of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway, which suppresses bone formation through inhibiting osteoblastic function. To get deep-inside information about the expression of the antagonists in patients with fluorine bone injury, a case-control study was conducted in two counties in Hubei Province. Urinary and serum fluoride were significantly higher in patients with fluorine bone injury than in healthy controls. Additionally, patients with fluorine bone injury had significantly lower serum Sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 levels compared with healthy controls (P <0.001). Serum Sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 levels were significantly correlated with serum fluoride in all studied subjects (n =186). Low Sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 levels were associated with a significantly increased risk of fluorine bone injury. In conclusion, serum Sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 might be used as important markers of bone metabolism change and potential therapeutic targets to treat fluorine bone injury. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: NE-trending, sinistral ductile shear belts in the southern part of the Tan–Lu fault zone, East China are exposed along the eastern edge of the northern Dabie belt and southern Zhangbaling belt. Three hornblende, three phengite and 12 biotite separates from greenschist facies mylonites in the shear belts were dated by the 40Ar/39Ar method in this study. A hornblende plateau age of 143.3Ma is interpreted as representing the time of sinistral motion on the Zhangbaling part of the Tan–Lu fault zone. Seven biotite samples from the same part yield 40Ar/39Ar cooling ages from 137 to 125Ma. A phengite plateau age of 138.8Ma from the eastern edge of the Dabie belt is considered as being close to the time of deformation in the Tan–Lu strike-slip zone. Five biotite 40Ar/39Ar ages from 120 to 110Ma and one phengite age of 121Ma from the same area represent cooling ages after the sinistral faulting. It is concluded on the basis of these 40Ar/39Ar ages that the sinistral ductile shear belts in the southern part of the Tan–Lu fault zone were produced in earliest Early Cretaceous. This sinistral motion on the Tan–Lu fault zone is considered to be related to high-speed, highly oblique subduction of the Pacific plate at this time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Qianlishan Complex is a multiply deformed granulite terrane of the Khondalite Belt that represents a Paleoproterozoic continent-continent collisional orogen in the Western Block of the North China Craton. Two major stages of deformation (D 1 and D 2) were identified in the Qianlishan Complex. D 1 mainly produced NWW-trending overturned to recumbent intrafolial isoclinal folds F 1 , sub-horizontal penetrative foliations S 1 , NNE-SSW mineral lineations L 1 associated with top-to-the-SSW thrust shear, reflecting crustal thickening due to the NNE-SSW compression. D 1 was developed with the prograde (M 1) and peak (M 2) granulite-facies metamorphism. D 2 successively superposed the D 1 structures and was characterized by NWW-SEE-trending doubly plunging open to tight upright folds F 2 and minor sub-vertical axial planar foliations/cleavages S 2. D 2 was accompanied by post-peak near-isothermal decompression (M 3), probably related to exhumation following the crustal thickening. SIMS U–Pb zircon ages of deformation-related leucocratic dykes demonstrate that D 1 broadly occurred at 1976–1936 Ma and D 2 subsequently happened at 1936–1854 Ma. These results indicate that the Khondalite Belt underwent long-term (~100 Myr) polyphase deformation and high-grade metamorphism associated with magmatism. Timing constraints and kinematic compatibility suggest that the deformation sequence resulted from the NNE-SSW collision between the Yinshan and Ordos Blocks to form the Western Block at ~1.95 Ga. fx1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed at developing a mathematical model to predict the growth of Salmonella in ground chicken in the presence of the background microflora. Ground chicken was inoculated with a cocktail of S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis and incubated at various isothermal temperatures (8-33 °C). Salmonella grew at all temperatures, except at 8 °C, while the background microflora could grow under all conditions. The observed growth data of both Salmonella and background microflora at temperatures between 12 and 33 °C were analyzed simultaneously to develop the predictive growth models. The Huang-Jameson effect (HJE) model and Huang-Lotka-Volterra (HLV) model were used to describe the growth and interaction between Salmonella and background microflora. The Huang square-root model was used to evaluate the effect of temperature on the growth rates and lag times of Salmonella and background microflora. A one-step analysis method was used to directly build the tertiary models and to determine the kinetic parameters from the growth curves. The minimum growth temperature (T min) for Salmonella estimated by both the HJE and HLV models was 7.2 °C. The T min for background flora determined by HJE and HLV model was 1.3 and 1.8 °C, respectively. Under competition, the growth rate of Salmonella could be lower than that of the background microflora at temperatures below 16.8 °C, while Salmonella would grow faster than the background microflora at temperatures above 16.8 °C. With relatively low value of RMSE (0.3 log CFU/g), the HJE and HLV models could both successfully describe the growth of Salmonella and native microflora and the interaction between the two. Although the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) value of the HJE model (−349.1) was slightly smaller than that of the HLV model (−339.4), both models were practically equal in accuracy for predicting the competitive growth of Salmonella and background flora in ground chicken. The HJE model and kinetic parameters were validated using separate isothermal and dynamic growth data. The validation results indicated the competition model was accurate, with the RMSE of the predictions was 0.3 log CFU/g. Overall, the residual errors of predictions followed a normal distribution, with approximately 86.3% of them were within ±0.5 log CFU/g. The results from this study may be useful for microbial risk assessments of Salmonella and shelf-life prediction of ground chicken. • Behaviors of Salmonella and background flora in ground chicken were observed. • The growth of Salmonella was interfered by the presence of background microflora. • The competitive models for Salmonella and background microflora were developed. • One-step analysis method was performed for data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed at investigating the growth of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) in irradiated and raw salmon. Mathematical models were developed to describe the growth of L. monocytogenes with or without the presence of the native microbiota in salmon. At temperatures between 4 and 35 °C, the growth data of L. monocytogenes in sterile salmon were collected to develop the non-competitive growth model, while the observed growth data of both L. monocytogenes and background microflora in raw salmon were analyzed simultaneously to develop the competitive model. The Huang square-root model was used to evaluate the effect of temperature on growth rates and lag times of L. monocytogenes and the native microbiota. A one-step analysis approach was used for model development and the kinetic parameters estimation. The results showed that the background microflora in raw salmon have inhibiting effect on the growth of L. monocytogenes. The lag time of L. monocytogenes in raw salmon was 2.849 times longer than that in sterile salmon, while its specific growth rate was decreased by 78.7% with the presence of the native microbiota. The minimum growth temperature for L. monocytogenes ( T m i n , L m ) in raw salmon estimated by the competitive model was 1.3 °C, which was close to T m i n , L m in sterile salmon (1.2 °C) determined by the non-competitive model. With the relatively low value of RMSE (0.3 Log CFU/g), the non-competitive and competitive models were accurate to describe the growth of L. monocytogenes in sterile salmon and the interaction between L. monocytogenes and the native microflora in raw salmon, respectively. The predictive models and the associated kinetic parameters were validated under isothermal temperature conditions. The validation results indicated that the non-competitive and competitive models were accurate. Overall, the residual errors of predictions of these two models both followed a Laplace distribution. The RMSE values of the models were both 0.4 Log CFU/g and more than 79% of prediction errors were within normal experimental errors (±0.5 Log CFU/g). The results from this study may be useful for the future risk assessments of L. monocytogenes and microbiological shelf-life prediction of salmon. • The growth of L. monocytogenes in sterile and raw salmon were observed. • The growth of L. monocytogenes was interfered by the natural microflora. • The non-competitive and competitive models were developed. • A one-step analysis approach was used to construct models and determine kinetic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]