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We present a new strategy for self-adjuvanting vaccine development that has different types of covalently-linked immunostimulants as the carrier molecule. Using Tn antigen as the model, a three-component vaccine (MPLA-Tn-KRN7000) containing the TLR4 ligand MPLA and the iNKT cell agonist KRN7000 was designed and synthesized. This expands fully synthetic self-adjuvanting vaccine studies that use a single carrier to one with two different types of carriers. The corresponding two-component conjugate vaccines Tn-MPLA, Tn-KRN7000 and Tn-CRM197 were also synthesized, as controls. The immunological evaluation found that MPLA-Tn-KRN7000 elicits robust Tn-specific and T cell-dependent immunity. The antibodies specifically recognized, bound to and exhibited complement-dependent cytotoxicity against Tn-positive cancer cells. In addition, MPLA-Tn-KRN7000 increased the survival rate and survival time of tumor-challenged mice, and surviving mice reject further tumor attacks without any additional treatment. Compared to the glycoprotein vaccine Tn-CRM197, the two-component conjugate vaccines, Tn-MPLA and Tn-KRN7000, and the physical mixture of Tn-MPLA and Tn-KRN7000, MPLA-Tn-KRN7000 showed the most effect at combating tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo. The comparison of immunological studies in wild-type and TLR4 knockout mice, along with the test of binding affinity to CD1d protein suggests that the covalently linked MPLA-KRN7000 immunostimulant induces a synergistic activation of TLR4 and iNKT cell that improves the immunogenicity of Tn. This work demonstrates that MPLA-Tn-KRN7000 has the potential to be a vaccine candidate and provides a new direction for fully synthetic vaccine design. A new strategy to construct self-adjuvanting antitumor vaccine was developed. The resulting three-component vaccine elicited strong humoral and cellular immune responses, and protected mice from tumor development. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The impetus of urbanization quality stems from urban districts and radiates outwards. • The dimension of people's lives has great potential for development. • Shandong Province formed a "H" type high quality distribution belt. • Public Services has significantly deepened the influence on urbanization quality. This study evaluates urbanization quality across 137 county-level administrative divisions in Shandong Province, China, through an evaluation indicator system developed for the county level. Utilizing a modified entropy method, this research delves into the level and spatiotemporal patterns of urbanization quality. Moreover, it scrutinizes the determinants of urbanization quality employing both Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) models. The findings reveal that: (1) Throughout the study period, the urbanization quality within Shandong's county areas manifested a progressive trend; however, the pace of improvement decelerated. Significantly, the contribution of the quality of life to the overall urbanization quality index registered a notable increase, it shows that improving the quality of life has increasingly become the core driving force for improving the quality of urbanization. At the same time, it is found that the main driving force for the improvement of urbanization quality comes from the municipal district, and gradually radiates to county-level cities and counties. (2) The study identified pronounced regional disparities in urbanization quality and its constitutive dimensions across Shandong's county areas. The "H"-shaped pattern urbanization high-quality development distribution belt is formed along the main transportation lines, indicating that transportation is one of the core elements of urbanization quality improvement. At the same time, when a region has two development centers, due to the need to take into account the development of the two centers, it is possible to form an "H"-shaped pattern spatial distribution pattern. The formation of high-quality development distribution belt of H"-shaped pattern urbanization indicates that Shandong Province is a typical dual-center development model. (3) Among the factors influencing urbanization quality, the number of domestic invention patents per 10,000 people and population density were found to exert significant effects, displaying a considerable degree of spatial variability, it shows that attracting a large number of innovative talents is an important strategy to improve the quality of urbanization. At the same time, based on the measurement results, it is found that if Shandong Province continues to invest 2.1 trillion yuan to improve the quality of people's lives, it will greatly improve the urbanization quality in the county areas of Shandong Province. It is expected that around 2069, about 80% of the county areas in the study area will achieve high quality and relatively high quality development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the influence of different temperature and oxygen concentration on the combustion and micro-explosion of BD60R10E30 droplets (the ratio of biodiesel, aviation fuel and ethanol was 60:10:30), a set of volume measuring device was designed, and the volume of BD60R10E30 droplets with 1.34 μL was obtained by using this device, and a multi-parameter tube furnace experimental system was established. By adjusting the parameters of temperature and oxygen concentration, the experimental phenomena such as droplet ignition, expansion and micro-explosion were found, and the shape and boundary of discrete flame were firstly observed in mixed fuel. The modified micro-explosion intensity calculation model was established, and the micro-explosion intensity of mixed droplets under different conditions was calculated, and the reasons for the difference of micro-explosion intensity were analyzed. In addition, the concept of volume burning rate of micro-droplets was put forward, and the volume burning rate model based on micro-explosion intensity was established. The average volume burning rate of BD60R10E30 droplets under different micro-explosion intensity conditions was calculated by combining the micro-explosion intensity model with the volume burning rate model. • The combustion condition of aero-engine in different flight phases is analyzed. •Oxygen concentration and temperature can affect BD60 R10E30 droplets micro-explosion. •A new equation for calculating the micro-explosion intensity is established. • The droplet burning rate was calculated by combining the micro-explosion model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide (SiC) is extremely hard and brittle, posing challenges for traditional abrasive machining. This study used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate synchronous versus asynchronous force-torque effects on SiC abrasive machining. Multi-grit diamond abrasion of 4H-SiC was modeled by applying controlled sinusoidal forces and torques. Asynchronous force-torque increased material removal rates up to 2X versus synchronous conditions by promoting particle agglomeration and enabling trapped particles to contribute. However, asynchronous operation also produced higher surface roughness and subsurface cracking from greater penetration. The alternating forces generated larger stresses that may have driven more plastic deformation and brittle fracture. The study provided atomic-scale insights into force-torque effects, establishing guidelines to potentially enhance efficiency through asynchronous operation despite drawbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The microscopic morphology of ice with physical crosslinking structure is elucidated. • The variation of stress–strain and time-strain rate of ice with physical crosslinking structure under impact load is analyzed. • The strengthening effect of different crosslinking structures on the mechanical properties of ice is studied. Ice is formed by the crystallization of water. Although ice appears to be less brittle under low strain rates during compression and shearing processes, it is still considered a brittle material, which poses significant challenges for its wide applications in industries. Therefore, the study of the mechanical properties of ice has always been a topic of great interest. This paper investigates the influence of single physical crosslinking structure (PCS) and dual PCS on the microstructure and dynamic mechanical properties of ice. Firstly, a solution with 0.2 wt% of sodium alginate (SA), a solution with 0.2 wt% of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), and a mixture solution with 0.1 wt% of SA and 0.1 wt% of HPMC are prepared. The molecular chain connection methods in the prepared solutions are then analyzed. Subsequently, the microstructure of ice (Ice, SA-ice, HPMC-ice, SA&HPMC-ice) formed from different solutions is observed by a cryo-scanning electron microscope (Cryo-SEM). Finally, Hopkinson pressure bar (HPB) experiments are carried out to compare and analyze the time-strain rate and stress–strain relationships of different types of ice, thus elucidating the effect of microstructure on the strength of ice. Additionally, the variations in time-strain rate/strain energy and stress–strain curves of SA&HPMC-ice under different launch pressure are analyzed. This study provides valuable reference and guidance for enhancing the mechanical properties of ice and its engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, pyrolysis behavior, kinetics, and condensable/non-condensable gases characteristics during co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge (SS) and rice husk (RH) were evaluated using Thermogravimetric–Fourier transform infrared spectrometry–Mass spectrometry (TG–FTIR–MS). The mass loss was divided into two stages: the main devolatilization and the continuous slight decomposition of macromolecular substances. The pyrolysis behavior was improved during co-pyrolysis, and the interaction between SS and RH showed synergistic and inhibitive effects. The lowest average activation energy was obtained at 30% RH blending; the Diffusion 3D (Zhrualev–Lesokin–Tempelmen) reaction model can fit the pyrolysis process using the Coats–Redfern method. The functional groups and condensable/non-condensable gases (O-H, C=O, C-O, C-H benzene skeleton, CO, CO 2) were detected by FTIR, revealing the synergistic effect on the evolution of condensable/non-condensable gases in the promotion of C-O, C=O and CO 2 release in blends. The condensable and non-condensable products were detected via MS (including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, CO 2 , NOx and SOx). The results showed that CO 2 was the main gaseous product and confirmed an enhancement of the CO 2 release during co-pyrolysis. The release of both hydrocarbons (C 2 H 6 , C 4 H 7 +, C 4 H 8) and pollutants (SO, SO 2 and toluene) were significantly increased when dealing with pyrolysing the feedstock blend. • Co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge and rice husk was studied by TG-FTIR-MS. • Blending rice husk improved the pyrolysis behavior of blends. • The lowest average activation energy was obtained at 30% RH blending. • Synergistic effect on the volatiles appeared during co-pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ignition and combustion characteristics of anthracite-rice husk (AC-RH) and bituminous coal-rice husk (BC-RH) pellets were investigated in a vertical heating tube furnace under different experimental condition, for gas temperature (873 K–1073 K) and under air and different oxygen concentration (21–70%) in CO 2 /O 2 atmosphere. The investigation of the ignition and combustion characteristics focused on ignition mechanism, ignition delay, ignition temperature and combustion process. AC-RH pellets had two ignition mechanism in CO2/O2 atmosphere: homogeneous ignition of volatile and heterogeneous ignition of char. Heterogeneous ignition region decreased while homogeneous ignition increased as rice husk blending ratio increased in oxygen concentration-gas temperature plane. Only homogeneous ignition was observed when rice husk blending ratio was 30%. As for BC-RH pellets, only homogeneous ignition occurred in all experimental conditions. The effect of the rice husk blending on the anthracite was more pronounced than the bituminous coal for ignition mechanism. As oxygen concentration increased, a significant reduction in ignition delay and ignition temperature was observed at low rice husk blending ratio and low gas temperature. but at 1073 K, high oxidizer temperature weakened the effect of biomass blending and oxygen concentration on ignition delay and ignition temperature. Meanwhile, at 20% and 30% rice husk blending ratio, it also weakened the effect of oxygen concentration and oxidizer temperature on ignition delay and ignition temperature. In contrast, blending ratio had a more significant effect on ignition behavior. The replacement of N 2 by CO 2 at the same oxygen concentration contributed to an increase in ignition delay time and internal ignition temperature, which suppressed the ignition behavior. Different ignition mechanisms corresponded to different combustion processes. • The ignition and combustion behavior of coal-biomass blend pellet was investigated. • The critical condition of the transition for ignition mechanism was found. • The effect of Tg, O2% and BRH on ignition delay and temperature was discussed. • The effect of RH blending on anthracite was pronounced than bituminous coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing the nanoparticles (NPs) to improve the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance of Fe single atoms (SAs) is conducive, but it is far from further application due to its limited number of enhanced SAs site and unclear origin of the enhanced electrocatalytic activity. Herein, we develop a hybrid catalyst contains a high density of activated SAs and explored the origin of this excellent activity. In the hybrid catalyst, the isolated Fe SAs are clustered within 2 nm around CFe 2.5 NPs ((CFe 2.5) NP /Fe SA -N-C), implying that these Fe SAs active sites are being modulated and enhanced. Further theory reveals those strong interactions between Fe SAs and adjacent CFe 2.5 NPs induces transition of spin-polarization configuration of Fe centers from high spin state to low spin state, leading to weakened bonding strength of Fe atoms and OOH*. The optimized (CFe 2.5) NP /Fe SA -N-C possesses a superior ORR performance, and exhibits an amazing application potential in zinc-air batteries. [Display omitted] • We synthesize a novel hybrid catalyst containing a high density of Fe SAs activated by adjacent NPs. • Theoretical studies show that the CFe 2.5 NPs can induce the rearrangement of Fe 3 d electrons and spin polarization. • The hybrid catalyst shows exceptional ORR performance and promising application potential in zinc-air batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]