Search

Composite ceramics are applied widely nowadays by combining superior properties of different ceramic materials. In this study, SiO 2 –Si 3 N 4 composite ceramics with higher mechanical properties and lower dielectric constant were successfully fabricated by nitriding diamond-wire saw silicon waste. The effect of gas atmospheres (N 2 , NH 3 , N 2 –H 2) and SiO 2 content (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%) on the microstructure and properties of composite ceramics were studied. It shows that the synthesis of SiO 2 –Si 3 N 4 composite ceramics can be obtained in the NH 3 atmosphere, and it is inevitable to form the Si 2 N 2 O phase in N 2 and N 2 –H 2 mixture atmospheres. Furthermore, the shrinkage rate and dielectric constant of the ceramics decreased as SiO 2 content increased from 0% to 40%. As for the porosity of the sintered ceramics, it first decreased and then increased, with a minimum of 1.73% at the SiO 2 content of 20%. However, the flexural strength of the sintered ceramics was the inverse of the porosity, with a maximum of 160.72 MPa at the SiO 2 content of 30%. For the sintered ceramic with 30% SiO 2 , the shrinkage rate, dielectric constant, porosity and flexural strength are 0.3%, 4.62, 1.97% and 160.72 MPa respectively. Thus, this study provides an environment-friendly and value-added approach to recycling photovoltaic waste and reducing the cost of the reactive sintering SiO 2 –Si 3 N 4 composite ceramics with excellent mechanical and dielectric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Only a small number of studies have reported the impact of Ki-67 and P16 expression in tumour tissue on the prognosis of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. This study investigated the relationship between Ki-67 and P16 expression levels after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. • 334 patients had a median Ki-67 index of 60 % (0–90 %), with 303 (90.7 %) cases of positive P16 expression and 31 (9.3 %) cases of negative P16 expression. The cut-off value of Ki-67 for determining recurrence was 67.5 % according to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. In multi-factorial Cox analysis, lymphatic vascular space (p = 0.003) and Ki-67 index (p = 0.005) were shown to increase the risk of recurrence, and were independent prognostic factors for recurrence. Patients with cervical cancer in the high Ki-67 expression group (Ki-67 ≥ 67.5 %) had lower recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) than patients in the low Ki-67 expression group (Ki-67 < 67.5 %) (p = 0.001 and 0.036, respectively). • This study provides a theoretical basis for postoperative complementary therapy and follow-up monitoring of this group of patients to control the disease and reduce the risk of recurrence to prolong RFS and OS. To investigate the relationship between Ki-67 and P16 expression levels after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Patients with FIGO 2009 stage IB2 or IIA2 cervical cancer, who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with radical hysterectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between January 2015 and December 2019, were identified retrospectively to correlate postoperative Ki-67 and P16 expression levels with clinicopathological factors. The optimal threshold for predicting recurrence was analysed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the Ki-67 index, and univariate and multi-factorial Cox regression analysis were used to investigate the association between clinicpathological features including Ki-67 and P16 and recurrence-free survival. In total, 334 patients were included after screening. The cut-off value of Ki-67 for determining recurrence was 67.5 % according to the ROC curve. On multi-factorial Cox analysis, lymphatic vascular space (p = 0.003) and Ki-67 index (p = 0.005) were shown to increase the risk of recurrence, and were independent prognostic factors for recurrence, while the expression of P16 was not significantly associated with the risk of recurrence (p = 0.097, odds ratio = 0.319). Patients with cervical cancer in the high Ki-67 expression group (Ki-67 ≥ 67.5 %) had lower recurrence-free survival and overall survival than patients in the low Ki-67 expression group (Ki-67 < 67.5 %) (p = 0.001 and 0.036, respectively). The expression levels of Ki-67 and P16 after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer correlated with tumour differentiation. High expression of Ki-67 (Ki-67 ≥ 67.5 %) may indicate poorer recurrence-free survival and overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some seriously weathered jades of Fubin culture were unearthed at the Moyishan site in Lingnan, South China. These long-buried jades have many secondary changes such as discoloration, microstructural change and chemical composition variation. To explore the formation mechanism of secondary changes, the microstructure, mineral components, and chemical content of the jade samples and their buried soil are analyzed separately. The jade with red-brown shell is preserved well and shows better structural stability, further research indicates that it's the result of surface complexation reactions. During the long-term burial in acidic soil environment, the jade wrapped in the negatively charged kaolinite which absorbed Fe3+ to complexed on the jade surface. Iron(ⅲ) precipitates causes the dense shell to appear red-brown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we tested the inhibitory activity of 45 natural products extracted from the plant Toona sinensis on SHP2 protein, and identified four natural product inhibitors. The natural product 1,2,3,6-Tetragalloylglucose (A-1) was first reported as a competitive inhibitor of SHP2, with an IC 50 value of 0.20 ± 0.029 μM and the selectivity of 1.8-fold and 4.35-fold to high homologous proteins SHP1 and PTP1B, respectively. Compound A-1 also showed high inhibitory activity on SHP2-E76K and SHP2-E76A mutants, with IC 50 values of 0.95 ± 0.21 μM and 0.29 ± 0.045 μM, respectively. Cell viability assay showed that compound A-1 could inhibit the proliferation of a variety of cancer cells. Apoptosis assay showed that compound A-1 could effectively induce apoptosis of KRASG12C-mut NCI-H23 and KRASG12S-mut A549 cells. Western blot assay showed that compound A-1 could down regulate the phosphorylation levels of Erk1/2 and Akt in NCI-H23 and A549 cells. Molecular docking showed that compound A-1 could effectively dock to the catalytic active region of SHP2. Molecular dynamics simulation explored the effect of compound A-1 on SHP2, revealing the deep-seated binding mechanism. This study would provide valuable clues for the development of SHP2 and its mutant inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focused on removed mode of titanium target material and deposition process of the TiN film in a novel dual pulse power magnetron sputtering (DPPMS), which could improve deposition rate and properties of the TiN film. The study was carried out using DPPMS with different target power ratios between the first and the second ionized periods (P w /P s). It was found that when P w /P s was changed from 0.9/1.6 to 0.3/2.2, the removed mode of target material changed from sputtering to sputtering and evaporation, and the deposition rate of TiN films increased from 26 to 61 nm/min. All TiN films showed face center cubic (fcc) crystal structure and typical columnar microstructure. The compactness and size of columnar structure were improved with P w /P s changed from 0.9/1.6 to 0.3/2.2. Additionally, the hardness of TiN film deposited at P w /P s of 0.3/2.2 reached up to 25.4 GPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ways in which natural ecosystems respond to global change have become an urgent concern to society. Lakes play a pivotal role in ecosystem changes because of their central position within watersheds and their involvement in various endogenous and cross-system ecological and biogeochemical processes, leaving natural archives accumulated in sediments over time. However, how lake ecosystems have responded to atmospheric changes during the past few centuries is still not fully understood. To analyse the process in more detail, we conducted a case study at Lake Genco, a remote alpine on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and recovered a 170-year history of lake's ecosystem from a 210Pb-dated sediment core. The air temperature increased between 1900 and 1950 CE and 1980 and 2020 CE. Geochemical and physical proxies (magnetic susceptibility, Sr/Ba, K/Al, Na/Al, Ti, Pb, P flux, TN and δ15N org) indicated greater degrees of weathering and erosion, and higher nutrient loadings as terrestrial systems responded to atmospheric changes after 1900 CE. Higher primary aquatic productivity, richer biodiversity and weaker structural stability were found in Lake Genco between 1852 and 2017 CE, although the ecological response was quiet in terms of the compositional change in the diatom community, which was generally dominated by small planktonic Cyclotella ocellata. During warmer periods, diatom PC1 changed directionally due to the overall increase in the abundance of tychoplanktonic Fragilaria construens and periphytic Achnanthes minutissima and the decreasing abundance (∼10%) of C. ocellata. This study provides empirical evidence that ecological changes in remote lakes rely on interactions between the atmosphere and the landscape and helps us to understand the complexity of the various impacts of global climate change. More local and regional studies are needed to generalise the mechanism of biological responses to atmospheric changes in remote lakes, especially in the QTP. • Remote lake ecosystems' responses to climate change have been a key concern in the global warming context. • Modest ecological changes were revealed over the past 170 years in a small high-altitude lake of the southeast Tibetan Plateau. • The relative abundance of planktonic Cyclotella ocellata decreased while primary productivity and biodiversity increased. • Lake surface area may have determined the local ecological response of lakes to atmospheric changes in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A simple and reliable interenzyme distance regulation strategy was developed. • The biosensor achieved a detection limit for Ochratoxin A as low as 3.1 fg/mL. • This strategy was applied to detect Ochratoxin A in coffee and orange juice samples. Developing sensitive and accurate Ochratoxin A (OTA) detection methods is essential for food safety. Herein, a simple and reliable strategy for regulating interenzyme distance based on a rigid DNA quadrangular prism as a scaffold was proposed to establish a new electrochemical biosensor for ultrasensitive detection of OTA. The interenzyme distances were precisely adjusted by changing the sequences of the hybridized portions of hairpins SH1 and SH2 to the DNA quadrangular prism, avoiding the complexity and instability of the previous DNA scaffold-based enzyme spacing adjustment strategies. The electrochemical biosensor constructed at the optimal interenzyme distance (10.4 nm) achieved sensitive detection of OTA in a dynamic concentration range from 10 fg/mL to 250 ng/mL with a detection limit of 3.1 fg/mL. In addition, the biosensor was applied to quantify OTA in real samples, exhibiting great application potential in food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • OQDs with great sensing potency are synthesized by one-step method. • OQDs realize the distinguishing and sequential detection of Ag+ and Hg2+. • A unique Ag+-triggered AIE enhancement mechanism of OQDs is clarified. • A smartphone-based sensing platform is established based on chromatic change. Realizing the accurate recognition and quantification of heavy metal ions is pivotal but challenging in the environmental, biological, and physiological science fields. In this work, orange fluorescence emitting quantum dots (OQDs) have been facilely synthesized by one-step method. The participation of silver ion (Ag+) can evoke the unique aggregation-induced emission (AIE) of OQDs, resulting in prominent fluorescence enhancement, which is scarcely reported previously. Moreover, the Ag+-triggered turn-on fluorescence can be continuously shut down by mercury ion (Hg2+). This intriguing sequential fluorescence variation exhibits great sensing potency for discrimination and quantification of Ag+ and Hg2+. Meanwhile, our OQDs also exhibit good selectivity, sensitivity, and rapid response toward Ag+ and Hg2+ detection. Due to their high performance, OQDs have been applied to the determination of Ag+ and Hg2+ levels in daily necessities and water samples with satisfactory results. Moreover, a portable smartphone-assisted sensing platform based on chromatic change has been constructed, facilitating the real-time and naked-eye visualization in the resource-confined scene. We anticipate that the discovery of these OQDs would be advantageous for exploring novel QDs materials for fluorescence detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoride, a ubiquitous environmental compound, carries significant health risks at excessive levels. This study investigated the reproductive toxicity of fluoride exposure during puberty in mice, focusing on its impact on testicular development, spermatogenesis, and underlying mechanisms. The results showed that fluoride exposure during puberty impaired testicular structure, induced germ cell apoptosis, and reduced sperm counts in mice. Additionally, the SOD activity and GSH content were significantly decreased, while MDA content was significantly elevated in the NaF group. Immunohistochemistry showed an increase in the number of cells positive for GRP78, a key ER stress marker. Moreover, qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses confirmed the upregulation of both Grp7 8 mRNA and protein expression, as well as increased mRNA expression of other ER stress-associated genes (Grp94 , chop , Atf6 , Atf4, and Xbp1) and enhanced protein expression of phosphorylated PERK, IRE1α, eIF2α, JNK, XBP-1, ATF-6α, ATF-4, and CHOP. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that fluoride exposure during puberty impairs testicular structure, induces germ cell apoptosis, and reduces sperm counts in mice. ER stress may participate in testicular cell apoptosis, and contribute to the testicular damage and decreased sperm counts induced by fluoride. Fluoride exposure during puberty induces testicular germ cell apoptosis, impairs testicular structure, and reduces sperm count in mice. ER stress may participate in testicular cell apoptosis via activating JNK and CHOP, ultimately contributing to testicular damage and decreased sperm counts in mice caused by fluoride exposure during puberty. [Display omitted] • Fluoride exposure during puberty impairs testis development in mice. • Fluoride exposure during puberty decreases sperm counts in mice. • Fluoride triggers testicular germ cells apoptosis in mice. • ER stress involves in fluoride-induced testicular germ cells apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pest management technology has been a promising bioconversion method for waste resource utilization. Unlike many pests that consume waste, the larvae of Lucilia sericata , also known as maggots, have many outstanding advantages as following: with their strong adaption to environment and not easily infected and exhibiting a medicinal nutritional value. Herein, the potential efficacies of maggot polysaccharides (MP), as well as their underlying mechanisms, were explored in Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice and TNF-α-elicited Caco-2 cells. We extracted two bioactive polysaccharides from maggots, MP-80 and MP-L, whose molecular weights were 4.25 × 103 and 2.28 × 103 g/mol, respectively. MP-80 and MP-L contained nine sugar residues: 1,4-α-Arap, 1,3-β-Galp, 1,4,6-β-Galp, 1,6-α-Glcp, 1-α-Glcp, 1,4-β-Glcp, 1-β-Xylp, 1,2-α-Manp, and 1-β-Manp. We demonstrated that MP-80 and MP-L significantly ameliorated DSS-induced symptoms and histopathological damage. Immuno-analysis revealed that compared with MP-L, MP-80 could better restore intestinal barrier and reduced inflammation by suppressing NLRP3/NF-κB pathways, which might be attributed to its enriched galactose fraction. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that MP-80 and MP-L both improved the dysbiosis and diversity of gut microbiota and acted on multiple microbial functions. Our study sheds new light on the possibility of using maggot polysaccharides as an alternative therapy for colitis. [Display omitted] • Maggots contain active polysaccharides with anti-inflammatory activity. • Maggot polysaccharides could improve gut microbiota and have excellent biocompatibility. • Maggot polysaccharides are promising for feed additive or treatment of ulcerative colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction-bonded silicon carbide (RB-SiC) is regarded as difficult-to-machine ceramic materials with extremely high strength and hardness. The work focuses on the grinding performance evaluation of RB-SiC ground by the dressing diamond grinding wheel with AWJ. Orthogonal experiments studied the influence of processing parameters on grinding force and 3D surface roughness, with the response surface method identifying optimal parameters. Explanation of the ground surface topography and 3D surface roughness in a comprehensive manner shows that an erosion of the bonding material by micro-cutting but diamond grains are being pulled out rather than cut. Results reflect a correlation between surface topography and diamond wheel dressing. The results are of great significance for future formulating an appropriate grinding process to machine RB-SiC ceramics. [Display omitted] • An efficient RB-SiC machining-strengthening technique integrates abrasive water jet dressing and grinding. • The amplitude, spatial, and hybrid parameters of 3D surface topography were analyzed. • The bonding material is eroded through micro-cutting while the diamond grains are being pulled out. • The IAWJD technique enhanced the grindability and reduced the dressing time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data anonymization has been used extensively in data-sharing scenarios to protect the privacy of people's raw data. However, in the era of Big Data, the amount of data released has increased so rapidly that most existing data anonymization approaches have become ineffective. This is because the scalability of these approaches is inadequate when dealing with large-scale data. In addition, these approaches cannot handle the sparseness of high-dimensional search space. In this paper, we propose a MapReduce-based approach to address the problem of anonymization of high-dimensional big data. First, our approach uses a vertical partition criterion based on normalized mutual information to decompose raw data into different fragments with smaller dimensionality. Then, a clustering-based local recoding is used to group the records of each fragment into clusters. During this phase, records with similar values of quasi-identifier attributes but dissimilar values of sensitive attributes tend to be grouped. Finally, clusters of each fragment are anonymized to resist simultaneously (1) the disclosure of the individual identification and (2) proximity breaches. Our proposed approach is integrated with MapReduce to implement parallel distributed computing. Experiments on three public data sets demonstrated that our approach outperformed the compared approaches in terms of efficiency and scalability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel method combining electron beam evaporation plating with surface alloying has been developed. • Aluminum alloy with electron beam treatment possesses excellent corrosion resistance. • Grains refinement, nanocrystallization Al 2 Cu formation and the corrosion resistance mechanism were revealed. Realization of surface-reinforced aluminum alloys with excellent corrosion resistance remains a major topic. Herein, a novel method based on combination of electron beam evaporation plating and surface alloying was proposed. Results revealed that the current density is one order of magnitude less than that of the substrate and that the impedance value is doubled. The nanometer-scale refinement of the grains and the homogenous dispersion of nanocrystallization Al 2 Cu in the modified layer of aluminum alloy contributed to the enhancement of corrosion resistance. This study is expected to provide a new sight for the development of Cu-reinforced high-performance aluminum alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The price of photovoltaics (PV) has been steadily decreasing over the last decade, and many reports suggest that PV has become considerably cheaper than conventional electricity sources. In this paper, we critically evaluate the PV grid parity and use China as a case study. China is an interesting case study due to the wealth of data combined with the recent decrease in financial subsidies. Electricity costs are commonly compared in the literature using levelized costs of electricity (LCOE). However traditional LCOE analyses neglect important cost factors that are specific to PV, in particular the cost of grid integration. Here, we demonstrate that system LCOE calculation more accurately estimates the grid parity of PV. We find that the integration costs account for 15% of the total system costs, which cannot be neglected with the higher penetration of PV in the electricity system. Further, provincial grid parity indexes are greater than 1, indicating that the grid parity from a system LCOE perspective has not yet been achieved. The learning rate of Chinese PV is still relatively small, and we estimate that grid parity for PV in China will be achieved between 2020 and 2032, depending on the region. These findings shed new light on assessing grid parity of PV systems by considering relevant local parameters and thereby offer an assessment method framework and prediction modeling for assessing grid parity of PV installations. • This paper assesses PV's commercial feasibility in the current electricity market. • Grid parity is estimated using a new approach of system LCOE and learning curve. • The impacts of system LCOE and electricity price on grid parity are investigated. • The additional grid integration costs amount for 15% of total PV system costs. • Grid parity from a system LCOE perspective will be achieved between 2020 and 2032. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionospheric diurnal double-maxima (DDM) pattern is a special phenomenon of the ionosphere, which shows that the ionospheric electron density/total electron content (TEC) presents a two-peak structure during the daytime. This paper uses the Beidou geostationary (GEO) vertical total electron content (VTEC) data from the MGEX tracking stations in the Asian-Australian area from 2019 to 2020 to study the ionospheric DDM phenomenon. The results show that the occurrence rate of ionospheric DDM is roughly symmetrical about the magnetic equator, with a "W"-shaped distribution. With decreasing latitude, the occurrence of DDM first decreases from 58%/73% to 7%/17% and then increases in the equatorial region to 30%. Minimum occurrence occurs near ± 20°. The occurrence rate of DDM in different latitude regions varies with longitude. There is no significant variation at low-latitudes (magnetic latitude 15°N ∼ 15°S), while in the northern hemisphere mid-latitudes (regions north of magnetic latitude 15°N), the occurrence of DDM first decreases and then increases with longitude in the area of observation. The southern hemisphere's mid-latitudes (regions south of magnetic latitude 15°S) east of 90°E show an increasing trend with longitude. The two peaks and one valley of DDM mainly occur in 10:00–13:00 LT, 14:00–18:00 LT, and 12:00–15:00 LT, respectively. As the latitude decreases, the occurrence time of the DDM structures tends to be delayed, but there is no significant variation with an increase in longitude. The DDM phenomenon in the southern hemisphere usually occurs earlier than in the northern hemisphere. The occurrence time of the DDM structures in different months shows an inverted "U" shape in the mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere and a "U" shape in the mid-latitudes of the southern hemisphere. DDM structures appear the latest in the local summer and the earliest in the winter. There is no significant variation in the low-latitude regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess dentin collagen denaturation from phosphoric acid and enzyme treatments using collagen hybridizing peptide (CHP) and to investigate the effect of collagen denaturation on bio-stabilization promoted by proanthocyanidins (PA). Human molars were sectioned into 7-µm-thick dentin films, demineralized, and assigned to six groups: control with/without PA modification, H 3 PO 4 -treated collagen with/without PA modification, enzyme-treated collagen with/without PA modification. PA modification involved immersing collagen films in 0.65% PA for 30 s. H 3 PO 4 and enzyme treatments were used to experimentally induce collagen denaturation, which was quantitated by fluorescence intensity (FI) from the fluorescently-conjugated-CHP (F-CHP) staining (n = 4). FTIR was used to characterize collagen structures. All groups were subject to collagenase digestion to test the bio-stabilization effect of PA on denatured collagen using weight loss analysis and hydroxyproline assay (n = 6). Data were analyzed using two-factor ANOVA and Games-Howell post hoc tests (α = 0.05). FTIR showed collagen secondary structural changes after denaturation treatments and confirmed the incorporation and cross-linking of PA in control and treated collagen. F-CHP staining indicated high-degree, medium-degree, and low-degree collagen denaturation from H 3 PO 4 -treatment (FI = 83.22), enzyme-treatment (FI = 36.54), and control (FI = 6.01) respectively. PA modification significantly reduced the weight loss and hydroxyproline release of all groups after digestion (p < 0.0001), with the results correlated with FI values at r = 0.96–0.98. A molecular method CHP is introduced as a sensitive technique to quantitate dentin collagen denaturation for the first time. PA modification is shown to effectively stabilize denatured collagen against collagenase digestion, with the stabilization effect negatively associated with the collagen denaturation degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenspaces represent an ark for urban biodiversity, but understanding their carrying capacity to sustain species remains challenging. Old greenspaces that were fragmented from natural habitats are now overcrowded, while revegetated new greenspaces remain vacant. This is because they have different processes leading towards biodiversity equilibrium, and conservation management needs to differentiate between fragmented and revegetated greenspaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cow recognition forms the foundation of smart livestock management. Current closed-set cow recognition models can exclusively identify cows within their training set and are ill-equipped to recognize other subjects in the open world. Additionally, there is a dearth of comprehensive research on open-set cow recognition. Existing open-set recognition models not only exhibit suboptimal accuracy but also impose a substantial burden on hardware resources due to their extensive parameterization. These challenges hinder the practical deployment of cow recognition models. This study introduces an innovative open-set metric learning-based recognition framework for cow-back patterns, aiming to rectify a significant limitation of individual cow recognition models, which is their inability to identify cows not included in the training set. The proposed framework combines various loss functions, metric methods, and backbone networks. This integration enables the open-set recognition of cow back pattern images, thereby facilitating the identification of cows previously unrecognized by the model. To mitigate hardware resource consumption, we have devised a novel ultra-lightweight backbone network known as LightCowsNet. This network draws inspiration from existing lightweight backbone networks such as MobileFaceNet, MobileViT, and EfficientNetV2. Its purpose is to extract features from cow back pattern images efficiently. LightCowsNet employs attention mechanisms, inverted residual structures, and depthwise separable convolutions. LightCowsNet first uses attention mechanisms, inverted residual structures, and depthwise separable convolutions to design multiple new feature extraction modules. These modules, which have different structures, are subsequently placed to extract different levels of image information, which enables complete extraction of the textural information of the cows' back patterns. The present study reorganized the Cows2021 dataset to render it suitable for open-set recognition of cow-back patterns, with the test set comprising image pairs. The results revealed that using A-SoftMax as the loss function and Euclidean distance as the metric method enabled LightCowsNet to achieve the highest accuracy of 94.26 %, with a model weight space occupation of only 4.06 MB. Compared to MobileFaceNet, MobileViT, and EfficientNetV2, LightCowsNet achieved 6.24 %, 8.82 %, and 2.3 % greater accuracy on the test set, respectively. Its weight also decreased by 0.71 MB, 0.24 MB, and 4.3 MB, respectively. These results demonstrate that the proposed model achieved both accuracy improvement and model lightweightness, and these findings could serve as reference solutions for intelligent farming on cow farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Stable bimetallic-vinyl complex with unique structure is formed on oxidized biochar. • Characterization and DFT calculation results verify the rationality of the structure. • Loading amount of Pt in catalyst can by reduced by about 32% to efficiently save cost. • Metal particles on prepared catalyst surface are evenly dispersed with minimum size. • Catalytic performances for hydrosilylation of alkene with silane is kept and improved. A bimetallic PtNi-vinyl complex as catalytic active center was created on modified rice straw biochar by introducing an appropriate amount of cheap Ni component as a catalytic promoter. The constructed bimetallic catalyst (PtNi-VTES-RSOC) was used to catalyze hydrosilylation of terminal alkenes with tertiary silanes to produce alkylsilanes with high commercial application value. The experimental results proved that the conversion of 1-octene 96.5 % and selectivity for target product 97.1 % were obtained in hydrosilylation of 1-octene with triethoxysilane catalyzed by PtNi-VTES-RSOC with mass ratio of Pt/Ni = 1.5:1 (molar ratio of Pt/Ni≈1:2) under mild conditions (atmospheric pressure, solvent-free, 50 ℃ and 3 h). It also possessed higher catalytic ability and regioselectivity for hydrosilyation of long-chain alkenes (1-octadecene) with tertiary silanes compared to the counterpart monometallic catalysts. The characterization and theoretical calculation results demonstrated that the introduced suitable amount of Ni(II) could affect the structure of original Pt(II)-vinyl complexes and form a stable and unique bimetallic vinyl coordination microstructure by using a shared vinyl group, thereby affecting morphology, structure, and catalytic performance of the as-prepared bimetallic catalyst with mass ratio of Pt/Ni = 1.5:1. Changing the introduction order and introducing excessive or insufficient of Ni(II) would both disrupt the formation of this special structure and affect the catalytic performance. Additionally, the formed stable complex structure with vinyl groups could well maintain the catalytic stability. The study results exposed that the as-prepared bimetallic catalyst would possess a great industrial application potential in the hydrosilylation of alkenes by efficiently increasing the product quality and reducing operation cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing wear resistance is the core factor that prolonged the life of the Cr12MoV mold and elevates the quality of the components produced. Hence, Cr12MoV mold steel was shocked by scanning electron beam (SEB) to improve wear resistance. Results revealed that the segregation eutectic carbides in the surface structure of Cr12MoV steel were dissolved during the shock process of various beam electron beams, and the small particles of carbides produced are helpful in reducing wear. With an energy density of 20 J/mm2, surface roughness of Cr12MoV steel decreases from 2.9 μm to 1.2 μm, the friction coefficient decreases from 0.85 to 0.52. Additionally, the wear capacity also decreases from 0.036 mm3 to 0.011 mm3, and surface wear resistance increases by over 3 times. Grain refinement-induced surface hardening is the primary cause underlying performance improvement. This study provides ideas for improving the surface quality of Cr12MoV steel. [Display omitted] • Through the utilization of SEB to shock the Cr12MoV steel, the surface quality was enhanced. • The segregation of tissue structure was improved by SEB strengthening. • Surface wear resistance of Cr12MoV steel were significantly improved via SEB shock. • The SEB shock changes the wear mechanism of Cr12MoV steel from adhesive wear to abrasive wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the reuse of industrial solid wastes, this study investigates alkali-activated material (AAM) consisting of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA) activated by carbide slag (CS). A separation treatment process was introduced to obtain reactive ultrafine GGBS and FA (RUGGBS and RUFA). The compressive strength is used to differentiate between representative specimens for exploring the hydration mechanism in terms of hydration process, hydrate types, and pore-structure characteristics. Finally, the environmental and economic benefits of these materials are calculated and analyzed based on the material sustainability indicators (MSIs). The results show that the separation of GGBS and FA reduces their particle size and enhances their hydration activity. Although using RUGGBS and RUFA delays the setting time of AAM, it results in lower hydration heat release and increases compressive strength after aging for 3 days. RUGGBS and RUFA synergistically promote polymerization reactions in CS-activated GGBS-FA systems, which results in more hydrates, including C–S–H gel, C–A–S–H gel, and hydrotalcite-like hydrates, helping to optimize the pore structure and strengthen the material. These findings suggest that separating industrial solid wastes can promote the use of AAMs in construction engineering by significantly reducing their environmental impact. • A low-carbon AAM containing GGBS and FA is prepared. • Separation process significant enhance the hydration activity of GGBS and FA. • The strength of GGBS/FA composites is significantly affected by the CS activator. • The RUGGBS/RUFA composites can exhibit lower hydration heat release in the early hydration stage • The RUGGBS/RUFA composites obtain strong strength due to its compact hydrates and dense microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has attracted a substantial interest in cancer research owing to their promising utility in cancer imaging and therapy. This study aimed to synthesized ZnO nanoflowers coated with albumin to actively target and the inhibit skin melanoma cells. We synthesized bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated ZnO nanoflowers (BSA@ZnO NFs) and evaluated it's in vitro and in vivo therapeutic efficacy for skin cancer cells. BSA@ZnO NFs were prepared via single-step reduction method in the presence of plant extract (Heliotropium indicum) act as a capping agent, and further the successful fabrication was established by various physico-chemical characterizations, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and x-rays diffraction (XRD) analysis. The fabricated BSA@ZnO NFs appeared flower like with multiple cone-shaped wings and average hydration size of 220.8 ± 12.6 nm. Further, BSA@ZnO NFs showed enhanced cellular uptake and cytocidal effects against skin cancer cells by inhibiting their growth via oxidative stress compared uncoated ZnO NFs. Moreover, BSA@ZnO NFs showed enhance biosafety, blood circulation time, tumor accumulation and in vivo tumor growth inhibition compared to ZnO NFs. In short, our findings suggesting BSA@ZnO NFs as a promising candidate for various types of cancer treatment along with chemotherapy. (a) Preparation scheme of BSA@ZnO NFs. (b) Tumor targeting mechanism of BSA@ZnO NFs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress mediates Cd-caused germ cell apoptosis in testis. The effects of 4-phenylbutyric acid (PBA), a classical chaperone, were investigated on Cd-induced apoptosis in mouse GC-1 spermatogonia cells. The cells were pretreated with PBA before Cd exposure. TUNEL and flow cytometry assays were applied to determine apoptosis. Some key biomarkers of ER stress were analyzed using RT-PCR and western blot. as expected, the apoptotic cells exposed to Cd apparently increased. The mRNA and protein expression levels of GRP78 and ATF6α, were elevated in the Cd groups. Additional experiments displayed that Cd notably increased IRE1α and JNK phosphorylation, and upregulated XBP-1 mRNA and protein expression. Moreover, p-eIF2α and CHOP expressions were clearly elevated in the Cd groups. Interestingly, PBA almost completely inhibited ER stress and protected spermatogonia against apoptosis induced by Cd. PBA alleviated Cd-induced ER stress and spermatogonia apoptosis, and may have the therapeutic role in Cd-induced male reproductive toxicity. • CdCl 2 induced spermatogonia apoptosis in vitro. • CdCl 2 triggered spermatogonia ER stress. • 4-PBA alleviated CdCl 2 -induced spermatogonia apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extremal spatial dependence of significant wave height (H S) in the South China Sea (SCS) is discussed by combining altimeter observations of ocean satellites and ERA5 reanalysis dataset from the period 2011–2023. A spatial conditional extremes (SCE) model allowing different classes of extremal dependence is established, which uses a reliable Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) scheme to realize the parameter inference. In this work, four transects are selected in the northern South China Sea (NSCS) and the central South China Sea (CSCS) respectively, which are approximately southwest-northeast (SW-NE) and northwest-southeast (NW-SE), and the H S data is transformed to the standard Laplace scale. The model fitting results show that the extremal dependence characteristics of different regions and directions in the SCS are different. The mean dependence of H S in NSCS decays faster than in CSCS, and the mean dependence on NW-SE transects decays faster than SW-NE transects. In general, the SW-NE transect in CSCS is observed a longer-range extremal dependence, which is potentially related to the storm direction in the SCS. • Simultaneous events of extreme oceans at multiple locations often have greater risks. • Important to analyze the spatial dependence of extreme wave height. • Satellite altimeter (HY-2) and ERA5 reanalysis dataset incorporated. • Spatial conditional extremes model used to quantify extremal spatial dependence of the effective wave heights for four transects in the South China Sea. • Extreme wave height shows greater extremal dependence from southwest to northeast than from northwest to southeast in the central South China Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete traffic network data is crucial for accurate traffic data prediction in intelligent transportation systems. Inspired by the success of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) in image restoration, this study proposes a traffic flow imputation method by employing image restoration techniques. First, we propose a trajectory data representation method called Trajectory2Matrix, that converts the trajectory data into a two-dimensional spatiotemporal relation feature map. Consequently, the data imputation scale and scope are increased. Second, a spatiotemporal feature map generation module based on a graph convolutional network is designed to optimize the GAN generator, thus utilizing its advantages for non-Euclidean data and dynamic spatiotemporal correlation. Finally, a heterogeneous multisource data fusion module based on a channel attention mechanism is proposed to merge dynamic/static external attributes and multimode characteristics in time. The proposed method improved imputation accuracy and robustness for multitype missing data patterns, especially in high missing rate situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 1-MCP + ethylene absorbent (EA) treatment increase shelf-life of 'Fenjiao' banana. • EA does not have the negative effect on the ripening of 'Fenjiao' banana. • 1-MCP+EA repress the enzymes activity related to fruit softening. • 1-MCP +EA modulate the expression of gene related of ripening. • 1-MCP +EA treatment is easy to promote and apply in the banana industry. The 'Fenjiao' banana (Musa ABB Pisang Awak) has a high commercial and nutritional value and is harvested when it is highly plump at between 85 and 90 % commercial maturity. The fruit are less angular at this stage. However, these fruit soften rapidly after harvest. 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) significantly delays ripening, but it can cause ripening disorders when used improperly. Ethylene absorbent (EA) is also widely used to increase the postharvest life of fruit, but it has less of an effect on 'Fenjiao' banana. This study was conducted to optimize the concentrations of 1-MCP combined with EA to increase the shelf life of these bananas. The results showed that a low concentration of 1-MCP (7 g L−1) combined with EA (2 g kg−1) significantly prolonged the shelf life of the 'Fenjiao' banana and maintained its high quality. The combination of 1-MCP and EA repressed the activities of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase, ACC synthase, pectin methylesterase, polygalacturonase and pectate lyase in the peel and pulp of 'Fenjiao' banana, as well as the corresponding levels of expression of MbACS1, MbACO1, MbPG1, MbPL1 , except for MbPME1 , which are induced by 1-MCP. This study provides a useful technique for preserving 'Fenjiao' fruit with a study on its possible physiological mechanism, which could be applied in the postharvest production of 'Fenjiao' banana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation, the maximum depth of penetration and power density coefficient are calculated by simulating the motion trajectories of electrons in surface layer of 5CrNiMo steel using Monte Carlo method, and the number of electrons is 500,000 in simulation. Then tomographic calculation is used to determine the distribution of power density coefficient on the section perpendicular to electron incidence direction, and a Gaussian columnar heat source model that matches the properties of electron beam is established. Finally, a mobile annular heat source model of scanning electron beam is then derived, combining it with the real operating mode. The temperature field during surface modification is simulated by using the mobile annular heat source model, and the simulation findings are compared to experimental data. The findings of Monte Carlo simulation demonstrate that the power density coefficient is Gaussian distributed on the section perpendicular to the depth of electron incidence and the peak power density at the center of each section changes with depth. The thickness and microstructure of re-melting layer predicted from the temperature field simulation is very close to the one from experimental findings. In our investigation, on top of deriving a model for the heat source of a single beam spot, we have also solved the problem of mathematical representation of the beam spot when it is doing high-speed rotational and linear composite motions. The aforementioned findings demonstrate that our study can provide methodological references for the construction of heat source models for different materials during electron beam treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequential three-layers of Pd/Pt/Au were deposited on p-GaN by magnetron sputtering under high vacuum (HV, ∼1.33 × 10−4 Pa) and ultra-high vacuum (UHV, ∼1.33 × 10−7 Pa) background conditions, respectively, for investigating the electrical contact properties. Linear I–V curves are observed in the samples deposited under the UHV conditions, whereas nonlinear I–V characteristics are obtained in the samples deposited under the HV vacuum. The depth profiles of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) of the as-deposited samples were probed in detail. It is found that the amounts of O and OH as well as Pd oxide of the sample deposited under the HV background condition are larger than those of the sample deposited under the UHV conditions due to the higher residual gases such as water in the HV chamber. The oxide layer leads to an extra barrier, influencing the electrical characteristics of Pd/Pt/Au/p-GaN contact. This study demonstrates that metal deposition under the UHV environmental conditions can reduce and even prevent formation of oxide on p-GaN surface, and hence favor making a good ohmic contact on p-GaN. • The chemical adsorption of O 2 and H 2 O alters the interface between Pd and GaN. • The influence of different background vacuum environments on the formation of Pd/p-GaN ohmic contact was investigated. • Pd deposited under UHV environmental chamber is benefit to forming good ohmic contact on p-GaN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • L-arginine enhances growth and astaxanthin in H. pluvialis. • Arginine-related genes are vital for algae growth and stress responses. • Arginine regulates astaxanthin and lipid production by modulating related genes. • Arginine and proline pathway indirectly provides astaxanthin and lipid precursors. The economical way of Haematococcus pluvialis farming is to simultaneously achieve biomass, astaxanthin and lipid using less expensive chemicals. This paper explores the role of exogenous arginine in promoting growth and astaxanthin accumulation under stressful conditions. The application of arginine exerts a synergic effect on biomass, astaxanthin and lipid by improving carbon utilization, activating the arginine pathway and regulating carotenoid and lipid-related genes. Genes related to arginine catabolism, such as ADC , OCT , ASS1 , NOS , and OAT , were up-regulated at both the cultivation and astaxanthin induction stages, signifying their importance in both growth and astaxanthin synthesis. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis revealed that arginine up-regulated transcription levels of genes involved carbon fixing, lipid biosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism, carotenoid, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and arginine and proline metabolism. The results provide a significant mechanism and applicability of using exogenous arginine and high light to stimulate bioproducts from Haematococcus pluvialis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its low molecular weight and abundant functional groups, water-soluble lignin (WSL) is considered as a more potent antioxidant than traditional industrial lignin in biofields. However, few studies have been conducted to evaluate its intracellular and endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging ability, especially for the intervention of ROS-related disease in vivo. In this work, WSL in bamboo autohydrolysate (WSL-BM) and wheat stalk autohydrolysate (WSL-WS) were isolated and characterized to comparably analyze their bioactivities. The composition analysis and NMR characterization showed that both WSL-BM and WSL-WS contained relatively similar components and substructures, but WSL-BM contained higher contents of phenolic OH groups. Both WSL samples exhibited excellent biocompatibility with the concentration below 50 μg/mL, while WSL-BM exhibited superior ROS-scavenging ability and ROS-related ulcerative colitis treatment potential at same concentration. In addition, WSL-BM also showed better performance in ameliorating inflammation and oxidative stress in RAW 264.7 cells and colitis mice by activating Nrf2 and suppressing NFκB signaling, resulting in an overall improvement in both macroscopic and histological parameters. Overall, these results implied that WSL from gramineous biomass can be used as a novel anti-inflammatory and antioxidative agent in the biomedical field. This work shows the application of water-soluble lignin (WSL) extracted from bamboo (BM) and wheat stalk (WS) as as a bioactivator (anti-inflammatory and antioxidative) for ulcerative colitis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TiN/Ni alloying of 38CrMoAl steel surface was carried out by continuous scanning electron beam. • The effect of process parameters on the surface microstructure of 38CrMoAl steel was studied. • The effect of process parameters on grain morphology and properties was studied. TiN/Ni alloying of 38CrMoAl steel surface was carried out by continuous scanning electron beam. The effect of electron beam process parameters on the surface microstructures and mechanical properties of 38CrMoAl steel was studied. The results shows that the sample surface was divided into three regions: alloying layer, heat affected zone and substrate. Alloying layer made up with equiaxed crystals and short columnar crystals, microstructure of the heat affected zone was acicular and lath martensite, microstructure of substrate was tempered sorbate. The microhardness of the sample section first increased and then decreased, at a depth of 400 μm, the microhardness reached a maximum of 817.9 HV. When the beam current reached 12 mA and the moving speed reached 5.5 mm/s, the surface microhardness of the sample reached the highest 1209HV and the abrasion loss reached the lowest 4.6 mg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Scanning electron beam can improve surface properties while polishing. • The surface energy balance equation is established. • The surface grain refinement of 45 steel is the main reason for the performance improvement. Scanning electron beam micro-polishing is a new technique to reduce surface roughness using molten metal to fill pits under gravity's action spontaneously. In this study, through the establishment of the electron beam heat source model and heat conduction model, it is easy to obtain the mathematical and physical model of heat balance for continuous scanning electron beam process under micro-melting polishing and to discuss the influence of regularity of electron beam process parameters on the surface morphology and microstructure. The results showed that the surface roughness of 45 steel was reduced after scanning electron beam processing. The lowest value was 0.34 μm with a reduction of 83%. It was found that the melt zone was mostly martensite with fine grains by further measuring and analyzing the microstructure and hardness of the polished sample. The maximum hardness was 870 HV in the subsurface layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokinin (CK) is an important plant hormone that promotes plant cell division and differentiation, and participates in salt response under osmotic stress. LOGs (LONELY GUY) are CK-activating enzymes involved in CK synthesis. The LOG gene family has not been comprehensively characterized in cotton. In this study we identified 151 LOG genes from nine plant species, including 28 LOG genes in Gossypium hirsutum. Phylogenetic analysis divided LOG genes into three groups. Exon/intron structures and protein motifs of GhLOG genes were highly conserved. Synteny analysis revealed that several gene loci were highly conserved between the A and D sub-genomes of G. hirsutum with purifying selection pressure during evolution. Expression profiles showed that most LOG genes were constitutively expressed in eight different tissues. Furthermore, LOG genes can be regulated by abiotic stresses and phytohormone treatments. Moreover, subcellular localization revealed that GhLOG3_At resides inside the cell membrane. Overexpression of GhLOG3 enhanced salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of GhLOG3_At in cotton enhanced sensitivity of plants to salt stress with increased H 2 O 2 contents and decreased chlorophyll and proline (PRO) activity. Our results suggested that GhLOG3_At induces salt stress tolerance in cotton, and provides a basis for the use of CK synthesis genes to regulate cotton growth and stress resistance. • This study identified 151 LOG genes, including 28 LOG genes in G. hirsutum. • Gene loci were highly conserved between the A and D sub-genomes of G. hirsutum. • LOG genes can be regulated by abiotic stresses and phytohormone treatments. • Overexpression of GhLOG3 enhanced salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. • VIGS of GhLOG3_At in cotton enhanced sensitivity of plants to salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding social-ecological interactions is a major research priority for sustainable management. However, the scarcity in multi-decadal records represents a big gap in information that hinders the development of above research. In this paper, we propose a framework to explore the long-term dynamic mechanisms between social and ecological systems, and present a case study in the Erhai basin, southwest China. Using paleolimnological proxies to reconstruct the long-term trends of ecological changes, the social-ecological system (SES) framework links the variations of ecosystem services (ESs) and ecosystem functions with social policies. According to the results of the Erhai basin, there were increasing social demands and wanted provisioning ESs but degraded ecosystem functions over the last 70 years. Typically, the introduction of four major Chinese carps since the 1950s, the construction of hydropower stations on the Xi'er river since the 1970s, and the development of tourism since the 1990s, have been implemented to meet the social demands for wanted fish provisioning, hydroelectricity provisioning, and culture services respectively. Although there were temporary benefits in above desired services, improper strategies have gradually impaired the functions of native fish diversity, hydrodynamic forces, and nutrient cycling. Degraded ecosystem functions threatened the sustainable provision of wanted ESs, which motivated the implementation of subsequent social policies, such as the fishing ban after the 1950s, water level control after the 1970s and restoration projects after the 1990s. By rounds of renewed social drivers/policies, the social system and ecosystem in the Erhai basin are tightly connected in the form of a feedback loop in the SES, rendering dynamic changes in wanted ESs. The current social-ecological trap in the Erhai basin emphasizes the significance of SES framework and advantages of a paleolimnological approach in revealing the long-term SES dynamics, which can help tailor proper management measures in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the lack of historical water ecology monitoring data and the limitations of traditional morphology-based water ecology reconstruction methods, the response mechanism of lake phytoplankton to climate change in the Tibetan Plateau remains unclear. In this study, we reconstructed the succession of phytoplankton community in Lake Gyaring, located in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, since the 6th century by using sediment DNA metabarcoding. We found that the diversity and structure succession stages of phytoplankton community were consistent with the global temperature oscillation events, namely, the Medieval Warm Period (800–1300 CE). Little Ice Age (1300–1850 CE) and Current Warm Period (1850–2000 CE). The community structure dominated by Chlorophyta in the Medieval Warm Period gradually changed to that dominated by Bacillariophyta in the Little Ice Age. However, the Current Warm Period did not observe the dominant community structure of Chlorophyta similar to that of the Medieval Warm Period. This finding may be due to the climate change of the Current Warm Period was influenced by multiple human activities, such as increased anthropogenic aerosols, which promoted obvious weakening of the intensity of the summer monsoon, leading to decreased soil erosion and lake mixing, and thus may trigger a strikingly different aquatic ecosystem compared to that during the Medieval Warm Period. In this paper, the combination of genomics and palaeollimnology is helpful to explore the response mechanism of phytoplankton to climate change. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MELAS patients exhibited metabolite abnormalities in acute SLLs. • Lactate level in acute SLLs was positively correlated with focal rCBF in MELAS patients. • Combination of 1H-MRS and ASL can help to reveal the pathogenesis of acute SLEs. Our purpose is to detect the metabolic alterations in acute stroke-like lesions (SLLs) and further investigate the correlations between metabolic concentrations and focal cerebral blood flow in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) using proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and arterial spin labeling (ASL). A total of 23 patients with MELAS at acute stage of stroke-like episodes (SLEs) and 20 normal controls (NC) were recruited in this study, respectively. All subjects underwent conventional MRI and1H-MRS. In addition, ASL was performed in each patient. The measurements of creatine (Cr), choline (Cho), N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), lactate (Lac), glutamine/glutamate (Glx) levels and the ratios of Cho/Cr, NAA/Cr, Lac/Cr and Glx/Cr in acute SLLs for MELAS patients and left parietal and occipital lobes for NC were measured using LC-model software. Furthermore, in MELAS group, the associations between relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and metabolite concentrations in acute SLLs were also assessed. In MELAS group, acute SLLs were identified with metabolic abnormalities and increased rCBF. Specifically, compared with controls, MELAS patients exhibited significantly higher Lac, Cho levels and Lac/Cr, Cho/Cr ratios, and lower NAA, Glx levels and NAA/Cr and Glx/Cr ratios. Moreover, for MELAS patients, Lac concentration in acute SLLs was positively correlated with focal rCBF. This study exhibited the neural injury with increasing lactate and cerebral blood flow in the acute SLEs. It might shed light on the underlying biochemical mechanism of mitochondrial cytopathy and angiopathy in MELAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of a novel polymerizable collagen cross-linker methacrylate-functionalized proanthocyanidins (MAPA) on the polymerization, microhardness and leaching of a HEMA-based experimental dental adhesive system. Three MAPAs were synthesized using different methacrylate (MA) to proanthocyanidins (PA) feeding ratios of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1 to obtain MAPA-1, MAPA-2, and MAPA-3, respectively. The resulting three MAPAs and PA were added to an experimental adhesive formulated with HEMA and a tri-component photoinitiator system (0.5 wt% CQ/EDMAB/DPIHP) at 1%, 5% and 10% MAPA or PA concentrations (wt%). The adhesive polymerization kinetics was measured continuously in real-time for 10 min using a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) accessory. Degree of conversion (DC) and Vickers microhardness (MH) of cured adhesives were measured at 72 h post-cure. The leaching of cured adhesives in DI water was monitored using UV–vis spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way and two-way ANOVA, Tukey's (p < 0.05). The adhesive formulations with 1%, 5% and 10% MAPAs-1, -2, -3 all generated higher rate of polymerization and 10-min DC than the formulations with PA at the same concentrations. At 72 h post-cure, the adhesive formulation with 5% MAPA-2 exhibited significantly higher DC (99.40%) and more than doubled MH (18.93) values than the formulation with 5% PA (DC = 89.47%, MH = 8.41) and the control (DC = 95.46%, MH = 9.33). Moreover, the cured adhesive with 5% MAPA-2 demonstrated significantly reduced PA leaching in comparison with cured adhesive with 5% PA. Synthesized MAPA is a novel class of polymerizable collagen cross-linker that not only stabilizes dentin collagen via its PA component, but also improves polymerization, mechanical properties and stability of HEMA-based adhesives via its MA component. By inheriting the benefit while overcoming the drawback of PA, MAPA offers a revolutionary solution for improved bond-strength and longevity of dental restorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Jades from the tomb of Yuehe contain secondary black mercuric material. • μ-XRD identifies micrometer-sized metacinnabar and its transition from red cinnabar. • Loose structure of jades provides interspace for black metacinnabar to penetrate in. Buried jades can turn to different colors because of underground weathering. As for the secondary blackness on excavated jades, previous studies have confirmed they resulted from carbon, manganese, iron and copper, but latest archaeological discoveries seem to be concerned with another chemical element, mercury. In order to clarify the specific composition of mercury, as well as its possible source and transition, this research analyzes typical jades from the tomb of Yuehe (not later than 538 BC) by Raman, FTIR, XRF, SEM-EDX, XPS, μ-XRD and mercury isotopes. Relevant evidences and simulated experiment indicate the coloring factor is metacinnabar (β-HgS), which might be converted from cinnabar (α-HgS) in the influence of bromine and alkali. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We drilled a core in Tingming Lake (located at the tree line) to conduct pollen and diatom analyses. The pollen record shows that the vegetation ecosystem is very stable and has no obvious regime shift signals, although the vegetable belt has moved gradually upward or downward under the backdrop of climate change. There may be a positive relationship between the vegetation ecosystem stability and the turnover component (β sim). Diatoms, which record the lake ecosystem, show an obvious regime shift signal in 1929 AD, which was possibly was due to environmental changes or decreased nutrient inputs. However, there were fluctuations in species richness and species dissimilarity and there was a slightly increased β diversity (β sor), which was mainly interpreted by the increased turnover component (β sim). It is difficult to determine the relationship between the unstable stability and diversity fluctuations. Therefore, the relationships between diversity and stability in the adjacent vegetation and lake ecosystems are different. It is possible that β diversity partitioning may lead to an improved understanding of ecosystem stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hierarchically devised NiFeO x H y catalyst showed high OER activity under alkaline condition. • NiFeO x H y /Ni heterostructure was in-situ formed via a surface reconstruction process. • Charge transfer at the catalyst-electrolyte interface was improved with Fe incorporation into Ni (oxy)hydroxide. • Fe species located at the outer surface of NiOOH structure served as the OER active site. Nickel iron (oxy)hydroxide (NiFeO x H y) is among the most active electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the alkaline media. Development of new design strategy for NiFeO x H y electrode with respect to intrinsic activity and number of active species is highly attractive. Here we report a hierarchical fabrication for NiFeO x H y electrode towards efficient oxygen evolution. Three-dimensional mesoporous NiO was initially prepared and reduced to a polycrystalline Ni metal framework. Despite the poor OER activity for Ni-based catalyst, the incorporation of surface Fe species induced a notably high current density for the oxygen evolution. The results indicated that the Fe species, located at outer surface region, played a key role as the OER active sites. It is also found that the surface of metallic Ni was reconstructed to (oxy)hydroxide phase with ease compared to NiO. As a result, a heterostructure composed of an OER-active NiFe (oxy)hydroxide shell and an electron-conductive Ni core was formed. In this fabricated NiFeO x H y /Ni catalyst, the promoted intrinsic activity, number of active sites and charge-transfer ability all taken into account contribute to an efficient OER process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface quality of metal material directly affects its service life. In this paper, continuous scanning electron beam process (CSEBP) is used to treat the surface of 65 steel. The effects of electron beam current and moving speed on surface roughness are discussed. The results showed that: the surface roughness increased with increasing the bean current and the moving speed. When the electron beam current was 5 mA and the moving speed was 3 mm/s, the surface roughness of 65 steel decreased from 2. 0 μ m to 0.432 μ m. Craters are mostly composed of carbon and oxygen compounds, which are easily ejected when the melt flow rate changes rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report two different saturable absorbers based on transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and utilize them to Q-switch a Dy3+/Tb3+:LuLiF 4 crystal yellow laser. The samples are fabricated by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method and characterized with the atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy. Linear and nonlinear optical properties of the WS 2 and WSe 2 samples are explored using a balanced twin-detector technique. Efficient passive Q-switched operations are achieved with the maximum average output power of 37 mW and 54 mW using WS 2 and WSe 2 saturable absorbers, respectively. The experimental results indicate the potential of TMDs for all-solid-state Q-switched pulses in the yellow laser. • Continuous-wave yellow laser was generated with Dy3+,Tb3+:LuLiF 4 crystal. • Linear and nonlinear optical properties of the WS 2 and WSe 2 samples were explored in the visible range. • Efficient passive Q-switched yellow lasers were achieved using WS 2 and WSe 2 saturable absorbers, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface topography of focused down-beam single-pass modeling plays a paramount function in electron beam surface modeling. However, there remains a challenge to understand the formation mechanisms of different surface morphologies and correlation with e-beam process parameters. This paper describes the printing process in vacuum using a high-fidelity model of focused down-beam single-pass modeling. Results indicated that the high simulation result and the wide simulation result were 219.5 μm and 2947.8 μm, respectively, accompanied by an error rate of 6.7% for the experimental data. This could enhance the understanding of surface morphologies mechanisms and contribute to the improvement of metal topography manufacturing processes. • A high-fidelity modeling study with experimental validation was developed. • Surface topography of focused down-beam single-pass modeling was fabricated by Scanning electron beam. • The formation mechanisms of different surface morphologies and correlation with e-beam process parameters were revealed. • Marangoni shear stress and recoil pressure enhanced the surface topography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal (HM) pollution, particularly in its ionic form in water bodies, is a chronic issue threatening environmental security and human health. The microalgal-bacterial symbiosis (MABS) system, as the basis of water ecosystems, has the potential to treat HM wastewater in a sustainable manner, with the advantages of environmental friendliness and carbon sequestration. However, the differences between laboratory studies and engineering practices, including the complexity of pollutant compositions and extreme environmental conditions, limit the applications of the MABS system. Additionally, the biomass from the MABS system containing HMs requires further disposal or recycling. This review summarized the recent advances of the MABS system treating HM wastewater, including key mechanisms, influence factors related to HM removal, and the tolerance threshold values of the MABS system to HM toxicity. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects of the MABS system in treating actual HM wastewater are analyzed and discussed, and suggestions for biochar preparation from the MABS biomass containing HMs are provided. This review provides a reference point for the MABS system treating HM wastewater and the corresponding challenges faced by future engineering practices. [Display omitted] • The mechanisms of MABS system treating HM wastewater were reviewed. • The effects of HMs on growth and characteristics of MABS system were explored. • The structural form and characters of MABS system affect HM removal efficiency. • MABS system contribute to HMs removal through biosorption or bioaccumulation. • The challenges of MABS system treating HM wastewater were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is an important swine respiratory pathogen causing substantial economic losses to the global pig industry. The Apx toxins of A. pleuropneumoniae belong to the RTX toxin family and are major virulence factors. In addition to hemolysis and/or cytotoxicity via pore-forming activity, RTX toxins, such as ApxIA of A. pleuropneumoniae , have been reported to cause other effects on target cells, e.g., apoptosis. A. pleuropneumoniae ApxIIA is expressed by most serotypes and has moderate hemolytic and cytotoxic activities. In this study, porcine alveolar macrophages (3D4/21) were stimulated with different concentrations of purified native ApxIIA from the serotype 7 strain AP76 which only secretes ApxIIA. By observation of nuclear condensation via fluorescent staining and detection of apoptosis and necrosis by flow cytometry, it was found that high and low concentrations of native ApxIIA mainly caused necrosis or apoptosis of 3D4/21 cells, respectively. ApxIIA purified from an AP76 mutant with a deleted acetyltransferase gene (apxIIC) did not induce necrosis nor apoptosis. Western blot analysis using specific antibodies showed that a cleaved caspase 3 and activated capase 9 was detected after treatment of cells with a low concentration of native ApxIIA, while general or specific inhibitors of caspase 3, 8, 9 blocked these effects. ApxIIA-induced apoptosis of macrophages may be a mechanism of A. pleuropneumoniae to escape host immune clearance. • Low concentration of ApxIIA triggers apoptosis of porcine alveolar macrophages 3D4/21. • Fatty acylation is essential for ApxIIA to induce apoptosis of 3D4/21 cells. • ApxIIA activates caspase 3 and 9 to induce apoptosis of 3D4/21 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monsoon precipitation changes has led to substantial changes in the spatial pattern of land surface energy in most monsoon regions of the world, which subsequently affect the structure and development of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) over land. Based on the ERA-Interim reanalysis data (1979–2018), the present study analyzes the long-term variability characteristics of Boundary layer height (BLH) and its influencing factors in the global land monsoon region. The results show that the long-term annual mean BLH averaged over all the monsoon regions across the globe is approximately 653.2 m, but there exist great differences between various regions. The highest BLH occurs in the Australian (AUS) region, followed by that in South Africa (SAF), North Africa (NAF), North America (NAM) and South America (SAM) regions, and the lowest BLH occurs in the Asian (ASN) monsoon region. The differences in BLH between various regions reflect significant regional differences in surface energy distribution. A larger sensible heat flux SHF usually corresponds to a higher BLH , while NAM with the largest latent heat flux LHF corresponds to not the lowest BLH , which is related to its smaller cloud radiation cooling. In the past 40 years, the spatial variation of BLH in ASN region is the most special among all monsoon regions, which is mainly manifested in the increasing trend in the east (east of 100°E) and the decreasing trend in the west (west of 100°E), partly due to the distribution of more precipitation in the east and less precipitation in the west in recent decades. The differences in BLH distribution in different monsoonal regions are mainly caused by SHF. Wind shear S and vertical sensible heat advection H mv , as the main driving sources of ABL development, play a non-negligible role in the variances of BLH structure in different monsoon areas, although their contributions are much smaller than that of SHF.The role of S in promoting or inhibiting the development of ABL is not only related to S size, but also closely related to the atmospheric turbulence environment. Additionally, each monsoon region's H mv influence on BLH is the most complex, and changes in near-surface temperature and annual precipitation can only partially explain the observed occurrences. The complicated process must also take into account the significance of local vertical motion brought on by weather variations and surface irregularities in various monsoon regions. • The long-term annual mean BLH were great differences among regions. The highest BLH occurs in the Australian (AUS) region, followed by that in South Africa (SAF), North Africa (NAF), North America (NAM) and South America (SAM) regions, and the lowest BLH occurs in the Asian (ASN) monsoon region. The differences in BLH between various regions reflect significant regional differences in surface energy distribution. • Over the past 40 years, the BLH in the global land monsoon region has shown an increasing trend is generally associated with climate warming. Moreover, it also exhibits obvious fluctuation characteristics that are linked to variations in monsoon precipitation. The spatial variation of BLH in ASN region is the most special among all monsoon regions, which is mainly manifested in the increasing trend in the east (east of 100°E) and the decreasing trend in the west (west of 100°E), partly due to the seesaw distribution of more precipitation in the east and less precipitation in the west in recent decades. • The differences in BLH distribution in different monsoonal regions are mainly caused by SHF. And S and H mv , as the main driving sources of ABL development, play a non-negligible role in the variances of BLH structure in different monsoon areas, although their contributions are much smaller than that of SHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]