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• T 1 / T 2 variations was proposed for the first time for shale refined evaluation. • T 1 / T 2 variation permits quantifying shale wettability and fluid properties. • T 1 / T 2 variation depend on the heterogeneity and saturation of surface fluids. • A joint experiment of NMR and solvent extraction is designed to evaluate shales. Rock wettability and pore fluid properties are critical parameters for evaluating shale reservoirs, enhancing oil recovery, sequestering waste, and storing energy. Multiple petrophysical and geochemical experiments are routinely used to characterize these properties of shales. Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based shale evaluation methods usually rely on T 1 / T 2 difference in various fluids. However, T 1 / T 2 value is inadequate for petrophysical characterization due to the similar T 1 / T 2 value of different hydrogen types in shales. A brand-new characteristic parameter, T 1 / T 2 variation during a solvent extraction experiment, is proposed for the characterization of shale petrophysical properties. The theoretical ranges of T 1 / T 2 variation for different hydrogen components were determined from the type and content changes of hydrogen during extraction based on surface relaxation model. Joint experiments of multi-step solvent extraction and NMR T 1 - T 2 were designed to validate the theoretical results. Both theoretical and experimental results show that the heterogeneity of shale is responsible for the different hydrogen components with a similar T 1 / T 2 value. The results of joint experiment (1) show that the T 1 / T 2 variation ranges for different hydrogen components are different, and (2) indicate that T 1 / T 2 variations can be used to quantitatively evaluate the hydrogen type and saturation. The experimentally determined ranges and patterns of T 1 / T 2 variation are consistent with the theoretical results. The quantitative relationship between T 1 / T 2 variation and saturation, mobility, or wettability was further determined based on the theoretical variation of correlation time. Finally, a new interpretation scheme was established for the quantitative evaluation of wettability and fluid properties based on T 1 / T 2 variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to clarify whether presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in cord blood indicates exposure to or infection with HBV. We prospectively recruited HBsAg-positive pregnant women and their neonates 2012 through 2015. All neonates received postnatal immunoprophylaxis. The infants were followed up at 7–14 months of age. Totally 329 HBsAg-positive pregnant women and 333 neonates were enrolled. No cord blood was anti-HBc IgM positive. A total of 290 (87.1%) neonates were followed up at 7–14 months of age and 6 (2.1%) of them were infected with HBV. Of 146 neonates born to HBeAg-negative mothers, 38 (26.0%) and 30 (20.5%) had detectable HBsAg and HBV DNA in cord blood respectively, but none of 126 infants followed up was infected. Of 187 neonates born to HBeAg-positive mothers, 92 (49.2%) and 79 (42.2%) had detectable HBsAg and HBV DNA in cord blood respectively; 6 (3.7%) of 164 infants followed up were infected. Of seven neonates with HBV DNA > 105 IU/ml in cord blood, four had no infection and three others were infected. Presence of HBsAg and/or HBV DNA, even at high levels, in cord blood just indicates exposure to, but not infection with HBV. Presence of HBV markers in cord blood cannot define intrauterine infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) is an advanced finite element and discrete element coupling method, which is commendably suitable for simulating the slope's entire evolution process from cracking, expansion, penetration, sliding, collision to deposition under seismic load. The original FDEM has apparent shortcomings in simulating the dynamic instability process of earthquake-induced landslides, and some targeted improvements are made to the original program. Numerical tests are carried out to prove the accuracy and robustness of the improved FDEM, and the influence of the structural plane on the dynamic evolution mechanism and process of the slope is studied. The results show that the improved FDEM can accurately reproduce the entire dynamic evolution processes and failure forms of different jointed rock slopes under seismic load and can quantitatively evaluate the dynamic stability of jointed rock slopes (dynamic safety factor and critical failure surface). In addition, the results also emphasize that the slope failure degree significantly affects the dynamic response of the slope and suggest that the combination of the cut-through of the failure surface and the increase of kinetic energy should be used as the criteria for slope dynamic instability simulation by FDEM. This study provides scientific and technological support for revealing the failure mechanism of jointed rock slopes and disaster reduction and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

KCNMA1 encodes the K+ potassium channel α-subunit that plays a significant role in the auditory system. Our previous studies indicated that KCNMA1 is associated with age-related hearing loss(AHL). However, the detailed mechanism of KCNMA1 involvement in auditory age-related degradation has not been fully clarified. Therefore, we explored the expression of KCNMA1 in the peripheral auditory of 2-month-old and 12-month-old mice by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The results of animal experiments showed that KCNMA1 expression was decreased in 12-month-old mice compared with 2-month-old mice, whereas the ferroptosis level was increased. To verify the role of KCNMA1 in AHL, we downregulated KCNMA1 in HEI-OC1 cells by transfecting shRNA. After downregulation, the ferroptosis level was increased and the aging process was accelerated. Furthermore, the aging process was affected by the expression of ferroptosis. In conclusion, these results revealed that KCNMA1 is associated with the aging process in auditory hair cells by regulating ferroptosis, which deepens our understanding of age-related hearing loss. • The expression of KCNMA1 is decreased by age in mice cochlea and HEI-OC1 cells. • Downregulation of KCNMA1 accelerates auditory hair cells senescence via ferroptosis. • KCNMA1 plays a vital role in the senescence, implying its potential to regulate AHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solar photo-thermochemical cycle (PTC) for the conversion of CO 2 into fuels over metal oxides is a novel and promising method to alleviate the increasing energy crisis and worsening global climate change. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the anatase (101) surface of TiO 2 and M-doped TiO 2 (M = Zn, Ni, and Cu) were performed to provide guidance for enhancing the PTC. Additionally, M-doped TiO 2 films were produced using a sol-gel method and applied to the PTC for CO 2 conversion to provide experimental verifications. A maximum, stable production of CO of 10.80 μmol/g was achieved using Cu-doped TiO 2 , which was nearly 6.39-fold higher than the amount of CO produced by clean TiO 2 . The CO yield was in good agreement with the calculation results. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron spin resonance (ESR) were used to evaluate the crystal structures and morphologies. UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–visible DRS), photoluminescence (PL) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses were also conducted to investigate the surface charge-transfer and reaction mechanisms. As a result, a complete cycle reaction mechanism for Cu-doped TiO 2 was proposed. Several key factors of the mechanism were clarified, and an effective guide for nanostructure design was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new joint experiment is designed for petrophysical evaluation in shale. • Dissolved methanol can be used to identify hydrogen components in shale. • 1D/2D translational diffusion model is introduced for theoretical analysis of shale NMR mechanism. • A comprehensive interpretation scheme of shale is established based on T 1 / T 2 - T 2 map. • Wettability and mobility characteristics of shale are provided through interpretation scheme. Shale oil is one of the important unconventional fossil fuels resources. Understanding the petrophysical properties of shale contributes to the exploration and clean production of shale oil resources. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a potential technique that can provide for shale petrophysical properties. However, current NMR-based technique for shale petrophysical characterization, due to the complexity of shale, usually requires some auxiliary geochemical experiments. Since a multi-step solvent extraction (MSSE) experiment has a merit in separating hydrocarbons and water in shale, in this work, two-dimensional (2D) NMR measurements combined with MSSE experiments were proposed for the first time to study the petrophysical properties of shale. A mixture of dichloromethane and methanol in a ration of 9:1 was prepared as a solvent for the extraction. Sufficient natural air-drying time allows for the removal of dichloromethane while retaining methanol. The comprehensive experiments show that the signal change induced by residual methanol from T 1 / T 2 - T 2 map, before and after extraction and natural air-drying, can be used to identify pore-fluid and evaluate the mobility of hydrocarbon. For insight into the essence of experimental phenomena, quasi-1D/2D translational diffusion model were employed to analyze the T 1 / T 2 and T 2 responses of pore fluids. Wettability characteristics and detailed hydrocarbon mobility of shale were obtained from the theoretical analyses based on the translational diffusion models and T 1 / T 2 - T 2 map. Combined the experimental results with the theoretical analysis, a comprehensive interpretation scheme was established for shale based on the T 1 / T 2 - T 2 map, including fluid identification, wettability evaluation, and hydrocarbon mobility characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at high risk of heart failure (HF). Early prediction and management of HF among ACS patients are essential to provide timely and cost-effective care. The aim of this study is to train and evaluate a machine learning model to predict the acute onset of HF subsequent to ACS. A total of 1,028 patients with ACS admitted to Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital between October 2019 and May 2022 were included in this study. 128 clinical features were ranked using Shapley additive exPlanations (SHAP) values and the top 20% of features were selected for building a balanced random forest (BRF) model. We compared the discriminatory capability of BRF with linear logistic regression (LLR). In the hold-out test set, the BRF model predicted subsequent HF with areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.75-0.77), sensitivity of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.96-0.97), positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.73 (95% CI: 0.72-0.74), negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.63 (95% CI: 0.60-0.66), and accuracy of 0.73 (95% CI: 0.72-0.73), respectively. BRF outperforms linear logistic regression by 15.6% in AUC, 3.0% in sensitivity, and 60.8% in NPV. End-to-end machine learning approaches can predict the acute onset of HF following ACS with high prediction accuracy. This proof-of-concept study has the potential to substantially advance the management of ACS patients by utilizing the machine learning model as a triage tool to automatically identify clinically significant patients allowing for prioritization of interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) is an advanced finite and discrete element coupling method, which can commendably simulate the large deformation and fracture process of materials. The explicit solution method in FDEM is naturally suitable for solving dynamic problems, and the key to dynamic analysis is to establish artificial boundary conditions that can be prepared to simulate infinite domain motion. At present, there is only the viscous boundary condition in the original FDEM, but this is only applicable for solving the internal source wave problems (e.g., blasting, mechanical vibration), and there are no artificial boundary conditions for solving the external source wave problems (e.g., earthquake). Therefore, three artificial boundary conditions have been developed in the present study to enhance the ability of FDEM to conduct dynamic response analysis. Firstly, the basic principle of FDEM and the existing viscous boundary condition are briefly introduced. Then, three newly added boundary conditions are introduced in sequence: (1) viscous-spring boundary condition, which can absorb stress wave energy at the boundary and restore the residual displacement to meet the actual engineering; (2) free-field boundary condition, which is coupled with free-field motion to absorb scattered waves at the lateral boundaries of the model, and the algorithms of mesh matching retrieval and coupling calculation are also introduced; (3) static-dynamic unified boundary condition, which can accurately transform the fixed boundary under the quasi-static analysis into the non-reflective boundary condition under the dynamic analysis. Finally, several classic models are built to verify the feasibility of the newly added boundary conditions. The comparison with the shaking table test also shows that the improved FDEM can be used for seismic response analysis under actual earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hepatitis E has poor outcomes in pregnant women. Superinfection of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) may worsen liver disease. Objectives To estimate the incidence and seroprevalence of HEV infection among HBV-infected pregnant women, to investigate the transplacental transfer of maternal anti-HEV IgG, and to compare the maternal and neonatal outcomes in anti-HEV positive and negative pregnant women. Study design Totally 391 HBV-infected pregnant women were recruited from April 2012 to October 2014. Paired mothers and infants were followed up at an average 9.8 months postpartum. Anti-HEV IgG and IgM were tested by ELISA. Results Of the pregnant women, none was anti-HEV IgM positive and 42 (10.7%) were IgG positive. At the follow-up, 3 seronegative women converted to anti-HEV IgG positive, with an estimated incidence of 17 per 1000 person-years. No significant differences of gestational age, preterm birth rate, Apgar score and birthweight were observed between newborns of anti-HEV IgG positive and negative mothers. Of the 42 neonates born to anti-HEV IgG positive mothers, 38 (90.5%) had anti-HEV IgG in their cord blood. The neonatal and maternal anti-HEV IgG levels were positively correlated (r = 0.827, p < 0.05). All infants were negative for both anti-HEV IgM and IgG at the follow-up. Conclusions HBV-infected pregnant women rarely have novel HEV infection during late pregnancy in Jiangsu, China. Maternal anti-HEV IgG efficiently transfers into the fetuses, and disappears in infants before 10 months old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To dissociate carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) using solar energy, a novel photo-thermochemical cycle combining photochemistry with thermochemistry is proposed in this paper. After illuminating titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) in a helium (He) atmosphere by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, CO 2 was input and converted to carbon monoxide (CO) under heating in an enclosed cavity. To determine the optimal heating temperature, sets of four consecutive cycles were performed at temperatures from 573 K to 873 K. The preferred temperature was found to be 773 K. CO was stably produced in five successive cycles at 773 K, demonstrating the method’s possibility. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to assess the crystal structure and morphology. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence (PL) analyses were also conducted to investigate the charge transfer and reaction mechanisms on the TiO 2 surface. Finally, a charge transfer mechanism is tentatively proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) is an advanced finite and discrete element coupling method. This study further applies it to the problem of stress wave propagation in the jointed rock mass. Firstly, the fundamental theory of FDEM is briefly described and the methods commonly used in FDEM to characterize structural planes are comprehensively analyzed. Then, based on the viscous boundary condition (VBC), the viscous-spring boundary condition (VSBC) is added to absorb the reflected wave at the artificial boundary and restore the residual displacement to meet the actual engineering. In addition, the application range of the VBC and VSBC is verified, which indicates that the VBC and VSBC in the improved FDEM can be well applied not only to the continuum range but also to the case of the new fracture formed. Finally, several classic models are solved to verify the stress wave propagation across different types of joints by FDEM. The results reveal that results from FDEM agree well with analytical solutions based on the displacement discontinuity model and numerical solutions from universal distinct element code (UDEC), which means that the improved FDEM can capably and accurately simulate wave propagation in the jointed rock mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro-oxidative organic upgrading is recently considered as a promising strategy for energy saved H 2 co-generation but still challenging for high productivity of value-added chemicals at large current density. Herein, the synthesized defects-rich Ni 3 S 2 -CNFs nanoheterostructures exhibit robust electrocatalytic performance for selectively catalyzing methanol to value-added formate with high productivity and without CO 2 emission, in which the large current density (> 700 mA cm−2) is achieved with high faradaic efficiency (> 90%). By replacing the sluggish OER, the methanol upgrading reaction can greatly boost H 2 co-generation from water with reduced energy consumption. DFT calculations indicate the in situ formed Ni–OOH and SO x species with synergistic effect can effectively modulate the d band center of Ni 3 S 2 in Ni 3 S 2 -CNFs nanoheterostructures, acting as unique collaborative active sites for the thermodynamically favorable conversion from methanol to formate and suppressing the further oxidation to CO 2 , resulting in the high activity and selectivity of CO 2 -emission-free methanol upgrading reaction. The novel defects-rich Ni 3 S 2 -CNFs nanoheterostructures achieve the electrocatalytic CH 3 OH selective upgrading at large current densities (> 700 mA cm−2) without CO 2 emission, producing value-added chemical (formate) with high productivity and simultaneously boosting the cathodic H 2 generation with reduced energy consumption. ga1 • Novel defects-rich Ni 3 S 2 -CNFs nanoheterostructures are synthesized as highly active and selective electrocatalysts. • The electro-oxidative methanol selective upgrading is achieved at large current density (> 700 mA cm−2) without CO 2 emission. • The co-generation of value-added chemical and H 2 is achieved with high productivity and less energy consumption. • Ni–OOH and SO x species with synergistic effect act as novel collaborative active sites for methanol selective upgrading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat induced by solar irradiation can alter crystal structures and interfacial barriers, which may subsequently impact the generation, transport and recombination of photoinduced carriers during the radiative conversion of semiconductors. However, this factor is often ignored in photoreactions. Thus, this study investigates the influence and mechanism of the thermal effect on radiative conversion in photoreactions. We find that when the temperature increases, 1) the radiative absorbance is broadened, 2) the ability of photoinduced electrons to drive reactions is enhanced, and 3) better mobility of photoinduced carriers is achieved. Interestingly, the radiative recombination of ZnO and In 2 O 3 decreased and increased, respectively during heating, which resulted in increasing and decreasing photocurrents in the corresponding sample. Furthermore, after co-doping In 2 O 3 with Cu and Fe, we reversed the trend of radiative recombination from increasing to decreasing with increasing temperature. Thus, the H 2 production increased by 2.53 times at 250 °C relative to that at 150 °C during the photothermal reaction using Cu3/Fe1–In 2 O 3. Finally, we successfully proved that the thermal effect could be converted from a harmful factor into a beneficial role during radiative conversion. This work may inspire more innovative ideas related to the mechanism and utilization of the thermal effect in solar conversion. [Display omitted] • The mechanism of temperature effects on photoreaction is elucidated. • Unique material design reverses temperature effect on radiative recombination. • Cu/Fe doping enables an extended light response range and longer carrier lifetime. • This work provides an innovative path for improving photothermal catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The (1-x)CaZrO 3 -xSrTiO 3 solid-solution thin films were prepared with different compositions from x = 0.05 to x = 0.45. The as-prepared thin films experienced such a crystal structure transition process from orthorhombic to pseudo cubic and then to cubic as the x increases. Among the as-prepared films, the smallest expansion ratio of lattice volume with temperatures, and the highest temperature stability of dielectric response and leakage current density at high voltage were found in the x = 0.3 thin films. The relationship between the tolerance factor and the temperature stability was analyzed from the crystal structure dependence of the absorbed thermal energy distribution. Finally, the x = 0.3 thin films were developed into thin-film capacitors, which showed high DC resistance and uniform capacitance properties. The result also shows that high temperature stability of the perovskite-type paraelectric thin films could be realized through the phase boundary design, and further improved by optimizing the temperature stability of the lattice structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional two-step thermochemical cycle of water-splitting that is based on metal-oxide redox pairs requires a high reaction temperature. In this study, we introduced a photochemical reaction into this thermochemical cycle and established a novel photo-thermochemical cycle. In this new cycle, the process by which metal oxides are reduced through concentrated solar energy is replaced with a photochemical reaction while water is still dissociated via a thermochemical reaction. Thus, photo-thermochemical cycles that combine these two reactions can be initiated at relatively low temperatures, unlike thermochemical cycles operated at extremely high temperatures. In this research, TiO 2 was used as the catalyst, experiments were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed cycle, and a preliminary mechanism was developed for this cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new composite with combination of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), termed Chitosan Oligosaccharide-Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites (COS-ZnO NC), was designed to enhance the quality of tomato fruits during postharvest storage. SEM analysis showed a uniform distribution of COS-ZnO NC films on tomato surfaces, indicating high biocompatibility, while the FTIR spectrum confirmed the interaction of COS and ZnO NPs via hydrogen bonds. The COS-ZnO NC exerts positive effects on post-harvest quality of tomato fruits, including significantly reduced water loss, fewer skin wrinkles, increased sugar-acid ratio, and enhanced vitamin C and carotenoids accumulation. Furthermore, COS-ZnO NC induces transcription of carotenoid biosynthesis genes and promotes carotenoids storage in the chromoplast. These results suggest that the COS-ZnO NC film can significantly improve the quality traits of tomato fruits, and therefore is potential in post-harvest storage of tomato fruits. Schematic illustration for preparation of COS-ZnO NC. The results indicate reduced water loss, increased sugar-to-acid ratio, and enhanced carotenoid accumulation in tomato fruits. [Display omitted] • Innovative COS-ZnO nanocomposites (COS-ZnO NC) improves tomato fruit quality. • Uniform COS-ZnO NC film reduces water loss of tomato fruits. • Sugar-acid ratio is improved by COS-ZnO NC treatment. • Increased carotenoid accumulation due to enhanced biosynthesis and plastid storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Gene therapy offers a potentially an effective treatment for many human diseases, including HIV/AIDS. One of the most studied gene delivery systems is the use of lentivirus based vectors, which can deliver genes into both dividing and nondividing cells. However, low infection efficiency represents an obstacle for proper evaluation of their biological function. In this study, a recombinant lentiviral vector which expressed short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeted against the HIV-1 vif/pol was transduced into various cells. An MHC class I molecule, H-2Kk, was used as a marker to accumulate the virally transduced cells through immunomagnetic sorting. In vitro testing of transduced cells showed 85% suppression of HIV in post-sorted PBMCs compared to 30% in pre-sorted PBMCs. In additional, using a mouse xenotransplantation model with the same treatment protocol for cell enrichment, a >95% decrease in HIV activity in post-sorted cells was achieved, as compared to nearly none in the pre-sorted cells. These studies offer a practical method to accumulate virally transduced cells, which can be applied to evaluate the performance of various shRNAs constructs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) curves have been widely used for the evaluation of the pore structure. In practical application, the MICP curves are usually obtained by the mercury injection experiment, but the experimental measurement can not obtain the MICP curves of the reservoir continuously. Since the pore size distribution obtained from the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) transverse relaxation time (T 2) distribution is related to the pore-throat size distribution obtained from the MICP curve, so in previous studies, the MICP curves were predicted based on the NMR T 2 distribution. However, the NMR T 2 distribution obtained by the inversion of the NMR echo data has uncertainty, which affects the prediction accuracy of the MICP curves. In this paper, a new method for predicting the MICP curves of sandstone based on NMR echo data is proposed for the first time. Multiple characteristic parameters of the NMR echo data are calculated. The relationship between the parameters and the mercury saturation (S hg) is established at each capillary pressure point to predict the MICP curves. And the parameters of the MICP curves and the physical parameters are selected to create a reservoir classification index. The results show that the method for predicting the MICP curves of sandstone based on NMR echo data has high prediction accuracy and strong stability, and the reservoir classification index provides an accurate classification of sandstone reservoirs. • A method for predicting the MICP curves based on NMR echo data is proposed. • The proposed method in this paper is feasible and reliable. • The reservoir classification index (A micp) is created using P d , P c50 , r wgm , φ , and k. • The A micp can be used to classify the sandstone reservoirs accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new NMR relaxation theory of shale oil is proposed and verified. • The effects of pyrite and clay minerals on NMR response are analyzed. • Petrophysical parameter conversion model between laboratory and downhole instruments was established. Shale oil reservoirs, characterized by a low porosity, complex mineral composition, and heterogeneity of organic matter distribution, are common unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods have great potential for the evaluation of petrophysical parameters in porous rocks. However, it is challenging to characterize the petrophysical properties of shale oil due to the complex mineral composition and heterogeneity of organic matter distribution. In this paper, a new NMR relaxation theory for shale was proposed for the first time, and the frequency dependencies of transverse surface relaxivity and internal magnetic field gradient for pore fluids were presented. The accuracy was verified by the extraction experiments, gas chromatography experiments, and multi-frequency NMR experiments for the first time. These experiments were also utilized to determine the transverse surface relaxivity and the transverse bulk relaxation time. Subsequently, the effects of the pyrite and clay minerals on shale oil T 2 distributions at different instrument frequencies were analyzed with random walk simulations based on digital core technology for the first time. The results show the echo spacing, instrument frequency, pyrite content, and clay minerals are important parameters affecting the NMR response. Compared with the oil in organic pore, these factors have a greater impact on the NMR response characteristics for water in inorganic pore. When the content of pyrite is 5.3 % and the echo spacing is 0.2 ms, the numerical simulation results show that the NMR porosity of water in inorganic pore is 65.3 %, 12.3 %, and 1.6 % of the real porosity at the instrument frequencies (IF) of 2 MHz, 21.36 MHz, and 200 MHz, respectively. When chlorite with high magnetic susceptibility exists near the formation pores, it can also affect the NMR response of shale oil. The results show the effects of these factors on porosity and T 2ML are non-negligible. The cross-plots of petrophysical parameters correction from shale oil T 2 distributions were established for the first time. This work provides a theoretical guide for the NMR-based shale oil evaluation, which may be helpful for petrophysical parameter conversion between downhole and laboratory NMR instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of conventional thermal sterilisation and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) sterilisation combined with glutamine transaminase (TGase) on the characteristics of set yoghurt were investigated. Upon thermal and HHP treatment, the addition of an appropriate amount of TGase had no significant effect on the acidity and viable bacteria count of the yoghurt. However, the water holding capacity, viscosity, and firmness of the yoghurt significantly improved. When yoghurt was thermal treated combined with TGase and with HHP followed by TGase, the optimal values of the yoghurt indicators were achieved when 2 U g−1 TGase was added. When TGase was added at 4 U g−1 before HHP treatment (TGase-HHP), the optimal values of the yoghurt indicators were achieved. It was clear that the proteins in TGase-HHP yoghurt exposed more TGase binding sites than the other two types of treatment. In addition, tests were performed with chroma meters, electronic tongues and electronic noses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale collimating solar simulators (CSSs) with a light half divergence angle (HDA) of less than 1° have been developed. The small HDA ensures that the CSS can effectively simulate the optical behavior between natural sunlight and optical devices. However, the construction of large-scale CSSs still has a strict threshold because additional optical modules (AOMs), such as large-area collimating mirrors, are usually required to correct the light into collimated light. The manufacturing, installation, and adjustment of these precision optical devices pose significant challenges. An excellent scheme to avoid AOMs is to use the collimating radiation module (CRM), which can directly produce collimated light. Unfortunately, CRM can only produce light with an HDA of more than 3° at present, far larger than that of CSS with AOMs. Here, we report a CRM that can directly produce light with excellent collimation (an HDA<0.955°) and uniformity (>90 %). We accomplished this by analyzing the deviations between an idealized geometric optical model and actual CRMs and eliminating them with high-precision parts and a high-resolution adjustment method. We further used 24 CRMs to prove that the single-module collimating solar simulator (SMCSS, a radiation area of 2.55 m × 1.57 m) could be modularly constructed by them. Experimental investigations involving light-concentrating experiments on a parabolic trough collector demonstrated the superior collimation and simulation capabilities of the SMCSS. By eliminating the need for AOMs, the CRM and SMCSS significantly reduce system complexity and cost and lower the construction threshold for large-scale CSSs. It will benefit all experimental scenarios that need large-area collimated light and greatly promote the application of large-scale CSS in civilian solar research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately locating an indoor unknown radio emitter (URE) is a challenging target to ensure telecommunication security. The URE positioning method based on received signal strength difference (RSSD) has attracted considerable attention due to the advantage of not being affected by transmit power and frequency. However, the RSSD-based fingerprint technique cannot accurately express the constraint equations between signal characteristics and geographic coordinates because of redundant databases and false matching. In this paper, a novel RSSD-based indoor positioning method using factor graph (FG) for an URE is proposed to improve positioning accuracy and reduce computational complexity. Firstly, the databases are reconstructed by singular value decomposition (SVD) to eliminate redundant factor nodes. Secondly, Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) is utilized to determine the sub-positioning area. Combing SVD with PCC, the hyperplane equations are reconstructed to build an optimized FG model, called SP-FG. Considering simulation and experiment, the proposed SP-FG algorithm improves the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of average positioning error within 0.5 m by 10% and 14% compared with conventional FG algorithm and K-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm, respectively. In addition, this paper discusses the superiority of proposed SP-FG algorithm in positioning accuracy under different reference side lengths, access point (AP) coordinates and numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background China has integrated hepatitis B vaccine into the Expanded Program on Immunization since 2002. We aimed to survey the seroprevalence of and immunity to hepatitis B virus (HBV) in children born from 2002 to 2014 in Jiangsu, China. Methods Totally 3442 children (M:F = 2072:1370) at the age of 7 months to 12 years (5.5 ± 3.6), from five cities and rural areas across Jiangsu province, were enrolled. Blood samples were measured for HBV markers by ELISA and quantitative microparticle enzyme immunoassay. HBV DNA was tested by real-time PCR and S region was amplified by nested PCR. Results Twelve (0.35%) children were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and 34 (0.99%) were HBsAg negative and positive for antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Totally 2542 (73.85%) children had anti-HBs levels ⩾10 mIU/ml and 535 (15.54%) with 2–9.9 mIU/ml. All 12 HBsAg-positive children had detectable HBV DNA with a mean level of 6.1 ± 1.7 log IU/ml (3.3–8.1 log IU/ml); 8 were genotype C and 4 were genotype B. No mutation was detected in the a determinant of HBsAg. HBV DNA was not detected in all the 34 children with positive anti-HBc and negative HBsAg. Conclusion HBsAg prevalence among children in Jiangsu born after the introduction of universal vaccination against hepatitis B has significantly decreased. No mutation of S gene is associated with vaccine failure in the cohort of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin (IL)− 33 plays an essential role in regulatory T cell (Treg)-mediated immunosuppression in cancers and underlies the crosstalk between Tregs and the tumor microenvironment. However, the phenotypic characteristics of subset Tregs modulated by IL-33 and its association with the tumor microenvironment are not fully understood. This study aimed to examine the expression of ST2, the receptor of IL-33, on Tregs in tumors and to evaluate their association with cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and reciprocal influences on the prognosis of laryngeal cancer. Our results showed that increased numbers of Tregs were found in laryngeal tumor tissues. Tregs in stromal IL-33-positive tumor tissues demonstrated significantly higher expression of ST2 than those in IL-33- or adjacent nontumor tissues. ST2-expressing Tregs exhibited upregulation of Ki67 and CTLA4 compared with their ST2- negative counterparts. Furthermore, IL-33 in the tumor microenvironment was mainly derived from fibroblasts. ST2 expression on Tregs was correlated with the number of IL-33-positive CAFs. High ST2 expression on Tregs, combined high ST2 on Tregs and the presence of IL-33 expressing CAFs was associated with worse survival outcomes in laryngeal cancer. This study indicated that increased expression of ST2 on Tregs is associated with microenvironmental IL-33 signaling derived from CAFs in laryngeal cancer, unraveling the special role of Tregs and fibroblasts in modulating IL-33/ST2 involved immune-evasive tumor microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two novel genes GhMML1 and GhMML2 regulating trichome branching were identified. We report that GhMML1 and GhMML2 belonging to SGB9 of R2R3 MYBs is responsible for trichome development. • GhMML1 regulate trichome branching in coordination with GhMML2. Most of our current knowledge on trichome pattern formation is derived from the genetic and molecular analysis in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the mechanism underlying different trichomes is fundamentally different. In this manuscript, we identified a new protein complex regulating trichome initiation and branching: two MMLs, GhMML1 and GhMML2, might physically interact with a bZIP transcription factor and form an active complex to regulate the expression of development-associated downstream genes and consequently contribute to the control of epidermal cell differentiation. Trichomes exhibit extraordinary diversity in shape, ultrastructure, distribution, secretion capability, biological functions, and morphological differences, which are strongly associated with their multifunction. Previous researches showed MIXTA-like transcription factors involved in regulating trichome initiation and patterning via forming MYB-bHLH-WD40 transcriptional activator complex to induce the expression of downstream genes. Here, we report the characteristics and role of GhMML1 and GhMML2 , members of subgroup 9 of the R2R3-type MYB TFs. GhMML1 and GhMML2 were preferentially targeted to the nucleus and prominently expressed in the early stage during fiber development. Ectopic expression of GhMML1 and GhMML2 respectively in the transgenic tobacco plants changed the morphological characteristics of leaf trichomes; that is, the unbranched trichomes turned into multiple branched, and in the meantime, the density of trichomes was reduced on the surface of the leaf. Y2H and LCI assay revealed that both GhMML1 and GhMML2 could physically interact with a bZIP transcription factor family protein (GhbZIP) in vivo and in vitro. It has been reported that GhbZIP's homolog TAG3 in Arabidopsis is involved in the asymmetric growth of leaves and flowers via direct interaction with BOP1. Taken together, our results demonstrated that two MYB MIXTA-like proteins, GhMML1 and GhMML2, together with GhbZIP might form a multimeric complex to involve in trichome development. This study highlights the importance of MIXTA-like genes from TF subgroup 9 and will help to uncover the molecular mechanism underlying differential trichomes and their development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous rocks are the source of important energy resources such as oil and gas that support development worldwide. The quantitative characterization of bound and movable fluid microdistribution is important for reservoir evaluation, productivity prediction, and petroleum recovery. However, due to the complexity of the fluid microdistribution in porous rocks, there is currently no effective method to achieve the continuous and quantitative characterization of the downhole or subsurface bound and movable fluid microdistribution. In this study, a method is proposed for the continuous and quantitative characterization of bound and movable fluid microdistribution in porous rocks based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. First, 19 conventional sandstone samples collected from the Songliao Basin and 19 tight sandstone samples from the Ordos basin in China were evaluated using NMR experiments under fully water-saturated and bound water conditions and the transverse relaxation time (T 2) distributions of the saturated, bound, and movable water were obtained. Based on the findings from the NMR experiments, two exponential functions were proposed to quantitatively characterize the proportional coefficient distribution of the bound and movable fluids in pores of different sizes and to obtain the corresponding T 2 distributions of the bound and movable fluids. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified by comparing the prediction results with the experimental results. Finally, the proposed method was extended into field applications in a tight sandstone reservoir in the Ordos Basin, China. The results of this study provide practical guidance for the exploration and development of oil and gas resources. • A fluid microdistribution characterization method in porous rocks was proposed. • Two exponential functions were used to characterize fluid proportions in pores. • The results are intuitive display of the bound and movable fluid microdistribution. • The proposed method provides guidance for further pore structure and seepage study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]