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Abstract Background Extrachromosomal circular DNAs (eccDNAs) have been reported to play a key role in the occurrence and development of various diseases. However, the characterization and role of eccDNAs in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remain unclear. Methods In the discovery cohort, we first explored eccDNA expression profiles by Circle-sequencing analysis. The candidate eccDNAs were validated by routine polymerase chain reaction (PCR), TOPO-TA cloning and Sanger sequencing. In the validation cohort, 30 patients with PAH and 10 healthy controls were recruited for qPCR amplification to detect the candidate eccDNAs. Datas at the baseline were collected, including clinical background, biochemical variables, echocardiography and hemodynamic factors. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to investigate the diagnostic effect of the eccDNA. Results We identified a total of 21,741 eccDNAs in plasma samples of 3 IPAH patients and 3 individuals in good health, and the expression frequency, GC content, length distribution, and genome distribution of the eccDNAs were thoroughly characterized and analyzed. In the validation cohort, 687 eccDNAs were differentially expressed in patients with IPAH compared with healthy controls (screening threshold: |FC|≥2 and P

High-temperature fatigue properties are critical for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) fabricated Nickel-based superalloy Hastelloy-X (HX) used in aero engines. In this study, superior high-temperature high-cycle fatigue properties of LPBF HX were achieved. The detailed investigations show that the grain boundary oxidation promoted by the different deformation modes between neighboring grains, despite the reduced oxygen-related damage in the coarser LPBF HX microstructures, are the potential causes for the inter-granular fatigue crack initiation and the subsequent crack coalescence. In the meantime, the crack propagation could be hindered by the refined carbides and annealing twins with Σ3 misorientation (60°/〈111〉) in LPBF HX. Furthermore, the recrystallized grains formed ahead of the crack tip due to the severe deformation within the plastic zone and high testing temperature have different crystallographic orientations, which leads to the crack propagation path changes and increases the fatigue crack propagation resistance.

The grid integration of large-scale photovoltaic and other distributed energy sources is an effective solution for addressing power supply shortages and environmental pollution. However, the widespread adoption of photovoltaics and grid integration presents various technological and management challenges. To fulfill the demands of grid management and ensure safe operations, the exchange of information between different terminals is continuously escalating. Use of diverse communication standards creates the problem of “information islands” among terminals. Hence, a standardized information model is crucial for describing the photovoltaic grid integration business and enhancing the efficiency of related software platform research and development. This study extends the IEC 61970/61968 standards and presents a common information model for the integration of photovoltaic systems into the grid. Initially, the operational procedures for integrating photovoltaic systems into the grid are analyzed, and UML modeling tools are employed for business modeling purposes. Subsequently, leveraging the outcomes of the business modeling and the content of the IEC 61970/61968 standards, the development of the common information model is executed. Lastly, causal analysis is conducted along with the modeling of communication standard extensions specifically targeted for the integration of photovoltaic systems into the grid, culminating in the finalization of the construction of the common information model for photovoltaic grid connection.

Abstract Objectives To validate an appropriate evaluation method of liver fibrosis assessment based on the unique pathological features of biliary atresia (BA) that could well predict its prognosis. Methods A total of 68 patients with BA who underwent Kasai procedure (KP) and an intraoperative liver biopsy, followed up from January 2019 to December 2021, were recruited in a retrospective analysis. Ishak, Metavir, and BA-specific staging systems in relation to outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression, COX proportional hazard regression, Kaplan-Meier analysis, etc. Results Kaplan-Meier analysis determined a significant difference in native liver survival according to the BA-specific stage (p = 0.002). The ROC curve analysis for predicting prognosis showed that the AUC of BA-specific staging combined with iBALF and severe bile duct proliferation (BDP) (0.811, 95% CI: 0.710–0.913, p

Abstract Bi2WO6 flower-like materials (FMs) were prepared by a hydrothermal method, followed by an in-situ reduction method to prepare Au@Bi2WO6 FMs. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to characterize the samples. It was discovered that the calculated OV content of Au@Bi2WO6 FMs is 25.16% whereas that of Bi2WO6 FMs is 20.81%, offering appropriate active sites for the absorption of gases and thus enhancing outstanding sensing property. Moreover, the detection of volatile and hazardous substances such as formaldehyde, methanol, acetone, benzene, toluene, and xylene was carried out to assess the efficacy of the Au@Bi2WO6 FMs sensors. The optimal operating temperatures for the Bi2WO6 FMs and Au@Bi2WO6 FMs sensors were 290 and 260 °C, respectively. Compared with Au@Bi2WO6 FMs sensor and Bi2WO6 FMs one, the best response of the front was 250 (900)–100 (800) ppm formaldehyde whereas that of the latter was 90 (230). Therefore, Au@ Bi2WO6 FMs have good response and selectivity, which are promising candidates for formaldehyde detection.

Abstract Traditional tumour‐dynamic therapy still inevitably faces the critical challenge of limited reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐generating efficiency due to tumour hypoxia, extreme pH condition for Fenton reaction, and unsustainable mono‐catalytic reaction. To fight against these issues, we skilfully develop a tumour‐microenvironment‐driven yolk‐shell nanoreactor to realize the high‐efficiency persistent dynamic therapy via cascade‐responsive dual cycling amplification of •SO4−/•OH radicals. The nanoreactor with an ultrahigh payload of free radical initiator is designed by encapsulating the Na2S2O8 nanocrystals into hollow tetra‐sulphide‐introduced mesoporous silica (HTSMS) and afterward enclosed by epigallocatechin gallate (EG)‐Fe(II) cross‐linking. Within the tumour microenvironment, the intracellular glutathione (GSH) can trigger the tetra‐sulphide cleavage of nanoreactors to explosively release Na+/S2O82−/Fe2+ and EG. Then a sequence of cascade reactions will be activated to efficiently generate •SO4− (Fe2+‐catalyzed S2O82− oxidation), proton (•SO4−‐catalyzed H2O decomposition), and •OH (proton‐intensified Fenton oxidation). Synchronously, the oxidation‐generated Fe3+ will be in turn recovered into Fe2+ by excessive EG to circularly amplify •SO4−/•OH radicals. The nanoreactors can also disrupt the intracellular osmolarity homeostasis by Na+ overload and weaken the ROS‐scavenging systems by GSH exhaustion to further amplify oxidative stress. Our yolk–shell nanoreactors can efficiently eradicate tumours via multiple oxidative stress amplification, which will provide a perspective to explore dynamic therapy.

Aiming at the problem of motor control performance degradation caused by the cross-coupling and low switching frequency condition in the high-power direct-drive permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) control system, a robust current control of PMSM based on internal model control (IMC) and hybrid pulse width modulation (PWM) is proposed and applied to the control of a MW-level direct-drive PMSM in electric locomotive traction system. Firstly, combined with the characteristics of the low switching frequency of the electric locomotive inverter, a hybrid PWM strategy is adopted. Secondly, the IMC of PMSM is designed, and the IMC is adopted to solve the problems of more control parameters and cross-coupling of direct-drive PMSM in the d-q axis under low switching frequency, which improves the robustness of the whole locomotive system. Finally, the experiments have been carried out on a 1.2 MW direct-drive PMSM for traction system in electric locomotive, the correctness and effectiveness of IMC and hybrid PWM strategy are verified.

Under certain working conditions, the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) traction system of urban rail transit shows negative impedance characteristics, which is easy to cause voltage resonance of DC-link and lead to instability of the system. In order to ensure the stability of the system, a DC-link oscillation suppression method based on q-axis voltage compensation is proposed. Firstly, the PMSM traction system and oscillation mechanism of DC-link are analyzed. Secondly, a stable control method based on q-axis feedforward decoupling voltage compensation is adopted to realize the decoupling control of PMSM and the suppression of DC-link oscillation. Finally, the method is verified on a 180 kW PMSM traction system, simulation and experiment verify the effectiveness of the DC-link oscillation suppression method.

Based on paleogeomorphology, drilling and seismic data, this paper systematically studies the structural and sedimentary evolution, source rock characteristics, reservoir characteristics and formation mechanism, hydrocarbon accumulation model and enrichment law in the Linhe Depression of the Hetao Basin, NW China. The Hetao Basin mainly experienced three stages of evolution, namely, weak extensional fault depression, strong extensional fault depression and strike-slip transformation, giving rise to four positive structural belts (Jilantai, Shabu, Nalinhu and Xinglong), which are favorable areas for oil and gas accumulation. The two main saline lacustrine source rocks, Lower Cretaceous Guyang Formation and Oligocene Linhe Formation, are characterized by high sulfur content, rich algae, early maturity, early expulsion, and wide oil generation window. The large structural transition belt in the intermountain area around the Hetao Basin controls the formation of large-scale braided river delta deposits, which are characterized by high quartz content (50%–76%), long-term shallow burial and weak compaction, low cement content, and good reservoir properties in delta front sandbody. The burial depth of the effective Paleogene reservoirs is predicted to reach 8000 m. Three hydrocarbon accumulation models, nose-uplift near sag, buried hill surrounding sag, fault nose near source rock, are constructed. The law of hydrocarbon accumulation in the Linhe Depression is finally clarified as follows: near-source around the depression is the foundation, high-quality thick reservoir is the premise, good tectonic setting and trap conditions are the key.

No novel biomarkers are currently available for evaluating immune reconstitution among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) receiving combined antiretroviral treatment (cART). The objective of this study was to analyze the expression patterns of interferon-stimulating genes (ISGs) in PLWH with the aim of identifying potential biomarkers for immune reconstitution. Study samples were collected from 105 PLWH, including 47 immunological non-responders (INRs) and 58 immunological responders (IRs). The expression of eight ISGs in the peripheral blood in INRs and IRs were detected by RT-qPCR. Expression differences between groups were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test, and a logistic regression model was developed to predict immune reconstitution. Among eight ISGs, the expression levels of IFI27 and IFI6 were significantly higher in INRs than IRs ( P =0.001 and 0.005, respectively). The model combining age, CD4 + T/CD8 + T ratio, IFI27, and IFI6 had the highest diagnostic value (AUC=0.836), with an optimal cut-off value of 0.6, sensitivity of 60.5%, and specificity of 98.1%. No significant change in the expression of IFI27 and IFI6 was observed in samples collected 3 years apart ( P =0.1232 and 0.4877, respectively), and the model score negatively correlated with ΔCD4 + T cells (r=−0.2888, P =0.0465). Enhanced expression of IFI27 and IFI6 in INRs are important characteristics that may serve as biomarkers of immune reconstitution after cART. The combination of age, CD4 + T/CD8 + T ratio, IFI27, and IFI6 was highly effective in discriminating INRs.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an insidious pulmonary vasculopathy with high mortality and morbidity and its underlying pathogenesis is still poorly delineated. The hyperproliferation and apoptosis resistance of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) contributes to pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension, which is closely linked to the downregulation of fork-head box transcriptional factor O1 (FoxO1) and apoptotic protein caspase 3 (Cas-3). Here, PA-targeted co-delivery of a FoxO1 stimulus (paclitaxel, PTX) and Cas-3 was exploited to alleviate monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. The co-delivery system is prepared by loading the active protein on paclitaxel-crystal nanoparticles, followed by a glucuronic acid coating to target the glucose transporter-1 on the PASMCs. The co-loaded system (170 nm) circulates in the blood over time, accumulates in the lung, effectively targets the PAs, and profoundly regresses the remodeling of pulmonary arteries and improves hemodynamics, leading to a decrease in pulmonary arterial pressure and Fulton's index. Our mechanistic studies suggest that the targeted co-delivery system alleviates experimental pulmonary hypertension primarily via the regression of PASMC proliferation by inhibiting cell cycle progression and promoting apoptosis. Taken together, this targeted co-delivery approach offers a promising avenue to target PAs and cure the intractable vasculopathy in pulmonary hypertension.

Abstract In regions of the nitrogen limited low latitude ocean, phosphate can also be depleted to levels initiating stress responses in marine microbes. Here, we associate a broad region of phosphate depletion in the subtropical North Pacific with different levels of phosphorus stress. Nutrient and aerosol addition experiments demonstrated primary nitrogen limitation of the bulk phytoplankton community, with supply of aerosols relieving this limitation. At northern sites with depleted phosphate, alkaline phosphatase activities were enhanced, indicating elevated phosphorus stress. Analysis of satellite‐ and model‐derived aerosol loading showed that aerosol deposition was elevated in these regions. Surface rate measurements suggested that the regional enhancement in phosphate depletion was predominantly driven by elevated nitrogen fixation, likely stimulated by the coincident supply of aerosol iron. Such observations are important for predicting future biogeochemical responses in the subtropical North Pacific to changing aerosol supply.

Coupled effects of hygrothermal environment and geometrical parameters on the failure of a double-lap, single-bolt composite joint are investigated numerically. The studied geometrical parameters include the ratio of end distance to hole diameter (e/D) and that of width to hole diameter (w/D). Three representative environmental conditions, including −55 °C/dry (CTD), 23 °C/dry (RTD) and 70 °C/wet (ETW), are considered. Numerical progressive damage models (PDMs) that consider hygrothermal effects are established to predict the failure load and failure mode of the joints. Good agreement between the predicted and experimental results confirm the applicability of the established PDMs. The results indicate that the CTD condition increases the failure load of the joint, whereas the ETW condition decreases it. The extent of the hygrothermal effect changes with e/D, but is insusceptible to w/D. Further, the relationship between the failure load and e/D is affected by the hygrothermal condition. Under the CTD condition, the failure load reaches a plateau at a smaller critical value of e/D, compared with that under the ETW condition. However, the relationship between the failure load and w/D is unaffected by the hygrothermal condition. The failure mode depends on e/D and w/D, and is not affected by the hygrothermal condition.

The open-hole mechanical properties are used to evaluate the superiority of a new composite material in highly-loaded aircraft structures. The critical open-hole tensile strength and characteristic length are significantly affected by both the hygrothermal environment and width-to-hole-diameter ratio (w/D). However, the coupling effects of these two factors remain unknown until now. This paper aims to reveal the coupling effects of hygrothermal environment and w/D on the tensile strength and characteristic length of an open-hole composite laminate by using a proposed two-level finite-element-based method. Seven hygrothermal conditions, which are characterized by a non-dimensional temperature T∗, and four w/Ds are considered. The obtained results show that, both the tensile strength and characteristic length change monotonously with the variation of T∗, suggesting a considerable influence of the hygrothermal condition. Among the seven hygrothermal conditions, −55°C/dry (CTD), 23°C/dry (RTD) and 70°C/wet (ETW) are the crucial conditions. Under the CTD, RTD and ETW conditions, both the tensile strength and characteristic length are significantly increased by the rising w/D. The increase rates of tensile strength and characteristic length are insusceptible to the hygrothermal condition, and they are respectively 81% and 83% when w/D rises from 2.10 to 8.40. For a certain value of w/D, the tensile strength and characteristic length under the CTD condition are larger than those under the RTD condition, and a reverse trend is observed under the ETW condition. The resulting deviation in tensile strength is slightly related to w/D, whereas the resulting deviation in tensile characteristic length strongly depends on w/D.

Objective: This study used the UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technique, network pharmacology, and molecular docking technology to elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of Myricaria germanica against rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The UPLC-Q-TOF MS/MS technique and Swiss Target Prediction databases were used to select active compounds for Myricaria germanica and to predict relevant targets, respectively. The targets of rheumatoid arthritis were obtained from the TTD and GeneCards databases. Constructing protein interaction networks utilizing the String database, GO functional enrichment analysis, and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of target genes utilizing the DAVID database, constructing ''component-potential target-pathway'' networks utilizing Cytoscape 3.9.1 software, and finally performing molecular docking utilizing Autodock Vina and other software. Results: Myricaria germanica screened 47 chemical components and 302 component targets, obtaining 4017 disease targets, and 32 intersection targets of chemical component targets and disease targets using the Veen diagram. PPI results demonstrate the greatest impact on TNF, VEGFA, ALB, etc. The GO enrichment analysis of 32 targets associated with rheumatoid arthritis reveals that all of these targets are associated with 129 biological processes, including the process of collagen degeneration and the positive regulation of the RNA polymerase II promoter. KEGG enrichment analysis reveals that 87 signaling pathways are involved in these rheumatoid arthritis-related targets, with the IL-17, Relaxin, and TNF signaling pathways being the most significant. As deduced from the network diagram of ingredient-potential target-pathway, the key ingredients for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Myricaria germanica are Apigenin, Quillaic Acid, and Isorhamnetin, and the associated targets are MMP9, PTGS2, and TNF, with a binding energy of less than -4.25 kcal/mol. Conclusion: Myricaria germanica may act on potential core targets such as TNF, PTGS2, and MMP9 through key active ingredients such as Apigenin, Quillaic Acid, and Isorhamnetin to regulate signaling pathways such as IL-17, TNF, and Relaxin to exert therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis.

Under replacement ventilation conditions, a simplified physical model of a tall space (livestock house) was established using ProSim software, and the relevant boundary conditions were set. The airflow size and direction distribution under different air supply and exhaust airflow conditions were obtained by slicing, and the simulation results showed that appropriately increasing the air supply and exhaust airflow helps to increase the pollutant emission rate so that pollutants can be discharged in time, but when the air supply and exhaust airflow were increased to a certain extent, these will cause the airflow vortex phenomenon near the pollutant source, which will enhance the mixing effect of pollutants and surrounding air, making up the pollutant concentration also. The study found that when the indoor air supply and exhaust air volume is increased by 45 times/h, the replacement ventilation effect is optimal and the indoor pollutant concentration is the lowest.

Endocrine disrupting compounds and in particular estrogenic substances have the ability to interact with the hormone system of organisms. Among them are not only synthetic but also natural substances that potentially stress the aquatic ecosystem. High human population densities such as around the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) are suspected of exerting significant anthropogenic pressure onto coastal areas. In this study, natural and synthetic estrogens as well as estrogen-like substances derived from plants and fungi were investigated in the PRE and at the adjacent northern shelf of the South China Sea. Maximum concentration of 3.6 ng L−1 for estrone (E1), 0.7 ng L−1 for 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), 12.9 ng L−1 for genistein (GEN), 11.9 ng L−1 for daidzein (DAI) and 1.9 ng L−1 for zearalenone (ZEN) were observed. While E1 and EE2 were detected in fresh and saltwater samples, GEN, DAI and ZEN were observed only at freshwater sampling sites. During the investigations, the analysis of 17β-estradiol (E2) and EE2 indicated a strong matrix dependence. Additionally, an estrogen screen observation showed estrogenic activity in form of estradiol equivalent quotients up to 0.18 ng L−1.

Abstract Background Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is a rare, progressive, and oft-fatal condition of pulmonary arterial hypertension that is typically difficult to diagnose and treat. However, with the development of next-generation sequencing technology, an increasing number of patients with PVOD are being diagnosed. Methods Initially, we used whole exome sequencing (WES) to identify the proband as a rare compound heterozygous mutation of EIF2AK4 in PVOD. Subsequently, the parents of patient underwent EIF2AK4 screening by Sanger sequencing. Results In this study, we describe the family tree of a patient with PVOD with a rare compound heterozygous EIF2AK4 mutation. Moreover, we identified a new EIF2AK4 mutation, c.2236_2237insAAGTCCTTCT, in exon 12 of the proband and his mother. This frameshift mutation led to premature termination of the coding protein sequence and widespread loss of protein function, which promoted the development of PVOD. Conclusions Our results expand our understanding of the EIF2AK4 mutation spectrum in patients with PVOD, as well as highlight the clinical applicability of WES.

Abstract Background Pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension (PH) have higher mortality rates and poor foetal/neonatal outcomes. Tools to assess these risk factors are not well established. Methods Predictive and prognostic nomograms were constructed using data from a “Development” cohort of 420 pregnant patients with PH, recorded between January 2009 and December 2018. Logistic regression analysis established models to predict the probability of adverse maternal and foetal/neonatal events and overall survival by Cox analysis. An independent “Validation” cohort comprised data of 273 consecutive patients assessed from January 2019 until May 2022. Nomogram performance was evaluated internally and implemented with online software to increase the ease of use. Results Type I respiratory failure, New York Heart Association functional class, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide $$\ge$$ ≥ 1400 ng/L, arrhythmia, and eclampsia with pre-existing hypertension were independent risk factors for maternal mortality or heart failure. Type I respiratory failure, arrhythmia, general anaesthesia for caesarean section, New York Heart Association functional class, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide $$\ge$$ ≥ 1400 ng/L were independent predictors of pulmonary hypertension survival during pregnancy. For foetal/neonatal adverse clinical events, type I respiratory failure, arrhythmia, general anaesthesia for caesarean section, parity, platelet count, fibrinogen, and left ventricular systolic diameter were important predictors. Nomogram application for the Development and Validation cohorts showed good discrimination and calibration; decision curve analysis demonstrated their clinical utility. Conclusions The nomogram and its online software can be used to analyse individual mortality, heart failure risk, overall survival prediction, and adverse foetal/neonatal clinical events, which may be useful to facilitate early intervention and better survival rates.

In this article, we investigate the single-machine scheduling problem with truncated learning effect and resource allocation, where the actual processing time of a job is a general function of its additional resources and position in a sequence. The goal is to determine the optimal resource allocation and optimal sequence such that a weighted sum of scheduling cost and resource consumption cost is minimized. We show that the problem can be solved in $ O(n^3) $ time by using an assignment formulation, where $ n $ is the number of jobs.

Oxide-derived copper has been extensively studied as catalysts for CO2 electroreduction but its catalytic stability and selectivity still need to be improved. Here, the authors report ultrathin CuO nanoplate arrays for CO2 reduction with high ethylene selectivity and enhanced long-term stability.

In this paper, we investigate the single-machine scheduling problem that considers due date assignment and past-sequence-dependent setup times simultaneously. Under common (slack and different) due date assignment, the objective is to find jointly the optimal sequence and optimal due dates to minimize the weighted sum of lateness, number of early and delayed jobs, and due date cost, where the weight only depends on it's position in a sequence (i.e., a position-dependent weight). Optimal properties of the problem are given and then the polynomial time algorithm is proposed to obtain the optimal solution.

Abstract Nutrients limiting phytoplankton growth in the ocean are a critical control on ocean productivity and can underpin predicted responses to climate change. The extensive western subtropical North Pacific is assumed to be under strong nitrogen limitation, but this is not well supported by experimental evidence. Here, we report the results of 14 factorial nitrogen–phosphorus–iron addition experiments through the Philippine Sea, which demonstrate a gradient from nitrogen limitation in the north to nitrogen–iron co‐limitation in the south. While nitrogen limited sites responded weakly to nutrient supply, co‐limited sites bloomed with up to ~60‐fold increases in chlorophyll a biomass that was dominated by initially undetectable diatoms. The transition in limiting nutrients and phytoplankton growth capacity was driven by a gradient in deep water nutrient supply, which was undetectable in surface concentration fields. We hypothesize that this large‐scale phytoplankton response gradient is both climate sensitive and potentially important for regulating the distribution of predatory fish.

Iron and manganese oxide filter film (MeOx) was used to research the simultaneous removal of bisphenol A (BPA), manganese (Mn2+) and ammonium (NH4+) in a pilot-scale filter system. We found that 0.52 mg/L of BPA could be removed while consuming 5.44 mg/L of dissolved oxygen (DO). Since the oxidation process of NH4+ and BPA both consume the DO in water, the presence of NH4+ can hinder the removal of BPA. The presence of Mn2+ in water had a synergistic effect on BPA removal. The filter film was characterized by SEM, XRD and XPS. Some substances were generated to block the pores of the oxide film, and a small amount of film was found to crack and fall off. The elemental composition of C and O were both increased by about 9.00%, the composition of Mn was decreased from 63.48% to 44.55%, and the reduced manganese substance might affect the activity of the oxide film. The main chemical forms of MeOx were Mn6O12·3H2O, MnFe2O4 and Mn3O4. The decrease in the removal efficiency of BPA was mainly due to the C-containing intermediate [−CH2C − H(OH)]n covering the surface of the oxide film and blocking the pore size of the film. HIGHLIGHTS NH4+, Mn2+ and BPA from groundwater could be simultaneously removed by MeOx.; NH4+ would hinder the removal of BPA because of the competition of DO.; Mn2+ has a synergistic effect on the removal of BPA by MeOx.; Intermediate substances in the catalytic oxidation process of BPA were proposed.;

Polyimide (PI) is widely deployed in space missions due to its good radiation resistance and durability. The influences from radiation and harsh temperatures should be carefully evaluated during the long-term service life. In the current work, the coupled thermal and radiation effects on the mechanical properties of PI samples were quantitatively investigated via experiments. At first, various PI specimens were prepared, and electron irradiation tests were conducted with different fluences. Then, both uniaxial tensile tests at room temperature and the dynamic mechanical analysis at varied temperatures of PI specimens with and without electron irradiation were performed. After that, uniaxial tensile tests at low and high temperatures were performed. The fracture surface of the PI film was observed using a scanning electron microscope, and its surface topography was measured using atomic force microscopy. In the meantime, the Fourier-transform infrared spectrum tests were conducted to check for chemical changes. In conclusion, the tensile tests showed that electron irradiation has a negligible effect during the linear stretching period but significantly impacts the hardening stage and elongation at break. Moreover, electron irradiation slightly influences the thermal properties of PI according to the differential scanning calorimetry results. However, both high and low temperatures dramatically affect the elastic modulus and elongation at break of PI.

This paper proposes a hybrid control strategy of air-conditioning loads (ACLs) for participating in peak load reduction. The hybrid control strategy combines the temperature setpoint adjustment (TSA) control and on/off control together to make full use of response potentials of ACLs. The primary free transport model of ACLs has been established in literature at or near a fixed temperature setpoint. In this paper, a wide-range transport (WRT) model suitable for larger value of TSA is proposed. The WRT model can be constructed easily through the parameter of devices and indoor and outdoor temperature. To modulate the aggregate response characteristics of ACLs more friendly to the power grid, the safe protocol (SP) is adopted and integrated into the WRT model, which achieves a good unification of oscillation suppression and efficient modeling. Moreover, the hybrid control strategy is implemented based on the WRT model, and the model predictive control (MPC) controller is designed considering the tracking error and control switch cost. At last, the superiority of the hybrid control strategy is verified and the performance of ACLs for peak load reduction under this controller is simulated. The simulation results show that the hybrid control strategy could exploit the load reduction potential of ACLs fully than the TSA mode and track the reference signal more accurately.

Facial seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that presents as erythematous scaly dermatitis and has a detrimental effect on the patient's quality of life. The purpose of this article is to present successful treatment of two male patients with face seborrheic dermatitis, one aged 50 and the other aged 56, who developed facial seborrheic dermatitis following facial erythema eruptions. We diagnosed it as face seborrheic dermatitis based on the patients' initial appearances and the location of the erythema during the episode. The previous doctor diagnosed the patients' facial symptoms as related to allergies or infections; therefore, they were treated with long-term anti-inflammatory (tacrolimus) and antiallergic medications (loratadine) throughout the disease's early stages. Erythema of the face was recurring and recalcitrant. Their facial skin lesions vanished after one week of Chinese herbal medicine treatment along with warming yang therapy. The application of the principle of warming the kidney yang to the treatment of face seborrheic dermatitis produced favorable results. This may be an advantageous adjunct to the treatment of recurrent seborrheic dermatitis of the face. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS) was used to determine the primary components of the Chinese herbal formula ''adjusted Shen-Liu-Wei (ASLW),'' which has six natural substances as its primary components. As a result, we believe that the Chinese herbal compound ASLW might be a viable alternative for symptom relief and successful treatment of face seborrheic dermatitis.

Secondary insult from cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a major risk factor for poor prognosis of cerebral ischemia. Saponins are steroid or triterpenoid glycosides with various pharmacological activities that are effective in treating CIRI. By browsing the literature from 2001 to 2021, 55 references involving 24 kinds of saponins were included. Saponins were shown to relieve CIRI by inhibiting oxidation stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis, restoring BBB integrity, and promoting neurogenesis and angiogenesis. This review summarizes and classifies several common saponins and their mechanisms in relieving CIRI. Information provided in this review will benefit researchers to design, research and develop new medicines to treat CIRI-related conditions with saponins.

Abstract Background Pathogenic variants of PAX2 cause autosomal-dominant PAX2-related disorder, which includes variable phenotypes ranging from renal coloboma syndrome (RCS), congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) to nephrosis. Phenotypic variability makes it difficult to define the phenotypic spectrum associated with genotype. Methods We collected the phenotypes in patients enrolled in the China national multicenter registry who were diagnosed with pathogenic variant in PAX2 and reviewed all published cases with PAX2-related disorders. We conducted a phenotype-based cluster analysis by variant types and molecular modeling of the structural impact of missense variants. Results Twenty different PAX2 pathogenic variants were identified in 32 individuals (27 families) with a diagnosis of RCS (9), CAKUT (11) and nephrosis (12) from the Chinese cohort. Individuals with abnormal kidney structure (RCS or CAKUT group) tended to have likely/presumed gene disruptive (LGD) variants (Fisher test, p

Drug development for Alzheimer’s disease, the leading cause of dementia, has been a long-standing challenge. Saponins, which are steroid or triterpenoid glycosides with various pharmacological activities, have displayed therapeutic potential in treating Alzheimer’s disease. In a comprehensive review of the literature from May 2007 to May 2023, we identified 63 references involving 40 different types of saponins that have been studied for their effects on Alzheimer’s disease. These studies suggest that saponins have the potential to ameliorate Alzheimer’s disease by reducing amyloid beta peptide deposition, inhibiting tau phosphorylation, modulating oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, and antiapoptosis. Most intriguingly, ginsenoside Rg1 and pseudoginsenoside-F11 possess these important pharmacological properties and show the best promise for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This review provides a summary and classification of common saponins that have been studied for their therapeutic potential in Alzheimer’s disease, showcasing their underlying mechanisms. This highlights the promising potential of saponins for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

In this study, the tomography of dynamic stress coefficient (TDSC) was established based on a mechanical model of stress wave propagation in bedding planes and a mathematical model of the stress wave attenuation in rock masses. The reliability of the TDSC was verified by a linear bedding plane model and field monitoring. Generally, the TDSC in the dynamic stress propagation of bedding planes increases with the following conditions: (1) the increase of the normal stiffness of the bedding plane, (2) the increase of the incident angle of the stress wave, (3) the decrease of the incident frequency of the stress wave, or (4) the growth of three ratios (the ratios of rock densities, elastic moduli, and the Poisson’s ratios) of rocks on either side of bedding planes. The additional stress weakens TDSC linearly and slowly during the stress wave propagation in bedding planes, and the weakening effect increases with the growth of the three ratios. Besides, the TDSC decreases exponentially in the rock mass as propagation distance increases. In a field case, the TDSC decreases significantly as vertical and horizontal distances increase and its wave range increases as vertical distance increases in the sedimentary rock layers.

As a new and great source of potential energy storage technology, the spiral spring energy storage (SSES) technology uses a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) to tighten or release the spiral spring for energy conversion. In allusion to the feature of simultaneous variations in torque and inertia for spiral springs in operation, it is difficult for the SSES system to show good control performance in regulating the power from/to the grid under a conventional vector control method. A power coordinated control scheme of the SSES system with the grid is proposed to integrate the grid-side converter (GSC) with the machine-side converter (MSC) based on backstepping control under the current vector orientation. First, the mathematical models of GSC and PMSM under the current vector orientation coordinate frame are established. Second, the coordinated control scheme is designed by the backstepping control principle, and its stability is proved in theory. Then, the optimal control parameters in the control scheme are determined by investigating the desired control performance. Ultimately, the simulation and experimental results show that the proposed control scheme with the chosen control parameters coordinates the GSC and the MSC well. The power signal is tracked accurately and rapidly, and the operation performance of the SSES system and its energy exchange with the grid are both improved effectively.

Aluminum (Al)–copper (Cu)–lithium (Li) alloys are susceptible to environmental degradation, which limits the in-service lifetime of the components. Because of their complex composition, there are seldom studies focusing on corrosion behavior influenced by one single element, which is essential to clarify the corrosion mechanism. Herein, the sole influence of Mg on the corrosion behavior of Al–Cu–Li–xMg alloys was analyzed. Results revealed that the addition of Mg can affect the nucleation and precipitation process of the T1 precipitate, resulting in a difference of potential between grain interior and grain boundary. The precipitation of the T1 precipitate was promoted in a 0.7Mg alloy while impeded in a 1.1Mg alloy, due to the competition of Cu atoms and nucleation sites between T1 and S′. Two types of corrosion behavior of Al–Cu–Li–xMg alloys appeared due to the potential difference and continuity of grain boundaries. Continuous precipitates in grain boundaries and less precipitates within the grain are likely to cause intergranular corrosion (IGC), while more precipitates within the grain will result in pitting.

2A55 Al-Li alloy is considered to have potential applications in the manufacture of fuel tanks for aerospace vehicles. However, the composition design of filler wires for 2A55 Al-Li alloy TIG welding has not been fully studied. This work focuses on the mechanical properties and microstructure of 2A55 Al-Li alloy TIG welded joints obtained using 2A55 alloy and Al-8Cu filler wire that was designed for this work, as well as the effects brought about by natural aging on them. When filler wire with higher Zr and Ti content was used, the weld grain was significantly refined. Due to the difference in the Cu content of filler wire, the formed Cu-rich phases in welds are significantly different, showing a grid-like distribution in the Al-8Cu weld compared to the dispersed distribution in the 2A55 weld. After welding, the lack of dominant strengthening precipitates caused a sharp softening of the welds. However, Li and Cu atoms dissolved in the Al matrix can precipitate fine and dispersed Al3Li particles and GPZs by natural aging to strengthen the welds. After natural aging, the yield strength (YS) of the 2A55 joint increased by 24.1% compared with the 14.7% improvement of the Al-8Cu joint.

Improving the prediction accuracies of economically important traits in genomic selection (GS) is a main objective for researchers and breeders in the livestock industry. This study aims at utilizing potentially functional SNPs and QTLs identified with various genome-wide association study (GWAS) models in GS of pig growth traits. We used three well-established GWAS methods, including the mixed linear model, Bayesian model and meta-analysis, as well as 60K SNP-chip and whole genome sequence (WGS) data from 1734 Yorkshire and 1123 Landrace pigs to detect SNPs related to four growth traits: average daily gain, backfat thickness, body weight and birth weight. A total of 1485 significant loci and 24 candidate genes which are involved in skeletal muscle development, fatty deposition, lipid metabolism and insulin resistance were identified. Compared with using all SNP-chip data, GS with the pre-selected functional SNPs in the standard genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP), and a two-kernel based GBLUP model yielded average gains in accuracy by 4 to 46% (from 0.19 ± 0.07 to 0.56 ± 0.07) and 5 to 27% (from 0.16 ± 0.06 to 0.57 ± 0.05) for the four traits, respectively, suggesting that the prioritization of preselected functional markers in GS models had the potential to improve prediction accuracies for certain traits in livestock breeding.

This study aimed to identify stable indicator contaminants of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) to trace the anthropogenic fingerprint of the Pearl River plume in the coastal waters of the northern South China Sea. 40 PPCPs were under investigation, of which 14 were detected along the Pearl River Estuary and 4 on the shelf of the northern South China Sea. Results show that caffeine, metoprolol, diclofenac, and carbamazepine can be utilized to detect the human impact. They are diluted along the Pearl River, as their concentrations decrease from low salinity towards high salinity. Sulfonamide antibiotics and trimethoprim are suitable to determine the veterinary and human impact. Their highest concentrations were detected along the river yet still in low saline water whereas, the origin of the organic UV-filter is diverse. Their source could not be precisely determined. Only caffeine, metoprolol, octocrylene, and PBSA were detected at the near-coastal stations in the South China Sea. They can be utilized as suitable indicators to detect an anthropogenic impact on the northern South China Sea. The detected concentrations are of low risk to organisms in the Pearl River and the northern South China Sea.

Gentianopsis paludosa (Hook. f.) Ma (Gentianaceae) is one of the genuine medicinal materials in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Here we report the first chloroplast (cp) genome of G. paludosa using Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. The length of its complete cp genome is 151,568 bp, containing four sub-regions; a large single copy region (LSC) of 82,834 bp and a small single copy region (SSC) of 17,928 bp are separated by a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 25,403bp. The complete cp genome of G. paludosa contains 130 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the cp genome is 37.8%. The phylogenetic analysis, based on 23 cp genomes, suggested that G. paludosa is closely related to G. grandis (H. Smith) Ma and Swertia species.

Fast repetition rate fluorometry (FRRf) allows for rapid non-destructive assessment of phytoplankton photophysiology in situ yet has rarely been applied to Trichodesmium. This gap reflects long-standing concerns that Trichodesmium (and other cyanobacteria) contain pigments that are less effective at absorbing blue light which is often used as the sole excitation source in FRR fluorometers—potentially leading to underestimation of key fluorescence parameters. In this study, we use a multi-excitation FRR fluorometer (equipped with blue, green, and orange LEDs) to investigate photophysiological variability in Trichodesmium assemblages from two sites. Using a multi-LED measurement protocol (447+519+634 nm combined), we assessed maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), functional absorption cross section of PSII (σPSII), and electron transport rates (ETRs) for Trichodesmium assemblages in both the Northwest Pacific (NWP) and North Indian Ocean in the vicinity of Sri Lanka (NIO-SL). Evaluating fluorometer performance, we showed that use of a multi-LED measuring protocol yields a significant increase of Fv/Fm for Trichodesmium compared to blue-only excitation. We found distinct photophysiological differences for Trichodesmium at both locations with higher average Fv/Fm as well as lower σPSII and non-photochemical quenching (NPQNSV) observed in the NWP compared to the NIO-SL (Kruskal–Wallis t-test df = 1, p < 0.05). Fluorescence light response curves (FLCs) further revealed differences in ETR response with a lower initial slope (αETR) and higher maximum electron turnover rate (ETRPSIImax) observed for Trichodesmium in the NWP compared to the NIO-SL, translating to a higher averaged light saturation EK (= ETRPSIImax/αETR) for cells at this location. Spatial variations in physiological parameters were both observed between and within regions, likely linked to nutrient supply and physiological stress. Finally, we applied an algorithm to estimate primary productivity of Trichodesmium using FRRf-derived fluorescence parameters, yielding an estimated carbon-fixation rate ranging from 7.8 to 21.1 mgC mg Chl-a–1 h–1 across this dataset. Overall, our findings demonstrate that capacity of multi-excitation FRRf to advance the application of Chl-a fluorescence techniques in phytoplankton assemblages dominated by cyanobacteria and reveals novel insight into environmental regulation of photoacclimation in natural Trichodesmium populations.

Abstract Background Hypoxia mediated pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is a lethal disease and lacks effective therapy. CircRNAs play significant roles in physiological process. Recently, circRNAs are found to be m6A-modified. The abundance of circRNAs was influenced by m6A. Furthermore, the significance of m6A circRNAs has not been elucidated in HPH yet. Here we aim to investigate the transcriptome-wide map of m6A circRNAs in HPH. Results Differentially expressed m6A abundance was detected in lungs of HPH rats. M6A abundance in circRNAs was significantly reduced in hypoxia in vitro. M6A circRNAs were mainly from protein-coding genes spanned single exons in control and HPH groups. Moreover, m6A influenced the circRNA–miRNA–mRNA co-expression network in hypoxia. M6A circXpo6 and m6A circTmtc3 were firstly identified to be downregulated in HPH. Conclusion Our study firstly identified the transcriptome-wide map of m6A circRNAs in HPH. M6A can influence circRNA–miRNA–mRNA network. Furthermore, we firstly identified two HPH-associated m6A circRNAs: circXpo6 and circTmtc3. However, the clinical significance of m6A circRNAs for HPH should be further validated.

As a powerful global registration method for point clouds, the 4-points congruent sets (4PCS) algorithm has been wildly used in the 3D scene reconstruction field. In this paper, we propose an adaptive 4PCS (A4PCS), which aims to provide a robustness rigid transformation for two or more overlapping laser scans. The proposed method only incorporates the distance information of the stereoscopic base set and a fast mechanism for congruent base extraction into 4PCS. To ensure the registration accuracy when dealing with restrictive situations, such as point clouds with small overlaps or scenes with symmetrical structures, a non-coplanar 4-points base set is adopted without extra time consumption. Besides, the adaptive set fine-tuning is introduced to the point pair searching process to accelerate the convergence of the algorithm. In addition, we replace the binary cost function of the original 4PCS with a modified estimator to strengthen the robustness of the proposed method. Experiments on thirteen pairs of point clouds for 3D indoor scenes, including ten regular size models and three scenes of one large-scale model, can demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.

The distributed compressive video sensing (DCVS) system combines the advantages of compressed sensing (CS) and distributed video coding (DVC), suitable for the limited-resource video sensing and transmission environment. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive high performance DCVS system. First, we introduce the BM3D-AMP algorithm reconstruct key (K) frames. Second, we propose a new high efficiency video coding (HEVC) motion estimation (ME) algorithm with motion vector (MV) prediction method. By integrating the segmentation idea and motion estimation, this algorithm can gets more accurate side information (SI). Finally, we propose the ℓ1 - ℓ1 minimization model to achieve non-key (NK) frames joint high-quality reconstruction. We utilize the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm to solve it. With the idea of dividing and conquering, the general problem is decomposed into several smaller pieces. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system has significant improvement over its counterparts.

The characteristics of paleosedimentary environments are of great significance for the enrichment of organic matter (OM) and hydrocarbons in lacustrine shale. This study analyzed mineralogy, well logging data, organic geochemical parameters (total organic carbon and pyrolyzed hydrocarbon), inorganic geochemical parameters (major and trace elements), and multiple geochemical proxies based on inorganic geochemical parameters. These were used to reconstruct the paleosedimentary environment of the lower 1st Member of the Shahejie Formation (Es1L) to reveal OM and shale oil enrichment mechanisms and establish a shale oil enrichment model. The (Fe2O3+Al2O3)/(CaO + MgO), Sr/Ba, Rb/Sr, Cu/Al, and Th/U parameters indicate that the Es1L in Raoyang Sag was deposited in a paleoenvironment dominated by arid paleoclimate, reducing conditions, and saltwater. Paleoclimate, clastic influx intensity, preservation conditions, paleoproductivity, and paleosalinity all affect OM abundance. The OM accumulation in the shale of Es1L was mainly controlled by the high primary productivity of surface water due to algal blooms and moderate salinities, which was achieved using stratified water columns with low oxygen conditions in bottom water. As the main valuable sites for shale oil storage, carbonate mineral depositions are of great significance for oil enrichment. As the dominant lithofacies for oil enrichment, carbonate-rich shale and calcareous shale lithofacies were deposited under a drier paleoclimate, low clastic influx intensity, strong reducing conditions, high paleoproductivity, and moderate salinity paleoenvironment. Additionally, the profile of the shale oil sweet spot was determined through the combination of lithofacies, logging, and paleosedimentary environment data.

In this paper, the change in the mechanical properties of a composite plate was studied using the heat treatment method, and it was found that the performance of the composite plate was greatly improved under the process of quenching at 900 °C and tempering at 200 °C. The hot-rolled NM500/Q345 clad plates were subjected to heat treatment tests of 860 °C, 900 °C, and 940 °C austenitization + 200 tempering. With the help of an optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, EBSD, and transmission electron microscope, the microstructure, interface element distribution, and defect composition at the composite bonding interface of hot rolling and heat treatment were analyzed. An analysis and friction and wear tests were carried out on the wear resistance of the clad NM500. It was found that the microstructure of the NM500/Q345 clad plate before austenitization was mainly pearlite and ferrite, and both were transformed into lath martensite after austenitization. As the austenitization temperature increased, the size of the martensitic lath bundle also became coarse. After austenitization at 900 °C and tempering at 200 °C, the lath-like martensite structure of NM500 contained high-density dislocations between the laths. With the increase in the austenitization temperature, the surface Rockwell hardness showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. The wear was the worst when the material was not quenched. When the clad plate was quenched at 900 °C and tempered at 200 °C, the wear of NM500 was the lightest; the maximum depth of the wear scar was 14 μm; the width was the narrowest, 0.73 mm; and the wear volume was the smallest, 0.0305 mm3.

Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum M.) is an important pseudo-cereal crop and contains an abundance of nutrients and bioactive compounds. However, the yield of buckwheat is low compared to that of other major crops. QTL mapping and candidate gene screening of grain size are very important for increasing production in common buckwheat through molecular breeding in the future. In the present study, an F1 segregating population with 217 individuals was established using a cross between Ukraine daliqiao (UD) and Youqiao 2 (YQ2) that showed a significant difference in grain size. The InDel and SSR primers were developed based on transcriptome sequencing between parents in the previous study. We constructed a genetic linkage map, including 39 SSR loci and 93 InDel loci, with a total length of 1398.33 cM and an average spacing of 10.59 cM. Combined with the grain size phenotype data of the F1 population, a total of 14 QTL were detected, including 6-grain length QTL, 3-grain width QTL, and 5 hundred-grain-weight QTL. QTL of grain width and hundred-grain weight were all detected near SWU_Fe_InDel086 and SWU_Fe_InDel076. Some putative candidate genes with the ex1pression or InDel difference between parents were screened within the QTL interval. This study would lay the foundation for map-based cloning and molecular mechanism of grain size and ultimately improvement of yield in common buckwheat.

As a nano-carbon material with excellent properties, Graphene oxide (GO) has been widely used in cement-based materials, and the negative effect of paste workability caused by GO agglomeration has also been widely concerning. In this study, a polycarboxylate-silane modified graphene oxide composite (PSG) was prepared by coupling polycarboxylate molecules to the surface of graphene oxide (GO) via a reaction with vinyl triethoxysilane. The effects of GO and PSG on the cement paste and the mechanisms underpinning these effects were investigated using fluidity and rheological parameter measurements, and ion concentration and zeta potential analyses. It was found that, in the aqueous phase of the paste, the polycarboxylate molecular chains on the surface of the PSG complexed with calcium ions (Ca2+), thereby preventing Ca2+ from bridging the GO sheets, and thus stabilizing the surface potential and the electrostatic repulsion. This prevented the PSG from forming an agglomerate structure such as that formed by GO under the same conditions, thereby substantially enhancing workability of paste with nano-carbon material. This study provides some new foundations and ideas for the further application of graphene oxide materials in cement-based materials.

Iron-manganese co-oxide film (MeOx) has a high removal efficiency for ammonium (NH4+) and manganese (Mn2+) in our previous studies, but it cannot effectively remove CODMn from water. In this study, the catalytic oxidation ability of MeOx was enhanced by dosage with potassium ferrate (K2FeO4) to achieve the simultaneous removal of CODMn and NH4+ from water in a pilot-scale experimental system. By adding 1.0 mg/L K2FeO4 to enhance the activity of MeOx, the removal efficiencies of CODMn (20.0 mg/L) and NH4+ (1.1 mg/L) were 92.5 ± 1.5% and 60.9 ± 1.4%, respectively, and the pollutants were consistently and efficiently removed for more than 90 days. The effects of the filtration rate, temperature and pH on the removal of CODMn were also explored, and excessive filtration rate (over 11 m/h), lower temperature (below 9.2 °C) and pH (below 6.20) caused a significant decrease in the removal efficiency of CODMn. The removal of CODMn was analyzed at different temperatures, which proved that the kinetics of CODMn oxidation was pseudo-first order. The mature sands (MeOx) from column IV were taken at different times for microscopic characterization. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that some substances were formed on the surface of MeOx and the ratio of C and O elements increased significantly, and the ratio of Mn and Fe elements decreased significantly on the surface of MeOx by electron energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). However, the elemental composition of MeOx would gradually recover to the initial state after the dosage of Mn2+. According to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, the substance attached to the surface of MeOx was [(-(CH2)4O-)n], which fell off the surface of MeOx after adding Mn2+. Finally, the mechanism of K2FeO4-enhanced MeOx for CODMn removal was proposed by the analysis of the oxidation process.

Rheum lhasaense (Polygonaceae) is one of the genuine medicinal herbs in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Here we report the first chloroplast (cp) genome of R. lhasaense using Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. The length of its complete cp genome is 161,820 bp, containing four sub-regions. A large single copy region (LSC) of 87,086 bp and a small single copy region (SSC) of 12,814 bp are separated by a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 30,960 bp. The complete cp genome of R. lhasaense contains 130 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the cp genome is 37.4%. The phylogenetic analysis, based on 28 cp genomes, suggested that R. lhasaense is closely related to R. acuminatum and R. pumilum.

To develop biodegradable magnesium alloy with desirable corrosion properties, a low Gd-containing Mg–3Gd–1Zn–0.4Zr (wt%, GZ31K) alloy was prepared. The as-cast ingot was solution treated and then hot extruded. Microstructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Corrosion behavior of the alloy under each condition was studied by hydrogen evolution and quasi in-situ corrosion methods. It has been found that the as-cast alloy is composed of α-Mg, stacking faults (SFs) at the outer edge of the matrix grains, and eutectic phase along the grain boundaries. After solution treatment, the SFs disappear and precipitates rich in Zn and Zr elements form in the grain interior and boundaries. The microstructure is significantly refined after extrusion. Hydrogen evolution tests show that the as-cast alloy exhibits the best corrosion resistance, and the solution-treated alloy has the worst corrosion resistance. Corrosion rate of the alloy under each condition decreases first and then increases with prolonging immersion time. Corrosion experiments demonstrate that α-Mg was corroded preferentially, the eutectic phase and precipitates exhibit better corrosion resistance. The as-extruded alloy demonstrates uniform corrosion due to fine and homogeneous microstructure. Keywords: Magnesium alloys, Stacking faults, Corrosion resistance, Uniform corrosion

Methyl-modified niobium-doped silica (Nb/SiO2) materials with various Nb/Si molar ratios (nNb) were fabricated using tetraethoxysilane and methyltriethoxysilane as the silica source and niobium pentachloride as the niobium source by the sol–gel method, and the Nb/SiO2 membranes were prepared thereof by the dip-coating process under an N2 calcining atmosphere. Their microstructures were characterized and gas permeances tested. The results showed that the niobium element existed in the formation of the Nb-O groups in the Nb/SiO2 materials. When the niobium doping content and the calcining temperature were large enough, the Nb2O5 crystals could be formed in the SiO2 frameworks. With the increase of nNb and calcination temperature, the formed particle sizes increased. The doping of Nb could enhance the H2/CO2 and H2/N2 permselectivities of SiO2 membranes. When nNb was equal to 0.08, the Nb/SiO2 membrane achieved a maximal H2 permeance of 4.83 × 10−6 mol·m−2·Pa−1·s−1 and H2/CO2 permselectivity of 15.49 at 200 °C and 0.1 MPa, which also exhibited great hydrothermal stability and thermal reproducibility.