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Carrier-based polymeric membrane potentiometric sensors have been widely used for determination of inorganic ions in clinical and environmental applications. In view of the need for a wider application scope of these sensors, the list of targets needs to be increased. Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based potentiometric sensors are ideal candidates for sensing of organic and biological species. The development of such sensors may open attractive horizons for potentiometric sensing and further expand the field. The past few decades have witnessed remarkable achievements in these sensors. This review summarizes recent advances in the MIP synthesis, the detection modes of these sensors and their applications for organic and biological species in environmental and biological analyses, and attempts to illustrate the research directions. We hope that this review will shed new light on the understanding of MIP-based potentiometric sensors and pave the way for the widespread applications of polymeric membrane potentiometric sensors. • Advances and future directions in MIP-based potentiometric sensors are presented. • MIP synthesis method, detection mode and application of such sensors are discussed. • MIP-based sensing strategies are generally applicable for chemical sensing. • Our review may promote the development of polymeric membrane potentiometric sensors. • This review will appeal to a broad variety of chemical communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Deoxygenation mechanism of lignin torrefaction was systematically proposed. • Evolution of chemical structure in torrefied lignin was studied. • The removed oxygen was transferred to the torrefied gaseous and liquid products. • CO 2 was the dominant oxygen removal carrier in torrefied gaseous product. • G and P-type phenols were the dominant oxygen removal carrier in liquid product. In order to reveal the deoxygenation mechanism of lignin torrefaction, the relevance between evolution of chemical structure of torrefied lignin and the properties of torrefied gaseous, liquid, and solid products was established in this study. Results showed that the contents of oxygen element, β O 4 linkages, oxygen-containing functional groups (aliphatic OH, aliphatic COOH, aromatic OCH 3) in lignin decreased with the increase of the torrefaction temperature from 210 to 300 °C. The oxygen removal efficiency of lignin torrefaction reached the maximum value of 25.53% at 300 °C. The removed oxygen in the torrefied lignin was transferred into the torrefied gaseous product (e.g. CO 2 , H 2 O, and CO) and torrefied liquid product (e.g. G-type and P-type phenols, acids). Among the torrefied gaseous products, CO 2 was the dominant oxygen carrier, followed by CO and H 2 O. Among the torrefied liquid products, G-type phenols were the dominant oxygen carrier, followed by P-type phenols and acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest in the generation of photoluminescence in lanthanide(III) single-molecule magnets (SMMs) is driven by valuable magneto-optical correlations as well as perspectives toward magnetic switching of emission and opto-magnetic devices linking SMMs with optical thermometry. In the pursuit of enhanced magnetic anisotropy and optical features, the key role is played by suitable ligands attached to the 4f metal ion. In this context, cyanido complexes of d-block metal ions, serving as expanded metalloligands, are promising. We report two novel discrete coordination systems serving as emissive SMMs, {[DyIII(H2O)3(tmpo)3]2[PtIVBr2(CN)4]3}·2H2O (1) and {[DyIII(H2O)(tmpo)4]2[PtIVBr2(CN)4]3}·2CH3CN (2) (tmpo = trimethylphosphine oxide), obtained by combining DyIII complexes with uncommon dibromotetracyanidoplatinate(IV) ions, [PtIVBr2(CN)4]2−. They are built of analogous Z-shaped cyanido-bridged {Dy2Pt3} molecules but differ in the coordination number of DyIII (C.N. = 8 in 1, C.N. = 7 in 2) and the number of coordinated tmpo ligands (three in 1, four in 2) which is related to the applied solvents. As a result, both compounds reveal DyIII-centred slow magnetic relaxation but only 1 shows SMM character at zero dc field, while 2 is a field-induced SMM. The relaxation dynamics in both systems is governed by the Raman relaxation mechanism. These effects were analysed using ac magnetic data and the results of the ab initio calculations with the support of magneto-optical correlations based on low-temperature high-resolution emission spectra. Our findings indicate that heteroligand halogeno-cyanido PtIV complexes are promising precursors for emissive SMMs with the further potential of sensitivity to external stimuli that may be related to the lability of the axially positioned halogeno ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inland lakes on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are undergoing significant changes due to their sensitivity to climate. The largest lake in Tibet, Siling Co, has expanded most dramatically during recent decades. Using Landsat, GRACE and meteorological data, the expansion of Siling Co was detailed in four stages and the process was further explained. The results show that the lake area increased from 1 647.30 km2 in 1972 to 2 438.99 km2 in 2020. It experienced a slow growth at a rate 6.03 km2/yr from 1972 to 1988, while fluctuating at 1.44 km2/yr during 1989–1997, then accelerated at 60.28 km2/yr between 1998 and 2005, and expanded slowly again at 11.40 km2/yr since 2006. The continued expansion led to its merger with nearby Yagain Co in 2003. Terrestrial water storage (TWS) increase was also observed from GRACE (0.65 cm/yr), with about 0.75 coefficient of determination between the TWS and lake area during 2002–2020. The long-term expansion of Siling Co is related to the increasing trends of temperature and precipitation, but their contributions vary with time span. Specifically, the accelerated stage between 1998 and 2005 can be explained by the increased temperature and precipitation accompanied by a drop in evaporation, while the slow expansion since 2006 was due to the decrease in precipitation and temperature and the rise in evaporation. There is no obvious mass loss of glaciers revealed by GRACE during 2002–2020, which may be related to the negative trend of the temperature. Furthermore, the precipitation may still make a major contribution in this phase, as its average is about 93.9 mm higher than that in 1988–1997. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploiting advanced amphiphilic solid catalysts is crucial to the development of Pickering emulsion catalysis. Herein, covalent organic framework (COF) nanoparticles constructed with highly hydrophobic monomers as linkers were found to show superior amphiphilicity and they were then developed as a new class of solid emulsifiers for Pickering emulsion catalysis. Employing amphiphilic COFs as solid emulsifiers, Pickering emulsions with controllable emulsion type and droplet sizes were obtained. COF materials have also been demonstrated to serve as porous surface coatings to replace traditional surface modifications for stabilizing Pickering emulsions. After implanting Pd nanoparticles into amphiphilic COFs, the obtained catalyst displayed a 3.9 times higher catalytic efficiency than traditional amphiphilic solid catalysts with surface modifications in the biphasic oxidation reaction of alcohols. Such an enhanced activity was resulted from the high surface area and regular porous structure of COFs. More importantly, because of their tunable pore diameters, Pickering emulsion catalysis with remarkable size selectivity was achieved. This work is the first example that COFs were applied in Pickering emulsion catalysis, providing a platform for exploring new frontiers of Pickering emulsion catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploiting advanced amphiphilic solid catalysts is crucial to the development of Pickering emulsion catalysis. Herein, covalent organic framework (COF) nanoparticles constructed with highly hydrophobic monomers as linkers were found to show superior amphiphilicity and they were then developed as a new class of solid emulsifiers for Pickering emulsion catalysis. Employing amphiphilic COFs as solid emulsifiers, Pickering emulsions with controllable emulsion type and droplet sizes were obtained. COF materials have also been demonstrated to serve as porous surface coatings to replace traditional surface modifications for stabilizing Pickering emulsions. After implanting Pd nanoparticles into amphiphilic COFs, the obtained catalyst displayed a 3.9 times higher catalytic efficiency than traditional amphiphilic solid catalysts with surface modifications in the biphasic oxidation reaction of alcohols. Such an enhanced activity was resulted from the high surface area and regular porous structure of COFs. More importantly, because of their tunable pore diameters, Pickering emulsion catalysis with remarkable size selectivity was achieved. This work is the first example that COFs were applied in Pickering emulsion catalysis, providing a platform for exploring new frontiers of Pickering emulsion catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glaciers play an important role in understanding the climate, water resources, and surrounding natural change. Baishui River Glacier No. 1, a temperate glacier in the monsoon-influenced Southeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, has experienced significant ablation due to regional warming during the past few decades. However, little is known about the yearly changes in Baishui River Glacier No. 1. To investigate how Baishui River Glacier No. 1 has changed in recent years, digital orthophoto maps and digital elevation models were obtained from an unmanned aerial vehicle on 20 October 2018 and 22 July 2021, covering 84% and 47% of the total area, respectively. The results of the Baishui River Glacier No. 1 changes were obtained by differencing the digital elevation models, manual tracking, and terminus-retreat calculation methods. Our results showed that the surveyed area had a mean elevation change of −4.26 m during 2018 and 2021, and the lower area lost more ice than other areas. The terminus of Baishui River Glacier No. 1 has retreated by 16.35 m/a on average, exhibiting spatial variation with latitude. Moreover, we initially found that there was a high correlation between surface velocity and elevation gradient in this high-speed glacier. The surface velocity of Baishui River Glacier No. 1 was derived with the manual feature tracking method and ranged from 10.48 to 32.00 m/a, which is slightly smaller than the seasonal average. However, the snow coverage and ice melting of the two epochs led to the underestimation of our elevation change and velocity results, which need further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly efficient oil‐water separation shows urgent demand in industrial applications, especially in oil‐spill accidents and organic solvent separation. Herein, a novel method is proposed for continuous oil‐water separation by a pressure response through valve, which is loaded in a flexible convolute superhydrophobic/superoleophilic film based on low‐density polyethylene (LDPE)/ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymer (EPDM) thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV). The superhydrophobic/superoleophilic LDPE/EPDM TPV film (with contact angles of oil and water are 0° and 161.9°± 2.2°) is prepared only via a molding process where sandpaper is used as the template. The superhydrophobic/superoleophilic property of the TPV film shows robust performance in the activity endurance test. More importantly, the flexible LDPE/EPDM TPV film can be easily rolled up and loaded in through valve, which is the pressure response channel in oil‐water separation. The typical separation pressure of oil and water is 3.01 and 6.17 kPa, which means the oil can be completely separated from the oil‐water mixture under proper pressure in the pressure response through valve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

γ -aminobutyric acid (GABA) is closely related to the growth, development and stress resistance of plants. Combined with the previous study of GABA to promote the cotton against abiotic stresses, the characteristics and expression patterns of GABA branch gene family laid the foundation for further explaining its role in cotton stress mechanism. Members of GAD, GAB-T and SSADH (three gene families of GABA branch) were identified from the Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium arboreum and Gossypium raimondii genome. The GABA branch genes were 10 GAD genes, 4 GABA-T genes and 2 SSADH genes. The promoter sequences of genes mainly contains response-related elements such as light, hormone and environment.Phylogenetic analysis shows that GAD indicating that even in the same species, the homologous sequences in the family. The GABA-T gene of each cotton genus was in sum the family had gene loss in the process of dicotyledon evolution. SSADH families Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium arboreum and Gossypium raimondii were closely related to the dicot plants.GABA gene is involved in the regulation of salt stress and high temperature in Gossypium hirsutum.GABA attenuated part of the abiotic stress damage by increasing leaf protective enzyme activity and reducing reactive oxygen species production.This lays the foundation for a thorough analysis of the mechanism of GABA in cotton stress resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we synthesized two hexaazatriphenylene (HATN)-based organic cathode materials (HATNA-6OCH 3 and HATNA-6OH) and tailored them with polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP)-based gel polymer electrolytes to the construction of quasi-solid-state lithium organic batteries (LOBs). Benefitting from the compatible hydroxyl groups, HATNA-6OH shows the enhanced electrochemical properties compared with HATNA-6OCH 3 and its lithium-ion storage mechanism have been elucidated using theoretical calculation and spectral characterizations. [Display omitted] High-performance organic small-molecule electrode materials are troubled with their high solubility in liquid electrolytes. The construction of quasi-solid-state lithium organic batteries (LOBs) using gel polymer electrolytes with high mechanical properties, compromised ionic conductivity, high safety, and eco-friendly is an effective way to inhibit the dissolution of active materials. Herein, two hexaazatriphenylene (HATN)-based organic cathode materials (HATNA-6OCH 3 and HATNA-6OH) are synthesized and then matched with polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP)-based gel polymer electrolytes to construct quasi-solid-state LOBs. Thanks to the enhanced interfacial compatibility between organic cathode material and gel polymer electrolyte, HATNA-6OH with compatible hydroxyl group shows the enhanced electrochemical properties compared with HATNA-6OCH 3. Further, the electrochemical performance is improved when HATNA-6OH is combined with a gel polymer electrolyte modified with a succinonitrile (SN) plasticizer (GPE-0.4SN), including a high specific capacity of 153.3 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1 and a good reversible capacity of 88 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g−1. In addition, the good electrochemical properties and lithium-ion storage mechanism of HATNA-6OH have been elucidated using density functional theory (DFT) and spectral characterizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergency response is crucial in preventing and mitigating urban floods. Both remote sensing and social media data offer distinct advantages in large-scale flood monitoring and near-real-time flood monitoring. However, current research lacks a thorough exploration of the application of social media data and remote sensing imagery in the urban flood emergency response. To address this issue, this paper, while extracting disaster information based on social media data, deeply mines the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and dynamic spatial accessibility of rescue points. Furthermore, SAR imagery and social media data for monitoring urban flooding are compared. This study took the Zhengzhou 7.20 urban flood as a case study and created a methodological framework to quickly extract flood disaster information (flood, landslide, and rescue points) using these two types of data; spatiotemporal analysis and random forest classification were also conducted to mine valuable information. Temporally, the study revealed that disaster information did not increase proportionally with the amount of rainfall during the rainfall process. Spatially, specific regions with higher susceptibility to flooding, landslides, and rescue points were identified, such as the central region characterized by low drainage standards and high-density urban areas, as well as the eastern region with low-lying terrain. Moreover, this study examined the spatial accessibility of rescue resources in real flood scenarios and found that their service coverage varied throughout the day during and after the disaster. In addition, social media excelled in high-density urban areas' flood point extraction, while SAR performed better in monitoring floods at the edges of low-density urban areas and large water bodies, allowing them to complement each other, to a certain extent. The findings of this study provide scientific reference value for the optimal selection of rescue paths and the allocation of resources in the emergency response to urban floods caused by extreme rainstorms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton mechanized harvesting is the development direction of cotton production. The rapid development of mechanized cotton harvesting in Xinjiang has significantly increased the efficiency of cotton harvesting and reduced the harvesting cost. However, in the rapid development of mechanized cotton harvesting, there are also the problems of net yield, recovery rate and poor harvesting quality, which lead to the poor quality competitiveness of mechanized cotton harvesting. In order to solve the problem of mechanized cotton loss, the key is to reduce the problem of cotton miscellaneous, and breed cotton varieties suitable for mechanized harvesting. The purpose of this study was to clarify the key trait correlation of defoliation through the establishment and association analysis of foliation and deciduous phenotype indicators in cotton. In this study, the phenotypic indexes of defoliation and deciduous traits were established through the comprehensive analysis of the defoliation rate of 273 cotton germplasm resources and other 11 related phenotypic traits in the field, in order to provide guidance for the breeding and production of cotton varieties collected by breeders. In addition to peeling rate, an analysis of the association between 11 agronomic parameters and peeling rate and hanging rate revealed that the number of effective branches, chlorophyll SPAD value, fruit branch angle, and hanging rate have substantial correlation in 3 years. Hence The hanging rate, fruit branch angle, effective branch number, and chlorophyll SPAD value can be used as the evaluation indicators of varieties for peeling ability trait index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract For a solid oxide fuel cell, temperature gradient has a great effect on its efficiency and durability. In recent years, several observers are developed to estimate the temperature gradient. However, the temperature gradient control strategies with suitable observers are not seen. Therefore, a compound nonlinear controller based on a high-order sliding mode observer is proposed to control the temperature gradient at desired values to improve the solid oxide fuel cell performance. The high-order sliding mode observer is firstly employed to estimate immeasurable internal temperature. Under the interference of the variations in the initial values of the internal states and measurement noises, the high-order sliding mode observer can estimate the internal temperature distribution with a high precise and a fast convergence. The compound controller which includes a feedback linearization controller and a feedforward controller is then applied to regulate the estimated temperature gradient. During load current changes, the compound controller has the best dynamic performance compared with the feedback linearization controller. However, the observed temperature gradient with the two control strategies can both reach the desired value. Highlights • An observer-based temperature gradient control strategy is proposed. • A high-order sliding mode observer is built to estimate temperature distribution. • A compound controller is designed to control temperature gradient. • Temperature gradient is well controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incurable bacterial infection and intractable multidrug resistance remain critical challenges in public health. A prevalent approach against bacterial infection is phototherapy including photothermal and photodynamic therapy, which is unfortunately limited by low penetration depth of light accompanied with inevitable hyperthermia and phototoxicity damaging healthy tissues. Thus, eco-friendly strategy with biocompatibility and high antimicrobial efficacy against bacteria is urgently desired. Herein, we propose and develop an oxygen-vacancy-rich MoO x in situ on fluorine-free Mo 2 C MXene with unique neural-network-like structure, namely MoO x @Mo 2 C nanonetworks, in which their desirable antibacterial effectiveness originates from bacteria-capturing ability and robust reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation under precise ultrasound (US) irradiation. The high-performance, broad-spectrum microbicidal activity of MoO x @Mo 2 C nanonetworks without damaging normal tissues is validated based on systematic in vitro and in vivo assessments. Additionally, RNA sequencing analysis illuminates that the underlying bactericidal mechanism is attributed to the chaotic homeostasis and disruptive peptide metabolisms on bacteria instigated by MoO x @Mo 2 C nanonetworks under US stimulation. Considering antibacterial efficiency and a high degree of biosafety, we envision that the MoO x @Mo 2 C nanonetworks can serve as a distinct antimicrobial nanosystem to fight against diverse pathogenic bacteria, especially eradicating multidrug-resistant bacteria-induced deep tissue infection. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A near-infrared emissive and magnetically anisotropic Nd(iii) complex is formed within a hybrid organic–inorganic {[NdIII(pzdo)(H2O)4][CoIII(CN)6]}·0.5(pzdo)·4H2O (1) (pzdo = pyrazine-N,N′-dioxide) ladder chain built of coexisting Nd–pzdo–Nd and Nd–NC–Co molecular bridges. 1 reveals two NdIII-centered properties, a field-induced slow magnetic relaxation of a single-ion origin with a thermal energy barrier of ΔE/kB = 51(2) K at Hdc = 1 kOe, and a near-infrared fluorescence sensitized by organic and inorganic linkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a novel and effective approach for non-covalent modification of carbon nanotube (CNT) via the mussel inspired polymerization of tannic acid (TA) and triethylenetetramine (TETA) and subsequent surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photograph were used to study the successful preparation of polymer brush grafted CNT (CNT-P(TA-TETA)-PDMAEMA) composite as well as the pH-responsive behavior of the composite. Furthermore, by amine protonation and in situ reduction, gold nanoparticles were successfully uploaded and the catalytic property of CNT-P(TA-TETA)-PDMAEMA/Au was investigated. We believe that the surface functionalization strategy can be extended to graphene and other substrates, and the surface properties can be regulated by grafting polymer brushes with different functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ytterbium (3+) ions combined with 3-pyridone and hexacyanido-cobaltate(iii) anions in a concentrated aqueous solution produce cyanido-bridged {[YbIII(3-pyridone)2(H2O)2][CoIII(CN)6]} (1) chains. The resulting YbIII complexes of an elongated octahedral geometry reveal two coexisting functionalities: a field-induced slow magnetic relaxation with an energy barrier of ΔE/kB = 45(1) K at Hdc = 1 kOe, and an YbIII-centered near-infrared fluorescence in the 950–1100 nm range sensitized by 3-pyridone and [CoIII(CN)6]3−. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor durability is one of the major hurdles for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) commercialization. Prognostic technology is an important approach to improve system durability. However, the current prognostic methods for fuel cells are mainly applied to proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) systems, moreover, there are still shortages of recent prognostic algorithms. Therefore, an improved prognostic model is developed to predict the remaining useful life of the SOFC in this study, which combines a hidden semi-Mark model (HSMM) with an empirical model. To build the hybrid prognostic model, an HSMM and an empirical model are firstly built. The merit and demerit of the respective prognostic methodology are then analyzed. According to the analysis results, the hybrid prognostic model is proposed and applied to six sets of SOFC run-to-failure data. The results show the proposed prognostic model has a higher prediction accuracy and a faster forecasting speed compared with the existed approaches for SOFC prognostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a popular cementitious material in civil engineering in recent years, ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has been used in harsh working conditions for its superior mechanical properties and durability. However, cracking in UHPC is a significant threat to its durability. Thus, studying the fracture properties of UHPC for rational design of crack resistance is important. The aim of this study was to develop closed-form solutions of the size-independent tensile strength (f t) and fracture toughness (K IC) of UHPC. Three-point-bending tests were performed on 80 UHPC beams with different depths and initial crack lengths; the fracture behaviour was comprehensively analysed and a predictive model was proposed to determine f t and K IC. A characteristic microstructure parameter (C ch) and two discrete coefficients (β and C) were introduced to indicate material heterogeneity and discontinuity, respectively. C ch was determined as the average fibre spacing in this study. These coefficients also quantified the critical effective crack propagation length at the maximum fracture load (F max) and the characteristic crack length defined by the bulk toughness and strength properties. A linear relationship of F max with respect to f t and K IC was established; the size-independent f t and K IC were obtained after determining F max from three-point-bending tests. The effects of C ch , β , and C on the predicted f t and K IC values were analysed. Although both f t and K IC exhibited certain differences as C ch , β and C were simultaneously varied, the results were within the upper and lower limits of the f t and K IC values predicted by statistical analysis. • Fracture mechanism of UHPC was comprehensively analyzed and clarified. • Characteristic microstructure parameter was correlated to fiber characterization. • Critical crack propagation length at maximum load was discretized quantitatively. • Maximum load was linked to tensile strength and fracture toughness linearly. • Scatters in the predicted results were analyzed based on a statistical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Perry syndrome is rare, characteristic clinical features are usually present, and it should be considered when parkinsonism is accompanied by significant weight loss, ventilatory dysfunction, or an autosomal dominant family history of parkinsonism. These phenotypes do not seem to co-exist with Perry syndrome, though individuals with Perry syndrome, dHMN7B, and an overlapping phenotype have been reported in a family from China [[6]]. Dear Sirs, Mutations in the I DCTN1 i gene cause the Perry syndrome: an autosomal dominant form of heredodegenerative parkinsonism, accompanied by neuropsychiatric symptoms, profound weight loss, and later, ventilatory dysfunction [[1]]. [Extracted from the article]

Chromosome rearrangements play an important role in the speciation of plants and animals, and the recognition of chromosome rearrangement patterns is helpful to elucidate the mechanism of species differentiation at the chromosome level. However, the existing chromosome rearrangement recognition methods have some major limitations, such as low quality, barriers to parental selection, and inability to identify specific rearrangement patterns. Based on the whole genome protein sequences, we constructed the combined figure according to the slope of the collinear fragment, the number of homologous genes, the coordinates in the top left and bottom right of the collinear fragment. The standardized combination figure is compared with the four standard pattern figures, and then combined with the information entropy analysis strategy to automatically classify the chromosome images and identify the chromosome rearrangement pattern. This paper proposes an automatic karyotype analysis method EntroCR (intelligent recognition method of chromosome rearrangement based on information entropy), which integrates rearrangement pattern recognition, result recommendation and related chromosome determination, so as to infer the evolution process of ancestral chromosomes to the existing chromosomes. Validation experiments were conducted using whole-genome data of Gossypium raimondii and Gossypium arboreum, Oryza sativa and Sorghum bicolor. The conclusions were consistent with previous results. EntroCR provides a reference for researchers in species evolution and molecular marker assisted breeding as well as new methods for analyzing karyotype evolution in other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial metabolism greatly affects the quality and flavor of traditional, low‐salt fermented fish. We assessed changes in the bacterial community structure and quality characteristics of "stinky" variegated carp (Aristichthys nobilis) during fermentation at 20°C. The total viable count (TVC), firmness, chewiness, tackiness, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB‐N) and thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substance (TBARS) levels, and relative peak area of volatile compounds significantly (p <.05) increased, while the pH, weight, and elasticity dramatically decreased, during fermentation. The total free amino acid (FAA) content decreased early during fermentation (from 0–2 d) and then significantly (p <.05) increased (from 3–5 d). The levels of flavorful AAs (aspartic acid, glutamate, phenylalanine, tyrosine, alanine, and glycine) increased markedly after 4 d of fermentation. Solid‐phase microextraction‐gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME‐GC–MS) revealed that the levels of ketones, ethers, and nitrogenous compounds increased significantly (p <.05) during fermentation. Illumina MiSeq sequencing identified Plesiomonas as the dominant bacterial genus during fermentation, followed by Aeromonas, Cetobacterium, Vibrio, and Hathewaya. These bacteria may contribute to the flavor and aroma of stinky variegated carp. The association between bacterial succession and the flavor and taste of stinky fish was also discussed. Practical applications: Variegated carp could be processed to create stinky fish. In this study, bacterial community structure and quality characteristics analysis were assessed. FAAs and volatile compounds related to flavor and aroma were found. A potential starter culture that could improve the quality of stinky variegated carp was identified. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for the industrial production of fermented stinky fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The break accident process of a supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2) reactor system presents a transcritical phenomenon. Operating under high pressure and a wide parameter range, the SCO2 system introduces multiphase characteristics to the critical flow of carbon dioxide (CO2) at various system positions. Nevertheless, current research lacks a comprehensive critical flow model capable of accommodating a broad parameter range with high precision. Data-driven approaches offer the potential to enhance accuracy by leveraging an expanding training database. To precisely forecast SCO2 critical flow efficiency, this study established an SCO2 critical flow model using deep learning techniques. The conservation equations and sensitivity analysis of experimental data informed the feature selection for the deep learning model, accomplished through the recurrent neural network (RNN) method, employing K-fold cross-validation and L2 regularization. The result was the SCO2-RNN critical flow model, boasting improved prediction accuracy and enhanced generalization capabilities. Subsequently, the optimal hyperparameters were determined by using a genetic algorithm. This model yielded an average error of 4.88% in predicted results, with a maximum error of 14.24%. The average error when extrapolating to the generalization data was 5.73%, with a maximum error of 20.45%. After the implementation of transfer learning, the average error decreased to 1.75%, with a final maximum error of 4.15%. Generalization results, using new data based on the trained model, underscore that the deep learning model meets engineering requirements for both efficiency and accuracy. • A wide-parameter, high-precision critical flow model was constructed based on the RNN deep learning model. • K-fold cross-validation was used to overcome the problem of insufficient training data, whereas L2 regularization was used to prevent overfitting. • A genetic algorithm was used to optimize the hyperparameters, and transfer learning was introduced to expand the applicability of the model. • The average model error is as low as 1.68% and the maximum error is as low as 4.15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutamate excitotoxicity induces neuronal cell death during epileptic seizures. Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) expression is highly increased in the brains of epilepsy patients; however, the underlying mechanisms by which DAPK1 influences neuronal injury and its therapeutic effect on glutamate excitotoxicity have not been determined. We assessed multiple electroencephalograms and seizure grades and performed biochemical and cell death analyses with cellular and animal models. We applied small molecules and peptides and knocked out and mutated genes to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of kainic acid (KA), an analog of glutamate-induced neuronal damage. KA administration increased DAPK1 activity by promoting its phosphorylation by activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). DAPK1 activation increased seizure severity and neuronal cell death in mice. Selective ERK antagonist treatment, DAPK1 gene ablation, and uncoupling of DAPK1 and ERK peptides led to potent anti-seizure and anti-apoptotic effects in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, a DAPK1 phosphorylation-deficient mutant alleviated glutamate-induced neuronal apoptosis. These results provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of epilepsy and indicate that targeting DAPK1 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cemented carbide possesses excellent characteristics such as high strength and hardness, but its poor machinability has restricted its widespread application. Laser ultrasonically assisted turning (LUAT) can enhance the machinability of workpieces and is widely used in precision machining of difficult-to-machine materials. In this paper, LUAT is applied to the cutting of cemented carbide, and the characteristics of cutting force in the machining process are studied. A theoretical model of cutting force is established by analyzing the interaction between the cutting tool, chip and workpiece during the turning process. The maximum error was found to be 18.6% by comparing with the experimental data, which better predicted the changing trend of cutting force and verified the accuracy of the model. Furthermore, experiments on LUAT of cemented carbide are carried out using the Taguchi method. The influence of cutting tools and processing parameters on cutting force is analyzed, revealing that the amplitude has the most significant impact on cutting force. The optimal combination of processing parameters is also obtained. Finally, a comparison is made between different turning methods. Compared to conventional turning, laser assisted turning, and ultrasonically assisted turning, the total cutting force in LUAT is reduced by 53.44%, 45.62%, and 21.64%, respectively, resulting in improved surface quality of the workpiece. • Cemented carbide was processed by laser ultrasonically assisted turning. • The cutting force model is established to predict the cutting force accurately. • Amplitude is the most significant factor affecting cutting force as it influences the tool-workpiece contact ratio. • Laser ultrasonically assisted turning of cemented carbide drastically reduces the cutting force, improves the surface quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases is important to effectively prevent carcinogenesis. Capsule endoscopy (CE) can address the pain caused by wired endoscopy in GI diagnosis. However, existing CE approaches have difficulty effectively diagnosing lesions that do not exhibit obvious morphological changes. In addition, the current CE cannot achieve wireless energy supply and attitude control at the same time. Here, we successfully developed a novel near-infrared fluorescence capsule endoscopy (NIFCE) that can stimulate and capture near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence images to specifically identify subtle mucosal microlesions and submucosal lesions while capturing conventional white light (WL) images to detect lesions with significant morphological changes. Furthermore, we constructed the first synergetic system that simultaneously enables multi-attitude control in NIFCE and supplies long-term power, thus addressing the issue of excessive power consumption caused by the NIFCE emitting near-infrared light (NIRL). We performed in vivo experiments to verify that the NIFCE can specifically "light up" tumors while sparing normal tissues by synergizing with probes actively aggregated in tumors, thus realizing specific detection and penetration. The prototype NIFCE system represents a significant step forward in the field of CE and shows great potential in efficiently achieving early targeted diagnosis of various GI diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant diversity plays an important role in maintaining and upgrading ecosystem structure and functions, and there remain uncertainties on plant species and especially phylogenetic diversity to grazing in alpine grasslands. Therefore, this study compared the differences of plant species and phylogenetic α- and β-diversity between grazing and fencing conditions at three alpine grasslands (ASMWG: alpine steppe meadow for winter grazing; ASMSG: alpine steppe meadow for summer grazing; AMSG: alpine meadow for summer grazing), Northern Tibet. At the ASMSG site, grazing significantly decreased mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD) by 19.33%, and increased Pielou by 7.06%. Plant community compositions between fencing and grazing conditions were different (p = 0.021) at the ASMSG site. However, the Pielou, MNTD and plant community composition were not significantly different between the fencing and grazing conditions at the ASMWG and AMSG site. Grazing significantly increased the niche overlap at the ASMWG (levins: 51.36%, schooner: 28.97%, pianka: 28.11%, Czech: 28.97%; morisita: 28.75%) and ASMSG site (schooner: 35.19%, petraitis: 4.63%, pianka: 26.45%, czech: 35.19%; morisita: 30.86%), indicating that grazing may increase plant species competition and competitive exclusion at the ASMWG and ASMSG site. In contrast, grazing did not significantly affect niche overlap at the AMSG site. Therefore, the response of plant diversity to grazing can be different between species and phylogenetic diversity, and among alpine grasslands. [Display omitted] • A grazing experiment was performed in three alpine grassland sites. • Plant species and phylogenetic diversity had different responses to grazing. • Plant diversity responded differently to grazing among alpine grassland sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The use of coal tar pitch (CTP) as "natural Carbon quantum dots (CQDs)". • CQDs/TiO 2 composites were prepared by a simple and energy-efficient impregnation method at room temperature. • TiO 2 and CQDs can be successfully coupled together by forming Ti‒O‒C bonds. • Compared with pure TiO 2 , CQDs/TiO 2 composites exhibit remarkably improved photocatalytic activity. [Display omitted] Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have demonstrated tremendous potential in enhancing the photocatalytic performance of TiO 2 ; however, the fabrication of CQDs/TiO 2 composite photocatalysts typically involves harsh reagents/conditions, cumbersome purification procedures and external energy supplies. In this work, we present a facile and energy-efficient impregnation method for the preparation of effective CQDs/TiO 2 composite photocatalysts at room temperature employing coal tar pitch (CTP) as "natural CQDs". The characterization results indicate that TiO 2 and CQDs can be successfully coupled together by forming Ti‒O‒C bonds. The fabricated CQDs/TiO 2 composites show remarkably improved photodegradation performances of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation, which are far higher than pure TiO 2. At the optimum CQDs content (6 wt%), the degradation rate constant is 43.7-fold higher than that of pure TiO 2. The marked ameliorated photocatalytic performance is attributed to the fact that the successful coupling between TiO 2 and CQDs can ameliorate the absorption ability of visible light, accelerate the separation/transfer of charge carriers and restrain the recombination of photogenerated electron–hole (e−–h+) pairs. This research provides a facile method for large-scale preparation of CQDs modified semiconductor photocatalysts that can potentially be used in environmental and energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyropia yezoensis is an important macroalga because of its extensive global distribution and economic importance. Color is an important trait in the thalli of P. yezoensis, it is also an effective marker to identify the hybridization in genetic breeding. In this study, a high-density genetic linkage map was constructed based on high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, and used for analyzing the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of red color trait in the thalli of P. yezoensis. The conchospore undergoes meiosis to develop into an ordered tetrad, and each cell has a haploid phenotype and can grow into a single individual. Based on this theory, F1 haploid population was used as the mapping population. The map included 531 SNP markers, 394.57 cM long on average distance of 0.74 cM. Collinear analysis of the genetic linkage map and the physical map indicated that the coverage between the two maps was 79.42%. Furthermore, QTL mapping identified six QTLs for the chromosomal regions associated with the red color trait of the thalli. The value of phenotypic variance explained (PVE) by an individual QTL ranged from 4.71%–63.11%. And QTL qRed-1-1, with a PVE of 63.11%, was considered the major QTL. Thus, these data may provide a platform for gene and QTL fine mapping, and marker-assisted breeding in P. yezoensis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pyropia is an economically advantageous genus of red macroalgae, which has been cultivated in the coastal areas of East Asia for over 300 years. Realizing estimation of macroalgae biomass in a high-throughput way would great benefit their cultivation management and research on breeding and phenomics. However, the conventional method is labour-intensive, time-consuming, manually destructive, and prone to human error. Nowadays, high-throughput phenotyping using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based spectral imaging is widely used for terrestrial crops, grassland, and forest, but no such application in marine aquaculture has been reported. Results: In this study, multispectral images of cultivated Pyropia yezoensis were taken using a UAV system in the north of Haizhou Bay in the midwestern coast of Yellow Sea. The exposure period of P. yezoensis was utilized to prevent the significant shielding effect of seawater on the reflectance spectrum. The vegetation indices of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), ratio vegetation index (RVI), difference vegetation index (DVI) and normalized difference of red edge (NDRE) were derived and indicated no significant difference between the time that P. yezoensis was completely exposed to the air and 1 h later. The regression models of the vegetation indices and P. yezoensis biomass per unit area were established and validated. The quadratic model of DVI (Biomass = − 5.550DVI2 + 105.410DVI + 7.530) showed more accuracy than the other index or indices combination, with the highest coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), and relative estimated accuracy (Ac) values of 0.925, 8.06, and 74.93%, respectively. The regression model was further validated by consistently predicting the biomass with a high R2 value of 0.918, RMSE of 8.80, and Ac of 82.25%. Conclusions: This study suggests that the biomass of Pyropia can be effectively estimated using UAV-based spectral imaging with high accuracy and consistency. It also implied that multispectral aerial imaging is potential to assist digital management and phenomics research on cultivated macroalgae in a high-throughput way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tungsten carbide, known for its high hardness and brittleness, presents a challenge in traditional processes due to severe tool wear and shortened tool life, impacting machining efficiency. This paper introduces a hybrid turning method – laser ultrasonically assisted turning (LUAT) – for precision and efficient machining of tungsten carbide. LUAT combines tool ultrasonic vibration with laser-induced workpiece heating to enhance the cutting performance of tungsten carbide. Thermal modeling is utilized to determine suitable LUAT parameters. Comparative experiments are conducted to assess the advantages of LUAT in enhancing tool performance and improving surface quality. Results indicate that, compared to traditional turning, ultrasonically assisted turning, and laser assisted turning, LUAT significantly reduces tool wear and enhances tool lifespan. In LUAT of tungsten carbide, the tool wear on the rake face exhibits long strips parallel to the tool edge, while the flank face presents triangular wear land, shallow pits, and grooves. Investigation into wear characteristics and mechanisms of cubic boron nitride (CBN) tools reveals that adhesion, oxidation, and diffusion are major wear factors, with chipping and tipping being abnormal wear patterns for CBN tools. Intensified tool wear elevates cutting forces and cutting temperatures, deteriorating the surface quality of tungsten carbide turning. However, LUAT mitigates these effects, resulting in lower cutting forces and temperatures within the same wear time, improving surface quality. • CBN tool wear on the rake face was characterized by long strips, and the triangular wear land is formed on the flank face. • Tool wear mechanisms of CBN tool mainly include the adhesion, oxidation, diffusion, tipping and chipping. • With CBN tool wear increases, the cutting force and temperature increase, and the surface quality decreases. • Laser ultrasonically assisted turning of tungsten carbides drastically reduces cutting force, temperature and tool wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before the commercialization of solid oxide fuel cells, degradation is considered one of the biggest technical problems, which may lead to a decrease in the discharge performance of the fuel cell. This paper proposes a prognostic-based control strategy to restore the discharge performance during the degradation process, thereby extending the life of the fuel cell. A prognostic approach based on wavelet decomposition and an echo state network is utilized to predict the downward trend in the discharge performance, and then iterative learning controllers are designed to restore the discharge performance. Taking nickel coarsening and oxidation degradation mechanisms as an example, several controllers with different discharge performance recovery capabilities are built. The simulation results show that compared with no controller, the power generation efficiency using the proposed strategy is reduced by 12.4% at most, while the remaining useful lifetime is increased by at least 26.3%. The proposed strategy can restore the discharge performance without significant reduction in the generation efficiency. The proposed method is not only suitable for nickel coarsening and oxidation degradation, but also can be generalized to different types of degradation and different types of fuel cells. Image 1 • For large fluctuations in the original data, the prognostic results are better. • Several controllers with different recovery capacities are designed. • Discharge performance can be recovered without significant reduction in efficiency. • The proposed strategy can be generalized to different types of degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monolayer MoS2 possesses good electron mobility, structural flexibility and a direct band gap, enabling it to be a promising candidate for flexible and wearable optoelectronic devices. In this article, the lateral monolayer MoS2 homojunctions were prepared by a nitrogen plasma selective doping technique. The monolayer MoS2 thin films were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition and characterized by photoluminescence, atom force microscope and Raman spectroscopy. The electronic and photoelectric properties of the lateral pn and npn homojunctions were discussed. The results showed that the rectifying ratio of the pn homojunction diode is ∼103. As a photodetector of pn homojunction, the optical responsivity is up to 48.5 A W−1, the external quantum efficiency is 11 301%, the detectivity is ∼109 Jones and the response time is 20 ms with the laser of 532 nm and the reverse bias voltage of 10 V. As a bipolar junction transistor of npn homojunction, the amplification coefficient reached ∼102. A controllable plasma doping technique, compatible with traditional CMOS process, is utilized to realize the monolayer MoS2 based pn and npn homojunctions, and it propels the potential applications of 2D materials in the electronic, optoelectronic devices and circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sharp interface between the p- and n-type two-dimensional semiconductors is of great importance to realize large-scale production of optoelectronic devices based on p-n junction. In this work, we report a lateral MoS2p-n homojunction implemented by area selective nitrogen plasma doping controlled by toroidal magnetic field. Nitrogen plasma was used to modulate MoS2 thin films from naturally n-type to p-type, and thus form a lateral p-n homojunction with the remaining part of the pristine n-type MoS2. Characterization using Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence and atomic force microscope was carried out to identify the p-type doping effect with low surface damage. The optoelectronic properties based on band structure and carrier transport were discussed. At last, the current-voltage characteristics of the homojunction were investigated and a typical rectifying effect was exhibited. Under AM 1.5 G illumination, solar cells based on the lateral p-n homojunction displayed photovoltaic properties. The controllable doping technique and the realization of p-n junction without transfer demonstrate the potential for use in various optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to clarify the influence of fused zirconia-alumina (FZA) on the fracture behavior and thermal shock resistance (TSR) of alumina-spinel castables, and discover the relationship between toughness parameters and TSR. Alumina-spinel castables with different FZA contents (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt.%) were prepared using tabular alumina, fused spinel, calcium aluminate cement, ultrafine alumina powder, and FZA as raw materials. The fracture behavior and TSR of alumina-spinel castables were determined by a wedge splitting test (WST) and a water quenching test, respectively. The results show that the flexibility of alumina-spinel castables can be significantly enhanced by introducing FZA. With increasing FZA content, the load-displacement curves change from typical brittle fracture behavior to non-linear fracture behavior. The flexibility parameter (ratio of G F /σ NT) of the castables increases from 8.3 μm to 13.6 μm when FZA content increases from 0 wt.% to 10 wt.%. The flexibility improvement of castables containing FZA can be attributed to the formation of microcracks caused by the transformation of ZrO 2. The TSR of alumina-spinel castables can also be significantly improved by adding FZA. The ratio of residual cold modulus of rupture (CMOR) of the castables increases from 12.3% to 34.2% when FZA content increases from 0 wt.% to 10 wt.%. The improvement in TSR can be attributed to a decrease in the stored elastic energy and a subsequent increase in the specific fracture energy of the castables. Generally, alumina-spinel castables with non-linear fracture behavior have good thermal shock resistance. There is a significant correlation between the flexibility parameter (G F /σ NT ratio) and the ratio of residual CMOR; the correlation coefficient is 0.96. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two‐step hysteretic FeII spin crossover (SCO) effect was achieved in programmed layered Cs{[Fe(3‐CNpy)2][Re(CN)8]}⋅H2O (1) (3‐CNpy=3‐cyanopyridine) assembly consisting of cyanido‐bridged FeII‐ReV square grid sheets bonded by Cs+ ions. The presence of two non‐equivalent FeII sites and the conjunction of 2D bimetallic coordination network with non‐covalent interlayer interactions involving Cs+, [ReV(CN)8]3− ions, and 3‐CNpy ligands, leads to the occurrence of two steps of thermal SCO with strong cooperativity giving a double thermal hysteresis loop. The resulting spin‐transition phenomenon could be tuned by an external pressure giving the room‐temperature range of SCO, as well as by visible‐light irradiation, inducing an efficient recovery of the high‐spin FeII state at low temperatures. We prove that octacyanidorhenate(V) ion is an outstanding metalloligand for induction of a cooperative multistep, multiswitchable FeII SCO effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two‐step hysteretic FeII spin crossover (SCO) effect was achieved in programmed layered Cs{[Fe(3‐CNpy)2][Re(CN)8]}⋅H2O (1) (3‐CNpy=3‐cyanopyridine) assembly consisting of cyanido‐bridged FeII‐ReV square grid sheets bonded by Cs+ ions. The presence of two non‐equivalent FeII sites and the conjunction of 2D bimetallic coordination network with non‐covalent interlayer interactions involving Cs+, [ReV(CN)8]3− ions, and 3‐CNpy ligands, leads to the occurrence of two steps of thermal SCO with strong cooperativity giving a double thermal hysteresis loop. The resulting spin‐transition phenomenon could be tuned by an external pressure giving the room‐temperature range of SCO, as well as by visible‐light irradiation, inducing an efficient recovery of the high‐spin FeII state at low temperatures. We prove that octacyanidorhenate(V) ion is an outstanding metalloligand for induction of a cooperative multistep, multiswitchable FeII SCO effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The decrease of carbon storage is mainly affected by construction land. • In 2030 and 2050, carbon reserves in Henan Province will continue to decrease. • Clarify the scenario of effectively maintaining carbon storage. • Some policy recommendations for carbon management in Henan Province are proposed. The carbon storage service of terrestrial ecosystems has an veritable impact on the global carbon cycle and, in turn, on global climate change. Hence, both assessing and predicting the impact of land use changes on carbon storage are necessary to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. Therefore, using integrated valuation of ecosystem services and tradeoffs (InVEST) model with remote sensing data, this study systematically analyzes the land use/cover change (LUCC) and the carbon storage response characteristics of land types in Henan Province, China in the 1990–2020 period. The study also uses patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model to predict the LUCC and carbon storage in Henan Province from 2023 to 2050 under different scenarios, including Business as Usual (BAU), Ecological Conservation (EC), and Urban Development (UD) scenarios. The following results are noted: (1) The LUCC mainly comprises the conversion of farmland to construction land. Presently, Henan Province's carbon storage is found to have decreased by 339.72 Tg due to LUCC, which is characterized as "high in the west and low in the east." (2) Regarding the three aforementioned scenarios, the province's construction land is predicted to increase to its greatest extent under the UD scenario. Under the EC scenario, its woodland and farmland areas will be effectively protected. Therefore, the highest level of carbon reserves will likely be found in the EC scenario, followed by that in the BAU scenario, while the lowest level of carbon reserves should be seen in the UD scenario. The carbon reserves of Henan Province in 2050 will be 312.07 Tg, 233.43 Tg, and 394.49 Tg lower than that in 2020 under the BAU, EC, and UD scenarios, respectively. In sum, this study provides the scientific basis of the decisions aimed at the facilitation of low-carbon development, the optimal utilization of land spaces, and the development of an ecological civilization in Henan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysyl oxidase-like 4 (LOXL4), a member of the LOX family proteins, catalyzes oxidative deamination of lysine residues in collagen and elastin, which are responsible for maintaining extracellular matrix homeostasis. In this study, the mRNA expression of LOXL4 in seven esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines and 15 ESCC pairs of clinical samples were examined. Furthermore, LOXL4 protein levels in the ESCC cell lines were determined using western blotting. With the use of immunofluorescence, LOXL4 was observed to be localized primarily in the cytoplasm, but was also present in the nucleus. In addition, the results indicated that the upregulated expression of LOXL4 was associated with poor survival in patients with ESCC even following curative resection (P = 0.010). Similar Kaplan–Meier estimator curves for proteins that interact with LOXL4, SUV39H1 (P = 0.014) and COL2A1 (P = 0.011), were plotted. The analyses based on the protein–protein interaction network depicted the expression of LOXL4 and its associated proteins as well as their functions, suggesting that LOXL4 and its associated proteins may serve a significant role in the development and progression of ESCC. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that LOXL4 is a potential biomarker for patients with ESCC, as well as SUV39H1 and COL2A1, and high expression levels of these genes are associated with poor prognosis in patients with ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S100A7 is expressed in many squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Our previous study revealed that S100A7 was dramatically induced in several SCC cells and activation of the Hippo pathway significantly promoted S100A7 in epidermoid carcinoma cells. However, whether the Hippo pathway regulates S100A7 expression in SCCs remains largely unknown. Here, we uncover that S100A7 induction by the Hippo-YAP pathway displays different characteristic in cervical and glossopharyngeal SCC. In well differentiated HCC94 cervical cells and FaDu pharyngeal cells, S100A7 is easily induced by both suspension and dense culture, which is accompanied by an increase in YAP phosphorylation and a decrease in nuclear YAP. Strikingly, these correlations of S100A7 and YAP reverse after recovery of cell attachment or relief from dense culture. Further examination finds that S100A7 induction is significantly repressed by nuclear YAP, which is validated by activation or inhibition of the Hippo pathway via loss- and/or gain-of- LATS1 and MST1 function. Subsequently, we prove that TEAD1 is required for YAP transcriptional repression of S100A7. However, S100A7 is hardly induced in poorly differentiated SiHa cervical cells and NCI-H226 pulmonary cells even in suspension or activation of the Hippo pathway. More importantly, cervical and lingual SCC tissues array analyses show that S100A7 expression displays the positive correlation with pYAP-S127 and the negative correlation with nuclear YAP in the majority of well differentiated but not in poorly differentiated tissues. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that the different induction of S100A7 toward activation of the Hippo pathway mainly depends on the degree of cell differentiation in cervical and glossopharyngeal SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S100A7 is highly expressed in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and is related to the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes. However, its characteristic and function in SCC is not very known. In this present study, we used immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of S100A7 in 452 SCC specimens, including the lung, esophagus, oral cavity, skin, cervix, bladder, and three SCC cell lines. We found that S100A7-positive staining showed significant heterogeneity in six types of SCC specimen and three SCC cell lines. Further examination found that S100A7-positive cells and its expression at mRNA and protein levels could be induced in HCC94, FaDu, and A-431 cells both in vitro and in vivo using immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and Western blotting. Notably, the upregulation of squamous differentiation markers, including keratin-4, keratin-13, TG-1, and involucrin, also accompanied S100A7 induction, and a similar staining pattern of S100A7 and keratin-13 was found in HCC94 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Further study revealed that the overexpression of S100A7 significantly increased proliferation and inhibited squamous differentiation in A-431 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, silencing S100A7 inhibited cell growth and survival and increased the expression of keratin-4, keratin-13, TG-1, and involucrin in HCC94 cells. Therefore, these results demonstrate that S100A7 displays heterogeneous and inducible characteristic in SCC and also provide novel evidence that S100A7 acts as a dual regulator in promoting proliferation and suppressing squamous differentiation of SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New alkali-activated concrete made by sea sand and recycled aggregate is developed. • Parameters representing material heterogeneity and discontinuity are quantified. • Size-independent fracture parameters are linked to the maximum load analytically. • Scatters in fracture parameters are analyzed based on normal distribution method. • Fracture patterns of the tested specimens for the new concrete are clarified. A new type of concrete, namely alkali-activated slag and fly ash blended sea sand recycled aggregate concrete (AASRAC), is developed in this paper. By considering its future service under ocean environment, crack resistance of the new concrete should be emphasized and evaluated rationally. Similar to ordinary concrete, however, size effect would be inevitable in the determined tensile strength and fracture toughness based on traditional continuum mechanics. To address this issue, the intention of this paper is to propose an analytical fracture model to predict the tensile strength f t , fracture toughness K IC and energy G F by using tests on three-point-bending notched beams of AASRAC. The average aggregate size d avg and two discrete numbers β and β w are introduced to represent the material heterogeneity and discontinuity, respectively. The critical effective crack propagation length and critical crack-tip opening displacement are quantified as the d avg multiplied by β and β w , respectively, when the maximum applied load F max is reached. Closed-form solutions of the size-independent f t , K IC and G F are then obtained by using the experimentally measured F max based on boundary effect model. The means, and upper and lower bounds of the fracture parameters with 95% reliability are determined from the normal distribution analysis. Results show that the fracture parameters can be yielded with reasonable accuracy if β = 1.0 and β w = 1.0. The predicted f t , K IC and G F are higher as the slag-to-fly ash mass ratio increases in AASRAC. The predicted f t based on the proposed model is significantly larger than the traditional splitting tensile strength. The main failure mode of the tested AASRAC beam is that about 80% of the recycled coarse aggregates are fractured due to the improved interfacial micro-structures between the mortar and aggregates. The proposed model can give a rational design method for the new concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of agricultural residues to produce bio‐based fuels, chemicals, and new materials is essential for the sustainable development of human society. Corncob residues are potential feedstocks to produce fermentable sugars because of their high cellulose content. The enzymatically hydrolyzed corncob residues containing a large amount of lignin are first explored as raw material to prepare activated carbon by chemical activation. In this study, the conditions for preparing activated carbon with CaCl2 are optimized and compared with other activators; the activated carbon are characterized by FTIR, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and SEM, as well as adsorption of Cu(II). The optimized conditions of preparing activated carbon from lignin‐rich enzymatically hydrolyzed corncob residues with CaCl2 are obtained. The as‐prepared activated carbon exhibit good adsorption capacity of Cu(II), that is, the adsorption capacity is up to 49.21 mg g−1 under the optimized conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo is a potentially renewable biomass resource which can be converted into bio-fuels and bio-chemicals by thermochemical conversion technology. Torrefaction deoxygenation pretreatment can effectively upgrade bamboo into high-grade fuels with a lower content of water and higher energy density. Therefore, it is essential to establish the deoxygenation mechanism and oxygen migration characteristics during the bamboo torrefaction process, based on the properties of torrefied solid, gaseous, and liquid products. In this study, these three types of torrefied product (solid, gaseous, and liquid) were produced at different torrefaction temperatures (210, 240, 270 and 300 °C) by the tube furnace, TGA−FTIR, and Py−GC/MS. Results showed that following a series of deoxygenation reactions, the oxygen removal efficiency of bamboo reached a maximum of 28.52% at 300 °C, resulting in the highest HHV of 23.12 MJ kg−1. Oxygen in the torrefied solid product was released in the form of torrefied gaseous components (CO 2 , H 2 O and CO) and torrefied liquid oxygen-containing compounds (E.g. acids, phenols, furans and ketones). CO 2 was the dominant oxygen carrier in the torrefied gaseous product, with oxygen distribution in the torrefied gaseous components ranked in the order: CO 2 (82.1–86.6%) > CO (10.9–13.9%) > H 2 O (2.4–4.1%). In the torrefied liquid product, oxygen transferred to acids, furans, ketones and aldehydes was favored under lower torrefaction temperatures, while more oxygen was transferred to phenols under higher torrefaction temperatures. Image 1 • Deoxygenation mechanism of biomass torrefaction was analyzed based on the torrefied gaseous and liquid product. • CO 2 was the dominant oxygen removal carrier in gaseous product. • Oxygen favored transfer into acids, furans, ketones and aldehydes in liquid product at lower temperatures. • More oxygen was transferred into phenols in liquid product at higher temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]