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The phase equilibria of the Bi-Cu-Zn ternary system has been firstly and comprehensively investigated by electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) with equilibrated alloys. Two isothermal sections of the Bi-Cu-Zn ternary system at 500 and 650 °C were determined. Based on the experimental data of phase equilibria, the Bi-Cu-Zn ternary system was also thermodynamically optimized using the Calculation of Phase Diagrams (CALPHAD) method. The experimental result shows that Bi is almost insoluble in the Cu-Zn binary compounds and (Cu) phase. It is found that the critical temperatures of the miscibility gaps in the Bi-Cu and Bi-Zn binary systems gradually increase with the increasing of the third element Zn or Cu additions. Moreover, the composition range of the liquid miscibility gap gradually reduces with the temperature increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The SMC-sensitive bands of underlying surfaces containing quartz range from 8.0 to 10.0 μm. • The larger the SMC, the higher the emissivity, particularly evident in the SMC-sensitive bands. • SMC exerts little effect on the emissivity (8.0–13.5 μm) of permeable materials. • SMC exerts a notable effect on the emissivity (8.0–13.5 μm) of surfaces with original lower emissivity. • The sigmoidal model is optimal in characterizing variations of soil emissivity with SMC. As an inherent property of materials, emissivity critically reflects the material composition. Despite evidence on the positive correlation between surface moisture content (SMC) and the emissivity for soil, such correlations for other urban underlying surfaces have not been examined. Accordingly, this paper aimed to investigate the effects of SMC on the emissivity of ten representative urban underlying surfaces (including impervious and permeable ones), through comparisons of their emissivity spectra before and after water-sprinkling. Based on the spectra, the sliding-window algorithm was used to identify SMC-sensitive bands of the surfaces, whose increments of emissivity within the SMC-sensitive and 8.0 – 13.5 μm bands were analyzed. Furthermore, for soil, models characterizing the relationship between its SMC and emissivity were established. The results showed that the emissivity of most underlying surfaces increased with SMC, which was particularly evident in the SMC-sensitive bands (8.0 – 10.0 μm). Additionally, the impacts of SMC on emissivity (8.0 – 13.5 μm) depend on the properties of the surfaces. SMC critically influenced the emissivity (8.0 – 13.5 μm) of the concrete pavement, granite pavement, asphalt road and soil: their increment exceeded 0.02, which could lead to substantial fluctuations in retrieving temperature (0.9, 2.1, 1.0 and 2.3 K, respectively). However, SMC was found to exert little effect on the emissivity (8.0 – 13.5 μm) of the permeable brick pavement, gravel road, red clay brick pavement, grasses and shrubs. Lastly, variations in emissivity of the soil with SMC were optimally characterized by the sigmoidal model, whose correlation was the highest (adjusted-R2 = 0.9848). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sludge thickening from sewage treatment plants is an essential step in reducing the sludge volume and processing cost of the subsequent treatment. Forward osmosis (FO) technology is one of the research endeavors used in the field of membrane separation and feed solution concentration. However, the traditional used single-skinned FO membranes encounter the problems of serious internal concentration polarization (ICP) and fouling phenomenon within porous substrates. A novel double-skinned FO membrane was proposed in this study in order to enhance the anti-fouling performance and mitigate the ICP phenomenon. Single-skinned FO membrane using the same substrate was also fabricated. Results demonstrated that the double-skinned FO membrane significantly reduced ICP and exhibited higher flux when using draw solutions with high concentrations as compared to the single-skinned FO membrane. Furthermore, the double-skinned FO membrane demonstrated reasonably high-water flux (11.6 LMH), whereas zero flux was recorded from the single-skinned FO membrane when using the feed solution that contained 15.0 g/L organic foulants in the fouling tests. At last, the double-skinned FO membrane exhibited superior anti-fouling properties and much higher flux than that of single-skinned FO membrane operated under both modes during the long-term sludge thickening process, indicating the great potential of the double-skinned FO membrane to deal with the high-water-content sewage sludge in the water treatment process. [Display omitted] • Double-skinned FO membranes were fabricated by double sided interfacial polymerization. • The secondary skin was fabricated using lower concentrations of monomers in IP. • The double-skinned membranes showed excellent flux performance and good antifouling property. • Satisfactory results were obtained for the double-skinned membranes in sludge thickening. • The double-skinned membranes have great potential in treating high concentration wastewaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In flowering plants, meiocytes develop from subepidermal cells in anthers and ovules. The mechanisms that integrate gene-regulatory processes with meiotic programs during reproductive development remain poorly characterized. Here, we show that Arabidopsis thaliana plants deficient in ACTIN-RELATED PROTEIN6 (ARP6), a subunit of the SWR1 ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complex, exhibit defects in prophase I of female meiosis. We found that this meiotic defect is likely due to dysregulated expression of meiotic genes, particularly those involved in meiotic recombination, including DMC1 (DISRUPTED MEIOTIC cDNA1). Analysis of DMC1 expression in arp6 mutant plants indicated that ARP6 inhibits expression of DMC1 in the megasporocyte and surrounding nonsporogeneous ovule cells before meiosis. After cells enter meiosis, however, ARP6 activates DMC1 expression specifically in the megasporocyte even as it continues to inhibit DMC1 expression in the nonsporogenous ovule cells. We further show that deposition of the histone variant H2A.Z, mediated by the SWR1 chromatin-remodeling complex at the DMC1 gene body, requires ARP6. Therefore, ARP6 regulates female meiosis by determining the spatial and temporal patterns of gene expression required for proper meiosis during ovule development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The abnormal local and long-range FCD in MCI compared with HCs. • The reversed FCD was found in MCI after treatments of acupoint-related moxibustion. • After moxibustion treatment, the MoCA scores of MCI were improved. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a general neurodegenerative disease. Moxibustion has been shown to have remarkable effect on cognitive improvement, however, less is known about the effect of moxibustion on MCI and its underlying neural mechanism. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative brain network in MCI after treatments of acupoint-related moxibustion. Resting-state functional MRI were derived from 47 MCI patients and 30 healthy controls (HCs). Patients were randomized as Tiaoshen YiZhi (TSYZ, n = 27) and sham (SHAM, n = 20) acupoint moxibustion groups. Functional connectivity density (FCD) method and repeated-measures two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed to ascertain the interaction effects between groups (TSYZ and SHAM) and time (baseline and post-treatment). Abnormal FCD was examined between baseline and post-treatment in TSYZ and SHAM groups, respectively. Compared with HCs, MCI showed altered FCD in the middle frontal cortex (MFC), inferior frontal cortex, temporal pole, thalamus and middle cingulate cortex. After moxibustion treatment in MCI, 1) a significant time-by-groups interaction was observed in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC); 2) abnormal long-range FCD (lrFCD) in the mPFC and MFC were modulated in TSYZ group; 3) significantly improved clinical symptoms; 4) changed lrFCD in the MFC was significantly negatively correlated with the increased Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores in TSYZ group. These imaging findings suggest that treatments of acupoint-related moxibustion could improve lrFCD in certain regions related to self-related cognitive and decision making. Our study might promote understanding of MCI neural mechanisms and expand the clinical application of moxibustion in MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A composite paper was prepared by combining aramid nanofibers, boron nitride nanotubes, and polyethyleneimine. • Elaborating interfacial hydrogen bonds design can optimize the mechanical properties of composite paper. • The composite paper has high thermal conductivity and unique dielectric performance. Aramid paper is ubiquitous in advanced electronics and high-voltage equipment by virtue of their outstanding dielectric properties, mechanical reliability, and thermal stability. However, their limited thermal conductivity still fails to satisfy the stringent demands for heat dissipation in applications with high power and high energy density. Herein, we report a highly thermally conductive composite paper prepared by synergistically combining one-dimensional (1D) aramid nanofibers (ANFs), 1D edge-hydroxylated boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), and polyethyleneimine (PEI). The resultant composite paper exhibits high thermal conductivity (9.91 Wm−1K−1), low dielectric loss (<0.01), and ultrahigh electrical breakdown strength (∼334 kV/mm) with an exceptional heat resistance performance. Three-dimensional hydrogen bonding networks were constructed between the ANF framework, PEI, and BNNTs, endowing the composite paper with a superior tensile strength (up to 317 MPa) and Young's modulus (∼7.7 GPa), which are significantly higher than those of the commercial Nomex T410 paper. This research provides important insights into the design and fabrication of multifunctional insulating paper for application in modern integrated electronic and power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, random amplified microsatellite polymorphism (RAMP) technique was used to examine the genetic relationships among 46 pomegranate genotypes, which were collected from 7 provinces in China. The results showed that a total of 127 bands were amplified by 14 pairs of high polymorphism primers, among which 113 (88.90%) were polymorphic bands, and that the effective number of alleles (N e), Nei''s gene diversity (H), and Shannon''s information index (I) for pomegranate were 1.3345, 0.2126 and 0.2126, respectively. These results showed that there is the significant genetic diversity among pomegranate germplasm in China. When the genetic similarity coefficients (G s) was 0.75, the 46 pomegranate cultivars were completely clustered into five groups by the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). The cluster results indicated that the molecular classification was not consistent with the morphological/agronomical classification or geographic origin. The obtained genetic information assists toward the effective protection and sustainable utilization of pomegranate resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The microclimate around a building, establishing through the interaction with other buildings or the natural environment, is a significant factor in the building energy consumption. This paper presents a method for the quantitative analysis of building energy performance under any given urban contexts by linking the microclimate model ENVI-met to the building energy simulation (BES) program EnergyPlus. The full microclimatic factors such as solar radiation, long wave radiation, air temperature, air humidity, and wind speed have been considered in the proposed scheme. A case study has been conducted to analyze the effects of different microclimatic factors on the energy balance of an individual building. The method outlined in this paper could be useful for urban planning and building design. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

When the molten steel contains high carbon and alloy elements, the continuous casting bloom is prone to internal defects. Soft reduction is an effectively means of improvement and is widely utilized in the continuous casting process. Herein, the generation mechanism of the central cracks in alloy steel ZKG223 is analyzed in detail; that is, the tensile stress is generated by the accelerated solidification and shrinkage in the core of the bloom at the end of solidification, which acts on the dendrites and causes central cracks. In order to reduce the shrinkage stress during the solidification of the bloom, the reasonable reduction parameters of the bloom are determined by establishing a soft reduction model, and the industrial test is carried out. Through the implementation of well‐designed soft reduction, the central cracks in the bloom are significantly bridged, and the secondary dendrite spacing in the center of the bloom is shortened from 315 to 230 μm. The maximum positive and negative carbon segregation indices in the cross section of the bloom are changed from 1.039 and 0.957 to 1.020 and 0.977, respectively, which greatly improve the uniformity of element distribution and the internal quality of the bloom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a facile synthesis of a new series of symmetrical bis(arylethynyl)benzene derivatives via a one-pot coupling reaction between trialkylsilyl protected arylalkynyes and aryldihalides bearing both electron-withdrawing (EW) and electron-donating groups (ED) in the presence of PdCl2(PPh3)2(5%) / CuI/tetrabutylammonium fluoride / triethylamine / tetrahydrofuran (sila–Sonogashira reaction) at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The microbiological, physico-chemical and free fatty acid composition of dry fermented mutton sausages were determined during ripening and storage. Three sausage mixtures (starter culture [SC], SC and black pepper [SC+BP] and SC, BP and cumin [SC+BP+C]) were compared with a control (CO). In general, the lactic acid bacteria populations in the SC+BP increased significantly to 9log CFU/g and were higher than the CO (8log CFU/g) (P <0.05) from fermentation to ripening. The pH values of the SC, SC+BP and SC+BP+C were 4.81, 4.55 and 4.53 respectively, significantly lower (P <0.05) than the CO at the end of fermentation. The water activity (a w) in all sausages decreased significantly to 0.88 at Day 7. The total free fatty acid (TFFA) in the treatments increased significantly (P <0.05) during ripening and storage. The levels of MUFA+PUFA/SFA in SC+BP and SC+BP+C at Day 7 were 2.44 and 2.31 respectively, higher than the control (1.65) (P >0.05). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (PPAT) is an essential enzyme in Coenzyme A biosynthesis. Because bacterial PPAT and mammalian PPAT are dissimilar, this enzyme is an attractive antibacterial target. Based on the structure of the substrate, 4-phosphopantetheine, a dipeptide library was designed, synthesised and tested against Escherichia coli PPAT. The most potent inhibitor PTX040334 was co-crystallised with E. coli PPAT. With this structural information, a rational iterative medicinal chemistry program was initiated, aimed at increasing the number of inhibitor–enzyme interactions. A very potent and specific inhibitor, PTX042695, with an IC50 of 6 nM against E.coli PPAT, but with no activity against porcine PPAT, was obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The sources of karstic bauxite are complex and have not been so far addressed by multi-proxy provenance studies that interrogate bauxite sources. The Carboniferous bauxite in the North China Craton, which is the largest karstic bauxite area in the world, contains considerable quantities of detrital heavy minerals, including zircon, rutile, tourmaline, and moissanite, allowing multi-proxy provenance studies. In this study, geological, mineralogical, geochemical analyses, and detrital heavy mineral analyses were conducted for the Jiagou and Kuancaoping bauxite deposits located in the southern and northern parts of the North China Craton, respectively. Coupled with previously published geological, geochemical, and detrital mineral data, this study aims to thoroughly clarify the provenance of karstic bauxites in the North China Craton. In general, the ore-bearing rock series contains three units: lower iron-bearing claystone consisting of illite, chamosite, and goethite; middle bauxite ore dominated by diaspore, kaolinite, illite, chamosite, and anatase; and upper bauxitic claystone composed of kaolinite, diaspore, and anatase. Immobile trace element ratios and Rare Earth Element patterns of the bauxites throughout the North China Craton revealed that the lower iron-bearing claystone was autochthonous and directly sourced from the underlying limestone. The isotope data of detrital zircon along with chemical compositions and morphological features of detrital rutile, tourmaline, and moissanite in the bauxite ores revealed that the bauxite ore and bauxitic claystone were mainly para-allochthonous and derived from regional multi-sources. The multi-sources origin is also shared by other karst bauxites in the world. The results indicate that the bauxite deposits in the northern and southern parts of the North China Craton have distinct source materials. The provenance of the bauxite in the northern part of the North China Craton is mainly from the northern margin craton orogenic belt and the adjacent intraplate paleo-uplifts, whereas in the southern part, it is dominated by the North Qinling orogenic belt and the nearby paleo-uplifts. Consequently, the Carboniferous karstic bauxites in the North China Craton are characterized by the autochthonous origin of the lower iron-bearing claystone and the para-allochthonous origin of the upper bauxite ore and bauxitic claystone. This clearly illustrates the dependence of provenance information on mineral proxy choice and underlines the preponderance of multiproxy provenance studies to solve the complex source issue of karst bauxites in North China Craton. [Display omitted] • Multiproxy provenance studies of Jiagou and Kuancaoping bauxite deposits in NCC carried out • Lower iron-bearing claystone is autochthonous and directly derived from the underlying limestone. • Bauxite ore and bauxitic claystone are allochthonous and regionally multi-sourced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel forward osmosis membrane with porous hydrogel sublayer. • Formation of double barriers for high rejection of heavy metal ions. • Sublayer promoting the formation of denser and smoother FO membrane active layer. • Enhanced forward osmosis and antifouling performance. In the current research, preparation of a forward osmosis membrane that can effectively reject heavy metals in wastewater treatment would prove to be highly beneficial. Here, an innovative forward osmosis (FO) membrane with a "sandwich" structure (formed via the template method) was achieved for the first time through the fabrication of a porous hydrogel sublayer. A porous hydrogel matrix with excellent water retention capacity was formed through the crosslinking reaction of sodium alginate and calcium chloride in the presence of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, followed by etching to remove the ZnO nanoparticles in the sublayer to produce the porous structure. The water flux of the modified membrane was quintuple compared with the that of the original membrane, with no reduction on the salt rejection performance. The surface polyamide layer and sublayer acted as double barriers and achieved a rejection rate of over 98% for heavy metal ions (Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, Ni2+), when the glucose solution was used as the draw solution. The inclusion of the porous sublayer can provide deeper insights into the fabrication of high-performance FO membranes, and expand their applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface cracking problem in medium carbon sulfur‐containing steel is gradually emerging in continuous casting production. Therefore, this article investigates the effect of sulfur content on the surface cracks of medium carbon steel. In addition to macroscopic cracks, network cracks are visible on the surface of medium carbon sulfur‐containing bloom. 3D confocal laser scanning microscopy and industrial computed tomography are used to characterize the 3D realistic morphology of the network and macroscopic cracks. Thermodynamic calculations and hot ductility tests' results exhibit the higher precipitation of MnS in the sulfur‐containing steel, resulting in the second brittle zone of steel. The microstructure near the cracks revealed a high correlation between cracks and a high proportion of proeutectoid ferrite near the surface of the medium carbon sulfur‐containing bloom. In addition, the sulfur‐containing steel has 0.05% more linear shrinkage than the low‐sulfur steel during the transformation from austenite to ferrite, which increases its crack sensitivity. As a result, this article clarifies the effect of sulfur on the surface crack of medium carbon bloom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CdS nanoflowers were utilized for simultaneous adsorption of As(III) and As(V). • Analytical method development based on nano-adsorbent. • Short analysis time. • The method was successfully applied for the determination of arsenic in food samples. Direct determination of arsenic species in real samples is challenging due to their trace concentration and spectral interferences by coexisting ions. Herein, we proposed an ultrasound-assisted dispersive solid phase microextraction (DSPME) procedure for the analyses of the trace inorganic arsenic. The hydrothermally synthesized cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdS NPs) completely adsorbed both arsenic species within 20 s at the initial arsenic concentration of 100 µg L−1. The detection limit (3 S/m) of the proposed method was found to be 0.5 ± 0.2 and 0.8 ± 0.2 ng L−1 for As(III) and As(V), respectively. The accuracy of the method against the systematic and constant errors was confirmed by the analysis of the Standard Reference Material (SRM) (>95% recovery with <5% RSD). The Student's t -test values were found to be less than the critical Student's t value at a 95% confidence level. The method was successfully employed for the determination of arsenic in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV) causes devastating losses to agronomic and ornamental crops worldwide. Currently, there is no effective strategy to control this disease. Use of biotic inducers to enhance plant resistance to viruses maybe an effective approach. Our previous study indicated that Tagitinin A (Tag A) has a high curative and protective effect against TSWV. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of Tag A-mediated antiviral activity remains unknown. In this study, Tag A reduced the expression of the NSs , NSm genes was very low in untreated leaves following TSWV infection. In addition, the expression of all TSWV genes in the inoculated and systemic leaves was inhibited in the protective assay, and with an inhibition rate of more than 85% in systemic leaves. Tag A increased phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity in the curative and protective assays. The concentrations of jasmonic acid (JA) and jasmonic acid -isoleucine (JA-Ile) and the expression of its key gene NtCOI1 in Tag A-treated and systemic leaves of treated plants were significantly higher than those of the control plant. Furthermore, Tag A-induced resistance to TSWV could be eliminated by VIGS-mediated silencing of the NtCOI1 gene. These indicated that Tag A acts against TSWV by activating the JA defense signaling pathway. Unlabelled Image • The expression of all TSWV genes was partly inhibited and PAL activity was increased in the protective and curative assays. • The JA pathway was activated to inhibit the TSWV infected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new simultaneous heat and mass transfer theoretical model of the membrane distillation process operating under direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) mode has been developed for the hydrophobic/hydrophilic dual-layer composite membranes. Using the proposed model, a criterion parameter (β) was derived to determine whether the flux will be increased for the prepared hydrophobic/hydrophilic composite membranes. A flux ratio ( γ DL/SL M ) of dual-layer to single-layer membrane was also developed to predict the DCMD flux performance of the composite membranes. To validate the theoretical model, three sets of dual-layer hydrophobic/hydrophilic composite membranes and single-layer hydrophobic membranes with defined total thicknesses (240 μm, 260 μm, and 285 μm) and different thickness ratios (δ / δ o = 3.69, 2.48 and 2.19) were purposefully fabricated using electrospinning technique. Theoretical modelling results were compared with the experimental data in terms of DCMD flux ratio. The experimental data of flux ratios for the three sets of fabricated membranes at 60 °C, γ DL/SL E , are 2.75, 1.97 and 1.80, respectively, which fit well with the model prediction values ( γ DL/SL M = 2.96, 2.18, and 1.97) within high agreement level at a relative standard deviation of 9.6%. Furthermore, the flux ratio of DL2 to SL2 membranes (dual-layer and single-layer membranes with 260 μm total thicknesses and δ / δ o = 2.48 thickness ratio) at different feed inlet temperatures still maintain a high degree of consistency with model values. Overall, the results show the experimental data agree well with the theoretical model prediction for the flux ratio within relative standard deviation of 10.1%, thereby confirming the validity of the proposed model. Additionally, a critical value of the thickness ratio (χ) was calculated χ = 1 + 1 β , this value could provide useful guidance to design a highly efficient hydrophobic/hydrophilic dual-layer composite membrane for DCMD applications in the future work. Image 1 • Dual-layer nanofiber membranes were fabricated by electrospinning for DCMD. • The membrane was composed of PVDF-HFP nanofibers and Nylon 6,6 membrane substrate. • A mathematical model was developed to predict the flux of dual-layer membranes. • The theoretical model was tested and validated by the experimental results. • The experimental data resemble well with the theoretically calculated values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late Carboniferous bauxite is widely developed on the North China Craton (NCC), and is referred to as the "G" layer bauxite. The bauxite ores of the southern NCC are closely related to the tectonic evolution of the NCC and its neighboring North Qinling Belt (NQB) to the south. In this study, based on the geological and mineralogical observations, we used the U–Pb and Hf isotopes of detrital zircons and chemical compositions of detrital rutiles from the Gunziying and Shibanhe bauxite deposits, along the southern margin of the NCC to study the metallogenic process of bauxite ores and their tectonic implications. One and two bauxite ore layers were observed in the Gunziying and Shibanhe bauixte deposits, respectively. The bauxite ore is dominated by diaspore, illite, anatase, kaolinite, pyrite, zircon, and rutile. Analyses of detrital zircons revealed that the largest group (∼432–515 Ma, at a peak age of ∼450 Ma) is spread throughout the Late Carboniferous bauxite deposits, with εHf(t) values of −5.7–21.4, similar to the zircons from the NQB. Similarly, the detrital zircons with peak ages of ∼950 Ma and age clusters at ∼1.1 Ga, ∼1.3 Ga, and ∼1.8 Ga as well as those ranging in age from 635 to 797 Ma, also exhibited εHf(t) values similar to the zircons from the NQB. In addition, the results suggested that 62 (73%) and 75 (88.2%) of detrital rutiles showed metapelitic protoliths and amphibolite/eclogite facies temperatures, respectively, while 23 (27%) and 10 (11.8%) exhibited metamafic protoliths and granulite facies temperatures, respectively. Based on the results above, we propose that the provenance of the bauxite ores on the southern margin of the NCC is primarily from the NQB. The dominant contributors were the Neoproterozoic Kuanping Group and the Meso–Neoproterozoic Qinling Group. The Archean-Proterozoic metamorphic rocks in the paleo-uplifts of the NCC were also likely involved in the bauxite formation. A probable outline of the bauxite-formation process on the southern NCC, former weathered residuals and subsequent deposition, is proposed; and a reasonable interpretation that the NQB was accreted to the NCC in the Late Carboniferous and formed a northward lying slope basin within the NCC, is supported. Image 1 • New constraints on the source of the NCC bauxite ores are proposed. • Mainly material transport from the North Qinling and Kuanping Group. • Bauxitic formation most likely weathered residuals and deposited. • Late Paleozoic Tectonics resulted in the "G" bauxites throughout the NCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed matrix membranes combining the processibility of polymers with the properties of porous nano-additives is an effective method to enhance the performance of membrane distillation (MD) process. In this work, a new type of hydrophobic hybrid PVDF hollow fiber membranes doped with aluminum fumarate metal-organic frameworks (AlFu MOF) was fabricated and their performance in direct contact membrane distillation were studied experimentally and theoretically. The results showed that the addition of MOF particles efficiently enlarged the effective porosity of membrane and increased the water flux as well as the thermal efficiency of MD process. At 1 wt% MOF loading, the effective porosity of membrane was enlarged by 52.4%, which induced 55.9% increment in overall mass transfer coefficient of the hybrid membrane, and the thermal conductivity of the membrane was decreased by 38.6%, which contributed to the reduction of sensible heat loss of MD. Correspondingly, the experimental water flux of the hybrid 1 wt% MOF/PVDF membrane was improved by 50.5% and the thermal efficiency increased by 46.2% (0.58 vs 0.31) at a feed temperature of 40 °C. Moreover, the MOF/PVDF membrane exhibited stable flux and retained high salt rejection (>99.9%) for 3.5 wt% NaCl solution over a 50 h desalination test period. Overall, this study provides an insight into the positive effects of AlFu MOF additives on the enhancement of membrane performance in distillation process. Image 1 • Aluminum fumarate MOF was blended with PVDF to fabricate hollow fiber membranes. • Effects of nanoparticle on membrane structure and performance were investigated. • Hybrid membranes showed 50.5% higher flux and 46.2% higher thermal efficiency. • The mechanism on the enhancement of heat and mass transfer performance were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum cascade laser (QCL) with porous structure is reported in this work. The porous structure is fabricated onto the wafer top surface towards the sides of the QCL waveguide by electro-chemical etching. The pore size of the porous structure is in hundreds of nanometers. Experimental results show that QCL with porous structure exhibits better beam quality. The far field of the typical 60 μm-ridge-width QCL is modulated from double-lobed shape to single-lobed shape due to the utilizing of porous structure. The full width at half maximum is 5.26°, which agrees very well with that of fundamental transverse mode. An interesting spectra behavior is also observed. The QCL with porous structure represents a temperature tuning rate of 0.49 nm/K, which is comparable to distributed feedback QCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile industry consumes large quantities of freshwater and discharges large quantities of dye/salt wastewater, causing serious environmental problems. Nanofiltration (NF) has proven to be able to achieve efficient dye/salt separation. However, conventional polyamide (PA) NF membranes are often constrained by the trade-off between selectivity and permeability. Herein, we developed a highly dye/NaCl selective nanofiltration membrane with a rod-coated PVA interlayer. The rod-coating approach allows better control of PVA dosage to create a perfect PVA interlayer. The formation and effect of rod-coated PVA interlayer significantly improved the permeability. With an optimal PVA dosage of approximately 0.32 g/m2, the permeance of the iTFC membrane (>30.0 L/(m2 h bar)) was almost 3 times that of the control membrane. Moreover, the iTFC-PVA membrane had an outstanding Rhodamine B rejection (99.8 %), low sodium chloride (NaCl) rejection, and maximum NaCl/dye selectivity ratio as high as 428. It is anticipated that the iTFC membrane has great potential in the field of dyehouse wastewater treatment. Furthermore, our study proves that the Mayer rod-coating approach is suited to fabricating high-performance PA-NF membranes with PVA interlayers. It is anticipated that organic-containing wastewater can better be treated by the developed membrane to achieve a better water environment and resource recovery. [Display omitted] • Rod-coating approach works well to produce and regulate PVA interlayer. • Optimal PVA dosage for a perfect interlayer is about 0.32 g/m2. • iTFC-PVA membrane possesses an excellent NaCl/dye selectivity ratio of 428. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep bones, as the main byproduct after sheep slaughter, are rich in proteins, but their utilization in deep processing is relatively low. Currently, calcium deficiency is a common health issue that can lead to metabolic bone diseases. Peptide calcium chelate is considered a superior substance, having a significant effect on improving the absorption and utilization efficiency of calcium in the human body. This study used sheep bone byproducts as the raw material to prepare sheep bone peptide-chelated calcium (SBP-Ca) and its structure was characterized and analyzed in depth. SBP-Ca was supplemented in a low-calcium diet to assess its effects on calcium absorption and bone formation in a rat model experiencing calcium deficiency. The results showed that under optimal preparation conditions for SBP-Ca (peptide-calcium ratio set at 1 : 1, pH maintained at 7, temperature set to 45°C, and duration of 60 min), calcium could chelate with sheep bone peptide (SBP) at the sites C=O, -NH2, and -COOH sites, forming a structurally dense SBP-Ca with a chelation rate of up to 89.24%. In rats fed a low-calcium diet, SBP-Ca significantly improved the rat femoral diameter, dry weight, trabecular bone structure, bone density, and bone volume fraction (P < 0.05). A decline in serum alkaline phosphatase levels (P < 0.05), elevation in bone calcium content, and a rise in serum osteocalcin levels (P < 0.05) were observed. Furthermore, morphological studies on bone tissue suggest that SBP-Ca has the ability to restore trabecular bone structure. In conclusion, SBP-Ca has been successfully prepared as a novel calcium absorption promoter. By improving the bioavailability of calcium, bone formation was facilitated, demonstrating a significant application value in the prevention of calcium deficiency disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tapping weight is an important parameter in converter blowing process, wherein precisely predicting the quantity of steel required in an alloy baking converter can effectively guide the requirement of alloy ingredients. In practical production, the main approach is empirical estimation, despite its low accuracy. Employing a general neural network model for prediction requires to gather the converter blowing parameters and endpoint temperature measurement sampling parameters as the model inputs. However, this data cannot be obtained until the blowing process reaches its endpoint, rendering it impractical for alloy batching that requires advance preparation for baking. In this study, a principal component analysis–whale optimization algorithm–backpropagation algorithm (PCA–WOA–BP) neural network tapping prediction model is developed using raw material parameters available before alloy baking as input. This model is integrated into the intelligent alloy reduction model of a factory. The model achieves a regression coefficient R2 of 0.823, with 98.53% of furnaces having a prediction error of less than 2 t. The tapping weight of 20 consecutive heats in actual production is predicted; the error range is less than 80% within 1 t, and the converter tapping weight is predicted accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) causes major losses of many crops worldwide. Several strategies have been attempted to control disease caused by TSWV. However, many challenges for the effective control of this disease remain. A promising approach is the use of abiotic or biotic inducers to enhance plant resistance to pathogens. We screened a diterpenoid compound from Wedelia trilobata, 3α-Angeloyloxy-9β-hydroxy-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (AHK), which had higher curative and protective effects against TSWV than the ningnanmycin control. The rapid initiation of the expression of all the TSWV genes was delayed by more than 1d in the curative assay, and the expression of the NSs, NSm and RdRp genes was inhibited. In addition, the replication of all TSWV genes in systemic leaves was inhibited in the protective assay, with an inhibition rate of more than 90%. The concentrations of jasmonic acid (JA) and jasmonic acid isoleucine (JA-ILE) in the AHK-treated and systemic leaves of the treated plants were significantly higher than those observed in the control. The results suggested that AHK can induce systemic resistance in treated plants. The transcription of the NtCOI1 gene, a key gene in the JA pathway, was significantly higher in both the inoculated and systemic leaves of the AHK-treated plants compared to the control. The AHK-induced resistance to TSWV in Nicotiana benthamiana could be eliminated by VIGS-mediated silencing of the NtCOI1 gene. These results indicated that AHK can activate the JA pathway and induce systemic resistance to TSWV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric materials with superb thermal and electrical properties are highly desired for high-voltage electrical equipment and advanced electronics. Here, we propose a novel strategy to improve the performance of epoxy composites by employing boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) and γ-glycidyl ether oxypropyl sesimoxane (G-POSS) as functional fillers. The resultant ternary epoxy composites exhibit high electrical resistivity (1.63 × 1013 Ω·cm) and low dielectric loss (<0.01) due to the ultra-low dielectric constants of cage-structure of G-POSS. In addition, a high thermal conductivity of 0.3969 W·m−1·K−1 is achieved for the epoxy composites, which is 114.66% higher than that of pure epoxy resin. This can be attributed to the high aspect ratio and excellent thermally conductive characteristics of BNNSs, promoting phonon propagation in the composites. Moreover, the epoxy composite simultaneously possesses remarkable dynamic mechanical properties and thermal stability. It is believed that this work provides a universal strategy for designing and fabricating multifunctional composites using a combination of different functional fillers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity of donor kidneys greatly impacts the survival of patients with end-stage renal failure. Pigs are increasingly becoming potential organ donors but are limited by immunological rejection. Based on the human kidney organoid already established with the CHIR99021 and FGF9 induction strategy, we generated porcine kidney organoids from porcine naïve-like ESCs (nESCs). The derived porcine organoids had a tubule-like constructure and matrix components. The porcine organoids expressed renal markers including AQP1 (proximal tubule), WT1 and PODO (podocyte), and CD31 (vascular endothelial cells). These results imply that the organoids had developed the majority of the renal cell types and structures, including glomeruli and proximal tubules. The porcine organoids were also identified to have a dextran absorptive function. Importantly, porcine organoids have a certain abundance of vascular endothelial cells, which are the basis for investigating immune rejection. The derived porcine organoids might serve as materials for immunosuppressor screening for xenotransplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable sensors have garnered considerable attention due to their flexibility and lightweight characteristics in the realm of healthcare applications. However, developing robust wearable sensors with facile fabrication and good conformity remains a challenge. In this study, a conductive graphene nanoplate‐carbon nanotube (GC) ink is synthesized for multi jet fusion (MJF) printing. The layer‐by‐layer fabrication process of MJF not only improves the mechanical and flame‐retardant properties of the printed GC sensor but also bolsters its robustness and sensitivity. The direction of sensor bending significantly impacts the relative resistance changes, allowing for precise investigations of joint motions in the human body, such as those of the fingers, wrists, elbows, necks, and knees. Furthermore, the data of resistance changes collected by the GC sensor are utilized to train a support vector machine with a 95.83% accuracy rate for predicting human motions. Due to its stable humidity sensitivity, the sensor also demonstrates excellent performance in monitoring human breath and predicting breath modes (normal, fast, and deep breath), thereby expanding its potential applications in healthcare. This work opens up new avenues for using MJF‐printed wearable sensors for a variety of healthcare applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biogenic amines (BAs), water activity, pH, thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS), and nitrite were, respectively, tested in dry fermented sausage with starter cultures (37x‐6 Lactobacillus plantarum, x3‐3b L. plantarum, 30x‐11 Staphylococcuspentosans, and 37x‐8 S. pentosans), during storage of room temperature (20°C) and refrigeration storage (4°C). Tryptamine (TRM), 2‐phenylethylamine (PHE), putrescine (PUT), cadaverine (CAD), histamine (HIM), and tyramine (TYM) contents of all samples were increased storage at 20°C, and the content of TRM, PUT, CAD, and HIM of all samples storage at 20°C was higher than that storage at 4°C after 42 days. The content of BA with 37x‐6, x3‐3b, and 37x‐8 was obviously decreased at 4°C storage. The storage temperature has a significant effect on BA content (p <.05) for TYM and other BAs tested. Finally, x3‐3b, 37x‐6, and 37x‐8 should be used to produce fermented sausages on the basis of the concentration of BAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dispersibility of fillers determines their effect on the mechanical properties and anisotropy of the 3D‐printed polymeric composites. Nanoscale fillers have the tendency to aggregate, resulting in the deterioration of part performance. An in situ filler addition method using the newly developed dual‐functional toughness agents (TAs) is proposed in this work for the homogeneous dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in elastomer composites printed via multi jet fusion. The CNTs added in the TAs serve as an infrared absorbing colorant for selective powder fusion, as well as the strengthening and toughening fillers. The printability of the TA is theoretically deduced based on the measured physical properties, which are subsequently verified experimentally. The printing parameters and agent formulation are optimized to maximize the mechanical performance of the printed parts. The printed elastomer parts show significant improvement in strength and toughness for all printing orientations and alleviation of the mechanical anisotropy originating from the layer‐wise fabrication manner. This in situ filler addition method using tailorable TAs is applicable for fabricating parts with site‐specific mechanical properties and is promising in assisting the scalable manufacturing of 3D‐printed elastomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary In most sexually reproducing plants, a single somatic, sub-epidermal cell in an ovule is selected to differentiate into a megaspore mother cell, which is committed to giving rise to the female germline. However, it remains unclear how intercellular signaling among somatic cells results in only one cell in the sub-epidermal layer differentiating into the megaspore mother cell. Here we uncovered a role of the THO complex in restricting the megaspore mother cell fate to a single cell. Mutations in TEX1 , HPR1 , and THO6 , components of the THO/TREX complex, led to the formation of multiple megaspore mother cells, which were able to initiate gametogenesis. We demonstrated that TEX1 repressed the megaspore mother cell fate by promoting the biogenesis of TAS3 -derived trans -acting small interfering RNA (ta-siRNA), which represses ARF3 expression. The TEX1 protein was present in epidermal cells, but not in the germline, and, through TAS3 -derived ta-siRNA, restricted ARF3 expression to the medio domain of ovule primordia. Expansion of ARF3 expression into lateral epidermal cells in a TAS3 ta-siRNA-insensitive mutant led to the formation of supernumerary megaspore mother cells, suggesting that TEX1- and TAS3- mediated restriction of ARF3 expression limits excessive megaspore mother cell formation non-cell-autonomously. Our findings reveal the role of a small-RNA pathway in the regulation of female germline specification in Arabidopsis . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It is an important part of the permeable pavement of sponge cities. • It can be used as a permeable base. • The gradation is designed using the principle of intermittent grading. • Studying its performance by simulating a cold climate. The internal drainage of roads is one of the most important measures to prevent water accumulation, especially on rainy days. Porous cement stabilized macadam is widely used as a skeleton porous material because of its excellent performance in road bases. So far, many scholars have researched the design and pavement performance of Porous cement stabilized macadam. However, minimal research has focused on the permeability and mechanical properties of Porous cement stabilized macadam materials subjected to freeze - thawing cycles in freezing areas. In this paper, through an indoor equivalent freeze–thawing cycle test, the effect of freezing and thawing cycles on the permeability performance and mechanical properties of two test groups was studied: a wet-frozen freeze–thawing test group and a water-immersion-frozen freeze–thawing test group. The changes in the void ratio, unconfined compressive strength, indirect tension strength, and compressive modulus of the resilience after repeated freeze–thawing cycles were examined. And the effects of the freeze–thawing cycles on permeability performance and mechanical properties under different conditions were evaluated. The experiment identified a minimal freeze–thawing cycle effect on the permeability performance of the porous cement stabilized macadam materials, for which the maximum increase in void ratio did not exceed 1.3%. However, it was bring the greater impact on the mechanical properties of the porous cement stabilized macadam after freeze–thawing cycle test. Unconfined compressive strength and indirect tension strength were reduced by a maximum of 37.94% and 53.49%, respectively, and the freeze–thawing cycle under saturated water conditions exhibited the greatest influence on the properties of the porous cement stabilized macadam as well as the unconfined compressive strength of the sample subjected to the water-immersion-frozen freeze–thawing test groups and wet-frozen freeze–thawing test groups. The unconfined compressive strength of the specimen was reduced by a maximum of 15.09%, whereas the indirect tension strength was relatively decreased by 28.57%. In addition, according to the test data to fit the corresponding function equations, it is proposed targeted improvement measures to provide theoretical guidance for practical engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bidirectional labeling method was established to distinguish the proportions of HCO3− and CO2 utilization pathways of microalgae in Lake Hongfeng. The method was based on microalgae cultured in a medium by adding equal concentrations of NaH13CO3 with different δ13C values simultaneously. The inorganic carbon sources were quantified according to the stable carbon isotope composition in the treated microalgae. The effects of extracellular carbonic anhydrase (CAex) on the HCO3− and CO2 utilization pathways were distinguished using acetazolamide, a potent membrane-impermeable carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. The results show utilization of the added HCO3− was only 8% of the total carbon sources in karst lake. The proportion of the HCO3− utilization pathway was 52% of total inorganic carbon assimilation. Therefore, in the natural water of the karst area, the microalgae used less bicarbonate that preexisted in the aqueous medium than CO2 derived from the atmosphere. CAex increased the utilization of inorganic carbon from the atmosphere. The microalgae with CAex had greater carbon sequestration capacity in this karst area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabric‐based materials have demonstrated promise for high‐performance wearable applications but are currently restricted by their deficient mechanical properties. Here, this work leverages the design freedom offered by additive manufacturing and a novel interlocking pattern to for the first time fabricate a dual‐faced chain mail structure consisting of 3D re‐entrant unit cells. The flexible structured fabric demonstrates high specific energy absorption and specific strength of up to 1530 J kg−1 and 5900 Nm kg−1, respectively, together with an excellent recovery ratio of ≈80%, thereby overcoming the strength–recoverability trade‐off. The designed dual‐faced structured fabric compares favorably against a wide range of materials proposed for wearable applications, attributed to the synergetic strengthening of the energy‐absorbing re‐entrant unit cells and their unique topological interlocking. This work advocates the combined design of energy‐absorbing unit cells and their interlocking to extend the application prospects of fabric‐based materials to shape‐adaptive protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to determine whether liraglutide could effectively reduce insulin resistance (IR) by regulating Sestrin2 (SESN2) expression in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells by examining its interactions with SESN2, autophagy, and IR. L6 cells were incubated with liraglutide (10–1000 nM) in the presence of palmitate (PA; 0.6 mM), and cell viability was detected using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. IR-related and autophagy-related proteins were detected using western blotting, and IR and autophagy-related genes were analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Silencing SESN2 was used to inhibit the activities of SESN2. A reduction in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was observed in PA-treated L6 cells, confirming IR. Meanwhile, PA decreased the levels of GLUT4 and phosphorylation of Akt and affected SESN2 expression. Further investigation revealed that autophagic activity decreased following PA treatment, but that liraglutide reversed this PA-induced reduction in autophagic activity. Additionally, silencing SESN2 inhibited the ability of liraglutide to up-regulate the expression of IR-related proteins and activate autophagy signals. In summary, the data showed that liraglutide improved PA-induced IR in L6 myotubes by increasing autophagy mediated by SESN2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deposition of the histone variant H2A.Z at gene bodies regulates transcription by modifying chromatin accessibility in plants. However, the role of H2A.Z enrichment at the promoter and enhancer regions is unclear, and how H2A.Z interacts with other mechanisms of chromatin modification to regulate gene expression remains obscure. Here, we mapped genome-wide H2A.Z, H3K4me3, H3K27me3, Pol II, and nucleosome occupancy in Arabidopsis inflorescence. We showed that H2A.Z preferentially associated with H3K4me3 at promoters, while it was found with H3K27me3 at enhancers, and that H2A.Z deposition negatively correlated with gene expression. In addition, we demonstrated that H2A.Z represses gene expression by establishing low gene accessibility at +1 nucleosome and maintaining high gene accessibility at −1 nucleosome. We further showed that the high measures of gene responsiveness correlate with the H2A.Z-associated closed +1 nucleosome structure. Moreover, we found that H2A.Z represses enhancer activity by promoting H3K27me3 and preventing H3K4me3 histone modifications. This study provides a framework for future studies of H2A.Z functions and opens up new aspects for decoding the interplay between chromatin modification and histone variants in transcriptional control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-related gastrointestinal decline contributes to whole-organism frailty and mortality. Genistein is known to have beneficial effects on age-related diseases, but its precise role in homeostasis of the aging gut remains to be elucidated. Here, wild-type aging mice and Zmpste24 -/- progeroid mice were used to investigate the role of genistein in lifespan and homeostasis of the aging gut in mammals. A series of longitudinal, clinically relevant measurements were performed to evaluate the effect of genistein on healthspan. It was found that dietary genistein promoted a healthier and longer life and was associated with a decrease in the levels of systemic inflammatory cytokines in aging mice. Furthermore, dietary genistein ameliorated gut dysfunctions, such as intestinal inflammation, leaky gut, and impaired epithelial regeneration. A distinct genistein-mediated alteration in gut microbiota was observed by increasing Lachnospira abundance and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Further fecal microbiota transplantation and dirty cage sharing experiments indicated that the gut microbiota from genistein-fed mice rejuvenated the aging gut and extended the lifespan of progeroid mice. It was demonstrated that genistein-associated SCFAs alleviated tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced intestinal organoid damage. Moreover, genistein-associated propionate promoted regulatory T cell-derived interleukin 10 production, which alleviated macrophage-derived inflammation. This study provided the first data, to the authors' knowledge, indicating that dietary genistein modulates homeostasis in the aging gut and extends the healthspan and lifespan of aging mammals. Moreover, the existence of a link between genistein and the gut microbiota provides a rationale for dietary interventions against age-associated frailty. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cracking of conductive brass accessories in substations causes overheating or an open circuit, seriously affecting the safe and stable operation of the power grid system. A deep understanding of failure mechanisms could provide more safety, as well as lower down costs and save time for the power grid system, which have been seldomly involved in the literature. This paper presents a cracking analysis of a brass clamp in service for seven years that is mounted on the main transformer. The fracture morphology, chemical composition, and metallographic structure of the brass clamp were systematically analyzed, and the stress conditions were obtained by finite element simulation. The clamp exhibits transgranular brittle fracture with high oxygen content in the fracture, containing a crack propagation along the Pb particle connecting pathways, and the stress concentration was confirmed at the crack position. It is concluded that the failure was a result of the stress corrosion cracking and excessive content of Pb. Suggestions were proposed to avoid malfunction of the main transformer caused by the clamp crack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross coupling of dihaloarenes (I) with silylacetylenes (II) proceeds smoothly under modified Sonogashira conditions to chemoselectively afford bis(acetylenyl)arenes (III) in good yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inferior clay rich in CaO and Fe 2 O 3 is a typical clay with huge reserves in southwest of China, which cannot be used in traditional aluminosilicate system ceramics. To efficiently utilize the inferior clay, a method of preparing novel ceramics containing CaO and Fe 2 O 3 was put forward. In this study, effects of inferior clay proportion on properties, CaO on evolution of crystalline phases and Fe 2 O 3 on densification process were analyzed by XRF, XRD, TG-DTA and SEM-EDS combined with physical properties tests. The results showed that addition of inferior clay (from 20 to 70 wt%) significantly affected sintering temperature (from 1190 to 1130 °C). High activity CaO decomposed by carbonate transformed into anorthite and diopside at low temperature. Fe 2 O 3 promoted generation of low-temperature liquid phase, which facilitated densification process. The fired ceramics (60 wt% inferior clay) sintered at 1130 °C exhibited excellent properties with water absorption of 0.05%, linear shrinkage of 6.8% and flexural strength of 70 MPa. This batch was applied into an industrial experiment and 1160 m 2 qualified ceramics (ISO 10545-4:2004) were fabricated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comfortable thermal environment is extremely important for the enjoyment of outdoor spaces. The relationship among microclimate, thermal sensation, and human behavior is expected to provide guidelines and implications for outdoor space design and planning practice. Given that, this study aimed at a better understanding of outdoor thermal comfort and activities in the residential community in a humid subtropical area of China. This study counted the number of people staying at the outdoor space, recorded physical measurements, and collected questionnaire surveys to determine the thermal comfort and activities of the outdoor space. Analysis results confirmed that the thermal experience and expectation existed and changed people’s perceptions about the outdoor thermal environment in different seasons. The 90% acceptable physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) range affected by the local climate and thermal adaptation was 18.1–31.1 °C. The residents adapted to the outdoor spaces through adjustment of clothing, activity spaces and activity times in different seasons. These findings shed light on the optimal design of outdoor spaces for increasing the utilization rate. Sunny and shady subspaces should be considered to provide residents with more opportunities to interact with the environment for different seasons, thus improving their thermal comfort and the usage rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Nutritional and organoleptic traits are important components of the meat industry, which can affect consumers' purchasing desire and the processing of meat quality. This study evaluated the effect of feeding system on the muscle fiber characteristics, antioxidant capacity, and nutritional and organoleptic traits of goat meat. It was found that the feeding system had great effect on muscle fiber composition, antioxidant capacity, nutritional value, and organoleptic traits of goat meat, but compared with grazing on mountain range (whole area with about 40% inclination), grazing on flatland (whole area with about 0% inclination) improved the meat nutritional value and quality by altering the myofiber characteristic and antioxidative status. This study assists us in comprehending the influence of diverse feeding systems on nutritional and organoleptic traits of goat meat so as to develop more appropriate measures to retain superior quality of goat meat and provide basic data for the development of goat meat products. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding system on muscle fiber composition, antioxidant capacity, and nutritional and organoleptic traits of goat meat. Goats that grazed on flatland (whole area with about 0% inclination, FG group) and mountain range (whole area with about 40% inclination, MG group) were selected for the analysis. The results showed that grazing on flatland increased oxidized-twitch fiber percentage, the expression of the MyHC IIa gene (p < 0.001), the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p = 0.001), and radical scavenging ability (RSA) (p < 0.05); meanwhile, the MyHC IIb gene expression (p < 0.01) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p = 0.001) were decreased. Feeding system affected nutritional and organoleptic traits of goat meat, and grazing on flatland increased protein content, total content of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), pH45min, a* value, and variety of volatile flavor compounds but decreased the content of saturated fatty acid (SFA), shear force, and b* value. In addition, the key flavor substances were screened using relative odor activity value (ROAV), including hexanal, heptanal, (E)-2-octenal, octanal, nonanal, decanal, (E)-2-nonenal, and 1-octen-3-ol. Among them, 1-octen-3-ol and (E)-2-nonenal were the most contributing flavor compounds in the FG and MG groups, respectively, providing distinctive odor to goat meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linseed as a common oil crop that has been implicated in regulating the meat quality of animals. The aim of this investigation was to establish the effects of dietary linseed supplementation on carcass traits, meat quality, muscle fiber characteristics, volatile compounds and antioxidant capacity of sheep. Twenty‐four Sunit sheep were distributed into 2 groups with different diet: control (CO) fed a standard diet and linseed (LS, 8% of extruded linseed). The results showed that linseed not only increased M. longissimus thoracis (LT) increased the loin‐eye area but also decreased pH24h, L* and shear force. Meanwhile, linseed increased mRNA expression of MyHCI and MyHCIIx and decreased in cross‐sectional area (CSA) and muscle fiber diameter. In addition, linseed altered the composition of meat volatile flavor compounds, such as Z‐10‐Pentadecen‐1‐ol, pentanal, 2‐Octenal, (E)‐, decanal, butane, and 2‐heptanone. Moreover, linseed increased total antioxidative capacity (T‐AOC) activity, the mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) and catalase (CAT), decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Overall, the results suggest that linseed is an effective feed additive in improving meat quality and flavor. The underlying mechanisms for its effectiveness may be partly due to a change in muscle fiber characteristics and antioxidant capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This manuscript investigated the effects of different feeding regimes on antioxidant activity, meat quality, fatty acid composition, lipid oxidation, and volatile matter production in the longissimus thoracis muscle of Sunit sheep during postmortem aging. It was found that pasture-fed sheep had better oxidative stability, meat quality, and fatty acid composition. At the same time, aging affected the oxidative stability, meat quality, and fatty acid composition of sheep meat, which in turn had an impact on the flavor composition of sheep meat. Aging also eliminates the differences caused by different feeding regimes to a certain extent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of feeding regimes and aging time on the meat quality of sheep and to provide meat professionals with a theoretical basis that can be applied in practical production. It also accelerated the transition from traditional grazing to indoor rearing to maintain ecological balance. The effects of different feeding regimes on antioxidant activity, meat quality, fatty acid composition, lipid oxidation, and volatile matter production in the longissimus thoracis (LT) of Sunit sheep at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h postmortem were investigated. The results showed that the activity of antioxidant enzymes, tenderness, water retention, and percentage of unsaturated fatty acids were significantly higher in the pasture-fed sheep (PF) than in the concentrate-fed sheep (CF) (p < 0.05). During postmortem aging, antioxidant activity, water retention, and the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids decreased in the PF and CF (p < 0.05), while malondialdehyde (MDA) content, the proportion of saturated fatty acids, and the content of flavor substances resulting from fat oxidation increased. After 24 h of LT muscle aging, the pH and shear force of the meat started to increase and the color stabilized. The differences between shear force values and lipid volatile flavor substance content of sheep meat under different feeding regimes disappeared with increasing aging time. PF had better oxidative stability and fatty acid composition. Postmortem aging changed the oxidative stability of sheep meat, thus affecting meat quality and fatty acid composition and consequently meat flavor composition, while aging also eliminated to some extent the differences caused by feeding regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ctDNA methylation level is abnormally high in cancer patients. • Methylation burden is clearly related to TMB, MSI and PD-L1. • ctDNA methylation is related to the type, frequency and number of mutations. The aim of this paper is to explore the correlation between circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) methylation and mutations and its value in clinical early cancer screening. We performed target region methylation sequencing and genome sequencing on plasma samples. Methylation models to distinguish cancer from healthy individuals have been developed using hypermethylated genes in tumors and validated in training set and prediction set. We found that patients with cancer had higher levels of ctDNA methylation compared to healthy individuals. The level of ctDNA methylation in cell cycle, p53, Notch pathway in pan-cancer was significantly correlated with the number of mutations, and mutation frequency. Methylation burden in some tumors was significantly correlated with tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI) and PD-L1. The ctDNA methylation differences in cancer patients were mainly concentrated in the Herpes simplex virus 1 infection pathway. The area under curve (AUC) of the training and prediction sets of the methylation model distinguishing cancer from healthy individuals were 0.93 and 0.92, respectively. Our study provides a landscape of methylation levels of important pathways in pan-cancer. ctDNA methylation significantly correlates with mutation type, frequency and number, providing a reference for clinical application of ctDNA methylation in early cancer screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hybrid particles are synthesized from boron nitride and barium titanate. • Composite films prepared by incorporating hybrid particles into cyanoethyl cellulose. • The composite exhibits a high dielectric constant of ∼ 44. • High thermal conductivity and breakdown strength are also achieved in the composite. Polymer dielectrics hold a great potential to be used in the field of power equipment and advanced electronics. However, their limited thermal conductivity fails to satisfy the imperative demand for heat dissipation in practical applications. Herein, we report a novel strategy to prepare multifunctional cyanoethyl cellulose matrix composite films by employing a hybrid filler of boron nitride nanosheets and barium titanate nanoparticles. The resultant composite films simultaneously exhibit high thermal conductivity (∼10.54 W/m·K), high dielectric constant (∼44), high electrical breakdown strength (>302 kV/mm), and low dielectric loss (∼0.01). The findings in this work enable broader application of polymer dielectrics in impulse power and energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical anisotropy greatly influences the applications of materials printed by additive manufacturing techniques such as Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) and selective laser sintering. However, the mechanical anisotropy of MJF-printed fibre–reinforced polymer composites has not been well understood. In this work, the effect of the fibre length on the mechanical performance of MJF-printed glass fibre–reinforced polyamide 12 (GF/PA12) composites is systematically investigated. Both experimental and simulation results confirm that longer fibres are in favour of fibre alignment in the powder spreading direction. The composite parts with longer fibres exhibit higher porosity. When GFs with an average length of 226 μm are added, the ultimate tensile strength and tensile modulus of the composites measured in the powder bed spreading direction are remarkably improved by 51% and 326%, respectively, as compared with those of neat PA12 specimens. This work provides guidance for the printing of other high-strength fibre–reinforced polymer composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, it is proposed to combine multiple plasmon resonances and Fabry–Perot-like resonance to realize broadband transmission polarization conversion metasurface (TPCM). The broadband TPCM was designed using cross-shaped resonators and two metal gratings. It is shown that the multiple plasmon resonances can greatly expand the polarization conversion bandwidth, and the Fabry–Perot-like resonance can greatly improve its efficiency, the efficient broadband TPCM is realized through their combination. The broadband TPCM of different frequency bands can be obtained by changing the structure parameters. A set of parameters were selected for simulation and experiment to verify the design. The simulation results show that the TPCM can convert linearly polarized waves into its cross-polarized waves with 2 dB bandwidth of 8.1–26.8 GHz and the PCR is greater than 98%. As the oblique incident angle is up to 45°, the cross-polarization transmission is still greater than − 2 dB in the frequency range of 17.0–26.4 GHz, greater than − 3 dB in the frequency range of 8.0–15.8 GHz, and the PCR is more than 97%. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]