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Genetic factors are one of the most important causes of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). ESX1 is an X-linked testis-biased expressed gene, and a potential biomarker for testicular sperm retrieval in NOA patients, yet few systematic studies have investigated its association with NOA. Here, we performed selected exonic sequencing in a large cohort of Chinese males, and four novel missense mutations (including one compound mutation), one novel synonymous mutation of ESX1 unique to NOA patients were identified. We analyzed the effects of ESX1 mutations on cyclin A degradation and cell cycle progression by immunoprecipitation assay and flow cytometry, and found that the compound mutant p.[P365R; L366V] ESX1 compromised the stabilizing effect of ESX1 on polyubiquitinated cyclin A, thereby causing the failure of M phase arrest in cells. Further studies showed that the deleterious effect of the compound mutations on ESX1 protein function was attributed to p.P365R but not p.L366V alteration. The novel ESX1 mutation p.P365R might confer high risk for NOA in Han Chinese population, probably via affecting cell cycle control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid charging of lithium-ion batteries has become a major bottleneck for the large-scale deployment of electric vehicles. In this article, a charging optimization method is proposed for lithium ion batteries based on their aging characteristic, which takes charging time and temperature rise into consideration. An electric-thermal battery model is utilized to estimate the battery temperature during charging. A search for the optimal charging current pattern is performed using a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm combined with fuzzy reasoning. The experiments are conducted on batteries with different aging states to verify the proposed method. Besides, the proposed method is compared with traditional constant current-constant voltage (CC-CV) charging method. Results show that the proposed charging strategy has advantages on maximum temperature rise maintenance and charging speed improvement for aged batteries with unknown aging state. The proposed charging method provides a way for aged batteries charging considering charging time and temperature rise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • In situ growth of porous WO 3 /FeWO 4 hierarchical structure is originally obtained. • The distribution of p-n heterojunctions is dependent on the content of MIL-101. • The optimal operating temperatures to n-butanol can be reduced from 220 to 25 °C. • Efficient heterojunction interfaces gain surface electronic structure modulation. • A strategy of novel room temperature n-butanol-sensing performance is presented. This study originally reports the in-situ construction of porous WO 3 /FeWO 4 ribbon-like hierarchical composites with unique and intense heterojunction interface behavior and the enhanced adsorption and carrier transport capability for effectively detecting n-butanol at room temperature. The introduction of different adding amounts of MIL-101 plays the key role of the morphological evolution of WO 3 -based microstructures with the well-distributed nanoparticles in situ growth on the surface by a facile electrospinning and subsequent calcination process. Compared with pristine WO 3 , a sharp and useful reduction of the optimal operating temperature from 220 to 25 °C can be observed as the Fe component increasing, mainly owing to the inverted p-type gas sensitive response caused by the controllable variable of FeWO 4 phase in the multiple effective WO 3 -FeWO 4 heterojunctions. The optimal WO 3 /FeWO 4 composites can display the highest response of 12.3 and a relatively short response/recovery times of 110/140 s to 100 ppm n-butanol at 25 °C, together with the superior gas selectivity, repeatability, humidity and long-term stability. Density functional theory (DFT) simulation is employed for verifying the significant adsorption interaction and charge transfer between n-butanol molecule and WO 3 /FeWO 4. Regular distribution of WO 3 -FeWO 4 heterojunction interfaces can not only determine the collaborative modulation of electronic structures, but also provide the efficient surface/interface transport mechanism for MIL-101 induced one-dimensional (1D) hierarchical ribbons. Actually, the integrated gas-sensitive components based on WO 3 /FeWO 4 composites exhibit the rapid response characteristic under room temperature condition and provide a friendly strategy of optimizing the practical detection of ppm-level n-butanol for other inorganic heterogeneous sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous double-channel α-Fe 2 O 3 /SnO 2 heterostructures with tunable surface/interface transport mechanism have been originally fabricated by the electrospinning and subsequent calcination process. With the increase of Sn content from 0 to 5 mol%, the morphology of α-Fe 2 O 3 -based materials changed from porous fibers to ribbons with both sides curled inward. Double-channel structure can provide more active sites and enhanced adsorption capacity with the large specific surface areas of 233.2 m2/g. The optimal α-Fe 2 O 3 /SnO 2 composites exhibit the highest response value (32.38) and fastest response/recovery times (33/58 s) than those of other samples to 100 ppm N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 360 °C. Meanwhile, good cycling and long-term stability and high gas selectivity of the composites are conductive to the feasible detection to DMF under high temperature (≥360 °C) condition. The enhanced gas-sensitive properties of α-Fe 2 O 3 /SnO 2 composites at high temperature are closely related to phase composition, unique morphology, efficient n-n heterojunction and accelerated surface/interface charge transfer process. Significantly, the porous double-channel α-Fe 2 O 3 /SnO 2 composite is expected to be a potential candidate for DMF vapor detection in the dye or pesticide industry to prevent DMF explosion under high temperature conditions in the future. [Display omitted] • Porous double-channel α-Fe 2 O 3 /SnO 2 heterostructures is gained by electrospinning. • The special structure can provide more active sites and enhanced adsorption capacity. • Superior gas-sensing properties to DMF are obtained at high temperature (≥360 °C). • Fe/Sn-0.03 shows the highest response (32.38) and low detection limit (1 ppm) to DMF. • Sensing behavior depends on surface/interface multiple electronic transport routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The copper-modified catalyst could effectively avoid the metal leaching, and the residual metal content in the final product well bellowed the FDA-imposed limit for metal impurities. • The catalyst was designed to be easily synthesized and capable of repeated use in continuous reactions without significant loss of activity. • The catalyst was stable under various challenging conditions, including high temperatures, exposure to strong reductant or oxidant. • The catalyst was still suitable in a broader range of reactions, including indoles, anilines, and thiophenols. • The dispersion of copper species in silica microspheres reduced the intensity of reaction and improved the specificity of insertion reaction. Carbenes are key precursors for various transformations and are applied broadly in the synthesis of complex molecules and drug. Typically, such transformations require expensive metal and complex ligands, leading to a vigorous reaction system and trace metal residues. Herein, we report copper-modified silica microspheres (SM-b) as heterogeneous catalyst in the insertion reaction of diazo compounds with carbazole and silanes. Under this strategy, the optimal SM-b catalyst can prevent the reaction from being too vigorous and can be reused in continuous reactions. Furthermore, gram-scale and catalyst recycling reactions have been proven as the potential industrial applications of the SM-b catalysts. Inductively coupled plasma analysis revealed a residual copper content of only 6.25 ppm in the reaction solution and no detectable copper in the final product, indicating that the residual metal content of the product is far below the FDA-imposed limit of metal impurities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. polysaccharide (AKP) has been shown to have hypoglycemic activity. In this study, the effects of AKP on fecal microbiota and metabolites in healthy subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were investigated using an in vitro simulated digestive fermentation model. AKP were isolated and purified from Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. Its main component AKP1 (AKP-0 M, about 78 % of AKP) has an average molecular weight of 3.25 kDa with monosaccharide composition of rhamnose, arabinose, and galactosamine in a molar ratio of 1: 1.25: 2.88. Notably, AKP fermentation might improve the intestinal microbiota of T2DM patients by the enrichment of some specific bacteria rather than the increase of microbial diversity. The addition of AKP specifically enriched Bifidobacteriaceae and weakened the proportion of Escherichia-Shigella. Moreover, AKP also increased the levels of short-chain fatty acids without affecting total gut gas production, suggesting that AKP could have beneficial effects while avoiding flatulence. Metabolomic analysis revealed that ARP fermentation caused changes in some metabolites, which were mainly related to energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Importantly, ARP fermentation significantly increased the level of myo-inositol, an insulin sensitizer. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between specific microbiota and differential metabolites. This study has laid a theoretical foundation for AKP application in functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A control strategy of a space thermionic nuclear reactor is proposed. • The cascade control system is designed for electric power and coolant temperature. • The frequency domain analysis method is used to tune the control parameters. • The bumpless switching of control system is studied to realize the wide rang power regulation. Nuclear reactors are gaining increasing attention for use in spacecraft owing to their long life and high power-density. Because the dynamic characteristics and operation strategy of a space nuclear reactor (SNR) are different from those of a traditional reactor, its control strategy must be investigated to design an appropriate control system. In this study, the dynamic characteristics of the time and frequency domains are analyzed. Based on this analysis, a control strategy is proposed. The cascade control method is applied to the design of control systems, including electric power and coolant temperature control systems. The controller parameters are tuned using the frequency-domain analysis method. To verify the control performance, step and ramp disturbances of the electric power and coolant temperature setpoints are introduced, and comprehensive comparisons are made. Additionally, the startup process is simulated; it reveals that the cascade control systems perform better compared with the traditional proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control. Moreover, the control performance of the wide-range power regulation is smooth and steady. Thus, the control strategy and cascade control system designed in this study can be applied to the thermionic nuclear reactors in space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Overview of ultra-trace-element analysis by ICP–MS/MS in metallogeny studies. • First review of in situ dating of β-decay systems by LA–ICP–MS/MS. • Different modes that provide interference-free conditions of ICP–MS/MS. • Future applications of (LA)–ICP–MS/MS in metallogeny. Inductively coupled plasma–tandem mass spectrometry (ICP–MS/MS) has rapidly established itself as a method for interference-free trace-element and isotope ratio analyses and has broad applications in geochemistry and geochronology, which are essential for understanding ore formation processes and the source of fluids and metals. Connect ICP–MS/MS to a laser ablation (LA) system, in situ interference-free trace-element data from ore and gangue minerals can be obtained, providing an effective vector approach to mineral exploration. LA–ICP–MS/MS also provides an unprecedented method for in situ dating of β-decay radiogenic isotope systems, which have isobaric interferences between daughter and parent isotopes that mean their ratios cannot be measured using a single quadrupole ICP–MS. In this review, we elucidate the main differences between single quadrupole ICP–MS and ICP–MS/MS, and describe the different approaches (on-mass and mass-shift) that allow interference-free analyses. We review advances in ICP–MS/MS methodology for trace-element (mainly REEs, noble metals and halogens) analyses and laser-based in situ U–Pb (with 204Pb correction), 87Rb–87Sr, 176Lu–176Hf, and 187Re–187Os dating of minerals based on publications from January 2012 to July 2023. We also speculate on future applications of the LA–ICP–MS/MS technique in metallogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in developing composite hydrogels with superior mechanical and conductive properties. In this study, triple-network (TN) cellulose nanofiber hydrogels were prepared by using cellulose nanofiber as the first network, isotropic poly(acrylamide- co -acrylic acid) as the second network, and polyvinyl alcohol as the third network via a cyclic freezing-thawing process. The strong (9.43 ± 0.14 MPa tensile strength, (445.5 ± 7.0)% elongation-at-break), tough (15.12 ± 0.14 MJ/m3 toughness), and conductive (0.0297 ± 0.00021 S/cm ionic conductivity) TN cellulose nanofiber hydrogels were effectively created after being pre-stretched in an external force field, cross-linked by Fe3+ and added Li+. The produced composite TN cellulose nanofiber hydrogels were successfully used as a flexible sensor for real-time monitoring and detecting human movements, highlighting their potential for wearable electronics, medical technology, and human-machine interaction. Acrylamide (PubChem CID: 6579); Acrylic acid (PubChem CID: 6581); Ammonium persulfate (PubChem CID: 6579); N , N ′-methylene bisacrylamide (PubChem CID: 17956053); Sodium bromide (PubChem CID: 253881); Sodium hydroxide (PubChem CID: 14798); Sodium hypochlorite (PubChem CID: 23665760); Sodium chlorite (PubChem CID: 23668197); 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxide (PubChem CID: 2724126); Polyvinyl alcohol (PubChem CID: 11199); Lithium chloride (PubChem CID: 433294); Iron nitrate nonahydrate (PubChem CID: 129774236) [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fat composition and structure of infant formulae and human milk is analyzed. • Main method and characteristics of simulated human milk fat are reviewed. • The fat composition and structure have an impact on fat digestion and metabolism. • Limitations and future developments of simulated human milk fat were discussed. Differences in the composition and structure of lipid droplets in infant formula (IF) and human milk (HM) can affect the fat digestion of infants, leading to high risk of metabolic diseases during later stages of growth. Recently, interest in simulating HM fat (HMF) has gradually increased due to its beneficial functions for infants. Much research focuses on the simulation of fatty acids and triacylglycerols. Enzymatic combined with new technologies such as carbodiimide coupling immobilization enzymes, solvent-free synthesis, and microbial fermentation can improve the yield of simulated HMF. Furthermore, fat modification in next-generation IF requires attention to the impact on the structure and function of milk fat globules (MFG). This review also summarizes the latest reports on MFG structure simulation, mainly related to the addition method and sequence of membrane components, and other milk processing steps. Although some of the simulated HMF technologies and products have been applied to currently commercially available IF, the cost is still high. Furthermore, understanding the fat decomposition of simulated HMF during digestion and assessing its nutritional effects on infants later in life is also a huge challenge. New process development and more clinical studies are needed to construct and evaluate simulated HMF in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform flower-like α-Fe 2 O 3 architectures with self-assembled core-shell nanorods are constructed and successfully prepared via the facile process. The concentration of Fe salt plays a great significance for morphological evolution from nanorods to self-assembled microflowers. Flower-like α-Fe 2 O 3 /ZnFe 2 O 4 consisting of α-Fe 2 O 3 core and ZnFe 2 O 4 shell nanorods are derived from FeOOH/ZIF-8 precursors. The detailed studies reveal that the tunable growth of ZIF-8 nanoparticles on three-dimensional FeOOH microflowers at room temperature and the availble calcination regulation are responsible for the formation of core-shell Fe 2 O 3 /ZnFe 2 O 4 composites. The highest response value of flower-like α-Fe 2 O 3 /ZnFe 2 O 4 architectures to 100 ppm triethylamine (TEA) has been improved to 141 at 280 °C, which is calculated to be 6.2 times compared with flower-like α-Fe 2 O 3 architectures (22.7). The enhanced gas-sensing mechanism of α-Fe 2 O 3 /ZnFe 2 O 4 composites can be attributed to the typical microflowers structures, the large specific surface area, the effective heterojunctions between α-Fe 2 O 3 core and ZnFe 2 O 4 shell, and the improved electron transfer process. Image 1 • α-Fe 2 O 3 /ZnFe 2 O 4 composites are derived from FeOOH/ZIF-8 precursors. • Flower-like α-Fe 2 O 3 /ZnFe 2 O 4 composites consists of core-shell nanorods. • α-Fe 2 O 3 /ZnFe 2 O 4 composites have superior sensing responses for TEA. • Novel sensing mechanisms of α-Fe 2 O 3 /ZnFe 2 O 4 composites are proposed. • Core-shell heterojunctions adjust electron transfer and potential barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-way decisions (3WDs) with decision-theoretic rough sets (DTRSs) are a new method for solving problems of risky decision. In DTRSs, it is crucial to the determination of the loss function. Pythagorean fuzzy (PF) sets are a more powerful mathematical tool than intuitionistic fuzzy sets for dealing with uncertainty and inaccuracy. Although the researchers have introduced Pythagorean fuzzy numbers (PFNs) into the loss function, study on the combination of 3WDs and PF covering is still blank. In view of this, we develop 3WDs with DTRS based on PF covering. Firstly, by using the concepts of PF β -covering and PF β -neighborhood, we construct a Pythagorean fuzzy β -covering decision-theoretic rough set (PFCDTRS) model as per Bayesian decision procedure. Then, some of interesting properties of the expected loss related to the model are investigated. Secondly, based on the membership degree and non-membership degree of PFNs, four methods to address the expected loss expressed in the form of PFNs are established and the corresponding 3WDs are also derived. Finally, we develop a corresponding algorithm for deriving 3WDs with PFCDTRS, and then, an example is provided to validate the feasibility and reliability of 3WDs with PFCDTRS. Compared the proposed methods with the existing methods, we conclude that the proposed Methods 3 and 4 are superior to the existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Choosing diethylene glycol as the reducing agent can make graphene better composite with glass frit. • When the mass ratio of graphene oxide to lead-free glass powder is 0.05, the crystalline silicon solar cell has the best photoelectric performance. • Due to the sheet-like structural characteristics of graphene, the gaps left by the shrinkage of the silver paste are well filled after printing and sintering. The lead-free glass frit is prepared by melt-quenching method, and then the graphene oxide (GO) was sufficiently mixed with the glass frit. Finally, by a reduction reaction, the lead-free graphene-glass frit composites is obtained. When the reducing agent selected is diethylene glycol, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis shows that graphene is evenly compounded in the glass frit. When the composites are put into use to the front contact electrode of the crystalline silicon solar cells, the mass ratio of graphene oxide to the lead-free glass frit is preferably 0.05. At this time, due to the sheet-like structural characteristics of the graphene, the gap left by the shrinkage of the silver paste is well filled after the printing and sintering, so that the surface of the silver grid line is the smoothest, dense, and the tensile force with the silicon substrate is also the largest. The series resistance Rs of the battery is significantly lowered, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency E ff of the solar cell is improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-valine is an essential amino acid and an important amino acid in the food and feed industry. The relatively low titer and low fermentation yield currently limit the large-scale application of L-valine. Here, we constructed a chromosomally engineered Escherichia coli to efficiently produce L-valine. First, the synthetic pathway of L-valine was enhanced by heterologous introduction of a feedback-resistant acetolactate acid synthase from Bacillus subtilis and overexpression of other two enzymes in the L-valine synthetic pathway. For efficient efflux of L-valine, an exporter from Corynebacterium glutamicum was subsequently introduced. Next, the precursor pyruvate pool was increased by knockout of GTP pyrophosphokinase and introduction of a ppGpp 3′-pyrophosphohydrolase mutant to facilitate the glucose uptake process. Finally, in order to improve the redox cofactor balance, acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase was replaced by a NADH-preferring mutant, and branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase was replaced by leucine dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis. Redox cofactor balance enabled the strain to synthesize L-valine under oxygen-limiting condition, significantly increasing the yield in the presence of glucose. Two-stage fed-batch fermentation of the final strain in a 5 L bioreactor produced 84 g/L L-valine with a yield and productivity of 0.41 g/g glucose and 2.33 g/L/h, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest L-valine titer and yield ever reported in E. coli. The systems metabolic engineering strategy described here will be useful for future engineering of E. coli strains for the industrial production of L-valine and related products. • Systems metabolic engineering for L-valine production in E. coli W3110. • Heterologous introduction of feedback-resistant alsS from Bacillus subtilis. • Cofactor dependence modified from NADPH to NADH for oxygen-limiting fermentation. • Two-stage aerobic-oxygen limiting fermentation was developed. • 84 g/L L-valine with a yield of 0.41 g/g glucose was produced in 5 L bioreactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali treatment is a widely used strategy to create mesopores for microporous zeolites to decrease the diffusion limitation in micropores. However, many of the micropore losses existed due to the uncontrollable destruction of framework. In this paper, a series of mesoporous ZSM-5 with well-maintained micropores was synthesized through induced desilication strategy. To induce the diffusion of alkali solution for the homogenizing desilication and mesopore formation, abundant and uniform small mesopores were firstly built for ZSM-5 by protective desilication in tetrapropylammonium hydroxide solution. The pore structure and acidity of the obtained ZSM-5 were characterized by XRD, TEM, N2 physisorption, NH3-TPD and Py-IR. Through induced desilication, the external surface area of obtained ZSM-5 increased from 42 m2 g−1 of parent ZSM-5 to 148 m2 g−1 and only 17% of micropore surface area was sacrificed, which was far lower than 37% of the loss in traditional NaOH treatment. Meanwhile, the strong acid sites were well preserved and the external acid sites were reduced. Compared with the sample treated by NaOH solution, the obtained catalyst exhibited higher catalytic stability and aromatics, especially PX selectivity. Good regenerated performance with long catalytic lifetime and high liquid hydrocarbon yield could also be found for the obtained catalyst. The strategy proposed in this paper is simple and ingenious in tailoring the porosity since it only relies on the desilication method, which is different from the usual coupling of dealumination and desilication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the engineering problem whereby the main roof fracture of deep coal seam still induces frequent rockburst after soft direct roof buffering, a UDEC numerical model was established based on the actual geological conditions of a mine, and the influences of the length of hanging roof and periodic weighting step on the stress in front of coal wall were discussed. The dangerous area at most risk of rockburst in the working face was monitored by using core-drilling, the risk of a rockburst was predicted by classification, and countermeasures were taken against all levels of rockburst. The results show that the longer the hanging roof length, the higher the stress in front of coal body; However, when the coal body changes from an elastic state of stress to a plastic state of stress, the stress will suddenly decrease, the range of variation of stress under static load is larger than that under dynamic load, which indicates that shock wave attenuates the stress in front of the coal body. The larger the periodic weighting step distance, the higher the stress in front of coal body, and the greater the increase of stress. However, compared with the attenuation effect of dynamic load, when increasing the hanging roof distance, the attenuation effect of dynamic load under the condition of increasing the periodic weighting step distance is greater. Dynamic load or static load will increase the stress in front of coal wall, which will lead to a rockburst. The techniques of large-diameter borehole pressure relief, coal seam water injection, and pressure relief blasting can be used to control the high-stress area monitored, ensuring the safe mining of the working face, so that coal resources can be extracted efficiently, and the rate of utilization of coal resources can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a 20–44-GHz image-rejection receiver in GlobalFoundries 22-nm fully-depleted silicon-in-insulator (FD-SOI). The receiver includes a wideband LNA with a three-pole high-pass rejection filter coupled to a double-balanced mixer with a wideband LO driver and an intermediate frequency (IF) amplifier. At an IF of 16 GHz, the image band at dc −12 GHz is filtered by the LNA response and is greater than 75 dB over the entire 20–44-GHz range. The receiver results in a gain of 24–28.5 dB and a noise figure (NF) of 3.3–5 dB at 20–44 GHz and achieves an error vector magnitude (EVM) of 3.6%–3.7% at the carrier frequency of 28 and 39 GHz with 2-Gbaud symbol rate at 64-QAM waveform. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first wideband image-rejection receiver that covers the entire millimeter-wave 5G band based on GF 22-nm CMOS FD-SOI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the seventh most common site for malignant tumours worldwide leading to a high risk of death. NKAP is a conserved nuclear protein that has critical roles in the development, maturation, and functional acquisition of T cells, iNKT cells, and cancers. But the function and underlying mechanism of NKAP in RCC is still unknown. Knockdown of NKAP by siRNA interference (siNKAP) was used to explore the roles of NAKP in human RCC cells. Here, we found that siNKAP strongly inhibited the proliferation and motility of Ketr‐3 and 786‐0 cells and induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression of anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl2 in the siNKAP group was strongly decreased, while the expression of pro‐apoptotic proteins Bax, cleaved Caspase‐3, and cleaved Caspase‐9 was significantly increased. Finally, to identify the potential mechanisms, we detected related proteins of the AKT/mTOR signalling pathway by western blot assay. We found that siNKAP significantly inhibited the expression of cyclin D1 and the phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR. The findings for the first time reveal that the AKT/mTOR signalling pathway is involved in the oncogenic role of NKAP in RCC, which provides an important basis for exploring the molecular regulation mechanism of RCC. Significance of the study: There is an urgent need to study the molecular mechanisms involved in RCC to promote the development of early diagnosis and more effective treatment options. This research provides an important basis for exploring the accurate regulatory mechanism of NKAP in RCC and a novel perspective to find the potential utility of NKAP inhibitors for RCC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a packaged SiGe BiCMOS reflectometer for 0.01–26-GHz two-port vector network analyzers (VNAs). The reflectometer chip is composed of a resistive bridge coupler and two wideband heterodyne receivers for coherent magnitude and phase detection. In addition, a high-linearity receiver channel is designed to accommodate ~20 dBm of RF input power to the reflectometer. External sources are used to provide stimulus over the entire bandwidth, and a high-linearity shunt 50- $\Omega $ switch is placed at the input of each reflectometer chip to provide a matched condition for better measurement accuracy. The measured dynamic range (DR) of the heterodyne receiver is 129±3 dB at 0.01–26 GHz at an IF resolution bandwidth (RBW) of 10 Hz. The reflectometer chip is packaged on a low-cost printed circuit board (PCB) and connectorized for repeatable measurements. Several passive and active device-under-test (DUTs), such as filters and amplifiers, are measured in single- and dual-port complex $S$ -parameter setup at 0.01–26 GHz. The single-chip reflectometer results in excellent agreement with commercially available test equipment and with minimal magnitude and phase difference. Several definitions (mean deviation and error vector) are used to quantify the measurement accuracy. A measured $S_{21}$ of −80 dB is obtained using high-rejection filters. An in-depth DR analysis of possible limiting factors in the measurement setup is also presented. This article shows that silicon-based highly integrated reflectometers can be used in low-cost VNAs with excellent DR and accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal solitary waves (ISWs) always happen in marginal seas, where stable stratification exists. ISWs may carry large energy when they propagate and affect marine engineering constructions such as marine drilling platforms. Previous studies, including a large number of mooring observations and laboratory experiments, show the speed of ISWs will change when they pass by shelf slopes. Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) theory explain this phenomenon. In the paper, we use a laboratory experiment and a numerical model experiment to verify this theory. In the laboratory experiment, we injected two layers of water of different densities in a tank to simulate marine stratification and make ISWs. We use a CCD camera to record the whole process. The camera can take 16 photos per second. In the numerical experiment, we input the same original conditions as the laboratory one. The results of 18 different original conditions show the dimensionless factor d plays a key role in deciding the amplitudes and shapes of ISWs. The main conclusion also contains that small-amplitude waves match well with KdV theory while mKdV is better for largeamplitude waves. Whether the laboratory experiment or numerical experiment shows results with a high agreement. In future studies, we may use a numerical model with higher resolution to get analysis about phase speed and energy of ISWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the problem of bipartite output consensus of heterogeneous linear multi-agent systems with antagonistic interactions. The signed graph is directed and structurally balanced. With the assumption that only the leader can access the output of exosystem, two fully distributed adaptive protocols without using the state information of exosystem are designed based on the states and the observers of states, respectively. Numerical simulation demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper investigates a composite neural dynamic surface control (DSC) method for a class of pure‐feedback nonlinear systems in the case of unknown control gain signs and full‐state constraints. Neural networks are utilized to approximate the compound unknown functions, and the approximation errors of neural networks are applied in the design of updated adaptation laws. Comparing the proposed composite approximation method with the conventional ones, a faster and better approximation performance result can be obtained. Combining the composite neural networks approximation with the DSC technique, an improved composite neural adaptive control approach is designed for the considered nonlinear system. Then, together with the Lyapunov stability theory, all the variables of the closed‐loop system are semiglobal uniformly ultimately bounded. The infringements of full state constraints can be avoided in the case of unknown control gain signs as well as unknown disturbances. Finally, two simulation examples show the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinopathy has become one of the major factors that lead to blindness worldwide. Although many clinical therapies are concerned about such disease, most of them focus on symptoms alleviation. In this study, we aim to investigate whether coculture retinal stem cells (RSCs) with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transfected with angiogenin‐1 (Ang‐1‐BMSCs) affects the damaged retinal tissue of oxygen‐induced retinopathy of prematurity (OIR‐ROP) mice. After OIR‐ROP mouse model establishment, Ang‐1‐BMSCs, RSCs, and OIR‐ROP retinal tissues were cocultured in a a transwell chamber. RSCs proliferation and the expression of Ang‐1, insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) in the supernatant of RSCs, as well as β‐tubulin and protein kinase C (PKC) expression were evaluated. Finally, the repair of OIR‐ROP mice retinal tissues was observed by injecting Ang‐1‐BMSCs + RSCs. In the OIR‐ROP mouse model, RSCs cocultured with OIR‐ROP retinal tissues could be induced to differentiate into cells expressing β‐tubulin and PKC and promote the expression of Ang‐1 and IGF‐1. coculture of Ang‐1‐BMSCs further enhanced the proliferation and differentiation of RSCs by promoting the expression of Ang‐1 and IGF‐1. Coculture of RSCs + Ang‐1‐BMSCs induced differentiation of Ang‐1‐BMSCs through interaction among intercellular factors and restored the damaged retinal tissue of OIR‐ROP mice. Collectively, our study provided evidence that coculture of Ang‐1‐BMSCs and RSCs could promote the proliferation and differentiation of RSCs and improve the treatment for the damaged retina tissue of OIR‐ROP mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Power lithium‐ion batteries have been widely utilized in energy storage system and electric vehicles, because these batteries are characterized by high energy density and power density, long cycle life, and low self‐discharge rate. However, battery charging always takes a long time, and the high current rate inevitably causes great temperature rises, which is the bottleneck for practical applications. This paper presents a multiobjective charging optimization strategy for power lithium‐ion battery multistage charging. The Pareto front is obtained using multiobjective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) method, and the optimal solution is selected using technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method. This strategy aims to achieve fast charging with a relatively low temperature rise. The MOPSO algorithm searches the potential feasible solutions that satisfy two objectives, and the TOPSIS method determines the optimal solution. The one‐order resistor‐capacitor (RC) equivalent circuit model is utilized to describe the model parameter variation with different current rates and state of charges (SOCs) as well as temperature rises during charging. And battery temperature variations are estimated using thermal model. Then a PSO‐based multiobjective optimization method for power lithium‐ion battery multistage charging is proposed to balance charging speed and temperature rise, and the best charging stage currents are obtained using the TOPSIS method. Finally, the optimal results are experimentally verified with a power lithium‐ion battery, and fast charging is achieved within 1534 s with a 4.1°C temperature rise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D Tantalum disulphide (TaS 2) has been widely studied as a typical transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with excellent optical, chemical and electrochemical properties. However, there is little research on the comprehensively characterizing the interaction between light and the 2D TaS 2 material. In this work, we studied the nonlinear optical response of the high quality few-layer TaS 2 nanosheets and its all-optical applications. Our research shows that 2D TaS 2 nanosheet has a broadband characteristic and exhibits a strong Kerr nonlinear optical response based on the spatial self-phase modulation (SSPM). More importantly, by taking advantage of the highly nonlinear optical response of the2D TaS 2 , typical all-optical phenomena, such as all-optical switching and nonreciprocal light propagation, have been demonstrated experimentally. This work can be viewed as an important demonstration of a TMDCs-based application prototype in nonlinear photonics, which could potentially indicate an essential step toward miscellaneous TMDCs-based passive photonic devices (all-optical diodes, all-optical switches, etc.) • Spatial self-phase modulation of 2D TaS 2 was demonstrated firstly. • Broadband and strong Kerr nonlinear optical response of 2D TaS2 were confirmed. • All-optical switching has been realized with 2D TaS 2. • Nonreciprocal light propagation and all-optical diode were designed with 2D TaS 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses a neural dynamic surface control (DSC) problem for a class of nonlinear systems in the case of full-state constraints and unknown disturbances. Incorporating an improved DSC method and the neural networks (NNs) approximation with the minimization parameter method, an improved neural DSC approach is constructed for the studied system. By introducing a novel barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) in the design steps, the issue of full-state constraints existing in the system can be solved. The highlighting features of the proposed control method are that only one online estimation parameter should be updated, and the same stability property as the conventional backstepping method can be reserved. The transgressions of full state constraints never occur in the case of disturbances. By the Lyapunov stability analysis, all the signals of the closed-loop system are ultimately bounded. Finally, two simulation examples display the effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core-shell structural Ni(OH) 2 @MnO 2 electrodes with widened potential window and great stability are prepared through a two-step strategy, in which freestanding Ni(OH) 2 discs grow on nickel-foam as core and wrinkled MnO 2 coatings are electrodeposited as shell. The MnO 2 shell successfully inhibits the O 2 evolution process at the high oxidation potential so that the potential window of Ni(OH) 2 @MnO 2 electrode is up to 1 V. Besides, the Ni(OH) 2 @MnO 2 electrode presents a high specific capacity of 642.3 C g−1 at 1 mV s−1 and a long cyclic life without capacity fading, which is a breakthrough against the poor stability of reported Ni(OH) 2 /MnO 2 electrodes Remarkably, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) constructed by Ni(OH) 2 @MnO 2 electrode and activated carbon electrode delivers a high energy density of 66.7 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 485.7 W kg−1 under potential window of 1.7 V. Furthermore, the ASC exhibits an energy density of 17.8 Wh kg−1 at a high power density of 14571.4 W kg−1 and a capacitance retention of 101.4% after 15,000 cycles, showing great rate capability and stable cyclic performance. • A novel Ni(OH) 2 /MnO 2 composite with core-shell structure is synthesized. • The Ni(OH) 2 /MnO 2 electrode shows a high specific capacity of 642.3 C g−1 at 1 mV s−1. • The asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) presents enhanced energy density (66.7 Wh kg−1). • The ASC possesses a capacitance retention of 101.4% after 15,000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a wideband 22‐37 GHz low noise amplifier (LNA) realized in a 0.25 μm SiGe BiCMOS technology. The design incorporates additional noise matching between the cascode transistors to minimize the noise figure (NF) degradation. The second stage incorporates an active balun architecture with a tail inductor to improve the common‐mode rejection ratio (CMRR). To extend the bandwidth, a capacitive feed forward path is added at the second stage. The LNA presents a minimum in‐band NF of 2.3 dB from 22‐37 GHz. The achieved 3 dB‐gain bandwidth is larger than 15 GHz, with a peak gain of 20.8 dB at 28 GHz. The output 3rd‐order intercept point (OIP3) is +22.9 dBm for a total power consumption of 94 mW. The area of the core circuit is 0.35 × 0.47 mm2. To the author's knowledge, the LNA shows the best overall performance compared to the existing silicon‐based LNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanite is a common accessory mineral that preferentially incorporates considerable amounts of U and light rare earth elements in its structure, making it a versatile mineral for in situ U‐Pb dating and Sm‐Nd isotopic measurement. Here, we present in situ U‐Pb ages and Sm‐Nd isotope measurement results for four well‐known titanite reference materials (Khan, BLR‐1, OLT1 and MKED1) and eight titanite crystals that could be considered potential reference material candidates (Ontario, YQ‐82, T3, T4, TLS‐36, NW‐IOA, Pakistan and C253), with ages ranging from ~ 20 Ma to ~ 1840 Ma. Results indicate that BLR‐1, OLT1, Ontario, MKED1 and T3 titanite have relatively homogeneous Sm‐Nd isotopes and low common Pb and thus can serve as primary reference materials for U‐Pb and Sm‐Nd microanalysis. YQ‐82 and T4 titanite can be used as secondary reference materials for in situ U‐Pb analysis because of their low common Pb. However, internal structures and mineral inclusions in YQ‐82 will require careful selection of suitable target domains. Pakistan titanite is almost concordant with an age of 21 Ma and can be used as a reference material when dating Cenozoic titanite samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulative researches have demonstrated the critical functions of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the progression of malignant tumors, including bladder cancer (BC). Our previous studies showed that lnc-DILC was an important tumor suppressor gene in both liver cancer and colorectal cancer. However, the role of lnc-DILC in BC remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we for first found that lnc-DILC was downregulated in human bladder cancer tissues. Lnc-DILC overexpression suppressed the proliferation, metastasis and expansion of bladder cancer stem cells (CSCs). Mechanically, lnc-DILC suppressed BC cells progression via STAT3 pathway. Special STAT3 inhibitor S3I-201 diminished the discrepancy of growth, metastasis and self-renewal ability between lnc-DILC-overexpression BC cells and their control cells, which further confirmed that STAT3 was acquired for lnc-DILC-disrupted BC cell growth, metastasis and self-renewal. Taken together, our results suggest that lnc-DILC is a novel bladder tumor suppressor and indicate that lnc-DILC inhibits BC progression via inactivating STAT3 signaling. • We for first time found lnc-DILC was downregulated in bladder cancer tissues. • We for first time found that lnc-DILC inhibits BC cells growth, metastasis and self-renewal. • We found that STAT3 was the downstream of lnc-DILC in BC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Probabilistic prediction model for chloride diffusion coefficient was proposed. • Probabilistic characteristics for chloride diffusion coefficient were presented. • Probabilistic calibration method for deterministic prediction models was developed. In order to provide an efficient way to describe the probabilistic characteristics of chloride diffusion coefficient, a probabilistic prediction model which involves both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties was developed for chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete in terms of material parameters. The influences of important material parameters including water-to-binder ratio as well as contents of fly ash and slag on chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete were investigated based on 295 sets of experimental data measured by the rapid chloride migration method. Then a deterministic prediction model for chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete was developed based on the stepwise regression method by taking into account the influences of the above material parameters. Subsequently, a probabilistic prediction model which involves both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties was developed for chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete based on the Bayesian theory and the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method (MCMC) method. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed probabilistic prediction model was validated by comparing with experimental data and traditional deterministic prediction models. Analysis results show that the proposed probabilistic prediction model not only provides a rational approach to describe the probabilistic characteristics of chloride diffusion coefficient by means of the probability density function and the cumulative distribution function, but also provides an efficient way to calibrate the accuracy of traditional deterministic prediction models based on the confidence interval and the confidence level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This protective layer is constructed by TiO 2 nanosheets and N-doped carbon dots. • The TiO 2 layer can immobilize water molecules and prevent the side reactions. • NCDs with abundant functional groups provide the zincophilic nucleation sites. • The Zn-TiO 2 /NCDs||MnO 2 full cells show an excellent reversibility at 2 A/g. Uncontrolled Zn dendrites growth and sustained corrosion originating from severe interfacial reactions are the major shortcomings of Zn metal electrodes in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). In order to overcome these obstacles, we designed a protective coating layer to stabilize the zinc anode and regulate the Zn deposition simultaneously. This hybrid layer (TiO 2 /NCDs) is constructed by mesoporous TiO 2 nanosheets and N-doped carbon dots (NCDs), which is prepared by a solvothermal growth under the control of NCDs. On one hand, the TiO 2 layer immobilize water molecules effectively, preventing them from the parasitic reactions with Zn electrodes. On the other, NCDs with abundant functional groups (–OH, –COOH, –NH 2) provide the zincophilic nucleation sites to endow a small deposition overpotential of 28 mV and guide Zn deposition into a petal structure. Owing to mesoporous protective coating layer, the Zn-TiO 2 /NCDs anode presents a low voltage hysteresis of 48 mV and a prolonged cycling lifespan of 1500 h at 5 mA cm−2 and 2.5 mAh cm−2. Moreover, aqueous ZIBs assembled with the Zn-TiO 2 /NCDs anode and the α-MnO 2 cathode show outstanding reversibility and good cycling stability, whose capacity retention is up to 90% after 1000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Effects of alkaline stress on metabolome of broomcorn millet grains were revealed. • 175 nonvolatile and 33 volatile metabolites that were differentially accumulated. • Alkaline stress boosted phenolic acid and flavonoid accumulation. • Organic acids and amino acids were enhanced by alkaline stress. Broomcorn millet (BM) is a future smart food. However, no information is available on the metabolism of BM grains under alkaline stress. In this study, the effects of alkaline stress on nonvolatile and volatile metabolites in the BM grains of two varieties (S223 and T289) were investigated through metabolomics approaches. All 933 nonvolatile metabolites and 313 volatile metabolites were identified, with 114 and 89 nonvolatile metabolites and 16 and 20 volatile metabolites accumulating differentially under normal vs. alkaline stresses of S223 and T289, respectively. The results indicated that alkaline stress altered phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, flavone and flavonol, valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis, as well as arginine, proline, tryptophan, and ascorbate metabolism. The effects of alkaline stress were not identical between the two varieties, which could lead to variations in active substance content. These results provide valuable information for further studies on food chemistry and the functional food development of BM grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The space nuclear reactor (SNR) is an important energy pattern for spacecrafts due to its high power density, long life and stabilization. A linear dynamic model is necessary to analyze the dynamics and design the appropriate control system analytically. A simplified nonlinear model based on conservation equations including point reactor kinetics model, thermal-hydraulic model, coolant model and heat pipe and radiator model was constructed. The state-space linear model was derived using perturbation theory. To verify the linear model, comprehensive comparisons were made in both time domain and frequency domain. The dynamic characteristics with respect to reactor power and reactivity were obtained in frequency and time domains. It is concluded that the reactor is an unstable system with a large time delay and strong nonlinearity at different power levels. This study provides solid foundation for future control system design. • A state-space model of a space thermionic nuclear reactor is derived and established. • The state-space model is verified with nonlinear model in time domain and frequency domain. • The dynamic characteristics of the reactor are simulated and analyzed in frequency and time domains. • The dynamic analysis provides solid foundation for future control system design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the issue of MV imputation has become one of the research hotspots in the field of data quality, since the missing values (MVs) are prevalent in real-world datasets and bring challenges to advanced data analytics algorithms. To impute the MVs, most existing approaches directly derive one estimation for each MV, which is categorized as the single imputation (SI). However, the SI ignores the uncertainty of the MVs, and thereby usually derive unsatisfactory imputation results compared to the Multiple imputation (MI). To extract the uncertainty of the MVs, the MI algorithms derive multiple candidate estimations for each MV. Nevertheless, existing MI approaches are few due to the complicated data-handling process. Accordingly, in this paper, by exploring the Variational Auto-Encoder (VAE) model, we propose a new MI approach, namely MIVAE (Multiple Imputation based on Variational Auto-Encoder) to impute MVs for the tabular data. In MIVAE, we first add a corrupted input layer (where the synthetic MVs are introduced) adjacent to the original input layer to make the model capable of MV issue. Then, we obtain multiple rather than single candidate estimations for each data sample from the posterior distribution of the latent variables learned by our designed model. In such way, the multiple imputation is effectively implemented where the uncertainty of the MVs are extracted perfectly. Next, to obtain satisfactory imputation results, we add a data analysis layer at the end of the network to integrate multiple candidate estimations intelligently. Finally, the experimental results over four real-world datasets demonstrate that MIVAE achieves significantly higher imputation accuracy compared to existing solutions, and MIVAE are capable of handling both numerical and categorized tabular data. For example, the imputation accuracy based on MIVAE improves up to about 40% and 30% compared with PMM and MIWAE (which are the state-of-the-art MI approach) over the CropMapping dataset, respectively. Moreover, we train a MIVAE model over three datasets containing MVs, respectively. By leveraging the trained MIVAE, the classification performance over the imputed data is similar to that over the complete data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐B*55:131 differs from HLA‐B*55:02:01:01 by one nucleotide in exon 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adaptive dynamic surface control (DSC) approach using fuzzy approximation and nonlinear disturbance observer (NDO) for uncertain nonlinear systems in the presence of input saturation, output constraint and unknown external disturbances is proposed in this paper. The issue of input saturation is addressed by introducing a lower bound assumption on the approximation function of saturation. The output constraint is handled by introducing an appropriate barried Lyapunov function. The nonlinear disturbance observer (NDO) is employed to estimate the unknown unmatched disturbances. It is manifested that the ultimately bounded convergence of all the variables in the closed-loop system is guaranteed and the tracking error can be made farely small by tuning the design parameters. Finally, two simulation examples illustrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the currently used wood adhesives contain chemicals that are harmful to human health and the environment. Increasing environmental and human health concerns have made the development of safe biobased adhesives a priority. In this study, two plant proteins, i.e., zein and wheat gluten, were used to develop wood adhesives and their performance was compared through simple lap shear tests and plywood flexural/internal bond tests in dry and wet conditions. To increase their bond strength, cellulose nanofibers were added to create nanocomposite adhesives and glutaraldehyde was also used to crosslink the proteins. Single-lap shear test was performed to measure the bond strength of different adhesive formulations and determine the optimal formulations and processing conditions. Fractured bond surfaces were studied using optical observation and scanning electron microscopy to determine bond failure mechanisms. Thermal and chemical properties of the adhesives were evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. The bond strength of both zein and gluten adhesives was significantly increased by the addition of the cellulose nanofibers and/or glutaraldehyde, although the two adhesives responded differently to the two reinforcement materials due to the different solvents used to prepare the adhesives. The bond failure mode changed from cohesive failure of the adhesive to structural failure of the adherent for the gluten adhesive containing CNFs and glutaraldehyde. Potential zein and gluten adhesive formulations were used to produce plywood samples and their performance was assessed under different conditions. The formulations with industrial potential were discovered through this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe protocols for highly reproducible analysis of Lu and Hf contents and Hf isotopic composition at sub-nanogram levels in geological samples by MC-ICP-MS. Powdered samples were spiked with a 176Lu–180Hf enriched tracer and completely digested using conventional HF, HNO3 and HClO4 acid dissolution protocols. Fluoride salts were dissolved during a final H3BO3 digestion and chemical purification was performed using a single Eichrom Technologies Ln resin. All measurements were carried out on a Neptune Plus MC-ICP-MS employing an Aridus II desolvator. In order to demonstrate the robustness of the proposed protocol, six rock reference materials (RMs) were analysed, spanning various rock types with very low Lu and Hf contents (from nanogram to sub ng g−1 levels). The results are in good agreement within uncertainty with published values for the analysed RMs. Relative to other approaches and low-blank levels, this protocol has great potential for Lu–Hf analysis of low volume (100–500 mg) samples in geochemistry, cosmochemistry and environmental sciences (e.g., peridotite, garnet, meteorites, dust, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between women’s social class and their levels of self- and other-objectification. Two online studies comprising of multiple questionnaires were conducted: Study 1 examined the association between the social class (both objective and subjective) of 198 non-student British women and their self-objectification levels, while Study 2 turned towards the relationship between social class and other-objectification among 82 non-student British women. Our results indicated no apparent relationship between social class and each of the relevant objectification measures. As the first paper on the topic of class and objectification, it appears that there is no relationship observed between the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mid−infrared (MIR) nonlinear optical (NLO) material is critical to laser frequency−conversion technology. Although the main commercial MIR NLO crystals (AgGaS 2 AgGaSe 2 and ZnGeP 2) are practically used, they still have some intrinsic drawbacks, so that it is of great scientific significance to discover new materials with good MIR NLO performances. Among the main systems of chalcogenides to explore MIR NLO crystals, metal thiophosphates and selenophosphates are competitive for their structural diversities and strong covalent P−Q bonds. Here, Ag 4 P 2 Se 6 (P 2 1 2 1 2 1) was selected to evaluate the second−order harmonic generation (SHG) property. As a result, the SHG response with phase−matching ability is about 0.5 times that of AgGaS 2 at 2.05 μ m in the particle range of 210–270 μ m, and the laser damage threshold (LDT) is larger than that of AgGaS 2. Remarkably, this compound is of low melt temperature of 642 °C with a congruent melting character, also possesses excellent chemical stability, facilitating its further crystal growth and fabrication. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Representing ternary Ag-based selenophosphates, SHG effect of Ag 4 P 2 Se 6 was measured. • Ag 4 P 2 Se 6 possesses a congruent melting character (642 °C) and chemical stability. • Ag 4 P 2 Se 6 displays a moderate SHG response but larger LDT than that of AGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we investigate the finite-time consensus control problem for heterogeneous nonlinear multi-agent systems (MASs) subject to nonlinear uncertainties. In the case of a connected and undirected communication graph, a new finite-time consensus control algorithm for leaderless MASs is presented. The designed consensus protocol can guarantee that the steady state error of every two agents converge to zero in a finite-time. Compared with some existing studies, in which the upper bounds of uncertainties are assumed to be some positive constants, the upper bound assumption conditions of uncertainties are relaxed to be some positive functions. Finally, a numerical example and a practical model are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed consensus control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Terpyridine-Zn(Ⅱ) (ZnCl 2 L) complexes were synthesized via simple and non-expensive method. • This ZnCl 2 L complex shows high sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of pyrophosphate. • Branched rolling circle amplification was based on circular DNA template and Phi29 DNA polymerase. • Signal amplification was achieved to obtain an excellent detection limit. • The label-free and homogeneous nature offer a viable platform for real sample miRNA profiling. Abstract A simple fluorescence biosensor for rapid and sensitive target microRNA (miRNA) quantification by branched rolling circle amplification (BRCA) is developed in this work. Target miRNA functions as primer to recognize and hybridize with a circle DNA template, initiating rolling circle amplification (RCA) by Phi29 DNA polymerase. The introduction of reverse primers complementary to the RCA products enables isothermal BRCA, in which a large amount of deoxynucleotide (dNTP) were consumed and same number of pyrophosphates (PPi) were produced. In this study, a simple and non-expensively synthesized terpyridine-based Zn(II) complex is utilized as fluorescent probe for selective detection of pyrophosphate (PPi) over dNTP. The PPi generated in this isothermal amplification process efficiently chelates to this terpyridine-Zn(II) complex, forming a highly fluorescent complex, terpyridine-Zn(II)-PPi, whose fluorescence intensity is closely related with the initial target miRNA concentration. The utilization of the isothermal BRCA amplification and direct monitoring of the DNA polymerization by-product, i.e. PPi, for non-label fluorescence detection of miRNA greatly simplify this sensor procedure. This sensor shows a linear response between the fluorescence intensity and the target miRNA concentration from 50 to 500 fM with a detection limit of 25 fM. This much-simplified sensor offers a sensitive and easy-to-use platform for miRNA quantification, and hence may significantly enhance the utilisation of miRNAs as biomarkers in drug discovery, clinical diagnosis and life science research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the influential spreaders is an important issue in understanding and controlling the spreading processes in social networks. The key to the influential spreader identification problem is how to evaluate the spreading ability of the nodes. Centralities such as degree, semi-local centrality, betweenness, closeness, k-shell are usually used as evaluation metric. However, we observe that these centralities are sensitive not only to the spreading probability, but also to the network structure. We are not sure which centrality is efficient when we face a new network. In this paper, we propose a robust method named Adjustable multi-Hops Spreading (AHS). In AHS, we refine the influence of a node into direct influence and indirect influence, and then integrate them with a adjustable parameter. The experimental results in both real social networks and artificial networks show that AHS outperforms other centralities in effectiveness, robustness and the distinguish ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we focused on the hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO structures with varied morphologies by finely adjusting the ratio of water to glycol, indicating the polarity of the solution affects the growth habit of the crystal. It showed that the precise control in growth rates of different ZnO crystal faces in mixed solution is the key factor to control the morphologies of ZnO samples. Compared to pure ZnO, the response value of the hemispherical ZnO/Au to 100 ppm triethylamine (TEA) has been improved to 104.8 at the operating temperature of 260 °C, and the response and recovery time are 5 and 2 s, respectively. The enhancing mechanism of as-prepared ZnO/Au hemispheres can be ascribed to the combination of the tuning of surface electron transfer, microstructures, and the electronic and chemical sensitization of Au nanoparticles, along with the formation of Schottky junction between Au nanoparticles and ZnO hemispheres. The excellent sensing performance of ZnO/Au composite hemispheres enables them to function as promising materials for actual application in the monitoring and detecting of TEA. Graphical abstract The morphological evolution with tunable growth habits of ZnO sensor substrates and gas sensing properties and mechanism of ZnO/Au composites were presented. Image Highlights • The ratio of water to glycol plays the key role for ZnO morphological evolution. • ZnO microstructures are tunable and responsible for gas sensing properties. • Hemispherical ZnO/Au composites exhibit excellent gas performance to TEA. • The mechanisms were discussed in details for hemispherical ZnO/Au sensors. • These sensors can be used for actual monitoring and detecting application of TEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a comprehensive description of chondrocranial development before, during and after larval metamorphosis in the tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis, a commercially valuable flatfish in China. Samples were collected at regular intervals ranging from 1 to 23 days post hatching (dph). Based on observations of cleared and double‐stained specimens and images from sections stained with safranin O–fast green, major morphological events during early development were described. No cartilaginous structure was visible at hatching. From 2 dph onwards, cartilaginous structures such as the trabecular bar and some elements of the mandibular, hyoid and branchial arches appeared. At this time also, cartilaginous structures of the neurocranium started to form. Hypertrophic chondrocytes could be observed in many splanchnocranium elements at 5 dph. The start of ossification was indicated by alizarin red stain visible at 14 dph. At 17 dph, most of the cartilaginous skeleton was ossified. Soon after, the right eye started to migrate and pass through a slit beneath the dorsal‐fin base and above the skull. Metamorphosis was complete at 20 dph, at which time the dorsal‐fin base cartilage extended onto the anterior region of the head. Meanwhile, extremities of the hyoid and branchial arch elements remained cartilaginous. At 23 dph, endochondral ossification of the splanchnocranium was nearly complete. Unlike previous observations of other Pleuronectiformes, our study indicates that endochondral ossification of C. semilaevis skull cartilage occurs before metamorphosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • SnS 2 /ZIF-8 derived porous flower-like SnO 2 /ZnO heterostructures were obtained. • New self-assembled SnS 2 flower-like microstructures were used as templates. • SnO 2 /ZnO composites exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity to TEA at 200 °C. • Tunable morphology and n–n heterojunctions play a key role for gas sensing property. • The method can be used for obtaining other heterostructures with novel shapes. Abstract SnO 2 -based flower-like sensitive materials derived from the self-assembled SnS 2 microstructures with more active areas and less agglomeration represent an alternative option for new generation of gas sensors. Meanwhile, the introduction of ZIF-8 for semiconductor surface functionalization is expected to get multi-functional hybrid materials with synergistic effects of individual components. In the present work, SnS 2 /ZIF-8 derived porous flower-like SnO 2 /ZnO heterostructures have been synthesized by a facile template method and the subsequent heat-treatment process. Beside the uniform morphology with tunable composition and size distribution, the attractive findings are focused on the enhanced triethylamine (TEA) gas-sensing properties of the obtained composites. SnO 2 /ZnO heterostructures show an obvious improvement in TEA gas sensing performance at the operating temperature of 200 °C, giving a response of about 17.7–50 ppm TEA, which was about 2.2 times higher than that of the sensors based on pure SnO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorescence switching device with excellent anti-fatigue performance based on the electrochromic material Prussian blue and fluorophore CdTe quantum dots was realized. The fluorescence switching device ultimately demonstrated a high fluorescence contrast, short response time and superior anti-fatigue property. Notably, the fluorescence contrast remains unchanged after 133 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The length of berry lag phase determines the overall time needed for grape berries to get mature, but the functional gene networks in this phase have not been well documented. In order to reveal the origin of the somatic variation and regulation mechanism of grape berry development and ripening, an early ripening mutant of Vitis vinifera with a shorter lag phase was used for transcriptome profiling. The RNA-seq results revealed that 2021 and 2470 genes were up- and down-regulated, respectively, in the early ripening mutant compared to the wild type. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the up-regulated genes belonged to several pathways and metabolisms, among which the most significant constituents were for biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and flavonoid biosynthesis. The down-regulated genes were involved in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, plant hormone signal transduction, and photosynthesis. Many transcription factors including WRKYs, AP2-EREBPs, and MYBs were also differentially expressed, suggesting their regulatory roles in berry development and ripening. The transcriptomic comparisons suggested that the prominent up-regulation of an Arabidopsis SnRK3.23 , CIPK23 or PKS17 homolog could have driven the early ripening phenotype in the mutant by activating the downstream VvABF2 transcription factor in the ABA signaling. At the same time, ethylene and auxin were also involved in this process. As a result, the major ripening related genes, e.g., MYBA1 , MYBA2 , VvUFGT , GRIP22 , and STS were activated in the mutant. The results are of importance for future studies on manipulation of grape berry ripening time. Highlights • Together, 2021 and 2470 genes were up- and down-regulated in the mutant, respectively. • The prominent up-regulation of SnRK3.23 homolog activates VvABF2 transcription factor in the ABA signaling. • At the same time, ethylene and auxin were also involved in this process. • The major ripening related MYBA1 , MYBA2 , and VvUFGT etc. were activated in the mutant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]