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The power balance of the tie-line is crucial to the stable operation of a community microgrid. This paper presents a power fluctuation smoothing method of the microgrid tie-line based on virtual energy storage technology. Firstly, the structure characteristics and the energy coupling mode of the combined heat and power system is systematically analyzed. Considering the operating characteristics of heat pumps, micro gas turbines, and buildings' heat storage characteristics, a virtual energy storage model is established. Secondly, the target power of the tie-line is determined with the storage state indexes into consideration. Subsequently, a power allocation strategy which takes into account the correction of equipment state mapping set is proposed to allocate the tie-line power fluctuations to heat pumps, micro gas turbines, and supercapacitors. Simulation results show this method can realize the coupling coordination between heat and power energy and ensure the smoothing effect of the power fluctuations. Meanwhile, the control flexibility of the combined heat and power system can be enhanced, and the microgrid's operating economy can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lengthened ion pathway in restacked 2D materials greatly limits the electrochemical performance of practically dense film electrodes (mass loading >10 mg cm−2). Typical strategies such as the insertion of nanomaterials and 3D‐structure design is expected to reduce the volumetric capacitance of Ti3C2Tx electrodes, diminishing the dominating advantage of Ti3C2Tx over other electrode materials. Here, a novel, facile, and controllable H2SO4 oxidation method is developed for alleviating the restacking issue of Ti3C2Tx film with few electrochemically inactive side‐products such as TiO2. A hierarchical ion path "highway" in Ti3C2Tx film is fabricated with porous structure, atomic‐level increased interlayer spacing, and reduced flake size (through probe‐sonication). As a result, ultra‐high rate performance is obtained with high volumetric capacitance. For a ≈1.1 µm thick Ti3C2Tx film, capacitance retention of 64% is obtained (208 F g−1/756 F cm−3) when the scan rate is increased from 5 to 10,000 mV s−1. Even at higher mass loadings exceeding 12 mg cm−2 (48 µm thickness), the rate capability is still comparable to unoptimized Ti3C2Tx electrodes with low mass loading (1 mg cm−2). Consequently, a high areal capacitance of ≈3.2 F cm−2 is achieved for pathway‐optimized thick Ti3C2Tx film, which is of great significance for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Navigation in primates is generally supported by cognitive maps. Such a map endows an animal with navigational planning capabilities. Numerous methods have been proposed to mimic these natural navigation capabilities in artificial systems. Based on self-navigation and learning strategies in animals, we propose in this work a place recognition strategy for brain-inspired navigation. First, a place recognition algorithm structure based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) is introduced, which can be applied in the field of intelligent navigation. Second, sufficient images are captured at each landmark and then stored as a reference image library. Simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) is used to segment each image into superpixels with multi-scale viewpoint-invariant landmarks. Third, highly representative appearance-independent features are extracted from these landmarks through CNNs. In addition, spatial pyramid pooling (SPP) layers are introduced to generate a fixed-length CNN representation, regardless of the image size. This representation boosts the quality of the extracted landmark features. The proposed SLIC-SPP-CNN place recognition algorithm is evaluated on one collected dataset and two public datasets with viewpoint and appearance variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies reveal that glycerol monolaurate (GML) is regarded as an effective feed supplement in the production of broilers; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. The current study aimed to investigate how GML affected production performance and meat quality in yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 528 chicks were randomly assigned into four groups for a 56-day feeding trial. The control group received a basal diet, and the treated groups fed basal diet containing 300 (GML300), 450 (GML450), and 600 (GML600) mg/kg GML. Results revealed that dietary GML notably increased the average daily feed intake (p < 0.05) and body weight in broilers during 28–56 days of age and improved the duodenum and jejunum morphology. Dietary GML increased the total cholesterol in broilers (p < 0.05), but the hepatic, abdominal, and muscular fat deposition, as well as muscle fatty acids, were not affected. The flavor amino acids and total amino acids in muscle of GML300 and GML 450 groups were notably (p < 0.05) increased. GML supplementation selectively increased the colonization of an unclassified genus of Lachnospiraceae family and Bifidobacteriaceae, which were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the increase of muscle amino acids. Meanwhile, dietary GML notably increased short chain fatty acids content and the microbial DNA abundance of carbohydrate, amino acids and lipid metabolism pathway in cecum. These findings demonstrated that dietary GML improved performance, intestinal morphology, and muscle amino acids in broilers mainly by manipulating community, function and metabolites of gut microbiota. Key points: • GML improves performance, muscle composition, and feed efficiency in broilers. • GML alters gut microbiota community, function, and microbial metabolites in broilers. • Improvements of broilers by GML closely associated with gut microbiota alteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A probe, MITO-TPE, was developed for imaging mitochondrial SO2 with good selectivity, high sensitivity, and a fast response time. Cell imaging indicated that SO2-induced oxidative stress may cause damage to cells through O2˙− bursting. MITO-TPE has here been used to image the misregulation of SO2 levels in mitochondria during heat stroke for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graph convolutional network (GCN) has led to state-of-the-art performance for structured data. The superior performance would be partly due to the convolutional operations that operate over local neighborhoods. However, the distant long-range dependencies in data are still challenging to capture since it requires deep stacks of convolutional operations. Moreover, missing links in structured data might further hurt the performance. This paper introduces non-locality augmented graph convolution blocks into GCN to capture long-range or even disconnected dependencies. Specifically, we propose a dictionary-based non-locality encoding approach in which the non-local information is encoded by both graph convolution and dictionary-based implicit convolution. Unlike previous non-local approaches, our non-local block does not rely on the exhaustive computation of the relationship of data pairs. Thus, it is suitable for GCN, which typically models a large number of data samples. What's more, the proposed non-local blocks could be embedded into arbitrarily GCN architectures. We demonstrate the efficacy of our non-local block on four benchmark datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influence maximization (IM) has shown wide applicability in various fields over the past few decades, e.g., viral marketing, rumor control, and prevention of infectious diseases. Nevertheless, existing research on IM primarily focuses on ordinary networks with pairwise connections between nodes, which fall short in the representation of higher-order relations. Influence maximization on hypergraphs (HIM) has received limited research attention. A novel evaluation function, which aims to evaluate the spreading influence of selected nodes on hypergraphs, i.e., expected diffusion value on hypergraph (HEDV), is proposed in this work. Then, an advanced greedy-based algorithm, termed HEDV-greedy, is proposed to select seed nodes with maximum spreading influence on the hypergraph. We conduct extensive experiments on eight real-world hypergraph datasets, benchmarking HEDV-greedy against eight state-of-the-art methods for the HIM problem. Extensive experiments conducted on real-world datasets highlight the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed methods. The HEDV-greedy algorithm demonstrates a marked reduction in time complexity by two orders of magnitude compared to the conventional greedy method. Moreover, HEDV-greedy outperforms other state-of-the-art algorithms across all datasets. Specifically, under conditions of lower propagation probability, HEDV-greedy exhibits an average improvement in solution accuracy of 25.76%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wound healing is a complex process aiming at repairing the damaged skin. MiR-23b has been reported to be upregulated during wound healing. In this study, we intended to explore the working mechanism of miR-23b during wound healing. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the enrichment of miR-23b and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP3) in HaCaT cells. Scratch wound assay was carried out to measure the migration of HaCaT cells. The target of miR-23b was predicted by microT-CDS software, and the combination was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. The abundance of TIMP3 protein was detected by Western blot assay. The abundance of miR-23b was positively related to the concentration and time of transforming growth factor β1 treatment in HaCaT cells. MiR-23b promoted the migration of keratinocytes. TIMP3 was a direct target of miR-23b and was negatively regulated by miR-23b. TIMP3 inhibited the migration of keratinocytes. MiR-23b accelerated the migration of keratinocytes by downregulating the abundance of TIMP3. MiR-23b promoted the migration of keratinocytes partly through reducing the enrichment of TIMP3. MiR-23b might be a promising target for the treatment of wound healing–associated diseases. • The abundance of miR-23b is positively connected with the concentration and time of TGF-β1 treatment, and it promotes the migration of keratinocytes. • TIMP3 is a direct target of miR-23b. • MiR-23b/TIMP3 axis is proposed to regulate the migration of keratinocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax japonicus var. major is a rare and endangered Chinese traditional medicinal plant that simultaneously forms two types of rhizomes (Swp: Swollen part and Slp: Slender part). However, the mechanism controlling rhizome enlargement in P. japonicus var. major is poorly understood. In this study, the mechanism of rhizome enlargement was investigated by comparing the differences of internal anatomy, hormone contents, starch content and molecular transcription levels between Swp and Slp of in P. japonicus var. major. Illumina sequencing generated 1,333 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were differentially expressed between the two samples. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, diterpenoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction pathway were significantly enriched. Additionally, starch determination results showed that starch content in the swollen part was significantly higher than that in the slender part. Furthermore, hormone determination results showed that gibberellin A1 (GA1), gibberellin A53 (GA53), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and jasmonic acid (JA) contents were negatively correlated, while cis-zeatin (cZ) content was positively correlated with rhizome enlargement. The results of this research screened out several DEGs and potential candidate genes for rhizome enlargement, which lays the foundation for the identification of expanded genes in Panax species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual-recognition probes based on one reacting site inevitably encounter competition problems. Here, NPClA, a two-photon fluorescent probe based on a dual-site response for SO2/HOCl, was developed and applied in imaging mitochondrial stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently reported that Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 10-like protein (ARHGEF10L) activated Rho GTPases as guanine nucleotide exchange factor to stimulate liver tumorigenesis. The present study continued to explore the effect of ARHGEF10L on the tumorigenic process of gastric cancer. This study detected increased expression of ARHGEF10L in GC tissues compared to peritumoral tissue samples. SGC7901 cells with ARHGEF10L overexpression showed increased cell proliferation, cell migration, and tube-like structure formation abilities, as well as increased expression of GTP-RhoA, ROCK1, and phospho-Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin. ARHGEF10L overexpression downregulated the expression of E-cadherin and upregulated the expression of N-cadherin and Slug, indicating an activation of EMT in the transfected cells. RNA-sequencing assay detected an increased expression of Heat shock 70 kDa protein 6 in the SGC7901 cells overexpressing ARHGEF10L. The above results suggest that ARHGEF10L expression can stimulate gastric tumorigenesis by prompting RhoA-ROCK1-phospho-ERM signaling, inducing EMT and increasing HSPA6 expression. High expression of ARHGEF10L in gastric tumor stimulated tumor cell proliferation and migration by activating GTP-RhoA-ROCK1-phospho-ERM signaling and inducing EMT. ARHGEF10L: rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 10-Like1; ERM: Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin; EMT: epithelial–mesenchymal transition; GC: gastric cancer; HSPA6: Heat shock 70 kDa protein 6; RhoA: Ras homolog gene family member A; RhoGEFs: Rho family guanine nucleotide exchange factors; ROCK1: Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase-1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is one of the most important cruciferous leafy vegetable crops and is widely cultivated all over the world. Its yield and quality are often affected by diseases such as cabbage black rot. 2R is a cabbage line that is newly resistant to black rot, which was created by radiation mutagenesis and backcross transfer. However, the underlying molecular bases and mechanisms of early-phase response of different resistant cabbage lines against black rot infections remain unknown. Here, we completed a comprehensive transcriptome profile analysis between resistant (2R) and susceptible (2T) cabbage lines after black rot inoculations. The results showed that the typical V-shaped lesions were found in inoculated plants after 15 days, and the symptoms in the susceptible cabbage lines (2T) were significant severe than that of the resistant 2R line. A total of 10,030 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, of which 384 DEGs were found to overlap in resistant and susceptible cabbage lines after black rot infections, suggesting those DEGs may play more important roles in cabbage early responses to black rot infections. We ranked the expression levels of DEGs among the four comparison sets of resistant and susceptible cabbage lines and, interestingly, found the top ten differential expression genes contained NBS-LRR genes, protein kinase genes and expansin genes. These findings provide a comprehensive differential transcriptome profile between resistant and susceptible cabbage lines and indicate some genes play key roles in the regulation of early response to black rot infections, which will help to understand the molecular resistance of cabbage against these infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe drug eruption (SDE), a common skin disease, becomes dangerous when it occurs in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Forty patients including HIV+ SDE+ (n = 15), HIV− SDE+ (n = 15) and HIV+ SDE− (n = 10) subjects were enrolled in our study. All HIV+ patients were at acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) stage. Serum levels of TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐4, IL‐13, IL‐6, CXCL9, and CCL17 were quantified by ELISA. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) loads were quantified by RT‐qPCR. CD4, CD8, Th1, Th2, TNF‐α‐CD8, and IFN‐γ‐CD8 T cell populations were measured by flow cytometry. Levels of biochemical indexes in HIV+ SDE+ patients were significantly different from in HIV− SDE+ patients (P <.05). EBV and CMV viral loads were significantly higher in HIV+ SDE+ patients, but not in HIV− SDE+ patients (P <.05). Inflammatory cytokines TNF‐α and IFN‐γ were significantly elevated in HIV+ SDE+ patients (P <.05). Th2/Th1 populations and TNF‐α secreting or IFN‐γ secreting CD8+ T cells, were significantly up‐regulated in HIV+ SDE+ patients compared to HIV− SDE+ patients (P <.05). Conversely, the CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly down‐regulated in HIV+ SDE+ patients compared to HIV− SDE+ patients (P <.05). HIV infection confers distinct clinical phenotypes and immune inflammatory mechanisms in SDE. Sustained EBV and CMV activation, unbalanced Th2/Th1 and overactive CD8+ T cells mediating a pro‐inflammatory response could act as distinct mechanisms in the aggravation of SDE in HIV+ SDE+ patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

tRNA molecules, which contain the most abundant post-transcriptional modifications, are crucial for proper gene expression and protein biosynthesis. Methylation at N1 of adenosine 58 (A58) is critical for maintaining the stability of initiator methionyl-tRNA (tRNAiMet) in bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic tRNAs. However, although research has been conducted in yeast and mammals, it remains unclear how A58 in plant tRNAs is modified and involved in development. In this study, we identify the nucleus-localized complex AtTRM61/AtTRM6 in Arabidopsis as tRNA m1A58 methyltransferase. Deficiency or a lack of either AtTRM61 or AtTRM6 leads to embryo arrest and seed abortion. The tRNA m1A level decreases in conditionally complemented Attrm61/LEC1pro::AtTRM61 plants and this is accompanied by reduced levels of tRNAiMet, indicating the importance of the tRNA m1A modification for tRNAiMet stability. Taken together, our results demonstrate that tRNA m1A58 modification is necessary for tRNAiMet stability and is required for embryo development in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two special Raman modes at 197 cm−1 and 255 cm−1 have been observed and discussed for a long time without persuasive conclusion in dilute nitride materials. In this work, using Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we studied Molecular Beam Epitaxy grown GaAsN/GaAs multiple quantum well samples with nitrogen concentration ranging from 0.6% to 6.1% and undergoing post-growth rapid thermal annealing (RTA) processes in the temperature range of 650 °C–950 °C. We assigned these two modes to the double degeneracy Eg and Ag modes from arsenic crystalline clusters on sample surface according to the Raman measurements and TEM observations. The physical mechanisms involved in the RTA processes at different temperatures were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A propagation matrix method for the solution of the parabolic equation in ocean acoustics is presented, where the sound fields at an arbitrary distance are expressed as a product of the initial fields and a sequential multiplication of the propagation matrices. The method contains two main calculation steps, i.e., producing and multiplying the propagation matrices. The first step allows a two-level parallel algorithm. In the second step an eigenvalue decomposition technique is developed to improve the efficiency in the case of a range-independent waveguide. The efficiency of the parallelized algorithm shall be tested in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXenes are a class of two‐dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides that have shown promise for high‐rate pseudocapacitive energy storage. However, the effects that irreversible oxidation have on the surface chemistry and electrochemical properties of MXenes are still not understood. Here we report on a controlled anodic oxidation method which improves the rate performance of titanium carbide MXene (Ti3C2Tx, Tx refers to ‐F, =O, ‐Cl and ‐OH) electrodes in acidic electrolytes. The capacitance retention at 2000 mV s−1 (with respect to the lowest scan rate of 5 mV s−1) increases gradually from 38 % to 66 % by tuning the degree of anodic oxidation. At the same time, a loss in the redox behavior of Ti3C2Tx is evident at high anodic potentials after oxidation. Several analysis methods are employed to reveal changes in the structure and surface chemistry while simultaneously introducing defects, without compromising electrochemically active sites, are key factors for improving the rate performance of Ti3C2Tx. This study demonstrates improvement of the electrochemical performance of MXene electrodes by performing a controlled anodic oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a brief overview of recent advances in azo-containing supramolecular systems. In literature, it has been shown that azo supramolecular polymers and their composite materials exhibit fast and intelligent responses to various external stimuli, such as temperature, pH change, redox reagents, ligands, coupling reagents, etc. In applications, these systems are widely used for molecular motors, shape memory, liquid crystal, solar thermal energy storage, signal transmission, intelligent encryption, and other purposes. Furthermore, these systems can function as key components for device upgrade processing. However, the design and rules of azo supramolecular polymers are still not supported by an exact theory. Information about the relationship between the spatial structure and behavior is lacking, and new supramolecular materials cannot be designed by adding functional moieties to known azo polymers. Based on the current research status, this review mainly summarizes the structural design principles as well as structures and applications of known azo supramolecules; meanwhile, it highlights the emerging development fields, recent advances, and prospects in fabricating self-assembling intelligent supramolecular systems with azo supramolecular polymers as responsive units. The goal of this review is to bring new inspiration to researchers who want to optimize the chemical structure, steric conformation, electrostatic environment, and specific molecular functionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research indicated that the peridot's color is dominated by the selective absorption of visible light caused by ferrous ion, the hue angle of which is in an inverse ratio of the concentration of Fe2+. This article focuses on the color effect of peridot under different standard light sources based on the CIE1976 L*a*b* color space system and round RGB diagram system and tries to find the best one for its grading and display. Based on the results of a series of experiments, including electron microprobe analysis, spectrophotometer, UV‐Vis spectrum, standard illumination box, and Munsell neutral color chips, it was suggested that the spectral power distribution and color temperature of a standard light source significantly influence the color of peridot in terms of lightness and chroma, particularly in the hue of peridot. As for color grading and displaying of peridot, standard light source A fails to fit in, and the color of peridot under a fluorescent light source has a higher chroma but a lower hue angle than that under daylight light source. The best choice for grading and displaying peridot is the standard light source D65. It is better to distinguish the hue of peridot when it is calculated by the round RGB diagram system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXenes are a class of two‐dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides that have shown promise for high‐rate pseudocapacitive energy storage. However, the effects that irreversible oxidation have on the surface chemistry and electrochemical properties of MXenes are still not understood. Here we report on a controlled anodic oxidation method which improves the rate performance of titanium carbide MXene (Ti3C2Tx, Tx refers to ‐F, =O, ‐Cl and ‐OH) electrodes in acidic electrolytes. The capacitance retention at 2000 mV s−1 (with respect to the lowest scan rate of 5 mV s−1) increases gradually from 38 % to 66 % by tuning the degree of anodic oxidation. At the same time, a loss in the redox behavior of Ti3C2Tx is evident at high anodic potentials after oxidation. Several analysis methods are employed to reveal changes in the structure and surface chemistry while simultaneously introducing defects, without compromising electrochemically active sites, are key factors for improving the rate performance of Ti3C2Tx. This study demonstrates improvement of the electrochemical performance of MXene electrodes by performing a controlled anodic oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flexible mechanical deformation test system, which is a combination of the microwave and the flexible film, is proposed. The system consists of a U-shaped microwave resonator, coaxial transmission line, and PDMS flexible substrate. Microwave signals are generated from the vector network analyzer and loaded to the coaxial transmission line and then coupled to the U-shaped resonator through the coupling loop. The resonator works at the gigahertz band with the test range from 3 GHz to 40 GHz. The resonant frequency of the resonator can be adjusted by changing the shape of PDMS, and the related signals can be detected by using the S11 parameter of the microwave. The response time of the U-shaped resonator is less than 20 ms, and the sensitivity on the curved surface is 12.5 Hz/nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Played as an important nonlinear electric device, memristor is often used to build a variety of nonlinear circuits, which can produce a variety of modes in oscillation. Due to the memory effect, the dynamics of nonlinear circuits involved with memristor can show distinct transition in oscillation between periodic and chaotic states when the initial values are changed. As a result, a generic initial-dependent dynamical system is built and its memory on initial setting is explained. The physical properties and potential mechanism for resistor-based voltage coupling, memristor coupling, capacitor-based and inductor-based field coupling are explained, respectively. In this review, scale transformation, application of memristor on neurodynamics, time delay, synchronization pattern, particularly, electromagnetic induction and radiation, neuron model setting under field effect, field coupling on signal propagation between nonlinear circuits and neurons are summarized for readers' extensive investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2-responsive Pickering emulsions were fabricated on the basis of polymeric nanoaggregates with adjustable surface wettability. The static Pickering emulsion system provides an efficient and sustainable platform for in situ separation and reuse of catalysts in biphasic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short (s) allele of a polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5‐HTTLPR) is related to reduced serotonin transporter efficiency and an increased vulnerability to stress and mental disorders. In the present study, we investigated how 5‐HTTLPR impacts on memory retrieval under stress and related neural activity by reanalyzing a small genetic neuroimaging data set. Twenty‐seven healthy male volunteers participated in both the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and a respective control procedure and then their brain activity was measured with functional MRI (fMRI) while they performed an emotional‐face‐recognition task. Sixteen participants were carriers of the short allele (ss/sl carriers) and 11 were homozygous for the long allele (ll carriers). Genotype groups were compared with respect to stress‐related physiological changes, memory performance, and brain activity. No significant genotype‐dependent effects on memory performance or cortisol levels were found. The ss/sl carriers showed significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure than the ll carriers, independent of stress. The ss/sl carriers reported stronger stress‐induced nervous mood than the ll carriers. Our fMRI data revealed that the ss/sl carriers showed significantly weaker left hippocampus activation and stronger dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) deactivation when retrieving memories under stress as compared with the ll carriers. Subsequent analyses revealed that the distinct hippocampal activation pattern in both genotypes was associated with stress‐induced cortisol elevation, while the distinct dmPFC activation pattern in both genotypes was associated with stress‐induced changes in reaction times. Our results thus add new evidence that serotonin signaling modulates neural activity in the hippocampus and dmPFC during memory retrieval under acute psychosocial stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-timescale dynamics are common in chemical processes. These processes are often difficult to model and pose challenges in control system design. In this paper, we propose a data-based control approach for linear multi-timescale systems using a system behavioural framework. A data resampling method coupled with a novel data predictive control (DPC) design with multi-level optimisation horizons is developed to handle different timescales. To deal with the dynamics of different timescales, the optimisation horizons with small to large time intervals are used to predict and optimise control actions from near to distant future. Computational complexity wise, the multi-level structure allows horizon length to expand exponentially with optimisation steps. A trajectory-based dissipativity condition is also developed to ensure stability of the proposed DPC, while achieving disturbance rejection and tracking control. An example of controlling a multi-timescale reactive distillation column is presented to illustrate the proposed approach. • A novel multi-timescale Data-Predictive Control (DPC) approach is developed. • This approach is based on a system behavioural framework. • A data resampling approach is developed to capture multi-timescale dynamics. • A multi-level DPC approach is developed to control multi-timescale processes. • A trajectory-based dissipativity condition ensures stability of the proposed DPC. • Tracking control is achieved together with disturbance rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In previous studies, deep learning methods were used for sound source localization using the frequency-domain features of array signals commonly. This paper proposes a time-domain signal feature for sound source localization for the first time and designs a novel method for constructing time-domain signal features. • A three-dimensional array formation suitable for this method has been designed, which, combined with the time-domain features, can achieve accurate localization in all directions. • This method directly uses time-domain signals as input features without performing any pre-processing on the signals, and does not rely on any basic signal processing methods. Combined with deep learning, once the network training is completed, rapid localization can be achieved. Deep learning, as the most commonly used machine learning algorithm, is widely used in various fields. In the field of acoustics, deep learning methods are combined with frequency-domain features of signals to locate sound sources. The commonly frequency domain features include microphones array Cross-spectral-Matrix(CSM) and Short Time Fourier Transform(STFT). However, the use of frequency-domain features often leads to the loss of partial signal information and increases the computational complexity. This paper proposed a novel sound source localization algorithm based on time-domain features, which uses convolutional neural network(CNN) as a medium to achieve mapping from time-domain features to sound source locations. This method does not rely on any basic signal processing algorithm, and directly uses time-domain sampling points as network inputs for sound source localization. The application simulation shows that the proposed method can achieve precise localization and low side-lobe effect under different testing conditions. Once the network training is completed, the testing accuracy under different conditions is above 95%, with a maximum of 100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control, it is of vital significance to realize accurate face mask detection via computer vision technique. In this paper, a novel attention improved Yolo (AI-Yolo) model is proposed, which can handle existing challenges in the complicated real-world scenarios with dense distribution, small-size object detection and interference of similar occlusions. In particular, a selective kernel (SK) module is set to achieve convolution domain soft attention mechanism with split, fusion and selection operations; a spatial pyramid pooling (SPP) module is applied to enhance the expression of local and global features, which enriches the receptive field information; and a feature fusion (FF) module is utilized to promote sufficient fusions of multi-scale features from each resolution branch, which adopts basic convolution operators without excessive computational complexity. In addition, the complete intersection over union (CIoU) loss function is adopted in the training stage for accurate positioning. Experiments are carried out on two challenging public face mask detection datasets, and the results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed AI-Yolo against other seven state-of-the-art object detection algorithms, which achieves the best results in terms of mean average precision and F1 score on both datasets. Furthermore, effectiveness of the meticulously designed modules in AI-Yolo is validated through extensive ablation studies. In a word, the proposed AI-Yolo is competent to accomplish face mask detection tasks under extremely complex situations with precise localization and accurate classification. • A novel attention-enhanced face mask detection framework is proposed. • Presentation ability of both local and global features is strengthened. • Information in multi-scale features is sufficiently fused. • CIoU loss function is applied to promote accurate localization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold nanoparticles/785 porous silicon photonic crystals (Au NPs/785 PSi PhCs) were used as substrates in combination with a low-concentration serum surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection scheme to obtain spectral signals from healthy individuals and cervical cancer patients. The best principal component scores were selected by principal component analysis (PCA) combined with linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and support vector machine (SVM) to analyze the spectral differences distinguishing healthy and cervical cancer patients. The accuracy of the two models was 97.9% and 96.9%, respectively. SERS technique based on Au NPs/785 PSi PhCs has great potential to improve the screening of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is essential for initiation of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis, but the diver proteins of EMT remain unclear. Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1) was found to be overexpressed in CRC cell lines, and its expression level was positively correlated with CRC progression. Strikingly, EMT process was regulated by SATB1, as SATB1 overexpression upregulated E-cadherin and SATB1 knockdown inhibited N-cadherin cell models. Mechanistically, SATB1 promoted EMT-mediated CRC metastasis via activation of Notch signaling pathway. Taken together, SATB1 plays a vital role in CRC metastasis and may act as a novel prognostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to satisfy the polarization navigation requirements for the solar position calculation, a new method based on improved polarization angle model by using a three-channel polarization imaging system is proposed. The system consists of three microminiature TFT-LCD optical cameras equipped with three fish-eye lenses, making the structure more compact and smaller. Compared with common method based on spot detection, the proposed method has the advantages of wide field of view and high precision. First of all, the simulation based on optimization algorithm is carried out under different initial values. Then the three-channel polarization imaging system is used to verify the improved polarization angle model in three kinds of weather conditions. The experiment showed that: (i) under clear weather, the solar altitude angle and azimuth errors of the solar position calculated at different times are 0.018° and 0.028°; (ii) in building shelter environment, the solar altitude angle and azimuth errors of the solar position are 0.167° and 0.1°; (iii) in tree shelter environment, the solar altitude angle and azimuth errors of the solar position are 0.921° and 0.25°. Compared with the traditional method, the precision is enhanced at maximum 60.87% by using the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Periphyton had sustainable pollutant removal capacity despite toxic effects of TiO 2 -NPs. • Community and metabolism changes are critical in maintaining functional sustainability. • EPS especially protein was overproduced to bind or aggregate NPs to reduce nanotoxicity. • Exposure duration is important for evaluating nanotoxicity on microbial community. Abstract Responses of microbial communities to nanotoxicity in aquatic ecosystems are largely unknown, particularly with respect to relationship between community dynamics and functions. Here, periphytic biofilms were selected as a model of species-rich microbial communities to elucidate their responses when exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 -NPs). Especially, the relationships between the functions (e.g. organic matter and Cu2+ removal) and community dynamics after long-term exposure to TiO 2 -NPs were assessed systematically. After 5 days exposure to TiO 2 -NPs (5 mg L−1), periphytic biofilms showed sustainable functions in pollutant removal and strong plasticity in defensing the toxic disturbance of TiO 2 -NPs, including photosynthesis and carbon metabolic diversity. The sustainable pollutant removal functions of periphytic biofilms were attributed to their functional redundancy. Specifically, periphytic biofilms altered their composition with cyanobacteria, Sphingobacteriia and Spirochaetes being the newly dominant taxa, and changed the carbon substrate utilization pattern to maintain high photosynthesis and metabolic rates. Moreover, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) especially proteins were overproduced to bind the NPs and thereby reduce the nanotoxicity. The information obtained in this study may greatly help to understand the interactions between microbial community dynamics and function under NPs exposure conditions and functional redundancy is an important mechanism of periphytic biofilms to maintain sustainable functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tungsten alloys with high strength, high toughness and high-temperature stability are strongly desired in extreme conditions. The nanoengineering of potassium bubbles (5–50 nm) is a fascinating strategy to strengthen these properties. However, such nano potassium bubbles can only be acquired in tungsten wires through swaging and drawing process till now. Here, we report an intra- and inter-potassium nano-bubbles strengthened bulk tungsten fabricated via an industrially applicable process combining aluminum-potassium-silicon (AKS) doping and spark plasma sintering (SPS), which exhibits desirable strength and remarkable toughness, as well as high thermal-shock resistance. The AKS-doping incorporated the K-Al-Si-O particles inside the W grains and the rapid high-temperature sintering of SPS produced the nanometer K bubbles from the K-Al-Si-O particles and kept the K bubbles inside the W grains. Our K-bubble strengthened tungsten material displays high potential in high-temperature applications. This strategy is also potentially applicable to other refractory metals such as molybdenum. Highlights • Nanoscaled potassium-bubbles strengthened bulk tungsten alloy is prepared. • This alloy exhibits highly desirable mechanical and thermal properties. • Those properties further lead to a high thermal-shock resistance. • This nanostructuring strategy helps guide endeavors to design other metal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In industrial measurement and laboratory research, many measured objects are placed on the three-axis turntable. In this paper, we propose a fast and practical method to determine the turntable coordinate system with the aid of spatial coordinate of point cloud data. By sphere fitting, plane fitting, and point projection, the scattered point cloud data are combined together to obtain initial direction vectors. Considering the non-orthogonality of turntable, the least two pairs of skew lines are used to compute the approximate turntable center. And the intersection angles and distances between each axis are given to judge the degree of non-orthogonality. Then, based on the approximate sphere center and the initial rotation vectors, the direction vectors are, respectively, optimized in a predefined order. An experimental system is set up to validate the proposed method. Attitude parameters computed by spatial point coordinates before and after turntable calibration are employed to give the quantitative evaluation results. And the total attitude errors in three axes motion forms all reduce, which demonstrates the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • DOC2A is up-regulated in human and rat temporal lobe epilepsy. • DOC2A expression in TLE patients is not influenced by clinical characteristics. • Two different rat models of TLE epilepsy are applied in this study. • DOC2A colocalizes with VMAT2 in the presynaptic terminals of neurons. Abstract Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of intractable epilepsy. Currently, the molecular mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis in TLE remain elusive; however, synaptic transmission may play an important role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Synaptic transmission is regulated by diverse mechanisms, including presynaptic modulators of synaptic vesicle formation and release, modulators of neurotransmission and distinct Ca2+ sensors. DOC2A, a novel Ca2+ sensor, can regulate spontaneous synaptic transmission and has been implicated in Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter release. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that DOC2A expression is significantly increased in human TLE and in two different rat models of TLE (pilocarpine- and kindling-induced) compared to the control groups. Localization of DOC2A in the human TLE patients and pilocarpine post-SE rat model was observed in neurons but not in astrocytes; DOC2A was also concentrated at the presynaptic terminals and colocalized with VMAT2. Our results suggest that the abnormal protein expression of DOC2A in epileptic brain tissue may play an important role in epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A new ESIPT-based fluorescent probe for Hg2+ has been designed and developed. • The probe exhibits high sensitivity for mercury ions in aqueous solution. • The probe was successfully used for fluorescence imaging of Hg2+ in live cells. Abstract A new Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT) based fluorescent probe for the detection of Hg2+ has been rationally designed and developed. Based on the specific reactivity of mercury-promoted hydrolysis, the probe exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity for mercury ions in almost pure aqueous solution (containing only 1% DMSO) with a low detection limit of 1.9 ppb. Furthermore, the probe was also successfully used for fluorescence imaging of Hg2+ in live cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Eu could facilitate the separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. • The Eu/C 3 N 4 composites have superior photocatalytic performance in both CO 2 reduction and H 2 evolution. • In-situ FTIR analysis indicates that the HCOOH is a major intermediate during the CO 2 conversion progress. • Massive photogenerated carriers existed in Eu/g-C 3 N 4 are favorable to the CO 2 photoconversion to CH 4. Abstract The high-efficiency photocatalytic CO 2 reduction and H 2 evaluation performance are quite attractive and desired for clean energy utilization and environmental pollution alleviation. Herein, the novel visible-light activated Eu (III) doped g-C 3 N 4 composites with different contents (2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%) were successfully synthesized for the first time. The Eu (III) species acted as the Lewis acids could trap photoexcited electrons with superior ability. The photocatalytic activity of Eu/g-C 3 N 4 catalysts exhibited superior performance and stability in both CO 2 photoreduction and H 2 production with the presence of water under the visible light irradiation. A maximum CH 4 and H 2 yields of 22.8 μmol/(h·g-cat) and 78.1 μmol/(h·g-cat), respectively, had been obtained on 8% Eu/g-C 3 N 4 catalyst, which was about 2.2 and 7.3 times as high as the pure g-C 3 N 4. In situ FTIR analysis discloses that HCOOH is a major intermediate during the CO 2 conversion progress. The Mott–Schottky method also indicated massive photogenetated carriers existed in Eu/g-C 3 N 4 catalysts that in favor of the CO 2 conversion to CH 4. The origin of such remarkable photocatalytic activities could be explained as follows: (i) Eu3+ species captured photogenerated electrons and inhibited the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs; (ii) the doped Eu3+ narrowed the band gap and enhanced the visible-light absorption capacity; (iii) the introduction Eu3+ increased the activated specific surface area. This work may provide meaningful guidelines for rare earth mental application on improving the performance of photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We report an ultrafast in-situ laser reduction process of graphene oxides (GO) in LiFePO 4 electrodes, where the selective laser reduction of GO sheets is conducted after coating LiFePO 4 on current collector. This novel process technique avoids the solvophobicity and agglomeration problems of graphene in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) or other solvents for the electrode material slurry preparation because of GO's solvophilicity in various solvents. Under the optimized laser reduction condition, a hierarchical structure of graphene conductive network is formed without wrapping the LiFePO 4 surface, which can greatly improve the rate capability and cycle performance. The battery capacity remains 84.5% after 1000 cycles and 72.9% when the charge/discharge current density increases from 0.5C to 20C. The method developed in this work is also applicable for other material systems to selectively reduce GO for performance enhancement. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • An in-situ laser reduction of GO technique is developed without damaging LiFePO 4. • In-situ laser rGO shows hierarchical structure for fast electron and ion transport. • LiFePO 4 with in-situ laser rGO as conductive additive shows high rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The MoP/CN samples exhibit superior activity in CO 2 reduction and H 2 evolution. • The CO 2 adsorption and conversion progress is well revealed in the photoreaction. • The efficient co-catalyst MoP facilitates the separation and transfer of charges. Abstract Photoreduction CO 2 to hydrocarbons and photosplitting water for H 2 production are the most promising, sustainable approaches for environmental pollution alleviation and solar-to-chemical energy conversion. However, developing low-cost, high efficient and stable photocatalysts remains a great challenge. Herein, we reported a novel visible-light activated MoP co-catalyst loaded g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst for CO 2 reduction and water splitting under simulated irradiation firstly. Experimental results demonstrated that the composites were highly active and exhibited superior stability. The maximum CO and H 2 evolution rates of 0.92 μmol h−1 and 40.38 μmol h−1 were achieved on MoP/CN-15% catalyst, which were 4.5-fold and 74.5-fold higher than the pure g-C 3 N 4 , and the corresponding apparent quantum efficiencies (AQE) were 3.5% and 18.3% at 420 nm, respectively. In situ FTIR analysis disclosed the CO 2 adsorption and conversion progress, in which the COO− acted as a major intermediate. Furthermore, comprehensive characterization analysis revealed the introduction of MoP facilitated the separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, and the theoretical calculation by density functional theory (DFT) also confirmed that MoP could effectively separate the photoexcited charges from g-C 3 N 4. Combining with experimental and DFT calculations results, a new way to design cost-effective photocatalysts has been enlightened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The antibiotic tetracycline (TC) is widespread in surface waters, but few data are available regarding its adverse effects on aquatic insects. In this study, we investigated the bioconcentration, metabolism, and effects of TC on Chironomus riparius larvae exposed to different concentrations of TC (1.83, 18.5 and 174 μg L−1) for 48 h. The bioconcentration factors were 3.65, 0.74 and 0.23 in larvae with exposure to 1.83, 18.5 and 174 μg L−1 TC, respectively. High concentration ratios of the metabolites anhydrotetracycline (0.56–0.60), 4-epitetracycline (0.43–0.69), and 4-epianhydrotetracycline (0.50–0.55) to the unmetabolized compound were found. Additionally, the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase were markedly inhibited with a significant increase in malondialdehyde contents at high exposure concentrations of TC (18.5 and 174 μg L−1). Moreover, significant up-regulation of heat shock genes (hsp70 and hsp27), the ecdysone receptor gene, and the E74 early ecdysone responsive gene was observed at all exposure concentrations except for hsp70 at 1.83 μg L−1. Collectively, these results suggested that TC was quickly absorbed and metabolized by C. riparius and resulted in molecular and biochemical disturbances. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The high ratios of tetracycline metabolites were observed in Chironomus riparius larvae. • Tetracycline evoked oxidative stress in larvae. • Heat shock protein genes showed increased expression in larvae. • Expression of endocrine-related genes was up-regulated in larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The rapid uptake of SDZ by C. riparius was observed after short-term exposure. • SDZ decreased the activity of superoxide dismutase in C. riparius. • SDZ up-regulated mRNA levels of EcR , E74 , Hsp70 and Hsp27 genes in C. riparius. Abstract Although sulfadiazine (SDZ) is widespread in aquatic environments, information regarding the effects of SDZ on aquatic insects is still limited. In the present study, the bioconcentration and the effects of SDZ on the antioxidant system and the expression of endocrine and stress-related genes in Chironomus riparius larvae were investigated. The larvae were exposed to SDZ at the nominal concentrations of 2, 20 and 200 μg/L for 48 h. The results showed that SDZ was taken up by C. riparius despite presenting low bioconcentration factor values (0.99–3.92). In addition, superoxide dismutase activity was markedly reduced compared with the control group, whereas the levels of malondialdehyde were not significantly affected by SDZ. Moreover, the mRNA expression of genes related to heat shock proteins (Hsp70 and Hsp27) and ecdysone pathway (EcR and E74) were significantly up-regulated following all SDZ treatments. In aggregate, our work provides novel and interesting results regarding the potential biochemical and genetic effects of SDZ on freshwater insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A new colorimetric fluorescent probe 1 contained a C˭C double bond for the detection of bisulfite (HSO 3 -) via Michael-Addition was developed. Significantly, probe 1 can detect HSO 3 - with excellent selectivity, high sensitivity, fast response (< 10 min) and low detection limit (21 nM). Furthermore, the live cell imaging results provided a powerful method to study HSO 3 - chemistry in biological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ball-flower like NiO/g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction composite was synthesized via a hydrothermal deposition method combined with subsequent calcination route. The NiO/g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction exhibited a superior performance in CO 2 photoreduction. A maximum CO yields of 4.17 μmol/(h g-cat) had been obtained on 40% NiO/g-C 3 N 4 composite, which was 2.5 and 7.6 times as high as the pure g-C 3 N 4 and NiO respectively. The promotion mechanism could be ascribed to the perfect band matching and efficient internal charge transfer within the p-n junction, which results in high-efficiency separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, strong visible-light response and high specific surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of improving in-situ nitrate removal was demonstrated in a CdS nanoparticles (NPs)-assisted periphyton bioelectrochemical system (PCdS-BES). Compared to the control (periphyton bioelectrochemical system, P-BES), nitrate reduction to nitrogen gas by the PCdS-BES was enhanced by 1.5 times on day 7 under stimulated sunlight irradiation (20 W m −2 ), avoiding nitrous oxide emission. The presence of CdS NPs optimized the community structure of periphyton, enhanced its activities (represented by ATPase), stimulated more extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production and increased the relative abundance of electroactive bacteria strains (e.g. Family Xanthomonadaceae , Hyphomonadaceae and Sphingobacteriales ). The enhancement of nitrate reduction under irradiation was primarily attributed to the synergistic effect of EPS, electroactive bacteria strains and CdS NPs. Specifically, CdS NPs provided photoexcited electrons under light irradiation. The EPS facilitated the stability of CdS NPs in the periphyton matrix and separation of photo-induced electron-hole on the surface of CdS NPs. EPS served as extracellular electron transfer mediators for electron transfer from CdS NPs to microorganisms. The electroactive bacteria were beneficial to the acquisition of electrons produced by CdS NPs under irradiation, promoting catalytic nitrate reduction. This study gives an insight into the mechanism of nitrate reduction via the synergistic action of photoexcited electrons, EPS and electroactive bacteria. The successful combination of photocatalyst (i.e. CdS NP) and microbial community in BES also provides a promising approach for nitrate removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in endometrial carcinoma (EC). Articles published until 31 January 2017 were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Elsevier, Springer and Google scholar, with the following inclusion criteria: i) The accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of CEUS in the diagnosis of EC was evaluated; ii) a gold standard was adopted to treat and confirm EC, including surgery, histopathology and appropriate follow-up (as included in the meta-analysis); iii) the data allowed for construction of a 2×2 table of positives, false-positives, negatives and false-negatives. Pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, risk ratios and diagnostic odds ratios (DOR) were calculated in the present meta-analysis of the accuracy of CEUS in diagnosing EC. The summary receiver-operating characteristics (sROC) curve was also constructed. Among the 93 relevant articles, 7 studies were finally selected according to the inclusion criteria with a sample size of n=275. The pooled sensitivity of CEUS in the diagnosis of EC was 84% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.78–0.88], while the pooled specificity was 90% (95% CI, 0.86–0.92). The positive likelihood ratio (+LR) of CEUS was 8.0 (95% CI, 5.9–10.8) and the negative likelihood ratio (-LR) was 0.18 (95% CI, 0.13–0.25). The DOR was 44 (95% CI, 26–77). The area under the sROC curve was 0.93 with specificity of 0.90 (0.86–0.92) and sensitivity of 0.84 (0.78–0.88) for the summary operating point. Moderate heterogeneity was observed for sensitivity, specificity and DOR with I2 values of 32.56, 34.68 and 41.2%, respectively. No significant publication bias was observed for the DOR of CEUS. In conclusion, the present meta-analysis indicates that CEUS is valuable in the diagnosis of EC. Additional clinical data and studies are still required to confirm these results and to further develop the diagnostic application of CEUS in EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Fe 3 O 4 @PS-TMG was synthesized by immobilizing TMG onto the shell of nanohybrids. • The loading of TMG as well as surface property of catalyst can be well regulated. • The MPIC can stabilize soybean oil-in-methanol Pickering emulsion. • The MPIC exhibited higher catalytic activity for transesterification. Abstract A novel magnetic Pickering interfacial catalyst (MPIC) was developed and used for highly effective and clean production of biodiesel. The catalyst was synthesized by immobilization of 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG) onto the shell of Fe 3 O 4 @Chloromethyl PS nanohybrids. The resultant Fe 3 O 4 @PS-TMG was measured by transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic lighting scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), contact angles (CA). The results showed that surface property and TMG loading of catalyst can be finely regulated via adjusting the feeding of TMG. Fe 3 O 4 @PS-TMG with amphiphilic surface can stabilize soybean oil-in-methanol Pickering emulsion, which would offer large interfacial area and surface enrichment of reactants, leading to a significant enhancement of such liquid-liquid (L-L) biphasic reaction with high mass transfer resistance. Furthermore, the MPIC can be facile separated from the mixture of reaction by magnet, and showed excellent stability over 5 recycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing use and discharge of nanoparticles (NPs) pose risks to microorganisms that maintain the health of aquatic ecosystems. Although NPs are toxic to microorganisms, they tend to form microbial aggregates to protect themselves. Two main mechanisms account for the reduced toxicity: the dense physical structure acts as a barrier to NP exposure in the interior of the aggregate, and aggregation stabilizes a complex microbial ecosystem that enhances the ability of the community to adapt to prolonged NP exposure. We highlight the opportunities and challenges for managing microbial aggregates in wastewater treatment to remove or control NPs. For example, understanding the resistance mechanisms can help to design smart NPs that are less toxic to useful microorganisms or more toxic towards pathogenic microorganisms. Highlights NPs inevitably enter aquatic ecosystems – natural and engineered – owing to their massive use and rapid growth trend in industry and commerce. NPs come into contact with microbial aggregates, which are ubiquitous in aquatic environments. NPs exert well-known toxicities to microorganisms but, compared to planktonic cells, microorganisms in microbial aggregates are much more able to protect themselves against NPs toxicity. The dense physical structure of the aggregates acts as a barrier to NP exposure in the interior of the aggregate. Aggregation also stabilizes microbial diversity and interactions, which enhance the ability of the community to adapt to prolonged NP exposure. Because microbial aggregates are relatively good at resisting NP toxicity, their already common use in the treatment of wastewaters becomes even more beneficial when the wastewater contains NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Specify the mathematical model for TCAS II algorithm with the horizontal RA capability. • Describe the powerful graphical and mathematical modelling tool GMAS. • Propose the causal encounter model absolutely in view of the improved TCAS-based avoidance operations. • Summarize and analyse the simulation results of the typical induced collision scenarios. Abstract The traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) acts as a proverbially accepted last-resort means to resolve encounters effectively, while it also has been proven to potentially induce a collision in the hectic air traffic. Thus, new research considering the impact on safety is required to increase the airspace capacity based on a comprehensive analysis and accurate flight evaluation. In this paper, a causal encounter model is proposed to extend the TCAS logic considering the horizontal resolution manoeuvres, which could be used as the auxiliary supports when a potential collision is predicted in the vertical dimension. Based on the generated state space, the model developed in the graphical modelling and analysis software (GMAS), not only provides a better comprehension of the potential collision occurrences for risk assessment by representing the cause-effect relationship of each action, but also aids the pilots in the involved aircraft to make a cooperative and optimal option. Quantitative simulation results are conducted to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the encounter model with horizontal resolution. The resulting collision scenarios are further investigated to illustrate that the risk rate of TCAS logic failures is expected to reduce by shortening the pilot's response delay, and the computational efficiency is competent in dealing with multi-threat scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Vaterite-containing β-dicalcium silicate powder (A-V-C 2 S) was successfully grafting modified by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) through reflux agitation. The purpose of this work is to fix the amino groups on the vaterite-containing β-dicalcium silicate (V-C 2 S) powder's surface, which makes the powder's surface with positive charge, and further enhanced the combination with those negatively charged bioactive molecules or drugs to improve the performance of biomaterials. XRD and FT-IR analysis indicated that N-H groups were successfully grafted onto the surface of the V-C 2 S sample on the basis of vaterite existence through the process of first grafting then carbonation. Moreover, the best grafting modification that refluxing at 70 °C for 12 h was determined through the quantitative analysis of N-H groups on V-C 2 S powder's surface. The A-V-C 2 S sample showed a better apatite formation ability after it was soaked in stimulated body fluid (SBF), indicating that good apatite mineralization. Moreover, the A-V-C 2 S sample with weak alkali in implanting position could stimulate the attachment, proliferation and improve the activity of MC3T3-E1 cells. Experimental results demonstrated that, A-V-C 2 S was expected to be a new biomaterial as bone repairing substitute. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • A novel attempt to modify the surface of β-C 2 S powder with APTES through reflux agitation. • The purpose of grafting modification is to improve the surface performance of powder. • At the same time, to eliminate the damage of Ca(OH) 2 to bone cement by carbonation. • Functionalized V-β-C 2 S powder has excellent biocompatibility, which improve the performance of biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has been gradually relaxing its ban on the use of low-altitude airspace across the country. To guarantee the high reliability of air traffic management (ATM), conflict detection and conflict resolution (CDR) approaches are indispensable to maintain safe separation between neighbouring small fixed-wing aircraft. In this study, we analyse a temporal and spatial integrated strategy for safety assessment purposes in opening the low-altitude urban airspace of Chinese pilot cities. First, we present a detailed mathematical description of the proposed algorithms based on a spatial grid partitioning system (SGPS). For our system, a conflict detection (CD) algorithm is designed to determine if two trajectories pass through the same grid space within overlapping time windows. A conflict resolution (CR) algorithm integrates a proposed time scheduling-based technique (TST) and vertical change-based technique (VCT), which operate under predetermined basic principles. Then, based on our novel CDR algorithms, a causal model is constructed in graphical modelling and analysis software (GMAS) to generate a state space that can provide a global perspective on scenario dynamics and better understanding of induced conflict occurrences. Finally, simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach is practical and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]