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To improve the accuracy of color image completion with missing entries, we present a recovery method based on generalized higher-order scalars. We extend the traditional second-order matrix model to a more comprehensive higher-order matrix equivalent, called the "t-matrix" model, which incorporates a pixel neighborhood expansion strategy to characterize the local pixel constraints. This "t-matrix" model is then used to extend some commonly used matrix and tensor completion algorithms to their higher-order versions. We perform extensive experiments on various algorithms using simulated data and publicly available images. The results show that our generalized matrix completion model and the corresponding algorithm compare favorably with their lower-order tensor and conventional matrix counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cognitive frailty is associated with higher risk of dementia and adverse health outcomes. However, multidimensional factors that influence cognitive frailty transitions are not known. We aimed to investigate risk factors of incident cognitive frailty. Methods: Prospective cohort study participants were community-dwelling adults without dementia and other degenerative disorders and baseline and follow-up, including N = 1,054 participants aged ≥55 free of cognitive frailty at baseline, with complete baseline (March 6, 2009, to June 11, 2013) and follow-up data at 3–5 years later (January 16, 2013, to August 24, 2018). Incident cognitive frailty was defined by one or more criteria of the physical frailty phenotype and <26 of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. Potential risk factors assessed at baseline included demographic, socioeconomic, medical, psychological and social factors, and biochemical markers. Data were analyzed using least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO) multivariable logistic regression models. Results: A total of 51 (4.8%) participants, including 21 (3.5%) of the cognitively normal and physically robust participants, 20 (4.7%) of the prefrail/frail only, and 10 (45.4%) of cognitively impaired only, transited to cognitive frailty at follow-up. Risk factors for transition to cognitive frailty were having eye problem (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.24–5.43) and low HDL cholesterol (OR = 4.1, 95% CI 2.03–8.40), while protective factors for cognitive frailty transition were higher levels of education (OR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.10–0.74) and participation in cognitive stimulating activities (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.17–0.82). Conclusion: Multi-domain modifiable factors especially related to leisure activities predict cognitive frailty transition and may be targeted for prevention of dementia and associated adverse health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The trans -scale cracking process of the shale reservoir stimulated by LN 2 is modeled. • The mechanism of cryogenic stimulation-induced multiple fractures is revealed. • Fracture initiation pressure and fracture morphology under different factors are analyzed. • Preferable candidates for LN 2 stimulation in shale reservoirs are recommended. • The stimulation effects of three fracturing fluids, LN 2 , H 2 O and S-CO 2 , are compared. Cryogenic shock-induced brittle cracking has promising application prospects in reservoir stimulation. In this paper, a fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (T-H-M) model combined with the statistical meso -damage theory is proposed to investigate the trans -scale progressive cracking process of shale gas reservoirs stimulated by liquid nitrogen (LN 2). In this theoretical framework, shale meso -heterogeneity in both thermo-mechanical and hydraulic properties is characterized by two independent statistical distribution functions; temperature-dependent rock properties and temperature- and pressure-dependent fluid thermodynamic properties are described using some experimental and theoretical formulas. The numerical model is implemented in a finite element context and subsequently validated against existing classical coupling results. Numerical results demonstrate that LN 2 fracturing accompanied by the unique cryogenic shock effect leads to a complex cracking process involving multiple-point fracture initiation, asymmetric macrofracture propagation, and primary fracture bifurcation. Sensitivity analysis indicates that approximately equidistant or equilength radial fractures may be generated at a lower stress difference, lower permeability, or higher elastic modulus; both fracture initiation pressure and induced fracture morphology are more sensitive to injected fluid temperature relative to initial reservoir temperature; a larger thermal expansion coefficient is beneficial for inducing more fractures, but not applicable to the thermal conductivity. Preferable candidates for LN 2 stimulation to generate multiple fractures in shale reservoirs are recommended. It is also found that compared with H 2 O and supercritical CO 2 , fracturing using LN 2 can generate fractures with lower initiation pressure and greater complexity. Preliminary results confirm the potential of using LN 2 fracturing to improve the stimulation effect of shale reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The RGO-CIP composite microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation method using ethyl cellulose as the backbone and epoxy resin as the adhesive. The composite microspheres effectively combined graphene (RGO) with carbonyl iron powder (CIP) to achieve the synergy of multiple loss mechanisms and obtain good electromagnetic absorption capability. 3D printed wire was prepared by using RGO-CIP composite microspheres and polylactic acid (PLA), and coaxial rings were printed by fused deposition molding (FDM) to test electromagnetic properties. In this study, many heterogeneous interfaces triggering polarization loss are formed on the surface and inside of the composite microspheres. These heterogeneous interfaces produce abundant folds and pores, which enhance the multiple reflections and scattering of microwaves. The added RGO and CIP forms a conductive network, forming a conductance loss. When the RGO content is 5.1 wt%, RGO-CIP/PLA −4 composite exhibits excellent microwave absorption performance. At the material thickness of 2.2 mm, the maximum reflection loss is −50.1 dB and the absorption bandwidth is 6.0 GHz. At the material thickness of 2.2 mm, the effective absorption bandwidth is 6.24 GHz and the maximum reflection loss is −29.08 dB. The RGO-CIP composite microspheres improve the microwave absorption performance of 3D printed composites and provide an effective way to prepare structural wave absorbing plates and devices by 3D printing technology. • The RGO-CIP/PLA composites were successfully prepared by FDM 3D printing technology. • The RGO-CIP composite microspheres combine RGO with CIP to realize the synergy of multiple loss mechanism. • At composites thickness of 2.2 mm, the maximum reflection loss is − 50.1 dB and the absorption bandwidth is 6.0 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Roller-pressed wood scrimber has a reduced thickness swelling rate of 63%. • Roller-pressed wood scrimber has a reduced smoke production rate of 52%. • Roller-pressing method can be used for the continuous production of wood scrimber. Wood scrimber is a wood-based composite material with high mechanical strength and large size, which can potentially replace the use of steel and cement in various fields. However, its poor dimensional stability and low flame retardancy limit its use in outdoor construction projects and fire-prone areas. To solve this, here we report a roller-pressing impregnation method to realize the deep penetration of resin using mechanical compression and low-pressure adsorption. Microstructural imaging by SEM and 3D ultra-deep field microscopy shows the phenol formaldehyde(PF) resin distribution of the roller-pressed wood scrimber (R-WS) is deeper and more uniform, which increases the flatness and crystallinity. The R-WS showed greatly improved dimensional stability, with 63 % and 35 % lower thickness swelling rate (TSR) and width swelling rate (WSR) compared with the traditional wood scrimber (T -WS). In terms of flame retardancy, the smoke production rate (SPR) and heat release rate (HRR) of R-WS decreased by 32.7 % and 52 %, respectively. The R-WS at 800 °C formed a dense char that content increased by 20 %, helping to inhibits combustion. The mechanical properties of R-WS were also improved, and the modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE) and short-beam strength (SS) of R-WS increased by 31.2 %, 7.4 %and 26.7 %, respectively. The R-WS suffer toughness failure and wood-to-wood failure under bending and shear scenarios, respectively, indicating that the roller-pressing impregnation treatment enhanced toughness and bonding strength. In addition, the use of a rotating roller is expected to realize the continuous production of the dipping link, saving drying energy consumption and improving production efficiency. These properties are expected to promote the outdoor utilization and continuous production of wood scrimber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LINKED CONTENT: This article is linked to Rivera–Andrade et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16948 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17059 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Materials and Methods section, "and the Juicebox was applied to adjust chromosome construction manually (Figure S2)" should be corrected to: "and the Juicebox was applied to adjust chromosome construction manually (Figure S1)". Haplotype-Resolved Genome Analyses Reveal Genetically Distinct Nuclei within a Commercial Cultivar of Lentinula edodes. In the Discussion section, "The SNPs and indels between the SP3 and SP30 genomes were broadly distributed across the chromosomes (Figures 1, 3, 4 and S5)" should be corrected to: "The SNPs and indels between the SP3 and SP30 genomes were broadly distributed across the chromosomes (Figures 1 and S5)". [Extracted from the article]

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is an attractive target for cancer therapy. In this study, the pharmacophore model of MMP-9 inhibitors is built based on the experimental binding structures of multiple receptor-ligand complexes. It is found that the pharmacophore model consists of six chemical features, including two hydrogen bond acceptors, one hydrogen bond donor, one ring aromatic regions, and two hydrophobic (HY) features. Among them, the two HY features are especially important because they can enter the S1′ pocket of MMP-9 which determines the selectivity of MMP-9 inhibitors. The reliability of pharmacophore model is validated based on the two different decoy sets and relevant experimental data. The virtual screening, combining pharmacophore model with molecular docking, is performed to identify the selective MMP-9 inhibitors from a database of natural products. The four novel MMP-9 inhibitors of natural products, NP-000686, NP-001752, NP-014331, and NP-015905, are found; one of them, NP-000686, is used to perform the experiment of in vitro bioassay inhibiting MMP-9, and the IC value was estimated to be only 13.4 µM, showing the strongly inhibitory activity of NP-000686 against MMP-9, which suggests that our screening results should be reliable. The binding modes of screened inhibitors with MMP-9 active sites were discussed. In addition, the ADMET properties and physicochemical properties of screened four compounds were assessed. The found MMP-9 inhibitors of natural products could serve as the lead compounds for designing the new MMP-9 inhibitors by carrying out structural modifications in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metabolomic studies were conducted for both the engineered lycopene-producing Yarrowia lipolytica strain and the control strain. The changes in metabolome profiling and main pathway abundance of Y. lipolytica with the introduction of heterologous crt genes were investigated by multiple analytical and statistical methods More importantly, the metabolome data were transformed into pathway abundances visualized by a pathway relationship network using Cytoscape software. This network provided a simple way to present the statistical results of pathway abundance and interpret the effects of the crt genes in a metabolic view, and the results highlighted the up-regulation of eight pathways and the down-regulation of three pathways in the lycopene fast production phase. The comprehensive analysis suggested that the synthesis of lycopene has remarkable effects on fructose and mannose metabolism, citrate cycle, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism as well as the biosynthesis and metabolism of some amino acids including valine, leucine and isoleucine in Y. lipolytica . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the associations between hearing loss and prevalent and incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia and MCI or dementia (all cases). Methods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of baseline and follow-up data were performed in a population-based cohort. The baseline sample of 2,599 adults aged ≥ 55 included 1,515 cognitively normal subjects who were followed up to 8 years. Hearing loss at baseline was determined by the whispered voice test, and MCI and dementia by Mini-Mental State Examination screening, Clinical Dementia Rating scale, neurocognitive tests, MRI, and panel consensus diagnosis. Results: Hearing impairment was associated with increased prevalence of dementia (odds ratio = 3.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-11.4, p = 0.027) but not MCI alone or all cases of MCI or dementia, adjusted for sex, age, ethnicity, education, central obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, alcohol, leisure time activity, cardiac diseases, and depressive symptoms. Among participants who were cognitively normal at baseline, those with hearing impairment were more likely to develop MCI or dementia (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.30, 95% CI 1.08-4.92, p = 0.032). Hearing loss was associated with elevated but statistically nonsignificant estimates of adjusted HR (1.85, 95% CI 0.78-4.40) for incident MCI alone. Conclusions: Hearing loss is independently associated with prevalent dementia and incident MCI or dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forcing the experimental volumetric velocity fields to satisfy mass conversation principles has been proved beneficial for improving the quality of measured data. A number of correction methods including the divergence correction scheme (DCS) have been proposed to remove divergence errors from measurement velocity fields. For tomographic particle image velocimetry (TPIV) data, the measurement uncertainty for the velocity component along the light thickness direction is typically much larger than for the other two components. Such biased measurement errors would weaken the performance of traditional correction methods. The paper proposes a variant for the existing DCS by adding weighting coefficients to the three velocity components, named as the weighting DCS (WDCS). The generalized cross validation (GCV) method is employed to choose the suitable weighting coefficients. A fast algorithm for DCS or WDCS is developed, making the correction process significantly low-cost to implement. WDCS has strong advantages when correcting velocity components with biased noise levels. Numerical tests validate the accuracy and efficiency of the fast algorithm, the effectiveness of GCV method, and the advantages of WDCS. Lastly, DCS and WDCS are employed to process experimental velocity fields from the TPIV measurement of a turbulent boundary layer. This shows that WDCS achieves a better performance than DCS in improving some flow statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alkylamine-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method is proposed for fabrication of copper (Cu) nanopolyhedrons (including tetrahedral and cubic shapes) with well-defined facets and controllable size by modulating the coordination chemistry of a sole ligand (hexadecylamine, HDA) or dual ligands [HDA and octadecylamine (ODA)]. The size of the nanopolyhedrons increases with decreasing HDA/ODA mole ratio. Both the nanocubes and nanotetrahedrons are single-crystal structures, bound by six {100} or four {111} facets, respectively. The complexation reaction temperature plays a vital role in determining the final morphology of the as-prepared nanocrystals. High complexation reaction temperature is suitable for generation of single-crystalline Cu nuclei and their further growth into nanocubes and nanotetrahedrons, while low temperature leads to formation of multitwinned crystal seeds that finally develop into nanowires. Moreover, the probable aggregative growth is discussed to explain the growth mechanism of the Cu nanopolyhedrons. In addition, double surface plasmon resonance peaks are observed in the absorbance spectra for the Cu nanopolyhedrons with relatively large size. Finite-difference time-domain simulations reveal that the experimental absorption spectra are the superposition of those for nanocubes and nanotetrahedrons in different proportions. The peak at about 600 nm in the experimental spectra mainly originates from the Cu nanocubes, while the absorption from 750 to 950 nm derives from the Cu nanotetrahedrons. These angular Cu nanocubes and nanotetrahedrons may have potential applications in surface-enhanced Raman scattering and catalysis. Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variable selection for high-dimensional data problems, including both regression and classification, has been a subject of intense research activities in recent years. Many promising solutions have been proposed. However, less attention has been given to the case when some of the data are missing. This paper proposes a general approach to high-dimensional variable selection with the presence of missing data when the missing fraction can be relatively large (e.g., 50%). Both regression and classification are considered. The proposed approach iterates between two major steps: the first step uses matrix completion to impute the missing data while the second step applies adaptive lasso to the imputed data to select the significant variables. Methods are provided for choosing all the involved tuning parameters. As fast algorithms and software are widely available for matrix completion and adaptive lasso, the proposed approach is fast and straightforward to implement. Results from numerical experiments and applications to two real data sets are presented to demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonic vibration treatment is successfully applied in preparation of in-situ 5 vol% TiB 2 particulates reinforced Al-4.5Cu alloy matrix composites with salt-metal reaction route. Formation of TiB 2 phase is confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis, and intermediate phases such as Al 3 Ti are not detected. Agglomerations of particles in the melt are effectively eliminated by the cavitation and acoustic streaming affects in the melt with ultrasonic vibration. TiB 2 particles are uniformly distributed throughout the bulk melt after treated by ultrasonic vibration for 240 s. The tiny agglomerations formed by TiB 2 particles smaller than 100 nm are also broken by ultrasonic vibration. Some TiB 2 particles smaller than 400 nm are observed to dispersed near grain boundary in the matrix after solidification. The optimal improvements of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength are 114% and 50%, respectively, when composite treated by ultrasonic vibration for 240 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrasonic vibration treatment is successfully applied to improve the particles distribution of in-situ 2.5 vol% TiB 2 particles reinforced Al-4.5Cu alloy matrix composites fabricated by salt-metal reaction process. Large particles aggregates are eliminated by effects of the cavitation and the acoustic streaming of ultrasonic vibration for 30 s. All the particles aggregates are eliminated and the particles are uniformly distributed in the melt after treated by ultrasonic vibration for 120 s. TiB 2 particles are identified by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope analysis. Some TiB 2 particles are dispersively distributed in the matrix after solidification. The composite treated by ultrasonic vibration for 120 s has the optimal improvements of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength, which increased by are 84% and 39% respectively. The strengthening mechanisms are discussed, the improved particles distribution brings enhancements on Orowan strengthening, Thermal expansion mismatch strengthening, grain refinement, etc., which are responsible for the improvements of mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-milling is widely used as a method for machining of micro-parts with high precision and efficiency. Taking the nickel-based single-crystal superalloy DD98 as the research object, the crystal characteristics of single-crystal materials were analysed, and the removal mechanism of single-crystal micro-milled parts was described. Based on molecular dynamics, a simulation model for nickel-based single-crystal superalloy DD98 micro-milling was established. Based on the response surface method of central composite design, the influences of spindle speed, feed rate, and milling depth on the surface roughness were examined, and a second-order regression model of the DD98 surface roughness was established. Using analysis of variance and the residuals of the model, a significant influence on surface roughness was found in the following order from large to small: Feed rate, spindle speed, and milling depth. Comparisons were conducted between the micro-milling experimental values and the predicted model values for different process parameters. The results show that the model fit is relatively high, and the adaptability is good. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the micro-milling surfaces was performed to verify the slip and the removal mechanism of single-crystal materials. These results offer a theoretical reference and experimental basis for micro-milling of single-crystal materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Activated carbon are prepared without any added activators and auxiliary gases. • The activated carbon exhibits excellent arsenic adsorption property. • The mechanism of self-activation is explored and direct evidence is provided. • The gaseous product of self-activation has a high higher heating value. A green method for production of activated carbon and combustible gas was introduced. Without any external reagents and gases, the H 2 O and CO 2 produced by the pyrolysis of bamboo shoot shells were used as activators. The prepared activated carbon had good arsenic adsorption properties with the maximum adsorption capacities of 10.9 mg/g for As(III) and 16.0 mg/g for As(V). The gaseous products were mostly CO and H 2 , with higher heating value of 11.7 MJ/Nm3. Thermogravimetric experiments were performed in N 2 , H 2 O and CO 2 atmospheres to simulate the self-activation process and investigate the self-activation mechanism. This work will help to improve the competitiveness of self-activation technology and reduce the production cost of activated carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An HPLC-DAD method was developed for the simultaneous analytical determination of six vitamin A substances (retinol, retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate, retinoic acid, retinal and β-carotene) and applied to the analysis of vitamin A substances in five marine shellfishes. The chromatographic column was a YMC-β carotene C30 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 3 µm), and the mobile phases were selected as A (methanol), B (ultrapure water) and C (methyl tert-butyl ether). The initial ratio of the mobile phase was A:B:C= 90:1:9, which was maintained for 8 min, while the ratio of the three was changed to A:B:C= 35:0:65 and continued for 8 min, and finally returned to the initial ratio within 0.1 min. Ultrasound-assisted direct extraction was investigated, and the optimal extraction conditions were determined by exploring different sample-to-liquid ratios, extractants, extraction times and extraction temperatures. The method was validated and the established assay showed good linearity in the range of 0.5–50 μg/mL with good precision and accuracy. The experimental results showed that retinol, retinyl palmitate and β-carotene were present in the shellfish and there were seasonal variations of vitamin A substances in different marine economic shellfish. • A HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of six vitamin A substances. • The extraction conditions of the ultrasound-assisted extraction were investigated. • The content and composition of five shellfish vitamin A analogues were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In comparison to ceria thin film, CeO 2 /Cu inverse catalyst with different thickness of CeO 2 layers displays both good thermostability and excellent catalytic activity towards CO oxidation due to strong interfacial interaction and significant charge transfer. [Display omitted] • The strong interfacial interaction of CeO 2 /Cu(1 1 1) composites is attributed to the strong O-Cu bonds formed by the hybridization of O-2p orbital and Cu-3d orbital at the interface. • Significant charge transfer from Cu(1 1 1) substrate to CeO 2 (1 1 1) layer results in different charge accumulation on CeO 2 /Cu(1 1 1) surface as well as higher surface reactivity. • CeO 2 /Cu catalyst with different thickness of CeO 2 layers displays both good thermostability and excellent catalytic activity towards CO oxidation. Interfacial interactions have been recognized as a crucial factor affecting interfacial structures and catalytic performance. Herein, the interfacial structures, interactions, and catalytic properties of CeO 2 /Cu(1 1 1) composites including monolayer, bilayer and trilayer CeO 2 (1 1 1) on Cu(1 1 1) substrate were comparatively studied by DFT + U calculations. Our results showed that the interfacial interaction between CeO 2 (1 1 1) and Cu(1 1 1) substrate increased linearly with the increase of CeO 2 (1 1 1) thickness. This trend was well rationalized by analyzing the strong interfacial interactions, which were mainly due to the strong O-Cu chemical bonds formed by the hybridization of O-2p orbitals and Cu-3d orbitals at the interface. Significant charge transfer from Cu(1 1 1) substrate to CeO 2 (1 1 1) layer resulted in the charge accumulations of surface O-Ce-O layer in order of ML-CeO 2 /Cu(1 1 1) (- 1.06 |e|) > BL-CeO 2 /Cu(1 1 1) (- 0.40 |e|) > TL-CeO 2 /Cu(1 1 1) (+ 0.36 |e|). The intrinsic activity was further identified by employing CO oxidation as model reaction, and followed the order of BL-CeO 2 /Cu(1 1 1) > ML-CeO 2 /Cu(1 1 1) > TL-CeO 2 /Cu(1 1 1) > ML-CeO 2 (1 1 1) > TL-CeO 2 (1 1 1) > BL-CeO 2 (1 1 1). The results showed that the strong interfacial interaction and charge transfer were key factors for the good stability and excellent catalytic activity of CeO 2 /Cu catalyst. All these findings provided insights for the design and application of ceria-based catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel rhodamine-based fluorescent probe were designed and synthesized. The probes exhibited highly selective and sensitive recognition toward Fe 3+ over other metal ion. In addition, the optical sensor features and the detection limit of probes for Fe 3+ were investigated. Beside, we performed quantum calculations for understanding the reaction mechanism between probes and Fe 3+ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is an important QFD decision problem to determine the engineering characteristics and their corresponding actual fulfillment levels. With the increasing complexity of actual engineering problems, the corresponding QFD matrixes become much huger, and the time spent on analyzing these matrixes and making decisions will be unacceptable. In this paper, a solution for efficiently solving the QFD decision problem is proposed. The QFD decision problem is reformulated as a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model, which aims to maximize overall customer satisfaction with the consideration of the enterprises’ capability, cost, and resource constraints. And then an improved algorithm G-ICA, a combination of Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) and genetic algorithm (GA), is proposed to tackle this model. The G-ICA is compared with other mature algorithms by solving 7 numerical MINLP problems and 4 adapted QFD decision problems with different scales. The results verify a satisfied global optimization performance and time performance of the G-ICA. Meanwhile, the proposed algorithm’s better capabilities to guarantee decision-making accuracy and efficiency are also proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we demonstrate the large-scale preparation of Cu3Mo2O9nanosheets on Ni foam with a non-surfactant hydrothermal method, followed by calcination. Subsequent performance tests uncovered that these Cu3Mo2O9nanosheets on Ni foam exhibit an ultrahigh specific capacitance of 821 F g−1at a current density of 1 A g−1and had 88.3% capacitance retention after 1000 cycling tests at a current density of 5 A g−1. Such successful findings provided a simple and effective approach to Cu-Mo binary materials for supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to gain better knowledge of the number and morphology of chromosomes in Aconitum subgen. Lycoctonum in China, 60 populations belonging to 20 species were cytologically studied. Chromosome numbers of six species ( A. apetalum, A. finetianum, A. fletcheranum, A. longecassidatum, A. umbrosum and A. wangyedianense) are here reported for the first time. One species, A. fletcheranum, has 2n = 12, and thus is a diploid based on x = 6, a new base chromosome number for the genus Aconitum. Most of the remaining taxa are diploid (2n = 16) based on x = 8, but five taxa ( A. angustius, A. brevicalcaratum var. brevicalcaratum, A. brevicalcaratum var. parviflorum, A.chrysotrichum and A. crassiflorum) are tetraploid with 2n = 32, and one species ( A. apetalum) is hexaploid with 2n = 48, the highest ploidy level currently known in the subgenus. Disregarding differences in the presence or absence and number of satellites, the karyotypes of all the 2n = 16 species are quite uniform (2n = 2m + 6sm + 8st), but A. novoluridum, the only species of A. section Alatospermum, has an intrachromosomally less asymmetric karyotype (2n = 2m + 14sm), which lends further support for the primitive condition of its section as inferred from gross-morphology. Chromosomal variation in the subgenus and the relationships of some of the species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Closing mobility and accessibility gaps between public transit riders and private car users is key to tackling social exclusion and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, place-based potential accessibility methods do not accurately measure real gaps in the uptake of activity opportunities because people usually have limited activity spaces. This study introduces people-based activity space approaches to measure activity disparities between the two modal groups. To overcome difficulties in obtaining large-scale individual activity data, this study used vehicle plate recognition data and public transit smart card data to anonymously identify activities. Individual activity spaces were characterised by six primary activity features from different dimensions. The analysis confirmed that, relative to transit riders, people who use cars on average accessed more activities within a larger activity space and enjoyed overall higher travel efficiency. A comprehensive indicator was further derived from the primary activity features to quantify activity disparities at the zone level. Zones with the highest risk of social exclusion were observed in the outskirts. In contrast, the city centre and inner suburbs exhibited significant equality of the two transport modes in fulfilling mobility needs for engagement in activities. Activity disparities between the two modalities were determined per area in specific activity dimensions, namely activity extensity, activity diversity, and travel efficiency. Finally, statistical models provided evidence that public transport facilities (especially rail transit) and location factors (distance to the city centre) are essential in determining modality-associated gaps in access to urban activity opportunities. Socioeconomic status and land use diversity also partially contributed to the inequality in specific dimensions of the activity space. This people-centred approach is critical for tackling transport inequality and achieving SDGs while "leaving no one behind". • This study documents transport inequality in terms of activity space instead of place-based accessibility. • Place-based activity disparity is measured to highlight potential areas of social exclusion. • Four types of areas are identified based on the dimensions that determine the observed disparities. • Public transport facilities play important roles in determining the modal gaps in supporting activity participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) technology was applied to irradiate the surface of mono-crystalline Ge wafers (Ge (100) and Ge (111)) with different orientations, and the microstructure and properties of the irradiated surface were analyzed in detail. The results show that after HCPEB irradiation, numerous molten pits and local microcracks were produced on the surface of mono-crystalline Ge, and the pit density decreased with the increase of irradiation pulses. TEM observations indicated that after irradiation, the defects are mainly vacancy group defects and dislocation rings, and Ge nanocrystals with uniform size distribution are produced. HCPEB irradiation also formed self-assembled nanostructures on the surface of Ge. Cross section TEM indicated that the 250 nm deep defect channels were under the quantum dots, which confirms the formation mechanism of self-assembled nanostructures. The photoluminescence results indicated that the irradiated mono-crystalline Ge still has blue emission properties, and the luminescence mechanism is the quantum confinement effect of Ge nanocrystals embedded in slightly oxidized or nitrided amorphous structures. • HCPEB irradiation can induce the proliferation of crystal defects and the formation of neatly arranged microcrack. • HCPEB irradiation induced numerous supersaturated vacancy defects in mono-crystalline Ge. • HCPEB irradiation induced the formation of nanocrystals on the Ge surface. • HCPEB irradiation induced the formation of self-assembled nanostructures on Ge surface. • After HCPEB irradiation, the blue light emission phenomenon of photoluminescence appeared in mono-crystalline Ge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo, because of its fast growth, high fiber strength and biodegradability, had been used to develop lightweight structural materials. However, the inherent hydrophilicity, poor dimensional stability, electrical insulation, and flammability seriously limited its application in many traditional fields, including building structures, outdoor landscapes and some emerging fields, such as smart furniture. To this end, we reported a facile two-step approach including in-situ growth of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol (PFDT) deposition to prepare multifunctional bamboo with superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning performance, dimensional stability, conductivity, flame retardancy, and antibacterial activity. The obtained multifunctional bamboo had superhydrophobicity with a high water contact angle of 159.8° and excellent surface chemical and mechanical stability. The superhydrophobic surface was proven for various droplets (i.e. milk, juice and coffee) and showed excellent self-cleaning performance. Compared with the untreated bamboo, the hydrophobic layer reduced the moisture adsorption of the multifunctional bamboo by 57 % and improved the dimensional stability greatly. The dense Ag NP layer made the conductivity of functional bamboo as high as 568 m s−1, reduced the peak smoke rate of the material (0.008 m2/s), and endowed the multifunctional bamboo efficiently antibacterial activities. These properties were expected to promote the various practical application of the multifunctional bamboo. [Display omitted] • Multifunctional bamboo was prepared via a facile two-step approach. • The superhydrophobic surface with self-cleaning ability improved the dimensional stability of bamboo by 57 %. • The modified bamboo had high conductivity (568 m s−1) and reduced SPR (0.008 m2/s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Coal structure, boundary condition and equilibrium state are classification criteria. • Coal permeability models are classified into equilibrium and non-equilibrium ones. • The exclusion of equilibration process within REV leads to model prediction errors. • Coal permeability should be treated as a variable of process instead of a quantity. The evolution of coal permeability is very complex under the influence of coupled multiple processes. This is the primary motivation why numerous coal permeability models have been developed over the last decades. Although great efforts have been made to evaluate these models, the root causes of discrepancies between lab/field observations and model predictions are still not identified. The objectives of this study are to address this problem from the perspective of model selves and explore their implications for further improvements. In this study, we collected all coal permeability models available in the literature. Through analysis, we conclude that all models can be characterized by a combination of internal structure of coal, boundary conditions and equilibrium state within the controlled volume. Different combinations lead to two major categories of coal permeability models. One category is structure-based equilibrium models including matchstick, cubic and rock bridge models. The other category is structure-based non-equilibrium models. The equilibrium models only serve as the upper and lower envelopes of experimental data while the non-equilibrium models can explain the data in-between. Further analysis concludes that if local equilibrium is achieved, gas pressure and its associated swelling strain distribute uniformly throughout the entire volume and that if not achieved, both pressure and swelling strain distribute non-uniformly. These conclusions suggest that the exclusion of equilibration process between fracture and matrix systems is the root cause of discrepancies between lab/field observations and model predictions and that future research work should integrate rock structure, boundary conditions and equilibration process in coal permeability model. This inclusion of transient process within the controlled volume represents a leap of knowledge from equilibrium to non-equilibrium theory and opens up a new realm for unconventional gas reservoir modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depleted shale reservoirs are the potential candidate sites for long-term geologic storage of CO 2. However, understanding of CO 2 transport behavior in shale is still a challenge because of the heterogeneity of shale matrix. In this paper, a flow-coupled-geomechanical model is developed for analyzing CO 2 transport at the microscale. This model is able to simultaneously capture the geomechanical deformation of organic matter (OM) and inorganic matter (iOM), gas transport in OM and iOM, gas sorption in OM, and both solid and fluid interactions between OM and iOM. The obtained results show that due to shale matrix heterogeneity, i.e., coexistence of OM and iOM, CO 2 transport and shale matrix deformation behaviors exhibit regional differences. Specifically, during CO 2 injection, pore pressure in OM increases slower, Knudsen number in OM has larger value, apparent permeability in OM is smaller, and volumetric strain in OM is larger. Thus, taking matrix heterogeneity into account is necessary. Moreover, sensitivity analysis indicates that during CO 2 injection the apparent permeability of OM changes with both OM and iOM properties while the apparent permeability of iOM only changes with iOM properties. The flow-coupled-geomechanical modelling provides new insights for understanding CO 2 transport in depleted shale from a microscopic perspective. • A microscale hydro-mechanical model is built for analyzing CO 2 flow in depleted shale. • Fluid and solid interactions between OM and iOM are captured. • Evolution of apparent permeabilities in both OM and iOM are analyzed. • Results provide new insights for understanding CO 2 flow in shale matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A bioinspired butterfly wings triboelectric nanogenerator is designed. • Low-frequency wave energy is efficiently harvested by drag amplification. • The prototype can harvest multidirectional underwater-wave energy. • The prototype immersed in water has excellent durability. Underwater-wave energy, as a kind of abundant but neglected renewable energy, is challenging to be efficiently harvested due to the low frequency and random moving direction. In this work, a bioinspired butterfly wings triboelectric nanogenerator (BBW-TENG) is proposed for multidirectional wave energy harvesting from the underwater environment, which is composed of a shell with bionic blades and the generation units. The parameters for the shape and number of blades are analyzed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to determine the optimal structural parameters and verify that the bionic blades have the characteristic of drag amplification. What's more, the BBW-TENG responds sensitively to the multidirectional underwater-wave excitation, which demonstrates the ability to harvest multidirectional and low-frequency underwater-wave energy. The output performance of 400 V, 2.9 µA, and 0.31 µC can be generated with the frequency of 1.25 Hz. In practical applications, it is verified that the BBW-TENG can provide power supply for the electronic devices. And the BBW-TENG immersed in water for 45 days indicates excellent durability without diminished electrical performance. Therefore, this work gives a new approach of harvesting underwater-wave energy to long-term power supply for the distributed sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to further improve the oxidation resistance of CoCrFeNiAl x (x = 0.1, 0.5, and 1) high entropy alloys (HEAs), the surface of CoCrFeNiAl x prepared by vacuum arc melting is controlled by laser surface remelting (LSM) and the high-temperature oxidation properties of CoCrFeNiAl x before and after LSM is systematically studied. The results revealed that, with the increase of Al content, the parabolic velocity constant k p value gradually decreased after LSM treatment. Moreover, CoCrFeNiAl 0.1 formed a continuous Cr 2 O 3 oxide layer, CoCrFeNiAl 0.5 formed an outer layer of Cr 2 O 3 oxide film and an inner layer of Al 2 O 3 precipitation, and CoCrFeNiAl 1 formed a uniform and dense Al 2 O 3 oxide layer on the entire area. After 100 h of oxidation, the oxide film thickness of three alloys is around 5 µm, 4 µm, and 3 µm, respectively. The improvement in oxidation resistance after LSM can be ascribed to the formation of a dense re-melted layer, uniform distribution of the elements, refinement of the re-melted layer. [Display omitted] • LSM treatment was conducted on the surface of as-cast CoCrFeNiAl x (x = 0.1,0.5,1) high entropy alloy. • The oxidation kinetics curves of CoCrFeNiAl x HEAs (x = 0.1, 0.5 and 1) indicated that all HEAs are in the transitional stage during the initial period of oxidation, showing a parabolic behavior. • The parabolic velocity constant value (k p) gradually decreased after LSM. Moreover, the increase of Al content also decreased the oxidation rate of the samples. • After LSM, CoCrFeNiAl 0.1 formed a continuous and dense Cr 2 O 3 oxide layer, and CoCrFeNiAl 0.5 alloy formed a double-layer oxide on the surface. • After LSM, the CoCrFeNiAl 1 alloy formed a uniform and single-phase Al 2 O 3 oxide layer, which became thick and uniform with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molten salt nanofluids have become a hot research topic due to its excellent thermal properties and heat transfer performance. However, there is a few research on the effect of nanofluids on the corrosion of metal materials. In order to know the influence of molten salt nanofluids on the corrosion of stainless steel, a low melting point quaternary nitrate was used as the base salt to analyze the corrosion law of nanofluids. By means of weight loss method, two different stainless steels (304, 316L) were put into the molten salt nanofluids with SiO 2 nanoparticles content of 1 wt% to test the corrosion behavior of stainless steel. The results of 500 h corrosion test revealed that the corrosion rate of mixed molten salt on 304 and 316L stainless steel is reduced by the addition of SiO 2 nanoparticles. The corrosion rates of molten salt nanofluids on 304 and 316L stainless steel were 0.0433 mm/y and 0.0233 mm/y, respectively. The surface morphology analysis by SEM, EDS, XRD and XPS test showed that the reticular silica nanostructures corrosion layer was formed on the surface of stainless steel, such structure can inhibit the corrosion of stainless steel. Therefore, molten salt nanofluids have the good compatibility with metal materials, and adding nanoparticles in molten salt can reduce the corrosion on stainless steel. • Investigating the corrosion behavior of stainless steels (304,316L) in the mixed molten salt and its nanofluids. • Confirming the corrosion reduction of stainless steel in the mixed molten salt nanofluids. • Discovering the nanostructure of reticulated SiO 2 in the corrosion layer of stainless steel. • Revealing the corrosion mechanism of stainless steel in the mixed molten salt containing SiO 2 nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fault detection models play a fundamental role in monitoring the health state of engineering systems subject to degradation processes. Data-driven fault detection models, albeit very effective when trained on large databases of failures, fail to perform well under a lack of failure examples. Because reliable engineering systems seldom fail, data shortage is often inevitable. To overcomes failure data scarcity, this work proposes a new model selection framework for the robust selection of fault detection and system health monitoring models. We combine heterogeneous sources of information (time-to-failure and sensors data), a model of the system structure, and mathematical bounds on the sensitivity and specificity of components fault classifiers. We use Support Vector Machines (SVMs) to detect components faults and Scenario theory to derive formal sensitivity and specificity bounds. The component predictions are combined within a system structure-function for system health states estimation. A novel model selection strategy optimizes the hyper-parameters of the SVM ensemble by minimizing system-level prediction errors and generalization error bounds of the individual fault classifiers. One of the main advantages of the proposed framework is a set of formal epistemic bounds on fault detection and false alarm probabilities quantifying the lack of data uncertainty affecting the fault detection rate. We test the method on three representative case studies: (1) On randomized fault detection experiments with synthetic data, (2) on ten SVM models for predictive maintenance of industrial health care imaging systems, and (3) on a real-world PHM challenge problem. The results prove the efficacy of the proposed approach and its usefulness for solving fault detection. • A robust model selection of failure detection and system health monitoring models. • Fusion of time-to-failure survival data, system structure model, and sensors monitoring data. • Robust SVM fault classifiers thanks to new sensitivity/specificity bounds. • The number of support vectors defines the complexity of the classifier and error bounds. • Lack of failure data uncertainty affecting the fault detector is formally quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The cryogenic treatment was first applied to TC4/316L diffusion welded joint. • The effect of cryogenic treatment on microstructure of base metal TC4 and 316L was investigated. • The cryogenic treatment improves the quality of dissimilar joint between titanium alloy and stainless steel. • The bonding mechanism of joints and the influence mechanism of cryogenic treatment were analyzed. The diffusion welded joints of 316L/TC4 with Nb/Cu metal interlayer were subjected to cryogenic treatment. After cryogenic treatment, the strength of joints increased with the increase of soaking time. The strength of joints decreased with the increase of the cycle impact times. The average tensile strength of as-welded joints (AW) was 236.7 MPa, and the cryogenic treated samples for 24 h reached the best (280 MPa). The bonding mechanism of TC4/Nb/Cu/316L vacuum diffusion bonding joints and the influence mechanism of cryogenic treatment were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A platinum (Pt) film coated n-silicon (Pt/n-n-Si) was modified with nickel(II)-potassium hexacyanoferrate (NiHCF)-graphene sheets (GS) hybrid and used as a photo-electrochemical (PEC) sensor for non-enzyme hydrogen peroxide (HO) detection. A NiHCF film was deposited on the surface of GS/Pt/n-n-Si electrode by chemical method. The structure and composition of the NiHCF film was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). PEC behavior of the NiHCF-GS/Pt/n-n-Si electrode was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) under illumination. The modified electrode has been used as PEC sensor for HO detection with a linear range of 2.0 × 10-2.9 × 10 M and a detection limit of 1.0 × 10 M at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 in a two-electrode cell with a Pt plate as counter electrode. The characteristics of GS layer have been discussed in both the improvement of sensibility and selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volumetric measurement for the leading-edge vortex (LEV) breakdown of a delta wing has been conducted by three-dimensional (3D) flow visualization and tomographic particle image velocimetry (TPIV). The 3D flow visualization is employed to show the vortex structures, which was recorded by four cameras with high resolution. 3D dye streaklines of the visualization are reconstructed using a similar way of particle reconstruction in TPIV. Tomographic PIV is carried out at the same time using same cameras with the dye visualization. Q criterion is employed to identify the LEV. Results of tomographic PIV agree well with the reconstructed 3D dye streaklines, which proves the validity of the measurements. The time-averaged flow field based on TPIV is shown and described by sections of velocity and streamwise vorticity. Combining the two measurement methods sheds light on the complex structures of both bubble type and spiral type of breakdown. The breakdown position is recognized by investigating both the streaklines and TPIV velocity fields. Proper orthogonal decomposition is applied to extract a pair of conjugated helical instability modes from TPIV data. Therefore, the dominant frequency of the instability modes is obtained from the corresponding POD coefficients of the modes based on wavelet transform analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle image velocimetry (PIV)-based pressure reconstruction has become a popular technique in experimental fluid mechanics. Noise or errors in raw velocity field would significantly affect the quality of pressure reconstruction in PIV measurement. To reduce experimental errors in pressure gradient and improve the precision of reconstructed pressure field, a minimal 2-norm criteria-based new technique called irrotation correction (IC) with orthogonal decomposition is developed. The pressure reconstruction is therefore composed of three steps: calculation of pressure gradient from time-resolved velocity fields of PIV, an irrotation correction on the pressure gradient field, and finally a simple orthogonal-path integration (OPI) for pressure. Systematic assessments of IC algorithm are performed on synthetic solid-body rotation flow, direct numerical simulations of a channel flow and an isotropic turbulent flow. The results show that IC is a robust algorithm which can significantly improve the accuracy of pressure reconstruction primarily in the low wave number domain. After irrotation correction, noisy pressure gradient field ideally becomes an irrotational field on which the pressure integration is independent of integrating paths. Therefore, an OPI algorithm is proposed to perform the pressure integration in an efficient way with very few integration paths. This makes the new technique to be a doable method on three-dimensional pressure reconstruction with acceptable computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the needs of the enterprises in the manufacturing industry chain for exploring and choosing the partners, a scheme of constructing generic industry chain enterprise cooperation network based on ASP collaborative commerce platform was proposed. To solve the problem of finding suitable business and evaluating the value of the enterprise, according to the idea of PageRank algorithm, the company rank algorithm for enterprise cloud network was derived by constructing the evaluation model of the weight of the industrial chain enterprise search engine. On this basis, the influence factors were used to control the algorithm finely, and some amendments was made to adapt the actual situation of enterprise cooperation. By using the records of enterprise cooperation as data sources, cooperative network was built, and the conversion formula was determined by establishing the fine-grained mapping relationship. The validity of the algorithm was verified by the practical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To manage the effects of manufacturing industries on the economy and environment, design tools are needed that will aid engineers to assess manufacturing costs and environmental impacts early in design. The development of cost analyses and environmental assessments can be burdensome, but much of the data used in these analyses can be shared. Little work has been done to integrate environmental assessments with cost analyses for the purposes of evaluating manufacturing plans for both environmental impact and cost. A spreadsheet-based cost and environmental impact assessment model is developed for simultaneously analyzing the effects of manufacturing process plans on both product cost and the environment. A bottom-up process-based cost calculation method is used to estimate microchannel device manufacturing costs over a range of production volumes, while process-based cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment is utilized to evaluate environmental impacts. Both models draw data from a common database for describing the device geometry and the production environment. The method is used to evaluate the manufacturing plan for a microchannel heat exchanger, providing insight into the likely drivers of cost and environmental impact. For this case study, the analysis shows that both cost and environmental impact are dominated by the same process step – diffusion bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microchannel heat exchangers provide large surface area to volume ratios and accelerated heat transfer, leading to compact form factors for application in portable and distributed thermal management and waste heat recovery. The application of microchannel heat exchangers in industry has been slowed by high manufacturing costs. Therefore, efforts are being made to find new ways to manufacture these components. This research investigates the application of a process-based cost and environmental impact assessment model to the evaluation of manufacturing alternatives to produce microchannel heat exchangers. A bottom-up process-based cost modeling method is used to estimate the cost of manufacturing a microchannel heat recovery unit (HRU). Cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment is simultaneously applied to evaluate environmental impact. Both sets of calculations extend from a single common set of data consisting of production and device geometry parameters. An analysis is demonstrated for different manufacturing alternatives for producing the HRU. Among the six manufacturing plans evaluated, the combination of laser cutting and diffusion brazing was found to have the lowest cost but the highest environmental impact, while the combination of photochemical machining and laser welding was found to have the lowest environmental impact with a comparatively high cost. Among the cost categories defined, consumables, capital tooling, and utilities were found to be the primary drivers for cost and environmental impact suggesting these as areas to concentrate in future process capability assessments and technology development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel technique to shrink the elongated particles and suppress the ghost particles in particle reconstruction of tomographic particle image velocimetry is presented. This method, named as intensity-enhanced multiplicative algebraic reconstruction technique (IntE-MART), utilizes an inverse diffusion function and an intensity suppressing factor to improve the quality of particle reconstruction and consequently the precision of velocimetry. A numerical assessment about vortex ring motion with and without image noise is performed to evaluate the new algorithm in terms of reconstruction, particle elongation and velocimetry. The simulation is performed at seven different seeding densities. The comparison of spatial filter MART and IntE-MART on the probability density function of particle peak intensity suggests that one of the local minima of the distribution can be used to separate the ghosts and actual particles. Thus, ghost removal based on IntE-MART is also introduced. To verify the application of IntE-MART, a real plate turbulent boundary layer experiment is performed. The result indicates that ghost reduction can increase the accuracy of RMS of velocity field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient one-pot, cyclocondensation of ammonium acetate, 1,2-diphenyl ethanedione, aromatic aldehyde or arylamine, and catalyzed by boric acid is achieved to form multisubstituted imidazole derivatives. Boric acid as green property is harmless to the environment and has improved the yield of multisubstituted imidazole derivatives. Moreover, we have tested the biological activities of imidazole derivatives by the four fungi. And the investigations showed most of imidazole derivatives have antifungal action on four fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rhizopogon roseolus (Corda) Th. Fr. is a basidiomycete truffle that is considered edible. Its gleba changes color from white to beige to brown as it matures. Although ultrastructural changes in the spore wall have been linked to the maturation of the fruiting body, little is known regarding the relationship between spore germination success and the ultrastructure of the spore wall. We examined spore germination on agar plates and analyzed the spore wall ultrastructure using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Fruiting bodies, collected from a pine forest, were classified into three developmental stages based on gleba color, and the germination success was evaluated at each stage. Variability in the spore germination rate was observed between individual fruiting bodies. The peak germination rate was recorded for the spores from the fruiting bodies in the beige glebal stage, and the rate was lower in the brown glebal stage. When spore wall structures were studied using TEM, the spore wall was found to be multilayered upon maturation of the fruiting body. The spores of the beige glebal stage showed three types of spore walls, namely two-layered, three-layered, and four-layered spore walls. On the other hand, the spores of the brown glebal stage showed predominantly four-layered spore walls. These results indicate that spore germination of R. roseolus decreases as the fruiting body matures and the spore wall becomes more complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-situ 5 vol% TiB 2 /Al–4.5Cu composites are successfully prepared by the salt–metal reactions assisted by improved mechanical stirring. The X-ray diffraction confirms the formation of TiB 2 particles, and no cluster or large precipitate of intermediate phases Al 3 Ti and AlB 2 can be traced. Mechanical stirring can reduce the large agglomerations and finally eliminate them when the speed rises to 540 rpm. Most of TiB 2 particles are uniformly distributed along the grain boundary in the matrix, and lots of dispersed particles with a size under 0.4 μm are also found. Yield stress and ultimate tensile strength of the composite are improved by 85% and 46%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identified and validated several novel inflammatory markers of cognitive performance in community-living older persons. An exploratory study (n = 83) correlated 177 inflammatory markers assayed by Luminex with the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE) and identified 8 inflammatory markers for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and correlations with MMSE, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and cognitive impairment in the validation study (n = 139). The validation study replicated the significant associations of soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (sIL-2Rα; p = 0.050), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2; p = 0.002) and soluble glycoprotein 130 (sgp130; p = 0.026) with MMSE, and sIL-2Rα ( p = 0.019) and sgp130 ( p < 0.001) with MoCA. Significant trends of associations of tertiles of sgp130, sIL-2Rα, and sTNFR2 were found with cognitive impairment. Highly elevated estimates of association of high versus low tertiles were obtained for sgp130 (odds ratio [OR] = 4.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96–18.8), sIL-2Rα (OR = 3.94, 95% CI 0.83–18.7), and sTNFR2 (OR = 7.58, 95% CI 1.19–48.1). sgp130, sTNFR2, and sIL-2Rα are promising inflammatory markers of low cognitive performance for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensor Rh1 for Fe3+ was synthesized by condensation reaction of rhodamine B hydrochloride and 2-aminothiazole, and its structure was confirmed by NMR, IR, HRMS and crystal data. Upon coordination with Fe3+ in CH3CN-H2O (1:1, v/v) solution, the spirolactam of Rh1 is opened, which results in a dramatic enhancement of fluorescence intensity as well as the color change of the solution. Most importantly, other metal ions show no obvious interference with the detection of Fe3+. Under the optimum conditions described, the fluorescence intensity is linearly proportional to the concentration of Fe3+ in the range of 2 μ m ~ 7 μ m. The Job's plot indicates a 1:1 binding stoichiometry between Rh1 and Fe3+. The association constant (Ka) is 2.26 × 104 m-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in-situ (TiB 2 +Mg 2 Si)/Al composite is successfully fabricated by the combination of salt-metal reaction route and ingot metallurgy. The presence of Mg 2 Si phase solves the problem that the particulate volume fraction of TiB 2 /Al composite processed by salt-metal reaction route is low. X-ray diffraction confirms the formation of TiB 2 and Mg 2 Si phases, no other intermediate phases are traced. TiB 2 and Mg 2 Si particles are relative uniformly distributed in the matrix. TiB 2 particles are sub-micron in size, and Mg 2 Si phase is refined from Chinese script morphology to short dispersed sticks by TiB 2 particles. The refined Mg 2 Si phase are under 10 μm in size and the whole reinforcements volume fraction is about 14∼15%. The grains are effectively refined. The mechanism of mutual refinement between TiB 2 particles and Mg 2 Si phase is discussed. The yield stress and ultimate tensile strength of TiB 2 +Mg 2 Si/Al composite are improved by 244% and 229% compared with Al matrix, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children is becoming an increasingly problematic issue in China. This study investigated Chinese clinicians to provide information about their knowledge and experiences in diagnosis and treatment of pediatric TBI. We conducted a questionnaire survey among clinicians in the emergency departments and neurosurgery departments at 9 major hospitals in China. The questionnaire included demographic information, and knowledge and experiences regarding the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric TBI. A total of 235 clinicians completed questionnaires. 43.8% of the surveyed clinicians reported children with only scalp hematoma without any other signs and symptoms of concussion as TBI cases. Most clinicians (85.1%) reported no existing uniform diagnostic criteria for children with TBI in China. The majority of clinicians (91.9%) reported that CT scans were performed in all patients with suspected head injury as a routine procedure in their hospitals. Only 20.9% of clinicians believed that radiation from CT scanning may increase cancer risk in children. About 33.6% of the clinicians reported that they ordered CT scans to investigate suspected head injury due to the poor doctor-patient relationship in China, and to protect themselves against any medical lawsuits in the future. About 80% of the clinicians reported that there are no existing pediatric TBI treatment guidelines in China. Instead a senior doctor’s advice is the most reported guidelines regarding treating pediatric TBI (66.0%). All of the surveyed clinicians reported that the lack of diagnosis and/or treatment standard is the biggest problem in effectively diagnosing and treating pediatric TBI in China. Developing guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of children with TBI is a high priority in China. The extremely high usage of CT for pediatric TBI in China suggests that it is important to establish evidence-based clinical decision rules to help Chinese clinicians make diagnostic and therapeutic decisions during their practice in order to identify children unlikely to have a clinically-important TBI who can be safely discharged without a CT scan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the pulverized coal combustion of Zhundong lignite was conducted in an optically-accessible, downward Hencken flat-flame burner to investigate the incipient formation of ultrafine particulate matter (PM). The ultrafine PM were collected in - flame from distinct positions under 1800 K, 1500 K and 1200 K using a self-designed thermophoretic sampler, together with extensive conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) examinations. A novel in situ low-intensity phase-selective laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (PS-LIBS) was further introduced to diagnose the dynamic behavior of particle-phase sodium during the pulverized coal combustion. The primary particles in the collected ultrafine PM have mean diameter of 8–15 nm, with Si and Na as main mineral components based on TEM/HRTEM–EDS results. The formation of ultrafine PM is regarded as a process of multi-component flame syntheses of mineral precursors, in which the competition between the devolatilization and the coalescence of particles are of most significance. Finally, based on an approach of time scale analysis, three characteristic times of minimum mean diameter of primary particles, the initial increment point of particle-phase sodium and the maximum devolatilization are found to be highly correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes damage to intestinal epithelial cells and results in acute diarrhea and dehydration with high mortality rates in swine. Dendritic cells (DCs) are highly effective antigen-presenting cells widely distributed beneath the intestinal epithelium, thus making them an early target for virus contact. DCs uptake and present viral antigens to T cells, which then initiate a distinct immune response. In this study, we investigated how attenuated PEDV (CV777) affects the function of porcine monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs). Our results show that the expression of Mo-DC surface markers such as SWC3a + CD1a + , SWC3a + CD80/86 + and SWC3a + SLA-II-DR + is increased after infection with CV777 for 24 h. Mo-DCs infected with CV777 produce higher levels of IL-12 and INF-γ compared to mock-infected Mo-DCs but the expression profile for IL-10 does not change. Interactions between Mo-DCs and CV777 significantly influence the stimulation of the T cell response in vitro . Consistent with these results, after 48 h of CV777 infection, there is enhancement in the ability of porcine intestinal DCs to sample the antigen and activate T-cell proliferation in vivo . The enhancement of sampling and presentation is most pronounced for immature Mo-DCs. These results suggest that CV777 stimulates the ability of Mo-DCs to sample and present antigen. We conclude that CV777 may be a useful vaccine to trigger adaptive immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need to develop reliable strategies for the rapid assembly of complex oligosaccharides. This paper presents a set of strategically selected orthogonal protecting groups, glycosyl donors modified by a ( S)-phenylthiomethylbenzyl ether at C-2, and a glycosyl acceptor containing a fluorous tag, which makes it possible to rapidly prepare complex branched oligosaccharides of biological importance. The C-2 auxiliary controlled the 1,2- cis anomeric selectivity of the various galactosylations. The orthogonal protecting groups, 2-naphthylmethyl ether (Nap) and levulinic ester (Lev), made it possible to generate glycosyl acceptors and allowed the installation of a crowded branching point. After the glycosylations, the chiral auxiliary could be removed using acidic conditions, which was compatible with the presence of the orthogonal protecting groups Lev and Nap, thereby allowing the efficient installation of 1,2-linked glycosides. The light fluorous tag made it possible to purify the compounds by a simple filtration method using silica gel modified by fluorocarbons. The set of building blocks was successfully employed for the preparation of the carbohydrate moiety of the GPI anchor of Trypanosoma brucei, which is a parasite that causes sleeping sickness in humans and similar diseases in domestic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]