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In the presence of norbornene, Pd(OAc) 2 smoothly catalyzed the meta -C-H activation process of N-phenylbenzamide ( 4 ) and yielded a norbornene fused product, (1 R ,4 S ,4a R ,8b S )-N-phenyl-1,2,3,4,4a,8b-hexahydro-1,4-methanobiphenylene-5-carboxamide ( 5a ). The employment of Ag(OAc) is crucial to the success of this reaction. Norbornene related compounds, dicyclopentadiene and norbordiene, were used as the reagents and structurally similar compounds, 5b and 5c were formed although with much lower yields. Similar reaction was carried out for using N-benzylbenzamide ( 9 ) as starting reagent. The resulted norbornene fused product (1R,4S,4aR,8bS)-N-benzyl-1,2,3,4,4a,8b-hexahydro-1,4-methanobiphenylene-5-carboxamide ( 10 ) shows that the C-H activation indeed took place at the phenyl ring of acetophenone part rather than the benzyl side. Crystal structures of 5a , 5c and 10 were determined by X-ray diffraction methods. A reaction mechanism is proposed to account for the formation of 5a , which could be extended to describe the generation of other structurally related compounds as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flexible three-dimensional carbon cloth/carbon fibers/NiCo 2 O 4 composite electrode is prepared via a two step method: first growth carbon fibers on flexible carbon cloth; second coating NiCo 2 O 4 on the carbon cloth/carbon fibers composite. The carbon cloth guarantees the flexibility of electrodes. The three-dimensional carbon cloth/carbon fibers conductive network enhances the ionic transportation property and offer high conductivity. The ultrathin and porous NiCo 2 O 4 nanosheet layers contribute high faradic capacity. The hierarchically porous electrode structure further facilitates to shorten the electrolyte diffusion path. When used as electrodes for electrochemical capacitor, the composite electrode exhibits superior energy storage performances with high specific capacitance of 1221 F g −1 at 1 A g −1 , outstanding cycle stability (81% capacitance retention after 3000 cycles) and excellent flexibility. To further investigate the performances of the carbon cloth/carbon fibers/NiCo 2 O 4 composite electrode, we assemble an all-solid-state symmetric electrochemical capacitors device using identical carbon cloth/carbon fibers/NiCo 2 O 4 composite as electrodes. The assembled device delivers a high energy density of 27.2 Wh kg −1 at a power density of 1.46 kW kg −1 and outstanding cycling stability with 91% capacitance retention after 2000 cycles. The combination of excellent flexibility and outstanding energy storage performance of the device will help to pave the way to wearable electronics and devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and practical Cu(I)-catalyzed oxidative cyclization cascade reaction of diverse amines, alkyne esters and maleimides has been developed. The reactions can afford 4,6-dioxopyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrrole-2,3-dicarboxylates and related derivatives with satisfactory yields by altering the reaction conditions slightly. The substrate scope highlights the flexibility of the catalyst, and a reaction mechanism is also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study the postoperative impact of cochlear implants (CIs) on tinnitus, as well as the impact of tinnitus on speech recognition with CI switched on. Methods: Fifty-two postlingual deafened CI recipients (21 males and 31 females) were assessed using an established Tinnitus Characteristics Questionnaire and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) before and after cochlear implantation. The tinnitus loudness was investigated when CI was switched on and off in CI recipients with persistent tinnitus. The relation between tinnitus loudness and recipients' satisfaction of cochlear implantation was analyzed by the visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Results: With CI 'OFF', 42 CI recipients experienced tinnitus postimplant ipsilaterally and 44 contralaterally. Tinnitus was totally suppressed ipsilateral to the CI with CI 'ON' in 42.9%, partially suppressed in 42.9%, unchanged in 11.9% and aggravated in 2.4%. Tinnitus was totally suppressed contralaterally with CI 'ON' in 31.8% of CI recipients, partially suppressed in 47.7%, unchanged in 20.5%. Pearson correlation analysis showed that tinnitus loudness and the results of cochlear implant patients satisfaction was negatively correlated (r =.674, p <.001). Conclusion: The study suggests six-month CI activation can be effective for suppressing tinnitus. The tinnitus loudness may affect patients' satisfaction with the use of CI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Gellan gum (GG) improved gel formation of protein isolate from P. crocea roe (pcRPI). • GG improved the rheological properties and water holding ability of pcRPI gels. • The pcRPI-GG binary gels showed denser, more aggregated network structure. • GG improved the protective effects of curcumin by pcRPI gels with control release. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gellan gum (GG) on the cold gelation of large yellow croaker roe protein isolate (pcRPI). The water-holding ability and storage modulus of the pcRPI-GG binary gels increased with the GG concentration, where the storage modulus of the pcRPI-0.2% GG gel was approximately 30.7 times that of the pure pcRPI gel. Compare to the other binary gels, pcRPI-0.2% GG gels exhibited a lower lacunarity and higher junction density, with a denser, more aggregated microstructure. Consequently, curcumin was embedded in pcRPI-0.2% GG gels, and simulated gastrointestinal digestion test results showed that GG addition effectively protected and slowed curcumin release in the gastrointestinal environment. These findings may contribute to elucidating the interaction of pcRPI with GG and demonstrate the potential of binary gels for the embedding and delivery of active substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of scallop male gonads hydrolysates (SMGHs) and κ -carrageenan (KC) was applied for curcumin (Cur) embedment and preservation, the corresponding Cur retention rate as well as gelation and microstructural properties were investigated during storage subjected to various pH (8 and 6) and temperature (25 °C and 4 °C). SMGHs-based gels could well protect Cur from degradation during 4 °C storage, with retention rate ranging from 95% to 97% after 30 day storage. At 25 °C, Cur could still be well preserved in SMGHs-based gels under pH 6 with Cur retention rate above 90%, while pH 8 led to rapid Cur degradation to around 75%. In addition, at pH 8 and 25 °C, the gel strength of SMGHs-Cur deteriorated significantly while evidently enhanced in SMGHs/KC-Cur due to synergistic combination within SMGHs and KC in couple with dehydration effect. Moreover, the water migration and distribution of SMGHs-based Cur-loaded vehicles were relatively stable at 4 °C while revealed apparent deterioration at 25 °C during storage. Furthermore, the microstructures of SMGHs/KC-Cur gradually transformed from homogeneous network with dense and smooth pores to tattered network with large and fragmentary pores, especially at 25 °C, promoting more Cur degradation. This study demonstrated that SMGHs/KC-Cur exhibited better than SMGHs-Cur in Cur preservation, potentially performing as excellent and sustainable protein hydrolysate/polysaccharide soft materials in food and biomedical fields. [Display omitted] • Acidic and low temperature are favorable for Cur protection in SMGHs-based vehicles. • SMGHs/KC performs better Cur preservation than SMGHs above 98% at 4 °C after 30 day. • Enhanced gel strength of SMGHs/KC-Cur after pH 8, 4 °C storage is due to dehydration. • Water migration and distribution are stable at 4 °C while deteriorate at 25 °C. • Compact and dense porous networks of SMGHs/KC allow more Cur retention at 4 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a simple bi-photochromic molecule containing a donor–acceptor Stenhouse adduct and azobenzene moiety was synthesized. It can achieve all-photonic multimolecular logic functions and photo-printing. This molecule could provide a novel platform for exploring multifunctional molecular logic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research of healthy exercise has garnered a keen research for the past few years. It is known that participation in a regular exercise program can help improve various aspects of cardiovascular function and reduce the risk of suffering from illness. But some exercise accidents like dehydration, exertional heatstroke, and even sudden death need to be brought to attention. If these exercise accidents can be analyzed and predicted before they happened, it will be beneficial to alleviate or avoid disease or mortality. To achieve this objective, an exercise health simulation approach is proposed, in which an integrated human thermophysiological model consisting of human thermal regulation model and a nonlinear heart rate regulation model is reported. The human thermoregulatory mechanism as well as the heart rate response mechanism during exercise can be simulated. On the basis of the simulated physiological indicators, a fuzzy finite state machine is constructed to obtain the possible health transition sequence and predict the exercise health status. The experiment results show that our integrated exercise thermophysiological model can numerically simulate the thermal and physiological processes of the human body during exercise and the predicted exercise health transition sequence from finite state machine can be used in healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astemizole has gained attention as an antineoplastic drug that targets important ion channels. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of astemizole against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)‑induced oxidative damage to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs were pretreated with astemizole (0.5 and 1 μM) for 12 h, then exposed to H2O2 (200 μM) for 12 h. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‑Px), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic percentage were determined. Additionally, the protein expression of p53, p21Cip1/Waf1and p16INK4a was measured by western blot analysis The results demonstrated that astemizole (0.5‑1 μM) was able to significantly restore the viability of HUVECs under oxidative stress and scavenge intracellular ROS induced by H2O2. Astemizole also suppressed the production of lipid peroxides, such as MDA, and restored the activities of endogenous antioxidants, including SOD and GSH‑Px, indicating that cell apoptosis may be inhibited. In addition, astemizole significantly increased p53, P21Cip1/Waf1 and p16INK4a protein expression. In conclusion, astemizole effectively protected endothelial cells against oxidative stress induced by H2O2, a function that may involve ROS/p53/p21Cip1/Waf1/ p16INK4a signaling pathways. The present study therefore served as a preliminary investigation into the ROS‑protective effects of astemizole, and may pave the way for future studies into the development of this compound as a novel therapy for atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia development in tumor is closely associated with its increased aggressiveness and strong resistance to therapy, leading to the poor prognosis in several cancer types. Clinically, invasive oxygen microelectrode and high dosage radiotherapy are often utilized to accurately detect and effectively fight hypoxia. Recently, however, there has been a surge of interdisciplinary research aiming at developing functional molecules and nanomaterials that can be used to noninvasively image and efficiently treat hypoxic tumors. In this review, we will provide an overview of the reports published to date on the imaging and therapy of hypoxic tumors. First, we will present the design concepts and engineering of various hypoxia-responsive probes that can be applied to image hypoxia noninvasively, in an order of fluorescent imaging, positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and photoacoustic imaging. Then, we will summarize the up-to-date functional nanomaterials which can be used for the effective treatments of tumor hypoxia. The well-established chemical functions of these elaborately designed nanostructures will enable clinicians to adopt specific treatment concepts by overcoming or even utilizing hypoxia. Finally, challenges and future perspectives facing the researchers in the field will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnetic metal-organic framework-based catalyst CoFe2O4@SiO2@IRMOF-3 was prepared and identified as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of a variety of functionalized dihydro-2-oxopyrroles by a one-pot, four-component reaction of a dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate, an aryl amine, formaldehyde, and optionally a second amine or diamine at room temperature. The catalyst was magnetically separated and recovered without significant loss of its catalytic efficiency, even after eight reaction cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon supporting materials play a crucial role for improving the utilization and electrocatalytic activity of noble metal nanocrystals. In this work, the high-quality carbon nanobowls (CNBs) with high surface area are synthesized successfully by a simple sol–gel synthetic method. Then, the as-prepared CNBs are used as advanced supporting material to anchor Pd nanocrystals by a facile homogeneous precipitation–reduction method. The as-prepared CNBs supported Pd nanocrystals (Pd/CNBs) nanohybrids are examined thoroughly by various physical characterizations. Physical measurements display that the CNBs facilitate the dispersion and anchorage of Pd nanocrystals due to their high surface area and abundant O-containing surface groups. Cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and chronoamperometry measurements reveal that the Pd/CNBs nanohybrids have higher electrocatalytic activity and durability for the formic acid electro oxidation than Vulcan XC-72 carbon supported Pd nanocrystals (Pd/C-72) nanohybrids and commercial Pd/C electrocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two casein plasteins were prepared from the Neutrase-catalyzed plastein reaction of casein hydrolysates in the presence of proline and phenylalanine, respectively, and assessed for their antihypertensive activities at 300 mg/kg body using rat model. After being oral administered, the two plasteins at initial time of 2–6 h resulted in the rats decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 10–23 and 8–19 mmHg, respectively; however, the measured antihypertensive activities showed decreasing trends as oral administrating time prolonged. The two plasteins also decreased serum levels of angiotensin II, angiotensin I converting enzyme, and aldosterone, but had unclear effect on serum angiotensinogen level. The two plasteins showed same antihypertensive activities without statistical difference (p > 0.05), and were more efficient than casein hydrolysates but less effective than captopril (p < 0.05) to exert antihypertensive effect. It is concluded that the plastein reaction can confer casein hydrolysates with enhancedin vivoantihypertensive activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PVDF, poly(vinylidene fluoride), as a semi-crystalline polymer, has interesting electroactive properties but usual melt and solution processing techniques result in its thermodynamically favored non-polar α-phase. By comparison, poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) P(VDF-TrFE), PT for short, directly crystallizes in the polar β-phase under the same conditions as PVDF. In this study, blend thin films comprising PVDF and P(VDF-TrFE) were prepared by solvent casting method. The difference in the crystallization behavior is comprehensively investigated between the polymers: PVDF, P(VDF-TrFE), and the resulting blend films. It is found that replacement of the fluoride atom in TrFE monomer induces a strong steric hindrance that may alter the crystallization process to become more favorable for nucleation of the PVDF β-phase. To figure out the effect of TrFE content on the crystallization behavior and electroactive properties, films with different blend ratios of PVDF and P(VDF-TrFE) were prepared. We found that the PVDF films exhibit higher crystallization activation energy (Δ E ) as PT content increases. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) mode illustrated that P5T5 films with equal contents of PVDF and P(VDF-TrFE) induced the highest d 33 values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclopentane (CP) is considered to be a potential co-guest molecule in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) hydrate-based desalination. The experimental thermodynamic data of CO 2 -CP hydrates were measured for a salt solution, where CP was chosen as a hydrate promoter. Seven experimental cases (62 cycles) were studied with different molar ratios of CP/water (0, 0.0025, 0.005, 0.0075, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03). Hydrate phase equilibrium data were generated using an isochoric method, and the hydrate saturations were calculated based on gas uptake. The results indicated that the increase in CP concentration significantly decreased the CO 2 hydrate equilibrium pressure to a certain limit; the hydrate saturation also decreased during this process. Also, it was determined that CP encouraged the formation of s-II double CO 2 -CP hydrates, which are different from s-I simple CO 2 hydrate. The CO 2 -CP guest provides a strengthened stability and moderate hydrate phase equilibrium conditions for hydrate-based desalination. The recommended optimal molar ratio of CP is 0.01 when the increase in equilibrium was more than 10 K, and the decrease in hydrate saturation was less than 2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eleven T-beams, reinforced with high strength steel, were tested to failure to investigate the effect of shear span to depth ratio, fibre ratio, fibre type, concrete strength and stirrup ratio on the shear behaviour, especially post-cracking shear strength and deformability, of ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) beams. Test results indicated that fibres were efficient not only in enhancing the post-cracking shear strength, but also in improving the post-cracking deformability of UHPFRC beams. In addition, fibres could bridge the cracks and help in redistributing and homogenizing the concrete stress beside the cracks, allowing more short fine diagonal shear cracks with small spacing to develop around the existing cracks. A moderate amount of stirrups can effectively restrain shear cracks and allow more parallel diagonal shear cracks to develop and propagate thoroughly within the shear span. The stiffness of the UHPFRC beams at ultimate state was about 50 % of initial beam stiffness, which was considerable in strength calculations and ductility analysis, especially in seismic performance evaluation. Lastly, the current shear provisions were evaluated using the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the yield of 2-keto- l-gulonic acid (2-KGA), the direct precursor of vitamin C, draws more and more attention in industrial production. In this study, we try to increase the 2-KGA productivity by computer-aided selection of genes encoding l-sorbose dehydrogenases (SDH) of Ketogulonicigenium vulgare. First, six SDHs were modeled by docking strategy to predict the binding mode with co-factor PQQ. The binding energy between SSDA1-H/SSDA1-L and PQQ was the highest, followed by SSDA3/SSDA2. The binding energy between SSDA1-P/SSDB and PQQ was the lowest. Then, these genes were overexpressed, respectively, in an industrial strain K. vulgare HKv604. Overexpression of ssda1- l and ssda1- h enhanced the 2-KGA production by 7.89 and 12.56 % in mono-cultured K. vulgare, and by 13.21 and 16.86 % when K. vulgare was co-cultured with Bacillus endophyticus. When the engineered K. vulgare SyBE_Kv000116013 (overexpression of ssda1- p) or SyBE_Kv000116016 (overexpression of ssdb) was co-cultured with B. endophyticus, the 2-KGA production decreased significantly. The docking results were in accordance with the experimental data, which indicated that computer-aided modeling is an efficient strategy for screening more efficient enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New therapeutic targets are needed to address the poor prognosis of patients with highrisk multiple myeloma. Myeloma cells usually express a range of the prosurvival BCL2 proteins. To define the hierarchy of their relative importance for maintaining the survival of myeloma cells, we targeted each of them in a large panel of cell lines, using pharmacological inhibitors or gene editing or by peptide-based approaches, alone or in combination. The majority of well-established immortalized cell lines (17/25) or lowpassage myeloma cell lines (5/7) are readily killed when MCL1 is targeted, even including those cell lines sensitive to BCL2 inhibition. Targeting MCL1 also constrained the growth of myeloma in vivo. We also identified a previously unrecognized subset of myeloma that is highly BCLXL-dependent, and has the potential for cotargeting MCL1 and BCLXL. As MCL1 is pivotal for maintaining survival of most myelomas, it should be prioritized for targeting in the clinic once high-quality, validated inhibitors become available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Scallop male gonad hydrolysates (SMGHs) have potential as gel matrix. • Synergistic effects between SMGHs and two nonionic polysaccharides were determined. • SMGHs and nonionic polysaccharides developed a hydrogel with exceptional viscosity. • Hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction are dominant forces in the mixed gels. The involvement of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions in a mixture of scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) male gonad hydrolysates (SMGHs) and guar gum (GG) or locust-bean gum (LBG) was investigated using guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) and urea treatments in this study. The addition of GG and LBG (5.56 mg/mL) increased the viscosity of SMGHs at 0.1 s-1 by almost 2.5-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively, reaching 254.8 and 177.0 Pa·s. After treatment with GuHCl or urea, the mixed gels (SMGHs/GG and SMGHs/LBG) became relatively transparent and more fluid, as the viscosity significantly reduced. Moreover, changes of moisture distribution and conformational characteristics suggested that hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions were the main intermolecular forces in the mixed gels of SMGHs and GG or LBG. Furthermore, the SMGHs/GG and SMGHs/LBG mixtures yielded strong gels with viscous network structures, indicating that these materials can be used as thickening agents in food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Watershed activities have changed Poyang Lake's ecosystem significantly. • The proposed Poyang Lake water conservancy project could mitigate existing changes. • Seasonal assessments are important when considering anthropogenic effects. • Multidimensional assessments could show ecosystem features comprehensively. Watershed anthropogenic activities, including pollutant discharge, sand mining, and upstream reservoir operation, have increased nutrient loads and decreased water levels and sediment concentrations in Poyang Lake, and thus affected the aqueous ecosystem. In this study, we developed an ecological model from the framework of AQUATOX to simulate the physical, chemical, and biological evolution of Poyang Lake under watershed anthropogenic influences, and used model output for a multidimensional ecosystem assessment of ecosystem structure, function, service, material flow, temporal dynamics, and collapse probability. The potential impacts of a proposed Poyang Lake water conservancy project (PYWCP) to build a sluice near the outlet of Poyang Lake to regulate lake level were explored. Results show that the watershed anthropogenic activities have worsened the Poyang Lake ecosystem. Specifically, the phytoplankton biomass increased, while benthos and fish decreased; the exergy, capacity of nutrient change, and the total biomass-gross primary production ratio decreased; as the lake's volume decreased, fishes' trophic levels and food web robustness decreased, the food web shrank, single species dependence increased, and ecosystem stability decreased. The PYWCP could mitigate most of these effects, however, it would not recover Poyang Lake to historical conditions, and close monitoring with attention to sluice operational scheduling are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An inventory of rock glaciers in the Gangdise Mountains was made. • Rock glacier metrics were calculated and analysed. • A comparison with rock glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding regions was made. • Increasing temperature and precipitation increase rock glacier occurrence. Rock glaciers are linked to palaeoenvironment, water storage, sediment transport, and natural hazards. Previous rock glacier studies have been conducted in many places globally, but detailed studies have not been done in the Gangdise Mountains of the southern Tibetan Plateau (TP). In this study, 132 rock glaciers were mapped in the western, central, and eastern sectors of the Gangdise Mountains and their metrics calculated. The smallest rock glacier length in the east and the increasing trends of rock glacier density and specific area eastward reflect the effect of temperature and precipitation. The decreasing trend of mean altitude and minimum altitude of the rock glacier front towards east highlight the role of precipitation. Rock glaciers with altitudes of 5143–5651 m above sea level (asl) tend to face N, but their vector strength values decrease with altitude. Rising above 5651 m asl, rock glaciers tend to face SE. These results imply the ability of high altitude to promote rock glacier development on climatically unfavourable slopes. Bedrocks that mainly produce finer or platy debris are rarely sources of rock glacier materials. High altitude may diminish this effect. Aspect does not affect rock glacier size and shape, but rock glaciers on northern slopes have lower altitudes than those on southern slopes due to the effect of solar radiation. Welch's test shows that rock glacier size is mainly controlled by non-lithological factors. By comparing with the previous results of the TP, it is found that increasing temperature and precipitation increase rock glacier occurrence but limit its size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • AZD5423 interacts with the key RIPK3 amino acid residues of Lys50 and Arg313. • AZD5423 protects renal function via attenuation of necroptosis and inflammation. • Preventive effect of AZD5423 in cisplatin- and I/R-induced AKI mouse models. • Therapeutic effect of AZD5423 in an established AKI mouse model. • AZD5423 may serve as a promising clinical strategy for the treatment of AKI. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome that is defined as a sudden decline in renal function and characterized by inflammation and programmed cell death of renal tubular epithelial cells. Necroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that requires activation of receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and its phosphorylation of the substrate MLKL. RIPK3 plays an important role in acute kidney injury, and hence developing its inhibitors is considered as one of the promising strategies aimed at prevention and treatment of AKI. Recently, we discovered AZD5423 as a novel potent RIPK3 inhibitor using a computer-aided hybrid virtual screening strategy according to three-dimensional structure of RIPK3. Our findings revealed that AZD5423 strongly inhibits activation of RIPK3, and MLKL phosphorylation upon cisplatin-, hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)- and TNF-α stimuli as compared with GSK872, which is a previously identified RIPK3 inhibitor. Importantly, AZD5423 exerts effective protection against cisplatin- and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced AKI mouse model. The results of cellular thermal shift assay and experiments in RIPK3 knockout cells indicated that AZD5423 could directly target RIPK3 to inhibit RIPK3 kinase activity. Mechanistically, the docking of AZD5423 and RIPK3 suggested that the kinase domain of RIPK3 for Lys50, Arg313, Lys29, Arg37 might form hydrogen bonds with AZD5423. Site-directed mutagenesis further revealed that AZD5423 reduces injury response via interacting with the key RIPK3 amino acid residues of Lys50 and Arg313. In conclusion, our study has demonstrated that AZD5423 may serve as a potent inhibitor of RIPK3 kinase and a promising clinical candidate for AKI treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A series of Zn-Al oxide were obtained from ZnAl hydrotalcite-like compound. • Zn-Al oxide was used as catalysts to remove carbonyl sulfide. • Sm dopant and the replacement of base can improve the removal efficiency. • KOH and K 2 CO 3 was used as the precipitation base. In this work, a series of Zn-Al oxides calcined from ZnAl hydrotalcite-like catalysts were prepared using the co-precipitation method and then applied to remove COS. The effects of the content of Sm and the species of rare earth metal on the catalytic activities of COS hydrolysis are investigated. Experimental results show that the prepared catalyst doped with 20 wt% Sm performs better catalytically. Based on the optimization of Sm dopant, the effect of the precipitation base in the ZnAl hydrotalcite-like compounds on the catalytic activities of the catalysts is further investigated. The results show that the prepared catalyst using KOH and K 2 CO 3 as the precipitation base exhibits the best catalytic performance. The characterization results show that the doping of rare earth metals can weaken the crystallinity and the introduction of an appropriate amount of Sm ions can significantly enhance the proportion of adsorbed oxygen species. Moreover, the results show that the synergistic effect of the doping of Sm and the replacement of precipitating alkali contribute to the enhancement of the number of basic sites, especially weak and medium basic sites. Furthermore, combined with in-situ DRIFTS, the catalytic mechanism of COS hydrolysis on ZnAl-20Sm-Na MMO is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For instance, implementing mariculture GHG reduction or carbon storage practices in the Baltic Sea region, where ecosystems are less resilient, will have more significant effects on the ecosystem than in the most productive marine ecosystems such as Norway and Indonesia. Therefore, the recommendations of this study can hardly achieve the target that setting up a large number of aquaculture equipment (ropes, cages, etc.) with suitable depths can protect the ecosystem and reduce GHG emissions. In their recent Overview article, Jones and colleagues ([2]) examined the potentials for global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and carbon sequestration from upstream, on-farm, and downstream sectors of seaweed, bivalve, and fed finfish within the production cycle under global climate change. [Extracted from the article]

The boom in cuisine websites has accumulated a wealth of recipe data, as well as interaction data between users and recipe. Based on these data, users can get recommendation that meet their tastes on recommendation algorithm. In this paper, we propose an attention-based convolutional neural network for recipe recommendation. Specifically, we use attention mechanism to capture users' preferences for different ingredients. At the same time, we use multi-perspectives convolution neural network to extract user features and recipe features at higher level. Furthermore, a multi-layer neural network is used to model the interaction between users and recipes according to their features. The experimental results show that our method achieves the better recommendation results compared with other traditional methods. • Proposed a deep learning based method for automatic recipe recommendation. • A multi-perspectives CNN was developed to extract user and recipe features. • Transferring the user interest in the recipe to the ingredients or cooking methods. • The attention mechanism was used to capture the fine-grained user preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Alkali metal hydroxide can enhance the adsorption capacity of COS. • Compared with LiOH and NaOH, Al 2 O 3 modified with KOH exhibits better performance. • Less by-products were formed on Al 2 O 3 modified with KOH. • The role of alkali metal hydroxide in COS hydrolysis is explored. As blast furnace gas (BFG) can cause air pollution, it is an effective route to convert BFG into a kind of energy. However, it is important to remove carbonyl sulfide (COS) from BFG before burning it. This can be done with catalytic hydrolysis which is considered as a high-efficient technology. In this work, a series of catalysts are prepared via impregnation method to remove COS, in which aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3) and alkali metal hydroxide (MOH, M = Li, Na and K) are used as base and active component, respectively. Compared with other prepared catalysts, Al 2 O 3 modified with 10% KOH has better catalytic performance in removing COS. The characterization results imply that alkali metal plays a significant role in the enhancement of COS removal efficiency. The capacity of catalysts to adsorb COS is significantly improved with the modification of alkali metal. Moreover, few carbonate or bicarbonate species can be found on the surface of the catalyst during COS hydrolysis. Furthermore, the catalytic mechanism and degradation route of COS hydrolysis on Al 2 O 3 modified with 10% KOH are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We systematically explore the configuration of hydrated potassium ions. • Potassium ions remain on the surface of the clusters rather than surrounded by water molecules as the cluster size increases. • The simulated infrared spectra with anharmonic correction of clusters could efficiently reproduce the experimental results. Hydrated potassium ion clusters widely exist in salt solutions and biological cells. To explore the configuration of hydrated potassium ions, a global search for the structures from 4 to 10 hydrated potassium ion clusters is performed using the genetic algorithm with density functional theory, followed by high-level ab initio optimization and energetic calculation. Potassium ion remains on the surface of the clusters rather than surrounded by water molecules as the cluster size increases. The simulated infrared (IR) spectra with anharmonic correction of clusters could efficiently reproduce the experimental results. The interaction between the K+ cation and the water molecules resulted in little deviation (<300 cm−1) of the adjacent O–H stretching mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • -Ca2+ and K+ binding to IC promotes gelation of AK/IC with dose-dependent manner. • -Different state of water in AK/IC could resist the salt interference. • -AK/IC mediated by salts appears well honeycomb structures and even denser under Ca2+. • -AK/IC mediated by salts exhibits highly aggregation and entanglement fibers chains. • -Hydrogen bonding combined electrostatic interactions govern the salt-mediated AK/IC. The gelation and microstructural behaviors of Ala-Lys dipeptide/iota-carrageenan (AK/IC) mediated by salts were investigated. Obviously, salt addition prominently exaggerated the synergistic gelation between AK and IC, with storage modulus (G') of AK/IC and IC increasing extensively from 1145 to 9516 Pa or 5919 Pa and from 615 to 9981 Pa or 4693 Pa at 0.1 Hz with 0.5 % CaCl 2 or KCl, respectively, in which CaCl 2 revealed superiority over KCl. Additionally, different states of water in AK/IC gels resisted salt interference. Moreover, a honeycomb structure with denser porous networks coupled with rough entanglement morphology of AK/IC was observed, in which the CaCl 2 -treated group exhibited even smaller pore sizes. The conformational changes of AK/IC induced by salts were reflected by the redshift of –OH groups in AK/IC, insinuating salt-mediated H-bonding in AK/IC. The blueshift of amide I bands and water deformation groups of AK/IC in comparison to AK and IC alone illustrated the electrostatic interactions between them. Furthermore, coordination interaction, hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactive were highlighted among IC, AK and CaCl 2 /KCl as reflected by molecular docking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure volatile fatty acid (VFA) solution derived from waste activated sludge (WAS) was used to produce microbial lipids as culture medium in this study, which aimed to realize the resource recovery of WAS and provide low-cost feedstock for biodiesel production simultaneously. Cryptococcus curvatus was selected among three oleaginous yeast to produce lipids with VFAs derived from WAS. In batch cultivation, lipid contents increased from 10.2% to 16.8% when carbon to nitrogen ratio increased from about 3.5 to 165 after removal of ammonia nitrogen by struvite precipitation. The lipid content further increased to 39.6% and the biomass increased from 1.56 g/L to 4.53 g/L after cultivation for five cycles using sequencing batch culture (SBC) strategy. The lipids produced from WAS-derived VFA solution contained nearly 50% of monounsaturated fatty acids, including palmitic acid, heptadecanoic acid, ginkgolic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, which showed the adequacy of biodiesel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodosporidium toruloides AS 2.1389 was tested using different concentrations of acetic acid as a low-cost carbon source for the production of microbial lipids, which are good raw materials for biodiesel production. It grew and had higher lipid contents in media containing 4–20 g/L acetic acid as the sole carbon source, compared with that in glucose-containing media under the same culture conditions. At acetic acid concentrations as high as 20 g/L and the optimal carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N) of 200 in a batch culture, the highest biomass production was 4.35 g/L, with a lipid content of 48.2%. At acetic acid concentrations as low as 4 g/L, a sequencing batch culture (SBC) with a C/N of 100 increased biomass production to 4.21 g/L, with a lipid content of 38.6%. These results provide usable culture strategies for lipid production by R. toruloides AS 2.1389 when using diverse waste-derived volatile fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new bis-bidentate nitronyl nitroxide radical with a pyrimidyl substituent group and two Co(ii) complexes of this ligand were synthesized and characterized. Field-induced single-molecule magnet behavior was firstly observed in the nitronyl nitroxide radical-bridged complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is a semi-crystalline polymer and the polar β -phase of PVDF shows superb electroactive properties. In order to enhance the β -phase of PVDF, extreme low content of BaTiO 3 nanoparticles (BT-NPs) coated with polydopamine (Pdop) were incorporated into PVDF matrix by solution casting. The β -phase of the resulting PVDF nanocomposites film was dramatically increased and the d 33 value reached 34.3 ± 0.4 pCN −1 . It is found that the Pdop layer could improve the dispersibility and stability of the BT NPs in solution and endow the BT NPs good dispersity in the PVDF matrix. Moreover, the interfacial interaction between PVDF chains and the surface of BT-Pdop nanoparticles (BT-Pdop NPs) were revealed, in which the CF 2 groups on PVDF could interact with the electron-rich plane of aromatic ring of Pdop moiety. This interaction, led to the increase of the crystallization activation energy as derived from the DSC nonisothermal crystallization measurement. The α – β crystal transformation, organization of interfacial interactions as well as the prevention of agglomeration of BT-NPs confer the improvement of mechanical and thermal properties of PVDF, such as toughness, tensile strength, elongation at break, and thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus strains have been widely used as the companion strain of Ketogulonigenium vulgare in the process of vitamin C fermentation. Different Bacillus strains generate different effects on the growth of K. vulgare and ultimately influence the productivity. First, we identified that Bacillus endophyticus Hbe603 was an appropriate strain to cooperate with K. vulgare and the product conversion rate exceeded 90% in industrial vitamin C fermentation. Here, we report the genome sequencing of the B. endophyticus Hbe603 industrial companion strain and speculate its possible advantage in the consortium. The circular chromosome of B. endophyticus Hbe603 has a size of 4.87 Mb with GC content of 36.64% and has the highest similarity with that of Bacillus megaterium among all the bacteria with complete genomes. By comparing the distribution of COGs with that of Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus cereus and B. megaterium, B. endophyticus has less genes related to cell envelope biogenesis and signal transduction mechanisms, and more genes related to carbohydrate transport and metabolism, energy production and conversion, as well as lipid transport and metabolism. Genome-based functional studies revealed the specific capability of B. endophyticus in sporulation, transcription regulation, environmental resistance, membrane transportation, extracellular proteins and nutrients synthesis, which would be beneficial for K. vulgare. In particular, B. endophyticus lacks the Rap-Phr signal cascade system and, in part, spore coat related proteins. In addition, it has specific pathways for vitamin B12 synthesis and sorbitol metabolism. The genome analysis of the industrial B. endophyticus will help us understand its cooperative mechanism in the K. vulgare-Bacillus strain consortium to improve the fermentation of vitamin C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Next generation theranostic devices will rely on the smart integrationof different functional moieties into one system. These individualchemical elements will have a variety of desired chemical and physicalproperties and will need to behave in a multifunctional manner. Researchershave used upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as a basis for superiorimaging probes to locate cancerous lesions. The features of thesenanoparticles, such as large anti-Stokes shifts, sharp emission bands,long-lived luminescence, and high resistance to photobleaching, haveproduced versatile probes. One way to improve these probes is to adda layer of dense or mesoporous silica to the outer surface of UCNPs(UCNP@SiO2). These modified UCNPs are chemically stableand much less cytotoxic than the original UCNPs. In addition, theirsurface can be easily modified to introduce various functional groups(e.g., −NH2, −COOH, −SH) via silanization,which facilitates conjugations with various biological molecules formultimodal imaging or synergetic therapeutics. This versatility makesUCNP@SiO2particles excellent platforms for the constructionof efficient theranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethytlamino-6-isopropylamine-1,3,5-triazine; ATR) is widely used as a broad-spectrum herbicide. Animal studies have demonstrated that ATR exposure can cause cell death in dopaminergic neurons. The molecular mechanisms underlying ATR-induced neuronal cell death, however, are unknown. In this study, we investigated the autophagy and apoptosis induced by ATR in dopaminergic neurons in vivo. Wistar rats were administered with ATR at doses of 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage for three months. In terms of histopathology, the expression of autophagy- and apoptosis-related genes as well as proteins related to the Beclin-1/B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) autophagy and apoptosis pathways were examined in the rat nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. We observed degenerative micromorphology indicative of neuronal apoptosis and mitochondrial autophagy by electron microscopy in ATR-exposed rat striatum. The rat ventral mesencephalon in the ATR-exposed groups also showed increased expression of Beclin-1, LC3-II, Bax and Caspase-9, and decreased expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), Bcl-xl and Bcl-2. These findings indicate that ATR may induce autophagy- and apoptosis-related changes in doparminergic neurons. Furthermore, this induction may be regulated by the Beclin-1 and Bcl-2 autophagy and apoptosis pathways, and this may help to better understand the mechanism underlying the neurotoxicity of ATR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the individual and interactive associations of five non-synonymous variants of four DNA repair relevant genes (XRCC1, XRCC3, hOGG1, NQO1) with hypertension in a large northeastern Han Chinese population. This was a hospital-based study involving 1009 hypertensive patients and 756 normotensive controls. All five variants satisfied the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. With a Bonferroni corrected alpha of 0.05/5, significance was only attained in the genotype (P = 0.007) and allele (P = 0.006) distributions of rs25487 in XRCC1 gene between patients and controls, with its mutant allele conferring 29% (95% CI: 1.09–1.53; P = 0.003), 31% (95% CI: 1.05–1.62; P = 0.015) and 66% (95%CI: 1.10–2.52; P = 0.016) increased risks of hypertension under the additive, dominant and recessive models, respectively after adjusting for confounders. The frequency of allele combination C-A-C-G-C (alleles in order of rs1799782, rs25487, rs861539, rs1052133 and rs1800566) was significantly higher in patients than in controls (P = 0.003), while that of C-G-C-C-C was significantly lower (P = 0.001). Interaction analysis failed to identify any suggestive evidence of synergism across five examined variants. Our findings provide evidence for a contributory role of XRCC1 gene rs25487 variant in the development of hypertension, and this variant possibly acted in a recessive pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presently there are several shortcomings in Global Positioning System/Strapdown Inertial Navigation System (GPS/SINS) ultra-tight integrated navigation system, for example, presences of modeling errors, heavy computation load and residual time errors, etc. To address these problems, this paper proposes a time–space difference based ultra-tight integrated navigation method. This system carries out difference in time and space which eliminates the troposphere delay, ionosphere delay, satellite and receiver clock error, reduces the system complexity and decreases the adverse impact (frequently changing weather and the low accuracy clocks of receiver and satellites) on the system. In this way the system improves the estimation accuracy and anti-jamming ability. Finally, theoretical analysis and simulation results substantiate that the proposed system has the practicability and superiority over the contemporary ultra-tight integration schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: In patients with auditory neuropathy (AN), waveforms of neural response telemetry (NRT) could be present, showing characteristics of low incidence, low differentiation, and large variation. Objective: To study the characteristics of NRT in AN patients who had received cochlear implants (CIs). Methods: NRT data for seven AN patients who had received Nucleus CIs were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-one CI implantees with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) were included as the control group. The incidence of electrically evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs), threshold of wave N1, and amplitude of N1-P2 in the AN group were analyzed and compared between groups. Results: The intraoperative incidence of valid ECAPs in the AN group was 42.9%, and the postoperative incidence was 66.7%, both of which were lower than those in the SNHL group, which were 95.2% and 100%, respectively. NRT in the AN group showed larger variation and lower differentiation than in the SNHL group. Wilcoxon's non-parametric test results indicated no significant difference between AN and SNHL groups in either the threshold of ECAP or N1-P2 amplitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PH is an essential factor for acetone/butanol/ethanol (ABE) production using Clostridium spp. In this study, batch fermentations by Clostridium beijerinckii IB4 at various pH values ranging from 4.9 to 6.0 were examined. At pH 5.5, the ABE production was dominant and maximum ABE concentration of 24.6 g/L (15.7 g/L of butanol, 8.63 g/L of acetone and 0.32 g/L of ethanol) was obtained with the consumption of 60 g/L of glucose within 36 h. However, in the control (without pH control), an ABE concentration of 14.1 g/L (11.0 g/L of butanol, 3.01 g/L of acetone and 0.16 g/L of ethanol) was achieved with the consumption of 41 g/L of glucose within 40 h. A considerable improvement in the productivity of up to 93.8% was recorded at controlled pH in comparison to the process without pH control. To better understand the influence of pH on butanol production, the reducing power capability and NADH-dependent butanol dehydrogenase activity were investigated, both of which were significantly improved at pH 5.5. Thus, the pH control technique is a convenient and efficient method for high-intensity ABE production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetism of the colossal magnetoresistance material FeCrS was studied through substitution by nonmagnetic element Cd. With the increase of Cd content, the high-field magnetization measured at 5 K increases, demonstrating a ferromagnetic Cr-Cr interaction in CdCrS. As comparing with the anti-ferromagnetic material ZnCrS, it is deduced that the ferromagnetic interaction in CdCrS is favored by its larger Cr-Cr distance. On the other hand, due to Cd substitution, the low-field magnetization irreversibility between zero-field-cooling and field-cooling magnetization weakens with the increase of Cd content and disappears at last when x = 1 in the FeCdCrS (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) system. By taking account of the single-ion anisotropy of the ferrous ion on the tetrahedral site, the picture of irreversible magnetic behavior induced by magnetic anisotropy is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fat tail of sheep is an important organ that has evolved to adapt to extreme environments. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying the fat tail phenotype remain poorly understood. Here, we characterize transcriptome and lipidome profiles and morphological changes in 250 adipose tissues from two thin-tailed and three fat-tailed sheep populations in summer and winter. We implement whole-genome selective sweep tests to identify genetic variants related to fat-tails. We identify a set of functional genes that show differential expression in the tail fat of fat-tailed and thin-tailed sheep in summer and winter. These genes are significantly enriched in pathways, such as lipid metabolism, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, molecular transport, and inflammatory response. In contrast to thin-tailed sheep, tail fat from fat-tailed sheep show slighter changes in adipocyte size, ECM remodeling, and lipid metabolism, and had less inflammation in response to seasonal changes, indicating improved homeostasis. Whole-genome selective sweep tests identify genes involved in preadipocyte commitment (e.g., BMP2, PDGFD) and terminal adipogenic differentiation (e.g., VEGFA), which could contribute to enhanced adipocyte hyperplasia. Altogether, we establish a model of regulatory networks regulating adipose homeostasis in sheep tails. These findings improve our understanding of how adipose homeostasis is maintained, in response to extreme environments in animals. Survival in extreme environments and adaptations during seasonal shifts require specialized metabolic programing. A multi-omic analysis of how regulatory networks impact adipose homeostasis in sheep tails provides insight for how these animals survive extreme environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A combined system is constructed to absorb and then regerate SO 2 from flue gas. • SO 2 is efficiently regenerated with adding acid produced by electrodialysis. • The absorption by-product Na 2 SO 4 is electrodialysis to prevent accumulation. Na 2 SO 3 -NaHSO 3 wet absorption process can absorb and regenerate SO 2 from industrial flue gas. Aiming at the problem of SO 2 incomplete regeneration and complicated process, a combined system of Na 2 SO 3 wet absorption-bipolar membrane electrodialysis is constructed. The oxidation by-product Na 2 SO 4 in absorption process is applied for electrodialysis to produce acid and alkali, which are used for SO 2 regeneration and absorption respectively. The purpose is to absorb and regenerate SO 2 in flue gas with high efficiency, and to solve the accumulation problem of Na 2 SO 4. The acid production, alkali production and desalination performance of the bipolar membrane electrodialysis are studied. The concentrations of H+ and OH– reach 0.37 mol/L and 0.31 mol/L, respectively, and the desalination efficiency is 53.1% in 240 min. The influencing factors such as electrolyte concentration, voltage, flow rate and the initial concentration of Na 2 SO 4 are discussed and optimized. The alkali produced is used for SO 2 absorption as the supplementary absorbent, which can make the absorption process sustainable. The acid produced is used for SO 2 regeneration. When there is no additional acid, the regeneration efficiency of SO 2 is only 3.7% at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure, while 100% regeneration can be achieved after adding acid. The way of acid addition is studied, and the regenerate efficiency of continuous addition is higher. The efficient absorption and regeneration of SO 2 can be realized by simultaneous absorption with adding alkali and regeneration with adding acid. The absorption and regeneration efficiency can reach 100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A composite hydrogel composed of scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) male gonad hydrolysates (SMGHs) and κ -carrageenan (KC) was fabricated with a designed microstructure to preserve curcumin (Cur) during the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The presence of KC obviously increased the initial elastic moduli (8.2–761.8 Pa), shortened the relaxation time T 23 (517.37–420.10 ms) as well as caused the blue shift of the emission peak and quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of Cur in SMGHs/KC-Cur system, signifying the solid combination within SMGHs and KC. In addition, the red shift in O–H stretching bands and blue shift in amide I bands in SMGHs/KC-Cur further accentuated the involvement of hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions within SMGHs, KC and Cur. The disappearance of crystalline structures suggested the successful embedment of Cur in the hydrophobic core of SMGHs. Moreover, the microstructure of the hydrogels varied from heterogeneous with tattered large pore cavities and scattered patches to homogeneous distribution with dense mesh and solid network wall. These scenarios caused a more compact network of SMGHs/KC-Cur than SMGHs-Cur to protect Cur from releasing in simulated intestinal and simulated colonic phases with slower released rate, both of which had the final extent of Cur release exceeding 90%. Furthermore, cryo-SEM showed that the significant release of Cur from hydrogels in the simulated intestinal phase was due to SMGHs matrix erosion with even larger pore sizes, tattered network and thinner network wall. Therefore, it is suggested that SMGHs/KC hydrogels with biocompatibility and good tolerance to acid environment could be reliable and desirable soft materials to embed and deliver Cur to the colon, having potential applications in functional foods and biological therapeutic purposes. [Display omitted] - Enhancement of gel elasticity in SMGHs/KC confirmed a feasible Cur-loaded carrier. - Migration of water in SMGHs/KC to bound water direction supported the Cur embedment. - Compact and dense porous networks of SMGHs/KC contributed to the Cur embedment. - Better sustained release of Cur in SMGHs/KC promised the delivery of Cur in colon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The penetration of a bucket foundation in sandy soil is complex. When suction is large, the installation of bucket foundation is prone to seepage damage, and the foundation cannot penetrate the sandy soil due to insufficient suction. The impact of the skirt plate and inner compartment plates in mono multi-chamber bucket foundations on the penetration resistance is not clear. In addition, when the foundation is tilted, whether it can be leveled to the design requirements is related to the success or failure of the installation. When the suction during leveling reaches the critical value, penetration damage will occur; therefore, selecting the correct leveling strategy is particularly important. This paper primarily deals with the issue of mono multi-chamber bucket foundation penetration and the associated leveling mechanisms, focusing on analyzing the influence of the skirt plate and inner compartment plates on mono multi-chamber bucket foundation penetration resistance, selecting the mono multi-chamber bucket foundation leveling method, and analyzing the relationship between the adjustable angle and depth in the bucket foundation leveling process. Moreover, the seepage characteristics of the soil under the leveling state is studied, and the critical suction is derived. The analysis results show that the leveling method of applying suction to multiple chambers is safer than the method of applying negative pressure suction only on one chamber. In addition, the negative pressure leveling method has a certain limitations on the inclination angle and penetration depth. To the bucket foundation test model, when the foundation inclination angle is less than 2° and the ratio of penetration depth to skirt height is within 0.5, the foundation can be leveled using negative pressure suction on the high chamber. The reason for the failure of leveling is the formation of piping channels. When seepage failure occurs, the permeability coefficient of the soil in the high chamber may be about 10 times that of the soil that is not affected by suction. • The selecting the correct leveling strategy is particularly important during suction installation. • The mono multi-chamber bucket foundation penetration and the associated levelling mechanisms. • The relationship between the adjustable angle and depth in the bucket foundation leveling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as Fenton and Fenton-like process for pollutant removal have been widely reported. However, most papers choose one of the popular oxidants (H 2 O 2 , peroxymonosulfate (PMS) or peroxydisulfate (PDS)) as the oxidant via AOPs for pollutant degradation. The purpose of this work is to compare the degradation rates of the Fe2+/PMS, Fe2+/H 2 O 2 and Fe2+/PDS processes. Furthermore, to solve the problem of slow regeneration of Fe2+, the visible light irradiation and inverse opal WO 3 cocatalyst were added to the Fenton/Fenton-like process. The IO WO 3 co-catalytic visible light assisted Fe2+/PMS, Fe2+/H 2 O 2 and Fe2+/PDS processes greatly improved the degradation efficiency of norfloxacin (NOR), reaching about 30 times, 9 times and 12 times that of the homogeneous Fenton/Fenton-like process, respectively. On average, the TOC removal rates of PMS-based, H 2 O 2 -based and PMS-based processes for the five pollutants were 71.6%, 54.0%, and 59.6% within 60 min, and the corresponding co-catalyst treatment efficiencies were 0.215 mmol/g/h, 0.162 mmol/g/h, and 0.179 mmol/g/h, respectively. 1O 2 and •O 2 − have been proven to play a vital role in the degradation of NOR via all the three IO WO 3 co-catalytic photo-Fenton-like processes. In addition, the effects of different reaction parameters on the activity of degrading norfloxacin were explored. The IO WO 3 co-catalytic visible light assisted Fe2+/PMS, Fe2+/H 2 O 2 and Fe2+/PDS processes for removal of different persistent organic pollutants and norfloxacin in different actual wastewater have also been studied. Nonetheless, this study proves that IO WO 3 co-catalytic visible light assisted Fe2+/PMS, Fe2+/H 2 O 2 and Fe2+/PDS processes could effectively remove antibiotics from wastewater. [Display omitted] • Removal of NOR was studied by three IO WO 3 co-catalytic photo-Fenton-like processes. • The PMS-based IO WO 3 co-catalytic process showed the best degradation performance. • Visible light and IO WO 3 cocatalyst accelerated the regeneration of Fe2+. • 1O 2 and.•O 2 − played vital roles in all three IO WO 3 co-catalytic photo-Fenton-like systems • The three processes were effective for different antibiotics and different water matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Production enhancement effect of underlying gas on hydrate reservoir is identified. • t 90 is reduced by nearly half as the underlying gas pressure increases by 3 MPa. • Underlying gas flow into the hydrate reservoir alleviates the temperature drop. • Underlying gas pressure shows no obvious effect on the average gas–water ratio. The marine hydrates with underlying gas show great commercial potential as a new cleaner alternative energy. Yet the effects of underlying gas on the production characteristics of marine hydrate reservoirs are still unclear. In this study, the clayey-silt marine sediments sampled in South China Sea were used to synthesize the excess-water methane hydrate samples with consistent porosity (38%) and three-phase saturation. Depressurization was conducted to produce gas from hydrate reservoirs and underlying gas with different pressures (3–6 MPa). The results indicate that the underlying gas pressure has a positive correlation on hydrate decomposition, gas production, and water production; yet its effect on the gas–water ratio is not significant. As the underlying gas pressure increased from 3 MPa to 6 MPa, the average temperature drop of the entire hydrate reservoir was reduced by more than 0.5 K, and the time required for 90% hydrate decomposition (t 90) was shorted by nearly half. The underlying gas flowing into the hydrate reservoir is beneficial to alleviate the drops of pressure and temperature and promote the formation of gas–water flow channels. Therefore, the production of underlying gas can not only improve the gas production potential but also effectively contribute to hydrate decomposition and avoid ice formation. Through comprehensive evaluation of hydrate decomposition time, reservoir temperature drops, and average gas–water ratio, the enhancement effect of underlying gas on hydrate reservoir exploitation is preliminarily demonstrated. The results of this study prove the importance of underlying gas and show the prospect of further research on marine hydrate reservoirs with underlying gas for commercial exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Underlying gas pressure determines the hydrate saturation when f g − f eq < 2.6 MPa. • Hydrate dissociation front advanced with gradient pressure formed by underlying gas. • The production of hydrate dissociated gas and underlying gas are interdependent. • Underlying gas improves the gas recoverability and potential of hydrate reservoirs. Hydrate reservoirs with underlying gas are generally accepted as the most promising energy resource for commercial exploitation. The underlying gas is an important part of the energy recovery of hydrate reservoirs. However, the gas production characteristics of hydrate reservoirs with underlying gas are rarely discussed. This paper aims to analyze the effects of underlying gas on the formation of hydrate and methane production behaviors by depressurization. In a core holder, marine soil obtained from the South China Sea was used to remold muddy low-permeability cores. The hydrate saturation of the muddy cores ranged from 25.2% to 48.3%. In this work, when the pressure difference between the underlying gas and the hydrate phase equilibrium is less than 2.6 MPa, the underlying gas pressure is the decisive factor for hydrate saturation. Besides, underlying gas can provide a relatively slow pressure drop rate for hydrate decomposition. The low permeability of the core caused by high hydrate saturation weakens the production of underlying gas and leads to the pressure gradient in the core. Hydrate decomposition front advances with the pressure gradient. Therefore, the production of underlying gas and hydrate decomposition are interdependent during depressurization. The experimental results demonstrated the existence of underlying gas could boost the exploitation potential and gas recoverability of hydrate reservoirs. These findings expand the understanding of joint exploitation characteristics and provide guidance in assessing the production potential for further researches and field exploitation of hydrate reservoirs with underlying gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A simultaneous two-channel optical time division multiplexing (OTDM) demultiplexing is proposed and experimentally demonstrated by using a bidirectionally operated highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF) followed by a narrow-band offset filter. The performance of the proposed demultiplexer is evaluated in a 40Gb/s OTDM 100km transmission system. A maximum power penalty of 2.4dB is obtained for the worst demultiplexed channel. The proposal might be interesting since it offers a powerful tool for developing ultrafast photonic networks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To examine in what aspects and to what extent robotic ablation is superior over manual ablation, we sought to design a meta-analysis to compare clinical outcomes between the two ablations in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Methods and Results: A literature search was conducted of PubMed and EMBASE databases before December 1, 2013. Data were extracted independently and in duplicate from 8 clinical articles and 792 patients. Effect estimates were expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD) or odds ratio (OR) and the accompanied 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Pooling the results of all qualified trials found significant reductions in fluoroscopic time (minutes) (WMD; 95% CI; P: -8.9; -12.54 to -5.26; <0.0005) and dose-area product (Gy×cm2) (WMD; 95% CI; P: -1065.66; -1714.36 to -416.96; 0.001) for robotic ablation relative to manual ablation, with evident heterogeneity (P<0.0005) and a low probability of publication bias. In subgroup analysis, great improvement of fluoroscopic time in patients with robotic ablation was consistently presented in both randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials, particularly in the former (WMD; 95% CI; P: -12.61; -15.13 to -10.09; <0.0005). Success rate of catheter ablation was relatively higher in patients with robotic ablation than with manual ablation (OR; 95% CI; P: 3.45; 0.24 to 49.0; 0.36), the difference yet exhibiting no statistical significance. Conclusions: This study confirmed and extended previous observations by quantifying great reductions of fluoroscopic time and dose-area product in patients referred for robotic ablation than for manual ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, especially in randomized clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]