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Stabilizing lithium anodes has been a crucial yet challenging task in developing high-energy batteries. Here the authors design two simple steps of spontaneous reactions to achieve a porous lithium electrode with a composite protective layer, enabling high-loading Li-S batteries with excellent cyclability.

Maintaining an up-to-date inventory of urban infrastructure such as fire hydrant is critical to urban management. Street view database such as Google Street View and Baidu Street View contain street-level images, their potential for urban management has not been fully explored. For the massive image, data model for storage and indexing is an important research issue. Considering multiple cameras and GPS device in the image capturing platform, a hierarchical data model named 3D-Grid is proposed. Massive street view images were stored according to grid ID, GPS time and camera ID. An efficient time indexing algorithm is brought forth to replace the spatial indexing. Real test experiments are conducted in a project, and the validation and feasibility of 3D-Grid including time indexing algorithm were validated.

A particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm has been widely used in the field of remote sensing image classification. We proposed the IPSO-FKM algorithm, which use the improved PSO (IPSO) algorithm to optimize the initial parameters of the Fuzzy K-Means (FKM) clustering algorithm. We combine the crossover operator of genetic algorithms with PSO, and introduce the fuzzy membership degree of fuzzy mathematics into K-means clustering algorithm. Then we use the IPSO-FKM algorithm to optimize the classification results of the Hyperion remotely sensed images, and use FKM, IPSO, and IPSO-FKM to extract the land cover information on the wetlands in Dongting Lakes, China. The experimental results have been validated by the classification results of MLC and the field investigation data. The validation results have been evaluated from three perspectives: the overall classification accuracy and the Kappa coefficient from the pixel perspective, the intra-cluster distance and the inter-cluster distance from the feature perspective, and the partition coefficient and partition entropy from the information perspective. According to the comparison of IPSO and FKM algorithms，the IPSO-FKM algorithm has a better performance than the others in all three respects. Additionally, in terms of the fitness convergence, the IPSO-FKM algorithm has a better searching velocity and better convergence to lower the quantization errors compared with the other two algorithms.

Air quality models have not been able to reproduce the magnitude of the observed concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during wintertime Chinese haze events. The discrepancy has been at least partly attributed to low biases in modeled sulfate production rates, due to the lack of heterogeneous sulfate production on aerosols in the models. In this study, we explicitly implement four heterogeneous sulfate formation mechanisms into a regional chemical transport model, in addition to gas-phase and in-cloud sulfate production. We compare the model results with observations of sulfate concentrations and oxygen isotopes, Δ17O(SO42-), in the winter of 2014–2015, the latter of which is highly sensitive to the relative importance of different sulfate production mechanisms. Model results suggest that heterogeneous sulfate production on aerosols accounts for about 20 % of sulfate production in clean and polluted conditions, partially reducing the modeled low bias in sulfate concentrations. Model sensitivity studies in comparison with the Δ17O(SO42-) observations suggest that heterogeneous sulfate formation is dominated by transition metal ion-catalyzed oxidation of SO2.

Bromine radicals influence global tropospheric chemistry by depleting ozone and by oxidizing elemental mercury and reduced sulfur species. Observations typically indicate a 50 % depletion of sea salt aerosol (SSA) bromide relative to seawater composition, implying that SSA debromination could be the dominant global source of tropospheric bromine. However, it has been difficult to reconcile this large source with the relatively low bromine monoxide (BrO) mixing ratios observed in the marine boundary layer (MBL). Here we present a new mechanistic description of SSA debromination in the GEOS-Chem global atmospheric chemistry model with a detailed representation of halogen (Cl, Br, and I) chemistry. We show that observed levels of SSA debromination can be reproduced in a manner consistent with observed BrO mixing ratios. Bromine radical sinks from the HOBr + S(IV) heterogeneous reactions and from ocean emission of acetaldehyde are critical in moderating tropospheric BrO levels. The resulting HBr is rapidly taken up by SSA and also deposited. Observations of SSA debromination at southern midlatitudes in summer suggest that model uptake of HBr by SSA may be too fast. The model provides a successful simulation of free-tropospheric BrO in the tropics and midlatitudes in summer, where the bromine radical sink from the HOBr + S(IV) reactions is compensated for by more efficient HOBr-driven recycling in clouds compared to previous GEOS-Chem versions. Simulated BrO in the MBL is generally much higher in winter than in summer due to a combination of greater SSA emission and slower conversion of bromine radicals to HBr. An outstanding issue in the model is the overestimate of free-tropospheric BrO in extratropical winter–spring, possibly reflecting an overestimate of the HOBr∕HBr ratio under these conditions where the dominant HOBr source is hydrolysis of BrNO3.

Many high and steep slopes are comprised of special topographic and geomorphic types and formed through mining activities during the construction of mountain expressways. Severe soil erosion may also occur under heavy rainfall conditions. Therefore, predicting soil loss on highway slopes is important in protecting infrastructure and human life. In this study, we investigate Xinhe Expressway located at the southern edge of the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is used as the prediction model for soil and water loss on slopes. Geographic information systems, remote sensing technology, field surveys, run-off plot observation testing, cluster analysis and co-kriging calculations are also utilised. The partition of the prediction units of soil loss on the expressway slope in the mountainous area and the spatial distribution of rainfall on a linear highway are studied. Given the particularity of the expressway slope in the mountainous area, the model parameter is modified, and the risk of soil loss along the mountain expressway is simulated and predicted under 20- and 1-year rainfall return periods. The following results are obtained. (1) Natural watersheds can be considered for the prediction of slope soil erosion to represent the actual situation of soil loss on each slope. Then, the spatial location of the soil erosion unit can be determined. (2) Analysis of actual observation data shows that the overall average absolute error of the monitoring area is 0.39 t ha−1, the overall average relative error is 33.96 % and the overall root mean square error is between 0.21 and 0.66, all of which are within acceptable limits. The Nash efficiency coefficient is 0.67, indicating that the prediction accuracy of the model satisfies the requirements. (3) Under the 1-year rainfall return period condition, we find through risk classification that the percentage of prediction units with no risk of erosion is 78 %. The soil erosion risk is low and does not affect road traffic safety. Under the 20-year return period rainfall condition, the percentage of units with high and extremely high risks is 7.11 %. The prediction results can help adjust the design of water and soil conservation measures for these units.

In this paper, a simultaneous improvement of radiating and scattering performance for a patch antenna is realized. For achieving the wideband low-scattering property, a broadband AMC structure with orthogonally slot-embedding is proposed and analyzed, which is arranged around the antenna with another square ring unit in a chessboard configuration for phase cancellation. Meanwhile, a gain increment is also achieved due to the coupling between the radiation patch and the broadband AMC structure. Measured results indicate that at least a 10 dB RCS reduction is obtained from 11 GHz to 17.8 GHz. Additionally, the gain of the antenna has also been increased for more than 2 dB between 12 GHz and 13 GHz.

The use of ferroeletric materials for multi-state device applications is still challenging. Here, the authors present a mechanism to stabilize non-volatile polarization states by populating volume fractions of two domain structures in PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3 via kinetic control of switching pathways.

We present a comprehensive simulation of tropospheric chlorine within the GEOS-Chem global 3-D model of oxidant–aerosol–halogen atmospheric chemistry. The simulation includes explicit accounting of chloride mobilization from sea salt aerosol by acid displacement of HCl and by other heterogeneous processes. Additional small sources of tropospheric chlorine (combustion, organochlorines, transport from stratosphere) are also included. Reactive gas-phase chlorine Cl*, including Cl, ClO, Cl2, BrCl, ICl, HOCl, ClNO3, ClNO2, and minor species, is produced by the HCl+OH reaction and by heterogeneous conversion of sea salt aerosol chloride to BrCl, ClNO2, Cl2, and ICl. The model successfully simulates the observed mixing ratios of HCl in marine air (highest at northern midlatitudes) and the associated HNO3 decrease from acid displacement. It captures the high ClNO2 mixing ratios observed in continental surface air at night and attributes the chlorine to HCl volatilized from sea salt aerosol and transported inland following uptake by fine aerosol. The model successfully simulates the vertical profiles of HCl measured from aircraft, where enhancements in the continental boundary layer can again be largely explained by transport inland of the marine source. It does not reproduce the boundary layer Cl2 mixing ratios measured in the WINTER aircraft campaign (1–5 ppt in the daytime, low at night); the model is too high at night, which could be due to uncertainty in the rate of the ClNO2+Cl- reaction, but we have no explanation for the high observed Cl2 in daytime. The global mean tropospheric concentration of Cl atoms in the model is 620 cm−3 and contributes 1.0 % of the global oxidation of methane, 20 % of ethane, 14 % of propane, and 4 % of methanol. Chlorine chemistry increases global mean tropospheric BrO by 85 %, mainly through the HOBr+Cl- reaction, and decreases global burdens of tropospheric ozone by 7 % and OH by 3 % through the associated bromine radical chemistry. ClNO2 chemistry drives increases in ozone of up to 8 ppb over polluted continents in winter.

Particulate matter (PM) pollution is a severe environmental problem in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region in North China. PM studies have been conducted extensively in Beijing, but the chemical composition, sources, and atmospheric processes of PM are still relatively less known in nearby Tianjin and Hebei. In this study, fine PM in urban Shijiazhuang (the capital of Hebei Province) was characterized using an Aerodyne quadrupole aerosol chemical speciation monitor (Q-ACSM) from 11 January to 18 February in 2014. The average mass concentration of non-refractory submicron PM (diameter  µm, NR-PM1) was 178±101 µg m−3, and it was composed of 50 % organic aerosol (OA), 21 % sulfate, 12 % nitrate, 11 % ammonium, and 6 % chloride. Using the multilinear engine (ME-2) receptor model, five OA sources were identified and quantified, including hydrocarbon-like OA from vehicle emissions (HOA, 13 %), cooking OA (COA, 16 %), biomass burning OA (BBOA, 17 %), coal combustion OA (CCOA, 27 %), and oxygenated OA (OOA, 27 %). We found that secondary formation contributed substantially to PM in episodic events, whereas primary emissions were dominant (most significant) on average. The episodic events with the highest NR-PM1 mass range of 300–360 µg m−3 were comprised of 55 % of secondary species. On the contrary, a campaign-average low OOA fraction (27 %) in OA indicated the importance of primary emissions, and a low sulfur oxidation degree (FSO4) of 0.18 even at RH >90 % hinted at insufficient oxidation. These results suggested that in Shijiazhuang in wintertime fine PM was mostly from primary emissions without sufficient atmospheric aging, indicating opportunities for air quality improvement by mitigating direct emissions. In addition, secondary inorganic and organic (OOA) species dominated in pollution events with high-RH conditions, most likely due to enhanced aqueous-phase chemistry, whereas primary organic aerosol (POA) dominated in pollution events with low-RH and stagnant conditions. These results also highlighted the importance of meteorological conditions for PM pollution in this highly polluted city in North China.

We have investigated the effect of hot electron stress on the electrical properties of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) of hydrogen poisoning. The AlGaN/GaN HEMTs were biased at the semi-on state, and they suffered from the hot electron stress. The devices of hydrogen poisoning were degraded, while there is almost no degradation for the fresh ones. The hot electron stress leads to the significantly positive shift of threshold voltage and the notable decrease of drain-to-source current for the AlGaN/GaN HEMTs of hydrogen poisoning. For the AlGaN/GaN HEMTs of hydrogen poisoning, the trap density increases by about one order of magnitude after the hot electron stress experiment. The physical mechanism can be attributed to electrically active traps due to the dehydrogenation of passivated point defects at AlGaN surface, AlGaN barrier layer, and heterostructure interface. The results of this paper may be useful in the design and application of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs.

Storage and retrieval of memory is important for applications in quantum information processing. Here the authors demonstrate an efficient quantum Raman memory protocol by preparing hot rubidium atoms in specific states using control pulse scheme.

Abstract Objective The present study aimed to preliminary explore the abnormal neuromagnetic activation in female migraine patients between attacks using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and pattern reversed visual evoked magnetic fields (PR-VEFs). Methods A total of 17 female migraine subjects during the headache-free phase and 17 healthy controls (HC) were studied using a 275-channel magnetoencephalography (MEG) system. In this study, visual evoked magnetic fields (VEFs) were generated by a pattern-reversal check as the visual stimulus. The average of 100 VEFs was evolved by different half patterns were averaged and used to analyze waveform, spectrum, and source location within two frequency ranges (5–100 and 100–1000 Hz), respectively. Results In migraine subjects, the latency of second peak of VEFs (VIIs) showed significant prolongations when compared with HC. On the sensor level, the cortical spectral power in migraine subjects was similar to that of HC in the 5–100 Hz range and was lower in the 1000–1000 Hz range. There was a decrement of source strength in the visual cortex in migraine patients when compared to HC in both the 5–100 and 100–1000 Hz frequency range. Moreover, there was a similar odds of activation in 5–100 and 100–1000 Hz frequency ranges in the area beyond the primary visual cortex between the two groups. In addition, no correlation was observed between clinical data (intensity of headache, headache-history duration, the frequency of headaches) and MEG results. Conclusions The findings presented in the current study, suggested that interictal cortical activation following a visual stimulus was low in female migraine patients. The low pre-activation was detected in the visual cortex using VEF and MEG in both low and high-frequency band. Our results add to the existing evidence that cortical interictal excitability change may be relative to the pain-module mechanism in migraine brains. Thus, our data improved the apprehension of the cortical disorder of migraine in the high-frequency domain.

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) plays an important role in the global carbon cycle and energy budget but is rarely studied in seasonal snow. A field campaign was conducted across northwestern China from January to February 2012, and surface snow samples were collected at 39 sites in Xinjiang and Qinghai provinces. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies, along with chemical analysis, were used to investigate the optical characteristics and potential sources of CDOM in seasonal snow. The abundance of CDOM, shown as the absorption coefficient at 280 nm, aCDOM(280), and the spectral slope from 275 to 295 nm (S275−295) ranged from 0.15 to 10.57 m−1 and 0.0129 to 0.0389 nm−1. The highest average aCDOM(280) (2.30±0.52 m−1) was found in Qinghai, and the lowest average S275−295 (0.0188±0.0015 nm−1) indicated that the snow CDOM in this region had a strongly terrestrial characteristic. The lower values of aCDOM(280) were found at sites located to the north of the Tianshan Mountains and northwestern Xinjiang along the border of China (0.93±0.68 m−1 and 0.80±0.62 m−1). Parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis identified three types of fluorophores that were attributed to two humic-like substances (HULIS, C1 and C2) and one protein-like material (C3). C1 was mainly from soil HULIS, C3 was a type of autochthonously labile organic matter, while the potential sources of C2 were complex, including soil, microbial activity, anthropogenic pollution, and biomass burning. Furthermore, the regional variations of sources for snow CDOM were assessed by analyses of chemical species (e.g., soluble ions), fluorescent components, and air mass backward trajectories combined with satellite-derived active-fire locations.

Multiple-point statistics (MPS) has shown promise in representing complicated subsurface structures. For a practical three-dimensional (3-D) application, however, one of the critical issues is the difficulty in obtaining a credible 3-D training image. However, bidimensional (2-D) training images are often available because established workflows exist to derive 2-D sections from scattered boreholes and/or other samples. In this work, we propose a locality-based MPS approach to reconstruct 3-D geological models on the basis of such 2-D cross sections (3DRCS), making 3-D training images unnecessary. Only several local training subsections closer to the central uninformed node are used in the MPS simulation. The main advantages of this partitioned search strategy are the high computational efficiency and a relaxation of the stationarity assumption. We embed this strategy into a standard MPS framework. Two probability aggregation formulas and their combinations are used to assemble the probability density functions (PDFs) from different subsections. Moreover, a novel strategy is adopted to capture more stable PDFs, where the distances between patterns and flexible neighborhoods are integrated on multiple grids. A series of sensitivity analyses demonstrate the stability of the proposed approach. Several hydrogeological 3-D application examples illustrate the applicability of the 3DRCS approach in reproducing complex geological features. The results, in comparison with previous MPS methods, show better performance in portraying anisotropy characteristics and in CPU cost.

Abstract: Triglyceride (TG) molecules represent the major storage form of fatty acids, and TG metabolism is essential to human health. However, the mechanistic details surrounding TG metabolism are complex and incompletely elucidated. Although it is known that angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) increases TGs through an ANGPTL3/8 complex that inhibits LPL, the mechanism governing ApoA5, which lowers TGs, has remained elusive. Current hypotheses for how ApoA5 acts include direct stimulation of LPL, facilitation of TG-containing particle uptake, and regulation of hepatic TG secretion. Using immunoprecipitation-MS and Western blotting, biolayer interferometry, functional LPL enzymatic assays, and kinetic analyses of LPL activity, we show that ApoA5 associates with ANGPTL3/8 in human serum and most likely decreases TG by suppressing ANGPTL3/8-mediated LPL inhibition. We also demonstrate that ApoA5 has no direct effect on LPL, nor does it suppress the LPL-inhibitory activities of ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, or ANGPTL4/8. Importantly, ApoA5 suppression of ANGPTL3/8-mediated LPL inhibition occurred at a molar ratio consistent with the circulating concentrations of ApoA5 and ANGPTL3/8. Because liver X receptor (LXR) agonists decrease ApoA5 expression and cause hypertriglyceridemia, we investigated the effect of the prototypical LXR agonist T0901317 on human primary hepatocytes. We observed that T0901317 modestly stimulated hepatocyte ApoA5 release, but markedly stimulated ANGPTL3/8 secretion. Interestingly, the addition of insulin to T0901317 attenuated ApoA5 secretion, but further increased ANGPTL3/8 secretion. Together, these results reveal a novel intersection of ApoA5 and ANGPTL3/8 in the regulation of TG metabolism and provide a possible explanation for LXR agonist-induced hypertriglyceridemia.

The vortex-induced vibration may cause fatigue of a bridge structure, affecting the safety of vehicles and the comfort of pedestrians. Inerter is a two-terminal device, which has been applied in many areas. This paper studies the problem of suppressing the vortex-induced vibration of a bridge by using an inerter-based dynamic vibration absorber (IDVA). The performances in terms of the suspension travel and the vertical displacement of the bridge with different IDVAs in suppressing vortex-induced vibration are compared, and the effect of the installation position of IDVA on the performance of suppressing vortex-induced vibration is shown. The performance indexes for the vertical displacement of six IDVA arrangements are obtained by using an iterative method, where the performance indexes for the vertical displacement are minimized by using the optimization toolbox in a commercial software. The result shows that the optimal installation positions and the number of suitable installation positions are affected by the resonant mode. Among the six arrangements, one arrangement is identified to have the best performance of suppressing vortex-induced vibration. All the six arrangements have reduced the suspension travel performance.

This paper presents the design and analysis of a low-pass spatial filter which has wideband absorption at high frequency using a 3D metamaterial rasorber (MR). The unit cell of the 3D MR is composed of several stacked layers of square patches with tapered dimensions, which are separated by thin lossy dielectric laminas. Every two adjacent layers’ metallic patches constitute a resonance cavity, and the inside lossy dielectric substrate results in absorption at the resonance frequency. The stacked metal–dielectric laminas construct a frustum pyramid. With the dimensions of the resonance cavities tapering from the bottom layer to the top layer, the pyramid absorbs over their resonance frequencies so that wideband absorption can be achieved. Besides, the incident wave at the frequencies below all these resonance frequencies can transmit through these cavities. Hence, the pyramid also constructs a low-pass spatial filter. The operation mechanism of this 3D MR structure is analyzed from several aspects by numerical simulation, and experimental measurement has also been executed to verify the design. The 3D metamaterial rasorber performs as an absorber in the Ku-band and a low-pass filter below the X-band. The absorption band with absorptivity higher than 80% spans from 12.3 GHz to 18.2 GHz, and the insertion loss at the frequency below 11.1 GHz is less than 0.9 dB.

Abstract Two near‐real‐time and one post‐processing products from the Integrated Multi‐satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM IMERG) were evaluated during the period from 2016 to 2018 in the wet seasons (June–November) over the Sichuan Basin, China. Results indicated the following: (1) The three products could generally replicate strong precipitation well; however, significantly large biases were observed when detecting weak precipitation. (2) All three products replicated summer precipitation more accurately than autumn precipitation. The IMERG “early run” product (IMERG‐E) largely underestimated precipitation in the wet season, while the “latter run” (IMERG‐L) and “final run” products (IMERG‐F) could counteract this to a certain degree. (3) IMERG‐F captured weak, moderate, and strong precipitation well during the wet season, and IMERG‐E showed excellent potential in detecting different precipitation intensities. All the three products could replicate the diurnal cycle of the wet season precipitation. The findings of this study can facilitate the application of IMERG products in regions with complex topography and have also highlighted the potential of IMERG‐E for rapid early warning and forecast systems.

Neutrophilic inflammation occurs during asthma exacerbation, and especially, in patients with steroid-refractory asthma, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Recently, a significant accumulation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the airways of neutrophilic asthma has been documented, suggesting that NETs may play an important role in the pathogenesis. In this study, we firstly demonstrated that NETs could induce human airway epithelial cell damage in vitro. In a mouse asthmatic model of neutrophil-dominated airway inflammation, we found that NETs were markedly increased in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and the formation of NETs exacerbated the airway inflammation. Additionally, a small-molecule drug necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) shown to inhibit NETs formation was found to alleviate the neutrophil-dominated airway inflammation. Nec-1 reduced total protein concentration, myeloperoxidase activity, and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in BAL. Finally, further experiments proved that the inhibition of Nec-1 on NETs formation might be related to its ability to inhibiting mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) phosphorylation and perforation. Together, these results document that NETs are closely associated with the pathogenesis of neutrophilic asthma and inhibition of the formation of NETs by Nec-1 may be a new therapeutic strategy to ameliorate neutrophil-dominated airway inflammation.

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is a highly conserved enzyme within the glycolytic pathway. GAPDH catalyzes the transformation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to glycerate-1, 3-biphosphate, a process accompanied by the production of NADH. Its role in the NADPH production system of the oleaginous filamentous fungus Mortierella alpina was explored. Two copies of genes encoding GAPDH were characterized, then endogenously overexpressed and silenced through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation methods. The results showed that the lipid content of the overexpression strain, MA-GAPDH1, increased by around 13%. RNA interference of GAPDH1 and GAPDH2 (MA-RGAPDH1 and MA-RGAPDH2) greatly reduced the biomass of the fungus. The lipid content of MA-RGAPDH2 was found to be about 23% higher than that of the control. Both of the lipid-increasing transformants showed a higher NADPH/NADP ratio. Analysis of metabolite and enzyme expression levels revealed that the increased lipid content of MA-GAPDH1 was due to enhanced flux of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to glycerate-1, 3-biphosphate. MA-RGAPDH2 was found to strengthen the metabolic flux of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to glycerol-3-phosphate. Thus, GAPDH1 contributes to NADPH supply and lipid accumulation in M. alpina, and has a distinct role from GAPDH2.

V/Ag nano-scaled multilayers were prepared by using a magnetron sputtering deposition method. Each layer of Ag and V has a thickness of about 6 nm, and the total thickness of the multilayer film is 350 nm. Doppler broadening of annihilation radiation was measured by using a slow positron beam to study the microstructure of the above samples. It was found that the Doppler broadening S and W parameters measured in the V/Ag multilayers were close to those measured in the Ag reference sample. Coincidence Doppler broadening measurements also showed that the electron momentum distributions in V/Ag multilayers and Ag monolayer were almost identical. This suggests that Ag has a strong affinity to positrons, and almost all the positrons ejected into the multilayers are confined to the Ag nanolayers. Theoretical calculations indicate that the positron wavefunction is well localized in the Ag nanolayer even for a layer thickness of only 1 nm.

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is well-known as a cofactor of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), but its exact role in lipogenesis is unclear. In this study, the GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH) gene was overexpressed to investigate the role of BH4 in lipogenesis in oleaginous fungus Mortierella alpina. Transcriptome data analysis reveal that GTPCH expression was upregulated when nitrogen was exhausted, resulting in lipid accumulation. Significant changes were also found in the fatty acid profile of M. alpina grown on medium that contained a GTPCH inhibitor relative to that of M. alpina grown on medium that lacked the inhibitor. GTPCH overexpression in M. alpina (the MA-GTPCH strain) led to a sevenfold increase in BH4 levels and enhanced cell fatty acid synthesis and poly-unsaturation. Increased levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and upregulated expression of NADPH-producing genes in response to enhanced BH4 levels were also observed, which indicate a novel aspect of the NADPH regulatory mechanism. Increased BH4 levels also enhanced phenylalanine hydroxylation and nitric oxide synthesis, and the addition of an NOS or a PAH inhibitor in the MA-GTPCH and control strain cultures decreased fatty acid accumulation, NADPH production, and the transcript levels of NADPH-producing genes. Our research suggests an important role of BH4 in lipogenesis and that the phenylalanine catabolism and arginine–nitric oxide pathways play an integrating role in translating the effects of BH4 on lipogenesis by regulating the cellular NADPH pool. Thus, our findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of efficient lipid biosynthesis regulation in oleaginous microorganisms and lay a foundation for the genetic engineering of these organisms to optimize their dietary fat yield.

In this paper, the seismic base isolation problem for all low-complexity networks containing one inerter, one spring, and one damper is studied based on a multi-degree-of-freedom model. The analytical solutions for the H2 performance optimization are derived, and the traditional tuned mass damper (TMD) is employed for comparison. Extensive numerical simulations are performed to verify the effectiveness of the obtained results. The results show that for different seismic wave excitations, some isolators are better than TMD in controlling the displacement of the main structure. Moreover, with the increase of the TMD mass ratio, the isolation performances of the inerter-based isolators are increasingly better than that of TMD.

Background Our previous study demonstrated that the composition of the urinary microbiota in female patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was correlated with the concentration of urinary interleukin (IL)-8. As the composition of urine is mainly determined by diet, diet might mediate the correlation. Methods Seventy female T2DM patients and 70 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Midstream urine was used for the urine specimens. Urinary IL-8 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A Chinese Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to collect food intake data. The independent variables in the hierarchical regression analysis were the relative abundances of the bacterial genera and species that were significantly different between the T2DM and HCs and between the T2DM patients with and without detectable urinary IL-8, and the bacterial genera associated with IL-8 concentration in the multiple regression model reported in our previous research. IL-8 concentration was the dependent variable, and nutrient intakes were moderator variables. Results Fiber and vitamin B3 and E intake exerted enhancing effects, and water intake exerted a buffering effect, on the positive relationship between the relative abundance of Ruminococcus and IL-8 concentration (p < 0.05). Cholesterol and magnesium intake exerted enhancing effects on the positive relationship between the relative abundance of Comamonas and IL-8 concentration (p < 0.05). Conclusion Modulating T2DM patients’ dietary patterns may prevent bladder inflammation.

Post-translational modifications regulate diverse activities of a colossal number of proteins. For example, various types of lipids can be covalently linked to proteins enzymatically or non-enzymatically. Protein lipidation is perhaps not as extensively studied as protein phosphorylation, ubiquitination, or glycosylation although it is no less significant than these modifications. Evidence suggests that proteins can be attached by at least seven types of lipids, including fatty acids, lipoic acids, isoprenoids, sterols, phospholipids, glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors, and lipid-derived electrophiles. In this review, we summarize types of protein lipidation and methods used for their detection, with an emphasis on the conjugation of proteins with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). We discuss possible reasons for the scarcity of reports on PUFA-modified proteins, limitations in current methodology, and potential approaches in detecting PUFA modifications.

The forward modeling of a scalar wave equation plays an important role in the numerical geophysical computations. The finite-difference algorithm in the form of a second-order wave equation is one of the commonly used forward numerical algorithms. This algorithm is simple and is easy to implement based on the conventional grid. In order to ensure the accuracy of the calculation, absorption layers should be introduced around the computational area to suppress the wave reflection caused by the artificial boundary. For boundary absorption conditions, a perfectly matched layer is one of the most effective algorithms. However, the traditional perfectly matched layer algorithm is calculated using a staggered grid based on the first-order wave equation, which is difficult to directly integrate into a conventional-grid finite-difference algorithm based on the second-order wave equation. Although a perfectly matched layer algorithm based on the second-order equation can be derived, the formula is rather complex and intermediate variables need to be introduced, which makes it hard to implement. In this paper, we present a simple and efficient algorithm to match the variables at the boundaries between the computational area and the absorbing boundary area. This new boundary-matched method can integrate the traditional staggered-grid perfectly matched layer algorithm and the conventional-grid finite-difference algorithm without formula transformations, and it can ensure the accuracy of finite-difference forward modeling in the computational area. In order to verify the validity of our method, we used several models to carry out numerical simulation experiments. The comparison between the simulation results of our new boundary-matched algorithm and other boundary absorption algorithms shows that our proposed method suppresses the reflection of the artificial boundaries better and has a higher computational efficiency.

The oxidation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the troposphere and subsequent chemical conversion into sulfur dioxide (SO2) and methane sulfonic acid (MSA) are key processes for the formation and growth of sulfur-containing aerosol and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), but are highly simplified in large-scale models of the atmosphere. In this study, we implement a series of gas-phase and multiphase sulfur oxidation mechanisms into the Goddard Earth Observing System-Chemistry (GEOS-Chem) global chemical transport model – including two important intermediates, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methane sulphinic acid (MSIA) – to investigate the sulfur cycle in the global marine troposphere. We found that DMS is mainly oxidized in the gas phase by OH (66 %), NO3 (16 %) and BrO (12 %) globally. DMS + BrO is important for the model's ability to reproduce the observed seasonality of surface DMS mixing ratio in the Southern Hemisphere. MSA is mainly produced from multiphase oxidation of MSIA by OH(aq) (66 %) and O3(aq) (30 %) in cloud droplets and aerosols. Aqueous-phase reaction with OH accounts for only 12 % of MSA removal globally, and a higher MSA removal rate is needed to reproduce observations of the MSA ∕ nssSO42− ratio. The modeled conversion yield of DMS into SO2 and MSA is 75 % and 15 %, respectively, compared to 91 % and 9 % in the standard model run that includes only gas-phase oxidation of DMS by OH and NO3. The remaining 10 % of DMS is lost via deposition of intermediates DMSO and MSIA. The largest uncertainties for modeling sulfur chemistry in the marine boundary layer (MBL) are unknown concentrations of reactive halogens (BrO and Cl) and OH(aq) concentrations in cloud droplets and aerosols. To reduce uncertainties in MBL sulfur chemistry, we should prioritize observations of reactive halogens and OH(aq).

The mean numbers and the fluctuations for phonons in the Debye model of solid are calculated. When the temperatures are higher and lower in comparison with the characteristic one determined by the Debye cutoff frequency, the mean numbers are proportional to the temperature and temperature cubed, respectively, meanwhile, the fluctuations are proportional to the temperature squared and temperature cubed, respectively.

Unconventional superconductivity may emerge from the interplay between strong spin–orbit coupling and magnetism. Here, Chen et al. report an anomalous Fraunhofer pattern in three-dimensional topological insulator Bi2Se3 and attribute it as a signature of finite momentum Cooper pairing.

The heterogeneous hydrolysis of dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) has a significant impact on both nocturnal particulate nitrate formation and photochemistry on the following day through the photolysis of nitryl chloride (ClNO2), yet these processes in highly polluted urban areas remain poorly understood. Here we present measurements of gas-phase N2O5 and ClNO2 by high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (ToF-CIMS) during summer in urban Beijing, China as part of the Air Pollution and Human Health (APHH) campaign. N2O5 and ClNO2 show large day-to-day variations with average (±1σ) mixing ratios of 79.2±157.1 and 174.3±262.0 pptv, respectively. High reactivity of N2O5, with τ (N2O5)−1 ranging from 0.20  ×  10−2 to 1.46  ×  10−2 s−1, suggests active nocturnal chemistry and a large nocturnal nitrate formation potential via N2O5 heterogeneous uptake. The lifetime of N2O5, τ (N2O5), decreases rapidly with the increase in aerosol surface area, yet it varies differently as a function of relative humidity with the highest value peaking at ∼  40 %. The N2O5 uptake coefficients estimated from the product formation rates of ClNO2 and particulate nitrate are in the range of 0.017–0.19, corresponding to direct N2O5 loss rates of 0.00044–0.0034 s−1. Further analysis indicates that the fast N2O5 loss in the nocturnal boundary layer in urban Beijing is mainly attributed to its indirect loss via NO3, for example through the reactions with volatile organic compounds and NO, while the contribution of the heterogeneous uptake of N2O5 is comparably small (7–33 %). High ClNO2 yields ranging from 0.10 to 0.35 were also observed, which might have important implications for air quality by affecting nitrate and ozone formation.

Recent field studies have suggested that sea-salt particulate nitrate (NITs) photolysis may act as a significant local source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) over oceans. We present a study of the global impact of this process on oxidant concentrations in the marine boundary layer (MBL) using the GEOS-Chem model, after first updating the model to better simulate observed gas–particle phase partitioning of nitrate in the marine boundary layer. Model comparisons with long-term measurements of NOx from the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory (CVAO) in the eastern tropical North Atlantic provide support for an in situ source of NOx from NITs photolysis, with NITs photolysis coefficients about 25–50 times larger than corresponding HNO3 photolysis coefficients. Short-term measurements of nitrous acid (HONO) at this location show a clear daytime peak, with average peak mixing ratios ranging from 3 to 6 pptv. The model reproduces the general shape of the diurnal HONO profile only when NITs photolysis is included, but the magnitude of the daytime peak mixing ratio is under-predicted. This under-prediction is somewhat reduced if HONO yields from NITs photolysis are assumed to be close to unity. The combined NOx and HONO analysis suggests that the upper limit of the ratio of NITs : HNO3 photolysis coefficients is about 100. The largest simulated relative impact of NITs photolysis is in the tropical and subtropical marine boundary layer, with peak local enhancements ranging from factors of 5 to 20 for NOx, 1.2 to 1.6 for OH, and 1.1 to 1.3 for ozone. Since the spatial extent of the sea-salt aerosol (SSA) impact is limited, global impacts on NOx, ozone, and OH mass burdens are small ( ∼ 1–3 %). We also present preliminary analysis showing that particulate nitrate photolysis in accumulation-mode aerosols (predominantly over continental regions) could lead to ppbv-level increases in ozone in the continental boundary layer. Our results highlight the need for more comprehensive long-term measurements of NOx, and related species like HONO and sea-salt particulate nitrate, to better constrain the impact of particulate nitrate photolysis on marine boundary layer oxidant chemistry. Further field and laboratory studies on particulate nitrate photolysis in other aerosol types are also needed to better understand the impact of this process on continental boundary layer oxidant chemistry.