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Abstract To improve the energy storage efficiency of phase change composites, porous mullite was used to encapsulate the PCM-palmitic acid and graphite powder was applied to enhance the overall thermal conductivity. During the experimental process, a series of palmitic acid/mullite/graphite (PA/mullite/GP) composites were prepared to obtain the PA/mullite/GP form stable phase change material (FSPCM) by facile direct impregnation method. Then their microstructure, chemical compatibility and thermophysical properties were studied by the method of SEM, FTIR, XRD, DSC, TGA and PR, systematically. The DSC results demonstrate that the PA, PA/mullite and PA/mullite/GP have the enthalpy of melting of 213.1 J/g, 54.7 J/g, and 52.3 J/g, while the enthalpy of freezing of 217.0 J/g, 53.6 J/g and 51.5 J/g, respectively. Compared with the pure PA, the thermal conductivity of the prepared PA/mullite/GP has been improved from 0.28 W m−1 K−1 to 0.52 W m−1 K−1 owing to the high thermal conductivity of GP (only 5 wt %). The reliability test shows that the PA/mullite/GP FSPCM maintains form-stable without any PA leakage even after 150 thermal cycles. In short, prepared PA/mullite/GP FSPCM exerts excellent chemical and thermal reliability and thus has a bright prospect in the field of solar energy storage and solar heating. Highlights • Palmitic acid/mullite/graphite powder FSPCMs were fabricated by facile direct impregnation method. • The PA, PA/mullite and PA/mullite/GP had the enthalpy of melting of 213.1 J/g, 54.7 J/g, and 52.3 J/g, respectively. • The thermal conductivity of PA/mullite/GP FSPCMs has been improved by 86%. • The mechanism of thermal conduction with the addition of mullite and GP has been analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larval stages of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus (Cestoda: Taeniidae) are the causative agent of cystic echinococcosis, one of the most important parasitic zoonoses worldwide. E. granulosus has a complete pathway for the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), in which citrate synthase (CS) is the key enzyme. Here, we cloned and expressed CS from E. granulosus (Eg-CS) and report its molecular characterization. The localization of this protein during different developmental stages and mRNA expression patterns during H2O2 treatment were determined. We found that Eg-CS is a highly conserved protein, consisting of 466 amino acids. In western blotting assays, recombinant Eg-CS (rEg-CS) reacted with E. granulosus-positive sheep sera and anti-rEg-CS rabbit sera, indicating that Eg-CS has good antigenicity and immunoreactivity. Localization studies, performed using immunohistochemistry, showed that Eg-CS is ubiquitously expressed in the larva, germinal layer, and adult worm sections of E. granulosus. Eg-CS mRNA expression levels increased following H2O2 exposure. In conclusion, citrate synthase might be involved in the metabolic process in E. granulosus. An assessment of the serodiagnostic potential of rEg-CS based on indirect ELISA showed that, although sensitivity (93.55%) and specificity (80.49%) are high, cross-reactivity with other parasites precludes its use as a diagnostic antigen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is based on the C40 high lift pumping manufactured sand concrete. The water-binder ratio,sand ratio and the content of fly ash on the workability and mechanical property of concrete was studied. The construction performance of concrete was also verified. The results show that the workability of manufactured sand concrete mixture is optimal when the water-binder ratio is 0.37,the sand ratio is 42% and the content of fly ash is 25%. The compounding strength of concrete is 52.8MPa and the electric flux is 964 C. The test results in site show that the slump and expansion of concrete mixture can meet the re-quirements of construction. The inverted slump cylinder emptying time of concrete mixture is less than 5 seconds before pumping and the time is between 5-10 seconds after pumping. In general, the manufactured sand concrete has good construction performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonosis that can be caused by the larvae of Echinococcus granulosus; this disease occurs worldwide and is highly endemic in China. E. granulosus can produce energy by glycolysis as well as both aerobic and anaerobic respirations. Triosephosphate isomerase is a glycolytic enzyme present in a wide range of organisms and plays an important role in glycolysis. However, there has been little research on triosephosphate isomerase from E. granulosus (Eg-TIM). Here, we present a bioinformatic characterization and the experimentally determined tissue distribution characteristics of Eg-TIM. We also explored its potential value for diagnosing CE in sheep using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Native Eg-TIM was located in the neck and hooks of protoscoleces (PSCs), as well as the tegument and parenchyma tissue of adult worms. The entire germinal layer was also Eg-TIM positive. Western blots showed that recombinant Eg-TIM (rEg-TIM) reacts with positive serum from sheep and had good immunogenicity. Indirect ELISA exhibited low specificity (53.6%) and low sensitivity (87.5%) and cross-reacted with both Taenia multiceps and Taenia hydatigena. Our results suggest that TIM may take part in the growth and development of E. granulosus. Furthermore, we determined that rEg-TIM is not a suitable serodiagnostic antigen for CE in sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: By employing the asymmetric end‐group engineering, an asymmetric nonfused‐ring electron acceptor (NFREA) was designed and synthesized. Compared with the symmetric analogs (NoCA‐17 and NoCA‐18), NoCA‐19 possesses broader light absorption range, more coplanar π‐conjugated backbone, and appropriate crystallinity according to the experimental and theoretical results. The organic solar cells based on J52:NoCA‐19 exhibited a power conversion efficiency as high as 12.26%, which is much higher than those of J52:NoCA‐17 (9.50%) and J52:NoCA‐18 (11.77%), mainly due to more efficient exciton dissociation, better and balanced charge mobility, suppressed recombination loss, shorter charge extraction time, longer charge carrier lifetimes, and more favorable blend film morphology. These findings demonstrate the great potential of asymmetric end‐group engineering in exploring low‐cost and high‐performance NFREAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In our previous study, we found that AKR1C3 was a radioresistance gene in KY170R cells. Downregulating the expression of AKR1C3 could enhance the radiosensitivity of esophageal carcinoma cells. In this study, we investigated whether methyl jasmonate (MeJ), an inhibitor of Aldo-keto reductase family1 member C3 (AKR1C3), could overcome radiation resistance in AKR1C3 highly expressed cells.Patients and methods: We used clone formation assays to detect radiosensitivity effects. Flow cytometry assays were used to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and apoptosis. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to detect the concentrations of prostaglandin F2 (PGF2) and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) in the cells after incubation with MeJ. Western blotting was used to detect AKR1C3 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression.Results: We found that AKR1C3 was highly expressed in radioresistant esophageal carcinoma cells. MeJ inhibited the expression of AKR1C3 and enhanced the radiation sensitivity of esophageal carcinoma cells expressing high levels of AKR1C3 (P [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thein vitroacaricidal activities of 16 different traditional Chinese medicines againstPsoroptes ovisvar.cuniculiwere evaluated using extracts prepared by water decocting and ethanol thermal circumfluence. The decoction extracts ofLeonurus japonicus, Euphorbia lunulata, andPyrethrum carneumhad strong toxicities towards mites, as did mixtures of the aqueous extracts ofL. japonicusandE. lunulata. The mixture containing aqueous extracts ofL. japonicusandE. lunulatain a 1:1 ratio killed all mites within 6 h, and mixtures with ratios of 1:0 and 0.5:1 also exhibited strong toxicity. The results indicated thatL. japonicusandE. lunulatacontain potent acaricidal ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• Main photothermal materials and relevant improvement strategies are summarized. • Methods for ISVG component enhancement are analyzed and reviewed. • Recent progress at system-level designed strategies is also summarized. • Issues and challenges of interfacial solar vapor generation are presented. Interfacial solar vapor generation has recently emerged as a promising technology because of its high solar evaporation efficiency and many studies have been conducted from multilevel, i.e., material level, component level, and system level. However, there is still a lack of timely and systematic review of these studies. Thus, this study provides a state of the art review regarding the multilevel designs of interfacial solar vapor generation. At the material level, the study reviews the developments of atomic/molecular-scale designs and nano/micro-scale designs. The atomic/molecular-scale designs mainly involve energy band adjustment and molecular engineering; while the nano/micro-scale designs mainly include material composition regulation and material structure adjustment. At the component level, the study mainly focuses on the fast developments of the key components, such as the water supplier, thermal insulator, ambient air and water, and vapor condenser, and their interactions. Regarding the system-level design strategies, the study reviews and analyzes the latest progress in integrating interfacial solar vapor generation with other functional systems for round-the-clock water production, water-related application, and co-generation of freshwater and electricity. In the end, the study discusses and states the challenges faced and future research directions of this technology, especially on its wide and large-scale applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phase change material-integrated interfacial solar vapor generator (SVG) is proposed. • Mass change of PCM-integrated SVG was 1.5 times that of the conventional evaporator. • COMSOL simulations indicate the performance of PCM-integrated SVG can be improved. • The study provides a novel strategy to improve all-day vapor generation yield. Owing to the intermittent nature of solar energy, the water generation yield of interfacial solar vapor generation during the nighttime is limited. Herein, we propose a phase change material (PCM)-integrated solar vapor generator to address this limitation. Specifically, three types of polyethylene glycol (PEG800, PEG1500, PEG2000)/expanded graphite (EG) form-stable PCMs (FSPCMs) with different thermophysical properties were fabricated. Upon comparing the performances of the three FSPCMs, PEG1500/EG was found to be the optimal specimen and the associated mechanism was discussed in detail. Further, a proof-of-concept evaporator was assembled to find that the all-day mass change of the FSPCM-integrated solar vapor generator was 1.5 times that of the conventional evaporator and 3.0 times that of pure water. Moreover, the mass change of the FSPCM-integrated solar vapor generator during the night was 3.6 times that of the conventional evaporator. Benefiting from the thermal energy storage capacity of the prepared FSPCMs, the FSPCM-integrated solar vapor generator can store the extra energy of the sun in the daytime and achieve continuous vapor generation in both daytime and nighttime. Furthermore, COMSOL simulations indicate that the overall performance of the FSPCM-integrated solar vapor generator can be further improved because the FSPCM module has good scalability. In a word, this study provides a novel strategy to effectively improve the all-day vapor generation yield of interfacial solar vapor generation and inspires further research aimed at the use of thermal storage technology to enable round-the-clock solar vapor generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a sheep infected with Echinococcus canadensis G8 tapeworm in China in 2018. This pathogen was previously detected in moose, elk, muskox, and mule deer in Europe and North America; our findings suggest a wider host range and geographic distribution. Surveillance for the G8 tapeworm should be conducted in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]