Search

An experimental impregnation system based on the inductive methodology was established and used to investigate the effect of electric fields on the calcium content of fresh-cut apples. An induced electric field was generated when the Ca 2+ solution acted as the secondary coil of the transformer system under the action of an alternating magnetic flux. The calcium content in fresh-cut apples was found to increase with the enhancement of the excitation voltage. Additionally, samples immersed in a CaCl 2 solution exhibited a calcium content higher than those suspended in the calcium lactate solution. The latter presented a higher load power factor, the impedance in the CaCl 2 solution being lower. Frequency at 20–60 kHz had a negative impact on the calcium content of fresh-cut apples due to the weakening of the electropermeabilization effect. This method utilized the conversion of electric energy into magnetic energy, and the electric field induced needing no insertion of powered electrodes into the solution under treatment. This might provide a reference for rapid impregnation of agricultural materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Inflammation after myocardial infarction ( MI) causes cardiac nerve sprouting and consequent ventricular arrhythmias ( VAs). Macrophages, as major immune cells, are involved in the entire inflammation response process and serve as a link between inflammation and sympathetic hyperinnervation by regulating nerve growth factor ( NGF) expression. Accumulating evidence shows that statins possess antiarrhythmogenic properties, and the aim of this study was to explore the mechanism by which atorvastatin ameliorates cardiac sympathetic nerve sprouting via regulating macrophage polarization. Methods Rat models of MI were created by ligating the left coronary artery. MI-operated rats received either atorvastatin or phosphate-buffered saline for 7 days. Immunohistochemical analyses and immunofluorescence staining were used to analyze macrophage infiltration after MI and to detect the distribution and density of growth-associated protein-43 ( GAP-43) and tyrosine hydroxylase ( TH) in nerve fibers in peri-infarct zones after MI. The polarity of the macrophages that were obtained from the rat peritoneal cavity was examined via flow cytometry. The protein levels of NGF were detected via Western blot analysis, and the concentrations of NGF in the supernatants were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA levels of NGF, inducible nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS), Arginase-1 (Arg1), interleukin-1β ( IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α) were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The association between VAs and MI was evaluated using programmed electrophysiological stimulation. Results Macrophages were successfully induced to the M1 (classically activated) and M2 (alternatively activated) phenotypes by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-γ ( LPS + IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 ( IL-4), respectively. Atorvastatin markedly downregulated IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, and NGF and upregulated Arg1, shifting the macrophage phenotype from M1 to M2. Moreover, atorvastatin significantly reduced TH levels and the density of GAP-43-positive nerve fibers and decreased inducible VAs. Conclusion Atorvastatin effectively ameliorated cardiac sympathetic nerve remodeling and prevented VAs after MI by significantly downregulating the expression of NGF, IL-1β, and TNF-α via together with the augmentation of M2 macrophage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one step, simple fabrication method to prepare independent superhydrophobic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coating is reported in this paper. The rough surface structure and low surface energy could be simply obtained only by a phase separation process. The independent PVC superhydrophobic film was also applied on AZ91D magnesium alloy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle measurements, electrochemical test and adhesion tests have been performed to characterize the surface morphology, wettability, anti-corrosion and adhesion strength of independent PVC film and superhydrophobic magnesium alloy respectively. The results indicated that whether it was the PVC film or superhydrophobic magnesium, they show static contact angles higher than 150°, excellent anti-corrosion effect and adhesion strength. We believed that the presented method could provide a straightforward and simple route to fabricate low-cost and anti-corrosion coating on various substrate materials. Moreover, this one step process may find potential application in the field of industry because of its simplicity and universality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tibetan heritage building has attracted attention from many people who have interest in its historical and cultural value. Many of these buildings are opened to visitors in recent years, and the live load from tourist becomes a problem with increasing number of visitors. A monitoring system has been installed in a typical ancient Tibetan timber building to collect data on the material stresses and deformations of structural components. Based on the data collected, a strategy is proposed to evaluate the component of structural response induced by crowd load. A statistical relationship is obtained between the effective temperature change and the recorded strain increment. Results show that the measured strain is closely related to the number of visitors, and this may form the basis for a method to further evaluate the safety and integrity of the structure. An experiment was conducted on a corridor of the building with random pedestrian loading to validate the proposed strategy with encouraging results. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the modeling of damage evolution in thick steel plates under load with a continuum damage model proposed by Lemaitre (1985). A constitutive elastic-plastic-damage model was implemented in ABAQUS for the analysis. A set of material tests, including monotonic and repeated tensile tests, were conducted to obtain the mechanical parameters of Grade Q345C steel in 120 mm and 100 mm thick plates. The mechanical properties of material in different directions (horizontal and through-thickness directions) and locations (outer surface, 1/4 thickness and mid-depth) were investigated. Since the numerical load-displacement curves are not matching the experimental curves, a criterion for improving the numerical curves is proposed, and the corresponding damage parameters in the numerical model were also updated. The final improved numerical curves have a good agreement with the experimental results when the updated parameters are included in the analysis. Results show that material close to the outer surface of thick steel plate seems to have better ductility than that near the center indicating that more damage may have occurred during the loading process at mid-depth of the thick plates than near the surface. Damage parameters at mid-depth and in the Z -direction (through-thickness direction) are quite different from those at the outer surface and at 1/4 thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Strain 2020YC2 can synthesize glycine betaine de novo via choline oxidation pathway; • Increased glycine betaine is derived from intracellular serine at high salinity; • Exogenous addition of trehalose reduced the production of glycine betaine; • The choline oxidation pathway in Haloferacales evolved from Proteobacteria. The accumulation of organic compatible solutes, such as glycine betaine, is one of the osmoprotective strategies used by halophilic archaea to adapt to high salinity. The uptake of glycine betaine from the external environment using various transporters has been widely studied in different halophilic archaea. However, the de novo biosynthesis of glycine betaine and its distribution in halophilic archaea remain unclear. In this study, an extremely halophilic archaea strain, named Halorubrum sp. 2020YC2 and previously isolated from a salt-lake sample, was identified with complete choline oxidation pathway genes. Halorubrum sp. 2020YC2 could synthesize and accumulate 1.56–4.25 μmol per mg of protein of glycine betaine in a defined medium, with its content increasing along with increasing salinity. The intracellular content of glycine betaine remained relatively stable at different salinities when another exogenous solute such as trehalose was provided. The metabolic profile and transcriptional results strongly suggested that the intracellular glycine betaine was derived from serine, which came from the glycolytic intermediate 3-phosphoglycerate when glucose was used as the sole carbon source. Out of 205 available genomes of halophilic archaea, genes encoding the choline oxidation pathway were identified in 30 genomes, and more than half of the strains belonging to order Haloferacales contained the choline oxidation pathway. Phylogenetic analysis further indicated that this pathway evolved from halophilic Proteobacteria , and its absence in some genera indicated a possible gene loss event during evolution. The analysis of reported culture data of halophilic archaea strains eventually demonstrated that the presence of the choline oxidation pathway had no significant effects on the adaptation of Haloferacales to high salinity habitats. Therefore, the de novo biosynthesis of glycine betaine via the choline oxidation pathway could be an auxiliary osmoprotective strategy in halophilic archaea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporation of multifunctional nanomaterials into collagen fibers is considered as a promising approach to fabrication of multifunctional leather. In this study, an effective approach for improving the flame retardancy of leather and promoting absorption of anionic dyes and fatliquoring agents on leather through introduction of layered double hydroxide (LDH) into waterborne polyurethane (WPU) by physical blending method to prepare WPU/LDH nanocomposite as leather retanning agent has been reported. The results indicate that the original form and intercalated form of LDH both coexist in the WPU/LDH composites, and the LDH is evenly dispersed in WPU. Moreover, hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction exist between LDH and WPU. The penetration and dispersion of LDH in collagen fibers improves the thickening rate, dye uptake, softness and mechanical properties of leather. Moreover, the introduction of LDH also improves the flame retardancy of the resulting leather. Compared to the leather treated with WPU, the ignition time, the length of charring, and the mass loss rate of the leather treated with WPU/LDH-8% are reduced by 74.2%, 58.6% and 46.2%, respectively, and the limiting oxygen index (LOI) value increases from 23.6% to 26.0%. The peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) of the leather treated with WPU/LDH-8% decreased by 34.4% and 28.7% compared to that of the leather treated with WPU. The excellent flame retardancy of leather can attributed to the barrier effect of highly reinforced carbonaceous char, retarding the escaping of flammable volatiles in the leather and shielding the further damage of the leather by external heat irradiation. The high performance nanocomposites are promising for applications in the manufacture of flame-retardant leather. In addition, the reduction of BOD and COD of the WPU/LDH post-tanning systems is beneficial to reduce the impact of retanning agents on the environment, which is of great significance to "cleaner production". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the first-principles calculations, we study the stability, electronic and magnetic properties of monolayer, bilayer and trilayer Cr 2 NO 2 and Cr 2 CO 2. Stability is estimated from the thermal, mechanical and dynamical perspectives. Calculations show that the monolayer, bilayer and trilayer Cr 2 NO 2 and Cr 2 CO 2 are ferromagnetic ground states, and Cr 2 CO 2 are nearly half-metals, and Cr 2 NO 2 are half-metals with an integer total magnetic moment. For the monolayer, bilayer and trilayer Cr 2 NO 2 and Cr 2 CO 2 , the Z-axis direction is their easy magnetization axis, and their magnetic anisotropy energies are obviously increased with the increase of layered number, the improvement of magnetic anisotropy energy origins from the enhancement of spin–orbit coupling strength. In addition, we also discuss the origin of gaps for monolayer, bilayer and trilayer half-metallic Cr 2 NO 2. • Stability of monolayer, bilayer and trilayer Cr 2 NO 2 and Cr 2 CO 2 is estimated from the thermal, mechanical, dynamic prospectives. • Monolayer, bilayer and trilayer Cr 2 NO 2 are half-metals. • Monolayer, bilayer and trilayer Cr 2 CO 2 are nearly half-metals. • Z-axis is the easy magnetization direction of monolayer, bilayer and trilayer Cr 2 NO 2 and Cr 2 CO 2. • Magnetic anisotropy energies of Cr 2 NO 2 and Cr 2 CO 2 are improved with the increase of layered number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is not only a threat to the health of pregnant women, but also has profound effects on the health of offspring. Studies have shown that the imbalance of estrogen metabolism is associated with an increased risk of GDM. In this study, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established and validated for simultaneous quantification of thirteen estrogens in the urine of GDM women, including estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and their hydroxylated and methylated metabolites. The method was achieved on a Waters CORTECS C18 column (2.1 mm × 150 mm, 1.6 µm) within 8.5 min. The linear range of thirteen estrogens in urine was 2–1000 pg·mL−1. Both intra- and inter-day precision for each analyte were less than 15%, with accuracies ranging from 8.3% to 7.3%. The extraction recoveries rate were between 86% and 111%, and stability verification results met the requirements for determination of biological samples. The results suggested that the concentrations of estrogens in all urine samples range from 0.08 to 134.06 (pg·mg−1 creatinine). The mean levels of E1, E2 and most estrogen metabolites in the urine of GDM women were higher than those in healthy pregnant women. Notably, the mean level of 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1) in GDM women was 13.2-fold lower than that in healthy pregnant women. The types of estrogens with the highest mean levels in the urine of GDM and healthy pregnant women were obviously different, which are 2-methoxyestrone (2MeOE1) and E3, respectively. Our results demonstrated that this specific and sensitive method is suitable for quantifying estrogens in human urine and could provide support for further research on estrogen-related pathological mechanisms in GDM and other diseases. • Development and validation of an UPLC-MS/MS method for quantification of estrogens. • Simultaneous separation and quantification of 13 endogenous estrogens in human urine. • Determination of urinary estrogens in GDM patients. • Changes in urinary E1, E2, 16α-OHE1 and 2OHE1 are relatively pronounced with GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inner cavities of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted much attention for one-dimensional structures and their unique properties. The encapsulation of hetero-structures into CNTs is the foundation for potential applications. Solution and vapor methods have been well adopted for CNTs encapsulations. The solution method is restricted to its low encapsulation yield. Only chemicals with relatively low sublimation points under low pressures and low activity have been demonstrated to be encapsulated into the inner cavities of CNTs by vapor methods. No effective encapsulation method for most metals has been explored so far. Now, a widely applicable metal encapsulation method, micro-current electrochemical deposition, has been demonstrated to encapsulate lithium, sodium and potassium metals into CNTs with high yield. The volumetric encapsulation yields of lithium, sodium and potassium metal have been demonstrated to be higher than 65%. [Display omitted] • A micro-current electrochemical deposition method has been reported to encapsulate metals into MWCNTs. • The encapsulation yields of Li, Na and K have been demonstrated to be about 68%, 74%, and 75%, respectively. • The elemental status of the encapsulated metals was confirmed by elemental maps and hydrolysis reaction to yield hydrogen. • The encapsulation method has been explored to be an effective and widely applicable encapsulation method for metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the role of T cell subsets and the expression of related microRNAs in patients with recurrent early pregnancy loss (EPL). Fifty patients with EPL loss between May 2018 and May 2021 were randomly selected as the EPL group, and 50 pregnant women with normal pregnancies or normal delivery outcomes were randomly selected as the control group. The expression levels of T cell subset-related markers and T cell subset-related miRNAs, in addition to the frequencies of T cell subsets, in peripheral blood of the two groups were analyzed. In terms of T cell-related markers, the results showed that the expression levels of the transcriptional regulator TBX-21 (T-bet) and interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) were significantly upregulated in peripheral blood of the patients in the EPL group (P < 0.05), whereas the expression levels of GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) and glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) were significantly downregulated (P < 0.05). In the EPL group, the expression of mir-106b, mir-93, and mir-25 was upregulated (1.51 ± 0.129 , 1.43 ± 0.132 , and 1.73 ± 0.156 , respectively) in regulatory T (Treg) cell-related T cell subsets, whereas the expression of miR-146a and miR-155 was downregulated (P < 0.05). The frequencies of Treg and exhausted T cells in the EPL group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The cell frequencies of T helper 17 (Th17) cells and exhausted Treg cells in the EPL group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, immune cells and associated miRNA profiles can be used as prognostic biomarkers for the treatment of human reproductive disorders, such as EPL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the observations of the 630-nm all-sky imagers (ASIs) located in the geomagnetic conjugate points in the American sector from 2014 to 2017, this study statistically analyzed the features of conjugate equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), including their occurrence rate, zonal width, location and zonal drift velocity. The results show that the occurrence rate of the EPBs that occur simultaneously at geomagnetic conjugate points is ∼84%. The zonal widths of the EPBs are mainly ∼100 km, and the width differences of EPBs between the northern and southern hemispheres are mainly within ±30 km. The zonal displacements of the center locations of the northern and southern EPBs are within ±50 km. The zonal drift velocities of the northern and southern EPBs are nearly equal. However, it should be noted that the velocity of the EPBs in the northern hemisphere is 10% faster than that in the southern hemisphere. The results suggest that conjugate EPBs are common. Moreover, the non-conjugate EPBs in the northern and southern hemisphere can occur occasionally, which is probably associated with the different ionospheric backgrounds between the two hemispheres. The features of the conjugate EPBs as shown in this study provides support for the nowcasting of EPBs in the conjugate hemispheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fault signals measured from a damaged rolling bearing usually exhibit amplitude modulation (AM)-frequency modulation (FM) properties. For this kind of signal, the demodulation technique is an effective and common method. In the demodulation techniques, a variety of energy operator (EO) tools have been available due to high computational efficiency and self-adaptability to transient signals. Hence, an alternative energy measure is proposed in this work. The new demodulation technique is achieved by combining a multiresolution higher-order symmetric difference sequence with the envelope-derivative operator (EDO). The multiresolution higher-order symmetric envelope-derivative operator (MHOS-EDO) can extract the weak bearing fault characteristics in a harsh environment without any pre-filtering. Especially in the presence of vibration interferences, its unique energy transformation can eliminate the influence of vibration interferences, so that the vibration interferences will no longer appear in the energy spectrum. Through simulation and practical experiments, the superiority of MHOS-EDO in dealing with noise and interfering components is demonstrated. Meanwhile, the comparison results reveal that the MHOS-EDO outperforms some previous EO and some other bearing fault identification methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NZ17074, a member of the arenicin family from Arenicola marina , exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi, but had some toxicity to human erythrocytes and porcine intestinal epithelial cells. To resolve this problem, one novel peptide N2 was designed based on NZ17074 by replacing Gly in position 1, 12 with Ala. N2 exhibited a typical β-sheet conformation in aqueous and almost had no hemolysis. N2 was expressed in Pichia pastoris using the small ubiquitin-like modifier fusion technology. The yield of N2 was approximately 6.5 mg/l, and its molecular weight was 2665.0 Da. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of N2 against Gram-negative bacteria ranged from 0.125 to 4 μg/ml. The antibacterial activity of N2 against Escherichia coli CVCC 195 and Salmonella enteritidis CVCC 3377 was enhanced up to 1–3-fold over parent NZ17074. This result provides some information that assists in the rational design of toxic antimicrobial peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumpkin polysaccharides are considered as functional materials with bioactivities. However, the conventional aqueous extraction method for pumpkin polysaccharides is limited by long time consumption, low efficiency and potential damage to their bioactivities. To improve the efficiency of pumpkin polysaccharides extraction, we designed a new experimental system combining a rotary magnetic field and flowing conductive solution. Polysaccharide extractions by 1) acidic sample solution with agitation, 2) flowing acidic sample solution, 3) static magnetic field combined with flowing acidic sample solution, and 4) rotary magnetic field combined with flowing acidic sample solution were conducted at pH level of 2–4, temperature of 30–50 °C, and treatment time of 0–180 min. The extraction by use of rotary magnetic field combined with flowing acidic sample solution resulted in the highest polysaccharide yield. Then, the effects of rotational frequency, Reynolds number, pH, and temperature on extraction yield were investigated. The yield increased at first and then decreased with an increase in rotational frequency. The high polysaccharide yield was achieved at large Reynolds number, high temperature, and low pH. From the ultraviolet, Fourier transform-infrared spectrum and chromatographic analysis, the extracts proved to be polysaccharides with an average molecular weight of 1.435 × 10 5 Da. The extracted pumpkin polysaccharides exhibited a dose-dependent radical-scavenging capacity within 0.1 to 5 mg/mL in the order of hydroxyl radical > DPPH radical > superoxide radical. Industrial relevance Rare report on the application of the combined magnetic field and pipe-fluid technique in extraction functional components from food materials. In this study, a novel experimental apparatus combining rotary magnetic field and spiral-pipe flow was designed to accelerate the extraction of pumpkin polysaccharides. In comparison with 1) agitation, 2) flowing acidic sample solution, and 3) static magnetic field combined with flowing acidic sample solution, the method combining rotating magnetic field and flowing acidic sample solution 4) significantly increased the polysaccharide yield. The increments were 40.18%, 32.14%, and 23.32%, respectively, after 180-min extraction. The pumpkin polysaccharides extracted by this novel method possessed a molecular weight of 1.435 × 10 5 Da and showed desirable antioxidant activities in vitro. Therefore, the combined magnetic field and pipe-fluid technique it is a potential method for efficient extraction of valuable compounds from food materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementing measures to enhance collision energy absorption of a racing vehicle is essential to protect the vehicle and its driver and maximize the driving performance. In this study, based on the energy absorption characteristics of composites, the requirements of competition rules, and the overall vehicle arrangement, a preliminary design of an impact attenuator is performed. This paper will design the basic model with rules requirement in second section, and refer existing composite material-corrugated beam energy absolved structure, and write in half-corrugated beam energy absolved structure, so the model structure can be parameterize. Based on commercial nonlinear finite element analysis software LS-DYNA, established the numerical model. Subsequently, the optimization is divided into structural and lay-up optimizations. Using the LS-OPT software, and based on the response surface analysis method, the structure is optimized to obtain a composite impact attenuator model with the highest possible specific energy absorption. The lay-up of the model is optimized to attain a final lay-up with the minimum weight. Quasi-static axial compression and dynamic drop-weight impact tests are conducted to verify the optimization design. Finally, the composite impact attenuator of the racing car with high energy absorption efficiency, high specific energy absorption, and light weight is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of resveratrol (RSV) on retinal functions, glutamate transporters (GLAST) and glutamine synthetase (GS) expression in diabetic rats retina, and on glutamate uptake, GS activity, GLAST and GS expression in high glucose-cultured Müller cells. The electroretinogram was used to evaluate retinal functions. Müller cells cultures were prepared from 5- to 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats. The expression of GLAST and GS was examined by qRT-PCR, ELISA and western-blotting. Glutamate uptake was measured as H-glutamate contents of the lysates. GS activity was assessed by a spectrophotometric assay. 1- to 7-month RSV administrations (5 and 10 mg/kg/day) significantly alleviated hyperglycemia and weight loss in diabetic rats. RSV administrations also significantly attenuated diabetes-induced decreases in amplitude of a-wave in rod response, decreases in amplitude of a-, and b-wave in cone and rod response and decreases in amplitude of OP2 in oscillatory potentials. 1- to 7-month RSV treatments also significantly inhibited diabetes-induced delay in OP2 implicit times in scotopic 3.0 OPS test. The down-regulated mRNA and protein expression of GLAST and GS in diabetic rats retina was prevented by RSV administrations. In high glucose-treated cultures, Müller cells' glutamate uptake, GS activity, GLAST and GS expression were decreased significantly compared with normal control cultures. RSV (10, 20, and 30 mmol/l) significantly inhibited the HG-induced decreases in glutamate uptake, GS activity, GLAST and GS expression (at least P < 0.05). These beneficial results suggest that RSV may be considered as a therapeutic option to prevent from diabetic retinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-negative, rod shaped and non-spore-forming bacterium, strain H642, was isolated from a desert sample collected from Xinjiang province of China, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Strain H642 grew between 20 and 40 °C (optimal 28-37 °C), pH 6.0-10.0 (optimal 7.0-9.0) and at NaCl concentrations between 1.0 and 20.0 % (optimal 2.0-8.0 %). It was positive for catalase, but negative for oxidase. Ubiquinone-10 was present as the major respiratory ubiquinone. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, four unknown glycolipids and one unknown lipid. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain H642 belongs to the genus Pelagibacterium. Strain H642 was most closely related to Pelagibacterium halotolerans (with 98.4 % similarity), Pelagibacterium nitratireducens (97.3 %) and Pelagibacterium luteolum (96.2 %). DNA-DNA reassociation values between strain H642, P. halotolerans B2 and P. nitratireducens JLT2005 were 38.0 and 25.3 %, respectively. The genomic DNA G + C content of strain H642 was determined to be 44.4 mol%. Based on genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain H642 represents a novel species of the genus Pelagibacterium, for which the name Pelagibacterium lixinzhangensis sp. nov is proposed. The type strain is H642 (=CGMCC 1.10230=JCM 16597). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of a rotating perpendicular magnetic field and a flowing Ca 2+ solution accelerated the calcium uptake of fresh-cut apple cubes and shortened the time needed for calcium equilibration between the Ca 2+ solution and samples. The influence of operational parameters (Reynolds number of the flowing Ca 2+ solution, magnetic flux density of the magnetic field, rotating frequency of the magnetic field, and temperature) on the calcium uptake rate were investigated. Negative exponential models were used to sufficiently describe the calcium uptake rate of samples. Magnetic flux density and temperature positively affected the calcium uptake rate. Higher Reynolds number and rotating frequency both accelerated the calcium diffusion, but excessively high levels (turbulent flowing at Re = 4134 or rotating frequency at 10 Hz) decreased the calcium content. Neither the flowing Ca 2+ solution alone, nor the magnetic field alone, accelerated the calcium diffusion. This study provides an alternative methodology for the mineral fortification of fresh-cut fruits under the joint action of a rotating magnetic field and a flowing electrolyte solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to find a simple and easy-operated method for filtering eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors. Design/methodology/approach – The molecular structures and atomic electronegativities of the four kinds of natural reagents, iota-Carrageenan, sodium alginate, sodium dodecanesulphonate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate were calculated by Gaussian and Natural Bond Orbital, and the corrosion inhibition rates were forecasted by the calculated results. Then, the realistic corrosion inhibition efficiency were confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization tests in 3.5 Wt.% sodium chloride corrosive solutions. At the same time, the function of pefloxacin mesylate (PM) was explored in this paper polarization tests in 3.5 Wt.% sodium chloride corrosive solutions. Findings – Results showed that the order calculated by the chemical software was correct, and the corrosion inhibition of SDS was the best. Optimum addition of PM not only can reduce microbial corrosion but also can improve the corrosion inhibition by spatial cooperation. Practical implications – This method can be used to filter eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors quickly. PM can be also used to improve the corrosion inhibition rate of corrosion inhibitors. Originality/value – The present method to filter corrosion inhibitors was time-consuming, which needed lots of experiments to verify the corrosion inhibitive efficiency. The calculated method was simpler than others, which need complicated calculation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a particular clinical challenge because these cancers do not respond to endocrine therapy or other available targeted agents. The lack of effective agents and obvious targets are major challenges in treating TNBC. In this study we explored the cytostatic effect of thiazole ring containing antibiotic drug thiostrepton on TNBC cell lines and investigated the molecular mechanism. Methods: Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Cell surface marker was monitored by FCM. Western blot was applied to assess the protein expression levels of target genes. Results: We found that thiostrepton remarkably suppressed the CD44+/CD24- stem-like population and sphere forming capacity of TNBC cell lines. Notably, we showed for the first time that thiostreptom exerted its pharmacological action by targeting sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway. Thiostrepton repressed SHH ligand expression and reduced Gli-1 nuclear localization in TNBC cell line. Furthermore, the downstream target of SHH signaling undergone dose-dependent, rapid, and sustained loss of mRNA transcript level after thiostrepton treatment. Finally, we showed that SHH ligand was essential for maintaining CD44+/CD24- stem-like population in TNBC cell line. Conclusion: We conclude that thiostrepton suppresses the CD44+/CD24- stem-like population through inhibition of SHH signaling pathway. Our results give a new insight into the mechanism of thiostrepton anti-tumor activity and suggest thiostrepton as a promising agent that targets hedgehog signaling pathway in TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantity of leachate is crucial when assessing pollution emanating from municipal landfills. In most cases, existing leachate quantification measures only take into account one source – precipitation, which resulted in serious underestimation in China due to its waste properties: high moisture contents. To overcome this problem, a new estimation method was established considering two sources: (1) precipitation infiltrated throughout waste layers, which was simulated with the HELP model, (2) water squeezed out of the waste itself, which was theoretically calculated using actual data of Chinese waste. The two sources depended on climate conditions and waste characteristics, respectively, which both varied in different regions. In this study, 31 Chinese cities were investigated and classified into three geographic regions according to landfill leachate generation performance: northwestern China (China-NW) with semi-arid and temperate climate and waste moisture content of about 46.0%, northern China (China-N) with semi-humid and temperate climate and waste moisture content of about 58.2%, and southern China (China-S) with humid and sub-tropical/tropical climate and waste moisture content of about 58.2%. In China-NW, accumulated leachate amounts were very low and mainly the result of waste degradation, implying on-site spraying/irrigation or recirculation may be an economic approach to treatment. In China-N, water squeezed out of waste by compaction totaled 22–45% of overall leachate amounts in the first 40 years, so decreasing the initial moisture content of waste arriving at landfills could reduce leachate generation. In China-S, the leachate generated by infiltrated precipitation after HDPE geomembranes in top cover started failing, contributed more than 60% of the overall amounts over 100 years of landfilling. Therefore, the quality and placing of HDPE geomembranes in the top cover should be controlled strictly for the purpose of mitigation leachate generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of a rotating perpendicular magnetic field with the flowing saline solution was applied to the salting of garlic bulbs, aimed at accelerating the salt uptake of samples. The influences of Reynolds number of saline solution, magnetic flux density, and rotating frequency of magnetic field, as well as temperature on the salt content in pickled garlic bulbs, were analyzed. The magnetic flux density and temperature positively affected the salt content. Although higher Reynolds number and rotating frequency could accelerate the salt uptake of garlic samples, decreases in salt content were also observed at excessively high Reynolds numbers and rotating frequencies. Neither the flowing saline solution treatment alone nor the magnetic field alone contributed to the salt diffusion into garlic tissues. This research provides an alternative methodology for brining porous food materials under the action of a rotating perpendicular magnetic field combined with flowing saline solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of hybrid catalysts with high activity, good stability and low cost is extremely desirable for hydrogen production by electrolysis of water. In this work, a hybrid composed of Ni 2 P nanoparticles (NPs) on N-doped reduced graphene oxide (NRGO) is synthesized via an in situ thermal decomposition approach for the first time and investigated as a catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The as-synthesized Ni 2 P/NRGO hybrid exhibits an enhanced catalytic activity with low onset overpotential (37 mV), a small Tafel slope (59 mV dec −1 ), a much larger exchange current density (4.9 × 10 −5 A cm −2 ), and lower HER activation energy (46.9 kJ mol −1 ) than Ni 2 P/RGO hybrid. In addition, the Ni 2 P/NRGO hybrid maintains its catalytic activity for at least 60′000 s in acidic media. The enhanced catalytic activity is attributed to the synergistic effect of N-doped RGO and Ni 2 P NPs, the charged natures of Ni and P, as well as the high electrical conductivity of Ni 2 P/NRGO hybrid. This study may offer a new strategy for improving the electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reclamation of greenhouse gas CO 2 which brings the new opportunity in the area of C1 chemistry will become a new hot topic in the research frontier of green catalysis. The topics on the reclamation of CO 2 discussed in the review are as follows: (i) hydrogenation to methanol, dimethyl ether, methane, alkene, formic acid, etc. (ii) reaction with hydrocarbons, including CO 2 reforming of methane to syngas; hydrocarbons oxidation to alkene, aldehyde, and carboxylic acid; C 1 –C 3 hydrocarbons and aromatics carboxylation. (iii) reaction with oxy-organics, such as methanol, propylene glycol and epoxide, to obtain valuable chemicals and materials. (iv) Reaction of CO 2 with others. In this review, the performance of the catalysts involved was evaluated, and the underlying reaction mechanisms of CO 2 activation by catalysis were analyzed. In addition, opportunities and prospects in the other utilization of carbon dioxide were introduced, such as conversion of carbon dioxide to biodiesel and biogas by biological microalgae technologies, progress of CO 2 utilization as new hydrogen storage materials. Carbon dioxide has good chemical stability, and the activation of CO 2 is believed to be the key of the whole utilization process. It is necessary to develop suitable catalysts with high activity and selectivity in the further work. The exploitation of homogeneous catalyst may greatly enhance the conversion and selectivity of the reaction. Multi-functional catalysts with desirable adsorption–catalysis activity also need to be developed in order to directly use carbon dioxide emitted from different practical sources. Moreover, the investigation of metal ligand coordination catalysis, photocatalysis and biological biomimetic catalysis is beneficial to both the utilization of new energy and the mitigation of greenhouse gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An acceptor-free catalysis protocol for the deoximation of ketoximes and aldoximes using RuCl3 as the catalyst has been developed. Under the optimized conditions, various oximes were converted to ketones and nitriles with excellent isolated yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Rhizoma Anemarrhenae has been used in Asian countries for thousands of years to treat diabetes. Insulin resistance (IR) is the primary cause responsible for type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to to assess the hypoglycemic and insulin sensitizing properties of Rhizoma Anemarrhenae extract (TFA) in animal models of insulin resistance and/or diabetes and to delineate modes of action. Materials and methods In-vivo studies were performed on STZ-induced diabetic mice and KK-Ay mice, the former of which were given the extract alone or in combination with insulin for 7 days, and the latter of which were given the extract for 8 consecutive weeks. Fasting blood glucose and serum insulin levels were measured. Pancreatic tissue sections were examined using transmission electron micrographs. Further, hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamping study was conducted in BCG vaccine-induced insulin resistance rats, and glucose infusion rate was examined. Mechanisms of action were investigated in 3T3-L1 and Hela cells using Western blot analysis. Results Our study showed that TFA enhanced the glucose-lowering effects of exogenous insulin administration in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Therapeutic administration of TFA significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, and serum insulin levels, and markedly increased the size and the number of insulin-producing beta cells in KK-Ay mice. Further, hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamping study showed that glucose infusion rate was significantly improved in TFA-treated BCG vaccine-induced insulin resistance rats. Study of mechanism of action revealed that TFA increased phosphorylation of AMPK and its downstream target, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in 3T3-L1 cells. It activates AMPK in a LKB1-independent manner, providing a unified explanation for the beneficial effects of TFA. Conclusions This study that TFA mediates activation of AMPK and improves overall glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetic rodents, highlights the potential utility of TFA for the management of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A superhydrophobic stannate coating with self-healing functionality was fabricated on surface of AZ91D magnesium. The hierarchical micro-nano structure was created through two steps, an acid corrosive process and deposition of stannate. The coating was modified with stearic acid after 4 h self-healing process, a superhydrophobic surface was obtained with a water contact angle as high as 157.8° and a slide angle as low as 3°. In this report, we proposed a solving-reprecipitation theory for explainning the self-healing mechanism based on ionic strength. Corrosion performance of superhydrophobic surface was studied by using potentiodynamic polarization in neutural 3.5 wt.% NaCl solutions and stimulated acid rain with different pH value. It exhibited fine corrosion resistance even in stimulated acid rain with pH value of 2.5. The acid rain dropping test, chemical stability and long-term stability test indicated that suyperhydrophobic surface can be remained superhydrophobility after dropping 1000 mL acid rain, during the pH value ranging from 1 to 14 or even exposuring in the evironment as long as 16 weeks. This paper provide a new theory for stannate self-healing process and also expand application scope of superhydrophobic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new beryllium phosphates, namely, H 3 aep·Be 2 (PO 4 ) 2 (H 2 PO 4 )·H 2 O ( 1 ), H 2 tmdp·Be 3 (HPO 4 ) 3 (PO 4 CH 3 )·2.25H 2 O ( 2 ), and H 2 dmpda·Be 3 (PO 4 )(HPO 4 ) 2 (H 2 PO 4 ) ( 3 ), were prepared under solvothermal conditions. These compounds display different open-framework structures with hcb (for 1 ), sql (for 2 ), and bnn (for 3 ) topologies, respectively. The formation of phosphate ester from in situ esterification reaction of phosphoric acid and methanol is noteworthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a meta-analysis to review the effects of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on neonatal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and calcium concentrations. Randomized controlled trials that supplemented subjects with vitamin D 2 or D 3 during pregnancy and reported cord blood 25(OH)D or calcium concentrations were included. A random-effect model was used to pool the data. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for relevant publications. Among 1768 publications identified by our search strategy, 13 studies met our inclusion criteria. Cord blood 25(OH)D concentration was significantly increased by maternal vitamin D supplementation (mean difference, 22.48 nmol/L; 95% confidence interval, 15.90-29.06 nmol/L) with high heterogeneity ( I 2 = 98.8%, P < .0001). No effects on cord blood calcium concentration was reported (mean difference, 0.05 mmol/L; 95% confidence interval, −0.04-0.13 mmol/L). Supplementation regimens and the different control groups may be the major sources of heterogeneity. Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy can improve cord blood 25(OH)D concentration in women with low 25(OH)D concentration, but does not affect cord blood calcium concentration. Future researches are needed to evaluate the effect of maternal vitamin D supplementation in women with a normal 25(OH)D concentration and explore the combined effects of vitamin D, calcium, and multivitamins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A near‐band digital predistortion technique is proposed to linearise a wideband power amplifier (PA) with millimetre wave (mmWave) non‐contiguous carrier aggregation (CA). The proposed method employs low‐bandwidth linearisation architecture to only focus on the in‐band compensation and part of the out‐of‐band (OOB) distortion suppression, which largely alleviate the bandwidth limitation for baseband operation. Experiments have been carried out on an mmWave PA with the centre frequency of 41 GHz. Good measurement results can be achieved when the PA is excited by a very wideband modulated signal with 1001 CA configuration and the total bandwidth of 640 MHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the first-principles calculations, we predict the 2D monolayer MXene Mn 2 NT 2 (T=-OH, -F, =O) is a half-metallic Weyl semimetal. Without spin–orbit coupling, multiple types Weyl fermions and Fermi arc edge state are observed, and there are abundant topological phases under biaxial strain in the a – b plane. Considering the spin–orbit coupling, the Weyl points are gapped, and the quantum anomalous Hall effect is observed, which is also proved by the chiral edge state in the gap and Chern number. In addition, a tight-binding model is applied to understand the origin of the non-trivial electronic properties of the quantum anomalous Hall phase. Finally, we calculate the Berry curvature and abnormal Hall conductivity of Mn 2 NT 2 , and find that they are a non-zero energy point near the Fermi level. Our results indicate that monolayer Mn 2 NT 2 have a potential application in magnetoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Perovskite-based catalyst was modified to improve catalytic activity. • Membrane filtration and catalytic oxidation was integrated effectively. • Abundant channel-assisted reaction sites were formed on membrane structure. • Refractory pollutants can be degraded by catalytic membrane in the presence of NOM. • Continuous outflow of feed stream guarantee favorable stability of membrane. Catalytic membrane that can simultaneously enable physical separation and advanced oxidation process is considered as a novel approach for wastewater remediation; however, the unsatisfied catalytic performance and instability impede its further application. In this study, Fe doped LaCoO 3 perovskite with tunable electron structure was employed as a heterogeneous catalyst and incorporated with Polyacrylonitrile ultrafiltration membrane via a controlled phase inversion method. Owing to the continuous outflow of the intermediates and enriched concentration gradients in membrane channels, the catalytic membrane exhibited exceptional catalytic performance and stability under cross-flow apparatus. Correspondingly, over 99% of tetracycline hydrochloride can be degraded via activating peroxymonosulfate in 36 min under the flux of 220 L/m2h. Besides, the catalytic membrane with suitable pore size could exclude natural organic matter and selectively assist the degradation of pollutants in membrane channels due to a massive generation of sulfate radicals and singlet oxygen (equivalent to a retention time of 1.64 s). Following this, the degradation pathways and toxicity analysis of the intermediates were investigated to further verify the catalysis mechanism and the reduced toxicity of treated solution. Overall, it can be concluded that the integration of membrane and catalytic oxidation is effective for enhancing wastewater purification efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Untargeted release of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs can damage normal tissues in the body and cause serious side effects for patients. Therefore, the research of targeted drug delivery system based on nanomaterials has become a hot topic in the field of cancer therapy. Magnetic molybdenum disulfide (mMoS 2) was modified by liposomes with a cell membrane-like structure to prepare nanocarrier complex (mMoS 2 -Lipid) with high biocompatibility and stability. Then, combined photo-chemotherapeutic therapy was realized both in vitro and in vivo by its ultra-high photothermal conversion efficiency and excellent drug loading profile of mMoS 2 -Lipid. The characterization showed that the lamellar magnetic molybdenum disulfide modified by liposomes was not easy to aggregate in physiological solution, and had a lower non-specific protein adsorption rate, which was beneficial for biomedical application. In vitro cell experiments exhibited a successful cellular uptake profile of MCF-7 cells with no significant cytotoxicity, while a concentration dependent cytotoxicity for both chemotherapy alone and photo-chemotherapy combined therapy. Compared with the unmodified mMoS 2 , mMoS 2 -Lipid injected into mice through tail vein can accumulate more in the tumor site, and in vivo anti-tumor studies have shown that the synergistic treatment of the mMoS 2 -Lipid has an obvious inhibitory effect on the tumor with less toxic and side effects on mice. In conclusion, mMoS 2 -Lipid treatment system provides a safe, rapid and effective choice for the treatment of breast cancer in the future. [Display omitted] • Layered magnetic MoS 2 system camouflaged by lipids via physical adsorption. • A system with excellent drug loading amount, photothermal property and stability. • Lipid modification strongly enhanced the tumoral accumulation. • Combination therapy with photochemotherapy is superior to any monotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topological state in two-dimensional (2D) magnetic system has attracted widespread attention due to its potential application in spintronics and quantum computing fields. As a novel topological states of matter, Weyl semimetals with multiple topological phases have been studied. However, realizing multiple topological phases in 2D magnetic system and studying their entanglement still face great challenges. In this work, using first-principles calculations, we predict that 2D monolayer Cr 2 NT 2 (T = -OH, -F, =O) has multiple Weyl fermions (WFs) and large spin-down gap. Ferromagnetic ground states of monolayer Cr 2 NT 2 meet the dynamic, thermal and mechanical stabilities. Without spin-orbit coupling (SOC), these WPs are fully spin-polarized. When considering SOC, apart from WP3 in Cr 2 NO 2 , all WPs are opened the gap, and the chiral edge states are observed in Cr 2 NT 2. In particular, there is a quantum anomalous Hall effect in Cr 2 NF 2. Further, a biaxial strain in the a - b plane leads to the emergence of rich topological phases without SOC. In addtion, an effective four-band tight-binding model is constructed to clarify the origin of WFs in the non-trivial band topology. Finally, we calculate the Berry curvature and abnormal Hall conductivity of Cr 2 NT 2 , and find that they are a non-zero energy points around the Fermi level, indicating that monolayer Cr 2 NT 2 are promising candidates for spintronic applications. Therefore, it is necessary to explore 2D magnetic materials with multiple types of WFs and QAH phases. • The Cr2NT2 satisfies the dynamic, thermal and mechanical stabilities. • Multiple Wyle fermions are observed in 2D half-metallic Cr 2 NT 2 without SOC. • Biaxial strain in the a-b plane leads to a rich topological phase diagram in Cr 2 NT 2. • All WPs except for WP3 in Cr 2 NO 2 are opened the gap with SOC. • Quantum anomalous Hall effect is observed in Cr 2 NF 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single-shot N-step phase measurement profilometry (single-shot N-PMP) is proposed. In the traditional N-step PMP, N (N > 2) frames of phase-shifting sinusoidal gratings are needed to be projected onto the measured object. The corresponding N frames of phase-shifting deformed patterns modulated by the object are needed to be captured. And the larger the N is, the higher the measuring accuracy will be. In the proposed method, only one sinusoidal grating is needed to be projected and only one corresponding deformed pattern is captured. The proposed method can efficiently avoid direct filtering in the spectrum of the deformed pattern because of the secondary modulation in computer. The proposed method is an innovative single-shot, three-dimensional (3D) measurement with the highest accuracy among the single-shot 3D measurements so far for inheriting of the traditional optional N-step PMP. And the optional larger N can result in higher accuracy while the single-shot feature can be always guaranteed both the static and real-time 3D measurements. Furthermore, the mathematical model of the proposed method is more concise compared with the traditional PMP for the phase just modulated by the measured object itself can be directly solved without two phase resolutions and two phase unwrappings for both the reference plane and the measured object. The simulations and experimental results show the feasibility and validity of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid protease is widely used in industries such as food processing and feed additives. In the study, low frequency magnetic field (LF-MF) as an aid enhances acid protease production by Aspergillus niger (A. niger). The study assessed mycelial biomass, the enzymic activity of the acidic protease and underlying mechanism. At low intensities, alternating magnetic field (AMF) is more effective than static magnetic fields (SMF). Under optimal magnetic field conditions, acid protease activity and biomass increased by 91.44% and 16.31%, as compared with the control, respectively. Maximum 19.87% increase in enzyme activity after magnetic field treatment of crude enzyme solution in control group. Transcriptomics analyses showed that low frequency alternating magnetic field (LF-AMF) treatment significantly upregulated genes related to hydrolases and cell growth. Our results showed that low-frequency magnetic fields can enhance the acid protease production ability of A. niger, and the effect of AMF is better at low intensities. The results revealed that the effect of magnetic field on the metabolic mechanism of A. niger and provided a reference for magnetic field-assisted fermentation of A. niger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) are key to unlocking the potential of lithium metal batteries (LMBs), but their high thickness (>100 µm) due to poor mechanical properties limits energy density improvements. Herein, an ultrathin (≈5 µm) polymer SSE with a high Young's modulus (10.6 GPa), made from a polyvinylidene fluoride‐hexafluoropropylene (PVDF‐HFP) matrix and an ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) additive is proposed. By virtue of the electron‐donating property, EDTA induces the conformation transformation of PVDF‐HFP, enhancing the mechanical strength by a fine‐grain strengthening mechanism. In addition, PVDF‐HFP with cis‐conformation shortens the pathway for Li+, promotes the Li+ dissociation and immobilizes the anions of lithium salt, thus increasing the ionic conductivity (2.47 × 10−4 S cm−1) and transfer number (0.59) of the electrolyte. Moreover, the electrolyte also possesses a wide voltage window (4.7 V) and good heat/flame resistance. The half cells and full cells with the electrolytes show good cycling and rate performance. Notably, a pouch cell based on the electrolyte exhibits impressive energy densities of 516 Wh kg−1 and 1520 Wh L−1 (excluding packages), showing great potential for practical use in LMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind shear has important implications for Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (KHI) and gravity waves (GWs) in the mesosphere–lower thermosphere (MLT) region where its momentum transport process is dominated by short-period (<1 h) GWs. However, the sub-hourly variation in wind shear is still not well quantified. This study aims to improve current understanding of vertical wind shear by analyzing multi-year meteor radar measurements at the Mohe (MH, 53.5°N, 122.3°E), Beijing (BJ, 40.3 ° N , 116.2 ° E ), Wuhan (WH, 30.5 ° N , 114.6 ° E ), and Fuke (FK, 19.5°N, 109.1°E) stations in China. The wind field is estimated by a new algorithm, e.g., the damped least squares fitting. Taking the wind shear estimated by normal products as a criterion, the shear produced by the new algorithm has more statistical convergence as compared to the traditional algorithm, e.g., the least squares fitting. Therefore, we argue that the 10 min DLSA wind probably produces a more reasonable vertical shear. Both intensive wind shears and GW kinetic energy can be simultaneously captured during the 0600–1600 UTs of May at MH and during the 1300–2400 UTs of March at FK, possibly implying that the up-propagation of GWs could contribute to the production of large wind shears. The sub-hourly variation in wind shears is potentially valuable for understanding the interrelationship between shear (or KHI) and GWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginseng is an ancient medicinal and edible plant with many health benefits, and can serve as a drug and dietary supplement, but there are few relevant studies on its use to ease ultraviolet (UV) irradiation damage. After 0.8 mg/mL ginseng extract (GE) was added to the medium of female Drosophila melanogaster subjected to UV irradiation, the lifespan, climbing ability, sex ratio, developmental cycle, and antioxidant capacity of flies were examined to evaluate the GE function. In addition, the underlying mechanism by which GE enhances the irradiation tolerance of D. melanogaster was explored. With GE supplementation, female flies subjected to UV irradiation exhibited an extension in their lifespan, enhancement in their climbing ability, improvement in their offspring sex ratio, and restoration of the normal development cycle by increasing their antioxidant activity. Finally, further experiments indicated that GE could enhance the irradiation tolerance of female D. melanogaster by upregulating the gene expressions of SOD, GCL, and components of the autophagy signaling pathway. Finally, the performance of r4-Gal4;UAS-AMPKRNAi flies confirmed the regulatory role of the autophagy signaling pathway in mitigating UV irradiation injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to establish a detecting system based on transformer method to evaluate moisture content and conductivity of egg albumen and yolks during storage. Results showed that the decrease in impedance of albumen and yolk resulted in the increase in the secondary terminal voltage during the eggs’ storage. Terminal voltage positively correlated with electric conductivity, regardless of frequency. The highest linear coefficient of determination (0.9955) between moisture content of yolk and terminal voltage at 50 Hz was observed. Exponential correlations emerged between the eggs’ conductivity and terminal voltage, with highest coefficient of determination ( R 2 = 0.8311 for albumen, R 2 = 0.9772 for yolk) at 200 Hz and 400 Hz, respectively. The correlations obtained in frequencies ranging from 50 to 400 Hz at 10 V laid the foundation for a method of evaluating moisture content and conductivity in albumen and yolks. Results facilitate an alternative application of the technique for rapid evaluation of the quality indices of liquid food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Our results show that methyl jasmonate induces plasma membrane H -ATPase activity and subsequently influences the apoplastic pH of trichoblasts to maintain a cell wall pH environment appropriate for root hair development. Abstract: Root hairs, which arise from root epidermal cells, are tubular structures that increase the efficiency of water absorption and nutrient uptake. Plant hormones are critical regulators of root hair development. In this study, we investigated the regulatory role of the plasma membrane (PM) H-ATPase in methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-induced root hair formation. We found that MeJA had a pronounced effect on the promotion of root hair formation in lettuce seedlings, but that this effect was blocked by the PM H-ATPase inhibitor vanadate. Furthermore, MeJA treatment increased PM H-ATPase activity in parallel with H efflux from the root tips of lettuce seedlings and rhizosphere acidification. Our results also showed that MeJA-induced root hair formation was accompanied by hydrogen peroxide accumulation. The apoplastic acidification acted in concert with reactive oxygen species to modulate root hair formation. Our results suggest that the effect of MeJA on root hair formation is mediated by modulation of PM H-ATPase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral Ni(ii)-complexes of N,N′-dioxides show high catalytic activity and enantioselectivity in catalysing the asymmetric Friedel–Crafts C3-alkylation of 2,5-dimethyl pyrrole to β,γ-unsaturated α-ketoesters. A dramatic reversal of enantioselectivity is realized with ligands derived from the same type of chiral source of l-ramipril, by slightly tuning the amide units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism and enantioselectivity of the asymmetric Baeyer-Villiger oxidation reaction between 4-phenylcyclohexanone and m-chloroperoxobenzoic acid ( m -CPBA) catalyzed by ScIII- N, N′-dioxide complexes were investigated theoretically. The calculations indicated that the first step, corresponding to the addition of m -CPBA to the carbonyl group of 4-phenylcyclohexanone, is the rate-determining step (RDS) for all the pathways studied. The activation barrier of the RDS for the uncatalyzed reaction was predicted to be 189.8 kJ mol−1. The combination of an ScIII- N, N′-dioxide complex and the m -CBA molecule can construct a bifunctional catalyst in which the Lewis acidic ScIII center activates the carbonyl group of 4-phenylcyclohexanone while m -CBA transfers a proton, which lowers the activation barrier of the addition step (RDS) to 86.7 kJ mol−1. The repulsion between the m-chlorophenyl group of m -CPBA and the 2,4,6- iPr3C6H2 group of the N, N′-dioxide ligand, as well as the steric hindrance between the phenyl group of 4-phenylcyclohexanone and the amino acid skeleton of the N, N′-dioxide ligand, play important roles in the control of the enantioselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a high speed train passes an overhead bridge structure, the aerodynamic forces acting on the structure change abruptly. This train-induced aerodynamic loading should be taken into consideration for the design of overhead structures. This paper reports on the field experiment and numerical simulation conducted in the study of the aerodynamic loads on such a structure. Wavelet transformation was conducted on the pressure measurements to analyse the surface pressure fluctuation characteristics and to identify the pressure distribution in different frequency bands. The numerical simulation adopted sliding mesh technology with the two-equation k – ε turbulence model, and commercial CFD software FLUENT was used. The distribution of pressure and the relationship between the pressure and train speed were analyzed. Results showed that when the train passed under the bridge structure, complex unsteady turbulent flow arose between the train and the structure. This flow should be taken into consideration in the structural design of the overhead bridge structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metal (Co)–Organic Framework (Co-MOF) was first found to catalyze the chemiluminescence (CL) of luminol. On the basis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, CL spectral, UV-visible absorption spectral, and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectral studies, as well as the research of the influence of various free radical scavengers, a possible CL mechanism was proposed. The enhanced CL might be attributed to the formation of a peroxide analogous complex between the oxygen-related radicals and the active metal site of the Co-MOF material. The established Co-MOF–luminol CL system was successfully applied to determine l-cysteine (CySH), based on the selective and sensitive enhancing effect of CySH on this CL system. Under the optimized conditions, CySH was selectively detected in the range 0.1–10 μM with a detection limit of 18 nM. This novel CL system obviously gives impetus to the new research field of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in chemiluminescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt content and soluble solid content are important test indicators of quality in pickled products according to commercial standards. Pickled cucumber contains many organic compounds and free ions, and its juice, acting as the secondary coil under alternating magnetic flux, shows specific electrical characteristics during pickling. This study applied a detection system based on the o-core transformer to determine the NaCl content ( N) and soluble solid content ( SSC) of pickled cucumber in the extreme low-frequency range of 50 to 400 Hz at room temperature. It is interesting to note that the changes in electrical properties during pickling resulted in impedance changes in the coils of cucumber juice. Results showed that the terminal voltage ( U) in the secondary circuit was positively correlated with NaCl content and SSC, due to the increase of conductivity in the coil. The inductive current was the ratio of the inductive voltage to the total impedance in the secondary circuit, which increased according to Ohm's law, resulting in an increase of terminal voltages ( U) related to the physicochemical properties of the samples, particularly the amount of free ions. The λ value was found to be more effective than U in evaluating the NaCl content ( N), while the most effective regression model for predicting SSC was obtained at a primary voltage of 30 V and a frequency of 120 Hz based on U value. The proposed method laid the foundation to investigate the response characteristics of food materials by combing magnetic flux with transformer properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for determining the total solids and fat content of liquid whole egg products based on the principle of transformer was developed. The electrical parameters (terminal voltage and λ value) in the secondary circuit, where the sample acted as the coil, were investigated under the action of alternating magnetic flux in the frequency range from 60 to 400 Hz. Findings indicated that subtle changes of quality indices could be detected by electrical parameters based on the transformer properties that relate to the amount of free ions in the samples. As the inductive voltage was fixed, terminal voltage was negatively correlated with quality indices of total solids and fat content. Therefore the decrement of impedance in the secondary circuit caused the increment of inductive current according to Ohm's law. Linear prediction models for the aforementioned quality indices based on these electrical parameters were also established. Judging from coefficients of determination ( R 2 ) and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of these models, the λ value was found to be a better predictor for quality indices of liquid whole egg products than terminal voltage. It is believed that this method has the potential to evaluate the quality of liquid food materials over a wider frequency and temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]