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In this paper, four water–binder ratios (w/b) of 0.29, 0.33, 0.39, and 0.46 were designed. A variable test temperature was implemented in the drying–wetting cycle test according to the temperature fluctuations in the actual service environment, and the constant temperature test was established as the control group. The mechanical properties and chloride corrosion resistance of concrete with different w/b ratios under variable temperature drying–wetting cycles, as well as the microstructure changes, phase composition, and damage mechanism inside the concrete, were investigated. The results showed that the mechanical properties of concrete increased first and then decreased with drying–wetting cycles increasing, whereas the chloride corrosion resistance continued to decline. A higher w/b exacerbated the deterioration of the concrete performance. A higher w/b increased the porosity, chloride diffusion depth, and chloride content, thus reducing the resistance of chloride corrosion. Compared with w/b = 0.29, the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, mass, and relative dynamic elasticity modulus of w/b = 0.46 exposed to 60 drying–wetting cycles decreased by 54.50%, 52.44%, 0.96%, and 6.50%, respectively, while the porosity, peak chloride content, and erosion depth increased by 45.12%, 70.45%, and 45.00%. Compared with the drying–wetting cycle with a constant temperature, the cumulative damage caused by the drying–wetting cycle with a variable temperature was greater, resulting in more severe deterioration of concrete performance. The increase in the test temperature significantly accelerated the diffusion rate, penetration depth, and chemical binding capacity of chloride ions. After 60 drying–wetting cycles, the peak chlorine content and erosion depth of w/b = 0.46 under variable temperature cycles were 15.38% and 10.32% higher than those under a constant temperature, while the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, mass, and relative dynamic elastic modulus were reduced by 7.76%, 14.81%, 0.33%, and 2.40%, respectively. Microscopic analysis confirmed that higher w/b and variable temperature cycles accelerated the decay of mechanical properties and the decline of chloride corrosion resistance. According to the numerical fitting analysis, the w/b should be 0.29~0.39 under the condition that the mechanical properties and chloride corrosion resistance of concrete are met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Sr65 in chromosome 1A of Indian wheat landrace Hango-2 is a potentially useful all-stage resistance gene that currently protects wheat from stem rust in Australia, India, Africa and Europe. Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), threatened global wheat production with the appearance of widely virulent races that included TTKSK and TTRTF. Indian landrace Hango-2 showed resistance to Pgt races in India and Australia. Screening of a Hango-2/Avocet 'S' (AvS) recombinant inbred line population identified two stem rust resistance genes, a novel gene (temporarily named as SrH2) from Hango-2 and Sr26 from AvS. A mapping population segregating for SrH2 alone was developed from two recombinant lines. SrH2 was mapped on the short arm of chromosome 1A, where it was flanked by KASP markers KASP_7944 (proximal) and KASP_12147 (distal). SrH2 was delimited to an interval of 1.8–2.3 Mb on chromosome arm 1AS. The failure to detect candidate genes through MutRenSeq and comparative genomic analysis with the pan-genome dataset indicated the necessity to generate a Hango-2 specific assembly for detecting the gene sequence linked with SrH2 resistance. MutRenSeq however enabled identification of SrH2-linked KASP marker sunCS_265. Markers KASP_12147 and sunCS_265 showed 92% and 85% polymorphism among an Australian cereal cultivar diversity panel and can be used for marker-assisted selection of SrH2 in breeding programs. The effectiveness of SrH2 against Pgt races from Europe, Africa, India, and Australia makes it a valuable resource for breeding stem rust-resistant wheat cultivars. Since no wheat-derived gene was previously located in chromosome arm 1AS, SrH2 represents a new locus and named as SR65. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycled fine aggregate (RFA) produced from concrete waste is commonly used in the construction industry; however, its use for structural concrete members has not been extensively studied. Moreover, its durability in a drying–wetting cycle environment still needs to be examined. In this study, the intrusion process of chloride in concrete under the drying–wetting cycles is experimentally characterized. Chloride penetration tests are carried out on concrete with the incorporation of different RFA replacement rates and mineral admixtures (i.e., fly ash and silica fume). The results show that the chloride penetration of recycled fine aggregate concrete (RFAC) is dependent upon the performance of the concrete itself, while the deterioration of chloride ion erosion resistance is due to the combined action of the replacement rate of RFA and the drying–wetting cycles. The incorporation of RFA degrades the properties of RFAC owing to its drawbacks in the degradation of interfacial properties of RFAC. Exposure to the drying–wetting cycle environment causes the content of free chloride ions in RFAC to increase initially before decreasing with the erosion depth, thereby showing an obvious convection zone and diffusion zone. The incorporation of the mineral admixture can effectively improve the compactness of the concrete microstructure and make concrete less susceptible to chloride ions ingress. RFAC mixed with 15% fly ash and 10% silica fume has a comparable resistance to chloride penetration as a natural aggregate concrete, which is a feasible method for the application of RFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today's high-density integrated circuits (ICs) have become more sensitive to temperature, process variations and environmental noises. This makes their reliability evaluation one of critical issues in the design flow. Circuit reliability evaluation generally requires estimation of error-free signal probabilities and signal reliability correlations. In this paper, we present a fast hybrid method to estimate both signal probability and reliability simultaneously by using combination of analysis and statistical simulation. Simulation results show that the proposed method is hundreds of times faster than Monte-Carlo simulation, while maintaining a high level of accuracy. • Developing a hybrid approach for signal correlation evaluation, unlike others which are either pure numerical or analytical. • Introducing a categorization system for correlations based on circuit connectivity. • Achieving linear time complexity to circuit size by evaluating reliability in terms of conditional signal probabilities. • Achieving accurate evaluation for error-free probability and reliability simultaneously together without obtaining probability externally [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Adult plant stem rust resistance locus, QSrGH.cs-2AL, was identified in durum wheat Glossy Huguenot and mendelised as Sr63. Markers closely linked with Sr63 were developed. An F3 population from a Glossy Huguenot (GH)/Bansi cross used in a previous Australian study was advanced to F6 for molecular mapping of adult plant stem rust resistance. Maturity differences among F6 lines confounded assessments of stem rust response. GH was crossed with a stem rust susceptible F6 recombinant inbred line (RIL), GHB14 (M14), with similar maturity and an F6:7 population was developed through single seed descent method. F7 and F8 RILs were tested along with the parents at different locations. The F6 individual plants and both parents were genotyped using the 90 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) wheat array. Stem rust resistance QTL on the long arms of chromosomes 1B (QSrGH.cs-1BL) and 2A (QSrGH.cs-2AL) were detected. QSrGH.cs-1BL and QSrGH.cs-2AL were both contributed by GH and explained 22% and 18% adult plant stem rust response variation, respectively, among GH/M14 RIL population. RILs carrying combinations of these QTL reduced more than 14% stem rust severity compared to those that possessed QSrGH.cs-1BL and QSrGH.cs-2AL individually. QSrGH.cs1BL was demonstrated to be the same as Sr58/Lr46/Yr29/Pm39 through marker genotyping. Lines lacking QSrGH.cs-1BL were used to Mendelise QSrGH.cs-2AL. Based on genomic locations of previously catalogued stem rust resistance genes and the QSrGH.cs-2AL map, it appeared to represent a new APR locus and was permanently named Sr63. SNP markers associated with Sr63 were converted to kompetetive allele-specific PCR (KASP) assays and were validated on a set of durum cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A switchable dual-band dual-sense (DBDS) circularly polarized (CP) patch antenna is reported in this communication, which is implemented by dual-band phase shifter of ±90°. The proposed antenna is comprised by two annular-ring radiators, four H-shape slots, and two phase-controlled feeding networks. Four H-shape slots offer desired isolation between two paths of each feeding network, and also improve the impedance matching performance in two bands. Each dual-feed network is shared by two operating radiators, supporting simultaneous dual-band functionality. Meanwhile, the dual-band phase shifter is enabled by the folded shorted stubs that provide broadband dual-CP radiation performance. Thus, for each feeding network, −90° and 90° phase differences between two orthogonal signals can be achieved in each band, respectively, so as to meet the requirements of opposite polarizations. Two pairs of single pole single throws (SPSTs) are added in the feeding networks to acquire switchable CP characteristic, meanwhile improving the isolation between two feeding networks. As a proof-of-concept, a switchable DBDS CP antenna prototype operating at 2.45 GHz/5.8 GHz industrial scientific medical (ISM) bands is prototyped and tested with a low profile of $0.036~\lambda _{0}$. By controlling two pairs of SPSTs, the proposed patch antenna can switch from the right-handed circular polarization (RHCP)/left-handed circular polarization (LHCP) state to the LHCP/RHCP state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dual‐band dual circularly polarized (CP) patch antenna is proposed with low profile and small frequency ratio in this letter, which consists of a square patch, coupling lines, and a dual‐feed network with dispersive delay line. Noticing that this antenna is fabricated on a single‐layer substrate, thus acquiring low‐profile performance. As for the coupling scheme, the bandwidth of impedance matching is increased to achieve dual‐band radiation performance. On the premise that two orthogonal signals, which transmit in two paths of the dual‐feed network, provide equal magnitude, the circular polarization can be controlled by the corresponding phase difference. Benefited from the dispersive delay line, the requirements of quadrature phases are met to present left−/right‐handed circularly polarizations in two operating frequencies. Meanwhile, small frequency ratio can be easily achieved. To demonstrate the proposed design, the single‐layer antenna with a profile of 0.006λ0 is designed, fabricated and measured. The phase difference of two orthogonal signals is adjusted to −90° at the lower operating frequency 1.9 GHz to realize right‐handed CP characteristic, while 90° phase difference in two paths is achieved at the higher one 2.4 GHz to provide left‐handed CP characteristic. Measured results are found in reasonably a good agreement with the simulated ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid nanomaterials with controlled dimensions, intriguing components and ordered structures have attracted significant attention in nanoscience and technology. Herein, we report a facile and green polyoxometallate (POM)‐assisted hydrothermal carbonization strategy for synthesis of carbonaceous hybrid nanomaterials with molecularly dispersed POMs and ordered mesopores. By using various polyoxometallates such as ammonium phosphomolybdate, silicotungstic acid, and phosphotungstic acid, our approach can be generalized to synthesize ordered mesoporous hybrid nanostructures with diverse compositions and morphologies (nanosheet‐assembled hierarchical architectures, nanospheres, and nanorods). Moreover, the ordered mesoporous nanosheet‐assembled hierarchical hybrids with molecularly dispersed POMs exhibit remarkable catalytic activity toward the dehydration of tert‐butanol with the high isobutene selectivity (100 %) and long‐term catalytic durability (80 h). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid nanomaterials with controlled dimensions, intriguing components and ordered structures have attracted significant attention in nanoscience and technology. Herein, we report a facile and green polyoxometallate (POM)‐assisted hydrothermal carbonization strategy for synthesis of carbonaceous hybrid nanomaterials with molecularly dispersed POMs and ordered mesopores. By using various polyoxometallates such as ammonium phosphomolybdate, silicotungstic acid, and phosphotungstic acid, our approach can be generalized to synthesize ordered mesoporous hybrid nanostructures with diverse compositions and morphologies (nanosheet‐assembled hierarchical architectures, nanospheres, and nanorods). Moreover, the ordered mesoporous nanosheet‐assembled hierarchical hybrids with molecularly dispersed POMs exhibit remarkable catalytic activity toward the dehydration of tert‐butanol with the high isobutene selectivity (100 %) and long‐term catalytic durability (80 h). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia hordei, is a devastating fungal disease affecting barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare) production globally. Despite the effectiveness of genetic resistance, the deployment of single genes often compromises durability due to the emergence of virulent P. hordei races, prompting the search for new sources of resistance. Here we report on the cloning of Rph15, a resistance gene derived from barley's wild progenitor H. vulgare subsp. spontaneum. We demonstrate using introgression mapping, mutation and complementation that the Rph15 gene from the near‐isogenic line (NIL) Bowman + Rph15 (referred to as BW719) encodes a coiled‐coil nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat (NLR) protein with an integrated Zinc finger BED (ZF‐BED) domain. A predicted KASP marker was developed and validated across a collection of Australian cultivars and a series of introgression lines in the Bowman background known to carry the Rph15 resistance. Rph16 from HS‐680, another wild barley derived leaf rust resistance gene, was previously mapped to the same genomic region on chromosome 2H and was assumed to be allelic with Rph15 based on genetic studies. Both sequence analysis, race specificity and the identification of a knockout mutant in the HS‐680 background suggest that Rph15‐ and Rph16‐mediated resistances are in fact the same and not allelic as previously thought. The cloning of Rph15 now permits efficient gene deployment and the production of resistance gene cassettes for sustained leaf rust control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact dual‐band circularly polarized (CP) filtering patch antenna is proposed by adopting the dispersive delay line (DDL) in this article. The in‐band and out‐of‐band phase differences of two orthogonal components are effectively controlled by the DDL to realize opposite polarization states. As perfect isolation is achieved between left‐hand circular polarization and the right‐hand one in CP antenna, by controlling the parameters of DDL, four radiation nulls are presented simultaneously, and their locations are directly determined by the phase difference, thus obtains good filtering performance with compact structure. For demonstration, dual‐band CP patch antenna is designed at 2.4 and 5.8 GHz for WLAN applications based on DDL. The simulated and measured results of fabricated prototypes show good agreement. Good out‐of‐band rejection is observed in this design, which verifies the feasibility of the proposed CP filtering strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Simple strategy to prepare efficient electrocatalysts for alkaline HER. • Acceleration of HER kinetics on molybdenum carbide by introducing Ru components. • The synergistic effect between the introduced Ru components and molybdenum carbide. • Decrease of water dissociation energy barrier and weakening of adsorption of OH. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under alkaline media plays a pivotal role in industrial electrocatalytic hydrogen production but even the platinum-based electrocatalysts suffer from high overpotential and low kinetics due to the high energy barrier of water dissociation. Here, by employing in-situ produced graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) as template to induce the formation of a lamellar structure, we reported evenly dispersed Ru-doped Mo 2 C nanoparticles on ultrathin nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (Ru-Mo 2 C/CN) as a highly efficient alkaline HER electrocatalyst. The optimal Ru-Mo 2 C/CN displays a remarkable activity with a low overpotential of only 34 mV to afford 10 mA cm−2 and good stability of more than 30 h, which is much better than that of commercial Pt/C and recently reported electrocatalysts in the landmark literatures. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the introduced Ru dopant on Mo 2 C significantly reduce the water dissociation energy barrier of HER and inhibit the competitive adsorption between H* and OH* on the surrounding Mo sites. This work highlights a simple yet effective strategy for designing electrocatalysts with excellent performance of hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a D-band (110–170 GHz) transmitter/receiver (Tx/Rx) chipset with end-fire on-chip antennas (OCAs) using 0.13-μm SiGe BiCMOS technology. The input LO signal frequency of the chipset is 31.25 GHz. A 62.5-GHz frequency doubler, a D-band 2nd-harmonic up-conversion mixer, a power amplifier (PA), and an end-fire antenna are integrated in the Tx. An end-fire antenna, a D-band low-noise amplifier (LNA), a 2nd-harmonic down-conversion mixer, and a 62.5-GHz frequency doubler are integrated in the Rx. The end-fire OCA has gain and efficiency of 4.1 dBi and 83%, respectively. Maximum measured effective isotropic radiation power (EIRP) of 9.2 dBm and conversion gain of 21 dB are achieved for the Tx and Rx, respectively. The Tx/Rx are packaged on PCBs through wire bonding and chip-to-chip wireless communication using 16QAM modulation with the data rate of 4 Gb/s is demonstrated. The DC power consumption of the whole chip is ~1150 mW, and the total chip size is 2 × 3.5 mm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A variable testing temperature was implemented in the dry-wet cycle test. • Effect of dry-wet ratio on mechanical properties and chloride corrosion resistance of concrete was investigated. • Higher dry-wet ratio exacerbates the deterioration of concrete performance. • Cumulative damage caused by variable temperature dry-wet cycle accelerates chloride erosion. Numerous factors influence the concrete performance in dry-wet cycle environment, with dry-wet ratio and temperature being particularly significant. In this paper, the effect of dry-wet ratios (1:3, 1:1, and 3:1) on the chloride corrosion resistance of concrete was studied, and the variable test temperature and constant test temperature were implemented in the dry-wet cycle. The deterioration law of chloride corrosion resistance of concrete was investigated, and the microstructure, phase composition, and pore structure were examined. The results showed that the deterioration degree of concrete performance was intensified by a higher dry-wet ratio. Compared with D1W3 (the dry-wet ratio is 1:3), the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, mass, and relative dynamic elasticity modulus (RDEM) of D3W1 (the dry-wet ratio is 3:1) exposed to 72 dry-wet cycles decreased by 11.05%, 19.40%, 8.33%, 1.09%, and 6.14%, respectively, while the peak chloride content and erosion depth increased by 40.98% and 22.75%. Compared to the dry-wet cycle with constant temperature, the cumulative damage caused by the dry-wet cycle with variable temperature was greater, resulting in more severe deterioration of concrete performance. Variable temperature accelerated the diffusion rate and penetration depth of chloride ions. The peak chloride content and erosion depth of D1W3 were 27.08% and 18.44% higher than those of control group after 72 dry-wet cycles. Microscopic analysis confirmed that higher dry-wet ratio and variable temperature cycles accelerated the decay of mechanical strength and the decline of chloride erosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SNP Lr46G22, linked to the I Lr46/Sr58/Yr29 i APR locus (Lagudah unpublished) was used as a KASP marker to genotype the mapping population based on Kandiah et al. (2020). Correction to: Theoretical and Applied Genetics (2022) 135:1541-1550 https://doi.org/10.1007/... In the original manuscript we characterize the KASP marker IWB32429, linked to the adult plant stem rust resistance locus I Sr63 i . [Extracted from the article]

In this study, we synthesized two new two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic frameworks (COFs), COF-TA and COF-DP, by combining 4-connected D2h-symmetric and 2-connected non-centrosymmetric C2-symmetric building blocks. Unlike the typical sql topology, these COFs exhibit an unconventional kgm topology characterized by a favorable anti-parallel stacking arrangement, which results in a lower energy configuration. Notably, COF-DP, with its unique D–A–D structural motif and photosensitive properties, demonstrates a narrow band gap and excellent photothermal conversion capabilities, making it a promising material for photothermal imaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of a purified polysaccharide (PPPF) from pumpkin fruit on the Janus activated kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling during apoptotic process. The results showed that PPPF or STAT3 siRNA inhibits the cell growth of HepG2 cells via induction of apoptosis. Moreover, PPPF is able to suppress both constitutive and IL-6-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 (on Tyr705) and subsequent nuclear translocation in cancer cells. Such inhibition is found to be achieved through down-regulation of constitutive phosphorylation of JAK2, but not JAk1, c-Src, ERK1/2, and Akt, which means STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation in HepG2 cells following PPPF treatment is associated with a reduction in JAK2 activity. In addition, the protein expression of SHP-1 was increased in cells in response to PPPF treatment, whereas SHP-2, SOCS-1 and SCOS-3 protein expression remain unchanged. In vivo animal experiment also indicated that PPPF had a potent inhibitory effect on tumor growth in mice bearing HepG2 xenograft tumors. Thus we can conclude that PPPF directly induces apoptotic cell death of HepG2 cells via down-regulation of the JAK2/STAT3 signal transduction pathways, which may facilitates the development of a therapeutic strategy for treating HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problems of poor stability and low decontamination efficiency of foam detergent in the process of removing surface radioactive contamination in a low-temperature environment, MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x) was prepared by LiF/HCl etching, the MXene was modified by hydroxylation to obtain Alk-MXene, and the Alk-MXene was hydrophobically modified by octadecylamine (ODA) to obtain Alk-MXene@ODA. MXene, Alk-MXene, and Alk-MXene@ODA were characterized by SEM, XRD, FTIR, BET, and a contact angle measuring instrument. The effects of the addition of Alk-MXene@ODA on the foam stability, foaming ability of the foam detergent, foam liquid-film thickness, liquid-film decay rate, viscosity at the same shear rate, and spraying and wall-hanging properties were investigated. The decontamination properties of the Alk-MXene@ODA-stabilized biomass-based antifreeze foam detergent were also investigated. The results show that Alk-MXene has a large interlayer spacing, a large specific surface area, and abundant –OH on its surface. Alk-MXene exhibits full absorption of water, and the hydrophobicity of Alk-MXene@ODA after graft modification with ODA increased and the wetting contact angle increased to 89.07°. Via Alk-MXene@ODA synergistic foam stabilization, the drainage half-life of the foam increased from 40.81 min to 66.89 min, the average thickness of the foam liquid film increased from 47.065 µm to 53.162 µm, the liquid-film decay rate reduced from 0.956 µm/min to 0.544 µm/min, and the viscosity of the foam detergent solution increased at different shear rates. The foam detergent is sprayable, and the wall-hanging time can reach 80 min on a vertical tile surface. At −10 °C, the α decontamination factors of the Alk-MXene@ODA-stabilized biomass-based antifreeze foam detergent on glass, painted board, ceramic tile, and stainless steel were improved by 23.89, 23.77, 23.01, and 22.53, the β decontamination factors were improved by 15.48, 17.12, 15.03, and 14.42, respectively, relative to ordinary foam. The adsorption and coordination of uranyl ions with Alk-MXene@ODA promoted the improvement in the decontamination factor of the foam detergent. Alk-MXene@ODA combined with biomass-based antifreeze foam detergent can achieve dual functions of stabilizing foam and increasing decontamination efficiency. Biomass-based antifreeze foam detergent with increased stability and decontamination efficiency by Alk-MXene@ODA can efficiently and quickly remove surface radioactive contamination in a low-temperature environment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmentally friendly antifreeze foam detergent was synthesized from the biomass-based surfactants alkyl polyglucoside (APG), tea saponin (TAS), waterborne polyurethane (WPU), tartaric acid (TA), and sodium chloride (NaCl) in order to remove radioactive contamination on the surface of nuclear emergency and decommissioning facilities in low temperature environment. Additionally, the composition of foam detergent was optimized by response surface methodology. The foaming, stability, wall-hanging property of antifreeze foam detergent and its decontamination properties of simulated radioactive pollution under low temperature environment were studied. The surface tension, viscosity, and wettability of antifreeze foam detergent and the decontamination mechanism at low temperature were analyzed. The results show that at the low temperature of − 10 ºC, the foaming multiple of the foam detergent is 14.37, the half-life is 44.43 min, and the wall-hanging time on the surface of vertical ceramic tile is 60 min. Within 30 min, the decontamination factors of simulated radioactive contamination on the surface of the glass, ceramic tile, stainless steel, and lacquered board by antifreeze foam detergent are 17.83, 12.82, 12.03, and 14.83, respectively. Environmentally friendly antifreeze foam detergent with high foaming property, outstanding wall-hanging property, and decontamination ability has broad application prospects in nuclear emergency and decommissioning of nuclear facilities in low temperature environments in winter. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early patterning of the vertebrate neural plate involves a complex hierarchy of inductive interactions orchestrated by signalling molecules and their antagonists. The morphogen retinoic acid, together with the Cyp26 enzymes which degrade it, play a central role in this process. The cyp26a1 gene expressed in the anterior neural plate thus contributes to the fine modulation of the rostrocaudal retinoic acid gradient. Despite this important role of cyp26a1 in early brain formation, the mechanisms that control its expression in the anterior neural plate are totally unknown. Here, we present the isolation of a 310-base-pair DNA element adjacent to cyp26a1 promoter, displaying enhancer activity restricted to the anterior neural plate of the zebrafish gastrula. We show that unlike that of cyp26a1, expression driven by this cyp26a1 anterior neural plate element (cANE) is independent of retinoic acid. Through deletion analysis, we identify a 12-nucleotide motif essential for cANE activity. A consensus bipartite binding site for SoxB:Oct transcription factors overlaps with this motif. Mutational analysis suggests that SoxB binding is essential for its activity. We discuss the contribution of this study to the elucidation of the regulatory hierarchy involved in early neural plate patterning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powdery mildew (PM) is the main disease that afflicts bottle gourd. Previous studies on PM mainly focused on its effects on pumpkin, melon, and other crops; however, the exact molecular mechanism of bottle gourd resistance to PM remains unclear. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology was used to investigate the dynamic changes in leaf transcriptome profiles between resistant and susceptible gourd at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h post-inoculation with powdery mildew. Compared with a susceptible variety (G3), the expression levels of the differentially expressed genes of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, starch, and sucrose metabolism, and plant–pathogen interaction pathways in disease-resistant plants were upregulated. We propose that disease resistance and tolerance in bottle gourd are enhanced via several pathways, including the antioxidant system, phenylalanine biosynthesis, and cell wall cellulose synthesis. Our research will provide an important basis for further screening and breeding PM resistance in bottle gourd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliability is becoming one of increasingly critical issues for design of modern integrated circuits, due to the continuous scaling of CMOS technology and emerging nano-scale devices. This paper presents a novel method for reliability analysis in combinational circuits with unreliable devices. By using the concept of equivalent reliability, the proposed method promises improvements over the state-of-the-art methods in terms of efficiency, while keeping a high level of accuracy, in estimating the circuit reliability. This efficiency is achieved due to the fact that this work utilizes input probabilities and gate reliabilities directly for reliability evaluation, instead of taking (or sampling) a huge number of input vectors as with most existing approaches. Simulation results on benchmark circuits show that our approach obtains a significant speedup over other existing methods, especially when the reliability evaluation is repetitively needed for a same circuit in order to provide the reliability improvement for reliability-driven design applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Power efficiency of a UHF rectifier circuit, which is part of long-range IC-based passive RFID tags, has become a serious bottleneck in implementing power-hungry intelligent sensors. This paper presents an analytical approach for multi-stage rectifiers, which provides design tradeoffs as well as a set of design rules to improve power efficiency of the rectifier. As an example, three-stage rectifiers are designed with ST 90nm CMOS technology for optimized performance at both 10 and 22m distances. When compared with existing results at the same level of output power, the proposed rectifiers show a 3× better performance in power efficiency (73%) and 55% reduction in power-up threshold with longer operating range. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Graft copolymerization of rosin-(2-acryloyloxy)ethyl ester (RAEE) onto chitosan (Cts) was carried out under microwave irradiation using potassium persulfate as an initiator. The structures, morphology, and thermal properties of the Cts graft copolymer (Cts-g-PRAEE) were characterized by means of FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and TG. Also, Cts and Cts-g-PRAEE copolymer were used as carriers of fenoprofen calcium (FC), and their controlled release behavior in artificial intestinal juice were studied. The results show that the rate of release of fenoprofen calcium from the carrier of Cts-g-PRAEE copolymer becomes very slower than that of Cts in artificial intestinal juice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Geopolymer concrete (GPC) represents an innovative green and low-carbon construction material, offering a viable alternative to ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPC) in building applications. However, existing studies tend to overlook the recyclability aspect of GPC for future use. Various structural applications necessitate the use of concrete with distinct strength characteristics. The recyclability of the parent concrete is influenced by these varying strengths. This study examined the recycling potential of GPC across a spectrum of strength grades (40, 60, 80, and 100 MPa, marked as C40, C60, C80, and C100) when subjected to freeze–thaw conditions. Recycling 5–16 mm recycled geopolymer coarse aggregate (RGAs) from GPC prepared from 5 to 16 mm natural coarse aggregates (NAs). The cementitious material comprised 60% metakaolin and 40% slag, with natural gravel serving as the NAs, and the alkali activator consisting of sodium hydroxide solution and sodium silicate solution. The strength of the GPC was modulated by altering the Na/Al ratio. After 350 freeze–thaw cycles, the GPC specimens underwent crushing, washing, and sieving to produce RGAs. Subsequently, their physical properties (apparent density, water absorption, crushing index, and attached mortar content and microstructure (microhardness, SEM, and XRD) were thoroughly examined. The findings indicated that GPC with strength grades of C100, C80, and C60 were capable of enduring 350 freeze–thaw cycles, in contrast to C40, which did not withstand these conditions. RGAs derived from GPC of strength grades C100 and C80 complied with the criteria for Class II recycled aggregates, whereas RGAs produced from GPC of strength grade C60 aligned with the Class III level. A higher-strength grade in the parent concrete correlated with enhanced performance characteristics in the resulting recycled aggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Using a simple oligo selection procedure, we have previously identified a tobacco sequence-specific DNA-binding activity, TDBA12, that increases markedly during the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-induced hypersensitive response (HR). Based on the binding specificity and the two cDNA clones isolated, TDBA12 is related to a novel class of DNA-binding factors containing WRKY domains. In the present study, we report that TDBA12 could be induced not only by TMV infection but also by treatment with salicylic acid (SA) or its biologically active analogs capable of inducing pathogenesis-related (PR) genes and enhanced resistance. TDBA12 was sensitive to temperature and the protein dissociating agent sodium deoxycholate, suggesting that it may be a multimeric factor in which protein–protein interaction is important for the enhanced DNA-binding activity. Pre-treatment of nuclear extracts with alkaline phosphatase abolished TDBA12, suggesting that protein phosphorylation is important for its high DNA-binding activity. TDBA12 specifically recognized the elicitor response element of the tobacco class I basic chitinase gene promoter. The increase in the levels of TDBA12 following TMV infection or SA treatment preceded the induced expression of the tobacco chitinase gene. These results strongly suggest that certain WRKY DNA-binding proteins may be activated by enhanced protein phosphorylation and regulate inducible expression of defense-related genes during pathogen- and SA-induced plant defense responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wideband omnidirectional filtering patch antenna with high selectivity is proposed in this article. The annular ring is surrounded by the hexagonal patch with inner circle, whereas a series of shorting vias are regularly distributed among them and a copper top hat is suspended right on the top of the radiator, respectively. And, omnidirectional pattern is mainly performed on account of the symmetry and center‐fed structure. In addition, broadband performance is achieved by merging three resonant modes, which include the TM01 and TM02 modes of the annular ring and the TM02 mode of the hexagonal patch with inner circle. Taking advantages of the hexagonal patch and six shorting vias in it, two radiation nulls are provided in the upper band. Besides, another radiation null is generated in the lower band by reason of the top hat and other shorting vias. As a result, an ideal quasi‐elliptic bandpass response, high selectivity, and good out‐of‐band rejection are obtained simultaneously. The proposed filtering patch antenna, with a profile of 0.056 λ0, shows a wide impedance bandwidth of 30.2% from 2.05 to 2.78 GHz. The average gain in the passband is about 6.5 dBi, and the out‐of‐band suppression level is greater than 15 dB in the wide stopband. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), poses a threat to global wheat production. Deployment of widely effective resistance genes underpins management of this ongoing threat. This study focused on the mapping of stripe rust resistance gene YR63 from a Portuguese hexaploid wheat landrace AUS27955 of the Watkins Collection. Results: YR63 exhibits resistance to a broad spectrum of Pst races from Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and South America. It was mapped to the short arm of chromosome 7B, between two single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers sunCS_YR63 and sunCS_67, positioned at 0.8 and 3.7 Mb, respectively, in the Chinese Spring genome assembly v2.1. We characterised YR63 locus using an integrated approach engaging targeted genotyping-by-sequencing (tGBS), mutagenesis, resistance gene enrichment and sequencing (MutRenSeq), RNA sequencing (RNASeq) and comparative genomic analysis with tetraploid (Zavitan and Svevo) and hexaploid (Chinese Spring) wheat genome references and 10+ hexaploid wheat genomes. YR63 is positioned at a hot spot enriched with multiple nucleotide-binding and leucine rich repeat (NLR) and kinase domain encoding genes, known widely for defence against pests and diseases in plants and animals. Detection of YR63 within these gene clusters is not possible through short-read sequencing due to high homology between members. However, using the sequence of a NLR member we were successful in detecting a closely linked SNP marker for YR63 and validated on a panel of Australian bread wheat, durum and triticale cultivars. Conclusions: This study highlights YR63 as a valuable source for resistance against Pst in Australia and elsewhere. The closely linked SNP marker will facilitate rapid introgression of YR63 into elite cultivars through marker-assisted selection. The bottleneck of this study reinforces the necessity for a long-read sequencing such as PacBio or Oxford Nanopore based techniques for accurate detection of the underlying resistance gene when it is part of a large gene cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allelic variation at the FRIGIDA (FRI) locus is a major contributor to natural variation of flowering time and vernalization requirement in Arabidopsis thaliana. Dominant FRI inhibits flowering by activating the expression of the MADS box transcriptional repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), which represses flowering prior to vernalization. Four FRI orthologues had been identified in the domesticated amphidiploid Brassica napus. Linkage and association studies had revealed that one of the FRI orthologues, BnaA3.FRI, contributes to flowering time variation and crop type differentiation. Results: Sequence analyses indicated that three out of the four BnaFRI paralogues, BnaA3.FRI, BnaA10.FRI and BnaC3.FRI, contained a large number of polymorphic sites. Haplotype analysis in a panel of 174 B. napus accessions using PCR markers showed that all the three paralogues had a biased distribution of haplotypes in winter type oilseed rape (P < 0.01). Association analysis indicated that only BnaA3.FRI contributes to flowering time variation in B. napus. In addition, transgenic functional complementation demonstrated that mutations in the coding sequence of BnaA3.FRI lead to weak alleles, and subsequently to flowering time variation. Conclusion: This study for the first time provides a molecular basis for flowering time control by BnaA3.FRI in B. napus, and will facilitate predictive oilseed rape breeding to select varieties with favorable flowering time and better adaption to latitude and seasonal shifts due to changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-SiO2 (NS) is widely used in cement-based materials due to its excellent physical properties. To study the influence of NS content on a cement paste and the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), cement paste samples containing nano content ranging from 0 to 2% (by weight of cement) were prepared, and digital image correlation (DIC) technology was applied to test the mechanical properties. Finally, the optimal NS content was obtained with statistical analysis. The mini-slump cone test showed that, with the help of superplasticizer and ultrasonic treatment, the flowability decreased continuously, as the NS content increased. The DIC experimental results showed that NS could effectively improve the mechanical properties of the cement paste and the ITZ. Specifically, at the content level of 1%, the elastic modulus of cement paste and ITZ was 20.95 GPa and 3.20 GPa, respectively. When compared to that without nanomaterials, the increased amplitude was 73.50% and 90.50%, respectively. However, with the further increase in NS content, the mechanical properties decreased, which was mainly caused by the agglomeration of nanomaterials. Additionally, the NS content did not exhibit a significant effect on the thickness of the ITZ, and its value was maintained at 76.91–91.38 μm. SEM confirmed that NS would enhance the microstructure of both cement paste and ITZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a material for road deicing and snow removal, electrically conductive concrete (ECON) can convert electrical energy into thermal energy to automatically melt ice and snow, avoiding manual and mechanical operations. However, to achieve ideal electrical conductivity, the content of single-doped conductive fillers in ECON needs to be high, which leads to poor workability of ECON and agglomeration of conductive fillers. Combing conductive fillers with different scales helps reduce the content of single-doped conductive fillers in ECON. This study prepared composite conductive concrete using multilayer reduced graphene oxide (RGO), carbon fiber, and steel fiber as conductive fillers. The effect of multilayer RGO on composite conductive concrete's compressive strength, flexural strength, and electrical conductivity was investigated. Besides, the mechanism of RGO on composite conductive concrete's conductive network was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results showed that the 28-day mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of composite conductive concrete first increased and then decreased. Composite conductive concrete containing RGO with 0.4% cement weight (RGO-0.4) exhibited better mechanical and electrical properties. The improvement of the performance of composite conductive concrete was attributed to the filling effect of RGO on the gaps of concrete matrix and the wrapping effect of graphene flocs on fibrous conductive fillers because these effects increased the compactness of the matrix and conductive contact area, respectively. Also, a snow melting test was carried out using an RGO-0.4 slab at an ambient temperature of −15°C. The snow melting efficiency was improved, showing that 20-cm-thick snow melted in 1.2 h. In conclusion, the hybrid addition of RGO and fibrous conductive fillers has positive effects on ECON, providing a new way to develop ECON. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the clinical spectrum associated with ATP1A2 variants in Chinese children with hemiplegia, migraines, encephalopathy or seizures. Sixteen children (12 males and 4 females), including ten patients with ATP1A2 variants whose cases had been published previously, were identified using next-generation sequencing. Fifteen patients had FHM2 (familial hemiplegic migraine type 2), including three who had AHC (alternating hemiplegia of childhood) and one who had drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Thirteen patients had DD (developmental delay). The onset of febrile seizures, which occurred between 5 months and 2 years 5 months (median 1 year 3 months) was earlier than the onset of HM (hemiplegic migraine), which occurred between 1 year 5 months and 13 years (median 3 years 11 months). Disturbance of consciousness subsided first, at 40 h to 9 days (median 4.5 days); hemiplegia and aphasia were resolved slowly, taking 30 min to 6 months (median 17.5 days) for the former and 24 h to over 1 year (median 14.5 days) for the latter. Cranial MRI showed edema in the cerebral hemispheres, mainly the left hemisphereacute attacks. All thirteen FHM2 patients recovered to baseline in 30 min to 6 months. Fifteen patients had between 1 and 7 (median 2) total attacks between the baseline and follow-up timepoints. We report twelve missense variants, including a novel variant ATP1A2 variant, p.G855E. The known genotypic and phenotypic spectra of Chinese patients with ATP1A2 -related disorders were further expanded. Recurrent febrile seizures and DD combined with paroxysmal hemiplegia and encephalopathy should raise the clinical suspicion of FHM2. The avoidance of triggers and thus the prevention of attacks may be the most effective therapy for FHM2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of carbohydrates in general has been reported as a sustainable and green technique to produce novel carbon materials. Traditional HTC of carbohydrates leads to irregular carbonaceous particles with low porosity due to inevitable aggregation induced by the high surface energy and the failure of classical templates. The accrescent understanding of the reaction mechanism in the HTC "dark box" provides possibilities of engineering HTC carbonaceous materials in a refined way. In the past decades, some unprecedented carbonaceous structures were achieved via modified HTC processes. Those progresses reflect the mightiness of HTC for precise synthesis however the last specialized review on this topic is over a decade old. In this review, we summarize the advances in the precise engineering of carbonaceous materials with specific morphologies and structures by the bottom-up HTC of carbohydrates, especially monosaccharides and disaccharides. This review elucidates the HTC set screws for the shaping of and/or the pore-creation within the targeted nanostructured carbonaceous materials. The benefits for applications arised from the special control of HTC carbon are also discussed. This review could inspire further insight into the HTC process and broader application of carbon nanostructures made from renewable resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel single-solvent-interfacial strategy is proposed to synthesize hollow MOFs, fabricated at the two-phase interface originated from the self-deliquescence of hydration water in the metallic precursors and the solvents with low water solubility. The as-fabricated HMOFs with hierarchically porous structures exhibit significant enhancement in CO2 separation and catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work assessed the effect of compressive fatigue on sulfate ion diffusion in standard-cured and steam-cured concrete containing slag. After compressive fatigue, the slag concretes were immersed in 5% sodium sulfate solution for 18 months. The sulfate ion content in concrete was measured and the sulfate ion effective diffusion coefficient was calculated. The results showed that compressive fatigue accelerated sulfate ion diffusion in concrete, and the acceleration was more prominent in steam-cured concrete than standard-cured concrete. During sulfate attack, the sulfate ion content in the same layer of standard-cured fatigued concrete grew with an increase in stress level. Massive ettringite with large size was generated in steam-cured fatigued concrete during sulfate attack. In addition, a sulfate ion diffusion model of fatigued concrete was established. Based on this model, the measured values agreed well with the simulated distribution curve of sulfate ions in fatigued concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy-94 (DEE94) is a severe form of epilepsy characterized by a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders. It is caused by pathogenic CHD2 variants. While only a few pathogenic CHD2 variants have been reported with detailed clinical phenotypes, most of which lack molecular analysis. In this study, next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed to identify likely pathogenic CHD2 variants in patients with epilepsy. Three likely pathogenic variants were finally identified in different patients. The seizure onset ages were from two years to six years. Patients 1 and 2 had developmental delays before epilepsy, while patient 3 had intellectual regression after the first seizure onset. The observed seizures were myoclonic, febrile, and generalized tonic-clonic, which had been controlled by different combinations of antiepileptic drugs. Two de novo (c.1809_1809+1delGGinsTT, p.? and c.3455+2_3455+3insTG, p.?) and one maternal (c.3783G>A, p.W1261*) variant were identified, which were all predicted to be pathogenic/likely pathogenic. Molecular analysis was performed in patient 1, and we detected aberrantly spliced products, proving the pathogenicity of this CHD2 variant. New cases with novel variants, along with a detailed clinical and molecular analysis, are important for a better understanding of CHD2-related epileptic encephalopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Pathogen effectors are crucial players during plant colonisation and infection. Plant resistance mostly relies on effector recognition to activate defence responses. Understanding how effector proteins escape from plant surveillance is important for plant breeding and resistance deployment.Here we examined the role of genetic diversity of the stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt)) AvrSr50 gene in determining recognition by the corresponding wheat Sr50 resistance gene. We solved the crystal structure of a natural variant of AvrSr50 and used site‐directed mutagenesis and transient expression assays to dissect the molecular mechanisms explaining gain of virulence.We report that AvrSr50 can escape recognition by Sr50 through different mechanisms including DNA insertion, stop codon loss or by amino‐acid variation involving a single substitution of the AvrSr50 surface‐exposed residue Q121. We also report structural homology of AvrSr50 to cupin superfamily members and carbohydrate‐binding modules indicating a potential role in binding sugar moieties.This study identifies key polymorphic sites present in AvrSr50 alleles from natural stem rust populations that play important roles to escape from Sr50 recognition. This constitutes an important step to better understand Pgt effector evolution and to monitor AvrSr50 variants in natural rust populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), as meticulously designed porous crystalline materials, have garnered significant interdisciplinary attention. Notably, extensive efforts have been directed towards creating fluorescent COFs by strategically integrating fluorophores, optimized conjugated structures, and exploring diverse topologies, utilizing luminescent mechanisms like aggregation-induced emission and intramolecular charge transfer. With stable covalent linkages, large specific surface areas, and abundant active sites, fluorescent COFs stand out as excellent candidates for sensing application. This review presents a thorough overview of chemical and biosensors based on fluorescent COFs, categorized by analytes, with a focus on recent advancements in sensing principles and performance. The review concludes by outlining challenges and opportunities in this field, aiming to guide material design for sensing applications and stimulate exploration into novel analyte implementations. [Display omitted] • A comprehensive overview of fluorescent COF-based chemical and biosensors is provided. • Recent advances in sensing principles and performance of fluorescent COFs are summarized. • Challenges and opportunities facing the field of COF-based fluorescent sensors are concluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the shrinkage performance of recycled aggregate thermal insulation concrete (RATIC) with added glazed hollow beads (GHB) was investigated and a time-dependent shrinkage model was proposed. Two types of recycled fine aggregate (RFA) were used to replace natural fine aggregate in RATIC: RFA from waste concrete (RFA1) and waste clay brick (RFA2). Besides, the mechanical properties and thermal insulation performance of RATIC were also studied. Results showed that the pozzolanic reaction caused by RFA2 effectively improved the mechanical properties of RATIC; 75% was the optimal replacement ratio of RATIC prepared by RFA2. Added RFA decreased the thermal conductivity of thermal insulation concrete (TIC). The total shrinkage strain of RATIC increased with the increase of the replacement ratio of RFA. The 150d total shrinkage of RATIC prepared by RFA1 was 1.46 times that of TIC and the 150d total shrinkage of RATIC prepared by RFA2 was 1.23 times. The addition of GHBs led to the increase of early total shrinkage strain of concrete. Under the combined action of the higher elastic modulus of RFA2 and the pozzolanic components contained in RFA2, the total shrinkage strain of RATIC prepared by RFA2 with the same replacement ratio was smaller than that of RATIC prepared by RFA1. For example, the final total shrinkage strain of RATIC prepared by RFA2 at 100% replacement ratio was about 18.6% less than that of RATIC prepared by RFA1. A time-dependent shrinkage model considering the influence of the elastic modulus of RFA and the addition of GHB on the total shrinkage of RATIC was proposed and validated by the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neonatal and infantile period is the age group with the highest incidence of epilepsy, in which gene variants in sodium and potassium channels are an important etiology, so the sodium channel blocker class of antiseizure medications may be effective in the treatment of early onset epilepsy. This study aimed to summarize the efficacy and tolerability of oxcarbazepine (OXC) in the treatment of focal epilepsy in neonates and infants under 3 months of age. A retrospective analysis of children with focal epilepsy onset within 3 months of age and treated with OXC in a tertiary pediatric epilepsy center in China was conducted. The efficacy, tolerability and influencing factors of OXC were evaluated. A total of 50 patients were enrolled, with a median age of epilepsy onset of 11.5 (2, 42) days. There were 32 cases of early infantile developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 10 cases of self-limited neonatal or neonatal-infantile epilepsy, and 8 cases of focal epilepsy that could not be classified as epileptic syndrome. The median age of application of OXC was 47 (31, 66) days. The median follow-up time was 16.5 (10, 25) months, with 7 deaths. Thirty-eight cases (76.0 %) were effective with OXC treatment, including 28 cases (56.0 %) achieved seizure freedom. Of the 34 cases whose pathogenesis involved genetic factors, 19 cases with sodium/ potassium channel gene variants had higher effective and seizure-free rates than those with other gene variants. The most common adverse event was transient hyponatremia. 2 cases had rash and 2 cases had abnormal electrocardiogram, 3 of which discontinued OXC. This single-center retrospective study suggests that OXC is effective and tolerable for the treatment of focal epilepsy in neonates and infants under 3 months of age. The efficacy of OXC is better in patients with sodium/ potassium channel gene variants. • Oxcarbazepine is effective and tolerable in the treatment of focal epilepsy in neonates and very young infants. • Oxcarbazepine is with higher efficiency in patients with GOF variants of sodium channel genes and LOF variants of potassium channel genes. • Adverse reactions leading to withdrawal of oxcarbazepine are skin rashes and premature ventricular rhythm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria convert ammonium and nitrite into N 2 in a chemolithoautotrophic way, meaning that they utilize CO 2 /HCO 3 solely as their carbon sources. Such autotrophic behavior limits their competitiveness with heterotrophic microorganisms in both natural environments and engineered systems. Recently, environmental metagenomic results have indicated the capability of anammox bacteria to metabolize short-chain fatty acids, further confirmed by limited experimental evidence based on highly enriched cultures. However, clear evidence is difficult to get because of the limits of traditional methodologies which rely on the availability of a pure anammox culture. In this study, we identified and quantified the uptake of acetate and propionate, on a single-cell level, by an anammox consortium that was dominated by Candidatus Jettenia asiatica (relative abundance of 96%). The consortium, growing in granular form with an average relative abundance of anammox bacteria of 96.0%, was firstly incubated in a13C-labelled acetate or propionate medium; then microtome sections were scanned by a nanometer-scale secondary ion mass spectrometer (NanoSIMS). The NanoSIMS scannings revealed that the consortium enriched acetate and propionate at a >10 times higher efficiency than bicarbonate incorporation. Our results also suggest that acetate or propionate was likely not assimilated by J. asiatica directly, but firstly oxidized to CO 2 , which then served as carbon sources for the follow-up autotrophy in J. asiatica cells. Furthermore, more [15N]ammonium was enriched by the propionate-fed consortium than the acetate-fed consortium despite that exactly the same amount of 13C atoms were supplied. Our study strongly indicates an alternative lifestyle, namely organotrophy, in addition to chemolithoautotrophy of anammox bacteria, making it more versatile than often expected. It suggests that the niche of anammox bacteria in both natural and engineered ecosystems can be much broader than usual assumed. Recognising this is important for their role in wastewater treatment and the global nitrogen turn-over rates. Image 1 • NanoSIMS reveals acetate- and propionate-engaged anammox processes. • The uptake of acetate and propionate by Jettenia asiatica was identified. • An alternative lifestyle to chemolithoautotrophy of anammox bacteria was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The use of graphene and carbon fiber as conductive phase materials for the preparation of graphene-conductive asphalt-recycled permeable concrete. • Determined the optimal conductive filler ratio and achieved a resistivity of only 3.2 Ω·m. • The effect of the required snow melting thickness and snow melting time on the efficiency of pervious asphalt slabs for snow melting are studied. Conductive-asphalt-recycled pervious concrete alleviates the urban "heat island effect" and "rain island effect" to realize the resourceful and efficient use of waste concrete and also reduces the probability of urban snow and ice disasters to ensure the safety of winter operation of asphalt pavements in cold areas. This study presents a theoretical and technical basis for ensuring the winter operational safety of asphalt pavements in cold regions. First, we compound graphene and carbon fiber as conductive phase materials and prepare graphene-conductive asphalt-recycled permeable concrete using recycled coarse aggregates with straight top and bottom holes. Then, we analyzed the electrical conductivity, road performance, and electrothermal performance of the specimens prepared using different recycled coarse aggregate substitution rates under different snowfall levels to determine their snow melting efficiency and verify their application in cold regions. The results indicate that the quality of the recycled aggregates is high, the optimal conductive filler ratio is 0.3% polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fiber and 1.5% graphene by mass of asphalt, and the resistivity of the specimens is only 3.2 Ω·m. Moreover, the conductivity and road performance of the graphene-conductive asphalt-recycled concrete decreases with an increase in the replacement rate of the recycled coarse aggregate, and the artificially prefabricated upper and lower through holes affect the conductivity of the specimens to a certain extent. Further, the graphene-conductive asphalt-recycled pervious concrete shows excellent snow melting potential, and as the required snow melting thickness and snow melting time increase, the effect of pervious asphalt slabs for snow melting efficiency becomes more significant. Moreover, when the replacement rate of the recycled concrete aggregate is within the range of 0–50%, it can be completed in 2–3 h under different snowfall levels of snow melting requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: A set of molecular markers was developed for Sr26 from comparative genomic analysis. The comparative genomic approach also enabled the identification of a previously uncharacterised wheat chromosome that carried Sr26.Abstract: Stem rust of wheat, a biotic stress caused by a fungal pathogen, continues to pose significant threats to wheat production. Considerable effort has been directed at surveillance and breeding approaches to minimize the impact of the widely virulent race of the stem rust pathogen (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, Pgt) commonly known as Ug99 (TTKSK) and other races in its lineage. The stem rust resistance gene Sr26, derived from Thinopyrum ponticum, is an excellent example of the successful utilization of a gene from a wild relative of a crop plant and remains one of the few durable sources of resistance currently effective against all known field isolates of Pgt. We explored comparative genomic analysis of the nucleotide binding leucine rich repeat (NLR) genes of the diploid D genome and bread wheat genomes to target the Sr26 region from the non-sequenced Th. ponticum genome. A chromosomal interval harboring NLR genes in the distal end of homoeologous group 6 chromosomes was used to demarcate the Sr26 locus. A set of closely linked PCR-based molecular markers was developed for Sr26. Furthermore, the comparative analysis approach enabled the unambiguous identification of a previously uncharacterised wheat chromosome that carried Sr26 in an introgressed Th. ponticum segment and was validated by fluorescent and genomic in situ hybridisation (FISH/GISH) experiments. The genetic information generated from the target interval based on this study will benefit future related studies on group 6 chromosomes of wheat, including 6Dt from Aegilops tauschii, and chromosome 6Ae#1 from Th. ponticum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The effector protein AvrP is secreted by the flax rust fungal pathogen (Melampsora lini) and recognized specifically by the flax (Linum usitatissimum) P disease resistance protein, leading to effector‐triggered immunity. To investigate the biological function of this effector and the mechanisms of specific recognition by the P resistance protein, we determined the crystal structure of AvrP. The structure reveals an elongated zinc‐finger‐like structure with a novel interleaved zinc‐binding topology. The residues responsible for zinc binding are conserved in AvrP effector variants and mutations of these motifs result in a loss of P‐mediated recognition. The first zinc‐coordinating region of the structure displays a positively charged surface and shows some limited similarities to nucleic acid‐binding and chromatin‐associated proteins. We show that the majority of the AvrP protein accumulates in the plant nucleus when transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana cells, suggesting a nuclear pathogenic function. Polymorphic residues in AvrP and its allelic variants map to the protein surface and could be associated with differences in recognition specificity. Several point mutations of residues on the non‐conserved surface patch result in a loss of recognition by P, suggesting that these residues are required for recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the way to exploring superior hydrogenation catalysts, Ir-based catalysts with a record catalytic activity (up to 40 h−1) for the hydrogenation of benzoic acid to cyclohexanecarboxylic acid under mild reaction conditions (85 °C, 0.1 MPa H2, in water) have been successfully developed. By excluding various factors, the experimental results showed that the main factor governing the activity discrepancy between the Ir-based catalysts is actually the dispersion stability of the supports (such as N-doped carbon, active carbon, SBA-15 and various metal oxides) in the reaction solution, rather than the interaction between the Ir active component and the supports. Combined with theoretical investigation from first principles, an activity volcano curve considering the competing adsorption between the reactants (H2) and solvent (H2O) for aqueous aromatic ring hydrogenation was presented for the first time. The high activity of Ir can be deduced by the proper discrepancy of dissociation energies or adsorption energies between H2 and H2O on the catalysts. This activity volcano curve provides guidance for further rational design of promising catalysts for benzoic acid or even aromatic ring hydrogenation under true reaction conditions for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Children with BECTS showed altered functional connectivity. • Abnormal functional connectivity is language-specific. • Functional connectivity correlates of IQ. Previous studies have demonstrated that language impairments are frequently observed in patients with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS). However, how BECTS affects language processing in the Chinese population remains unclear. With the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in an overt picture-naming task, the present study examined functional connectivity in 27 children with BECTS and 26 healthy controls. The results indicated that children with BECTS showed altered functional connectivity associated with speech production between the left precuneus and the right cerebellum, between the right precuneus and the bilateral thalamus and the left superior temporal gyrus, between the right cuneus and the right postcentral gyrus and the right inferior parietal lobule, and between the right cerebellum and right middle frontal gyrus. Collectively, the findings in this study demonstrate the abnormal functional connectivity basis of speech production in Chinese children with BECTS, providing clues to understanding the brain mechanisms of language-related network in patients with BECTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It is feasible to recycle waste RAC in harsh environments by carbonation treatment. • Accelerated carbonation shows excellent repair effect on the damage of RRCA. • Producing C-RRCA per ton can capture 38.3 kg CO 2 with great environmental benefits. • RRAC with C-RRCA (content ≥ 6 %) shows good chloride ion permeability resistance. The recycling of waste recycled concrete (RC) has become a focus of many scholars. But the repeatedly recycling of RC used in harsh environments is still a difficult issue, due to the poorer quality of repeatedly recycled aggregate. This paper studied the repair effect of accelerated carbonation treatment on repeatedly recycled coarse aggregate (RRCA), which was collected from the failed parent recycled concrete via coupling action of high stress and freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles. Then the properties of carbonated repeatedly recycled aggregate concrete (C-RRAC) containing 0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 % carbonated RRCA (C-RRCA) were evaluated. And the recycling potential of C-RRCA was explored, finally. The results suggested that accelerated carbonation treatment had excellent ability on repairing coupling damage of high stress and F-T in RRCA. Compared with RRCA, the apparent density of C-RRCA increased by 5.5 %, and water absorption, crushing value and soundness (mass loss) decreased by 26.6 %, 23.7 % and 19.9 %, respectively. The quality of C-RRCA was improved from type III to type II. With the growth of C-RRCA replacement rate, the water absorption, porosity, and chloride ion permeability coefficient of C-RRAC decreased by 34.4 %, 48 % and 55.6 %, respectively, and the compressive strength increased by 34.2 %. In addition, the C-RRAC could satisfied requirement of 100 years design service life of concrete structures in the E-type chloride environment, totally. According to the numerical fitting analysis, the minimum content of C-RRCA is 6 % under the condition that the compressive strength and chloride ion permeability of recycled aggregate concrete are met. It is feasible to recycle waste or even failed RC in high stress and F-T environment so as to reuse it in chloride environment, which provides a data support for effective utilization of waste RC under freeze-thaw environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing researches on the recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) mainly focus on the recycling of waste concrete used in atmospheric environment, while the ones on the recycling of waste concrete subjected to complex environments are seldom reported. Reusing waste concrete in freeze-thaw (F-T) environment relates to the multi-generation recycling system of "high performance parent concrete-waste concrete-recycled aggregates (RAs)-next generation of recycled high-performance concrete (RHPC)-next generation of RAs". The efficient operation and sustainability of such recycling system depends on not only the performances of concrete, but also environmental load and economic benefits. The optimal balance between performance, environmental load and economic benefits for recycling waste concrete in F-T environment is generally affected by the performance of parent concrete and quality of RAs in the recycling system. Based on the theories of the emergy analysis and life cycle cost of structure, a sustainable design theory model of this innovative recycling system is proposed. In this model, high performance concrete (HPC) or RHPC is chosen as parent concrete and the performances of middle and low-quality RAs are improved by carbonation treatment method to gain high-quality RAs. The feasibility of the theoretical model is verified by the emergy analysis of the data of three-generation RAC, which provides a theoretical basis for the frost resistance quantitative design of multi-generation recycled concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]