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Surface flashover is an inevitable insulation issue for basin-type insulators in gas-insulated switchgears/lines, which significantly challenges the reliability of the electrical power systems. Previous studies have indicated that polymer/semiconductor-filler composite coatings effectively improve the insulation properties; however, the influence mechanism of the coating materials on flashover has not been demonstrated from a molecular perspective. In this work, epoxy/silicon-carbide (EP/SiC) composites were coated onto an EP substrate. The energy-level structure, surface trap, surface charging, and DC flashover voltage in SF6/N2 were calculated and characterized, and the process by which the tailored molecular energy level influences surface charge transport and flashover characteristics was elucidated. The incorporating of SiC particles reduced the width of the bandgap and introduced shallow traps, which improved carrier mobility and surface conductivity. Quantitative analysis of charge transport indicated that the improved carrier mobility and reduced surface trap level accelerated the surface charge dissipation. This reduced the tangential electrical field distortion and surface charge density and further impeded gas ionization. When the SiC concentration was 15 wt%, the flashover performance improved by 20.88%. This study describes the mechanism by which the EP/SiC coating regulates the surface charge distribution to improve the surface flashover performance by establishing a relationship among the microscopic molecular energy-level structures, mesoscopic charge transport, and macroscopic discharge phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a low-cost and multifunctional sensing and monitoring device would be a meaningful endeavor. In this research, a novel spirooxazine with a two double-bonded structure, designated as (1-butyl-3,3-dimethylspiro[indoline-2,3'-naphtho[2,1-b] [1, 4]oxazine]-5,8'-diyl)bis(methylene)bis(2-methylacrylate) (SO-DB), was successfully synthesized and incorporated as a functional cross-linker into a polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate hydrogel system. Notably, this hydrogel system based on a single responsive component exhibits photo-pH dual responsiveness, which avoids the addition of multiple components that may affect other properties of the hydrogel. Particularly, in comparison to traditional surface grafting and physical blending, crosslinking with SO-DB leads to the formation of a denser and stronger three-dimensional polymer network in the stimuli-responsive hydrogel. Under UV light irradiation, spirooxazine absorbs energy and undergoes cleavage of the Cspiro-O bond, transforming the molecule from a colorless closed-ring state to an open-ringed photomerocyanine (PMC) state. Under acidic conditions, hydrophobic spirooxazine undergoes a reversible protonation open-ring reaction, forming a stable intermediate form, a protonated photomerocyanine (PMCH). Furthermore, the addition of SO-DB as a crosslinking agent to the hydrogel system increases its stability and fatigue resistance, and maintains good repeatability over 24 light cycles and 7 pH cycles without performance loss. Such approach to generate stimulus-responsive hydrogels could have great potential in both wearable biosensors and food packaging field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maximum mass of neutron stars (M TOV) plays a crucial role in understanding their equation of state (EoS). Previous studies have used the measurements for the compactness of massive pulsars and the tidal deformability of neutron stars in binary neutron star (BNS) mergers to constrain the EoS and thus the M TOV. The discovery of the most massive pulsar, PSR J0952−0607, with a mass |$\sim 2.35\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$|⁠ , has provided a valuable lower limit for M TOV. Another efficient method to constrain M TOV is by examining the type of central remnant formed after a BNS merger. Gravitational wave (GW) data can provide the total mass of the system, while accompanying electromagnetic signals can help infer the remnant type. In this study, we combine all the previous constraints and utilize the observational facts that about 24 per cent of the short gamma-ray bursts are followed by an X-ray internal plateau, which indicate that roughly this fraction of BNS mergers yield supermassive neutron stars, to perform (Markov Chain) Monte Carlo simulations. These simulations allow us to explore the probability density distribution of M TOV and other parameters related to BNS mergers. Our findings suggest that M TOV is likely around |$2.49\!-\!2.52\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$|⁠ , with an uncertainty range of approximately [ |$-0.16$|⁠ , |$0.15\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$| ] ([ |$-0.28$|⁠ , |$0.26\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$| ]) at 1σ (2σ) confidence level. Furthermore, we examine the type of merger remnants in specific events like GW170817 and GW190425 to further constrain M TOV and other relevant parameters, which can help to understand the physical processes involved in BNS mergers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most energetic explosions in the Universe, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are commonly believed to be generated by relativistic jets. Recent observational evidence suggests that the jets producing GRBs are likely to have a structured nature. Some studies have suggested that non-axisymmetric structured jets may be formed through internal non-uniform magnetic dissipation processes or the precession of the central engine. In this study, we analyze the potential characteristics of GRB afterglows within the framework of non-axisymmetric structured jets. We simplify the profile of the asymmetric jet as a step function of the azimuth angle, dividing the entire jet into individual elements. By considering specific cases, we demonstrate that the velocity, energy, and line-of-sight direction of each jet element can greatly affect the behaviour of the overall light curve. The radiative contributions from multiple elements may lead to the appearance of multiple distinct peaks or plateaus in the light curve. Furthermore, fluctuations in the rising and declining segments of each peak can be observed. These findings establish a theoretical foundation for future investigations into the structural characteristics of GRBs by leveraging GRB afterglow data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional transmission line fault diagnosis approaches ignore local structure feature information during feature extraction and cannot concentrate more attention on fault samples, which are difficult to diagnose. To figure out these issues, an enhanced feature extraction-based attention temporal convolutional network (EATCN) is developed to diagnose transmission line faults. The proposed EATCN suggests a new comprehensive feature-preserving (CFP) technique to maintain the global and local structure features of original process data during dimension reduction, where the local structure-preserving technique is incorporated into the principal component analysis model. Furthermore, to diagnose transmission line faults more effectively, a CFP-based attention TCN scheme is constructed to classify the global and local structure features of a fault snapshot dataset. To be specific, to cope with the gradient disappearance problem and improve learning capability, a skip connection attention (SCA) network is developed by incorporating a skip connection structure and two fully connected layers into the existing attention mechanism. By combining the developed SCA network with the conventional TCN's residual blocks, an EATCN-based diagnosis model is then constructed to dynamically pay attention to various imported global and local structure features. Detailed experiments on the datasets of the simulated power system are performed to test the effectiveness of the developed EATCN-based fault diagnosis scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of black hole–neutron star (BH–NS) or BH–BH systems may be accompanied by special supernova (SN) signals, due to the accretion feedback from the companion BH. The additional heating, which is mainly attributed to the Blandford–Payne mechanism, would disrupt the isotropic nature of the luminosity distribution on the surface of the SN ejecta, leading to the appearance of polarization. Here we develop a three-dimensional Monte Carlo polarization simulation code to conduct simulations for these special SNe. We find that the maximum polarization level of ∼2% occurs at the peak time of SN emission in the "close-binary" scenario, while in the "faraway-binary" case maximum polarization (i.e., ∼0.7%) is observed at a considerably later time than the peak of the SN. The magnitude of polarization is dependent on the degree of unevenness in the luminosity distribution and the angle between the line of sight and the equatorial direction. When considering the geometric distortion of SN ejecta at the same time, the magnitude of polarization may either increase (for a oblate ellipsoidal shape) or decrease (for a prolate ellipsoidal shape). The polarization signatures represent a promising auxiliary instrument to facilitate the identification of the companion-fed SNe. Moreover, comparing the event rate of these special SNe with the event rate density of LIGO-Virgo-detected BH–NS/BH systems could further help to distinguish the BH–NS/BH formation channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) seriously affects patient's life. A systematic summary of the latest epidemic trend and pathogenesis of IBD is lacking. In addition, some health benefits of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were reported, whereas a comprehensive review of its mechanisms for alleviating IBD is limited. This review systematically revealed the epidemic trend and pathogenesis of IBD, and showed the potential regulatory mode of LAB on gut health, then critically exhibited the possible mechanisms of LAB in alleviating IBD based on animal and clinical studies. Moreover, it pointed out the challenges and opportunities of LAB for IBD. Higher incidences and death rates of IBD were found in developed countries. Environmental and genetic factors are important factors for the occurrence of IBD. LAB provided numerous advantages and had great potential for improving IBD as its ability to produce bioactive metabolites, regulate gut immunity, protect the intestinal mechanical barriers, inhibit oxidative damage, and restore unbalanced gut microbiota. Then, the manuscript advice to screen effective LAB by cell models and metabolites, to control the optimal intake of LAB through dose-effect studies, to encapsulate LAB through nanoencapsulation and microencapsulation to improve utilization, to promote the understanding of LAB by investigating the mechanism, and to improve the design of the clinical study to improve the lives of patients. This will contribute to understanding the epidemic trend, pathogenesis, and treatment of IBD, and promote the development of targeted therapeutic products such as LAB. • Higher incidences and death rates of IBD were found in developed countries. • The intestinal mucosal barrier is an important target for regulating IBD. • LAB have potential benefits to human health. • LAB alleviate IBD by improving the intestinal mucosal barrier. • LAB are helpful for adjuvant therapy of IBD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radix aconiti carmichaeli is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine that has been found to be effective in treating cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. Patients with these diseases often experience a heat generation disorder, which is characterized by chilliness and can worsen the progression of the disease. This study established an in vitro screening model combining the examination of cellular mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial temperature to screen drugs with thermogenic activity. After differentiation and determination of the content of characteristic metabolites of the drug-containing serum blood components, it was found that Fuziline (FZL) is the key thermogenic property in Radix aconiti carmichaeli, responsible for its thermogenic effects with a high relative importance of 33%. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the thermogenic activity of Radix aconiti carmichaeli and FZL in vivo by assessing temperature changes in various organs, including the rectum, liver, and brown adipose tissue. Moreover, the effects of intracellular β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) agonistic effects were evaluated using transient β3-AR transfection and dual-luciferase assay systems. The molecular mechanism by which FZL promotes thermogenesis and improves mitochondrial function was investigated by verifying the β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) downstream signaling pathway. The results suggest that FZL activates β-AR nonselectively, which in turn activates the downstream cAMP-PKA signaling pathway and leads to an increase in liver glycogenolysis and triglyceride hydrolysis, accompanied by enhancing mitochondrial energy metabolism. Consequently, the liver and brown adipose tissue receive energy to generate heat. In summary, these findings provide insight into the therapeutic application of Radix aconiti carmichaeli for metabolic disorders associated with heat generation disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 adsorption is one of the promising CCS technologies, and activated coke is a solid adsorbent with excellent adsorption properties. In this study, activated coke was prepared by using bituminous coal and coconut shells activated with KOH or CaCl2 in a physically activated atmosphere and modified with ammonia. The effect of the active agent impregnation ratio on the physicochemical properties of activated coke was investigated by N2 adsorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The CO2 adsorption performance of activated coke was tested, and the effect of nitrogen-containing functional groups on CO2 adsorption was investigated by experiments and simulations. The results showed that the specific surface area of activated coke reached 629.81 m2/g at a KOH impregnation ratio of 0.5 and 610.66 m2/g at a CaCl2 impregnation ratio of 1. The maximum CO2 adsorption capacity of activated coke reached 71.70 mg/g and 90.99 mg/g for conventional power plant flue gas and oxy–fuel combustion flue gas, respectively. After ammonia modification, the CO2 adsorption capacity of activated coke was further increased. Simulations showed that pyrrole and pyrrole functional groups changed the polarity of graphene and established weak interactions with CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) whose light curves consist of repeating emission episodes with similar temporal profiles have attracted extensive attention. They are proposed to be candidates of millilensing events, although smoking gun evidence is lacking, since there are no redshift measurements and no angular offset detections for any of these candidates. Here we show that without invoking gravitational lensing, the repeating light-curve properties of these GRBs could also be interpreted under the jet precession model, as long as the detectable period in every precession circle is less than the precession period, and the precession period is close to the jet emission duration. By fitting the gamma-ray light curves of these GRBs, we suggest that the jet precession angle for these bursts should be relatively small (e.g., θ p < 5.°3), and the jet structure for these bursts are more likely Gaussian. The results suggest us to be careful when identifying millilensing GRBs. Multiband afterglow data and especially angular offset detections are essential to provide comprehensive justification for this identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GRB 221009A is a bright gamma-ray burst (GRB) with isotropic energy larger than 1054 erg. Its fairly low redshift makes it a promising candidate for high-energy neutrino detection. However, a neutrino search for this GRB reported by the IceCube collaboration yielded a null result. In this paper, we utilize the upper limit from the IceCube observation to test different GRB prompt emission models. We find that, at least for this specific burst, the dissipative photosphere model could be ruled out in a large parameter space. The internal-shock model can survive only with a large bulk motion Lorentz factor Γ, where the most stringent and conservative constraints are Γ > ∼ 450 and Γ > ∼ 200, respectively. Also, the ratio of the total dissipated energy that goes into the protons and electrons (ϵ p / ϵ e ) can be constrained with a given Γ. For Γ < 400, ϵ p / ϵ e < 10 is required. For the Internal-collision-induced Magnetic Reconnection and Turbulence (ICMART) model, the constraint from GRB 221009A is modest. Under the ICMART model, only for extreme situations when most dissipated energy deposit into protons and all accelerated protons are suitable for producing neutrinos, a slightly large bulk motion (Γ > ∼ 250) is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detailed chemical reaction mechanism of high temperature pyrolysis is constructed through the comparison of various current reaction mechanisms and sub‐models. This mechanism can better predict the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Through path analysis, the interrelationship of the growth mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is expounded. And the important contribution pathways of five‐membered/six‐membered rings at high temperatures are investigated. Through component flux analysis and sensitivity analysis, the results show that the main formation path of the external five‐membered ring is the acetylene addition of naphthalene. Its stability decreases with increasing temperature and is the main introduction route of molecular curvature during low temperature pyrolysis. However, the embedded five‐membered ring obtained by benzene cycloaddition is less affected by temperature and is the most important chemical reaction process introduced by high temperature molecular curvature. The hydrogen abstraction acetylene addition mechanism still plays a dominant role at different temperatures and is a classical pathway for the formation of six‐membered rings. By cooperating with multiple reaction mechanisms, the formation mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at different temperatures can be well predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a frontier imaging technique for biomedical applications, photoacoustic (PA) imaging has been developed rapidly. The development of new design strategies and excellent PA imaging reagents to boost PA conversion is eagerly desirable for high quality PA imaging but complicated to realize. Herein, we develop a new strategy in which PA imaging reagents with better properties can be easily optimized by polymerization. A series of new PA imaging reagents were designed and synthesized. The polymerization strategy can effectively promote the PA signal by specifically increasing the thermal-to-acoustic conversion efficiency. As these materials shared the same building units, the optimized effectiveness of polymerization strategy in terms of near-infrared light-harvesting capacity and thermal-to-acoustic conversion efficiency are discussed, rationally. The polymers with intense intramolecular motion exhibit an amplified PA signal by elevating thermal-to-acoustic conversion and its higher light-harvesting capability at redshifted region. The simultaneously strong PA signal and photothermal conversion efficiency of p-TTmB NPs enable precise PA imaging and effective photothermal therapy. This work highlights a simple and available design guideline of polymerization for amplifying the PA effect and optimizing existing materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient utilization of energy in rich fuel detonation processes and the effective control method of soot are important topics in combustion research. In this paper, we numerically study the detonation wave behavior of acetylene–air systems in rich fuel condition by using a reduced reaction mechanism. The non-stiff terms of the governing equations are solved explicitly using the gas kinetic scheme, and the stiff terms are solved implicitly. Our results show that the acetylene pyrolysis is the dominant reaction process. The oxidation reaction is exploited to initiate the reaction induction process, providing the required energy to overcome the potential energy barrier. The secondary detonation structure is due to the stable interaction of the transverse waves and the combined action of the vinyl reaction system, thus effectively improve the energy release rate and providing a powerful solution for the fuel-rich high-energy release of advanced heat engines. The area of the unreacted pocket increases with the acetylene concentration, resulting in an irregular wave-front and detonation cell. The reflected shock wave impacting on the wall induces the secondary reaction of the detonation products. The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons decreases significantly and regenerates near the wall. Our approach provides an effective tool for controlling detonation soot and the preparation of carbon particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the only known intelligent civilization, human beings are always curious about the existence of other communicating extraterrestrial intelligent civilizations (CETIs). Based on the latest astrophysical information, we carry out Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the number of possible CETIs within our Galaxy and the communication probability among them. Two poorly known parameters have a great impact on the results. One is the probability of life appearing on terrestrial planets and eventually evolving into a CETI (f c ), and the other determines at what stage of their host star’s evolution CETIs would be born (F). In order to ensure the completeness of the simulation, we consider a variety of combinations of f c and F. Our results indicate that for optimistic situations (e.g., F = 25% and f c = 0.1%), there could be 42,777 âˆ' 369 + 267 CETIs and they need to survive for 3 âˆ' 2 + 17 yr ( 2000 âˆ' 1400 + 2000 yr) to achieve one-way communication (two-way communication). In this case, human beings need to survive 0.3 âˆ' 0.298 + 0.6 Myr to receive one alien signal. For pessimistic situations (e.g., F = 75% and f c = 0.001%), only 111 âˆ' 17 + 28 CETIs could be born and they need to survive for 0.8 âˆ' 0.796 + 1.2 Myr ( 0.9 âˆ' 0.88 + 4.1 Myr) to achieve one-way communication (two-way communication). In this case, human beings need to survive 50 âˆ' 49.6 + 250 Myr to receive one signal from other CETIs. Our results may quantitatively explain why we have not detected any alien signals so far. The uncertainty of the results has been discussed in detail and would be alleviated with the further improvement of our astronomical observation ability in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) impairs patient physical activity, recognition and life quality, which is difficult to perceive but should not be underestimated. Worldwide efforts have been made to lower ID burden, however, whether it decreased equally in different regions and sexes is unclear. This study is to examine regional and sex inequalities in global ID from 1990 to 2017. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal, comparative burden-of-disease study. Disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of ID were obtained from Global Burden of Disease Report 2017. Human Development Index (HDI) data were obtained from Human Development Report 2017. Gini coefficient and the concentration index were calculated to assess the equities in global burden of ID. Results: A downward trend of global ID burden (from 569.3 (95% Uncertainty Interval [UI]: 387.8–815.6) to 403.0 (95% UI: 272.4–586.6), p < 0.001), age-adjusted DALYs per 100,000 population) but an uptrend of its inequalities (from 0.366 to 0.431, p < 0.001, Gini coefficients) was observed between 1990 and 2017. ID burden was heavier in women than that in men ([age-adjusted DALYs per 100,000 population from 742.2 to 514.3] vs [from 398.5 to 291.9]), but its inequalities were higher in men since 1990. The between-sex gap of ID burden was narrowed with higher HDI (β = − 364.11, p < 0.001). East Asia & Pacific and South Asia regions made a big stride for ID control in both sexes over decades [age-adjusted DALYs per 100,000 population from 378.7 (95% UI: 255.8–551.7) in 1990 to 138.9 (95%UI: 91.8–206.5) in 2017], while a heavy burden among Sub-Saharan African men was persistent[age-adjusted DALYs per 100,000 population, 572.5 (95% UI: 385.3–815) in 1990 and 562.6 (95% UI: 367.9–833.3) in 2017]. Conclusions: Redistributing attention and resources to help countries with low HDI, especially take care of women with low socioeconomic status (SES) and men under high ID burden may help hold back the expanding ID inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective sound energy transmission and beam manipulation through stiff and dense materials such as metal remain daunting tasks. It is in part attributable to the vast impedance mismatch between those materials and ambient media. Adding openings may facilitate to better bridge energy over, yet ineffective in many applications and may also damage the structural integrity. Here, we present an auxiliary ultrasound focusing meta-lens for stiff and dense materials. It offers significantly enhanced ultrasound transmission and focusing through a stiff metal plate yet without enforcing any through holes or openings. The simple, one-sided only meta-structures are designed and optimized by an inverse strategy based on the genetic algorithm. We numerically and experimentally demonstrate the much enhanced ultrasound transmission when the meta-lens is added to a flat brass plate, along with the capability to offer simultaneous ultrasound focusing. This design methodology can be easily extended to deal with more complex shaped target in a straightforward manner, offering a practical solution to the efficient tunneling of ultrasound energy through stiff and dense materials. With simple grating structures, the meta-lens can be easily fabricated, showing great application prospects in medical imaging and disease treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we simulate the prompt emission light curve, spectrum, and E p evolution patterns of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) within the framework of the Internal-collision-induced Magnetic Reconnection and Turbulence (ICMART) model. We show that this model can produce a Band-shaped spectrum, whose parameters (E p, α, β) could follow the typical distribution of GRB observations, as long as the magnetic field and the electron acceleration process in the emission region are under appropriate conditions. On the other hand, we show that for one ICMART event, E p evolution is always a hard-to-soft pattern. However, a GRB light curve is usually composed of multiple ICMART events that are fundamentally driven by the erratic activity of the GRB central engine. In this case, we find that if one individual broad pulse in the GRB light curve is composed of multiple ICMART events, the overall E p evolution could be disguised as an intensity-tracking pattern. Therefore, mixed E p evolution patterns can coexist in the same burst, with a variety of combined patterns. Our results support the ICMART model as a competitive model to explain the main properties of GRB prompt emission. The possible challenges faced by the ICMART model are also discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say (Cx. quinquefasciatus) and Culex pipiens form molestus Forskal (Cx. molestus) in the Culex pipiens complex group show considerable differences in host seeking, blood feeding, mating behavior and in vector competence. Blood-feeding mosquito behaviors are closely related to their olfactory gene expression and olfactory gene repertoire composition. Comparing olfactory genes between these two subspecies with significantly different blood-feeding behaviors can support further research on the molecular mechanism of the Culex pipiens complex olfactory sensory system, providing a new approach for determining candidate attractant or repellent compounds. Methods: Non-blood-feeding (NBF) and post-blood-feeding (PBF) olfactory system transcriptomes of the two subspecies were sequenced, and the biological functions of their differentially expressed genes were described by bioinformatics analysis. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was applied to validate the RNA-seq data. The roles of particular olfactory receptors in Cx. quinquefasciatus blood-feeding behaviors were evaluated by RNAi. Results: Five, 7, 24, and 3 Cx. quinquefasciatus-specific OBPs, Cx. molestus-specific OBPs, Cx. quinquefasciatus-specific ORs and Cx. molestus-specific ORs were identified, respectively. The majority of selected ORs were consistent with the predicted transcriptome sequencing results after qRT-PCR validation. OR5 was expressed only in Cx. quinquefasciatus, and OR65 was the only gene upregulated after blood feeding in Cx. molestus. The blood-feeding rates of the OR5 and OR78 dsRNA groups were significantly lower (4.3%±3.1% and 13.3%±11.5%) than those of the enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) group (64.5%±8.7%). Conclusion: Most OBPs and ORs were expressed in both subspecies but showed divergence in expression level. OR5 and OR65 might be species-specific expressed genes that regulate the olfactory behaviors of Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. molestus, respectively. The RNA interference of OR5 and OR78 could inhibit the blood-feeding behavior of Cx. quinquefasciatus, providing new targets for screening effective repellent compounds to control mosquito-borne diseases effectively and efficiently. Author summary: The transcriptomic gene expression of the olfactory tissues of Cx. quinquefasciatusthe and Cx. molestus differ significantly. The majority of ORs and OBPs are expressed in both subspecies but are clearly differentiated in expression level. OR5 and OR65 may be species-specific olfactory genes expressed in Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. molestus, respectively. After the microinjection of OR5-dsRNA and OR78-dsRNA into female Cx. quinquefasciatus adults, the blood-feeding rate was significantly lower than that of the control group, suggesting that OR5 and OR78 are associated with the blood-feeding behavior of Cx. quinquefasciatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photochromic materials with stable properties during long-term use have a very broad application prospect. Herein, five kinds of spirooxazines (SO1-SO5) with antioxidant properties were successfully synthesized by blending and covalently bonding antioxidants. Then various photochromic polyacrylate laminating adhesives (PA1-PA7) with good fatigue resistance were prepared by incorporating spirooxazines into polyacrylate. Among them, this study used 2, 6 -di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) as the main antioxidant, and tris (2, 4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite (168) as the auxiliary antioxidant. Upon ultraviolet (UV) activation, these PA films possessed superior photochromism and light responsiveness. Importantly, unlike traditional physical blending photochromic polymers, SO2 was successfully covalently bonded into PA through reaction (PA6), effectively improving the fatigue resistance and thermal stability of the PA film. Doping with BHT, it further improved the photochromic properties of the compound film (PA7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technologies enabling passive daytime radiative cooling and daylight harvesting are highly relevant for energy-efficient buildings. Despite recent progress demonstrated with passively cooling polymer coatings, however, it remains challenging to combine also a passive heat gain mechanism into a single substrate for all-round thermal management. Herein, we developed an optical wood (OW) with switchable transmittance of solar irradiation enabled by the hierarchically porous structure, ultralow absorption in solar spectrum and high infrared absorption of cellulose nanofibers. After delignification, the OW shows a high solar reflectance (94.9%) in the visible and high broadband emissivity (0.93) in the infrared region (2.5–25 μm). Owing to the exceptional mass transport of its aligned cellulose nanofibers, OW can quickly switch to a new highly transparent state following phenylethanol impregnation. The solar transmittance of optical wood (OW-II state) can reach 68.4% from 250 to 2500 nm. The switchable OW exhibits efficient radiative cooling to 4.5 °C below ambient temperature in summer (cooling power 81.4 W m−2), and daylight heating to 5.6 °C above the temperature of natural wood in winter (heating power 229.5 W m−2), suggesting its promising role as a low-cost and sustainable solution to all-season thermal management applications. • Combining phenylethanol and delignified wood was first achieved with switching between radiative cooling and solar heating. • The OW exhibits efficient radiative cooling to 4.5°C below ambient temperature in summer (cooling power = 81.4 W m−2).• • The OW exhibits daylight heating to 5.6 °C above the temperature of natural wood in winter (heating power = 229.5 W m−2). • Delignification and solvent impregnation are used to achieve cyclic thermal management properties. • The material we used — wood is obviously green, renewable and degradable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A newly born millisecond magnetar is thought to be the central engine of some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), especially those that present long-lasting X-ray plateau emissions. By solving the field equations, we find that when the rotational speed of the magnetar is approaching the breakup limit, its radius R and moment of inertia I undergo an obvious evolution as the magnetar spins down. Meanwhile, the values of R and I sensitively depend on the adoption of a neutron star (NS) equation of state (EoS) and the NS baryonic mass. With different EoSs and baryonic mass considered, the magnetic dipole radiation luminosity (Ldip) could be variant within one to two orders of magnitude. We thus suggest that when using the X-ray plateau data of GRBs to diagnose the properties of the nascent NSs, EoS and NS mass information should be invoked as simultaneously constrained parameters. On the other hand, due to the evolution of R and I, the temporal behavior of Ldip becomes more complicated. For instance, if the spin-down process is dominated by gravitational wave emission due to the NS asymmetry caused by magnetic field distortion (), the segment Ldip ∝ t0 could be followed by Ldip ∝ t−γ with γ larger than 3. This case could naturally interpret the so-called internal X-ray plateau feature shown in some GRB afterglows, which means the sharp decay following the plateau unnecessarily corresponds to the collapse of the NS. This may explain why some internal X-ray plateaus are followed by late-time central engine activity, manifested through flares and second shallow plateaus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of early bumps in some type-I superluminous supernovae (SLSNe-I) before the main peaks offers an important clue to their energy source mechanisms. In this paper, we updated an analytic magnetar-powered model for fitting the multiband light curves of double-peaked SLSNe-I. The early bump is powered by magnetar-driven shock-breakout thermal emission, and the main peak is powered by a radiative diffusion through the supernova (SN) ejecta as in the standard magnetar-powered model. Generally, the diffusive luminosity is greater than the shock-breakout luminosity at the early time, which usually makes the shock-breakout bumps unclear to observe. To obtain a clear double-peaked light curve, inefficient magnetar heating at early times is required. This model is applied to three well-observed double-peaked SLSNe-I (i.e., SN2006oz, LSQ14bdq, and DES14Xtaz). We find that a relatively massive SN ejecta with Mej ≃ 10.2–18.1M⊙ and relatively large kinetic energy of SN ejecta erg are required, and the thermalization efficiency of the magnetar heating is suppressed before tdelay, which is in the range of ≃15–43 days. The model can reproduce the observed light curves well, with a reasonable and similar set of physical parameters for both the early bump and the main peak, strengthening support for the magnetar-powered model. In the future, modeling of the double-peaked SLSNe-I will become more feasible as more events are discovered before the early bump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Monte Carlo simulations are used to study the critical adsorption behaviors of flexible polymer chains under the action of an external driving force F parallel to an attractive flat surface. The critical adsorption temperature Tc decreases linearly with increasing F, indicating that the driving force suppresses the adsorption of polymer. The conformation of polymer is also affected by the driving force. However, the effect of F is dependent on the competition between the driving force and temperature. Under strong force or at low temperature, the polymer is stretched along the direction of the force, while under weak force or at high temperature, the polymer is not stretched. When the force is comparable to the temperature, the polymer may be stretched perpendicular to the driving force, and below Tc, we observe conformational transitions from parallel to perpendicular and again to parallel by decreasing the temperature. We found that the perpendicular stretched conformation leads the polymer chain to synchronously move along the direction of the driving force. Moreover, the conformational transitions are attributed to the competition and cooperation between the driving force and the temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation aimed to examine the development mechanism of Cu–Ni–Sn compounds and analyze the mechanical properties of mixed solder (MS) joints. Results show that an intermetallic compound (IMC) layer was formed in an SAC305 solder joint prepared herein comprising (Ni, Cu) 3 Sn 4 and (Cu, Ni) 6 Sn 5 phases following the reflow process. The morphology of the (Cu, Ni) 6 Sn 5 grains was identified to be dodecahedral. Meanwhile, the IMC layer of the prepared MS joints contained only the (Cu, Ni) 6 Sn 5 phase, which exhibited a hexagonal prism morphology. The lattice characteristics of Cu 6 Sn 5 changed after Ni dissolution, forming (Cu, Ni) 6 Sn 5 crystals with an X-shaped morphology in the MS joints that exhibited a high Cu content during the aging process. After reflow, the MS joints exhibited slightly higher shear strength than the SAC305 solder joint. After aging at 165 °C for 1000 h, the shear strength of the SAC305 solder joint reduced by 21.72% compared to its value after reflow owing to the annexation of Sn grains. However, the number of Sn grains in the MS joints did not considerably decrease after aging. Further, the grain boundaries of β-Sn and (Cu, Ni) 6 Sn 5 particles contributed to the strengthening of the MS joints. The shear strength of the MS joints decreased by 11.06%–18.35% after aging. • The growth mechanism of Cu–Ni–Sn compounds at Sn–Ag–Cu/Ni solder joints was studied. • The (Cu,Ni) 6 Sn 5 grain morphology of the IMC layer of SAC305 is dodecahedral. • The lattice parameters of Cu 6 Sn 5 changed after Ni dissolution. • X-shaped (Cu,Ni) 6 Sn 5 was formed inside mixed solder joints during aging. • (Cu,Ni) 6 Sn 5 and grain boundaries were strengthened the mixed solder joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful operation of dedicated detectors has brought us valuable information for understanding the central engine and the progenitor of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). For instance, the giant X-ray and optical bumps found in some long-duration GRBs (e.g., GRBs 121027A and 111209A) imply that some extended central engine activities, such as the late X-ray flares, are likely due to the fall-back of progenitor envelope materials. Here we systemically search for long GRBs that consist of a giant X-ray or optical bump from the Swift GRB sample, and eventually we find 19 new possible candidates. The fall-back accretion model could interpret the X-ray and optical bump for all candidates within a reasonable parameter space. Six candidates showing simultaneous bump signatures in both X-ray and optical observations, which could be well fitted at the same time when scaling down the X-ray flux into optical by one order of magnitude, are consistent with the standard Fν ∝ ν1/3 synchrotron spectrum. The typical fall-back radius is distributed around 1010–1012 cm, which is consistent with the typical radius of a Wolf–Rayet star. The peak fall-back accretion rate is in the range of ∼10−11–10−4M⊙ s−1 at time ∼102–105 s, which is relatively easy to fulfill as long as the progenitor's metallicity is not too high. Combined with the sample we found, future studies of the mass supply rate for the progenitors with different mass, metallicity, and angular momentum distribution would help us to better constrain the progenitor properties of long GRBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly discovered 16.35-d period for repeating FRB 180916.J0158+65 provides an essential clue for understanding the sources and emission mechanism of repeating fast radio bursts (FRBs). Many models propose that the periodically repeating FRBs might be related to binary star systems that contain at least one neutron star (NSC-FRB system). It has been suggested that the neutron star 'combed' by the strong wind from a companion star might provide a solution. Following the binary comb model, we use the population synthesis method to study in detail the properties of the companion stars and the nature of NSC-FRB systems. Our main findings are as follows: (1) the companion star is most likely to be a B-type star; (2) the period of 16 d of FRB 180916 happens to fall in the most probable period range, which may explain why FRB 180916 was the first detected periodically repeating FRB, and we expect to observe more periodically repeating FRBs with periods around 10–30 d; and (3) the birth rate for the NSC-FRB system is large enough to fulfill the event rate requirement set by the observation of FRB 180916, which supports the proposal that the NSC-FRB can provide one significant channel for producing periodically repeating FRBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero index metamaterials have shown the ability to achieve total transmission or reflection by embedding particular defects with various effective parameters. Here, we present that tunable sound transmission can be realized by configuring a subwavelength-sized dopant inside zero index acoustic metamaterials. Despite its small spatial signature, the dopant is able to strongly interact with the acoustic waves inside the whole zero index metamaterials. It is due to the essence of the zero effective index that can homogenize the pressure field within the metamaterials. Sound transmission can thus be fully switched on and off by adjusting the dopant's surface impedance. A simple rectangular cavity with varied lengths is proposed to provide the required impedance boundary. Our model of correlating the dopant design with sound transmission performance is validated theoretically and numerically. We further demonstrate the utilization of the proposed design to effectively modulate the sound focusing effect. Such a dopant-modulated sound transmission scheme, with its simplicity and capability, has potential applications in fields like noise control and ultrasonography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) causes severe hip dysfunction. Left untreated, 80% of patients experience femoral head collapse, and 65–70% of patients require total hip arthroplasty (THA). Therefore, effective treatment is very important for ONFH. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of fibula allografting for the treatment of early-stage ONFH Methods: A systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases using "avascular necrosis" or "ischemic necrosis" or "osteonecrosis" and "femoral head" and "fibula*," and checking the references of primary articles and reviews. Two independent authors completed the study selection separately. We extracted the following details from each article: characteristics of the patients, clinical efficacy evaluation (Harris hip score [HSS], radiographic outcomes, the rate of conversation to total hip arthroplasty [THA], and adverse effects). Results: A total of 213 articles were selected from PubMed (n = 45), EMBASE (n = 77), Web of Science (n = 203), and other sources (n = 10). After checking the articles, five articles were included in the final analysis. The average age of patients involved in this review was 34.48 years. The studies investigated fibula allografts to treat ONFH in 394 hips with a mean follow-up of 49.06 months. HHS was improved from 62.73 to 86.94. Radiographic progression was found in 33.66% of hips. The failure rate of head-saving surgery by THA was 14.5%. No patients had serious postoperative complications. Limitations: The number of articles included in the study was small, and all studies were single-center studies. Most studies were retrospective with a low level of evidence. Surgical procedures were not identical with different follow-up times. Conclusion: Although there are some limitations to our approach, this systematic review supports fibula allografting as a simple, effective treatment for early-stage ONFH, which presents less postoperative complications, and has a satisfactory clinical effect. We consider it to be worthy of promotion as a therapy for ONFH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post-merger product of the first binary neutron star merger event detected in gravitational waves, GW170817, depends on neutron star equation of state (EoS) and is not well determined. We generally discuss the constraints one may pose on the maximum mass of a non-spinning neutron star, MTOV, based on the observations and some EoS-independent universal relations of rapidly spinning neutron stars. If the merger product is a black hole after a brief hypermassive neutron star (HMNS) phase, we derive at the 2σ (1σ) level. The cases for a massive neutron star (MNS), neither a supramassive neutron star (SMNS) nor even a stable neutron star (SNS) are also allowed by the data. We derive for the SMNS case and for the SNS case, at the 2σ (1σ) confidence level. In the MNS cases, we also discuss the constraints on the neutron star parameters (the dipolar magnetic field strength at the surface Bp and the ellipticity ϵ) that affect the spin down history, by considering different MNS survival times, e.g., 300 s, 1 day, and 155 days after the merger, as suggested by various observational arguments. We find that once an SMNS is formed, without violating the electromagnetic observational constraints, there always exist a set of () parameters that allow the SMNS to survive for 300 s, 1 day, 155 days, or even longer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thermal stability of Sn-0.7Cu-10B- x Ni/Co interface during reflows was studied. • Ni atoms are enriched in the SCB-0.15Ni/Co interface IMCs layer. • Ni occupy the sublattice sites of Co atoms in CoSn 3 to form stable (Ni,Co)Sn 3 phase. • The increase of Ni content can enhance the thermal stability of IMCs layer. In this paper, thermal stability of Sn-0.7Cu-10B- x Ni/Co (SCB- x Ni/Co, x = 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15, in wt.%) interface during multiple reflows was investigated. Both (Ni,Co)Sn 3 and (Cu,Ni) 6 Sn 5 phases were formed at the SCB- x Ni/Co interface after the initial reflow. With the increase of reflow number, the thermal stability of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) layer at high temperature was significantly different. The content of Ni atoms determined the thermal stability of IMCs layer in the interface reaction process. At the IMCs layer at the SCB-0.15Ni/Co interface, Ni atoms were enriched excessively, but they were present in a dispersive distribution at SCB-0.05Ni/Co and SCB-0.10Ni/Co interfaces. Ni atoms occupied sublattice sites of Co atoms in CoSn 3 phase, which could improve the high-temperature stability of IMCs layer, so the IMCs layer had the strongest thermal stability at the SCB-0.15Ni/Co interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The interface reaction on the Sn-0.7Cu-10Bi-0.15Co/Co couple was studied. • The Co diffusion was inhibited and Co concentration reduced on the interface. • The dynamic equilibrium of IMCs growth and dissolution is broken. • Driven by adsorption force, the IMCs particles reassemble and grow. The interface reaction between the Sn-0.7Cu-10Bi-0.15Co and Co substrate during multiple reflow cycles and the growth and evolution rhythm of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) were investigated. The results showed that as the reflow cycles increased in number, different growth morphologies and evolution rules of the IMCs layer including its primary growth, dissolution and secondary growth appeared. In the primary stage of multiple reflows, Co could be continuously diffused from the Co substrate to the IMCs/solder interface to provide enough Co for the growth of IMCs layer. As the IMCs layer became thick, the diffusion of Co to the interface was inhibited, and the dynamic equilibrium of IMCs growth was broken. When the growth rate was higher than the dissolution rate, the IMCs layer grew as a whole and whereas the IMCs were dissolved. And under the action of adsorption force, the dissolved IMCs particles re-aggregated and grew. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

10-hydroxy-cis-12 octadecenoic acid (10-HOE) is a type of octadecenoic acid with a hydroxyl on the C10 carbon. It is generated from linoleic acid (LA) catalyzed by linoleate hydratase in lactobacilli, which was initially named as myosin-cross-reactive antigen (MCRA). In lactobacilli, 10-HOE is the first intermediate in the production of conjugated LA (CLA). Although MCRA from bifidobacteria can generate 10-HOE, the precise role of 10-HOE in CLA production in bifidobacteria remains unknown. In the current work, 10-HOE and LA were added to the medium as the substrate both separately and synchronously to analyze their influence on CLA production. Using 10-HOE as the substrate, bifidobacteria were able to generate CLA by first converting it to LA, followed by CLA accumulation. Recombinant MCRA catalyzed the conversion of 10-HOE to LA, indicating that bifidobacterial MCRA can account for the reversible conversion between LA and 10-HOE. This is the first report to demonstrate the precise role of 10-HOE in the process of CLA production among bifidobacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An ultraviolet irradiation in vacuum technique enhancing flashover voltage of SIR. • Illustrate the influence of UVIV on the chain structure of SIR. • Establish a relation between crosslinking of SIR and surface trap parameters. • Explain the effects of surface traps on surface charging and flashover. • Clarify the UVIV improved flashover mechanisms from microscopic to macroscopic. In surface science, surface flashover, which poses a severe danger to the safe operation of modern silicone rubber (SIR)-based electrical equipment, is a continuous discharge event that happens when an intense electric field is produced along the gas-solid interface. To improve the flashover performance, the ultraviolet irradiation in vacuum (UVIV) technique is proposed to modify the SIR surface and the DC flashover threshold increases approximately 14.8 % after 6 h UVIV treatment. Then, the influence mechanisms of UVIV are investigated from microscopic molecule modification to macroscopic flashover performance: The UVIV generates high-energy photons to break C H and Si C bonds in SIR chains, and atoms, group, side chains, and free radicals in chains recombine through the thermally dynamic, causing SIR chains to crosslink. The crosslink chain structure enhances the deep trap energy around the Si O Si bond and introduces large amounts of deep traps. The increment in surface deep trap energy and density captures electrons. It establishes a high electrostatic near the cathode barrier that impedes subsequent electron injection, causing surface charge density decreases far away from the cathode. The reduced surface charges restrict the collision ionization in gas, finally increasing the DC surface flashover voltage through UVIV treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Lactobacillus plantarum- fermentation on the anti-diabetic functionality of Momordica charantia was examined using a high-fat-diet and low-dose streptozocin-induced type 2 diabetic rat model. Fermented Momordica charantia juice (FMCJ) administration mitigated the hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative stress in diabetic rats more favorably than the non-fermented counterpart. Treatments with FMCJ improved ergosterols and lysomonomethyl-phosphatidylethanolamines metabolisms more effectively. Supplement of FMCJ regulated the composition of the gut microbiota, such as increased the abundance of Bacteroides caecigallinarum , Oscillibacter ruminantium, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Prevotella loescheii , Prevotella oralis , and Prevotella melaninogenica , in diabetic rats compared with untreated diabetic rats. Moreover, FMCJ-treated diabetic rats exhibited higher concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, total short-chain fatty acids and lower pH values in colonic contents than that in non-fermented juice-treated rats. These results demonstrated that Lactobacillus plantarum -fermentation enhanced the anti-diabetic property of MC juice by favoring the regulation of gut microbiota and the production of SCFAs. Unlabelled Image • Fermentation improved serum glucose, insulin, and lipids in MCJ-treated diabetes. • Fermentation enhanced the regulatory effect of MCJ on lipid metabolism in diabetes. • Fermentation regulated the composition of gut microbiota in MCJ-treated diabetes. • Fermentation elevated colonic SCFAs contents in MCJ-treated diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from mobile phones have been classified as potentially carcinogenic. No study has investigated use of Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA), a source of RF-EMF with wide occupational use, and cancer risks.Methods: We investigated association of monthly personal radio use and risk of cancer using Cox proportional hazards regression among 48,518 police officers and staff of the Airwave Health Monitoring Study in Great Britain.Results: During median follow-up of 5.9 years, 716 incident cancer cases were identified. Among users, the median of the average monthly duration of use in the year prior to enrolment was 30.5  min (inter-quartile range 8.1, 68.1). Overall, there was no association between personal radio use and risk of all cancers (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93, 1.03). For head and neck cancers HR = 0.72 (95% CI: 0.30, 1.70) among personal radio users vs non-users, and among users it was 1.06 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.23) per doubling of minutes of personal radio use.Conclusions: With the limited follow-up to date, we found no evidence of association of personal radio use with cancer risk. Continued follow-up of the cohort is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Serine proteases have been identified as important molecules that are involved in many parasitic infections, and these molecules have also been suggested to play important roles in Trichinella spiralis infections. In the present study, the antigenic serine protease gene Ts-ADSp-7 , which was screened from a cDNA library of Trichinella spiralis Adults at 3 days post-infection (p.i.), was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The encoded protein, Ts-ADSp-7, revealed a potential trypsin-like serine protease domain but lacked substrate banding site at position 227 and protease activity. Transcription could be detected in the Adult and muscle larval stage but not in the newborn larval stage, where no fluorescent signal was detected. Western blot analysis revealed that the 3 days p.i. Adults and muscle larvae could secrete Ts-ADSp-7. Interestingly, strong fluorescent signal of Ts-ADSp-7 could be detected in the nucleoli of the enlarged muscle cell nuclei from 12 to 16 days p.i. and in the β-stichosomes of the muscle larvae from 16 to 35 days p.i.. The coagulation assay indicated that Ts-ADSp-7 could inhibit intrinsic coagulation pathway. Regarding the putatively important function of the serine protease in the helminth infection to hosts, a total of 81 serine proteases were found in the parasite and mainly comprised eight subfamilies. These subfamilies exhibited high similarity to transmembrane serine protease, coagulation factor XI, lipocalin, guanylin, ceropin, kallikrein, and plasminogen. Moreover, stage specificity was detected in several subfamilies. In summary, the putatively inactive serine protease-like protein Ts-ADSp-7 could inhibit blood coagulation, and the protein is located in the enlarged nuclei of nurse cells during capsule formation. Furthermore, members of the serine protease family in the parasite might be important molecules in the parasite-host interaction. Graphical abstract Image Highlights • The antigenic serine protease gene Ts-AdSp-7 of Trichinella spiralis adult is transcripted in adult and muscle larval stage. • Ts-AdSp-7 was detected in the enlarged nuclei of myocytes in the capsule. • Ts-AdSp-7 was the main molecule in ES products of Trichinella spiralis adults that inhibit blood coagulation. • 81 serine proteases of Trichinella spiralis exhibited diversity of structures, stage-specificity, and potential functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Fermentation affected the monosaccharide composition, Mw, and viscosity of MCP. • Fermentation improved serum glucose, insulin, and lipids in MCP-treated diabetes. • Fermentation enhanced the regulatory effect of MCP on oxidative stress in diabetes. • Fermentation improved the composition of gut microbiota in MCP-treated diabetes. • Fermentation increased colonic SCFAs in MCP-treated diabetic rats. Abstract The influence of Lactobacillus plantarum -fermentation on the structure and anti-diabetic effects of Momordica charantia polysaccharides were evaluated. High-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats were administrated with polysaccharides from fermented and non-fermented Momordica charantia (FP and NFP) for 4 weeks. Fermentation affected the physicochemical characterization, monosaccharide composition, molecular weight, and viscosity of Momordica charantia polysaccharides. Treatment with FP significantly ameliorated hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, and oxidative stress in diabetic rats compared with NFP. Moreover, the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota (Lactococcus laudensis and Prevotella loescheii) in diabetic rats were notably increased by treatment with FP in comparison to NFP. Meanwhile, FP-treated diabetic rats exhibited more colonic short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and lower pH values than that in NFP-treated rats. Overall, Lactobacillus plantarum- fermentation could enhance the anti-diabetes effects of Momordica charantia polysaccharides in rats by modifying the structure of polysaccharides to optimize gut microbiota and heighten the production of SCFAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the renormalized t - J model and self-consistent mean field theory, the doping and energy dependence of optical conductivity and effective electron number in cuprate superconductors are discussed. As the result of the presence of the pseudogap in normal state, the optical conductivity exhibits two main components from underdoping to overdoping, a narrow band peaked around zero energy and a broadband centered in the mid-infrared region which deviates the Drude formula. With increasing the doping concentration, the spectral weight of the optical conductivity suppressed strongly in underdoped region increases quickly, and the peak position of the mid-infrared band moves towards to the lower energy region, then incorporates into the narrow band centered in zero energy in the heavily overdoped region. By virtue of the integral, the effective electron number is obtained, and it increases monotonically from zero energy to mid-infrared characteristic energy with increasing energy, then shows a plateau feature when the energy is larger. In particular, the mid-infrared characteristic energy scales with the pseudogap, reflecting the presence of the mid-infrared band is the result of the pseudogap effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstracts Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to exert various potential physiological properties including anti-carcinogenic, anti-obesity, anti-cardiovascular and anti-diabetic activities, and consequently has been considered as a promising food supplement. Bacterial biosynthesis of CLA is an attractive approach for commercial production due to its high isomer-selectivity and convenient purification process. Many bacterial species have been reported to convert free linoleic acid (LA) to CLA, hitherto only the precise CLA-producing mechanisms in Propionibacterium acnes and Lactobacillus plantarum have been illustrated completely, prompting the development of recombinant technology used in CLA production. The purpose of the article is to review the bacterial CLA producers as well as the recent progress on describing the mechanism of microbial CLA-production. Furthermore, the advances and potential in the heterologous expression of CLA genetic determinants will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a metabolic disease becoming ever more common, is the result of disturbed glyco- and lipid metabolism. On the basis of their inhibitory effects against several key enzymes linked to T2DM, synthetic antidiabetic agents have been developed and used for diabetic therapy, some with adverse side effects. Fortunately, many plant non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) have been shown to possess inhibitory effects on the same T2DM-related enzymes. Through a simple literature search we found that α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase, and dipeptidyl-peptidase IV are the enzymes most often reported in the context of T2DM. In this short review we discuss published evidence for inhibition of these enzymes and the implications for treating T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epoxy nanocomposites with excellent mechanical, thermal and dielectric properties have potential applications in electrical and power electronic devices. However, due to the complex structure of the interfacial region in nanocomposites, molecular dynamic characteristics and how they relate to macro-dielectric performances still needs to be investigated. In this study, several kinds of epoxy nanocomposites were prepared. Segmental dynamics and charge migration parameters are characterised by a dielectric spectroscopy using the Havriliak–Negami equation. The DC breakdown strength of EP/TiO 2 nanocomposites was tested for temperature values between 403 and 433 K, and the influence of segmental dynamic characteristics on DC breakdown was discussed. The results indicate that EP/TiO 2 nanocomposites with optimised filler content (0.5 wt%) have lower values of dielectric relaxation strength, characteristic relaxation time and thermal expansion coefficients than other samples and that segment dynamics and charge transport processes are suppressed by nanoparticle incorporation. The DC breakdown strength of EP/TiO 2 nanocomposites with filler content initially increases and then decreases at a certain temperature, while it significantly decreases with temperature. Correlation analysis indicates that DC breakdown above the glass transition temperature is dominated by segmental dynamics rather than carrier transport. Owing to the tight bond between the nanoparticle and the epoxy matrix, segmental dynamics are impeded when the proper contents of nanoparticles is incorporated, resulting in a decrease in the free-volume fraction and an increase in DC breakdown strength. However, when the temperature rises, the free volume in the intersection of segments expands due to thermal stimulation and free electrons gain sufficient energy in the free length to trigger DC breakdown, hence DC breakdown strength decreases with temperature. [Display omitted] • Characterize the segmental dynamics of EP/TiO 2 nanocomposites. • Improve DC breakdown strength by incorporating 0.5 wt% TiO 2 nanoparticles. • Establish a relationship among breakdown strength, free volume, and chain dynamics. • Discover DC breakdown strength of EP/TiO 2 above T g is governed by segmental dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we propose a simple scheme to realize an acoustic coherent perfect absorber (CPA) and laser modes by embedding a non-Hermitian dopant in a zero index metamaterial. When the dopant is filled with a loss medium at a specific level, the sample can absorb the incident waves completely. On the other hand, when the dopant is filled with a gain medium, the sample can act as a laser oscillator to boost the incident waves. The theoretical derivation based on the scattering matrix and the numerical simulation based on the finite element method are performed and both show good agreement with each other. We also discover that the CPA and laser modes are very sensitive and can be controlled by adjusting the structure parameters or the relative phase of the incident waves. Moreover, the case that asymmetric incidences have different beam widths is considered. We envision that our work may have potential applications in designing acoustic devices, such as absorbers, transducers, and receivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a long-standing issue that the optical conductivity in normal-state of cuprate superconductors deviates the conventional Drude type marked by dependence, exhibiting two main components from underdoping to overdoping, a narrow band peaked around zero energy and a broadband centered in the mid-infrared region called mid-infrared band. Within the renormalized t- J model and self-consistent mean field theory, we discuss the doping and energy dependence of optical conductivity in cuprate superconductors. Our results show that the appearance of the pseudogap in normal state is responsible for anomalous optical conductivity, giving rise to the mid-infrared band. In particular, in analogy to the doping dependence of pseudogap, optical conductivity is also strongly doping dependent. By increasing the doping concentration, the spectral weight of the optical conductivity suppressed strongly in underdoped region increases quickly, and the peak position of the mid-infrared band moves towards to the lower energy region, then incorporates into the narrow band centered in zero energy in the heavily overdoped region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the effects of minerals inside char particles and bed materials, the process and mechanism of char combustion in a fluidized bed were studied using a Micro Fluidized Bed Reactor Analyzer. A demineralization procedure using HCl and HF was employed to remove the minerals from pyrolyzed char samples. Raman spectroscopy was used to study the carbon structure of the remaining solid char after demineralization at 500 °C, 600 °C, 700 °C and 800 °C. From the regular changes in band area ratio and full width at half maximum, it can be concluded that as pyrolysis temperature increases, the carbon structure becomes highly ordered, the plane lattice size gradually increases, and the reaction activity decreases from 0.245 s−1 to 0.138 s−1.Furthermore, minerals both within the char particle and in the external bed had marked catalytic activity on char combustion, and their combined catalysis was most notable. CaO and Fe 2 O 3 were the dominant active minerals components contributing to catalytic combustion of char in this study. The catalytic action of CaO was stronger than that of Fe 2 O 3. The activation energy of char combustion ranged from 57.70 kJ/mol to 91.53 kJ/mol, and it significantly decreased in the presence of the bed materials. • The contribution of the minerals in the char and the external material bed to the combustion of the char was studied. • The catalysis of oil shale ash in the external material bed is sometimes greater than the pyrolysis temperature. • CaO and Fe 2 O 3 have obvious catalytic activity. • CaO shows catalytic activity at both low and high temperature, whereas Fe 2 O 3 had strong activity only at low temperature. • The change of ordered carbon structure has a negative effect on the reaction rate of char combustion. • The catalytic mechanism of combustion is concluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the differences in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) levels and clinical symptoms with first-episode depression at different ages. Ninety patients (15–60 years old) diagnosed with first-episode depression were enrolled as the study group, and they were divided into early-onset, adult and late-onset groups. The age-matched control groups were healthy volunteers. Serum BDNF and GDNF concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). GraphPad Prism 9 was used for t tests, one-way ANOVAs, chi-square tests, and correlation analyses. p < 0.05 indicated significant differences. Serum BDNF and GDNF levels were lower in the whole study group and the three subgroups than in the healthy groups. Illness severity, anxiety and education were higher in the early-onset than late-onset patients. Serum BDNF levels were lower in the adult than late-onset patients. Serum BDNF levels were negatively correlated with patient CGI-SI scores. After the LSD test for multiple comparisons, the results were also significant. Low serum BDNF and GDNF levels may be involved in the pathophysiology of first-episode depression, and there were differences in serum BDNF levels at different ages, verifying that serum BDNF and GDNF could serve as potential biomarkers of depression. Depression is often conceptualised as a systemic illness with different biological mechanisms, but satisfactory explanations have not been provided thus far. The aim of our study was to investigate differences in serum BDNF and GDNF levels and their relationships with clinical symptoms in patients with first-episode depression at different ages. The potential of the neurotrophic factor hypothesis to advance the diagnosis and treatment of depression will be a very exciting new strategy for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A generic synchrotron external shock model is the widely preferred paradigm used to interpret the broadband afterglow data of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), including predicted observable signatures from a reverse shock which have been confirmed by observations. Investigations of the nature of the reverse shock emission can provide valuable insights into the intrinsic properties of the GRB ejecta. Here we briefly review the standard and the extended models of the reverse shock emission, discussing the connection between the theory and observations, including the implications of the latest observational advances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant breeding relies on creation of novel allelic combinations for desired traits. Identification and utilization of beneficial alleles, rare alleles and evolutionarily conserved genes in the germplasm (referred to as 'hidden' genes) provide an effective approach to achieve this goal. Here we show that a chemically induced null mutation in an evolutionarily conserved gene, FUWA, alters multiple important agronomic traits in rice, including panicle architecture, grain shape and grain weight. FUWA encodes an NHL domain-containing protein, with preferential expression in the root meristem, shoot apical meristem and inflorescences, where it restricts excessive cell division. Sequence analysis revealed that FUWA has undergone a bottleneck effect, and become fixed in landraces and modern cultivars during domestication and breeding. We further confirm a highly conserved role of FUWA homologs in determining panicle architecture and grain development in rice, maize and sorghum through genetic transformation. Strikingly, knockdown of the FUWA transcription level by RNA interference results in an erect panicle and increased grain size in both indica and japonica genetic backgrounds. This study illustrates an approach to create new germplasm with improved agronomic traits for crop breeding by tapping into evolutionary conserved genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]