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Carbon fiber-reinforced carbon matrix composites (C/C) will be easily oxidized in high temperatures, which will have a great negative effect on their performance. Preparing ultra-high-temperature ceramic (UHTC) coatings is a well-established method to improve the oxidation and ablation resistance of C/C. However, it is time-consuming and costly to obtain these coatings through the traditional experimental method. Motivated by the outstanding performance of machine learning (ML) algorithms in many fields, this study adopts ML algorithms based on historical experimental datasets to build a model. This model will predict the oxidation and ablation resistance, represented by mass ablation rate. For this purpose, variables that affect the mass ablation rate and are easily accessible were used as input features. That includes the chemical composition and essential physics/chemistry properties of coatings and experimental parameters. Seven different ML algorithms were used to establish the model; namely, ridge regression (Ridge), lasso regression (Lasso), kernel ridge regression (KRR), support vector regression (SVR), random forest regression (RFR), AdaBoost regression (ABR), and bagging regression (Bagging). The results show that RFR has the optimal generalization performance with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.55, mean-squared error (MSE) of 0.71 and coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.87 on the testing set. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis of the RFR model explained how these input features affect the mass ablation rate and further provided the critical features for performance prediction. The model established in this study can predict coating performance accurately and accelerate the development of UHTC-coated C/C composites from a data-driven perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A burgeoning diversified closed bipolar electrochemiluminescent (d-BPE-ECL) based on photothermal amplification biosensor via the thermophysical and photochemical properties of niobium carbide Mxene quantum dots (Nb 2 C MQDs) has been proposed. The device consists of three components: separated intermediate recognition, cathodic catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and anodic ECL response channel. Wherein, the recognition compartment was innovatively designed as a temperature-sensitive conductivity modulated interface, and the introduction of photothermal material PDA@Nb 2 C MQDs through target mediated rolling circle amplification strategy increases the interface temperature under near-infrared light radiation, thereby enhancing the BPE current and leading to the amplification of the anode ECL signal of Nb 2 C MQDs. In addition, MoS 2 @Ni–Cu–P features excellent electrocatalytic activity, which can promote HER and thus accelerate electron transfer, further amplifying the ECL signal. Therefore, a highly sensitive d-BPE-ECL biosensor for hepatitis C virus envelope protein E2 detection with a linear range from 10−4 to 10 ng/mL and detection limit of 3.3 × 10−5 ng/mL was obtained. This work is expected to provide a new direction for exploring BPE multiple signal amplification strategy and broaden the application of BPE-ECL in bioassays. [Display omitted] • A bipolar electrode electrochemiluminescence noncontact detection platform based on Nb 2 C MQDs was established. • Nb 2 C MQDs performed dual functions as ECL emitters and photothermal modulation. • Ionic liquid as conductivity modulator amplify interface temperature sensitivity of bipolar electrode. • The MoS 2 @Ni–Cu–P as cathode accelerated the hydrogen evolution reaction to realize the enhancement of the anode ECL signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unique pattern morphologies created by surface instability are a versatile platform for controlling surface functionality. In this work, simultaneous surface wrinkling and hydrophobization of organic coatings by directly reacting with diffused propyl trichlorosilane (PTCS) from gas phase was demonstrated. By varying the initial coating type, various surface morphologies were obtained, showing different interactions with water droplets, demonstrating the high tunability of the method to achieve important surface functions, including rose petal and lotus effects. It was found that reaction between the absorbed water in the coating caused the hydrolysis of PTCS and their subsequent self-condensation to form siloxanes within the coating, which contributed to the large volume expansion and eventually triggered the wrinkling process. This method is independent of the substrate type and offers a great advantage in producing functional coatings using eco-friendly, VOC-free solutions. [Display omitted] • Surface wrinkling in organic coatings via reaction with diffused trichlorosilane • Generation of wrinkles with unusually large curvature and tortuosity • Water transfer-assisted crater formation as a new way to direct wrinkle evolution • Tunable surface morphology, wettability, and functionality in one-step processing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A portable IL-6 biosensor based on multi-functional Nb 2 C MXene was fabricated. • The catalase-like property of Nb 2 C triggered H 2 O 2 decomposition. • The brilliant photothermal characteristic of Nb 2 C led enhanced pressure change. • This work provides valuable guidance for developing convenient analytical device. Herein, a sensitive and portable pressure-based biosensor was fabricated to accurately assess maternal plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels for achieving the timely monitoring of preeclampsia. Initially, IL-6 modified Nb 2 C MXene with excellent physicochemical properties as a multi-functional and powerful biological probe was introduced into the paper-based analytical device via competitive-type immunoassay. As expected, the outstanding peroxidase-like performance of Nb 2 C MXene triggered the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and produced the pressure signal. More interestingly, the gas production reaction could be considerably accelerated under the irradiation of 808 nm near-infrared light resulted from the brilliant photothermal characteristic and black-body effect of Nb 2 C MXene, which induced a significantly enhanced pressure change. Therefore, the synergistic activation and sensitization capabilities of Nb 2 C MXene on pressure signals make the sensing platform demonstrate satisfactory analytical performances for IL-6 detection including wide linear range from 10−5 to 1 ng/mL, low detection limit of 3.33 × 10−6 ng/mL, high selectivity, good recovery and acceptable repeatability. Evidently, this ingenious strategy not only enriches the application scenarios of MXene, but also provides valuable guidance for developing intelligent and convenient in situ analytical device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Distinct from most existing output/state constraints problem [13, 20, 21, 22, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36], function constraints on full states in this paper are asymmetric time-varying, and they are dependent of both state and time. This will increase the difficulty of controller design due to their partial derivatives. Moreover, our proposed control scheme has wide applications, that is, symmetric constraints, constant constraints or time-varying constraints are the special cases of function constraints. • Without growth conditions on nonlinear functions, FLS is introduced to estimate some complex terms generated by the derivation of constraint boundary, the auxiliary variable and uncertain nonlinear functions which cannot be directly handled in the constructed controller. • Different from [13, 14, 19, 26, 28, 29, 33], all the control coefficients and their boundaries are not available with respect to state-function constraints. As a consequence, the Nussbaum function involved in [38, 39, 40, 41, 42] is borrowed in the process of controller design. • By incorporating BLF method into the backstepping idea, a novel adaptive fuzzy controller is devised such that the tracking error ultimately changes near the origin and all signals of the closed-loop system are bounded. Meanwhile, full states remain in the asymmetric function-constraint set. The adaptive control problem is studied for nonlinear systems with asymmetric full state-function constraints, unknown control gains, input delay and external disturbances in this paper. Firstly, the effect of input time delay is removed by using Laplace transform and Pade approximation. Then, Nussbaum function and fuzzy logic system (FLS) are recommended to dispose unknown control gains and unknown nonlinear functions, respectively. By incorporating barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) into the backstepping idea, a new adaptive fuzzy controller is presented such that the tracking error finally fluctuates near the origin and all signals of the closed-loop system are bounded. Meanwhile, the asymmetric full state-function constraints do not violate. Ultimately, a numerical example is used to explain the feasibility of the devised control scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-energy continuous wave (CW) laser ablation can cause severe damage to structural materials in an extremely short time, which generates considerable concern in terms of material safety. For the purpose of reducing or even eliminating such laser-induced damage, a novel composite coating consisting of a boron-modified phenolic formaldehyde resin incorporating ZrC and SiC has been designed and prepared. The experimental results reveal that ZrC and SiC are rapidly oxidized to ZrO 2 and SiO 2 respectively, leading to the formation of a white ceramic layer consisting of ZrO 2 particles and melted SiO 2. After ablation at 1000 W/cm2 for 50 s, elemental analysis indicates that no Si can be found in the central ablation zone because of gasification. A relatively compact ZrO 2 layer is formed through the sintering of adjacent ZrO 2 particles, which effectively improves the reflectivity of the coating from 7.3% (before ablation) to 63.5% (after ablation). The high reflectivity greatly reduces the absorption of laser energy. In addition, no obvious ablation defects are observed in the composite coating. The excellent anti-laser ablation performance of the coating makes it a promising system for protecting a material against the effects of long-term CW laser ablation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3Δ9,12,15) and γ-linolenic acid \ (GLA, 18:3Δ6,9,12) are important trienoic fatty acids, which are beneficial for human health in their own right, or as precursors for the biosynthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. ALA and GLA in seed oil are synthesized from linoleic acid (LA, 18:2Δ9,12) by the microsomal ω-3 fatty acid desaturase (FAD3) and Δ6 desaturase (D6D), respectively. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seed oil composition was modified by transforming with an FAD3 gene from Brassica napus and a D6D gene from Echium plantagineum , resulting in approximately 30% ALA and 20% GLA, respectively. The total oil content in transgenic seeds remained unaltered relative to parental seeds. Despite the use of a seed-specific promoter for transgene expression, low levels of GLA and increased levels of ALA were found in non-seed cotton tissues. At low temperature, the germinating cottonseeds containing the linolenic acid isomers elongated faster than the untransformed controls. ALA-producing lines also showed higher photosynthetic rates at cooler temperature and better fiber quality compared to both untransformed controls and GLA-producing lines. The oxidative stability of the novel cottonseed oils was assessed, providing guidance for potential food, pharmaceutical and industrial applications of these oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: With the rapid development of the Internet, e-health interventions are becoming popular and are showing positive impacts. Cancer affects not only patients but also their caregivers, leading to a recognition that cancer patient-caregiver dyads cope with cancer as a unit rather than as individuals. The objectives of this paper are to explore web-based interventions for cancer patient-caregiver dyads coping with cancer from the aspects of intervention content, delivery format, outcome measurements, and outcomes and to provide recommendations on developing patient-caregiver dyadic web-based interventions for future research.Methods: Literature focused on cancer patient-caregiver dyadic web-based interventions, published in English or Chinese from the launch of five databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBase, Medline, Science Citation Index Expanded) to April 2019, was systematically searched. Manual searching through the references of full-text articles was also conducted.Results: Of a total of 812 articles, 17 articles met the inclusion criteria. The content of these web-based dyadic interventions mainly included information support, communication and support, skills-building, and psycho-education. These web-based interventions reported a small to large positive impact on patients with cancer and their caregivers in terms of physical health (d = 0.17-0.75), psychological health (d = 0.04-0.80), overall quality of life (d = 0.20-0.68), and dyadic relationship (d = 0.30-0.95).Conclusions: Web-based dyadic interventions can be designed for tailored content, which benefits both patients and their caregivers. Future research on cancer patient-caregiver web-based interventions should be conducted in diverse cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the role of quality control chart and Westgard multi-rule method in the interior quality control of tacrolimus therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and their application in TDM-related pharmaceutical care. Methods: The quality control results of tacrolimus were collected from June to August, 2018, in Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University. The quality control charts of Levey Jennings and Z score were drawn respectively. Then, they were evaluated by Westgard multi-rule method and were used to interpret a particular case of tacrolimus TDM. Results: Based on Levey Jennings and Z score quality control charts as well as the application of Westgard multi-rule method, it was found that the interior quality control of tacrolimus TDM in the hospital from June to August, 2018 met the required qualification, and the tacrolimus TDM results were accurate and reliable. Conclusion; Rational use of interior quality control charts and Westgard multi-rule method helps to reduce errors of tacrolimus TDM, ensure accuracy and reliability, enhance trust of doctors and patients in TDM results, and furthermore could provide solid evidence for more rational use of drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faced with the challenge of ultra–high–temperature ablation problems, multi-synergy and efficient energy dissipation method is a feasible solution. A structure-modified silica-graphite composite with multiple copper layers was prepared by hot-pressing. The ablation behaviors and mechanisms were analyzed in detail. During the laser ablation, the designed composite exhibits excellent ablation resistance with a multi-synergy effects strategy. As ablation time increases, the ablation mechanisms change from reflection and horizontal thermal diffusion to reaction and horizontal thermal diffusion and vertical heat insulation. Moreover, the gap generated by the reaction volume contraction can further insulate against heat transfer in the vertical direction. The rate of increase of back-surface temperature can be further reduced. This multi-synergy effects strategy and designed structure accompanied with appropriate materials can greatly enhance the ablation resistance ability of the composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A multiple sensitization ECL system was constructed using a synergistic photothermal amplification strategy. • Tetraethylene pentamine was first reported as a coreactant reagent for Ru bpy 3 2 + . • Nanomaterial-anchored Ru bpy 3 2 + and TEPA as the self-enhanced signal probe. A synergistic amplified electrochemiluminescent (ECL) immunoassay was constructed by utilizing an efficiently self-enhanced signal tag and sensing substrate with satisfactory photothermal property for thyroglobulin ultrasensitive detection. Concretely, tetraethylene pentamine (TEPA) was first attempted for the coreactant of Ru bpy 3 2 + , and mesoporous silica nanostars with large surface area and porous structure was designed as a support material to integrate Ru bpy 3 2 + and TEPA, forming a self-enhanced signal tag to improve ECL efficiency. Additionally, magnetic beads with excellent photothermal effect was used as ideal sensing substrate to obtain the further amplified ECL signal because of the accelerated electron diffusion and reaction process induced by increased electrode temperature under the near-infrared laser irradiation. With the self-enhanced and photothermal synergistic amplified strategy, the proposed ECL sensor showed a wide linear range from 10−5 to 10 ng/mL with a low detection limit of 3.3 × 10−6 ng/mL. This work will provide a promising avenue to simplify the synthesis of self-enhanced ECL emitter complexes, and pave the avenue for achieving synergistic enhancement of ECL signals by incorporating probe substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the finite-time adaptive tracking control for a class of nonlinear systems, which are affected by unknown control coefficients, full state constraints of asymmetric functions and actuator fault. In order to overcome the full-state-function constraints, we present the barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) dependent of state and time. Meanwhile, the Nussbaum function and the radial basis function (RBF) neural networks (NNs) are introduced to handle unknown control coefficients and unknown nonlinear functions respectively. Then, a fault-tolerant tracking controller is established to pledge that all states do not violate the asymmetric state-function-constraint boundary, all signals of the closed-loop system are bounded, and the tracking error converges to a small neighborhood including the origin within finite time. The feasibility of the proposed control scheme is illustrated by two examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We explored the application of highly reflective glaze as anti-laser material firstly. • Clinker could generate dense glaze like structures during laser irradiation. • The precipitated crystals in the glaze have excellent reflectivity performance. The rapid development and wide application of laser technology, together with the gradually increased output energy of lasers, pose a great threat to safety. Therefore, the demand for anti-laser is urgent. Highly reflective coatings can dissipate large incident laser energy through reflection. In this paper, zirconium silicate (ZrSiO 4) highly reflective ceramic glaze coatings were prepared on both ceramic and metal substrates. Their macro and micro structure evolution treated at different heating temperatures were studied. The reflectivity of the coatings was on average 85% over the range of 400 and 2400 nm and reaches a maximum of 94% at 1064 nm. The coatings on ceramic substrates showed good stability when irradiated under high-energy continuous laser with power density of 2000 W/cm2 for 60 s. On the other hand, the coatings prepared on metal substrates formed a layer of dense, glaze-like material after high-energy continuous laser irradiation with power density of 500 W/cm2 for 10 s or 1000 W/cm2 for 5 s, demonstrating good anti-laser performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract During the fabrication of functional high-endothermic-enthalpy graphite/SiO 2 composite coating, the oxidation and vaporization of raw materials have become serious issues in hyperthermal preparation environment. In this study, these issues were addressed through densification and modification of the feedstock powder. Then, the corresponding coating was prepared by optimized plasma-spraying parameters. By investigating the modified feedstock powder and the resulting splats and coatings by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy, we realized an optimized composite feedstock powder preparation process and an ideal coating structure. The compactness of the powder reached its optimum after treating at 1400 °C for 2 h. After heat treatment densification and Ni shell covering processes, the modified powder exhibited good oxidation resistance, vaporization resistance, and spreading performance during plasma spraying. Thus, a pure and dense composite coating was prepared. Positive laser resistance performance was observed during the initial laser ablation test, which proved that this modified graphite/SiO 2 coating has good application potential in the laser protection field. Moreover, this study provides an experimental basis and a feasible method for difficult-to-spray composite coatings' preparation, such as graphite/SiO 2 composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current studies have focused more on the relationships among estrogen, androgen, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The main aim of the study was to investigate whether the variation of FSH is associated with metabolic factors in postmenopausal women. A total of 561 postmenopausal women aged 39-69 years were selected. FSH, estradiol, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profiles were analyzed. Compared with women in the highest FSH quartile, women in the lowest quartile had higher body mass index (BMI), fast blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), blood pressure, and serum estradiol (E2) but lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (all p < .05). Compared with women in the groups of normal levels of MetS biomarkers, women in the abnormal groups had lower FSH (all p < .01). Increased quartiles of FSH were associated with significantly decreased rates of abnormal levels of metabolic factors (all p < .05). High FSH levels had protective effects regarding SBP, DBP, and FBG, with odds ratios (ORs) of 0.84 (95% CI 0.76-0.92, p < .001), 0.85 (95% CI 0.78-0.94, p < .01), 0.90 (95% CI 0.83-0.98, p < .01), respectively. Low FSH appears to be a risk factor of all domains of MetS in postmenopausal women, which merits further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root‐knot nematodes (RKNs) inflict extensive damage to global agricultural production. Intercropping has been identified as a viable agricultural tool for combating RKNs, but the mechanisms by which intercropped plants modulate RKN parasitism are still not well understood. Here, we focus on the cucumber–amaranth intercropping system. We used a range of approaches, including the attraction assay, in vitro RNA interference (RNAi), untargeted metabolomics, and hairy root transformation, to unveil the mechanisms by which weak host plants regulate Meloidogyne incognita chemotaxis towards host plants and control infection. Amaranth roots showed a direct repellence to M. incognita through disrupting its chemotaxis. The in vitro RNAi assay demonstrated that the Mi‐flp‐1 and Mi‐flp‐18 genes (encoding FMRFamide‐like peptides) regulated M. incognita chemotaxis towards cucumber and controlled infection. Moreover, M. incognita infection stimulated cucumber and amaranth to accumulate distinct metabolites in both root tissues and rhizosphere soils. In particular, naringenin and salicin, enriched specifically in amaranth rhizosphere soils, inhibited the expression of Mi‐flp‐1 and Mi‐flp‐18. In addition, overexpression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of pantothenic acid and phloretin, both of which were enriched specifically in amaranth root tissues, delayed M. incognita development in cucumber hairy roots. Together, our results reveal that both the distinct host status and disruption of chemotaxis contribute to M. incognita inhibition in intercropping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to investigate the attitudes and knowledge of medical personnel on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in treating perimenopausal syndrome. A total of 2580 self-administered questionnaire forms were sent to medical care professionals and the responses collected were anonymous. The questionnaire included information on levels of awareness, benefits, and potential risks of HRT. A total of 2158 questionnaire forms were filled and used for statistical analysis; 61.4% of gynecologists believed that it was necessary to conduct HRT in suitable patients, 89.1% would like to recommend the therapy to patients with perimenopausal syndrome, and 83.2% of the participants were willing to take training on HRT. The mean score of awareness of HRT among the respondents was 3.14 out of 10. The main reason for them to avoid HRT was fear of cancer (43.8%), weight gain (30.4%), addiction (21.9%), and thrombus (3.9%). These results indicated that a large proportion of gynecologists are willing to recommend HRT to a woman complaining of climacteric disorders. However, awareness of HRT among the health workers (including gynecologists) is relatively low. They are also worried about the risks. A more concerted effort should be made to better disseminate information on HRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the highly specific interaction between concanavalin A (Con A) and glucose (Glu), a competitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor was constructed for ultrasensitive detection of Con A. Nanocomposites with excellent electrocatalytic and photothermal properties were obtained by covalently bonding zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QDs) to vanadium carbide MXene (V2C MXene) surfaces. The modification of ZnO QDs hinders the aggregation of V2C MXene and increases the catalytic activity of oxygen reduction reaction, thus amplifying the luminol cathodic emission. In addition, the excellent photothermal performance of the V2C MXene-ZnO QDs can convert light energy into heat energy under the irradiation of 808 nm near infrared laser, thus increasing the temperature of the reaction system and accelerating the electron transfer process to realize the synergistic amplified homogeneous ECL system. This innovative work not only enriches the fundamental research on multifunctional MXene nanomaterials for biosensing, but also provides an effective strategy for ECL signal amplification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphite and SiO 2 composite was prepared by hot-pressing at 1300 °C for 3 h under a uniaxial load of 20 MPa. The ablation behavior of graphite and SiO 2 composite by high-intensity continuous laser was investigated. The X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, 3D-super-depth-digital microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and reflectivity were used to characterize the sample. The results show that under low laser power (500 W/cm 2 ), and no obvious damage appears, while just the irradiation area changes from grey to white and the reflectivity increases. With the laser power increasing, some heat-absorbing chemical reactions between graphite and SiO 2 occurred on the surface, and SiC was produced, which can increase the energy consumption of the surface and thus reduce the absorbed laser energy of the interior. Moreover, at the center of irradiation area, the formation of columnar structure graphite is beneficial to obstruct laser energy conduction from surface to interior material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of the study reported in this paper is to synthesis curcumin, which was reported to possess broad pharmacological effects and excellent dyeing properties, via Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction catalysed by an efficient and green solid base catalyst, KF/Al2O3.Design/methodology/approach A series of catalysts with different KF loadings and varying calcination temperatures had been prepared, characterised by Brunauer–Emmett–Taller surface area, temperature-programmed desorption with CO2 using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and tested in the Claisen–Schmidt condensation reaction. The effects of different reaction parameters such as temperature, the amount of catalyst, reactant ratio and time on the synthesis of curcumin were examined. The possibility of recycling the catalyst was also investigated in detail. Moreover, the reaction mechanism and the role of KF/Al2O3 in the synthetic process were discussed.Findings The study provides an efficient and green solid base catalyst, KF/Al2O3, and 64.3 per cent yield of curcumin was obtained under the optimum reaction conditions. Experimental results indicate that the third reused catalyst could retain part of the catalytic activity, and the regenerated one could be reused with reasonable catalytic activity. Besides, K3AlF6 was proposed as the active site of the catalyst for the reaction by the analysis of the characterization results of KF/Al2O3.Originality/value KF/Al2O3 was found to be an efficient catalyst for catalytic synthesis of curcumin and could be easily recycled several times. This information may be useful for further research and practical applications of curcumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence and distribution of 14 organophosphate (OP) triesters and 5 diesters were investigated in sludge from eight sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Beijing, China, during 2008–2014. Tri(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) and tri-m-cresyl phosphate (TCrP) were the predominant triesters with the average concentration of 233–137 μg/kg, respectively. Also, the polar and hydrophilic trimethyl phosphate (TMP) and triethyl phosphate (TEP) were detected in 19% and 74% of sludge samples, respectively. Three of five diesters were detected in sludge samples, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (DEHP) revealed the highest average concentration of 96.0 μg/kg, followed by diphenyl phosphate (DPhP, 18.0 μg/kg). The levels of OP triesters in sludge varied with the compositions of the sewage and treatment capacity of STPs, as well as the adjacent sources. In comparison with that in the former years, relatively higher concentration of total OP triesters in sludge was observed in 2014, which is consistent with the rapid growth in consumption of these chemicals in China. Finally, environmental risk assessment indicated potential harmful effects of OP triesters on soil microorganisms after sludge landfill or fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence and distribution of 13 target compounds, including eight parabens, four chlorinated parabens and p -hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA), were detected in surface water samples at 35 sampling sites in the Beijing River system, China. The surface water samples were collected from the main rivers and lakes in the urban area monthly from July 2013 to June 2014 (except the frozen period). Laboratory analyses revealed that parabens were ubiquitous in the surface water of Beijing. PHBA was the predominant compound in the surface water samples, with the average concentration of 239 ng L − 1 , followed by the total amount of chlorinated parabens (average 50.1 ng/L) and parabens (average 44.3 ng/L). It is noteworthy that octylparaben with longer chain was firstly detected in the surface water. Significant difference was observed for paraben concentrations from different sampling sites, and the highest level of parabens was found in the Xiaotaihou River, which was mainly due to the untreated sewage discharge. Seasonal variation of target compounds in the urban surface water was also studied, and parabens exhibited a different temporal variation from chlorinated derivatives. A combination of factors including high residual chlorine level and water temperature as well as intense ultraviolet radiation might enhance the persistence of chlorinated parabens in chlorinated water during the wet season. Risk assessment showed that parabens and their chlorinated derivatives are not likely to produce biological effects on aquatic ecosystems at current levels in the surface water of Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Aneuploidy causes changes in gene expression and phenotypes in all organisms studied. A previous study in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana showed that aneuploidy-generated phenotypic changes can be inherited to euploid progenies and implicated an epigenetic underpinning of the heritable variations. • Based on an analysis by amplified fragment length polymorphism and methylation-sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphism markers, we found that although genetic changes at the nucleotide sequence level were negligible, extensive changes in cytosine DNA methylation patterns occurred in all studied homeologous group 1 whole-chromosome aneuploid lines of common wheat (Triticum aestivum), with monosomic 1A showing the greatest amount of methylation changes. The changed methylation patterns were inherited by euploid progenies derived from the aneuploid parents. The aneuploidy-induced DNA methylation alterations and their heritability were verified at selected loci by bisulfite sequencing. • Our data have provided empirical evidence supporting earlier suggestions that heritability of aneuploidy-generated, but aneuploidy-independent, phenotypic variations may have an epigenetic basis. • That at least one type of aneuploidy - monosomic 1A - was able to cause significant epigenetic divergence of the aneuploid plants and their euploid progenies also lends support to recent suggestions that aneuploidy may have played an important and protracted role in polyploid genome evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite La 1− x Sr x TiO 3+ δ oxide is used in various industrial applications because of its excellent physical and chemical properties, which beneficially affects the lifetime and performance of electronic and optical devices. This study illustrates the effects of the spray parameters on particles molten state, microstructure, and optical reflectivity from room temperature up to 1000 °C of single-phase La 1− x Sr x TiO 3+ δ ( x = 0.1) coating deposited by atmospheric plasma spraying technique. The phase structure and surface morphology of the coating were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis, respectively, whereas the optical property coating was characterized by UV–visible–near infrared spectroscopy. Results show that plasma spray parameters significantly influenced the microstructure and optical performance of the La 1− x Sr x TiO 3+ δ coating, and oxygen deficiency during spraying considerably reduced the coating reflectivity. A high-reflectivity coating can be prepared by adopting optimized plasma spraying parameters and subsequent heat treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of organophosphate esters in water samples by mixed-mode liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry coupled with solid-phase extraction is developed. Using seven alkyl phosphates, three chlorinated alkyl phosphates, and four aryl phosphates as the targets, the developed method was systematically evaluated on the basis of the influence of the solid-phase extraction cartridge, eluting solvent, sample-loading volume, mobile phase condition, and the separation of reversed-phase chromatography and mixed-mode liquid chromatography. Under the optimal conditions, these organophosphate esters can be extracted by ENVI-18 cartridge, eluted by 6 mL of 25% dichloromethane in acetonitrile, and then qualified and quantified by mixed-mode liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction-monitoring mode. The application of mixed-mode liquid chromatography endows the separation with reasonable retention for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic organophosphate esters regardless of their polarity, which is hardly achieved by reversed-phase chromatography. Good linearity (from 0.9877 to 0.9969), low quantification limits (1-35 ng/L after extraction of 100 mL of river water), and acceptable recovery rates (58.6-116.2%, with the relative standard deviation <18.0%) were obtained. Finally, the established method was used for analyzing surface water samples, and the good applicability of this method was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizosphere microorganisms in soils are important for plant growth. However, the importance of rhizosphere microorganisms is still underestimated since many microorganisms associated with plant roots cannot be cultured and since the microbial diversity in the rhizosphere can be influenced by several factors, such as the cropping history, biogeography, and agricultural practice. Here, we characterized the rhizosphere bacterial diversity of cucumber plants grown in soils covering a wide range of cucumber cropping histories and environmental conditions by using pyrosequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. We also tested the effects of compost addition and/or bacterial inoculation on the bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere. We identified an average of approximately 8,883 reads per sample, corresponding to around 4,993 molecular operational taxonomic units per sample. The Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum in almost all soils. The abundances of the phyla Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia varied among the samples, and together with Proteobacteria, these phyla were the six most abundant phyla in almost all analyzed samples. Analyzing all the sample libraries together, the predominant genera found were Flavobacterium, Ohtaekwangia, Opitutus, Gp6, Steroidobacter, and Acidovorax. Overall, compost and microbial amendments increased shoot biomass when compared to untreated soils. However, compost addition decreased the bacterial α-diversity in most soils (but for three soils compost increased diversity), and no statistical effect of microbial amendment on the bacterial α-diversity was found. Moreover, soil amendments did not significantly influence the bacterial β-diversity. Soil organic content appeared more important than compost and microbial amendments in shaping the structure of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere of cucumber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Dielectric barrier discharge is effect technology to degrade 17β-Estradiol. [•] The plasma was created at the gas–liquid interface in pulsed mode. [•] The key parameters have significant effect on the degradation of 17β-Estradiol. [•] The degradation process can be described by the first order kinetic model. [•] A possible degradation mechanism of 17β-Estradiol were proposed tentatively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A large number of parameters is often required to describe optical dispersion laws, and it is only through the use of an appropriate global optimization procedure that an accurate thin-film index determination can be achieved. In this paper, we propose to investigate the respective performances of three different optimization algorithms, namely Simulated Annealing, Genetic Algorithm and Clustering Global Optimization and compare results with a commercial software dedicated to thin-film index determination. This study is restricted to the single-layer thin-film index determination of transparent and absorbing materials. It includes the theoretical study of simulated reflection and transmission spectra, and the experimental characterization of TaO and Si layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of laser technology, laser-related materials have been widely studied. Both laser stealth coatings and laser protective coatings are currently the focus of attention. However, less research has been done on laser stealth and protective integrated coatings. In this paper, plasma-sprayed Y 2 O 3 –Ti 3 AlC 2 coatings were prepared with low-power (LP) and high-power (HP) parameters, and their laser stealth and laser protection properties were characterized. The LP coating and HP coating appeared to have lower reflectivity at 1064 nm because a low-reflectivity second phase and many loose flocs on the surface are introduced, which indicates excellent laser stealth performance. When irradiated by a laser, the LP coating exhibited excellent laser protection ability, and its reflectivity increased after irradiation because Ti 3 AlC 2 oxidized and decomposed and densely arranged small particles formed on the surface. The LP coating perfectly protected the 500-W laser irradiation for 20 s. In addition, the laser damage threshold of the LP coating was 5.599 s at 1000-W laser irradiation, which indicates that the LP Y 2 O 3 –Ti 3 AlC 2 coating is a potential material with laser stealth and laser protection integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Water and nitrogen in soil have a great effect on growth and productivity of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), which is widely cultivated with high economic benefit in solar greenhouse in North China. To understand the effects of alternate furrow irrigation (AFI) and nitrogen levels on migration of water and nitrogen in soil, accumulation of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3 −-N) and root growth of cucumber in the solar greenhouse, cucumber variety Jinyu No. 5 was fertilized with different amounts of nitrogen [no nitrogen (CK2), optimal nitrogen (AINo), conventional nitrogen (AINc)] under AFI. Conventional furrow irrigation and conventional nitrogen were used as the control (CK1). The results indicated that soil NO3 −-N content, electrical conductivity values in the 0–20cm, 20–40cm and 40–60cm layers, and soil residual NO3 −-N content at the end of the two growing seasons were all increased as the nitrogen fertilizer increased under AFI, especially in the top layer of soil (0–20cm). However, compared with conventional furrow irrigation, AFI with optimized fertilizer led to increases of root length, root biomass yield, root–shoot ratio of the cucumber crop and economic coefficient (K). AFI also greatly improved both biomass and economic yield water use efficiency. Altogether, AFI with optimized fertilizer (AINo) was a good irrigation practice in the solar greenhouse for increasing the use efficiency of both water and fertilizer, reducing salinity accumulation in the top soil, and maintaining economic yield of cucumber crop. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The occurrence, removal efficiency and seasonal variation of 22 antibiotics, including eight fluoroquinolones, nine sulfonamides and five macrolides, were investigated in eight sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Beijing, China. A total of 14 antibiotics were detected in wastewater samples, with the maximum concentration being 3.1μgL−1 in the influent samples and 1.2μgL−1 in the effluent samples. The most frequently detected antibiotics were ofloxacin, norfloxacin, sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin and roxithromycin; of these, the concentration of ofloxacin was the highest in most of the influent and effluent samples. Eighteen antibiotics were detected in the sludge samples, with concentrations ranging from 1.0×10−1 to 2.1×104 μgkg−1. The dominant antibiotics found in the sludge samples were the fluoroquinolones, with ofloxacin having the highest concentration in all the sludge samples. The antibiotics could not be removed completely by the STPs, and the mean removal efficiency ranged from −34 to 72%. Of all the antibiotics, the fluoroquinolones were removed comparatively more efficiently, probably due to their adsorption to sludge. Seasonal variation of the antibiotics in the sludge samples was also studied. The concentrations of antibiotics in winter were higher than in spring and autumn. Since the total levels of the fluoroquinolones detected in the influent samples were lower than the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of 8.0μgL−1, the residues of these antibiotics would be unlikely to have adverse effects on microorganisms involved in sewage treatment processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We here determine the optical properties of different single-layer thin films containing Ta2O5, Si, Indium Tin Oxide and Au in the ultraviolet–visible and near infrared ranges. More specifically, we deduce the complex refractive index and thickness from the reflectance and transmittance measured using a spectrophotometer at normal incidence. One major difficulty is to find an appropriate selection of dispersion laws for various types of material (dielectric, semiconductors, and metals). For this purpose, a number of models have been investigated from a theoretical point of view in consideration of the Kramers–Kronig relation. These include the Forouhi–Bloomer model, combined with the modified Drude, Tauc–Lorentz and multiple-oscillator Tauc–Lorentz models. A global optimization procedure had to be employed because of the large number of parameters (from 3 to 15) required to describe the optical dispersion laws. The calculated reflectance and transmittance are in good agreement with experimental data and the complex refractive index is consistent with our knowledge and that already reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Carbon fiber epoxy resin (CFRP), as space satellite antenna materials with great application prospects to transmit and receive signals. It is necessary to ensure its normal operation through surface thermal control, which can be achieved by covering with a flexible film. Polyimide (PI) films modified by ceramics particle have been widely studied in the field of flexible devices. However, there is no research on multifunctional PI films with thermal control and wave transmission multifunctional performance. In this study, ZrO 2 modified flexible PI films (PI/ZrO 2 films) which can be covered on the surface of satellite antenna was prepared, and its solar absorption and wave transmission properties were studied. Prepared films exhibited excellent heat resistance and mechanical properties, and the addition of ZrO 2 increased their thermal stability. The solar absorption of films with 50% ZrO 2 is the lowest for 0.30, and the highest reflectance can reach to 88.4%. In addition, the maximum dielectric constant of the films was less than 2.5, and the dielectric loss was less than 0.03, showing an excellent wave transmission performance. The films can be covered on the satellite antenna, and also can be used for other space environment or wave transmission requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low temperature stress poses a significant challenge to the productivity of horticultural crops. The dynamic expression of cold‐responsive genes plays a crucial role in plant cold tolerance. While NAC transcription factors have been extensively studied in plant growth and development, their involvement in regulating plant cold tolerance remains poorly understood. In this study, we focused on the identification and characterisation of SlNAC3 as the most rapid and robust responsive gene in tomato under low temperature conditions. Manipulating SlNAC3 through overexpression or silencing resulted in reduced or enhanced cold tolerance, respectively. Surprisingly, we discovered a negative correlation between the expression of CBF and cold tolerance in the SlNAC3 transgenic lines. These findings suggest that SlNAC3 regulates tomato cold tolerance likely through a CBF‐independent pathway. Furthermore, we conducted additional investigations to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying SINAC3‐mediated cold tolerance in tomatoes. Our results revealed that SlNAC3 controls the transcription of ethylene biosynthetic genes, thereby bursting ethylene release in response to cold stress. Indeed, the silencing of these genes led to an augmentation in cold tolerance. This discovery provides valuable insights into the regulatory pathways involved in ethylene‐mediated cold tolerance in tomatoes, offering potential strategies for developing innovative approaches to enhance cold stress resilience in this economically important crop species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Novel two-dimensional MXene with unique optical and electrical properties has become a new focus in the field of sensing. In particular, their metallic conductivity, good biocompatibility and high anchoring ability to biomaterials make them attractive candidates. Despite such remarkable properties, there are certain limitations, such as low oxidative stability. MXene-Metal interactions are an effective strategy to maintain the long-term stability of MXene, while also improving the electrochemical activity and optical properties. Herein, a series of MXene/Ag nanocomposites including Ti 3 C 2 /Ag, Nb 2 C/Ag and V 2 C/Ag were designed based on the surface chemistry characteristics of MXene, where MXene served as the substrate for in-situ growth of silver nanoparticles via self-reduction of Ag(NH 3) 2 +. The results showed that V 2 C MXene has the strongest self-reducing ability due to its multiple variable valence states, larger interlayer space and more reactive groups. Moreover, V 2 C/Ag exhibited unexpected oxygen reduction reaction catalytic activity and photothermal performance. In view of which, an electrochemiluminescence-photothermal (ECL-photothermal) immunosensor was developed using V 2 C/Ag as ECL anchor and photothermal reagent for ultrasensitive detection of Lipolysis stimulated lipoprotein receptor. This work not only provides a simple and effective synthesis method of MXene supported metal nanocomposites, but also provides more inspirations for exploring the efficient biosensing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently lacking research to explore the correlation between inflammatory markers and the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. This study is a retrospective study and included patients with advanced gastric cancer who receiving ICIs combined with chemotherapy from January 2020 to December 2022. We analysed the relationship between systemic inflammatory markers and the efficacy of ICIs combined chemotherapy and constructed a clinical prediction model. A nomogram was constructed based on the results of the bidirectional stepwise regression model. A total of 197 patients were enrolled in the training group, with a median follow‐up period of time 26 months. Kaplan Meier analysis showed that the median OS of patients with low systemic immune‐inflammatory index (SII) and low platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was superior to those with high SII and PLR. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that SII, NLR, PLR, and N stage as independent prognostic factors for OS. Adding SII to the conventional model improved the predictive ability of the 12‐month OS. A total of 95 patients were included in the validation group, and external validation of the SII‐based nomogram showed favourable predictive performance. Baseline SII, PLR, and N stage may serve as independent predictive factors for survival outcomes in advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing ICIs combined with chemotherapy. The SII‐based nomogram can provide intuitive and accurate prognosis prediction of individual patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both rs1801133 mutation on Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma (PPARG) have been associated with plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and hypertension. However, their role in H-type hypertension remains unclear. In this study, we first tested the association between rs1801133 genotypes and Hcy level in H-type hypertension using clinical profiles collected from 203 patients before and after the treatment using enalapril maleate and folic acid tablets (EMFAT). Then, we constructed a literature-based pathway analysis to explore the role of the rs1801133-PPARG signaling pathway in H-type hypertension and its treatment. Although presented similar blood pressure, the patients with TT genotype of rs1801133 were much younger (p value <0.05) and significantly higher in Hcy levels ( x 2 = 6.11 and p < 0.005) than that in the CC and CT genotype groups. Pathway analysis showed that T-allele of rs1801133 could inhibit the expression of PPARG through the downregulation of folate levels and upregulation of Hcy levels, which increased the risk of hypertension and hyperhomocysteinemia. Treatment using EMFAT led to similarly decreased Hcy levels for all patients with different genotypes ( x 2 = 86.00 ; p < 0.36), which may occur partially through the activation of PPARG. Moreover, even after treatment, the patients with TT genotype still presented significantly higher Hcy levels ( x 2 = 7.87 and p < 0.001). Our results supported that rs1801133 mutation could play a role in H-type hypertension, which might be partially through the downregulation of PPARG. Moreover, PPARG might also be involved in treating H-type hypertension using EMFAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, π-conjugated polypyrene network (CPN) was synthesized by Suzuki-Miyaura polycondensation that exhibited high electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emission. The cross-linked network structure eliminates the aggregation-induced quenching effect of pyrene through steric hindrance. On the one hand, the extended π-conjugated backbone facilitated the acceleration of charge transfer and improved the stability of free radicals in the redox process, and on the other hand, by virtue of the porous structure, the coreactant and electrolyte could diffuse rapidly and fully penetrate into the polymer interior, thus effectively improving the ECL efficiency of the CPN. In view of the excellent ECL performance, an ECL biosensor for the ultrasensitive detection of the lung cancer biomarker microRNA let-7a was constructed by using CPN as a novel ECL probe in combination with a target-triggered rolling circle amplification strategy that exhibited a linear range from 1 aM to 10 pM with a low detection limit of 0.33 aM. In a word, this work provides an effective method to improve the ECL strength of polymers and opens up new prospects for developing new ECL emitters. • The high emission properties of conjugated polypyrene network were explored to construct an ECL biosensor. • Combination with RCA improved the sensitivity and specificity of miRNA let-7a detection. • This work presented a novel strategy to overcome the ACQ effect of PAHs. • This work provided a promising ECL platform for bioanalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy-induced fatigue reduces not only the quality of life of patients but also effect their recurrence-free survival rate. Although electroacupuncture can relieve fatigue, it has limited affect on some patients. Therefore, appropriate biomarkers are needed to help screen patients who can benefit from electroacupuncture treatment of fatigue. We conducted this study to explore the predictive ability of SNPs on the efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of fatigue in patients with breast cancer after adjuvant chemotherapy. Our study included breast cancer patients with fatigue after receiving paclitaxel and/or anthracycline based adjuvant chemotherapy. The patients were divided into the electroacupuncture group and the control group. The electroacupuncture treatment group received adjuvant chemotherapy and electroacupuncture treatment, while the control group only received adjuvant chemotherapy, and then compared the fatigue relief degree of two groups. In addition, we used NCBI dbSNP and PharmGKB databases to select fatigue related genes and their SNPs. We collected peripheral blood from the included patients for SNPs typing, and recorded the efficacy of electroacupuncture to analyzed the correlation between different SNPs and therapeutic efficacy. The side effects of electroacupuncture treatment were also recorded. 76 patients in the electroacupuncture group and 48 patients in the control group were enrolled. In the electroacupuncture group, 63 patients (82.9%) experienced moderate to severe fatigue (BFI score > 3). After electroacupuncture treatment, the number of patients with a BFI score of > 3 was 46 (60.5%). Therefore, the fatigue symptoms of 26.9% patients were significantly improved (P < 0.05). In the control group, which did not receive electroacupuncture treatment, 40 of 48 patients had a BFI score of > 3. Following the same observation time used in the electroacupuncture group, 36 patients had a BFI score of > 3 points. Thus, fatigue was not significantly relieved in the control group (83.3% vs. 75.0%, P > 0.05). We included 56 patients in our analysis of the correlation between SNPs and electroacupuncture treatment effects. We divided the patients into an effective group and ineffective group according to therapeutic effects. Our results indicated that the effective rate of electroacupuncture treatment with IL1A rs3783550 AC and CC genotypes was higher than that with other genotypes (AC: 84.6%, CC: 81.8%, AA: 33.0%, P < 0.05). Similarly, the effective rate of electroacupuncture treatment with HTR1A rs6295 GG and CC genotypes was higher than that with other genotypes (GG: 63.0%, CC: 55.6%, GC: 18.2%, P < 0.05). However, no other genotypes were related to the effect of electroacupuncture treatment on fatigue. Our result showed that electroacupuncture has therapeutic effect on fatigue after adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and the side effects are tolerable. In addition, IL1A rs3763550 and HTR1A rss6295 can predict the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on fatigue after adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer, which helps to better screen patients who can benefit from electroacupuncture treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of carbon fiber epoxy resin composite (CFRP) in the aerospace industry is limited by the laser treatment, because of the poor oxidation resistance and anti-laser ablation performance of the composites. The application of a coating on components is an effective method to improve their laser ablation resistance. The nitride coatings, consisting of Si3N4, AlN, BN, and an epoxy resin, were applied onto the CFRP using brush painting. When irradiating at 100 W/cm2 for 5 s, the damage has occurred on the coating with Si3N4 and AlN, and the BN coating remains original morphology at 100 W/cm2 for 20 s. With the power density has increased to 200 W/cm2, the serious ablation damage occurs in the BN coating irradiated for 10 s. Due to the heat absorption of resin pyrolysis and the low thermal conductivity of CFRP, the highest back-surface temperature is only 75 °C. The laser protection performance of CFRP should mainly improved by increasing the reflectivity of the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Cobalt-based catalysts are one of the preferred materials for effective activation of hydrogen peroxide, and metal element doping and active site dispersion are effective methods to enhance their catalytic activity. In this work, manganese-doped cobalt silicate@diatomite composites with enhanced photo-Fenton-like oxidation performance were prepared and used for degradation of methyl orange (MO) dyes. Experiments showed that manganese doping increased the specific surface area of the samples and decreased the band gap energy of the materials. Moreover, the samples doped with manganese elements had better photo-Fenton-like properties. The degradation of methyl orange by Co0.25MnSi@DE/H 2 O 2 -UV reached more than 95%. In addition, density-functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the Mn-doped samples were more prone to activate H 2 O 2 than non-manganese-doped samples, and the synergistic effect from using a bimetallic catalyst increased the photo-Fenton oxidation activity in the system. ESR spectroscopy and bursting tests indicated that the possible degradation mechanism consisted of hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals generated by the synergistic effect of cobalt ions and manganese under UV radiation. This study thus presents a feasible idea for the preparation of cobalt-based photo-Fenton catalysts that also provides a basis for understanding the catalytic mechanism analysis of other types of bimetallic catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ba 2– x Sr x SmTaO 6 has attracted great attention due to its excellent dielectric performance and abundant crystal structures. Recent studies find the reflectance of Sr–doped Ba 2 SmTaO 6 (Ba 2– x Sr x SmTaO 6) significantly changes with the transition between its varied phases, indicating the potential applications in optical sensors. However, its phase transition temperature (T t) and the preparation process are not clear. In this work, the T t between the cubic and tetragonal phases of Ba 2 SmTaO 6 was firstly confirmed to be 533 K using self–consistent phonon theory (SCP). Combining the experimental and calculation methods, we found that the cubic and tetragonal phases of Ba 2– x Sr x SmTaO 6 can be obtained by reacting at 1200 °C for 8 h and 1200 °C for 96 h with a low cooling rate of 2 °C/min, using the solid state reaction method, respectively. With characterizing the reflectance of different phase structures Ba 2– x Sr x SmTaO 6 , the largest reflectance difference between the tetragonal phase and cubic phase was found to be 59.22% at a wavelength of 1064 nm (wavelength commonly used in laser emitters) when x is 1.5, indicating it has great potential using in the optical sensor area. This research provides a guidance for the preparation of complex perovskite with different crystal structures of similar A 2 BB'O 6 structure materials and is of great significance for the application of Ba 2– x Sr x SmTaO 6 in optical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C/SiC composite has been widely used as a high‐temperature material for engineering components due to its excellent thermal properties. Facing the rapid development and threat of high‐energy laser, study on the ablation resistance under laser irradiation is strongly required. In this work, a continuous high‐energy laser was applied to explore the laser ablation behavior and mechanism of C/SiC composite. From the results, C/SiC composite shows different morphologies when irradiated at various laser power densities for 500 and 700 W/cm2. We divided the ablation area into three regions; the central, transition, and edge regions, where the formation of SiO2, SiO, and the breakage of carbon fiber were observed. The generated highly reflective SiO2 layer reduces the absorption of laser energy, which is beneficial to lower the back‐surface temperature and reduce the damage of composite. In addition, we put forward the ablation physical models and ablation mechanisms irradiated at different power densities. The work provides a basis for the laser ablation resistance of C/SiC composites under different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stocking density is a key factor affecting the health of aquatic organisms in industrial aquaponics. In this study, Micropterus salmoides were assigned to one of two density groups (160 and 120 fish/m3) for 40 days. The growth performance, intestinal morphology, enzyme activity, and microbial communities were compared between the two density groups. The findings revealed that the higher stocking density condition exhibited an increased weight gain rate and specific growth rate during the developmental phase of the juvenile M. salmoides. Moreover, remarkable increases in villi height, villi width, and muscular layer thickness were observed. Additionally, this elevated stocking density condition also enhanced the activity of intestinal antioxidant enzymes, consequently improving the structural integrity of the intestine and augmenting the digestive and absorptive capacities of the juvenile M. salmoides. With regard to the intestinal microbial community, the dominant phyla detected were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. However, under the higher stocking density condition, there was a significant upsurge in the abundance of Mycoplasma. Consequently, it is advised to mitigate the abundance of such pathogenic microorganisms through the regulation of the water environment during the aquacultural process. Drawing from recent investigations on the impact of various factors on the intestinal microbiota of M. salmoides, it can be deduced that the composition of the intestinal microbiota is closely intertwined with factors including aquaculture practices, feed composition, water environment, and developmental stage. In summary, the aforementioned research findings possess noteworthy implications for the control of stocking density in the cultivation of juvenile M. salmoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-laser damage has become a major concern because of the rapid evolution of high power continuous-wave laser technology. While phenolic matrix composite coatings exhibit good anti-laser property, they show low reflectivity during laser irradiation, resulting in high energy absorption. A novel composite coating that consists of Al(OH)3 and nano-copper fillers with phenolic resin matrix has been designed to solve the low reflectivity problem. X-ray diffraction reveals that Al2O3 particles generate on the surface of the coating during laser irradiation because of the dehydration reaction of Al(OH)3. The endothermic effect of this dehydration reaction and the transpiration of nano-copper particles have a significant cooling effect on the coating. The reflectivity of coating is monitored in real time during laser irradiation. It is confirmed that the reflectivity gradually increases with the accumulation of Al2O3 particles. According to the temperature of back-surface substrates, the improved reflectivity does lead to a better anti-laser property of the coating. The laser ablation behavior of the composite coating was studied in detail through different laser parameters. The results show that both laser power density and irradiation time have effect on the micro-morphologies and reflectivity of the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a wide range of application requirements of high-infrared-reflectance materials, like laser, marine, aerospace industry and military. Although metal materials have high reflectivity, oxidation and low melting point limit its applications. Ceramic materials have high melting point and good thermal stability, but their wide band gap always leads to low reflectivity. Thus, we designed a series of high-reflectance ceramics with perovskite structure based on first-principles calculations. The results show that in small doping conditions, the Fermi level appears in the conduction band and the electronic state near Fermi level increased, which contributes greatly to the improvement of reflectivity. The calculation reflectivity of Ba0.5Sr1.5SmTaO6 and Ba1.5Sr0.5SmTaO6 is up to above 99%, which is comparable to metal materials. Through this study, we provide a series of potential materials that can replace metal materials service at higher temperature and atmospheric environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]