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With the continuous development and maturity of the fifth-generation mobile network (5G) technology, the demand for multimedia service access is increasing, which poses huge challenges to the connectivity, caching capabilities, and computing capabilities of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Therefore, edge computing, as the key to achieving efficient edge data preprocessing and improving data access and response, is considered to be a hot technology for the next generation of mobile networks and future development. However, the current imbalance of computing resources on the edge, the lack of collaboration between nodes, and the lack of adaptability of optimization methods in a dynamic environment pose challenges to the development of edge computing. To strengthen the collaboration of nodes in the edge environment, we designed a collaborative task offloading and resource scheduling framework, including macro base station collaborative space (ξ BSCS) and micro base station collaborative space (μ BSCS) to balance computing and caching resources in heterogeneous wireless networks. In addition, we formulate the collaborative computing offloading problem as a Markov Decision Process (MDP), and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) agents are deployed to make task offloading and resource allocation decisions. The DRL agent is deployed in each base station (BS) in a decentralized manner, observing the available computing and caching resources on the edge side, and designing an optimal resource allocation strategy for task offloading to maximize the benefits of the long-term system. The data-driven simulation results verify that the proposed scheme is effective in reducing the overall consumption of the system, maximizing the long-term benefits of edge resource allocation, and improving the success rate of task completion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor stability and difficult uptake of natural polysaccharides have been the main problems in their application. The purpose of this study was to optimize the preparation conditions of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharides liposomes (PCPL) and to investigate the immune enhancement activity of PCPL in vitro and in vivo, with a view to discovering new ways of natural polysaccharide application. The optimal preparation conditions of PCPL were as follows: the adding amount of Tween 80 of 0.5 %, the ultrasound time of 2 min and the ultrasound times of once. Under these conditions, the entrapment efficiency, drug loading rate and particle size of PCPL were 38.033 %±0.050, 2.172 %±0.003 and 146 nm, which indicated that PCPL with small particle size could be prepared by the reverse-phase evaporation method. Furthermore, PCPL promoted proliferation, phagocytosis, and secretion of nitric oxide and related cytokines in RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, PCPL improved spleen and thymus indices, increased the number or proportion of red blood cells, platelets, and lymphocytes in the blood, and ameliorated spleen and thymus atrophy in immunosuppressed mice. This study provides a new idea for applying Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharides (PCP) and references for studying other polysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Inoculation increase the temperature, reduce the pH value and improve the GI. • Inoculants reduce the release of NH 3 and H 2 S. • Inoculants reduces the content of nitrogen compounds and increases the content of sulfur compounds. • There is correlation between physicochemical indexes and nitrogen and sulfur compounds in SS. In this study, high temperature thermotolerant nitrifying bacteria (TNB) and high temperature thermotolerant sulfide oxidizing bacteria (TSOB) were obtained from compost samples and inoculated into sewage sludge (SS) compost. The effects of inoculation on physical and chemical parameters, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide release, nitrogen form and sulfur compound content change and physical-chemical properties during nitrogen and sulfur conversion were studied. The results showed that inoculation of TNB and TSOB increased the temperature, pH, OM degradation, C/N ratio and germination index (GI) of compost. Compared with the control treatment (CK), the addition of inoculants reduced the release of NH 3 and H 2 S, and transformed them into nitrogen and sulfur compounds, the hydrolysis of polymeric ferrous sulfate was promoted, resulting in relatively high content of sulfite and sulfate. At the same time, the physical and chemical properties of SS have a strong correlation with nitrogen and sulfur compounds. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The given text provides information on the synthesis and characterization of various indole compounds. The compounds described include derivatives of indole with different substituents, such as chlorine, bromine, nitro, trifluoromethyl, and carboxylate groups. The document includes data such as melting points, NMR spectra, and mass spectrometry results for each compound. These compounds may have potential applications in various fields, such as pharmaceuticals or materials science. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Plasma biomarkers have emerged as a promising approach for characterizing pathophysiology in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Objective: We aimed to characterize plasma biomarkers for AD and neurodegeneration across the AD clinical continuum, and to assess their ability to differentiate between AD, MCI, and normal cognition. Methods: This population-based study engaged 1,446 rural-dwelling older adults (age ≥60 years, 61.0% women) derived from MIND-China; of these, 402 were defined with MCI and 142 with AD. Plasma amyloid-β (Aβ), total tau (t-tau), and neurofilament light chain (NfL) concentrations were analyzed using the Simoa platform. Data were analyzed using linear and logistic regression models, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Across the AD clinical spectrum, plasma Aβ40 and NfL increased, whereas Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio decreased. Plasma t-tau was higher in people with AD dementia than those with MCI or normal cognition. Plasma NfL outperformed other biomarkers in differentiating AD from normal cognition (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.75), but all plasma biomarkers performed poorly to distinguish MCI from normal cognition (AUC <0.60). Plasma NfL in combination with age, sex, education, and APOE genotype yielded the AUC of 0.87 for differentiating between AD and normal cognition, 0.79 between AD and MCI, and 0.64 between MCI and normal cognition. Conclusions: In this Chinese population, AD plasma biomarkers vary by age, sex, and APOE genotype. Plasma Aβ, t-tau, and NfL differ across the AD clinical spectrum, and plasma NfL appears to be superior to plasma Aβ and t-tau for defining the clinical spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An iron‐catalyzed trifluoromethylation of indole‐tethered alkene with Togni's reagent to construct CF3‐containing spiro[indole‐3,3′‐pyrrolidine] and tetrahydrocarbazole derivatives under mild and convenient conditions has been disclosed. Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction proceed through a CF3 radical addition to the alkene, followed by sequential dearomatizing spiocyclization of the indole and oxidation to afford the spiro[indole‐3,3′‐pyrrolidine] derivatives. Meanwhile, when the substituent at the C2 position of the indole is hydrogen, the CF3‐containing tetrahydrocarbazole is obtained through trifluoromethylation of alkene and cyclization of indole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current knowledge of Alzheimer's disease (AD) etiology and effective therapy remains limited. Thus, the identification of biomarkers is crucial to improve the detection and treatment of patients with AD. Using robust rank aggregation method to analyze the microarray data from Gene Expression Omnibus database, we identified 1138 differentially expressed genes in AD. We then explored 13 hub genes by weighted gene co-expression network analysis, least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator, and logistic regression in the training dataset. The detection model, which composed of CD163, CDC42SE1, CECR6, CSF1R, CYP27A1, EIF4E3, H2AFJ, IFIT2, IL10RA, KIAA1324, PSTPIP1, SLA , and TBC1D2 genes, along with APOE gene, showed that the area under the curve for detecting AD was 0.821 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.782–0.861) and the model was validated in ADNI dataset (area under the curve = 0.776; 95%CI = 0.686–0.865). Notably, the 13 genes in the model were highly enriched in immune function. These findings have implications for the detection and therapeutic target of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The confusing use of Polygonati Rhizoma (PR) and Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma (POR) poses an unpredictable threat to the health of consumers. Sensitive, nondestructive, rapid, and multicomponent techniques for their detection are sought after. In this study, a low-cost, short-wavelength (898–1668 nm), and handheld near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer combined with multivariate spectral evaluation methods was used to establish calibration models for identifying PR and POR. NIR spectra were treated with a standard normal variate (SNV) before performing chemometric approaches. Then principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were tested for calibration model development. The PCA results showed that spectral differences existed between the two herbs. However, the evaluation techniques could not separate them with the required accuracy. The PLS-DA calibration model, on the other hand, could separate the two herbs according to their spectral information with the prediction accuracy of >98.3%. Thus, it has been proven that a rapid, green, and low-cost method to support on-site and practical inspection through a handheld NIR instrument has been established to identify PR and POR and ensure the safety of the clinical medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the capability for fin regeneration in zebrafish larvae with the mechanism of FCS isolated from green and purple sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus (G-FCS and P-FCS). HPGPC determined that mean molecular weight of purified G-FCS and P-FCS is 19.5 and 18.8 kDa, and the FT-IR spectrum displayed similar characteristic absorption peaks. AFM images presented that G-FCS was shown as a spherical polysaccharide, while P-FCS molecules exhibited elongated chains. For the regeneration examination, FCS increased the regrowth area of the larval fin at 48 hours postamputation with enhanced locomotor behaviors, and the transcription levels of regeneration-related genes (Wnt10a, msx1b, fgf20a, bmp2a, bmp4, and igf2b) were upregulated. Moreover, FCS promoted the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors (iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ) and TLR/NF-κB pathway-related genes (TLR3, TLR4a, NF-κb, and MyD88). The Western blot analyses of TNF-α and IL-1β supported that FCS enhanced immune response. ELISA results indicated that FCSs increased the contents of NO, CAT, SOD, and G6PD. Summarily, the present results suggested that FCS was a potential regeneration enhancer by elevating immunomodulatory and antioxidative processes in zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop agar derivatives with good antibacterial activity and decreased gelling and melting temperatures, two agar–gentamycin conjugates with 9.20% and 12.68% gentamicin immobilized were fabricated by oxidation, Schiff base and reduction reaction, and characterized by a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and an elemental analyzer. It was found that the modifications changed the intermolecular interactions, leading to decreased gelling and melting temperatures for the oxidized agar and slightly increased gelling and melting temperatures for agar–gentamycin conjugates. Further studies of antimicrobial properties showed that the two agar–gentamycin conjugates possessed good antibacterial activity, which was positively correlated with the dosage and the immobilization rate of gentamicin. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of agar–gentamycin conjugates with higher immobilization rates of gentamicin against Escherichia coli were 39.1 μg/mL and 156.2 μg/mL, respectively, and the MICs and MBCs against Staphylococcus aureus were 19.5 μg/mL and 78.1 μg/mL, respectively. A biofilm test indicated that certain concentrations of agar–gentamycin conjugate could effectively inhibit the biofilm formation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In summary, agar–gentamycin conjugates possess good antibacterial activities and may be applied as a new kind of antibacterial material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The ox-mtDNA levels were elevated in maternal fish and offspring under DBP exposure. • The mtDNA in the high energy-consuming tissues are more susceptible. • The ox-mtDNA of D-loop region in blood exhibit a prompt response. • DBP exposure impaired the offspring fitness associated with maternal ox-mtDNA damage. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a widely-used plasticizer that is dispersed in various environments, causing significant pollution and health risks. The toxic mechanism of DBP has been discussed in recent years, while the susceptibility of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to DBP exposure and the resulting damage remain unclear. In this study, maternal zebrafish were exposed to environmentally relevant concentration of DBP for 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Results showed that DBP exposure impaired health status, leading to the reduced body length and weight, condition factor, hepatosomatic index, and gonadosomatic index. Furthermore, DBP exposure induced oxidative stress and ATP deficiency in the gill and liver in a time-dependent manner. The oxidized mtDNA (ox-mtDNA) levels in the D-loop and ND1 regions were assessed in different tissues, showing distinct response patterns. The high energy-consuming tissues such as heart, brain, gill, and liver exhibited elevated susceptibility to mitochondrial damage, with a rapid increase in ox-mtDNA levels in the short term. Conversely, in muscle, ovary, eggs, and offspring, ox-mtDNA gradually accumulated over the exposure period. Notably, the ox-mtDNA levels in the D-loop region of blood showed a prompt response to DBP exposure, making it convenient for evaluation. Additionally, decreased hatching rates, increased mortality, lipoperoxidation, and depressed swimming performance were observed in offspring following maternal DBP exposure, suggesting the inherited impairments of maternal mtDNA. These findings highlight the potential for ox-mtDNA to serve as a convenient biomarker for environmental contamination, aiding in ecological risk assessment and forewarning systems in aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heritability, the proportion of phenotypic variance explained by genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in unrelated individuals, is an important measure of the genetic contribution to human diseases and plays a critical role in studying the genetic architecture of human diseases. Linear mixed model (LMM) has been widely used for SNP heritability estimation, where variance component parameters are commonly estimated by using a restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method. REML is an iterative optimization algorithm, which is computationally intensive when applied to large-scale datasets (e.g. UK Biobank). To facilitate the heritability analysis of large-scale genetic datasets, we develop a fast approach, minimum norm quadratic unbiased estimator (MINQUE) with batch training, to estimate variance components from LMM (LMM.MNQ.BCH). In LMM.MNQ.BCH, the parameters are estimated by MINQUE, which has a closed-form solution for fast computation and has no convergence issue. Batch training has also been adopted in LMM.MNQ.BCH to accelerate the computation for large-scale genetic datasets. Through simulations and real data analysis, we demonstrate that LMM.MNQ.BCH is much faster than two existing approaches, GCTA and BOLT-REML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automatic classification is one of the hot topics in the field of information retrieval and natural language processing, but it still faces many problems to be solved. The classic automated classification approach has a sluggish classification speed and poor processing accuracy for resources with a large quantity of data. Based on this, an automated classification approach based on the integration of various neural networks for fundamental nursing teaching materials was presented. The automatic classification method of teaching resources was designed by extracting the characteristics of teaching resources, establishing the model of multiple neural network integration, and designing the classification index of basic nursing teaching resources. The experimental findings suggest that this technique has higher chi-square test parameters and better outcomes for the automated classification of large instructional materials than the classic rough set automatic classification method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing nitrogen (N2) adsorption and activation sites on semiconductors is the key to achieving efficient N2 photofixation. Herein, Mn–W dual‐metal sites on WO3 are designed toward efficient N2 photoreduction via controlled Mn doping. Impressively, the optimal 2.3% Mn‐doped WO3 (Mn‐WO3) exhibits a remarkable ammonia (NH3) production rate of 425 µmol gcat.−1 h−1, representing the best catalytic performance among the ever‐reported tungsten oxide‐based photocatalysts for N2 fixation. Quasi in situ synchrotron radiation X‐ray spectroscopy directly identifies that the Mn–W dual‐metal sites can enhance the polarization of the adsorbed N2, which is beneficial to the N2 activation. Further theoretical calculations reveal that the increased polarization is originated from the electron back‐donation into the antibonding orbitals of the adsorbed N2, hence lowering the reaction energy barrier toward the N2 photofixation. The concept of dual sites construction for inert molecule activation offers a powerful platform toward rational design of highly efficient catalysts for nitrogen fixation and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing nitrogen (N2) adsorption and activation sites on semiconductors is the key to achieving efficient N2 photofixation. Herein, Mn–W dual‐metal sites on WO3 are designed toward efficient N2 photoreduction via controlled Mn doping. Impressively, the optimal 2.3% Mn‐doped WO3 (Mn‐WO3) exhibits a remarkable ammonia (NH3) production rate of 425 µmol gcat.−1 h−1, representing the best catalytic performance among the ever‐reported tungsten oxide‐based photocatalysts for N2 fixation. Quasi in situ synchrotron radiation X‐ray spectroscopy directly identifies that the Mn–W dual‐metal sites can enhance the polarization of the adsorbed N2, which is beneficial to the N2 activation. Further theoretical calculations reveal that the increased polarization is originated from the electron back‐donation into the antibonding orbitals of the adsorbed N2, hence lowering the reaction energy barrier toward the N2 photofixation. The concept of dual sites construction for inert molecule activation offers a powerful platform toward rational design of highly efficient catalysts for nitrogen fixation and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little research has been done on the failure of oil booms when wave-current coupling is present. This study investigates the motion response and oil-stopping failure of the oil containment boom experimentally and numerically. The oil containment effect under wave-current and the motion response of the oil containment boom were investigated through experiments. Using CFD software FLUENT for simulation, the study established a multiphase flow analysis model to simulate the oil containment of an oil containment boom and used the volume of fluid method (VOF) to track the oil-water interface. The study compares the experimental and numerical results, which are coincident with each other, and validates the validity of the numerical model. Numerical methods are used to analyze the effects of various working conditions (water flow rate, wave parameter, wave reversal, skirt height, and initial oil spill volume) on the oil containment effect of the oil containment boom. The results show that the presence of waves accelerates the oil containment failure; compared to the wave-current flowing in the same direction, wave-current reversal is better for oil containment, and the initial oil spill volume primarily affects the thickening of the oil layer, which provides an important reference for the design of an effective oil containment boom. • This study investigates the oil-stopping effect of the boom experimentally and numerically. • Increased oil film thickness accelerates oil-stopping failure under pure water flow conditions. • Wave height and wave period can affect the oil-stopping effect of booms. • The oil-stopping effect of the boom is improved as the height of the boom's skirt. • The initial oil spill volume can affect the amount of oil loss and the velocity of oil-stopping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The explosive growth of wireless data traffic not only challenges the design and evolution of the wireless network architecture, but also brings profound impacts on the quality of service and the quality of experience. As an appealing way to solve the low capacity of user equipment and high latency of network connection, wireless edge caching has attracted great attention of academia and industry recently. In wireless edge caching, popular content can be cached in the base stations or wireless access points (APs) or other devices closer to users. By taking advantage of this feature, devices in wireless edge caching are able to cache popular content that may be duplicated requested and still maintain the quality of services they shall provide. Therefore, with aim to minimum the content fetching delay and increase network throughput in the wireless network, we lucubrated the wireless edge caching in this paper. Firstly, we built a classical wireless APs caching model, then jointly considered the size and popularity of content and introduced an objective function, evaluating the content popularity on this basis to guarantee the global cache hit rate. Moreover, we used 0–1 knapsack problem dynamic programming to maximize the local cache hit rate of wireless AP. Finally, we statistically analyzed on real data traces to find some significant discoveries and analyzed the performance of 0–1 knapsack dynamic programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite superior hemostasis and repair function, tilapia peptide's application as wounding dressing is greatly limited due to its poor biostability. To expand its application in wounding dressing area, chitosan (CS), with antibacterial activity, biocompatibility and biodegradability, was used to encapsulate tilapia peptides using ionic crosslink method. The results show 10.6w% (loading capacity) of the tilapia peptides are homogenously dispersed in surface or interior of the as-fabricated chitosan/tilapia peptides microspheres (CS/TPM), which leads to greatly improved biostability. In addition, a new composite sponge using CS/TPM as fillers and CS as matrix was then constructed (S-CS/TPM) and used for hemorrhage control. The results indicate that S-CS/TPM can absorb large volume of water, accelerate blood clotting, increase platelet adhesion and promote conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. Compared with the CS andCS/TPM, the hemostatic efficiency of S-CS/TPM in New Zealand rabbit ear and femoral artery models is much higher. Particularly, the bleeding time was shortened greatly, and the bleeding volume was reduced significantly. In conclusions, our results suggested that S-CS/TPM is a promising hemostatic adjuvant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Electron donor and well-matched denitrifier were concurrently provided by rice bran. • Citric acid produced by Massilia was used as carbon source by Delftia to reduceNO 3 −. • Trace elements and vitamin B 1 and B 12 in rice bran improved the microbial activity. • High NO 3 − removal (262.2 g·(m3·d)−1) was obtained in rice bran bioreactor. The use of rice bran as carbon and microbial sources has the potential to enhance the groundwater denitrification performance. This research investigated the effects of rice bran dosage, filling modes and biofilm carriers' types on the nitrate-contaminated groundwater remediation through batch and a series of column studies. NO 3 − removal rate increased as the rice bran increase in batch studies; however, the highest total nitrogen removal efficiency of 96.2% was achieved at 7 d with 1.50 g rice bran. Microorganism analysis indicated that bio-degradation (Massilia , Sphingomonas , Chryseobacterium and Sorangium) and bio-denitrification (Pseudomonas , Flavobacterium , Delftia and Comamonadace-ae) microorganisms were coexisted in rice bran denitrification system. Moreover, rice bran-gauze segmented (RGS) column had the lowest and most stable average effluent NO 3 − with low accumulations of NO 2 − and NH 4 +. The highest NO 3 − removal rate of 262.20 g·(m3·d)−1 was obtained when hydraulic retention time (HRT) was12 h. The results indicate that rice bran was an effective carbon and microbial sources for denitrification in NO 3 −-contaminated groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We reported CeO x -S/ZnIn2S4 catalysts with size of CeO x -S clusters less than 2 nm. • The CeO x -S/ZnIn2S4 hybrid catalysts hold rich surface defects. • CeO x -S/ZnIn 2 S 4 had higher activity in photocatalytic CO 2 reduction than ZnIn 2 S 4. • Oxygen vacancies on CeO x -S/ZnIn 2 S 4 can trap electrons and then transfer to CO 2. • The Ce–S can lower activation energy barrier during CO 2 reduction. Engineering the electronic properties of heterogeneous catalysts is an important strategy to enhance their activity towards CO 2 reduction. Herein, we prepared partially sulfurized cerium oxide (CeO x -S) nanoclusters with the size less than 2 nm on the surface of ZnIn 2 S 4 layers. Surface electronic properties of CeO x -S nanoclusters are facilely modulated by cerium coordination to sulfur, inducing the emergence of abundant Ce3+ and oxygen vacancies. For the photoreduction of CO 2 , CeO x -S/ZnIn 2 S 4 hybrid catalysts exhibited a CO productivity of 1.8 mmol g−1 with a rate of 0.18 mmol g−1 h−1, which was twice as higher as that of ZnIn 2 S 4 catalyst using triethylamine as a sacrificial electron donor. Further mechanistic studies reveal that the photogenerated electrons are trapped by oxygen vacancies on CeO x -S/ZnIn 2 S 4 catalysts and subsequently transfer to CO 2 , benefiting the activation of CO 2. Moreover, the extremely high selectivity of CO is derived from the weak adsorption of CO on the surface of CeO x -S/ZnIn 2 S 4 catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For paired binary data, the hybrid method and the score method are often recommended for use to calculate the confidence interval for risk difference. These asymptotic intervals do not control the coverage probability. We propose to develop a new score interval with continuity correction to further improve the performance of the existing intervals. The traditional correction value may be too large which leads to a wide interval. For that reason, we propose three different correction values to identify the optimal correction interval with balanced coverage probability and interval width. From simulation studies, we find that a small correction value for the score interval has good performance. In addition, we derive the non-iterative solutions for the developed continuity correction score intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: To address the vast multimedia traffic volume and requirements of user quality of experience in the next‐generation mobile communication system (5G), it is imperative to develop efficient content caching strategy at mobile network edges, which is deemed as a key technique for 5G. Recent advances in edge/cloud computing and machine learning facilitate efficient content caching for 5G, where mobile edge computing can be exploited to reduce service latency by equipping computation and storage capacity at the edge network. In this paper, we propose a proactive caching mechanism named learning‐based cooperative caching (LECC) strategy based on mobile edge computing architecture to reduce transmission cost while improving user quality of experience for future mobile networks. In LECC, we exploit a transfer learning‐based approach for estimating content popularity and then formulate the proactive caching optimization model. As the optimization problem is NP‐hard, we resort to a greedy algorithm for solving the cache content placement problem. Performance evaluation reveals that LECC can apparently improve content cache hit rate and decrease content delivery latency and transmission cost in comparison with known existing caching strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction is a prominent early event in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Whether protecting mitochondrial function can reduce amyloid-β oligomer (AβO)-induced neurotoxicity in PS1V97L transgenic mice remains unknown. In this study, we examined the possible protective effects of honokiol (HKL) on mitochondrial dysfunction induced by AβOs in neurons, and cognitive function in AD PS1V97Ltransgenic mice. We determined that HKL increased mitochondrial sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) expression levels and activity, which in turn markedly improved ATP production and weakened mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production. We demonstrated that the enhanced energy metabolism and attenuated oxidative stress of HKL restores AβO-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, memory deficits in the PS1V97L transgenic mice were rescued by HKL in the early stages. These results suggest that HKL has therapeutic potential for delaying the onset of AD symptoms by alleviating mitochondrial impairment and increasing hyperactivation of SIRT3 in the pathogenesis of preclinical AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebrovascular disease often coexist. However, it is difficult to determine how chronic cerebral hypoperfusion affects the metabolism of amyloid-β peptides (Aβ) in a living patient with AD. Thus, we developed an animal model of this condition, using transgenic mice (PS1V97L) and right common carotid artery ligation to create chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. The metabolic processes associated with amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) were observed and evaluated in this PS1V97L plus hypoperfusion model. Compared with control mice, the model revealed significantly upregulated expression of Aβ (including Aβ oligomers), with decreased α-secretase activity and expression and increased β-secretase activity and expression. Furthermore, the model revealed increased mRNA and protein expression of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and decreased mRNA and protein expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP-1); both these are Aβ transporters. Moreover, the model revealed decreased activity and expression of neprilysin, which is a peripheral Aβ degrading enzyme. These findings suggest that hypoperfusion may magnify the effect of AD on Aβ metabolism by aggravating its abnormal production, transport, and clearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, label-free colorimetric method for the determination of fibrinogen (Fib) in plasma is presented. In this work, it was observed that Fib interacted with hemin to form a hemin–Fib composite. Because Fib prevented hemin from the formation of m-oxo-dimers, the hemin–Fib composite possesses excellent peroxidase-like activity. Importantly, the peroxidase-like activity of Fib–hemin increased with the increase in the Fib. This allows us to utilize the H2O2–ABTS colorimetric system for the quantitative analysis of Fib. This optimized method provided a linear determination range of 2.0–100 pM with a correlation of 0.9975. The limit of detection for Fib was experimentally determined to be 0.7 pM based on a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of 3. This novel approach provides a rapid, sensitive, cost efficient and robust bioassay for detection of Fib in pathology and clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many catalytic processes, metastable reaction intermediates are more valuable and desirable than final products. Here, we report Ni–Ni δ+ clusters on ceria where the extent of reduction of nickel oxide/ceria in H 2 has been optimized. This catalyst shows high selectivity in reducing nitrobenzene to azoxybenzene, the latter usually being metastable. Due to strong electronic metal–support interactions between Ni and ceria, mixed Ni–Ni δ+ clusters are formed on ceria even after reduction at 500 °C in hydrogen. The Ni–Ni δ+ clusters are highly dispersed on ceria, as observed by high-angle annular dark-field scanning–transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy element mapping. This structural uniqueness is clearly reflected in the inhibition of azoxybenzene hydrogenation to aniline, and therefore the catalyst shows high azoxybenzene selectivity (92%). In comparison, the Ni metal catalyst mostly gives aniline and the NiO catalyst has low activity. This study shows how to steer catalytic reactions toward metastable intermediate products by tuning the extent of reduction of metal oxides deposited on reducible oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanobubble water (NBW) could improve methane production from anaerobic digestion (AD) of corn straw without secondary contamination. In this study, the effect of carbon dioxide nanobubble water (CO 2 -NBW) volumes (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) on methane production from corn straw was investigated. The results showed that addition of CO 2 -NBW could improve methane production and promote substrate degradation in AD process. The highest cumulative methane production of 132.16 mL g−1VS added was obtained in the 100% CO 2 -NBW added reactor, which was 17% higher than that in the control group. Additionally, the addition of CO 2 -NBW could mitigate the sharp decrease in pH by acting as a buffer. CO 2 -NBW could also enhance microorganism activity throughout the AD process. The electron transport system (ETS) activity was increased by 23%, while the β-glucosidase, dehydrogenase (DHA), and coenzyme F 420 activities were increased by 15%, 23%, and 11%, respectively, at optimum addition of CO 2 -NBW. Meanwhile, addition of CO 2 -NBW accelerated the production and consumption of reducing sugar and volatile fatty acids (VFAs), promoting the reduction rates of TS (Total solid) and VS (Volatile solid). [Display omitted] • Methane yield was increased by 4%–17% with CO 2 -NBW. • CO 2 -NBW addition could mitigate the sharp decrease in pH by acting as a buffer. • ETS activity was enhanced by 23% with 100% CO 2 -NBW addition. • Supplementation of CO 2 -NBW could stimulate microbial activity. • Adding CO 2 -NBW enhanced the production/consumption of reducing sugar and VFAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence has emerged that altered ventricular electrocardiogram profiles are associated with dementia, but the neuropathological mechanisms underlying their associations are poorly understood. Objective: To investigate the interrelationships of ventricular electrocardiogram profiles with dementia and plasma Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers among older adults. Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study included 5,153 participants (age ≥65 years; 57.3% women) living in rural communities in China; of these, 1,281 had data on plasma amyloid-β (Aβ)40, Aβ42, total-tau, and neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein. The QT, QTc, JT, JTc, QRS intervals, and QRS axis were derived from the 10-second electrocardiogram recording. The DSM-IV criteria were followed for clinical diagnosis of dementia, the NIA-AA criteria for AD, and the NINDS-AIREN criteria for vascular dementia (VaD). Data were analyzed using general linear models, multinomial logistic models, and restricted cubic splines. Results: Of the 5,153 participants, 299 (5.8%) were diagnosed with dementia, including 194 with AD and 94 with VaD. Prolonged QT, QTc, JT, and JTc intervals were significantly associated with all-cause dementia, AD, and VaD (p < 0.05). Left QRS axis deviation was significantly associated with all-cause dementia and VaD (p < 0.01). In the subsample of plasma biomarkers (n = 1,281), prolonged QT, JT, and JTc intervals were significantly associated with a lower Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio and higher plasma NfL concentrations (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Alterations in ventricular repolarization and depolarization are independently associated with all-cause dementia, AD, VaD, and AD plasma biomarkers in older adults (age ≥65 years). Ventricular electrocardiogram parameters may be valuable clinical markers for dementia and the underlying AD pathologies and neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metal-free and efficient approach to N -arylpyrrolidines from arylamines and cyclic ethers catalyzed by hydrogen iodine is described. In this protocol, no additive is added and a wide range of N -arylpyrrolidines are synthesized with up to 99% yield. Reaction mechanism involving iodine radical is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorption of metal nanoparticles is at the heart of many chemical and biosensor techniques, but there are few approaches that can provide quantitative characterisation of individual nanoparticle films fabricated at different times and/or under different conditions. Using synthesised gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as a model, the nanoparticle films were investigated using an optical interferometry technique known as fringes of equal chromatic order (FECO), which was further systematically validated against both in situ quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and ex situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. The results indicate that the FECO wavelengths has a quantifiable red shift with increasing particle densities, making it possible to quantify the degree of surface coverage via the analysis of the fringe shift at a fixed fringe order. Moreover, the calculated formula between the FECO shifts and the surface coverage allows quantitative analysis of the whole adsorption kinetics investigated. Particularly, the as-proposed FECO technique can successfully monitor the Au NP adsorption in situ , which could be a new versatile technology platform for “online” monitoring method, for example in biosensor applications using Au NP-tagged analytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of anthropogenic pollution, the nitrogen nutrients load in urban rivers has increased, potentially raising the risk of river eutrophication. Here, we studied how anthropogenic impacts alter nitrogen metabolism in river sediments by comparing the metagenomic function of microbial communities between relatively primitive and human-disturbed sediments. The contents of organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), NO 3 −−N and NO 2 −−N were higher in primitive site than in polluted sites, which might be due to vegetation density, sediment type, hydrology, etc. Whereas, NH 4 +−N content was higher in midstream and downstream, indicating that nitrogen loading increased in the anthropogenic regions and subsequently leading higher NH 4 +−N. Hierarchical cluster analyses revealed significant changes in the community structure and functional potential between the primitive and human-affected sites. Metagenomic analysis demonstrated that Demequina , Streptomyces , Rubrobacter and Dechloromonas were the predominant denitrifiers. Ardenticatena and Dechloromonas species were the most important contributors to dissimilatory nitrate reduction. Furthermore, anthropogenic pollution significantly increased their abundance, and resulting in a decrease in NO 3 −, NO 2 −−N and an increase in NH 4 +−N contents. Additionally, the SOX metabolism of Dechloromonas and Sulfuritalea may involve in the sulfur-dependent autotrophic denitrification process by coupling the conversion of thiosulfate to sulfate with the reduction of NO 3 −−N to N 2. From pristine to anthropogenic pollution sediments, the major nitrifying bacteria harboring Hao transitioned from Nitrospira to Nitrosomonas. This study sheds light on the consequences of anthropogenic activities on nitrogen metabolism in river sediments, allowing for better management of nitrogen pollution and eutrophication in river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of anthropogenic pollution, the nitrogen nutrients load in urban rivers has increased, potentially raising the risk of river eutrophication. Here, we studied how anthropogenic impacts alter nitrogen metabolism in river sediments by comparing the metagenomic function of microbial communities between relatively primitive and human-disturbed sediments. The contents of organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), NO 3 −−N and NO 2 −−N were higher in primitive site than in polluted sites, which might be due to vegetation density, sediment type, hydrology, etc. Whereas, NH 4 +−N content was higher in midstream and downstream, indicating that nitrogen loading increased in the anthropogenic regions and subsequently leading higher NH 4 +−N. Hierarchical cluster analyses revealed significant changes in the community structure and functional potential between the primitive and human-affected sites. Metagenomic analysis demonstrated that Demequina , Streptomyces , Rubrobacter and Dechloromonas were the predominant denitrifiers. Ardenticatena and Dechloromonas species were the most important contributors to dissimilatory nitrate reduction. Furthermore, anthropogenic pollution significantly increased their abundance, and resulting in a decrease in NO 3 −, NO 2 −−N and an increase in NH 4 +−N contents. Additionally, the SOX metabolism of Dechloromonas and Sulfuritalea may involve in the sulfur-dependent autotrophic denitrification process by coupling the conversion of thiosulfate to sulfate with the reduction of NO 3 −−N to N 2. From pristine to anthropogenic pollution sediments, the major nitrifying bacteria harboring Hao transitioned from Nitrospira to Nitrosomonas. This study sheds light on the consequences of anthropogenic activities on nitrogen metabolism in river sediments, allowing for better management of nitrogen pollution and eutrophication in river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decomposition of poly(vinyl alcohol)/montmorillonite clay (PVA/MMT) composites during melting–crystallization was experimentally confirmed by morphology and molecular structure changes. In particular, FTIR spectra show the shift of O H stretching band as well as enhanced intensities of C O stretching and CH 2 rocking vibrational modes. Furthermore, Raman deconvolution indicates that C H wagging, CH 2 CH wagging, CH CO bending and CH 2 wagging modes in amorphous domains were all decreased greatly. Moreover, this decomposition leads to decreased melting enthalpy, melting point, crystallization enthalpy and crystallization temperature. Crystallization analysis shows that the MMT incorporated slows down the crystallization process in the PVA matrix regardless of the nucleation capability of MMT. Despite the severe decomposition, the crystallization kinetics still corroborated well with common classical models. As a result, molecular structure changes and crystallization retardation observed in this study clearly indicate the strong effects of the thermal degradation on the non-isothermal crystallization of PVA/MMT composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal decomposition of PVA and PVA composites during the melting-crystallization process is still unclear due to indistinct changes in chemical compositions. Using graphene as a model, the decomposition properties of PVA and PVA–graphene composites were systematically analyzed under multiple melting-crystallization cycles. And a series of isothermal decomposition experiments around the melting-crystallization temperature were carried out to simulate the corresponding decomposition kinetics. Based on multiple cycle melting-crystallization, the weight loss of PVA and PVA/graphene composites was successfully quantified. Further morphology investigation and chemical structure analysis indicated that the decomposition was non-uniformly distributed, rendering the possibility of crystallization for PVA and PVA/graphene composites after multiple heating–cooling cycles. In addition, isothermal decomposition analysis based on reduced time plot approach and model-free iso-conversional method indicated that Avrami-Eroffev model could well match the decomposition process of the neat PVA and PG-0.3 composite, while the Avrami-Eroffev and first order models could precisely forecast the decomposition of PG-0.9 composite. Both analyses during multiple cycle melting-crystallization and isothermal decomposition demonstrated that graphene served as decomposition accelerator in the whole thermal decomposition process, and particularly the decomposition of neat PVA and PVA/graphene composites was highly related to the band area ratios of C–H and O–H vibrations in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a class of non-densely defined impulsive neutral stochastic functional differential equations driven by an independent cylindrical fractional Brownian motion (fBm) with Hurst parameter H ∈ (1/2, 1) in the Hilbert space. We prove the existence and uniqueness of the integral solution for this kind of equations with the coefficients satisfying some non-Lipschitz conditions. The results are obtained by using the method of successive approximation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory mitochondria undergo stochastic, intermittent bursts of superoxide production accompanied by transient depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential and reversible opening of the membrane permeability transition pore. These discrete events were named 'superoxide flashes' for the reactive oxygen species (ROS) signal involved, and 'mitochondrial flashes' (mitoflashes) for the entirety of the multifaceted and intertwined mitochondrial processes. In contrast to the flashless basal ROS production of 'homeostatic ROS' for redox regulation, bursting ROS production during mitoflashes may provide 'signalling ROS' at the organelle level, fulfilling distinctly different cell functions. Mounting evidence indicates that mitoflash frequency is richly regulated over a broad range, and represents a novel, universal, and 'digital' readout of mitochondrial functional status and of the mitochondrial stress response. An emerging view is that mitoflashes participate in vital processes including metabolism, cell differentiation, the stress response and ageing. These recent advances shed new light on the role of mitochondrial functional dynamics in health and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ETS activity of AD sludge pre-acclimated by Air-NBW was enhanced 3.4 times. • H 2 yield was increased by 46% in the NBW group. • Start-up of each stage was accelerated in the Air-NBW pre-acclimated reactor. • Addition of KOH effectively alleviated the inhibition of salt on methane production. • Supplementation of K+ could improve the fertilizer value of the digestate. Air-nanobubble water (NBW) was applied to pre-acclimate anaerobically digested sludge that was then used as the inoculum in the two-stage anaerobic digestion (AD) of high saline (20 g NaCl/L) food waste (FW) to optimize NBW application in the AD of high saline FW. K+ was simultaneously supplemented during the methanogenic stage to resist the inhibition of salt on methanogens. Results showed that after the second pre-acclimation cycle, the inoculum activity was increased 27% in the Air-NBW supplemented reactor in comparison to the deionized water (DW) supplemented one. In the first-stage AD, H 2 yield was enhanced by 46% in the Air-NBW pre-acclimated sludge reactor compared with the DW pre-acclimated sludge reactor. Besides, supplementation of KOH in the methanogenic stage could enhance methane production by 17–25% in the DW reactors at initial pH 7.5, 8.0, and 9.0 when compared to the control reactor (using NaOH adjusted initial pH to 7.5), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: According to the national wind power plan in China, seven wind power bases, each with an installed capacity of more than 10,000MW, will be built by 2020. In this work, based on the output characteristics of Jiuquan wind power base—a typical case among the seven wind power bases, a definition of STC duration curve is presented, and the relative costs and transmission benefits of co-operating thermal units and wind power bases are studied. The capacity optimization model for thermal units combined with a wind power base is proposed, in order to maximize the net transmission profit of transmitting wind power and thermal power. Furthermore, a two-layer optimization method is introduced to solve the model. In Jiuquan wind power base, the net profit from the wind power plant combined with the optimal thermal units is about 51.2% higher than that of wind power plant alone. The influences of the coal price and electricity price on the net profit are analyzed, and the impact of CO2 price on the optimal schemes is also studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this note, we aim to study a class of second-order non-autonomous neutral stochastic evolution equations with infinite delay driven by a standard cylindrical Wiener process and an independent cylindrical fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter , in which the initial value belongs to the abstract space . We establish the existence and uniqueness of mild solutions for this kind of equations under some Carathéodory conditions by means of the successive approximation. The obtained result extends some well-known results. An example is proposed to illustrate the theory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The presence of PVP affects formation and surface structure of RhPt nanoclusters. [•] PVP benefits Rh-atom enrichment on the surface of RhPt nanoclusters. [•] Choice of polymer helps to tune catalytic performance of bimetallic nanocatalyst. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two mononuclear and one binuclear Cu(I) complexes that contain imidazole derivative ligands including 2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazole (L1), 2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole(L2), and 2,6-bis (benzimidazol-2yl)-pyridine (L3) were synthesized. The formulas of these complexes are [CuL1(PPh3)2][BF4] (1), [CuL2(PPh3)2][BF4] (2), [Cu2(L3)2(PPh3)2][BF4]2 (3), respectively. The crystal structures of complexes 1–3 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The Cu(I) ions in the complexes have a distorted tetrahedral geometry. Photophysical properties of complexes 1–3 were systematically studied. These complexes maximum emission are mainly concentrated in the 623–680nm. An electroluminescent (EL) device using 2 as the emitter was fabricated. The device produced a red emission which matches with the PL spectrum. However, the EL device of 2 is unfavorable. The absorption properties of complexes 1 and 2 were theoretically analyzed by time-dependent density functional theory (DFT).The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Ni3(C13H9N2O)5(CH3OH)2] (1) and [Cd(C12H8N3)3] (2) were synthesized in methanol and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, and X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 is trinuclear with three unsymmetric Ni(II)'s having different coordinated environments bridged by four oxygen atoms from five ligands. Intermolecular antiferromagnetic interactions were observed in 1. Complex 2 is mononuclear with Cd(II) six-coordinate by six nitrogen atoms from three bidentate HPBM anions. Complex 2 shows emission maxima in the blue region. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: The longitudinal associations of sleep timing and time in bed (TIB) with dementia and cognitive decline in older adults are unclear. Methods: This population‐based cohort study used data from 1982 participants who were aged ≥60 years, free of dementia, and living in rural communities in western Shandong, China. At the baseline (2014) and follow‐up (2018) examinations, sleep parameters were assessed using standard questionnaires. Cognitive function was measured using the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). Dementia was diagnosed following the DSM‐IV criteria, and the NIA‐AA criteria for Alzheimer disease (AD). Data were analyzed using restricted cubic splines, Cox proportional‐hazards models, and general linear models. Results: During the mean follow‐up of 3.7 years, dementia was diagnosed in 97 participants (68 with AD). Restricted cubic spline curves showed J‐shaped associations of sleep duration, TIB, and rise time with dementia risk, and a reverse J‐shaped association with mid‐sleep time. When sleep parameters were categorized into tertiles, the multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of incident dementia was 1.69 (95%CI 1.01–2.83) for baseline sleep duration >8 hours (vs. 7–8 h), 2.17 (1.22–3.87) for bedtime before 9 p.m. (vs. 10 p.m. or later), and 2.00 (1.23–3.24) for mid‐sleep time before 1 a.m. (vs. 1–1.5 a.m.). Early bedtime and mid‐sleep time were significantly associated with incident AD (HR range: 2.25–2.51; p < 0.05). Among individuals who were free of dementia at follow‐up, baseline long TIB, early bedtime and mid‐sleep time, early and late rise time, and prolonged TIB and advanced bedtime and mid‐sleep time from baseline to follow‐up were associated with a greater decline in MMSE score (p < 0.05). These associations with cognitive decline were statistically evident mainly among men or participants who were aged 60–74 years. Conclusions: Long TIB and early sleep timing are associated with an increased risk of dementia, and the associations with greater cognitive decline are evident only among older people aged 60–74 years and men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Generalized fractional Maxwell model is applied to simulate the creep and the relaxation behavior of PEEK and PPS measured at different aging stages and different temperatures. Genetic algorithm and the conjugated gradient method are combined to optimize the model parameters. The results show that the fractional Maxwell model can describe both the creep and relaxation data very well when the model parameters are fitted properly. The momentary creep compliance and the relaxation modulus change with the time at an increasing rate; the fractional orders of the two fractional elements building up the model correspond to the creep or relaxation exponents at the initial glassy stage and the terminal fluid state. The relaxation time τ of the model, which corresponds to the characteristic time of α transition of the sample, shifts towards longer time with increasing the aging time and lowering the aging temperature. In the time domain scaled by the relaxation time τ, all the creep or relaxation curves measured at different aging times and temperatures superpose automatically, which means the time–aging time superposition and the time–temperature superposition present themselves. The shift rates and the temperature shift factors can be then obtained from the model parameters. Good simulation for the creep and relaxation behavior and optimum superposition of the experimental data achieved by the fractional model may offer reliable predictions for the long-term stress-strain response. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The sensitizing effect of ionic liquid surfactant (ILS) media on the determination of zinc by spectrophotometry was developed. The main parameters influencing the analysis of zinc, such as pH value, the amount of ILS, the concentration of 2-[(5-bromo-2-pyridyl)-zao]-5-(diethl-amino) phenol (5-Br-PADAP) were optimized. The limit of detection (LOD) and the linear range of calibration curve obtained under the optimal conditions were 2.7ng·mL−1 and 0.02–1.00μg.mL−1, respectively. The sensitivity of Zn(II) analysis in ILS (C14mimBr) was higher than that in water(εin C14mimBr 1.25×105 >ε in H2O 6.25×104 L·mol−1·cm−1 ), with the enhancement factor of this method (the ratio of the slope of calibration curves) of 3.0. Moreover, the sensitized mechanism was primarily discussed with the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of ILS and distribution coefficient (K D ) of 5-Br–PADAP. The method has been applied to the determination of zinc in water reference material, tap water, calcium–zinc gluconate oral solution and milk powder with satisfactory results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A strong piezoresistive effect of GaAs micro-structure which is based on high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) is reported in this paper. The GaAs HEMT is embedded in the root of the cantilever as the sensitive element in order to detect the deformation. The strain is simulated with the ANSYS software, and the maximum gauge factor is about 26,350, which is nearly a hundred times larger than that of piezoresistive silicon. The high gauge factor is not only due to the option of voltage bias, but also the combination of the piezoresistive and piezoelectric effect. The obtained results demonstrate that GaAs micro-structure based on HEMT can be suitable for high sensitive stress/pressure sensors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Biogas recirculation may create multifunctional granule AD system of sewage sludge. • Biogas recirculation accelerates CH 4 recovery rate from sludge by 31–44%. • Simultaneous sludge stabilization and aggregation can be realized in this system. • This system can improve net energy profit by 78–85% for sewage sludge treatment. This study investigated the possibility of biogas recirculation-driven anaerobic granular sludge system for sewage sludge treatment, aiming to develop an energy sufficient and multifunctional anaerobic digestion (AD) system for sewage sludge with biogas upgrading, sludge stabilization and self-aggregation. Results show that biogas recirculation could enhance the CH 4 production rate by 31–44% and shorten the lag-phase duration to 0.08–0.2 day with simultaneous increment of CH 4 content (> 83% in this study). The reason is mainly associated with the stronger interspecies electron transfer under the biogas recirculation condition. In addition, 37–40% better dewaterability of the digested sludge was achieved, implying the occurrence of self-aggregation of microbial cells induced by biogas recirculation. Energy balance analysis reflects that this sewage sludge treatment system could enhance the net energy recovery by 78–85%. Moreover, almost no obvious influence was noticed on the seed granules' composition and properties. These findings suggest that the biogas recirculation-driven anaerobic granular sludge system could be a promising alternative for sewage sludge treatment, which can improve biogas quality and sludge dewaterability simultaneously towards sludge self-aggregation with no addition of other chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]