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The practical applications of magnesium (Mg) alloys are usually beset by their relatively low strength and limited ductility. Herein we attempt to fabricate hexagonal BN nanoplatelet (BNNP) reinforced ZK61 magnesium composites using a combination of spark plasma sintering and friction stir processing. The resulting composites exhibit microstructural characteristics of homogeneous dispersion of BNNP in Mg matrix with refined equiaxed grains and (0002) basal texture roughly surrounding the pin column surface. Transmission electron microscopy observation illustrates that trace amounts of Mg3N2 and MgB2 form at BNNP-Mg interface, in which Mg3N2 locates at the basal plane of a BNNP and MgB2 grows at its open edge. The spatial distribution of Mg3N2 and MgB2 facilitates interfacial wetting and stronger BNNP-Mg interface in such a way that interfacial products act as anchors bonding between them. In comparison with monolithic ZK61 alloy, the BNNP/ZK61 composites display simultaneous improvements in yield strength, hardness and ductility, achieving good strength-ductility balance. This research is expected to shed some light on BNNP potentials for designing and producing magnesium composites with high strength and good ductility.

Solid-liquid phase-change materials (PCMs) offer exciting prospects for thermal energy conservation, whose performance is greatly affected by the carrier materials. Using expanded vermiculite (EV) as frameworks, carbon nanotube arrays (CNTs) were grown between EV layers by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Then, the paraffin (PA) was loaded on the EV@CNTs composite by vacuum impregnation to prepare composite PCMs (PA/EV@CNTs), where the PA is organic carrier and the EV@CNTs acts as porous supports with high structural strength. The loading capacity of PA is further regulated by the hydrotropism of CNTs which effectively prevents the leakage of molten PA. The in-situ grown CNTs significantly improves the thermal conductivity of PCMs, improving the efficiency of energy conversion. With maximum PA loading capacity of 95 wt%, the thermal conductivity of PA/EV@CNTs-95% reaching 0.7176 W/mK, which was 1.73 and 2.96 times higher than that of pristine EV and PA. The phase change latent heat of PA/EV@CNTs-95% was measured to be 168.54 J/g, which is 1.48 times higher than that of PA/EV. After 100 cycles, the PA/EV@CNTs still maintains excellent thermal stability, and the enthalpy retention rate is 98.73%. The incorporation of high thermal conductivity amphipathicity CNTs in these PCMs makes them promising candidate for various applications such as energy-efficient buildings, thermal management in electronic devices, and self-cleaning materials.

Traditional fibrous membranes employed in guided tissue regeneration (GTR) in the treatment of periodontitis have limitations of bioactive and immunomodulatory properties. We fabricated a novel nTPG/PLGA/PCL fibrous membrane by electrospinning which exhibit excellent hydrophilicity, mechanical properties and biocompatibility. In addition, we investigated its regulatory effect on polarization of macrophages and facilitating the regeneration of periodontal tissue both in vivo and in vitro. These findings showed the 0.5%TPG/PLGA/PCL may inhibit the polarization of RAW 264.7 into M1 phenotype by suppressing the PI3K/AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, it directly up-regulated the expression of cementoblastic differentiation markers (CEMP-1 and CAP) in periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), and indirectly up-regulated the expression of cementoblastic (CEMP-1 and CAP) and osteoblastic (ALP, RUNX2, COL-1, and OCN) differentiation markers by inhibiting the polarization of M1 macrophage. Upon implantation into a periodontal bone defect rats model, histological assessment revealed that the 0.5%TPG/PLGA/PCL membrane could regenerate oriented collagen fibers and structurally intact epithelium. Micro-CT (BV/TV) and the expression of immunohistochemical markers (OCN, RUNX-2, COL-1, and BMP-2) ultimately exhibited satisfactory regeneration of alveolar bone, periodontal ligament. Overall, 0.5%TPG/PLGA/PCL did not only directly promote osteogenic effects on hPDLSCs, but also indirectly facilitated cementoblastic and osteogenic differentiation through its immunomodulatory effects on macrophages. These findings provide a novel perspective for the development of materials for periodontal tissue regeneration.

Illegal coal mining is prevalent worldwide, leading to extensive ground subsidence and land collapse. It is crucial to define the location and spatial dimensions of these areas for the efficient prevention of the induced hazards. Conventional methods for goaf locating using the InSAR technique are mostly based on the probability integral model (PIM). However, The PIM requires detailed mining information to preset model parameters and does not account for the layered structure of the coal overburden, making it challenging to detect underground goaves in cases of illegal mining. In response, a novel method based on the InSAR technique and the Stratified Optimal Okada Dislocation Model, named S-ODM, is proposed for locating goaves with basic geological information. Firstly, the S-ODM employs a numerical model to establish a nonlinear function between the goaf parameters and InSAR-derived ground deformation. Then, in order to mitigate the influence of nearby mining activities, the goaf azimuth angle is estimated using the textures and trends of the InSAR-derived deformation time series. Finally, the goaf’s dimensions and location are estimated by the genetic algorithm–particle swarm optimization (GA-PSO). The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated using both simulation and real data, demonstrating average relative errors of 6.29% and 7.37%, respectively. Compared with the PIM and ODM, the proposed S-ODM shows improvements of 19.48% and 52.46% in geometric parameters. Additionally, the errors introduced by GA-PSO and the influence of ground deformation monitoring errors are discussed in this study.

Background and objectiveThe measurement of portal venous pressure (PVP) has been extensively studied, primarily through indirect methods. However, the potential of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic PVP measurement as a direct method has been largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the accuracy, safety, and feasibility of this approach.MethodsIn vitro, the experiment aimed to select a needle that could accurately transmit pressure, had a small inner diameter and was suitable for liver puncture, and performed on 20 healthy New Zealand white rabbits. An ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic portal vein puncture was undertaken to measure PVP. Additionally, free hepatic venous pressure (FHVP) and wedged hepatic venous pressure (WHVP) were measured under digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The correlation between the two methods was assessed. Enroll study participants from October 18, 2023 to November 11, 2023 with written informed consent. Five patients were measured the PVP under ultrasound guidance before surgery to determine the feasibility of this measurement method.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the results obtained using 9 different types of needles (P > 0.05). This demonstrated a great repeatability (P < 0.05). The 22G chiba needle with small inner diameter, allowing for accurate pressure transmission and suitable for liver puncture, was utilized for percutaneous transhepatic PVP measurement. There were positive correlations between PVP and HVPG (r = 0.881), PVP and WHVP (r = 0.709), HVPG and WHVP (r = 0.729), IVCP and FHVP (r = 0.572). The PVP was accurately and safely measured in 5 patients with segmental hepatectomy. No complications could be identified during postoperative ultrasound.ConclusionPercutaneous transhepatic portal venous puncture under ultrasound guidance is accurate, safe and feasible to measure portal venous pressure.Clinical trial registration numberThis study has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with registration number ChiCTR2300076751.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate a new electrospun P(LLA-CL) nanoscale fibrinogen mesh performance in real-world clinical practice. A prospective, single-center evaluation of Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair using electrospun P(LLA-CL) nanoscale fibrinogen mesh in elderly patients with comorbid diseases was conducted between 2020 and 2022. A suture reinforcement of transversalis fascia was applied before mesh implantation. Hernia recurrence, pain score and overall complication rate were measured. A total of 52 inguinal hernias in 48 patients were included. The age of patients ranged from 33 to 95 years, with a median of 78 years. Comorbid conditions included cardiopulmonary disease, organ dysfunction, anticoagulant use, diabetes and smoking. By optimizing the physical condition perioperatively, all patients finished treatment successfully. Four cases recurred secondary to direct hernias or combined hernias and were diagnosed in the first 24 case cohort during follow-up. With surgical procedural modification involving strengthening the posterior inguinal floor by reef-up suturing of the transversalis fascia and the inferior edge of mesh slit to accommodate the spermatic cord, no further recurrence was diagnosed. Postoperative pain was mild and the pain score decreased three months after surgery compared to 1 week after surgery (p = 0.0099). No severe complications occurred, while seroma occurred in six cases. Electrospun P(LLA-CL) nanoscale fibrinogen mesh is safe and effective in repairing inguinal hernias in elderly patients with comorbid disease. A strengthening of the transversalis fascia by suturing may enhance the performance of this mesh.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a transmesenteric vein extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TmEPS) for the treatment of cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV). Materials and methods: The clinical data of 20 patients with CTPV who underwent TmEPS between December 2020 and January 2022 ​at Henan Provincial People's Hospital were retrospectively collected. The superior mesenteric vein (SMV) trunk was patent or partially occluded in these patients. An extrahepatic portosystemic shunt between the inferior vena cava and the SMV was established using a stent graft through an infraumbilical median longitudinal mini-laparotomy. The technical success, efficacy, and complication rates were evaluated, and the pre- and postoperative SMV pressures were compared. Patients' clinical outcomes and shunt patency were assessed. Results: TmEPS was successfully performed in 20 patients. The initial puncture success rate of the balloon-assisted puncture technique is 95%. The mean SMV pressure decreased from 29.1 ​± ​2.9 ​mmHg to 15.6 ​± ​3.3 ​mmHg (p ​

Layered vermiculite (VMT) nanosheets have received significant attention as inorganic additives in the field of nanocomposites; however, extremely low yields and efficiencies limit their large-scale utilization. Herein, we develop a narrow-gap exfoliation approach to achieve efficient and industrially scalable production of high-quality VMT nanosheets, where water instead of acid is used as green solvent. As compared with traditional approaches, the synergism between shear and collision overcomes the agglomeration of nanosheets, achieving efficient exfoliation of high-quality VMT nanosheets with a yield value about 80%. The narrow-gap exfoliation equipment is further used as a coupled separation reactor for in-situ preparation of VMT-stabilized poly (vinyl chloride), which exhibits superior thermal stability. The aging blackening time and Congo red test time is comparable to the commercial lead-based thermal stabilizers. This work provides a potential strategy for scalable exfoliation of layered materials and opens new applications in in-situ preparation of inorganic-organic nanocomposites.

Abstract The rapid development of smart and carbon-neutral cities motivates the potential of natural materials for triboelectric electronics. However, the relatively deficient charge density makes it challenging to achieve high Maxwell’s displacement current. Here, we propose a methodology for improving the triboelectricity of marine polysaccharide by incorporating charged phyllosilicate nanosheets. As a proof-of-concept, a flexible, flame-retardant, and eco-friendly triboelectric sensor is developed based on all-natural composite paper from alginate fibers and vermiculite nanosheets. The interlaced fibers and nanosheets not only enable superior electrical output but also give rise to wear resistance and mechanical stability. The fabricated triboelectric sensor successfully monitors slight motion signals from various joints of human body. Moreover, an effective machine-learning model is developed for human motion identification and prediction with accuracy of 96.2% and 99.8%, respectively. This work offers a promising strategy for improving the triboelectricity of organo-substrates and enables implementation of self-powered and intelligent platform for emerging applications.

The collapse of open-pit coal mine slopes is a kind of severe geological hazard that may cause resource waste, economic loss, and casualties. On 22 February 2023, a large-scale collapse occurred at the Xinjing Open-Pit Mine in Inner Mongolia, China, leading to the loss of 53 lives. Thus, monitoring of the slope stability is important for preventing similar potential damage. It is difficult to fully obtain the temporal and spatial information of the whole mining area using conventional ground monitoring technologies. Therefore, in this study, multi-source remote sensing methods, combined with local geological conditions, are employed to monitor the open-pit mine and analyze the causes of the accident. Firstly, based on GF-2 data, remote sensing interpretation methods are used to locate and analyze the collapse area. The results indicate that high-resolution remote sensing can delineate the collapse boundary, supporting the post-disaster rescue. Subsequently, multi-temporal Radarsat-2 and Sentinel-1A satellite data, covering the period from mining to collapse, are integrated with D-InSAR and DS-InSAR technologies to monitor the deformation of both the collapse areas and the potential risk to dump slopes. The D-InSAR result suggests that high-intensity open-pit mining may be the dominant factor affecting deformation. Furthermore, the boundary between the collapse trailing edge and the non-collapse area could be found in the DS-InSAR result. Moreover, various data sources, including DEM and geological data, are combined to analyze the causes and trends of the deformation. The results suggest that the dump slopes are stable. Meanwhile, the deformation trends of the collapse slope indicate that there may be faults or joint surfaces of the collapse trailing edge boundary. The slope angle exceeding the designed value during the mining is the main cause of the collapse. In addition, the thawing of soil moisture caused by the increase in temperature and the reduction in the mechanical properties of the rock and soil due to underground voids and coal fires also contributed to the accident. This study demonstrates that multi-source remote sensing technologies can quickly and accurately identify potential high-risk areas, which is of great significance for pre-disaster warning and post-disaster rescue.

Adaptation to changes in the environment depends, in part, on signaling between plant organs to integrate adaptive response at the level of the whole organism. Changes in the delivery of hormones from one organ to another through the vascular system strongly suggest that hormone transport is involved in the transmission of signals over long distances. However, there is evidence that, alternatively, systemic responses may be brought about by other kinds of signals (e.g., hydraulic or electrical) capable of inducing changes in hormone metabolism in distant organs. Long-distance transport of hormones is therefore a matter of debate. This review summarizes arguments for and against the involvement of the long-distance transport of cytokinins in signaling mineral nutrient availability from roots to the shoot. It also assesses the evidence for the role of abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonates in long-distance signaling of water deficiency and the possibility that Lipid-Binding and Transfer Proteins (LBTPs) facilitate the long-distance transport of hormones. It is assumed that proteins of this type raise the solubility of hydrophobic substances such as ABA and jasmonates in hydrophilic spaces, thereby enabling their movement in solution throughout the plant. This review collates evidence that LBTPs bind to cytokinins, ABA, and jasmonates and that cytokinins, ABA, and LBTPs are present in xylem and phloem sap and co-localize at sites of loading into vascular tissues and at sites of unloading from the phloem. The available evidence indicates a functional interaction between LBTPs and these hormones.

Efficient transport in vertical pipeline hydraulic lifting systems is vital for coarse-grained ore, necessitating a deep comprehension of the settling traits of coarse mineral particles. In this study, we conducted a series of settling experiments on individual coarse particles in Newtonian fluids with varying viscosities, employing a self-designed and manufactured settling apparatus. A total of 133 sets of experimental data on the free settling of coarse particles in Newtonian fluids were obtained by recording the particle settling process with a high-speed camera and applying image processing techniques. A mechanical model was employed to perform statistical analysis on the experimental data and establish a predictive model for the drag coefficient and an explicit predictive model for the settling terminal velocity of coarse-grained ore in Newtonian fluids. The average relative errors between the predicted values and experimental values of the drag coefficient and settling terminal velocity models are 4.26% and 7.34%, respectively. This confirms the reliability of the provided predicted model, providing a theoretical foundation for determining the hydraulic lifting speed of coarse mineral particles in vertical pipelines for deep mining.

Article Highlights A biochar aerogel decorated with Ru/RuS2 particles was synthesized successfully. Plenty of defects at carbon were formed due to regulation of two kinds of biomass. The sample required a low overpotential of 228 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in 0.5 M H2SO4. The unique 2D/3D microstructures in biochar aerogel enhanced mass transfer ability.

Abstract Background Salicylic acid (SA) is one of the plant hormones, which plays crucial roles in signaling transduction in plant growth, disease resistance, and leaf senescence. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) SA 3-hydroxylase (S3H) and 5-hydroxylase (S5H) are key enzymes which maintain SA homeostasis by catalyzing SA to 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) and 2,5-DHBA, respectively. Results SA deficient transgenic Arabidopsis lines were generated by introducing two binary vectors S5Hpro::EGFP-S3H and 35Spro::EGFP-S3H respectively, in which the expression of S3H is under the control of the S5H promoter or CaMV 35S promoter. Compared with the constitutive expression of S3H gene under the control of 35S promoter, the S3H gene under the native S5H promoter is activated by endogenous SA and results in a dynamic control of SA catabolism in a feedback mode. The SA accumulation, growth, leaf senescence, and pathogen resistance of the S5Hpro::GFP-S3H transgenic plants were investigated in parallel with NahG transgenic plants. The SA levels in the S5Hpro::EGFP-S3H transgenic plants were similar to or slightly lower than those of NahG transgenic Arabidopsis and resulted in SA deficient phenotypes. The low-SA trait of the S5Hpro::EGFP-S3H transgenic lines was inherited stably in the later generations. Conclusions Compared with NahG transgenic lines producing by-product catechol, S5Hpro::EGFP-S3H transgenic lines reduce SA levels by converting SA to a native product 2,3-DHBA for catabolism. Together, we provide new SA-deficient germplasms for the investigations of SA signaling in plant development, leaf senescence, and disease resistance.

Sustainable light energy from ambient environment has attracted particular attention to meet the ever-growing need of small-scale electronics. The modulation of intercorrelated thermal and electronic transport is one of the crucial aspects for reliable photothermoelectric electronics. Herein, a defect-promoted photothermoelectric effect is demonstrated in densely aligned ZnO nanorod array with rich lattice defects. The defect-rich ZnO device delivers high electrical conductivity and large Seebeck coefficient to enable significant improvement of photothermoelectric energy conversion and self-powered photodetection. The position sensitivity reaches approximately 0.19 mV mm−1, and the temperature gradient induced electric field makes up for the suppression in the photothermoelectric process. The synergism between intrinsic defects and extra temperature field plays an important role in promoting the photothermoelectric properties of dense ZnO nanorod array. This study is interesting for interpreting the thermo-phototronic phenomena as well as demonstrating the possibility of defect engineering and phonon engineering to enable highly efficient light energy scavenging and self-powered photodetection.

Rapeseed not only provide considerable amount of edible oil with high nutritional properties but can also be used as a raw material for biofuel production in many industries. It is therefore in high demand to bring genetic changes in order to fulfill the need of human and of industries. Though traditional breeding techniques such as hybridization and mutagenesis remained the top methods for long time to create improved varieties in oilseed rape. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is becoming one of the most valuable gene editing technologies that allow precise genome engineering, and open new ways for research in plant functional genomics. Though CRISPR has been used in many other crops for genetic improvement it is expected to be an effective tool for genome editing and molecular design in oilseed rape for seed oil improvement. This mini review will discuss and summarize the past and ongoing research and development in rapeseed in terms of seed oil improvement and fatty acid composition using CRISPR technology. In addition, the factors that hinder the efficiency of this tool and how to eliminate those factors will be briefly summarized. The improvement of CRISPR technology for getting better results in oilseed rape will also be considered here. This minireview will open new windows for researchers in Brassica napus oil improvement research and genetic improvement using CRISPR technology.

Investigating the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of various industry types is critical for promoting the high-quality transformation and development of China's industry. This study combined the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic method, the random forest-based importance assessment method, and the geographically weighted regression method to determine the spatial distribution characteristics of four industry types and their influencing factors. The results revealed that the raw material industry was primarily concentrated in the surrounding districts and counties of Linyi and Qingdao. The food and light textile industry was mainly concentrated in the surrounding districts and counties of Qingdao, and a few were concentrated in some counties of Linyi. The processing and manufacturing industry was also concentrated in the surrounding districts and counties of Qingdao, and a few were concentrated in the belt regions connecting Jinan, Zibo, and Weifang. The high-tech industry was mainly concentrated in the surrounding districts and counties of Jinan and Qingdao. The key spatial influencing factors of the four industry types were different. The number of employees in the secondary industry and road density were most important in determining the spatial distribution of the raw material industry. The financial environment and number of research institutions were most important to the spatial distribution of the food and light textile industry. The gross domestic product and number of medical facilities were most important to the spatial distribution of the processing and manufacturing industry. Urbanization rate, number of research institutions, and gross domestic product were most important to the spatial distribution of the high-tech industry. Geographically weighted regression analysis revealed that the impact intensity of these key factors on the industry exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity. Taken together, these results are useful for formulating the development strategy for each industrial type in different regions.

In this paper we apply a smoothing technique for the maximum function, based on the compensated convex transforms, originally proposed by Zhang in [1] to construct some computable multiwell non-negative quasiconvex functions in the calculus of variations. Let $ K\subseteq E\subseteq M^{m\times n} $ with $ K $ a finite set in a linear subspace $ E $ without rank-one matrices of the space $ M^{m\times n} $ of real $ m\times n $ matrices. Our main aim is to construct computable quasiconvex lower bounds for the following two multiwell models with possibly uneven wells: i) Let $ f:K\subseteq E\to E^\perp $ be an $ L $-Lipschitz mapping with $ 0\leq L\leq 1/\alpha $ and $ H_2(X) = \min\{ |P_EX-A_i|^2+\alpha|P_{E^\perp}X-f(A_i)|^2+\beta_i:\, i = 1, 2, \dots, k\} $, where $ \alpha > 0 $ is a control parameter, and ii) $ H_1(X) = \alpha|P_{E^\perp}X|^2+\min\{\sqrt{|\mathcal{U}_i(P_EX-A_i)|^2+\gamma_i}: i = 1, 2, \dots, k\} $, where $ A_i\in E $ with $ U_i:E\to E $ invertible linear transforms for $ i = 1, 2, \dots, k $. If the control paramenter $ \alpha > 0 $ is sufficiently large, our quasiconvex lower bounds are 'tight' in the sense that near each 'well' the lower bound agrees with the original function, and our lower bound are of $ C^{1, 1} $. We also consider generalisations of our constructions to other simple geometrical multiwell models and discuss the implications of our constructions to the corresponding variational problems.

Background & Aims: Among individuals with Child-Pugh B cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding (AVB), the Baveno VII workshop recommended pre-emptive TIPS in those with a Child-Pugh score of 8-9 and active bleeding at initial endoscopy (Child B8-9 + AB criteria). Nevertheless, whether this criterion is superior to the CLIF-Consortium acute decompensation score (CLIF-C ADs) remains unclear. Methods: Data on 1,021 consecutive individuals with Child-Pugh B cirrhosis and AVB from 13 university hospitals in China who were treated with pre-emptive TIPS (n = 297) or drug plus endoscopic treatment (n = 724) between 2010 to 2019 were retrospectively analysed. A competing risk regression model was used to compare the outcomes between the two groups after adjusting for confounders. The concordance-statistic for benefit (c-for-benefit) was used to evaluate a models’ ability to predict treatment benefit (risk difference between treatment groups). Results: Pre-emptive TIPS was associated with reduced mortality compared to drug plus endoscopic treatment (adjusted hazard ratio 0.62, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.88). A higher baseline CLIF-C AD score was associated with greater survival benefit (i.e., larger absolute mortality risk reduction). After adjusting for confounders, a survival benefit was observed in individuals with CLIF-C ADs ≥48 or Child-Pugh B8-9 with active bleeding, but not in those with CILF-C ADs

The chemical composition of aerosol particles is crucial to understanding their formation and evolution in the atmosphere. However, very limited information is available for the chemical composition of ultrafine particles, particularly for nanoclusters and newly formed particles, due to the lack of valid analytical methods. This work reviews the online measurement techniques for characterizing the chemical composition of atmospheric clusters and sub-20 nm particles. The commonly used instrumentations are divided into two categories: direct techniques based on mass spectrometry and indirect measurement techniques mainly relying on the physical properties (e.g., hygroscopicity and volatility). The advantages of these techniques are compared and their limitations in the lab and field application are summarized. The combination of direct and indirect techniques is discussed, and this may provide more comprehensive understanding of chemical information of atmospheric clusters and particles. We propose that the newly developing instrumentations are needed to improve the collection efficiency for direct techniques, or the chemical resolution for indirect techniques. Future development should focus on obtaining simultaneous measurements of particle physical and chemical properties, which can be helpful in improving the accuracy of modeling and the understanding of particle formation and evolution.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor with many important functions in normal and transformed cells. STAT3 regulatory activities are highly complex as they are involved in various signaling pathways in different cell types under different conditions. Biologically, STAT3 is a regulative factor for normal and cancer stem cells (CSCs). Tumor protein p63 (p63), a member of the p53 protein family, is involved in these biological processes and is also physically and functionally associated with STAT3. STAT3 activation occurs during various aspects of carcinogenesis, including regulation of CSCs properties. In combination with p63, STAT3 is a possible biological marker of CSCs and a major regulator of maintenance of stemness in CSCs. We summarized the STAT3 functions and regulation and its role in CSC properties and highlight how these are affected by its associations with p63.

Abstract Site-directed mutagenesis for large plasmids is a difficult task that cannot easily be solved by the conventional methods used in many laboratories. In this study, we developed an effective method for Site-directed Mutagenesis for Large Plasmids (SMLP) based on a PCR technique. The SMLP method combines several effective approaches, including a high-efficiency DNA polymerase for the large DNA amplification, two independent PCR reactions and a fast recombinational ligation. Using this method, we have achieved a variety of mutants for the filamin A gene (7.9 kb) cloned in the pcDNA (5.4 kb) or the pLV-U6-CMV-EGFP (9.4 kb) plasmids, indicating that this method can be applied to site-directed mutagenesis for the plasmids up to 17.3 kb. We show that the SMLP method has a greater advantage than the conventional methods tested in this study, and this method can be applied to substitution, deletion, and insertion mutations for both large and small plasmids as well as the assembly of three fragments from PCR reactions. Altogether, the SMLP method is simple, effective, and beneficial to the laboratories that require completing the mutagenesis of large plasmids.

Numerous applications and devices use Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-provided position, velocity and time (PVT) information. However, unintentional interference and malicious attacks render GNSS-provided information unreliable. Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) is considered an effective and lightweight protection method when a subset of the available satellite measurements is affected. However, conventional RAIM Fault Detection and Exclusion (FDE) can be computationally expensive, due to iterative search to exclude faulty signals, in case of many faults and more so for multi-constellation GNSS receivers. Therefore, we propose a fast multiple fault detection and exclusion (FM-FDE) algorithm, to detect and exclude multiple faults for both single and multi-constellation receivers. The novelty is that FM-FDE can effectively exclude faults without an iterative search for faulty signals. FM-FDE calculates position distances of any subset pairs with max{3 + P, 2P} measurements, where P is the number of constellations. Then, the algorithm utilizes statistical testing to examine the distances and identify faulty measurements to exclude from the computation of the resultant PVT solution. We evaluate FM-FDE with synthesized faulty measurements in a collected data set; it shows that FM-FDE is practically equally effective as the conventional Solution Separation (SS) FDE in a single constellation receiver. The computational advantage of FM-FDE is more pronounced in a multi-constellation setting, e.g., being more efficient for GPS-Galileo receivers facing more than 2 faults across both constellations. The trade-off is that FM-FDE slightly degrades performance in terms of detection and false alarm probabilities with small errors, compared to the conventional SS FDE.

Abstract Background Cytokinins are one kind of phytohormones essential for plant growth, development and stress responses. In the past half century, significant progresses have been made in the studies of cytokinin signal transduction and metobolic pathways, but the mechanism of cytokinin translocation is poorly understood. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) response regulator 5 (ARR5) is a type-A response factor in cytokinin signaling which is induced by cytokinins and has been used as a reporter gene for the endogenous cytokinins in Arabidopsis. Here, we report a fluorescence-based high-throughput method to screen cytokinin translocation mutants using an ethyl methyl sulfone (EMS) mutagenesis library generated with ARR5::eGFP transgenic plants. Results The seedlings with enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) signal in roots were screened in a luminescence imaging system (LIS) in large scale to obtain mutants with over-accumulated cytokinins in roots. The selected mutants were confirmed under a fluorescence microscopy and then performed phenotypic analysis. In this way, we obtained twelve mutants with elevated GFP signal in the roots and further found three of them displayed reduced GFP signal in the aerial tissues. Two of the mutants were characterized and proved to be the atabcg14 allelic mutants which are defective in the long-distance translocation of root-synthesized cytokinins. Conclusions We provide a strategy for screening mutants defective in cytokinin translocation, distribution or signaling. The strategy can be adapted to establish a system for screening mutants defective in other hormone transporters or signaling components using a fluorescence reporter.

A series of Eu3+ doped Y2O3 nanophosphors have been synthesized via an ultra-fast ultrasonic-microwave method followed by thermal annealing. The emission of Y2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphors depends tremendously on the concentration of Eu3+ ions and maximum emission intensity is achieved at 612 nm (red luminescence) with a doping concentration of 3 mol%. Moreover, the Y2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphors in this work have much higher photoluminescence lifetime (1.570 ms) and quantum efficiency (80.88%) than that synthesized by other methods. The results of chromaticity coordinates indicate that the Y2O3:Eu3+ as red-emitting phosphor is promising candidate for white light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

Abstract Background As the main form of photoassimilates transported from vegetative tissues to the reproductive organs, sucrose and its degradation products are crucial for cell fate determination and development of maize kernels. Despite the relevance of sucrose synthase SH1 (shrunken 1)-mediated release of hexoses for kernel development, the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms are not yet well understood in maize (Zea mays). Results Here, we identified a new allelic mutant of SH1 generated by EMS mutagenesis, designated as sh1*. The mutation of SH1 caused more than 90% loss of sucrose synthase activity in sh1* endosperm, which resulted in a significant reduction in starch contents while a dramatic increase in soluble sugars. As a result, an extremely high osmolality in endosperm cells of sh1* was generated, which caused kernel swelling and affected the seed development. Quantitative measurement of phosphorylated sugars showed that Glc-1-P in endosperm of sh1* (17 μg g− 1 FW) was only 5.2% of that of wild-type (326 μg g− 1 FW). As a direct source of starch synthesis, the decrease of Glc-1-P may cause a significant reduction in carbohydrates that flow to starch synthesis, ultimately contributing to the defects in starch granule development and reduction of starch content. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that SH1-mediated sucrose degradation is critical for maize kernel development and starch synthesis by regulating the flow of carbohydrates and maintaining the balance of osmotic potential.

Abstract Heavy oil is a major fossil fuel resource to fulfill global growing fuel consumption. Hot solvent injection is an effective heavy oil production method. Hot solvent application feasibility has been previously compared between cyclic solvent injection (CSI) method and vapor solvent extraction (VAPEX) method where CSI method is advantageous in terms of oil recovery. However, previous studies have focused on the solvent temperature sensitivity analysis only in the VAPEX method. In this study, the solvent temperature study has been conducted discussing the multiple effects of temperature on both foamy oil and production performance in CSI method. A conventional CSI experiment (20°C) and two hot solvent‐based CSI experiments (55 and 70°C) are conducted. The results demonstrate that, although the oil recovery of three tests is close to each other, oil rate and foamy oil strength will increase with the solvent injection temperature during the high oil rate phase. However, at a high injection temperature level, the maintenance of foamy oil is difficult due to high‐temperature effect on foamy oil stability. Medium‐high temperature level (55°C) is considered optimal temperature regarding the solvent extraction efficiency based on the gross utilization factor data.

The treatment of organic pollutants in wastewater is becoming a great challenge for social development. Herein, a novel contact-piezoelectric bi-catalysis of a ZnO@ PVDF composite membrane was prepared by electrospinning technology. The obtained ZnO@PVDF composite membranes is superior to the pure PVDF membrane in decomposing methyl orange (MO) under ultrasonication at room temperature, which is mainly attributed to the synergy effect of the contact-electro-catalysis of dielectric PVDF, as well as the piezoelectric catalysis of tetrapodal ZnO and the β-phase of PVDF. The heterostructure of the piezoelectric-ZnO@dielectric-PVDF composite is beneficial in reducing the electron/hole pair recombination. As compared to the pure PVDF membrane, the catalytic degradation efficiency of the ZnO@PVDF composite membrane was improved by 444.23% under ultrasonication. Moreover, the reusability and stability of the composite membrane are comparable to those of the traditional powdered catalyst. This work offers a promising strategy for improving the pollutant degradation by combining contact-electro-catalysis with piezoelectric catalysis.

Background: Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a serious disease usually happening in elder people and with high death rate. Accumulating studies have reported that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in the progression of various human diseases, including TAA. Aim: In our study, we intended to explore the function of elastin (Eln) and its upstream mechanism in TAA. Methods: RT-qPCR determined gene expressions and western blot tested changes in protein levels. Ang Ⅱ treatment was implemented to induce cell apoptosis. Flow cytometry analysis, TUNEL assay and JC-1 assay were exploited to measure cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, mechanistic assays such as RIP, RNA pull down and luciferase reporter assays were employed to identify the interplay between RNAs. Results: Eln inhibition was identified to protect rat arterial smooth muscle cells from apoptosis. Also, miR-29b-3p was identified to bind to Eln, and X inactive specific transcript (Xist) could boost Eln expression through absorbing miR-29b-3p. Meanwhile, Eln overexpression counteracted the suppression of silenced Xist on the apoptosis of rat arterial smooth muscle cells. More importantly, such ceRNA network was proved to aggravate the apoptosis of human aortic smooth muscle cells. Conclusion: LncRNA Xist contributes to arterial smooth muscle cell apoptosis through miR-29b-3p/Eln pathway, providing new potential roads for treating TAA.

Phytohormones are a group of small chemical molecules that play vital roles in plant development, metabolism, and stress responses. Phytohormones often have distinct biosynthesis and signaling perception sites, requiring long- or short-distance transportation. Unlike biosynthesis and signal transduction, phytohormone transport across cells and organs is poorly understood. The transporter activity assay is a bottleneck for the functional characterization of novel phytohormone transporters. In the present study, we report a tobacco syringe agroinfiltration and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (TSAL)-based method for performing a phytohormone transporter activity assay using endogenous hormones present in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) leaves. A transporter activity assay using this method does not require isotope-labeled substrates and can be conveniently performed for screening multiple substrates by using endogenous hormones in tobacco leaves. The transporter activities of three known hormone transporters, namely AtABCG25 for abscisic acid, AtABCG16 for jasmonic acid, and AtPUP14 for cytokinin, were all successfully validated using this method. Using this method, cytokinins were found to be the preferred substrates of an unknown maize (Zea mays) transporter ZmABCG43. ZmABCG43 transporter activities toward cytokinins were confirmed in a cytokinin long-distance transport mutant atabcg14 through gene complementation. Thus, the TSAL method has the potential to be used for basic substrate characterization of novel phytohormone transporters or for the screening of novel transporters for a specific phytohormone on a large scale.

Background: The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is linked to an intricate association of environmental, microbial, and host-related factors. Polysaccharide affects host immunity by regulating the composition and metabolism of gut microbiota is the common mechanism of disease resistance. However, the efficacy and mechanism of Schisandra chinensis polysaccharide (SCP) in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease have not been studied.Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of SCP on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) - induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice.Materials/Methods: In this study, we established a mouse model of UC, and used SCP for treatment intervention. The biochemical indexes related to inflammation were determined by ELISA kit, and the therapeutic effect of SCP on UC was clarified. Then, 16S rDNA sequencing was used to study the effect of SCP on the composition and diversity of gut microbiota. At the same time, GC-MS was used to determine the content of short chain fatty acids in intestinal contents. Finally, the relationship among gut microbiota, short chain fatty acids and inflammatory factors was analyzed, and to comprehensively explain the effect and mechanism of SCP on UC.Results: The results showed that SCP could significantly improve the physiological state of UC mice and regulate the level of inflammatory factors to normal levels. Meanwhile, SCP could significantly regulate the imbalance of gut microbiota and increase the content of SCFAs. In addition, the results of the correlation between gut microbiota and SCFAs showed that butyric acid, isobutyric acid and valeric acid had the highest correlation with gut microbiota.Conclusion: In conclusion, this research showed that SCP can inhibit inflammatory bowel disease by regulating the composition and metabolism of gut microbiota, and indicating that SCP may be used as adjuvant therapy for IBD patients.

Abstract Background Transgenic technology has become an important technique for crop genetic improvement. The application of well-characterized promoters is essential for developing a vector system for efficient genetic transformation. Therefore, isolation and functional validation of more alternative constitutive promoters to the CaMV35S promoter is highly desirable. Results In this study, a 2093-bp sequence upstream of the translation initiation codon ATG of AtSCPL30 was isolated as the full-length promoter (PD1). To characterize the AtSCPL30 promoter (PD1) and eight 5′ deleted fragments (PD2-PD9) of different lengths were fused with GUS to produce the promoter::GUS plasmids and were translocated into Nicotiana benthamiana. PD1-PD9 could confer strong and constitutive expression of transgenes in almost all tissues and development stages in Nicotiana benthamiana transgenic plants. Additionally, PD2-PD7 drove transgene expression consistently over twofold higher than the well-used CaMV35S promoter under normal and stress conditions. Among them, PD7 was only 456 bp in length, and its transcriptional activity was comparable to that of PD2-PD6. Moreover, GUS transient assay in the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana revealed that the 162-bp (− 456~ − 295 bp) and 111-bp (− 294~ − 184 bp) fragments from the AtSCPL30 promoter could increase the transcriptional activity of mini35S up to 16- and 18-fold, respectively. Conclusions As a small constitutive strong promoter of plant origin, PD7 has the advantage of biosafety and reduces the probability of transgene silencing compared to the virus-derived CaMV35S promoter. PD7 would also be an alternative constitutive promoter to the CaMV35S promoter when multigene transformation was performed in the same vector, thereby avoiding the overuse of the CaMV35S promoter and allowing for the successful application of transgenic technology. And, the 162- and 111-bp fragments will also be very useful for synthetic promoter design based on their high enhancer activities.

Abstract Background There is a lack of information on the epidemiological data and risk factors associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in Chinese population. We reported the primary results from screening five-community population in Middle China for AAA. Methods From March 2014 to October 2015, an AAA screening program was performed in three urban and two rural communities. These communities were randomly selected. All at-risk residents (a total of 6925) aged 40 years or older were invited to attend an ultrasound scan for AAA. At-risk population was defined as having a family history of first-degree relative diagnosed with AAA; or smoking and aged 55 years or older; or having a history of CAD, cerebrovascular disease, hypercholesterolemia, obesity (BMI ≧ 26 kg/m2) or hypertension. Results The study investigated 5402 subjects and the mean age of them was 61.2 ± 10.4 years old. It included 2847 women aged 62.5 ± 10.4 years and 2555 men aged 59.7 ± 10.2 years. The mean maximum infrarenal aortic diameter (Max-IAD) was 15.0 ± 2.7 mm (from 4.1 to 51.5 mm). Eighteen people (aged 68.0 ± 10.4 years) with AAAs were detected (prevalence rate was 0.33%), and the prevalence rate in males was higher than in females (0.55% vs 0.14%, respectively, P = 0.009). Additionally, the screened subjects aged 55 to 75 years had a higher prevalence rate of AAA than other age groups (0.51% vs 0.11%, respectively, P = 0.016). Conclusion The mean Max-IAD of the screened population in Middle China was apparently small by comparison with other reports. The result of low prevalence rate of AAA didn’t support routine screening in Chinese population. The at-risk males aged 55 to 75 years should be targeted for further screening.

Summary: Self-powered photodetectors are expected to play a crucial role in future nano-optoelectronic devices owing to their independent and sustainable operation. Based on the heterojunction between ZnO nanowires (NWs) and shuttle-like SnS, we design a self-powered photodetector exhibiting wide-range photoresponse and tunable spectral selectivity. Differently from conventional devices, a wavelength-induced photocurrent polarity is observed in the ZnO NWs/SnS photodetector, which enables the device to distinguish between photons in the UV and visible (VIS) regions. This is due to switching of the interfacial modulation by the pyroelectric-polarization potential (pyro-potential) inside ZnO NWs and thermoelectric-polarization potential (thermo-potential) inside SnS. A photocurrent enhancement of 125% and improved responsivity of 364 μA/W are obtained under the pyro-potential upon 690 nm light illumination, whereas reversed responsivity of −155 μA/W is obtained under the thermo-potential upon 365 nm light illumination. We believe the photocurrent polarity could be useful for improving resolution of dynamic light sensing/imaging. : Optoelectronics; Nanotechnology Fabrication; Energy Materials Subject Areas: Optoelectronics, Nanotechnology Fabrication, Energy Materials

Abstract Background Nonspecific phospholipase C (NPC), which belongs to a phospholipase C subtype, is a class of phospholipases that hydrolyzes the primary membrane phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine, to yield sn-1, 2-diacylglycerol and a phosphorylated head-group. NPC plays multiple physiological roles in lipid metabolism and signaling in plants. To fully understand the putative roles of NPC genes in upland cotton, we cloned NPC genes from Gossypium hirsutum and carried out structural, expression and evolutionary analysis. Results Eleven NPC genes were cloned from G. hirsutum, which were found on chromosomes scaffold269.1, D03, A07, D07, A08, D11, and scaffold3511_A13. All GhNPCs had typical phosphoesterase domains and have hydrolase activity that acts on ester bonds. GhNPCs were annotated as phospholipase C, which was involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. These GhNPCs showed differential expression patterns in distinct plant tissues and in response to various types of stress (low-phosphate, salt, drought, and abscisic acid). They also had different types and numbers of cis-element. GhNPCs could be classified into four subfamilies. Four pairs of GhNPCs were generated by whole-genome duplication and they underwent purifying selection. Conclusions Our results suggested that GhNPCs are involved in regulating key abiotic stress responses and ABA signaling transduction, and they may have various functional roles for different members under complex abiotic stress conditions. Functional divergence may be the evolutionary driving force for the retention of four pairs of duplicate NPCs. Our analysis provides a solid foundation for the further functional characterization of the GhNPC gene family, and leads to potential applications in the genetic improvement of cotton cultivars.

Cytokinins (CKs) are a group of mobile adenine derivatives that act as chemical signals regulating a variety of biological processes implicated in plant development and stress responses. Their synthesis, homeostasis, and signaling perception evoke complicated intracellular traffic, intercellular movement, and in short- and long-distance translocation. Over nearly two decades, subsets of membrane transporters have been recognized and implicated in the transport of CKs as well as the related adenylates. In this review, we aim to recapitulate the key progresses in exploration of the transporter proteins involved in cytokinin traffic and translocation, discuss their functional implications in the cytokinin-mediated paracrine and long-distance communication, and highlight some knowledge gaps and open issues toward comprehensively understanding the molecular mechanism of membrane transporters in controlling spatiotemporal distribution of cytokinin species.

To promote the harmonious human-land relationships and increased urban-rural interaction, rural collective-owned commercial construction land (RCOCCL) marketization reform in some pilot areas was a new attempt by the Chinese Central Government in 2015. In this areas, a novel interest distribution system was established with the land right adjustment and the corresponding local governments were likely to benefit through taxation and land appreciation adjustment fund. This study proposed the hypothesis that the RCOCCL marketization reform would improve local government revenue, and explored the actual effect based on panel census data of county-level administrative units from 2010 to 2018. We applied the difference-in-difference (DID) method to analyze the causal effect of this reform on fiscal revenue with 29 pilot areas selected as the treatment group and 1602 county-level units as the control group. The empirical results of the optimized DID robustness test models and the Heckman two-step method showed that the RCOCCL marketization reform does not have a significant impact because of lower land circulation efficiency, the transfer of land transaction costs, and the policy implementation deviations. Thus, weakening the administrative intervention of local governments in the RCOCCL marketization is essential to the land market development in China.

The efficiency of cellulosic biofuel production from woody biomass is limited by the presence of lignin that impedes efficient processing. Here the authors show that transgenic modification of aspen to depress lignin polymerization can increase ethanol yield without affecting tree growth.

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most popular vegetables in the world. In tomato production, due to the effects of diseases, insect pests, drought, and cold damage, large-scale production reduction is often caused. Plant trichomes are protruding attachments distributed on the surface of different plants, providing protection for plants. When the plant is under external stress, the trichomes can play an important role in protecting the plant from damage through its physical structure. The density and type of different trichomes are closely related to the stress resistance of tomatoes. The tomato wo mutant LA3186 (referred to herein as “3186M”), LA3186 (referred to herein as “3186L”), the ln mutant LA3-071 (referred to herein as “3-071”), and the tomato cultivar Jia Ren (referred to herein as “JR”, used as the control), which possess different numbers of trichomes on the surface of the leaves, were used as materials; the glandular characteristics, types, and densities of the trichomes were observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM); and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the subcellular structure in the leaves. The relationship between the different tomato trichomes and stress resistance was investigated with treatments of low temperature, drought, disease, and insects. This study provides a theoretical foundation and practical basis for the further utilization and regulation of the trichome-related characteristics of tomatoes.

Vanadium-titanium slag is a type of industrial solid waste from vanadium-titanium magnetite, and the resource utilization of vanadium-titanium slag is of great significance. The chemical composition of vanadium-titanium slag is similar to ceramic raw materials. Besides, the Fe, Ti, and Mn elements in vanadium-titanium slags possess strong color rendering ability. In the present study, we explored the influence of Fe, Ti, and Mn in vanadium-titanium slags on the coloration of ceramics. Besides, the crystal structures and chemical constituents of the sintered ceramics were studied by XRD, SEM, EDS, XPS, and ultraviolet-visible near-infrared spectrophotometer, and the color-rendering ability (L∗a∗b∗ values) of the ceramics was investigated. The results showed that the main crystal phases of the ceramics were quartz and anorthite. In addition, the color of the ceramics with the addition of vanadium-titanium slags was significantly affected by Fe and Mn ions, which decreased their L∗ and a∗ values. Meanwhile, Ti ion alone had no apparent coloring effect but strengthened the coloring effects of Fe and Mn ions. This work could provide the feasibility for preparation of colored ceramics based on vanadium-titanium slag, which could be used in the fields of high-value added building decoration, infrared-emission ceramic, and artwork.

It is introduced that the mass sensitivity (Sm) of an acoustic wave (AW) device with a concentrated mass can be simply determined using its mode shape function: the Sm is proportional to the square of its mode shape. By using the Sm of an AW device with a uniform mass, which is known for almost all AW devices, the Sm of an AW device with a concentrated mass at different locations can be determined. The method is confirmed by numerical simulation for one type of AW device and the results from two other types of AW devices.

Magnetoelastic sensors as an important type of acoustic wave sensors have shown great promise for a variety of applications. Mass sensitivity is a key parameter to characterize its performance. In this work, the effects of mass load distribution on the mass sensitivity of a magnetoelastic sensor under different resonance modes were theoretically investigated using the modal analysis method. The results show that the mass sensitivity and “nodal point” positions are related to the point displacement, which is determined by the motion patterns. The motion patterns are affected by resonance modes and mass load distribution. Asymmetrical mass load distribution causes the motion patterns lose symmetry and leads to the shift of “nodal point”. The mass sensitivity changing with mass load distribution behaves like a sine wave with decaying amplitude and the minimum mass sensitivity appears at the first valley. This study provides certain theoretical guidance for optimizing the mass sensitivity of a magnetoelastic sensor or other acoustic wave based sensors.

Phosphate (Pi) limitation is a constraint for plant growth and development in many natural and agricultural ecosystems. In this study, a gene encoding Zea mays L. protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit A, designated ZmPP2AA1, was induced in roots by low Pi availability. The function of the ZmPP2AA1 gene in maize was analyzed using overexpression and RNA interference. ZmPP2AA1 modulated root gravitropism, negatively regulated primary root (PR) growth, and stimulated the development of lateral roots (LRs). A detailed characterization of the root system architecture (RSA) in response to different Pi concentrations with or without indole-3-acetic acid and 1-N-naphthylphthalamic acid revealed that auxin was involved in the RSA response to low Pi availability. Overexpression of ZmPP2AA1 enhanced tolerance to Pi starvation in transgenic maize in hydroponic and soil pot experiments. An increased dry weight (DW), root-to-shoot ratio, and total P content and concentration, along with a delayed and reduced accumulation of anthocyanin in overexpressing transgenic maize plants coincided with their highly branched root system and increased Pi uptake capability under low Pi conditions. Inflorescence development of the ZmPP2AA1 overexpressing line was less affected by low Pi stress, resulting in higher grain yield per plant under Pi deprivation. These data reveal the biological function of ZmPP2AA1, provide insights into a linkage between auxin and low Pi responses, and drive new strategies for the efficient utilization of Pi by maize.

Ta/Nd/NdFeB/Nd/Ta films were deposited by magnetron sputtering on Si (100) substrates and subsequently annealed for 30 min at 923 K in vacuum. It was found that the microstructure and magnetic properties of Ta/Nd/NdFeB/Nd/Ta films strongly depend on the NdFeB layer thickness. With NdFeB layer thickness increasing, both the grain size and the strain firstly reduce and then increase. When NdFeB layer thickness is 750 nm, the strain reaches the minimum value. Meanwhile, both the in-plane and perpendicular coercivities firstly drastically increase and then slowly decrease with NdFeB layer thickness increasing. The highest in-plane and perpendicular coercivities can be obtained at NdFeB layer thickness of 750 nm, which are 21.2 kOe and 19.5 kOe, respectively. In addition, the high remanence ratio (remanent magnetization/saturation magnetization) of 0.87 can also be achieved in Ta/Nd/NdFeB (750 nm)/Nd/Ta film.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration fly ash (IFA) can be potentially reused as a substitute for some raw materials, but treatment for detoxification is indispensable owing to high contents of heavy metals in fly ash. In the present work, due to excessive leaching concentration of lead (Pb), a moderate thermal treatment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) addition was employed to stabilize Pb in IFA. The moderate thermal treatment was performed under relatively low temperature ranging from 300 to 500°C and at retention time from 1 to 3 h with NaOH addition in a range of 1 to 9%. Leaching results showed that leaching concentrations of Pb in IFA leachates decreased below the standard for hazardous waste identification (5 mg/L) in China under all treatment scenarios. With the increase of temperature, retention time and the amount of NaOH, the concentration of Pb were further suppressed in IFA leachates. Especially, at 500°C for 3 h with 9% NaOH addition, the concentration of Pb dropped to 0.18 mg/L, which was below the standard for sanitary landfill (0.25 mg/L) in China. In thermal process, needle-like crystallites melted to form granules and clumps with compacter structure and less pores. After the thermal treatment, water-soluble and exchangeable fractions of Pb significantly decreased. Therefore, the thermal treatment coupled with NaOH could be applied to realize the environmentally sound management of MSW IFA.

In this paper, we presented a theoretical method for studying the behavior of magnetic field intensity and eddy current inside a magnetostriction based bi-layered composite. Firstly, the mathematical model for the electromagnetic field in the composite was established. Then, the governing equation for determining the magnetic field intensity and eddy current was solved. Furthermore, the effect of the composite’s conductivity on the magnetic field intensity and eddy current were discussed. Lastly, by comparing with the well known R.L. Stoll’s equation, the magnetic field intensity calculated based on our equation showed a less than 0.5% error.

The influence of a commercial coupling agent on the dielectric properties and microstructure of ceramic-polymer nanocomposites are studied. Free-standing BaTiO _3 -P(VDF-CTFE) films were fabricated using a simple solution-casting process, and the good wettability between fillers and polymer matrix was obtained by using 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane as coupling agent. It is found that the coating of a small amount of coupling agent on the surface of BaTiO _3 fillers results in an enhanced dielectric constant, a higher breakdown strength and a larger energy-storage efficiency. When an excessive amount of coupling agent was used, the non-attached coupling agent molecules participated in the complex reactions and result in the aggregation of fillers and the reduction of dielectric constant. It is also found that the surface modification of fillers has a complicated influence on its dielectric behavior which leads to an increase in the dielectric loss of the nanocomposites. When an appropriate amount of coupling agent is coated on fillers, the energy storage density of the nanocomposite is improved due to the enhanced dielectric constant and higher breakdown strength. A maximal discharged energy-storage density of about 4.0 J cm ^−3 was obtained from the nanocomposite film containing 15 vol% of surface modified BaTiO _3 fillers with 1 wt% of KH550, which is about 3 times of that for the nanocomposite without coupling agent.

We established the vibration governing equation for a magnetoelastic (ME) biosensor with target loading in liquid. Based on the equation, a numerical simulation approach was used to determine the effect of the target loading position and viscous damping coefficient on the node (“blind points”) and mass sensitivity (Sm) of an ME biosensor under different order resonances. The results indicate that viscous damping force causes the specific nodes shift but does not affect the overall variation trend of Sm as the change of target loading position and the effect on Sm gradually reduces when the target approaches to the node. In addition, Sm decreases with the increase of viscous damping coefficient but the tendency becomes weak at high-order resonance. Moreover, the effect of target loading position on Sm decreases with the increase of viscous damping coefficient. Finally, the results provide certain guidance on improving the mass sensitivity of an ME biosensor in liquid by controlling the target loading position.