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The control of carbon emissions from agriculture is imperative in addressing the challenges posed by the greenhouse effect. China must develop a specific pathway for reducing its agricultural carbon emissions, accounting for its unique circumstances and considering the impacts of trade liberalization. (1) The study revealing that agricultural trade liberalization (ATL) has a marked effect on lowering China's agricultural carbon emission intensity (ACEI), with robustness and endogeneity tests supporting these findings. (2) In the pursuit of emissions reduction, the crucial role of technology spillovers (TS) and the optimization of industrial structure (OIS) are essential. (3) The reduction in ACEI is particularly notable in coastal regions, areas with low environmental regulations and during periods characterized by more stable agricultural tariffs. This study shows a synergistic association between ATL and ACEI, indicates the potential for a mutually beneficial situation with advantages in both economic and environmental aspects. • Agricultural product trade helps to expand agricultural carbon emission reduction. • The paths of agricultural carbon emission effects in different characteristic contexts are explained. • The carbon emission reduction effect of agricultural trade is stronger in coastal areas. • The results of this study have significant implications for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction land reduction is an important means of promoting the effective allocation of factors and the optimization of industrial structure. Based on analyses of the impact mechanism of construction land reduction on industrial structure rationalization and supererogation, this study adopts the difference‐in‐difference model and threshold regression model to analyze the effects of construction land reduction. The results are as follows: (1) Construction land reduction significantly improves industrial structure rationalization and supererogation, and the positive effect clearly accumulates over time. After PSM‐DID and other series of robustness tests, the conclusion is still valid. (2) Construction land reduction in the outer suburban areas has a greater positive impact on industrial structure rationalization and supererogation than that in other suburban areas. (3) When the scale of the reduction exceeds a certain threshold, rural financial development can significantly promote industrial structure rationalization and supererogation. It is necessary to rationally plan the layout of industry, establish a mechanism of cross‐regional allocation of the reduction index, and provide replicable experiences for popularizing construction land reduction throughout the whole country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SNCA is up-regulated in the peripheral blood of major depressive disorder patients and in the hippocampus of depressive mice. • SNCA overexpression in the hippocampus induces depressive-like behaviors in mice, while SNCA knockout has antidepressant effects. • SNCA in hippocampus leads to synapse loss and neuronal cell death involved in depressive-like behaviors probably via complement system. • Complement system may play a key role in pathogenesis and progression of depressive disorder via microglia-mediated engulfment of synapses during inflammation. Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) which encoded by SNCA plays a critical role in the neurotransmission, vesicle dynamics, and neuroplasticity. Alteration to SNCA expression is associated with major depressive disorder. However, the pathogenic mechanism of SNCA in depression remains unknown. Herein, we reported that SNCA was up-regulated in the peripheral blood of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and the depressive mice. Chronic restraint stress (CRS) also up-regulated the SNCA expression in the hippocampus. Moreover, over-expression of SNCA in the hippocampus triggered spontaneous depressive-like behaviors under the non-stressed conditions in mice, and knockout of SNCA could reverse CRS-induced depressive-like behaviors. SNCA led to synapse loss and neuronal cell death in the hippocampus possibly via complement-mediated microglial engulfment and inflammation, and thus contributed to the pathogenesis of depressive disorder. Overall, hippocampal SNCA and complement system are involved in the pathogenesis of depressive disorder and it provides a new perspective for the occurrence of depressive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a slacks-based directional distance function to propose a framework for estimating economic land use efficiency, assess its spatial and temporal trends, and evaluate the role of more rational use of land resources in promoting faster transition to greener manufacturing. Our empirical illustration is based on a sample of 281 Chinese cities during the period 2009–2018. Our results suggest that economic land use efficiency has followed an upward trajectory despite experiencing minor fluctuations during the time period considered. We show that efficiency levels are significantly higher in China’s eastern and central regions than in the western areas, although the latter appear to be gradually catching up with their more economically developed counterparts. Land resources in China’s central and western regions perform significantly better when socially unintended outputs are taken into account during estimation. We also demonstrate that more rational land use plays a significant role in promoting faster transition to greener industrial structure and that this effect is mediated by the degree of competition intensity in manufacturing. Finally, our analysis suggest that the green development-enhancing impact of higher land use efficiency is stronger in regions with good local governance capacity, relatively large shares of secondary industry, and limited innovation capacity. Our findings offer valuable insights into possible strategies policymakers can use to promote faster the green transformation of the manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of supply side structural reform of the land market, this paper constructs a location choice behavior model of reduction from the perspective of rent maximization, explores how these factors affect the industrial land reduction location choice. We consider 100 industrial parcels in the suburbs of Shanghai as an example to analyze. It is found that the enterprises in development zones have greater advantages in economies of scale, labor productivity, pollution treatment, and tax payments than enterprises outside the development zone, so the low‐efficiency enterprises outside the development zones are the preferred objects of reduction. The suburban areas have a stronger attraction than the outer suburbs in the process of location choice, and the closer the city center is, the more obvious the location advantages of enterprises in development zones. Under the control of the total amount of construction land, the land use structure should be constantly adjusted, inefficient enterprises outside the development zone should be preferred to the reduction object, and the government should actively guide enterprises to enter the development zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Alkbh5 protein was widely expressed in the brain. • Alkbh5 protein was primarily expressed in the nucleus of neurons. • Alkbh5 contained a putative nuclear localization signal. • Alkbh5 was highly expressed during the embryonic development of the brain. • Alkbh5 decreased in the late brain development. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is one of the most abundant internal modifications on mRNAs and highly enriched within the brain. The demethylation of m6A is regulated by demethylases including fat-mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) and AlkB homolog 5 (Alkbh5). FTO has been shown to play an important role in the brain, but little is known about the expression pattern and role of Alkbh5. Here, we investigated the expression profile of Alkbh5 in the developing mouse brain and its localization in the adult mouse brain. The results showed that Alkbh5 was widely detected throughout the mouse brain, with relatively high levels observed in the cerebellum and olfactory bulb of the adult mouse brain. Furthermore, Alkbh5 is mainly co-localized with neuronal marker NeuN, suggesting that it is primarily expressed in the neurons. Specifically, Alkbh5 could be found primarily in the nucleus of mouse neurons and cell lines. In addition, Alkbh5 protein decreased dramatically during brain development. Our findings detail the expression pattern and subcellular localization of Alkbh5 in the mouse brain. These results provide a neurobiological basis for the participation of Alkbh5 in the regulation of various brain functions, which might shed new light on further functional analysis of Alkbh5 and m6A in the central nervous system (CNS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental performance-based credit mechanisms are among the tools policymakers can use to influence the polluting firms' behavior. In this study, we use China's blacklisting system for environmental fraud as a quasi-natural experiment to analyze the pollution-reducing effect of environmental credit constraints (ECCs). We operationalize our approach using a sample of 287 Chinese cities for the period 2008–2018 and find that ECCs help reduce emission intensity—a result that is both statistically significant and robust. Furthermore, our analysis suggests that ECCs can motivate producers to increase investment in technological innovation and optimize their factor allocation structure to improve green total factor productivity, thereby helping reduce their environmental impact. We demonstrate that the ECC-based schemes could be particularly effective in helping reduce pollution in regions with high enterprise credit dependence and relatively heavy presence of the manufacturing industry. In addition, these pollution-reducing effects are significant in regions with relatively strict environmental regulation. Hence, we argue that environmental credit systems could help policymakers provide polluting companies with additional incentives to voluntarily cut their emission levels and thus offer opportunities for diversifying the strategies policymakers can use to mitigate adverse environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reversible data hiding (RDH) method with prediction error histogram (PEH) decomposition and hybrid dimensional histogram modification is proposed. First, a global one-dimensional (1D) PEH is generated by pixel-based pixel value ordering predictor. The proposed method fully utilizes the pixels inside the range of the minimum and maximum of neighbors to decompose 1D-PEH into several sub 1D-PEHs. Then, each sub 1D-PEH is separated into two parts. The part with small-magnitude is used to construct a reduced two-dimensional (2D) PEH, whereas the rest is shifted for reversibility. Finally, data embedding is performed by modifying each reduced 2D-PEH to reduce distortion. Experimental results demonstrates that the proposed method outperforms some high-fidelity RDH methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early Cambrian Carinachitidae, a family in the subclass Conulata, are intriguing and important small shelly fossils. Their gently tapering, tube-shaped skeletons consist of convex faces separated from each other by broad, deep corner sulci, and they exhibit triradial, pentaradial, or predominantly tetraradial symmetry. However, the morphology of the aperture and the modes of growth of carinachitid skeletons as well as the anatomy of their soft parts are unknown. Examination of a single new, exceptionally well-preserved specimen of tetramerous Carinachites spinatus Qian, 1977, collected from the lower Cambrian Kuanchuanpu Formation in South China, reveals: (1) that its aperture is connected to a small mass of relic soft tissue and (2) that the apertural end of each of the four faces is developed into a subtriangular lappet or oral lobe that is smoothly folded toward the long axis of the tube, partially closing the tube aperture. Similarities between thorn-like spines on the faces and the oral lobes indicate that the transverse ribs were periodically displaced from the perradial portion of the aperture during formation of new ribs. In addition, the tube walls may have undergone secondary thickening during growth. The growth pattern of the tube and the spatial relationships between the tube aperture and soft parts are analogous to those of co-occurring olivooids. These findings further strengthen the previously proposed hypothesis that coeval carinachitids, olivooids, hexangulaconulariids, and Paleozoic conulariids are closely related taxa within the subphylum Medusozoa. Finally, carinachitids most likely represent an evolutionary intermediate between olivooids and hexangulaconulariids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The working temperature affects the performance of PEMFC, so a reasonable and efficient cooling channel is necessary to control the working temperature in an efficient area. In this study, the channel structure of the bipolar plate for PEMFC is analyzed using the FLUENT simulation calculation method. The influence of cell size and cooling water flow direction on cell temperature distribution is analyzed, including an examination of the channel ridge width, depth, and aspect ratio of the bipolar plate. After comparing and analyzing three ridge width sizes (0.5 mm, 1.5 mm and 2 mm) in the paper, it was found that a ridge width of 2 mm had the best heat transfer performance. And it was found that a groove depth of 0.5 mm had the best heat transfer performance when comparing three groove depth dimensions (0.5 mm, 1 mm and 1.5 mm). The aspect ratio size parameters had almost no effect on the maximum and average temperatures of the electric stacks, while the relative flow direction of cooling water had a great influence on the temperature distribution of the bipolar plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide removal assembly (CDRA) is an essential subsystem in an air revitalization system (ARS) to control CO2 concentration in a long-term manned spacecraft cabin. At the same time, it is a main power consumption subsystem. CO2 concentration control performance and power consumption are both key factors that need to be considered. To design this subsystem reasonably, some basic processes are analyzed carefully in this paper, such as mass and heat transfer processes in CO2 adsorption beds, power consumption for fan and electric heater, and entropy generation in heat transfer process. The relationship between CDRA and other subsystems are also analyzed carefully. Based on these analyses, a multiobjective optimal method is developed in this paper. Its objective functions are specified as cabin CO2 concentration level, power consumption, and entropy generation. The optimal parameters are air velocity, absorption bed length, adsorption time (half cycle time), and molecular sieve mass loaded in the absorption bed. An improved genetic algorithm, Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II), is adopted to obtain the final optimal solution set. Furthermore, a CDRA for a space station with three astronauts is taken as an example to show the implementation of the proposed method. Optimal results show that the presented optimal method can obtain the design solution set for the CDRA. The optimal parameter combination is recommended as the final optimal design solution by analyzing the global pareto optimal front of the solution set. This multiobjective optimal method can realize an optimization process for a complex system design by taking a comprehensive consideration of various factors and running performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facilitated by TiO 2 particles adsorbing lanthanide ions in hydrosol, La-doped TiO 2 was produced by a hydrothermal method. The structure, optical and photoluminescence properties of down-converting photoelectrode with the La 3+ were characterized by X-ray (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDX) and N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms measurement. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) fabricated with 0.05 g-La/TiO 2 reached 7.02%, which gave an efficiency improved by 10.36% compared with that of cells fabricated from pure TiO 2 . The improvement in efficiency was ascribed to more dyes adsorbed on the surface of TiO 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality while stabilizing economic development, enterprises need to achieve technological and management changes, and digital transformation is an important channel for change. This paper uses the 2010–2020 data on the A-share listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges from China’s power industry and takes these companies as research objects. The results show that enterprise digital transformation can significantly improve carbon total factor productivity (CTFP). Heterogeneity analysis shows that in state-owned enterprises and in those enterprises integrating coal and electricity, a high proportion of clean energy installed capacity and a high level of profitability result in greater improvements. The mechanism test shows that enterprise digital transformation changes factor preference and marginal output, significantly promotes factor-biased technological progress, and saves costs on expensive factors such as energy, thus improving CTFP. This paper provides new ideas for globally promoting digital transformation and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturing transfer is an important factor in optimizing the spatial distribution of resources and promoting regional environmental efficiency. Based on the manufacturing data of 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2017, the spatial Durbin model is used to investigate the impact of three types of manufacturing transfer and spatial agglomeration effects on environmental efficiency under the spatial weight matrix of economic distance. The results show that the improvement of environmental efficiency is inhibited by the transfer of labor-intensive manufacturing but facilitated by the spatial agglomeration of such manufacturing. The transfer of capital and technology-intensive manufacturing has no significant impact on environmental efficiency. Environmental efficiency is significantly improved by the spatial agglomeration of technology-intensive manufacturing but significantly inhibited by that of capital-intensive manufacturing. Third, the impact of three types of manufacturing transfer on environmental efficiency is analyzed from the perspective of regional heterogeneity. This paper puts forward relevant policy suggestions from the perspectives of manufacturing transfer, the agglomeration effect, so as to further improve the environmental efficiency. • This paper analyzes the impact of manufacturing transfer on environmental efficiency. • Labor-intensive manufacturing transfer inhibits the environmental efficiency. • The transfer of capital and technology-intensive manufacturing has no significant impact on environmental efficiency. • The impact of three types of manufacturing transfer on environmental efficiency is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Carbon emissions trading inhibits green technology innovation in the short run. • Carbon emissions trading will reduce the carbon emissions and carbon intensity greatly at this stage. • Carbon emissions trading has a crowding-out effect on R&D investment and increases the carbon trading price, which inhibited green technology innovation. • It is necessary to control the scale of carbon emission quota and diversify the subjects of carbon trading. Carbon emissions trading is an important measure to promote high-quality economic development. Based on the panel data of 30 provincial administrative regions in China from 2008 to 2017, this paper uses the difference-in-differences method to analyze the impact of carbon emissions trading on green technology innovation. The results show that: (1) Carbon emissions trading inhibits green technology innovation in the current stage, but greatly reduces carbon emissions and carbon intensity; (2) Carbon price and R&D investment are the mainly working channels, carbon emissions trading has a crowding-out effect on corporates' R&D investment and increases the carbon trading price, which in turn inhibits green technology innovation; (3) Carbon emissions trading has a stronger inhibitory effect on green technology innovation in eastern regions and regions with low emission intensity. Local government competition positively moderates the green technology innovation effect of carbon emissions trading. However, the command-controlled environmental regulations and the scale of the carbon emission quota have opposite effects, with the compatibility of environmental regulation tools remaining to be resolved. Therefore, it is necessary to control the scale of carbon emission quota to diversify the subjects of carbon trading and strengthen the impact of market-incentive environmental regulation tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal deposition induces damage to the renal tubular epithelium, increases epithelial adhesion, and contributes to CaOx nephrocalcinosis. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) is thought to be involved in this process. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanism by which NEAT1 regulates renal tubular epithelium in response to inflammatory and oxidative injury triggered by CaOx crystals. Results: As CaOx crystals were deposited in mouse kidney tissue, the expression of NEAT1 was significantly elevated and positively correlated with interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and NF-κB. NEAT1 targets and inhibits miR-130a-3p as a competitor to endogenous RNA. miR-130 binds to and exerts inhibitory effects on the 3′-untranslated region of IRF1. After transfected with silence-NEAT1, IRF1, TLR4, and NF-κB were also variously inhibited, and oxidative damage in renal calcinosis was subsequently attenuated. When we simultaneously inhibited NEAT1 and miR-130, renal tubular injury was exacerbated. Innovation and Conclusion: We found that the lncRNA NEAT1 can enhance IRF1 signaling through targeted repression of miR-130a-3p and activate TLR4/NF-κB pathways to promote oxidative damage during CaOx crystal deposition. This provides an explanation for the tubular epithelial damage caused by CaOx crystals and offers new ideas and drug targets for the prevention and treatment of CaOx nephrocalcinosis. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 38, 731–746. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Aldanella attleborensis, is a mollusk fossil found worldwide; its first appearance datum (FAD) has been suggested as one of the potential markers for defining the base of Cambrian Stage 2. However, A. attleborensis was uncommonly recovered in the Cambrian strata of South China, and if occurring, was usually described as Aldanella yanjiaheensis or an indeterminate species in the literature due to lack of detailed taxonomic work. That is an obvious obstacle to correlate and subdivide the Cambrian strata in South China and worldwide. Recently, numerous specimens of Aldanella were collected from Member 5 of the Yanjiahe Formation in the Three Gorges area, South China, which is the type locality of A. yanjiaheensis. Morphological and taxonomic study of these specimens supports that A. yanjiaheensis is a junior synonym of A. attleborensis. Shell microstructure and muscle scar imprints on its internal mold surface indicate that A. attleborensis may belong to the gastropods. The occurrence of A. attleborensis in Member 5 of the Yanjiahe Formation suggests that this stratigraphic unit shall be of Cambrian Stage 2 in age, and can be correlated with the Dahai Member of the Zhujiaqing Formation in Yunnan, uppermost Kuanchuanpu Formation in Shaanxi, and the uppermost Tianzhushan Member of the Dengying Formation in Hubei, South China. Meanwhile, using the FAD of A. attleborensis as a bio-marker, the upper Terreneuvian strata in South China, Siberia, Avalonia, and Estonia can be well correlated. Some small shelly fossils are important index fossils for global stratigraphic subdivisions and correlations of the Cambrian Terreneuvian. The first appearance datum (FAD) of the cosmopolitan mollusk Aldanella attleborensis has been suggested as one of the potential markers for defining the base of Cambrian Stage 2. Aldanella fossils were uncommon in South China, and if occurring, were often described as Aldanella yanjiaheensis, A. attleborensis, or indeterminate species in the literature, while A. yanjiaheensis was often taken as a junior synonym of A. attleborensis. Nevertheless, a detailed taxonomic revision of A. yanjiaheensis based on material from its type locality awaits to be made. In this study, we systematically re-evaluated A. yanjiaheensis based on the numerous specimens collected from the base of Member 5 of the Yanjiahe Formation in the Three Gorges area, western Hubei Province of South China. Detailed taxonomic comparison further substantiates that A. yanjiaheensis is a junior synonym of A. attleborensis, signifying its strong potential for a global correlation across paleocontinents. Morphological parameter analyses indicate that the length and width of shell tube of A. attleborensis shows allometric growth. The nearly cosmopolitan distribution and characteristic morphology of A. attleborensis indicate that it can play a significant role in the subdivision and correlation of Cambrian Stage 2. The co-occurrence of A. attleborensis and Watsonella crosbyi from the base of Member 5 of the Yanjiahe Formation corroborates that Member 5 belongs to Cambrian Stage 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chancelloriids are a group of enigmatic sessile animals that are covered with sclerites shaped as rosettes of spines, producing an appearance like that of a barrel cactus. They are known only from Cambrian rocks. Isolated sclerites of chancelloriids are widespread in small shelly faunas, but they have proven difficult to treat taxonomically due to the variation within and between individual animals. We report on large samples of chancelloriid sclerites from the Meishucunian (pre-trilobitic Lower Cambrian) of eastern Yunnan Province, China, including material from the Dahai Member of the Zhujiaqing Formation (the Zhujiaqing section, Dahai, Huize County) and the Shiyantou Formation (the Xiaotan section, Yongshan County). The material from the Dahai Member appears to come from a single species, Chancelloriella irregularis. Statistical analysis of morphotype co-occurrences in different samples suggests that several species are represented in the material from the Shiyantou Formation, which we herein tentatively place in four species, Allonnia erromenosa, Allonnia tetrathallis, Archiasterella charma sp. nov. and Archiasterella cf. pentactina. We suggest therefore that careful study of large collections of isolated chancelloriid sclerites permits the identification of different species, opening the possibility of their use in evolutionary or stratigraphical studies. In particular, in South China, it seems that Chancelloriella irregularis is characteristic of rocks of the Paragloborilus subglobosus - Purella squamulosa Assemblage Zone and the Watsonella crosbyi Assemblage Zone, whilst Archiasterella and Allonnia first appear in the overlying Sinosachites flabelliformis - Tannuolina zhangwentangi Assemblage Zone. C. irregularis is thus amongst the oldest well-characterized chancelloriids, and the irregularity and poor organization of its sclerites relative to those of younger forms support the hypothesis that chancelloriid sclerites are compound structures arising from the fusion of originally separate elements, perhaps homologous with sclerites of halkieriids and other coeloscleritophorans. The similarity between the arrangement of rays in a chancelloriid sclerite and the arrangement of bubbles in small bubble clusters suggests that in many cases, aspects of the form of chancelloriid sclerites are the result of simple physical processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on data from 286 cities, this paper analyzes the realistic effect of natural resource supervision on construction land use efficiency via the difference-in-differences (DID) method and its potential effect via stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). First, in the real economy, natural resource supervision can significantly reduce construction land use efficiency in cities with a natural resource supervision agency (NRSA), but the inhibitory effect gradually weakens. Natural resource supervision can promote the market development of tender, auction and quotation (TAQ) and thereby have an indirect impact by strengthening illegal land management. Second, natural resource supervision can significantly improve construction land use efficiency in cities with an NRSA when the degree of vertical financial asymmetry is high, but it has the opposite effect when the fiscal revenue decentralization level, regional competition level, economic development level and so on are high. Third, in terms of the potential effect, construction land use efficiency in cities without an NRSA is decreasing annually. Natural resource supervision can greatly promote construction land use efficiency in cities with an NRSA and allow these cities to catch up with cities without an NRSA. From the logical starting point of the resident effect of natural resource supervision, this paper focuses on the ultimate goal of high-quality economic development. This study is of great value for reforming the natural resource supervision system, standardizing the development of the land market and perfecting the incentive mechanism for local governments. • This paper analyzes the effect of natural resource supervision on construction land use efficiency. • Natural resource supervision will greatly promote construction land use efficiency in the long run. • Natural resource supervision can promote the market development of tender auctions and quotations. • This study is of great significance for reforming the natural resource supervision system and land market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chitin/alginate (CA) blend membranes were successfully prepared from 8wt% NaOH/4wt% urea aqueous solution by coagulating with 0.5M CaCl2 aqueous solution containing 5wt% HCl. Morphology, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and antimicrobial effects of the membranes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, IR and UV spectroscopes, X-ray diffraction, tensile tests, thermogravimetric analysis, water swelling and antimicrobial tests. The CA blends were miscible when the content of alginate was range from 33 to 67wt%. The crystallinity of the blend membranes decreased with an increase of alginate. Comparing with chitin membranes, the tensile strength and breaking elongation of the blend membranes were obviously improved in dry and wet states. The best values of the tensile strength and breaking elongation were 48MPa and 27%, respectively. All the blend membranes still retained obvious antimicrobial effects toward S. aureus and E. coli. Therefore, they showed potential for biomedical application. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chitin/alginate magnetic nano-gel beads (MCAs) were successfully prepared from 8wt.% NaOH/4wt.% urea aqueous solution by ionic cross-linking. Their structure and properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The results showed that the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized in situ with a mean diameter of 30nm were uniformly dispersed and immobilized in the chitin/alginate matrix. The structure and nature of iron oxide were conserved perfectly, and the MCAs had extremely small hysteresis loop and low coercivity. Moreover, MCAs could efficiently adsorb the methyl orange from wastewater. The iron oxide nanoparticles in the MCAs played an important role in both the creation of the magnetic-induced transference and the improvement of the adsorption capacity. This work provides a novel, low-cost, simple, and “green” process for synthesizing the chitin-based magnetic nanocomposite gel beads, which had potential application on the removal of hazardous materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Four kinds of natural chitin originating from crab (C1), shrimp (C2), silkworm chrysalis (C3) and flies shell (C4) were dissolved in 8 wt.% NaOH/4 wt.% urea aqueous solution. Dilute solution behavior of chitin was examined by laser light scattering and viscometry. The Mark–Houwink equation and the relationship between the z-average radius of gyration (Rg ) and the average-weight molecular (Mw ) for C1 in the solvent at 25°C were determined to be [η] = 0.26Mw 0.56±0.02 (mLg−1) and Rg =0.15Mw 0.47±0.03 (nm), respectively. On the basis of the polymer solution theory, the conformation parameters of C1 to C4 samples were calculated to be in the range of 25–18nm for the length of the Kuhn statistical segment (Qk ), and 43–32 for the characteristic ratio (C ∞), respectively. It indicated that chitin molecules existed in a random-coil chain conformation, and chain flexibility increases from C1 to C4 in NaOH/urea aqueous system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The detailed structure of the lophophore is a key diagnostic character in the definition of higher brachiopod taxa. The problematic Heliomedusa orienta Sun and Hou, from the Lower Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte of Yunnan, southwestern China, has a well-preserved lophophore, which is unlike that of any known extant or extinct brachiopods. Based on a comparative study of lophophore disposition in H. orienta and the extant discinid Pelagodiscus atlanticus, the in- and excurrent pattern and shell orientation of H. orienta are described and discussed. Reconstructions of lophophore shape and function are based on numerous specimens and comparison with P. atlanticus. The lophophore is composed of a pair of lophophoral arms that freely arch posteriorly rather than coiling anteriorly as commonly seen in fossil and recent lingulids. The lophophore is attached to the dorsal lobe of the mantle; it has neither calcareous nor chitinous supporting structures, and is disposed symmetrically on either side of the valve midline. The mouth can be inferred to be located at the base of the two brachial tubes, slightly posterior to the anterodorsal projection of the body wall. The lophophoral arms bear laterofrontal tentacles with a double row of cilia along their lateral edge, as in extant lingulid brachiopods. The main brachial axes are also ciliated, which presumably facilitated transport of mucous-bound nutrient particles to the mouth. The unique organization of the lophophore in Heliomedusa is not like any known fossil and living brachiopods. This clearly demonstrates that H. orienta is not a member of any crown group. It is here considered as a member of the brachiopod stem group, which challenges recent interpretations of a close discinid affinity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: South China with its rich fossil record is an important region for studying Early Cambrian metazoan diversity patterns. Compilation of a database of metazoan genera from the traditional Lower Cambrian (Cambrian Series 1–2) of South China allows a quantitative analysis of biodiversity changes. The dataset shows that about 876 genus names have been reported from the Lower Cambrian of South China. Of these only about 582 genera are now considered valid after taxonomic scrutiny. Plotting generic diversity shows a two-part, first-order trend: 1, diversity increase through the most of the Meishucunian and Qiongzhusian stages (South China usage), but punctuated by a modest decline during the upper Meishucunian; followed by 2, diversity decline in the Canglangpuan and Longwangmiaoan stages (South China usage). About 155 genera of small shelly fossils (SSFs) occur in Meishucunian rocks. The Meishucunian fauna is dominated by helcionellids, orthothecimorph hyoliths and other enigmatic fossils and is very consistent with the pretrilobitic ‘Tommotian Fauna’. Diversity increases in the Qiongzhusian stage, reaching 304 genera, the peak value known for the Cambrian. The Qiongzhusian fauna is characterized mainly by the occurrence of dominant pan-arthropods and crown-group brachiopods, representing an initial phase of the Cambrian Evolutionary Fauna. A substantial decline in generic diversity through the Canglangpuan (ca 153 genera) and Longwangmiaoan (ca 69 genera) stages is due partly to a eustatic regression, and it approximates the global pattern, reflecting an extinction event at the end of the Lower Cambrian. The observed regional biodiversity through this interval has both evolutionary and taphonomic influences: the decline in SSF diversity beginning in the upper Meishucunian was not only related to the decimation of SSFs, but also to a reduction in phosphogenesis. An apparent peak in diversity during the Qiongzhusian was somewhat exaggerated by the exceptional Chengjiang Biota. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Small shelly fossils (SSFs) occur widely on the Yangtze Platform and have great potential for biostratigraphic subdivision of pre-trilobitic Early Cambrian strata. Based on the SSF record of the shallow water realm, five biozones can be recognized for the Meishucunian Stage. In ascending order the biozones are: Anabarites trisulcatus–Protohertzina anabarica Assemblage Zone; Paragloborilus subglobosus–Purella squamulosa Assemblage Zone; Watsonella crosbyi Assemblage Zone (formerly Heraultipegma yunnanensis Zone); poorly fossiliferous interzone; Sinosachites flabelliformis–Tannuolina zhangwentangi Assemblage Zone. In addition one SSF biozone is recognized for the overlying Qiongzhusian Stage: Pelagiella subangulata Taxon-range Zone. The formerly used Siphogonuchites triangularis–Paragloborilus subglobosus Zone and Heraultipegma yunnanensis Zone are discussed and redefined. Approximately 80 species of SSFs were screened for their spatial and temporal distribution on the Yangtze Platform. Variations in lithofacies and biofacies can be recognized throughout the Yangtze Platform, extending over an area of 2000×900 km. In a deeper water shelf setting the first zone is represented by the Protohertzina anabarica–Kaiyangites novilis Assemblage Zone, while younger zones are not recognized in the southern region. At the northern platform margin the Qiongzhusian is represented by the Ninella tarimensis–Cambroclavus fangxianensis Assemblage Zone and the Rhombocorniculum cancellatum Taxon-range Zone. The southeastern Shaanxi–western Hubei region followed a slightly different lithological and faunal development than the rest of Yangtze Platform, indicating a stronger similarity with parts of East Gondwana. Some taxa such as W. crosbyi, P. subangulata, R. cancellatum, Microdictyon effusum, A. trisulcatus, Protohertzina unguliformis, and P. anabarica occur nearly worldwide and support an international correlation of Early Cambrian sequences between the Yangtze Platform and smaller West Gondwanan blocks, Siberia, Newfoundland, and Australia. The six investigated zones of the Yangtze Platform comprise an interval spanning the early Nemakit–Daldynian to the late Atdabanian/early Botoman Stage on the Siberian Platform. Palaeobiogeographic analysis revealed a strong taxic similarity between the Yangtze Platform and the Tarim Platform. A smaller number of species are shared with other West Gondwanan platform fragments such as India and Iran. Palaeobiogeographic results do not support the previously reported position of the South China Block between Australia and Siberia during the Early Cambrian. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Tannuolinidae includes only two known genera—Micrina Laurie, 1986 and Tannuolina Fonin and Smirnova, 1967, both from the Lower Cambrian. They are phosphatic bimembrate small shelly fossils, consisting of two types of sclerites—the mitral and sellate sclerites. These sclerites show basal-internal accretional growth, spaced growth lamellae, carinae (in mitral sclerites of Tannuolina) or teeth (in mitral sclerites of Micrina), and unevenly distributed pores and canals. The scleritome of tannuolinids is poorly known because they are often preserved as disarticulated sclerites. Here we describe Micrina xiaotanensis new species and Tannuolina zhangwentangi Qian and Bengtson, 1989 from the Lower Cambrian Shiyantou and Yu'anshan formations (upper Meishucunian to Qiongzhusian stages) at Xiaotan, eastern Yunnan, South China. The new material not only extends the geographic range of Micrina, previously known only in Australia, but also includes two composite specimens of T. zhangwentangi: one with a pair of dextral and sinistral mitrals juxtaposed along the apertural margin of their decrescent sides, and the other with a smaller sellate ontogenetically merged with the sella of a larger sellate. Perhaps as a result of being contacting or imbricating surfaces, the decrescent, sella, and duplicature sides are also characterized by negative allometry (relative to other sides) and a sparse distribution of pores. The new fossils do not support reconstructions that place a sellate and a mitral sclerite, respectively, at the anterior and posterior end of the Tannuolina animal, in a way similar to Halkieria evangelista Conway Morris and Peel, 1995. Instead, they are consistent with the traditional view that the scleritome of Tannuolina consisted of four anterior-posterior files of sclerites: two opposing mitral rows flanked by two imbricated sellate series. The bimembrate Micrina may or may not have had a similar scleritome. If Tannuolina and Micrina form a monophyletic group outside the total group of brachiopods, then Micrina is likely to have had a multisclerite scleritome similar to that of Tannuolina. This implies that microstructural similarities between the tannuolinids and some linguliformean brachiopods are probably symplesiomorphic or convergent. Alternatively, Tannuolina and Micrina may represent stem groups leading to the linguliformeans while Halkieria represents a stem group leading to the calcareous brachiopods—a radical hypothesis that would imply that the two brachiopod groups independently evolved the bivalved body plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive information has been acquired on the occurrence of Lower Cambrian Small Shelly Fossils (SSF) in the shallow water sediments of the western fringe of the Yangtze Platform (eastern Yunnan and central Sichuan Provinces) during the last two decades. However, less is known on the temporal and spatial distribution of SSFs on the northern margin of the Yangtze Platform. Here we report SSF associations from Kuanchuanpu (Ningqiang County, southern Shaanxi Province), Shatan, and Xinli (both Nanjiang County, northern Sichuan Province) representing the Southwest Shaanxi region and from Sanlangpu, and Xiaowan (Xixiang County, southern Shaanxi Province) of the Southeast Shaanxi – Northwest Hubei region. The thickness of the Lower Cambrian SSF-bearing strata strongly decreases in this region from West to East and the stratigraphic hiatus increases. An earliest Cambrian hiatus is widely distributed on the northern margin of the Yangtze Platform. At the same time, a syngenetic brecciation occurred in wide shallow shelf settings. A tectonic mobilization, possibly related to the assembly of Gondwana following the breakup of Rodinia, may be responsible for this. In sections near Kuanchuanpu (Ningqiang County), the Meishucunian (equivalent to the Nemakit-Daldynian to Tommotian of Siberia) succession comprises ca. 55 m of dark phosphatic carbonates, siltstones, and cherts. The SSF associations are similar to those of East Yunnan and, in ascending order, can be discriminated into the Anabarites trisulcatus – Protohertzina anabarica Zone, the Watsonella yunnanensis Zone (previously mentioned as Heraultipegma yunnanensis Zone), and the Sinosachites flabelliformis – Tannuolina zhangwentangi Zone. The Siphogonuchites triangularis – Paragloborilus subglobosus Zone cannot be unambiguously detected in the Southwest Shaanxi region. The occurrence of embryos and eggs within the Anabarites trisulcatus – Protohertzina anabarica Zone, which has been reported earlier, is remarkable. The previously reconstructed life cycle and taxonomic treatment of Olivooides / Punctatus are re-discussed. The earliest SSF associations (Anabarites trisulcatus – Protohertzina anabarica Zone to Watsonella yunnanesis Zone) are missing in the Southeast Shaanxi – Northwest Hubei region and the Ninella tarimensis – Cambroclavus fangxianensis Assemblage Zone and Rhombocorniculum cancellatum Taxon Range Zone are introduced herein. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Xiaoyang section, located in Zhenba County of Shaanxi Province, is important both for documenting the biodiversity of the Qiongzhusian Stage (Lower Cambrian) and for analyzing lithofacies-biofacies links in carbonate depositing environments on the Yangtze Platform. The skeletal fossils from the Xihaoping Member, including linguloid valves, cambroclavid and chancelloriid sclerites, genal and occipital spines of polymerid trilobites, and tubular fossils, are described here as the Eoobolus-Cambroclavus fauna, which mainly occurred in peritidal environments. The fossils from the argillaceous limestones of the lower Shuijingtuo Formation, containing lingulate brachiopods eodiscoid trilobites, bivalved arthropods, microdictyoniid sclerites and siliceous sponge spicules, are regarded as the Palaeobolus-Hupeidiscus-Kunmingella fauna, which presumably lived in subtidal or deeper water environments. The faunal diversity in the Xihaoping Member is lower than that in the lower Shuijingtuo Formation. The investigations of the skeletal fossil assemblages from carbonate lithofacies in southern Shaanxi will significantly contribute to a detailed documentation of the biodiversity during the Qiongzhusian interval on the Yangtze Platform and add new knowledge on the Cambrian bioradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the biostratigraphical implications of Lower Cambrian small shelly faunas from Zhejiang, China. Definition of Precambrian-Cambrian boundary; Documentation of early metazoan evolution.

Studies the microstructure and functional morphology of the Early Cambrian problematical fossil Rhombocorniculum. Evidence for early Cambrian bioradiation event; Unknown phylogenetic affinity.

The development of digital finance provides new opportunities for improving energy efficiency and promoting green development. This paper calculates green total factor energy efficiency (GTFEE) using the super-efficiency SBM model and examines the impact of digital finance on GTFEE. Digital finance has a significant positive impact on GTFEE. Under a bank-dominated financial structure, the positive impact of digital finance on GTFEE is quite significant. In regions with intense banking competition, a large amount of green credit, and lower resource dependence, digital finance is conducive to enhancing GTFEE. Optimizing the allocation efficiency of production factors is an essential mechanism for digital finance to encourage improvements in GTFEE. Digital finance alleviates distortions in factor markets and enhances the matching of the marginal output and the price of capital, labor, and energy factors, thereby facilitating improvements in GTFEE. Further analysis indicates that digital finance has a significant, positive spatial spillover effect on GTFEE, enhancing GTFEE levels in both local and neighboring regions. This study enriches the research on the relationship between digital finance and energy efficiency and provides theoretical foundations and policy references for how digital finance can better serve the green transition of the economy. • This paper analyzes the impact of digital finance on green total factor energy efficiency (GTFEE). • Digital finance alleviates distortions in factor markets, thereby promoting GTFEE. • Digital finance's impact on GTFEE depends on financial structure, banking competition, green credit and resource dependence. • Digital finance has a significant positive spatial spillover effect on GTFEE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting environmental management system reform in an orderly manner and coordinating central and local environmental protection responsibilities are important for high-quality economic development. Based on panel data of 289 cities in China from 2008 to 2016, this paper uses the fixed effects model and threshold regression model to discuss the relationships among regional competition, environmental decentralization, and target selection of local governments and to analyze whether environmental decentralization produces the Porter effect. Findings show that environmental decentralization does significantly promote economic development, strengthen environmental pollution control, and generate a strong Porter effect, due to greater R&D investment, improvement in green technology innovation ability, and optimization of the industrial structure. The effect of environmental decentralization shows significant regional heterogeneity in terms of regional financial pressure, economic development level, and environmental pressure, while regional competition distorts the effect of environmental decentralization. With the intensification of regional competition, environmental decentralization greatly improves the emission intensity of pollutants, whereas it promotes economic development after inhibiting it. The above conclusions are of great significance for pushing forward environmental decentralization, formulating a differentiated environmental decentralization strategy, and perfecting the government performance appraisal system. Environmental decentralization will promote economic development, reduce pollutant emission intensity and produce Porter effect. And environmental decentralization will improve the ability of regional innovation, promote the optimization of industrial structure, and then affect the target selection of local government. With regional competition intensification, while promoting local economic development, environmental decentralization greatly increases the emission intensity of pollutants. Unlabelled Image • Coordinating central and local environmental protection responsibilities is important guarantees for high-quality economic development. • This paper discussed the relationship between regional competition, environmental decentralization and target selection of local government. • Environmental decentralization can significantly promote economic development, strengthening the environmental pollution control. • With the intensification of regional competition, environmental decentralization greatly increases the emission intensity of pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper analyzes the impact of digital finance on green technology innovation. • Digital finance significantly promotes green technology innovation. • Manufacturing and non-state economic development help to better exploit the green technology innovation effect of digital finance. • As the level of environmental decentralization increases, digital finance strongly promotes green technology innovation. Financial development is an important driving force for promoting green technology innovation. However, traditional finance faces obstacles in supporting these innovations, and it is unclear how this dilemma can be solved. This paper seeks new solutions using digital finance to solve this dilemma. Using panel data on listed companies and cities in China, this paper analyzes the impact of digital finance on green technology innovation. The results show that (1) digital finance significantly promotes green technology innovation, and this finding holds even through serial robustness tests. The promotion effects are attributed to a reduction in corporate financing constraints, industrial structure upgrading and manufacturing development. (2) Digital financial development has a greater positive effect on green technology innovation in small-scale enterprises. Digital financial development can better promote green technology innovation in regions with higher pollutant emission intensity and where local government has stronger governance capacity. In addition, manufacturing and nonstate economic development help to better exploit the green technology innovation effect of digital finance. (3) With the improvement of environmental decentralization, digital finance strongly promotes green technology innovation, indicating that the downward trend of environmental responsibility will better alleviate the mismatch between the supply and demand of green innovation investments. In order to strengthen enterprises' green technology innovation capacity and solve serious environmental pollution problems, it is suggested that traditional financial institutions should actively embrace this digital trend. Meanwhile, government should develop differentiated innovation incentive policies to increase the technological innovation investment of manufacturing and private enterprises while also promoting the reform of the environmental decentralization system and strengthening supervision of central environmental protections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental regulation is an important tool for local governments to intervene in environmental governance. Based on 2008–2017 panel data on 289 cities in China, this paper analyzes the impact of environmental regulation on the supply efficiency of environmental public services and explores whether environmental decentralization changes the effect of environmental regulation. The results show that environmental regulation can significantly improve the supply efficiency of environmental public services, and this finding still holds after a series of robustness tests. The main reason is the improvement in green technology innovation capabilities caused by environmental regulation. Environmental regulation has a more significant positive effect on the supply efficiency of environmental public services in regions with a higher local government governance capacity, lower levels of fiscal decentralization, and a higher pollutant emission intensity. A moderate level of environmental decentralization helps to better promote the supply efficiency of environmental public services through environmental regulation. When the level of environmental decentralization lies between 0.362 and 1.353, environmental regulation effectively improves the supply efficiency of environmental public services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• S 2 O 8 2-/Fe2+ system could remove total microbes and antibiotic resistant microbes efficiently. • SO 4 •- and Fe(IV) might participate the process of microbes removal. • Bacterial community structure shifted and the α-diversity reduced after persulfate treatment. • Actived persulfate had no toxicity to Oryzias latipes (freshwater and seawater). Sewage in WWTPs is one of main way to spread antibiotic resistant microbes (ARMs), and beach bay water is in direct contact with human skin. It is necessary to pay attention to remove the ARMs in WWTP sewage and bay water. Our results showed that ARMs and total microbes (TMs) can be effectively removed by S 2 O 8 2-/Fe2+ in the effluent stage of WWTPs and bay water. Quenching experiments using tert-butyl alcohol, dimethyl sulfoxide and Al 2 O 3 as scavengers confirmed that the primary reactive oxidants responsible for microbes removal during the Fe(II)-activated persulfate oxidation process might be SO 4 •- and Fe(IV), rather than •OH. The bacterial community shifted and the alpha diversity significantly reduced after treatment. In WWTP group, relative abundance of Firmicutes increased to 8.56%, and potential pathogens such as genus Vibrio decreased to 0.03% in bay water after treatment. The ecological toxicity to the environment of S 2 O 8 2-/Fe2+ further illustrated that the mortality of indicator species Oryzias latipes did not increase after treatment, and the dosage of 60/30 μM can be potentially ideal dosage of S 2 O 8 2-/Fe2+. This study revealed Fe(II)-activated persulfate oxidation as an eco-friendly and economical method could reduce TMs and ARMs in WWTP sewage and bay water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the reaction mechanism of lignin pyrolysis, the pyrolysis process of guaiacol (o-methoxyphenol) as a lignin model compound was studied by free radical detection technology (electron paramagnetic resonance, EPR) in this paper. It was proven that the pyrolysis reaction of guaiacol is a free radical reaction, and the free radicals which can be detected mainly by EPR are methyl radicals. This paper proposes a process in which four free radicals (radicals 1- C6H4(OH)O*, radicals 5- C6H4(OCH3)O*, methyl radicals, and hydrogen radicals) are continuously rearranged during the pyrolysis of guaiacol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the panel data of 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China (excluding Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan), a threshold regression model was used to empirically analyze the impact of environmental regulation and foreign investment behavior on the amount and intensity of carbon emissions. The results showed that: First, there is a significant inverted "U"-shaped relationship between environmental regulation and carbon emissions. With improved environmental regulation, the positive effects of environmental regulation in reducing the amount and intensity of carbon emissions are more obvious. Next, foreign investment behavior under environmental regulations can reduce the amount and intensity of carbon emissions. Finally, In terms of regional heterogeneity, foreign investment behavior in the eastern and central regions can curb carbon emissions, the opposite effect is seen in the western region. With improved environmental regulations for relatively high–emission intensity regions, foreign direct investment (FDI) in low–emission intensity regions can significantly reduce carbon emissions. It is necessary to formulate differentiated environmental regulation based on regional development. Foreign investment behavior should be standardized to improve the quality of FDI and avoid making China a "pollution paradise" for FDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducts conventional and advanced exergy, exergo-economic, and exergo-environmental analyses and comparisons of two tri-generation systems driven by solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and gas turbines (GTs). The proposed systems mainly consist of SOFC, GT, heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), (organic) Rankine cycle, and heat exchanger. The analysis results indicate that the biggest cost rates of exergy destruction and component in both systems appear in SOFCs being 4.4333 $/h and 4.2760 $/h, while the highest environmental impact rates combined with exergy destruction and component in systems 1 and 2 are found in afterburner and HRSG, which are 645.9569 mPts/h and 849.2659 mPts/h. Compared to the conventional analyses, the advanced analyses demonstrate that air compressors own the largest avoidable-endogenous parts of cost rates, while HRSG of system 1 and steam turbine (ST) of system 2 own the highest avoidable-endogenous parts of environmental impact rates being 165.8482 mPts/h and 115.2299 mPts/h. • Two novel tri-generation systems driven by solid oxide fuel cells are proposed. • Conventional and advanced exergy-based analyses are performed and compared. • The biggest cost rates of exergy destruction and component appear in SOFCs. • The advanced exergo-economic and exergo-environmental factors are improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas have a long and complex tectonic evolutionary history. Cratons and blocks, such as northern India, Lhasa, Qiangtang, Qaidam and Central Qilian, and their in-between orogenic belts constitute the main part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. During the Cambrian Period, most of these cratons and blocks were on the northwestern periphery of Gondwana, and were associated with the surrounding blocks, e.g. Arabian, Central Iran, Afghanistan, Tarim, Alxa, North China, South China and Sibumasu through the Proto-Tethys Ocean. The Cambrian stratigraphic sequences on these stable blocks are composed of mixed siliciclastic and carbonate rocks deposited in the shallow-water marine environments, and contain the trilobite assemblages of shelf facies. The Cambrian stratigraphic sequences in the Qilian tectonic belts, however, are characterized by the intermediate-basic igneous rocks and silicates formed in the Proto-Tethys Ocean, and contain the trilobite assemblages of deep-water slope facies. Combining with previous data, field observations and newly discovered fossils through funding by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research, the general characteristics of the Cambrian strata in different tectonic units of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas have been summarized in this paper. Furthermore, efforts have been made to subdivide and correlate the Cambrian strata across these areas by utilizing available biostratigraphic and geochronological data. As a result, a comprehensive litho- and biostratigraphy chart has been compiled. Finally, from the biogeographic perspective, this paper also provides a brief overview of the Cambrian paleogeographical reconstruction of the major tectonic blocks, and discusses the problems associated with the evolution of the Proto-Tethys tectonic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex evolutionary history of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas, including the continental blocks (Indian, Lhasa, South Qiangtang, Tarim, Olongbuluk, Central Qilian, Alxa, North China, Yangtze, Central Iran and Oman) and the orogenic belts between them, has long been the frontier in Earth science research. The Cryogenian and Ediacaran strata are extensively distributed in these blocks. Specifically, relatively complete Cryogenian and Ediacaran successions have been discovered in Oman, Indian, Yangtze, and Tarim blocks, while only the Ediacaran successions have been reported in Iran, the South Qiangtang, Central Qilian, Alxa, and North China blocks. Based on previous studies together with the integration of new materials and advancement obtained through the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research, this review aims to synthesize a correlative stratigraphic framework of the representative Cryogenian and Ediacaran sequences from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas. Furthermore, the Cryogenian and Ediacaran biotas and major geological events in these areas are comprehensively discussed in aspects of current research status. The results indicate that, in general, Ediacaran fossils of each area exhibit distinct features in preservation and assemblage composition, but the typical late Ediacaran fossils Cloudina and Shaanxilithes have been reported from most of these areas. In addition to the two global Cryogenian glaciations, late Ediacaran glaciogenic deposits are extensively recorded in the areas within and around the northern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (including the North China, Alxa, Central Qilian, Olongbuluk, and Tarim blocks, and the North Qilian Accretionary Belt), as well as central and southern Iran. However, further research is required to determine the age, distribution, and origin of these late Ediacaran glaciogenic deposits. Meanwhile, the middle Ediacaran DOUNCE/Shuram Excursion is widely documented in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas. The available data show that, after the break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent, most of the continental blocks in the areas were located along the northern margin of East Gondwana and a few (such as North China) were located between the Gondwana and Laurentia. In general, the paleogeographic evolution of most of these blocks during the Cryogenian and Ediacaran remains disputatious, necessitating further research to resolve the controversies surrounding their paleogeographic reconstruction models during this critical time interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engines fueled with polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (PODE n) and hydrogen (H 2) demonstrate great potential in enhancing engine performance because of the beneficial fuel properties of PODE n. This study comprehensively investigates the performance of H 2 /PODE n RCCI at medium load with the gross indicated mean effective pressure of roughly 6 bar in a single-cylinder light-duty compression-ignition engine. The results showed that H 2 /PODE n RCCI has a more retarded ignition timing than that of H 2 /diesel RCCI under the same premixed energy ratio because the higher heat of absorption of PODE n reduces the bulk-gas temperature during the evaporation process owing to its higher latent heat of vaporization and lower heating value. Moreover, the combustion of H 2 shifts from flame propagation in H 2 /diesel RCCI to spontaneous auto-ignition dominated by the reactivity stratification in H 2 /PODE n RCCI, because the higher fuel reactivity and greater volatility of PODE n enhance the mixing of direct-injection PODE n and premixed H 2 , and promote the auto-ignition reactivity of the H 2 /air mixture. Overall, H 2 /PODE n RCCI exhibits a greater advantage in the ignition control than H 2 /diesel RCCI to achieve successive ignition and reduce heat release rate due to its higher sensitivity of combustion to fuel reactivity gradient. Based on this benefit, H 2 /PODE n RCCI considerably improves engine thermal efficiency and simultaneously reduces peak pressure rise rate and soot emissions, in particular realizing an order of magnitude decrease in nitrogen oxides emissions compared to H 2 /diesel RCCI. [Display omitted] • The combustion characteristics of H 2 /PODE n RCCI were extensively investigated. • The auto-ignition/flame propagation mechanism for H 2 combustion was identified. • The H 2 combustion in H 2 /PODE n RCCI is governed by multi-point auto-ignition. • H 2 /PODE n RCCI is able to significantly enhance thermal efficiency. • H 2 /PODE n RCCI can substantially reduce NO x emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among many technical routes in solving the SCR (Selective Catalyst Reduction) deposition problem, a good mixer design can greatly improve the NO x conversion efficiency of the exhaust after-treatment system while avoiding urea deposition failures. This paper presents an anti-deposition mixer with novel conception which was optimized through CFD method, the more layers of wire mesh plates, the lower the evaporation efficiency is affected by the increase in injection volume. The new mixer with three layers of wire mesh plate shows better deposition resistance performance below 250℃through urea deposits boundary experiment, and it reduces the NO x emission value by 9.5% than conventional scheme under WHTC (Word Harmonized Transient Cycle) and WHSC (Word Harmonized Steady-state Cycle) test. By using the new mixer scheme in the after-treatment system, the problem of deposition under a variety of low emission temperature can be solved. • A new conception mixer make SCR system avoiding from urea deposition. • The new mixer scheme improve the engine emission limit of NO x by 9.5%. • The new mixer has excellent urea deposition resistance performance below 250 ℃. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Palynological investigation of late Paleoproterozoic Chuanlinggou Formation from North China is performed. • The iconic spinose eukaryote Tappania plana is first reported here in Yanliao Basin. • Diverse prokaryotic filaments dominated the Tappania -containing microfossil assemblage. The first radiation of eukaryotic life in Earth history began at least by the late Paleoproterozoic as evidenced by complex organic-walled microfossils from North China, India and Australia. However, among these oldest eukaryotic fossils, the spinose Tappania plana Yin, 1997 , which has been reported from the late Paleoproterozoic to early Mesoproterozoic sediments worldwide, is strangely absent in the well-known microfossil assemblages from the coeval strata in the Yanliao Basin, North China. Here we report the new finding of T. plana and associated microfossils from ∼ 1.64 Ga Chuanlinggou Formation in the eastern Yanliao Basin. T. plana occurs in the assemblage from the upper Chuanlinggou Formation and exhibits typical irregularly distributed tubular processes and neck-like extensions. The assemblage is dominated by a wide variety of filamentous microfossils likely representing cyanobacterial or other bacterial sheaths and trichomes, and includes 21 species (belonging to 10 genera) and 3 unnamed forms. In contrast, the assemblage from the lower Chuanlinggou Formation is composed of only simple spheroidal (Leiosphaeridia) and fusiform (Schizofusa) morphotypes, distinct from those of the upper assemblage. This taxonomic discrepancy likely resulted from different paleoenvironments. Overall, the occurrence of T. plana in the Yanliao Basin expands its paleographic distribution and further reinforces its stratigraphic potential as an index fossil for the late Paleoproterozoic and early Mesoproterozoic strata. Furthermore, the microfossil assemblages reported here document a microbiota overwhelmingly dominated by prokaryotic organisms, which is consistent with the hypothesis that eukaryotes likely constituted as marginal groups in ancient ecosystems during mid-Proterozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Overexpression of α-syn in the hippocampal neuronal nuclei led to anxiety-like behavior in mice. • Nuclear localization of α-syn activated NG2 glial cells and promotes the synthesis and release of GABA in the hippocampus. • Nuclear localization of α-syn induced the loss of neurotrophic factors, and decreased neurogenesis. • α-syn diffused to the amygdala resulting in pathologic accumulation of α-syn and gliosis and caused loss of interneurons. Fear and anxiety are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and may be caused by pathologies outside the dopaminergic system. Increasing evidence has shown that alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is involved in the development of anxiety in PD. In this study, we examined the effects of α-syn nuclear translocation on anxiety-like behavior in mice by overexpressing α-syn in the nuclei of the cell in the hippocampus. Our results show that α-syn overexpression in the nuclei increased the excitability of hippocampal neurons and activated NG2 glial cells and promoted the synthesis and release of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). And nuclear localization of α-syn led to the loss of neurotrophic factors and decreased neurogenesis. Meanwhile, the hippocampus and amygdala acted synergistically, resulting in pathologic accumulation of α-syn and gliosis in the amygdala and caused loss of interneurons. These events led to the impairments of hippocampus and amygdala function, which ultimately induced anxiety-like behavior in mice. The findings obtained in our present study indicate that excessive nuclear translocation of α-syn in hippocampal neurons and damage to the amygdala circuits may be important in the development of anxiety in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a significant evolutionary innovation, multicellularity has independently evolved multiple times throughout the evolutionary history of eukaryotes, making a substantial contribution to their diversity. In retracing the multicellularity of eukaryotes, deep‐time fossil records play an irreplaceable role. In this paper, we report a new acritarch Concavaesphaera ornata gen. et sp. nov. from the early Cambrian Kuanchuanpu biota (535 Ma). These fossils are generally spherical, with diameters ranging from 450 to 950 μm, and feature an envelope with complex ornament. Inside, there are two groups of cells varying in size. Larger cells are relatively fewer in number and each resides within a sac‐like cavity distributed along the inner wall of the envelope. Statistical data show a positive correlation between the diameter and cavity volume during the development of large cells. Small cells are numerous, have a diameter of about 15 μm, and fill the entire interior of the specimens. We interpret the large cells as reproductive cells and the small cells as somatic cells. These observations show that Concavaesphaera evolved multicellular complexity equivalent to that of modern Volvox, with germ‐soma differentiation and separation. Available evidence suggests that the similarities between Concavaesphaera and Volvox are more likely to be the result of convergent evolution. Therefore, Concavaesphaera may represent an extinct multicellular eukaryote which evolved during the Cambrian explosion and probably documented an independent innovation of multicellularity in eukaryotic evolutionary history. This implies that multicellularity evolved many more times in eukaryotes than previously estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined solid oxide fuel cells and gas turbine (SOFC/GT) system is known to be a potential alternative for distributed power generation. In this paper, a novel SOFC/GT based cogeneration system, which integrated a transcritical carbon dioxide cycle (TRCC) with a LNG cold energy utilization system is proposed. A mathematical (zero-dimensional) model is developed to analyze the co-generation system performance from the perspective of thermodynamic (energy and exergy) and economic costs. The main parameters of the system are chosen to analyze their effects on thermodynamic performance. The results show that the current system can achieve 64.40% thermal efficiency and 62.13% exergy efficiency under given conditions, and can further improve efficiency through parameter optimization. Finally, the multi-objective optimization program using NSGA-II (Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II) is used to obtain the optimal value of the system design parameters. In the multi-objective analysis, the thermodynamic efficiency and economic cost of the system are considered as objective functions. The optimization results show that the final optimized design selected from the Pareto front can achieve 63.08% thermal efficiency and 61.10% exergy efficiency, respectively. • A novel SOFC/GT cogeneration system is proposed. • Sensitivity analysis is presented to determine system parameters. • Multi-objective optimization is conducted to obtain optimal solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shell decollation is a growth strategy that has been adopted by a number of invertebrate taxa to offset the metabolic and ecological disadvantages of shell growth. However, little is known about the origin and evolution of this process. We here describe well‐preserved specimens of the hyolith Cupitheca decollata sp. nov. preserving the decollation process, from the early Cambrian Yu'anshan Formation (c. 518 Ma) of South China. Based on a large number of specimens collectively representing different developmental stages, we use high‐resolution X‐ray microtomography and scanning electronic microscopy to reconstruct the process of decollation in this taxon. Cupitheca is among the earliest known small shelly fossils, and thus our discovery confirms that periodic decollation had evolved by the onset of the Cambrian explosion, reflecting the high intensity of the predator–prey arms race in early Cambrian ecosystems. A comparison between the decollation processes of Cupitheca and other shelly invertebrates suggests that periodic decollation and the associated molecular mechanisms of calcium dissolution, uptake, allocation and deposition may have had multiple independent origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a promising energy conversion device due to its high reliability, fast response speed, and low pollutant emission. However, the reality of its commercial application requires further cost reduction and efficiency improvement. The material distribution in the channel and the performance of PEMFC can be improved by setting the boss inside the flow channels. In this paper, the performance of PEMFC with the boss in flow channels in a parallel flow field was analyzed by simulation. The influence of different boss arrangements and heights on gas pressure drop, distribution uniformity, gas component distribution, temperature distribution, and output performance of the fuel cell were analyzed in detail. The bosses would increase the pressure drop and the distribution uniformity of reactive gases in flow channels significantly. The cross-arrangement of bosses is better than the cross-arrangement of bosses and juxtaposition according to increasing performance and pressure drop. The cross-arrangement with a boss height of 0.4 mm is suitable for the parallel flow field in this paper. The improved scheme of flow channel design is proposed to provide a reference for fuel cells for subsequent research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]