Search

SUMMARY: Poor management and excess fertilization of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) orchards are causing increasingly serious soil acidification, resulting in Al toxicity and direct poisoning of roots. Strigolactones (SLs) are reported to be involved in plant responses to abiotic stress, but their role and mechanism under AlCl3 stress remain unknown. Here, we found that applying 1 μm GR24 (an SL analoge) significantly alleviated AlCl3 stress of M26 apple rootstock, mainly by blocking the movement of Al through cell wall and by vacuolar compartmentalization of Al. RNA‐seq analysis identified the core transcription factor gene MdWRKY53, and overexpressing MdWRKY53 enhanced AlCl3 tolerance in transgenic apple plants through the same mechanism as GR24. Subsequently, we identified MdPMEI45 (encoding pectin methylesterase inhibitor) and MdALS3 (encoding an Al transporter) as downstream target genes of MdWRKY53 using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP‐seq). GR24 enhanced the interaction between MdWRKY53 and the transcription factor MdTCP15, further increasing the binding of MdWRKY53 to the MdPMEI45 promoter and inducing MdPMEI45 expression to prevent Al from crossing cell wall. MdWRKY53 also bound to the promoter of MdALS3 and enhanced its transcription to compartmentalize Al in vacuoles under AlCl3 stress. We therefore identified two modules involved in alleviating AlCl3 stress in woody plant apple: the SL‐WRKY+TCP‐PMEI module required for excluding external Al by blocking the entry of Al3+ into cells and the SL‐WRKY‐ALS module allowing internal detoxification of Al through vacuolar compartmentalization. These findings lay a foundation for the practical application of SLs in agriculture. Significance Statement: We identified two modules involved in alleviating AlCl3 stress in woody plant apple: the SL‐WRKY+TCP‐PMEI module required for excluding external Al by blocking the entry of Al3+ into cells and the SL‐WRKY‐ALS module allowing internal detoxification of Al through vacuolar compartmentalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to investigate the influence of Ca2+ doping on the infrared emission properties of DyTa3O9 ceramics. DyTa3O9 is considered a promising high-temperature thermal protection material due to its low thermal conductivity and good high-temperature stability. However, there is currently no research on the infrared radiation performance of such materials. We synthesized DyTa3O9 ceramics with different Ca2+ doping concentrations using the solid-phase reaction method and systematically investigated the effect of doping concentration on the infrared emissivity of DyTa3O9 ceramics. When Ca2+ is doped into the DyTa3O9 lattice, the original Dy elements are replaced by Ca, resulting in an increase in lattice constants and enhanced lattice distortion. The doping of Ca2+ introduces impurity energy levels, making it possible for some low-energy electron transitions, achieving an enhancement in infrared absorption and emission capabilities. When the Ca2+ doping concentration reaches 7.5% mol, the average infrared emissivity in the 3–5μm and 8–12μm ranges are 0.85 and 0.92, respectively, representing a 19.7% and 21% increase compared to DyTa3O9. This novel high-infrared-emissivity ceramic holds great potential for applications in high-temperature energy conservation and aerospace thermal protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diatomaceous soils as a special soil containing diatom frustules are widely distributed in marine deposits. Although their soil properties have been partially tested and reported which exhibit high void ratio and compressibility, a thorough investigation is in lack. Moreover, the interpretation of the cone penetration test (CPTu), a widely-used in-situ test, to the properties of such soil is still unknown, hindering a proper estimation of the diatomaceous soils in engineering geology and geotechnical practice. This study reports the soil properties and mechanical behavior of the undisturbed diatomaceous soil obtained from Walvis Bay in Namibia, which shows that the soils had an extremely high void ratio (~ 4.39) and low specific gravity (~ 2.16), and consequently low density and high compressibility. Due to the porous property of diatom frustules, the diatomaceous soils also exhibited a high liquid limit and plastic limit. Although these properties provide an identification to super soft soils, the diatomaceous soils had discrepant mechanical properties, i.e., the values of strength parameters in diatomaceous soils were higher than those in typical soft soils. At the end, by comparing the results of strength parameters obtained from the laboratory tests on undisturbed soil samples and the in-situ CPTu records, this paper proposes the interpretation methods of CPTu results to the strength parameters (effective friction angle and undrained shear strength) in the diatomaceous soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eddy current thermography (ECT) is a non-invasive testing method that combines electromagnetic induction and infrared thermography to identify flaws in materials that conduct electricity. However, ECT faces difficulties in accurately locating and classifying defects owing to its low signal-to-noise ratio and complex defect patterns. In this paper, we propose a new method that integrates an improved faster region-convolutional neural network (R-CNN) and an adaptive Canny algorithm to enhance the defect detection performance of ECT. An improved faster R-CNN is a deep neural network that can automatically detect and locate multiple defects in a single ECT image, whereas the adaptive Canny algorithm is an edge detection technique that can identify defect boundaries. The proposed method was tested using a dataset of ECT images with different types of defects. The results demonstrated that our method achieved better accuracy, precision, and speed than existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs) belongs to the most promising class of materials with unique properties and widespread applications. Coupling with carbon materials allows further enhancement of the specific performance of TMCs by mitigating their intrinsic deficiencies. However, the synthesis of a wide variety of TMCs/carbon composites with a universal strategy especially in a scalable manner remains challenging. In this work, by utilizing the gas‐liquid interfaces in viscous gel precursors, an "all‐in‐one" blowing strategy is proposed to achieve the synchronous growth of TMCs and carbon nanosheets, obviating the additional chalcogenization process. The generality of the proposed blowing strategy is validated by the fabrication of 32 different TMCs/carbon composites, including 24 binary TMCs, 4 ternary TMCs and 4 high‐entropy sulfides. In‐depth mechanistic study is accomplished by investigating the physical evolution of blowing process and accompanying chemical reactions systematically. Also, the structure of the resulting foam is adjustable by controlling the heating rate and viscosity of the precursors is demonstrated. As an illustrative example for the application of energy storage, MoS2xSe2(1‐x)@CNS exhibits great Li+ storage capacity and cycling stability. Overall, this methodology serves as an effective general strategy for the rational discovery of TMCs/carbon composites and inorganic solid foams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable precipitate takes the essential role for material strengthening in Al–Mg–Si alloys. To reveal how the stable precipitate works in material strengthening, a molecular dynamics model is carried out to show the interaction between the edge dislocations and the plate‐shaped β phase of Mg2Si. The critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) is related to the precipitate characteristics including sizes and thickness directions. The CRSS increases with the increase of the precipitate size. When the thickness direction of precipitate changes from [001] to [100], the CRSS increases from 326.76 to 368.7 MPa. This phenomenon is mainly affected by the interaction length between dislocation and β phase. With the increase of interaction length, the interaction time for dislocation to overcome pinning increases. The critical bending angle of dislocation can be affected by the interaction time and shear strain rate. The relationship between the critical bending angle and the CRSS in Al–Mg–Si alloy is then established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Large amounts of potash fertilizer are often applied to apple (Malus domestica) orchards to enhance fruit quality and yields, but this treatment aggravates KCl‐based salinity stress. Melatonin (MT) is involved in a variety of abiotic stress responses in plants. However, its role in KCl stress tolerance is still unknown. In the present study, we determined that an appropriate concentration (100 μm) of MT significantly alleviated KCl stress in Malus hupehensis by enhancing K+ efflux out of cells and compartmentalizing K+ in vacuoles. Transcriptome deep‐sequencing analysis identified the core transcription factor gene MdWRKY53, whose expression responded to both KCl and MT treatment. Overexpressing MdWRKY53 enhanced KCl tolerance in transgenic apple plants by increasing K+ efflux and K+ compartmentalization. Subsequently, we characterized the transporter genes MdGORK1 and MdNHX2 as downstream targets of MdWRKY53 by ChIP‐seq. MdGORK1 localized to the plasma membrane and enhanced K+ efflux to increase KCl tolerance in transgenic apple plants. Moreover, overexpressing MdNHX2 enhanced the KCl tolerance of transgenic apple plants/callus by compartmentalizing K+ into the vacuole. RT–qPCR and LUC activity analyses indicated that MdWRKY53 binds to the promoters of MdGORK1 and MdNHX2 and induces their transcription. Taken together, our findings reveal that the MT‐WRKY53‐GORK1/NHX2‐K+ module regulates K+ homeostasis to enhance KCl stress tolerance in apple. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanism of apple response to KCl‐based salinity stress and lay the foundation for the practical application of MT in salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The welding characteristics of 7075 aluminum alloy and DP980 dual-phase steel sheet were systematically studied by the friction plug-riveting spot welding technology. The effects of different welding parameters on the weld formation, tensile strength, and microstructure of welded joints were analyzed. The complete metallurgical joining interface was formed between the rivet and steel plate. A partial metallurgical joining interface was formed between the circumferential surface of the rivet shaft and the aluminum alloy close to the steel sheet. However, the position of the rivet head did not form a metallurgical joining with the aluminum alloy. During the welding process, the area of the rivet interface underwent severe plastic deformation by frictional heat and down pressure; thus, there was a violent interaction between the plastically deformed metal and the surrounding aluminum alloy. The molten aluminum infiltrated into the rivet at the most of sample joints. The penetration of aluminum had a negative effect on the shear load. The maximum shear load of the joint was 14.374 kN. There were two types of fractures: the internal fracture of the rivet and the fracture of the steel/steel friction interface. When the fracture mode was an internal fracture of the rivet, the shear load was generally greater than the steel/steel friction interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For heat‐treatable aluminum alloys, solid solute elements play key role in material strengthening. Al–Mg–Si alloy is a typical heat‐treatable alloy; Cu and Si atoms are its main solid solution atoms. To reveal the strengthening mechanism, the interaction between the edge dislocations and the Cu and Si solute atoms of different concentration in aluminum matrix is investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Results indicate that Cu atoms provide a more effective strengthening due to the stronger pinning effect. The increment of critical resolved shear stress (ΔCRSS) is a function of concentration of solid solute atoms. When more than two types of solid solution atoms coexist in matrix, the final increment of the ΔCRSS is determined by the interactive effects of the atoms instead of the direct sum of all items. The pinning of Cu solid solute atoms can lead to two Shockley partial dislocations merging to an edge dislocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements have led to the synthesis of novel monolayer 2D carbon structures, namely quasi-hexagonal-phase fullerene (qHPC60) and quasi-tetragonal-phase fullerene (qTPC60). Particularly, qHPC60 exhibits a promising medium band gap of approximately 1.6 eV, making it an attractive candidate for semiconductor devices. In this study, we conducted comprehensive molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the mechanical stability of 2D fullerene when placed on a graphene substrate and encapsulated within it. Graphene, renowned for its exceptional tensile strength, was chosen as the substrate and encapsulation material. We compared the mechanical behaviors of qHPC60 and qTPC60, examined the influence of cracks on their mechanical properties, and analyzed the internal stress experienced during and after fracture. Our findings reveal that the mechanical reliability of 2D fullerene can be significantly improved by encapsulating it with graphene, particularly strengthening the cracked regions. The estimated elastic modulus increased from 191.6 (qHPC60) and 134.7 GPa (qTPC60) to 531.4 and 504.1 GPa, respectively. Moreover, we observed that defects on the C60 layer had a negligible impact on the deterioration of the mechanical properties. This research provides valuable insights into enhancing the mechanical properties of 2D fullerene through graphene substrates or encapsulation, thereby holding promising implications for future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the refinement effect of Al-5Ti-0.2C refiner on Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys was first investigated, and then the effects of three forming processes, i.e., Gravity Casting (GC), Squeeze Casting (SC), and Squeeze Casting after Ultrasonic Treatment (UT-SC), on microstructure and properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys were studied. The results show that the refining effect of Al-5Ti-0.2C refiner is obvious; first, the average grain size of the alloy decreases and then increases with the increase in Ti content from 0.15 wt.% to 0.3 wt.%. The optimal amount of added Al-5Ti-0.2C is 0.2 wt.% Ti content. The good refining effect is attributed to the formation of TiC particles and Al3Ti compounds by the refiner, which can all be the nucleus of solidification. The poor refining effect when the Ti content was more than 0.2 wt.% is due to the formation of coarse Al3Ti particles. The results of three forming processes that cast Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys under the addition of Al-5Ti-0.2C with 0.2 wt.% Ti content show that the mechanical properties under the UT-SC process are the best; the tensile strength in the as-cast state reaches 367 MPa, and the elongation is 3.84%. The effect of tiny TiC particles in the refiner on the microstructure and properties of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We screened all esterases, P450s, POD, and UGT genes in the transcriptome sequencing results and found 22 DEGs of detoxifying enzyme genes (Table 5), including 17 downregulated genes and five upregulated genes. Four classes of DEGs that function as metabolic and reproduction-related genes were identified: digestive enzyme genes, detoxifying enzyme genes, reproduction-related genes, and ribosomes. [Extracted from the article]

Development of magnesium alloys with exceptional mechanical properties and high thermal conductivity is a prominent subject in the field of thermal conductive magnesium alloys. Rare-earth containing magnesium alloys are known for their ability to achieve higher strength. However, they often exhibit higher density and higher cost. This study developed a high-strength and high-conductivity magnesium alloy without the need for rare earth elements through considered composition design. By utilizing the pinning effect of Mg 2 Si and solute drag effects of Zn and Cu, a fine-grained magnesium alloy with an average grain size of merely 4.5 μm was achieved. The simultaneous introduction of hard Mg 2 Si particles and ductile Cu-rich particles allow Mg-1.38Si-0.5Zn-0.5Cu alloy (SZC100) to attain a desirable combination of strength and plasticity. Althogh free of rare-earth elements, this magnesium alloy demonstrates a thermal conductivity of 141.5 W/(m·K), a yield strength of 238 MPa, and an elongation of 16.2 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This correction notice is for an article titled "Geotechnical characterization of the diatomaceous silty soil in Walvis Bay, Namibia: mechanical properties and interpretations of CPTu records" published in the Bulletin of Engineering Geology & the Environment. The correction updates the affiliation of Affiliation 2 from "Engineering Technology Research Co., Ltd. of CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd., Guangdong, China" to "CCCC-FHDI Engineering CO.,LTD, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China." The original article has been corrected, and Springer Nature, the publisher, remains neutral regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

Manganese (Mn) is a heavy metal that can cause excessive Mn poisoning in plants, disrupting microstructural homeostasis and impairing growth and development. However, the specific response mechanisms of leaves to Mn poisoning have not been fully elucidated. This study revealed that Mn poisoning of soybean plants resulted in yellowing of old leaves. Physiological assessments of these old leaves revealed significant increases in the antioxidant enzymes activities (peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT)) and elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, indoleacetic acid (IAA), and salicylic acid (SA), under 100 μM Mn toxicity. Conversely, the levels of abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin 3 (GA3), and jasmonic acid (JA) significantly decreased. The Mn content in the affected leaves significantly increased, while the levels of Ca, Na, K, and Cu decreased. Transcriptome analysis revealed 2258 differentially expressed genes in the Mn-stressed leaves, 744 of which were upregulated and 1514 were downregulated; these genes included genes associated with ion transporters, hormone synthesis, and various enzymes. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) verification of fifteen genes confirmed altered gene expression in the Mn-stressed leaves. These findings suggest a complex gene regulatory mechanism under Mn toxicity and stress, providing a foundation for further exploration of Mn tolerance-related gene regulatory mechanisms in soybean leaves. Using the methods described above, this study will investigate the molecular mechanism of old soybean leaves' response to Mn poisoning, identify key genes that play regulatory roles in Mn toxicity stress, and lay the groundwork for cultivating high-quality soybean varieties with Mn toxicity tolerance traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs(miRNAs) regulate and control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by base pairing with its target gene 3'UTR, resulting in degradation of the target mRNA or inhibition of its translation. The previous high-throughput sequencing results indicated that miR-27a was involved in coat color regulation. However, the mechanism of action is not still illuminated. In this research, using western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR), the expression of miR-27a, WNT3A and KITLG were examined in the skin of Cashmere goats with white and brown, and human embryonic kidney 293 T cells (HEK-293T cells) which over-express miR-27a. Targeting relationship between miR-27a and WNT3A or KITLG was examined by the luciferase reporter gene system. The qRT-PCR detection showed that miR-27a was more highly expressed in white Cashmere goats skin than that in brown Cashmere goats skin. Furthermore, WNT3A and KITLG mRNA and protein expression were down-regulated by miR-27a in vitro and in vivo. A dual-luciferase reporter gene indicated that miR-27a negatively correlates with WNT3A or KITLG. In a word, our research demonstrated that the expression of miR-27a was evidently differential in the white and brown Cashmere goats skin and WNT3A or KITLG was negatively regulated by miR-27a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) is a useful therapy to improve motor functions and reduce dependence on medication in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The purpose of the study is to assess the long-term clinical outcomes of STN-DBS and to determine the optimal placement of electrodes that for the most positive outcomes. A consecutive series of 42 PD patients were evaluated using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) before and after STN-DBS lead implantation. Postoperatively, patients were evaluated during both the medication 'ON' period (medication suppressed symptoms) and the medication 'OFF' period (when medication failed to suppress symptoms), and the results were compared to the baseline values prior to surgery. Follow-up assessments, focusing on motor functions, were performed 1, 3, 5, and 8 years after the initial implantation surgery. The locations of electrodes were measured and compared against the clinical outcomes. STN-DBS remarkably improved the UPDRS-II, -III, and -IV dyskinesia and motor fluctuation scores in the OFF-medication condition when compared to baseline values. In addition, the dose of levodopa needed to elicit an effect declined sharply in the OFF-medication condition. Over time, the axial signs progressively worsened even with continuous stimulation and a levodopa response. The location of electrodes correlated with the most beneficial outcomes was the dorsal STN margin. Our results confirm that overall, stimulation-induced motor improvement is still evident after 8 years. However, the primary best outcome declines with the progressive loss of favourable axial signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the distribution characteristics of gas-particle two-phase flow in the diesel particulate filter in the capture process, a mathematical model of gas-particle two-phase flow for inside-and-outside filter had been established in the capture process according to the mass conservation equation, momentum conservation equation, and k-ε turbulence equation. The model verification was carried out with the experimental and simulated of flow distribution characteristics of gas-particle two-phase. The obtained results showed that the static pressure gradient along the radial distribution was greater at the inlet of the filter in capture process in the diesel particulate filter, which could easily lead to causing eventual fatigue damage due to stress concentration in the front-end of filter; moreover, the weaker the vortex strength of gas-particle formed in expansion pipe was, the better uniformity of flow velocity and soot concentration distribution were. Therefore, the established mathematical model can be used for predicting gas-particle flow velocity distribution in the diesel particulate filter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the high speed and high temperature of engine exhaust, the turbocharger bears very high heat load. The heat dissipation of turbocharger is an important factor to determine the service life and performance of turbocharger. In this paper, a mathematical model of the fluid-structure interaction heat transfer of the water-cooled bearing body of turbocharger was established and the cooling performance of a 1.8 L gasoline engine turbocharger was analyzed. The effects of cooling water inlet flow, engine exhaust temperature, cooling water inlet temperature, and wall roughness of cooling water chamber on the cooling performance of important parts of the bearing body were analyzed by the numerical simulation method. In addition, the cooling water flow required by bearing body with a different structure under different working conditions was studied based on the orthogonal test method. The predicted result shows a good agreement with the experiment result, which could provide a reference for relevant production design and cooling strategy. In the range larger than the thickness of laminar flow bottom layer of the cooling water chamber wall, the increase of wall roughness height can enhance the heat transfer between the fluid and the solid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an opportunistic routing with data fusion (ORDF) protocol for the widely used multi-source wireless sensor networks in which the spatial-temporal correlation among sensory data is ubiquitous. In the ORDF protocol, a new routing metric, which considers the data fusion and expected any-path transmissions, is presented to select a next-hop forwarding node that could save the maximal amount of energy. A candidate set selection algorithm is proposed to find the optimal candidate set of each node. An ACK-based coordination method among candidates is also given for the design of the ORDF protocol. Simulation results show that the ORDF protocol can greatly improve the network lifetime and reduce the network delay compared to general opportunistic routing protocol, such as ExOR, EEOR and OAPF. With increase of the number of source nodes, the ORDF protocol has more significant advantages in prolonging the network lifetime and reducing the network delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new squeeze-cast Al-5Cu- x Li-0.5Mn-0.3Mg-0.15Ti (x = 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 wt%) alloy (Al-5Cu- x Li alloy for short) was prepared with ultrasonic treatment (UT), and the effects of UT and Li content on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Al-5Cu- x Li alloy were investigated. Unlike other aluminum alloys, UT applied to aluminum-lithium alloys can bring about significant degassing effects in addition to grain refinement and homogenization, which is beneficial for the high strength and toughness of Al-5Cu- x Li alloy. With the increase of Li content from 0.3 wt% to 1.2 wt%, the average grain size remains unchanged at first, and then increases significantly. Interestingly, the average size of α-Al grains is 30% smaller than that of Al-5Cu-0Li alloy (without Li element) after adding only 0.3 wt% of Li element, while the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and elongation are increased by 11.3%, 15.6% and 26.9%, respectively. The optimal comprehensive mechanical properties are obtained in Al-5Cu-0.6Li alloy, which exhibits 300 MPa in UTS, 190 MPa in YS and 16.7% in elongation. However, by further increasing the Li content, the strength of the Al-5Cu- x Li alloy remains almost unchanged, while its elongation decreases significantly (but still more than 13.5%), due to grain coarsening and slight compositional segregation. • Development of a novel Al-5Cu- x Li alloy through UT+SC for the first time. • The role of UT and SC on the solidification microstructure was investigated. • Effect of Li content on microstructure evolution and properties was explored. • The Al-5Cu- x Li alloy exhibited high strength and ductility in the as-cast state. • Clarifying the mechanism for the change of microstructure and properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of ultrasonic treatment (UT) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 10 wt% Mg 2 Si+1 wt% nano-sized SiC particles (SiC np for short) hybrid reinforced Al-Cu alloy matrix composites were investigated for first time. The existence of Mg 2 Si phase solves the problem effectively that the particle content of SiC np /Al-Cu composites cannot be high by the external addition of SiC np and casting method. The results show that after UT, the big eutectic Mg 2 Si phase was remarkably refined, from coarse Chinese characters (about 50 μm) to fine strips or dots (about 0.5–2 μm). Meanwhile SiC np agglomerations were also eliminated, and both Mg 2 Si phase and SiC np were uniformly distributed in the composites. The interaction between Mg 2 Si and SiC np was discussed to analyze this behavior that SiC np could act as heterogeneous nucleus of Mg 2 Si phase, or be captured by the Mg 2 Si solid front during solidification, leading to the refinement of eutectic Mg 2 Si phase. It was also found that the effects of UT could be even improved by using squeeze casting (SC), instead of gravity casting (GC). The as-cast ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation of hybrid Mg 2 Si + SiC np /Al-Cu composites fabricated by combining UT and SC were enhanced to 336 MPa and 3.0%, which were increased by 31.3% and 130.8%, respectively, compared with the composites without UT. The UTS of the hybrid Mg 2 Si + SiC np /Al-Cu composites was also 33.5% higher than that of the Al-Cu matrix alloy and 23.5% higher than that of 1 wt% SiC np /Al-Cu composites prepared by the same process. • Hybrid Mg 2 Si + SiC np /Al-Cu composites treated by ultrasonics are investigated for first time. • Ultrasonics can refine and homogenize the big eutectic Mg 2 Si phases in the composites. • Ultrasonics can promote uniform distribution of SiC np in Mg 2 Si + SiC np /Al-Cu composites. • SiC np can act as nucleus of Mg 2 Si, leading to reduction of the size of Mg 2 Si phase. • Mechanical properties of composites can be enhanced significantly by ultrasonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, a new type of external added nano-sized SiC particles (SiC np for short) and in-situ Mg 2 Si particles reinforced composites, i.e. (1.5 wt% Mg 2 Si+1 wt% SiC np)/Al-Cu composites, has been successfully prepared for the first time, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites are studied. The eutectic Mg 2 Si phase in the Mg 2 Si/Al-Cu composites is refined from short strip with length of about 10 µm to dot shape with diameter of about 2 µm in (Mg 2 Si+SiC np)/Al-Cu composites, which is uniformly distributed inside Al 2 Cu phases precipitated at the grain boundary. The α-Al grains are also significantly refined. It is also first discovered that SiC np can act as nucleus of Mg 2 Si, or be captured by the Mg 2 Si phase during solidification, which promotes the heterogeneous nucleation of the eutectic Mg 2 Si phase to reduce the size of Mg 2 Si phase. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and yield strength of (Mg 2 Si+SiC np)/Al-Cu composites are 325 MPa and 210 MPa, which are 3.2% and 28.8% higher than those of Mg 2 Si/Al-Cu composites, respectively. These properties are also improved by 20.4% and 21.4% respectively compared with SiC np /Al-Cu composites, while (Mg 2 Si+SiC np)/Al-Cu composites maintain good ductility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Nano-sized SiC particles (SiC np for short) reinforced Al-5Cu-0.5Mn-0.15Ti composites have been successfully fabricated by a process consisting of high energy ball milling, mechanical stirring and ultrasonic treatment for composite slurry and squeeze casting. The variation of microstructure and mechanical properties with SiC np levels in x SiC np /AlCuMnTi (x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 wt%) composites is investigated for the first time. The SiC np are uniformly distributed in the SiC np /Al-5Cu composites made with the process. With the increase of SiC np content from 0.5 to 2.0 wt%, the primary α-Al and Al 2 Cu phases are refined significantly up to 1.5 wt% but then become coarser at 2.0 wt%. The optimal mechanical properties are obtained in 1.5 wt% SiC np /AlCuMnTi composites, which exhibit 298 MPa in ultimate tensile strength (UTS), 178 MPa in yield strength (YS) and 12.9% in elongation. These properties are increased by 18.7%, 11.3% and 25.3%, respectively, compared with the AlCuMnTi matrix alloy. The enhancement of strength is attributed to four strengthening mechanisms, among which the Δ σ C T E and Δ σ O r o w a n are the most important contributors. It is noteworthy that with more SiC np in the present composites, the strength increases while elongation increases as well. Highlights • The SiC np are uniformly distributed in the SiC np /Al-5Cu composites with ultrasonic treatment. • The primary α-Al and Al 2 Cu phases are refined in the composites with the addition of SiC np. • With increase of SiC np content in composites, the strength increases while elongation increases as well. • The contributions of SiC np content and various strengthening mechanisms are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S‐Adenosyl‐l‐methionine (SAM)‐dependent methyltransferases (MTs) are highly chemoselective enzymes grouped in C‐, N‐, O‐, S‐ and halide MTs, depending on the (hetero) atom that acts as the methyl group acceptor. So far, OMTs present the largest group, including many well investigated candidates. The catechol OMT from mammals such as from Rattus norvegicus (RnCOMT) is involved in the metabolism of neurotransmitters like dopamine. It is known to methylate the hydroxyl of the catechol ring in the 3 position. There are also reports showing that the regioselectivity of different COMTs can vary leading to different products with methyl groups in the 3 and or 4 positions. Nevertheless, there was only O‐methylation reported for COMTs. Another related MT, the caffeate OMT involved in the lignin biosynthesis of plants has also been reported as a chemoselective enzyme. In nature, S‐methylation is a rare phenomenon with different methyl donors being involved in the methyl transfer onto sulfur atoms. Several SAM‐dependent MTs are identified as S‐methyltransferases (SMTs), these are involved in salvaging pathways and xenobiotic metabolism of cells. Here, we report a new function of three OMTs; RnCOMT, a COMT from Myxococcus xanthus (MxSafC), and a CaOMT from Prunus persica (PpCaOMT) with acceptance towards different aromatic thiol substrates with up to full conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonic vibration (UV) treatment has been successfully applied to improve the particles distribution of nano-sized SiC particles (SiC p ) reinforced Al-5Cu alloy matrix composites which were prepared by combined processes of dry high energy ball milling and squeeze casting. When UV treatment is applied, the distribution of nano-sized SiC p has been greatly improved. After UV for 1 min, large particles aggregates are broken up into small aggregates due to effects of cavitation and the acoustic streaming. After UV for 5 min, all the particles aggregates are dispersed and the particles are uniformly distributed in the composites. Compared with the Al-5Cu matrix alloy, the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation of the 1 wt% nano-sized SiC p /Al-5Cu composites treated by UV for 5 min are 270 MPa, 173 MPa and 13.3%, which are increased by 7.6%, 6.8% and 29%, respectively. The improvements of mechanical properties after UV are attributed to the uniform distribution of nano particles, grain refinement of aluminum matrix alloy and reduction of porosity in the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese (Mn) is among one of the essential trace elements for normal plant development; however, excessive Mn can cause plant growth and development to be hindered. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms of plant root response to Mn poisoning remain unclear. In the present study, results revealed that the root growth was inhibited when exposed to Mn poisoning. Physiological results showed that the antioxidase enzyme activities (peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase) and the proline, malondialdehyde, and soluble sugar contents increased significantly under Mn toxicity stress (100 μM Mn), whereas the soluble protein and four hormones' (indolebutyric acid, abscisic acid, indoleacetic acid, and gibberellic acid 3) contents decreased significantly. In addition, the Mn, Fe, Na, Al, and Se contents in the roots increased significantly, whereas those of Mg, Zn, and K decreased significantly. Furthermore, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis was used to test the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of soybean root under Mn poisoning. The results found 45,274 genes in soybean root and 1430 DEGs under Mn concentrations of 5 (normal) and 100 (toxicity) μM. Among these DEGs, 572 were upregulated and 858 were downregulated, indicating that soybean roots may initiate complex molecular regulatory mechanisms on Mn poisoning stress. The results of quantitative RT-PCR indicated that many DEGs were upregulated or downregulated markedly in the roots, suggesting that the regulation of DEGs may be complex. Therefore, the regulatory mechanism of soybean root on Mn toxicity stress is complicated. Present results lay the foundation for further study on the molecular regulation mechanism of function genes involved in regulating Mn tolerance traits in soybean roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, in-situ 3 wt% Mg 2 Si/Al–Cu composites have been prepared by a novel continuous squeeze casting-extrusion (CSCE) process assisted with ultrasonic treatment (UT) for the first time. Different from the traditional semi-continuous hot extrusion process, the new method eliminates billet homogenization annealing and preheating. After UT + CSCE, the fine Al 2 Cu and eutectic Mg 2 Si phases in the UT + SC (squeeze casting) billet are further crushed to form a fibrous microstructure distributed along the extrusion direction (ED). Moreover, the α-Al grains are elongated along the extrusion direction, and the proportions of LAGBs (low-angle grain boundaries) and HAGBs (high-angle grain boundaries) are 72.3% and 27.7%, respectively. Meanwhile, fiber textures with orientations <111>//ED and <100>//ED are formed, and the ratios of the two textures are 60.9% and 30.5%, respectively. After UT + CSCE, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and elongation of the in-situ 3 wt% Mg 2 Si/Al–Cu composite are 330 MPa, 250 MPa and 11%, and its YS and elongation are 23.2% and 69.2% higher than those of the UT + SC billet, respectively. Compared with the Al–Cu alloy prepared by UT + CSCE, its UTS and YS are increased by 11.9% and 38.9%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor the end point of the elution process for the purification of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (gardenia) extract. A partial least square model was built to quantify the concentration of geniposide. A new strategy was coupled with multivariate statistical process control to update the original multivariate calibration model to correct for fluctuations among batch processes and to enhance the robustness of the model. After updating the model twice by the new strategy, the root mean squared error of prediction decreased from 0.505 to 0.350 mg mL-1, and the interval between the end points determined by near-infrared spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography was reduced from 15 to 3 min. Compared with other model updating methods, this strategy significantly improved the prediction capabilities of the near-infrared calibration model with smaller prediction errors while requiring fewer samples in the calibration set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular matrix is rich in biomolecules including structural proteins, glycosaminoglycans, and small molecules that are important for the maintenance and repair of tissue. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) is expected to retain these key biomolecules and makes it a promising biomaterial candidate for regenerative medicine applications. To date, dECM-particle based biomaterials have been developed to engineer over 15 tissue types or organs, with the ultimate goal of mimicking specific biological and physical properties of the native tissue. The most common scaffold types are injectable hydrogels, electrospun scaffolds and bioprinted scaffolds. The purpose of this review paper is to highlight key challenges, fabrication methods and progress made for each tissue type, along with the discussion of other elements that are integral to push dECM biomaterials towards effective and specialized tissue repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel Al–5Cu-0.6Li-0.5Mn-0.3Mg-0.15Ti alloy was developed, in which Li is as low as 0.6 wt% and Ti is added, no Ag, Zn, Zr, RE, etc., and high-performance Al–Cu–Li alloy casting billets were prepared by squeeze casting (SC) with ultrasonic treatment (UT). The results show that compared with traditional gravity casting (GC), the porosity and compositional segregation in the SC billets are significantly reduced, and the grain size is also reduced from 80 μm to 38 μm, especially the microstructure of UT + SC billets is further optimized. After UT + SC, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and elongation of Al–Cu–Li alloy billets are 300 MPa, 190 MPa and 16.5%, which are 27.1%, 35.7% and 230% higher than those of the GC billets, and these as-cast properties are increased by 13.2%, 15.2% and 37.5%, compared with Li-free Al–5Cu-0.5Mn-0.3Mg-0.15Ti alloy billet prepared by UT + SC, respectively. The improvement of the strength and elongation of Al–Cu–Li alloy billet prepared by UT + SC is attributed to the reduction of porosity, grain refinement and uniform distribution of second phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose. The long-term benefits of deep bilateral brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) are less well described, especially in Chinese cohorts. Here, we present a large group of Chinese PD patients treated with bilateral STN DBS. Methods. Between 2003 and 2010, 195 consecutive PD patients received implants at the Xuanwu Hospital affiliated to the Capital Medical University in Beijing (China) for bilateral STN DBS. The mean age at implantation was 58.2 ± 10.0 years, and they had a 5- to 15-year history of PD (mean: 6.8 years). Patients were assessed with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) at 1, 3, and 5 years, both on and off medication. Results. Except for speech, patients' off-medication motor function scores at 5 years improved by 60.3% (P < 0.001) and those for activities of daily living improved by 54.2% (P < 0.001). With the exception of dyskinesia, on-medication motor function scores did not improve 1 year after surgery. On-medication akinesia, speech, postural stability, and freezing of gait worsened between years 1 and 5 (all P < 0.001). At 5 years, dopaminergic treatment dose and the duration and severity of levodopa-induced dyskinesia were reduced compared with baseline (all P < 0.001). There was one death associated with surgery to implant the STN DBS. Conclusions. PD patients who were treated with bilateral STN DBS exhibited marked motor function improvements over long-term follow-up while off medication and in dyskinesia while on medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the strength and ductility of Al–Cu–Mn–Ti alloy prepared by squeeze casting have been simultaneously increased after heat treatment. The effects of solution and aging treatment on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of squeeze cast Al–Cu alloy are investigated to discuss its micro-mechanism using various methods, including SEM, XRD, EBSD and TEM. The results show that the Al 2 Cu phase disappeared completely after solution treatment at 530 °C for 10h. During aging, nano-sized or submicron-sized Al 12 Mn 2 Cu precipitates and much smaller nano-sized θ'' phase were uniformly distributed throughout the alloy, and the interface between the two phases and the matrix was coherent. After solution + aging treatment (i.e., T6 treatment) the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation of the alloy were 445 MPa, 265 MPa and 17.9%, which were increased by 71.2%, 65.6% and 70.5%, respectively, compared with the as-cast alloy. The precipitation strengthening caused by the two kinds of precipitates θ'' and Al 12 Mn 2 Cu is the most important factor for the simultaneous increase in the strength and elongation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An endophyte B. velezensis strain D4 with great antifungal activity was identified. • D4 suppressed the mycelial growth of V. mali and promotes plant growth. • D4 impair the pathogen by suppressing cell wall synthesis and accumulating ROS. • D4 triggers plant defense by upregulating genes involved in SA, EH, JA signaling. Apple Valsa canker, caused by Valsa mali , is one of the most serious fungal diseases in apple-producing regions in east Asia. One endophyte strain, designated as D4 and subsequently identified as Bacillus velezensis based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, was studied as a potential biocontrol agent. Challenge inoculation assay showed the strain D4 suppressed the mycelial growth of V. mali on dual culture plates and caused hyphal deformities, wrinkles, and ruptures. Furthermore, the strain D4 was able to promote plant growth by producing siderophores and solubilizing phosphorus. Under laboratory and field conditions, the strain D4 exhibited strong antifungal activities on detached twigs and intact plants. Re-isolation of endophytes confirmed the strain D4 could completely colonize the plants. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed downregulation of the genes associated with the fungal cell wall's synthesis and composition, cell membrane, and transport and energy metabolism during V. mali treatment with the D4 strain. Furthermore, the global gene expression patterns revealed that host genes mainly involved in salicylic acid, ethylene, jasmonic acid signaling and brassinosteroid synthesis pathways were upregulated during apple treatment with the strain D4. qRT-PCR conducted on a subset of 13 genes was consistent with the results of RNA-seq data. The present study explores a potential biocontrol agent for the control of apple Valsa canker and sheds light on the control mechanisms of how the strain D4 impairs the pathogen and triggers the plant's defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Assessments of the statistics of damage ensemble are essential steps to develop accurate modeling and predictions of material failures. Events of random damage constitute a damage system that resides in the microstructures of the materials. Characterization and evaluation of such a system involve assessing the evolving the cascading damage events from hierarchical microstructures of the solids, and there currently lacks an experimental means to do so. To address this need, we established an approach to acquire the events of random damage (ERD) by employing a measureable multi-variate D A defined in our previous work based on acoustic emission. It was found that the responsive events of random damage created by pure tension and three-point bending correlated strongly across all multiscale column vectors of D A in spacetime. The correlation strength is much stronger under tension than that under bending, and much stronger in early loading stages across the column scale vectors of the D A variate. ERD were found to be in clear distinct statistical populations by Andrews' exploratory data analysis plots under tension and bending, and in different stages of loading, which suggests that damage mechanisms are not only “physical”, but also “statistical”. Furthermore, our data showed that the strongly coupled multiscale column vectors of D A can be transformed orthogonally to becoming decoupled principal components, PCs, which may facilitate the constitutive modeling. However, a PC indexes nearly evenly all scale vectors of D A , which implicates, in conjunction with the findings of correlation and Andrews' plot, can be unidirectional, bi-directional, and or interwoven, but is a complicated index variable to describe the cascading multiscale damage events in evolving hierarchical microstructures of semicrystalline polymers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper Chinese phrases are modeled using complex networks theory. We analyze statistical properties of the networks and find that phrase networks display some important features: not only small world and the power-law distribution, but also hierarchical structure and disassortative mixing. These statistical traits display the global organization of Chinese phrases. The origin and formation of such traits are analyzed from a macroscopic Chinese culture and philosophy perspective. It is interesting to find that Chinese culture and philosophy may shape the formation and structure of Chinese phrases. To uncover the structural design principles of networks, network motif patterns are studied. It is shown that they serve as basic building blocks to form the whole phrase networks, especially triad 38 (feed forward loop) plays a more important role in forming most of the phrases and other motifs. The distinct structure may not only keep the networks stable and robust, but also be helpful for information processing. The results of the paper can give some insight into Chinese language learning and language acquisition. It strengthens the idea that learning the phrases helps to understand Chinese culture. On the other side, understanding Chinese culture and philosophy does help to learn Chinese phrases. The hub nodes in the networks show the close relationship with Chinese culture and philosophy. Learning or teaching the hub characters, hub-linking phrases and phrases which are meaning related based on motif feature should be very useful and important for Chinese learning and acquisition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The objective of this study is to examine the role of Human Exonuclease 1(EXO1) gene in the diagnosis and prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and predict the signal pathways EXO1 involved in. The clinical parameters and EXO1 expression datasets of LUAD patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Oncomine and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was performed to determine whether EXO1 expression was upregulated in LUAD. The correlation between EXO1 expression and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed by Chi-square test, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and COX regression models were adopted to analyze and verify the correlation of EXO1 expression with OS of LUAD patients for the exploration of prognostic value of EXO1 in LUAD patients. The signaling pathway related to EXO1 was predicted by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). In addition, sera from LUAD patients and healthy subjects were collected, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was conducted to detect EXO1 expression. EXO1 expression was upregulated in LUAD patients with respect to normal individuals. EXO1 expression was negatively correlated with the prognosis and thus could independently predict the prognosis of LUAD patients. EXO1 gene was involved in 128 signal pathways, of which 9 pathways may be closely related. EXO1 was highly expressed in the blood of LUAD patients. High EXO1 expression can serve as an independent risk factor for poor prognosis, and the expression of serum EXO1 has certain diagnostic value for LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discrete relaxation events on the submicron scale were observed during nanoindentation on polyethylene. The frequency with which these events occur increases as the crystallinity of the polyethylene increases, but the effect saturates at high crystallization levels. At a given crystallinity, the occurrence frequency decreases as temperature increases, due possibly to the enhancement of viscous flow as a competing stress relaxation process. The emission rate of the discrete relaxation events also increases with temperature, exhibiting an activation energy of about 0.22eV. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, through the comparison of the microstructure evolution between composites and matrix alloy, the effects of nano-sized SiC particles (i.e. nano-SiC p) on solution behavior and properties of 1 wt.% nano-SiC p /Al-Cu composites were investigated for the first time. Results indicate that different from the traditional solution treatment process of Al-Cu matrix alloy, due to the hindering effect of nano-SiC p on the solution behavior of Al 2 Cu phase, the composites need higher solution temperature to show better mechanical properties. The T6 treated composites exhibit excellent hardness and tensile properties after solution treatment at 540 °C for 10 h. Its hardness, ultimate tensile strength and yield strength are 150 HV, 500 MPa and 350 MPa, which are increased by 120 %, 82 % and 106 % than that of the as-cast composites respectively. Compared with the T6 treated Al-Cu matrix alloy, the UTS and YS of nano-SiC p /Al-Cu composites are elevated by 16.3 % and 34.6 %, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal power is being regarded as depending on techniques derived from hydrocarbon production in worldwide current strategy. However, it has artificially been developed far less than its natural potentials due to technical restrictions. This paper introduces the Enhanced Geothermal System based on Excavation (EGS-E), which is an innovative scheme of geothermal energy extraction. Then, based on cohesion-weakening-friction-strengthening model (CWFS) and literature investigation of granite test at high temperature, the initiation, propagation of excavation damaged zones (EDZs) under unloading and the EDZs scale in EGS-E closed to hydrostatic pressure state is studied. Finally, we have a discussion about the further evolution of surrounding rock stress and EDZs during ventilation is studied by thermal-mechanical coupling. The results show that the influence of high temperature damage on the mechanical parameters of granite should be considered; Lateral pressure coefficient affects the fracture morphology and scale of tunnel surrounding rock, and EDZs area is larger when the lateral pressure coefficient is 1.0 or 1.2; Ventilation of high temperature and high in-situ stress tunnel have a significant effect on the EDZs scale; Additional tensile stress is generated in the shallow of tunnel surrounding rock, and the compressive stress concentration transfers to the deep. EDZs experiences three expansion stages of slow, rapid and deceleration with cooling time, and the thermal insulation layer prolongs the slow growth stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, Chinese character networks are modelled using complex networks theory. We analyze statistical properties of the networks and find that character networks also display two important features as other real networks, i.e., small-world feature and the non-Poisson distribution. These results indicate that the discovered features of Chinese character structure reflect the combinatorial nature of Chinese characters. We also simulate the formation of Chinese phono-semantic characters using bipartite graph theory. The bipartite graph model generates non-Poisson distributions and disassortative mixing as the empirical networks, which effectively explain the origin and formation of phono-semantic characters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using a solar radiometer is an effective approach for improving the remote sensing of solar irradiance distribution and atmospheric composition. Long-term development of a solar scanning radiometer enables frequent and reliable measurement of atmospheric parameters such as the water vapor column and aerosol optical properties. However, the discrete wavelength radiometer has encountered a bottleneck with respect to its insufficient spectral resolution and limited observation waveband, and it has been unable to satisfy the needs of refined and intelligent on-site experiments. This study proposes a solar-skylight spectroradiometer for obtaining visible and near-IR fine spectrum with two types of measurement: direct-sun irradiance and diffuse-sky radiance. The instrument adopts distributed control architecture composed of the ARM-Linux embedded platform and sensor networks. The detailed design of the measuring light-path, two-axis turntable, and master control system will be addressed in this study. To determine all coefficients needed to convert instrument outputs to physical quantities, integrating sphere and Langley extrapolation methods are introduced for diffuse-sky and direct-sun calibration, respectively. Finally, the agreement of experimental results between spectroradiometers and measuring benchmarks (DTF sun-photometer, microwave radiometer, and Combined Atmospheric Radiative Transfer simulation) verifies the feasibility of the spectroradiometer system, and the radiation information of feature wavelengths can be used to retrieve the characteristics of atmospheric optics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Cox/ZnO catalysts with different CoZn mass ratios were prepared by hydrothermal and impregnation methods, demonstrating that Cox/ZnO exhibits excellent low temperature (<260°C) CO2 methanation activity and selectivity at reaction pressures as low as 0.5Mpa. In order to explain the reaction properties of Cox/ZnO at low temperature and low pressure, the physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by H2-TPR, XRD, BET, XPS and CO2-TPD.The results show that, compared with pure Co3O4 and ZnO samples, when CoZn is involved in the catalyst, the interaction between CoZn improves the structural properties of the catalyst, increases the specific surface area, generates more oxygen vacancies in the Cox/ZnO catalyst, and promotes the activation of CO2.This makes the Cox/ZnO catalyst have excellent performance of CO2 methanation. At the reaction temperature of 260℃, the CO2 conversion of Co5/ZnO catalyst can reach 82.27%, and the selectivity of CH4 and CO are 99.53% and 0.047%, respectively. It remained stable for 50 hours. This work highlights the interaction between CoZn and will contribute to the development of more effective low temperature and low pressure CO2 hydrogenation catalysts.Graphical Abstract: In this work, Cox/ZnO catalysts with different CoZn mass ratios were prepared by hydrothermal and impregnation methods, demonstrating that Cox/ZnO exhibits excellent low temperature (<260°C) CO2 methanation activity and selectivity at reaction pressures as low as 0.5Mpa. In order to explain the reaction properties of Cox/ZnO at low temperature and low pressure, the physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by H2-TPR, XRD, BET, XPS and CO2-TPD.The results show that, compared with pure Co3O4 and ZnO samples, when CoZn is involved in the catalyst, the interaction between CoZn improves the structural properties of the catalyst, increases the specific surface area, generates more oxygen vacancies in the Cox/ZnO catalyst, and promotes the activation of CO2.This makes the Cox/ZnO catalyst have excellent performance of CO2 methanation. At the reaction temperature of 260℃, the CO2 conversion of Co5/ZnO catalyst can reach 82.27%, and the selectivity of CH4 and CO are 99.53% and 0.047%, respectively. It remained stable for 50 hours. This work highlights the interaction between CoZn and will contribute to the development of more effective low temperature and low pressure CO2 hydrogenation catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesives can intimately connect humans to machines, seamlessly bond diverse tissues in the human body, and manage various diseases. However, the precise spatial control of wet and tough adhesion of biocompatible hydrogels on biological tissues remains a major challenge. Inspired by the bioglue secreted by sandcastle worms, the design of printable tough adhesives (PTAs) is proposed, a supramolecular hydrogel that can be printed into defined structures, in situ mechanically reinforced into a tough matrix with physiologically relevant benign triggers, and strongly adhere to diverse substrates. With carefully selected polymer components and ratios, it is discovered that the 3D printed PTAs can achieve a marked increase in toughness, tensile strength, and stiffness after being immersed in water/saline solution or attached to biological tissues. To assess the robust toughening mechanism triggered by the supramolecular interactions, the effects of polymer content and pH on the mechanical performance of PTAs and the kinetics of their triggered reinforcement are thoroughly investigated. The potential of PTAs is further demonstrated for manufacturing tough connective tissue mimetics, controlling patterned bioadhesion, and designing programmable 4D soft robotics. The bioinspired, printable, benignly triggerable, and adhesive supramolecular PTAs are expected to find broad applications in engineering and medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical sutures are gold‐standard wound closure devices. However, they are unable to form a tight seal with surrounding tissues, raising the risks of body fluid leakage and surgical site infection. Additionally, the use of sutures can result in cracking at suture roots, damage and micro‐trauma to soft tissues due to the slicing and compression of suture fibers after their placement. Bioadhesives capable of mimicking natural biological interfaces are appealing alternatives, but they cannot achieve the same level of strength as conventional surgical sutures. Here, a tough adhesive puncture sealing (TAPS) suture, featuring swelling‐triggered bioadhesion to mend the gap between the suture and the surrounding tissues with a soft yet tough adhesive interface is reported. This unique design principle of TAPS sutures is applicable to diverse soft tissues of various defect sizes and can be controlled by modulating the hydrogel swelling kinetics. The advantages of the TAPS sutures for meniscal tear repair and intestine tissue sealing ex vivo, corroborates their favorable applications in managing mechanically active musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal tissues are demonstrated. The design and performance of the TAPS sutures offer extensive possibilities for redesigning surgical tools and developing next‐generation medical devices for wound management and tissue repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of highly active supported noble metal catalysts with a low noble metal loading has always been the ultimate goal of researchers working on catalysis. Hydrothermally treated Pt/Al 2 O 3 (Pt/Al 2 O 3 -H) exhibits better catalytic activity than that (Pt/Al 2 O 3 -C) treated via the conventional calcination approach. At the high space velocity of 100,000 mL/(g∙hr), the temperature that correspond to 50% toluene conversion (T 50) of Pt/Al 2 O 3 -H is 115°C lower than that of Pt/Al 2 O 3 -C, and the turnover frequency (TOF) value can reach 0.0756 sec−1. The mechanism by which the hydrothermal approach enhances Pt/Al 2 O 3 activity has been investigated. The structure associated with the high catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) can be retained via hydrothermal treatment. Furthermore, the support is transformed to AlO(OH) with numerous surface hydroxyl groups, which in turn can facilitate the adsorption of toluene. And the synergistic effects of Pt NPs and AlO(OH) increases the contents of Pt in oxidation state and active oxygen, which are beneficial for toluene oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the level of CD4+CD25+CD127low regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the peripheral blood of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with HBV infection and to explore the relationship between these cells and HBV infection. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 41 HCC patients infected with HBV, 34 HCC patients without HBV infection and 29 healthy persons. These mononuclear cells were labeled with the monoclonal antibodies of CD4, CD25 and CD127, and then Tregs level was determined by flow cytometry (FCM). Moreover, the load of HBV DNA in the blood serum of HCC patients with HBV infection was detected by fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR). Results The percentage of CD+CD25+CD127low Tregs in CD4+T cells in the HCC patients with HBV infection was higher than that in the HCC patients without HBV infection [(8.24±2.20)% vs (7.06±2.46)%, P<0.05] and that in the healthy persons [(8.24±2.20)% vs (6.51±1.99)%, P < 0.01]. Furthermore, the percentage of CD+CD25+CD127low Tregs in CD4+T cells in the HCC patients without HBV infection was higher than that in the healthy persons [(7.06±2.46)% vs (6.51± 1.99)%, P < 0.05]. In addition, the level of CD+CD25+CD127low Tregs in the HCC patients with HBV infection was gradually increased following the increase of HBV DNA load and there was a positive correlation between the level of CD+CD25+CD127low Tregs and the load of HBV DNA (r=0.350, P < 0.05). Conclusion The level of CD+CD25+CD127low Tregs in HCC patients is increased remarkably and associated with the number of HBV DNA copy, which may be an important mechanism of immunologic escape of virus in HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defect visualization method plays an important role in eddy current thermography. However, there is no effective visualization method for dynamic detection of eddy current thermography. In this paper, a defect visualization method based on edge detection operator (EDO) is proposed for the dynamic eddy current thermography. This method is improved on the basis of LSM (Line scanning method) and utilizes four EDOs. This method can extract crack information and visualize cracks from the thermal images. The results of these four operators are evaluated, and it is showed that the Roberts operator has the best detection effect. The proposed method can also simplify thermal image processing and reduce the storage of thermal images. It is also found that the method can suppress the influence of uneven emissivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pd nanoparticle dispersion liquid was synthesized by the solvothermal method. • Pd/NiO/Ni foam was prepared by the dispersion-liquid-spraying method. • A novel electric heating catalytic combustion reactor was constructed. • This work provides a new applied trend for foam metal-based monolithic catalysts. Metal-based monolithic catalysts have excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, impact resistance, ductility, and mechanical properties. Thus, they have a broader application prospect than ceramic-based monolithic catalysts. In this work, high-dispersion Pd nanoparticle dispersion liquid was synthesized by using the solvothermal method. Moreover, nickel-foam-supported Pd/NiO (Pd/NiO/Ni foam) monolithic catalyst with good catalytic combustion performance was prepared successfully by simply spraying the dispersion liquid on the surface of Ni foam, which was oxidized at high temperature to grow NiO film. A novel electric heating catalytic combustion reactor with fast response and safety was constructed by nesting Pd/NiO/Ni foam with an insulated heating rod. Notably, even at the high space velocity of 50,000 h−1, the constructed reactor can completely degrade 2500 ppm of toluene at 230 ℃ and exhibits good catalytic activity for hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing and heteroatom-containing organic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]