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The shift and low-frequency oscillations of neutral point potential are key issues in the neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter. The space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) algorithm has limited voltage balancing ability at high modulation levels and low power factors. The virtual SVPWM can achieve midpoint potential balance across the entire range, but it has the problem of multiple switching times and poor harmonic characteristics. Parallel three-level NPC inverters can increase the power rating and efficiency of systems, thus being suitable for high-power applications. However, their parallel topology also brings current sharing issues. This paper first proposes several methods of combining varied virtual middle vectors based on five-level vectors, which control the midpoint current by adjusting the action time of the basic vector. Second, different virtual vector combinations are used for voltage commands with different modulation indexes to reduce the switching frequency of the inverter and the synthesis vector error. The proposed hybrid method has fewer switching times, reduces the amplitude of midpoint voltage fluctuation, and has good harmonic characteristics of output current. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the hybrid method are verified through simulation and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the two‐stage inverter system, due to the space vector modulation (SVM), the midpoint potential of active neutral point clamped three‐level inverter system (ANPC‐TLIS) will have triple frequency fluctuation, under the influence of the closed‐loop control strategy, the fluctuation amplitude of the lithium battery energy storage system (LBESS) output current will increase. To reduce the low‐frequency output current fluctuation, a voltage loop strategy based on active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) with notch filter (NF)is proposed in this paper. In this scheme, the voltage outer‐loop control strategy not only maintains voltage stability, but also reduces the fluctuation amplitude of reference current. In addition, during the electromagnetic transient process, the LBESS output current fluctuation frequency is constantly changing because the power supply frequency required by linear motor is constantly changing. To solve this problem, the inverter output current frequency is feedforward to the LBESS controller, forming a variable frequency notch filter (VFNF). Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed strategy is verified by fixed‐frequency and variable frequency conditions experiments on RT‐LAB experimental platform. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variables that can be considered in experimental investigations of internal instability of earth dam materials are often bounded by practicality and feasibility constraints. To overcome these shortcomings, a total of 164 previous published experimental results were compiled to study statistically the relative significance of vertical effective stress, grain size ratio (D15/d85), fines content, coefficient of uniformity (Cu), and specimen length in the mechanism of internal instability. The present statistical results agreed with previous experimental findings on the combined dominant roles played by fines content and stress in the internal instability. However, the stress reduction factor was found to be inversely correlated with the vertical effective stress, which was not reported previously. The scale effect of specimen size has significant positive correlations with both the stress reduction factor and critical hydraulic gradient, whereas the influences of Cu and D15/d85 were minimal, in contrast to previous experimental findings. An improved theoretical hydromechanical envelope for predicting internal instability of cohesionless soil in the space of stress-gradient–stress reduction factor was proposed in this study. The unstable envelope moved with increasing applied hydraulic gradient until the state of material touching the envelope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity and equivalent switching frequency of parallel interleaved inverters can be increased, but there are problems with neutral point potential balance and parallel bridge circulating current. This paper regards the parallel three-level inverter as a five-level inverter and five-level space vector integrated modulation is applied. On this basis, a neutral-point potential control strategy based on the mid-point charge to calculate the adjustment factor k is proposed. By further meticulously partitioning specific sector regions, the selection method of redundant vectors in the switching sequence is optimized without increasing the switching times, and the midpoint voltage ripple is reduced. Then, the redundant state allocation in the process of splitting the five-level into three-level is used as a new degree of freedom to suppress the circulating current of the parallel bridge, therefore realizing the control of voltage and current sharing. Finally, simulation and experiments verify the correctness and effectiveness of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many places in the world suffer from a shortage of river sand because of population growth and environmental protection, and people have to replace river sand with manufactured sand (M-sand). In this study, M-sand was adopted as aggregate and the effect of the mix design (paste fluidity (PF) and paste-to-aggregate ratio (P/A)) on the properties of porous mortar was investigated through a combined experimental, statistical and response surface method (RSM). By including variations in both P/A (0.16–0.26) and PF (160–200 mm), the method was utilized to develop ANOVA models and construct response surface and contour lines. The experimental results revealed that the compressive strength of the porous mortar increased by 62.3% to a value of 34.1 MPa while the PF increased to 190 mm from 160 mm at a P/A of 0.20, and the water permeability coefficient was 7.2 mm/s under the same conditions. In addition, the ANOVA analysis of the measured properties revealed a strong interactive effect of the paste-to-aggregate ratio and paste fluidity on the porous mortar properties, and the developed relationship models between the variables and responses were accurate. A porous mortar with a compressive strength over 30 MPa and a permeability coefficient over 7 mm/s could be conveniently designed by RSM. Additionally, the compressive strength of the porous concrete reached more than 40 MPa at a P/A of 0.26. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Explicitly modeling the distribution of transitions with a distributional neural network. • Selecting transitions with a novel distribution-guided experience sampling approach. • Consolidating the policy with most informative transitions in a memory-efficient way. • Performance of our approach is demonstrated on multiple control tasks. Policy consolidation aims at learning new skills in sequential multi-tasks without forgetting acquired skills. Typically, the collected transitions for each task need to be stored for further exploiting. However, it is impractical to store all the transitions with limited memory as the number of tasks increases. To this end, we propose a novel distribution-guided experience sampling method that can efficiently select previously informative transitions and replay them to consolidate the learned policy. Specifically, we learn a distributional neural network to capture the interdependence among transitions, and evaluate the importance of each transition based on the interdependence. Meanwhile, the importance-based prioritized sampling method is presented to periodically replay transitions with higher importance to consolidate previous skills. Therefore, the proposed method can maintain good generalization ability of the policy in a memory-efficient way. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method on several benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mitigating fluctuations of output active power of WF. • Compensating output reactive power of WF. • Participating in system primary frequency regulation. • Providing damping control (POD) of inter-area oscillations. This paper presents a concept of multi-purpose Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) which is integrated into a large wind farm (WF). The BESS aims to suppress the fluctuation of the output of active power and reactive power of the wind farm WF, participate in frequency regulation and damp low-frequency oscillations. Firstly, the concept and structure of the multi-purpose of BESS is presented. After that, the digital twin technology is applied to configure the capacity of the BESS. The performance of the multi-purpose BESS is demonstrated in the two-area system model constructed using DIgSILENT PowerFactory. The simulation results show that the multi-purpose BESS significantly improves the stability of the system in terms of suppressing the fluctuation of the out of WF, frequency regulation and damping low-frequency oscillations, which is the essential step to the practical implementation of the multi-purpose BESS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing gas sensors for formaldehyde vapor detection is necessary. Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) exhibited good formaldehyde sensing properties but with high working temperature and unsatisfactory selectivity. Herein, ZnSnO 3 was sensitized by ZnO QDs modification for high-performance formaldehyde sensing at low working temperatures via simple immersion method. Meanwhile, SnO 2 QDs instead of ZnO QDs was also modified on ZnSnO 3 nanocubes. The result indicated both ZnO QDs and SnO 2 QDs modification greatly improved gas sensing response and lower the working temperature of ZnSnO 3 to formaldehyde. Whereas, the obtained ZnSnO 3 /ZnO QDs composite (ZSO/ZQD) containing 5 wt% ZnO QDs (ZSO/ZQD-0.05) showed a highest response value of 613.3–100 ppm formaldehyde at 70℃ with good reversibility and stability, which was nearly 20 times of bare ZnSnO 3 and 6 times of SnO 2 QDs modified ZnSnO 3. The detection limit reached 100 ppb formaldehyde. The formaldehyde sensing performance of ZSO/ZQD-0.05 composite was checked in presence of simulated indoor pollutants. Its improved sensor performance was mainly attributed to ZnO QDs, which played roles in forming rich heterojunctions with ZnSnO 3 , increasing the surface area, and providing oxygen deficiency for formaldehyde sensing reaction. This provided an alternative way to improving the sensing properties of MOS by QDs modification. • QDs modified ZnSnO 3 based sensors were facilely fabricated for HCOH gas sensin. • 5 wt% ZnO QDs modified ZnSnO 3 showed high response and selectivity at 70℃. • The excellent HCOH sensing performance induced by ZnO QDs is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Folates are indispensable for plant development, but their molecular mode of action remains elusive. We synthesized a probe, "5-F-THF-Dayne," comprising 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate (THF) coupled to a photoaffinity tag. Exploiting this probe in an affinity proteomics study in Arabidopsis thaliana , we retrieved 51 hits. Thirty interactions were independently validated with in vitro expressed proteins to bind 5-F-THF with high or low affinity. Interestingly, the interactors reveal associations beyond one-carbon metabolism, covering also connections to nitrogen (N) metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism/photosynthesis, and proteostasis. Two of the interactions, one with the folate biosynthetic enzyme DIHYDROFOLATE REDUCTASE-THYMIDYLATE SYNTHASE 1 (At DHFR-TS1) and another with N metabolism-associated glutamine synthetase 1;4 (At GLN1;4), were further characterized. In silico and experimental analyses revealed G35/K36 and E330 as key residues for the binding of 5-F-THF in At DHFR-TS1 and At GLN1;4, respectively. Site-directed mutagenesis of At GLN1;4 E330, which co-localizes with the ATP-binding pocket, abolished 5-F-THF binding as well as At GLN1;4 activity. Furthermore, 5-F-THF was noted to competitively inhibit the activities of At DHFR-TS1 and At GLN1;4. In summary, we demonstrated a regulatory role for 5-F-THF in N metabolism, revealed 5-F-THF-mediated feedback regulation of folate biosynthesis, and identified a total of 14 previously unknown high-affinity binding cellular targets of 5-F-THF. Together, this sets a landmark toward understanding the role of folates in plant development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control (FCS-MPC) has the ability to achieve multi-objective optimization, but there are still many challenges. The key to realizing multi-objective optimization in FCS-MPC lies in the design of the cost function. However, the different dimensions of penalty terms in the cost function often lead to difficulties in designing weighting coefficients. Incorrect weighting coefficients may result in truncation errors in calculations of DSPs and FPGAs, thereby affecting the algorithm's control performance. Therefore, this article focuses on a system driving an induction motor with a three-level Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) inverter, and selects stator current and switching frequency as penalty terms in the cost function. An improved method is proposed to unify the dimensions of both penalty terms in the cost function. By unifying the dimensions of the penalty terms, a simple design of weighting coefficients can be achieved. Subsequently, to balance the inverter's switching frequency and the dynamic response performance of the motor, a composite cost function is further proposed. Finally, the rationality of the proposed method is validated through simulation and experimental platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ID of disease-modifying, chemically accessible targets remains a central priority of modern therapeutic discovery. The phenotypic screening of small-molecule libraries not only represents an attractive approach to identify compounds that may serve as drug leads but also serves as an opportunity to uncover compounds with novel mechanisms of action (MoAs). However, a major bottleneck of phenotypic screens continues to be the ID of pharmacologically relevant target(s) for compounds of interest. The field of chemoproteomics aims to map proteome-wide small-molecule interactions in complex, native systems, and has proved a key technology to unravel the protein targets of pharmacological modulators. In this review, we discuss the application of modern chemoproteomic methods to identify protein targets of phenotypic screening hits and investigate MoAs, with a specific focus on the development of chemoproteomic-enabled compound libraries to streamline target discovery. [Display omitted] Phenotypic screening is a powerful approach in drug discovery; however, target identification (ID) remains a significant hurdle. In this review, Conway, Li, and Parker survey examples of coupled phenotypic screening and chemoproteomic target ID as well as provide their perspective on the development of chemoproteomic-enabled libraries for expedited target ID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The key contributions of this research work are as follows: • The study of the impact of SAPC on the low-frequency oscillatory stability presented in this paper not only considers the conventional control loop of SAPC but also investigates the influence of the signal pass filters which is essential for the practical application of SAPC. • This paper presents the mechanism of low-frequency oscillation by using the damping torque method and deriving the coupled operational equation of the wind turbine and the synchronous generator. By using that, the physical sense of the impact of SAPC on low-frequency oscillations is clearly observed. The impact of the SAPC on the oscillatory stability is also confirmed by the classical eigenvalue analysis, for both the two-area system and IEEE 39-bus system that was built in PowerFactory simulation software. • To analyze the effect of SAPC on low-frequency oscillations under uncertainties, a set of real wind data is fed into wind turbines to generate different operational scenarios; in addition, the impact of SAPC and the robustness of the control schemes are tested under large disturbance in large systems with different penetration levels of wind generation. The supplementary active power control (SAPC) that is integrated into wind turbines has been widely used for improving the frequency stability of power systems with high penetration of wind energy. As power electronic control schemes play key roles in future power systems, it is essential to study the impact of SAPC on system stability. This paper presents a thorough methodology for the analysis of the SAPC on the low-frequency oscillatory stability of modern power systems. Firstly, the mathematical model that drives the dynamic interaction between the synchronous generators and the wind turbine is presented, by using that, the impact of the SAPC on the oscillatory stability is analyzed. After that, the impact of the SAPC on the oscillatory stability is demonstrated by nonlinear simulations using a simplified two-area system and IEEE 39-bus system. The simulations are executed with the consideration of the uncertainty of the operational conditions and the different levels of the penetration of wind farms, and the system's robustness has been also confirmed in the event of large disturbances. The simulation results show that the SAPC has significant impacts on low-frequency oscillatory stability. The methodology is a powerful tool for low-frequency oscillation analysis and damping controller design in the power system with high penetration of wind energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the gadolinium (Gd), iron (Fe), and nitrogen (N) doped TiO 2 nanomaterials have been synthesized by a sol–gel method with slight modification. While the effect of Gd on the crystalline morphology, specific surface area, chemical composition, and bandgap of the doped samples have been investigated by SEM, TEM, BET, XRD, UV– vis , and XPS. The bonds of Ti–O–Gd, N–Ti–O, and O–N–Ti induced by Gd and N substitution inside the TiO 2 crystal lattice structure have been investigated by XPS. The UV– vis spectra showed that the absorption edges of all doped samples are significantly red-shifted, further extending towards the visible spectrum, owing to the impurity band formation of the above valence band (VB) by doping of N. With the increase in the Gd doping amount, the photocatalytic efficiency of GFNTO (tri-doped samples) followed the sequence: G 2.0 FNTO > G 2.5 FNTO > G 3.0 FNTO > G 1.5 FNTO > G 3.5 FNTO > G 1.0 FNTO. The first-order reaction constant of G 2.0 FNTO for photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) is ten times higher than that of un-doped TiO 2. The significant improvement in the performance of the co-doped sample is due to the finer particle size, larger specific surface area, narrowed bandgap, more defect sites, and oxygen vacancies induced by the substitution of Ti4+ by N, Fe3+, and Gd3+. The recycling experiment showed that the photocatalytic efficiency of G 2.0 FNTO can still reach 95% after its five cycles, further exhibiting the excellent stability and re-usability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of experiments have been performed to investigate thermal stratification induced by steam-air mixture vertical injection, in the range of steam mass flux 3–30 kg/m2s, air mass fraction 0–5% and submergence depth 100–300 mm. Experimental results show that: thermal stratification occurs at the region where none of chugging-induced synthetic jets, steam-driven negative buoyancy jets and plume is strong enough. For pure steam experiments, thermal stratification occurs when the steam mass flux above 15 kg/m2s. The pool is mixed well firstly, then thermally stratified, and then re-mixed in sequence, as the water temperature increases. A little air can make thermal stratification and re-mixing occur ahead of time and more air can completely remove thermal stratification. Gas bypass induced by shallow submergence depth makes thermal stratification occur earlier and more severe. The submergence depth has little effect on thermal stratification in chugging regime. • Shallow submergence depth is 1.25 D -3.75 D. • Gas bypass is observed when submergence depth is 1.25 D. • A little air can make thermal stratification occur ahead of time and more severer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel low-foam viscous cationic collector DTDAB was synthesized. • DTDAB exhibited superior collector ability and selectivity than DTAB. • Insertion of hydroxyl could reduce interface tension and foam coalescence of collector. • Better selectivity was achieved by regulating the size of the polar group. Traditional cationic collectors generally exist some disadvantages, such as high foam viscosity and difficulty in defoaming, which worsening the flotation separation effect. Herein, a novel cationic collector-dodecyl trihydroxyethyl ammonium bromide (DTDAB) with low-foam viscous was synthesized to optimize the reverse flotation system of hematite ore, which was achieved by introducing three hydroxyethyl groups into the nitrogen atoms of dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB). The analysis of foam collapse performance indicated that the introduction of hydroxyl groups into hydrophilic head groups of DTAB reduced the interface surface tension and bubble coalescence, which were consistent with the design expectations. Meanwhile, flotation behaviors were systematically studied, and the results showed that the concentrates with 63.89 % total iron (TFe) grade and 89.27 % total iron recovery was obtained at pH 6.81, when the concentration of DTDAB and starch was 20 mg/L and 5 mg/L, respectively. Besides, the possible flotation mechanism was further studied by means of contact angle, Atomic force microscope (AFM), Fourier transforming infrared spectra (FT-IR), X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The results comfirmed that the adsorption between DTDAB and quartz was caused by electrostatic force and hydrogen bonding affinity. In conclusion, it can be confirmed that the novel cationic collector DTDAB with low-foam viscous has the potential for the hematite reverse flotation desilication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The [P204]− ILs were applied to self-assembly extraction for the first time. • Self-assembly extraction was developed by expansion of inevitable third phase. • The ILs exhibited excellent extraction efficiency for copper cyanide complex ions. Copper cyanide complexes in cyanide leach solutions deteriorate the recoveries of gold. Herein, five phosphonate-based [P204]− ionic liquids were synthesized, which were pioneered to apply to extraction of copper cyanide complex ions in cyanide leach solutions. In the extraction process, macroscopic layered solids rich in copper cyanide complex ions were formed at the aqueous-organic phase interface, which was driven by self-assembly of ionic liquids. Notably, the layered solids can be obtained by simple filtration. The extraction behaviors were systematically studied in the present work. The results show that the extraction efficiency in excess of 90 % can be achieved at higher pH (13.16) and enriched as self-assembly solids in the process of one-step extraction and solidification, based on the self-assembly extraction systems of [P4444][P204] IL. It is worthy of note that no self-assembly sample was observed when the extraction systems is applied to extraction zinc and iron cyanide complex ions. It indicates that the present self-assembly extraction systems could be applied in separation copper and zinc/iron cyanide complex ions. Meanwhile, the coordination mechanism was investigated detaily, and the covalent nature played a leading role in the binding interaction. Remarkably, [P4444][P204] can be repeatedly used without obvious loss in extraction capacity of copper cyanide complex ions after two cycles, indicating that the IL has a good recycling ability. In conclusion, it is possible to employ the self-assembly extraction systems to separate and recover various valuable metals from aqueous solutions by designing and developing ILs extractants in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of recycling cyanide leaching solutions, the presence of iron-cyanide complex ions in gold leaching solutions leads to increased cyanide consumption and competition with gold for adsorption onto activated carbon. Consequently, the removal of iron- cyanide complex ions from cyanide leaching solutions is crucial. This study presents a novel strategy for the treatment of metal ions in leaching solutions, achieving effective waste treatment using hydrogel-like beads. To remove iron-cyanide complex ions from cyanide leaching solutions, we synthesized carboxymethyl cellulose‑iron (CMC Fe) hydrogel through a crosslinking method. The adsorbent, carboxymethyl cellulose-Prussian blue (CMC-PB) hydrogel, obtained after iron-cyanide complex ion adsorption, can directly remove Cs+ ions from solution without the need for desorption and regeneration. Notably, the CMC-Fe hydrogel exhibits exceptional adsorption performance and high selectivity toward iron-cyanide complex ions. The adsorption process of the CMC-Fe hydrogel follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, while the Freundlich isotherm model is more suitable for describing the adsorption equilibrium. Additionally, the CMC-PB hydrogel efficiently adsorbs 83.1% of Cs+ ions at a dosage of 86.5 μg, and desorption and regeneration studies reveal that its adsorption efficiency remains high even after three cycles. Furthermore, the proposed adsorption mechanism of CMC-PB for Cs+ ions involves a combination of chemisorption (K+/Na+ exchange) and physisorption (hole channels of hydrogels). [Display omitted] • The CMC-Fe hydrogel was applied to adsorption for iron cyanide complex ions. • The CMC-PB hydrogel adsorption cesium was developed. • The CMC-Fe exhibited excellent adsorption efficiency for iron cyanide complex ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Dynamic pressure signals and jet images are recorded and processed. • The effect of air mass fraction and water temperature on pressure oscillation interfacial fluctuation height are analysed. • The validity of previous correlation for steam dominant frequency is evaluated. • A modified function for dominant frequency of mixture gas jets is developed. Abstract Present paper aims to experimentally investigate pressure oscillation induced by steam-air mixture gas sonic jets in subcooled water. Dynamic pressure signals and jet images are recorded and analyzed. Experimental results show that: the pressure oscillation dominant frequency decreases with the rise of water temperature, inlet pressure and air mass fraction. Air mass fraction has a complex effect on pressure oscillation intensity. When water temperature is less than 55 °C, as the air mass fraction increases, the pressure oscillation intensity increases first, and then decreases slightly, and then increases quickly. When water temperature is more than 55 °C, as the air mass fraction increases, the pressure oscillation intensity decreases first, and then increases quickly. The interfacial fluctuation height and pressure oscillation intensity dependency to the air mass fraction is the same near the nozzle exit. In addition, the validity of previous analysis model for steam sonic jet pressure oscillation dominant frequency is evaluated. A modified function considering the effect of air mass fraction is developed. The predicted results of steam-air mixture gas sonic jet pressure oscillation dominant frequency agree well with the experimental results. More than 98% of the data points are inside the error band of ±20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ganoderic acids, a group of oxygenated lanostane-type triterpenoids, are the major bioactive compounds produced by the well-known medicinal macro fungus Ganoderma lucidum. More than 150 ganoderic acids have been identified, and the genome of G. lucidum has been sequenced recently. However, the biosynthetic pathways of ganoderic acids have not yet been elucidated. Here, we report the functional characterization of a cytochrome P450 gene CYP512U6 from G. lucidum, which is involved in the ganoderic acid biosynthesis. CYP512U6 hydroxylates the ganoderic acids DM and TR at the C-23 position to produce hainanic acid A and ganoderic acid Jc, respectively. In addition, CYP512U6 can also hydroxylate a modified ganoderic acid DM in which the C-3 ketone has been reduced to hydroxyl by the sterol reductase ERG27 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 reductase from G. lucidum was also isolated and characterized. These results will help elucidate the biosynthetic pathways of ganoderic acids. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • A cytochrome P450, CYP512U6, hydroxylating C-23-H of ganoderic acid DM and TR was characterized. • The sterol reductase ERG27 from yeast can reduce the C-3 ketone of ganoderic acid DM to hydroxyl. • GLCPR , a cytochrome P450 reductase gene from Ganoderma lucidum , was isolated and characterized. • An undescribed metabolite is identified as a C-23 hydroxyl derivative of 7-oxo-gaonoderic acid Z. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressure oscillation is an important characteristic of direct contact condensation of steam in subcooled water. Many experimental works have been performed on pure steam submerged jet condensation. However, the effect of non-condensable gas content on the characteristics of the pressure oscillation is not yet fully understood. So, present paper aims to investigate the effect of air mass fraction on the characteristics of the pressure oscillation. Experimental results show that: for pure steam jets, the pressure oscillation dominant frequency decreases with the rise of water temperature and nozzle diameter. While it increases with the rise of steam mass velocity, which is consistent with the most of previous research results. The pressure oscillation intensity increases with the rise of water temperature, steam mass velocity and nozzle diameter. For air-steam mixture gas jets, the effect of water temperature and steam mass velocity on pressure oscillation characteristics is the same as pure steam jets. The pressure oscillation dominant frequency rapidly decreases with the rise of air mass fraction. However, air mass fraction has a complex effect on pressure oscillation intensity. As the air mass fraction increases, the pressure oscillation intensity rapidly increases at first, then slowly decreases and then slowly increases. In addition, new correlations for pressure oscillation dominant frequency and intensity are developed. The predicted results agree well with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemoselective and affinity-based probes of steviol were applied to the discovery of glycosyltransferase activity and corresponding UDP-glycosyltransferase in Arabidopsis thaliana, which illustrates a simple strategy for rapidly harnessing minable novel biological parts from plants for synthetic biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas submerged jet penetration length is a key parameter for many industrial applications. Many experimental and theoretical works have been performed on pure steam and non-condensable gas submerged jets. However, the steam-air mixture gas submerged jets are not yet fully understood. So, a series of visualization experiments are performed to investigate the effect of air mass fraction, jetting direction, water temperature and inlet pressure on mixture gas submerged jet penetration length. Two flow regimes are distinguished based on the evolution of the interface between water and mixture gas, which are referred to as stable regime and oscillation regime. A flow regime map is developed based on inlet pressure and air mass fraction. A momentum balance model for predicting jet penetration length is proposed. Results show that the mixture gas jet penetration length increases with the increasing inlet pressure and decreases with the increasing air mass fraction. The water temperature has little effect on the jet penetration length. A new correlation for dimensionless vertical jet penetration length is developed based on the form of model analysis. The discrepancy between predicted results and present experimental data is within ±5%. A new correlation for dimensionless horizontal jet penetration length is developed based on experimental results. The discrepancy between predicted dimensionless horizontal jet penetration length and experimental value is within ±18%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined effects of shear stress ratio, density, and fines content on stress redistribution during shearing and their implications for internal instability were investigated in this study using the discrete element method. The widely used stress reduction factor was modified in this study by introducing the Voronoi cell to account for the volume change during shearing. The response of stress in finer fraction and its relative contribution to the overall stress of the specimen as evaluated by the established stress reduction factor showed inconsistent trends. The relationship between the mean stress in finer fraction and the shear stress ratio of the entire specimen was found to be dependent on FC and density during pre-peak stress condition. At post-peak, the relationship was only governed by the soil load-bearing skeleton. The stress redistribution of dense transitional soils exhibited the most pronounced changes. The mean stress in finer fraction reached the peak and steady values quicker than the shear stress ratio. This could be attributed to the decrease in critical hydraulic gradient under a high shear stress ratio, as evidenced from previous experimental works. These nonsynchronous performances could be explained by the shift of contact force and volume change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tetrabutylammonium bis (2-ethylhexyl) phosphate [N4444][P204] ionic liquid (IL) was synthesized, which was applied to extract copper cyanide complex ions in cyanide tailing liquid stream pressure filtration. In the extraction process, macroscopic layered solids rich in copper cyanide complex ions were formed at the phase interface, which was based on self-assembly of ionic liquids actuation. The solid samples can be obtained by simple filtration. Meanwhile, the extraction behaviors were investigated in detail. The [N4444][P204] ionic liquid exhibited excellent extraction efficiency for copper cyanide complex ions. More than 90% of copper cyanide complex ions were extracted at pH 13.4 and enriched as self-assembly solids in the process of one-step extraction and solidification. Notably, the extraction efficiency of copper cyanide complex ions can still reach more than 75% after three cycles of organic phase with fresh aqueous phase. Furthermore, the analyses of the SEM, EDS, XPS, FTIR, and ESI-MS for self-assembly sample implied that the potential mechanism of extraction for copper cyanide complex ions is coordination reaction. It is worthy of note that the extraction system of [N4444][P204] IL has no extraction effect on iron cyanide complex ions. In the end, the proposed strategy may be further expanded to the separation of other metal cyanide complex ions by designing the ionic liquids. [Display omitted] • The one-step extraction and solidification of copper cyanide complex ion was achieved. • Extraction of copper cyanide complex ion exhibited excellent extraction efficiency. • The extraction system showed the excellent selectivity to iron cyanide complex ion. • The concept of self-assembly extraction was proposed based on the [N4444][P204] IL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal cyanide complex ions of gold extraction wastewater consume extra cyanide and compete with gold for adsorption on activated carbon during wastewater recycling. Therefore, the removal of metal cyanide complex ions from gold extraction wastewater is of great significance. In this study, polypropylene (PP) fibers were used to prepare strong acylated alkaline ion-exchange fibers (SAA-IEFs) using a polymer graft monomer method that achieved excellent adsorption of metal cyanide complex ions from gold extraction wastewater. The properties of the SAA-IEFs were characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Adsorption experiments were conducted to study the adsorption performance and to verify the adsorption mechanism. The results show that the highest adsorption efficiencies of the SAA-IEFs for zinc and copper cyanide complex ions were 85.5% and 91.2%, respectively, and these performances were obtained when the SAA-IEF concentration was 50 g/L and pH was 10. The adsorption efficiency of the cyanide complexes in practical wastewater reached 92% at a concentration of 30 g/L. The desorption and regeneration results indicate that the adsorption capacity of the SAA-IEFs remained high after nine cycles. Moreover, an adsorption mechanism is proposed, and the adsorption process is best modeled using the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. These results indicate that chemisorption plays a dominant role in the adsorption process. Overall, SAA-IEFs are a promising, efficient, and cost-effective adsorbent for metal cyanide complex ion adsorption from gold extraction wastewater. • Strong acylated alkaline ion exchange fiber was used to remove zinc/copper cyanide complex ion from cyanide gold extraction wastewater. • Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model can better describe the adsorption process. • The adsorption efficiency of total cyanide complexes in practical wastewater (pH = 10.5) can reach to 92%. • The ion exchange fiber can be effectively regenerated and reused with insignificant fiber damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gambogic acid has shown significant potential as an anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory compound; however, the molecular mechanism underlying the actions of gambogic acid, particularly its cellular target profiles, has not been investigated. In this study, we report the proteome-wide profiling of potential cellular targets of gambogic acid using quantitative mass spectrometry-based chemical proteomics. The target profiles of gambogic acid in living HeLa and K562 cells were identified, which strengthened our understanding of the mode of actions of the phytochemical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced preconditioning protects neurons against traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in rats. This study sought to test whether Nrf2, a transcription factor, mediated LPS-induced preconditioning. Main methods The TSCI model was established using a standardized NYU impactor on adult female rats. Rats were pretreated with LPS (0.2 mg/kg, IP; 72 h before injury). Nrf2 was silenced by injecting a lentivirus encoding RNAi against Nrf2 into injured spinal cords. Neurologic function was assessed by Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scores 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 7 d and 14 d after TSCI. Neuronal apoptosis was measured by a TUNEL staining. Ultrastructure was observed using transmission electron microscope (TEM). The protein expression of HO-1, NQO1 and GCLC was examined using immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. Key findings The injection of a lentivirus effectively transfected GFP into injured spinal cords. The expression of Nrf2 was significantly decreased in spinal cords receiving a lentivirus encoding RNAi against Nrf2. BBB scores showed that TSCI markedly impaired nervous function, which was markedly preserved by LPS pretreatment. Nrf2 knockdown significantly suppressed LPS pretreatment–induced protection of nervous function. TEM images and TUNEL staining showed an increase in apoptotic cells when Nrf2 was silenced. Moreover, immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting analysis exhibited that LPS pretreatment significantly upregulated the expression of anti–oxidative proteins including HO-1, NQO1 and GCLC, which was suppressed when Nrf2 expression was silenced in injured spinal cords. Significance LPS preconditioning effectively alleviates TSCI–induced impairment and preserves nervous function in a Nrf2–dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2) to high value-added multi-carbon compounds at the cathode is an emerging application of microbial electrosynthesis system (MES). In this study, a composite cathode consisting of hollow fiber membrane (HFM) and the carbon felt is designed to enhance the CO 2 mass transfer of the cathode. The result shows that the main products are acetate and butyrate without other substances. The electrochemical performance of the electrode is significantly improved after biofilm becomes matures. The composite cathode significantly reduces the "threshold" for the synthesis of butyrate. Moreover, CO 2 is dissolved and protons are consumed by synthesizing volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to maintain a stable pH inside the composite electrode. The synthesis mechanism of butyrate is that CO 2 is converted sequentially into acetate and butyrate. The microenvironment of the composite electrode enriches Firmicute. This composite electrode provides a novel strategy for regulating the microenvironment. [Display omitted] • MES reactor with gas diffusion membrane dissolved CO 2 only synthesized acetate and butyrate. • The composite biocathode lowered the threshold for synthesizing butyrate. • Dissolved CO 2 in cooperation with synthesized VFAs controlled pH inside the electrode. • The composite electrode system could naturally enrich Firmicute (relative abundance: 89.60%). • The synthesis mechanism of butyrate was that CO 2 was first converted to acetate and then to butyrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Litchi thaumatin-like protein (LcTLP) after digested induced inflammation in cell. • LcTLP with 100 mg/kg could lead to the occurrence of liver inflammation. • LcTLP could activate the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in liver. • LcTLP decreased the abundance and diversity in gut microbiota. • Building a correlation between LcTLP-induced inflammatory and gut microbiota. The pro-inflammation activity of litchi thaumatin-like protein (LcTLP) was speculated to be the cause of the adverse reaction after excessive consumption of litchi. This study evaluated the pro-inflammation activity of LcTLP in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that LcTLP digested in vitro exhibited the pro-inflammation activity in RAW264.7 cells, as evidenced by an increase in pro-inflammation cytokines tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF- α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). After LcTLP supplementation in mice, pathological examination revealed the edematous cytoplasm and inflammatory cell accumulation in liver tissue. The levels of TNF- α , IL-1 β , IL-6 and interleukin-10 in liver also increased by 60.43%, 74.86%, 120.18% and 129.91% in high-dose group, respectively, due to the upregulation of p-p65 and p-p38 levels and further activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Additionally, LcTLP altered the composition of gut microbiota, such as the reduction of Bacteroidota, norank_f__Muribaculaceae and norank_f__Lachnospiraceae abundances which were negatively correlated with inflammation cytokines levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design models for offshore wind turbine monopiles tend to be based on those developed for flexible piles in the offshore oil and gas sectors. However, wind monopiles tend to be shorter and wider, resulting in a stiffer structure that rotates rather than bends when laterally loaded. New methods have been proposed to calculate the load-displacement response of piles to monotonic lateral loading. Those based on correlations with in situ tests such as the cone penetration test seem particularly promising. There is a dearth of experimental test data where monopiles have been subjected to extensive cyclic loading with which to extend such models to consider these effects. To address this, field tests were performed on two 340 mm diameter driven piles with an embedded length of 2·2 m, which were cyclically loaded with up to 5000 loading cycles. The piles had a slenderness ratio (embedded length over diameter) of 6·5, which is a typical value used in the offshore wind sector. The test results show that the accumulated pile head response primarily depends on the soil strength and stiffness, the previous loading history and loading characteristics. A cyclic loading design procedure consisting of cone penetration test based static design and Miner's rule based superposition is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Maillard reaction of LcTLP and fructose was simulated during litchi drying. • The structure of Maillard reaction products was analyzed by using SAXS. • Molecular weight, Rg and secondary structure of conjugates were changed. • Maillard reaction process of LcTLP and fructose could be divided two stages. • Maillard reaction reduced the pro-inflammation activity of LcTLP. The structural characteristics and inflammatory activity of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) from fructose (Fru) and litchi thaumatin-like protein (LcTLP) with a pro-inflammatory activity were investigated. The structural changes of LcTLP-Fru MRPs were divided into two stages during the Maillard reaction. In 0–6 h, the unfolding and degradation of the LcTLP were dominant, resulting in a looser structure; the increase of β -sheets was 13.02%; the decrease of α -helices was 9.21%; and both the molecular weight and gyration radius R g decreased. After 6 h, the enhanced glycosylation caused the molecular weight to increase, while R g remained low, implying that the molecular structure became more compact. In addition, LcTLP-Fru MRPs reduced the inflammation response by significantly reducing the gene and protein expressions of tumor necrosis factor- α , interleukin-1 β , and interleukin-6 compared with the LcTLP group in RAW264.7 macrophages. The findings provided a theoretical foundation for addressing the inflammatory response caused by litchi products consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We propose a novel distribution-aware and policy-aware unified curiosity-driven learning framework to unify state novelty and state-action novelty. DAW enables the agent to explore states diversely, and PAWencourage the agent to explore the states that the policy is uncertain about which action to take. The proposed approach improves the exploration ability of RL with complete intrinsic reward; • We propose to improve the robustness of policy learning by smoothing the intrinsic reward with a batch of transitions close to the current transition; we propose to employ an attention module to extract task-relevant features for a more precise estimation of intrinsic reward; • Extensive experiments on Atari games demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. In reinforcement learning (RL), the intrinsic reward estimation is necessary for policy learning when the extrinsic reward is sparse or absent. To this end, Unified Curiosity-driven Learning with Smoothed intrinsic reward Estimation (UCLSE) is proposed to address the sparse extrinsic reward problem from the perspective of completeness of intrinsic reward estimation. We further propose state distribution-aware weighting method and policy-aware weighting method to dynamically unify two mainstream intrinsic reward estimation methods. In this way, the agent can explore the environment more effectively and efficiently. Under this framework, we propose to employ an attention module to extract task-relevant features for a more precise estimation of intrinsic reward. Moreover, we propose to improve the robustness of policy learning by smoothing the intrinsic reward with a batch of transitions close to the current transition. Extensive experimental results on Atari games demonstrate that our method outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches in terms of both score and training efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The deposition model and the thermal resistance model of the deposits are verified. • The deposit growth and changes over a 500-day period in the fuel rod bundle channel are obtained. • The thermal resistance of the deposit increases rapidly once its thickness exceeds 30 μm. • The influence of different parameters on deposit growth and parameter changes is investigated. Corrosion of pressurized water reactors (PWR) in nuclear power plants can lead to serious safety hazards. This study aims to analyze the deposition of corrosion products using FLUENT software. Deposition models and thermal resistance models were developed, and the effects of deposits on the reactor's thermal–hydraulic characteristics were evaluated. Additionally, the impact of various parameters on deposition and thermal–hydraulic characteristics was examined. Results show that deposits accumulate extensively in the inlet section of the fuel cladding, while appearing as spot deposits in the outlet section. For deposit thicknesses below 30 μm, the surface temperature of the cladding gradually increases. However, when the thickness exceeds 30 μm, the surface temperature rapidly rises. Furthermore, the study reveals that the deposition amount decreases with increasing inlet flow velocity, exhibits an upward trend with higher inlet temperature, and increases with a higher wall heat flux density. This research provides important insights for understanding core deposition and thermal–hydraulic characteristics in nuclear reactor systems. It offers valuable guidance for enhancing safety and operational efficiency in nuclear power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) is an ideal two-dimensional material for enhancing the flexural strength and toughness of cement-based materials due to its exceptionally large theoretical specific surface area and Young's modulus. However, the smooth surface of GO results in weak bonding with the cement matrix. Additionally, GO has a tendency to agglomerate in cement paste, resulting in significant decreases in its specific surface area and its beneficial effect in cement-based materials. In this paper, GO modified by nano In(OH) 3 (IGOs) was successfully prepared for improving its specific surface area, dispersion and bonding with the cement matrix. These improvements were achieved by utilizing urea and sodium citrate as nanoparticle stabilizers to adjust the pH of solution. Furthermore, the optimal compositions of IGO material as described above and its effects were identified through investigating the impact of IGOs on the cement paste. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Electrodialysis effectively separated soluble saccharides from the aqueous solution containing ionic liquids. • The removal efficiency of soluble saccharides reached 98.11% and ionic liquid concentration ratio can reach 2.63. • The structure of the recovered ionic liquid was in well agreement with that of the fresh ionic liquid. Ionic liquids are extensively used in many separation processes due to excellent dissolving ability for organic compounds and polymer materials, such as cellulose dissolution, Keratin dissolution. However, during the dissolution process, a small amount of degraded organic saccharides was produced, which could affect the strength of the regenerated fibers. Thus, it is required to find a suitable method for the removal of these saccharide molecules during the process of IL recovery. In this study, electrodialysis (ED) was used for the separation of these saccharide molecules from IL aqueous solution. In order to evaluate the separation performance of ED process, the influences of applied voltage, initial concentrations of IL and saccharide, and the initial volume ratio of the dilute solution to the concentrated solution on the current efficiency (η), recovery ratio (R IL), removal ratio (R S) and energy consumption (E) were systematically investigated. Experimental results showed that ED played a dual role in removing saccharides from the IL aqueous solution and concentrating IL. Under the optimized conditions, the removal efficiency of saccharides was 98.11% and IL concentration ratio is 2.63. Especially, the characterization results identified that the structure of the recovered IL was in well agreement with that of the fresh IL. All of these proved that ED might be an effective and green method to realize the separation of saccharides from the IL aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peat deposits are widely encountered in many parts of the world and present various challenges for the geotechnical engineering community because of their low bearing capacity and very high compressibility and creep potential. This paper describes extensive index and oedometer testing to investigate the compressibility behaviour/properties of deep, strongly to completely humified peat and highly organic fine-grained soil layers at the northeast shore of Dian-Chi Lake in Kunming, southwest China; a region that recently is experiencing significant infrastructure construction. Compared to surficial peat deposits, the peaty soil layers investigated, with organic contents ranging 23.5–80.0%, have been subjected to a 6.7-m depth of inorganic soil overburden, such that they have substantially lower water content and void ratio and higher preconsolidation stress. Nevertheless, with deduced C α / C c = 0.04–0.07, C r / C c = 0.14–0.18 and C k / e 0 = 0.23, the Dian-Chi peaty soils exhibit similarities with surficial fibrous peats from other countries/regions. Unlike fibrous peats, however, the Dian-Chi peaty soils have extremely low permeability, with deduced k v values of the order of 1 × 10−9 to 1 × 10−10 m/s, consistent with their hunification level. Existing linear C c – w 0 correlations were found inadequate for the Dian-Chi peaty soils, such that a new C c – w 0 correlation is proposed from curve-fitting of the gathered experimental data to better capture their non-linear relationship. • Compressibility and permeability of peaty soils in Dian-Chi Lake area, China, investigated through oedometer testing. • Indices and their correlations for Dian-Chi peaty soils compared with those for other locations around the world. • New compression index – water content correlation for Dian-Chi peaty soils to represent their nonlinear relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a quantitative chemoproteomic approach that utilizes a clickable photoreactive probe for global profiling of celastrol targets, which may significantly improve the current understanding of celastrol's mode of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bubble resonance with 35 Hz is observed, which could intensify pressure oscillation intensity. • Air is present in dispersive small bubbles or a toroid after condensation. • The onset of chugging is given by correlations. • A new frequency correlation modified with probability is developed. An experimental study is conducted on the condensation behavior, onset of chugging, fluid oscillation, and pressure oscillation when a steam–air mixture is injected vertically into subcooled water at a low mass flux. Air is present in the form of dispersive small bubbles after condensation at a low water temperature and in the shape of a toroid at a high water temperature. Bubble resonance is first observed experimentally; a large bubble is almost stationary below the pipe outlet and air is sustainably released by small bubbles from the upper surface. The upper air mass fraction of chugging is obtained and compared with a transient conduction–diffusion model and momentum balance model. The dependence of different parameters on the amplitude, frequency, and probability of fluid oscillation is analyzed. A new frequency correlation modified with probability is developed and shows good agreement with the experimental data. During bubble resonance, the wave shape of pressure oscillation is harmonic with the frequency at about 35 Hz, and the intensity is larger than that under pure steam conditions. When bubble resonance does not occur, the presence of air can reduce the pressure oscillation intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four typical interfacial shapes are observed. • The spreading rate of interfacial radius is in the range of 0.12–0.27. • The interfacial fluctuation height is proportional to the axial position with spreading coefficient 0.03 ± 0.008. • The maximum velocity and acceleration of interface fluctuation are estimated to be around 6 m/s and 20,000 m/s2, respectively. Interfacial characteristics of steam-air mixture sonic jets are recorded and processed using image processing technique. Interfacial shape, radius, fluctuation height, fluctuation velocity and fluctuation acceleration are analyzed. Four typical interfacial shapes including expansion-contraction, double expansion-contraction, expansion-contraction-divergence and expansion-divergence are observed and a three-dimensional interfacial shape map is developed. Gas dynamic effect is notable in the axial region of the near field. The interfacial radius increases linearly with the axial distance in the far field. The spreading rate increases with the rise of air mass fraction and its value is in the range of 0.12–0.27. The interfacial fluctuation height is proportional to the axial distance both in the near field and far field. The spreading coefficient is in the range of 0.03 ± 0.008. In general, both interfacial fluctuation velocity and acceleration increase with the axial distance. The growth rate decreases rapidly in the near field and then increases slightly again in the far field. The maximum velocity and acceleration of interface fluctuation are estimated to be around 6 m/s and 20,000 m/s2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on constructions that are vulnerable to fire hazards during wildfire events, and these constructions are known as 'exposures', which are an increasingly significant area of disaster research. A key challenge lies in estimating dynamically and comprehensively the risk that individuals are exposed to during wildfire spread. Here, 'exposure risk' denotes the potential threat to exposed constructions from fires within a future timeframe. This paper introduces a novel method that integrates a spatiotemporal knowledge graph with wildfire spread data and an exposure risk analysis model to address this issue. This approach enables the semantic integration of varied and heterogeneous spatiotemporal data, capturing the dynamic nature of wildfire propagation for precise risk analysis. Empirical tests are employed for the study area of Xichang, Sichuan Province, using real-world data to validate the method's efficacy in merging multiple data sources and enhancing the accuracy of exposure risk analysis. Notably, this approach also reduces the time complexity from O   (m × n × p) to O   (m × n) . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxidative stress is a significant contributor to the development of various diseases, and the oxidative balance score (OBS) is a valuable tool for assessing the impact of dietary and lifestyle factors on oxidative stress in humans. Nevertheless, the precise relationship between OBS and thyroid function in adults remains elusive. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 6222 adult participants drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted from 2007 to 2012. Employing weighted multivariable linear regression modeling, the study estimated the connection between OBS quartiles and thyroid functions. The causal relationship between OBS components and thyroid function was analyzed by Mendelian randomization (MR). Results: We found a significant negative correlation between OBS and free thyroxine (FT4) and total thyroxine (TT4). Univariate and multivariate MR Analyses showed a causal relationship between BMI and FT4. Copper, smoking, and riboflavin showed a causal relationship with FT4 after moderation. Conclusion: We found that a lifestyle high in antioxidant exposure reduced FT4 and TT4 levels in the population. We suggest that BMI, Copper, and Riboflavin are important factors in the regulation of FT4 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commonly used models for estimation of the maximum kinematic bending moment at pile head are evaluated in various ground conditions, and three-dimensional numerical simulations with various input seismic motions and pile dimensions are performed to investigate the soil–pile kinematic interactions. Additionally, equivalent-linear analyses are conducted to investigate the influences of soil stiffness and damping variations on the accuracy of the prediction model. The numerical calculated results show that the dimensionless frequency factor and effective soil curvature can be adopted to estimate the maximum kinematic bending at pile head. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore anchor piles are extensively used as moor-floating structures in harsh environments that experience oblique tensile loads and the mechanical response is complex. This study investigated the effect of oblique tensile loads on the response of anchor piles in calcareous sand through a series of model tests and the standard penetration tests (SPT) to obtained bearing capacity equations. Eight model piles were installed into the calcareous sand bed with relative densities (D r) of 53%, 75% and were loaded with different load inclination angles (α). The test results showed that the load-displacement curves were nonlinear and that dense sand could effectively control deformation and improve the bearing capacity. The critical load inclination, corresponding to the maximum load capacity for a given pile under tension loading, was around 30° and was larger than that for the terrestrial sand (5°∼10°), which may have been caused by particle breakage. The bending stress of the anchor pile was 2∼8 times the axial stress. In dense sand (D r = 75%), the bending moment reaches its maximum around the critical angle (30°), indicating a the strong interaction between the pile and calcareous sand. The ultimate tensile load of anchor piles is a function of load inclination angle and ultimate capacity of uplift and horizontal piles. • The critical value of the load inclination angle for anchor piles in calcareous sand is around 30°. • The depth of maximum bending moment developed along the shaft of anchor piles is about 2.5d∼4d below the pile top. • Oblique tensile loads result in unignorable bending stress in anchor piles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver powder, as the primary component of solar silver paste, significantly influences various aspects of the paste's performance, including printing, sintering, and conductivity. This study reveals that, beyond the shape and size of the silver powders, their microstructure is a critical factor influencing the performance of both silver powders and silver pastes in solar cell applications. The growth process leads to the formation of either polycrystalline aggregated silver powder or crystal growth silver powder. Analyzing the performance characteristics of these different microstructures provides guidance for selecting silver powders for silver pastes at different sintering temperatures. Polycrystalline aggregated silver powder exhibits higher sintering activity, with a sintering initiation temperature around 450 °C. The resulting silver paste, sintered at 750 °C, demonstrates a low sheet resistance of 2.92 mΩ/sq and high adhesion of 2.13 N. This silver powder is suitable for formulating silver pastes with lower sintering temperatures. The solar cell electrode grid lines have a high aspect ratio of 0.37, showing poor uniformity. However, due to the high sintering activity of the silver powder, the glass layer dissolves and deposits more silver, resulting in excellent conductivity, a low contact resistance of the silver electrode, a low series resistance of the solar cell of 1.23 mΩ, and a high photoelectric conversion efficiency of 23.16%. Crystal growth silver powder exhibits the highest tap density of 5.52 g/cm3. The corresponding silver paste shows improved densification upon sintering, especially at 840 °C, yielding a sheet resistance of 2.56 mΩ/sq and adhesion of 3.05 N. This silver powder is suitable for formulating silver pastes with higher sintering temperatures. The solar cell electrode grid lines are uniform with the highest aspect ratio of 0.40, resulting in a smaller shading area, a high fill factor of 81.59%, and a slightly higher photoelectric conversion efficiency of 23.17% compared to the polycrystalline aggregated silver powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is widely acknowledged as a pivotal energy carrier in the global transition towards sustainable energy. One promising approach to hydrogen production is method copper-chlorine cycle powered by nuclear energy. This article presents an innovative integrated system for small lead-cooled fast reactors that are coupled with a copper-chlorine cycle. To assess the performance of the entire system with regards to energy, exergy, and economics, comprehensive modeling, simulation, and analysis are conducted using the simulation tool Simulink. Furthermore, a comprehensive examination of key operating parameters was conducted to explore their impact on the system. The obtained results demonstrate the energy efficiency of system is 21.3 % and the exergy efficiency of system is 40.9 %. The overall system based on the small LFR can produce high-pressure compressed hydrogen gas at a rate of 2.34 g/s and generate 53.9 kW of electricity. According to the study, the levelized cost of energy production is determined to be $0.04252/kW·h. The specific energy cost is primarily influenced by equipment investment, including the costs associated with operating and maintaining the system. Notably, the small lead-cooled fast reactor and the copper-chlorine cycle plant represent the major capital investments within the system. This study provides valuable insights and serves as a significant reference for the future engineering applications of lead-cooled fast reactors coupled with copper-chlorine cycle hydrogen systems. • Assess the performance of the Systems and subsystems in terms of energy, exergy. • Investigate the influence of key parameters on efficiency and hydrogen production rate. • Employ the levelized cost of energy production for the system's techno-economic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identified and verified the characteristic differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes (CDEFRGs) in osteosarcoma (OS). We extracted ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs), identified differentially expressed FRGs (DEFRGs) in OS, and conducted correlation analysis between DEFRGs. Next, we conducted GO and KEGG analyses to explore the biological functions and pathways of DEFRGs. Furthermore, we used LASSO and SVM-RFE algorithms to screen CDEFRGs, and evaluated its accuracy in diagnosing OS through ROC curves. Then, we demonstrated the molecular function and pathway enrichment of CDEFRGs through GSEA analysis. In addition, we evaluated the differences in immune cell infiltration between OS and NC groups, as well as the correlation between CDEFRGs expressions and immune cell infiltrations. Finally, the expression of CDEFRGs was verified through qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry experiments. We identified 51 DEFRGs and the expression relationship between them. GO and KEGG analysis revealed their key functions and important pathways. Based on four CDEFRGs (PEX3, CPEB1, NOX1, and ALOX5), we built the OS diagnostic model, and verified its accuracy. GSEA analysis further revealed the important functions and pathways of CDEFRGs. In addition, there were differences in immune cell infiltration between OS group and NC group, and CDEFRGs showed significant correlation with certain infiltrating immune cells. Finally, we validated the differential expression levels of four CDEFRGs through external experiments. This study has shed light on the molecular pathological mechanism of OS and has offered novel perspectives for the early diagnosis and immune-targeted therapy of OS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a common third-generation environmentally friendly quaternary ammonium salt disinfectant, dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium chloride (DDAC), was used as the modifier to achieve one-step rapid preparation of the modified red-mud-based adsorption material under the condition of microwave assistance, and applied it to the adsorption phosphorus in solutions. After the process of this modification, the structure of the red mud (RM) was not changed, and the DDAC modification could provide more adsorption active sites. The adsorption experiments indicated that the novel modified red mud (NMRM) exhibited a good adsorption performance for phosphorus. The adsorption capability of NMRM for phosphorus was significantly enhanced, and was about eight times higher than that of the initial RM. The kinetics model of the pseudo-second-order, which implied that phosphorus was chemically adsorbed on the surface of the NMRM, could accurately represent the adsorption procedure of NMRM. The adsorption equilibrium of NMRM could be better depicted using the isotherm model of Freundlich. It was speculated that the ion exchange might be responsible for the adsorption mechanism of NMRM for phosphorus. Thus, the NMRM is a potential material for the treatment of phosphorus-containing wastewater due to its outstanding adsorption capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of offshore monopile is generally governed by the accumulated deformation under lateral cyclic loading, e.g. loads induced by winds and waves. Although methods have been proposed to predict the accumulated deformation of laterally loaded monopiles under cyclic loading, these models are mainly based on small diameter pile test results with number of load cycles far less than that experienced by an offshore wind turbine during its lifetime. Additionally, the effect of monopile dimension, e.g. diameter effect, on the cyclic response of monopile is not well examined. Based on the degradation stiffness model, this paper investigates diameter effect of monopiles on the accumulated deformation via a finite difference program, which shows that pile diameter has a remarkable influence on the development rate of the accumulated deformation of laterally loaded monopiles. A design model, which takes account of the effect of loading cycle numbers, load amplitudes and monopile diameter, is proposed based on a series of numerical simulation. The proposed design model is validated against measured results from field test and centrifuge test on cyclically loaded monopiles, which proves the validity of the proposed design model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective profiling of steviol-catalyzing UDP-glycosyltransferases in plants was accomplished with a probe metabolically synthesized from two substrate-derived components comprising an alkynylated sugar receptor (steviol) module and a diazirine-modified sugar donor (UDP-glucose) module, thereby illustrating a facile approach for harnessing biosynthetic enzymes of natural glycosides in plants for synthetic biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large diameter monopile foundation is widely used in offshore wind farms. However, current design method, e.g. widely used American Petroleum Institute recommended P-y method, has been questioned during the design of monopile for this method is incapable to reasonably model the force on laterally loaded monopile. In this study, a method to derive the monopile–soil interaction force from finite element model is introduced, and the derived interaction force is validated through the force and moment equilibrium of monopile in sandy soil. Then, interaction force acting on the large diameter laterally loaded monopile in sandy soil is investigated in detail. The results show that: (1) the shear force which is tangent to the monopile circumference is an important component of soil resistance to laterally loaded monopile, (2) the distribution of normal force and shear force at a given depth can be generally described by parabola function, (3) the lateral friction force on monopile tip contributes another component of resistance and the peak value of this frictional resistance is up to 20% of the applied load at monopile head, (4) the moment resistance along the monopile shaft induced by shear force in vertical direction increases as the monopile deformation increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]