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The addition of zinc can induce the formation of polymetallic (Zn-Ni-Co) carbonate hydroxides/hydroxides (MCHs/M(OH) 2) heterostructure nanosheet array with rich defect structures on Ni foam as a superior cathode (ZNC/NF) for alkaline aqueous rechargeable Zn-based batteries (AAZBs). The as-made binder-free cathode offers an extremely high mass loading of 9.2 mg cm−2, exhibiting excellent areal capacities and energy densities. [Display omitted] Developing high mass loading cathodes with high capacity and durable life cycles is greatly worthwhile and challenging for alkaline aqueous rechargeable Zn-based batteries (AAZBs). Herein, we demonstrate an efficient zinc-induced strategy to rationally develop Zn-Ni-Co carbonate hydroxides/hydroxides heterostructure nanosheet array with an extremely high mass loading of 9.2 mg cm−2 on Ni foam (ZNC/NF) as such a superior cathode for AAZBs. It is discovered that Ni-Co hydroxide nanowires can be transformed into Zn-Ni-Co carbonate hydroxides/hydroxides heterostructure nanosheet with rich defect structures after the introduction of Zn during the synthetic process. The formed heterostructures and rich defect structures can enhance ion and electron transfer efficiency, thus ensuring the excellent electrochemical performance under high loading condition. Consequently, the ZNC/NF//Zn battery shows an outstanding areal capacity of 2.1 mAh cm−2 at 5 mA cm−2, with an ultrahigh energy density of 3.6 mWh cm−2. Moreover, the battery can still retain a high capacity of 0.42 mAh cm−2 after 5000 cycles at 50 mA cm−2, suggesting strong long-term cycling stability. This research enables pave the way for the rational design and manufacture of advanced electrode materials with large mass loadings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the association between periodontitis, all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality, and its prognostic utility among adults with diabetes. Materials and Methods: Periodontal health records were retrieved from the NHANES database for 4297 participants with diabetes aged >30 years at baseline during 1988–1994, 1999–2004 and 2009–2014. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for moderate/severe periodontitis with all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality in participants with diabetes. Area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess predictive value. Results: During a median follow‐up of 15.41 years, 1701 deaths occurred. After multivariate adjustments, moderate/severe periodontitis was significantly associated with increased risk of all‐cause (HR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.07–1.50; p =.005) and cardiovascular disease (CVD)‐related (HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.03–1.76, p =.031) mortality in participants with diabetes. The absolute risk difference based on the cumulative incidence information was 0.022 (5‐year, 95% CI: 0.021–0.023) and 0.044 (10‐year, 95% CI: 0.041–0.048). Periodontitis improved the prediction of all‐cause (AUC: 0.652; 95% CI: 0.627–0.676) and CVD‐related (AUC: 0.649; 95% CI: 0.624–0.676) mortality over standard risk factors (all‐cause: AUC: 0.631; 95% CI: 0.606–0.656; CVD‐related: AUC: 0.629; 95% CI: 0.604–0.655). Conclusions: Moderate/severe periodontitis is associated with an increased risk of all‐cause and CVD‐related mortality in adults with diabetes. Periodontitis might represent a marker for residual risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic and mechanical properties of a tetragonal Fe–N binary compound have been investigated under extreme pressure using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation. The results of formation enthalpy, phonon dispersion, and elastic stability criterion show that an Fe–N binary compound is stable up to 150 GPa. On the one hand, the electronic properties of Fe16N2 have been demonstrated by the band structures and density of states. On the other hand, the elastic constants, shear, and compressional modulus derived from elastic constants impact on compressional velocity (Vp) greatly. The shear modulus of a binary compound with N is about 14.7% lower than the data of pure Fe. The density and Vp of an Fe–N binary compound, which are closer with the value of a preliminary reference earth model (PREM), are lower than the pure Fe's, especially in the part of higher pressure. In addition, the density of an Fe–N binary compound is about 5.3% lower than the Fe's. The effect of the temperature is not considered in this work, but the varying tendency indicates that the light element N incorporating in pure Fe is helpful for building an earth's core model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton conductors have attracted great attention in various fields, especially in energy production. Here, we find that graphdiyne oxide (GDYO), derived from graphdiyne (GDY), features the highest proton conductivity of 0.54 S cm−1 (100 % RH, 348 K) among the oxidized carbon allotropes reported so far. The sp‐ and sp2‐co‐hybridized carbon skeleton of GDY enables GDYO with the giant water uptake, which is 2.4 times larger than that of graphene oxide (GO), resulting in ultrahigh proton conductivity by increasing the proton concentration and proton conduction pathways. This ultrahigh proton conductivity of GDYO is further proved in a methanol fuel cell by using GDYO membrane as proton exchange membrane. The GDYO membrane enables the cell with higher open circuit voltage, larger power density and lower methanol permeability, compared with commercial Nafion 117. Moreover, the GDYO membrane bears high ion exchange capacity, good acidic stability and low swelling ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton conductors have attracted great attention in various fields, especially in energy production. Here, we find that graphdiyne oxide (GDYO), derived from graphdiyne (GDY), features the highest proton conductivity of 0.54 S cm−1 (100 % RH, 348 K) among the oxidized carbon allotropes reported so far. The sp‐ and sp2‐co‐hybridized carbon skeleton of GDY enables GDYO with the giant water uptake, which is 2.4 times larger than that of graphene oxide (GO), resulting in ultrahigh proton conductivity by increasing the proton concentration and proton conduction pathways. This ultrahigh proton conductivity of GDYO is further proved in a methanol fuel cell by using GDYO membrane as proton exchange membrane. The GDYO membrane enables the cell with higher open circuit voltage, larger power density and lower methanol permeability, compared with commercial Nafion 117. Moreover, the GDYO membrane bears high ion exchange capacity, good acidic stability and low swelling ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distributed matrix multiplication problem with an unknown number of stragglers is considered, where the goal is to efficiently and flexibly obtain the product of two massive matrices by distributing the computation across $N$ servers. There are up to $N - R$ stragglers but the exact number is not known a priori. Motivated by reducing the computation load of each server, a flexible solution is proposed to fully utilize the computation capability of available servers. The computing task for each server is separated into several subtasks, constructed based on Entangled Polynomial codes by Yu et al. The final results can be obtained from either a larger number of servers with a smaller amount of computation completed per server or a smaller number of servers with a larger amount of computation completed per server. The required finite field size of the proposed solution is less than $2N$. Moreover, the optimal design parameters such as the partitioning of the input matrices are discussed. Our constructions can also be generalized to other settings such as batch distributed matrix multiplication and secure distributed matrix multiplication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of nanofluidics, more and more unexpected behaviors and bizarre properties have been discovered, which brings more possibility to solve the water and energy problem. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with nanoscale diameter and ultrasmooth hydrophobic surface provide strong confinement and unusual water‐carbon couple which lead to many exotic properties, such as flow enhancement, strong ion exclusion, ultrafast proton transport and phase transition. This article reviews the recent progresses of CNT‐based nanofluidic devices in fabrication, property, and applications. Moreover, challenges and opportunities of the CNT‐based nanofluidic devices are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron traps in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors were studied by combining theoretical and experimental methods. Energy levels about EC-0.9 eV due to irradiation are identified by deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). Two electron traps, H1 (EC-0.63 eV) and H2 (EC-0.9 eV), were observed in the DLTS spectra. H1 was produced in device or material manufacturing, and H2 was caused by displacement damage. First, we reported that the signal peak of H2 can contribute from three defects labeled H2-1, H2-2, and H2-3 with energies EC-0.77 eV, EC-0.9 eV, and EC-0.98 eV, respectively. According to defect migration temperature and first principles calculation results, it is found that different configurations of di-nitrogen vacancy structures are the source of EC-0.77 eV and EC-0.9 eV signals. The defect of EC-0.98 eV is more stable at high temperatures, which may be related to gallium vacancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing techniques for the highly sensitive assay of neurotransmitters is essential for understanding physiological and pathological processes. Here, we demonstrate a fast‐scanning potential (FSP)‐gated organic electrochemical transistor (OECT): for the highly sensitive sensing of dopamine (DA) in a living rat brain. The configuration combines the selectivity of fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) with the high sensitivity of an OECT. The combined use of FSP as a gating mode and transconductance (gm) as a sensing parameter further improve the sensing performance in terms of sensitivity, limit of detection, reproducibility, and stability. The FSP‐OECT exhibits a sensitivity of 0.899 S M−1 and a low limit of detection down to 5 nM and was validated for in vivo monitoring of the basal level and electrically stimulated release of DA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing techniques for the highly sensitive assay of neurotransmitters is essential for understanding physiological and pathological processes. Here, we demonstrate a fast‐scanning potential (FSP)‐gated organic electrochemical transistor (OECT): for the highly sensitive sensing of dopamine (DA) in a living rat brain. The configuration combines the selectivity of fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) with the high sensitivity of an OECT. The combined use of FSP as a gating mode and transconductance (gm) as a sensing parameter further improve the sensing performance in terms of sensitivity, limit of detection, reproducibility, and stability. The FSP‐OECT exhibits a sensitivity of 0.899 S M−1 and a low limit of detection down to 5 nM and was validated for in vivo monitoring of the basal level and electrically stimulated release of DA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to control tip leakage flow and improve the tip aerothermal performance, a circumferential casing groove (CG) configuration is proposed. Taking the typical transonic turbine stage TTM (Thermal Turbomachinery and Machine Dynamics) as the research object, the effects of CG with different heights (b), initial locations (IL) and widths (w) on the aerodynamic loss of the turbine stage and heat transfer characteristics of the tip region are investigated numerically. Results indicate that due to the introduction of CG, the vortex system topology in the tip region changes remarkably. Tip leakage vortex (TLV) is separated into two parts, with TLV-1 being entrained and dissipated by upper passage vortex (UPV) and TLV-2 rebuilding behind the groove and extending to the trailing edge. The interaction between TLV and UPV changes with the development of both. Also, complicated flow-thermal interplays lead to the change of thermal load in the tip region, which attributes to the difference of local turbulence mixing intensity. More quantitatively, a CG with the groove of b = 3.0 g , IL = 0.20 C ax and w = 0.05 C ax can increase η TS by 0.38%, and reduce the area-averaged heat transfer coefficient (HTC) by 5.28% and 1.49% for the tip and casing surface, respectively, with a slight increase of area-averaged HTC on the blade by 0.29%. Overall, CG with appropriate geometrical parameters can improve aerothermal performance of the turbine tip significantly, without any serious increase of thermal load on the blade. • An efficient circumferential casing groove configuration was proposed for the aerothermal design of gas turbine blade tips. • Effects of the circumferential casing groove configuration on gas turbine aerothermal performance were investigated. • The aerothermal fundamentals and influence laws of the circumferential casing groove's parameters were revealed. • Quantitative aerothermal assessment for the circumferential casing groove configuration was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology is a convenient manufacturing approach for poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) components. In this study, a comprehensive study of the influence of FDM process parameters on the mechanical property and surface quality of 3D-printed PEEK printed with different directions was carried out. The results show that crystallinity of PEEK materials and the pores/gaps between the printing filaments jointly affect the mechanical properties and surface quality of PEEK structural parts. Then, material-structure-property linkage mechanism was revealed. Through the research conducted, crucial processing parameters to enhance the mechanical properties and surface quality of PEEK samples was determined. High tensile strength (91.75 MPa, which was close to the performance of injection molded components) and surface quality (Ra 7.9 μm) was obtained by regulation the nozzle temperature and annealing temperature to improve the crystallinity. Meanwhile, tensile strength of z-Sample was increased from 7.36 MPa to 18.30 MPa (with an increase of 148.64%). High Young's modulus (3.09 GPa) and large plastic strain (exceed 13.91%) was achieved by regulation the nozzle temperature and printing speed to reduce the porosity between PEEK filaments. • Fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology is a convenient manufacturing approach for poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) components. • The influence of FDM process parameters on the mechanical property and surface quality of 3D-printed PEEK printed with different directions. • Crystallinity of PEEK materials and the pores/gaps between the printing filaments jointly affect the mechanical properties and surface quality of PEEK structural parts. • Mechanical anisotropy, a problem plaguing the application of FDM printing PEEK structural parts, was improved to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the viscoelastic behavior of pediatric brain tissue is critical to interpret how external mechanical forces affect head injury in children. However, knowledge of the viscoelastic properties of pediatric brain tissue is limited, and this reduces the biofidelity of developed numeric simulations of the pediatric head in analysis of brain injury. Thus, it is essential to characterize the viscoelastic behavior of pediatric brain tissue in various loading conditions and to identify constitutive models. In this study, the pediatric porcine brain tissue was investigated in compression with determine the viscoelasticity under small and large strain, respectively. A range of frequencies between 0.1 and 40 Hz was applied to determine frequency-dependent viscoelastic behavior via dynamic mechanical analysis, while brain samples were divided into three strain rate groups of 0.01/s, 1/s and 10/s for compression up to 0.3 strain level and stress relaxation to obtain time-dependent viscoelastic properties. At frequencies above 20 Hz, the storage modulus did not increase, while the loss modulus increased continuously. With strain rate increasing from 0.01/s to 10/s, the mean stress at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 strain increased to approximate 6.8, 5.6 and 4.4 times, respectively. The brain compressive response was sensitive to strain rate and frequency. The characterization of brain tissue will be valuable for development of head protection systems and prediction of brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A separable two‐dimensional (2‐D) finite impulse response (FIR) filter can be implemented using an efficient parallel structure. The continuous coefficient separable 2‐D FIR filter has already been well studied. In this study, the quantization of the coefficients of a separable 2‐D FIR filter is addressed for the first time. Two (iterative) schemes [two‐step integer linear programming algorithm (2‐step‐integer‐LP) and two‐step integer linear programming neighborhood search algorithm (2‐step‐integer‐LP‐neighbor)] for quantizing the coefficients are proposed, which have the same core idea: fixing some coefficients and optimally quantizing the other coefficients. Simulation experiment is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed quantization schemes. The experimental results reveal that the two schemes both outperform the direct rounding method in terms of the design error. 2‐Step‐integer‐LP performs slightly better than 2‐step‐integer‐LP‐neighbor. However, the former may not work, in some case, due to the large number of optimization variables. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Existing epidemiological studies have suggested that periodontal disease (PD) may be a risk indicator for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, no formal systematic review and meta‐analysis have been performed. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between PD and CRC risk in this study. Materials and Methods: We used the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science to search for related articles published from 1 January 1966 to 16 July 2020. Stata (Version 15) software was used to calculate the total risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the included studies through the random‐effects model to assess the association between PD and CRC risk. Results: Nine studies were included in the narrative synthesis, and seven studies were included in the meta‐analysis. Results showed that PD significantly increased the risk of CRC by 44% (RR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.18–1.76; I2, 55.2%). Conclusion: We found an association between PD and CRC. PD can be a potential risk indicator for the occurrence and development of CRC, and further studies are needed to assess causality. Hence, effective periodontal treatment could be a valuable preventive measure for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on a longitudinal study in which we examined, across multiple waves of participants, the rumination vulnerability-stress model for the differential prediction of the dimensions of anxiety and depression. Baseline and 6-month follow-up data were obtained from 371 adolescents with subthreshold depression. According to analyses based on hierarchical linear modeling, increased rumination showed association with increased total score for depressive symptoms. The greater increases were only associated with the dimension of depressed mood, not with other symptoms of depression. Furthermore, increased rumination was associated with increases in the total score and all symptomatic dimensions of anxiety following stressful events. These findings support rumination’s potential for a transdiagnostic role as symptoms of depression and anxiety develop. While rumination may have general application concerning how symptoms of anxiety develop on each dimension, its application for diagnoses of depression is limited to assessing depressed mood, not other dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between periodontal disease (PD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, the results have been inconsistent, and no relevant meta-analysis has been performed on this topic. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate whether the two diseases are related. Material and Methods. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched up to April 20, 2020, for related articles. Two authors independently conducted literature screening and data extraction and then used the Stata 15.1 software to calculate the relative risk (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the association between PD and AMD. Results. A total of 5 observational studies involving 112,240 participants and 5,005 AMD patients were included. The results of meta-analysis using the random-effects model showed that the incidence of AMD in PD patients was 1.35 times that of non-PD patients; the difference was statistically significant (RR = 1.35 , 95 % CI = 1.07 – 1.70 , P = 0.011). Sensitivity analysis showed that the results were stable. Conclusions. PD patients have a higher risk of AMD, but the causal relationship between PD and AMD has not been confirmed. Further research should be carried out to verify the exact relationship between the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is to improve understanding of nonlinear optics through investigating the microstructures of carbon disulfide (CS2) liquid, an important nonlinear optical material. First principles methods are employed in this work to investigate the structure, vibrational spectra, and the 2nd hyperpolarizabilites of CS2 clusters up to tetramers. Three types of molecular arrangements of clusters with different sizes are identified. The cluster conformations are prone to inter-converting under external disturbance due to the weak interactions among molecules. The correlation between the nonlinear optical properties and the conformation of CS2 clusters are studied in detail in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hollow anode-solution cathode glow discharge (HA-SCGD) was designed as a plasma excitation source for optical emission spectrometry. The operation parameters such as the discharge current, argon flow rate and solution flow rate were investigated. The spatial distribution profiles of normalized results of spectral bands and spectral lines were investigated and analyzed. The detection limits of Na, Li, K, Ca, Mg, Pb, Sr, Mn, Rb, Cs and Zn were 0.22, 0.69, 1.33, 240.37, 21.55, 529, 619.43, 209.51, 2.94, 7.13 and 206.95 µg L−1, respectively. The repeatability, expressed as the relative standard deviation for these elements, was determined to be within the range from 0.53 to 2.70%. The Ca, Fe, K, Mg and Na concentrations in a certified reference material were quantitatively analyzed, and the results obtained by the HA-SCGD system agreed well with the reference values. The results show that the HA-SCGD system accurately and stably determined metals in aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new separable 2‐D finite impulse response (FIR) filter design technique with sparse coefficients is proposed. This technique includes two stages. In the first stage, the iterative reweighted ℓ1 norm technique is utilized to design a sparse separable 2‐D FIR filter based on some initial design. In the second stage, the greedy searching technique is utilized to make more sparse coefficients based on the first stage design. Simulation experiment validates the effectiveness of the proposed technique. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solution cathode glow discharge-atomic emission spectrometry (SCGD-AES) has attracted wide attention globally in recent years. The technology has the advantages of on-line detection of various metal elements, small volume, and convenience. In this work, the original spectrometer based on SCGD-AES technology was replaced by filter-wheel, photomultiplier tube (PMT) and picoammeter, which was named FPP spectral discrimination device. Analytical performance of the device with narrow-band monochromator (0.08 nm) was compared to its performance with wide-bandpass filters (10 nm) with optimized spatial. The relative standard deviation of SCGD-FPP for Na, K, Ca, Li, Sr, Rb, and Cs ranged from 0.2 to 0.8%, comparable to the 0.6 to 1.4% with the monochromator. With optimized spatial resolution, the detection limits ranged from 0.15 to 350 μg/L, and the optimal plasma spectral collected points of Na, K, Ca, Li, Sr, Rb, and Cs at 0.8 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.6 mm, and 0.6 mm, respectively. The deviation analysis of the samples containing Na, K, Ca, and Li were analyzed under optimal conditions. The results show that a SCGD-FPP source with spatial resolution improved the detection performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reed-Solomon (RS) codes are widely used in distributed storage systems. In this paper, we study the repair bandwidth and sub-packetization size of RS codes. The repair bandwidth is defined as the amount of transmitted information from surviving nodes to a failed node. The RS code can be viewed as a polynomial over a finite field $GF(q^\ell)$ evaluated at a set of points, where $\ell $ is called the sub-packetization size. Smaller bandwidth reduces the network traffic in distributed storage, and smaller $\ell $ facilitates the implementation of RS codes with lower complexity. Recently, Guruswami and Wootters proposed a repair method for RS codes when the evaluation points are the entire finite field. While the sub-packetization size can be arbitrarily small, the repair bandwidth is higher than the minimum storage regenerating (MSR) bound. Tamo, Ye, and Barg achieved the MSR bound but the sub-packetization size grows faster than the exponential function of the number of the evaluation points. In this paper, we present code constructions and repair schemes that extend these results to accommodate different sizes of the evaluation points. In other words, we design schemes that provide points in between. These schemes provide a flexible tradeoff between the sub-packetization size and the repair bandwidth. In addition, we generalize our schemes to manage multiple failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cyclic oxidation behavior of fourth-generation nickel-based single crystal superalloys with 2–4 wt% Mo content were studied at 900 ℃ and 1100 ℃. At 900 ℃, with the increase of Mo content, the oxide layer accumulates more growth stress, resulting in the interface between the outer oxide layer and the inner oxide layer more prone to crack initiation. At 1100 ℃, the oxidation layer accumulates more growth stress and thermal stress, so the oxidation layer occurs large scale spalling, which is more severe in 4Mo alloy. The results show that the increase of Mo content of alloy promotes the oxidation of containing W-Re alloy, which promotes the volatilization of oxides and the spalling of oxide, decreases the protection of oxide layer, and deteriorates the oxidation resistance of the alloy. • The increase of Mo content of alloy promotes the oxidation of containing W-Re alloy. • With the increase of Mo content, the volatilization of oxides and the spalling of oxide of alloy was promoted. • Mo has more severe harm to the oxidation resistance of the alloy at higher temperature. • The alloy with 2 wt% Mo addition has the highest oxidation resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural, elastic and thermodynamic properties of Fe–N binary compounds have been investigated using the first-principle calculation. Fe 8 N, Fe 4 N, Fe 2 N, Fe 3 N 2 FeN and FeN 2 have been optimized and calculated under 330 GPa. Their mechanical stability has been verified by Born stable criterion. Firstly, the content of N will not change the conductivity of Fe–N binary compounds. And when the proportion of Fe and N become 1: 2, the electrons will gather to Fermi's level. It may be concluded that light element N is able to change the electronic structure of Fe–N binary compounds from the results of electronic properties. Secondly, mechanical properties, including Young's modulus E , Poisson's ratio σ , B/G , anisotropy and Vickers hardness, are calculated by elastic constants. E and Vickers hardness decrease with the rising content of N in Fe–N compound. However, when N becomes the main element in Fe–N binary compound, the varying tendency change conversely. Particularly, Fe 2 N has the lowest E and Vickers hardness, approximately 902.90 GPa and 54 GPa respectively. On the contrary, the varying trend of σ is opposite, and Fe 2 N has the highest σ , 0.40. According to the B/G , Fe–N compound presents an excellent ductility, especially FeN 2. Moreover, all of structures remains elastic anisotropy. Finally, thermodynamic properties, including Debye temperature θ D and minimum thermal conductivity k min , increase with the rising content of N in Fe–N binary compound. Ultimately, FeN has a lower T m compared with pure Fe under inner core pressure. It means that adding N into Fe is able to decrease the T m of pure Fe. • The Young's modulus E and Vickers hardness of Fe–N binary compound are smallest when Fe:N becomes 2:1. • The Debye temperature θ D and minimum thermal conductivity k min increase constantly with the rising content of N. • Light element N is able to decrease the melting temperature of pure Fe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural, electronic, and mechanical properties of FeH binary compound under 0–300 GPa were investigated by first-principles calculation. It is proved that the FeH is stable under 0–300 GPa using mechanically stable criteria and phonon spectra. Firstly, the electronic properties of Fe–H compounds were studied by density of states and the band structures. FeH shows its metallic properties under extreme pressure. Secondly, the elastic constant, bulk modulus and shear modulus of FeH increase with the increase of pressure, and the values of above physical quantities for Fe–H binary compounds decrease with the higher content of H. In addition, Poisson's ratio revealed its essence of ionic crystal. Thirdly, Vickers hardness(H v) and Young's modulus(E) of FeH increase with the pressure, and the smaller content of H in Fe–H binary compound implies the bigger H v and E. Last but not least, the existence of H in Fe might increase the V p compared with that of pure Fe which is higher than PREM's. Therefore, Fe–H binary compounds might not be a suitable model for Earth's core. There might be some other elements in the earth interior. • The pseudo-gap of FeH has been broadened with rising pressure. • Fe–H binary compounds with more content of H might decrease their compression resistance and hardness. • More content of H in Fe–H binary compounds might decrease the hardness of Fe–H binary compounds. • The existence of H in Fe might increase the V p compared with that of pure Fe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ungulates are reported to use natural or artificial licks with seasonal patterns around the world. From December 2016 to August 2017, we used infrared camera to record the use of artificial licks in wild sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Zhejiang Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve, China. We explored the daily rhythm, seasonal pattern and sex difference in lick utilization. In total, 12,043 videos and 22,901 pictures were collected. Our results showed that: (1) the lick visiting frequency was higher at night than that during daytime; (2) the difference in lick visiting frequency between females and males disappeared after taking into account of sex ratio; (3) the lick duration peaked in April during a year. These findings suggested that there were clear daily rhythm and seasonal pattern of lick use in sika deer. Seasonal change in lick use intensity was consistent with our prediction. These variations in lick use might be driven by both the physiological needs of the mineral elements in different life stages and the seasonal changes in climate and food. The reserve management authority should pay more attention to the supplement of licks in spring and summer to fulfill animal's physiological needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endothelial glycocalyx is a carbohydrate–protein layer that lines the luminal surface of the endothelium. It anchors to the cell membrane via its core proteins that share extended link to the actin cytoskeleton. It is widely accepted that those protein domains and the attached carbohydrates are susceptible to pathological changes. It is unclear, however, to what extent the actin cytoskeleton contributes to the glycocalyx stability. In this study, we investigate the role of the actin cytoskeleton in the maintenance of the glycocalyx under static and laminar flow conditions in vitro. Our results show that in the static culture medium neither rapid actin depolymerisation nor prolonged actin disturbance leads to glycocalyx disruption from the apical surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. However, when endothelial cells are exposed to laminar flow for 24 h, the glycocalyx is seen to shift to the downstream peripheral region of the cell surface. The mean fluorescence intensity decreases to 91.9±2.5% of the control. When actin depolymerisation is introduced, the intensity decreases significantly to 54.7±1.3%, indicating a severe disruption of the glycocalyx. Similar changes are observed in human aortic endothelial cells, where the intensity of the glycocalyx is reduced to 72.8±1.6% of the control. Collectively, we demonstrate that the actin cytoskeleton contributes to structural stability of the glycocalyx under shear stress. Our results can be used to develop new strategies to prevent shedding of the glycocalyx in cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curved π bowl compounds represent another class of the completely conjugated materials with quantum dot nature. Non-equivalent hybridisation type from rim to hub carbon atoms in curved π bowl compound triggers anisotropic physical properties. With density functional method (CAM-B3LYP) and response theory calculations, curved π bowl compounds exhibit large radial and axial component ratio for its polarisability and the second hyperpolarisability. More importantly, they possess larger effective mass second hyperpolarisability (γmass) and nondiagonal components (γxxyy) compared to C60. Except the static properties, the dispersion characters of dynamic cubic response of curved π bowl compounds have been analysed in large frequency range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation behavior of a fourth-generation nickel-based single crystal superalloy with different heat treatments were studied at 1100 °C in air. The specimens were divided into three groups, one as-cast group, and two heat-treated groups: solution treated and fully heat treated. The elemental distribution is mainly affected by the solution temperature, the higher the solution temperature, the more uniform the distribution of elements. Heat treatment can effectively reduce the difference in oxidation behavior between dendritic region and interdendritic region. However, due to the inability to form a continuous Al 2 O 3 layer, the oxidation resistance of heat-treated specimens degrades. • The elements distribution will affect the oxidation behavior of superalloys. • The Al content of the region will affect the morphology of the internal Al 2 O 3 layer. • Heat treatment can reduce the oxidation difference between dendritic region and interdendritic region. • After heat treatment, the alloy is more prone to large-scale oxide spalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, holds a prominent position as an antibiotic-resistant priority pathogen, according to the World Health Organization. Particularly prevalent in healthcare settings, this bacterium acts as an opportunistic pathogen, causing nosocomial infections. The significant antibiotic resistance observed in P. aeruginosa is multifactorial, encompassing intrinsic, acquired, and adaptive resistance mechanisms. The present study aims to explore specific RND-type efflux pump genes implicated in the acquisition of antibiotic resistances during the transition of P. aeruginosa PAO1 from its planktonic state to the more formidable and resistant biofilm form. This investigation is centered on MexB, a prominent RND-type efflux pump in P. aeruginosa. Our research is focused on MexB, a highly significant component characterized by its broad substrate specificity, primary function as the primary efflux pump, substantial expression levels, and notable clinical implications. Considering MexB's critical role in expelling various clinically relevant antimicrobial agents and its significant contribution to multidrug resistance, our study aims to evaluate the comparative efficacy of three distinct antibiotic categories, namely, Ofloxacin (OFX), Tobramycin (TOB), and Ceftazidime (CAZ), in regulating the expression levels of identified multidrug efflux pump genes associated with the biofilm's ability to remove antibiotics from bacterial cells. Expression analysis of efflux transporter genes in P. aeruginosa was performed by isolating total RNA from both planktonic and biofilm samples, both untreated and treated with Tobramycin (TOB), Ofloxacin (OFX), and Ceftazidime (CAZ). Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR was employed to investigate changes in the expression levels of MexA, MexB, MexX, MexY, OprM, and RPSL genes in the collected samples. In the absence of antibiotic treatment, the MexB efflux pump gene exhibited higher expression compared to other efflux pump genes in the biofilm's state, supporting its involvement in multidrug resistance when active. To further explore the role of the MexB gene in antibiotic resistance, P. aeruginosa was cultured in both planktonic and biofilm forms while simultaneously treating them with TOB, OFX, and CAZ. Among the three antibiotics employed, OFX demonstrated superior efficacy in inhibiting the growth of biofilms by downregulating the expression of the Mex B efflux pump gene in P. aeruginosa, thereby enhancing its susceptibility to OFX. TOB yielded comparable outcomes to OFX, albeit with a slightly lesser extent of Mex B expression reduction. Conversely, CAZ exhibited ineffectiveness in reducing MexB gene expression in both biofilm and planktonic forms of the organism, rendering it incapable of eradicating the pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a severe leak of heavy metal pollution, a layered tin phosphate doped with Ti, Sn X Ti 1-X P (x ​= ​0.88, 0.72, 0.4, 0.11, 0.03), has been successfully synthesized by facile hydrothermal method in our recent work. Moreover, there are crucial factors to evaluate the adsorption effect of adsorbent, including x value, adsorbent dosage, adsorption time, initial concentration of Cu(II), temperature, pH and ion strength. The results have been shown that the removal effect of Cu(II) can reach 81.3% at the appropriate process conditions, and the Langmuir isotherm can fit the adsorption behavior of Sn 0.72 Ti 0.28 P on Cu(II), and the theoretical maximum adsorption capacity is 2.96 ​mg ​g−1. And the adsorption of Cu(II) by Sn 0.72 Ti 0.28 P is in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model compatibly. At last, in the desorption experiment, the adsorbed Sn 0.72 Ti 0.28 P is acid leaching in 3 ​mol ​L−1 nitric acid solution for 24 ​h, and the desorption efficiency can reach 96.4%. In our work, layered Sn X Ti 1-X P (HPO 4) 2 ·H 2 O (x ​= ​0.88, 0.72, 0.4, 0.11, 0.03, referred to as Sn X Ti 1-X P) has been successfully synthesized by isothermal substitution and used as adsorbent to adsorb harmful Cu(II) in aqueous solution. The influence factors, adsorption behavior and kinetic model of optimum Sn 0.72 Ti 0.28 P on Cu(II) adsorption have been studied. [Display omitted] • It is imperative to remove the pollutant Cu (II) from water environment. • Synthetic layered Sn X Ti 1-X P (HPO 4) 2 ·H 2 O is an efficient and reusable adsorbent for practical application of Cu(II) adsorption. • The influence factors, adsorption behavior and kinetic model of the adsorption process have been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proportions of doping elements is one of the important factors influencing the physical properties of the alloy. In this work, ab initio electronic calculations, applying density-functional theory, was used to investigate the mechanical properties of Fe–Ni–N alloys under the extreme pressure. Firstly, the stability of Fe 11 Ni 3 N 2 , Fe 10 Ni 3 N 3 , Fe 9 Ni 3 N 4 and Fe 8 Ni 3 N 5 alloys were estimated using binding energy and elastic constants. Fe 11 Ni 3 N 2 and Fe 9 Ni 3 N 4 were both stable basing on the Born criterion. Secondly, the density of Fe 11 Ni 3 N 2 and Fe 9 Ni 3 N 4 were smaller than that of Fe and closed to the one of preliminary reference earth model(PREM). The elastic properties of Fe 11 Ni 3 N 2 and Fe 9 Ni 3 N 4 which are stable were analyzed under pressure 130–360 GPa. The higher the proportion of N in ferroalloys, the larger elastic modulus and the faster the shear velocity (V s). • The light element N can be considered as one of the probable candidate in the earth's core. • The density of ferroalloy with N under high pressure is close to that of the PREM. • The ferroalloy with more content of N has the lager elastic modulus and shear velocity under extreme pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryogenic treatments and cryoprotective agents (CPAs) determine the survival rate of organisms that undergo cryopreservation, but their mechanisms of operation have not yet been characterised adequately. In particular, the way in which membrane lipids respond to cryogenic treatments and CPAs is unknown. We developed comparative profiles of the changes in membrane lipids among cryogenic treatments and between the CPAs dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methanol (MeOH) for the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We found that freezing in liquid nitrogen led to a dramatic degradation of lipids, and that thawing at warm temperature (35°C) induced lipid remodelling. DMSO did not protect membranes, but MeOH significantly attenuated lipid degradation. The presence of MeOH during cooling (from 25°C to −55°C at a rate of 1°C/min) sustained the lipid composition to the extent that membrane integrity was maintained; this phenomenon accounts for successful cryopreservation. An increase in monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and a decrease in diacylglycerol were the major changes in lipid composition associated with survival rate, but there was no transformation between these lipid classes. Phospholipase D-mediated phosphatidic acid was not involved in freezing-induced lipid metabolism in C. reinhardtii. Lipid unsaturation changed, and the patterns of change depended on the cryogenic treatment. Our results provide new insights into the cryopreservation of, and the lipid metabolism in, algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Possible isomers of buckybowl with various N contents (5-15%) were systematically searched with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. N doped buckybowls are predicted to be more stable than the well-known C48N12 azafullerene. The N-doping pattern in buckybowl presents different character from that of fullerenes. Vibrational properties of the heterobuckybowls vary with the relative positions of substituted atoms in buckybowl. The modified electronic properties of buckybowl by N doping lead to enhancement of the second hyperpolarizabilities, which implies that heterobuckybowls could be potential nonlinear optical materials and possible building blocks for molecular electronics and photonic devices. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scattered coal combustion in industrial boilers is one of the main sources of CO 2 emissions in China. With their lower emission intensity, electric and gas-fired boilers are recognized as effective alternatives to coal-fired boilers. Therefore, with the promise of reaching a peak in carbon emissions and attaining carbon neutrality, due to the differences in power structures, fuel prices, and energy resources in different regions, it is significant to identify the most suitable regional alternatives for coal-fired boiler retrofitting and the influences of policy on the effect of CO 2 emission mitigation. In this paper, an optimization model combined with power structures, fuel prices, and energy resources is developed to analyze the CO 2 emission mitigation performances of coal-to-gas (C2G) and coal-to-electricity (C2E) retrofits for coal-fired industrial boilers in regions of China. Based on life-cycle data, the regional substitution portfolio of C2G and C2E in each region in 2017 is optimized with the objective of maximizing the CO 2 emission reduction efficiency, and the policy effects of fuel price subsidies and CO 2 emission fees are discussed by scenario analysis. Based on the perspective of the local electricity structure, the optimized future pathway of low-carbon development for industrial boilers in various regions is studied. The results indicate that, in 2017, C2G retrofitting is suitable for most regions in China, while both C2G and C2E retrofits are suitable for Fujian, Guangxi, Hubei, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Qinghai. Only Yunnan's optimal portfolio is suitable for a 100% C2E retrofit without any supporting policies. "Thresholds" of electricity price subsidy exist for enterprises to adopt a C2E retrofit. It is easier to implement C2E in Fujian with a relatively low electricity price subsidy, while it is difficult to implement C2E in Qinghai as it requires a high electricity price subsidy. The effect of CO 2 emission fees on improving CO 2 emission reduction efficiency is only remarkable for Qinghai. Until 2050, 100% C2G retrofitting is still suitable in Henan, Hunan, and Jiangxi; in contrast, Yunnan, Fujian, Guangdong, Shaanxi, Guangxi, and Xinjing could benefit from a 100% C2E retrofit. If carbon capture and storage (CCS) is implemented, Beijing and Henan would also benefit from a 100% C2E retrofit. This study not only could help decision-makers to formulate a detailed policy for CO 2 reduction but also could provide a suggested pathway for CO 2 reduction in the future. As a result, preparatory work for technologies and policies could be conducted to achieve the goal of reaching peak carbon emissions and of attaining carbon neutrality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed a COSM (cost-optimization superstructure model) and derived the optimized oil-saving pathways for road freight transportation in China until 2030. The optimization target of the COSM was to minimize the accumulated energy and vehicle costs from 2010 to 2030 by choosing the most cost-effective fuel option for newly registered trucks each year. Based on the COSM, three scenarios were developed to evaluate the oil-saving pathway in terms of imported crude oil price, available alternative fuels and GHG emission reduction. The scenario analysis results indicate that: (1) for scenario A, the accumulated oil-saving potential was approximately about 13%, while the oil-saving potential of improving fuel consumption rate and load running rate was 17% and 16%; (2) for scenario B, the accumulated oil-saving potential increased to 82% in reference oil price and 23% in low oil price; (3) for scenario C, to reduce per ton of GHG emission, the increased cost will increase from 34 USD to 450 USD when the GHG emission target decreased from 15.4 billion tons to the turn point of 13.5 billion tons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remodelling of membrane lipids contributes to the tolerance of plants to stresses, such as freezing and deprivation of phosphorus. However, whether and how this remodelling relates to tolerance of PEG-induced osmotic stress has seldom been reported. Thellungiella salsuginea is a popular extremophile model for studies of stress tolerance. In this study, it was demonstrated that T. salsuginea was more tolerant to PEG-induced osmotic stress than its close relative Arabidopsis thaliana . Lipidomic analysis indicated that plastidic lipids are more sensitive to PEG-induced osmotic stress than extra-plastidic ones in both species, and that the changes in plastidic lipids differed markedly between them. PEG-induced osmotic stress led to a dramatic decrease in levels of plastidic lipids in A. thaliana , whereas the change in plastidic lipid in T. salsuginea involved an adaptive remodelling shortly after the onset of PEG-induced osmotic stress. The two aspects of this remodelling involved increases in (1) the level of plastidic lipids, especially digalactosyl diacylglycerol, and (2) the double bond index of plastidic lipids. These remodelling steps could maintain the integrity and improve the fluidity of plastidic membranes and this may contribute to the PEG-induced osmotic stress tolerance of T. salsuginea . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indium phosphide is widely used in electronics and photovoltaic devices due to its high electro-optical conversion efficiency, high electron mobility, and good radiation resistance. Defects are the main limitation for the performance of InP devices. In this work, based on hybrid functional with finite size correction, electronic properties of intrinsic and H-related defects have been investigated in InP. We found that PIn defect is the most stable intrinsic defect with the lowest formation energy. Defect signals detected experimentally are defined by our calculated results. Experimentally observed electron traps with the energy level of EC −0.66 eV and EC −0.68 eV are ascribed to the transition level ɛ(−1/−2) and ɛ(−2/−3) of In vacancies. The hydrogenated vacancies in InP have been systematically reported in the present work. Formation energies of H-related defects indicate that hydrogen atoms prefer to bind to In vacancy than P vacancy. The formation energy of In vacancy decreases with the addition of H, while that of P vacancy increases. For hydrogenated In vacancies, it captures fewer electrons than bare In vacancies when the Fermi level is close to CBM. Especially for the VIn −3H structure, it is 0 charge state in all Fermi levels so that it will not tend to capture electron or hole. Our work is helpful to explain experimental phenomena and radiation-induced damages and improve the performance of InP devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermetallic compounds were applied widely in the fields of automotive and aerospace because of its excellent shape memory effect. In this work, the structural, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties of Ni–Ti intermetallic compounds are studied by first-principle calculation. The results show that Ti, NiTi3, NiTi2, NiTi, Ni4Ti3, Ni3Ti, Ni4Ti, and Ni are stable based on Born stable criterion. On the mechanical aspect, the bulk modulus of Ni–Ti intermetallic compounds increases with the rising electron density. Their ductility is ranked as follows: NiTi3 > Ni4Ti3 > NiTi2 > Ni4Ti > NiTi > Ni3Ti. And when the ratio of Ni and Ti is 3:1, it is the hardest. In addition, the Ni–Ti intermetallic compounds in this work are anisotropy, except NiTi2. On the thermodynamic aspect, the Debye temperature θD, melting point Tm, and minimum thermal conductivity kmin of Ni–Ti intermetallic compounds increase first and then decrease with the rising content of Ni. The θD and kmin of NiTi3 are the minimum among the Ni–Ti ICs mentioned above, and θD of Ni3Ti and kmin of NiTi are both the maximum. The melting point of Ni3Ti is 1940 K, it is the highest temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ru 3 MoCeO x electrocatalyst with co-doping of Mo and Ce exhibited superior OER performance in acidic media. [Display omitted] • Ru 3 MoCeO x exhibited superior activity (η 10 = 164 mV) for acidic OER. • Ru 3 MoCeO x exhibited excellent stability of 100 h at 100 mA cm−2 for acidic OER. • DFT revealed Mo and Ce synergistically tuned electron correlation of Ru. • DFT revealed co-doping of Mo and Ce lowered the energy barrier toward acidic OER. Designing highly efficient electrocatalysts in acidic media is considered as a promising strategy for improving the wide applications of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. Especially, oxygen evolution reaction (OER) requires high overpotentials (η) to overcome the high thermodynamic energy barrier toward water splitting. Herein, both Mo and Ce with large ionic radius are incorporated into RuO 2 to redistribute electronic structures around Ru‒O bonds, promoting the activity and stability of RuO 2. The representative Ru 3 MoCeO x exhibits superior activity with an overpotential of 164 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and excellent stability of 100 h (100 mA cm−2) in acidic media. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and micro characterizations reveal that introduction of Mo and Ce into RuO 2 effectively tune Ru–O bonds covalency, modulate electron correlations and reduce energy barrier of the intermediates from 0.78 to 0.60 eV. The outstanding activity and long-term stability indicate that Ru 3 MoCeO x could be acted as efficient anode catalyst in PEM electrolyzers for water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we present a process-based model to estimate the well-to-tank (WTT) costs of vehicle fuels (gasoline and diesel). The model breaks down the WTT process into four stages, i.e., crude oil sourcing (import and extraction), crude oil transportation, crude oil refining, and vehicle fuel transportation and distribution, which can provide high-resolution data for the WTT cost components. Using this model, we further develop an empirical study of China. The results obtained from the study indicate that the price of imported crude oil is the dominant factor affecting the WTT costs of vehicle fuels in China and that the cost of crude oil refining also has a relatively large influence. By comparing the costs with the prices of vehicle fuels under the volatile price of imported crude oil, we illustrate the unstable margin caused by China’s current pricing policy, which causes a distorted price signal and fiscal risks. The key findings derived from the empirical study reveal that the WTT cost is an essential guide for altering the vehicle fuel price with the aim of not only smoothing the impacts caused by the volatile price of crude oil price but also reflecting the correct oil price signal and reducing the fiscal risks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nanofluidic memristors are memory resistors based on nanoconfined fluidic systems exhibiting history‐dependent ion conductivity. Toward establishing powerful computing systems beyond the Harvard architecture, these ion‐based neuromorphic devices attracted enormous research attention owing to the unique characteristics of ion‐based conductors. However, the design of nanofluidic memristor is still at a primary state and a systematic guidance on the rational design of nanofluidic system is desperately required for the development of nanofluidic‐based neuromorphic devices. Herein, we proposed a systematic review on the history, main mechanism and potential application of nanofluidic memristors in order to give a prospective view on the design principle of memristors based on nanofluidic systems. Furthermore, based on the present status of these devices, some fundamental challenges for this promising area were further discussed to show the possible application of these ion‐based devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of lysine addition and microwave treatment (MC) on the digestibility, physicochemical properties and structure of corn starch were investigated. Among all uncooked samples, unmodified corn starch (CS), microwave modified corn starch (MC-CS) and corn starch mixed with lysine (CS-Lys) contained 15.09 %, 14.82 % and 18.86 % slowly digestible starch (SDS), while up to 30.28 % in microwave-lysine modified corn starch (MC-Lys). In contrast to CS, the peak viscosity, breakdown viscosity, setback viscosity and gel enthalpy of MC-Lys were decreased, while the relative crystallinity was increased. Scanning electron microscopy observation showed that corn starch aggregated with each other and was coated by lysine after MC, the particle size distribution range became wider, and the specific surface area decreased. The results showed that the interaction of starch with lysine in the microwave field increased the ordered and aggregated structure of corn starch, resulting in a significant change in the physicochemical properties and digestibility of corn starch. MC-Lys can be added to foods as a nutritional fortification to meet the needs of specific populations for lysine and low carbohydrate. [Display omitted] • Among both uncooked and cooked starches, the SDS content of MC-Lys increased compared to CS. • Compared with CS, the viscosity and ΔH of MC-Lys decreased, while the pasting temperature increased. • MC-Lys still retained the A-type crystal structure, and had a higher relative crystallinity than CS. • After MC, lysine and corn starch combined with each other or coated on the surface of starch granules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present a study on dielectric response of Ag14 nanocluster dimer using first principles methods. The interaction energy, (hyper)polarizability of dimer are predicted under various separations of the two identical Ag14 nanoclusters. The appropriate separation makes the second-order hyperpolarizability of Ag14 dimer is about 70 times larger than the Ag14 monomer. The increase of polarizability and hyperpolarizability is ascribed to reconfiguration of molecular electronic state from Ag cluster monomer to dimer. Nonlinear response is more susceptible to the steady intermediate state compared to linear response. The crucial transitions contributed to hyperpolarizability are assigned to be from highest occupied molecular orbitals to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMOs-LUMO) of nanocluster dimer. Binding character of LUMO plays an important role in determining nonlinear optical properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The hydrogen diffusion and phase transformation in a titanium particle were studied based on thermodynamic calculation. The mechanisms of hydrogen diffusion in different phases (α-Ti, β-Ti and TiH x ) were analyzed. A mobility database was developed for titanium–hydrogen system based on the experimental works on hydrogen diffusion coefficient reported in literature and the fundamental of diffusion. To implement the calculation, a commercial software package for the simulation of diffusion-controlled phase transformation was used. The hydrogen diffusion process, hydrogen distribution, phase transformation and phase growth rate during hydrogenization of a titanium particle at temperatures of 560K, 800K and 1000K were discussed. The thermodynamics and kinetics analysis provided quantitative insight into the diffusion process and improved the understanding of diffusion mechanism and phase transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lentinan (LNT) is a highly functional biomacromolecule, and its sulfated derivatives (sLNT) exhibit improved pharmacological properties compared to LNT. In the present study, LNT extracted from the fermentation broth of Lentinus edodes was sulfated using two methods, conventional heating and novel microwave radiation, and their biological activities were evaluated using an antioxidant system and an antiproliferation cell model. Our results indicate that the two sulfated derivates have similar physicochemical properties and spectroscopic profiles. Nevertheless, microwave radiation produced a higher yield of sLNT, with a shorter processing time and lower degradation. In contrast to LNT, the sLNT derivatives exhibited a strong antioxidant activity in vitro. In addition, the derivatives exhibited a significant antiproliferative effect on leukemia cells, whereas LNT exhibited the opposite outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endothelial glycocalyx is susceptible to high concentration of glucose and sodium in the blood. These challenges often involve an increase in osmotic pressure which may independently alters the glycocalyx components. The glycocalyx anchors on the cell membrane via core proteins that link with the actin cytoskeleton. This study aims to investigate the role of actomyosin in the osmoregulation of syndecan-1, a core protein that bears abundant sugar chains of the glycocalyx. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated with mannitol-based hyperosmotic medium up to 2 h. The surface expression of syndecan-1 and the actin cytoskeleton were analysed by confocal microscopy, either without or with cytoskeletal manipulation. Syndecan-1 expression was compromised when hyperosmotic challenge was prolonged for 2 h, with the normalised intensity substantially dropped to 65.78 ± 2.07% at +200 mOsm. The reduction is associated with a sustained actin hyper-polymerisation, including significant increases in cortex coverage and cytoskeletal tension. Disassembling the cortex by cytochalasin D restores syndecan-1 in hyperosmosis. Inhibition of ROCK, rather than MLCK and myosin II ATPase activity, prevents the reduction of syndecan-1. We have demonstrated that prolonged hyperosmotic stress disrupts the integrity of syndecan-1 through an aberrant cortex polymerisation. Our results provide new evidence in the interplay between the glycocalyx and the actin. It helps us better interpret the regulation of the glycocalyx, moving towards a goal of protecting and restoring the glycocalyx under healthy and diseased conditions. • Prolonged hyperosmotic stress reduces syndecan-1 expression on endothelial cell surface. • The syndecan-1 reduction is associated with an enhanced cortex polymerisation and an increased cytoskeletal tension. • Depolymerising the cortical actin restores syndecan-1 expression in hyperosmosis. • Decreasing the cytoskeletal tension alone is not sufficient to prevent the decline in syndecan-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freezing injury is a major environmental limitation on the productivity and geographical distribution of plants. Here we show that freezing tolerance can be manipulated in Arabidopsis thaliana by genetic alteration of the gene encoding phospholipase Dd (PLDd), which is involved in membrane lipid hydrolysis and cell signaling. Genetic knockout of the plasma membrane-associated PLDd rendered A. thaliana plants more sensitive to freezing, whereas overexpression of PLDd increased freezing tolerance. Lipid profiling revealed that PLDd contributed approximately 20% of the phosphatidic acid produced in wild-type plants during freezing, and overexpression of PLDd increased the production of phosphatidic acid species. The PLDd alterations did not affect the expression of the cold-regulated genes COR47 or COR78 or alter cold-induced increases in proline or soluble sugars, suggesting that the PLD pathway is a unique determinant of the response to freezing and may present opportunities for improving plant freezing tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]