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There are many methods to treat keloid, including various excision operations, laser, injection and radiotherapy. However, few studies have explored the effectiveness of single-hole punch excision in keloid treatment. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of lateral punch excision combined with intralesional steroid injection for keloid treatment through self-control trial. In this self-controlled trial, 50 patients meet the diagnosis of nodular keloid, and try to choose left–right symmetrical control, one skin lesion in the control group (50 skin lesionsin total) and the other in the observation group (50 skin lesions in total).The keloids in the treatment group were initially treated with punch excision combined with intralesional steroid injection, followed by injection treatment alone. Keloids in the control group received intralesional steroid injection alone. The Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) of the keloid before and after the punch excision was evaluated; the keloid scores at different time points and the number of injection treatments required in both groups were compared, and adverse reactions were observed. The effective rate of the observation group was 86.0%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (66.0%), and the recurrence rate of 22% was lower than that of the control group (χ2 = 4.141,63417), all of which were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). At the end of treatment, the VSS and total injection times in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (t = 5.900,3.361), with statistical significance (P < 0.01). The combination of single-hole punch excision and intralesional steroid injection is an effective method to treat multiple nodular keloids, shortening the treatment course of tralesional steroid injection without obvious adverse reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unsustainable and widespread utilization of fossil fuels continues to drive the rapid depletion of global supplies. Biodiesel has emerged as one of the most promising alternatives to conventional diesel, leading to growing research interest in its production. Microbes can facilitate the de novo synthesis of a type of biodiesel in the form of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). In this study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolic activity was engineered to facilitate enhanced FAME production. Initially, free fatty acid concentrations were increased by deleting two acetyl-CoA synthetase genes (FAA1, FAA4) and an acyl-CoA oxidase gene (POX1). Intracellular S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) levels were then enhanced via the deletion of an adenosine kinase gene (ADO1) and the overexpression of a SAM synthetase gene (SAM2). Lastly, the S. cerevisiae strain overproducing free fatty acids and SAM were manipulated to express a plasmid encoding the Drosophila melanogaster Juvenile Hormone Acid O-Methyltransferase (DmJHAMT). Using this combination of engineering approaches, a FAME concentration of 5.79 ± 0.56 mg/L was achieved using these cells in the context of shaking flask fermentation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed study of FAME production in S. cerevisiae. These results will provide a valuable basis for future efforts to engineer S. cerevisiae strains for highly efficient production of biodiesel. Key points: De novo synthesis of FAMEs was demonstrated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. FAME production was improved by increasing concentrations of fatty acids and SAM. FAMEs produced in S. cerevisiae mainly included C16 and C18 fatty acid methyl esters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese zinc (MnZn) ferrite is one of the most used ferrite materials, while the investigations on sintering behaviors and magnetic properties of MnZn ferrite with ultrahigh metal oxide components are important supplements to the preparation knowledge of MnZn ferrite. In the formula triangle of the Fe 2 O 3 –ZnO–MnO 2 system, four representative formulas including 50%Fe–25%Zn–25%Mn, 80%Fe–10%Zn–10%Mn, 10%Fe–80%Zn–10%Mn, and 10%Fe–10%Zn–80%Mn were selective in this work to stand for medium-Fe, high-Fe, high-Zn, and high-Mn systems. The thermogravimetric aspects, phase compositions, microstructure features, magnetic properties, electromagnetic parameters, and electromagnetic wave absorbing properties of four samples were compared via the TG-DSC, XRD, XPS, SEM-EDS, VSM, and VNA analyses. It's suggested that the phase compositions and microstructures were dramatically affected by the iron content. After sintering, the high-Fe and medium-Fe systems present single Zn x Mn y Fe 2 O 4 (0 < x, y < 1) phase and condense structure, while some free superfluous oxides are concomitant in the high-Mn and high-Zn systems. The pore structure and number are positively correlated with the MnO 2 content in the Mn–Zn–Fe oxide system owing to the decomposition deoxygenation reaction. The magnetism study indicates that all four samples present good soft magnetic properties and less coercive force, while the high-Fe system displays the highest magnetic saturation intensity of 102 emu/g and the lowest magnetic coercivity. Due to the uniform composition, dense structure, and sufficient iron ingredient, the as-prepared MnZn ferrite with the formula of 80%Fe–10%Zn–10%Mn (high-Fe system) sintered at 1300 °C for 6 h demonstrates strong electromagnetism performance with the minimum RL peak of −42.03 dB at a veneer thickness of 8 mm. It's suggested that sintered MnZn ferrite with high-iron content demonstrates superior electromagnetic wave absorption properties. This work provided a batching formula foundation for the preparation of high-performance MnZn ferrites with high metal oxide constituents from pure oxide reagents or mineral materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) may play an important role in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, the exact mechanism of CIH-induced myocardial injury in DCM remains unclear. In vivo, the db/db mice exposed to CIH were established, and in vitro, the H9C2 cells were exposed to high glucose (HG) combined with intermittent hypoxia (IH). The body weight (BW), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and food intake were measured every two weeks. The glycolipid metabolism was assessed with the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin resistance (IR). Cardiac function was detected by echocardiography. Cardiac pathology was detected by HE staining, Masson staining, and transmission electron microscopy. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in myocardial tissue was detected by dihydroethidium (DHE). The apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining. The cell viability, ROS, and the mitochondrial membrane potential were detected by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and related kits. Western blotting was used to analyze the liver kinase B1/AMP-activated protein kinase/ nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (LKB1/AMPK/Nrf2) signaling pathway. CIH exposure accelerated glycolipid metabolism disorders and cardiac injury, and increased the level of cardiac oxidative stress and the number of positive apoptotic cells in db/db mice. IH and HG decreased the cell viability and the level of mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased ROS expression in H9C2 cells. These findings indicate that CIH exposure promotes glycolipid metabolism disorders and myocardial apoptosis, aggravating myocardial injury via the LKB1/AMPK/Nrf2 pathway in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion/alloying‐type electrode has promising potential in next‐generation large‐scale energy storage. However, it is plagued by vast volume expansion, the sluggish ion transport capability due to the anion migration and the deficient geometric conformation. Herein, an ultrastable Sb2Se3 anode is elaborately designed for potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) through combined strategies of expedited side‐chain transport with bulky polar groups and stable molecular conformations. By rendering flexible polymer conductor (PC), hyaluronic acid conjugated dopamine, (named as HD) with a dissociated tetraethylthiuram disulfide (TETD) side chain, i.e., THD, via the in situ growth protocol over the hollow nitrogen‐doped polyhedron carbon (NC) confined Mn‐Sb2Se3 nanospheres (THD/Mn‐Sb2Se3@NC) grafting multipolar intramolecular covalent bonds, the fabricated THD/Mn‐Sb2Se3@NC displays gloriously enhanced side chain transport capability along with planarity and rigidity, benefiting from the finely decoupled segmental motion of the polymer chains and the dislocated π–π electrons. Consequently, THD/Mn‐Sb2Se3@NC exhibits superior fast‐charging behavior with a wider temperature adaptability from −50 °C to 80 °C. The findings provide fundamental guidance for developing advanced electrodes with outstanding side chain transport kinetics that go beyond safe, high‐performance PIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient deep-lacustrine fans serve as prolific hydrocarbon reservoirs and provide records of climatic and tectonic activity. The deep-lacustrine fans of the Lower Jurassic Sangonghe Formation in Turpan Basin have become the most important exploration targets as stratigraphic traps. An integrated analysis of field profile investigation, core examination, well logging and seismic reflection profile interpretation, and grain size distribution patterns has enabled the identification of a series of deep-lacustrine fans. The deep-lacustrine fans of the Lower Jurassic Sangonghe Formation, deposited in the Turpan Basin consist of sandy debris flow, bottom current reworking and turbidite lithofacies. The deep-lacustrine fans are depicted by the following geological and geophysical features: (1) abundant soft-sediment deformation structures, and dish structures, normal graded beddings and inverse graded bedding structures developed in the strata, (2) the grain size distribution on the C–M diagram is parallel to the C = M baseline and cumulative probability curves display a bi-segment pattern with the suspension components to be the dominant parts, (3) gamma-ray logging curve are inverse-cycle features and seismic reflection profiles are characterized of poor continuity, high amplitudes, scattered and lenticular shapes. The deep-lacustrine fans are favorable target reservoirs, and have become the most important exploration targets in the Turpan Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymetallic vanadium titano-magnetite (VTM) is recognized as one of the most refractory mineral resources because of its multiple-element composite symbiosis feature. Conventional carbothermic reduction and smelting separation treatment are characterized by high energy consumption and large greenhouse gas emissions. Considering the material attribute, an alternative and clean utilization of refractory VTM via the pyrometallurgically oriented phase transformation in air atmosphere to prepare the composite electromagnetic wave absorbing material was proposed for the first time in this work. The theoretical foundation of the oriented composite material design, phase transformation, microstructure and interfacial element migration, magnetism, electromagnetic properties, and wave absorbing properties were investigated via thermodynamic calculations, XRD, XPS, optical microscope, SEM‒EDS, VSM, and VNA analyses. Theoretical calculations indicated that the formation of composite ferrites was thermodynamically feasible over 1085 °C. In the oriented phase reconstruction, the symbiotic structure of the VTM was reconstructed via MnO 2 addition at 1150 °C, and almost all the Fe, Mn, Ti, and V were concentrated in the composite ferrites, in which the Ti and V were doped in the octahedral structure (B site) of spinel-type crystalline structure. The as-purified composite ferrite material from the VTM+80%MnO 2 mixture roasted at 1150 °C for 2 h showed good electromagnetism performance. A minimum RL peak of −50 dB was obtained at a veneer thickness of 11 mm, and the RL value less than −20 dB had a big frequency bandwidth of 9 GHz (frequency range of 8 GHz–17 GHz). It's inferred that this low-cost and abundant composite ferrite material can be economically applied in the construction industry. This work provided a clean and higher-value application of abundant refractory polymetallic VTM resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver-bearing manganese ore (Mn-Ag ore) is an important resource for the extraction of the precious metal Ag. However, the efficient and economical utilization of low-grade Mn-Ag ore poses challenges due to its polymetallic co-occurrence, complex associated mineral structures, and lower Ag grade compared to an industrial Ag grade of 80 g/t. In contrast, the Ag grade of commercially viable concentrate, achieved through physicochemical beneficiation, generally exceeds 1000 g/t. This work briefly discusses the metallogeny and resource characteristics and the processing technologies of Mn-Ag ore to produce high grade Ag concentrates. Based on the metallogeny characteristics of Mn-Ag deposits, this work delves into the challenges and difficulties in the physical separation of Ag and Mn. By regulating the differences in the chemical properties of Mn and Ag constituents, chemical beneficiation processes, including unit operations of pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy, result in favorable Ag and Mn enrichment and separation. The chemical principles, technical parameters, Mn-Ag separation efficiency, and advantages and disadvantages of chemical beneficiation (blast furnace smelting, chlorination roasting, one-step leaching, and two-step leaching) were systematically summarized and discussed. This work can provide theoretical and technical guidance for the effective treatment of low-grade Mn-Ag ores. [Display omitted] • Diverse processes for pyro- and hydro- separation of Ag and Mn are reviewed. • Metallurgical properties of Mn-Ag ores and the characteristics of silver resources are introduced. • Separation methods based on the differences in reduction, volatility, fusibility and selective solubility are highlighted. • Advantages and disadvantages of separation methods for Ag and Mn are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biopolymer-based copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have become an area of significant interest due to their wide-ranging applications in a variety of fields. However, there remains a challenge in tailoring their morphologies and improving their properties. In this study, CuNPs were synthesized via wet chemical reduction using sodium hypophosphite monohydrate (NaH 2 PO 2 ·H 2 O), l -ascorbic acid and chitosan. The effect of different synthesis conditions, including reaction pH, temperature, time, concentration of NaH 2 PO 2 ·H 2 O, l -ascorbic acid and chitosan, as well as the deacetylation degree (DD) of chitosan, on the synthesis of CuNPs was investigated. The synthesized CuNPs were characterized by various analytical techniques. The catalytic properties of synthesized CuNPs were investigated for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in the presence of sodium borohydride. The synthesis-morphology-catalytic activity relationship of CuNPs was discussed. The results suggested that the morphology of CuNPs could be adjusted by controlling the synthesis conditions. Chitosan DD significantly impacts the morphology of the synthesized CuNPs. As the chitosan DD decreased from 91.8 % to 52.3 %, the average particle size of synthesized CuNPs decreased from 43.9 ± 10.6 to 17.7 ± 5.9 nm and the shape changed from anisotropy to near-sphere. CuNPs synthesized using low DD (53.2 %) chitosan (CuNPs-N3) demonstrated the highest 4-NP conversion rate of 99.1 % and reaction rate constant of 0.3540 min−1. CuNPs-N3 was thermodynamically and kinetically more feasible than CuNPs synthesized with high DD chitosan. These findings provide important insights for further designing and developing hierarchical nanostructured CuNPs catalysts for broader applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This investigation aimed to figure out the relation between discs large homolog 3 (DLG3) expression and the progression and prognosis of breast cancer (BC). Methods. qRT-PCR was utilized for confirming DLG3 expression and RAC1 mRNA expression in BC tissues and cells. Subsequently, after overexpression or interference of DLG3, the changes of the biological activities of BC cells, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, were detected through CCK-8, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Furthermore, western blotting was utilized to measure the protein expression of DLG3 and RAC1, as well as related proteins of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Results. At both cellular and tissue level in BC, DLG3 was downregulated and methylation level was upregulated; RAC1 showed an opposite change and was of a negative correlation with DLG3. In MCF-7 and HCC1937, we found that the upregulation of DLG3 could inhibit RAC1 expression as well as cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT, while promoting apoptosis. Also, DLG3 inhibited the activation of the P13K/AKT pathway. Conclusion. Hypermethylation of DLG3 promoter upregulates RAC1 and activates the PI3K/AKT pathway, thus promoting BC progression. This conclusion provides ideas and experimental basis for improving and treating BC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D metal‐organic framework (MOF) has potential applications in electrocatalysis owing to fast mass transfer, charge transfer and large specific surface area. Here, we had prepared three conductive 2D MOF based on Ni, NiCo and Co in a simple and rapid way. The 2D nanostructure of MOF was confirmed by SEM and TEM. The chemical composition was studied by XRD, Raman and XPS spectrum. The electrochemical oxidation and detection was investigated through cyclic voltammetry and current‐time method. Their sensing performance for urea was determined by varying oxidation potentials and metal sites. The non‐enzymatic Ni‐, NiCo‐ and Co‐MOF sensors had good catalytic activity for urea. Compared with NiCo‐ and Co‐MOF, Ni‐MOF had a wider linear range (0.5–832.5 μM), high sensitivity (1960 μA mM−1 cm−2), low detection limit (0.471 μM), and fast response time. The sensors had well repeatability, reproducibility, and selectivity to specific interfering species. Furthermore, Ni‐ and NiCo‐MOF modified electrode was also applied to detection of milk samples. The results showed that the recovery was satisfactory, which further confirmed the effectiveness of non‐enzyme sensor. In general, the highly‐sensitive 2D Ni‐ and NiCo‐MOF modified electrode has great potential as nonenzymatic urea sensors for real samples detection in hydrogen energy, clinical diagnostics, and environmental protection, et al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes and identifies the binders used in the jewel settings of the Baodian and Diexie belts excavated from the tomb of Murongzhi in Wuwei, Gansu, China. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated the presence of protein in the binder samples. The result of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) shows that samples from both contained hydroxyproline, a characteristic amino acid for animal glue. Principal component analysis was performed on one of the samples, and it was concluded that the binder was a mixture of hide glue and egg glue. Further analysis using scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray (SEM‐EDX) and laser Raman spectroscopy (Raman) found that a red particulate matter visually identified in the binder was cinnabar, which was apparently added to binder in order to modify the color of the jewels. This study provides a basis for the conservation and restoration of future finds of elite jewelry. It also shows how imperial jewelry was made during the Tang Dynasty. Finally, the analysis of these heraldic belts provides a key insight the life and role of an exiled prince in the Tang court. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mill scale scrap, which contains vast amounts of valuable metals, is a solid waste produced in the iron and steel industry. Conventional mill scale scrap treatment methods for metal extraction are characterized by high energy consumption and low value addition. In this study, co-treatment of mill scale scrap and manganese ore via the oxidization roasting-magnetic separation process was investigated for the synchronous preparation of higher-value materials and recovery of valuable metals. Thermodynamic and magnetism analyses indicated that a higher temperature (>1100 °C) and a MnO 2 /Fe 2 O 3 molar ratio of 0.75–1 are essential for the preparation of manganese ferrite. The experimental validation revealed that soft magnetic manganese ferrite powders with a purity of 97.5 wt% were obtained when the test was conducted at 1300 °C for 120 min, followed by a two-stage grinding and magnetic separation process; the corresponding yield and the Mn and Fe recoveries were 78.99 wt%, 86.14 wt%, and 84.60 wt%, respectively. During the oxidization process, [Fe2+]O was initially oxidized to the anti-form spinel-type structure of [Fe3+][Fe2+Fe3+]O 4 , and thereafter, it reacted with the decomposition product of [Mn3+][Mn2+Mn3+]O 4 to form a hybrid spinel-type structure [Me2+ x Me3+ l-x ][Me2+ 1-x Me3+ 1+x ]O 4 (Me refers to Mn and Fe) via the Mn2+/Fe2+/Mn3+/Fe3+ ions exchange at the tetrahedral and octahedral sites. Moreover, the as-purified ferrite can be used as an ingredient for the preparation of high-performance MnZn ferrite. Image 1 • A sustainable treatment of mill scale scrap and manganese ore is presented. • Valuable metals in the scrap and manganese ores are synchronously recovered. • The formation mechanism of manganese ferrite is discussed. • Oxidization roasting and magnetic separation regimes are systematically studied. • Mn and MnZn ferrites with good electromagnetic performance from scrap are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA), abundant in chia seed oil, are useful polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) with numerous health benefits. The objectives of the present study were to explore the optimum extraction condition of chia seed oil and the possibilities of direct analysis of ALA and LA in chia seed oil by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (RP-HPLC-UV). The optimized chia seed oil extraction condition was set by the usage of Soxhlet extrator with hexane as a solvent, with the solvent to solid ratio of 8 and the extraction time of 8 h. Prior to HPLC-UV analysis, the oil was saponified in order to get the free fatty acids for detection. The results showed that the proposed HPLC-UV method allowed the quantification of ALA and LA in chia seed oil. The method was simple, rapid (within 18 min) and sensitive (limit of detection 0.006 mg/mL for ALA and 0.02 mg/mL for LA) and precise (RSD ≤ 2%). Thus, the proposed experimental designs were shown to offer considerable advantages over traditional derivatization approaches in the ALA and LA analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euphorbia pekinensis (EP), known for its diuretic properties, is clinically utilized for treating conditions such as edema and malignant tumors. However, in its raw form, Euphorbia pekinensis is toxic, and oral administration of this crude medicine can lead to gastrointestinal stimulation, resulting in abdominal pain and diarrhea. In Mongolian medicine's ethnomedicinal system, a distinctive processing method called " Chebulae Fructus processing" is employed. Chebulae Fructus is used to mitigate the toxicity of EP and alleviate its purgative effects. Nevertheless, the detoxification mechanism associated with this processing method remains unexplored. It is hypothesized that processing with Chebulae Fructus may alter the chemical composition of EP, and the residual components of Chebulae Fructus within processed Chinese medicine might exhibit pharmacological antagonistic effects, thereby achieving the purpose of processing and reducing toxicity. To investigate this further, a combination of UPLC-QTOF-MS-based metabolomics technology and multivariate statistical analysis was employed to analyze and compare the chemical composition of raw and processed EP. Differential variables contributing to group separation were identified based on specific criteria, including VIP (Variable Importance in Projection) values of ≥ 1 in PLS-DA models, p-values < 0.05, and fold changes (FC) > 1.2 or < 0.8. The resulting differentially expressed features were then identified through database matching, literature review, or manual annotation. In total, 47 components were identified from the PEP samples in both positive and negative ionization modes, primarily belonging to flavonoids, terpenoids, organic acids, glycosides, and fatty acids. Among the raw EP group and PEP S4 group, 10 differential compounds were identified. Notably, one toxic terpene and one phenylpropanoid from EP were downregulated, while two bioactive components from Chebulae Fructus were upregulated in the processed group. The possible conversion reactions of these two processing Q-markers were also elucidated. The characteristic processing with Chebulae Fructus resulted in a change in the composition of this Mongolian medicine EP. Furthermore, this study provides a scientific foundation for optimizing the processing technology of EP and offers insights into the processing of other ethnomedicines with toxic properties. [Display omitted] • The composition of EP is strongly changed when processed with Chebulae Fructus. • Ten differential compounds may be the potential processing Q-markers. • First time to clarify the possible conversion reaction of two processing Q-markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clean and efficient extraction and separation of precious metals from discarded Pb-Sn alloy is critical to the sustainable utilization of solid waste resources. Dense oxide layer and compact alloy texture in the waste Pb-Sn alloy pose challenges to the effective leaching process. Ultrasonic waves are demonstrated to improve separation efficiency via the favorable physical and chemical effects in solution system. In this study, ultrasound-assisted leaching technology is attempted to rapidly and selectively extract Pb from the waste Pb-Sn alloy, and gives emphasis on ultrasonic electrochemical behaviors. The Eh-pH diagrams of Sn-H 2 O and Pb-H 2 O systems were firstly analyzed to lay the selective dissolution foundation. It's indicated that oxidizing HNO 3 lixiviant is suitable to realize the selective separation of Pb. Both Sn and Pb can be dissolved to ionic Sn2+ and Pb2+ in the HNO 3 solution. However, Sn2+ rapidly oxidizes to Sn4+ and Sn4+ further hydrolyzes to insoluble SnO 2 , which will agglomerate on unreacted materials to limit internal metal leaching in conventional leaching process. Due to the vibratory stripping of oxide layer by physical effect of ultrasound, the conventional acid leaching time for Pb extraction can be halved with the ultrasound assistance. About 99.12 % Pb and only 0.1 % Sn are dissolved in ultrasound-assisted leaching under the following optimal parameters: 0.5 mol/L HNO 3 , leaching temperature of 80 °C, time of 30 min, liquid-to-solid ratio of 20 mL/g, and ultrasound intensity of 0.52 W/cm2. Leaching kinetics of Pb, phase transition, microstructure evolution, Pb-Sn galvanic corrosion and dissolution polarization curve were studied to determine the ultrasonic enhanced dissolution mechanism. Notably, Pb and Sn form a microcorrosion galvanic cell in which Sn acts as a cathode and is protected while the Pb undergoes intensifying corrosion as the anode giving rise to the higher Pb dissolution efficiency. Eventually, it's suggested that Pb can be rapidly extracted and separated from the waste Pb-Sn alloy during the ultrasound-assisted HNO 3 leaching process via the ultrasound physical and chemical effects, especially the sonochemistry aspect of intensified spot corrosion and galvanic corrosion. The proposed ultrasonic electrochemical corrosion in this work were applicable to the extraction of valuable metals from various waste alloys through leaching method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Thermodynamic and parameters for selective alkaline leaching of Sn are studied. • Ultrasound can observably facilitate the alkaline leaching of Sn from tinplate scraps. • Microstructure, kinetics and electrochemistry differences in leaching are investigated. • Novel acoustoelectric synergy is applied to clarify tin intensifying dissolution mechanism. Clean and fast extraction of tin from the surface of tinplate scraps is of great significance for the efficient utilization of waste resources. However, the dense tin layer causes the low efficiency of conventional leaching process. To improve Sn leaching efficiency, the ultrasound technique was adopted to extract Sn from tinplate scraps by alkaline leaching in this study. In the NaOH-H 2 O 2 leaching system, metallic tin and alloyed tin in Fe-Sn alloy located on the surface of tinplate scraps can be oxidized and transferred to soluble Na 2 SnO 3 , while the iron in Fe-Sn alloy was oxidized to oxides which were chemically inert in alkaline solution. The differences in chemical solubility of Sn and Fe, and solubleness of stannate and iron oxides gave rise to the selective separation of Sn from the tinplate scraps. The effects of the leaching parameters on the Sn leaching behaviors in conventional and ultrasound-assisted leaching processes were compared. The conventional leaching temperature and time were significantly reduced during the ultrasound-assisted leaching process. Almost all of Sn can be extracted after conventional leaching at 1 mol/L NaOH, temperature of 80 ℃ and time of 60 min, however the same Sn leaching effect can be achieved by ultrasound-assisted leaching at 60 ℃ for 30 min with ultrasound power of 60% (360 W). Sn leaching kinetics based on the plate model demonstrated the reaction rate constant of the ultrasound-assisted leaching was 70% higher than that of the conventional leaching. A novel acoustoelectric synergy effect underlying intensifying mechanism by ultrasound irradiation was proposed in this study. Eventually, this work provided a rapid and clean tin extraction method from tinplate scraps via the ultrasound-assisted alkaline leaching treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional metal-organic framework (MOF) has the advantages of high mass transfer speed, tunable porosity, and strong electron transfer capability. The different metal center can give MOF with good electrochemical activity because of the mulriple valence state. Here, a simple and economical method was used to successfully prepare a different metal-coordinated two-dimensional (2D) MOF with electrochemical exfoliated graphene (EG) at room temperature. As the electrode material for the nonenzymatic glucose sensor, the modified MOF/EG electrode had high electrocatalytic activity for glucose sensing. Thereinto, the nonenzymatic Co-MOF/EG sensor had nice detection performance with wide linear range (1.0–3330 μM) and minimum detection limit (0.58 μM, S/N = 3). The detection response in alkaline solution was less than 0.9 s. Most importantly, the stability and conductivity of the Co-MOF/EG were much higher than Ni-MOF/EG and NiCo-MOF/EG. The oxidation potential of Co-MOF/EG for glucose was the lowest, and the detection performance was the best at low oxidation potential of 0.2 V. The coordination unsaturated metal ion was the main active center of glucose electrocatalysis. We believe that the illustrated MOF/EG was an effective strategy for creating an active multi-phase catalyst with atomic precision. • A different metal-coordinated 2D MOF with electrochemical exfoliated graphene (EG) was successfully prepared. • The different metal center gave 2D MOF with good electrochemical activity because of the mulriple valence state. • The Co-MOF/EG sensor had good performance with wide linear range (1.0–3330 μM), minimum detection limit (0.58 μM) and fast response (<0.9 s). • The oxidation potential of Co-MOF/EG for glucose was the lowest (0.2 V). • The coordination unsaturated metal ion was the main active center of glucose electrocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galactomannans are a widely used polysaccharide. In this study, galactomannans were oxidized using galactose oxidase, aided by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and catalase. Then, a small amount of hydrogen peroxide was used to oxidize the reaction products in order to prepare the paper strengthening agents. The optimal oxidation conditions were investigated according to the properties of the paper, which included the galactose oxidase dosages and concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. It was determined that, when the enzyme dosage was 50 U/g and the hydrogen peroxide concentration was 0.4%, the properties of the paper could be evidently improved with a lower hydrogen peroxide addition. When 1.5% oxidized galactomannans were used, the tensile index and folding endurance were found to have been increased by 23.50% and 110.31%, respectively, when compared with the control. In regard to the recycled paper, the increases were observed to have reached 22.19% and 175%, respectively. The results of the molecular weight, FT-IR, and CP/MAS13C-NMR indicated that a percentage aldehyde and carboxyl groups had been added to the galactomannans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solubility of stevioside (a natural sweetener) in 12 pure solvents (methanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-buthanol, 2-buthanol, 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, 2-propoxyethanol, 2-buthoxyethanol, water, and acetone) and in binary mixed solvents (2-ethoxyethanol + water) have been determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method at temperatures ranging from 288.15 to 328.15 K and atmospheric pressure. From the experimental data, it was found that the solubility increased with the rising temperature in all selected solvents. The experimental data for the solubility of stevioside were correlated with Apelblat and non-random two-liquid (NRTL) models. It was found that the Apelblat model has the better quality in fitting the solubility data. Also, thermodynamic functions of dissolution, mixing and transfer process were calculated by the van't Hoff equation. Furthermore, the crystal habits of stevioside in selected solvents were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Study the urban delivery problem considering uncertain assembly time. • Formulate the problem to a chance-constrained programming problem. • An algorithm consisting of two sub-heuristics is proposed to solve the problem. • Comprehensive numerical experiments with real dataset are performed. This paper studies a stochastic programming problem to minimize the total completion time consists of the travel time and the assembly time, for a new class of urban delivery problems. The problem is formulated into a chance-constrained programming problem and the probability distribution characteristics of the uncertainty of product assembly time are obtained using a statistical learning method. Then the original chance-constrained programming problem can be converted into an equivalent deterministic programming problem. Subsequently, an algorithm consisting of two sub-heuristics is proposed to solve the deterministic problem. Finally, comprehensive numerical experiments with real dataset show the superiority of the model and the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size of the vortex core of the vortex model is very important for the accurate prediction of the aerodynamic characteristics of wind turbines in the free vortex wake (FVW) method. The size of the vortex core includes its initial radius and the variation in the wake due to the dissipation effect. In the FVW method, the governing equation of the vortex line is discretized by the three-step and third-order predictor-corrector difference scheme. The classical Lamb-Oseen model and the Scully model are adopted for the vortex core model, and the vortex dissipation effect and stretching effect are taken into account. First, the value range of the initial radius of the vortex core is obtained through the analysis of the aerodynamic load and the mean value of the tip vorticity. Then, based on the tip vortex dissipation characteristics, the empirical constants reflecting the increase in the vortex core radius are determined. Finally, the effect of the vortex core size on the shape of the tip vortex line is analyzed. The results demonstrate that in both vortex core models when the radius of the initial vortex core is greater than 50% of the chord length, the FVW method converges stably and can accurately predict the aerodynamic load of the wind turbine. Considering the aerodynamic load of the wind turbine and the dissipation characteristics of the tip vorticity, it is advisable to use a chord length from 60% to 70% as the initial radius of the vortex core. In addition, the corresponding empirical constant of vortex-viscous dissipation is also different; the aerodynamic load of the wind turbine which is related to the mean value of the tip vorticity and the shape of the tip vortex is mainly affected by the radius of the initial vortex core, and the empirical constant has little influence on it, while it mainly affects the dissipation characteristics of the tip vorticity in the downstream wake field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium (Ga), indium (In), and germanium (Ge) play an important role in the modern high-tech material field. Due to their low content and scattered distribution in the crust, and the increasing demand for these metals in recent years, their supply risks have sharply increased. Therefore, the recycling of these metals is of great significance. In this work, a systematic review was performed using the Web of Science, Scopus, MDPI, Elsevier, and Springer Link databases. The combined terms used for the search were Ga/In/Ge, extraction, separation, and recycling. After a careful evaluation of the titles, abstracts, and full texts, a total of 106 articles were included. This paper briefly describes the resource features of Ga, In, and Ge. After that, the chemical principles, technical parameters, and metal recovery in various extraction and separation methods from monometallic and polymetallic resources are systematically reviewed. Leaching followed by solvent extraction or ion exchange is the main process for Ga, In, and Ge recovery. Although many attempts have been made to separate multiple metals from leaching solutions, highly selective solvents and resins are still the research priority. This review can provide theoretical and technical guidance for the separation of Ga, In, and Ge from various resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is the primary pathophysiological process of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is closely linked to neurocognitive dysfunction. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to improve cognitive impairment. Studies have shown that Tan IIA has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties and provides protection in intermittent hypoxia (IH) conditions. However, the specific mechanism is still unclear. To assess the protective effect and mechanism of Tan IIA treatment on neuronal injury in HT22 cells exposed to IH. The study established an HT22 cell model exposed to IH (0.1% O 2 3 min/21% O 2 7 min for six cycles/h). Cell viability was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8, and cell injury was determined using the LDH release assay. Mitochondrial damage and cell apoptosis were observed using the Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Apoptosis Detection Kit. Oxidative stress was assessed using DCFH-DA staining and flow cytometry. The level of autophagy was assessed using the Cell Autophagy Staining Test Kit and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Western blot was used to detect the expressions of the AMPK-mTOR pathway, LC3, P62, Beclin-1, Nrf2, HO-1, SOD2, NOX2, Bcl-2/Bax, and caspase-3. The study showed that Tan IIA significantly improved HT22 cell viability under IH conditions. Tan IIA treatment improved mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased cell apoptosis, inhibited oxidative stress, and increased autophagy levels in HT22 cells under IH conditions. Furthermore, Tan IIA increased AMPK phosphorylation and LC3II/I, Beclin-1, Nrf2, HO-1, SOD2, and Bcl-2/Bax expressions, while decreasing mTOR phosphorylation and NOX2 and cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 expressions. The study suggested that Tan IIA significantly ameliorated neuronal injury in HT22 cells exposed to IH. The neuroprotective mechanism of Tan IIA may mainly be related to inhibiting oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis by activating the AMPK/mTOR autophagy pathway under IH conditions. [Display omitted] • Tanshinone IIA inhibited IH induced neuronal injury. • Tanshinone IIA inhibited oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis. • Tanshinone IIA activated autophagy in HT22 exposed to IH. • Tanshinone IIA activated the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Phase transformation of MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 system under CO-CO 2 atmosphere is clarified. • Mn x Fe 3−x O 4 (0 < x < 1) with high magnetism forms easily under CO-CO 2 atmosphere. • Reduction behavior of synthetic MnFe 2 O 4 by CO-CO 2 gas is studied. • Reduction sequences of MnO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , Fe 3 O 4 and MnFe 2 O 4 are determined. Abstract Investigations on the MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 system roasted in air has been reported in our previous work. This study further investigated the MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 system roasted under CO-CO 2 atmosphere. Extensive investigations were concentrated on the reduction of simplex iron oxides or manganese oxides, and little attention were paid on the reduction of MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 system regarding to interactive reactions between them. In this work, it was found that spinel-type Mn x Fe 3−x O 4 with high magnetism formed easily under CO-CO 2 atmosphere. The reduction and thermodynamic analyses of pure MnFe 2 O 4 were also researched to better understand the reduction behaviors of MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 system. Phase study showed that a series of Mn-Fe composite oxides, including Mn x Fe 3−x O 4 and (MnO) y (FeO) 1−y , generated during the reduction of MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 system. Mn x Fe 3−x O 4 was readily generated under CO content of 2.5–25 vol% at 1000 °C. With further increase of CO content, Mn x Fe 3−x O 4 was reduced to (MnO) y (FeO) 1−y and then to MnO and metallic iron. Reduction of manganese oxides, iron oxides and manganese ferrites happened concurrently during the reduction of MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 system. And the reduction of MnO 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , Fe 3 O 4 and MnFe 2 O 4 were compared by TG and thermodynamic analyses. In addition, the morphology evolution and magnetism change of the MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 system reduced under different CO contents were also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A green and efficient method was developed to synthesize lipophilic EGCG derivatives. • EGCG derivatives exhibited good radical scavenging capacities. • In lard the solubility of EGCG derivatives was enhanced 470 times compared to EGCG. • EGCG derivatives exhibited excellent antioxidative activity in oil product. Abstract A green, fast, and efficient method for synthesizing lipophilic epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) derivatives was set up for the first time. EGCG was lipophilized by esterification in order to promote its application in lipid products and to possibly enhance its bioactivity. A high conversion of EGCG was achieved. Three monoesters of the EGCG derivatives were confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the predominant one was identified as 4′- O -palmitoyl EGCG by nuclear magnetic resonance. The EGCG derivatives exhibited good radical scavenging capacities. In lard the solubility of EGCG derivatives was enhanced 470 times compared to EGCG, and they exhibited excellent antioxidative activity in the oil. These results indicate that the palmitoylated EGCG derivatives may be used as potent antioxidants in lipophilic medium, such as edible oils and fatty foods. In addition, this method can be applied to commercial application, producing antioxidants to substitute for synthetic ones like tert -butylhydroquinone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Characteristics of manganese ore resources and Mn alloy products consumption are summarized. • Diverse processes for extracting and separating Mn and Fe from Fe-Mn ores are reviewed. • Enlarging magnetism, solubility or fusibility difference is critical to extract and separate Fe and Mn. • Selecting reductants and leaching agents is important for extraction and separation of Fe and Mn. Abstract There are abundant ferruginous manganese ores (abbr. Fe-Mn ores) in many parts of the world. For example, almost half of the manganese ore resources in India are ferruginous and more than 73% of the manganese ores in China belong to Fe-Mn ores with a low Mn/Fe mass ratio (<3). With the depletion of high grade manganese ore resources, the Fe-Mn ores are becoming important substitution resources for extracting manganese. In general, the production of Mn alloy from manganese ores requires that the Mn grade is more than 30% and the Mn/Fe mass ratio is greater than 5. During the production of electrolytic manganese or manganese chemical products, the issue of co-leaching of Mn and Fe complicates the purification procedure for the MnSO 4 solution if Fe-Mn ores are used as raw materials. Numerous approaches are reported to realize the selective extraction and separation of Mn and Fe from the Fe-Mn ores. The extraction and separation technologies cover physical beneficiation, chemical beneficiation (hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy) and physico-chemical combined processes. This present work reviews the technical principles, parameters and recovery efficiencies of diverse processes on the aspect of selective extraction and separation of Mn and Fe from Fe-Mn ores. This review can provide guidance for selecting appropriate methods to exploit Fe-Mn ores or other secondary resources containing Fe and Mn oxides. The authors also put forward a new route to produce manganese ferrite materials using Fe-Mn ores as the raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Coherent perfect absorption, as time‐reversed lasing, is achieved via appropriate interference of waves in absorbers and provides attractive opportunities for flexible control of light scattering and absorption. Here, the authors theoretically and experimentally demonstrate the realization of coherent perfect absorption by using photonic doping of zero‐index media with absorptive defects. Interestingly, the coherent perfect absorption is independent of the size and shape of this “doped” zero‐index medium absorber, as well as the position of the doping defects. This exceptional absorption property can be well explained via the photonic doping theory for zero‐index media. Moreover, the authors demonstrate that the doping scheme also enables novel ways to control absorption, such as multiple channels and multiple doping defects, etc. This work proposes a unique doping approach for advanced coherent perfect absorption with versatile control functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The ore-forming fluid is a mixture of magmatic fluid and meteoric water. • The ore-forming fluid was derived mainly from crustal source, with minor proportions of mantle source input (<4.28%). • Fluid boiling and mixing with meteoric water were considered likely to be the possible mechanism for the ore precipitation in Tashan deposit. The Tashan deposit is hosted and genetically associated with the highly fractionated A-type granite porphyry formed at ca. 138 Ma. Its Sn metallogenic processes can be subdivided into three stages: biotite–K-feldspar–cassiterite (stage I, main Sn mineralization), quartz–cassiterite (stage II), and chlorite–sulphides (stage III). Fluid inclusion study indicates that the hydrothermal fluids from stage I (salinity = 5.2–12.8 wt%, and T h = 303–376 °C) through stage II (salinity = 2.7–10.9 wt%, and T h = 236–313 °C) to stage III (salinity = 1.7–8.5 wt%, and T h = 192–262 °C) are of H 2 O–CO 2 –salt composition and its temperature and salinity from early to late stages tend to decrease. The H and O isotopes of quartz from stage II and stage III show δD water values in the range of –66.7 to –60.5‰ and –52.8 to –39.6‰, and δ18O (‰) values in the range of 6.7 to 7.3‰ and 5.8 to 6.9‰, respectively, suggesting contributions of both magmatic fluids and meteoric water. Inclusion-trapped fluids in stage II pyrite show 3He/4He, He mantle (%), and 40Ar/36Ar values of 0.07–0.35 Ra, 0.76%–4.28%, and 302.6–309.0, respectively, indicating that the metallogenic fluids were derived mainly from crustal sources, with minor proportions of mantle source input (<4.28%), consistent with the magma sources of the granite porphyry. Lead isotopes indicate that there is no difference for 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb ratios between the sulfide minerals from the orebodies and the fertile granites parental to Sn mineralization in Eastern Guangdong, indicating a magmatic Pb origin. Sulfur isotopic values obtained from sulfides are in the range of –4.5‰ to 0.4‰ (average, –1.7‰), implying an initially of magmatic origin with some contamination of sedimentary sulfur through the interaction with sedimentary rocks of Jinji Formation (–6.67 to –2.41‰). Fluid boiling and mixing with meteoric water were considered likely to be the possible mechanism for the ore precipitation in Tashan deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic reduction roasting followed by magnetic separation process is reported as a simple route to realize separation of Mn and Fe from ferruginous manganese ores (Fe-Mn ores). However, the separation and recovery of Mn and Fe oxides are not very effective. This work clarified the underlying reason for the poor separation and also proposed some suggestions for the magnetic reduction process. In this work, the effect of temperature on the magnetic reduction roasting – magnetic separation of Fe-Mn ore was investigated firstly. Then the reduction behaviors of MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 system and MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 -10 wt.%SiO 2 system under 10 vol.% CO-90 vol.% CO 2 at 600–1000 °C were investigated by XRD, XPS, SEM-EDS, VSM, DSC and thermodynamics analyses. Reduction and separation tests showed that higher reduction temperature was beneficial to the recovery of iron while it’s not in favor of the recovery of manganese when the temperature was over 800 °C. The formation of composite oxide Mn x Fe 3−x O 4 with strong magnetism between the interface of the MnO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 particles leaded to the poor separation of iron and manganese. In addition, the formation mechanism of Mn x Fe 3−x O 4 from MnO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 as well as the interface reaction reduced under 10 vol.% CO was discussed in this study. Finally, some suggestions were recommended for the magnetic reduction roasting for utilizing the Fe-Mn ores effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The designed Cr 2 O 3 -ZnO hierarchical heterostructures have been successfully synthesized by a facile two-step route. The SEM, TEM, XRD and EDS mapping characterizations demonstrate that Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles are well decorated on surfaces of nanosheet-assembled flowerlike ZnO, constructing three dimensional Cr 2 O 3 -ZnO hierarchical heterostructures. Such hierarchical architectures are developed and applied in formaldehyde (HCHO) gas detection. The gas sensing results indicate that Cr 2 O 3 -ZnO heterostructures based sensors exhibit superior HCHO gas sensing properties with rapid response/recovery behavior (1 s/5 s) toward 100 ppm formaldehyde (HCHO) gas, and favorable stability and repeatability with the on/off phenomenon when switching between HCHO and air at a optimal working temperature of 220 °C. The superior formaldehyde gas sensing performances are predominantly attributed to the appropriate sensitization effect induced by Cr 2 O 3 nanoparticles and the special three dimensional hierarchical architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonization of pure MnO 2 by CH 4 -H 2 gas mixture with various CH 4 /(CH 4 + H 2 ) molar ratios in the temperature range of 900–1250 °C had been performed in our previous work. This study further investigated the carbonization and alloying process of MnO 2 by CH 4 -H 2 gas mixture in the presence of Fe 2 O 3 at 900–1300 °C using XRD, optical microstructure, SEM-EDS and phase diagram analyses. Carbonization test of pure Fe 2 O 3 was also conducted to understand the effect of Fe 2 O 3 on the carbonization of MnO 2 more explicitly. It was found that Fe 2 O 3 could be carbonized to Fe 3 C at 900–1150 °C. The Fe 2 O 3 briquettes began to melt at 1100 °C and a large amount of Fe-C melts appeared as the temperature went up to 1150 °C. When the MnO 2 + 25 wt%Fe 2 O 3 briquettes were reduced at 900–1000 °C in CH 4 -H 2 gas mixture, the Fe 2 O 3 was preferentially carbonized to Fe-C phase while the MnO 2 was only reduced to MnO. The formation of Fe-C phase was beneficial to the carbonization of MnO since the carbonization temperature of MnO can decrease from 1100 °C to 1000 °C. The carbonization degree of MnO was dramatically accelerated over 1100 °C due to the transformation of Fe-C phase from solid state to melts. Morphology analysis indicated that the MnO core was wrapped by the shell of Fe-C melts. The alloying process of Mn-Fe-C was conducted through the elements migration of Fe and Mn between the core and shell. At 1300 °C, the Mn-Fe-C alloy turned to melt and aggregated since the highest melting temperature of the Mn-C-25 wt% Fe system was only 1274 °C. Finally, a ferromanganese crude alloy with 68–72 wt% Mn, 20–25 wt% Fe and 6.0–8.0 wt% C was obtained when the MnO 2 + 25 wt% Fe 2 O 3 briquettes were carbonized by CH 4 -H 2 gas mixture at 1300 °C for 60 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate availability of gas detonation deposition spraying (GDS) to obtain silicon layers that can be used for production of solar cells. Silicon powder remaining as secondary raw material of silicon and/or silicon production is used during GDS. To study defects and structural perfection of initial powders and obtained layers, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Raman spectroscopy are used. It is shown that one part of EPR spectra displays resonances originating from different nearest-neighbor configurations of silicon dangling bonds, whereas an increase of the total number of paramagnetic defects in GDS silicon layer is related to the rise of conduction electrons or electrons filled band tail states. Thermal annealing of layers in hydrogen ambience further reduces the number of silicon dangling bonds owing to their passivation. Based on the results of X-ray diffraction, EPR and Raman spectroscopy it is assumed that the GDS Si layers are composed of randomly oriented and partially oxidized monocrystalline silicon grains. It is found that optical and photoelectric properties of the layers obtained indicate a possibility to apply them for solar cells production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state reaction method is a common and effective technique to synthesize ferrites. This work investigated the phase transformation of MnO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 system roasted at 500–1400 °C in air atmosphere to understand the formation process of manganese ferrite. The results showed that the formation of manganese ferrite (Mn x Fe 3− x O 4 ) was derived from the reaction between Fe 2 O 3 and Mn 3 O 4 (the decomposition product of MnO 2 ). Below 900 °C, MnO 2 firstly decomposed to Mn 2 O 3 and then to Mn 3 O 4 , and Fe 2 O 3 was seldom reacted with Mn 2 O 3 and Mn 3 O 4 . When the temperature went up to 1000 °C, Fe 2 O 3 easily reacted with Mn 3 O 4 to generate manganese ferrite. The reaction degree was enhanced dramatically with the rising of temperature. Moreover, the x value in the Mn x Fe 3− x O 4 increased from 0 to 1 from 900 °C to 1400 °C. In other words, the higher the temperature was, the closer the Mn x Fe 3− x O 4 was to MnFe 2 O 4 . Thermodynamic analysis of MnO 2 -Fe 2 O 3 system under different O 2 partial pressures was carried out to further explain the formation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method for Na 2 SnO 3 preparation from SnO 2 and Na 2 CO 3 roasted under CO-CO 2 atmosphere in a solid state has been successfully developed. In this study, the formation kinetics of Na 2 SnO 3 was investigated. The formation of Na 2 SnO 3 was controlled by the first-order interfacial chemical reaction at 800 °C under 10 vol% CO content; as the temperature increased to 850 °C–900 °C, it was controlled by the three-dimension (Ginstling and Brounshtein) diffusion through the product layer at the early reaction stage. The rate constant increased with the increasing of temperature. Furthermore, the rate controlling characterizations of three-dimension diffusion were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase transformation of MnO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 roasted in air atmosphere at temperatures of 500–1400 °C for synthesizing manganese ferrite (Mn x Fe 3 − x O 4 ) has been reported. In current work, the morphologies and properties of the Mn x Fe 3 − x O 4 products with various x values during the synthesis process were characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM-EDS, AFM, VSM and Vickers-type microhardness analyses to further understand the formation mechanism of Mn x Fe 3 − x O 4 from MnO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 by solid-state reaction. Results showed that the x value in the Mn x Fe 3 − x O 4 gradually increased to 1 with the extension of roasting time from 30 min to 120 min at 1300 °C. Morphology measurements indicated the Mn x Fe 3 − x O 4 particles presented polyhedron structure and the shape of polyhedron particles gradually became regular with the increasing of x value. In addition, it's interesting to find that the polyhedron particles had multi-layer stacking structure and the thickness of each layer was about 5 nm. The saturation magnetization of the Mn x Fe 3 − x O 4 samples increased with the rising of x value. A polyhedral MnFe 2 O 4 (x = 1) product with saturation magnetization of 78.5 emu/g was obtained when the MnO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 briquettes with molar ratio of 1:1 were roasted at 1300 °C for 120 min. Moreover, the Hv hardness of the Mn x Fe 3 − x O 4 increased from 154.8 kg/mm 2 to 339.4 kg/mm 2 with elevating the temperature from 1000 °C to 1300 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-purity Na 2 SnO 3 product has been successfully prepared from SnO 2 and Na 2 CO 3 via a novel process developed by the authors' group. This study proposed a function mechanism of CO-CO 2 atmosphere on the formation of Na 2 SnO 3 in the roasting process using SEM-EDS, micro-region XRD and FTIR analyses. The results showed that under 5 vol%–20 vol% CO/(CO + CO 2 ) atmosphere, the main reactions in the SnO 2 -Na 2 CO 3 system included Na 2 CO 3 = Na 2 O + CO 2 and Na 2 O + SnO 2 = Na 2 SnO 3 . The reactions were affected by the CO 2 partial pressure as well as by the CO content in the CO-CO 2 atmosphere. The formation degree of Na 2 SnO 3 increased with the decrease of CO 2 partial pressure. When the CO content varied in the range of 5 vol%–20 vol%, the formation degree of Na 2 SnO 3 was promoted. There was a lot of bridging oxygen (SnO 2 ⋯ O – ) on the SnO 2 surface, while in the roasting process, the CO gas molecules were firstly adsorbed on the SnO 2 surface and then combined with the bridging oxygen so that some oxygen vacancies were formed, and the reaction was expressed as SnO 2 ⋯ O – + CO = SnO 2 + CO 2 + e. These vacancies were replenished by the active oxygen anions coming from the Na 2 O. This process accelerated the formation of Na 2 SnO 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a method to detect keypoint sets on 3D point clouds. Contrary to the existing norm that each and every keypoint should be distinctive, most of the keypoints detected by the proposed method lie in groups (from now, we refer to ‘groups’ as ‘sets’) and these groups (sets) of keypoints are distinctive. It is reliable to have sets of keypoints at high curvature and more informative areas rather than having a single keypoint that might sometimes arise due to noise. The proposed algorithm has two well-defined steps for keypoint sets detection. Firstly, Histogram of Normal Orientations (HoNO), which is calculated at every point in the point cloud is employed to avoid planar regions and successfully detect salient regions. Secondly, the keypoint sets are detected from the salient regions by evaluating the properties of both the HoNO and the neighborhood covariance matrix. Through extensive experiments on publicly available benchmark datasets, it is shown that the detected keypoint sets offer better repeatability than those by the existing ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-iron content manganese ore resources are becoming the mainstream raw ores for manganese extraction due to the depletion of high-grade manganese ores. Our previous research has reported the optimization parameters for the sintering of high-Fe manganese ore (abbr. high-Fe Mn-ore) fines. This study further investigated the consolidation behavior of high-Fe Mn-ore sinters with natural basicity. Sintering pot tests showed that the high-Fe Mn-ore sintering required high coke breeze dosage (about 9.9 wt.%). The CO content of the outlet flue gas (7.5 vol.%~8.0 vol.%) in the high-Fe Mn-ore sintering was higher than that in the ordinary iron ore sintering (1.0 vol.%~2.2 vol.%). XRD and SEM-EDS analyses indicated that the major mineral phases in the sinters included Fe-Mn oxides (FexMn3-xO4), ferrotephroite ((Fe,Mn)2SiO4), Ca-,Al-,Mn-,Fe- bearing silicate melts, and a small quantity of hausmannite (Mn3O4) and free quartz (SiO2). Optical microstructure and SEM images showed that the Fe-Mn oxides, Ca-, Al-, Mn-, Fe- bearing silicate melts and ferrotephroite particles are closely interconnected with one another. The formation of Fe-Mn oxides and ferrotephroite were beneficial to the sinter strength. Thermodynamic and phase diagram analyses further demonstrated that the major bonding phases of Fe-Mn oxides and ferrotephroite were easily formed under the strong reductive sintering atmosphere of high-Fe Mn-ores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave-assisted (MW-assisted) heating is clean and intensively used to synthesize materials owing to the high-efficiency volumetric and selective heating modes. In the current paper, a design and facile synthesis of magnetic ferrite ceramics by microwave-assisted heating of MnO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 was conducted to reduce the synthetic temperature of conventional heating. The microwave absorptivity and temperature rise characteristics of the MnO 2 –Fe 2 O 3 system were first assessed for the material design of MnFe 2 O 4 , and then the phase transformation, microstructure evolution, and magnetism change of the MnO 2 –Fe 2 O 3 system heated under conventional and MW-assisted heating were compared. Investigations on electromagnetic properties and heating behaviors of MnO 2 –Fe 2 O 3 mixture suggested that a suitable cylinder sample size for microwave heating was designed to be 10 mm in diameter and 10 mm in length based on the dielectric loss and magnetic hysteresis loss of microwave penetration at different depths. The intensifying mechanism for microwave heating was associated with the rapid interfacial reaction between MnO 2 and Fe 2 O 3. Under microwave irradiation at 935 °C, some perfectly crystallized MnFe 2 O 4 was preferentially formed at the interface of MnO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 , and these MnFe 2 O 4 were evenly distributed in the cylinder samples. Similar to the "self-propagating" effect, the in-situ generation of MnFe 2 O 4 with good energy conversion ability evenly distributed everywhere of the cylinder would facilitate the reaction of MnO 2 and Fe 2 O 3 under microwave irradiation based on the distinctive selective and volumetric heating. Compared with conventional heating at 1200–1250 °C, ferrite synthetic temperatures via MW-assisted heating decreased to 900–1000 °C, and the low-temperature synthesis of ferrite also had a good electromagnetic performance. Eventually, the clean and value-added utilization of low-grade ferruginous manganese ores via MW-assisted heating was validated for the preparation of manganese ferrite from minerals under reduced roasting temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscular dysplasia is a common muscle disease, but its pathological mechanism is still unclear. Adipose is originally identified as a highly conservative and widely expressed anti-obesity gene, and our previous study has reported that Adipose is also a positive regulator of myogenesis. Considering the vital role of during muscle development, this study was to demonstrate a potential relationship between Sirtuin1 and Adipose and clarified the mechanism by which Adipose regulated muscle development. Our results showed that the muscle fiber cross-sectional area and myosin heavy chain protein level were significantly reduced in Sirtuin1+/- mice. Moreover, the longitudinal section of muscle fibers was obviously irregular. Sirtuin1 knockdown significantly reduced the expression levels of Adipose and its upstream transcriptional regulator Kruppel like factor 15 and notably inhibited the AMP-activated protein kinase α-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α signaling pathway in skeletal muscle. However, Adipose over-expression activated this signaling pathway and promoted mitochondrial biosynthesis in C2C12 myoblasts. Adipose over-expression also enhanced glucose absorption of C2C12 cells, suggesting the increased needs for cells for metabolic substrates. In C2C12 cells with hydrogen peroxide treatment, Adipose over-expression repressed hydrogen peroxide-elicited apoptosis and mitochondrial loss, while Sirtuin1-specific inhibitor dramatically weakened these roles of Adipose. Taken together, our findings reveal that Adipose rescues the adverse effects of Sirtuin1 deficiency or hydrogen peroxide on muscle development by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase α- peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α pathway to promote mitochondria synthesis, which provides theoretical basis for developing new therapeutic targets against some muscle diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly variable human poses and pedestrian occlusion make light detection and ranging (Lidar)-based pedestrian detection challenging. This letter proposes a novel framework to address these issues. Other than dividing humans into arbitrary number of parts and using the same features for all part detectors, we represent humans with global–local articulated parts and formulate new features relying on each part’s own character. Articulated parts are effective because they each usually maintain a relatively consistent shape across a broader range of body poses. In addition, to extract visible human segments from cluttered surroundings with the presence of pedestrian occlusion, both 3D information and 2D spatial information are used in a coarse-to-fine manner, making the interaction of human part and its neighbouring objects better analysed. The algorithm is evaluated over a busy street dataset and is shown to be competitive with the state-of-the-art Lidar-based algorithms. Remarkably, even at long distances, up to 20 m, it can handle pedestrian occlusion efficiently and effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-purity Na2SnO3has been prepared by a novel process of roasting SnO2and Na2CO3in a solid state under CO–CO2mixed gas. In the current study, the phase evolution of tin oxides and Na2CO3roasted under various CO–CO2atmospheres was investigated by chemical and X-ray diffraction analysis. Under the CO content of 5–20 vol% and temperature over 800°C, Na2CO3can react with SnO2and the intermediate products of SnO and Sn to form Na2SnO3. SnO would be decomposed into SnO2and Sn at temperatures below 800°C; however, the decomposition reaction was effectively restrained by Na2CO3over 800°C. Na2CO3apparently inhibits the volatilization of SnO. The reaction mechanism of SnO and Na2CO3under reductive atmosphere was clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous studies had confirmed that both 3-NP and MCAO induced the behavioral defect as well as striatal neuronal injury and loss in experimental rats. This study aimed to examine different response forms of striatal astrocyte and microglia in 3-NP and MCAO rat models. The present results showed that the immunoreaction for GFAP was extremely weak in the lesioned core of striatum, but in the transition zone of 3-NP model and the penumbra zone of MCAO model, GFAP+ cells showed strong hypertrophic and proliferative changes. Statistical analysis for the number, size and integral optical density (IOD) of GFAP+ cells showed significant differences when compared with their controls and compared between the core and the transition zone or the penumbra zone, respectively, but no differences between the 3-NP and MCAO groups. However, Iba-1+ cells showed obvious hypertrophy and proliferation in the injured striatum in the 3-NP and the MCAO models, especially in the transition zone of 3-NP model and the penumbra zone of MCAO model. These Iba-1+ cells displayed two characteristic forms as branching cells with thick processes and amoeboid cells with thin processes. Statistical analysis showed that the number, size and IOD of Iba-1+ cells were significantly increased in the cores and the transition zone of 3-NP group and the penumbra zone of MCAO group than that of the controls, and the immune response of Iba-1 was stronger in the MCAO group than in the 3-NP group. The present results suggested that characteristic responses of astrocyte and microglia in the 3-NP and the MCAO models display their different effects on the pathological process of brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We proposed an electron cyclotron resonance microwave hydrogen–nitrogen mixed plasma (HNP) pretreatment for 4H–SiC surface combined with post-oxidation annealing (POA) to improve the SiO 2 /SiC interface properties. Results revealed that HNP surface pretreatment effectively reduced the density of interface traps ( D it ), which was closely correlated with interface flattening because of surface flattening, surface state (contaminants, adsorbates, and dangling bonds) reduction, and suppressed generation of interface defects during oxidation. Combined with POA, D it was further decreased because of passivation of the formed defects after oxidation. The correlation among passivation, SiC surface properties, SiO 2 /SiC interface properties, and defect levels was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We proposed an electronic cyclotron resonance (ECR) microwave hydrogen plasma pretreatment (HPT) for moderately doped (1 × 10 18 cm −3 ) SiC surfaces and formed ideal TiC/SiC Ohmic contacts with significantly low contact resistivity (1.5 × 10 −5 Ω cm 2 ) after low-temperature annealing (600 °C). This is achieved by reducing barrier height at TiC/SiC interface because of the release of pinned Fermi level by surface flattening and SiC surface states reduction after HPT, as well as the generation of donor-type carbon vacancies, which reduced the depletion-layer width for electron tunneling after annealing. Interface band structures were analyzed to elucidate the mechanism of Ohmic contact formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to ascertain whether SnO was volatilized or not when SnO 2 was reduced in diverse CO–CO 2 mixed gases at temperatures above 975 °C. The results indicated that tin was inevitably volatilized as gaseous SnO (g) during the reduction process of SnO 2 roasted at 975 °C–1100 °C under different CO–CO 2 atmospheres. Roasting temperature and CO content in the CO–CO 2 mixed gases obviously affected the tin volatilized fraction. The tin volatilized fraction always increased with the roasting temperature increasing, while it first increased sharply to a maximum value and then decreased slowly to a constant with the increase of CO content from 12.5 vol% to 70.0 vol% at a certain temperature. SnO 2 was readily reduced to SnO (s) and volatilized as gaseous SnO (g) at higher temperatures in weak reductive atmospheres. A small number of newborn metallic tin was in favor of the tin volatilization. In addition, the forming mechanisms of SnO (g) were initially determined under various CO–CO 2 atmospheres in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimony (Sb)‐based anodes are attractive candidates in potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) due to their superior capacities and rational potassium inserting voltages. However, the sluggish kinetics and poor interface compatibility severely hinder practical application. Herein, Bi0.67Sb1.33S3 nanospheres embedded into in situ formed poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) crosslinked with polythioctic acid (PET@PTA) (Bi0.67Sb1.33S3/PET@PTA) were elaborately conceptualized with hydrogen bonds exchangeable binding (HBEB) sites. Bi0.67Sb1.33S3/PET@PTA exhibits notable self‐healing ability and wider temperature adaptability. Bi0.67Sb1.33S3/PET@PTA displays an impressive capacity of 819 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1, prominent cycle ability with a 73 % capacity conservation after 500 cycles at 2 A g−1, and high capacity retention of 66 % and 84 % at −40 and 70 °C to that case at room temperature, respectively, for potassium storage. This work provides a new perspective for HBEB sites in maximizing the desirable K+ storage performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimony (Sb)‐based anodes are attractive candidates in potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) due to their superior capacities and rational potassium inserting voltages. However, the sluggish kinetics and poor interface compatibility severely hinder practical application. Herein, Bi0.67Sb1.33S3 nanospheres embedded into in situ formed poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) crosslinked with polythioctic acid (PET@PTA) (Bi0.67Sb1.33S3/PET@PTA) were elaborately conceptualized with hydrogen bonds exchangeable binding (HBEB) sites. Bi0.67Sb1.33S3/PET@PTA exhibits notable self‐healing ability and wider temperature adaptability. Bi0.67Sb1.33S3/PET@PTA displays an impressive capacity of 819 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1, prominent cycle ability with a 73 % capacity conservation after 500 cycles at 2 A g−1, and high capacity retention of 66 % and 84 % at −40 and 70 °C to that case at room temperature, respectively, for potassium storage. This work provides a new perspective for HBEB sites in maximizing the desirable K+ storage performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare tumor of the urinary system. Only three cases of EHE of the bladder have been reported to date, and the biological properties of the tumor in this location remain poorly characterized. We report a case of primary EHE of the urinary bladder in a 58-year-old woman who was treated by transurethral resection and review the existing literature on the diagnosis and treatment of EHE of the bladder. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]