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Electrochemical processing, due to its unique material removal mechanism compared to mechanical processing, often results in significantly different micro-morphologies. It is widely used in areas such as aerospace component processing, surface finishing, passivation, micro-structure mold processing, etc. The complexity of alloy steel composition makes uniform etching difficult to achieve, and the post-etch micro-morphology is also complex, making it challenging to describe and analyze. Therefore, it is difficult to analyze the surface morphology of electrochemical etching under different parameters. In this study, a self-developed electrochemical etching device with adjustable DC voltage, pulse width voltage, and pulse width positive and negative voltage output was used. Different parameters of pulse voltage were used to etch the surface of 42CrMo alloy steel. Due to the strong relationship between surface roughness parameters and the chosen measurement scale, as well as the surface morphology and waviness errors introduced by specimen preparation and etching processes, a wavelet filtering method was used to remove the low frequency components in the surface morphology, and only the surface roughness part was retained for fractal parameter calculation and analysis. The research showed that fractal analysis can also be applied to analyze the surface morphology after electrochemical etching. Pulse voltages with characteristic voltages, characteristic pulse frequencies, and duty ratios can achieve better surface quality during positive pulse etching. Positive and negative pulse etching can obtain better surface morphology than positive pulse etching, but the etching amount is lower, making it suitable for precision finishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During surface texture micro-indentation processing, the texture around the contact area will form protrusions. The morphology of these protrusions can change the actual contact area of the contact surface and affect the functional surface. To accurately describe the morphology of surface texture protrusions during the micro-indentation process, scaled chi-square functions are proposed to fit and further analyze their morphology. By simulation, the surface protrusion curve is generated by the micro-indenter head in different materials and depths. The scaled chi-square function is used to fit the extracted curves, and the fitted n value is used as an important characteristic parameter of the protrusion morphology. The study shows that the morphology of the protrusions is related to the material's elastic modulus, yield strength, power law hardening exponent, and forming depth. Based on our results, it is convenient to judge the highest position and maximum height of the protrusions. The research findings will aid in the holistic design of micro-indentation surface textures, predicting their morphology, and selecting appropriate processes, while also being relevant for evaluating material performance post-micro-indentation with broad application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of the global energy crisis, the use of hybrid technology is an important way to achieve efficient energy storage and utilization. Hybrid systems have been successfully applied to automobiles and construction machinery, but no research study has been conducted on the design and application of energy recovery systems for reversible rolling mills. This article proposes a new type of noncoaxial parallel electrohydraulic hybrid drive system configuration for reversible rolling mills to save energy. It is proposed to collect the braking energy of the previous pass of the reversible rolling mill roll and the surplus power of the original primary drive motor and then start or accelerate the process for the next roll pass. A test experiment was established and the energy-saving efficiency of the proposed system was verified. By rolling 14 passes, 255.892 kJ of energy can be recovered. The overall energy efficiency rate is around 71.547%. The system will significantly promote energy saving, low carbon, green, and other aspects of the reversible rolling mills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydraulic heightening system is the core component of the shearer, and its stable operation directly affects the safety and reliability of the equipment, so it is of great significance to realize an efficient and accurate fault diagnosis. This paper proposes a fault diagnosis method combining a rough set and radial basis function neural network (RS-RBFNN). Firstly, the RS is used to discretize the original fault data set and attribute reduction, remove the redundant information, and mine the implicit knowledge and potential rules. Then, the topology structure of the RBFNN is determined. The mapping relationship is established between the fault symptom and category. The fault diagnosis is carried out with Python language. Finally, the method is compared with two diagnostic methods including a back propagation neural network (BPNN) and RBFNN. The research results show that the RS-RBFNN has the highest fault diagnosis accuracy, with an average of 98.68%, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed fault diagnosis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textures have obvious anti-friction and anti-wear effects, but effective textures often have complex and asymmetric characteristics. Because of the texture's directional lubrication effect and fluid diode effect, different oil flow directions influence the friction reduction effect of asymmetric texture. Simulations and test methods are used to characterize these effects, and the friction coefficient and wear amount are used as evaluation methods to determine the optimal oil flow direction of asymmetric textures. The results show that an appropriate oil flow direction can significantly change the texture's friction-reducing ability. The friction reduction efficiency of the texture is highest when the angle between the oil flow direction and the inflow edge of the texture is 60°–90°. When the angle between the oil flow direction and the inflow edge of the texture is 0°–30°, the texture's anti-friction effect and efficiency are weakened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato onion (Allium cepa L. var. aggregatum Don) is an important cash crop in northeastern China. It has the characteristics of cold tolerance and high yield and is very popular among consumers in this region. However, shallot latent virus (SLV) and onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV) reduce the height and yield of potato onion plants. The detection of viruses on potato onion plants and virus elimination of plants are the primary ways to prevent viral infection and spread. We used duplex reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and in situ hybridization to detect SLV and OYDV viruses, and determined that the tissue with the least virus content was the apical meristem. Cultivation of detoxifying plants was by multi‐generation shoot tips. The results showed that duplex RT‐PCR could detect SLV and OYDV in potato onion. By use of multi‐generation shoot tip virus elimination, we have demonstrated that multiple generations of shoot tip virus elimination can produce non‐toxic plants during the third generation of virus elimination, and the elimination rate of virus was 96.2%. This work provides a more convenient method for potato onion virus detection and improves the detection efficiency. This method will in turn aid in the development of virus elimination and rapid propagation methods for potato onion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate whether p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) could triggered EMT inSV-40 immortalized human urothelial cells (SV-HUC-1), and the regulation role of ERK5/AP-1 during this process. SV-HUC-1 cells were treated with different concentrations of PPD. MTT assay was employed to detect cell viability. Wound healing and transwell assay were performed to detect migrative and invasive capacity. Western blot and qRT-PCR were utilized for detecting molecular changes. ERK5 specific inhibitor was used to suppress ERK5 signaling. Migration and invasion capacity of SV-HUC-1cells were enhanced after PPD exposure. Expression of epithelial markers E-cadherin and ZO-1 was decreased and expression of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and vimentin was increased after being cultured with low concentrations of PPD, indicating that PPD induced EMT in PPD-cultured SV-HUC-1 cells. Meanwhile, PPD triggered activation of ERK5signaling and downstream AP-1 was activated, but no obvious influence of PPD on other sub-families of MAPK was detected. After inhibition of ERK5/AP-1, PPD-induced enhancement of migrative and invasive abilities were attenuated and expression of EMT markers was also reversed. PPD may be a carcinogen, which could induce EMT in SV-40 immortalized human urothelial cells (SV-HUC-1) via activating ERK5/AP-1 signaling. • PPD induces EMT in SV-40 immortalized human urothelial cells. • PPD activates ERK5 rather ran other member of MAPK families. • ERK5 positively regulates PPD related EMT in SV cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid droplets (LDs) stored during seed development are mobilized and provide essential energy and lipids to support seedling growth upon germination. Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are the main neutral lipids stored in LDs. The lipase SUGAR DEPENDENT 1 (SDP1), which hydrolyzes TAGs in Arabidopsis thaliana , is localized on peroxisomes and traffics to the LD surface through peroxisomal extension, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report a previously unknown function of a plant-unique endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) component FYVE DOMAIN PROTEIN REQUIRED FOR ENDOSOMAL SORTING 1 (FREE1) in regulating peroxisome/SDP1-mediated LD turnover in Arabidopsis. We showed that LD degradation was impaired in germinating free1 mutant; moreover, the tubulation of SDP1- or PEROXIN 11e (PEX11e)-marked peroxisomes and the migration of SDP1-positive peroxisomes to the LD surface were altered in the free1 mutant. Electron tomography analysis showed that peroxisomes failed to form tubules to engulf LDs in free1 , unlike in the wild-type. FREE1 interacted directly with both PEX11e and SDP1, suggesting that these interactions may regulate peroxisomal extension and trafficking of the lipase SDP1 to LDs. Taken together, our results demonstrate a pivotal role for FREE1 in LD degradation in germinating seedlings via regulating peroxisomal tubulation and SDP1 targeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent malignant tumor of the genitourinary system, and metastatic disease has a significant impact on the prognosis of PCa patients. As a result, knowing the processes of PCa development can help patients achieve better outcomes. Here, we investigated the expression and function of ORC6 in PCa. Our findings indicated that ORC6 was elevated in advanced PCa tissues. Patients with PCa who exhibited high levels of ORC6 had a poor prognosis. Following that, we investigated the function of ORC6 in PCa progression using a variety of functional experiments both in vivo and in vitro , and discovered that ORC6 knockdown inhibited PCa cell proliferation, growth, and migration. Furthermore, RNA-seq was employed to examine the molecular mechanism of PCa progression. The results revealed that ORC6 might promote the expression of PLK1, a serine/threonine kinase in PCa cells. We also discovered that ORC6 as a novel miR-361-5p substrate using database analysis, and miR-361-5p was found to lower ORC6 expression. Additionally, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and luciferase reporter tests revealed that the transcription factor E2F1 could regulate ORC6 expression in PCa cells. PLK1 overexpression or miR-361-5p inhibitor treatment effectively removed the inhibitory effects caused by ORC6 silencing. Notably, our data showed that therapeutically targeting the miR-361-5p / ORC6 / PLK1 axis may be a viable therapy option for PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique light environment of alpine regions exerts significant influences on the growth, development, and metabolism of alpine plants, with light quality being a fundamental component of light conditions. Varied light qualities manifest diverse effects on plant physiology and function. In order to investigate the impact of light quality on F. unibracteata , this study conducted a comparative analysis of six distinct light quality treatments on the growth, development, stress tolerance, and bioactive compound content of isolated seedlings, and to determine the biomass, physiological parameters, and concentrations of medicinal constituents. It was showed that the blue light treatment was beneficial to F. unibracteata to maintain stable plant growth and increase the total alkaloid content. Furthermore, we explored the effects of blue light treatment on the growth and major medicinal components of F. unibracteata using transcriptome sequencing technology. Through DEGs analysis, we explain the mechanism by which F. unibracteata responds to blue light and that blue light promotes alkaloid accumulation by up-regulating the MEP pathway in the steroidal alkaloid synthesis pathway. These findings suggest that optimizing light conditions can regulate F. unibracteata growth, development, and active ingredient content, laying the groundwork for potential large-scale production. [Display omitted] • Blue light is good for the growth and the accumulation of medicinal components of F. unibracteata. • LED blue light promotes upregulation of genes in the MEP pathway. • Upregulation of dxs , dxr , ispD , idi genes promote the accumulation of steroidal alkaloid components. • LED Blue light affects sucrose metabolism and phytohormone signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain size and leaf angle are key agronomic traits that determine final yields in rice. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Here we demonstrate that the Oryza sativa Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase OsMKKK70 regulates grain size and leaf angle in rice. Overexpressing OsMKKK70 caused plants to produce longer seeds. The osmkkk62/70 double mutant and the osmkkk55/62/70 triple mutant displayed significantly smaller seeds and a more erect leaf angle compared to the wild type, indicating that OsMKKK70 functions redundantly with its homologs OsMKKK62 and OsMKKK55. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that OsMKKK70 is an active kinase and that OsMKKK70 interacts with OsMKK4 and promotes OsMAPK6 phosphorylation. In addition, the osmkkk62/70 double mutant showed reduced sensitivity to Brassinosteroids (BRs). Finally, overexpressing constitutively active OsMKK4, OsMAPK6, and OsWRKY53 can partially complement the smaller seed size, erect leaf, and BR hyposensitivity of the osmkkk62/70 double mutant. Taken together, these findings suggest that OsMKKK70 might regulate grain size and leaf angle in rice by activating OsMAPK6 and that OsMKKK70, OsMKK4, OsMAPK6, and OsWRKY53 function in a common signaling pathway that controls grain shape and leaf angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface texture, a major way to decrease friction and wear of the cylinder-piston ring friction pair, was conducted on cylinder-piston ring friction pair specimen using the orthogonal experimental design method to investigate the effect of different texture parameters (size, depth, shape, and surface density) of the friction and wear characteristics. Through simulation analysis, the texture parameters that affect the friction and wear characteristics are obtained. Using the evaluation method of friction coefficient and mass wear rate, the influence sequence and optimal values of texture parameters that affect friction and wear characteristics are obtained through range analysis. The results show that, after surface texture treatment under mixed lubrication conditions, the friction characteristics of the friction pair have changed and the friction coefficient and friction and wear rate have been significantly reduced. The results show that the triangular texture has a good antifriction effect, the texture depth is deepened, and the surface density and the size increases have a positive effect on the improvement of friction and wear. An ultra-depth microscope was used to observe the wear morphology of the friction and wear tests. The results show that the weakening of the third body wear by the texturing treatment and the maintenance of oil lubrication are the main reasons for reducing friction and wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core goal of this paper is to put forward a feasible scheme of noise reduction for a target forklift on the basis of solving the problem of vibration and acoustic radiation from complex structures in infinite domain. Based on the previous report and vibration acceleration tests, the acoustic virtual wind tunnel model of forklift power compartment was established using finite element method and boundary element method, in which the perfectly matched layer was first applied to simulate the attenuation propagation of sound waves in air. In addition, according to the distribution characteristics of sound pressure field with different frequencies, the acoustic energy mainly radiated through the bottom and right side, and concentrated in the low frequency. Consequently, the acoustic packaging design for the whole forklift power compartment was presented, and a satisfying noise reduction effect was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 is considered as one of the most promising cathodes for sodium ion batteries owing to its fast Na+ diffusion, good structural stability and high working potential. However, its practical application is limited by its low intrinsic electronic conductivity. Herein, a carbon coated Cu2+-doped Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 cathode was prepared. The carbon coating not only improve its apparent conductivity, but also inhibit crystal growth and prevent agglomeration of particles. Moreover, Cu2+ doping contributes to an enhanced intrinsic conductivity and decreased Na+ diffusion energy barrier, remarkably boosting its charge transfer kinetics. Based on the structure characterizations, electrochemical performances tests, charge transfer kinetics analyses and theoretical calculations, it's proved that such an elaborate design ensures the excellent rate performances (116.9 mA h g−1 at 0.1C; 92.6 mA h g−1 at 10C) and distinguished cycling lifespan (95.8 % retention after 300 cycles at 1C; 84.8 % retention after 3300 cycles at 10C). Besides, a two-phase reaction mechanism is also confirmed via in-situ XRD. This research is expected to promote the development of Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 -based sodium ion batteries with high energy/power density and excellent cycling lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined plasma nitriding and surface texturing approach were conducted on 316 stainless steel to enhance the tribological performance. Five different surfaces (316 substrates, plasma-nitrided 316, surface-textured 316, plasma-nitrided surface-textured 316, and surface-textured plasma-nitrided 316) were investigated. The tribological behaviors were studied using a ball-on-disk rotary tribometer against counterparts of Si3N4 balls in the air and under oil lubrication conditions. The results were analyzed from the aspects of friction coefficient, mass loss, and surface morphology about the tested specimens. The results presented that the frictional properties of the surface of plasma-nitrided surface-textured 316 were optimal under both friction conditions. Under dry friction conditions, the influence of plasma nitriding on mass loss was greater than that of surface texturing. Under oil lubrication conditions, the influence of surface texturing on mass loss was greater than that of plasma nitriding, and the processing sequence of surface texturing and plasma nitriding had little effect on the mass loss. The better wear resistance of plasma-nitrided surface-textured 316 resulted from the following aspects: first, the nitriding layer improved the surface hardness of the material. Secondly, the surface texture can capture the debris under dry friction conditions and provide continuous lubrication under oil lubrication condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocarbon black (CB) was introduced into ethylene-vinyl acetate/brucite (EM) composites to investigate the synergistic effect of CB and metal hydroxide on improving the flame retardancy of EVA. Flammability properties of the as-prepared EVA composites were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 test and cone calorimetry test. The results indicated that the optimum mass ratio of CB/brucite was 1/54, at which the EVA composites displayed dramatic improvement on thermal stability and flame retardancy. The LOI value was as high as 35.3%, the UL-94 passed the V-0 rating, and the peak heat release rate reduced 79% in comparison with pure EVA. Based on the morphology and structure analysis for residue chars, the flame-retardant mechanism was attributed mainly to the positive synergistic effect of CB and brucite on promoting the formation of better carbon protective layer during combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aiming to imparting epoxy resin (EP) matrix with highly efficient fire safety and mechanical strength, the organically intercalated layered double hydroxide nanosheets (LDH-DBS) were functionalized by silica via electrostatic assembly. EP nanocomposite with resultant nanohybrid LDH-DBS@silica-1 was constructed and verified. Results showed that 3wt% LDH-DBS@silica-1 endowed EP matrix with self-extinguishment (close to V-1) in contrast to burning-to-clamp of EP/3LDH-DBS (EP with 3wt% LDH-DBS). Meanwhile, EP/3LDH-DBS@silica-1 (EP with 3wt% LDH-DBS@silica-1) possessed 63.3% and 29.2% lower peak heat release rate than EP and EP/3LDH-DBS separately, accompanied by remarkably reduced smoke and CO production. The mechanism study illustrated that the optimization of intumescent char accounted for improved fire safety due to the interfacial charring reaction toward stable cordierite (5SiO 2 ·2Al 2 O 3 ·2MgO) and smaller microcrystalline carbon. The spatially preferential assembly of silica on LDH nanosheets was proposed to contribute to the dynamic char reconstruction. In parallel, LDH-DBS@silica-1 enhanced glass transition temperature of EP by 8 °C. The more silica endowed EP matrix with progressively increased non-notched impact strength. In perspective, the interfacial engineering of LDH nanosheets offered an effective approach to strengthening fire safety of polymers. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Layered double hydroxide (LDH) was engineered by silica via electrostatic induction. • The targeted LDH-DBS@silica-1 formed intercalation structure in epoxy resin matrix. • Fire safety was remarkably improved with 3wt% LDH-DBS@silica-1 to EP matrix. • Glass transition temperature was increased after silica engineering on LDH-DBS. • Impact strength was enhanced with silica engineering due to more craze initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The endomembrane system consists of various membrane‐bound organelles including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi apparatus, trans‐Golgi network (TGN), endosomes, and the lysosome/vacuole. Membrane trafficking between distinct compartments is mainly achieved by vesicular transport. As the endomembrane compartments and the machineries regulating the membrane trafficking are largely conserved across all eukaryotes, our current knowledge on organelle biogenesis and endomembrane trafficking in plants has mainly been shaped by corresponding studies in mammals and yeast. However, unique perspectives have emerged from plant cell biology research through the characterization of plant‐specific regulators as well as the development and application of the state‐of‐the‐art microscopical techniques. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge on the plant endomembrane system, with a focus on several distinct pathways: ER‐to‐Golgi transport, protein sorting at the TGN, endosomal sorting on multivesicular bodies, vacuolar trafficking/vacuole biogenesis, and the autophagy pathway. We also give an update on advanced imaging techniques for the plant cell biology research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for the synthesis of unsaturated aromatic ketones using Selectfluor oxidation system using acetonitrile as carbon source was reported. [Display omitted] A mehtod for the synthesis of terminal olefins by α-methylenation of aromatic ketones is reported. The reaction was carried out in air using acetonitrile as one carbon source and Selectfluor as a mild oxidant. The scope and versatility of the method were demonstrated with 29 examples. A Selectfluor-promoted oxidative reaction mechanism is proposed based on the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposed method Yolox-BTFPN shows strong reliability and generalization ability. • Novel BTFPN fits the surface characteristics of the conveyor belt better. • Anchor-free detector is free from the anchor prior and massive hyperparameters. • SimOTA is employed to implement the global dynamic labels assignment. Improving the reliability and generalization of the conveyor belt damage detection method is crucial and challenging for its industrial application. In this study, a novel vision-based detector named Yolox-BTFPN is proposed. First, a biased texture feature pyramid network (BTFPN), which focuses on the texture feature of the conveyor belt is designed to more accurately capture the damage characteristic. Then the anchor-free decoupled detection heads are utilized to eliminate the hyperparameters design of anchors. Finally, the simplified optimal transport assignment (SimOTA) strategy is employed to solve the problem of samples imbalance and assignment of ambiguous feature points. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method has better reliability and faster convergence performance compared to the state-of-the-art methods. It was found that the mAPs of Yolox-BTFPN are 98.45% and 94.37% on our two test datasets, and that the Epoch, Params and FLOPs are 41, 7.9 M and 12.37 G, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modifying the loess foundation effectively solved the deformation and settlement of the building foundation and improved its stability. However, burnt rock-solid waste was often used as filling material and light aggregate, while there were few studies on the engineering mechanical properties of modified soil. This paper proposed a method of burnt rock solid waste-modified loess. Therefore, we conducted compression-consolidation and direct shear tests on burnt rock solid waste-modified loess under different burnt rock contents to explore its improved loess's deformation and strength characteristics. Then, we used an SEM to investigate the modified loess's micro-structures under different burnt rock contents. The results showed that as the burnt rock-solid waste particle content continued to increase, the void ratio and compressibility coefficient of the samples with different ranges of burnt rock-solid waste particles gradually decreased with rising vertical pressure, while the compressive modulus increased first, then reduced and then increased with the increase of vertical pressure; the shear strength indexes all showed an increasing trend with the increased content of burnt rock-solid waste particles; when the content of burnt rock-solid waste particles was 50%, the compressibility of mixed soil was the lowest, the shear strength was the largest, and the compaction effect and shear resistance were the best. However, when the content of burnt rock particles was 10–20%, the shear strength of the soil improved significantly within the content range. The mechanism of burnt rock-solid waste to enhance the strength of the loess structure was mainly to reduce the porosity and average area of soil, significantly improve the strength and stability of mixed soil particles, and thus significantly improve the mechanical properties of soil. The results of this research will provide technical support for safe engineering construction and geological disaster prevention and control in loess areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Most of the body and wings of mature adults of most species of dustywings (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) are covered with a superficial coating of pale waxy particles. This white-to-gray waxy 'dust'—from which the common name of the family derives—is secreted onto the outside of the body by wax glands that open on the head, thorax, and abdomen. Each gland opening produces a pair of tiny, curled wax filaments, which eventually break off as minute wax rings. The rings are subsequently distributed across most of the body and wing surfaces by the insect's legs. Within the order Neuroptera, coniopterygids are unique in this form and use of waxy compounds, and it constitutes a distinctive shared feature of species in the subfamilies Aleurop-teryginae and Coniopteryginae (wax glands are apparently absent in the subfamily Brucheiserinae). Despite the interesting adaptive features that this system implies, wax production and its associated morphological features and behaviors are poorly known and rarely studied. In this paper, we examine the comparative morphology of wax gland head ultrastructure in 2 subfamilies, 9 genera, and 28 species of dustywings—the most diverse sample of dustywing taxa examined to date for this morphological feature. We report similarities and differences among the examined taxa and identify ultrastructural characters useful for taxonomic and phylogenetic differentiation at higher levels within the family. In the largest comparative study of coniopterygid wax gland head morphology to date, we used scanning electron microscopy to illustrate the ultrastructure of gland heads found in 2 subfamilies (Aleuropteryginae and Coniopteryginae), 5 tribes (Aleuropterygini, Coniocompsini, Coniopterygini, Conwentziini, and Fontenelleini), 9 genera (Aleuropteryx, Coniopteryx, Coniocompsa, Conwentzia, Cryptoscenea, Heteroconis, Semidalis, Spiloconis, and Thecosemidalis), and 28 species of Palearctic and Oriental dustywings collected from a variety of sites across China. We propose a new descriptive terminology to concisely characterize the major elements of gland head ultrastructure and then identify similarities and differences among them and provide detailed descriptions of the wax gland heads found in each of the nine genera examined. Based on the range of taxa examined, we propose hypotheses about the functional morphology of some of the ultrastructural elements examined and relate them to wax ring formation in dustywings. An identification key for the examined genera based on gland head morphology is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We disclose a novel boron trifluoride induced C–H activation and difluoroboronation at room temperature, thus providing a straightforward gateway to a series of N,O-bidentate organic BF2 complexes. The scope of the method is demonstrated with 24 examples. All the synthesized compounds exhibit fluorescence and some of them have large Stokes shifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that investigates the referral rate, prevalence and etiology of neonatal hearing loss in China. It describes the method of the study that observes 11,894 infants who were screened with a two-stage transient evoked otoacoustic emission testing. It also mentions the result of the study which suggests that bilateral referrals were more likely to suffer greater degrees of hearing loss than unilateral referrals.

Abstract: Drosophila Sodium Channel 1 (DSC1) was predicted to encode a sodium channel based on a high sequence similarity with vertebrate and invertebrate sodium channel genes. However, BSC1, a DSC1 ortholog in Blattella germanica, was recently shown to encode a cation channel with ion selectivity toward Ca2+. In this study, we isolated a total of 20 full-length cDNA clones that cover the entire coding region of the DSC1 gene from adults of Drosophila melanogaster by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Sequence analysis of the 20 clones revealed nine optional exons, four of which contain in-frame stop codons; and 13 potential A-to-I RNA editing sites. The 20 clones can be grouped into eight splice types and represent 20 different transcripts because of unique RNA editing. Three variants generated DSC1 currents when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Like the BSC1 channel, all three functional DSC1 channels are permeable to Ca2+ and Ba2+, and also to Na+ in the absence of external Ca2+. Furthermore, the DSC1 channel is insensitive to tetrodotoxin, a potent and specific sodium channel blocker. Our study shows that DSC1 encodes a voltage-gated cation channel similar to the BSC1 channel in B. germanica. Extensive alternative splicing and RNA editing of the DSC1 transcripts suggest the molecular and functional diversity of the DSC1 channel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Extensive alternative splicing and RNA editing have been documented for the transcript of DmNaV (formerly para), the sole sodium channel gene in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the functional consequences of these post-transcriptional modifications are not well understood. In this study we isolated 64 full-length DmNaV cDNA clones from D. melanogaster adults. Based on the usage of 11 alternative exons, 64 clones could be grouped into 29 splice types. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, 33 DmNaV variants generated sodium currents large enough for functional characterization. Among these variants, DmNaV5-1 and DmNaV7-1 channels activated at the most hyperpolarizing potentials, whereas DmNaV1-6 and DmNaV19 channels activated at the most depolarizing membrane potentials. We identified an A-to-I editing event in DmNaV5-1 that is responsible for its uniquely low-voltage-dependent activation. The wide range of voltage dependence of gating properties exhibited by DmNaV variants represents a rich resource for future studies to determine the role of DmNaV in regulating sodium channel gating, pharmacology, and neuronal excitability in insects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper researches how to realize the automatic assembly operation on a two-finger precision manipulator. A multi-layer assembly support system is proposed. At the task-planning layer, based on the computer-aided design (CAD) model, the assembly sequence is first generated, and the information necessary for skill decomposition is also derived. Then, the assembly sequence is decomposed into robot skills at the skill-decomposition layer. These generated skills are managed and executed at the robot control layer. Experimental results show the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fluvalinate is a pyrethroid insecticide that is widely used in the control of the varroa mite (Varroa destructor), an ecto-parasite of the honeybee. Previously we identified four fluvalinate-resistance-associated mutations in the sodium channel gene of the varroa mite. One of the mutations caused a leucine (L) to proline (P) change at 1770 in the linker connecting domains III and IV of the sodium channel. Interestingly, at the position corresponding to the L to P mutation, all known insect (including honeybee) sodium channel proteins already naturally contain a P residue (e.g., P1577 in the cockroach sodium channel BgNav). To determine whether insect sodium channels are less sensitive to fluvalinate than arachnid sodium channels, we replaced P1577 with an L in a BgNav variant (BgNav1-1) and examined the sensitivity of the recombinant channel to fluvalinate. The P1577L substitution did not alter the gating properties of the BgNav1-1 channel expressed in Xenopus oocytes. However, the BgNav1-1P1577L channel was five-fold more sensitive to fluvalinate compared with the BgNav1-1 channel. These results not only implicate the L to P mutation in fluvalinate resistance in varroa mites, but also suggest a possible contribution of L1770 to the higher sensitivity of varroa mites to fluvalinate than their insect hosts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Indoxacarb (DPX-JW062) was recently developed as a new oxadiazine insecticide with high insecticidal activity and low mammalian toxicity. Previous studies showed that indoxacarb and its bioactive metabolite, N-decarbomethoxyllated JW062 (DCJW), block insect sodium channels in nerve preparations and isolated neurons. However, the molecular mechanism of indoxacarb/DCJW action on insect sodium channels is not well understood. In this study, we identified two cockroach sodium channel variants, BgNav1-1 and BgNav1-4, which differ in voltage dependence of fast and slow inactivation, and channel sensitivity to DCJW. The voltage dependence of fast inactivation and slow inactivation of BgNav1-4 were shifted in the hyperpolarizing direction compared with those of BgNav1-1 channels. At the holding potential of −90mV, 20μM of DCJW reduced the peak current of BgNav1-4 by about 40%, but had no effect on BgNav1-1. However, at the holding potential of −60mV, DCJW also reduced the peak currents of BgNav1-1 by about 50%. Furthermore, DCJW delayed the recovery from slow inactivation of both variants. Substitution of E1689 in segment 4 of domain four (IVS4) of BgNav1-4 with a K, which is present in BgNav1-1, was sufficient to shift the voltage dependence of fast and slow inactivation of BgNav1-4 channels to the more depolarizing membrane potential close to that of BgNav1-1 channels. The E1689K change also eliminated the DCJW inhibition of BgNav1-4 at the hyperpolarizing holding potentials. These results show that the E1689K change is responsible for the difference in channel gating and sensitivity to DCJW between BgNav1-4 and BgNav1-1. Our results support the notion that DCJW preferably acts on the inactivated state of the sodium channel and demonstrate that K1689E is a major molecular determinant of the voltage-dependent inactivation and state-dependent action of DCJW. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In a previous study, we showed that two alternative exons (G1 and G2 encoding IIIS3-S4) were involved in the differential sensitivity of two cockroach sodium channel splice variants, BgNav1-1 and BgNav2-1 (previously called KD1 and KD2), to deltamethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide (Tan, et al., 2002b. Alternative splicing of an insect sodium channel gene generates pharmacologically distinct sodium channels. J. Neurosci. 22, 5300–5309.). Here, we report the identification of an amino acid residue in exon G2 that contributes to the low deltamethrin sensitivity of BgNav2-1. Replacement of A1356 in BgNav2-1 with the corresponding V1356 in BgNav1-1 enhanced the sensitivity of the BgNav2-1 channel to deltamethrin by six-fold. Conversely, substitution of V1356 with A1356 in BgNav1-1 produced a recombinant BgNav1-1 channel that was 5-fold more resistant to deltamethrin. These results demonstrate that A1356 contributes to the low sensitivity of BgNav2-1 to deltamethrin. A1356V substitution also shifted the voltage-dependence of activation by 10mV in the hyperpolarizing direction. Possible mechanisms by which this amino acid change affects the action of pyrethroids on the sodium channel are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pyrethroid insecticide resistance due to reduced nerve sensitivity, known as knockdown resistance (kdr or kdr-type), is linked to multiple point mutations in the para-homologous sodium channel genes. Previously we demonstrated that two mutations (E434K and C764R) in the German cockroach sodium channel greatly enhanced the ability of the L993F mutation (a known kdr -type mutation) to reduce sodium channel sensitivity to deltamethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide. Neither E434K nor C764R alone, however, altered sodium channel sensitivity. To examine whether E434K and C764R also enhance the effect of pyrethroid resistance-associated sodium channel mutations identified in other insects, we introduced a V to M mutation (V409M) into the cockroach sodium channel protein at the position that corresponds to the V421M mutation in the Heliothis virescens sodium channel protein. We found that the V409M mutation alone modified the gating properties of the sodium channel and reduced channel sensitivity to deltamethrin by 10-fold. Combining the V409M mutation with either the E434K or C764K alone did not reduce the V409M channel sensitivity to deltamethrin further. However, the triple mutation combination (V409M, E434K and C764R) dramatically reduced channel sensitivity by 100-fold compared with the wild-type channel. These results suggest that the E434K and C764R mutations are important modifiers of sodium channel sensitivity to pyrethroid insecticides. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Converting natural fluorescent dyes with aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) properties into functional fluorescent dyes with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties has attracted great attention in recent years. Coumarin is a kind of dye widely found in nature and has many excellent optical properties. Based on our group's research on the synthesis and properties of multiarylpyrroles (MAPs), a planar coumarin substituent was introduced into the 1-position of pyrrole to study the effect on the AIE properties of MAPs. The different numbers and positions of phenyl substituents on the pyrrole ring have a significant impact on photophysical properties. Among these compounds, MAP-1 , MAP-2 and MAP-4 displayed aggregation-enhanced emission (AEE) properties, while MAP-3 showed ACQ characteristics. In addition, MAP-4 was selected as the AEE luminogen to accurately detect the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate. MAP dyes provide a new method for conveniently and accurately measuring the Tg of polymers. Multiarylpyrrole (MAP) derivatives with aggregation-enhanced emission (AEE) features were designed by converting a natural dye coumarin that has aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) property. Moreover, MAP-4 can be used for detecting the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polymers that are blended with this AEE dyes. Image 1 • The coumarin group was used for modifying multiarylpyrroles. • The substituent at 2- or 5-position of pyrrole affects AIE characteristics. • MAP-4 could be used for detecting the Tg of the polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universal newborn hearing screening proved to be an effective measure to screen out hearing-disability infants at a younger age, from which testified the existence of middle ear fluid or effusion was one major source of referred screening result. Some reports had verified the comparative advantage of using the 1000-Hz probe tone for tympanometry in infants, while little was known about the accordance to imaging manifestations, especially the findings of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). To investigate the diagnostic consistency between 226 Hz-, 1000 Hz- probe tone tympanometry and MRI in infants after hearing screening. 226 Hz and 1000 Hz probe-tone tympanometry were tested followed by MRI in 58 infants. According to MRI results, patients were divided into Group 1 with abnormal middle ears with fluid, Group 2 with normal middle ears. Tympanometry included tympanograms, volume of ear cannal (Vec, mL), compliance of peak (Y, mmho), the width at the pressure of ±50dapa (TW, daPa), the pressure of the peak (TPP, daPa). The data were analyzed by statistic software SPSS19.0. In group 2, 92.41% were negative tympanograms(n = 73), 7.59% was positive tympanograms(n = 6) at 1000 Hz; while 91.14% was negative tympanograms (n = 72), 8.86% was positive tympanograms (n = 7) at 226 Hz. In group 1, 80.00% were positive tympanograms(n = 28), 20.00% was negative tympanograms (n = 7) at 1000 Hz; while 80.00% was negative tympanograms (n = 28), 20.00% was positive tympanograms (n = 7) at 226 Hz. McNemar test demonstrated that there was no significant difference between 1000 Hz and MRI diagnosis (P = 1.000), while significant difference between 226 Hz and MRI test (P = 0.001). Diagnostic concordance rate between 1000 Hz tympanometry and MRI (Kappa = 0.730, p = 0.000) was significantly higher than 226 Hz tympanometry (Kappa = 0.134, p = 0.095). Normal data of 1000 Hz tympanometry showed Vec was 0.71 ± 0.28ml, Y was 0.82 ± 0.49mmho, TW was 124.60 ± 27.68dapa, and TPP was 11.83 ± 73.73dapa. 1000 Hz tympanometry significantly had a better diagnostic agreement with MRI than 226 Hz. Clinically, 1000 Hz but not 226 Hz tympanometry is recommended to diagnose otitis middle ear fluid in infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is significant to master the metal flowing mechanism of high-speed cold roll beating (HSCRB) for forming quality control. The involute spline was formed at room temperature, the stress distribution and metal flowing displacement of the parts were analyzed by simulation, and the microstructure and hardness of the parts were studied by experiment. The results show that the stress at the groove is the largest and transmitted to the surrounding, and the bottom land, tooth side, and top land decrease successively. The metal flows away from the roller and the center of the workpiece, and the displacement of the bottom land, tooth side, and top land decreases successively. After multiple beats, the final tooth shape is obtained by the accumulation of flow. The metal flow results in large amount of fibrous tissue at the bottom land, a small amount of fibrous tissue at the tooth side, and no fibrous tissue at the top land. The flow results in work hardening, and the hardness is that the bottom land, tooth side, top land decrease successively, and the hardness decrease successively from the surface to the inside, showing the characteristics of hard surface and core toughness. The metal flowing mechanism was obtained. The metal in the area occupied by the roller flows in the direction of less resistance. The larger the distance to the contact area, the smaller the flow displacement. The displacement of metal flow is positively correlated with the deformation degree of microstructure and the capacity of work hardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to endow the efficient fire safety to epoxy resin (EP), magnesium hydroxide micro‐whiskers (mw‐MH) as super‐reinforcement were incorporated into EP. The thermal kinetics of EP/mw‐MH micro‐composites were investigated. The limited oxygen index (LOI) of EP with the incorporation of mw‐MH reached up to 33.7% greatly improved comparing to 26.3% of pristine EP. The cone calorimeter test (CCT) showed the heat release rate (HRR), smoke production rate (SPR) of the EP/3mw‐MH with the addition of 3 wt% mw‐MH obviously reduced, as evidenced by the reduction of peak of HRR and SPR for the micro‐composites to 58% and 48%, respectively. Moreover, improvements were also observed in total heat release (THR) and total smoke production (TSP) of EP/3mw‐MH, which were decreased by 29% and 34% at 300 s. Compared with common used industrial magnesium hydroxide (ind‐MH), EP/mw‐MH micro‐composites possessed excellent fire safety performance at the same loading, which was attributed to the jammed network structure. Furthermore, the Young's modulus and tensile strength of EP/mw‐MH micro‐composites maintained. Finally, further investigation was proposed to explain the flame retardant mechanism, which involved the jammed network structures at internal and compact protective char. The magnesium hydroxide with one‐dimensional structure offered an effective method to improve the fire retardancy of polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional polymer nanocomposites are one of the hottest topics in the field of materials science. Herein nanosized carbon black (CB) was functionalized by H 2 O 2 hydroxylation and chemical grafting of phosphorous flame retardant. The obtained nanofiller hybrids (CB- g -DOPO) presented a high grafting degree to 37.89 wt%, and remained large numbers of active hydroxyl groups (CH–OH), which could covalently react with adscititious compatibilizer to promote its dispersion and interaction with poly(l -lactide) (PLA) matrix. The resultant PLA nanocomposites showed remarkably improved flame retardancy, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. The limited oxygen index (LOI) was 29.3%; the UL-94 rating reached to V0; and the peak of heat release rate (PHRR) was decreased by 50% in cone calorimeter testing. Outstanding electrical conductivity was present with more than 4 wt% CB- g -DOPO. Besides, the nanocomposites displayed a good balance on stiffness and toughness, especially 8.7 and 2.5 times improvement on elongation at break and impact strength, respectively. The enhancement mechanism was discussed on the basis of the unique structure and surface composition of CB- g -DOPO. This work will be favorable to the designation and application of multifunctional polymer nanocomposites with high performances. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ferrocene was included into cavity of cyclodextrin intercalated LDH by host-guest. • Host-guest interplay inhibited the low-temperature sublimation of ferrocene. • 6 wt% LDH-CD@Ferr endowed epoxy resin with UL-94 V-1 and reduced heat release. • LDH-CD@Ferr reduced the total smoke production of epoxy resin remarkably. Aiming to alleviate the low-temperature sublimation of ferrocene toward efficiently smoke-suppression epoxy resin (EP), the ferrocene molecule was inserted into the nanocavity of sulfonated cyclodextrin intercalated layered double hydroxide (LDH-CD) via host-guest chemistry. Adequate characterizations verified the targeted structure with one ferrocene molecule included into one cyclodextrin cavity. The resulting LDH-CD-Ferr formed a more uniform dispersion in EP matrix than LDH-CD. The comparative experiments demonstrated that 6 wt% LDH-CD-Ferr reduced the peak smoke production rate and total smoke production of EP matrix by 43% and 42% respectively due to the effectively shifted working temperature of ferrocene. The insightful mechanism investigation unveiled the condensed-phase behavior associated with higher-quality chars from catalytic charring reaction by retained ferrocene and the dominant vapor-phase behavior involved in the promoted combustion of smoke intermediate (soot). Additionally, 6 wt% LDH-CD-Ferr imparted EP matrix with increased limiting oxygen index (LOI) and reduced peak heat release rate by 5% and 36%. EP/6LDH-CD-Ferr was able to pass V-1 in UL-94 test relative to no rating of its counterparts. Also, in comparison to the simple mixture of LDH-CD and ferrocene, LDH-CD-Ferr presented the superiority in weakening the impact of ferrocene on the thermal stability of EP. In prospective, the host-guest chemistry offered an efficient approach to industrially utilizing ferrocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin splitting plays a pivotal role in most modern spintronic effects. Conventionally, spin splitting accompanied by macroscopic magnetic moments has been typically discussed in the context of ferromagnets. Nevertheless, the amalgamation of spin splitting and antiferromagnets has led to a range of intriguing magnetoelectronic effects in the field of antiferromagnetic spintronics. Considering this perspective, this Letter focuses on exploring the emerging area of spin-split antiferromagnetic spintronics. It begins with a brief overview of the historical development of the anomalous Hall effect. Subsequently, recent studies on the spin-splitting-related anomalous Hall effects in antiferromagnets are elaborated upon. Finally, a summary is provided outlining the occurrence of spin splitting in different types of antiferromagnets, including noncollinear antiferromagnets and collinear altermagnets. Additionally, the associated magnetoelectronic effects are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent claim on the discovery of ambient-pressure room-temperature superconductivity in Cu-doped lead-apatite has attracted sensational attention. The intriguing compound has been fabricated by sintering lanarkite (Pb2SO5) and copper(I) phosphide (Cu3 P). To verify this exciting claim, Pb2SO5, Cu3P, and finally the modified lead-apatite Pb10-xCux(PO4)6O have been successfully synthesized. Detailed electrical transport and magnetic properties of these compounds are systematically analyzed. It turns out that Pb2SO5 is a highly insulating diamagnet and Cu3P is a paramagnetic metal. The obtained nominal Pb10-xCux(PO4)6O compound sintered from Pb2SO5 and Cu3P exhibits semiconductor-like transport behavior with a large room-temperature resistivity of "1.94 X 104 �€ cm, although the major phase of the compound shows consistent X-ray diffraction spectrum with the previously reported structure data. In addition, when a Pb10-xCux(PO4)6O pellet pressed from uniformly ground powder is located on top of a commercial Nd2Fe14B magnet at room temperature, no repulsion can be felt and no magnetic levitation is observed either. The large difference in electrical and magnetic properties between the compounds and the previously reported compounds might be induced by distinct fine crystallographic structures, diverse multi-phase distributions, and different concentrations of impurity phases such as Cu2S, all of which deserve further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topotactic transition is a structural phase change in a matrix crystal lattice mediated by the ordered loss/gain and rearrangement of atoms, leading to unusual coordination environments and metal atoms with rare valent states. As early as in 1990s, low temperature hydride reduction is utilized to realize the topotactic transition. Since then, topological transformations are developed via multiple approaches. Especially, the recent discovery of the Ni‐based superconductivity in infinite‐layer nickelates has greatly boosted the topotactic transition mean to synthesizing new oxides for exploring exotic functional properties. In this review, a detailed and generalized introduction is provided to oxygen‐related topotactic transition. The main body of the review includes four parts: the structure‐facilitated effects, the mechanism of the topotactic transition, some examples of topotactic transition methods adopted in different metal oxides (V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) and the related applications. This study is to provide timely and thorough strategies to successfully realize topotactic transitions for researchers who are eager to create new oxide phases or new oxide materials with desired functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, amino acids (AAs) including serine (S), histidine (H) and glutamic acid (E)-conjugated poly(3-thiophene acetate acid) (P3TAA) were synthesized to promote the catalytic hydrolysis and in situ electrochemical detection of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs). The hydrolysis of OPs followed the mechanism of proton transfer relay composed of AAs of S, H, E, called the "catalytic triad", found in biomimetic hydrolases. P3TAA was used as a carrier to attach S, H, E, and these AA sites have the hydrolysis activity of Ops; the polymer P3TAA-AAs behaved like biomimetic enzymes. After the hydrolysis of OPs (e.g., methyl paraoxon, ethyl paraoxon and methyl parathion), p-nitrophenol (PNP) was generated, which can be detected electrochemically. Herein, an electrochemical method using P3TAA-conjugated S, H, E-modified electrodes for the determination of OPs was developed. OPs can be quantified by the electrochemical responses of PNP. This technique was selective toward OPs with the p-nitrophenol group. The detection limit of OPs (methyl paraoxon, methyl parathion and ethyl paraoxon) reached 0.5 μM. This detection technique was successfully applied to the detection of OPs in real samples with high detection accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The purity of Li 2 CO 3 prepared by high shear dispersion reached 99.81%. • The total recovery of lithium at low temperature approached 82.70%. • The prepared Li 2 CO 3 showed uniform dispersibility and size distribution with time. • CFD simulations verified the validity and rationality of the preparation method. With the significant increase of market demand, battery-grade lithium carbonate has become an imperative research. However, it is difficult for commercially available battery-grade lithium carbonate to simultaneously meet all criteria such as dispersion, particle size, particle size distribution, and purity. Here, we proposed a flexible method to prepare battery-grade lithium carbonate with small particle size, uniform size distribution, high purity, and good dispersion by using a high shear dispersion reactor under low-temperature conditions. First, a numerical simulation model was established, and the feasibility of this proposed method was verified by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Then, the factors of yield optimization on Li 2 CO 3 were analyzed based on response surface methodology (RSM) by using a 3-level 4-factor Box-Behnken statistical design with a fixed lithium solution concentration as the input parameter. Moreover, the reaction kinetics, size distribution, crystal morphology, and purity of Li 2 CO 3 were investigated. The obtained Li 2 CO 3 possessed the average particle size in 5.85 μm and total particle size range from 1.56 to 12.97 μm, which both exhibited a ten-fold reduction compared with it prepared under conventional preparation conditions. Finally, the Li 2 CO 3 products with 99.81% purity met the requirements of the Chinese non-ferrous metal industry standard (YS/T582-2013) for battery-grade Li 2 CO 3. We anticipate that this work may shed light on developing efficient and controllable method for the preparation of battery-grade Li 2 CO 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, the recommended treatment regimens for HIV-infected individuals were tenofovir in combination with lamivudine or emtricitabine as NRTIs, efavirenz or rilpivirine as NNRTIs, lopinavir/ritonavir as protease inhibitors, and raltegravir or dolutegravir as INSTIs. The development of drug resistance increases the risk of viral rebound, opportunistic infections, and ultimately treatment failure such that the early detection of resistance is ideal. This study was developed to explore primary drug resistance characteristics and genotypic distributions in newly diagnosed antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve HIV-1 patients in Nanjing with the goal of establishing a basis for their individualized treatment in the clinic. Samples of serum were collected from newly diagnosed ART-naïve HIV patients from the Second Hospital of Nanjing between May 2021 and May 2022. The HIV-1 integrase (IN), protease (PR), and reverse transcriptase (RT) gene coding sequences were amplified from these samples, sequenced, and assessed for drug resistance-related mutations. Major integrase resistance-related mutations were detected in 4/360 amplified samples, with 5 other patient samples exhibiting accessory resistance mutations. The overall prevalence of PR and RT inhibitor-related transmitted drug resistance mutations (TDRMs) in this patient population was 16.99% (61/359). The most common mutations were non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-related mutations (51/359; 14.21%), followed by those associated with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (7/359; 1.95%) and protease inhibitors (7/359; 1.95%). Dual-resistant strains were also observed in a subset of patients. In summary, this study is the first to have surveyed the prevalence of integrase inhibitor resistance-related mutations and other drug resistance-related mutations among newly diagnosed ART-naïve HIV-positive patients in Nanjing, China. These results highlight the need for further molecular surveillance-based monitoring of the HIV epidemic in Nanjing. • This study found the results of integrase inhibitor resistance mutations in newly diagnosed HIV-1 patients in Nanjing. • The results of mutations of protease and reverse transcriptase inhibitors in the above patients were also detected. • One strain with both integrase-related mutation and reverse-transcriptase-related mutation was found in Nanjing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the characterization and preparation of a new layered double hydroxide Mg-Fe-Ce. It also discusses the use of CeCl3·6H2O and FeCl2·6H2O, and MgCl2·6H2O as raw materials in the method to synthesize MgFeCe hydrotalcite. It mentions that the synthesized hydrotalcite has a high crystallinity and rigid hydrotalcite structure.

The 2D electron gas at the polar/non-polar oxide interface has become an important platform for several novel oxide electronic devices. In this paper, the transport properties of a wide range of polar perovskite oxide ABO3/SrTiO3 (STO) interfaces, where ABO3 includes LaAlO3, PrAlO3, NdAlO3, NdGaO3 and LaGaO3 in both crystalline and amorphous forms, were investigated. A robust 4 unit cell (uc) critical thickness for metal insulator transition was observed for crystalline polar layer/STO interface while the critical thickness for amorphous ones was strongly dependent on the B site atom and its oxygen affinity. For the crystalline interfaces, a sharp transition to the metallic state (i.e. polarization catastrophe induced 2D electron gas only) occurs at a growth temperature of 515 °C which corresponds to a critical relative crystallinity of ~70 ± 10% of the LaAlO3 overlayer. This temperature is generally lower than the metal silicide formation temperature and thus offers a route to integrate oxide heterojunction based devices on silicon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Changepoints and piecewise linearities of pressure on trains were evaluated. • A strategy of discretization based on Lagrange rectangular elements was suggested. • A strategy of discrete integration was presented to measure aerodynamic loads. • The strategies can be used in full-scale tests and model tests. • The strategies can accurately obtain means and fluctuations of aerodynamic loads. Discrete integration occupies an important place in train aerodynamic tests in crosswinds. Improved delayed detached eddy simulations based on shear stress transport k - ω turbulence models were carried out to calculate the side force, lift, rolling moment around the lee rail, and surface pressure on bluff and streamlined vehicles. The changepoints and piecewise linearities of the pressure coefficients were evaluated, and the maximum coefficient of determination in the elements was 0.9973. A realizable strategy of the discretization based on the Lagrange rectangular elements was suggested, including the largest lengths and numbers of the elements. From this, a strategy of the discrete integration was presented to measure the aerodynamic loads, considering the real orientation of the elements. The maximum errors of the mean aerodynamic load coefficients of the bluff and streamlined vehicles were 4.1% and 2.2% (except the mean lift coefficient of the bluff vehicle), respectively. The errors were less than those in the previous studies, especially for the streamlined vehicle, which reduced by up to 8.7%. The unsteady aerodynamic loads with no delay obtained by the strategies were near to natural ones in the frequency range that people would be concerned about in crosswinds (at the Strouhal number of less than 0.4). Some suggestions were made for using the strategies in the full-scale tests and model tests, which provided a foundation for further studies of the running safety in natural crosswinds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two charge-transfer cocrystals using 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide derivatives (NDIs) as donor block and coronene as acceptor segment were synthesized through solution centrifugation and investigated as cathode electrodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). These cocrystals showed 1 : 1 mixed stacking with columnar structure, good thermal stability, and narrow band gaps of 2.24 eV or 2.34 eV. V ia alkyl terminal tuning, methyl-NDI based complex (CN-1) displayed lower binding ability than propyl substituted complex (CN-3) and could undergo a crystal transition into a new solvent-free phase with void-rich architecture. LIB based CN-1 cocrystal as cathode electrode showed a specific capacity of up to 230 mA h g−1 with long cyclability over 600 cycles due to its unique void-rich columnar and deformable structure. The lithiation and delithiation sites on aromatic backbones were testified by experimental and calculated results. This study thus not only provides a novel kind of organic cathode material but also proves that donor–acceptor complexes are promising candidates for the development of high-performance cathodes for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]