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• Examining impact of internet on allocative efficiency of factors of production. • Study of Chinese manufacturing industry 1998 to 2013 for 29 provinces. • IV based on historical data of landline phones against potential endogeneity. • Internet improves capital and labour allocative efficiency. • Heterogeneous effects in different industries and stronger in low-tech industries. Using data from the Annual Survey of Industrial Firms conducted from 1998 to 2013 in China, this study examines whether the expansion of the Internet improves the allocative efficiency of production factors in manufacturing industry. Allocative efficiency is measured by the deviation of the actual output from the hypothetical efficient output level. We construct an instrumental variable based on historical data to address potential endogeneity. The results highlight that the Internet improves capital and labour allocative efficiency and has heterogeneous effects in different industries. The effect is larger in low-technology industries. As a technology augmenting production factor, the Internet significantly improves the allocative efficiency of capital (labour) in the industries that use capital (labour) intensively. The mechanism analysis reveals that the Internet improves the allocative efficiency of firms by reducing their overhead expenses and raising the exit rate of inefficient firms from the market. This study extends the research on the effect of Internet and explores the causal relationship between the Internet and the allocative efficiency within industries, to highlight the importance of digital technology in economic growth, especially in the context of developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical implementation of alkali metal batteries currently still faces formidable challenges because of the dendrite growth upon continuous charge/discharge processes and the associated unstable solid–electrolyte interphase. Herein, it is reported that dendrites can be fundamentally mitigated in lithium and sodium metal batteries by regulating the Li+ and Na+ flux using a glass fiber (GF) separator impregnated with polytetrafluoroethylene nanospheres (PTFE‐NSs), which results in homogeneous deposition of Li and Na during charging. The COMSOL Multiphysics simulations reveal that the introduction of negatively charged PTFE‐NSs into the GF separator enhances the local electric field near the anode, thereby boosting the transfer of cations. It is demonstrated that Li//Li and Na//Na symmetric cells utilising a PTFE‐GF separator show outstanding cycle stability of 1245 and 2750 h, respectively, at 0.5 mA cm−2. Moreover, the Li//LiFePO4 and Na//Na3V2(PO4)2F3 full cells exhibit remarkably improved capacity retention when cycled at 1 C, in the presence of a PTFE‐GF separator. The nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies suggest that the impregnation of PTFE‐NSs into GF helps "liberate" more Li+ and Na+ and changes the coordination interaction between ions and solvents, contributing to the enhanced electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black barley seeds are a health-beneficial diet resource because of their special chemical composition and antioxidant properties. The black lemma and pericarp (BLP) locus was mapped in a genetic interval of 0.807 Mb on chromosome 1H, but its genetic basis remains unknown. In this study, targeted metabolomics and conjunctive analyses of BSA-seq and BSR-seq were used to identify candidate genes of BLP and the precursors of black pigments. The results revealed that five candidate genes, purple acid phosphatase, 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase 11, coiled-coil domain-containing protein 167, subtilisin-like protease, and caffeic acid-O-methyltransferase, of the BLP locus were identified in the 10.12 Mb location region on the 1H chromosome after differential expression analysis, and 17 differential metabolites, including the precursor and repeating unit of allomelanin, were accumulated in the late mike stage of black barley. Phenol nitrogen-free precursors such as catechol (protocatechuic aldehyde) or catecholic acids (caffeic, protocatechuic, and gallic acids) may promote black pigmentation. BLP can manipulate the accumulation of benzoic acid derivatives (salicylic acid, 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, gentisic acid, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, and syringaldehyde) through the shikimate/chorismite pathway other than the phenylalanine pathway and alter the metabolism of the phenylpropanoid-monolignol branch. Collectively, it is reasonable to infer that black pigmentation in barley is due to allomelanin biosynthesis in the lemma and pericarp, and BLP regulates melanogenesis by manipulating the biosynthesis of its precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deeply understanding virus-host interactions is a prerequisite for developing effective strategies to control frequently emerging infectious diseases, which have become a serious challenge for global public health. The type I interferon (IFN)-mediated JAK/STAT pathway is well known for playing an essential role in host antiviral immunity, but the exact regulatory mechanisms of various IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) are not yet fully understood. We herein reported that SerpinA5, as a novel ISG, played a previously unrecognized role in antiviral activity. Mechanistically, SerpinA5 can upregulate the phosphorylation of STAT1 and promote its nuclear translocation, thus effectively activating the transcription of IFN-related signaling pathways to impair viral infections. Our data provide insights into SerpinA5-mediated innate immune signaling during virus-host interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The copper ion was detected rapidly by a novel sensing membrane in this paper for its damage to health and the environment. CdSe/ZnS QDs modified polyethersulfone membrane (QDs@PESM) was made by phase-inversion method using a membrane separation technique and quantum dots (QDs). When the sample passed through the membrane, the copper ions in the sample caused the membrane's fluorescence to be quenched. The fluorescence quenching value of the membrane is used to calculate the concentration of copper ions. With R2= 0.9964, Cu2+could be quantitatively detected over a wide concentration range (10–1000 μg/L). The method's LOD and LOQ were 4.27 and 14.23 μg/L, respectively. When the CdSe/ZnS QDs@PESM was used to analyze Cu2+ in various real drinks, including well water, baijiu, orange juice, beer, and milk, the recovery ranged from 79.1 to 123.9%, indicating that the CdSe/ZnS QDs@PESM can be used as a rapid, simple and reliable method to determine Cu2+ in various matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in computer vision and camera-equipped unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for 3D modeling enable UAS-based photogrammetry surveys with high spatial-temporal resolutions. To generate consistent and high-quality 3D models using UASs, understanding how influence factors (i.e., flight height, image overlap, etc.) affect the 3D modeling accuracy and their levels of significance are important. However, there is little to no quantitative analysis that studies how these influence factors interact with and affect the accuracy when changing the values of the influence factors. Moreover, there is little to no research that assesses more than three influence factors. Therefore, to fill this gap, this paper aims to evaluate and predict the accuracy generated by different flight combinations. This paper presents a study that (1) assessed the significance levels of five influence factors (flight height, average image quality, image overlap, ground control point (GCP) quantity, and camera focal lengths), (2) investigated how they interact and impact 3D modeling accuracy using the multiple regression (MR) method, and (3) used the developed MR models for predicting horizontal and vertical accuracies. To build the MR model, 160 datasets were created from 40 flight missions collected at a site with a facility and open terrain. For validating the prediction model, five testing datasets were collected and used at a larger site with a complex building and open terrain. The results show that the findings of this study can be applied to surveyors' better design flight configurations that result in the highest accuracies, given different site conditions and constraints. The results also provide a reasonable prediction of accuracy given different flight configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isothermal amplification method has enabled major advancement toward rapid and deployable detection for nucleic acid. While exciting, there are still a series of deficiencies facing their practical implementation, such as carryover cross-contamination, which are major bottlenecks that must be addressed. In addition, there is a lack of high-throughput detection for foodborne pathogens in foods. Here, we reported an Argonaute-mediated bio-barcode bioassay for one-step cleavage, on-site and high-throughput detection of S. aureus (Staphylococcus aureus) through introducing Tag sequence and recombinase aided amplification (RAA). Furthermore, we designed a single vessel via tube-in-tube manner for one-tube contamination-free and portable detection without opening the lid. With this strategy, the same detection limit as fluorescence detection could be obtained, 1 CFU/mL with high specificity for S. aureus. We further evaluated the performance of bio-barcode biosensing strategy using S. aureus -contaminated clinical and food samples. Argonaute-mediated bio-barcode bioassay had the advantages of modular, universal plug-and-play and high-throughput scanning. This work not only satisfied the requirement for convenient detection but also fulfilled the need for portable on-site nucleic acid detection with portability, adaptability, transferability and practicality. [Display omitted] • We develop an Argonaute-mediated bio-barcode bioassay for one-tube and on-site detection of foodborne pathogenic bacteria. • The bioassay can achieve high-throughput and modular plug-and-play detection integrated with RAA and bio-barcode. • The bioassay can detect as low as 1 CFU/mL S. aureus with a range from 1 to 108 CFU/mL in real samples. • A single vessel via tube-in-tube manner was designed for accurate and portable detection without opening the lid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to effectively leverage the plentiful existing datasets to train a robust and high-performance model is of great significance for many practical applications. However, a model trained on a naive merge of different datasets tends to obtain poor performance due to annotation conflicts and domain divergence. In this paper, we attempt to train a unified model that is expected to perform well across domains on several popularity segmentation datasets. We conduct a comprehensive analysis to assess the impact of various training schemes and model selection on multi-domain learning with extensive experiments. Based on the analysis, we propose a robust solution that consistently enhances the model performance across different domains. Our solution ranks 2nd on RVC 2022 semantic segmentation task, with a dataset only 1/3 size of the 1st model used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is difficult for conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to distinguish benign soft-tissue masses (STMs) from malignant masses. Purpose: To quantitatively compare the diagnostic value of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in STMs. Material and Methods: The data from 58 patients with STMs were retrospectively analyzed. The GE Discovery 3.0-T MRI scanner was used to acquire conventional MRI sequences, IVIM, and DKI images. The chi-square test, independent sample t-test, and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare the differences between conventional MRI features, IVIM, and DKI parameters (Dslow, Dfast, f, mean kurtosis [MK], and mean diffusivity [MD]) between the benign and malignant groups. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was also performed. Results: Tumor size and depth are statistically different in STTs. Dslow, MK, and MD values in the malignant groups are significantly lower than the benign groups (P < 0.05). However, Dfast and f values are not statistically different between the two groups. The area under the curve (AUC) of Dslow value (0.859) is higher than MD (0.765) and MK (0.676) values for identifying benign and malignant STMs. The Dslow value showed the best specificity (82.93%). The sensitivity and specificity of IVIM and DKI parameters are higher than that of conventional MRI sequences. Conclusion: IVIM and DKI can be used to distinguish between benign and malignant STMs, with Dslow as the most meaningful parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal cod fishery in Southern Norway has experienced a significant decline over the last decades. Recreational fishing for cod in the eastern part of the country is currently banned. Fisheries managers have adopted a variety of strategies to sustain the populations for resource users. Aquaculture-based fisheries enhancement has been considered as an alternative intervention to rebuild overexploited cod stock or to improve the opportunity for marine fishing. However, there has been a debate regarding its ecological and social effectiveness among stakeholders. In this paper, we conducted an online contingent valuation survey aiming to understand stakeholders' perceptions and attitude towards restocking of hatchery-produced juveniles as a potential restoration approach to rebuild depleted coastal cod populations and their willingness to pay for the implementation of such an enhancement program in southern Norway. Results indicate that the public has a positive perception to the potential restocking program. The average Willingness-To-Pay (WTP), e.g. fishing license fee, is approximately 175 NOK and 693 NOK if all of the respondents, and only counting those who are willing to, contribute. The introduction of a minimum fishing license fee of 175 NOK (approximately 17€) would cover the cost of production of over 20 million juvenile cod of appropriate size for release. Age of the respondents, the frequency of their fishing trips, and their perception of the decline of coastal cod were the main drivers for the WTP contribution while the amount of the WTP was strongly correlated to targeting particular species, educational level, and place of residence. Considering the critical situation of the coastal cod populations in southern Norway, together with the significant advances in cod rearing techniques, in fish tagging technology and the maturation of fisheries enhancement as science, and the positive stakeholders' perceptions and attitudes towards such an aquaculture-based enhancement program revealed from this study, it may be the time to re-evaluate the potential integration of a holistic cod restocking program within Norwegian coastal zone management. • Cod is an important food source and recreational fishing is highly valued in Agder. • Local stakeholders' have a positive attitude towards restocking coastal cod. • Respondents are willing to pay 175 NOK (≈ 17 €) on average for juvenile production. • A fishing license fee of 175 NOK would allow the release of over 20 million juveniles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A dynamic weighted phase shift migration (DW-PSM) phased array imaging method is proposed for hybrid fiber reinforced composites. • A modified K-K relation is established by introducing weighting factors for the attenuation and dispersion respectively. • A signal pre-processing procedure is applied to provide an instantaneous equal phase difference for imaging. • Wrinkles in depth can be quickly and accurately characterized by adjusting the weighting factor at only 1.6 s per frame. A dynamic weighted phase shift migration (DW-PSM) is proposed to detect wrinkles of high depth, i.e., larger than 10 mm, in thick fiber reinforced composites with ultrasonic phased arrays. The weighting factors are first introduced for the attenuation and dispersion respectively into modified K-K relations. A pre-processing procedure is then applied to correct the instantaneous phase difference into equal between adjacent layers. After evaluating the effective attenuation coefficients by averaging through all the phased array elements, an optimal weighting factor ratio is determined for each sample. Different to the depth information loss with classical PSM, wrinkles located at 11 mm, 15 mm, and 16 mm can be identified eventually in 18 mm hybrid carbon/glass fiber composite samples based on DW-PSM. A great resolution can be obtained by adopting appropriate frequency, weighting factors and migration steps. The detection errors of wrinkle angles are only 1.97 %, 2.38 %, and 2.42 %, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • In-situ growth of well-defined Co(Hmim) 2 on electrospun PAN surface was successfully achieved under ambient conditions. • Such PAN@Co-MOF membrane demonstrated unique characteristics of under-liquid switchable dual superlyophobicity. • Such PAN@Co-MOF membrane exhibited remarkable on-demand separation efficiency for both O/W and W/O emulsions. • Such PAN@Co-MOF membrane successfully activated persulfate (PMS) and exhibited high efficiency in degrading soluble dye. Developing membrane surfaces with double superlyophobicity properties under liquids for different separation applications poses significant challenges in thermodynamics and material science. Switchable superwettability is usually achieved through complex manipulation means and the application of external stimuli such as light, heat, electrical current, and so on. In this study, a reversible superhydrophobic/superoleophobic membrane (PAN@Co-MOF) was fabricated conveniently by in situ growth of Co(Hmim) 2 (Co-MOFs) onto the surfaces of electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The as-prepared PAN@Co-MOF membrane facilitated the selective passage of water or oil in a unidirectional manner, only when water or oil was prewetted, which enabled the efficient separation of oil-in-water (O/W) or water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions on demand. This novel organic and inorganic hybrid material overcame traditional limitations, resulting in a mechanically robust and reusable membrane. Moreover, the PAN@Co-MOF membrane demonstrated the capability to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for efficient dye degradation through interactions of Co-MOF with diverse liquids. Impressively, the O/W emulsion separation flux surpassed 1600 L·m−2·h−1 with chemical oxygen demand (COD) values of the filtrate below 100 mg·L−1, while the W/O emulsion separation flux exceeded 1040 L·m−2·h−1, maintaining the water content of the filtrate under 50 mg·L−1. Furthermore, the degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB) (50 ppm) achieved a staggering 99.3% within 10 min. This study offers an innovative idea for the development of multifunctional membrane materials with switchable superwettability in the integrated oil–water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a simple plasma switch structure based on metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide with dual control of pressure and light intensity is proposed and numerically simulated by finite element method. This structure consists of two rectangular cavities and a door-type bus waveguide with a circular barrier, and produces multiple resonances which can be adjusted independently by changing structural parameters. Pressure can effectively and selectively control the switch at different working wavelengths, and light intensity can also do this when the structure is filled with Kerr nonlinear materials instead of air. The transmission responses of the structure induced by pressure and light intensity are approximate S-curve, which proves that pressure and light intensity can realize switching effect. Furthermore, when only the bottom of a rectangular cavity is filled with Kerr nonlinear materials, an Off-On-Off switching process is achieved, in which the structure is switched from Off state to On state under pressure control and then from On state to Off state under light intensity control, and the extinction parameters are larger than 0.98. The dual control switch may be a suitable candidate for composite all-optical device in optical integrated circuits. • A simple MIM switch structure with dual control of pressure and light intensity is proposed. • An Off-On-Off switching process of dual control is achieved. • The switch can be controlled at different working wavelengths. • The extinction parameters of the Off-On process and the On-Off process are 0.981 and 0.984. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape-controlled CeO 2 nano-rods (CeO 2 -R), CeO 2 nano-cubes (CeO 2 -C) and CeO 2 nano-octahedrons (CeO 2 -O) were prepared as support of Ag/CeO 2 for soot combustion. Ag/CeO 2 -C is more active than Ag/CeO 2 -R and Ag/CeO 2 -O, even with the presence of water, whose TOF value is 7.7, 11.4 times of Ag/CeO 2 -R and Ag/CeO 2 -O, respectively. The chemical state of Ag and the ability in oxygen activation is controlled by the support morphology through the interaction between Ag and CeO 2. The weak interaction makes Ag in form of metallic state on Ag/CeO 2 -C which has better contact extent with soot than Ag oxides. Meanwhile, a high concentration of bulk oxygen vacancies on Ag/CeO 2 -C is also formed which efficiently provide active oxygen species by oxygen reverse spillover. It also explores a new pathway boosting soot combustion. As for CeO 2 -R and CeO 2 -O, although the introduced Ag improves the surface reducibility on CeO 2 , similar oxygen desorption behavior with the introduction of Ag reveals the unchanged way in oxygen activation and reaction pathway in soot combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to assess the climate effects on fisheries from a bottom-up approach based on fishers' fishing experience, knowledge, and perceptions. To perform this task, a social vulnerability assessment was conducted in two different fishing areas: one in Spain and the other one in Turkey. The vulnerability was measured using the collected data and information through a structured questionnaire, and surveys were carried out among fishers in the Castelló (Spain) and the Aegean Sea (Turkey) between 2018 and 2019. Overall, the results indicated that the two studied regions have a moderate to high vulnerability and that the Aegean Sea was slightly more vulnerable than Castelló. It was also found that storms and temperature are the main climatic stressors that affect the fishing sector, and the economic indicators such as revenue from fishing in both regions showed high degrees of sensitivity. To reduce the vulnerability to climate change, adaptive measures should be implemented while taking into consideration the specific socio-economic and institutional characteristics of each region. In conclusion, the effects of climate change on the fishing sector and their social vulnerability are diverse. Consequently, there is no single climate measure that can minimize the vulnerability of fishing sectors in different regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer and is a frequent cause of death. In our research, A549 and SK-MES-1 were used to assess the effect of three-dimensional (3D) culture compared to that of two-dimensional (2D) monolayers in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, response to chemotherapy, as well as the expression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell (CSC)-related markers. As tadalafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor with the potential to target CSC maintenance in multiple cancer cell lines, we assessed its function in 3D culture and detected the downstream pathway genes. Methods: We compared the viability and proliferation capacity of A549 and SK-MES-1 cells in 2D and 3D culture by cell counting kit (CCK)-8, foci formation, and Live/Dead double stain (Operetta CLS High content screening). Migration, invasion, and other functions were also assessed. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, the expression of EMT and CSC markers was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blot. Results: A549 and SK-MES-1 cells formed spheroids heterogeneous in shape and size. In our 3D spheroid systems, cells went through EMT, and were also capacitated with higher stemness and chemoresistance. Combination use of tadalafil and cisplatin showed higher chemotherapy efficiency in the 3D model, compared to that of the 2D cell culture. Conclusion: Our research aims at the notable differences between these two cellular systems in terms of cell functions, EMT, and stemness-associated gene expression and chemo-response. We showed that a commonly used drug, tadalafil, showed more pronounced inhibitory effects when cells were cultured in the 3D model. Since the 3D culture system could imitate the in vivo behavior of cancer cells within the tumor, we advocate that this system is superior to traditional 2D culture and should be used in the investigation of new therapeutic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banning gasoline vehicle sales policy (BGVSP) is considered a potentially important drivers for achieving carbon peak. This study, therefore, analyzed public support for such policies from the perspective of consumers. Using a grounded-theory approach, we developed a public-support model for BGVSP, on that basis, revealed the effects of the key elements and the theoretical logic. The results revealed: 1) Individual and psychological factors are important internal motivations, while the external driving factors include contextual factors and product factors. 2) The depth of individual perception is key to filling gaps in attitudes and behavior, and it plays an important role in improving public support. 3) The external contextual factors that affect consumer support mainly include external incentives, social influences, and urban contextual variables, which also play a moderating role in the integration model. The results show that the prohibition policy is easy to bring negative emotions, thereby causing public resistance, so the design of BGVSP should be based on the understanding of individual cognition, attitude and emotions. This paper constructs a model of the motivation of public support for China's localized BGVSP, and clarifies the core influencing factors and mechanisms, which provides fresh ideas for the realization of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. • Banning gasoline vehicles increase the speed of carbon peaks in the transportation sector. • The public support for banning gasoline vehicle sales policy has been explored. • Developed a public support model with four core categories, namely, individual, psychological, contextual, and product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc ferrate nanoparticles (ZnFe2O4 NPs) have attracted enormous interest as potential nanomaterials. The purpose of this study was to examine the in vitro macrophages toxicity, in vivo safety, and immunogenicity. Three kinds of ZnFe2O4 NPs with different shapes (round, litchi, and raspberry), nano-sizes, and pores were successfully prepared. In vitro experiments showed that ZnFe2O4 NPs caused no cytotoxicity against the RAW 264.7 cells up to administered dose of 200 μg/mL, enhanced proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α, and costimulatory marker CD86 expression in the RAW 264.7 cells. Interestingly, ZnFe2O4 NPs reduced ROS expression, which was inconsistent with common metal oxide NPs such as iron oxide (Fe3O4) NPs and zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs. ZnFe2O4 NPs improved the RAW 264.7 cells phagocytosed more neutral red. There was no obvious difference in body weight, the number of immune cells, organ index, and expression of inflammatory factors in serum of rats administrated intravenously and subcutaneously on day 21 after treatment by ZnFe2O4 NPs in comparison with the blank control. These results demonstrated that ZnFe2O4 NPs slightly enhanced the function of the RAW 264.7 cells in vitro but caused no obvious toxicity to macrophages as well as rat blood cells, and low immunogenicity in rats, suggesting that ZnFe2O4 NPs as a biocompatible nanomaterials achieved potential for bioapplication in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entangled proteins have attracted significant research interest. Herein, we report the first rationally designed lasso proteins, or protein [1]rotaxanes, by using a p53dim‐entwined dimer for intramolecular entanglement and a SpyTag‐SpyCatcher reaction for side‐chain ring closure. The lasso structures were confirmed by proteolytic digestion, mutation, NMR spectrometry, and controlled ligation. Their dynamic properties were probed by experiments such as end‐capping, proteolytic digestion, and heating/cooling. As a versatile topological intermediate, a lasso protein could be converted to a rotaxane, a heterocatenane, and a "slide‐ring" network. Being entirely genetically encoded, this robust and modular lasso‐protein motif is a valuable addition to the topological protein repertoire and a promising candidate for protein‐based biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entangled proteins have attracted significant research interest. Herein, we report the first rationally designed lasso proteins, or protein [1]rotaxanes, by using a p53dim‐entwined dimer for intramolecular entanglement and a SpyTag‐SpyCatcher reaction for side‐chain ring closure. The lasso structures were confirmed by proteolytic digestion, mutation, NMR spectrometry, and controlled ligation. Their dynamic properties were probed by experiments such as end‐capping, proteolytic digestion, and heating/cooling. As a versatile topological intermediate, a lasso protein could be converted to a rotaxane, a heterocatenane, and a "slide‐ring" network. Being entirely genetically encoded, this robust and modular lasso‐protein motif is a valuable addition to the topological protein repertoire and a promising candidate for protein‐based biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the biosynthesis of protein heterocatenanes using a programmed sequence of multiple post‐translational processing events including intramolecular chain entanglement, in situ backbone cleavage, and spontaneous cyclization. The approach is general, autonomous, and can obviate the need for any additional enzymes. The catenane topology was convincingly proven using a combination of SDS‐PAGE, LC‐MS, size exclusion chromatography, controlled proteolytic digestion, and protein crystallography. The X‐ray crystal structure clearly shows two mechanically interlocked protein rings with intact folded domains. It opens new avenues in the nascent field of protein‐topology engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the biosynthesis of protein heterocatenanes using a programmed sequence of multiple post‐translational processing events including intramolecular chain entanglement, in situ backbone cleavage, and spontaneous cyclization. The approach is general, autonomous, and can obviate the need for any additional enzymes. The catenane topology was convincingly proven using a combination of SDS‐PAGE, LC‐MS, size exclusion chromatography, controlled proteolytic digestion, and protein crystallography. The X‐ray crystal structure clearly shows two mechanically interlocked protein rings with intact folded domains. It opens new avenues in the nascent field of protein‐topology engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, by introducing the long-chain branched (LCB) structure into the polyamide 6 (PA6) matrix, low-density microcellular PA6 composite foams with favorable cell morphology were prepared using supercritical CO 2 extrusion foaming. PA6/talc composites with varying degrees of LCB were prepared using a twin-screw extruder. Rheological tests showed that the LCB-4.0 T sample with an ultra-high LCB degree had more apparent strain-hardening behavior and higher instantaneous elongational viscosity of 4.40 × 108 Pa·s. Isothermal crystallization tests revealed that LCB-4.0 T had lower crystallization rate. The effect of the degree of LCB on the gas solubility of CO 2 in the PA6 composites was also examined. The foamability of the PA6/talc composites was verified via continuous extrusion foaming. High-performance PA6 composite foams with an average cell size as low as 66.7 µm, cell density as high as 2.53 × 107 cells/cm3, expansion ratio as high as 11.8, and foaming temperature window as wide as 16 °C were successfully obtained. [Display omitted] • Microcellular polyamide 6 foams with favorable cell morphology were prepared using supercritical CO 2 foaming extrusion. • Comprehensive relationship between long-chain branched degree and properties of polyamide 6 composites was expounded. • Extruded foams showed small cell size of 66.7 µm, high cell density of 2.53 × 107 cells/cm3, and high expansion ratio of 11.8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes severe infectious diseases in all ages of swine and leads to serious economic losses. Serologic tests are widely accepted and used to detect anti-PEDV antibodies that could indicate PEDV infection or vaccination. In this study, PEDV recombinant S1 protein (rS1) was expressed with the Bac-to-Bac system and purified by nickel-affinity chromatography. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on rS1 (rS1-ELISA) was then developed and optimized by checkerboard assays with serial dilutions of antigen and serum. Serum samples from 453 domestic pigs and 42 vaccinated pigs were analyzed by the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test and rS1-ELISA. Taking IFA as a gold standard, rS1-ELISA produced a high sensitivity (90.7%) and specificity (94.6%) by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. In addition, ROC analysis also revealed that rS1-ELISA was consistent with IFA (area under the curve 0.9583 ± 0.0082). This rS1-ELISA was then applied to antibody detection in inactivated PEDV vaccinated pigs. The antibody could be detected 2–4 weeks after the first inoculation. These results indicated that the rS1-ELISA established in this study provides a promising and reliable tool for serologic detection of anti-PEDV IgG antibodies in infected or vaccinated pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Most coronary smooth muscle cells(CoSMCs) are differentiated from epicardial progenitor cells(EPCs), but the specific mechanism is not fully investigated. Previous studies have shown that autophagy plays an important role for smooth muscle cells(SMCs) differentiation, yet whether autophagy is involved in the differentiation of EPCs into CoSMCs remains unclear. In the present study, We first isolated and cultured EPCs and continuously cultured them for 72 h. Then the autophagy induction and inhibition experiment was established by using the autophagy inducer Rapamycin(RAPA) and the inhibitor 3-Methyladenine(3-MA). And further animal experiments were conducted to observe the effects of autophagy on the development of coronary arteries. Our data showed that autophagy occurred in the differentiation of EPCs into SMCs. Over activation of autophagy may lead to early transient differentiation of EPCs, enhanced migration ability and weakened systolic function, but overall, CoSMC development is still inhibited. However, inhibition of autophagy may delay the differentiation of EPCs, thus reducing the number of coronary arteries. Together, all these processes indicate that autophagy may regulate the differentiation of EPCs into CoSMCs by affecting the time point of differentiation, and appropriate autophagy intensity is required during the development of CoSMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A least square-based polynomial is fitted to a partial charging voltage curve. • A DBN model based on polynomial parameters is constructed to estimate the battery capacity. • The influence of different partial charging data spans on the capacity estimation accuracy is thoroughly explored. Accurate capacity estimation of lithium-ion batteries is an important topic for electric vehicles. In real cases, electric vehicles are usually not charged from zero to full capacity; thus, the battery management systems (BMSs) of electric vehicles have insufficient data when evaluating battery capacity degradation. Considering the above conditions, we propose a flexible battery capacity estimation method based on partial charging voltage curves and polynomial fitting. First, the charge voltage curve is fitted with a polynomial function with respect to time. Then, the parameters of the polynomial functions are selected as health indicators (HIs) for the battery. Finally, these parameters are input into a deep learning model to estimate the battery capacity. Compared with existing data-driven methods, the proposed method requires less voltage data and is more flexible, allowing the battery charging capacity to be estimated in different phases. Batteries in different working scenarios were compared with advanced features proposed in the literature to validate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is highly attractive to develop highly efficient oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion separation technologies for promoting the oily wastewater treatment. Herein, a novel inversely Stenocara beetle -like hierarchical structure of superhydrophobic SiO 2 nanoparticle-decorated CuC 2 O 4 nanosheet arrays were prepared on copper mesh membrane by bridging polydopamine (PDA) to make a SiO 2 /PDA@CuC 2 O 4 membrane for substantially enhanced separation of O/W emulsions. The superhydrophobic SiO 2 particles on the as-prepared SiO 2 /PDA@CuC 2 O 4 membranes were served as localized active sites to induce coalescence of small-size oil droplets in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. Such innovated membrane delivered outstanding demulsification ability of O/W emulsion with a high separation flux of 2.5 kL⋅m−2⋅h−1 and its filtrate's chemical oxygen demand (COD) being 30 and 100 mg⋅L−1 for surfactant-free emulsion (SFE) and surfactant-stabilized emulsion (SSE), respectively, and also exhibited a good anti-fouling performance in cycling tests. The innovative design strategy developed in this work broadens the application of superwetting materials for oil-water separation and presents a promising prospect in practical oily wastewater treatment applications. [Display omitted] • A novel inverse Stenocara beetle -like hierarchical structure SiO 2 /PDA@CuC 2 O 4 membrane was fabricated. • Superhydrophobic SiO 2 nanoparticles were bridged by polydopamine to decorate CuC 2 O 4 nanosheets. • The superoleophilic SiO 2 was proven to induce oil droplet coalescence to achieve rapid demulsification. • Such SiO 2 /PDA@CuC 2 O 4 membrane delivered superior separation efficiency of surfactant-stabilized O/W emulsion. • The postulated capture mechanism of oil droplets on the SiO 2 /PDA@CuC 2 O 4 was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementation of the banning gasoline vehicles sales policy (BGVSP) will help China achieve its dual carbon goal, but it will harm consumers' rights of choice. Thus, we used grounded theory, a questionnaire survey, and structural equation modeling to build a theoretical motivation model of the public willingness to support (PWTS). Based on 1371 questionnaires, we verified the core influencing factors and mechanisms of the PWTS. The main results are as follows. (1) Because of their different motives, the PWTS can result from three reasons, i.e., decision-making, interpersonal, and civic, in which the proportion of civic awareness is higher. (2) Among individual factors, an environmentally oriented lifestyle and preference for environmental protection have a higher positive effect on the improvement of support intention, but for interpersonal support intention, the effect of economic preference is more significant. (3) The mediating role and effect of psychological factors among the individual factors are quite different. The indirect effect of values and public awareness is higher. (4) The product factors related to new energy vehicles are external moderator variables that affect the PWTS, which play negative effects in the role of preference factors. Hence, from a micro perspective, this study has improved the research scope around the BGVSP, and also contributed feasible recommendations to promote the implementation of the ban. • A motivation model of the PWTS for the BGVSP was constructed based on grounded theory. • 1371 primary data on the PWTS were collected. • The PWTS were classified into three categories because of the differences in intentions. • Fresh ideas are provided to promote the withdrawal of global ICEVs from the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A technique combining ion mobility spectrometry‐mass spectrometry (IMS‐MS) and supercharging electrospray ionization (ESI) has been demonstrated to differentiate protein chemical topology effectively. Incorporating as many charges as possible into proteins via supercharging ESI allows the protein chains to be largely unfolded and stretched, revealing their hidden chemical topology. Different chemical topologies result in differing geometrical sizes of the unfolded proteins due to constraints in torsional rotations in cyclic domains. By introducing new topological indices, such as the chain‐length‐normalized collision cross‐section (CCS) and the maximum charge state (zM) in the extensively unfolded state, we were able to successfully differentiate various protein chemical topologies, including linear chains, ring‐containing topologies (lasso, tadpole, multicyclics, etc.), and mechanically interlocked rings, like catenanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A technique combining ion mobility spectrometry‐mass spectrometry (IMS‐MS) and supercharging electrospray ionization (ESI) has been demonstrated to differentiate protein chemical topology effectively. Incorporating as many charges as possible into proteins via supercharging ESI allows the protein chains to be largely unfolded and stretched, revealing their hidden chemical topology. Different chemical topologies result in differing geometrical sizes of the unfolded proteins due to constraints in torsional rotations in cyclic domains. By introducing new topological indices, such as the chain‐length‐normalized collision cross‐section (CCS) and the maximum charge state (zM) in the extensively unfolded state, we were able to successfully differentiate various protein chemical topologies, including linear chains, ring‐containing topologies (lasso, tadpole, multicyclics, etc.), and mechanically interlocked rings, like catenanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency logistics is an essential component of post-disaster relief campaigns. However, there are always various uncertainties when making decisions related to planning and implementing post-disaster relief logistics. Considering the particular environmental conditions during post-disaster relief after a catastrophic earthquake in a mountainous area, this paper proposes a stochastic model for post-disaster relief logistics to guide the tactical design for mobilizing relief supply levels, planning initial helicopter deployments, and creating transportation plans within the disaster region, given the uncertainties in demand and transportation time. We then introduce a robust optimization approach to cope with these uncertainties and deduce the robust counterpart of the proposed stochastic model. A numerical example based on disaster logistics during the Great Sichuan Earthquake demonstrates that the model can help post-disaster managers to determine the initial deployments of emergency resources. Sensitivity analyses explore the trade-off between optimization and robustness by varying the robust optimization parameter values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated uranium bioleaching from low-grade, granite-type uranium ore using mixed acidophilic microbes from uranium mine leachate. A 4854-ton plant-scale heap bioleaching process achieved sustained leaching with a uranium leaching efficiency of 88.3% using a pH of 1.0-2.0 and an Fe dosage of 3.0-5.5 g/L. Acid consumption amounted to 25.8 g HSO kg ore. Uranium bioleaching follows a diffusion-controlled kinetic model with a correlation coefficient of 0.9136. Almost all uranium was dissolved in aqueous solution, except those encapsulated in quartz particles. Therefore, heap bioleaching by mixed acidophilic microbes enables efficient, economical, large-scale recovery of uranium from low-grade ores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction of system degradation is very important as it serves as an important basis for the formulation of condition-based maintenance strategies. An effective health indicator (HI) plays a key role in the prediction of system degradation as it enables vital information for critical tasks ranging from fault diagnosis to remaining useful life prediction. To address this issue, a method for monitoring data fusion and health indicator construction based on an autoencoder (AE) and a long short-term memory (LSTM) network is proposed in this study to improve the predictability and effectiveness of health indicators. Firstly, an unsupervised method and overall framework for HI construction is built based on a deep autoencoder and an LSTM neural network. The neural network is trained fully based on the normal operating monitoring data and then the construction error of the AE model is adopted as the health indicator of the system. Secondly, we propose related machine learning techniques for monitoring data processing to overcome the issue of data fusion, such as mutual information for sensor selection and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (T-SNE) for operating condition identification. Thirdly, in order to verify the performance of the proposed method, experiments are conducted based on the CMAPSS dataset and results are compared with algorithms of principal component analysis (PCA) and a vanilla autoencoder model. Result shows that the LSTM-AE model outperforms the PCA and Vanilla-AE model in the metrics of monotonicity, trendability, prognosability, and fitness. Fourthly, in order to analyze the impact of the time step of the LSMT-AE model on HI construction, we construct and analyze the system HI curve under different time steps of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 cycles. Finally, the results demonstrate that the proposed method for HI construction can effectively characterize the health state of a system, which is helpful for the development of further failure prognostics and converting the scheduled maintenance into condition-based maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three rare-earth containing docosatungstates Na 3 H 2 [RE(H 2 O) 4 ][RE(H 2 O) 5 ] 2 [W 22 O 74 H 2 ]·36H 2 O [RE = Dy III ( 1 ), Ho III ( 2 ), Y III ( 3 )] have been synthesized by reaction of Na 2 WO 4 ·2H 2 O, dimethylamine hydrochloride (DMAHC) and RE(NO 3 ) 3 ·6H 2 O in the aqueous solution and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 – 3 are isomorphous and each molecular unit consists of a S -shaped docosatungstate [W 22 O 74 H 2 ] 14 − polyoxoanion with two supporting [RE(H 2 O) 5 ] 3 + cations and one disordered [RE(H 2 O) 4 ] 3 + cation. The [W 22 O 74 H 2 ] 14 − polyoxoanion can be viewed as combination of two hendecatungstate [W 11 O 38 H] 9 − subunits in the staggered fashion by sharing two μ 2 -O atoms. The TG curves of 1 – 3 reveal the one-step weight loss between 25 °C to 700 °C. Moreover, both 1 and 2 demonstrate the characteristic luminescence emission behaviors of the corresponding RE 3 + ions and their lifetime decay curves can be well fitted to the double exponential function. In addition, the CIE chromaticity coordinates of 1 and 2 have been obtained based on their corresponding emission spectra, and their dominant wavelengths and color purities have been also calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technology of flexible blank holder (FBH) in multi-point forming (MPF) is a novel forming process for spherical surface parts, which is proposed based on the flexible method. According to the mechanical characteristics of the forming parts as well as the stress and strain state, the forming parts with good quality are obtained by reasonable distribution of the blank holder block and different blank holder force (BHF) at different locations. An original rigid FBH device is designed. Finite element analysis models of flexible blank holder (FBH) and no blank holder (NBH) are established, spherical surface parts with different BHF are simulated and then acquired the optimal BHF. The results indicate that FBH forming technology can avoid wrinkling defects effectively, the stress and strain are smaller and distribute uniformly, sheet metal flow is more uniform, and thickness distribution is more reasonable. Finally, a series of experiments of 08Al and 1060 with different thickness are completed in MPF dies to confirm the feasibility and versatility of the FBH device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin exerts many physiological effects via melatonin receptors, among which the melatonin-2 receptor ( MT2) plays a critical role in circadian rhythm disorders, Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. A melatonin replacement strategy has been tested previously, and MT2 was a critical target during the process. cAMP response element binding ( CREB) is an essential transcription factor for memory formation and could be involved in MT2 signalling. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of prophylactic melatonin on inhaled anaesthetic isoflurane-induced cognitive impairment, and to determine whether the protective effects of melatonin are dependent on MT2 and downstream CREB signalling in the hippocampus of aged rats. The results showed that prophylactic melatonin attenuated isoflurane-induced decreases in plasma/hippocampal melatonin levels and cognitive impairment in aged rats. Furthermore, 4P- PDOT, a selective MT2 antagonist, blocked the protective effects of melatonin on isoflurane-induced decreases in both hippocampal MT2 expression and downstream CREB phosphorylation. And 4P- PDOT blocked the attenuation of melatonin on isoflurane-induced memory impairment. Collectively, the results suggest that the protective effects of prophylactic melatonin are dependent on hippocampal MT2- CREB signalling, which could be a potential therapeutic target for anaesthetic-induced cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two organic–inorganic hybrid isonicotinate-bridging lanthanide substituted phosphotungstates [H 2 N(CH 3 ) 2 ] 8 [Ln(H 2 O) (INA)( α -HPW 11 O 39 )] 2 ·14H 2 O (Ln = Ho Ш for 1 , Er Ш for 2 ) (HINA = isonicotinic acid) have been obtained by reaction of the Na 9 [ α -PW 9 O 34 ]·16H 2 O precursor, Ln(NO 3 ) 3 ·6H 2 O, C 2 H 7 N·HCl and HINA in aqueous solution and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. Isostructural 1 and 2 consist of one inorganic–organic hybrid dimeric {[Ln(H 2 O)(INA)( α -HPW 11 O 39 )] 2 } 8 − core constituted by two symmetrically mono-Ln substituted Keggin subunits [Ln(H 2 O)(INA)( α -HPW 11 O 39 )] 4 − bridged by two INA − ligands in the (η 2 ,μ-1,1) fashion. Intriguingly, adjacent hybrid dimeric {[Ln(H 2 O)(INA)( α -HPW 11 O 39 )] 2 } 8 − cores can be extended into a 2-D supramolecular layer via hydrogen bonding interactions. To our knowledge, 1 and 2 represent the first isonicotinate-bridging dimeric mono-lanthanide substituted phosphotungstates. Furthermore, the solid-state fluorescence properties and lifetime decay behaviors of 1 and 2 in visible and near-infrared regions have also been investigated in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bandaging, which has been used either to support a medical device such as a dressing or splint, or on its own to provide support to the body or restrict the motion of a part of the body, is further studied in our work in the form of multifunctional materials for self-monitoring and self-correcting by integration with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Here, modified polymer fibers for bandages can be fabricated from fibers of commercially available bandages with carbon nanotubes uniformly adhering to the fibers, via a simple solution process to produce tough, flexible, and electrically conducting fibers. The conductivity of the coated bandage fibers is reversibly sensitive to strain, and strain in the coated bandage fibers also can be generated by electrical heating, leading to proof-of-concept sensor and actuator demonstrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promising method of carbon emission reduction, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is an important technology to achieve carbon neutrality. CO 2 geological storage is an indispensable part of CCUS technology, and it is also the most effective measure for long-term storage of CO 2. However, when the injected high-pressure CO 2 encounters formation water, the pH value of the system will turn down to about 3.0 Wellbore cement degradation would be a problem because the internal structure would become loose under such a strong acid environment for a long period, and can ultimately lead to gas leakage. In addition, the complex temperature and pressure changes caused by the injection of CO 2 in the underground would also lead to micro-annulus between cement-casing and cement-formation rock. Due to the existence of hydrodynamic drive and buoyancy, the escape of CO 2 is inevitable, thus an appropriate sealant is necessary for the remediation of CO 2 leakage pathways. Gel systems are widely used as sealants in the field of oil and gas industry. Polymer gel is a kind of organic gel that can be modified by changing synthesis methods and synthetic ingredient, for instance, CO 2 -responsive gels are prepared by introducing CO 2 -sensitive groups on the macromolecular chain. Inorganic gels such as silicate gels are also an ideal sealants thanks to their advance chemical stability and injectability. This paper mainly reviewed recent advances of three types of gel systems for CO 2 leakage remediation, namely CO 2 responsive gels, silicate gels and polymer gels. Gelation process and characteristic of gel systems were also discussed. Finally, based on current research advances and existing problems, future prospect of gel systems used for CO 2 leakage remediation were proposed. • Gel systems for CO 2 geological storage leakage remediation were reviewed systematically. • Mechanical strength, temperature resistance and injectivity of the gel system were proposed to be enhanced. • The importance of gel application of CO 2 -responsive gel was emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been recent efforts to use reality capture technologies to perform remote quality control in construction. However, there is a lack of research efforts in detecting construction incompatibilities in modular construction using reality capture technologies. The construction incompatibilities in modular construction often cause reworks and delays in the project schedule. To address this issue, this paper presents a general compatibility analysis method that propose scanning the modules in manufacturing plant and construction site, and check module-to-module compatibility remotely, prior to the shipment and installation. This study provides three sample module-to-module compatibility scenarios to validate the proposed compatibility analysis. The case study results show that the compatibility analysis method was able to identify the compatibility issues with high accuracy. Lastly, the compatibility analysis method was validated in terms of accuracy and time performance in six scenarios that was defined on the modules. • Compatibility checking method between modules to be assembled using 3D models. • Generalized method that works for different types and shapes of modular components. • Compatibility method was tested using three case studies. • Method can detect geometric defects and incompatibilities between modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrothermal reaction of K 8 Na 2 [A-α-GeW 9 O 34 ]·25H 2 O, Cu(CH 3 COO) 2 ·H 2 O, Ln(NO 3 )·6H 2 O and ethylenediamine (en) has led to a series of inorganic–organic hybrid copper–lanthanide heterometal comprising germanotungstates (GTs) [Cu(en) 2 (H 2 O)] 6 [Ln(H 2 O)(CH 3 COO)(α-GeW 11 O 39 )] 2 ·8H 2 O [Ln = Nd 3+ ( 1 ), Sm 3+ ( 2 ), Eu 3+ ( 3 ), Gd 3+ ( 4 ), Dy 3+ ( 5 ), Ho 3+ ( 6 )], which have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, thermogravimetric (TG) analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Their common feature of 1 – 6 is that they all comprise a CH 3 COO-bridging mono-Ln substituted dimeric GT fragment [Ln(H 2 O)(CH 3 COO)(α-GeW 11 O 39 )] 2 12− with six supporting [Cu(en) 2 (H 2 O)] 2+ complex cations. To the best of our knowledge, such monovacant Keggin-type GTs containing both Cu–Ln heterometal centers and mixed en and acetate ligands are very rare. The luminescence properties and the lifetime decay behavior of the solid sample of 3 have been intensively investigated at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single metal oxides MO x (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ce) and supported metal oxides MO x /CeO 2 (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) were tested as catalysts at first for removing CO from a H 2 -rich gas (2% CO, 75% H 2 , 23% N 2 ) with externally supplied air as oxidant. Partial reduction of the metal oxides in the reaction gas (i.e., 100 ml/min the H 2 -rich gas + 15 ml/min air) was confirmed by XRD analyses. Metallic Co and Ni formed at the higher reaction temperatures, which then catalyzed CO methanation reaction. In this way, CO in the H 2 -rich gas was removed actually by oxidation reaction at low reaction temperatures and subsequently with contribution of CO methanation reaction at higher reaction temperatures. To utilize the feature of sequential reactions of CO in the reaction gas, ternary metal oxide catalysts CuO–NiO/CeO 2 were developed. High CO conversions were thus achieved in an expanded reaction temperature range owing to combination of the catalytic effects of CuO/CeO 2 with NiO/CeO 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean net pen production of Atlantic salmon is approaching 2 million metric tons (MT) annually and has proven to be cost- and energy-efficient. Recently, with technology improvements, freshwater aquaculture of Atlantic salmon from eggs to harvestable size of 4–5 kg in land-based closed containment (LBCC) water recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) has been demonstrated as a viable production technology. Land-based, closed containment water recirculating aquaculture systems technology offers the ability to fully control the rearing environment and provides flexibility in locating a production facility close to the market and on sites where cost of land and power are competitive. This flexibility offers distinct advantages over Atlantic salmon produced in open net pen systems, which is dependent on access to suitable coastal waters and a relatively long transport distance to supply the US market. Consequently, in this paper we present an analysis of the investment needed, the production cost, the profitability and the carbon footprint of producing 3300 MT of head-on gutted (HOG) Atlantic salmon from eggs to US market (wholesale) using two different production systems—LBCC-RAS technology and open net pen (ONP) technology using enterprise budget analysis and carbon footprint with the LCA method. In our analysis we compare the traditional open net pen production system in Norway and a model freshwater LBCC-RAS facility in the US. The model ONP is small compared to the most ONP systems in Norway, but the LBCC-RAS is large compared to any existing LBCC-RAS for Atlantic salmon. The results need to be interpreted with this in mind. Results of the financial analysis indicate that the total production costs for two systems are relatively similar, with LBCC-RAS only 10% higher than the ONP system on a head-on gutted basis (5.60 US$/kg versus 5.08 US$/kg, respectively). Without interest and depreciation, the two production systems have an almost equal operating cost (4.30 US$/kg for ONP versus 4.37 US$/kg for LBCC-RAS). Capital costs of the two systems are not similar for the same 3300 MT of head-on gutted salmon. The capital cost of the LBCC-RAS model system is approximately 54,000,000 US$ and the capital cost of the ONP system is approximately 30,000,000 US$, a difference of 80%. However, the LBCC-RAS model system selling salmon at a 30% price premium is comparatively as profitable as the ONP model system (profit margin of 18% versus 24%, respectively), even though its 15-year net present value is negative and its return on investment is lower than ONP system (9% versus 18%, respectively). The results of the carbon footprint analysis confirmed that production of feed is the dominating climate aspect for both production methods, but also showed that energy source and transport methods are important. It was shown that fresh salmon produced in LBCC-RAS systems close to a US market that use an average US electricity mix have a much lower carbon footprint than fresh salmon produced in Norway in ONP systems shipped to the same market by airfreight, 7.41 versus 15.22 kg CO 2 eq/kg salmon HOG, respectively. When comparing the carbon footprint of production-only, the LBCC-RAS-produced salmon has a carbon footprint that is double that of the ONP-produced salmon, 7.01 versus 3.39 kg CO 2 eq/kg salmon live-weight, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased sea lice densities in the farmed salmon sector have recently led to the growing concerns in Canada, Chile and Norway as the main producer countries. The sea lice incur problems within the farmed fish industry itself as well as in wild stocks. We present a bioeconomic model for wild Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) and explore to what extent the harvest and social benefit of wild salmon fishing in Norway are affected by sea lice-induced mortality. An age-structured population model is required to analyze the losses because the salmon post-smolts are the most vulnerable to attack by sea lice, while the harvest value is related to the three age classes of mature spawning fish. Losses are analyzed by determining the reduced harvesting value as well as the non-consumptive (conservation) value of the wild salmon stock pertinent to various sea lice-induced mortality levels. Our findings indicate that welfare and economic losses in a typical Norwegian salmon river may range from 15 to 25%. In addition, at low sea lice levels, the welfare improvement associated with selective harvest is quite modest, and is even lower when non-consumptive values are deemed important. On the other hand, when sea lice-induced mortality levels are very high, the welfare improvements of selective harvest are substantial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hierarchical CuC 2 O 4 @Cu-MOFs nanostructure was fabricated to construct underoil superhydrophilic surface. • Superwetting CuC 2 O 4 @Cu-MOFs-coated membrane exhibited excellent underoil water absorption capacity. • The CM@CuC 2 O 4 @Cu-MOFs delivered high separation efficiency for both O/W and W/O emulsions. • The CM@CuC 2 O 4 @Cu-MOFs showed outstanding removal efficiency of soluble dyes and complex emulsions. Underoil superhydrophilic surface is of great significance for the separation of water-in-oil emulsions, but its preparation is still a great challenge due to limited wetting thermodynamics. Herein, a well-designed hierarchical CuC 2 O 4 @Cu-MOFs (HKUST-1) core-shell nanosheets-coated copper mesh membrane was fabricated by facile immersion processes for on demand separation of oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions as well as highly efficient removal of soluble dyes. The as-fabricated hierarchical CuC 2 O 4 @HKUST-1 core-shell nanostructure endowed the mesh membrane with underwater superoleophobicity, underoil superhydrophilicity and excellent underwater oil anti-adhesion capability. Such superwetting MOFs-coated membrane delivered an outstanding separation performance for oil-in-water emulsion with high water flux of up to 1800 L m−2 h−1and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) value of lower than 110 mg L−1 by selective water filtration, whilst it efficiently separated water-in-oil emulsion by adsorption with a water content of lower than 120 ppm. Furthermore, the as-prepared mesh membrane also exhibited high removal efficiency of soluble dyes at circa 94% within 165 min by the adsorption-photocatalytic coupled process. The postulated photocatalytic mechanism of CuC 2 O 4 @HKUST-1 composite was ascribed to the photogenerated superoxide (O 2 −) and hydroxyl radicals (OH). With the desirable separation performance to complex oil-in-water emulsion containing both emulsified oil droplets and soluble dyes, the as-synthesized mesh membrane enriches the preparation path of underoil superhydrophilic surface, and expands the application of MOFs-based membrane for complex oily wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the costs of sea lice control strategies associated with salmon aquaculture at a farm level in Norway. Diseases can cause reduction in growth, low feed efficiency and market prices, increasing mortality rates, and expenditures on prevention and treatment measures. Aquaculture farms suffer the most direct and immediate economic losses from diseases. The goal of a control strategy is to minimize the total disease costs, including biological losses, and treatment costs while to maximize overall profit. Prevention and control strategies are required to eliminate or minimize the disease, while cost-effective disease control strategies at the fish farm level are designed to reduce the losses, and to enhance productivity and profitability. Thus, the goal can be achieved by integrating models of fish growth, sea lice dynamics and economic factors. A production function is first constructed to incorporate the effects of sea lice on production at a farm level, followed by a detailed cost analysis of several prevention and treatment strategies associated with sea lice in Norway. The results reveal that treatments are costly and treatment costs are very sensitive to treatment types used and timing of the treatment conducted. Applying treatment at an early growth stage is more economical than at a later stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The strength variation of HMAC with loading rate under various loading patterns was revealed. • The fatigue properties of HMAC measured by diverse experiments were normalized. • The accuracy of fatigue resistances design parameters for high modulus asphalt pavements was improved. As a new material, high modulus asphalt concrete (HMAC) with good durability is widely used in the pavement engineering. One of the most critical performance indexes of HMAC is the fatigue cracking. However, in the experiment of evaluating the fatigue properties, different anti-fatigue effects are obtained only by adding different modifiers. In addition, using only one loading mode to determine the fatigue properties of HMAC neglects the fact that there is a difference among the fatigue test results in various loading modes, which artificially leads to the non-uniqueness and unscientific design of high modulus asphalt pavements for the fatigue resistance. Therefore, four internationally accepted mainstream strength tests at different loading rates, including direct tension, indirect tension, unconfined compression and four-point bending tests, were carried out to enhance the veracity of structural resistance design of high modulus asphalt pavements. It is revealed that the fitted curve for the variation of strength with loading rate is a power function with velocity dependence, and the models for direct tension, indirect tension, unconfined compression, and four-point bending strengths established as a function of loading rate are S D = 3.218v0.1425 , S T = 3.833v0.1768 , S C = 14.391v0.1130 and S F = 7.839v0.1489 respectively. Besides, it is shown that the conventional S-N fatigue equation does not take into account the velocity dependence of the strength of HMAC in the stress ratios determined by the tests, and the velocity-dependent stress ratios defined in this paper are determined by the strength model and therefore take into account the viscoelasticity of HMAC. In addition, it is found that extending the fatigue curve backwards, when the fatigue life of HMAC is also close to 1, the velocity-dependent stress ratio is 1. Meanwhile, the fatigue model N f = t v -5.318 was developed by unifying the characterization of HMAC and considering the effect of loading rate in various loading modes. It eliminated the difference of fatigue test results caused by the specimen sizes and loading modes, and effectively improved the completeness of structural design of high modulus asphalt pavements, which provided a theoretical basis for designing the high modulus asphalt pavements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) is an important leguminous green manure that frequently suffers from seasonal drought. To improve its drought tolerance, the effects of rhizobia inoculation on drought tolerance and the underlying physiological mechanism were investigated. Drought tolerance in combination with nitrogen assimilation, free amino acids, and polyamines was investigated in milk vetch with active nodules (AN), with inactive nodules (LN), or without nodules (NN). AN plants had increased drought tolerance compared to LN and NN plants. Glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamine 2-oxoglutarate amino transferase (GOGAT), and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities were decreased after drought, with higher levels in AN plants than in LN and NN plants under both control and drought stress conditions. Higher levels of proline (Pro), arginine (Ala), alanine (Ala), and glutamate (Glu) were observed in AN plants compared with LN and NN plants. Putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm) levels were increased in response to drought, and higher levels of Put and Spd were maintained in AN plants. It is suggested that active nodulation leads to increased drought tolerance in milk vetch, which is associated with improved nitrogen fixation and ammonium assimilation, which in turn lead to the promotion of free amino-acid and polyamine synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.1Yb0.1O3 (BZCYYb), a promising proton conductor of poor sinterability used in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), has been densified in one hour at 850 °C by applying direct current sintering technique (DC-sintering). Under a constant electrical field, the current density through the specimen of BZCYYb rises rapidly when the temperature increases to a certain value. In DC-sintering process, we restrict the current density when the sharp increase occurs. By limiting current density to different values for one hour, we find that current density is the most important factor in DC-sintering process. The conductivity and the grain size of BZCYYb electrolyte increase significantly with the enhanced current density, while the different initial applied electrical fields have negligible effect. The stable stage of DC-sintering process can be explained by Joule heating. Corresponding real temperature of specimens is estimated by applying black body radiation theory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Melatonin is an endogenous hormone with neuroprotective effects. Melatonin levels in elderly patients are reduced after surgeries that require anaesthesia. Whether reduced melatonin levels are important for postoperative cognitive dysfunction ( POCD) remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of melatonin on cognitive dysfunctions induced by isoflurane and mechanisms underlying these effects. Seventy-two 20-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 12). These groups included M1 and M10 groups that received intraperitoneal melatonin at 1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg, respectively, and an ISO group that received 4 hr of inhaled 2% isoflurane. They also included M1+ ISO and M10+ ISO groups that received 1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg of melatonin plus 4 hr of inhaled 2% isoflurane, respectively, and a control group that received an equal volume of saline. Injections were administered daily for 14 consecutive days. Memory was assessed in the Morris water maze. Plasma and hippocampi were harvested to determine melatonin concentrations and MT1/ MT2 receptor expression. Rats treated only with isoflurane showed significantly longer latencies in Morris water maze test trials compared with the control group, with shorter time in the probe trial ( p < 0.05). Although plasma melatonin levels and MT2 expression in the hippocampus were significantly decreased, MT1 expression was higher in the isoflurane group than in the control group ( p < 0.001). However, these parameters did not significantly vary in animals administered melatonin compared with controls. Isoflurane may induce cognitive dysfunction by influencing melatonin and MT1/ MT2 levels. Melatonin can improve cognitive dysfunction by normalizing plasma melatonin and its receptor levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]