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This paper investigates the synergistic extraction performance of Scandium using a mixture of Cyanex572 and Cyanex923 in sulfuric acid medium. The results show that the best synergistic effect is achieved when the pH value of the aqueous phase is 2 and the mole fraction of Cyanex572 is 0.5, with a synergy coefficient value R of 4.78. In addition, the extraction mechanism of this synergistic system is discussed, and the extracted complex is determined to be [Sc(SO4)0.5(HL2)2B2] by slope analysis. The loaded Scandium can be stripped within two times by 2 mol/L sulfuric acid to obtain a stripping efficiency of 99.4 %. Finally, this synergistic system was applied to extract Scandium, demonstrating the potential application in separation of Scandium from the leachate of laterite nickel ore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study is aimed at investigating the relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCY) in patients with ischemic stroke (IS). Methods. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and laboratory results of 110 IS patients. According to the cut-off value of HCY = 15 μ mol / L , the included patients were divided into the normal HCY (NHCY, n = 69) and the high HCY (HHCY, n = 41) groups. The relationship between NLR, PLR, and HCY between these groups was then compared. Results. NLR and PLR levels in IS patients with HHCY were significantly higher than those in IS patients without HHCY (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that NLR and PLR were positively correlated with hs-CRP, RDW, N, L, and HCY (P < 0.05). NLR and PLR were the largest predictors of IS-related HHCY, followed by WBC, hs-CRP, RDW, VLDL, and TG. Additionally, NLR and PLR were independent risk factors for IS-related HHCY. Conclusions. NLR and PLR may be fast, cheap, and easy-to-analyze biomarkers for predicting IS-related HHCY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface plasmon resonance excitation significantly enhances the absorption of light and increases the generation of "hot" electrons, i.e., conducting electrons that are raised from their steady states to excited states. These excited electrons rapidly decay and equilibrate via radiative and nonradiative damping over several hundred femtoseconds. During the hot-electron dynamics, from their generation to the ultimate nonradiative decay, the electromagnetic field enhancement, hot electron density increase, and local heating effect are sequentially induced. Over the past decade, these physical phenomena have attracted considerable attention in the biomedical field, e.g., the rapid and accurate identification of biomolecules, precise synthesis and release of drugs, and elimination of tumors. This review highlights the recent developments in the application of hot-electron dynamics in medical diagnosis and therapy, particularly fully integrated device techniques with good application prospects. In addition, we discuss the latest experimental and theoretical studies of underlying mechanisms. From a practical standpoint, the pioneering modeling analyses and quantitative measurements in the extreme near field are summarized to illustrate the quantification of hot-electron dynamics. Finally, the prospects and remaining challenges associated with biomedical engineering based on hot-electron dynamics are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southeast Tibet in China is rich in clean energy such as water energy, light energy, and wind energy. As the key means of large-scale clean energy transmission in southeast Tibet, the ultra-high voltage (UHV) power transmission projects will be constructed at an altitude of nearly 4000 m. To accurately acquire the external insulation strength of electrical equipment operating at different altitudes, the standard positive switching impulse voltages were applied to a rod electrode and a 1.1 m diameter shielding sphere at the altitude of 3400, 2100, and 80 m. The switching impulse discharge characterization and altitude correction factors of the 1.1 m diameter shielding sphere-plate gap under different clearances at different altitudes were obtained. The discharge voltage of the rod-plate gap at the altitude of 80 m was corrected to the altitude of 3400 m using altitude correction methods recommended by GB 311.1, GB/T 16927.1, and DL/T 2305. Further comparison was made between the calculation results using the three altitude correction methods mentioned above and the test results at an altitude of 3400 m. The discharge characterization and the minimum clearance of the end fittings of the electrical equipment in the valve hall at the altitude of 3800 and 4500 m were obtained by fitting and extrapolating the test data. The research results provide important reference significance for the external insulation configuration of UHV converter stations constructed in areas with an altitude of 3000 m and above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the design and manufacturing of epoxy resin insulation components, complex structures can be achieved through multiple pours, thereby forming the structure of interface of laminated epoxy resin. This type of interface structure is often considered a weak link in performance which can easily accumulate charges and cause electric field distortion. However, research on the interlayer interface of epoxy resin has received little attention. In this study, epoxy samples with and without interlayer interfaces were prepared, and the space charge accumulation characteristics and trap characteristics of the samples were analyzed via pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) and thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) methods. The experimental results indicate that the Maxwell–Wagner interface polarization model cannot fully explain the charge accumulation at the interface. Due to the influence of the secondary curing, the functional groups in the post-curing epoxy resin can move and react with the partially reacted functional groups in the prefabricated epoxy resin layer, resulting in a weak cross-linking network at the interface. With the increase in temperature, the molecular chain segments in the weak cross-linked region of the interface become more active and introduce deep traps at the interface, thereby exacerbating the accumulation of interface charges. In addition, due to the influence of interface polarization and weak cross-linking, the ability of the interface charges to cause field strength distortions decreases with the increase in applied field strength. This research study can provide a theoretical reference for the interfacial space charge transport characteristics of epoxy-cured cross-linked layers and provide ideas for regulating interfacial cross-linking to suppress interfacial charge accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of current retrospective study was to review the surgical methods and to evaluate the clinical efficacy of supporting plate for the treatment of vertical medial malleolus fractures on the basis of stable fixation of ipsilateral fibula. Methods: This retrospective study included a total of 191 patients with vertical medial malleolus fractures. Patients enrolled were divided into simple vertical medial malleolus fractures and complex types of fractures. General demographic information and surgical information, including age, sex, surgical procedure and postoperative complications, were collected. The functional prognosis of patients was evaluated by American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Score (AOFAS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Result: Among patients with simple vertical fractures, the respective incidence of internal fixation failure in screw group, buttress plate group, and screw combined buttress plate fixation group (combined fixation group) was 10/61 (16.4%),1/54 (7.4%) and 1 (1.9%), and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.024). The incidence of abnormal fracture growth and healing in screw group, buttress plate group and combined fixation group was, respectively, 13/61 (21.3%), 6/54 (12.5%) and 2 (3.85%), with statistically significant difference (P = 0.019). In the patients with complex types of fractures, after 2 years of postoperative follow-up, the AOFAS score and VAS score of the following subgroups had good results: 91.18 ± 6.05 and 2.18 ± 1.08 in patients with joint surface collapse, and 92.50 ± 4.80 and 2.50 ± 1.29 in patients with tibial fractures, with 100% excellent and good rate. Conclusion: For simple and complex vertical medial malleolus fractures, buttress plate showed excellent fixation. Despite poor wound healing and extensive soft tissue dissection with this approach, buttress plate may provide a novel insight into medial malleolar fractures, especially for extremely unstable medial malleolar fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas permeation and consequent powder consolidation during gas pressurization process easily cause deterioration of powder flowability. The effects of pressurization rate and powder properties on gas permeation and powder consolidation were investigated to reveal the change mechanism of powder flow properties in a sealed silo. The permeation time and gas velocity within the powder were examined to acquire the gas permeation characteristics at different pressurization rates. The distribution and evolution laws of powder stress were explored during the gas pressurization process. The powder stress during gas pressurization was more than 100 times that without aeration. A formula was derived for calculating the powder stresses and the results were compared with experimental data to confirm the consolidation mechanism. Based on the evolution of consolidation stress, the variation of the powder flow properties at different pressurization rates was revealed. The tensile strength of the powder and its change law in the gas pressurization process were examined with an adhesion force model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-dispersed and uniform porous ellipsoidal-shaped bismuth oxyhalides (nominal composition: 80%BiOCl/20%BiOI) microspheres were obtained by a facile solvothermal method, in which process the use of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as template agent was found to be crucial. At 150 °C, elliptical porous particles with a particle size of 0.79 μm were formed. Instead of forming solid solutions, the study of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) shows that the prepared 80%BiOCl/20%BiOI microspheres are composite of BiOCl and BiOI in nature and the obtained crystallite size is about 5.6 nm. The optical bandgap of 80%BiOCl/20%BiOI was measured to be 2.93 eV, which is between the bandgap values of BiOCl and BiOI. The 80%BiOCl/20%BiOI microspheres were able to decompose various organic dyes (rhodamine B-RhB, methyl orange-MO, methylene blue-MB, methyl violet-MV) under an illuminated condition with the degradation rate in the order of RhB > MB > MV > MO, and 98% of RhB can be degraded in 90 min. Radical scavenger tests showed that photogenerated holes are the main active species for the photocatalytic decomposition of all of the tested organic dyes. Our results show that the obtained porous ellipsoidal-shaped 80%BiOCl/20%BiOI microspheres are promising for the degradation of various organic pollutants under the illumination of visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endowing photocatalyst with functional nanostructure can effectively improve its performance towards solar energy conversion. Here, a unique Ni–Fe-based mesoporous hollow spherical nanostructure (NiFeOx/NC-t) was facilely constructed via the direct thermal decomposition of Ni-BTC@PBA composites. The hybrids consist of in-situ formed nitrogen-enriched carbon layers constituting the mesoporous walls of hollow spherical, and amorphous NiFeO x nanoparticles and a small fraction of FeNi 3 are embedded on the spherical walls during carbonization. After loading EY molecules on NiFeOx/NC-t as solar light absorbers, an optimal photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 5352.7 μmol g−1 h−1 was achieved with excellent stability under visible light (λ > 420 nm) in the absence of co-catalyst. The excellent photocatalytic activity was revealed to be ascribed to: ⅰ) mesoporous hollow spherical structure having a large surface area, thus exposing more active sites; ⅱ) efficient injection of photo-generated electrons from excited EY− into NiFeO x and FeNi 3 by the bridge of high-conductive nitrogen-enriched carbon layer. In brief, the structural and compositional features synergistically strengthen the photocatalytic activity of NiFeOx/NC-t. It is worth noting that MOF-derived route can significantly simplify the preparation process of mesoporous hollow spherical nanostructure. This work provides an approach for facile preparation of versatile photocatalysts with high efficiency for solar energy conversion. • A Ni–Fe-based mesoporous hollow spherical nanostructure was facilely constructed. • The catalyst shows efficient photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate under visible light. • Excellent stability of catalyst was investigated for photocatalytic H 2 production. • The unique nanostructure has great impact on the performance of catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Internet era, traditional performance management has failed to satisfy the modern enterprise development; therefore, enterprises must achieve timely innovation and improvement of performance management. The application of performance management in state-owned firms promotes employee motivation and skill development, as well as the development of innovative thinking. Performance effect, therefore, on the role of management in the state-owned enterprise development is bigger, especially because of the influence of traditional human resources performance management mode. The further development of state-owned enterprise resource management work affected the operation and management of state-owned enterprises. Therefore, state-owned enterprises must further optimize the path of performance management, to achieve its fine development. In view of this, this paper deeply analyzes the problems existing in the current performance management of state-owned enterprises and puts forward optimization methods for the problems, aiming at providing help for the optimization of the performance management of state-owned enterprises. In essence, a value network is a value symbiosis system between firms that involves resource sharing, value cocreation, risk sharing, and benefit win-win situations. The formation and development of value network not only extremely change the industrial structure and mode of production, but also have an important impact on enterprise innovation mechanism. Enterprise innovation under the value network system has become the focus of academic and business circles. With the rapid development of machine learning and internet of things (IOT) technologies, as well as China's urbanization, China's agriculture is embracing new development opportunities. Using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to effectively mine agricultural big data and realize effective control and management of intelligent agriculture has become a research hotspot and difficulty. Based on recurrent neural network (RNN) and IOT technology, this paper proposes an enterprise network innovation performance management path optimization system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an effective blind image deblurring algorithm based on superpixel segmentation prior (SSP). The motivation of this work is an interesting observation that the more rough the segmentation boundaries are, the clearer the image will be. Intuitively, the blurry images have less image details, which results in more smooth segmentation boundaries. The clear images have more vivid textural details and obtain more rough boundaries. The segmentation roughness could be defined as the length of image segmentation boundaries. However, the segmentation boundary length is not differentiable, making it difficult to integrate into existing joint optimization framework. Therefore, we transform the segmentation boundary length into the segmentation entropy to guide the process of image deblurring. With the image becomes clearer, its boundary becomes more rough, while the segmentation entropy is much smaller. The analysis of relationship between segmentation entropy and segmentation boundaries is detailed. Benefiting from the convexity of segmentation entropy, we propose a novel algorithm by integrating half-quadratic split and gradient descent to alternately minimize energy function. Extensive experiments show that the proposed method achieves best performance with the state-of-the-art blind deblurring methods on natural and face image deblurring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance characterization of a biomimetic propulsor for a swimming or flying robot typically requires measurement of the longitudinal and lateral forces generated by the propulsion of the propulsor. The propulsor can be either a tail (without or with a peduncle) or a morphing fin (wing), with multiple degrees of freedom (DOFs), and ideally the driving motors are designed to mount outside the propulsor to reduce the mass inertia and moment of inertia of the propulsor. In this article, we design and provide a robust and versatile platform that incorporate the mechanical two-DOFs lever unit and the measurement unit, as well as the configurable driving unit. The two-DOFs lever unit enables the freedoms of the longitudinal and lateral movements but are tightly constrained by the measurement unit that is fixed on the platform carriage for measurement of the longitudinal and lateral forces generated by the propulsor. The driving unit has the motors and the cable-driven modules that are configurable for bidirectional remote actuation, which is plug-and-play and flexible for different types and different numbers of motors. An experiment of the peduncle and the tail for propulsion is illustrated with this platform. The design here also serves as a design guidance for a platform for morphing wings. [Display omitted] • Providing a plug-and-play and versatile platform for remote actuation of the biomimetic propulsors. • Measurement of the longitudinal and lateral forces generated by the biomimetic propulsor. • The propulsor can be either a tail or a morphing fin (wing) with multiple degrees of freedom. • The platform incorporates the mechanical two-DOFs lever unit, the measurement unit, and the driving unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TiO 2 photocatalysts with varied dimensions have been successfully synthesized. • Hydrogen production trend of different TiO 2 at high light intensities were studied. • Behaviors of photocatalysts in the slurry and its optical property were studied. • The evolution of physicochemical properties over reaction slurry were explored. Revealing the trend of hydrogen production and corresponding photocatalyst behavior under different light intensities is of significance for the targeted synthesis of photocatalyst of certain morphology, which is crucial for efficient photocatalytic reaction under real solar energy, considering that in real cases solar concentration is often employed and the intensities of the solar light is always changing. To this end, the evolution of physicochemical properties of nanoparticle slurry and their hydrogen production under concentrated solar light irradiation over TiO 2 of different dimensions have been systematically explored, i.e., nanosphere, nanorod, and nanosheet. Interestingly, monotonously enhanced hydrogen production activities versus increasing light intensity up to 11 suns (1 sun = 1 kW·m−2) were observed for nanorods and nanosheets. However, hydrogen production exhibited an initial rapid increase and then an obvious falling tendency for nanospheres once the light intensity beyond 8 suns. It was revealed that nanospheres slurry with higher thermal conductivity and lower viscosity under higher light intensity resulted in heavier particle agglomeration due to the stronger collision tendency among particles, hence, decreased light absorption and lowered reaction temperature. Consequently, fewer photo-induced charge carriers and slower reaction kinetics resulted in the falling tendency of hydrogen production under high light intensities over nanosphere TiO 2. It is believed that this work could provide a useful guidance for the targeted synthesis of photocatalyst of certain morphology, which is crucial for efficient photocatalytic reaction under real concentrated solar energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of magneto‐fluorescent bifunctional complexes is a feasible approach toward multifunctional molecular materials. Herein we report the synthesis and properties studies of a mononuclear Fe(II) complex [FeL2](ClO4) (1), where L is a pyridine‐2,6‐bis(oxazoline) (pybox) ligand decorated by the pyrene fluorophore. Magnetic susceptibility measurement of desolvated complex 1‐d shows an incomplete and gradual spin‐crossover in the temperature range 50–300 K, which is further confirmed via57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy study. Light‐induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) is also observed below 70 K when the powder sample is irradiated by a 532 nm laser. The change in absorption during the spin‐crossover (SCO) process is investigated via the temperature‐dependent UV‐vis spectroscopy. As expected, through introducing the chromophore, 1 displays fluorescence in both solution and solid state, achieving the coexistence of spin‐crossover and fluorescence in one compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To comprehensively reuse copper ore tailings (COT), the fabrication of glass‐ceramics by the direct sintering method was investigated, where the residues after sulfur release and iron recovery from copper ore tailings were used as raw materials. The effect of the CaO added on the fabrication of glass‐ceramics was emphasized. After analysis of chemical composition and thermodynamics, crystallization kinetics were analyzed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and fitted to the Kissinger equation. The crystal phase and microstructure of sintered glass‐ceramics heated between 1080 °C and 1100 °C were estimated by X‐Ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), respectively. Furthermore, the effects of the addition of CaO on the properties of the sintered glass‐ceramics have been discussed. The results showed that the magnetic glass‐ceramics were sintered by the residues successfully, the color of which was lighter than that of glass‐ceramics sintered by raw materials before iron recovery. According to the XRD analysis, hedenbergite, wollastonite and sekaninaite were formed with traces of maghemite and quartz. In terms of crystallization kinetics and sintering results, a decrease in the activation energies of crystallization and in sintering temperature were observed for an increase in the addition of CaO of up to 10 wt.%. Moreover, the properties of the sintered glass‐ceramics, including bulk density, linear shrinkage and flexural strength, were enhanced, while water absorption and true density were reduced with the increase of the amount of CaO added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shale is a typical fine-grained sedimentary rock with small grain sizes of matrix components, significant lithofacies variation of rock texture and structure, and strong heterogeneity of organic matter and mineral compositions. Characterization of mineral compositions and their heterogeneity in micro- to nanoscale are the key parameters to gas shale pore structure and rock physical properties. In order to study the microscale mineralogy heterogeneity of the lacustrine shales in the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin, the micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (micro-FTIR) technique was conducted. Based on the specific micro-FTIR spectra peaks, the abundance of mineral compositions can be quantitatively determined in the selected microscale areas. The results show that within the range of 80 μm micro-FTIR test interval, both massive argillaceous shale and silty interlayered shale show obvious heterogeneity; in particular, the relatively homogeneous shale observed by the naked eyes also has strong mineral heterogeneity. The results of micro-FTIR spectra are basically consistent with the bulk X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. The advantage of this micro-FTIR technique includes higher resolution (less than 100 μm) and in situ mineral characterization of shale samples at micro- and nanoscale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane proteins that play important roles in various biological processes. Most integrins serve as adhesion molecules and transmit bidirectional signaling across the cell membrane through global conformational changes from the bent closed to the extended open conformation. However, integrin β8 is distinctive in structure and function. Its cytoplasmic domain lacks the conserved protein‐binding sequence, which is important in transmitting inside‐out signals, suggesting that integrin β8 may have a different activation mechanism or lack such signaling. In addition, the ligand‐binding or activating metal ion Mn2+ does not induce a global conformational change in integrin β8. It may have only one conformation, that is, an extended, closed conformation, but with high affinity for ligands under physiological conditions, and is, therefore, considered an atypical integrin member. The extended structure and high ligand‐binding affinity of integrin αvβ8 make it ideal for encountering and binding ligands expressed on an opposing cell or in the extracellular matrix. In this review, we summarize the progress in integrin β8 research with a focus on its distinctive function and structure among integrin members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The schematic diagram for the photocatalytic H 2 evolution of x-wt% Ni/t-TiO 2. [Display omitted] • Ni/t-TiO 2 heterostructure catalyst with oxygen vacancies were facilely constructed. • High conductivity of metallic Ni improves the mobility of charge carriers. • Oxygen vacancies in the catalyst enhance the separation of photogenerated carriers. • Mesoporous structure is beneficial to improve adsorption and surface reaction. Designing photocatalysts with interfacial design and defect engineering are crucial to improved H 2 -evolution efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting. Herein, mesoporous tablet-like x-wt% Ni/t-TiO 2 catalysts with Schottky junction and oxygen vacancies (Oν) were constructed using metal–organic framework (namely MIL-125(Ti)) as template. It is demonstrated that the optimal composition of 1 wt% Ni/t-TiO 2 achieves a H 2 production rate of 4276.13 μmol/g/h without using noble metal Pt. It was ∼129 times higher than MIL-125(Ti) derived pure TiO 2 (t-TiO 2) and showed fair durability after least four consecutive cycles test under full spectrum light irradiation. Particularly, its apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) at 350 nm reaches 12.09 %. Our results show that the synergetic effect of Schottky junction and oxygen vacancies (Oν) contribute significantly to the high catalytic performance. Meanwhile, the mesoporous structure provides a large specific surface area which is crucial for further enhancement of the reaction rate. This work opens an effective and low-cost strategy for preparing novel heterojunction photocatalysts with abundant oxygen vacancies and improving the hydrogen generation rate of MOF-derived photocatalysts without using noble metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, Graphene@TiO 2 nanomaterials were prepared for photothermocatalytic H 2 production to make full-use of solar spectrum. The H 2 evolution rate (HER) was 17.6 μmol/h and 89.8 μmol/h at room temperature and 90 °C, respectively. Interestingly, it could sharply increase to 436.5 μmol/h when the temperature reached 110 °C, which was about 24.8 times that of under room temperature. The introduction of graphene effectively promoted the specific surface area and pore volume of the composite, thus, contributing to the quick diffusion of reactants. Meanwhile, graphene absorbed and converted the energy of long wavelength photons into heat via photothermal effect, thus, enhancing the temperature of reaction system. The enhanced HER might be attributed to the existence of gas-liquid two-phase flow in micro-boiling state, the strengthened migration/diffusion rate of sacrificial reagent molecules, and as well as the excitation of adsorbed reactant molecules stemming from the elevated temperature. Our work should be valuable for the design of novel and efficient photothermocatalytic hydrogen production system driven by full-spectrum of sun light. Image 1 • Photothermocatalytic H 2 production of Graphene@TiO 2 nanomaterial was studied. • Graphene acted as the photothermal material to promote reaction temperature. • Photothermocatalysis outperformed photocatalysis or thermocatalysis. • The H 2 production rate of Graphene@TiO 2 at 110 °C was 24.8 times that of at 35 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective * To investigate the activity detection method of α-1,3-mannosyltransferase (ALG3) mutant protein in congenital disorder of glycosylation (ALG3-CDG), and examine the relationship between the activity and the severity of disease. Methods * The mutation sites of the patients in the reports were I69T, W71R, G96R, M157K, R171Q and M209T, respectively. After homologous alignment of the amino acid sequences of Homo sapiens and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) ALG3, six yeast mutant proteins (I70T, Y72R, G98R, L157K, R171Q and M221T) related to ALG3-CDG were designed. These mutants were expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli). Using E. coli membrane containing wild-type ALG3 or its mutant proteins as catalysts, the relative activities of mutant proteins were calculated by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry based on the catalytic activity of wild type protein. The activities of corresponding mutations in the patients with different survival time were compared. Results * Six ALG3-CDG related S. cerevisiae conserved ALG3 mutant proteins were expressed in E. coli in the comparable protein expression levels with wild type ALG3. The in vitro quantitative activity assay of enzymes showed that compared with the wild type ALG3, the relative activities of the mutant proteins I70T, Y72R, G98R, L157K, R171Q and M221T were 2.8%, 4.9%, 4.5%, 17.2%, 4.8% and 22.3%, respectively. The corresponding mutation activity was significantly higher in the patients with survival longer than 1 year than that in the patients with survival less than 1 year (P=0.002). Conclusion * An in vitro quantitative method is established to measure the enzymatic activities of ALG3-CDG related S. cerevisiae ALG3 mutants, providing the possibility to predict the severity of ALG3-CDG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of retrograde intramedullary nail (RIN) revision surgeries for locking compression plate (LCP) failure in distal femoral fractures. Methods: This retrospective study included 13 patients who suffered from metalwork failures after they initially underwent open reduction and LCP fixation. In patients who eventually underwent RIN revision from January 2014 to December 2016, range of motion (ROM) and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores obtained before surgery and at the final follow-up time were analysed. Results: The average operative time was 155 minutes (range, 120–210 minutes), and the average blood loss volume was 650 ml (range, 200–1350 ml). There were two cases of complications (15.38%): one was calf muscle vein thrombosis, and the other was a superficial infection. No deep tissue infection or deep vein thrombosis was observed post-operatively. The average follow-up time was 16 months (range, 12–24 months). All fractures healed in a mean of 6.5 months (range, 4–12 months), and one patient underwent an additional bone graft surgery that did not involve a bone graft during the RIN revision operation (this eventually healed at 12 months post-operatively). The mean ROM before the operation was 86.92 ± 12.34°. At the final follow-up, the mean ROM was 112.69 ± 9.27°. There was a significant difference between pre-operative and post-operative ROM (P < 0.01). The mean HSS score improved significantly from 38.85 ± 9.62 points pre-operatively to 79.62 ± 5.42 points post-operatively. There was a significant difference between pre-operative and post-operative HSS scores (P < 0.01). Conclusions: RIN revision surgery achieved excellent clinical results in patients with LCP failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively prevent the accumulation of copper tailings from producing acid mine drainage (AMD) and maximize the comprehensive utilization of copper tailings, the process of oxidation roasting was adopted to release sulfur in the form of SO2 to achieve the purpose of sulfur recovery later. Based on the AMD risk assessment, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis, the influences of roasting temperature, residence time, and air flow in the roasting process were investigated. The thermal stability, reaction equilibrium, mineral transformation, and residual S content were characterized by TG-DSC, HSC chemical software 6.0, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and combustion neutralization, respectively. The optimum conditions for sulfur release in the roasting process were shown with a temperature of 1200°C, a residence time of 60 min, and an air flow of 0.8 L/min. Under these conditions, the sulfur release rate was 99.82%, and the residual S content was 0.05%. Subsequently, the process of sulfur release was proposed as four steps: oxidative decomposition of pyrrhotite, formation of ferric sulfate, decomposition of ferric sulfate, and formation of hematite. All of the findings could propose a theoretical and experimental reference for the recovery of the sulfur component from tailings rich in sulfide minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper derives the optimal power allocation for a coordinated orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission system in which $K$ coordinated transmission points (CTPs) coherently transmit and allocate power across $N$ subchannels under both total and individual power constraints. In maximizing the system capacity, previous works showed that, under a total power constraint, the optimal transmission strategy is a maximum-ratio transmission (MRT) for CTPs with a waterfilling type of power allocation solution for the subchannels. For CTPs with both total and individual power constraints, we derive a new optimal co-phasing power allocation with the following property: For any given subchannel, if the optimal power allocation of one CTP is zero, then the power allocation of all the other $K$ − 1 CTPs on that subchannel must also be zero; otherwise, the non-zero power allocation on all CTPs must follow a proportional principle which establishes the relationship between the optimal power allocation for all subchannels and all CTPs. This property highlights that the optimal power allocation for CTPs with individual power constraints is different from waterfilling and MRT, as more power is not necessarily allocated to the subchannels with better channel conditions. Numerical results are presented to verify our theoretical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractFerroptosis is a new type of cell death, which is mainly dependent on the formation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxides mediated by iron. It is distinct from other forms of regulation of cell death in morphology, immunology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Various cell death mechanisms have been observed in many viral infections, and virus-induced cell death has long been considered as a double-edged sword that can inhibit or aggravate viral infections. However, understanding of the role of ferroptosis in various viral infections is limited. Special attention will be paid to the mechanisms of ferroptosis in mediating viral infection and antiviral treatment associated with ferroptosis. In this paper, we outlined the mechanism of ferroptosis. Additionally, this paper also review research on ferroptosis from the perspective of the virus, discussed the research status of ferroptosis in virus infection and classified and summarized research on the interaction between viral infections and ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to increased specific surface area and catalytic 'hot spots', nanoporous nickel film (NPNF) have presented an efficiency performance for hydrazine electrocatalysis. NPNF samples were fabricated by dealloying Ni–Al precursor alloys synthesized by magnetron co-sputtering on Ni foils. It was observed that both continuous ligaments and pore channels of the NPNF electrodes with a size of about 38 nm, enabled the electrode to electrocatalyze the hydrazine decomposition with high efficiency at a potential of 0.32 V vs. RHE. We also explored the molecular mechanism of the electrocatalytic decomposition of hydrazine on Ni (111) surface by DFT computations, ideally corresponding to our experimental results. Based on the observations, nanoporous Ni have overthrown the cognition of monometallic Ni for inefficient hydrazine decomposition, improving significantly the technology for hydrogen generation and energy storage. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: What are the main findings? A comprehensive simulation model including particle flow and radiation transfer was developed for a CPC photocatalytic reactor. The ray tracing method was utilized to determine the radiation reaching the surface of the receiving tube, while the discrete ordinates method (DOM) was also employed to solve the radiative transfer equation (RTE), which shows the complete process of solar energy transfer. What is the implication of the main finding? Local volume radiative power absorption (LVRPA) and total radiative power absorption (TRPA) inside the receiving tube was obtained by this study, which is critical data for the photocatalytic reactor. Natural convection with intermittent disturbances is demonstrated to be effective operating mode for the CPC photocatalytic reactor. Compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) photocatalytic reactors are commonly used for photocatalytic water splitting in hydrogen production. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the physical processes in CPC photocatalytic reactors and provide theoretical support for their design, optimization, and operation. The analysis involved the ray tracing approach, Euler–Euler two-fluid model, and discrete ordinates method (DOM) to study solar radiation transfer and particle flow in the reactor. The distribution of solar radiation on the receiving tube's surface after CPC concentration was obtained by conducting the ray tracing approach. This solar radiation distribution was then coupled into the Euler–Euler two-fluid model to solve for the natural convection flow field, the temperature field, and particle phase volume fraction distribution inside the receiving tube over a period of 120 s. Lastly, the discrete ordinates method (DOM) was used to analyze the transfer of radiation inside the receiving tube at different times, obtaining the distribution of local volume radiative power absorption (LVRPA) and the total radiative power absorption (TRPA) inside the tube. The results showed that the TRPA reached its maximum at 120 s, accounting for 66.61% of the incident solar UV radiation. According to the above results, it could be suggested that adopting an intermittent operation mode in CPC photocatalytic reactors is reasonable and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyroptosis, also known as inflammatory necrosis, is a form of programmed cell death, which is an important natural immune response. Pyroptosis plays a major role in combating pathogenic infections. The mechanism of pyroptosis is distinct from other forms of cell death and is characterized by its dependence on inflammatory caspases (mainly caspases 1, 4, 5, and 11). Activation of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammatory vesicles is involved in caspase-1 activation and cleavage, which in turn triggers cleavage and multimerization of multiple gasdermin family members, including gasdermin-D (GSDMD). This further leads to cell perforation and cellular distension, causing cell membrane rupture, resulting in a massive efflux of cell contents, which triggers inflammatory reactions. In recent years, detailed study of viral diseases, has demonstrated that pyroptosis is closely associated with the development of viral diseases. This article focuses on the mechanism of pyroptosis and the connection between pyroptosis and viral infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Correction to: Granular Matter (2023) 25:34 b https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-023-01315-0 In the Acknowledgement section of this article the grant number relating to "National Natural Science Foundation of China" was incorrectly given as '51676048' and should have been '52276163'. The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-023-01315-0. [Extracted from the article]

Graphical abstract An efficient and stable Z-scheme β-FeOOH/g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst has been facilely prepared to produce sustainable hydrogen energy. Highlights • Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst was prepared successfully. • β-FeOOH was used as building blocks for photocatalytic H 2 production the first time. • β-FeOOH/g-C 3 N 4 shows significantly enhanced photocatalytic H 2 production. • Strengthened spatial charge separation contributes to the improved performance. Abstract Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) is a very promising earth abundant and visible light response photocatalyst for H 2 production. Fabricating novel nanostructure or combining with other semiconductors have been attempted to further enhance its activity. α-FeOOH, due to its structures greatly facilitating electrolyte transport, has been widely used as an excellent OER cocatalyst assisting the PEC water splitting process. However, to the best of our knowledge, it has not been attempted in photocatalytic H 2 generation. Herein, g-C 3 N 4 modified with β-FeOOH was designed for the first time for photocatalytic H 2 production. It showed H 2 production rate as 2.02 mmol·h−1·g−1, which was almost 6 times of pure g-C 3 N 4. The significantly promoted catalytic activity was ascribed to the greatly enhanced charge separation efficiency by forming spatial separated reservoirs of photo activated electrons and holes in the Z-scheme heterojunction, corresponding to the conduction band of g-C 3 N 4 and the valence band of β-FeOOH, respectively. Our work should be valuable for fabricating visible-light response heterojunction based photocatalysts with better photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For its performance enhancement, graphitic carbon nitride (CN) has been prepared by acid protonation or heat etching methods, both with quite low product yield. In the present work, three dimension porous CN was prepared in a facile way with high yield by both operation of acid protonation and thermal oxidation. It was found that the CN subjected to firstly acid protonation and secondly heat etching (CN-HT) exhibited almost 29.5 times higher H 2 evolution rate compared to the pristine CN. While the sample subjecting to a reverse operation sequence only had 7.3 times improvement. Compared to the re-calcined sample without protonation, it was found that the introduction of protons (H + ) into CN structure before re-calcination significantly enhanced its activity for visible light driven photocatalytic H 2 generation. After full characterizations, the significantly enhanced activity was attributed to the greatly enlarged surface areas, the promoted charge carriers separation and immigration efficiency, the improved reduction potential of photo-induced electrons, as well as the strengthened hydrophilic interface. Our study is expected to provide a new facile approach for tailoring the microstructure of layered materials to achieve improved performance not only for the application of photocatalysis, but also in many other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three known impurities of cefoxitin have been prepared and characterised. One is a double-bond isomer of cefoxitin, Δ3-cefoxitin, which was easily prepared by base-catalysed isomerisation of cefoxitin. The second is a side-chain methoxylated derivative, methoxycefoxitin, which required a four-step synthesis from cephalothin. The last impurity is a lactone lacking the carbamyl grouping in cefoxitin, cefoxitin lactone, which was also prepared in four steps from cephalothin. The accessibility of these three impurities and methods for their analysis could be important for quality control in the manufacture of cefoxitin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing unsupervised video object segmentation generates object information from the whole video, which ignores analysis of the local clips. However, we observe that local clips and their relationships are also useful for the video object segmentation. For example, the simple background clips can be used to improve the segmentation of complex background clips. In this paper, we propose a novel unsupervised segmentation framework to segment the primary object based on two aspects, i.e., the complexity awareness of video clips and their segmentation propagation. The first one is used to select the simple clips with smooth backgrounds and the second one generates an object prior from the simple clips and propagates the object prior to help and improve the segmentation of the complex clips. A complexity awareness method using the static cues and the dynamic cues are proposed to evaluate the complexity of the video frames. A new object prior learning model based on the local part structure is designed and a local part-based prior propagation is proposed for the complex clip segmentation. To verify our method, we collect a new challenging video segmentation data set, in which each video contains diverse backgrounds. Experimental results demonstrate that our method outperforms several state-of-the-art methods both on a classical data set and our new data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weak boundary preservation is a challenge for superpixel segmentation. Existing methods that measure pixels’ similarity based on pairwise distance could not efficiently describe relationship among high-dimensional image data, which plays key roles in extraction for image boundaries. In this paper, we present a new directed graph clustering (DGC)-based superpixel segmentation method via K-nearest-neighbor (K-NN) graph and distance information. It can efficiently deal with segmentation for the weak boundary of complex and irregular object. The basic idea is motivated by following observations: compared with smooth region, image boundary points have much lower pixel density and directed connectivity in local region. Based on K-NN directed graph, we introduce indegree and outdegree to describe above observation, which are the foundation to evaluate pixels’ similarity. Then, a patch-based segmentation generates superpixel borders by even overlapping regions. Finally, we solve an integer programming to stitch small noise regions into final superpixels. Experimental results on two benchmarks demonstrate that our method outperforms the state-of-the-arts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WC-Fe-Ni-Co cemented carbides with a constant Co content were successfully prepared through low pressure sintering, and the effects of Fe/Ni ratio on the microstructure and properties of the cemented carbides were studied in detail. The X-ray diffractometer and transmission electron microscopy results show that the Fe/Ni ratio is a critical factor that affects the structure of the Fe-Ni-Co binder in the alloys, as it gradually changes from fcc γ-(Fe,Ni) to bcc α-(Fe,Ni) with an increase in the Fe/Ni ratio. Furthermore, the WC grains have a finer and more rounded shape and are more uniformly distributed in the matrix as the Fe/Ni ratio increases. Additionally, both the magnetic saturation (CoM) and coercive force (Hc) increase as the Fe/Ni ratio increases. The relative density of all alloys is greater than 99.93% except for the alloy with the Fe/Ni ratio of 1.67 (99.01%). Ignoring the effect of the lower relative density (Fe/Ni = 1.67), increasing the Fe/Ni ratio can enhance the hardness, transverse rupture strength and wear resistance of the alloys but can reduce the fracture toughness and corrosion resistance at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nitride has been widely investigated as promising photocatalyst for solar-driven photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this study, the intralayer properties of graphitic carbon nitride was modified by a facile hydrothermal treatment with appropriate amount of ammonium hydroxide to promote its photocatalytic H 2 production performance. Transition from intralayer modification to bulk structural transformation occurred once the concentration of NH 3 ·H 2 O is over certain concentration. The destruction of heptazine units resulted in the partial oxidation of C atoms in g-C 3 N 4 during the hydrothermal treatment process and the introduction of OH and C O can effectively enhance the interaction between g-C 3 N 4 with reactants. Band structure measurement revealed that the thus obtained g-C 3 N 4 possessed elevated conduction band bottom indicative of improved reduction capacities. The significantly enhanced redox ability on the surface reaction sites overcame the deceased light absorption and higher charge recombination efficiency of charge carriers, and finally induced a significantly improved photocatalytic H 2 evolution (707.58 μmol·h −1 ·g −1 ). The highest visible light photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate was 7.5 times higher than that of pristine graphitic carbon nitride (94.46 μmol·h −1 ·g −1 ), with an apparent quantum yield of 5.18% at 420 nm. This study demonstrates a facile and effective strategy to tune the electronic and photocatalytic properties of carbon nitride for improved solar energy conversion efficiency which are expected to be extended to the modifications of other photocatalytic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of a flying odor compass is proposed for the localization of gas source. The compass is built on a quad-rotor helicopter and contains three gas sensors. A data processing method is proposed to estimate the direction which the odor comes from. The method adopts continuous wavelet transform and modulus maxima approaches to uncover the time difference information hidden in the gas sensor signals. Experiments have demonstrated the effectiveness of this design. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

When dispersed in water, nanoscale photocatalysts tend to aggregate due to their high surface energy. Complex interaction of the incident light with the aggregated particles is expected due to their comparable length scales. In this study, the aggregation behavior of TiO 2 nanoparticles during photocatalytic ethanol reforming was investigated by the dynamic light scattering (DLS). DLS results demonstrated that UV light can significantly inhibit the aggregation of TiO 2 compared to that under visible light or in the dark. Considering that the ethanol photo-reforming over TiO 2 can only occur under UV light, we correlated the significant light-induced particle aggregation with the photocatalytic reactions. Three different aggregation degrees for TiO 2 were employed to study the effect of aggregation on its activity for photocatalytic H 2 production. The H 2 production is found to decrease with the increase of aggregates in the suspension. Our results should be of great value for the understanding of the dynamics in photocatalyst particle suspension during the photocatalytic reaction. More importantly, it is supposed that one can improve the activity of the photocatalytic reaction by controlling the particle aggregation through carefully adjusting the external physical fields such as the intensity of the incident light at certain wavelength interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnCr layered double hydroxides (ZnCr LDH) nanosheets modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) nanohybrids were fabricated via a self-assembly procedure through electrostatic interaction between these two components. Such 2D-2D inorganic-organic hybrid material was employed for photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light for the first time. The physical and photophysical properties of the hybrid nanocomposites were investigated to reveal the effect of ZnCr LDH nanosheets on the photocatalytic activities of g-C 3 N 4 . It was found that 1 wt% ZnCr LDH nanosheets modified g-C 3 N 4 was optimal for the formation of intimate interfacial contact. The visible light photocatalytic H 2 production activity over g-C 3 N 4 was enhanced about 2.8 times after ZnCr LDH nanosheets modification. The significant enhancement in photocatalytic performance for ZnCr LDH/g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction should be attributed to the promoted charge transfer and separation efficiency, resulting from the intimate interfacial contact and Type II band alignment between ZnCr LDH and g-C 3 N 4 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effects of both the vacuum sintering temperature and time on microstructure and properties evolution of the WC-Fe-Ni-Co cemented carbides were investigated. And, the alloys with excellent properties were successfully prepared by vacuum sintering. The results show that both the sintering temperature and time are critical factors affecting the porosity, microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloys. There are a large number of pores and inhomogeneous distribution of binder phase in the alloys at lower sintering temperature. When the sintering temperature increases to 1380 °C, the alloys have the least porosity (0.41%), most homogeneous microstructure and best hardness, fracture toughness and transverse rupture strength (TRS). With further raising sintering temperature, the porosity increases while mechanical properties decrease slightly. When the alloy sintered for 30 min, the nearly fully densified alloys are produced, but there are some aggregate binder phases. For a sintering time of 60 min, the binder phase is distributed uniformly and the alloy is of the highest TRS. Meanwhile, with increasing the sintering time, the hardness gradually decreases while the fracture toughness gradually increases. Therefore, the WC-Fe-Ni-Co cemented carbide sintered at 1380 °C for 60 min with fcc binder phase exhibits the optimum mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blind image deblurring aims to obtain a clear image and blur kernel from a blurred image. Most existing methods estimate the blur kernel through the entire image. However, different image information, such as image structure information, smooth area information and noise information, contribute differently to blur kernel estimation. The uniform processing of various image information will reduce the accuracy of blur kernel estimation. In this paper, we propose a new blind deblurring method based on the content-weighted data fidelity term, which can focus more on the sharp edge to restore image structure. Moreover, we construct a new image prior to constrain the weight matrix. However, the content-weighted data fidelity term is a non-convex function. In this work, we introduce the variable splitting method to replace content-weighted matrix, which can be optimized by alternating iteration method. A large number of experiments show that the proposed deblurring algorithm can obtain the best performance on natural images and text images. • A new adaptive content-weighted method is proposed to restore image structure. • A new image prior is proposed to constrain the weight matrix and solution space. • Solved the content-weighted data fidelity term through the variable splitting method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The primary source of gas-induced powder bed compression is particle rearrangements. • The pressure drop across the powder bed increases to a maximum and then decreases. • A model to describe the gas flow in the compressible powder bed is proposed. • The model considers the porosity change and the effect of the particle shape. • The model provides acceptable predictions for the pressure drop in the powder bed. Gas pressurization of powder beds is important in some industrial chemical processes. This paper describes an experimental and modeling study of gas flow characteristics in the compressible powder bed during gas pressurization. Powder compression characteristics under gas pressurization and gas permeation characteristics in the powder are obtained. The average compression ratios of the coal powder bed are larger than that of the glass powder bed. The source of this gas-induced compression and the corresponding characteristics are analyzed. The pressure drop across the powder bed increases to a maximum and then decreases during pressurization. The mechanisms for the pressure drop evolution are discussed. Furthermore, a model considering both the porosity change and the effect of the particle shape is proposed to describe the gas flow in the compressible powder bed during pressurization. The model provides acceptable predictions for the pressure drop in the compressible powder bed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge graphs (KGs) serve as a crucial resource for numerous artificial intelligence tasks, significantly contributing to the advancement of the AI field. However, the incompleteness of existing KGs hinders their effectiveness in practical applications. Consequently, researchers have proposed the task of KG completion. Currently, embedding-based techniques dominate the field as they leverage the structural information within KGs to infer and complete missing parts. Nonetheless, these methods exhibit limitations. They are limited by the quality and quantity of structural information and are unable to handle the missing entities in the original KG. To overcome these challenges, researchers have attempted to integrate pretrained language models and textual data to perform KG completion. This approach utilizes the definition statements and description text of entities within KGs. The goal is to compensate for the latent connections that are difficult for traditional methods to obtain. However, text-based methods still lag behind embedding-based models in terms of performance. Our analysis reveals that the critical issue lies in the selection process of negative samples. In order to enhance the performance of the text-based methods, various types of negative sampling methods are employed in this study. We introduced prompt learning to fill the gap between the pre-training language model and the knowledge graph completion task, and to improve the model reasoning level. Simultaneously, a ranking strategy based on KG structural information is proposed to utilize KG structured data to assist reasoning. The experiment results demonstrate that our model exhibits strong competitiveness and outstanding inference speed. By fully exploiting the internal structural information of KGs and external relevant descriptive text resources, we successfully elevate the performance levels of KG completion tasks across various metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attempts of robot implementations and simulation framework designs for the solution to three dimensional (3D) robot active olfaction problems are reviewed. A numerical model is proposed for real-time simulations of the gas dispersion under the air flow disturbance introduced by the rotating propellers of gas-sensitive unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The model is an interdisciplinary approach that integrates free vortex methods and statistical approaches. Both induced velocity field and gas dispersion calculation processes are described. Parallel implementation of the model is also discussed. Challenging examples of the application of the model to the simulation of 3D robot active olfaction problems are shown, including a gas distribution mapping test. Theoretically the model is suitable for the real-time simulation of any type of gas-sensitive UAVs which gain thrust with propellers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of deep cryogenic treatment on microstructure and properties of WC Fe Ni cemented carbides were investigated in this paper. The WC Fe Ni cemented carbides were deep cryogenically treated at about − 196 °C for 2, 12 and 24 h. In order to study the phase composition and quantitative analysis of the deep cryogenically treated specimens, a selective electrolytic corrosion was used. The internal friction, mechanical properties, wear properties and corrosion behavior of the deep cryogenically treated WC Fe Ni cemented carbides were measured. The results show that with an increase in deep cryogenic treatment time, martensitic phase transformation of binder phase from γ → α has taken place, the α-(Fe,Ni) phase content in the binder phase gradually increases from 12.7% to 86.8% (wt.%) and W particles precipitate from the binder phase. Compared with the as-sintered specimens, the maximum hardness and transverse rupture strength of the specimens treated by cryogenic environment increase by almost 20% and 7.7%, respectively. The fracture toughness decreases from 25.7 MPam ½ for as-sintered specimens to 19.6 MPam ½ for the alloy after deep cryogenic treatment. The wear rate and friction coefficient decrease by almost 56% and 17.2%, while the corrosion resistance slightly decreases compared with the alloys without deep cryogenic treatment. The change of the properties can be primarily attributed to the fact that the martensite phase transformation from γ-(Fe,Ni) to α-(Fe,Ni) and precipitation of W particles in the binder phase improve the hardness and strengthen the binder phase during the deep cryogenic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional ferroelectrics with moderate band gap enable unprecedented applications in optoelectronics. Here, we report that the photogalvanic effect (PGE) of narrow-band-gap semiconductor bilayer ZrI 2 is significantly enhanced by the interlayer sliding which turns out to be ferroelectric with both in-plane and out-of-plane polarizations. The intrinsic ferroelectric field promotes the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and reduces the recombination rate of electron–hole pairs, thus improving the photoelectric conversion efficiency and resulting in a larger photoresponse. The magnitude of the maximum photoresponse in the bilayer β -ZrI 2 (ferroelectric) is enhanced by about 5 times than in the bilayer s -ZrI 2 (paraelectric). A robust broadband photoresponse from mid-infrared to visible can be found from its photodetector. Our results provide great insights to engineering novel optoelectronic applications by ferroelectric slidetronics. • Robust photogalvanic effect (PGE) is obtained in the two-dimensional bilayer ZrI 2. • The PGE photoresponse is enhanced by interlayer sliding from the bilayer s -ZrI 2 (paraelectric phase) to β -ZrI 2 (ferroelectric phase). • The mechanism responsible for the enhancement of the photoresponse is revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possible charge transfer and promoted photocatalytic H 2 evolution mechanism of Ti 3 C 2 QD/PGCN. [Display omitted] A new heterostructure between Ti 3 C 2 MXene quantum dot and 3D macroscopic porous graphitic carbon nitride (PGCN) was successfully obtained by integrating Ti 3 C 2 quantum dots onto porous graphitized carbon nitride (Ti 3 C 2 QDs/PGCN) using in situ electrostatic self-assembly techniques. The photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate of optimized 5.5 wt% Ti 3 C 2 QD/PGCN composites is nearly 15.24 and 3.53 times higher than pristine CN, and PGCN, respectively. Ti 3 C 2 quantum dots can significantly enhance the hydrogen production activity of PGCN. In addition, their good photothermal conversion ability accelerates the overall reaction process and enhances the light absorption and carrier density. Furthermore, to elucidate the photocatalytic mechanism, a series of tests involving electron spin resonance (ESR) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed. The results confirmed that the Schottky barrier between PGCN and Ti 3 C 2 QD can effectively promote spatial charge separation and significantly improve the photocatalytic performance. This work provides a new approach for the construction of photocatalytic systems and the application of MXene QD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Cu-catalysed substitution reaction of propargyl acetates with P(O)H compounds is developed to afford allenylphosphoryl compounds via C–P bond coupling in high yields under mild conditions. A plausible mechanism involving the nucleophilic interception of the Cu-allenylidene intermediates is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern computer systems are designed to balance performance and energy consumption. Several run-time factors, such as concurrency levels, thread mapping strategies, and dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) should be considered in order to achieve optimal energy efficiency for a workload. Selecting appropriate run-time factors, however, is one of the most challenging tasks because the run-time factors are architecture-specific and workload-specific. While most existing works concentrate on either static analysis of the workload or run-time prediction results, in this paper, we present a hybrid two-step method that utilizes concurrency levels and DVFS settings to achieve the energy efficiency configuration for a workload. The experimental results based on a Xeon E5620 server with NPB and PARSEC benchmark suites show that the model is able to predict the energy efficient configuration accurately. On average, an additional 10 % EDP (Energy Delay Product) saving is obtained by using run-time DVFS for the entire system. An off-line optimal solution is used to compare with the proposed scheme. The experimental results show that the average extra EDP saved by the optimal solution is within 5 % on selective parallel benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Be films were prepared on the water-cooled substrates and heated substrates by thermal evaporation, respectively. The experiment of water-cooled substrate showed the grains in Be films grown on Si substrates were refined than those grown on glass substrates and the surface roughness of Be films grown on Si substrates was also improved. The electrical performance test suggested that the electrical resistivity of Be films grown on water-cooled substrates decreased with increasing the heating temperature and was bigger than that grown on non-water-cooled substrates. For the experiment of heated substrate, the Be films appeared the loose flocculent structure, and the surface roughness firstly increased from 8 nm to 45–65 nm in the range of 150–300 °C and then decreased to 10 nm at 400 °C. Meanwhile, its electrical resistivity sharply increased from 0.6 Ω/□ to 206.6 Ω/□ due to the gradual oxidization at high temperature, especially 400 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Activation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (LOX-1) contributes to pervasive inflammation in early diabetic nephropathy (DN). This study determined the feasibility of anti-LOX-1-ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIOs) for noninvasive detection of inflammatory renal lesions in early DN.Procedures: Anti-mouse LOX-1 antibody was conjugated to polyethyleneglycol-coated USPIOs. In vitro analysis of USPIOs uptake was performed in RAW264.7 macrophages. DN and control mice were imaged by MRI prior to and 24 h after contrast treatment.Results: Anti-LOX-1 USPIOs were selectively taken up by macrophages, and kidney T2* MRI showed a lower signal intensity in the cortex of DN mice after 24 h administration of anti-LOX-1 USPIOs. Positive Perl's staining in DN lesions, indicating the presence of iron oxide, was consistent with immunohistochemistry indicating the presence of LOX-1 and CD68.Conclusions: This report shows that anti-LOX-1 USPIOs detect LOX-1-enriched inflammatory renal lesions in early DN mice. Our study provides important information for characterizing and monitoring early DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]