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Abstract Background Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common obstruction of intestinal content passage caused by almost all abdominal operations that seriously strokes the quality of life of patients. Kuanchang-Shu granule (KCSG), a classic modified prescription based on “Da-Cheng-Qi Decoction”, has obtained satisfactory efficacy in the clinical therapeutics of POI. However, its material basis and holistic molecular mechanism against POI have not been revealed. Methods The chemical ingredients of KCSG were first characterized by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS). Subsequently, an integration strategy of the network pharmacology and molecular docking based on above identified ingredients was performed to unveil the potential targets involved in the treatment of KCSG on POI. Finally, intestinal manipulation induced rat POI model was constructed to verify the efficacy and predicted mechanism of KCSG against POI. Results In total, 246 ingredients mainly including organic acids, flavonoids, quinones, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids and phenols were identified. 41 essential ingredients, 24 crucial targets as well as 15 relevant signaling pathways were acquired based on network pharmacology analysis. Pharmacodynamic research showed that KCSG treatment could protect intestinal histological damage, promote the recovery of measurement of gastrointestinal transit disorder and inhibit the secretion of myeloperoxidase in the distal ileum tissues. The up-regulated expression of p-AKT and down-regulated expression of p-eNOS and HSP9OAA1 predicted by molecular docking and validated by western blotting showed that AKT/eNOS/HSP90AA1 pathway may be one of the crucial mechanisms that mediates the protective effect of KCSG.

The mutualistic interaction between microalgae and bacteria provides a new strategy for improving carbon fixation by microalgae. In this study, Chlorella was co-cultured with natural flora at 15 % (v/v) CO2 concentration for 120 d. Three Chlorella symbiotic bacteria strains were identified and were co-cultured with Chlorella vulgaris HL02 (C. vulgaris HL02) to fix high concentrations of CO2. The results showed that the symbiotic bacteria significantly enhanced the fixation of 15 % CO2 by Chlorella, with C. vulgaris HL02 + Aeromonas GS-HL01 having the highest carbon fixation efficiency, which was 22.31 % higher than that of the sterile control, followed by C. vulgaris HL02 + Bacillus GS-F03, and C. vulgaris HL02 + Microbacterium GS-H02 (which was also 16.36 % higher than the sterile control). The composition of harvested Chlorella was not altered significantly following co-culturing with bacteria. Scanning electron microscopy and Excitation–emission matrix spectra analyses showed that at high concentrations of CO2, Microalgae and bacteria promote mutual growth and CO2 fixation mainly through extracellular secretion of organic matter. Our results provided a new strategy to improve the efficiency of microalgae in fixing high concentration of CO2.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which epithelial cells undergo morphological changes to gain a mesenchymal cell phenotype and migratory properties. As a class of negative regulators of RhoGTPases, RhoGTPase activating proteins(RhoGAP) can bridge between cell surface receptors and cellular actin cytoskeleton during EMT procedure, which may influence cancer cell transition and outcome of fibrotic diseases and may help search for anti-tumor and anti-fibrotic managements.

At present, there are only a few researches on the hydrogen embrittlement risk of titanmium alloy in the realm of warship. Based on the reality that titanium alloys are more and more widely used in the field of warship, the hydrogen embrittlement risk of titanium alloy applied in the realm of warship was analysed by means of electrochemical test, corrosion simulation calculation and model corrosion test. Results showed that the hydrogen embrittlement risk of titanium alloy was high when it contacted directly with the cathodic - protected hull steel in seawater environment. It was recommended to take electrical insulation measures for all contact parts between titanium alloy and hull steel in seawater medium environment to cut off electronic circuits.

Sinocyclocheilus multipunctatus is a second-class nationally protected wild animal in China. As one of the cavefish, S. multipunctatus has strong adaptability to harsh subterranean environments. In this study, we used PacBio SMRT sequencing technology to generate a first representative full-length transcriptome for S. multipunctatus. Sequence clustering analysis obtained 232,126 full-length transcripts. Among all transcripts, 40,487 were annotated in public databases, while 70,300 microsatellites, 2384 transcription factors, and 16,321 long non-coding RNAs were identified. The phylogenetic tree showed that S. multipunctatus shows a closer relationship to Carassius auratus and Cyprinus carpio, phylogenetically diverging from the common ancestor ~14.74 million years ago (Mya). We also found that between 15.6 and 17.5 Mya, S. multipunctatus also experienced an additional whole-genome duplication (WGD) event, which may have promoted the species evolution of S. multipunctatus. Meanwhile, the overall rates of evolutionary of polyploid S. multipunctatus were significantly higher than those of the other cyprinids, and 220 positively selected genes (PSGs) were identified in two sub-genomes of S. multipunctatus. These PSGs are likely to fulfill critical roles in the process of adapting to diverse cave environments. This study has the potential to facilitate future investigations into the genomic characteristics of S. multipunctatus and provide valuable insights into revealing the evolutionary history of polyploid S. multipunctatus.

Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) are a widely cultivated member of the Convolvulaceae family. Despite intensive agricultural interest, the metabolic determinants of sweet potato quality remain poorly understood owing to a lack of reliable or systematic sweet potato metabolite analyses. This study aimed to reveal the mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis using widely targeted metabolomics and qRT-PCR analysis of white (S19) and yellow (BS) sweet potatoes. We found that the PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS, CHI, IFS, F3H, F3’H, DFR, ANS, and ANR genes were differentially expressed in BS. Upregulation of PAL, C4H, 4CL, and CHS led to the accumulation of large amounts of chalcone, which is highly expressed in yellow flesh, resulting in the yellow color of BS. In S19, the high expression of FLS and the low expression of DFR inhibited pigment accumulation, while the low expression of CHS also inhibited flavonoid synthesis, ultimately leading to the white color. In conclusion, this study identified the main differentially expressed genes and their metabolites in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, and preliminarily elucidated the mechanism underlying the different flesh colors in sweet potato, thus providing new insights into the composition and abundance of metabolites in sweet potatoes with different-colored flesh.

Components and crystal structures of the intermetallic phases in a gravity die-cast Mg−6.0Zn−1.5Nd−0.5Zr (wt%) alloy were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The results indicate that this alloy has multiple intermetallic phases and various inner faults. Totally, six eutectoid intermetallic phases, namely W (MgNdZn3), T (Mg39Zn55Nd6), (Mg,Zr)Zn2, Z (Mg28Zn65Nd7), H2 (Mg15Zn70Nd15), and H1 (Mg24Zn64Nd11), were simultaneously observed at grain boundaries, and six precipitates (Z, Mg7Zn3, T, Mg4Zn7, β1′-MgZn2 and β2′-MgZn2) were found in α-Mg grains. Furthermore, faults like sub-grain boundaries, orientation domains (coherent with the same matching plane but with different orientations), stacking faults and twins were observed in the eutectoid intermetallic phases. Finally, some new orientation relationships between the known intermetallic phases were revealed. This paper can provide new insight into alloy design for Mg−Zn−RE (RE: rare earth) based alloys.

Background and Purpose. Motor dysfunction of the lower limb is a common sequela in stroke patients. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) combined with conventional gait rehabilitation (CGR) to compare and clarify the clinical rehabilitation efficacy of ctDCS on motor dysfunction of the lower limbs after stroke to improve the walking ability of stroke patients. Methods. A pilot double-blind and randomized clinical trial. Ninety-one subjects with subacute stroke were treated with cathodal/sham stimulation tDCS based on CGR (physiotherapy 40 min/d and occupational therapy 20 min/d) once daily for 20 consecutive working days. Computer-based stratified randomization (1 : 1) was employed by considering age and sex, with concealed assignments in opaque envelopes to ensure no allocation errors after disclosure at the study’s end. Patients were evaluated at T0 before treatment, T1 immediately after the posttreatment assessment, and T2 assessment one month after the end of the treatment. The primary outcome index was assessed: lower limb Fugl-Meyer motor score (FMA-LE); secondary endpoints were other gait assessment and relevant stroke scale assessment. Results. Patients in the trial group performed significantly better than the control group in all primary outcome indicators assessed posttreatment T1 and at follow-up T2: FMA-LE outcome indicators between the two groups in T1 (P=0.032; effect size 1.00, 95% CI: 0.00 to 2.00) and FMA-LE outcome indicators between the two groups in T2 (P=0.010; effect size 2.00, 95% CI: 1.00 to 3.00). Conclusion. In the current pilot study, ctDCS plus CGR was an effective treatment modality to improve lower limb motor function with subacute stroke. The effectiveness of cathodal tDCS in poststroke lower limb motor dysfunction is inconclusive. Therefore, a large randomized controlled trial is needed to verify its effectiveness.

A π-conjugated urea-bearing phenyleneethynylene polymer (Poly-2) was rationally designed by the Sonogashira coupling condensation reaction and had been demonstrated to have a unique fluorescent quenching effect for the optical detection of all determined anions, especially for CN−. The fluorescent emission of Poly-2 was significantly quenched upon adding CN−, together accompanied with a continuous red shift of the emission peak from 442 to 464 nm with the cyanide concentration increased from 0 to 1.0 mM. On the contrary, its precursor polymer, Poly-1, itself also displayed fluorescent responsibility with all selected anions but had no obvious selectivity and tendency. For instance, the addition of highly basic CN−, N3−, AcO−, or F− to Poly-1 solution in DMF/H2O (v/v = 1:1) led to the photoluminescence amplification, while the addition of weakly basic anions like Cl−, I−, and Br− showed a fluorescence quenching effect. Both polymers were in a seriously self-aggregated state in solution no matter in the absence or presence of an anion. Interestingly, it was found that Poly-2 exhibited an aggregation-induced emission behavior, while Poly-1 had an aggregation-caused quenching effect, based on the relationship between photoluminescence and polymer aggregation state. The structural characterizations were carried out by NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography measurements; the photoluminescence properties of Poly-1 and Poly-2 together with anion sensing properties were followed by fluorescence spectroscopy, and the relationship between photoluminescence and aggregation behavior of both polymers in solution was investigated by dynamic light scattering measurements.

Abstract Calsequestrin 1 (CASQ1) is the most crucial Ca2+ binding protein localized in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of skeletal muscle. With high capacity and low affinity for Ca2+, CASQ1 plays a significant role in maintaining a large amount of Ca2+ necessary for muscle contraction. However, only five mutations in CASQ1 have been identified to date. Here, we report a 42‐year‐old Chinese female patient who presented with a 12 years history of slowly progressive upper limb weakness, predominantly affecting distal muscles, which was uncommon comparing to other CASQ1‐related patients. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) analysis revealed a novel heterozygous mutation (c.766G > A, p.Val256Met) in CASQ1. Functional studies confirmed the likely pathogenicity of this variant. Muscle histopathology revealed rare optically empty vacuoles in myofibers and atypical eosinophilic granules in the cytoplasm, which has not been observed before. We also performed a literature review on all the pathogenic mutations in CASQ1 and summarized their genetic and clinical characteristics. This is the first report on CASQ1‐related myopathy from China, further expanding the mutation spectrum of CASQ1 gene and provides new insights into the function of CASQ1.

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of a novel naturally cultured rice with high resistant starch (RS) on postprandial glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to ordinary rice.DesignThis study is a randomized, double-blinded controlled trial.MethodsPatients with type 2 diabetes were recruited, and postprandial glucose levels were measured at 5-time points after the ingestion of one of two types of cooked rice in random order. Paired t-tests were used to compare postprandial blood glucose changes and increment areas under the blood glucose curve between high-RS rice and ordinary rice.ResultsThe increments of the postprandial blood glucose levels for high-RS rice were significantly lower than that for ordinary rice, i.e., 2.80 ± 1.38 mmol/L vs. 3.04 ± 1.50 mmol/L (P = 0.043) and 3.94 ± 2.25 mmol/L vs. 4.25 ± 2.29 mmol/L (P = 0.036) at 30 min and 60 min, respectively. The incremental areas under the blood glucose curve for high-RS rice were also significantly lower than that for ordinary rice, i.e., 42.04 ± 20.65 [mmol/(L·min)] vs. 45.53 ± 22.45 [mmol/(L·min)] (P = 0.043), 143.54 ±69.63 [mmol/(L·min)] vs. 155.15 ± 73.53 [mmol/(L·min)] (P = 0.026), and 354.61 ± 191.96 [mmol/(L·min)] vs. 379.78 ± 195.30 [mmol/(L·min)] (P = 0.042) at 30, 60, and 120 min, respectively. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed that postprandial glucose levels were not affected by the test order.ConclusionThe novel high-RS rice as a staple food when substituting for widely consumed ordinary rice may provide potential health benefits by lowering blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes.

In our work, a flurry of original porphyrin-based polymers covalently functionalized g-C3N4 nanohybrids were constructed and nominated as PPorx-g-C3N4 (x = 1, 2 and 3) through click chemistry between porphyrin-based polymers with alkyne end-groups [(PPorx-C≡CH (x = 1, 2 and 3)] and azide-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4-N3). Due to the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between porphyrin-based polymers [PPorx (x = 1, 2 and 3)] group and graphite phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4) group in PPorx-g-C3N4 nanohybrids, the PPorx-g-C3N4 nanohybrids exhibited better non-linear optical (NLO) performance than the corresponding PPorx-C≡CH and g-C3N4-N3. It found that the imaginary third-order susceptibility (Im [χ(3)]) value of the nanohybrids with different molecular weight (MW) of the pPorx group in the nanohybrids ranged from 2.5×103 to 7.0 × 103 g mol−1 was disparate. Quite interestingly, the Im [χ(3)] value of the nanohybrid with a pPorx group’s MW of 4.2 × 103 g mol−1 (PPor2-g-C3N4) was 1.47 × 10–10 esu, which exhibited the best NLO performance in methyl methacrylate (MMA) of all nanohybrids. The PPorx-g-C3N4 was dispersed in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) to prepare the composites PPorx-g-C3N4/PMMA since PMMA was widely used as an alternative to glass. PPor2-g-C3N4/PMMA showed the excellent NLO performance of all nanohybrids with the Im [χ(3)] value of 2.36 × 10–10 esu, limiting threshold of 1.71 J/cm2, minimum transmittance of 8% and dynamic range of 1.09 in PMMA, respectively. It suggested that PPorx-g-C3N4 nanohybrids were potential outstanding NLO materials.

Ba0.5Sr0.5FeO3−δ (BSF) nanofibers are prepared via electrospinning and sintering at a temperature of 800 °C for 2 h to produce a pure cubic perovskite phase, with the aim of finding a high-performance cathode material suitable for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (PCFCs) operating at medium temperatures. The results of SEM analysis showed that the BSF nanofibers are alternately stacked, presenting fluffy and uniform high porosity, which is favorable to the cathode polarization reaction of PCFCs. To balance the excessive coefficient of thermal expansion of the BSF cathode, it is combined with a negative thermal expansion (NTE) material NdMnO3−δ (NM). At 700 °C, the peak power density (PPD) of the BSF–NM cathode cell is 1170 mW cm−2, and the open-circuit voltage (OCV) of the single cell is 1.04 V. The corresponding polarization impedance (Rp) of the BSF–NM is 0.037 Ω cm2. This result is significantly better than the previously reported powder cathode BSF, indicating that the performance of PCFC can be further optimized by transforming the BSF cathode into a nanofiber state and compounding it with the NTE material NM.

BackgroundGlycogen storage disease (GSDs) is characterized by abnormally inherited glycogen metabolism. GSD IXd, which is caused by mutations in the PHKA1 gene, is an X-linked rare disease with mild myopathic symptoms. To date, only 13 patients with GSD IXd have been reported. In this study, we aimed to expand the clinicopathological-genetic spectrum of GSD IXd at a neuromuscular center in China.MethodsData on patients diagnosed with GSD IXd at our neuromuscular center were collected retrospectively. Clinical features, electrophysiology, muscle pathology, and genetic information were analyzed.ResultsBetween 2015 and 2021, three patients were diagnosed with GSD IXd based on clinical manifestations, pathological findings, and genetic testing. One patient presented with mitochondrial myopathy. All patients exhibited muscle weakness and elevated levels of creatine kinase. Electromyography-detected myopathic changes were found in two patients, whereas one patient refused to undergo this examination. Pathological examinations in all patients revealed subsarcolemmal accumulation of glycogen under PAS staining. All patients had mutations in the PHKA1 gene and the patient with mitochondrial myopathy also had a mutation in the MT-TL1 gene.ConclusionOur study expands the clinicogenotype and phenotype of GSD IXd in a Chinese population. Our study also expands the known mutation spectrum for GSD IXd, contributing to a better characterization and understanding of this ultrarare neuromuscular disorder.

A series of thermo- and light-responsive copolymers of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and 6-[4-(4-methoxy phenyl azo)-phenoxyl-hexyl methacrylate) (AzoMA) (PNIPAM-b-PAzoMA) were synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization. The resulting copolymers had a narrow molecular weight distribution range of 1.06–1.24, in which Mn changed regularly with the monomer concentration. Subsequently, the diblock copolymers were successfully modified on the surface of iron oxide nanoparticles through the interaction between the chemical bonds to prepare Fe3O4@(PNIPAM-b-PAzoMA) nanoparticles. The size of fabricated nanoparticles with excellent thermo-sensitivity and photo-sensitivity was controlled at about 40–50 nm. Cell viability assays suggested that the nanoparticles showed no significant cytotoxicity and potential drug delivery in the tumor microenvironment.

Objective To study whether blood transfusion with improved blood preservation solution can improve wound healing in diabetic mice, and to investigate its possible mechanism. Methods Kunming mice were used to establish diabetic mice model. They were randomly divided into blood donation group and the experimental group. The blood was placed in sterile centrifugal tube containing anticoagulant and then preserved for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days with improved and standard blood preservation solutions, respectively. The oxygen carrying capacity and deformability of erythrocytes in each preservation period were tested, then the improved and standard autologous blood were retransfused with 7 days of preservation. The experimental group was randomly divided into the standard group and the improved group with 6 mice in each group.The wound healing of two groups of mice was observed on 0, 1, 4, 7 and 14 days, and the mice were killed on 14 days. The degree of fibrosis was analyzed by means of HE, Masson staining and immunohistochemistry methods. Phosphorylation of PI3K,AKT,MEK and ERK were analyzed by Western blot analysis. Results Compared with the standard group, the improvement group exhibited decreased fHb content, and increased P50 oxygen pressure, blood pH, 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate(2, 3-DPG) and red blood cell deformability(RCD)(P＜0.05).HE staining results revealed that compared with the standard group, the area of granular tissue on the skin and the vascular area were increased on the 14th day after operation in the improvement group. Masson staining revealed that, the expression of collagen fibers and the degree of fibrosis in the mice skin of the improvement group were elevated at 14 days after the operation, when compared with the standard group. Immunohistochemistry results indicated that in comparison to standard group, levels of HIF-1α, VEGF, and EGF in skin tissues of the improvement group increased (P＜0.05). The protein levels of PI3K, AKT, MEK,ERK and its phosphorylation increased significantly in the improvement group(P＜0.05). Conclusions Red blood cell treated with improved blood preservation solution may promote wound healing in diabetic mice by activating HIF-1α pathway.

Thermo-, pH- and glucose-responsive polymeric nanoparticles are of great interest in developing a self-regulated drug delivery system. The novel core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized by self-assembly of a phenylboronic acid-based block copolymer poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly(3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid) (PNIPAM136-b-PAPBA16) and a fluorescent complex glucosamine-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/Eu(III) (GA-PNIPAM)/Eu(III) based on the cross-linking between PBA- and GA-containing blocks in this work. The nanoparticles can be tuned via thermo-induced collapse or glucose-induced swelling at appropriate pH and temperatures; they had an average kinetic radius was about 80nm, and which showed excellent fluorescence. MTT assays revealed the nanocarriers had no significant cytotoxic response of the micelle when it was observed in the cell line over the concentration range from 0.1 to 1000 μg/ml at any exposure times.

Guizhou is an important ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River basins with abundant fish species. However, fish from these regions are threatened by anthropogenic activities, including overfishing and habitat destruction. Here, we assessed the fish diversity including more than half of the species from the region using DNA barcoding (partial sequence of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene). We obtained 800 mitochondrial COI barcode sequences from 82 genera, 18 families and 8 orders of fishes. The average Kimura two-parameter (K2P) distances within species and genera were 0.35% and 5.44%, respectively. The average interspecific distance was 15.54 times higher than the mean intraspecific distance. Moreover, DNA barcodes revealed 175 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on consensus demarcation schemes. Barcoding gaps were detected in 94.81% of morphospecies. Three fish species (Schistura fasciolata, Vanmanenia pingchowensis, and Misgurnus dabryanus) have considerable intraspecific variability, and each was divided into multiple molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) using molecular definition methods (Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery, Refined Single Linkage, General Mixed Yule Coalescent, and Poisson Tree Processes), possibly indicating the occurrence of cryptic species. Altogether, our study reveals the complex diversity of fish species in Guizhou Province, serving as a reference for the conservation and monitoring of fish species in this region.

Hippotiscus dorsalis is the main pest of Phyllostachys edulis in South China. The relationship between climate change and outbreak of H. dorsalis, and the current and future distribution of H. dorsalis are unknown. This study aimed to confirm the effect of climate on population density and the attacked bamboo rate of H. dorsalis, using field survey data from 2005 to 2013 in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, and to reveal the potential distribution of H. dorsalis under current and future climate conditions using the MaxEnt model. The damage investigation and distribution forecast revealed the following: (1) The mean monthly temperature and maximum temperatures were main factors affecting the population density and the attacked bamboo rate in April in the Anji county of Zhejiang Province; they are all significantly and positively correlated. (2) High suitable area will significantly expand in Anhui and Jiangxi Provinces under the future climate circumstances, and the total suitable area will present a decrease because of the precipitation restriction. The significant expansion of high suitable area in the Anhui and Jiangxi Provinces under future climate circumstances means that the affected provinces will face even greater challenges. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the early forecasting and monitoring of pest outbreaks.

The oxidation behavior of a novel Ni-based single-crystal 4774DD1 superalloy for industrial gas turbine applications was investigated by the isothermal oxidation at 980 ºC and discontinuous oxidation weight gain methods. The phase constitution and morphology of surface oxides and the characteristics of the crosssection oxide film were analyzed by XRD, SEM and EDS. Results show that the oxidation kinetics of the 4774DD1 superalloy follows the cubic law, indicating its weak oxidation resistance at this temperature. As the oxidation time increases, the composition of the oxide film evolves as following: One layer consisting of a bottom Al2O3 sublayer and an upper (Al2O3+NiO) mixture sublayer after oxidized for 25 h. Then, two layers composed of an outermost small NiO discontinuous grain layer and an internal layer for 75 h. This internal layer is consisted of the bottom Al2O3 sublayer, an intermediate narrow CrTaO4 sublayer, and an upper (Al2O3+NiO) mixture sublayer. Also two layers comprising an outermost relative continuous NiO layer with large grain size and an internal layer as the oxidation time increases to 125 h. This internal layer is composed of the upper (Al2O3+NiO) mixture sublayer, an intermediate continuous (CrTaO4+NiWO4) mixture sublayer, and a bottom Al2O3 sublayer. Finally, three layers consisting of an outermost (NiAl2O4+NiCr2O4) mixture layer, an intermediate (CrTaO4+NiWO4) mixture layer, and a bottom Al2O3 layer for 200 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract An in situ coupling strategy to prepare Co9S8/S and N dual-doped graphene composite (Co9S8/NSG) has been proposed. The key point of this strategy is the function-oriented design of organic compounds. Herein, cobalt porphyrin derivatives with sulfo groups are employed as not only the coupling agents to form and anchor Co9S8 on the graphene in situ, but also the heteroatom-doped agent to generate S and N dual-doped graphene. The tight coupling of multiple active sites endows the composite materials with fast electrochemical kinetics and excellent stability for both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The obtained electrocatalyst exhibits better activity parameter (ΔE = 0.82 V) and smaller Tafel slope (47.7 mV dec−1 for ORR and 69.2 mV dec−1 for OER) than commercially available Pt/C and RuO2. Most importantly, as electrocatalyst for rechargeable Zn–air battery, Co9S8/NSG displays low charge–discharge voltage gap and outstanding long-term cycle stability over 138 h compared to Pt/C–RuO2. To further broaden its application scope, a homemade all-solid-state Zn–air battery is also prepared, which displays good charge–discharge performance and cycle performance. The function-oriented design of N4-metallomacrocycle derivatives might open new avenues to strategic construction of high-performance and long-life multifunctional electrocatalysts for wider electrochemical energy applications.

A novel thermo-responsive 2,9(10),16(17),23(24)-tetrakis[(3-carboxyacrylamide) phthalocyaninato] zinc (ZnPc)-g-TiO2-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) photocatalyst modified with phthalocyanines was prepared. The photocatalyst exhibited thermo-responsive properties due to the introduction of PNIPAM, which performed recovery for reuse above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST, about 26 °C). ZnPc-g-TiO2-g-PNIPAM effectively expanded the light response range to the visible light region and inhibited the recombination of electron–hole pairs, which enhanced the performance of the photocatalyst. As expected, ZnPc-g-TiO2-g-PNIPAM (0.3 g/L) exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance for the removal of Rhodamine B (RhB, 1.0 × 10−5 mol/L) and methylene blue (MB, 1.0 × 10−5 mol/L) under visible light, which reached 97.2% and 88.6% at 20 °C within 40 min, respectively. Furthermore, the influence of temperature upon photocatalytic performance was also investigated. When the temperature increased from 20 °C to 45 °C, the removal of RhB decreased by approximately 53.8%. The stability of the photocatalyst demonstrated that the photocatalytic activity was still above 80% for the removal of RhB after 3 cycles. Above all, this work provided an intelligent thermally responsive photocatalyst based on phthalocyanine for water purification under visible light.

This contribution reports the syntheses, structural analyses and properties of europium (Eu3+)- and terbium (Tb3+)-based coordination complexes of poly(N-isopropyl,N-methylacrylamide-stat-N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (poly(iPMAm-stat-DMAm)) copolymer, named as poly-Eu(III) and poly-Tb(III), respectively. In greater detail, poly(iPMAm85-stat-DMAm15) is first prepared by random copolymerization of N-isopropyl,N-methylacrylamide (iPMAm) and N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAm) via group transfer polymerization (GTP). Next, poly(iPMAm85-stat-DMAm15) is used as the polymer matrix for chelating with Eu3+ and Tb3+ cations at its side amide groups, to produce poly-Eu(III) and poly-Tb(III). Their structural characterizations by FT-IR spectroscopy and XPS confirm the formation of polymeric complexes. The study on their fluorescence emission characteristics and luminescence lifetime demonstrates that Poly-Eu(III) shows four strong emission peaks at 578, 593, 622, and 651 nm, which are responsible for the electron transitions from the excited 5D0 state to the multiplet 7FJ (J = 0, 1, 2, 3) states, respectively, and poly-Tb(III) also displays four emission peaks at 489, 545, 588, and 654 nm, mainly due to the electron transitions of 5D4 → 7Fi (i = 6, 5, 4, 3). The luminescence lifetimes of poly-Eu(III) (τpoly-Eu(III)) and poly-Tb(III) (τpoly-Tb(III)) are determined to be 4.57 and 7.50 ms, respectively. In addition, in aqueous solutions, poly-Eu(III) and poly-Tb(III) are found to exhibit thermoresponsivity, with their cloud temperatures (Tcs) locating around 36.4 and 36.8 °C, respectively. Finally, the cytotoxicity study on the human colon carcinoma cells LoVo and DLD1 suggests that the luminescent Eu3+ and Tb3+ in the chelated state with poly(iPMAm-stat-DMAm) show much better biocompatibility and lower toxicity than their inorganic salts.

Aggregated eutectic intermetallic phases in a casting Mg-Ag-Al alloy were characterized using transmission electron microscopy. Three kinds of intermetallic phases, namely ε-Mg3Ag (or ε-Mg26−xAg7+x), β′-Mg2(Al,Ag)3, and γ-Mg17Al12, were observed to aggregate together following certain crystallographic orientation relationships (ORs) as: (001)ε//(11¯2)γ and [100]ε//[110]γ (OR1), (001)ε//(110)γ and [001]ε//[110]γ (OR2), (011¯)β′//(1¯10)γ and [100]β′//[110]γ, and (001)β′//(010)ε and [100]β′//[100]ε. TEM observations combined with the corresponding phase diagrams reveal that the ε phase firstly formed during solidification, then the γ phase nucleated on the ε phase, and finally, the β′ phase nucleated on the γ phase. This special intermetallic phase composition which owns numerous fine particles and many semi-coherent interphase boundaries results in high-strength and high-ductility for the casting QA61 alloy. Keywords: Magnesium alloys, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Intermetallic phase, Orientation relationship, Formation mechanism

Summary: The genome of kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) was sequenced previously, the first in the Actinidiaceae family. It was shown to have been affected by polyploidization events, the nature of which has been elusive. Here, we performed a reanalysis of the genome and found clear evidence of 2 tetraploidization events, with one occurring ∼50–57 million years ago (Mya) and the other ∼18–20 Mya. Two subgenomes produced by each event have been under balanced fractionation. Moreover, genes were revealed to express in a balanced way between duplicated copies of chromosomes. Besides, lowered evolutionary rates of kiwifruit genes were observed. These findings could be explained by the likely auto-tetraploidization nature of the polyploidization events. Besides, we found that polyploidy contributed to the expansion of key functional genes, e.g., vitamin C biosynthesis genes. The present work also provided an important comparative genomics resource in the Actinidiaceae and related families. : Genetics; Evolutionary Biology; Plant Biology; Omics Subject Areas: Genetics, Evolutionary Biology, Plant Biology, Omics

Composite nanostructure materials are widely used in catalysis. They exhibit several characteristics, such as the unique structural advantage and the synergism among their components, which significantly enhances their catalytic performance. In this work, CoPt nanoparticles and reduced-graphene-oxide-based nanocomposite catalysts (rGO/CoPt, rGO/CoPt/Ag) were prepared by using a facile co-reduction strategy. The crystalline structure, morphology, composition, and optical characteristics of the CoPt nanoparticles, rGO/CoPt nanocomposite, and rGO/CoPt/Ag nanocomposite catalysts were investigated by a set of techniques. The ID/IG value of the rGO/CoPt/Ag nanocomposite is 1.158, higher than that of rGO/CoPt (1.042). The kinetic apparent rate constant, k, of the rGO/CoPt/Ag nanocomposite against 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction is 5.306 min−1, which is higher than that of CoPt (0.495 min−1) and rGO/CoPt (1.283 min−1). The normalized rate constant, knor, of the rGO/CoPt/Ag nanocomposite is 56.76 min−1mg−1, which is higher than some other catalytic materials. The rGO/CoPt/Ag nanocomposite shows a significantly enhanced catalytic performance when compared to CoPt nanoparticles and the rGO/CoPt nanocomposite, which may confirm that the novel rGO/CoPt/Ag nanocomposite is a promising catalyst for the application of catalytic fields.

In this study, reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-supported noble metal (gold, silver, and platinum) nanoparticle catalysts were prepared via the one-pot facile co-reduction technique. Various measurement techniques were used to investigate the structures and properties of the catalysts. The relative intensity ratios of ID/IG in rGO/Au, rGO/Ag, rGO/Pt, and GO were 1.106, 1.078, 1.047, and 0.863, respectively. The results showed the formation of rGO and that noble metal nanoparticles were decorated on rGO. Furthermore, the catalytic activities of the designed nanocomposites were investigated via 4-nitrophenol. The catalysts were used in 4-nitrophenol reduction. The catalytic performance of the catalysts was evaluated using the apparent rate constant k values. The k value of rGO/Au was 0.618 min−1, which was higher than those of rGO/Ag (0.55 min−1) and rGO/Pt (0.038 min−1). The result proved that the rGO/Au catalyst exhibited a higher catalytic performance than the rGO/Ag catalyst and the rGO/Pt catalyst. The results provide a facile method for the synthesis of rGO-supported nanomaterials in catalysis.

In taxi management, taxi-driver shift behaviors play a key role in arranging the operation of taxis, which affect the balance between the demand and supply of taxis and the parking spaces. At the same time, these behaviors influence the daily travel of citizens. An analysis of the distribution of taxi-driver shifts, therefore, contributes to transportation management. Compared to the previous research using the real shift records, this study focuses on the spatiotemporal analysis of taxi-driver shifts using big trace data. A two-step strategy is proposed to automatically identify taxi-driver shifts from big trace data without the information of drivers’ identities. The first step is to pick out the frequent spatiotemporal sequential patterns from all parking events based on the spatiotemporal sequence analysis. The second step is to construct a Gaussian mixture model based on prior knowledge for further identifying taxi-driver shifts from all frequent spatiotemporal sequential patterns. The spatiotemporal distribution of taxi-driver shifts is analyzed based on two indicators, namely regional taxi coverage intensity and taxi density. Taking the city of Wuhan as an example, the experimental results show that the identification precision and recall rate of taxi-driver shift events based on the proposed method can achieve about 95% and 90%, respectively, by using big taxi trace data. The occurrence time of taxi-driver shifts in Wuhan mainly has two high peak periods: 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Although taxi-driver shift behaviors are prohibited during the evening peak hour based on the regulation issued by Wuhan traffic administration, experimental results show that there are still some drivers in violation of this regulation. By analyzing the spatial distribution of taxi-driver shifts, we find that most taxi-driver shifts distribute in central urban areas such as Wuchang and Jianghan district.

Drawing an analogy to the liquid phase of natural materials, we theoretically propose a microsphere suspension model to realize a metamaterial fluid with artificial electromagnetic indexes. By immersing high-ε, micrometer-sized dielectric spheres in a low-ε insulating oil, the structured fluid exhibits liquid-like properties from dispersing phase as well as the isotropic negative electromagnetic parameters caused by Mie resonances from dispersed microspheres. The work presented here will benefit the development of structured fluids toward metamaterials.

Equipped with staggered gap p-n heterojunctions, a new paradigm of photocatalysts based on hierarchically structured nano-match-shaped heterojunctions (NMSHs) Cu2S quantum dots (QDs)@ZnO nanoneedles (NNs) are successfully developed via engineering the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). Under UV and visible light illumination, the photocatalytic characteristics of Cu2S@ZnO heterojunctions with different loading amounts of Cu2S QDs are evaluated by the corresponding photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) aqueous solution. The results elaborate that the optimized samples (S3 serial specimens with six cycles of SILAR reaction) by means of tailored the band diagram exhibit appreciable improvement of photocatalytic activities among all synthesized samples, attributing to the sensitization of a proper amount of Cu2S QDs. Such developed architecture not only could form p–n junctions with ZnO nanoneedles to facilitate the separation of photo-generated carries but also interact with the surface defects of ZnO NNs to reduce the electron and hole recombination probability. Moreover, the existence of Cu2S QDs could also extend the light absorption to improve the utilization rate of sunlight. Importantly, under UV light S3 samples demonstrate the remarkably enhanced RhB degradation efficiency, which is clearly testified upon the charge transfer mechanism discussions and evaluations in the present work. Further supplementary investigations illustrate that the developed nanoscale Cu2S@ZnO heterostructures also possess an excellent photo-stability during our extensive recycling photocatalytic experiments, promising for a wide range of highly efficient and sustainably recyclable photocatalysts applications.